Quilts: Outdoors + Latest Quilt Blocks

Last week I took some of my quilts outside for some more natural-light pictures. I am sooo ready to be rid of snow. Bring on Spring!!

Jelly Roll: Front (Jelly Roll Quilt Along)

Jelly Roll: Back

Summer Star Sampler 2010: Front (This was from the Summer Star Sampler Quilt Along)

Summer Star Quilt: Back

Block #8 ("This & That") for the Layer Cake Quilt Along

All 8 block for the LCQA - 4 more to go!

February block for the scrappy quilt block "Star Search;" these are the Two Toonies Thursdays' blocks sold at Freckles Quilt Shop here in Calgary.

First 6 blocks of the Star Search quilt... 6 more blocks to go. (These blocks are 9.5")

Quilt Update!

I'm so excited about my latest quilting accomplishments! I was running behind in my weekly "homework" for the quilt-alongs, but a'las, I am now caught up. It's such a great feeling!!

SUMMER STAR SAMPLER QUILT-ALONG 2010

Block 7

Block 8

Block 9

Block 10

Block 11

Block 12

Here are all 12 blocks together. Each block is 12"

There is a large centre-piece (24") which still needs to be completed. (Instructions not posted yet, thus it isn't finished.)

MYSTERY QUILT 2010

The first part of the assembly was done for the Mystery Quilt. It is currently 24" x 24" but I will have to add borders, batting, backing, & binding. So far... it's nice!

JELLY ROLL QUILT-ALONG 2010

Here is the last quilt block for the JRQA: Meet Block 12.

All 12 blocks complete (12" each)

Today I finished sewing the quilt top. I bought some fabric for the sashing & border. Check out these details!

Red Fabric: part of the Jelly Roll package, "Pashmina" by Moda.

Cream: Paul Barnes of Bonnie Blue Quilts, Marcus Fabrics (purchased at Freckles, Calgary).

Blue: Grace Pullen for South Sea Imports. (This was my purchase at the quilt store in Salmon Arm, BC, during our summer camping holidays.)

And... FINALLY... THE COMPLETED QUILT TOP!!!!! It measures 68" x 54". I just LOVE (!!) this quilt top.

I have to add batting & backing. The binding will be red.

Tote Bag & Summer Star Sampler Quilt Along

First of all, here is a tote bag that I started a while ago & just finished yesterday. This was my first tote bag. The fabric on the outside of the bag I purchased a few years ago in Africa. The interior fabric was purchased locally.

The instructions that I found on the internet for this bag were a bit confusing. I realized after I cut the fabric that I did not have "sides" to the bag, so I had to cut them separately then sew them in. However, I added batting between the 2 fabrics, and that made it more difficult to sew corners. In fact, I brought the bag to a local shoe maker yesterday so that the bottom corners of the bag could be sew together (I wasn't able to fit the corners on my sewing machine).

It is a rag-edge style bag, and I simply did some zigzag stitching over the quilting tape along the edges. Bag measures 16" x 12" x 5." No inside pockets.. It isn't a fancy bag, but it's mine, I made it, and best of all, I was able to use my African fabrics!

The fabric inside the bag:

This summer I'll be taggin' along on the ride for "Summer Star Sampler Quilt-Along" by A Quilty Kind of Girl Designs' quilt blog. I'm very excited about this as this will be my first quilt-along, and I will be able to try new blocks & styles. Oh, I have SOOOOO much to learn!

The colours that were featured in the Summer Star Sample Quilt-Along were not my style, so I'll be using some of my own stash, including fabrics that I purchased at a local moving sale. Thus, my colours will be blue hues (including some purple), greens (pale green & very dark greens) and yellows (mustards and creams).

Here is my Block 1 (12" x 12"):

Block 2 (also 12x12). I struggled with the HST (half-square triangles) & flying geese on this one. It's not perfect, but after ripping out seams & re-sewing (& repeating a few more times), this version will do for now.

The first 2 blocks for the Summer Star Sample Quilt Along: