Those Surprises

You know kids have that little fascination for bikes. They love it and treat their bike like family. They care for it, fix it, ride it, make the little bike happy. I am one of those kids. I love my Quilt Market Meet-Up bike with it's sky blue color, shimmering in the sun. It even has a basket to carry everything that I need in it. You wouldn't believe the look on my face when Mom had created the cutest creation for my bike. --Alex

up-cycle bike basket liner

 

I made Alex's basket liner from an old work shirt and bunting flags leftover from other (apron) projects. A double recycle project!

 

Shirt placket is the casing, with shirt front still attached for liner sides. Liner bottom was cut from one of the shirt sleeves. Sides (shirt front) were gathered around oval (sleeve) bottom. The big design challenges were:

 

 

1. Deciding to put the exposed seams on the outside. They really are well hidden by the basket and the bunting.
2. Giant snaps instead of drawstring casing.[ It is so hot here that sticky Velcro melts off in the garage, so although an obvious choice, that wasn't a real option.]
   

   
3. Shirt pocket section was pieced in center front of basket liner. Gathering made the pocket gap, so skip that step on the front edge if you use a pocket.

 

Well, all that is left of Uncle Dennis' denim work shirt is the collar, cuffs, and one sleeve. Can you think of another upcycle project that would finish it off?

  Time to go outside for a summertime bike ride :)

 





Mom & Daughter Quilters

If you have met Cristy Fincher and her mother Sharon Schamber, then you know I can't really find words to describe what special ladies they are.

nice people:  Cristy & Sharon

This summer, I've been privilege to learn from Cristy and Sharon. Here are some quilt details and comments form Sharon's trunk show at July's MQG. I know you have already seen all these major award winning museum quality quilts in magazines, so I'm just posting details for Quilt It! Challenge inspiration Pinterest board, and (as I was too excited to hold still long enough to get great pics - sorry) some fuzzy looking quilts that I still can't believe I saw  in real life!
One of the many reasons for this Thankful Thursday post.

Tiniest yo-yo daisies ever.

Spiral maze echo quilting, I see a spider web.

Don't know what you call this (except for Amazing!), but it makes me want to go to the beach.

Sharon says Quilting is sculpture, not just holding 3 layers together.

I want to try this next Quilt It! Challenge block.

An applique block with embroidery.

Sharon may spend 50 hrs. on an applique block.

Whole cloth design; borders/frames are quilted

Can you see the feather shells border?

This is my favorite: very tiny pumpkin seeds with even tinier stippling.

This one is for @SewExcitedQuilt. Something new!

Sharon says embroidery needles won't bend in freemotion quilting like quilting needles do.

A quilting sampler.

Are you warn out yet? I am. Time for a break.

Alex is making raspberry tea:)

LUV this traditional design. Surprise, it's not English Paper-Piecing. 

Have you tried Sharon's Piec-lique technique?

This epaulet edging has hand stuffed cording.

Sharon develop this technique when she was a wedding dress designer.

What did you do in a former life that contributes to your quilting?

Seriously, tell me! I love those stories:)

Sharon says UFOs are like Ex-husbands. Why would you go back?

Here is an exception. Once Upon a Time is all hand made, needle-turn applique, this quilt waited 14 years for finishing.

And then won NQA best of show.

Sitting Bull's portrait in quilting.

I think Sharon would say the secret to her infinite design styles is having enough technique to go wherever you imagine.  At least, that's what I learned from her quilts.

Beyond unique: Crimson Promises blocks and borders are joined by lattice cording. 400 yards.

No worries, there's a DVD  if you want to try this.

This is a good pic! You can see the variegated dies in appliques and in the cording too.

No to mention, THE QUILTING!

Did you know, the original Emerald Reflections was destroyed in a truck fire?

 This one is a remake. Imagine!

A Perfect Moment also has a sculptured edge,

like her green sister, Memories of Emerald Reflections.

That looks like a great place to end.

packing quilts



Triangles, Rolls and Patterns, oh my!

Today was filled with a new lesson. Mom and I visited Mulqueen quilt shop where Nedra   demonstrates  Triangles on a Roll "perfect paper piecing product." It was simple, easy, and can create really beautiful patterns!

Triangles on a Roll consists of two ways to create patterns. One is using 2 triangles to make a full square (aka half-square triangle). This sounds easy and just really is easy. Nedra's guidelines show how to stitch 1" through 4" hst squares by scroll. No chain piecing! Don't worry if you think you've messed up. With so many stitching guides, it is impossible to mess up on these paper piecing rolls. When finished making the squares, just pull off the paper guidelines and look at your perfect square!

Nedra shows how to use Half Square Triangles on a Roll



3 quilts on left are composed from HST Rolls

The second way of using her paper piecing magic is using degrees. Sew & Fold Tri-Angles works  for 3" and 6" inch triangles, in 22.5, 36, 45, 60 degrees. It's just like the other version and still as simple, except you cut triangles first with matching rulers before paper piecing . These patterns are so simple, beginners can use these. 

This is an example of how to use the degree paper piecing.

Christmas Pyramids is one of the 8 patterns Nedra and Denise have
created for Triangles on a Roll.

Denise  and Nedra have been Quilting Buddies (and old movie fans) for three years. This is Denise's Fred and Ginger

split hexagon pattern created with 60degree Tri-Angle.

Mom likes Fred & Ginger too:)

You'll see Nedra and Denise at major quilt shows this year. But it you can't wait, patterns are available in Cactus-Needle Etsy shop.
Get rolls and rulers at Triangles on a Roll.
Happy Quilting!

  



Coming soon:

Can you guess what Mom is up to next?

 

Teddy Bears with Friends

When a new member is being welcomed to a family, it is customary that gifts are presented. Our friend Tracy is adopting this summer, and she asked Mom to help create a teddy bear matching the baby blanket Tracy quilted.

This is before the finishing touches of felt!

 

That blue heart on the pad of the paw was done by yours truly!

 

The face looks cute doesn't it? But which eye is better? This one...

 

... or these flowery ones?

 



Mom also got a chance to use the stuffing skill she learned from Mhairi. Plus, Mom liked this bear pattern; Simplicity 5461. She said it was challenging, but not too hard. I bet anyone could make a bear like this.