Cardinals

Cardinals Modern Mini

I love making holiday projects early.   I also  have found that if I don't make my Christmas projects "way- before" ( that's not a real word, is it? ) Christmas, I end up making no major projects. 

Do you sew this way, or do you "sew well" under pressure?

I was delighted to make a modern mini pattern during September. It is a cool  design from the new issue of the digital magazine Paper Piecing 1/4 "  ( issue 7  Oct-Dec 2015).

The designs are by Janeen, over at Quilt Art Designs blog!  Her modern designs are incredible and fun, and take me out of my  traditional "comfort zone" !  

Paper Piecing 1/4 "   issue 7  Oct-Dec 2015  (Here)

*** This new issue  # 7 includes-  Pine Cones, Cardinals, Santa, Deer, Baby Rudolph, Stars, Christmas Bells, Modern Mini Ornaments , and more!!   ***

Cardinals-            design by Janeen  at Quilt Art Designs      { here }

Size -   14 "  x 18 "     Mini wallhanging or quilt

Foundation Paper Piecing -   Intermediate level

Fabrics-    White    Lotta Dots- White on White tonal   from Connecting Threads 
                Cardinals-  scraps Moda fabrics
               Pine Needles-   Lime Green  Kona Cotton  Michael Miller
                
Batting-   Warm and Natural   (scraps sewn together)

Thread-   Aurifil White  50 weight

Cardinals        made by Susie's Sunroom

I was so excited to put all of the sections together!   Can you see the white dots on the white background fabric?  I wanted it to feel like it was snowing on Mr  and Mrs Cardinal.
This may become my favorite winter background fabric. ( Lotta Dots by Connecting Threads)

The flimsy top

I was "auditioning" binding fabrics,in the above photo .  I  liked seeing  something that felt earthy and bark-like.

  I  also had to figure out how to quilt and  fill up  the "negative" space on this design.
I decided to pick a focal point :  the center of the  spray of pine needles in the top right corner . Then I would continue lines of quilting outward from this point.    
I hoped it would give a feeling of  light radiating from this point, and also of snow blowing from  this direction.

I used my  trusty Walking Foot and Aurifil White 2024 thread,  for machine quilting the flimsy top .   It didn't take long to mark my lines with creases , using a long ruler and a Clover Hera Marker tool.  (here )

The  quilting focal point is the spray of pine needles
 in the right hand corner of the quilt 

This is a close up of Mr and Mrs Cardinal.   I love the details that Janeen put into each of these birds!  The eye sections have 9 and 10 sections in them, with  just a teensy bit of white!           

Close up of the Cardinals              

The binding was sewn  on the front, by machine, using my walking foot.  Then I  pressed it into place,  and sewed it  by hand onto the back.  ( I love using these small,  but mighty, Wonder Clips. )   I finished the hand sewing in one evening on this small quilt.  This  last bit of sewing the binding by hand is very comforting to me.  It really connects me to the "quilt part" of the project !

It's  ready for sewing the binding to the back of the quilt!

This  Cardinals Mini project even  got the "husband seal of approval !"  

Stay tuned for more projects coming from this issue 7  of Paper Piecing 1/4 "  !


I am linking up at:    Paper Piecing Party @ Quilt Art Designs      and
                               Can I Get a Whoop Whoop!  @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict  and
                                Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Fort Worth Fabric Studio  and
                               Let's Bee Social  @ Sew Fresh Quilts   and
                               And Sew We Craft Together @  And Sew We Craft     and
                               Sew Darn Crafty  @ Sew Many Ways

I'm off to my sewing room!

Pattern provided by QAD Publishing

Meow!

A 'Lil Catz  Mini Wallhanging Finish

  

                                              'Lil Cat  Cat Show and Tell  at
                                         Quilt Art Designs blog    with Janeen   Sept. 25


Remember what I shared with you earlier this month?    { here }

 My WIP  -'Lil Catz    pattern   by Quilt Art Designs   {HERE}

You know what happens  after you say "Yes" to  more than one cat..... 

