Soft Botanical Mosaic Contest

Did you see that Rachel at Stitched in Color is hosting another mosaic contest, Soft Botanical?  Her beautiful photograph collages never disappoint and she always has such a way with words to describe them, they almost transport you there.

All you need to do is create a 9-fabric mosaic by shopping at Gotham Quilts and add your link(s) to the Soft Botanical collection. (You may need to refresh the webpage for the mosaic entries to display.)

I was inspired by the all the greens of cacti in this artwork found on pinterest. I'm calling this mosic, Calming Cacti.

Calming Cacti

Voting will begin May 1st with winners announced on May 3th.  Two winners will recieve fat quarter from the fabrics in their mosaic.  I think this would be an awesome bundle!

Block Recycle Challenge

I recently finished a quilt using this orphan quilt block as a starting point.  In this tutorial for Improv Pineapple Blocks, its called a half log cabin block, but seems more like a quarter pineapple block to me.

The Greenville MQG issued a recycle block challenge to make something quilted using an orphan block donated through our block of the month program.

Half Log Cabin or Quarter Pineapple quilt block

It was more difficult finding blues and greens that coordinated than I thought it would be.  The blues had a denim or chambry look to them.  I collected some possibilities.

The green was fairly bright and I really had to search for some almost kelly greens to coordinate.  That yellow on the right didn't make the cut.

Now, what was I going to do with this block?  I decided to carry out the 'pineapple' theme and just keep adding logs and triangles until I had a large enough top for a comfort quilt to use in our charity project.

I forgot to measure the size of the original block, but it was around 11" or 12" square.  Wonky logs would have been more modern, but I was limited on time and fabric and just kept the logs fairly straight.  Here's the top after a few rounds.

And after a couple more logs...

And, here's the completed top...

I spray basted it late one night out on the porch, brought it in and hoped a quilting design would come to me overnight.

This print by Studio E was perfect for the backing.  The fabric even says, 'Reuse, Reduce and Recycle' which I found at a yard sale for I think a $1.  It really looks better than it photographed.

I decided to just quilt in the ditch around each log and quilt diagonally across each log, all done with the walking foot.  For the bigger logs, you can't see it here, but I did add a couple more lines in between but didn't cross over the triangles.

Here's the finished quilt after it's been bound and washed.  I added the binding by machine, the same way as I explained in this post.

I quickly took the photo before I headed to the meeting so it's not the straightest.

Recycle Block Challenge Quilt

I mentioned this was a challenge and an outside judge, Melinda Hoffman, who is an artist friend of Faye Jones, the challenge coordinator. was invited to pick the winners.

Just look at the tote bag I received.  Faye, a talented artist herself, painted this and somehow made decals to apply to purchased totes.  And you notice in the upper right hand corner...first place. :)  I will put this tote bag to good use in Paducah next week.

You can see all the challenge entries here along with the other fabulous prizes and winners.

Decal made from original artwork by Faye Jones

Quilt Stats:

• Finished size: 38" x 38" 
• Pattern: Half log cabin tutorial by MQG
• Fabrics: Various including Cotton & Steel, Carolyn Friedlander, Anna Maria Horner, Kona solids, Kaffe Fassett and more
• Thread: Aurifil 50 wt., 2725 light wedgewood
• Quilting design: In the ditch and straight line quiting with walking foot
• Batting: 100% Cotton Warm & White by the Warm Company
• Completed: April 2017

Linking to Finish It Up Friday, Finished or Not Friday, Whoop Whoop Friday, and Show Off Saturday

2017 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop - Week Two

It's the 2nd week of the 2017 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop.  Time to meet new bloggers from all three hives.  And, be sure to stop by our hive leaders who have guided us new or fairly new bloggers where you can enter the rafflecopter giveaway for some great prizes from some awesome sponsors.

