Well, months have passed since QuiltCon happened in California, and I'm just now getting around to writing a blog post about it. I wasn't able to attend, but several of the quilts I quilted did! There's a reason I didn't write this post in a timely manner. I have this thing where I think that quilting someone else's quilt doesn't necessarily give me the right to share the quilting. I guess I don't want people to think I'm trying to take credit for someone else's work. I also don't really know or understand the rules about when someone's quilt wins something that I've quilted...does that mean I also share that victory? I'm sharing this one because I am super excited about how the quilting turned out, and it won a Judge's Choice Award at QuiltCon. There are so many amazing quilts and creators in the winner's circle, so be sure you check them all out here! A huge congratulations to Leslie and all the other amazing artists who were recognized for their work.
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Nests and Vessels by Leslie Tucker Jenison, Quilted by Joanna Marsh (photo from the QuiltCon Website)[/caption]
Leslie Tucker Jenison created and constructed this quilt titled "Nests and Vessels", and it was awarded a Judge's Choice Award by Beverly Fine. Leslie has studied with Nancy Crow and her style is truly unique and inspiring. L is a contemporary quilt artist and designer for RJR fabrics. Leslie's use of color and shape never cease to amaze me, and I consider myself quite lucky that I get to quilt for her. Leslie had several quilts that were juried into the show, and they were all equally inspiring and thought provoking.
I'll share a few progress pictures from the quilting. Leslie requested some straight line quilting on this one, and I varied the proximity of the lines to be distanced 1/16" apart to 1/4" apart. This picture probably demonstrates that the best:
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Quilting spacing[/caption]
And here are a few more:
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Nests and Vessels[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1028" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Ladder view[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1025" align="aligncenter" width="225"]
longarm view[/caption]
This quilt was quilted with MicroQuilter thread by Superior Threads and the batting was Quilter's Dream Orient and Quilter's Dream Wool. I really love the subtle finish the Microquilter thread gives a project. You can definitely see the quilting, but it doesn't overpower the project and leaves more of a hint of design rather than barging into a room and demanding attention.
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Quilts – by kustomkwilts
Hurricane Quilt Pattern
Today is the Hurricane quilt pattern Release Day! And I love to celebrate pattern releases with a sale, so you can get the Hurricane quilt pattern on sale through 8/10/2021 and use the code HURRICANE for 20% off everything else in my shop. You'll want to keep reading until the end because there are kits, too! Also, there are some sweet free patterns in there too, if you haven't checked them out! Hurricane PDF Pattern Hurricane Print Pattern more  Inspiration Before we had kids, my husband and I started our work careers in Houston, TX. In the few years that we lived there, we had countless tropical storm warnings and a handful of pretty serious hurricanes. One particularly memorable storm was IKE. I had just started a new position at a brand new high school (really--it was the school's first year to be open) and we didn't know if we should stay and ride it out or evacuate. We ended up leaving after the storm hit and we lost power to stay with my parents a few hours away, since we didn't know when the power would be restored (spoiler, it came back on within a day...womp, womp). My new high school sustained a lot of damage and, if I remember right, closed for two weeks for repairs. I can't stand bad weather...but love to make the best of it If you've ever evacuated an area in hurricane/tropical storm territory, you've probably noticed the little graphic painted on the highway shoulder and marked on road signs to indicate a storm route evacuation. I really can't stand storms and bad weather, and I remember thinking how much I liked the little symbol and the hundreds of painted ones we passed on our way out of town--in spite of what it stood for. The symbol for those storms has always stuck with me and I needed to create a scrapbook of sorts with the symbol. So the hurricane quilt pattern was born and it ALMOST makes me not hate those destructive storms and what they stand for. I like to think of it as a way to turn lemons into lemonade :) . The PDF and print copies are here for you to make your own stunning Hurricane quilt. I've made sure this pattern is jam packed full of all the resources you might need or want, including: Hurricane Quilt Pattern Features Easy to read cutting diagrams