MQG Swap: A Tale of Three Quilts (photo heavy!)

Last year, the Modern Quilt Guild announced a mini quilt swap. I had sworn off swaps for a couple of years because of time constraints and the fact that I wanted to focus on sewing for me as opposed to others.

But with my new life and new schedule (i.e. not working for the time being), I figured I had a bit more time to invest. So I signed up.

Partner information got sent out, Instagram swap teams were set up, and all was going along swimmingly. I mulled for a while, then settled on a design and fabric. An in-progress shot:

Before long, I had a pieced top. Since it's just a mini, I was able to get it layered and quilted quite quickly. I decided to block it after quilting so that I could coax those curves into submission. Everything was great until I was binding and noticed something that made my heart sink:

The blue flowers on the fabric (which I hadn't prewashed because I was using pre-cut charm squares) had run quite a bit.

I tried to fix it but I was terrified I would make it worse. After several nice commenters on Instagram said that it was lovely and I should just send it anyway, I decided to do just that.

I think these rounded corners are a cool element:

 

But just in case my partner was unhappy with the blemish, I made a mini backup quilt using a gorgeous paper pieced pattern from Anne Play Crafts called Contour Feather.

I quilted both minis using Aurifil 40 weight thread in a warm pink (2425) that looks quite bold against the Kona Pepper background. I like it!

 

Finally, I added a label (identifying info blanked out of course):

So this post is titled a Tale of Three Quilts. We've covered two. Now for the third. When I filled out my swap registration, I indicated that I would be willing to be a swap angel: someone who makes an extra quilt for someone whose original partner had to drop out of the swap.

I'd wanted to try Debbie A Quilter's Table's Cross Cut blocks ever since she did her quilt along, and serendipitously, the design seemed to work with what my angel partner was looking for.

I do love a low volume scrappy background!

For the quilting, I eyeballed the first, smallest curve, then just followed the previous stitched line - also eyeballed - until the whole thing was done.

It is quirky, just like the quilt.

For binding, I used some of the low volume fabric and did a single fold binding to reduce bulk:

I'm glad that I could help out to ensure everyone who signed up for the swap and made a quilt gets one in return. I hope my partners like their quilts!

Improv Notebook Cover

The Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild is doing a notebook cover swap with our cousins across the Georgia Strait, Modern Quilt Guild Victoria. So fun!

Amy wrote a great tutorial, so my cover worked out absolutely perfectly. If you're looking to make a notebook cover, you'll definitely want to check out her instructions. Here's what I made for my partner, who - lucky for me - likes improv piecing:

I began with the grey triangle and wasn't too sure I liked it but then I added those aqua strips and all was right with the world. I continued on with adding some strips and then quilted it with a combination of concentric squares/triangles and straight lines.

The back is a little plainer than the front:

The red ribbon is a bookmark and the red strip you see in the photos is (bra) elastic with a cute scalloped edge that works to hold the whole thing together.

Here's what the front and back inside flaps look like - more red accents. The whole thing is lined with that red.

I hope my partner likes it!

And bonus - because this is made entirely from scraps, I get to link up this project to Scraptastic Tuesday with Leanne she can quilt and Nicky Mrs. Sew and Sow. Yay!

Teeny Weeny Swap

Late last year, the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild was invited by the Great Western Sydney MQG to participate in an inter-guild swap that ultimately expanded to also include the Brisbane MQG. The brainchild of Berene Happy Sew Lucky and Lorena lorena_in_syd, the unique feature of the Teeny Weeny Swap was that it needed to feature "teeny weeny" piecing - no piece larger than 2"! There were practical reasons for this, too, considering the cost of shipping goodies back and forth between our two countries.

My partner Kathy, not a fan of pink, said she liked grey with bright colours especially yellow. Hello, one of my favourite colour combos!

I made her this needle/sewing case using this tutorial.

it's fastened on the back because I wanted to use a button and loop rather than a strap

Here's what it looks like opened up:

There's a strap to hold two narrow spools of thread, some black felt for needles, a scissor spot plus a couple of pockets.

Kathy loved it (it even matched the outfit she had on at the meeting when she received it)! Whew! And this is what she made me in return (yes, those sneaky swap mamas had each pair making for each other, without our knowing it!):

Isn't it awesome? And the best part is that it's lined with some gorgeous pink fabric, which I know was a stretch for Kathy. So thoughtful! There are bits of Anna Maria Horner in the centre of those churn dashes! And we both used that Robert Kaufman yarn-dyed black in the projects we made. So funny. I feel so lucky to receive this beautiful dilly bag. Thank you, Kathy, and thanks to Berene, Amy and Lorena for coordinating a fun swap.

