Flower Basket Wall Hanging

After I finished painting the spare bedroom this past summer (before and after pictures), I needed to make something to prettify the corner with the cover to the circuit breaker box.

 

It needed to be a tall, narrow piece, because there is a window just to the right of the cover.

I don't remember how I decided on a wall hanging with flower basket blocks. However, I didn't care for the flower basket blocks I saw in my reference books. The specific pieces showing the floral print were too small. So I came up with my own redesign, which features two large pieces showcasing the floral print, spilling exuberantly out of the basket.

Two blocks would have been sufficient, but I went ahead and made three, even though the bottom one is hidden by the dresser.

Who knows, maybe someday it will hang somewhere else where the third block is needed — maybe the back of a door or a high-ceilinged room.

For a view of the entire wall hanging, click here.

Fractured Squares Quilt

Last week, I uploaded a new quilt pattern to my Etsy page. [Update April 25, 2020: This pattern is now available through Pacific Fabrics.]

I really like this design. It is very simple to put together, and quite striking (if I do say so myself). I like the "op-art" effect from the alternating light and dark values combined with the various diagonal lines created by the arrangement of the blocks.

When I designed this quilt, the parameter I set was to see what I could come up with using just 2-1/2"-wide strips. I could have used a set of precut strips, but I'm trying to limit myself to using just what's in my stash, as much as possible. (I did go out and buy yardage for the backing.)

As is my wont, I handquilted it. I worked on it so diligently (a couple of hours most evenings while watching television), that I developed a case of bursitis in my left elbow.

Who knew quilting could be hazardous to your health?!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Have I mentioned before, how I love hearts? I guess I have!

A couple months ago, I was looking at the various red-and-white fabrics that have collected over time, looked at the calendar, and thought, I should make something for Valentine's Day!

Thus, the Sweet Hearts Pillow, pattern available at my Craftsy store.

Here's a detail of the center block. Hearts within hearts!

Falling Leaves

I designed and made this little quilt several years ago, in a sort of make-it-up-as-you-go-along fashion.

If I recall correctly, I had noticed that I had a variety of autumn-colored leaf-print fabrics in my stash and sewed up several maple-leaf blocks. Then, of course, I had to go get the right background fabric — I tend not to have much in the way of yellow fabrics.

I didn't have a design wall back then, but the quilt is small enough that it didn't matter. I probably just arranged them on a table more or less the way I wanted them, and then proceeded to add appropriately sized yellow strips, trimming as necessary as I went along.

 Before adding the scrappy binding, I marked the top with a simple leaf pattern, connecting the individual leaves with short curved lines to create a "vine-y" look, and hand quilted it with contrasting brown thread.

 

Finally . . . a New Pattern

I *finally* uploaded a new pattern to my Craftsy store. What with classes and all, it was challenging to find time to work on it. When summer quarter ended last a week and a half ago, however, I suddenly had time to make a big push to finish it up and publish it.

I call it "Spinners." It's sort of a cross between a Pinwheel and a Spinning Star. And it has a bit of a retro, '30s look to it.

Its genesis began with a Jelly Roll someone gave me several years ago. I started sketching and playing around with the design. After three or four rounds, it evolved into what you see here. I wanted to use as much of each strip as possible; hence, the secondary design at the block intersections.

Even so, I had enough left over to make a scrappy binding from the remnants of the strips.

I originally planned to come up with a design that used *only* the Jelly Roll strips — no additional fabric purchase required. It didn't work out that way, at least not for this quilt.

My next pattern, however, will.

Stay tuned!