Pinwheels!

I've been working on pinwheels lately and it's been fun.  Stilll working on the final layout.

Pretty sure I want white between the blocks sort of like this.

Round Five with ORBC is a pinwheel quilt-along if anyone is interested.

Round Nine Ticker Tape Done.

The Ticker Tape Table Runner is finished!!

This one had a few "firsts" for me:  (1) the first time I hand sewed the binding. (2) the first time I did free-motion quilting and (3) the first time I have actually washed a quilt I made! 

I know. 

You're supposed to wash them. 

 But I gueess I was afraid they'd fall apart or something :)

Anyway, I love how it came out of the dryer - all crinkly.  Now I am looking forward to washing the throw sized ones I have made.

Ticker Tape Progress

My Ticker Tape Table Runner is all pinned and ready to sew!  This is for Round Nine at the ORBC Quilt Along.  DeeRoo is leading us in this one and she has shared so many options.  I am doing mine as a table runner, instead of a throw size quilt.  You sew the patches on with raw edges and the design possibilities are endless.  Now I have to decide whether to use the walking foot or go free- motion . . .

Quilts and blocks in the works

While waiting to get started with the ORBC Round Nine quilt-along, I have been working on my new flower art quilt.  So far I have stitched the flower in place and am still playing around with the sun.  So far so good.  I think it is hard to see the stitching in this photo.

I also have these house blocks on my design wall.  I was just in the mood to make house blocks - I don't know what I am going to do with them yet.  There are a few asterick blocks there, too, as well as some odds and ends.  I like to stick blocks up on the wall and just look at them and think about how to use them.

As for Round Nine - DeeRoo has posted some great ticker-tape examples in the Flickr group.  Click the "Come Quilt Along" button in the sidebar!  Join us!

Camellia Art Quilt

Just finished this yesterday.  (Well, I still have to finish the hand stitching on the edge.)  This started in a class with Ellen Lindner this summer. We started with a photo of our own and interpreted it in fabric.  We didn't sew in the class, just cut and arranged our fabrics.  Ellen teaches a raw edge collage technique and you use your photo as inspiration.  It was a ton of fun and I am pleased with it!  I layered a piece of tulle over the top before stitching.  I attempted to do it without the tulle, but so many little pieces kept getting caught under the darning foot when doing free motion stitching.  Once I layered up the tulle it was smooth sailing - although I did end up using my walking foot instead.  It is appliqued and quilted at the same time.  It's not large - you can see that it fits inside my cutting mat - so that's less than 18 x 24 inches. 

Here's another view.  My husband actually took the photo I used as inspiration.  It's from a camellia bush at our old house.

I have tons of drawings that I would like to use for art quilts (or maybe bed quilts) so I am happy to have learned a new applique technique.  Here's one I have been playing with today.  As you can see it is still in the early planning stage.  Auditioning fabrics can be a long process!  I'm not sure which technique I'll use for this one yet.

Hope you've had a productive and happy weekend.  Now, are we going to get snow for the next two days???

Round Nine!!!! and Giveaways!!!

It's time for Round Nine at the ORBC quilt-along!!  (Click the button at the right)
This time DeeRoo is leading us in a ticker tape quilt. I loved this type of quilt when I saw it on the Crazy Mom Quilts blog. It uses lots of little scraps so I have pulled some out.

So far we have a supply list - first installment of directions is due next week - yay!!
And there are two giveaways - one here and one here.

A Happy New Year and A Happy Menagerie

Some new friends have appeared in the studio. 
Wishing you and all of your family and friends a very Happy New Year!!