Libby's Log Cabin Quilt

Some quilts go together easy and others are just plain work. This one was one of the easy ones. Made for a repeat customer, she selected the fabric line she liked (Country Orchard by Blackbird Designs from Moda)

My version of Libby's Log Cabin

Because we didn't have a pattern selected, I ordered a 1/2 yard pack of all the fabrics in this line from one of my fav online fabric shops, The Fat Quarter Shop. Plus a few extra yards of a couple of the greens for the final binding.

The original Libby's Log Cabin from Fons and Porter

I'm always searching for inspiration for my next project and when I saw this pattern on the Fons and Porter website, I sent the link to my customer and she agreed that it would look great in the fabrics she chose. The pattern is called "Libby's Log Cabin" and is found here: http://www.fonsandporter.com/articles/libbys-log-cabin-quilt-project

Because the quilt I needed was larger than the pattern was for, I first calculated how many blocks I needed for the larger quilt. Then I took one of the greens that I had extra of & the solid 1/2 yard pieces and made the star centres for each of the blocks.

Pieced stars for centre of log cabin blocks

Log cabin blocks with cornerstones

 Then, when I went to a quilt retreat this past fall, I took the pattern & fabrics along, thinking I might get some blocks done, but never expecting that I would get them all done!

Pieced log cabin blocks

The quilt went together so well - the perfect combination of fabrics I love and a twist on a traditional pattern.

My version of Libby's Log Cabin before quilting

The top was quickly finished and sent off to be quilted. I chose a plain cotton muslin back and left it up to Marie from Blueberry Hill quilts to select a quilting pattern.

Piano Runner - variation of Libby's Log Cabin pattern

Then, the next step was to make a runner for my customer's piano. She specifically requested a size of 10"x80" and the same pattern as the quilt. Because the quilt blocks were 15" square, I eliminated the centre star and just made the courthouse step blocks in 10" squares.

Piano Runner - variation of Libby's Log Cabin pattern

The quilt came back from being quilted, the binding put on & it was time for this quilt's turn in the spot light and a little photo shoot in my back yard.

My version of Libby's Log Cabin

My version of Libby's Log Cabin

And a close up of the quilting

This quilt was so hard to pack into a box to ship, but the consolation prize is that the left over fabrics are waiting for me to turn them into something wonderful! I can't wait to show you what I get inspired with!

--Ann

Snap Bags

Just a quick post today. I always find that I do better at craft sales if I have some smaller items on my table so this year I've been making snap bags. 

I bought this bicycle fabric specifically for the bags, but I will have lots left for something else. 

And I needed to buy a tape measure as it wouldn't do to deprive my husband of a proper measuring tool in his shop. 

This is the final result. Whatever is left after my 2 craft sales will be listed in the Etsy shop. 

-Ann

Pink & Red Twin Quilt

A simple 9-patch quilt block has been the basis for many of my baby quilts, but this is the first one I've made larger into a twin size quilt. First choice was the pretty retro looking red floral used in the border.

Then a selection of pink and red fabrics that were the same shades as in the border fabric. I cut a selection of 2.5" squares from the pinks and reds and a bunch from white Kona cotton and pieced my 9-patches.

Next step is putting them up on the design wall and making sure that I didn't get too many of the same fabrics bunched together. 6.5" white Kona cotton squares were added as alternate blocks, blocks were sewn into rows, rows together into the centre of the quilt.

 

A plain white border was added and then the cute red & pink floral. Marie from Blueberry Hill Quilts did the quilting and added the name of the quilt's recipient into the white border. We've done that for a few twin quilts - a nice subtle way to personalize a quilt.

Quick & easy peasy!
--Ann

Blue is my favourite colour!

I've had this fabric for quite sometime and have had it out a time or two to consider what I might make with it.

Runner and placemats

 Well, I finally figured something out. Originally I matched it up with a green fabric as an accent, but it just didn't inspire me, so I stuck to the blue print and a matching blue monotone print.

Maple leaf runner in blue

Maple leaf runner in blue

Some classic maple leaf blocks, lined up and twisted and turned and set off with sashing.

Set of six placemats

And a set of 6 placemats to match!

Runner and placemats

And from the selvage edges of the fabric, a mug rug of course!

And a mug rug to match!

And now, there's not much left of that pretty blue foliage print except a few scraps that are going in my scrap basket!

Do you have a fav fabric that you are waiting for just the right project?
--Ann

Alberta Quilt Study Society

Recently I had the opportunity to take part in a quilt documentation day with the Alberta Quilt Study Society (AQSS) put on in cooperation with the Dalemead Quilt Guild. (Apologies for the fuzzy phone photo!)

Documenting a quilt in Chestermers

The mission of the AQSS is to "promote an understanding, appreciation and knowledge of quilt making and its heritage in Alberta and beyond". Appointments were made for about a dozen quilts and as each quilt was spread out and documented, we learned about the quilter, the fabrics and the patterns that are all part of the quilt.

Antique butterflies. Top bought from Tennessee, Machine Quilted by Marie Lingwood from Blueberry Hill Quilts

I didn't bring any of mine to be documented, but will probably do so in the future. I am pretty good at taking photos of the quilts I make and putting labels on the quilts I have sold, but I am not so great at doing the same for the quilts I keep for my home and the ones I gift to family.

Antique Butterflies Summer Coverlet made by my husband's grandmother

So, last night, I set out to make a list of the quilts I currently have at home that are being used on a daily basis and there are at least 13 that do not have labels. Some of them I know when and where they were completed, but for others, the details are getting fuzzy. If I don't remember, how will I ever expect my family to?

