New Pattern: Sonesta

So there are designs I have stashed away from my first days of designing quilts that just wait for the perfect opportunity or fabric to showcase them. This is kinda one of those...

 I say kinda because these weren't the fabrics I had in mind when I designed this quilt. I really didn't have any fabrics in mind specifically, but I can tell you these were nowhere in my mind at the time. I'm actually heading to Cottonpickers, my LQS, later today and I'll get a picture of the batik wall that seems to grow every time you look at it. You'll see why I gravitated towards these fabrics, maybe...

When I look at this quilt I see all of the colors from our trip to the Caribbean. I'm hoping that when we have a blizzard this winter I can wrap up in it and feel almost as warm as I did on the beaches we visited... A girl can dream, right?!

 This quilt is so much brighter than most that I've made. It almost scares me a little because of how bright it is. Don't get me wrong, I love it, but this is one of those situations where you didn't know yourself.

The above picture I took at the park by Lake Erie down the street from my house. The lake was the most beautiful color of blue that it is capable of achieving, but the fall leaves weren't having the same feel for me, so these pictures didn't make it on the cover.

 So, my next resort for photos was my backyard fence. Well, really my neighbor's fence, but alas, my fence. It's so hard to make the photos seem appropriate to the fabrics at times when Christmas fabrics come out in Summer and Spring/Summer fabrics come out in Fall/Winter.

This quilt is the medium size with the borders attached. There are three sizes in the pattern ranging from Small to Large. Basically they work from Lap to Full-ish sizes, but is easily made bigger or smaller. The blocks finish at 12" square so with simple piecing and large blocks, this quilt goes together quickly no matter which size you'll make.

I normally use a thread that blends with the quilt top for the quilting, and there really wasn't one color that would work with this blend of gorgeous. Soooo, I used a tie-dye thread that had every color in it. If you click on the photo to enlarge it you can probably see the quilting better.

I also made a flannel version. This is the small size without the borders. Same quilt - completely different feel. Don't ya love it?! If you chose fabrics like this one it'll be great for a guy!

I quilted this one the same way as the other, but the fabrics make it look completely different. These were samples of the Moda Flannel Basics from one of the Moda Salesmen I work with. This quilt will be traveling with him, Mr. Joseph Galza, to the Clare, MI MAAFRA show for quilt shops next week if you're there. The flannels in this quilt felt like butter. It's so soft and I actually curled up in it the one day of the Shipshewana Show I was just at because once the sun went down it got cold, fast! The second morning of the show when we woke up it was only about 22 degrees outside. It's days like that that I appreciate making quilts that much more. If you get cold you have samples to curl up in! It's a win win!

 

So Sonesta is now available to ship and is ready for purchase in my shop. What fabrics would you make this out of? Which version do you like the best? I'm curious to know! I'll be back with more updates later!



It's still dark outside...

This past week has been unbelievable! I have gotten a ton of things done - sorry still no pictures yet - and been running and running and running which I consider a true feat. The days here are getting ever shorter and when I wake up - it's dark now. Just after I get home - it's dark out. It's hard somedays to get motivated and out of bed when it's still dark out when a few weeks ago it was light when I got up. My body is still confused - it keeps telling me it's still dark, go back to bed. However the alarm clock does not lie and then we have issues.

Aside from all that babble, I have started yet another maybe 3 projects this week. I have enough scraps left over from this quilt (remember this one - it still needs a border):

And am planning on making flannel versions of these:

It is that time of year again. It's supposed to be really chilly this weekend and I was able to get out of summer storage my fleece pants that I just love. There are a few upsides to this whole cold weather stuff...

Alright, I'm planning another cooking tutorial soon, just as soon as I get a big bag of fresh apples (any guesses?) And I will be working on more results this week so I have things to show you. Off to make Hubbin a hearty breakfast!

Flannels and 90 degree weather...

So, to update you on the whole sewing machine ordeal, it's just fine and dandy now. It went to get fixed and that must have been all it needed because it was working fine as soon as we got there. Don't you love it when something needs fixed but as soon as you go to show someone what it's doing it stops?! But now I know what to do to fine tune what the issue might be should it ever arise again. Hopefully not.

Since the sewing machine is now back in working order, I was able to finish the Flannel version of Skip to My Lou. I'm going to add a border or two, but I'm thinking this might look wonderful on my bed and I want to make sure I get the right drop on the sides. I'm going to measure it tonight and figure out what and how much I'll need to get that done.



As crazy as it may sound, I was considering putting a flannel backing on this quilt but to compensate for the extra weight and warmth, I was thinking of using a low loft batting. It's still a work in progress as I said before and I'll keep you updated on how it turns out. It's a mystery to us all...



On a little side note I have to show you some adorable pictures of my little man Duncan. When he's not helping me in the "office", he's been keeping track of the bunny that has decided our yard is the best on the block. I have seen it everyday for the last two weeks except today, but there's still time left today for him to make an appearance. The one day it was relaxing in the sun right outside the front window and when I looked over this is what I saw.



Duncan was practically teetering on the window ledge trying to get as close as possible to his new friend. Cracked me up for a minute, but then I had to try and get him down safely.



That's pretty much all of the excitement we had around here this week, nothing too crazy I guess. Might start another project today, or I might wait til tomorrow and read some of my book tonight. I think that sounds like a good plan. Start a new week and a new project tomorrow on a fresh note. Well, hope you all had a great weekend, what's your plan for the week?

My philosophy

I hope you all had a great weekend. It turned out to be pretty nice here considering they were originally calling for thunderstorms all weekend and I don't believe it has rained yet...(keeping my fingers crossed!) I started sewing today on a new version of Skip to My Lou out of flannels, and I love it! I know what you may be thinking, I am too. It is hot and humid and I am making a flannel quilt, crazy I know. I got pretty far today but I'm hoping in a couple days I will have a top to show you. I think you're gonna love it too! It's scrappier than the original and I was thinking of some applique embellishments, they're still being planned out.

Okay onto the whole philosophy thing. I have been contemplating a lot lately with a ton of things going on and I wanted to share with you how my brain works and how I create what I do. As you can probably tell, my quilt patterns are a little bit of everything for every skill level. They're a twist on the traditional and come in all colors and sizes. I believe that a quilt should not be limited to such small possibilities.

If you take one of my patterns, like Skip to My Lou for instance, the original works well for a young lady with flowers and the mixture of colors influenced by the main fabric. The latest version I'm working on with flannels will work well for the guy in your life be it your husband, brother, or son. But if you decided to make it using a child's novelty print, it would showcase it beautifully and be the perfect size for a child's bed.

I really like a quilt to be able to transform with the fabrics chosen for it. It's so incredible how the personality of a quilt can change with the simple adjustment of the fabrics. I try to design all of my quilts with this concept in mind so any pattern can be made in 2 or 9 completely different styles.

I hope you all are enjoying my designs as much as I have enjoyed creating them. Please feel free to e-mail me any time with show-and-tell of your versions of my designs and I will be sure to post them on the blog.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the weekend and I will post hopefully on Tuesday the pictures of the latest version of Skip to My Lou. Pray for a speedy and accurate stitch, and I should be sure to deliver. I cannot wait to show it to you! Chat again soon!