'Lil Catz Mini wallhanging         made by Susie's Sunroom

'Lil Catz Mini Wallhanging -     design by Janeen at Quilt Art Designs  {here}
Size:    28 "  by 28 "   
Foundation paper pieced pattern -   easy level
Fabrics:      Color Me Happy  by V. and Company  Moda fabrics   - scraps left from a quilt
                  Various black  fabrics from my stash
                  Kona cotton  gray   for the cat block background
                  Navy solid from my stash for the inner border

Quilting thread:   Aurifil   50 weight   teal color from the Color Me Happy Collection



I love the "vivid" border fabric!  It reminds me of kitty cat ears, and  cat's eyes.
And it seemed to make all of the other fabrics  "pop" .  Most of all, it made me smile.

I love how  there are nine different  cat patterns  , giving each cat a  slightly different personality!  And,  this is a great scrap buster project!  Also, a good pattern for beginner paper piecing folks.   

I made simple triangle shaped corner pockets , to hold a dowel rod, for hanging my mini wallhanging....

                          And I am sure that you noticed the little black kitty in the middle ?                                   That's my Whiskers, of course!!  I used several tonal black- on -black                                   fabrics for her face, and of course the emerald green Color Me Happy                                    fabric for her green eyes!

Whiskers is the little black kitten in the center block

I think she likes "her" new little quilt!!

I am sure you'll want to hop on over to see the other 'Lil Catz projects that will be shared at  Quilt Art Designs blog.  click  here        
We had a sneak peek last week,{  here },  and they are really  creative and beautiful!!
Take a minute to look at all of Janeen's awesome paper pieced designs.  They will amaze you!

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up at:   Paper Piecing Party @  Quilt Art Designs     and
                       Can I Get a Whoop Whoop! @  Confessions of a Fabric Addict   and

Watercolor Sea Horses

Summer Sea Horses

A few months ago, I had  fun testing out some new  quilt patterns that were designed by my friend, Elaine, of Summercrafter blog.

The first quilt I'd like to share with you is a delightful little quilt with sea horses!  This is a perfect project for summer. The quilt is made by  piecing using Half Square Triangles and corner units.  

Quilt Pattern:    Watercolor Sea Horses        by    Summercrafter

                         -pdf file  ( immediate download after payment)  HERE

Watercolor Sea Horses quilt pattern 

My Watercolor Sea Horses Quilt:

Watercolor Sea Horses     by Susie's Sunroom

Quilt Dimensions:     48" x 54"

Fabrics:   Spring House   by Moda  Stephanie Ryan
           I used a charm pack and some yardage 
              Michael Miller  Fairy Frost    for the backing
Batting:   Warm and Natural

Thread:   Aurifil  50 weight for piecing together - white
              Aurifil  50  weight for quilting top - Color Me Happy  light green 3320


This is the  finished flimsy quilt top .   Can you see all of the little blocks in this picture?

The flimsy top piece

I love the rows of waves on the top and the bottom of the quilt!  
Elaine's pattern is very detailed, with excellent graphics and directions. 

Quilting details: 
-  variegated light green ( from the Color Me Happy collection)  Aurifil thread for the quilt top.
First, I quilted around each seahorse figure. Then, I  decided to quilt "Curvy Organic Lines" ,  to give the illusion of water currents and movement.
   

The quilting thread is light in this section of the quilt.  You can see a hint of green near the bottom edge of the picture

I kept the width of the up and down pathway at  about 1 1/2 inches.  

Painters tape and pins help mark off the 1 1/2"  wide vertical columns
 for quilting the organic curvy lines 

 The sea horses seem to be floating up and down in the water, don't they?   Elaine told me that the quilting reminded her of "sea weed" !

The Back:

I pieced together some of the leftover strips , to insert in the middle of the yellow and white Fairy Frost fabric .  And then made a little label.   

The pieced backing

                                                     

This little sea horse quilt is staying in my family!  
Note to self:    This would make an awesome baby quilt.

By the way..... Summercrafter has 3 new quilt patterns in her "My Shop".   They are all  on sale now!

*** click on  “MY SHOP” on the beach, in the upper right margin and it will take you there. Use the code “FINALLY” and get 10% off! ***

I'm off to my sewing room!

