A Finally Finished Table Runner : :

One of my Summer sewing goals is to complete as many of my unfinished projects as I can. I currently have more than I ever have and require two baskets now to hold the neatly folded quilt blocks, pillow pieces waiting to be backed and bound, and even a few quilt tops that are close to being done. Back when I was preparing for my Crafty class, Quick Quilt As You Go where I share my technique by teaching five fun projects including patterns for placemats, a table runner, pillow, and two quilts, I had to make lots of "step-outs" for each of these projects! Step-outs are simply pieces of a project at different stages of construction. When writing a pattern or tutorial to share on a blog, I just make sure to take photos along the way to give a view of each stage & step. When filming my class with Craftsy, I had to make a separate piece for each of these different stages to show on camera. I learned right away that I needed more of these than you might think, and as a result my unfinished projects are overflowing!



One of my favorite Quick Quilt As You class projects is my Ombré Table Runner, a stacked strip table runner in a favorite color scheme of mine with a pretty effect where the colors shade into one another, graduating from dark to light.



I had to make one completely finished runner, plus step-outs that included one almost finished without trimming and binding, one halfway complete, and of course, all the pieces cut and ready to show my how-to on camera. It was a lot of fun, but a lot of work, and since I hate to waste anything, these busy Summer days that don't leave much time for finishing big sewing projects are giving me just enough time to enjoy some smaller project finishes!





Most of the completely finished class projects I already gave as gifts to family over the holidays, so as I finish up these new ones, I'll be adding them to my Etsy Shop! It feels good to see my UFO basket contents dwindle a little, like I'm actually accomplishing something! How about you, what are you working on these days?

♡ Maureen

A Diamond Strings Quilt : :

My Rock 'n Romance Diamond Strings Quilt As You Go quilt is finished! We made several stops on our drive and around town to get these photos to share here today. Yesterday turned out to be such a beautiful day, with the sun shining bright but always changing, casting sunbeams, spots, and shadows on so many of my pictures. In the end I think this is just one of those quilts that's beauty shows best in person, but I tried my best!



This is the second quilt I've made using Pat Bravo's Rock 'n Romance fabric collection. The first was made for Pat to use in her  R 'n R promotional ads & video, and was quilted by the amazing Angela Walters. I haven't seen it finished, in person, but I do remember watching this fun video by Fat Quarter Shop from quilt market and then the shock that followed after hearing my name mentioned! If you watch it be sure to notice all that beautiful quilting!!

Well, after having my skull quilt featured in such a special way, I've been waiting for the perfect quilt idea to strike, one worthy to use up the rest of my R 'n R stash. Then a couple weeks ago while deciding which fabrics to use for my niece Ceci's quilt I kept going back to my stack of Rock 'n Romance and eventually sketched out my new quilt idea.

The rectangle blocks are made using the same technique I'll be sharing in my next tutorial -- combining cotton batting as my foundation and quilt as you go. Once squared up, the large rectangle blocks measure  10" x 18" and the blocks made with both strings and Pure Element solids measure 10" x 14." 





I wanted to create an ombre color-blocking effect using both pink & purple solids at the top and bottom of this quilt, and I love the end result! It made it difficult deciding which edge should be the top, just for picture taking sake, but it doesn't really matter with this pattern. Any way goes!

It's bound using AGF's newest blender, Squared Elements in both Fuchsia and Watermelon. From my Tula Pink Aurifil collection, I pulled a 40wt variegated thread that matches my binding fabric choice perfectly!



Here you can see the pretty decorative stitches I added using several more colors of Aurifil, along with a few of the built-in stitches my Janome offers. I love those special details!





I can't wait to give this quilt to Ceci! Now that this one is finished and Sylvia's Tule Sunset is on it's way to Sew Shabby Quilting, I have just four quilts left to make before Christmas! A "Princess Castle" quilt for Josie, a Superhero quilt for Ben, one for my oldest niece Kiele, and one for my Kaiden who has such grand ideas his quilt alone could take me as long as it's taken me to make the seven I'm considering finished. But I'm excited for the challenge!

This promise to make my children, nieces, & nephews all a quit this year has bettered me in so many ways. It truly is amazing!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today -- Have a great day!!  ♥  Maureen