When Skies Are Gray

Thursday, December 31, 2015

This quilt started as a pattern test for Leanne Parsons (@devotedquilter). The pattern is named “Friendship Galaxy” (her blog is here and the pattern available here). I decided to use gray and white fabrics (both bought at Wal-Mart). Just after starting the quilt, I learned that my friend, Janet, had admitted herself to a mental health hospital for severe depression. Her husband had requested no visitors, no food, nothing. I ignored this, and with another friend's help, made a care package for each of them. For Janet’s, I made a fleece tie blanket and a dollar photo album with Bible verse images I had printed as photos off Pinterest. I also included lots of yellow items (socks, rice/lavender heating pad, yellow bottle of water, and snacks) because that is her favorite color. Beyond that, I wanted desperately to help, but had no idea what I could do. So I did what I knew – I quilted and prayed. Every time I sat down to sew, I prayed earnestly for Janet. I also hummed/sang the chorus to “You Are My Sunshine.”


Gray and yellow friendship star quilt

“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are gray. You never know, dear, how much I love you. Please, don’t take my sunshine away.”

Flannel Quilts from Leftovers

Friday, December 18, 2015

I purchased some flannel fabric at a garage sale in Las Vegas. From this one purchase, I made four quilts! First was this one, then these three.

Most of the flannel was already cut into strips and squares, so I just had to get creative on how to lay them out.

For this one, I laid pink, yellow, and green rectangles into a "rail fence" design to create a chevron pattern. I finished the quilt top on January 6, 2014.


Flannel scraps rail fence chevron baby quilt

I purchased additional matching flannel from Jo-Ann's in Springfield, Missouri for the back and binding for all three quilts. I quilted this one using a walking foot on my Bernina 930 Record by stitching 1/4" on either side of the chevron seam lines. I finished the quilt on December 17, 2015.

I gifted the quilt to my friend, Stacey, at her baby shower for her baby girl that is due in February 2016.

Curious George

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

I had planned to make this quilt for my friend Kiffany's son, but time got away from me. When Steve she announced baby #2 was a boy, I knew it would be perfect!

I bought the fabric panel, backing, and binding fabric at Prairie Flower Crafts – a quilt shop in Alden, Kansas.
Curious George fabric panel quilt
I pin basted the back (also a Curious George fabric), batting, and fabric panel and quilted a large circle design using my Bernina 930 Record.
I mailed the quilt to Kiffany as a 2015 Christmas gift.
A quick finish and it's crossed off the WIP (work in progress) list!

Deer Quilt

Friday, November 13, 2015

After completing the Missouri art quilt, another angel was needed for the same #MYAHswap. I had another idea, so I volunteered to make another one.


Reverse applique deer quilt

The quilt was inspired by “stencil quilts” made by Daniel Rouse. He made a t-rex and a deer quilt. He says, "The quilt is one in a series of “stencil quilts” that I have designed and created. The technique involves creating two patchwork quilt tops, sewing the layers together along the lines of a stencil, then cutting out the top layer to reveal the stencil beneath. I was inspired by an antique quilt whose well worn top began to disintegrate, revealing and even older and more worn quilt inside that had been used as batting or stuffing."

I Spy Quilt

Friday, November 6, 2015

After joining Pinterest, I found an I Spy quilt that I liked, so I started collecting fabrics. I got fabrics from scrap bags, fat quarters, and even got some from other quilters!


Disappearing nine patch I Spy quilt

Red and Black Brick Baby Quilts

Thursday, November 5, 2015

The story of these two red and black baby quilts started way back in March 2012. One of the tops was sewn during the ski/sewing retreat weekend (read about that here). I accidently cut two of the squares for the second top, so it did not get sewn together.


Red and black bricks quick and easy baby quilt

Moda Reunion Quilt

Not long after joining Pinterest, I discovered an online tutorial for a quick, raw edge, quilt as you go quilt. I knew I wanted to try it out!


Moda Reunion quilt as you go quilt

I bought two Moda Reunion by Sweetwater charm packs with a $10 Fab Shop Hop gift certificate I won for doing the online shop hop. I paid an additional $9.75.

Ladybug Quilt

I purchased this quilt top (already made!) at a garage sale in Las Vegas with some other quilting fabrics. All it needed was to be quilted and bound!


Quick and easy four patch baby quilt

Butterfly Mini Quilt

Sunday, November 1, 2015

I pattern tested a paper pieced butterfly pattern (available here) for Aylin Nilya (@aylin.nilya) - another Instagram "friend." I used a Moda charm pack of Soho Chic fabric by Sandy Gervais. I had won the charm pack on the Missouri quilt shop hop from Carol’s Country Quilt Shop in Van Buren, MO (now closed). I had to be very careful when piecing, as I didn't have much extra fabric at all!


Paper pieced butterfly mini quilt

Pay It Forward Mini Quilts

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

I really enjoy testing patterns for quilt pattern designers! I just finished up some quilt blocks for Melanie Collette (@hellomellydesigns). Her new pattern, Rhinestones, was really fun to put together!

Rhinestones quilt block by Hello Melly Designs

I made three blocks, and decided to sew them up as mini quilts as Pay It Forward gifts for a few friends!

The pattern creates a little bit of "goose poop" - the leftover triangles you cut off when making flying geese, so I decided to sew those up into a mini quilt for my BQF (Best Quilty Friend), Heather, at the same time!

