Orange Star #3

Okay, so remember this Orange Starburst quilt from last year June and this Orange Tea for Bear quilt from last year August? Well, welcome to 2015 when I finished a Final version of this quilt pattern.

There's not much to say about it except that when I was in the process of making Orange Tea for Bear, I bought double the fabric and cut double the amount of pieces for the blocks. So I could make an extra one-- I'm not sure why I thought this would be desirable, necessary, or fun...

Front

Back

Quilting straight lines using scotch blue tape to guide me

Love Postcards

Used to be K's truck, now it's Zack's

Our friends, K and B, just got married yesterday. I've been working on their quilt off and on since January. Over the Christmas holiday I sat at the dining table with my mom and Grammy and spread out all of my quilter's magazines and books. "Okay, I have friends getting married in July. I need to find THE pattern!"  My mom found the winner in the first magazine she looked through-- the Jan/Feb 2013 Quilty.  It was perfect! I had a goal with seven months ahead of me, so I could choose to work on it as I got pockets of time.

I call their quilt Love Postcards.  Granted, there's nothing postcard-y about the quilt pattern, but the hearts, the small size of the blocks, the fact that one of the fabrics has words on it, all reminded me of postcards. Plus, K and B lived apart during their college years (and then some) and so I choose to force upon them the notion that maybe they sent some love letters to each other via snail mail.

I added borders that the original quilt pattern did not call for and really love the result. It ended up measuring around 62 X 70 inches.  I quilted it at home with simple straight lines. I finished the binding the day before the wedding. Phew!

Packaging

Zack cleaned up an apple crate for me and glued a small wood tag to the box so I could label it with my Alberta Marie logo. I forgot to take a picture of it at home, but we grabbed one from the gift table.  It's not the most appealing packaging but definitely the most unique.

Quilt front

The quilt back

Back closeup, two fabrics for top and bottom

Square Over Square

Last year around May a man named Michael requested that I make a quilt large enough for his queen bed. Sure! I'd love to! He had no color preferences, and was very vague in general as to what he wanted. (Luckily this is very liberating. I still feared of course, what if he hates it?)

It took me about two months to decide on the color scheme and pattern. If it wasn't for a weekend away with my quilting buddy Megan, I would have never found the right inspiration. Thank goodness she had her own quilt of this pattern; and thank goodness for Moda Bakeshop tutorials!
(A note on my creative process: I originally chose green and brown fabrics and a pinwheel pattern but found that the tones that I was drawn to were altogether too pukey. Oops! So I went out and bought new fabric and chose a totally different pattern. And making all these choices takes time!)

Laying it out to measure in the dining room, furniture removed

This quilt is made up of 9 large blocks. I actually had them all finished right before the wedding.
 But then it took all of November for me to cut sashing strips, to plan the layout, and make all the pieces one single piece. Then it was easy. I used a single fabric for the back, sent it out to be quilted and then sewed the binding on after Christmas. I even added a quilt label-- my first.

This is the biggest quilt I've ever sewn. Not sure if I'll ever make another quilt of this grandeur again.  I hope to... and I hope to eventually make time to create quilts that I keep.

Inside Hotel Oregon, natural light was better than at my house

On the rooftop of Hotel Oregon for kicks

How does it look on a bed?

Ready to deliver!

Quilt Label

The quilt is SOO big!

Primary Alphabet

Primary Alphabet for Baby Houston

I had been working on this quilt, somewhat simultaneously, as I was finishing What a Bunch of Squares.  It was ordered at the same time and I felt guilty for "neglecting" it.

I was happy to have finished it right at the beginning of June when the baby was born.  (Apparently this was especially lucky because he was unexpectedly early.)

Zack and I got to drop off the quilt and spend time with proud parents Mary Beth and Brian. Grandma Lynn even put in a request for her own quilt! 

Houston is so adorable even while he was fussing a bunch and making really loud farts that Zack fully enjoyed.  I'm sure this quilt is going to get a whole lotta lovin!

Congratulations Mary Beth and Brian!

What a Bunch of Squares

This quilt was made with a specific couple in mind. I can't say that what I made matches their character description, but I always kept their images in my head. I was given an entertaining characteristic profile:

They always wear navy blue, grays, black&white, camel, and plaid patterns. Some things they enjoy together are: reading, books, words, coffee, Woody Allen movies, Twin Peaks, Northwest aesthetics (like douglas fir, rain, clouds, Hood River), Mad Men (Sixties aesthetics).

So where did I end up with this? Oh goodness-- a bright colored tribute to some natural-ish things.  Butterflies, Feathers, Flowers, Leaves, Logs and Peacocks are just some of the fabrics to look out for.

Front, 66 in. X 78 in. (I think)

Back

 

Trying to show off the quilting

Allison and Michael, Congratulations!  I'm so happy that you two will have one of my quilts to snuggle up with.

Cheers!

On the Clothesline- Deer Crossing

Deer Crossing

A scrappy baby quilt

44 in. x 44 in.

This is the second quilt of four to come from my stash of Sarah Watts Timber & Leaf fabric collection.

The middle horizontal and middle vertical sections are quilted with very close lines. They intersect in the center square. The four corners are quilted with intersecting lines that do not cross one another.

(Sorry about the harsh creases from keeping the blanket folded. Photos aren't the best.)

Front

Back

Waffle/Grid effect in the center square

Some baby is ready to relax and picnic on this quilt!

Another baby is ready for story time in their favorite reading chair!

A quick anectdote-- The quilt has some quirks, like, lots of rumples and frustrating ruffles. During the whole process I felt like I wouldn't be able to sell it.  "Who would want to buy this?" I kept on asking myself.  So I quickly reasoned that I should give it away, rather than have someone buy it as a gift for someone. 
The other night Zack and I went to hear Anais Mitchell in concert. I am head over heels in love with her voice. To our surprise, we learned that she's pregnant! I immediately thought, "I can give Anais this baby quilt!" But then, I thought about how odd it might be and the whole interaction and exchange mightn't  be worth it.
Imagine me, post concert: "Um, Anais. I love you! I mean, I love your music. I made a baby quilt for your baby."
Anais: "You knew I was pregnant before you came to the concert?"
Me: "I know everything about you. I mean, I just finished the quilt and I have to give it someone so I thought I'd give it to you. Even though it's small.  And I didn't know you were pregnant actually. I just wanted to give you some token of affection."

And she'd laugh pleasantly and awkwardly and thank me. And send me on my merry way. And I'd leave and pretend I didn't think the whole exchange was awkward too.