FIVE sizes, including: Baby Throw Twin Queen King Easy to read color-coded charts and diagrams Cutting chart/checklist Clearly written instructions and colorful diagrams Backing prep diagrams for each size Coloring/planning sheet Size options Fabric requirements Some of my favorite versions of this quilt come from using darker backgrounds and BRIGHT fabrics to create some great eye candy. I love how my first version using just a few fabrics came out with a light background too. My top suggestion for making an amazing Hurricane quilt is to use fabrics that have good contrast from the background fabric. I pulled all of these delightful fabrics from my stash to get the rainbow effect I wanted and I just love how it turned out. Hurricane quilt fabric pull in almost ROYGBIV Hurricane Quilt with edge to edge quilting Kit it! Sometimes when I'm making a quilt, it can be a hassle to do a fabric pull from my stash and make sure I have the right amounts of each color. And it can be nice to pull up a kit that's already put together in a gorgeous fabric line, right? Kits are available from select quilt shops & from Robert Kaufman in Leslie Tucker Jenson's Weather Report fabric. The fabric line really couldn't go any better with the pattern and I just love these fabrics! My friend Leslie is one of the most talented fabric designers out there. These fabrics are projected to ship sometime during fall 2021. Hurricane Quilt in Leslie Tucker Jenison's Weather Report fabrics Also, custom quilting is my go to and I quilted the Hurricane quilt below using two different thread colors for a subtle difference in between colored fabrics. I used Michael Miller Cotton Couture Solids for this green and blue version because I love how soft they are. Hurricane Quilt using Michael Miller Cotton Couture Solids I'd love to see your version of the Hurricane quilt! Share your makes with me using the #hurricanequilt hashtag on Insta or shoot me an email so I can ooooh and ahhhhh with you! Happy sewing, quilty friends! -Joanna
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Quilts – by kustomkwilts
Retro Groove Quilt Pattern
Today is the Retro Groove Quilt pattern release day! And you know I love nothing more than to have a little sale when I drop a new pattern...You can get the Retro Groove quilt pattern on sale through 5/16/2021 aaaaaand use the code GROOVY for 20% off everything else in my shop. Don't forget to check out the free patterns, too. Retro Groove PDF Quilt Pattern Retro Groove Paper Pattern more Retro Groove Pattern Features The Retro Groove quilt pattern features five different options, including baby, throw, twin, queen, and king sizes. The Retro Groove pattern is fantastic for showcasing big, bold prints or using up those solids and tone on tone prints. Retro Groove has some easy curves and I've made some supplemental videos that you'll get access to when you purchase the pattern that walk you through each and every step. Here are some other fun things you get with the pattern: Full size templates An awesome coloring page and fabric amounts required for each size. Backing assembly instructions for each size of Retro Groove are included. You don't have to worry about doing any quilt math for your backings! Colorful, easy to read diagrams and written instructions. Detailed cutting diagrams AND a cutting checklist are included for ease of use. Supplemental video to accompany the cutting chart. Supplemental video that walks you through assembling a block & sewing curves, step-by-step. The finished size options include the following: Baby 54" x 54" Throw 63" x 81" Twin 72" x 90" Queen 90" x 108" King 117" x 117" Skill level is confident beginner to intermediate. If you haven't sewn curves before, I would recommend stitching up a practice block with some scrap fabric before cutting into your gooooood fabric. The video and pattern steps will walk you through the curves. Tester Retro Groove pics The Retro Groove pattern testers came up with some amazing versions of this quilt. I can't wait for you to see how versatile and all around awesome they are! Kelley's Retro Groove Angie M. Haley M. Sarah H. Mahalia D. Angela J. Margo D. Meredith E. I'm so excited to see what you'll come up with for your version of Retro Groove! I've been itching to make another version with some really big prints that are hard to use in other quilts with smaller blocks. You can see in Margo's tester quilt that big prints look pretty awesome in those squiggly curves! Don't forget to share your makes (I want to see those fabric pulls too!) on Instagram with #retrogroovequilt . Happy sewing!! -Joanna
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Quilts – by kustomkwilts
Kapow! Quilt Pattern
