Do you Swap?

I participated in my very first mini quilt swap!  The Gardenvale Mini swap hosted by my daughter @linneypooh.  The fabrics used were from the Gardenvale line by the amazing Jen Kingwell.

I met Jen and her daughter Lucy at Houston Quilt Market and I immediately fell in love with them!  Jen is simply delightful!  I loved her style, her designs, and of course her Gardenvale fabrics!

I just love her great sense of color and how she uses a lot of prints, florals, stripes and dots in her quilts...and gray is a recurring theme in most. 




Although I was a little nervous to participate in a swap, I couldn't go wrong if the fabrics were Jen's!  right...

 So I decided on the Cathedral Window pattern and it showcased the fabrics perfectly.  I used darker fabrics in the "base" and medium and multi-colored prints on the "top".  This was my second attempt at a cathedral window making only a pincushion once before...and I loved how it turned out

Click HERE for the free pattern Charming Windows by Angela Nash on Moda Bakeshop

It was really hard to let this one go, but it went to a good home...to Stacy Lee in West Monroe, LA @tophatquilter.  Her favorite color is purple so I chose the pebble print for the center block and the inner border.  I love the scrappy binding don't you?  I machine quilted this on my Featherweight and it's not great quilting, but I think it turned out okay. 


So when your daughter is in charge of a quilt swap, and someone drops out you become an "angel" so this quilt was plan "A" for my gardenvale swap and luckily I had the top finished when I was called to be an "angel", so I only had to finish the machine quilting and the binding.  This one went to Cathy Kirk in North Carolina - @thequiltingcowgirl

 I used the Missouri Star Bordered Periwinkle pattern and tutorial and the large triangle papers.

 click HERE for the tutorial on MSQC

I used black Essex Linen for the "borders" between the blocks, and for the outer border.
(see previous posts for helpful hints on making this block)  I echo quilted the entire top in 1" increments.  I am not a great machine quilter and I could use a lot more practice.  Cathy is a full-time machine quilter, so I hope she doesn't laugh out loud at my machine quilting skills!



So after sending off my two swap quilts,  To my surprise I received this beautiful mini quilt from @amysews from Charleston, SC!  Isn't it absolutely gorgeous!!!
 

 Amy hand pieced and appliqued the flower block, and also hand quilted this beauty.  She really spent a lot of time and I am so appreciative of all the work she did on my quilt. 

 

 The back of the quilt (upper right) is one of the polka-dot prints from the line and I love the striped binding.


 

 

I also received so many goodies in the package.  The "jug" is a mason jar with a lid and straw and Amy made a quilted coozie for it.  (I love real southern sweet tea and can't wait to use this!) She made a pieced needle-case, and a finger pincushion for me which I have always wanted.  I got some Bennie cookies, a coloring book with colored pencils, and a postcard from Charleston, SC  with a cute note.  Amy really spoiled me!


 If you have the chance to check all the truly AMAZING quilts that were made take a look on Instagram at the #gardenvaleminiquiltswap.  I am so thankful to my daughter Lindsey for putting this awesome swap together for us.  Jen Kingwell would be so proud of what we all made out of her beautiful fabrics!


I enjoyed this swap so much I just might join another one...or two.  I got lucky with this one, but the fun of a quilt swap is...you never know what you are going to get!!


until next time... 
Happy Quilting!
 ~Joni

Home for the Holidays BOM - What you need for Wool Applique'

Wool Applique' 101
For the wool applique' portion of this project you will need the following:



Wool thread or embroidery floss to match your wool - I used Auriful 12 weight -  100% Lana wool thread for both the embroidery and the applique'.  We have this at the shop in large spools - 300 or so yards per spool for around $10 per spool, or one of the fun things that we sell at the shop is 10 yards spools of wool thread in a variety of colors for $2 each.  This is a good way to collect the colors of thread that you may need without spending a lot of money. 
If you are using embroidery floss, use #310 black for the words, and colors of floss to match your wool.  I used brown 898, green 934, a dark neutral 640 since I didn't have wool thread in those colors. 




Freezer Paper - My favorite is Quilter's Freezer Paper Sheets

Black Pigma Pen - I like to use a permanent pen to trace the patterns onto freezer paper, and to trace the words onto the background fabric.  I'm using a black pen because we are using black thread.  A mechanical pencil will work also, but it makes a mess of your hands and the lead can smear onto your fabrics


Applique' Glue - any kind of glue or glue stick will work, just choose your favorite



a 7 inch Embroidery Hoop - I prefer a spring-loaded hoop

 









Size 7 Wool/Embroidery Needles - I like the length of the size 7 Foxglove Cottage needle for the applique'

Needle Threader - this is a must

Scissors - a great pair of sewing scissors like Gingher or Dovo Scissors



My next post in this series will focus on the embroidery stitches, methods for tracing and cutting out your wool appliue' pieces, and how to place and stitch your wool onto your background fabric.


to be continued........
Joni    :)

Spring Quilt Market Recap

I just returned from Spring Quilt Market in Kansas City.  As always, it was a fabulous market full of new and fresh ideas and a lot of inspiration! 

