Happy Hour version 1.0

Hello everyone!  I have another recent finish to share.

I have been trying to finish as many of my old neglected quilt tops as possible now that I have my HandiQuilter.  It has been a huge weight off my shoulders to see old projects completed, and it makes it easier for me to buy new fabric and start projects knowing that they will eventually get finished and used.

This is a quilt top that I finished as a display when I worked at Kean's Store Company in Mason, MI. I loved how simple this pattern was, yet effective.  The pieces are large enough to show off some beautiful prints or batiks, yet the quilt is still visually interesting.  My favorite part is that the waste trimmed from the blocks can be used to make another quilt.  Unfortunately, I have not gotten that one quilted yet, but the top is finished, and it is on the long list of stuff to get finished.

 This quilt pattern is called "Triple Treat" and it is from the book "Happy Hour Quilts" by Atkinson Designs.  This book has been out for quite some time, but it never seems to go out of style.  These patterns are beginner friendly and modern.  The best part is, the book gives you instruction for each quilt in any size you'd like to make, which makes it much easier to plan if you are making a quilt for a specific purpose or gift.

I quilted this quilt with an all over swirl pattern.  I still haven't gotten any pantographs for my machine, so I have been doing all free motion by hand.  I loved the way it turned out,  the swirls give great motion to what is otherwise a very geometric quilt full of straight lines.

I love this quilt!  Right now it is hanging up in the shop as we still sell this book (because it's great!).  I was especially happy because I was able to use up a couple large pieces of batik fabric for the backing.  It always feels good to use up what I already have in my stash.

The flu has been going around at work, and I am the latest victim.  Unfortunately I haven't been feeling up to any sewing, but at least I can finally get some older projects posted here!  Thanks for stopping by everyone!  I hope you are having a great week!

Cristina
The Quilted Mitten

Strawberry Fields Forever

After a full day of sewing and an Alan Rickman movie marathon (RIP Alan, you will be truly missed), I decided it was a good time to take a break and share another finish with you all.

This is another quilt that I shared in the early days of my blog.  It is made with Meadowsweet 2 fabric by Sandi Henderson.  I fell in love with the strawberry print in this collection, and I knew that I needed to do something with this wonderful fabric.

The pattern for this book is in "Living Large 2" by Anka's Treasures (Heather Mulder Peterson).  It was a great pattern for showing off the large scale prints, while also having some interest in the piecing. 

I used a solid red for the setting stones and the inner border.  With so many large scale prints, this was a great way to give a place for your eye to rest, while tying all of the colors together.

I photographed this quilt at the Historic Barns Park and botanical gardens in Traverse City, MI.  I love these beautiful brick barns, and they recently updated the interior to be used for events.  I thought the beautiful garden was a great backdrop for this quilt given the prints in this fabric collection.

 I had this quilted by "Mason Creek Quilting" before I bought my longarm machine.  She had a great strawberry quilting design that was perfect for this quilt.  Above is  picture of my favorite block (the strawberries are so cute!).  If you look closely at the quilting in the inner border you can see one of the strawberries. :)

The binding and the white background are both from "Bliss" by Bonnie and Camille (I told you this was an old UFO!).  I love the little bit of whimsy that these prints add to this quilt.

It feels great to have another finish under my belt.  I definitely don't need another quilt, but I just can't bring myself to get rid of this one.  I've had too many years to bond with the project, haha.  In the end, I finished 13 quilts in 2015!  I have set my 2016 goal at 12 quilts, but I definitely feel like I can finish even more now that I can quilt the large ones myself.

Thanks for stopping by everyone!  

Cristina
The Quilted Mitten

Does Anyone Remember This One?

First of all, I hope everyone had a very happy holiday, and new year!  I took some time off from the blog to spend with friends and family, and get some much needed relaxation.  Even though it is a snowy winter wonderland outside, I still have quilts finished this fall to share.

This quilt has been waiting a long time to be finished.  So long in fact, that since this top was pieced, I have moved 4 times, graduated from college, and worked at 3 different jobs.  I finished this top around 6 years ago!!!  In fact this was one of the first quilts I shared here on my blog.  One of the photos in my blog header features this quilt top shortly after I pieced it.

I absolutely love this quilt.  These were leftover strips of older Amy Butler Prints, and so it ended up being a "free quilt", made entirely from leftovers. The pattern is "picnic quilt" found on the Moda Bake Shop.

 This past October (I know I'm slow on my posts), I took it to a local lake to take some photos.  The colors had finally turned, and it was really starting to feel like fall.  It's crazy to think that now we are sitting under 10"+ of snow!

I'm not sure its that easy to see in the photo, but I quilted this with a swirl/flower design.  It almost looks like a paisley, and I really like how the quilting complements the prints in this quilt.  This was one of the first I quilted on my new longarm, and it was really fun to try something different. 

This quilt is a good lap size, and is perfect for the back of the couch.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this one yet, but I just love it!

Thanks for stopping by everyone!!!  Have a great week!

Cristina
The Quilted Mitten