Winter Prairie Window

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After spending most of December long arm quilting for others, I was looking for a fun project that would be quick to finish–a reward project.  This project is a quilt that can be cut out and put together easily in a weekend.

The print in the center of this quilt was in my stash for some time.  The go-with fabrics were purchased during a Boxing Week sale after Christmas last year.  It was time to assemble them into the intended quilt.

This pattern is called, “Prairie Window” and is by Anne Wiens of Sweetgrass Creative Designs.
This quilt is lap size and finishes at 56″ x 68″.

Popsicle Sticks and the Fifth FAB Birthday PAR-TAY of 2011

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Happy Thanksgiving to my quilting friends south of the border in the U.S.A!
Today is my birthday.  I am the fifth and last FAB to be celebrating my birthday this year.  We have postponed the PAR-TAY until the new year–either January or February.  With 5 busy people’s schedules to organize, Thanksgiving celebrations, Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, we have all agreed that we will have more time to relax and celebrate after the New Year.
In the meantime, I have picked the quilt pattern that I want to work on during my PAR-TAY day.  I have chosen Popsicle Sticks from Atkinson Designs.
This is my test block.  I am glad I spent the time to put together a test block ahead of the quilting day as I now know that I will make the most efficient use of my fabric if I use WOF strips rather than FQ’s.
I still have many fall coloured / themed fabrics in my stash to pull from so this will be another quilt from my stash.  I am planning to make my quilt King sized – 112″ x 112″.  I will need 49 of these 16 inch blocks made from 2.5 inch strips of fabric.
Terry Atkinson mentions on the pattern jacket that you will need 4 jelly rolls (2.5 inch strips, 42″ long) or 50 fat quarters.  She goes on to say that if your fat quarters are smaller than 18″ x 21″, you will have to allow extra yardage.  When I was making my test block, I found that fat quarters did not work for me–too much waste.
This is a copy of the quilt from the pattern jacket.  This quilt is simple but effective–a take off from the traditional Rail Fence quilt pattern.  I have my strips cut and I am ready to PAR-TAY!

Green Work Basket Block #1 – Ivy

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I have started a new project.  It is a good idea to have a handwork / portable project available for those times when you are travelling, watching TV, etc.
This is block number one in a basket series by Bee Tree Designs.  There are a total of 12 blocks–each with something different in the basket.  The designs fit nicely on an  8.5 inch square.  The level of detail on some of the blocks and the size mean these are quick-to-stitch so this project will take some time to finish.
I am using two strands of DMC #988 and a backstitch to do the stitching.  In hindsight, I should have likely used three strands of floss to make the design stand out more, but it is now done and IIWII.
Greenwork Ivy Basket
There has been a lot of discussion on the Internet about Pilot’s Frixion pens for marking designs on fabric.  I tried the green Frixion pen to mark this design and I love it!  The ink is thermo reactive and can be removed from paper with friction.  The ink can be removed from fabric by applying the heat of an iron.  I also read somewhere that someone removed the ink with a blow dryer but I haven’t tried that yet.  At 65 degrees Celsius, the ink becomes translucent (invisible).  The ink reappears if you cool your piece to -20 degrees Celsius by putting it in the freezer so be careful what project you are using this ink on.  Previously, I was using a permanent ink marker to mark my stitching designs onto fabric.  If I happened to make an incorrect line, I had to live with it and work it into the design.  With the Frixion pen, I can just use the tip of my iron to remove the mistake and remark.  I am not so sure I would use the pens to mark quilting lines on finished quilts, but for marking red work/green work, they are perfect.

Button Up – Merry Christmas

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Linda thought it was time for a reward project on Saturday.  You can always count on me to join in on a fun, quick project.  Linda and I seem to specialize in taking turns leading each other astray.  LOL
So Saturday’s project was Merry Christmas, a cute pattern included in the Button Up Collection from Joined at the Hip (BU #21).  The Button Up quilt series is a group of seasonally inspired 28″ x 48″ quilts that button onto a quilted foundation for easy decorating with the change in seasons. 
Although this is my first Button Up, Linda has completed several already.  I need to button hole stitch around my star and then this will be ready for quilting.  The pattern calls for some paper key tag disks available from stationery supply stores to be made into ornaments and to be stitched on the branches, but I think I will see if I can find some suitable buttons instead.