Magpie Quilts

Just popping in to show you what was happening in my sewing room today! I get together every week with a couple of good friends and they have been taking a class on Bali bowls at Along Came Quilting here in Calgary. And their second class is tonight, so they were busy doing some prep work. Strips of fabric were pieced end to end and pressed and cording inserted.  pressing fabric strips Inserting the cording  While my quilting friends were busy with their bowls, I finished this one up with borders and cut a piece of super soft Minky for the back so it's ready for quilting. Pretty in pink! And I have a Dr. Seuss themed project on the go that needs to be shipped tomorrow! Dr. Seuss play mat. So, even though it's felt like I haven't been in the sewing room much this week, I did have a few things that I made progress on! Thanks to all who stop by every week via the link-up parties - I don't always have time to respond to every comment,

When most people think of quilts, they think of traditional patchwork quilts, like Grandma used to make, that are used as a bedspread or blanket on a bed. Quilters, especially prolific quilters, often need to find other ways to use their creations and many quilts today are meant more for decoration than functional use. I've spent some very enjoyable time scouring the internet for some examples of quilts used in other rooms of the house to share with you. Enjoy! Family Room by Los Angeles Interior Designer Kelley & Company Home I love a quilt draped over the back of a sofa or loveseat. A quilt displayed this way is a great way to add a pop of color into your room. Traditional Bedroom by Savannah Interior Designer Joel Snayd A glass front cabinet looks great with quilts and antique blankets stacked inside. http://blog.shopmartingale.com/quilting-sewing/how-to-decorate-with-patchwork-quilts/ And quilts even look awesome in the bathroom. This one is used a

This is what I've been working on this week - Solids  I've cut some 7" squares from some solids - black, white, gray and yellow! I have a plan, but I might add some turquoise yet before I get started! Or not! You'll just have to wait and see. Mini Quilts ready for quilting A set of mini quilts layered and ready for quilting. These were fabrics and blocks left over from a quilt I made last year and I'm determined to use up every last bit! I'm starting with hand-quilting, but if I get impatient, I may finish them by machine. It's just sew relaxing to sit and watch TV with a needle in hand! Granny Square Mini Quilt - FOR SALE HERE And the first one is done while I watched a Harry Potter movie last night. --Ann Linking up with Quiltsy Team WIPs and Whatnots The Needle and Thread Network WIP Wednesday #82

Americana Doll Quilt - FOR SALE HERE  While sorting through my scraps of fabric (I have 2 rubbermaid tubs full!), I came across these little 1.5" squares I pre-cut from the left-overs of a quilt I made last year. These are from the American Banner line of fabrics from Moda. Have I told you that I love these fabrics? Even though I'm not American, the red, blue and tan colors speak to my country side and I love seeing what I can make with them. When I start with fabrics, the design sort of grows organically, and as I sewed this, I saw in my mind a miniature quilt that I have with similar design, but this one is a little larger finished. Piles of 1.5" squares  First I sewed them together in little 4-patch units - very scrappy, just tried to make sure each 4-patch was made of four different fabrics. I made 21 little units.   Little 4-patches I wanted to put the little 4-patch units on point, so I got out my iPhone and used a sweet little app called QuiltR

Our local quilt guild (Dalemead Quilt Guild) makes quilts throughout the year for a few local organizations. Members of the quilt guild are encouraged to make quilts at home, often with fabric donated to the guild, and bring them completed to add to our collection that is usually distributed in May and June. Double Four-Patch in Blues  This year we have also been collecting scrap quilt blocks for making a couple group quilts. One of the patterns is the double four-patch. The pattern is from MaryQuilts.com and is found here . This is such an easy quilt block to make and the light and dark chains really stand out when the blocks are put up on the design wall. Scrappy String Blocks The second quilt block we've been working on is a scrappy string block. The block is made starting with a white strip of fabric, 1.5" wide and about 11" long. Bright colored strips of fabric of varying widths are added to each side until a 6.5" square can be cut from it with the whi