Today is the Kapow! quilt pattern Release Day! And since we're coming in hot to Labor Day Weekend, let's celebrate with a sale! You can get the Kapow! quilt pattern on sale through 9/7/2020 aaaaaand use the code LABORDAY for 20% off everything else in my shop. Also, there are some sweet free patterns in there too, if you haven't checked them out! Kapow! PDF Quilt Pattern Kapow! Paper Pattern more I always love star patterns so much and I wanted something that gave a feeling of an explosion from the center of the star, like fireworks. The PDF and print copies are here for you to make your own stunning Kapow! quilt. I've made sure this pattern is jam packed full of all the resources you might need or want, including: Kapow! Quilt Pattern Features Fat Quarter Friendly - includes cutting diagrams SIX sizes, including: Baby Throw Full Twin Queen King Easy to read color-coded charts and diagrams Cutting checklist (cheat sheet) Clearly written instructions Backing prep diagrams for each size Coloring/planning sheet Some of my favorite versions of this quilt come from using darker backgrounds and BRIGHT fat quarters to create some great eye candy. I love how my first version using Alison Glass fabrics came out with a light background too. My top suggestion for making an amazing Kapow! quilt is to use fat quarters that have good contrast. There are three different fat quarter fabrics used in the main part of the block, and as long as you select fabrics for each block that don't blend together, you'll get a fantastic block! Kapow! quilt with Alison Glass fabrics Custom quilting is my go to and I quilted the Kapow! quilt above using monofilament thread--some rulerwork and feathers really make this one pop! And I'm a die hard Tula Pink lover...so of course I had to cut up my coveted De La Luna fabric backed with some delicious Shannon Luxe Cuddle in Belize. I used Leslie Tucker Jenison's Urban Garden fabric for the dark background. The colors and themes in this fabric line are just out of this world, and I rarely can bring myself to take a rotary cutter to it! I bound the quilt in some of my favorite Kaffe Fassett. Tula Pink De La Luna Kapow! Quilt Tester Gallery Finally, what you've been waiting for! Some inspiration for your own Kapow! quilt. These fantastic testers put their own spin on Kapow! and they are all extraordinary. What version will you make? Solids, modern prints, traditional Americana? Kayle C.'s Libs Elliott + Anna Maria Horner Kapow! quilt My Alison Glass Kapow! Jen D.'s Gardenvale Kapow! Debra B.'s red, white, and blue Kapow! My De La Luna Kapow! Emily C.'s Moda Grunge Kapow! Veronika's Tula Kapow! quilt Melissa M.'s Batman Kapow! Michelle's shades of purple Kapow! Clark's navy, pink, red Kapow! Samantha's stunning solid Kapow! Share your makes with me using the #kapowquilt hashtag on Insta or shoot me an email so I can ooooh and ahhhhh with you! Happy sewing, quilty friends! -Joanna
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Quilts – by kustomkwilts
Cabin Fever Quilt Pattern
Today is Cabin Fever Release Day! I'm so excited to share this modern log cabin quilt with you today, as it's a design I planned out about two years ago. It's always difficult to be patient waiting for this day! The PDF and print versions are now available :)--and a limited amount of kits. more Cabin Fever PDF Quilt Pattern Cabin Fever Print Pattern Quilt Kits! The inspiration for this quilt came from a few things...even though the name conjures images of being stuck inside. (Which, admittedly, we can all probably relate to currently.) First, I wanted to make a quilt that came together fast and looked great with solids or prints. I like to try out new quilting motifs, and this quilt is so much fun to practice on. Secondly, our daughter was one at the time. A lot of times, I felt the repetition of house chores and potty training (who was I kidding? She still wears a pull up to bed sometimes--and I'm fine with that ;) made me a little cagey. So I jokingly named it Cabin Fever. The geese represent breaking free from routine and they're ridiculously fun to quilt. Funny enough, I didn't realize how appropriate the name would be at the time, but here we are! The Cabin Fever quilt instructions come in two sizes, baby and throw. These quilts go together really quickly, and they're a nice break from traditional block-based quilts. The pattern comes with some fun and easy tips for making flying geese quickly. Tula Pink Solids / Kona Cotton Equivalents This colorful version is one of my favorites. I've been using all Tula Pink solids and stripes to work on another quilt, and I stumbled across a perfect stack of colors just as I was about to make an all blue version. Sadly, after I made it, I realized the Tula Pink solids can be a bit hard to find, so I matched them closely to Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton Solids. Thank goodness for color cards! I quilted the outer border with some ghost geese to make it appear the entire border had flying geese. Then I did some fun ruler work in each strip of color. I love how the straight lines pop so much on solids! This is the baby version, which measures 52" x 52". It's a really nice size, and I use this one to cover up on the couch while I english paper