Tag Archives: books

work in progress – blocks and quilts

Despite not publishing any new posts lately, I have been busy knitting, sewing and quilting. I am working on the Lilac Drunkard’s Path quilt for Joan, I have helped Jane to complete her Swoon quilt by sewing the blocks together (QAYG method) and I have a new project on my table. In the moment I sew the Horizon collection by Kate Spain for Moda, I knew that this is my fabric. Not only the color palette is spectacular but also the fabric patterns. First I got only a jelly roll and I was thinking about the right quilt design. I went through my sketches, magazines and books. And finally I found a nice block in the book “500 quilt blocks” by Lynne Goldsworthy and Kerry Green. The block is called “x and cross” and for me it is the right block to bring out this colorful Horizon collection. I had to buy some charm packs and at the same time I also decided to use a few coordinating solids. Before I started to cut and piece with the Horizon fabric, I made a test block from solids. Here my first x and cross block :

x and cross block - skalabara.com

The finished block size is 11″ x 11″ when using the charm packs and jelly rolls. I have opted for an off white solid for the background as it nicely blends in with the Horizon white. The block is easy to piece and I do like the simple but effective design. This block is ideal for charm packs or layer cakes and jelly rolls. It saves a lot of cutting and gives the quilt a range of different fabrics. Here my work progress :

x and cross quilt process collage - skalabara.com

And finally I pieced 9 blocks together and could lay them out on the floor to see at least a small part of the quilt :

x and cross quilt - skalabara.com

I have a “few” more block to do, but already now I love the colors and the design of this quilt.

Happy quilting everyone, linking with Sew Fresh Quilts, Barbora

books, tiles and no excuses

On my way back home at the airport in Prague I was deciding whether to buy these glossy magazines with a lot of advertisement or to get a nice book. This time a book won : The Chef by Martin Suter. I am glad that I bought it, reading was excellent, the story fresh and there was space left for imagination. Martin Suter does not disappoint me. The last book I read from him was : Allmen und die Libellen. Another amusing story with an interesting plot.

Patchwork and quilting is set aside at the moment : visiting my Mum, getting back to normal from my holiday mood and now we have my husbands son and family with us. But since I have read this post from The Burned Hand  I have started to think about my attitude. Instead of finding excuses for not doing something and I just should do it!! I have all my fabrics for the Skill Builder BOM by Pile of Fabric together, so tomorrow is the right day to start this project and pick up with the others.

A few weeks ago we went with clients to an antique construction material shop situated about 2 hours drive from us. There were thousands and thousands of different articles on display. When walking around the spacious plot I found my favorite pieces : antique tiles. They have amazing designs – they are like models for patchwork patterns.

tiles x 3

tiles

Thanks for stopping, Barbora

quilting book, threads and a wiener

Since the temperatures are up to 37° C it is wise to stay inside and stick my nose in the last batch of books I have received. I am absolutely smitten with the  Free Motion Quilting with Angela Waters : Choose and Use Quilting Designs on Modern Quilts.

Very descriptive explanations of various quilting patterns, this is now my “quilting bible”. I have practiced some of the patterns on scraps. My absolute favorite is Seafoam – combination of 2 patterns: Concentric Circles (this one I need to learn) and Pebbles (this one I am practicing).

Yesterday I have started quilting the sandwich I made before I went to Prague. I decided to combine the patterns pebbles and waves. I shall only quilt the white fabric (background) and leave the color rectangles to float – as the quilt’s name is Floating Colors. When I read the book I also noticed that Angela’s favorite thread is a 50-weight polyester So Fine by Superior Threads. I like to follow experienced advice and I have ordered some more thread at Barnyarns in the UK. Here a quilting detail from the backside.

So far free-motion quilting. In the meantime I finished a dog quilt . The design caught my eye whilst browsing the world-wide web. I loved the photos and I also found the author of the pattern: Boo Davis and the quilt I’m a Wiener Baby Quilt is from here book Dare to be Square. Since I have ordered sooooooo many books over the last few weeks, I decided to make the quilt just from the photo. I went through my stash and found enough material from the collection  Innocent Crush from Anna Maria Horner. I think the result was worth while calculating all these cutting dimension from the various fabrics.

May I introduce you now to my version of the Wiener Baby :

And a quilting detail – I have used both straight line quilting with a walking foot as well as free-motion quilting on the body, ear and head:

And my last work this week was a customer order for 3 pillow covers :

Till next time, Barb

my orchids and a new top “avenue loop”

This week was once more filled with some surprises – not only that the painters came, but I have also received all the books I ordered from Amazon. I am fully smitten, love them and I am a proud new owner of these wonderful books.

Let me list all titles, one after the other:

  1. Elizabeth Hartman : Modern Patchwork – 12 Quilts to Take You Beyond the Basics
  2. Transparency Quilts : 10 Modern Projects by Weeks Ringel and Bill Kerr
  3. Modern Quilting Designs .: 90+ Free-Motion Inspirations
  4. Free Motion Quilting with Angela Waters : Choose and Use Quilting Designs on Modern Quilts

Especially #4 was very inspiring for me. I have done some FMQ but a few new hints always make life easier. I have found some new ideas and some other information about quilting threads. The threads are already on their way down to Spain and I am looking forward to work with them. Well, I  live here in a quilting “desert” and any kind of literature and information is warmly welcome.

In the meantime I have started with a new quilt “Avenue Loop” with fabric that I have ordered some time ago. It is a FQ collection of Freshcut from Heather Bailey. It has sat some time in the closet and I finally got an idea for a new quilt. Here a small detail  :

Also a few snapshots of my orchids :

and blossom in Spain :

This all for now, have a good time and thanks for stopping, Barb

magic monday

It has been some time since I wrote the last post. My parents were with us on a 10 day visit, so family life was the main focus in these days.  I was also fairly busy at work, interpreting and translating quotes for the construction company I work for (since 9 years now). And I gave beginner classes at my local patchwork and quilting shop. I have already done 3 Monday classes and my lady pupils are happy – lucky me. But I also must admit, that I enjoy it very much!

Monday was as good as Christmas – my three parcels arrived:

  1. 3 colorful fabrics I want to use for backing that I ordered at Hawthorne Threads
  2. High quality piecing and quilting threads that I always order at Quilt Direct
  3. Book Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts

Where shall I start first? All 3 fabrics have incredible colors. The moment I saw them, I knew they are a must for my stash. Particularly the fabric on the top from Alexander Henry House Designer from the collection Paloma, La Paloma in Multi. Hawthorne Threads is very nice online shop that concentrates on modern patchwork fabrics. They have a wonderfully designed website, all is clearly arranged and it is always a pleasure to order there.

High quality cotton threads are a must for me. After all threads have to hold the entire quilt together, from piecing to quilting. Unfortunately I cannot buy them locally, but fortunately we have internet. I have found Quilt Direct in the UK, have ordered there in the past and always got a very good service. This time I decided to buy piecing thread from Aurifil 50/2 in 4 different neutral shades. For quilting I also ordered a neutral, the big spool is from Superior King Tut 40/3. I have used in the past this thread for quilting my projects and I like the quality.

For books we have Amazon, once more a perfect marketplace to order make worldwide. The book has wonderful and colorful patterns, I just love the quilting techniques. I didn’t have time to read it, but I certainly looked at all the photos. Please visit one of the author’s blog on Sew Katie Did.

Well, it is time to start again with quilting (after my short holiday with family and making preserves). This hobby is worth everything, a perfect pursuit!

Happy quilting everyone, B.