Beth at Cooking up Quilts is introducing my fellow bee mates from the Better Bloggers Hive:

• Jan at Cocoa Quilts
• Sarah at 9658 Textiles
• Vanda at Quilt in Piece
• Abbie at Sparkle On

Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl is introducing the following new quilt bloggers from the Blooming Quilters Hive:

• Olusola at Alice Samuel’s Quilt Co.
• Liz at My Sew Called Life
• Anita at Domestic Felicity
• Cate at Chaos Theory Quilting

Leanne at She Can Quilt is introducing the following new quilt bloggers from the Let's Bee Quilt'n Hive:

• April at JANDA Bend Quilts
• Gail at Quilting Gail
• Kathy at Kathy's Kwilts and More
• Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting

It's always fun to meet new quilt bloggers and others will be introduced over the new few weeks so be sure it visit everyone!

• Blog Hop Week 1 – April 10th 
• Blog Hop Week 2 – April 17th 
• Blog Hop Week 3 – May 1st 
• Blog Hop Week 4 – May 8th

2017 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop - Week One

It's finally time for the 2017 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop to get started.  I'm excited to be participating again this year and am part of the Better Bloggers Hive hosted by Beth at Cooking up Quilts.

Over the next few weeks you can meet new quilt bloggers and some awesome prizes are up for grabs thanks to the many sponsors.

Week 1 of the 2017 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop starts today and below are the Queen Bees and links to the introductory posts for each new blogger.

Beth at Cooking up Quilts is introducing my fellow bee mates from the Better Bloggers Hive:

• Jess at Sew Jess Handmade
• Rachel at Making a Beautiful Life
• Amanda at Quiltologie
• Abigail at Cut & Alter
• Rose at something rosemade

Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl is introducing the following new quilt bloggers from the Blooming Quilters Hive:

• Jennifer at Inquiring Quilter
• Fi at living cloth
• Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts
• Bobbi at Snowy Days Quilting
• Amanda at Mommy’s Projects

Leanne at She Can Quilt is introducing the following new quilt bloggers from the Let's Bee Quilt'n Hive:

• Samantha at Aqua Paisley Studio
• Rita at Posterity Quilt Company
• Andrea at Goof'in Off Around the Block
• Emily at The Darling Dogwood
• Vivian at Quilting With Vivian

It's always fun to meet new quilt bloggers and others will be introduced over the new few weeks so be sure it visit everyone!

• Blog Hop Week 1 – April 10th
• Blog Hop Week 2 – April 17th
• Blog Hop Week 3 – May 1st
• Blog Hop Week 4 – May 8th

Handwritten Quilt Labels Tutorial and How to Reverse Text in Word

Last month during the Instagram Quilt Fest (#IGQuiltFest) sponsored by @AmysCreativeSide I showed a handwritten quilt label when the prompt for the day was quilt labels.  Linda at Flourishing Palms commented that she usually generates hers by computer and I replied with a brief description of my way of hand writing quilt labels.  It's now my favorite to way to make quilt labels.

This is the quilt label for Well Rounded Single Girl which, by the way, is on its way to Paducah this week to be in the AQS Spring Paducah show later this month.  The label is handwritten, but I actually started it on the computer.

So today, I have a tutorial to share about how I print the quilt label information in reverse onto freezer paper, the freezer paper can then be ironed to the back of your label fabric.  Then using a light source, you are able to trace the information onto the label.  It also helps the fabric from shifting while hand writing your quilt label since it is ironed to the freezer paper.

Let's get started!  You will need:

·         Computer with Microsoft Word or word processing software able to reverse text

·         Inkjet printer

·         Freezer paper such as Quilter's Freezer Paper Sheets 8 1/2" x 11" by      C & T Publishing (affiliate link) 

·         Fabric for label and facing, two pieces least 6" x 6" depending on amount of label information

·         Iron (dry setting)

·         Permanent fabric marker such as Pigma Micron 02 or Zig Millennium 05 (shown below)

·         Light source such as a light box or sunny window

·         Water soluble glue or fusible such as Wonder Tape to hold label in place

·         Needle and thread for hand sewing

Creating a Text Box in MS Word

1.  Open Microsoft Word to a new blank document.

2.  Under the Insert tab, choose Text Box in the Text section of the Formatting Toolbar.  And then choose Simple Text Box.

