Crushing on Fabric

Sometimes when looking at fabrics, I fall pretty hard.  Designer Janet Clare did some wonderful stuff for Moda with a line called Wordsmith.  I've made several quilts simply because I love working with these fabrics.  Grandson Sam has one of these quilts, and I can't even remember who has others.  When I got low on one of these fabrics, I would look at Etsy and buy more.  This line is way out of print, and it's time to simply let them go.  I think I may have enough for one more quilt, not counting the one that is below.

Recognize this pattern?  Of course you do.  It's a Trip Around the World.  Granddaughter Natalie is graduating from Iowa State next month and starting a job in Moab, Utah soon after.  I'm hoping she will take this quilt with her.  It's light but warm and will be entirely hand quilting within another week.  

I love off-center spiral quilting, and this is being finished just as the weather turns warm.  

Another set of favorite fabrics is this line from Marcia Derse.  I discovered these at QuiltCon years ago, and as I recall one of my guild mates put these fabrics on my radar.  I now have two bed quilts made from these fabrics.  Now I'm working on a headboard.  How it will be mounted and hung is a question for another day.  But I do think it's going to complete our bedroom.  I'm always looking for new fabrics to crush on.  Brigitte Heitland of Zen Chic comes the closest to a designer I crush on.  Her fabrics are for another post!

Back to Cute

 Well, surprise, surprise.  Not only do I do cute, I also free-motion quilt!  I am stunned at how fabulous this quilt turned out.  As luck would have it, the last guild meeting was all about free-motion quilting.  And it gave me the courage I needed to tackle this quilt.  

I have several wonderful nieces, and one of them, a lawyer in the Marines (yes, I know she has a title but I don't know what it is) is pregnant with her first baby, a boy.  Niece Candace is fierce, and I'm sure her baby boy will be, too.  So no delicate colors or smiling animals.  This in-your-face jungle quilt is meant to be a dragger and not a hanger.  Im eager to see her baby posed among these cute little animals.   And I'm lucky that my stash included some animals prints, like the tiger binding and the giraffe backing.  These animals are from an Elizabeth Hartman pattern.  45" x 57"

Pretty Batik Purses

These Sew Powerful purses are unique for a two reasons.  First, I used some pre-made straps instead of making my own straps.  And I must admit that this streamlined the process.  I do like how bright these straps are.  However these are nylon, which means I must be careful when ironing.  Second, these batiks are from former guild mate Mary Radnor.  So I use these batiks, think of her, and smile.  and I'm just barely making a dent in the pile of beautiful batiks she gave me.  

So here are 13.  I know this is dorky, but I won't mail them until I do seven more.  After Easter will be a great time to tackle these seven and then get all in the mail!

A Big One - Finished

When I finish a bigger project that can't be photographed on the floor, then I ask John to hang it over our balcony while I go outside to take the photograph.  But this quilt needs two people to hold it. So my brother Doug came over and took these pictures. This is a new bed quilt from a collection of favorite fabrics, and I hand quilted it.  I worked fast the past month because as it gets warmer, this quilt is just too much to keep on one's lap.  It has a terrific airy feel.  The pattern is The Libby Quilt by Erica Jackman.  

A new version of American Gothic, featuring the back of the quilt.  

 My current bed quilt features the same fabrics, most of which are by designer Marcia Derse.  And these fabrics have been my crush for almost 10 years.  Next up?  a headboard using these fabrics!