A Crisscross Diamond Quilt : :

Each Summer, my big, wonderful family all spend a week together in a house right on the beach somewhere in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We're in Duck again this Summer, and just as I did last year, I brought along a newly finished quilt to photograph and to share while I'm here!





This Crisscross Diamond quilt is my newest quilt-as-you-go style quilt. A repetitive, colorful block pattern made using Pat Bravo's most recent fabric collection, Etno, with Art Gallery Fabric Prisma Elements. I love these colors together!



Measuring in at a large 80" square, the top beach house balcony worked so well for photographing!



We didn't take it down to the beach until the sun was beginning to set, but the light was so pretty!





For the back I used one of my favorite Etno prints, Pat's sketchy floral Stitched Anthomania. The bright aqua Pyramid print binding is the perfect pop of color to frame all my busy patchwork!





I'm so happy with how it turned out, it's a new favorite for sure!





I'm already thinking of ideas for the quilt I'll bring next year. Perhaps something Wild & Free!

♥ Maureen

Almost Finished : :

Happy June 1st! After a way too busy May, I was so excited to flip that calendar to June. One last week of busy, or three more "wake-ups" if I'm using Haila's countdown, and then the Summer fun begins. I can't wait! With all the busyness these past few days, I was happy to find just enough time over the weekend to finish up my latest Diamond Strings Quilt!



This is my favorite one yet! I made it much more scrappy and switched up my block design just a little to form yellow diamonds wherever four blocks meet. The warm yellow clusters seem to sparkle and glow amidst the layers of prints and colors. I love it!



This one I finished simply, using a yellow Aurifil stitched close to each seam running top to bottom and left to right, to attach my Crimson Dance quilt back. I love this unique shade of red, especially when paired with these warm honey yellows and denim blues. The lacy, floral pattern is just sweet enough to add some needed femininity to this otherwise pretty gender neutral quilt. To blend in I wound my bobbin thread with a red Aurifil. This is the first time I've used so much of this print and I'm loving it as a quilt back!



For the binding I used one of Art Gallery Fabrics' new Prisma Elements in Sapphire Sparkle. These are my new favorite blenders to use, they're making it into almost all of my projects these days, especially the ones that have a touch of metallic shimmer!



Now that it's all finished, I'm moving right onto my Etno Diamond Criss Cross Quilt. Another quilt as you go! My backing and binding fabrics just arrived a couple of days ago!



This sketch floral Stitched Anthomania print is my favorite from the Etno collection. I can wait to see all five yards of it become a beautiful backed quilt!



Here's to hoping I can get this one completely finished before school's out this Thursday! We shall see!

♡ Maureen

A Criss Cross Diamond Quilt Top : :

I'm on quite a roll with these quilt-as-you-go quilts! This one felt slow-going at times. I've never. ever. made a quilt like this one with so many identical, repetitive blocks. Thirty-six in all! Typically this style of quilting doesn't keep my interest, but these colorful, unique Etno prints have so much energy, which really pushed me along! Doesn't it look beautiful this morning?!



Last night I sewed together each of my thirty-six, 13.5" blocks and became more and more excited about my design as it grew!





I had named this pattern my Criss Cross Diamond Quilt before ever cutting into the fabrics. It's one of the many quilt pattern ideas I've put to paper in a new graph style sketchbook that I picked up several weeks ago. Since I usually make my quilts up as I go, I'm finding this process of sketching and carrying out each drawing into a finished quilt extremely rewarding. I can see how it's making me better and that feels good!



I love these Prisma Element diamonds created within my pattern! Such happy bursts of color!



Can you see the criss cross pattern within my Etno patchwork squares?



Looking through my pictures this morning, I can imagine this quilt being made with many other fabric collection, in so many different color combinations! I would love to see a low volume patchwork with a denimy blue diamond combination. I think that would be really pretty! Is there a color combo or fabric collection you'd like to see in the quilt pattern?

