Electric Stripes!

   Finally finished the quilt for little Nayla, a new arrival to my big extended family.  

    This quilt is the result of some experimenting with striped fabric.  Last year I had won some batik striped fabric in a raffle.  I loved how fun it was to work with the stripes, and figured out what the fabric was (Hoffman Artisan Batiks Elemental Stripes) and ordered up more.  

     One of the fabrics was in very bright, primary stripes.  

     I cut the squares to make the half square triangles that form the basis of these pieces, and tried many variations of putting them together. 

     I really enjoy the watercolor effect of these fabrics, and how interesting the squares are when mixed up and put back together.  (Isn't that just the beauty of making quilts?) 

     I tried out a pretty big lap size layout, but didn't really know where such a quilt would go.  It was quite vibrant and busy.    I ended up making two smaller pieces for baby quilts out of the squares.

     The baby quilt tops:

     Nayla is now two, so I wanted something a bit bigger than those pieces.  I decided to add some bright yellow solid to one of the center pieces, and then created a border of the striped fabric.  I ended up binding it in the yellow as well. 

     I like how the yellow sets off the center, and really like how the border looks.  The border had to be mitered, or else it would have looked odd!   The quilt finished at 48 inches square.

      Now that my Tiara is in my sewing space with the other tools of the trade, pinning and quilting went fairly quickly. I am enjoying  listening to the audiobook versions of the Agatha Raisin series by M.C.Beaton while sewing.

   Betty found the quilt to be just perfect and comfortable.  Unfortunately, this means I had to wash it again before sending it on! 

   The backing is a Kona Cotton wide fabric.  I have been looking for an opportunity to use it.  I did a simple big stippling all over the quilt.

     In other news, the "Turnabout Patchwork" quilt I made for the blog hop has also been gifted to another new member of my extended family.  Little Baby Coen is going to be cuddling with the fun circus animals!  

   

     I keep hoping that spring will come soon, but there is still snow on the ground, but there is also some open water!  Hurray!  

     Enjoy the spring, and I'll catch up again soon! 

Take care,

Gretchen 

Sewing room in progress!

 My sewing room renovation has taken another step forward!  Here is a pano photo of my daughter's room from a few years ago.  (She hasn't actually resided full time at home since 2007!)

 A year ago, I switched out beds in the kids' bedrooms to make room for my sewing machine, a design wall, and my cutting table, moving out one of her dressers in the process.   This space was great, but my quilting machine (a Tiara II) was still in the basement.   I was still switching from one room to another.

 A few weeks ago, I was decided to give away the twin bed (but not the handmade quilt!), and moved the Tiari up to the room.  I swapped dressers and moved the desk to the wall next to the sewing machine.  I have a serger I got from a guild member a few months ago, and to set that up on the desk.  

Now, all my sewing machine things are in one room!  My fabric stash is still mostly in the basement still, although I have all my solids in the room.  I bring up other fabric as I plan to use it.  I am loving the space!  
I also got to hang my color wheel project from my Color Theory class.   This photo is a bit dark, but it is quite cheerful framed in black over the desk! 

Of course, my daughter will still visit, but I have purchased a nice airbed, and new sheets and blankets, so when she visits, she'll be comfy and cozy! 

Take care,
Gretchen