Non-Quilty Sewing Part 2

Part 1 got a bit long, so in Part 2 of my Non-Quilty Sewing report, I want to share the tote bag I made for the VMQG tote bag swap that's happening at the September 16th meeting:

I used up the last of the paint dropcloth I purchased at Home Depot a while ago for the exterior of the tote and the straps. The bottom panels and the pocket were from a thrifted curtain panel. I love upcycling!

Inside, I lined the tote with some cute sewing pattern fabric that had been "curing" in ye olde stash for at least 6 years because I know I purchased it before having G. Time flies!

I also installed a zipper in the lining, which I must admit I balk at every time and then it turns out to be not so giant of a deal. Why oh why do I do that to myself?

This tote is definitely on the larger side. It's 15" tall x 12" wide x 6" deep and the handles rise 15" from the bag (for ease of shoulder-slinging) - in the photo of the interior, it's got a folded lap-sized quilt in it and there's lots of room! I made it larger so that it could be used to tote quilts and larger projects to our VMQG meetings for show and tell! I hope the recipient loves it. I had fun designing it and stitching it up.

Checking In

Hi there! How've you been? Just a bit of a drive-by post tonight.

Last weekend, three of the MQGs in the Pacific Northwest got together - members of the Portland Modern Quilt Guild, the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild and the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild converged on Seattle last weekend for chatting, charity sewing, shopping, etc. It was intense, exhausting and a lot of fun.

Krista has a lovely recap with photos (I barely took any -- too busy chatting, sewing and shopping!), as does the PMQG blog.

We received our pouches from the PMQG/VMQG pouch swap at our August meeting! I scored two lovely pouches that I absolutely adore. They are both very different yet both very "me" - well done, partners!

First up, the happy pouch made by Heather of Joy of All Crafts. Isn't it sweet? Look at that FQ embroidered on the top, and that adorable elephant. LOVE!

Photo by Sonja Callaghan

Next, here's a photo of happy me with my second pouch also taken by Sonja (Artisania) at the guild meeting. This pouch was made by Anne. And I love it, too! You can't see in the photo but I am wearing turquoise shoes that match the fabric in the pouch perfectly, and doesn't it go well with my VMQG tshirt? Serendipity!

I managed a small amount of sewing today, at my daughter's behest. She selected a halter top pattern from the Sewing Modkid Style book I won from Fat Quarterly a while ago. It came together VERY quickly and happens to match the skirt I made her a little while ago.

Also rocking the back-to-school haircut!

The book is all about sewing with knits, and it has completely demystified the world of knits for me! It's a fabulous reference and the patterns are cute, too. I will absolutely be making more from this book over the next little while.

I'll be back soon with something really fun to share so don't go away, okay?

Pouch Swap (Photo Heavy Post)

VMQG and PMQG are swappin' pouches - great idea, eh? I had a lot of fun making these pouches for my partners.

First up, is Pinky (as I've dubbed her):

Front

Back

I sketchy-stitched my partner's initial with the same blue thread I used on the front, then used PicMonkey to edit it out  of the photos so as not to give it away.

Interior - love those ladybugs!

Next, we have Grassy:

Front

Back

The wavy stitching was done with Aurifil 12 weight 100% cotton thread in colour 2310 (a nice cream) with 50 wt in the bobbin. It was an absolute DREAM to stitch with. I loooooove it.

Lining

And finally, both pouches' exteriors were made from cotton/linen blend fabric. I fused Pellon P971F Fusible Thermolam Plus to Pinky's exterior pieces, and Pellon SF101 Shape Flex to Grassy's exterior and lining pieces. Since the linen was already pretty bulky, it's my opinion that the Shape Flex was sufficient for giving the pouch body without bulk.

Both pouches finished up at around 7" square (and two whole days early - woot!). I'll be bringing them to the VMQG's second anniversary meeting/celebration tonight - two years old already! Paaaaartaaaay!

WIP Wednesday: All Pouched Out

Hello! I'm writing from the Felicity Quilts Pouch Sweatshop here in (not-at-all-sunny-didn't-you-get-the-memo-it's-June?) Vancouver. Lots of production this week - we've exceeded our quota! Three pouches for teacher gifts, and two more for the Vancouver Modern Quilts Guild's pouch swap with the Portland Modern Quilt Guild.

A full post on the swap pouches is forthcoming - for now, here's a sneak peek at one of them.

That's Aurifil 12wt 100% cotton thread - absolutely dreamy to stitch with.

That little tag with the "F" on it is my attempt at a DIY labeling strategy. I stamped the letters FQ on some cotton twill tape, folded it and sewed it into the side seam. I'm thinking I should just fall off my wallet and order some labels.

So while I was making the pouches, I wasn't doing anything else that remotely addressed my WIP situation. Not to worry - all that will change once I spend all day this Saturday at one of Krista's fabulous day retreats.

In other news, my Habitat pillows have made it into the finals of the Summer Sewing Contest at Ellison Lane! Lots of beautiful projects have been shortlisted - please do go have a look and vote for your favourites.