3.  Inside the text box, type the information desired on the label.  You may want to include information such as:

• quilt title
• quilt dimensions
• date completed
• recipient
• quilter's name
• contact info such as address, email and phone number
• pattern name
• materials such as fabric line, type of batting and thread

4.  Edit the text to the desired font, size or other formatting such as bold. I like the font, Bradley Hand ITC, with a size 22 to 25. Your text box should look something like this.

Reversing the Text

1.  Highlight the text within the text box.  Once the text is highlighted, the area around the text should be colored, usually blue.

2.   Click on the Format tab that will appear on the Menu Bar.

3.  Under WordArt Styles on the formatting toolbar, expand the Format Text Effects Text Box as shown.

4.  Choose 3-D Rotation from the left pane.

5.  Under the Rotation section, change the X setting to 180 degrees as shown in the Format Text Box.

6.  Click Close and once you click off of the text box, the text will magically reverse, like the image below.

Printing the Template and Hand Writing the Quilt Label

1.  Print the text box using an ink jet printer onto the paper side of freezer paper (not the shiny side).

2.   Trim the freezer paper along the outer edges of the text box.

Quilt label information printed in reverse onto freezer paper

3.  Center and iron the freezer paper to the back of your label fabric.

4.  Place the label over a light source, with the fabric side up, and trace the label information using a permanent marker.

5.  Remove the freezer paper and press the label to set the ink.

Finishing and Sewing on the Quilt Label

1. Using a rotary cutter and ruler, trim the quilt label to the desired size. I usually trim 1/2" beyond the text all the way around with the cutting line shown in red.

2.  Take the second piece of fabric for the facing and trim to the same size as the label.  I always use the same fabric as the label.

3.  Cut a a vertical slit approximately 2" to 3" through the center of the label facing which will allow for turning once sewn together.

4.  Place the label and label facing right sides together. Sew around the perimeter with a 1/4" seam allowance rounding the corners. Trim seam allowance in the corners to 1/8" and clip close to the seam line. I have found that rounding the corners reduces bulky corners to turn and sew.

5.  Turn right side out and press. Now don't do like I did on this sample label, I measured wrong and cut it a little too close to the text.

6.  With needle and thread, hand sew the label to back of the quilt, just catching the label facing fabric when stitching.  A small amount of washable fabric glue or fusible such as Wonder Tape may be applied to the back of the label to hold in place while stitching.

Back of quilt label with facing attached and wonder tape used to hold in place while sewing on by hand

Here you can see the a close up of the label where I stitched through the label facing and not the label when sewing down on the quilt.

This method might seem time consuming, but once you are comfortable with reversing the text in Word, it goes rather quickly.

By creating the label facing, it eliminates the need to press under the raw edges and try to keep it turned under as you are sewing it onto the back of the quilt.

Here's the label for Clementine Daisy.

And here's the label for Barcelona.  This quilt was designed using the Quick Curve Ruler and I used the ruler making the quilt label too.  I just realized I never really blogged about this one, but I included a picture of it in my introductory post the 2016 New Quilt Bloggers blog hop. (The Zig Millennium pens can be found in the scrapbooking section.)

Quilt label for Barcelona and permanent pens I use

Please let me know if I haven't made something clear or if you have any questions.  

If you would like to give this method of creating a tracing template a try, leave a comment letting me know and I will pick a name or two on Thursday evening and glady mail you a couple sheets of the Quilter's freezer paper.

Remember, no quilt is complete until you add a label!

Now, head on over to Flourshing Palms, where Linda will show you her method for creating labels on the computer.  And, I hear she has a giveaway!

Linking to Tips and Tutorials with Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl.

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol.14 Calendar

Happy April everyone!  As a thank you for being a contributing designer to Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 14, I received a 2017 wall calendar.  My block, Hexie Flower Basket, is the second block on the top row.

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 14 Calendar for 2017

And, when I flipped to the month of April, there's my block again.

This is my Hexie Flower Basket block.  You can see my original post here when I participated in the week long blog hop.

More informaton on Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 14 is here.

Linking to Main Crush Monday with Beth at Cooking up Quilts!