piece. Blue & Grey Cabin Fever This colorway is the very first one I had planned out but didn't end up making until just recently. I love how the brightness of the blues contrast with the darkness of the grey. I haven't decided just how to quilt this one yet. Some nice ruler work and custom quilting would really pop against those solids, but I have a new edge to edge design I'm itching to try out. This is the throw size, which measures 81" x 81". Peaches and Pinks Cabin Fever This was the very first Cabin Fever Quilt I made. I mixed in prints with Kona cotton solids, but I've added a color chart in just solids. The great thing about Robert Kaufman fabrics is they generally use the names of the coordinating solids in a lot of their prints. It's easy to mix and match prints from different collections to what the coordinating solid would be. This is another throw size. Ruby Star Society - Clementine Have you seen Miss Melody Miller's new collection for Ruby Star Society called "Clementine"? I love it so much!! She's a wizard when it comes to color, and these ethereal pinks and blues are insanely good together. I used Rashida Coleman Hale's Speckled as the sashing/background fabrics. My daughter Gemma saw me putting this one together and claimed it before I could say no. I let her pick out a color of Shannon Cuddle. Her favorite color is pink, so it was a no brainer. And then she got to pick the edge to edge design that I quilted. They're subtle, but they're little heart rainbows. This is the softest quilt, so cozy and squishy. I can't wait to see what fabric collections or solids you guys pick for your Cabin Fever quilts! I love seeing the amazing different quilts that y'all make and the incredible fabric selections you make. Have fun with this one--I know I do :) If you want to see more of the photos I've been posting of Cabin Fever, you can head over to Instagram and check them out! -Joanna
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Quilts – by kustomkwilts
QuiltCon 2020 recap
QuiltCon Austin Last week was QuiltCon 2020 in Austin, TX. I had the best time one could have--and got the full experience of teaching a handful of classes too. I dropped my kiddo off at daycare on Wednesday and headed to Austin (only about a 2 hour drive for me), checked in, and had lunch at Moonshine across from the convention center. Me and the hubs had a meal there a few QuiltCons ago the last time it was in Austin and the food is SO good. Then I got settled into my AirBNB--check out the gorgeous couches in this place...I pretty much picked this airbnb for those couches...and the reviews on the super comfy bed--it did not disappoint. Cutting out a quilt for one of my upcoming quilt patterns in my favorite fabrics :) more Back to QuiltCon... So I spent the evening prepping and going over my class notes for the next four days and headed up to the convention center Thursday morning to spend a little time in the OLFA booth! I was demo-ing my new Trippy triangles templates with the OLFA 28mm Rotary cutter while OLFA was giving away their new carrying cases. Cutting up some of my favorite Windham fabrics - Artisan cottons and Horizon :) Classes!! I taught Veer From the Linear (longarm class) and Choose your EPP Adventure (English Paper Piecing) and all of the classes were a blast! There were so many fun and energetic creatives in my classes --I'll share a few pics. We had a great time and I really enjoyed everyone in the classes. I had several familiar faces in all my classes--lots of friends and fun memories made :) I was also in desperate need of a Diet Dr. Pepper before my first class, and my friend Debra totally saved the day! I had no change for the coke machine (it didn't take a card) and the line for the cafe in the convention center was at least 30 people deep. Debra threw all her ones at me so I could have my caffeine. She's a total lifesaver! VFTL class Choose your EPP class VFTL class VFTL class - Laura B. Choose your EPP class Choose your EPP class Okay--now onto the quilt show! I was lucky enough to have a quilt juried into the show (first time ever!! and not for lack of trying--I had lots of rejections prior to this, so I was especially excited!). There were so many amazing quilts that I'm probably going to overload you with photos, but I've got to share some of my favorites. Here they are, and not in any particular order--I don't know how the judges rank these. I'm definitely not jealous of the ridiculously hard job they have of judging the quilts! Forgive me for the small collage pics--they were being so ridiculously slow to load that this was the only way I could get them to do it. Makers are tagged in the captions starting at the top and going left to right. 1. Intersections @bluemountaindaisy 2. Happiness @littlemakerystudio 3. Squiggles and spots @katehendersonquilts 4. Sunrise on the sky @molly_landman 5. Melting Ice @karenmaple 6. A hole lotta luv @pappersaxsten 7. Golden Days @verdigrissewing 8. The american dream @carsonconverse 9.Push-pull @quiltingjetgirl 1. Coral Fan @brigitgail 2. Look on the bright side Modern bee of the hill country quilt quild 3. Pink Haze @twiggyandopal 4. #believewomen @project.light_emily 5. FInding Flow @bettycrockerass 6. Bauhas Betty @whit.kane 7. For the love of squircles @pennylanequilts 8. Starring You @petersquilts 9.Deportation @tinwoman48 1. El Greco's Alphabet @leslietuckerjenison 2. Smith County Courthouse @leslietuckerjenison 3. Didn't get the info on this one @vfwquilts 4. Apricot Quilt @kamblistudio 5. Me @kvonmind 6. Stripe Club @cassandra.beaver 7. Fractured Rainbow @amylizquilts 8. Striation @kathleenquilts 9. My happy place @meganbyrne22 1. I can't believe I have to say this @flyingparrotquilts 2. Marshmallow Fluff @jmtreleaven 3. Didn't get the info on this one, charity quilt 4. I heart Lizzo @downtownquilter_allie 5. Trippy Triangles @kustomkwilts 6.Keith's Doodle by Cindy Cox 7. City Scape @Petersquilts 8. Close up of Stripe Club 9. Close up of Striation Advice for attending QuiltCon There was one major mistake I made when I was packing for QC. I underestimated how much walking I would be doing. I already have foot problems--so I should have known better. Next time I'll pack better band aids (all I had were crummy Frozen ones for my daughter) and MOLESKIN. I had brought what I thought were comfy, already broken in shoes, but on the first day, I had a huge blister on the back of both feet. Lesson learned! Also, bring change for the coke/snack machines (See the first paragraph for why ;). I was travelling semi-locally, so I packed my car full of anything and everything I thought I'd need (which was a lot, since I was teaching four classes). If I were attending sans teaching, I'd still pack snacks and handwork. Make sure you bring a good camera--and when you take pictures, try to also document who the makers are. I think it's really important to credit the makers. Think about if your quilt was juried into this ridiculously awesome show and you kept seeing pictures of it everywhere but people failed to credit your work. It's a total bummer, and I do my best to always credit the makers when I take pictures of their quilts. I'm not always 100% successful, but those little cards next to the quilts with their info and the artist statement make it really easy to just snap a quick picture for reference later. It's a lot to take in. Like, A LOT. Also, be ready for complete sensory overload. I work alone in my studio 50+hours a week, and so just being around all the people, chatter, colors, insane creativity is a lot. It didn't used to get to me so much when I taught public school, but I really needed a couple of days after I got home to be alone with my thoughts. Aaaaand that's super easy when you've got a 3 yo waiting for you ;) Do your research on where you're going to stay, restaurants to eat at, sights to see, etc while you're at QuiltCon. I always like to take advantage of as much local eats and stuff as I can. I was really sad I didn't make it to VooDoo donuts and there was supposedly and awesome pretzel place close by I would have like to go.
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Quilts – by kustomkwilts
Horizon Challenge by Windham Fabrics
I'm a sucker for bright, bold prints. Grant Haffner's Horizon collection for Windham Fabrics, is so inspiring! I loved the linear look of the prints and knew I wanted to create a quilt that showed this lines radiating out from the center of a block. Star blocks are my favorite, and I really enjoy the precision of foundation paper piecing that create the Starry Dreams blocks. I also fell hard for the Windham Artisan Cottons and knew they needed to be a supporting player in this game. Starry Dreams is the quilt that was born out of love for these collection, and there's a free pattern available from Windham so you can create your own! Since I'm so inspired by these fabrics, I'd love to challenge you to check out the Horizon Challenge! more Starry Dreams Quilt by Joanna Marsh photo courtesy of Windham Fabrics Horizon Challenge Now that I've gushed about how much I love the Horizon fabrics, I'm excited to announce that I'll be a guest judge for the Windham Fabrics Horizon Challenge! Check out the rules below and pick up some of your favorite Horizon fabrics (shipping to stores in February 2020). You'll swoon over the prizes!! The Horizon Challenge wraps up in May 2020, and the winners announced shortly after. Horizon Challenge hosted by Windham Fabrics Rules Choose 1 or more Horizon Prints. Choose a Basic from Windham or Anthology: Artisan Cotton, Bedrock, Palette or Lava Solids. Make a Horizon Project: Quilt, Apparel, Accessory Submit a photo of your project by May 26, 2020 to social@baumtextile.com Quilting my Starry Dreams quilt Horizon Fabrics You can check out the full collection of Horizon fabrics and shop for inspiration from other designer projects. And the sky is the limit, so use that creativity! Best of luck to you, and happy sewing!
