Good Morning Beautiful - Design Wall Notes

Good Morning Beautiful
Each Saturday and Sunday morning I wake up and watch the sunlight come across my design wall.  The colors take on inspiring shades and tones as the sun rises.  In a very real way, it relaxes me. 

It makes me want to say: "Good Morning, Beautiful." (and even start singing one of my favorite country songs of the same title)

Is this always the case?  The answer is no.  Sometimes the quilt layout gets frustrating because:
1. The vision isn't coming into reality
2. An unrealistic deadline
3. You're simply not "loving" it
4. You're missing your "sew-jo" (your sewing mo-jo)
5. Uggghhh... you're not even sure what's wrong...

But how do you get from "ewww" to "you had me at, hello?"


Purpose of a Design Wall
This is definitely where the design wall comes into play for me.  It allows you mix and try different layouts and combinations, and then stand back and evaluate.  The wall gives you the opportunity for a quilt to "simmer" much like a fine marinara sauce.  I find that one of my quilts can be up on the design wall for weeks as I "tweak" the layout. (Obsessive, much? Yes!)

For example, I played around with a set of Tula Pink EPP (English Paper Pieced) hexagons for a long time on my design wall before I finally settled on a design.

 

 

Here is a picture of me sharing my hand-quilting progress at a PHXMQG (Phoenix Modern Quilt Guild) meeting in March 2015.

Design Wall Inspiration
Do you want a new or improved design wall?

Mine is a tattered picnic table cover that is pinned to our bedroom wall.  I like that I can roll it up for easy transport to another room, or even a place across town.  It's a quick fix, perfect for an apartment dweller, but there are other options like these here:

For a quick, portable design wall try Nickel Quilt's Tutorial Here.
Avid / Ambitious Quilter?  Try this one from Cut to Pieces.
Want more ideas?  Check out this Pinterest board.

Thank you for indulging me as I pass along some of my notes regarding design walls.  There are plenty of resources available out there and I appreciate your thoughts and input!

Around the Wold Blog Up: Quarter Mile Quilts

Hello all! I've been tagged by Stephanie over at Quarter Incher to participate in the Around the World Blog Hop. 

ABOUT ME
Welcome to Quarter Mile Quilts where my mantra is: Enjoy and Inspire.  I aim to enjoy the quilting experience and if I can, inspire others to do the same.  I knew when I started this blog that I did not want to have any expectations of blog fame, or writing my own patterns; I simply wanted to enjoy the experience. (Other people enjoy the experience by writing patterns or becoming a blog/instagram/social media sensation and that's wonderful!)

So here I am in all of my red-headed glory.  Quarter Mile Quilts is a compilation of my love of running and quilting.  I ran the 400 meters, or what is also know as the quarter mile.  Someday I plan to figure out if/when I actually make a quarter of a mile of quilts in length.  I'm also a recovering "blue" color addict.  You can read more about me on my "About Me" tab. 

WHAT I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON
Like so many people, I suffer from Work in Progress Attention Deficit Disorder, or WIP ADD.  I have several projects ongoing simply because I love fabric and the patchwork process. 

Herringbone Quilt - AKA My Technicolor Quilt

Right now I'm working on a scrappy Herringbone quilt using Stitched in Color's tutorial.  I feel in love with this block when I first saw it on Bijou Lovely's blog a few years back.  I started cutting my scraps into 2" x 11" strips and slowly (over two years) I cut the 560 strips for the 20 blocks. The strips all of have meaning to me as they include pieces of my favorite fabric, past quilts, and even some of my lower quality fabrics that I bought when I first got into quilting (leave no fabric behind!). I have 10/20 blocks done and I am committed to finish the blocks before I let myself get carried away with another project.

Green HST Quilt

In between sewing blocks for the Herringbone quilt, I've been trimming my green half square triangles (HST).  Once the herringbone quilt top is done, I'll start placing them on my design board to simmer until I have the right layout.  I refer to my design wall process as simmering.  My quilt layouts are often like a fine marinara sauce, only getting better as it simmers.


Embracing 30 Quilt

Recently I turned 30 years old and while I'm generally good with turning 30, it's a milestone that I had trouble embracing.  So I copied Adrianne from @adrianneonthewindyside (instagram) who is doing her own 30 year quilt.  Check out her hashtag #year30quilt to see all of here beautiful blocks.

