Wednesday, August 14, 2013

A Really Good Sewing Day : :

Yesterday was such a fun day in my sewing room! It was a weird weather day, raining on and off, so we decided to spend the day sewing & crafting together. Kaiden worked on a collage he's been making, Jacob made a second Little Friend softie from our Sewing School book, Haila started a new crown for herself, and I finished up my Ant Farm quilt with some Lizzy House stripe binding.

Binding My Ant Farm Quilt

I couldn't resist sharing a few photos on Instagram throughout the day! This one's my favorite, a little shot of the day's handmade finishes!

Handmade Finishes!

I spent sometime reorganizing my fabric stash, as well. And even found the room I need for the fabrics that should be arriving here any day -- some AMH Field Study Linen Feathers from Stash Fabrics & a bundle of Tule by Leah Duncan for Art Gallery Fabrics! I can't wait!

Fabric Stash

Once the kids were in bed, I was ready to jump right into my plan for that Kona Wine Colorstory bundle & Text Fabrics, but then I got new idea that I didn't want to lose! My niece Molly had requested that her quilt be a Butterfly Quilt, and I knew I wanted to somehow incorporate at least a few butterflies floating off, the way I did on my recent Applique Art Quilt. I quickly sketched out my design idea and I think it's going to be a good one!

Molly's Butterfly Quilt Sketch

So, I stayed up late working it all out. Since I'm fussy cutting butterflies from several different collections, that each has a different scale & I'm working only with fabrics I have on hand, with a Pure Element solid stash that's dwindling, yikes! I had some serious math to figure out before I began my cutting.

This morning I woke up, late, to my progress laid out on our dinner table and I was so excited with the sight of it! I made breakfast for the kids, then I had to make just one more block before sharing here today!

Molly's Butterfly Quilt

Molly's Butterfly Quilt

Butterfly Quilt Block

Butterfly Quilt Block

I'm excited to get back to work! Then this afternoon, if the sun starts shining, we plan to take my Ant Farm Quilt photos. Wish me luck!!  ♥   Maureen

59 comments:

  1. The butterfly quilt wip already looks amazing, I love that sketch! Good luck Maureen, I hope you have another super productive sewing day today!

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  2. I love the picture you took of it spread out on the table..in the corner you can see your pup peeking over the couch!! So cute..
    Also, LOVE the new quilt. The butterflies are so pretty and love the design you're doing!

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    1. Thank you! That picture of Penny was such a perfect, sweet moment! I'm so excited about this Butterfly Quilt. I don't need to add anymore computer work to my huge to-to list, but this one really needs to become a pattern that I can share with everyone! It's been really enjoyable so far and I'm so excited to get to those floating butterflies!

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  3. Quilting Quilting Beautiful Quilting .... but that pup steals the show! Love what your doing but seriously,,, give us some pics of that little fur baby!!

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  4. That butterfly quilt is going to be gorgeous! I always love the planning stage :)

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  5. Can't wait to see the Ant Farm quilt. Your sketches are lovely! The Butterfly quilt is coming along VERY nicely. You do such beautiful work. I am completely inspired.

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    1. Thank you Christina!! I'm really hoping to get those pictures this afternoon, so I can share it tomorrow!

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  6. Just wonderful as usual! I always enjoy seeing what you are working on. I have an off-topic question, but I was wondering where you got the mirror on your mantel, if you don't mind? It is beautiful.

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    1. Thanks Jess! The mirror with the yellow flowers is from Pier1, it's a couple of years old, and the starburst mirror I thrifted back in late Spring early Summer, from a local shop.

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  7. Beautiful as always. I love the butterfly fabrics.

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  8. I'm excited for you! That butterfly quilt is going to be amazing!!!

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  9. OMG, love how that butterfly quilt is coming together! Can't wait to see the finished product!

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  10. This looks like it will be a fun quilt. And I like seeing how it transitions from the sketch pad to the real thing.

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  11. I can hardly WAIT to see the ant-farm quilt finished. The butterfly one is going to be so beautiful - the colors are so sophisticated that she'll be able to use it for many years.

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    1. Thank you, Janelle! Tonight's Ant Farm Quilt picture taking adventure was a success and hopefully I'll get a chance to share them in the morning!

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  12. Your quilting is so lovely, but that picture of pop-up Penny is just too adorable!

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  13. What a glorious day! At first I thought it must have been so productive because your kidlets were at school. But no, they were there and sewing too! I dream of those future days and get snatches of them sometimes. The quilt looks amazing so far, love the contrast of the butterflies with the squares. Almost like an old school pinned butterfly collection but so much more humane :)

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  14. Such an inspiring post! Love the binding on that pretty quilt at the machine, and the idea of the family creating alongside you! Also, it makes me happy to see sewing projects in the main living areas of a home in progress. Studios are great, but it always feels especially cozy and homey to have sewing in the hub of things. :) ( Beautiful projects!)

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    1. Thank you, Julie! When we moved into out new home last November we decided to make my sewing room a shared craft space with the kids and it's worked out so well. I would never get anything accomplished, especially during the Summer, if it weren't for both the space and the supplies we have for all of us to use & share. It's always fun to get creative together and, I don't mind having the dining table double as my quilt design space at all! :)

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  15. Oh! I just noticed the little dog face peeking out! So cute! ;)

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  16. I love the butterflies! I can't wait to see this quilt come together. I am looking forward to my daughter being just a little older so I can sew with her too :)

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  17. Love what you've all been working on :o)

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  18. can't wait to see a whole quilt *hey, what those snicker shoe doing in your fabric cabinet LOL - *Im jealous over your fabrics pile..

