Happy Birthday Ashley!

A few months ago a good friend of mine contacted me about a custom quilt for his wife. Normally I don't take on custom quilts because I just don't have the time. But this time I just couldn't say "No".

First of all, he was having this quilt made as a total surprise for her birthday. What a guy! I'm pretty sure most guys (mine included) would have to stop at the convenience store on the way home from work to snag a last minute birthday gift (a king size candy bar or maybe one of those cheesy chocolate roses by the register. Blech!) But not Justin. 

Secondly, he wasn't just planning an ol' gift a few, he was planning a quilt out of fabric she had purchased years before on a trip to Hawaii. I was impressed. And of course I was willing to help.

\

This is the quilt that I designed and made for my sweet friend. I was so glad I could be a part of Justin's thoughtful gift.

After thinking on it a while I knew I just couldn't cut up the cute fabric she bought, so I used it as a centerpiece for the whole quilt and built around it.

I appliques blocks of surfboards, pineapples, sea turtles, hibiscus flowers and of course flip flops and pieced them all around the quilt. I added a few extra hibiscus flowers to accent the center.

I love how this quilt turned out!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEY!

"Orange You Glad"

I am so excited about my second finish of the year-"Orange You Glad"!

I used True Colors charm packs from Joel Dewberry, Anna Maria Horner, Jenean Morrison, and 

Heather Bailey for Free Spirit

From the moment I saw them at fall market I knew I wanted to do something with them.

I left out most of the neutrals because I knew they wouldn't show up on my background.

(Collage by Carrie Bloomston)

I also threw in some Henna Garden from Sandi Henderson for good measure. :o)

I almost quilted pebbles in the background, but I'm so glad I did this instead!

I'll be posting a step by step on how I made this next week. Orange you glad?

 Tomorrow I'm headed to Quilt Bliss to sew all weekend long.

HAPPY SEWING!

First Finish

In the past I haven't kept very good track of my quilts. Sure I can go through patterns I've written and figure out when it was made, but there's more quilts than just the pattern quilts. This year I am going to try and keep better track and post each and every finish here on the blog. 

My first finish was done a few days ago but thanks for a broken computer monitor I'm only just posting about it now.

I used the GLITZ fabrics from Michael Miller Fabrics. 

I can't tell you how much I LOVE this fabric. Of course the colors and prints are cute, but what I really love is the use-ability of it. What I mean is it is soft and flexible and delicious!

I know you've seen fabric like this before, with an over print of some glittery goop that makes the fabric stiff and scratchy. Not this one. They worked to get the formula right and it is so right. 

I can see some of the cutest little girl clothes made from these prints. Think Easter dress! In fact, I'm stitching together a skirt for Miss Paris using the scraps. 

Before it was quilted I used it as a photo backdrop. I wanted to get a picture of me wearing my fabulous new scarf made by my dear friend Yvonne. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I absolutely love it.

HAPPY SEWING!