I'm hoping to have this one finished sometime next week and then I plan to begin another in this same pattern right away! I'm so glad I made this one quilt-as-you-go, for many reasons, but most of all because of it's size. This finished 79" sqaure quilt top measures BIG when compared to most of the single throw size quilts I make! Since the quilt top is already quilted to the quilt batting, attaching the backing should go quick and I'm already wondering where we should take it for pictures? It's much too big for Kevin to hold up on his own, so we'll have to get creative, hmn?



Be sure to stop back tomorrow for a colorful, new fabric Giveaway! Happy sewing!! ♡ Maureen

QAYG-ing : :

This morning while snapping photos of this week's quilt work it was a sad sight out the front door. I love Winter more than most, but I'm so ready for warmer days!



Back inside I'm feeling extra grateful for the two very different, very colorful quilt as you go projects that are keeping me busy this week, in between my Etsy order makings! This first one I shared the beginnings of a couple weeks back. It's a new qayg pattern I designed for Pat Bravo's latest collection for Art Gallery Fabrics, Etno, paired with several of their new Prisma Elements. Such a happy combo! I'm taking my time with this one, reminding myself to take photos of each step along the way for a future tutorial. So I'm happy to report that after a long strip piecing session this past Saturday, I've finished up the remaining twenty-eight Etno patchwork rectangles needed for each qayg block! The rest should come together super quick!







This second quilt as you go began just yesterday in the late morning, when I cut a few long, narrow strips from each of my Wild & Free prints and this gorgeous stack of Indie, Wanderer, and new Pure Element solids!



Unlike my Etno quilt that's been slow-going, this one is under a tight deadline! After an all day speed quilting, diamond strings qayg assembly line, followed by last night's quilt top assembly session, I managed to make this quilt top from start to finish all in one day! I hope to have it completely finished & photographed by Monday for a last minute local quilt raffle!



I knew I'd love seeing these three collections together! How could I not, they are my very favorites!!



Be sure to stop back tomorrow for a new Fabric Friday Giveaway! Have a great day!!  ♡ Maureen

A New QAYG : :

When Pat Bravo's new Etno fabrics arrived at my door, before I could begin to think of a plan, I had to have more! The Dainty Folk colorway in rose pink, soft gray, aqua, and black is a beautiful combination, but seeing them with a punch of Empire Yellow had me wishing for the full collection!



A week later I had the rest and yesterday I finally found the time to begin my Etno quilt, which began with lots of 18 patch rectangle blocks, made up of 3.5" cuts of each gorgeous Etno print!



I didn't start out with a new quilt as you go in mind. I had planned to frame my patchwork with the solids shown in the first photo, sewing my blocks together in an alternating horizontal and vertical pattern until I had a finished quilt top. But as I sewed, as per usual, I changed my mind! I took away the solids, added in Prisma Elements in a similar color scheme, and immediately was loving where this was headed!



I LOVE these colors together!! Jet Onyx, Pagoda Gem, Larimar Sea, Solar Quartz, and Soft Wulfenite --



For this block I basted my 18 patch center, made up of the 3.5" cuts of Ento prints, onto a 14" square piece of 100% cotton batting on the diagonal. Next I stitch and flip the six colors of Prisma Elements cut into 1.25" strips, working my way from the patchwork edge to the end of each of the two corners, and square up my block to a 13.5" square block. Look how pretty!



I'm so happy that I decided to add in these Prisma Elements. These are with out a doubt my new favorite blender!!



After finishing four blocks, my Criss Cross Diamond pattern started to emerge, I'm so excited!!



The plan is to make a total of 36 blocks (you can see a peek of what that will look like right here) for a finished quilt measuring a large 78" square! Let me know if you have any questions about my quick, written instructions above or if you'd like to see a tutorial for this qayg block? I'd be willing to take the time to share one, if you're interested. Just let me know!

♡ Maureen   

Color Spectrum Progress : :

I'm calling this one my Color Spectrum Quilt, but at second thought, as it continues to grow, I'm thinking the name Double Rainbow might be a bit more fun! Can you see it? The rainbow row of solid geese growing outward, beginning in red with plans to end in gray. While the inner patchwork border begins and will end in the opposite order!





