Party Time!

It has been quite a while since I have published a pattern, so I am so happy to introduce Party Streamer! You can purchase it here.

I am rather smitten with the quilt and with how to photos turned out. I have been hoping to shoot in this spot for a while, but I wasn't sure if it was allowed or considered trespassing. Yesterday morning, I got up the guts and we dashed out there, probably looking rather sketchy. It was worth it!

I had a lot of fun quilting this quilt because I really felt inspired to step outside the box. I chose to only quilt the negative space and use a design to echo the shape created with the color. What do you think?

And of course, none of these pictures would ever be possible without the best helper ever. I confess, I often orient the quilt the wrong way, or the sun is interfering, or a myriad of other things. The photos that Adham stages always turn out significantly better than mine. I am so grateful for his help, even though it is not his favorite task. 

As always, than you for supporting CityStitches! We couldn't do it without you!

Spring had Sprung

I am on a mission in 2015 to finish all the half finished quilts in my closet. This one was high on my list. I love it, but I just never got around to joining the blocks. Or pulling off the stabilizer. Much like the paper used in paper piecing, I hate having to pull things off of the back of quilt blocks.

I actually joined the blocks a little differently than the pattern calls for. Rather than put sashing between all the blocks, I offset the flowers in each row a little differently. I like the end effect. Now I just need to get a turn on mom's long arm to quilt it.

I was able to use the time I spent confined to a car for work to pull the stabilizer from both this quilt and the paper from another. I was that bored. I am not sure I would have ever gotten it done if it had not literally been the ONLY thing to do.

We also have been getting used to having this guy back. He is quite the hunter....and often I am the prey. Good thing I love him so much.

3 years in the Making

Oh this quilt. It has been sitting in my WIP pile for THREE YEARS. I made it in early 2012 when I was just beginning to learn how much quilting meant to me. It is/was for one of my best friends of all time. I had finished it by his birthday, revealed it via skype, and then told him it just needed binding. And for three years, it. just. needed. binding. Can you say worst friend ever?

So for his birthday, three years later, it is in the mail and should arrive on his doorstep. The color choices in the quilt were meant to represent the southwest landscape and sky. He loves it there. The pattern is by Fresh Lemon Quilts.

It is very weird to finish a quilt from so long ago. My skills have changed so much since then. To see my piecing and quilting from when I was relatively new years later gives such a weird perspective on how much you have learned. 

I hope Yeager, his girlfriend, and their dog get lots of snuggles out of this quilt. I hope it goes with them on all of their adventures, and I hope it gets to see the world. Happy Birthday friend!