Summer Start

So, it's day three of summer vacation and my kid is already B-O-R-E-D!  Sad huh?  I wish I had 100 days off for the summer!  I'd love to be bored for a few days!  I bet you'd love just a few boring days, too!    

Call me boring, but since my last posting, I've finished up a couple sewing projects and started a few more.  First, I finished my Love Knots quilt.  I haven't quilted yet, however.  I'm not sure I will, actually.  I'm not that happy with it.

Don't get me wrong...I love the concept of this quilt top.  I'm not sure I executed it that nicely, however.  I will definitely try again, but this time I will make sure the fabric triangles I use to flip and stitch are bigger.  That way, I think the end shapes will be more distinct.  Have a look at some of the quilts my Craftsy classmates' quilts completed for the Stitch and Flip class.

I skipped ahead in the class and finished another quilt using Jacqie Gering's Slice and Insert Technique.  I actually signed up the the Craftsy Course because of Gering's Crosscut Quilt.  This is one of my all time favorite quilts ever!

Isn't is AWESOME?!  I love the colors, the architecture of it, and the quilting is amazing!  Now, here is my version:

Not so awesome, but, still, I liked it.  I used browns, rust, and mustard yellow.  These colors, as well as the architectural lines, remind me of the Brady house in The Brady Bunch.  I liked this quilt...until I quilted it.

YUK.  Not happy.

So, ever heard of a mulligan?  It's a "do over" if you flub up a golf stroke.  Here is my Do Over Quilt (top):

I used leftover batiks from my Ocean Waves quilt.  I also scaled back this top.  Each block is half the size of the original.  I also put a little rectangle in the top corner.  Fingers crossed I don't mess up on the quilting!   

So, I've messed up on a few things, but I've learned a lot, too!  I'm having a great time learning these new techniques and I feel like a have a few more weapons in my creative quilt arsenal now.  There are two more quilts to do for the class:  To The Point and Swirling Stars.  I can't wait to get started!  I've also learned that my sewing machine has one of the automatic thread cutter thingies on it!  I've been using my machine since 2007 and never knew it before this past weekend!  

I hope you all are enjoying your summer so far!  It's just the beginning!

Until next time!

Angela

P.S. The top photo is of a gorgeous peony in my back garden.

One Quilt Done; One in Progress

Just a quick post to show my finished Strings Attached quilt.  I decided to free motion meandering quilting on the solid parts of the quilt and I did straight line quilting along the "strings."

I attached purchased binding my machine.  It was pretty easy and quick!  I like that!  I'm giving this quilt to my aunt this weekend for a Mother's Day present.  I hope she likes it!

Here is a quick look at my current Craftsy project for Improvisational Piecing, Modern Design.  It's called, Love Knots.  I've used deconstructed neckties for the top knot (for my hubby) and some of my favorite fabrics for the bottom knot (for me).  I can't wait to get this finished!  It's been a lot of fun and I'm excited to move on to the next lesson!  

Have a great weekend!  Until next time!

Angela

Happy Sewing Day

Happy Mother's Day

I hope all you moms out there had a wonderful Mother's Day.  I spent my day sewing and it was great!

It's been such a cool Spring here in the heart of America, but I finally got to see, and smell, the beautiful lilacs growing in the back garden.  They are my absolute favorite!  The bushes are still a little sparse, but I managed to capture this little sprig with my cell phone camera.  I wish you could smell it!

I'm trudging along in the Craftsy Block of the Month class.  Since my last post, I've finished March and May. I've skipped April for now, but will tackle the fan block soon.  The March block is called "Economy."  For May, I needed to make 8 "spool" blocks.  These were pretty fun.  I had never really used the 45 degree angle on my rulers before!  I like the fabric combinations, too.

May BOM

March BOM

I'm super excited about another Craftsy class I'm taking!  I've signed up for Improvisational Piecing, Modern  Design with Jacquie Gering.  I started with Jacquie's stitch and flip triangle technique.  It's been so much fun!  I can't wait to start a new quilt using this technique!  But, I need to finish my current works in progress first!  That means, I need to get my Strings Attached quilt finished ASAP!  

Until next time!

Angela

Strings Attached

Have you ever made a string quilt?  I just finished my first!  I've seen and PINNED, hundreds of string quilts online and have always thought the unique "patterns" made when string blocks are put together are always so cool....they are always different, too.  I decided to make a string block using some fabric scraps a few days ago.  I used a 6" piece of muslin as my foundation and began sewing my strips together.  I loved the technique and how my block finished so much, I kept going!  I used up all my scraps and made up fourteen 5" blocks.  I attached the blocks together and added some very light green solid fabric to make up this 36" X 42" quilt top.

I think what I really like about these string blocks, is that they don't have to start out perfect. Because the strips are sewn to foundation pieces and then cut down, you have a little wiggle room to not be so precise.  I like that!

Now, I need some suggestions on how to quilt this top.  Straight lines?  Meandering free motion?  Let me know what you think!

Until next time!

Angela

A Fresh Start

My blog, Sew Loquacious, has been my creative outlet for the past couple of years.  I've had a blast developing and growing her.  Actually, she's been more than just a creative outlet, she's been my friend; my mouthpiece, my voice.  I've been through a lot since I wrote my first post.  I've had ups and downs, highs and lows.  I've learned and grown a lot, too.  I am grateful  to my readers and for the many blogger friends I have made along the way.  I've learned much from them all and I hope to continue to grow as I begin a new blog journey.  I'm very excited to introduce my new blog, Free State Quilt Studio!  It's a new blog focused mostly on quilts.  I will still post about fashion sewing and, of course, bag making, but since I was bitten by the quilt bug, they are my current passion!  Please stick with me as I work out the kinks in this new spot for me.  I know it's going to be great fun!  So, let's get started!

I made my first quilt just over a year ago.  Since then, I haven't stopped!  I've made some great quilts.  I've also experienced a few epic fails!  I've experimented along the way and tried to find, and develop, my own style.  I've read books and taken classes.  I've listened to lectures defining traditional, contemporary,  modern, and even art quilts.  I haven't defined myself as any one particular style of quilt maker,  but I believe combining and adapting bits of each style and enjoying the the entire process, from design, fabric selection, construction, and quilting, is what will help me make the best quilts I can!  The photos shown here are two blocks I made from Craftsy Block of the Month 2013 class I'm currently enrolled in.  I'm terribly behind.  These are January and February's blocks!  I'm using a Reunion jelly roll by Moda.  I'm liking it! What do you think? 

Until next time!
Angela