a quilt for hubby

My first quilt finish of 2014 (yes, I know it's November...) was actually a long time in the making. But for a very special man.

A couple years ago in blog-land, a buzz went around about making quilts for our beds.  The idea was that we all had tons of beautiful quilts, but nothing for our beds.  I was immediately inspired, so I went on the hunt.  We were ready for a change and the newly released Parson Gray Curious Nature was the perfect line.  I bought Tula Pink's Cherry Pie pattern, chose my fabrics (focusing on the browns and blues) and off I went.

I fully intended to make the large version of the quilt, which calls for 17-inch blocks.  I started sewing and cutting and...wouldn't you know it, I ran out of fabric.  I had mis-measured or mis-trimmed or something and, quite frankly, it stalled me out.  I didn't want to undo the strips as they are wonky-cut, so I knew getting them back together would be an issue.  I also didn't want to just go buy more fabric, because then all my blocks would have the same fabric on the edges...I wanted to keep the random look.  So, they sat...and sat...and sat.

Fast forward about two years.

I come across the blocks, still unfinished, while setting up my new sewing room.  Still frustrated, and not sure what to do, they hang for another few months.  Then, suddenly, it dawns on me...duh!...cut them down.  Then, an even better idea - make a quilt for hubby, and give it to him for Christmas.

One of my first quilts, my Coffee Quilt, was for him.  I bought the fabric at a quilt show with no plan and almost no experience.  I only had enough for a 48x48 quilt.  Um... hubby is 5'11".  The running joke in our house is how the first quilt I made him is only good for covering his legs.  :)

So, one weekend while he was away with friends, I pulled out the blocks and started measuring.  (I'd also managed to lose the pattern.) Yep...12.5" blocks would work!  I dug out my partially-sewn background strips, played around on my design wall, and then waited.

He was getting ready to leave the country for ten days, so that gave me the perfect chance to work on it without him seeing me. Within a few days of his departure, the top was done.  One seam down the back, and it was done. Then came the hard part...the quilting.

My friend Kelly...an FMQ goddess...taught me to free-motion on my home machine, but I was scared to death.  I've quilted my own quilts before, but always on the long-arm at the local shop, and usually with a good bit of frustration (and even tears!).  I had all these grand schemes in mind...different quilts for different blocks...but then decided to just stick with a simple meander.  Two days and three bobbins later, I was done!

I made a scrappy binding, got it attached and finished turning it the day before he got home.

Washed and dried into crinkly yumminess.  Perfect timing.

When hubby got home, I couldn't stand it.  Maybe because I was so excited at my accomplishment.  My first finished quilt in over two years, and my first free-motioned quilt on my own machine (incidentally, the machine that he bought me).  I was so excited, I just had to show him!  So...I caved.
Couldn't help it.

...He loved it.  :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Quilt Stats

Pattern: Cherry Pie by Tula Pink; modified

Size: approx. 78" x 78" 
Quilt Top Fabric: Parson Gray Curious Nature and Westminster Solids
Backing: Parson Gray Curious Nature, "Sand"
Binding: Quilt top scraps

Pieced and Quilted by: Angie Kimel (Viking Sapphire 830)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Charmed by the Sea

Late last year, AnneMarie at GenX Quilters hosted a wonderful Quilt Along called Charmed Prints. Finally...in April...I finished mine. Only four months late. *cough*



The QAL was focused on using a charm pack to make a simple quilt with sashing and borders.  I needed something simple, and I had a three quarters of a leftover layer cake of Odyssea.  (For those of you who don't know, one layer cake is the equivalent of four charm packs.)  Seeing a good way to use some stash, I jumped in.  There were four blocks featured, of which I chose three - the Star Block,  Diamond in the Square, and Pinwheel Block.  The remainder of my blocks are just the charms themselves, no additional cutting.  Easy peasy.

My boys had been bugging me for another quilt, and I wanted one that my family could share.  The Odyssea fabric was perfect as we are a family of beach bums, living for our annual Hatteras beach trip with friends.  So, I decided to call this one "Charmed by the Sea". 




It's my largest quilt to date - measuring 70-inches square - which makes it big enough to share and it's found a fabulous home on my living room couch.

With school going on and life being what it was, I had a hard time keeping up.  The top came together in late December and I pieced the back, making 9- and 16-patches out of my scraps and leftover charms.  My oldest son even helped with the block placement, which was fun.  :)



I quilted it in January - a simple meander on the LQS long-arm - and made the label, but then got stuck for some reason.  I hand-stitched the binding up until I had about 15 inches left and then stopped.  I don't know why. There it sat, in my living room, until April.  I finally picked it up to take with me on a beach trip with friends.  I finished it that night and took it out on the beach the next morning...without my camera.  *sheesh*.



So, despite the fact that it is a beach quilt, made for the beach, inspired by the beach, and in honor of the beach....I have no pictures on the beach.

Maybe next week...when we head to the beach.  :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Quilt Stats

Pattern: Charmed Prints Quilt Along by AnneMarie at GenX Quilters

Size: approx. 70" x 70" 
Quilt Top Fabric: Odyssea Layer Cake by MoMo for Moda and Kona White
Backing: Athena in Ocean Blue (from Odyssea line)
Binding: Ionia in Ocean Blue (from Odyssea line)

Pieced and Quilted by: Angie Kimel

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Linking up:

I've been nominated!

The nominations are up in the Blogger's Quilt Festival and, holy smokes, I've been nominated...Twice!




Thank you, thank you to those who nominated Jane's Black and White Quilt.  It's a finalist in the "Favorite Two Color Quilt" category and I've been nominated in the "Favorite Quilt Photographer" category.   I'm absolutely flattered!  I've been trying to work on my photography, and this is a complete surprise.  It truly does mean the world just to be nominated...there are some fabulous entries out there.

To say the least, I would love a vote from you in one, or even both categories.  The link to the voting page is here:  http://amyscreativeside.com/2012/05/28/bloggers-quilt-festival-vote-now/

Scroll through and vote for your favorites now!  :)

Refreshed, revitalized and re-inspired

Classes are over and exams are done - and I've been sewing!  *squeal*

Last week was a busy but oh, so awesome week.  I turned in my final paper and stats exam - and was able to host Quilt Dad at the Triad MQG meeting.  And what amazing timing it turned out to be!




I was so excited to meet John - I've stalked his blog for well over a year - and he did not disappoint.  He talked to our group for about an hour, detailing his way through his first quilt to recent finishes.  Inspiration extravaganza.  It was comforting and encouraging to hear that he started out, basically, just like most of us.  Loving fabric and enjoying putting them together. 

He walked us through his quilting "story" peppered with humorous anecdotes and stories - like how he named his blog on a whim at work one day - and how amazed and humbled he felt when designers would ask him to do things.  (I'm thinking...the same way I'm humbled and amazed that he came to visit us!).  I love it when quilting giants - um, quite literally in this case, he's so dang tall! - turn out to be real people.

I pushed people down  had the opportunity to help him display his quilts during the talk.  I can't even tell you how beautiful these quilts are in person.  I may or may not have tried to steal this one... 




You know, John, I do have a big birthday coming up in July.  Just sayin'.... ;o)

Another of my favorites...




Does it look familiar?




Couldn't help but think that was cool.  I mean, I have a quilt just like one of his... eek!

And yet another...I really loved this Christmas one, even though the prints weren't necessarily Christmas-y.  In fact, that's probably what I liked most about it.  Outside the box thinking and oh, so beautiful.




John capped off the evening by revealing his two Nightshade quilts... Double, Double, Toil & Trouble ...that he made for his girls. 

By the way - you can see here that despite my 3-inch wedges, John still towers over me!

Afterwards, Karen Gray and I had a late dinner with John, where I pretty much just sat like a fly on the wall.  I'm so humbled to have been included in conversations with such wonderful people.  I quite literally sat there soaking in all I could of their advice, thoughts, and ideas.  On the way home, all I could think about is this - it's about doing what you love.

Throughout his talk, and in the ensuing conversations, it was obvious that John has a passion for this hobby.  I think that's why it's so easy to connect with him.  Shared passion creates an instantaneous common ground from which inspiration and encouragement flow.  It's so easy to learn from people who are truly excited about what they do. 

The next day, I was fired up and ready to hit my machine and dive back into this hobby that I have grown to love so dearly.  In fact, within 20 minutes of turning in my stats exam, I was on the floor in our office mail room working on a paper-pieced layout of my next quilt.  More than one person walking through commented on how they could tell classes were over....LOL!

Refreshed, revitalized and re-inspired....and ready to go!


**Special thanks to my friends Kelly and Abby for their photos - so glad you took them while I played Vanna!**

my best friend's quilt

Do you have a best friend? You know, one of those people who no matter what will always, always be there? Whether it's 10 am or 2 am, when in need, she'll come running? I have one.  Her name is Ashley and she turned - well, let's just say she hit a birthday milestone - last month.

So, what does a quilter make for her best friend? You guessed it...a quilt!!

Ashley and I have been friends since 8th grade...25 years, plus.  We've known each other longer than just about anyone else.  Longer than college buddies, longer than husbands.  Longer than most everyone but our own families.  Nuts if you think about it, really.  Ashley is the kind of person that everyone needs as a friend.  Positive, devoted, fun, dependable, loving, outgoing, and so on and so on. I really could go on forever.

She's seen me through good and bad.  From mistake-laden high school boyfriends (really, what *was* I thinking?) to the birth of my kids and everything in between.  No matter what I'm freaking out about, she calms me down.  And trust me, she's had plenty of experience in that department!

We were maid/matron of honor at each others weddings...where I nearly dropped Donnie's ring...and even had our second children three days apart.  (Ok, so the last one wasn't planned - she has her kids early, while mine, like me, tend to be late.)

We've pretty much grown up together, but in many ways have never changed.  Bon Jovi and Def Leppard in high school, and again this past year.  Track meets when we were juniors, half marathons in our late thirties.  And she's a quilter, too. :)

OBX 2010

Jane, Ashley, Julie, me

Ashley lives in Chapel Hill, which is only about an hour-and-a-half away, but still isn't close enough for my taste.  Between them and all the friends we've met through them, I can't tell you how many times we've considered moving there. 

Despite the distance, we get together whenever we can.  Beach trips, lake weekends, vacations in the mountains (the quilt pics are at her mountain house) and as many sleepovers as we can manage.  We're so absolutely blessed that our families get along so well.  Our husbands are great friends - despite the years it took for us to get them together so they'd figure it out - and the kids are constantly asking when they get to see each other again and always include each other in their lists of "best friends".  Makes me smile.  I hope with all my heart that they'll be friends forever, too.

Lifetime friendships in the making.

So, happy birthday, Ash. I love you more than you know and I'll never be able to thank you enough for all you've done for me.  I wish you all the best now and forever - and here's to many more years as best friends!

(photo by Shelly Bainter, via Facebook)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Quilt Stats

Pattern: Lemon Squares by Faith at Fresh Lemons Quilts

Size: approx. 60" x 70"

Quilt Top Fabric: 

Robert Kaufman Essex Linen Navy and Quilter's Linen Straw
Sandi Henderson Secret Garden; Modern Meadow, Garden Tapestry and Picnic Flowers Midnight
Simon + Kabuki Juicy Blossoms, Mini Stargazer Teal and Sprigs Pewter
Kona Solid Sage
Michael Miller Dumb Dot;  Gray and Beige

Backing: Adornit Long Live Vintage, Curly Motif Grey
Binding: Sandi Henderson - Secret Garden Vintage Ironwork Midnight

Pieced and Quilted by: Angie Kimel (me!)


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Click on my Linky Party page to see where I link up. :)

Happy 2012!

As I sit here this afternoon catching up on blogs, I can't help but think back and, at the same time, wonder about the future.  One of my favorite things about this time of year has always been watching the recaps and year-in-review programs.  In fact, it's one of the few times I actually turn on news channels.  It's nice to be reminded about what happened...taking account.

To go along with that, I've always liked the notion of New Year's Resolutions.  Not that there is anything magical about January 1, but it just seems like a good, fresh time to make new goals.  I'm doing a bit of that this year, too. 

First, I must say that 2011 was quite a year for me in quilting.  One of my struggles with being active online is seeing how much everyone else is doing.  The productivity out there is amazing...and sometimes overwhelming.  I'm constantly feeling inferior in that realm, but with a full-time job, grad school, and family, I can only do so much, right?

I ended up finishing nine quilts this year.  That's *almost* one a month!  I don't know about you, but I'm pretty tickled with that.  Maybe double-digits next year?  I'm already ahead of the game with two ready to quilt tomorrow.  :)







I haven't blogged about my two most recent finishes, though one of them is pictured in block-form in the top mosaic.  I finished a quilt for my best friend and one for my dad in December.  The former for a birthday, latter for Christmas.  I still don't have pictures loaded yet, but they're coming.  :)

Of course, top that off with three online Bees, multiple swaps, including the post-Summit pouch swap, several Christmas gifts including pouches and iPad cases, and dozens of mug rugs and other small items.  I think I've been quite productive, all things considered.  :)

Of course, the best part about looking back is to see how much I grew in my quilting skills this year.  I've gone from being very nervous and unsure about color, fabrics, and patterns to being very confident and even being able to help others.  I've gone from strictly using fabric collections to branching out on my own color combinations.  I'm even working on two quilt patterns right now.  Both are still in the paper stage, but I hope to share them soon.

So what about 2012???

1) Blogging versus sewing...more sewing, less blogging and less worrying. I've spent days and nights fretting about how many followers I have, how to drive in more traffic and how to please everyone and, well... I'm done with that.  It's amazing how easy it is to fall into what I call the popularity trap and constantly compare myself with other bloggers.  My plan?  Focus on sewing and sharing my projects.  I've met so many new people thanks to this blog and that is what I want to continue.  So, I guess this first goal is really an attitude shift.  More about people, less about numbers.  I'm good with that.

2) Host a quilt-along.  Despite how #1 may have sounded, I have no intention of neglecting this blog.  One specific thing I want to do here is host a quilt-along.  I've participated in two of these and am getting ready to start my third.  I just love them and would like to host one of my own.  Still not sure of all the details, but those will work out eventually.  (BTW - if you have an suggestion, be sure to share it!)

3) Projects for my home.  Ever since I dusted off my sewing machine, I've wanted to make some placemats.  Yes, placemats.  I know it sounds silly, but I think they dress up a table beautifully.  I still haven't done any.  Not one.  2012 will see at least one set of placemats.   Of course, I'd also like some other things, like fabric baskets and organizers, and maybe even some curtains.  I love making things for other people, but my house needs a bit of attention. 

4) Family Quilts.  Each of my boys (hubby included) now has a quilt to call his own.  I want to add a couple - or maybe even three - quilts that are just family quilts.  They will hang out in the living room or on the couch in the basement, ready for any impromptu snuggling that may come about.  Oh yeah, and one more for me.  :)

5) A raincoat.  I want to make my own raincoat out of laminated fabrics.  A class will be needed, for sure, as I've never sewn a garment.  I just think having a raincoat that I made myself would be the coolest thing ever.  (Wow - how old did that sound?)

6) Knitting.  I learned to crochet in elementary school and sort-of taught myself how to knit a couple years ago.  But I couldn't tell you how to cast on to save my life right now and I never got beyond a simple knit stitch.  Time to move forward.

7) Cross-stitching.  My first crafty love.  My mom taught me in fourth grade and it's time to go back.  I have Amanda to thank for my rekindled interest.  She's made what I thought was an outdated craft  fun again.  I've thoroughly enjoyed digging through my old DMC floss and I can't wait to keep going.  Plus this (with the knitting) will get my butt back out of the sewing room and into the living room with my family. 

8) Crochet.  My second crafty-love.  My grandma taught me this one and I've let it slip.  I recently stumbled across amigurumi and I am intrigued.  I'd like to make a couple of cute little animals to have on my desk at work.  And at least one for grandma.  I think she'd like that.

OK - so, wow.  That's a big list.  Not sure how many I will hit, but it will be fun trying.  I hope you'll stick around and see how I do.  :)

Happy 2012!!

Jane's Black and White Quilt

Quite some time ago - way back in April, to be exact - I told you all about a black-and-white quilt I had started for my friend, Jane.  Fast forward through too many months (sorry it took so long, girl!) and it's finally finished...




The pattern is Full Swing by Rachel Griffith (which is free at the Fat Quarter Shop, by the way!) and I used a black-and-white bundle from Fabricworm.  The back is a gorgeous fabric I picked up at a almost-local quilt store in Charlotte.  The white is, of course, Kona White, which I buy by the bolt now...LOL!




Jane has been waiting forever for this quilt, and I had hoped to finish it on the road trip to Savannah yesterday, but apparently 5 hours isn't enough to put on binding... oy!!  I was able to finish it this afternoon, though, as she and some others were touring downtown Savannah.




So, when I finished taking pictures, I went upstairs to her room and spread it across her bed. Can't wait to hear her squeal when she sees it. :)




Hope you love it, Jane!
 





Linked up at these parties....