Rhinestones mini quilt

Missouri Art Quilt

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

On Instagram, there was a swap (Make Yourself At Home swap) that not all the participants sent their mini quilt as they promised, so “angels” were needed. I stepped up because I had an idea and wanted to try it. The swap was to make a mini quilt that represented where you live.


Missouri fall autumn leaves deer art mini quilt


I took a photo in the fall of the road on the way to our house, and I wanted to try to recreate it in quilt form!

Missouri Star Mini Mini Quilt

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

On Instagram, several people have started making “mini mini quilts.” They measure less than 5” square (!). While making the Missouri art quilt for the Make Yourself At Home Swap, I decided to make a Missouri Star mini mini quilt to send with the quilt.


I chose purple, teal, and white solid fabrics from my stash. 
Missouri Star mini mini quilt

I printed a mini version of the paper pieced pattern found on www.quilterscache.com. (I just printed it on regular copy paper, then use a small stitch length when sewing.)

Chevron Baby Quilt

Saturday, August 22, 2015

When my childhood friend, Kendra, announced she was pregnant, I knew I wanted to make her a quilt. I messaged her sister, Kayla, for nursery colors/theme, and she sent me a couple pictures of the nursery. They were going with an “arrows” theme.


Split Arrows chevron herringbone quilt


When visiting our friends Jeremy and Laura in Omaha, Nebraska, Laura and I visited several quilt shops. At The Modern Quilter, I purchased a fat quarter bundle of Serengeti by Birch Fabrics. It was $4 per fat quarter – the same as $16 a yard! The most expensive fabric I have ever bought!

Happy birthday!

Saturday, July 11, 2015

I have pattern tested quite a few quilt blocks. I rarely get around to turning them into something, but this cupcake block designed by @basil_and_ivy was begging to be finished!


Paper pieced cupcake mini quilt

The cupcake is paper pieced (I don't believe the pattern is available anymore). I used some fun and colorful scraps to make it, then decided to paper piece letters to spell "Happy Birthday." The letters are a pattern by @fromblankpages (the pattern can be purchased here).

Bookshelf Mini Quilt

Monday, June 15, 2015

After seeing a library quilt photo go viral on Facebook, several of my friends inquired about having one made. I decided to surprise my librarian friend, Melissa, with a mini version for her birthday!


Bookends Mini library bookshelf books quilt

Sugar Candies Mini

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Shortly after joining Instagram, I found Nadra Ridgeway of Ellis & Higgs. She lives in Germany and her website is translated from German. She is a pattern and fabric designer. After designing her Sugar Candies Mini quilt pattern, she needed a few people to test the pattern. I loved testing the Hexies a la Mode quilt, so I was eager to try another pattern!


Sugar Candies Mini quilt

I wanted to use fabrics from my stash, so I chose to use the pastel fabrics left over from making my starflower baby quilt.

Amanda's Memory Quilt (#3)

Sunday, April 26, 2015

After making the Geese in the Corner memory quilt, I had many leftover HSTs (half square triangles). I decided to use them to make a third memory quilt.

These three quilts all started when my husband's half-sister, Amanda, went to clean out her mom’s house after she had passed away in order to have a garage sale. She discovered that her mom had quite the fabric stash and asked if I would make a memory quilt for her. Of course I said yes! Then I decided to surprise her by making one quilt for her, and two more for her siblings!


Memory quilt using Point Me pattern

Amanda's Memory Quilt (#2)

Thursday, April 23, 2015

When Amanda sent me the box of fabrics to make a memory quilt from her mom’s fabric stash, I quickly concluded I could make many quilts from the fabric in the box. I decided I would secretly make three quilts – one for each sibling. (More details on the post for Quilt #1.)


Geese in the Corner memory quilt

Amanda's Memory Quilt (#1)

Monday, April 20, 2015

My husband's half-sister, Amanda, went to clean out her mom’s house after she had passed away in order to have a garage sale. She discovered that her mom had quite the fabric stash and asked if I would make a memory quilt for her. Of course, I agreed!


Clothing memory quilt - triangles with sashing
My mom went to the garage sale to potentially buy some fabric, but discovered it all to be dated and mostly not quilting cotton. She showed Amanda what fabrics would work for quilting. Amanda said she would pick some she liked and mail me a box.

Flannel squares baby quilt

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

A woman posted in our local Facebook garage sale group that she was looking for someone to make a quilt. I messaged her and another woman who commented she was looking too. The second woman replied back and wanted me to make her a quilt! The quilt was for her soon-to-be grandbaby and she wanted it to match the nursery colors.


Flannel patchwork baby quilt

Hexies a la Mode

Friday, January 30, 2015

In December 2014, Beth Helfter of EvaPaige Quilt Designs posted on Facebook that she needed a “quilt tester” – someone to make a quilt from her pattern to make sure the measurements were correct and directions were clear. It sounded right up my alley – so I volunteered! (I ignored the fact that I was nearly 9 months pregnant with my second child!)

EvaPaige Quilt Designs Hexies a la Mode pattern

I'm not even sure how I stumbled across Beth on Facebook. It was probably one of those suggested pages. I'm sure glad I found her! She is super fun, and her writing style on her blog makes you feel like you really know her!