Double Wedding Ring made by me. Started in 1986, Finished ~ 1996

Quilts documented will be added to the records of the Royal Alberta Museum and eventually added to the online records of The Quilt Index.

Do you have antique quilts? Quilts without labels? Does your family know the value of the quilts that you have made? Do you?

Stay tuned to find out what you should include on your quilt label!

--Ann

More Red & Gray Quilts

And here's a couple more quilts made for a customer that loves reds and grays and blacks.

Red & Gray square in a square - SOLD!

The square in a square block is a pretty basic block and I chose to do it with a common center of red fabrics, but it's also very effective when made with alternating blocks of a dark outer square with a light inner square and a light outer square with a dark inner square.

Christmas Present Runner - SOLD!

And the Christmas present runner is one that I've seen many times online - I didn't look for a pattern, but just drew this one out on graph paper & put it together - I may make this one again will some more traditional red & green Christmas fabrics!

--Ann

Christmas in July

One of the things I enjoy about sewing for an online audience and doing custom work is the opportunity to work with fabrics and colour combinations that are not part of my normal. I've made a few red, gray and black quilts for one of my customers and she found this line of fabric from Henry Glass Fabrics called Holiday Magic by Jan Shade Beach. You can find it here at the Fat Quarter Shop.

Red & Gray Christmas fun! - SOLD

The printed panel had 15 pictures on it and I had some fun coming up with some block layouts that highlighted the adorable pictures.

Christmas in red & gray - FOR SALE

I've seen a number of quilts that alternated a pictorial block with a chain block, so that's what I did for 2 of the quilts made from the panel. The other quilt I arranged differently and set the pictorial blocks off with star blocks.

Christmas in red & gray - FOR SALE

The last two of these both have a hanging sleeve on the back so it can be hung on the wall or they can be used as a table topper - would look great in a black & white kitchen or dining room!

I still have quite a lot of the fat quarter pack left, so there will be some more red & gray Christmas projects coming!
 

Being Productive

My internet has not been working great for a few months, so blogging has taken a backseat to vacations, yard work and sewing. 

I am getting better at organizing myself and my sewing space so when I do get a few minutes to sew, I can be productive. 

Sometimes all I want to do is take out fabrics from my stash and match them up for possible projects. 

When I have a stack of 3-6 fabrics, I will try to match or think of a pattern that will work with them. I'll ask if I have enough for a larger project like a lap or bed quilt or if maybe what I have is more suitable to a table runner or wall hanging. Is there enough fabric for binding and backing? 

When I've thought these things through and come up with a plan, the fabrics and any sketches I've made go into a large ziplock bag or a project box so they are ready for the next time I'm ready to sew, but don't have a project already planned. 

What do you do to stay organized, motivated and/or productive? Inquiring minds want to know!

-Ann

Playing with Scraps

Scrappy quilts are my fav kind of quilts and yesterday I pulled out my bin of 1.5" scraps. The quilt I've been dreaming of making with these little pieces was a scrappy double Irish chain quilt. 

I love rearranging the pieces until I get something that looks good and I started with just a white background & scraps. 

Then I put yellow scraps for the main diagonal chain of squares and liked that look. 

A few blocks later and this looks like a project to keep working on. Can't wait to see a full-size quilt from these scrappy blocks. 

-Ann

Two Finds Make One Quilt

Quite often, I find myself sorting through my stacks of fabric to find something and end up finding something else altogether. This little quilt was a result of a couple finds while I was sorting fabrics.

Plum Sweet Wallhanging

 I bought the panel with the four scenes on it at the closing out of one of the quilt stores in Edmonton a number of years ago. It kept surfacing to the top of my to-do pile and shifted back to the bottom as I had no ideas on how I was going to finish them or what fabrics I had that would match.

Panel pieces and friendship stars

And the charm pack and a bit of yardage of the Plum Sweet fabrics by Blackbird Designs for Moda Fabrics were bought more recently and I had it in my mind to make a couple table runners from them, but every time I took them out, I had no inspiration and put them back in the closet.

It just so happened that this time as I was sorting, I noticed both these fabrics, realized what a great match they were together, pulled them out and promptly put all my other ongoing projects to the side and started working on this one. The four panels pictures would make the centre of the quilt and the charm squares would become a lovely pieced border. 

A 2-colour pieced border that didn't work!

The original idea for the border was to do a 2-colour setting triangle for the pieced friendship stars, but sometimes ideas just don't go the way they are supposed to.

Simple is better!

Another trip to the fabric store for a bit more yardage, a change in plans and voila! A quilt top ready for quilting! Next time you see this one, it will be quilted and ready for my shop here.

--Ann

Family Tree Quilt

Recently I completed a family tree quilt. This was a challenge for me, not just to put it together, but to use the ideas and feedback from my customer and adapt the design to the size of the embroidery. 

The details were fused on with Steam a Seam and then button hole stitched. The customer found some butterfly fabric she really loved and it is used as the border.

Family Tree Quilt

It is quilted with an all-over butterfly pattern that reflects the butterflies in the border.

--Ann

Progress on the hexies!

I think I have enough paper pieced hexagons to finish the project I have in mind, so here's a little update!

Paper pieced hexagons

I am slowly stitching hexies!

These will eventually be a tea cozy - not sure when you will see a finished project, but there is some slow progress!

--Ann