PS

My husband had this suggestion-   " Your quilt  back looks like a raft floating in a big pool."

" You need to have a lady in a bathing suit , with a big hat , laying on the raft!"

Linking up at:   Sew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart Quilts   and
                       Sew  Darn Crafty @ Sew Many Ways   and
                         Fabric Frenzy Friday @  Fort Worth Fabric Studio  and
                        Can I Get a Whoop Whoop @  Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Pouches To Go!

On The Go With Across The Pond Sew Along 

See our past projects  {here}

Are you going on any trips this summer?  Maybe you'll find something for travel, or things "to go"  , that you 'd like to make!

Amanda, The Patchsmith, has made herself some beautiful  patchwork book carry covers! 
Isn't this so pretty!!   You'll see another book cover idea, as well, over at The Patchsmith!
Her patchwork  and stitching are so delicate and lucious!

      Amanda's Book Carryall        {here}
photo by The Patchsmith  

I love using pouches when I travel... "There is no such thing as having too many pouches!" (You can quote me on that!)   So I made  myself a Dumpling Pouch,  by Michelle Patterns.

Dumpling Pouch  by Michelle Patterns  -  free tutorial

I wanted it to coordinate with some other travel bags that I have made in the past.

Dumplings Zip Pouch Tutorial:   by Michelle Patterns  {here} - the easier pattern
  
Fabrics:   Dab Of Jazz    Maywood Studios  ( I had a lot of the Dab of Jazz line in my stash)
               White Brussels Linen

Thread:   Aurifill   Color Me Happy     the variegated light green
Zipper:   Apple Green        I get my zippers from Zip It!
Dimensions:  about 6 1/2 " wide  x 4 " high

Come to me,  my little dumpling!!

I used the  linen for two rows of squares in the middle. (They turn up in the bottom of the pouch.)

Oh, this  little pouch is super fun.  The only fiddly part was adding the binding in the lining for the ends of the zippers.    I took my time, and hand basted where Michelle suggests to hand baste.

The other side of my dumpling

The bottom- I love seeing quilting on linen... this is the  Aurifil " Color Me Happy"
  light green with variegations

The lining    

Next, I made an Eye Mask.  I usually want to go to sleep, while my husband reads awhile longer.  I like using an eye mask.

Erin, of Dog Under My Desk,  wrote a great , and free,  tutorial for an eye mask-

Free Tutorial at Dog Under My Desk

My Dab of Jazz  Eye Mask                      by Susie's Sunroom

My Travel Set      Susie's Sunroom

Are you curious about the other items you have seen in the pictures?

I'm ready for a trip!      Susie's Sunroom
(far left): The Linen To Go Pouch,  Eye Mask (in front pocket), The Dumpling Pouch  &
 Tote with Zipper (design by Taylor Made Designs- Totes with Zipper TMB-155)

The tall linen bag on the left is a tall zippered pouch, with handles and oodles of pockets inside. It is new  pouch that I created . I call it the "Linen To Go Pouch."    It has handy pockets on the front, as well as the inside.   ( If anyone is interested, I will try to make a pattern for it.  Let me know.)

Linen To Go Pouch - Dimensions:  10 1/2 " across  x 11 " high x 4  "  deep
Pockets:  4 outer  /   3 small ,   1 medium,  and 1 large pocket inside
Zipper top enclosure

Linen To Go Pouch  design by Susie's Sunroom

Inset zippered closure

Lots of pockets inside. Yoo-hoo! The Dumpling is down in there!

 The small duffle bag on the right is a  design by Cindy Taylor Oates. It is about 15 1/2 " across by 12 inches tall.  I made this bag a few years ago.  

I also made some bigger travel bags, in the Dab of Jazz fabrics, and will share them with you sometime soon.

Want to see what we are making in our Across The Pond Sew Along group?  You can look right here in our Flickr Group.

What will you be taking along on your next trip? 

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up to:    And Sew We Craft Together @ And Sew We Craft   and

                              Pet Projects Project Show  @ Pink Doxies  and 
                        Can I Get a Whoop Whoop!  @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict