Natalie's Wild & Free Quilt : :

This past weekend I was thrilled to have Natalie of Green Leaf Goods here for a visit! We met each other a few years ago through a quilting bee we both had joined. Her distinct modern improv style caught my eye right away! I was new to quilting then and was so inspired by her color, fabric, and block style choice when her turn to choose the bee quilt design would come around every few months. The Improv Chevron block pattern that she introduced to me is still a favorite of mine! Being just a newbie then, making these bee blocks was one of my first enjoyable experiences with quilting, and no doubt influenced my own style!



Over the years Natalie and I have kept in touch through social media and had made a few different attempts to get together that just never worked out. A few months ago I sent her a bundle of my Wild & Free fabrics to have some fun with, I love her style and knew she'd make something to inspire us all! I was so excited on Saturday when our plans to get together finally worked out, we had such a great time, and I was overjoyed to see her beautiful quilt work in person! My husband snapped this photo of us together with her Wild & Free quilt right in our backyard, what a surreal & special moment!



And then, we decided to have ourselves a Potter County quilt photo shoot at the park nearby, how could we not!!



Isn't her quilt beautiful?! I've been combining Wild & free with mostly other Art Gallery Fabric collections, so I especially loved seeing my collection used with so many different prints, by so many different designers!



Natalie's work is complete perfection! From her color & print selections, to the balance she created in her quilt design, to her wood grain quilting. It's all such flawless work!



I especially love these little red nine patch blocks and the green Lizzy House print binding!



I have to showoff her quilt back, too! The combination of prints and colors she chose is too amazing not to share!



I'm so grateful for this chance to share Natalie's quilt today, I hope you're feeling as inspired as I am!!

I wish you all a beautiful day! ♡ Maureen

Calling All Quilters : :

Just a little more than one week ago, we all watched the terrible and shocking tragedy that took place at the 117th Boston marathon. With sadness and disbelief, all we can do is take this feeling of helplessness that comes after such incomprehensible tragedy, and do our best to do good in whatever ways we can. In response to what took place that day, the Boston Modern Quilt Guild has been working on a way to help those in their community that have been directly affected by the bombing and subsequent events.

They are asking ALL quilters around the globe to send quilt blocks using the colors of the Boston Marathon - - blue, yellow, gray and white, which will be turned into quilts. As a guild they plan to make and distribute these quilts to those who would benefit from a show of support, and they need OUR help! Their hope is that these quilts can bring that sense of comfort that we know a quilt can bring!!

Here's an example stack of fabrics Natalie put together for us to use as inspiration!



In Natalie's words, "All blocks should be 12½” tall x the width of your choice. That could mean 12½” x 7”, 12½” x 12½”, or anything wider, more narrow, or in between. Please machine piece your blocks in any style you would like. Please use only “quilt shop quality” 100% cotton or cotton/linen fabrics. Both print and solid fabrics are welcome. Our preference is white or light gray 100% cotton thread, but any coordinating thread of good quality will do."



They ask for us to consider adding photos of the blocks we create to their flickr group. This is not required, but it will be wonderful to share the blocks as we are making them and to see what people are working on!

Please mail all blocks and fabric donations to:

Quilts for Boston
P. O. Box 79225
Belmont, MA 02479

If you have any questions, please contact: bostonmqg@gmail.com



You can grab the button above for your own blog or website over on the BMQG website.

Let me know if you plan to join in!! And please help spread the word!! I'm off to post this on my Facebook page, if you want to share it over there for your sewing friends to see!  ♥,  Maureen

Color Palette Perfection : :

Isn't this the most beautiful Fall color palette? I think so!



Yesterday, while I worked on my Wonky Pinwheel Bee Blocks, I thought a lot about the things I plan to make for our new home. I've been creating quite the list! I'm so excited to finally be able to really decorate in a way that represents our taste and style. Since we've always rented and have moved sooo much, regardless of how much I may have loved the house we were living in, I knew it was just a temporary situation. Because of that I have never had this chance to plan and dream about making a house, our home.

While I pieced away, I also spent some time thinking about Natalie. She clearly has great taste and a wonderful sense of color! These colors together are so warm and inviting.



I thought of the last assigned bee blocks that Natalie chose for us. Those Improv Chevrons, probably my favorite blocks ever! And remembered I had made just one extra one, adding in a little navy and brown.



I have several, maybe a dozen or so, random quilt blocks hanging in my studio closet. I went and found that one that I had completely forgotten about, and right away thought about this pin, of an Eco-friendly Living Room via bhg.com. I love everything about it! This color palette is definitely one of my favorites, and one that both my husband and I love. I plan to use this image as inspiration for decorating our new family room.

via bhg.com

Today, I'm thinking that this Improv Chevron block might have to become a first new pillow, for our new home. What do you think?
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oops : :

So, yesterday was interesting! I woke up so excited about sharing my newest Fat Quarter Gang project. Posts ready, with an awesome Rock n' Romance giveaway, waiting semi-patiently for the go-ahead to share. Some of you may have already gotten a peek of it, if you follow me on flickr. Well, I waited all day, sending our "gang leader" (never thought I'd write that...) little emails, telling her I was ready. And, it wasn't until pretty late in the day when Amy kindly pointed out that it wasn't actually my turn until next week. Doh! So, next Monday....

I also finished up a new Janome project tutorial on Friday, which I'm super excited about. Hoping to share that soon! Otherwise, these last several days have mostly been spent making my Birthday Crowns! I am so grateful for the orders I am getting, it's been wonderful, and I'm starting to believe that spending my days home sewing "as a paying job" is definitely possible! Thank goodness!

I love when I get a stretch of time to knock out several crown orders. Especially when I get to take a photo of them grouped together, before packaging them up and sending them on their way!









Below...now these were a lot of work! I shared them here back in the Spring when they were made, but this past Friday they made it on a really amazing Party website. Warning - make sure your children aren't looking if you check it out. It made every party I have ever thrown look extremely lame. lol



Today, I have plans to finish my second Wonky Pinwheel bee block using Natalie's awesome tutorial. Can you believe this is her first tutorial?? Amazing!!

photo by Greenleaf Goods

Happy sewing, friends! ♥,  Maureen
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