I'm not one to do this tiny patchwork very often, squares and HST units finish at just two inches. But, with each new colorful geese that forms in the corners of each newly finished row, it's exciting and propels me to continue!





I'm hoping to add a few more rows before I share this one again! I'm getting lots of fabric questions on the fabric bundle I put together that's becoming this quilt. I'm considering asking one of my shop sponsors to offer it, so if you're interested in this bundle please do let me know!

♡ Maureen   

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!  

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

My sponsor Pile O' Fabric started off primarily as a modern quilting blog with tutorials and project inspiration, but this year Pile O' Fabric has branched out and is now also a full service online fabric, supply, and pattern shop. Every Monday Alyssa releases a new custom curated stash bundle in solids and prints based on a color scheme. She also stocks a great selection of modern quilt and bag patterns, as well as a large selection of her utmost favorite quilting supplies. She offers *free domestic shipping* on all orders over $45, a rewards program for returning customers, all fabric is labeled with the designer, collection, name, etc. and most in-stock orders placed Mon-Sat before 2pm MST are shipped the same day!
 
SHOP  *  BLOG  *  FACEBOOK  *  INSTAGRAM 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

We hope you enjoy visiting the Pile O' Fabric sites!  

For those of you heading to QuiltCon next month be sure to visit Pile O' Fabric at booth #514!

For this week's Fabric Giveaway Alyssa at Pile O' Fabric is offering this generous, half yard bundle of Art Gallery Fabrics newest blender, their colorful Prisma Elements!! This bundle includes Prisma Elements in Larimar Sea, Warm Thulite, Passion Garnet, Albite Latte, and Jet Onyx!

You can find each of these new fabrics that make up this bundle available for sale individually by the yard HERE, and you can find this bundle in the Pile O' Fabric shop available as a fat quarter and half yard bundle right HERE!!

In addition, Pile O' Fabric is offering my readers 15% OFF all Art Gallery Fabrics, just use coupon code "MCAGF15" at checkout!! Discount valid until the end of the Giveaway on Monday, January 26th!
 
Enter to win! 

Here's how,

 
1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! (one entry)
2. Sign up to receive the Pile O' Fabric Newsletter, when you join the newsletter you will receive a FREE Rainbow Coin Quilt pdf pattern by email! Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (second entry) 
3. Follow Pile O' Fabric on Facebook or Instagram! (optional extra entry)
4. My followers get a third entry! If you follow here, on Instagram, or on Facebook just let me know by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
5. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Whether by instagram, tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (optional extra entry) 

That’s 5 possible entries! Enter now through Monday, January 26th! The winner will be picked at Random and I will announce their name at the bottom of this post, here on the blog.

* Note * This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment!

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!! From 1,081 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

 
Comment #18 --   * Charlene S *  Congratulations, I'll be in touch shortly!  

  

Color Spectrum Beginning : :

The idea for this quilt started on Monday when I pulled this colorful stack of fabrics. Such a happy collection made up of Wild & Free, AGF's new Prisma Elements minus Onyx and Sunstone, Bari J.'s new Petal & Plume feather prints, and the rest were picked from my AGF stash and added to the stack just as long as they looked pretty!





I'm hoping to turn this bundle into two quilts. One will be a quilt-as-you-go in the style of my Endless Summer quilt, but for the second I had a hard time deciding on a pattern I liked. I quickly sketched out a few ideas, kept rearranging the pile, and continued sketching. Since each of my designs included flying geese, I decided to just begin. I knew it would be colorful, that I wanted to go super scrappy, and to incorporate solids & geese. Since my Luminous Field print was the starting point of this bundle, I decided to start there!



Using both my favorite Half Square Triangle method for making eight a time and some speedy strip piecing, my colorful quilt began to grow quickly!



After this third row I decided I'm definitely sticking with this design! Like my Scrappy Bear Paw wip, this won't be a quickie quilt. The many rows of tiny 2.5" squares and HST units will take some time.



But I think with each finished row it will be so exciting to see a colorful, solid geese emerge one by one in each corner!

Happy sewing!!  ♡ Maureen