Blogger's Quilt Festival Entry "Urban Abacus"

My sister Jenny has designed a ruler (Quick Curve Ruler) that makes piecing curves fun, easy, and quick.  I have the privileged of being able to try out the ruler and explore design elements with it.  There are so many possibilities for design and piecing that we have had fun exploring.  This pattern is one that Jenny worked up in black/white, gray and aqua, and I changed the dimensions and made this small table topper.  I like the symmetry and interest that the curves and the sashing give this quilt.  I used Moda's  Sonnet Collection.  It was quick to put together and fun to quilt.  Notice that I added my  tab label even though I haven't written on it yet.  I used a small piece of binding, and it did not take more than 2 minutes to include the label - YEAH!

The story behind the quilt is that I wanted to try my sister's ruler and really see how easy it was to use.  Sure enough the curves and blocks pieced together in no time and whala--it was done!  The fabric line is what was left over from a planned quilt years ago.  I actually didn't make the Kaleidoscope pattern I had bought it for instead I made a  Churn Dash quilt with a big print border that turned out very nice.  I have made three quilts with this fabric and even though I really like it I am glad I don't have any left... 

2011 Spring Quilt Market - Salt Lake City

Jenny(Sew Kind of Wonderful), Pam (Quilting Square One), and I had the opportunity to go to Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City this past weekend.  It was a great experience and we were able to attend classes and visit with vendors about the latest trends in the quilting business.

 This is Brigitte Heitland of Zen Chic out of Germany.  She has a very clean, contemporary style and I bought a couple of patterns from her.

 This mural is made out of a new line of P&B Fabric called Downtown.

 This is P&B Textiles "Gallery Fiori", beautiful!

' Don't Look Now' has great products and they came from Australia.

 Amy Butler - WOW!  She is so approachable and nice.

Jean Wells designs.

We had a great time and I must say thanks to DH Lance for supporting me and my craziness when it comes to quilting which is more than just a small hobby.

Helen 

Tab Labels Tutorial - LOVE THEM!

Here is a quick and easy way to make a tab label.  It tucks inside the binding on the back of the quilt.  It has just enough room to record all the important things - don't forget that you can also write on the back of the tab.  Here is a pictorial record of making a tab label.

 

start with about a 2 1/2 inch wide by 3-5 inches, fold in half length wise and sew sides

Turn and press and sew into seam allowance on edge as you sew on the binding.

Sharlet's Quilts

I finished three quilts for Sharlet this week:  Yellow Rose of Texas, North Pole, and Stacked Coins.
Yellow Rose of Texas is beautiful.  The quilting made the raw edge roses look 3-dimensional and the feathers and leaf vine compliment the style of quilt.  North Pole is adorable!  Lots of little details in the windows, roof lines, doors, and a variety of navy backgrounds give this quilt a lot of interest.  I quilted a small meander in the background, outlined the doors, windows and roof lines, a holly border and snowball border finished it off!  Stacked coins is quilted with an all over panto, "Popcorn."  It is fun and bright with black setting off the coins.  She is on her way to pick them up, so I hope she is as pleased as  I am....

Sharlot's Project

Sharlot has been putting together some old quilt blocks for a special friend.  Sharlot has done a great job at finding fabric to go with the colors in these blocks that were made decades ago.  There are three butterfly table runners that have beautiful button hole applique butterflies on them made out of great old fabrics.  Feathers and continuous line quilting gives it a traditional feel.  There were enough 'Puss in Boots' blocks to make a lap quilt which looks great with an all over "Popcorn" panto on it.  The old time prints and shirtings used in all the blocks is so interesting to look at because of the colors and the fabric texture.