My blocks will all be 5" square, but otherwise I'm not trying to keep a consistent color palette or saying I can only use my scraps.  I'm going to make what I feel like making.  I plan to do a block a day so that I'll end up with roughly 300 blocks before I start putting a quilt top together.  I'll be posting the blocks in groups of four on my instagram account (@quartermilequilts) using the hashtag #embracing30quilt. 20/300+ done so far!


Norway QAL

I'm also signed up to participate in the Norway Quilt Along  (pattern from Thimble Blossoms) hosted my Sarah Schraw on instagram.  I have my fabric pulled, but I am waiting to start the quilt until after I finish my Herringbone quilt.  It's my incentive and so far it's working!

NEXT BLOG
Well, that's me and my current projects.  A big thanks to Stephanie at Quarter Incher for tagging me.  I'd like to now tag Shannon of Little Luvins to participate next.  Go check her out!  She's one of the sweetest people I know and had the privilege of meeting and making friends with her at Sewing Summit in 2013.

Have a wonderful week!

Nearly Wordless Wednesday

Nearly wordless Wednesday brought to you by moving boxes!

 

 

And wonderful packages from Kelsey at Everyday Fray.  Go check her and Amanda out!  They're fabulous ladies who are so very sweet and supportive.

 

 

Kelsey knows my favorite color is blue and that cute zippered pouch is perfect!  Plus she sent some fabric to "round out" my blue-heavy stash.

 

 

 

 

A quick baby shower gift - gauzey swaddle blanket perfect for desert summers.  Material can be found here.

 

 

 

Scrappy triangle remnants from the on-going scrappy x blocks.

 

Check back on Friday, when I share my April Showers finished project!



April Showers: Charm Quilt Progress

One night in December, I'm thumbing my way through Instagram when I notice a post from Amanda of Westwood Acres Fabric.  She was selling her Fall Market Stash, including charm packs of Bonnie & Camille's new spring line: April Showers.  Hmmm it took me roughly two seconds to decide to jump at the chance of grabbing some April Showers.  (The blues are absolutely gorgeous and this line is in my "comfort" color scheme).  I jumped on and grab three sets.  Why three? 

Last month I won a copy of Love Patchwork and Quilting's first issue and on the cover is Holly DeGroot's The Plus Side quilt.  I swooned.  I loved the simplicity and boldness of the pattern.  The quilt was screaming "MAKE ME."  And so I responded, in kind :)

The pattern requires three charm packs (so that you have three matching 5" squares, but you can easily just cut out 3, 5" squares if you choose to do this pattern). The pattern also provides measurements if you choose to use different fabrics for each block background, or if you want to use one consistent block background.  I've been hesitant to join the modern quilting trend of low volume fabrics and didn't feel like it was quite "my style."  However, after seeing this quilt, I felt confident to try a "new thing."  It was my spark!  Don't you just love inspiration?!?

Progress:
I started the quilt on a whim late Friday night (I even "Instagramed" it with the hashtag #measurethreetimes) because I was worried I would cut my precious fabric incorrectly. (After all, they're currently my substitute for children). First I separated out all of the low volume April Showers charms and set them aside. Next comes the process of laying out the low volume backgrounds so that I could get them to "look" random.  Then I played with placement of the April Shower charms, again to make them "look" random.

Then I finally started to piece the blocks together and I am halfway done! 10 more blocks to go and I am enjoying the process.

Thinking this one is my favorite so far.

Howie likes this one more.

So far, I love this pattern!  I would highly recommend it to a beginner or seasoned quilter.  It's a great pattern to show off your fabric and to play with the low-volume trend.  What do you think of low volume fabrics?

Details:
Pattern: The Plus Side (From Love Patchwork and Quilting's Issue One)
Designer: Holly DeGroot
Fabrics: April Showers from Moda's Bonnie & Camille
Low Volume Fabrics: Happy-Go-Lucky from Bonnie & Camille, Waterfront Park from Violet Craft, Nottinghill from Art Gallery, Moda's Surrounded by Love, Chicken Wire from Moda Classics, and Kona White.

WIP Wednesday: Marmalade HSTs

First of all, I love my Singer 221 Featherweight sewing machine.  We were lucky that our holiday travels only involved a few hours of driving and the featherweight traveled well.  

During the drive, Howie helped me bind a quilt for one of my nephews.

I brought with me a charm pack of Bonnie & Camille's Marmalade and 42 5" Kona White squares.  My sister-in-laws enjoyed learning how to make half square triangles using this method from Cluck Cluck Sew.