For the Love of Solids Swap - extras

In addition to the "large item" we make for our partners, we are asked to include a "small item." I decided to make my partner a pouch.

I already had some blue zippers on hand, so the pouch was built around that feature.

This is the BACK of the pouch; the front has my partner's initials on it so it has to stay secret for now. I forgot to measure it, but it's pretty roomy. Probably about 8"x10" or so?

The outer colours are little subdued (Kona Medium Gray and I think Kona Caribbean for the blue bit), so I went wild with the inside:

[Somewhat off-topic, but that colour red (Kona Chinese Red) reminds me of the first bedding I bought for myself after moving out on my own for grad school. It was from IKEA - a royal blue paisley duvet cover with accents of all kinds of jewel tones (hello, 1993!!), and a sheet set in that dark red. I felt *very* grown-up and not a little naughty with my red sheets.]

Okay! Back to the pouch! I quilted it with some gorgeous 28 wt Aurifil thread in random straight lines that remind me of shattered glass.

I also included a FQ of the Kona Chinese Red, and sent off my package to faraway places last Thursday. I hope it arrives safe. And soon!

Linking up to Sew Modern Monday and Manic Monday at SewHappyGeek.

Friday Felicities #5 - For the Love of Solids

Felicitous news, Followers! This Friday's Felicity is that I have a FINISH to share! (Aside: why do so many of my Friday Felicities involve the letter F? Such fortuitous alliteration!!)

I swore off swaps and bees.....and promptly joined a swap and a bee. Whoops. Anyway, this swap was really interesting - all solids! My collection of solid fabrics isn't that impressive (mostly limited to white, off-white and 3 shades of grey) but thank goodness I'd just put in an order with Brenda from Pink Castle Fabrics for a rainbow of Bella Solids (Moda). Pretty!

I browsed my secret partner's favourites, and it looked like she'd enjoy a New York Beauty mini quilt. I mulled and mulled. And mulled some more. Printed out a foundation piecing template. Mulled it over some more. Then, inspiration struck when I was leafing through a Kaffe Fassett book at the library and I switched courses slightly to a pickledish quilt.


The mini quilt came together quickly after that. I foundation pieced some arcs.

Then I needed to choose a background, and ended up with door #1: Kona Coal.

Then I had a quilt top in need of quilting.

I asked for -- and got -- some great advice from my Flickr posse and here's the final result. May I introduce, "In a (Solid) Pickle."

The centre really isn't that floofy - it's from being folded up and I photographed it at work (on the shipping deadline day) so no pressing available.

Looks kind of New York Beauty-ish, doesn't it?

It's 20½" square and I am really proud of it!

I used 5 different colours of thread to quilt this. Grey for the echo quilting, and then a different colour in each of the 4 different arcs. You can see the colours a little more clearly in this photo:

And the quilting on the front, in detail:

All in all, a solid (geddit? HAHA I crack myself up) effort, I'd say. I hope my partner agrees!

One more photo? OKAY!

There is another little goodie that was in the package; I'll blog about that in a couple of days. Patience, my lovelies! Have a great weekend!

Making Progress

I'm still on holidays from work and The Child has been having afternoon naps which means one thing: sew, sew, sew!

That's a good thing, since President of the Last Minute Club here was (is?) late with August's blocks for Sew & Bee Happy. Henny asked for a wonky log cabin in orange, turquoise, white and grey.

She commented on the floral batik when I used it in a different block for this bee so I knew I *had* to include it for hers. Now the block is on its way to Indonesia! Isn't this online community awesome? I made a block for someone in INDONESIA, people!

In order to really cement my title as Prez of the aforementioned Last Minute Club, I am staring down a deadline for the For the Love of Solids swap. September 8th is the last day I can ship. In my own defense, I was mulling over my plan, and mentally designing my "big item" - a mini quilt - over the last couple of weeks.

I was thinking I'd do some New York Beauty blocks, but when I saw this Pickledish quilt in Kaffe Fassett's Quilt Romance book, I knew I'd found my design. I'm very pleased with how it turned out, and those middle ellipses are behaving a bit better now that I've removed the foundation piecing papers. Now onto the quilting!

This swap requires you to send a small item in addition to the large one, so I decided to make my partner a pouch using this hilarious tutorial. I surprised myself by making a practice one - I've never sewn a pouch before (though I've read many tutorials with great interest) and it's just like me to barrel ahead and go for it. Anyway, I'm glad I did - it made sewing up the one for my partner slightly less stressful. Here's the practice one; I will wait til my partner receives her actual one before posting photos as it has some identifying characteristics on it (like her initials) and this is a secret swap.

I am happy with my work! And I am linking up to Sew Modern Monday at Canoe Ridge Creations, and Manic Mondays at SewHappyGeek!