Friday, October 26, 2012

Monkey Around Baby Quilt

Yay, it's time for the Blogger's Quilt Festival again!  I've enjoyed participating in this in the past (so many neat quilts!) and even won a prize once - one of these days I'll actually get my quilt made from the fabric I purchased with that gift certificate.  I get it out and pet it from time to time, but haven't found the perfect pattern yet.  The quilt I am sharing today would be best for the Baby Quilt category - or maybe Lap Quilt, after all it's not just for babies!

I've finished quite a few quilts this year, some for me and some for other people.  My favorite of them all so far is my Monkey Around Baby Quilt.  This was a project that was on the back burner for quite a while and started out as a custom quilt I made for a customer at Threads That Bind (the quilt shop I work at one day a week).  She came in, wanting a baby quilt made, we picked out a block pattern she liked and fabrics, then I made a quilt for her.  I had in mind to write up a pattern for this quilt, but every time I came back to it I just wasn't inspired. 


Part of what I do at the shop is come up with new shop samples using current fabrics.  We got in some super cute little monkey fabric, so I knew I had to make this quilt with it since the blocks were Monkey Wrench blocks.  I threw the old idea out the window and started fresh, just the blocks set in a more modern way for a more original, fun look.  Then, inspiration hit and I thought, why not add blocks that are half size?  So I ended up redrafting the block a bit so I could add the half size one in the center of one of the block, and ended up with a quilt idea that I really loved!  (I used EQ7 to design the quilt - I love being able to import the fabrics I have available and see the quilt come to life before I even take one stitch.)

The finished quilt measures 47 x 47 and features 12 inch and 6 inch blocks.  I think the 6 inch ones are so cute!

I really enjoyed making the actual quilt and was very pleased with the way it looked, and the process of putting it together.  I quilted it in a swirly design, though I think it would be neat to do a more custom quilting on it as well.  Maybe next time! 
If you like this quilt pattern it is available for purchase in my Etsy Shop

Now go over and check out the rest of the great quilts that are posted!


Monday, October 22, 2012

Rainy Days and Quilting

I just love fall - the trees are so pretty with leaves turning, the cooler nights, even the coming of the rainy days.  I find myself contendedly humming and working on quilts again - seems like it's been a long stretch of over-busy days.  It feels good to start sorting piles of fabric and working on some random projects! 
 
Since we moved the girl up to college it seems like I've been super busy - working extra hours at the quilt shop because of shows, taking care of our animals (ugh - we had a super bad flea infestation!), and a short, but very nice visit from my parents!  We even got to take them up to meet their great-grandsons and got the bonus news that we will have another grandchild in June - yay!  We stopped by to see our Dancer/College student and took a few quick pictures with her - love this one...as you can see, it was a beautiful day.
 
 
The following weekend I had a booth at a craft show.  I did fairly well, and have decided to do one more this fall.  I am planning on making more buntings as those were popular, as well as more selvage bins.  The selvage bins I had didn't actually sell, but drew a lot of attention.  I think if I have a larger selection they might sell better.  I'm also working on a pattern for making these.  I took photos today, so just need to do the writing now - so hopefully can get that pattern finished up this week and to the testers!  (Drop me a comment if you would be interested in trying it out for me - you'd have to commit to getting it done quickly, though!)  
 
 
I sure like how they look hanging up on my wall!
 
I finished a table runner today and quilted a fun quilt I made with left-over fabrics from other projects.  I plan on binding that tomorrow, so I know I'll more progress to put up here - I'm charging the batteries on my camera and looking forward to sharing more.  I've missed blogging almost as much as I've missed quilting! 
 
Let's just say - hurray for fall, for quilting, and for blogging!