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Quilts – by kustomkwilts
Moroccan Tiles Summer Sew Along
Summer sewing is just around the corner! Join in the fun with the Moroccan Tiles Summer Sew Along.
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Quilts – by kustomkwilts
Moroccan Tiles PDF Quilt Pattern Release
Moroccan Tiles is a fun and modern twist on traditional drunkard's path blocks. Learn to piece easy curves with this awesome quilt pattern!
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Quilts – by kustomkwilts
Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Pattern
Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Pattern Pattern will be on sale and available for purchase Monday, August 13, 2018.The Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Pattern is my newest pattern with a fresh color palette. One of the very first quilts I ever made was a traditional churn dash quilt, and I just love that block. My mom and I gave the little churn dash quilt to my Mamaw Florence for her birthday one year, and then I got the quilt back when she passed away. You'd think churn dashes would make me sad, but I smile and think about what an amazing Mamaw I had and how much I miss her. She was such an inspiration to me and was an awesome artist. This quilt is kind of my tribute to her. I really like traditional quilt blocks with a modern spin, so what better way to make a big churn dash made up of other blocks to show off your favorite fabrics?This pattern was first featured in Love Patchwork and Quilting magazine. You can pick up Issue 54 or find the pattern in my Pattern Shop. Cheeky Churn Dash is a really fun pattern to put together, and by joining in the quilt along, I'll introduce you to an awesome new way to sew together half-square triangles. You'll seriously be amazed, and you'll want to use this method all the time! There are two layout options for making the 81" square quilt, mini, or pillow, and you can choose the one that you like the best. The quilt is layer cake friendly and the mini and pillow versions are mini charm pack friendly--great for quick piecing. This is a great way to use up your favorite fabrics that you've been hoarding for ages! And there is a Quilt Along for this pattern that will start in September. RSVP to the quilt along to sign up for all the details and save your spot!The Cheeky Churn Dash PDF Pattern in my shop includes coloring diagrams for easy planning, fabric cutting diagrams to make the most of your fabric if you aren't using precuts, and tons of step by step pictures that will make this quilt a breeze.I quilted my Cheeky Churn Dash Quilts in a couple of different ways--one of my favorites was just straight line quilting. It's modern and simple and really shows off the quilt without distraction. I quilted another version with some geometric lines and swirls in the background fabric. There are so many great options for quilting this quilt, the sky is the limit! MATERIALS USED:Kona Cotton Solids Robert Kaufman FabricsBacking and binding: Elizabeth Hartman Pond Flower Dots for Robert KaufmanBatting: Quilter's Dream Wool Batting
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Quilts – by kustomkwilts
Moroccan Tiles Quilt - Love Patchwork & Quilting Issue 63
Do you have a favorite crafting or quilting magazine? There are so many great magazines filled with exciting new patterns, and I have quite a few favorites of my own! I'm so excited to finally be able to share with you the Moroccan Tiles Quilt in Love Patchwork and Quilting Issue 63.[caption id="attachment_1345" align="aligncenter" width="212"] LPQ Issue 63 Cover Photo Provided by LP&Q[/caption]Issue 63 isn't yet available in the US, but it is on shelves in the UK now. I'm anxiously awaiting my copy in the mail any day now!I designed the Moroccan Tiles quilt because I have a secret love of traditional quilt blocks--specifically the different variations that can be made from drunkard's path blocks.[caption id="attachment_1350" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sewing curves[/caption]I used to be scared stiff of sewing curves, but there really is nothing to it once you practice a little bit. The shapes I created by rotating and flipping the drunkard's path blocks reminded me of gorgeous tile work and design shapes.I chose a gem toned palette from some of my favorite Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton Solids and rather than using the standard go-to white background fabric, I love to use Kona Silver! I like to think it makes the background such a shocking contrast, and gives it a softer glow so the other colors can shine on their own.[caption id="attachment_1346" align="aligncenter" width="212"] LPQ Issue 63 Moroccan Tiles Quilt Photo provided by LP&Q[/caption]For the backing, I was dying to use Robert Kaufman's Effervescent fabric. It is a beautiful fabric that looks like it has little champagne bubbles overflowing on the entire surface. The color way I chose coordinated exactly with the colors of Kona Cotton I had selected, so it was definitely a match made in heaven!I hope you'll grab your very own issue of the magazine and check out all of the awesome projects and all of the great contributors, and maybe try something a little new this week that involves sewing some curves? You might fall head over heels for them, just like I did--so you won't know if you don't try! Happy sewing!Â
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Quilts – by kustomkwilts
Churn Dash Quilt - Love Patchwork and Quilting Issue 54
Love Patchwork and Quilting Issue 54Who doesn't love a little churn dash quilt? I know I can't seem to get enough of the traditional block that basically represents butter being churned! Have you peeked in issue 54 to check it out? I'll tell you a little bit about the design...[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="212"] Photo provided by Love Patchwork and Quilting[/caption]I'm so excited to share my most recent quilt with you from the Love Patchwork and Quilting Issue 54. I'm inspired by bright, saturated colors--and that's typically the palette I use. But for this quilt, I opt for a more subtle palette. The cheery sherbet colors and hints of greys that are sure to make you swoon! This quilt- "Sorbet Shades" in the mag, is inspired by one of my favorite traditional quilt blocks--the churn dash. This block is so rich in history and I love that it can be interpreted in a modern way. I have a great appreciation for the traditional quilt blocks and the colors they typically have. I also love seeing them updated in a more modern way.One of the first quilts I made when I was learning to sew was a traditional churn dash quilt. My mother and I gave this special quilt to my grandmother prior to her passing. The churn dash block represents so much more to me than just a traditional quilting block. The simplicity of the block lends itself to being altered in construction in so many ways. The possibilities for this block are limitless! I quilted this quilt with swirls on the white background and simple straight lines on the colored blocks.[caption id="attachment_618" align="aligncenter" width="212"] Photo provided by Love Patchwork and Quilting[/caption]For this project, I use some delightful Kona Cotton Solids and create a coordinating pillow to go with the quilt. The colors in these projects really make me want some ice cream and macaroons--or really any other cute little pastel dessert! I hope you'll checkout the issue (digital issues are available here). Don't be afraid to try your hand at breaking out of the traditional box to create a modern spin on traditional. (photos above provided by Love Patchwork and Quilting).Â
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Quilts – by kustomkwilts
Alison Glass Ventana Quilt
I usually am not such a sucker for holiday deals and sales...but when Alison Glass had her twelve days of Christmas, I couldn't resist. Â I ordered the pattern below (picture from Alison Glass's website) in the kit format. Â And I have to say...I have NEVER purchased a quilt kit before. Â I take immense pleasure in selecting fabrics and design for a quilt, but it was so nice to not have to think about those things for once. Â I opened the pattern, cut up all the fabric that was sent to me, and I whipped this quilt top up in about 4 days. Â I have yet to quilt the top...I'm thinking of adding some applique to the center of the white parts of the quilt to add a little more to it, but haven't quite decided yet. Â I had allowed myself a few days of selfish sewing prior to the end of 2016, and this was the project I chose to do. Â It's a great pattern--especially if you want to just follow someone else's instructions (the blocks are foundation paper pieced), and you don't even have to worry about being too mindful of the piecing process. Â foundation paper pieced blocks ready to be assembled The kit I purchased came with Alison's newest line of fabric-Seventy Six. Â I added a few blocks to the standard pattern to increase the dimensions slightly. Â I really didn't think this pattern would come together as quickly as it did, and didn't really have a backing in mind for it when I finished. Â So I just wanted to share my bit of selfish sewing for 2016. Â And while this isn't really a pattern review, I have to say the pattern is extremely easy to follow (and the kit even came with enough fabric for me to make 12 extra blocks--increasing the size from a 5x6 layout to a 6x7 block layout.) and such a pleasure to make. Â My nearly finished quilt topÂ
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