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    1. Those are my Rock N' Romance shoelace Converse! I still haven't worn them! :)

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  19. Oh I can't wait to see your ant farm quilt! I also am just getting different pieces of the backyard baby line in the mail. I saw it the day before you posted you were working on this and I was excited to see what you do :) This fabric is so cute!

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  20. Puppy! Oh, sorry, I got distracted. That quilt is going to be amazing.

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  21. Would love to see your Ant farm quilt, the sneak peek looks great. Love that stripe binding.

    The butterfly quilt is looking great too. Wow, that does seem like lot of calculations to do. It did turn out great.

    Can't wait to see the complete quilt.

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  22. WOW! You are so amazingly talented it kills me! This is going to be a FANTASTIC quilt! I can't wait to see more of it!

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  23. Love the newest quilt! The combo of window and crosses is amazing, as is the color. LOVE.

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  24. I woke up and sewed while still in my pjs this morning. I am making 3 aprons that will be the prizes for the pie contest at our church picnic this Sunday. The first one turned out so now I know the pattern is okay and I am ready to make the others. This week is also VBS and I am having a blast leading the craft time with the kids.
    I love that Butterfly quilt and the Ant Farm quilt looks super sweet.

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  25. Stunning, Maureen. This is really wonderful! Emailing soon, sorry for not getting back to you. XXXXXXXXXXX

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    1. No rush, Sondra! I'm feeling very productive this week and it feels so good! :)

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  26. This one is looking amazing!!! Can't wait to see it finished! Looks like you're really on a roll now :)
    (and I see your dog peeking up in the background of the first picture - so cute!!!)

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  27. correction - 5th picture - oops!

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  28. Love that pattern. I'm thinking I could use charm squares for the centers....I have some Hawaiian theme squares which might work. You are so creative Maureen.

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    1. Thank you, Ann! Yes, my center squares here are 5" x 5", so this pattern would be perfect for that!

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  29. Love those butterflies (and Sinister Swarm is the best name ever), but I couldn't figure out how to make them into a quilt. I made a Washi dress instead. Love what you did though, subtle but still clearly moths and butterflies. Awesome.

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    1. Thank you, Mary! Oh, I bet that dress is gorgeous!! I love the floral elements to the Sinister Swam print so much, but once I had it in my hands the moths & butterflies were so gorgeous, right away I thought of using them either in fussy cut blocks as I'm doing here or in raw edge applique.

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  30. The butterflies are gorgeous! What a lot of work for just one day and night.

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    1. It was a lot of work, but the very best kind! And, feels extra rewarding today to read so many sweet comments! Thanks, Tammy!

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  31. I am wondering why you are piecing this design as blocks instead of strips?
    You could save 1/2" of your solid fabrics every intersection by making the top/bottom fabrics in each block into "sashing," between "blocks" of two-patch: butterfly: 2-patch, without cutting the fabric into narrow strips and sewing it back together where your colors meet (the three colors across each top/bottom that meet, same color to same color). Does this make any sense? It is a lovely design, regardless, but if I were doing "serious math" to save fabric, I'd eliminate seam allowances where possible.

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    1. I definitely considered that, but chose sticking with blocks rather than strips because I'm leaning more towards doing quilting as you go for this quilt. Plus, with a very limited amount in some of the solids I am using, I want to have the freedom to possibly shift my blocks around before I piece them together.

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  32. Sounds like a very productive day! I like your idea for the butterfly quilt. The math part is my least favorite part of a project!

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  33. Does colour selection come naturally to you? Has your use of colour evolved over time? I still can't get over your skills in this area. If you are able to define the way you do it, I'd love to hear about it!

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  34. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, you are so CREATIVE! and I ditto what Ro Ando says above, because I just don't know how you do it, amazing color selections every time.

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  35. So fun that you and your children spent the day sewing/crafting. I am trying to come up with small projects that my boys and I can work on as winter is around the corner.
    I love the butterfly quilt. Absolutely beautiful. As usual your color selection is wonderful.

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  36. You never fail to amaze and inspire. My sincere thanks for your wonderful blog!!

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  37. Wow, you were productive! The Ant Farm quilt is looking fabulous, can't wait to see the entire quilt. It looks like your sketching worked out fabulously. I like the colorblocking/gradient. I think I'll be doing something similar with my current project. I didn't notice Penny peaking over the couch until I read the comments. Too cute!

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  38. I like your little dog peeking over the back of the couch :)

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  39. Great Blog - I have a hint for you that I read in a Quilting Magazine. When you are putting your binding on your quilt - simply put your binding in a plastic bag on the floor between your legs (or beside) and it comes out of the bag without any tangling and you don't have to keep moving it. It works great. Just thought you might want to give it a try :-)

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  40. Beautiful butterflies and I love the way the solids are playing out around them! Can't wait to see more! Always feels so good to have a great sewing day!

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  41. Mhm - nice stash :P :D Showed the picture to my hubby who is constantly saying I have too many fabrics (I have only one small box which is 1/3 full) and he was speechless. Thanks for proving him that I am NOT alone with constantly wanting more fabrics :D

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  42. I really love how you're framing the butterflies. Miss you!

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