 Let's start off with my good friend Barbara Jones of Quilt Soup who has a new line of fabric she introduced at this market called "Cruizin'".  It has fresh shades of aqua, red, yellow and grey.  She has a fun large chevron print in the line and a darling bicycle print.  Look for this in the shop later this Fall.

And here is a preview of her Halloween line called Frank & Friends.  Aren't those candy corn pillows cute!  She has used a little applique', which she is famous for, on the the Pumpkin Patch table runner, and used the darling panel for the frankenstein and ghost pillows.

Our friends from Abbey Lane have done it again with their new book Just 4 Fun.  It features 4 quilts with matching fabric wreaths.  I can't choose a favorite quilt from this book, I love them all.  But wait, that's not the only new book they have...Baby Times features 24 handmade treasures for baby and Mom.  Yes I said 24 items that all are amazing!

Cluck, Cluck, Sew has 6 new patterns, and let's face it, we all love Cluck, Cluck, Sew!

New from Moda is  Basic Grey's Little Black Dress.  This is a sophisticated line of blacks and creams....Love it!

And From Bunny Hill comes Windsor Lane, and of course she has a new block of the Month

A new designer for Moda, and a favorite designer of mine, Vanessa Christensen of V and Co. designed this amazing line called Simply Color.  It has a selection of Ombre solids, and yes they are available in what Moda calls a Junior Jelly Roll.  Watch for this one to arrive in October ladies...It's going to be a huge hit!

Fig Tree & Co has done it again with her collection called Tapestry and it is in the traditional Fig Tree colors!  Of course Joanna made my favorite quilt pattern out of the fabrics which made me love it even more!  This pineapple quilt pattern is simplified for easy piecing.   Thank you Joanna, you always seem to amaze me!

This is the newest line of fabric from French General called Chateau Rouge, it of course is French General's classic red, tan, and taupe, with a touch of butter yellow.....yum!

Blackbird designs is still designing hits like their new line Cinnamon & Spice, and watch for their new book to be released in mid June.  I can hardly wait!

and let's not forget my favorite Moda designers, Bonnie and Camille with the amazing follow-up to Vintage Modern called...Marmalade.  With a name like that, how can you not love it.  Marmalade ships in October with precuts coming in September.  Start planning your projects now ladies!

and last but not least Primitive Gatherings new line of fabric is called old Glory Gatherings!  I love the red and navy and the muddy backgrounds in this Blazing star quilt that is 105" x 105"...wow!  She also has four new Primitive Muslins in this line that you will surely love.  You won't believe how many new patterns Lisa has designed that made their debut at market, from wool projects, pieced quilts, needle cases, penny rugs, and a monthly wool banner project.  We will be sewing up a storm to get all the shop samples made!



There are so many more new lines from Moda, that I can not show them all...I will post more as the new lines start to come into the shop.  You can always view future lines that we have on order on our web-site www.quiltershaven-ut.com and click on coming soon!

And now a little inspiration.....

 

a cute little sewing kit by Oliver + S, Apples and Oranges

fun little booties and stuffed Softies

A good use of the little rosebud trim we have in the shop

Chevron, Chevron, and more Chevron....Yes we are expecting more to come in this month

More Riley Black goodness, and a new turtle pattern by Freddies Friends

Another great quilt by the Quilted Fish...Check out her new book!

Make sure you stop by and see all the new Ruffle Fabrics available soon at the shop

 

A new fabric line by Sarah Jane coming this fall!

A cute display of a Shore Thing by Emily Herrick.  She also has a new book called Geared for Guys.  Look for it coming soon to the shop!

 I Can't forget to show you the "dark and dirty" side of Quilt Market, which there was a lot of!!  

This is just a sneak peek of what I brought back, and soon to have in the shop!

From Kim Diehl's new Book!  I love this quilt

Another great book from That Patchwork Place

Primitive Gatherings goodies

Love this!

and the hotest trend of the show.....English Paper Piecing. Can you believe this entire quilt was made from paper pieces.  It is the newest craze!!!!

and here is proof that you can surely mod podge anything!  All you need is fabric scraps and a bottle of this!!  Go for it Ladies!!

Do you know the name of this fabric line by Benartex?

Leave us a comment naming both the lines of fabric and the designer, and you could win the Growth Chart panel in both colors, and the new book with the same name!!! 

Good Luck !!

I will pick a winner Friday May 25th