Mini Quilts!

I have recently joined a few of the mini quilt swaps that are going on around the internet. It has been really fun to make mini quilts. Its totally new to me as I have always made larger quilts, or table runners. But, mini quilts are so small that you can really be creative and try out all kinds of new things. You can do things that seemed hard or too time consuming. I have experimented with embroidery, new blocks (Dresden plate!), free motion quilting, and using scraps in a creative way.  It is something I highly recommend! So, enjoy these pics of a few of my mini quilts!

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My first Mini Quilt. I adapted a pattern for a pillow from a magazine! Its made with Anna Maria Horner’s Good Folks Fabric and measures 13 X 20. I did some free motion quilting on the squares then finished off the bottom of the quilt with an all over pattern called “just roses”. I love this one!
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This was my first attempt at a Dresden plate! Of course, I used the nifty Dresden plate ruler! It is made using a Tranquility Charm pack and some solid yardage from my stash. It is quilted in an allover pattern we have here at the shop called “flower”. It measures approx. 25 X 20
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This is my most recent mini quilt! It was made for Doll Quilt Swap 7. (Such a great swap group!) I used Riley Blake Fabric and after sewing a large four patch for my background, I appliqued the rings in a large circle using a blanket stitch. It is machine quilted using an allover pattern called “jills bubbles” It is adorable! It measures 24 X 25.

Making mini quilts is so  much fun…and you can try all kinds of quilting challenges out on a small scale! So, get brave and try something new! Then show us a pic in our forums!

Happy Quilting!

T-Shirt Quilts…

Have you ever wanted to make a T-shirt quilt?  Do you have boxes of t-shirts that mean something to you, yet you don’t wear them anymore?

I think the best way to put them to use (and clean out that closet) is to make a t-shirt quilt.  We just recently did a custom quilt for a woman to give to her daughter to take away to college.  She used all of her team sports t- shirts through out her school years.  She chose a really cute fabric for the back of the quilt…..Which I think was the best idea ever.  Now, not only does she have her t-shirts somewhere permanent, she has a quilt that is reversible.  So, if she doesn’t want to have her t-shirts on the top of her bed, she has a side that matches her style and looks super fabulous!  Bonus!  (she chose the Riley Blake, multi flower for the back and the blue dot for sashing)

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Check out that cute fabric for the back….how sweet is that!??!

I love that it really is a memory quilt and a great gift for a graduate.  What a great thing to send them with to college.

Ok, so you’ve seen the more ‘feminine’ quilt……Now check out this more ‘masculine’ one…..

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Look at how awesome all those concert T’s look! Sweet!

The story behind this quilt is:

This Guy (who will remain nameless) brought in a laundry basket full of his old T-shirts.  He said he wanted a quilt made out of these T-shirts, that this represented his childhood.  He wanted to preserve his memories.   (his words, not mine!)

How cool is that!?

So, if you are ‘on the fence’ about trying a T-shirt quilt….don’t be a chicken.  You can do it, and you will probably enjoy it.  Sure, it isn’t traditional ‘quilting’, look at it as preserving someones memories.  I think putting your t-shirts into a quilt is way better than having a box, or trash bag full in the closet.

Question:  Have you made a t-shirt quilt?  Are you opposed to them, or do you love them!?  I’d love to know!

*all custom piecing and quilting  on both of these amazing t-shirt quilts was done by Natalie.  Thank you Natalie.  You rock.

This weekend…

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We’ll finish the borders and get this baby quilted!!  Natalie has been working on this {and she says that it’s not that hard}, and let me just say that I LOVE it!  It is cheery and fun.

Circles are awesome, no?!

What are your plans for the weekend?  Do tell.

Thursday Already!??!

Am I the only one or has this summer week just flown by!?  I can hardly believe that it’s Thursday.  Which means ONE thing around here….that it’s almost Friday, which means Fabric Free For All, (in the forums) which means I have to get my act together.  Which is easier said than done, for me. Haha.

Whew!  Now, if you are still with me after all that, you win.  (just kidding)  But seriously if you haven’t gotten over there yet, DO…  I mean, who doesn’t want to win free fabric??  (no brainer, right)  It is so easy.  Remember, up for grabs is Riley Blake, Be Merry fat quarters!

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SOOOO Cute! I love, love, love it!!!

I thought you might want a little look-see at what we did with the CUTE, Sandy Gervais panel that was up for grabs on the daily deal earlier this week.

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Look at those reindeer! Aren’t they the cutest things ever!?

It turned out so darling, and went together in a SNAP!  I think it would make a perfect gift.

I almost forgot to mention…..there is a rumor going on around here that we will be having something for FREE on the Daily Deal. Shhhhh,  Don’t mention that you heard it here….(I wouldn’t want to get in trouble.)

I would just suggest you keep a look out.

Just saying.

Riley Blake Christmas Fatquarter Bundle Giveaway

So you guys talked me into it.  I didn’t wanna do it, but I can’t resist anymore.  We’re giving away a fat quarter from each of the five fabrics we’re featuring on our site.  (If you want to see the Riley Blake Christmas Fabric check it out)  but since we do the “WEEKLY FABRIC GIVEAWAY” in the forum anyway, I’m putting it up over there.  The rules are simple, just cruise over to this riley blake giveaway thread and reply to the question.  All we want to know is what is your favorite Christmas Tradition.  Don’t reply here, cause we’ll only be counting responses in the forum (if you posted last week when I mentioned I was going to do this, we’ll count that as a name in the hat, but you can get a second chance if you head over to the forums)

Riley Blake Christmas Fabric
Riley Blake Christmas Fabric

So hooray for giveaways and thanks for playing!!