Tiny, tiny triangles

With each new quilt I like to expand my skills at least a little.  I'm wondering .... do you ever get to a point where you know and can do everything?  I'd like to think that before I leave this earth I'll make one "perfect" quilt.

This picture caught my eye on pinterest and I've been going back to it repeatedly so I finally decided to make it.  I don't have a pattern but I can see that it's just nine patch and snowball blocks.  I'm embarrassed that I actually did two pages of math (plus a glass of spilled wine) to figure it out. 

After trimming the blocks I've got a nice little pile of tiny triangles.  I'm sewing and sewing in my spare moments and then anticipate trimming and trimming but hopefully will have a sweet little border someday.  The tiny half square triangles are actually taking as much time as sewing the rest of the blocks all together.

In the end I'd like to showcase a simple hand quilting design  in the blank white areas.  I'm not a fan of hearts or swirlies but all my attempts at freehanding a design look shockingly like a pentagram.  If anyone has any simple design ideas I'd appreciate a link or a picture.

Thank goodness for a snowy, snowy Sunday to have a nice excuse to stay in and sew with Downton Abbey as my background noise.  What could be better?

Another woman's quilt blocks

Last Thursday I was getting my hair cut by my long-time hairdresser Kim and I was telling her of my new found love of quilting.  She mentioned that years ago her mother was learning how to quilt when she was sick so she could make a quilt for each of her grandchildren.  She died before she finished the last one ...  for Kim's youngest son.  Recently Kim found all the finished blocks and fabric and had been wondering how she could find someone that could put them together and finish the quilt.

I am so honored to be able to sew these blocks together and complete the wishes of a woman who wanted to leave each of her grandchildren a memento of her love.  I've thought of her a lot as I've been pressing and trimming and sewing the blocks that she made with hopes of leaving a gift of comfort for her grandson. 

I'm going to add a border and hand quilt and then bind with navy blue.  I really hope I can do this quilt justice and make it as nice as she would have and that a young boy thinks of her as he snuggles with it. 

Zig Zag Value Quilt ... Well, my attempt at a value quilt

My last quilt of 2011 is completed as a birthday gift for my sister.  I used a Moda Origins layer cake and just matched light to dark for half square triangles.  Many, many layouts ensued but I settled with the classic zig zag.  You can NEVER go wrong with the zig zag.

Hand quilted with #8 Perle cotton in black and cream.  Since I learned how to trim half square triangles I have to say my points came out much pointier.  I always say that points don't matter ... but when you get a few sharp ones in a row you really want to brag a little. 

I backed it with the top sheet from my son's set.  Thanks trusty Assistant for ripping up his bottom sheet.  You and I make a great team!  

 I'm looking forward to getting my sewing area set back up and starting something new.  Better get back to scouring Pinterest for some inspiration.

Sometimes simple is so much better

I've been wracking my little brain trying to think of exciting blocks or new patterns for an adorable fat quarter bundle of Michael Miller fabric.  Finally it occurred to me that nothing at all is wrong with a simple patchwork quilt. How could it be any sweeter?

36" x 46"

Five inch squares sewn together.  Guilty glances at my Accuquilt Go Cutter that is still sealed in the box with a 5" square die.  Five inch squares are so easy to cut ... why did I pick that die??

Hand quilted with straight lines through the blocks.

 Easy and not complicated.  Just like a baby.   Now .... on to dresdens.  Come join me!

The Assistant is on the job

I'm all set to pin baste a sweet little patchwork but can't decide on my quilting lines.  Diagonals lines to make diamond shapes?  Straight lines to make squares on the squares?  I don't know just yet and can't pin until I commit to a design.   

Jada and I were discussing this and she said she was going to "sleep on it."   Alas .... no pinning for a while. 

Kallie Lou

Hand quilted, freshly washed and out on a photo shoot.  May I introduce Kallie Lou,  my kaleidoscope quilt.

50" x 70"

I am probably the last finisher of Betsy's quilt a long but a finish is a finish.  And a finish is pretty exciting over here at the Bailey Girl household.   I was a little nervous starting a project that involved templates, points and lots and lots of cutting but doing this step-by-step with a fun group really kept me going.

I'm still in love with hand quilting. If you want some of my tips click here. 

I loved picking out the fabrics.  Anna Marie Horner, Tufted Tweets and Denyse Schimdt in all their quilty glory.    Was that a little dramatic?  Nah .... I didn't think so either.  I  backed it with a duvet cover that I bought at a garage sale.  It was so nice to not piece a back.  

I'm entering Kallie in the Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted Amy.   Pop over there and enjoy the beautiful quilts and read their inspiring stories. Make sure you have a drink and some snacks nearby ... you'll probably be there for a while!

I'd like to thank the stage crew.  
They make a photo shoot in wildlife refuge a little less ridiculous 
and a lot more fun.

Let's make dresdens!

This beautiful dresden is by the leader, Deb Robertson.

Sometimes it takes a quilt a long to push me out of my comfort zone and to try something new.  The Old Red Barn Company on Flickr is going to make dresdens soon.  No fancy rulers or templates required! 

I have decided to try and go for a baby quilt but if that is too daunting maybe just two pillows (errr.... one pillow?).  Anyone else in?  Hop over and check it out!