Mid-Atlantic

Are you going to the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival in Hampton, VA this weekend? If you are, keep an eye out for my two quilts.  Both in an exhibit of challenge quilts made by the Artrageous Fiber Art group here in North Carolina.

"Windows and Door"

24" x 24"

"Graffiti Vortex"

24" x 24"

(These quilts will also be traveling to the show in New Jersey.)

Carnival

WAY last October, I made some fabric choices.

I cut the 16 required fat quarters and put them aside.  And that's where they stayed until this week.  I'm making the Maple Island Quilts pattern "Pagodas". There is a lot of curved piecing involved, but it's the fun easy, no pins kind.

Four rectangles are stacked, cut together, then the pieces swapped so each unit is different.  Here's just one of the curvy pieced units along with the pattern cover.

Fun, fun, fun! 

Birds - Finished

Binding on.  Hanging sleeve on.  Here it is, approx. 27" x 40".

Here's a close-up of one corner.

And here's a close-up of the inspiration, the book titled Hot Flashes of Inspiration, by Kandi Kelderman and Kim Schissel.

I am mid-way through teaching a six week beginning quilting class.  We have been making 12" patchwork blocks and will put them together to make a twelve block sampler.  I've been making blocks along with the class, so will have another unfinished top to show off soon.

There's another Maple Island Quilts pattern on my mind that I would like to try.  AND, I've ordered a tutorial from Lynne Tyler over at Patchery Menagerie. 

 So many fun things to do and so little time!

Birds - A Quick Peek

Quilting is progressing on the little bird quilt.  It's taking a while, with parallel lines approx. 1/2" inch apart. 

Snowed in Again

When the snow came to eastern North Carolina yesterday, classes were cancelled for safety's sake, and then I had the afternoon to myself!

I was happy to return to the "birds" project.  I had originally planned on making a twelve block wall hanging, but after making seven, I decided that a six block piece was as large as I wanted it to be.

Nothing is measured during the piecing process, so the blocks are all different sizes.  The answer is to add over sized borders to each block (3" or 4" depending on the block), and then trimming to a uniform size.  I trimmed them all to 14" this morning and put the little birds together.  Here's the top, flapped out on the floor.  I've chosen the backing and located a batting, so I'll start putting in all together now.

These were a LOT of fun and there will definitely be more birds in my future!

Now it Can Be Told (Shown)

We kicked off our ninth annual shop hop yesterday.  Here's my quilt, that had to be kept a secret until now.

Each shop owner chose a different block pattern.  Mine was "Castle in the Air" in the top row.  Then we put them all together into a row quilt.  Can you see the crabs in the 4th row?  That's courtesy of one of the shops at the beach!

Preview of Thing to Come

I discovered a fun book Hot Flashes of Inspiration while on my New York trip. Over the weekend, I FINALLY had time to try out the funky birds block, the reason I bought the book.

Number one:

Number two:

Number three:

Number four:

I'm going to be busy, busy, busy this week with our local shop hop, but hope to get back to my birds SOON.  They are so much fun!  The fabrics I'm using are the Neutral Territory collection from P&B Textiles, plus a few coordinating batiks.