On the Frame - Modern

Here's a modern baby quilt in progress.  The top was pieced last fall, but has waited patiently for the holiday activities to subside.

I think these fabrics are cheerful and fun, just right for a friend's baby.

Here's another view.  I'm still on the last row this morning.

I'm using Glide white thread with Warm & Natural cotton batting.

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars

Another Quilt Of Valor

This top had been in a to-be-quilted stack at Magnolia Park Retreat for the Alabama Quilts of Valor.
Facebook : QuiltsOfValorAlabamaChapter
They have an HW Sweet 16 sitdown longarm machine there, so last weekend, while I was there, I helped them get this one quilted.  I think they are presenting it tomorrow.

I really like this string pattern with the white stars.  It's forms such a striking pattern.  Plus, it's perfect for using up scraps.  You can find the book/pattern on Bobbie and Ginger's website : Strips and Strings.

Here's a closeup of the front quilting.  I wanted to use something that is masculine and compliments the top's design.  Simple stitch-in-the-ditch and outlines of the white stars, then waving lines in the strings.   The navy border needed some fireworks for fun and pizazz.

Here's the back side.  I like the design that the quilting stitches made.

So, after using my frame and their sitdown machine, I've decided that I really love my frame.  With the sitdown machine, at first I fought gravity as the quilt slipped off the small table.  We set up 2 tables on either side to form a U shaped workspace with me sitting in the middle.  This helped a lot and the quilting went easier after that setup, but the frame quilting supports the weight of the quilt entirely and the machine glides so effortlessly on its wheeled base.

Also, when I quilt my machine, I use the stitch regulator.  For this quilt, I did not use it (although we could have read instructions and set it up).  It took a little while to get the hang of not speeding up too much in the middle of the waves since I slowed down at the ends to stitch down the straight lines.  It's not perfect (and neither is my stitch regulator), but it turned out pretty nice.

An online order for some quilt backing just arrived, so I can get busy quilting a few tops I have stacked up here at home too.  Maybe a few of these will end up under the tree next month.

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars

Superman Stars

I love vibrant colors.

These stars have been fun to make for my Superman quilt.  It's an easy project to do when I have 15 or 30 minutes.  This one will be gifted to one of our new babies who are a part of our church.  I've also been able to enjoy the wildlife as the sun rises and sets.

BTW, for those who do not know this about me.  I do not have a cat.  His name is Vincent (as in Van Gogh).  He's missing part of an ear.  And he is not my cat.

The binding is a little over half way completed on my mom's southwestern quilt.  Since I've enjoyed seeing a 6 point buck and a spike from my studio windows in the past few days, here's the hunter block.

The flip side ....

Some of the quilting details in those 5 inch blocks.

Amongst the schedule filled with band competitions and college visits, I'm looking forward to a quilting retreat next week. It will be fun to reunite with quilty friends.  Oh my the full belly laughs we share!

Well, it's time to get organized and dash off to work.  I'm thankful for my job with a renewed challenge.

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars

Superman ... Starting a New Quilt

I like making small quilts for babies.  It's a quick and fun way to try something new and to use bright colors.  Some distant time ago, I found this Superman fabric on sale and tucked it away with a few primary colors.  I think I'll make stars for the front and use the Superman for the back.  Maybe a border with the wavy red, white and blue.

Maybe 8 inch star blocks in 5 rows by 5 columns.  I think it will be cute.  Hmmm, might re-think that possible border fabric.  It looks better in person than in the photo, but it's not perfect.

Enjoy your day!  I've wasted 2 hours because I was up "early" from the time change.  So now I'm late.  Hope I can quickly get ready for our church service.  Whoops!
- SeeingStars

Finally Finally Off the Frame For Good This Time!

It's been so long, I was beginning to think this quilt would stay perpetually "in progress".  However, I'm pleased and thrilled to report that this quilt is now quilted and trimmed.  Now I'm working on the hand stitching on the binding.   It's such a large quilt, it will be a challenge as a take along project.  I enjoy this stage of a quilt because it's a chance to enjoy the work on it before it goes to its new home.

Over the next few days, I'll post a few close up photos as a celebration.  I'll do my best to get the bright colors to look as bright in the photos as they appear to the eye.

I marked the borders with a homemade template and pounce chalk.  It's messy but very helpful in laying out the basic shapes.  I like getting to iron it after the quilting and watching the powder disappear.

As a follow up to the cotton blossoms I posted earlier, here's the field right before the cotton was harvested.  When I'd walk outside, I'd think "snow".  It was a pretty sight for the last month.  Now it's all neatly mowed down and we can see the deer walking across the field again.

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars

My Little DIY Thread Cabinet

I'm really excited about this project.  It's taken me way longer than it should have, since it was built and painted around May or June.  So I finally bought the hardware to hang this thread cabinet yesterday.  Mr. SeeingStars gets applause for helping me with each step of this project. 

 I tried to build the box and realized it's not as easy to make it have right angles as I'd anticipated.  So there was a little disassembly and then supervised assembly involved.

I have kept The Creative Homemaker's blog bookmarked since it's my inspiration for this project.  With a quick seam or two, I'll have a sheer curtain to keep the dust off the cones of thread.

Since the studio gets lots of sunshine, this cabinet is in the laundry room right next to the door to the studio.  I keep my here in a laundry room closet for sun protection too.  Plus, the studio looks neater without everything piling up.

I have lots more cones of thread, so I could make another one or two and fill them up as well.  But for now, I'll put this one to good use.

I have my mom's quilt back on the frame now.  I've started Row 3 of 4.  So maybe today I can get a little more of this row finished today.  I'm eager to finish this one up and have it ready for to give to her when I see her next - probably at Christmas time.

The horse block is my favorite!

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars

A Quilt for Kate

I've had this one on the to-do list for a long time.  Although the top was finished last Spring, it was quilted last week.  You can see that I'm using those neat little clips to hand stitch the last side of the binding.

The free pattern came from Moda Bakeshop

This is belatedly made for a sweet baby with a pink and orange room.  So I was asked to include those colors in her quilt.

Now I need some advice.  The quilting concerns me a little bit.  I made it less dense on purpose, but I'm not sure I like it now.

The beach balls are quilted with butterflies and a more dense.

While the background is quilted with smaller flowers and is spaced much farther apart.  The quilt seems like there is excess fabric on the backing side.  I'm hoping that I can fluff it up in the dryer and the batting will expand enough to make it less baggy.

But if not, I'll need to add some extra quilting stitches in the background.  If I do this, I'd rather not have to start  / stop the threads in each section.  Any ideas?

This shows some of the excess from the top side.  I can block it too, which might help a little.  I really want the back side to work as it is with that design to show off the "bones" of the quilt pattern.  But I guess it's more important that it functions well.  Let's hope the batting fluffs!

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars