Graduation Gifts



Maryville

Maryville detail

Cincinnati

Cincinnati detail

Features:

• color palette: Both students are going to universities that have red and black as their school colors. 
• theme:  Out of the Box
• computer printed school graphic
• I tried 2 new-to-me FMQ designs (I want to increase my repetoir)
• machine stitched binding practice (I want to get good at this for quilts that expect heavy use)

Placemats teach table setting

Each placemat features a novelty fabric personally chosen for each child/grandchild. The appliqued pieces show how to set the table for dinner. The back of the placemat is the same novelty fabric, making them somewhat reversible.

Applique is NOT my thing, but this turned out OK.  I glue basted the fabrics after I starched the dickens out of them.  I used machine applique.  The stitch I used looked like a combination of a narrow satin stitch and buttonhole stitch.  I'm hoping it will wear a little better than the buttonhole stitch alone and it didn't get too stiff or puckery like the satin stitch (and it didn't hang up on the foot either).  Thin batting and no binding, I turned them pillow case style so there would be less chance of a cup tipping if it was set on the edge.  I was afraid binding might make a bump that could cause spillage. 

Sailing East

Another little convergence quilt.  Quite different from the first one.  A shout out to Leah Day for free motion quilting inspiration and Ricky Tims, king of convergence. 

Woof Woof #1

The photography is not very good but I hope you can see that the ears and tongue hang free on this paper pieced doggy.  I was trying to make one that looks like Sara (and it does a little). Next, to make one that looks like Bubbles.  finding a black and white fabric for Bubbles' face might be the biggest challenge.  These were fabrics in my stash.  I was anxious to try this new pattern.  The brown is leftover from the back of a quilt and the background was a FQ gifty from my SIL.  I think I'll look at some other options for the tongue while I'm shopping too.  The pattern is by Christine Thresh at http://www.winnowing.com/.  It is called "My Dog Your Dog" or maybe it's "Your Dog My Dog".

One Block Wonder in Blue

I found this fabric on clearance.  I thought the colors were great, but the funky blue roses, yuck!  So taking the advice of one blogging quilter......

There's no such thing as ugly fabric.

If the fabric is still ugly, you haven't cut it in small enough pieces yet.

I wacked this fabric up into little triangles following the One Block Wonder instructions and created my first OBW quilt. 

sunset & shadows

Check out my latest wall quilt with applique and some elements of Ricky Tims convergence quilts.  I really enjoyed trying some different designs in free motion quilting on this little quilt.  I couldn't get out to get more fabrics so I used some black moleskin for the applique and really like the way it turned out. 

Yellow Coneflowers

Yellow Coneflowers is a hand appliqued wall quilt inspired by Kumiko Sudo's quilts.  It was the first time I used bamboo batting for hand quilting.  I like the silky feel of the bamboo and the softly quilted quality it achieved.  I tried using a hoop for the quilting but the dimension of the flower petals kept getting in the way so most of the quilting was done without a hoop.  I liked the way that felt with all the fabric and batting soft and bunched up in my hands.  Here is a shout out to all the "liberated quilters" and the freedom to do what feels good and works for you.  This quilt is currently on display at the Appalachian Art Center retail gallery.