Howie enjoyed playing with the HSTs while I was squaring them.

This past weekend I spent some time and am about half way through putting together the Marmalade HST quilt top.  The current plan is that this will serve as a quilt for the next niece born in the family.  I'm excited that the girl will have a quilt that all of her aunts (and mom!) made.

Oh and in case you were wondering, the San Diego Zoo is fabulous!  My husband and I enjoyed all of the animals, especially the leopard statue.

And the koalas were active!  When we went a few years ago for our honeymoon, the koalas were sleeping.  But this time...

I caught one leaping from the branches.

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday!

The Land of Misfit WIPs

Welcome to the Land of Misfit WIPs 

A place where Works in Progress (WIPs) come to live until someone can finish them. (my failed attempt of having this relate to the Holiday season through Rudolph's Land of Misfit Toys)

Here are some of the current WIPs:

1. Kentucky Derby Quilt

2. Quick Nine Patch Quilt top

After creating the plus quilt using this fabric combination, I had some 3" strips left over and decided to create a quick and cute nine patch quilt for one of my nephews.  It off to the quilter and I'm excitedly anticipating its return to me.


3. and not-so-secret sewing... a created a cute boxed pouch using Pretty Modern's tutorial HERE.  Super cute and fairly easy to do; just don't be afraid of boxing corners!

And congratulations to Kami! You're the winner of the fabric bundle!  Thanks everyone for sharing your favorite holiday memories.  My favorite tradition is dress shopping with my dad every Christmas.  He would have us try on dozens of dresses and would then send us off to the food court while he picked out the ones he liked the best.  It was a fun surprise to see which he bought each year.  He has since passed away, but my sister and I keep up the tradition for our younger sister.  We love it!

Happy Holidays All!

Pay It Forward: A Give-Away

First, a little WIP update:

I completed the HST Green with Envy Top.  Now to quilt it!  I am donating this and have decided to hand-quilt it with some simple straight line stitching.

I have other WIP updates, but I think you all are curious as to the give-away so without further ado...

Last week I received an email congratulating me on winning a gift certificate from Pink Chalk Fabrics!  This is the first blogging give-away that I have ever won.  Super excited!  Now... what to buy?!?  I should probably stay away from blue (see post about blue obsession here)...

While I figure that out, I've decided to pay my good fortune forward to a lucky person.  Typically I don't ask anything of my participants... but this time, if you could either "follow me" or like Quarter Mile Quilts on Facebook, it would be very helpful!  And to make it fun, please tell me the strangest place you have ever sewn in your comment!  I'll probably use the random number generator, but, strangest place may win!

Here's the prize:

1/2 yard of Melody Miller Ruby Star Polka Dot Patchwork Green and Navy and four coordinating fat quarters!

In summary, to be eligible to win this fabric bundle giveaway you need leave me a comment telling me the strangest place you've ever sewn! (If you are a no-reply blogger, please leave me your email address or you can't win - bummer!).  Closes at Friday, October 25th at midnight PST.

#payitforward

WIP: Arithmetic Plus Peek

Just a little peak at what went to the LQS earlier...

 

Oh, how I love Violet Craft's fabrics!

Inspiration and Results: Travel Sewing Kit

Sewing Summit 2013 is fast approaching and I wanted to bring something hand-made.  How many other events can you bring something you made and have other people appreciate it as much as you do?

 

The list of supplies and tools requested for my classes spawned the momentum to create something useful and pretty.

 

Luckily, my Pinterest "Sewing Summit Goals" board was full of inspiration for this travel sewing kit: 

 

 

I am pressed for time and so I did not get permission to post pictures of the projects that inspired me.  If you are curious, here are the links to the following inspiration:

 

Lots of Pink Here! Travel Sewing Kit Tutorial

 

The Sometimes Crafter Travel Sewing Kit

 

comfortstitches' Project Book Patch pattern available on etsy

 

Credit is definitely due to all of these people!

What's inspiring you this week?

Starflower QAL Progress

This week marks the following progress on my version of the A Crafty Fox's Starflower Quilt Along:

- Drinking a few Dr. Peppers

- Cutting over: 300 diamonds, 98 hexagons
- Arranging over 50 star flowers
- Sewing 26 star flowers (only 24 left to go!)

- Taking several "selfies" for the purpose of the blog.  None of them turned out well, but I am posting one just because...

 

Linking up to Freshly Pieced's WIP Wednesday!

WIP ADD

I took a few days to reflect on my WIP ADD (works in progress, attention deficit disorder) and determined the following list:

Then I forgot about the following two projects:

- Triple Zip Pouch Angel Assignment

Here's a small peak at the progress.  My secret partner wanted red, white and blue. Do you think she'll like this piecing?


- A Crafty Fox's Star Flower Quilt Along
Come join me!  We're working on quilt that involves hexagons and diamonds.  This both scares and excites me at the same time.  I've spent a few evening hours cutting into the stack below.  It's going to be fabulous.

So my assignment this week is to establish WIP priorities and to NOT add any additional new projects. Heaven help me.

Linking up to Freshly Pieced's WIP Wednesday

Lonestars, Pluses and Hexies, Oh My!

First off, who knew "awkward moment" would generate so many page views?  If you are in dire need of page views just write about an awkward moment.  If you write it, people will read. (Say it in a whisper like in Field of Dreams).

Thank you all for your feedback.  It's great to hear that I am not only one who deals with these socially awkward moments.

Yesterday my husband asked: "Kate are you anxious or nervous?"
I peak up from behind my sewing machine and respond "A little, why?"
"Because you're doing a lot of sewing."

Yes, when I get anxious, or nervous, or nervously anxious, I sew to cope.  So lots of sewing this week and pictures to prove it.  Here are some (yes only some) of my progress this week.

Nursing cover gift for upcoming shower (can you tell I am still a little gun shy to give a quilt at one of these things?)  Diary of Quilter's tutorial is pretty awesome and easy (took me 1/2 an hour to pull this together, if that).

First attempts at paper-piecing - lonestar block from Six White Horses.  More on that later...

Arithmetic quilt layout and progress (Jeni Baker with In Color Order's Tutorial).  Border or no border?

Binding vintage modern quilt.

And still stitching away at those lovely hexagons!

I'll be traveling for work this week, but will try to link up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Happy Go Lucky - Finished Top

Presenting my HappyGoLucky quilt top!

Squares and hour-glass blocks created this beaded design.  The piano key/squares border was a late addition after seeing Pixels to Patchwork's project here.  She did a fabulous job!  Again, my wonderful husband helped pick out the border (which required an additional trip to the LQS - no complaining here) and he was right!

 

After some discussion with myself (do you do that, too?), I've decided to hand-quilt this one.  It will take some time, but I think it will be right thing for the "character" of the quilt.  Ok, now back to the needle and thread!

Hexies - WIP Update & Scrap Stash Give-Away

Giveaway closed.  Thanks everyone!

This weekend I worked on my Tula Pink hexagon project.  Yay, I'm finally at the point where I'm stitching together the hexagons!

While working on this project, I thought of a great way to celebrate 10,000+ page views: more hexagons!

Last night I went through my scraps, put in a disc of Psych, and started cutting. 

For one lucky person I have 143+, 2.5" squares for some hexagon fun.  My diverse scraps include all types of quilting cottons, including some from my early days (slightly cheaper) to some of my latest projects (Kate Spain, Denyse Schmidt, Moda, Kona & Bella solids).  A great addition to an on-going hexie quilt, or to start a new one :)

Just leave me a comment :)  If you are a no-reply blogger, please leave your email. 

I'll use, the ever-so-trusty, random.org to help me pick the winner.  Give away closes Monday, July 29th at 11:59PM PST.

Linking up to Freshly Pieced's WIP Wednesday.

Happy Go Lucky - Bead Quilt WIP

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend!  

We've been enjoying some unusual weather here in Arizona.  Monsoon season hit early and today we hit 108 degrees Fahrenheit with 30 percent humidity and tomorrow we'll drop to 93 degrees (typically we're at 118-120).

In happier news, I cut into a bit of Bonnie & Camille's Happy Go Lucky yesterday!  The collection totally describes my preferred color scheme.  I don't like all of the patterns, but most of them speak right to my soul.  I grabbed five fat quarters of my favorites and two yards of my absolute favorite for the border and backing.  It will be the perfect amount for a nice baby quilt :)

I'm assembling squares and hour-glass blocks to create a "beaded" look.  I'm sure there is a name for this pattern, but it escapes me now.  It kind of reminds me of a necklace I had when I was girl!

To help keep track of pinning the correct fabric together, I pinned one set and put it on the wall where it "belonged."  I repeated until I had all of the hour glass blocks accounted for and in the correct direction.  Worked like a charm :)

Wish you all a wonderful and safe weekend!