Modern Quilt Studio

Recently I came across this website "Modern Quilt Studio" and found quite a few designs I liked, the more modern style is appealing to me more and more. The one below in particular caught my eye, and I had to have the magazine with the pattern which by the way, is oh so simple!

Although the colors are part of the appeal I think it could be terrific in many other colors and muted designs. I am planning to do a monotone of blues for middle grandson and wife's wedding quilt rather than the tumbling blocks which I have decided might be optical insanity in a king size quilt! Don't want to precipitate night time migraines, LOL.
This afternoon I made up a few sample blocks, introducing a print just because I like it so much.

I have other blues of varying intensity and am ordering a few more mostly FQ's which I rarely purchase but in this case I do not need to introduce a myriad of more blues to my stash.What looks like white  and out of place is a pale blue in reality and it looks ok, but I am not sure I will use it.
The blocks are fast to rotary cut [from templates] and quick to construct, two blocks measure 8.5"x11.25" so the whole top should be fast and simple. It looks contemporary enough for a very young couple [in their color of choice] and quilting too will be modern- the example is done in horizontal half inch lines, and I already know I will not be quilting that tight. We shall see what inspires me between now and the longarm!
If I can get a lot of the prep done the next couple of weeks I will be able to sit and piece after my foot surgery in two weeks. Since about October last year I have been battling foot pain, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis and a stress fracture and after months of therapy, ice, exercises etc I am ready to be free of this malady so it's off to a simple procedure to finally fix it.
The surgeon does it arthroscopic so it's a fast recovery, in the boot only two and a half weeks.
Meantime there are a couple of baby quilts coming from CA. that need to be quilted and a queen size that will be custom-not sure if it will all be done in two weeks but I will try!

Linking up with Needlework Tuesday

Vintage Style Baby Quilt

This is the baby quilt I was working on at retreat and today I finished the pieced border so it goes on my stack of tops to be quilted. I have made inroads into that, I think there are only three of mine now awaiting the longarm. There are two yet to be bound also.

This little guild name tag took me way too long, especially as I am an experienced paper piecer, but I could not get it square!

 Finally took off the last row and trimmed and replaced it then put on binding and I am calling it acceptable, it's a label and it's done!

Linking up with Needlework Tuesday.

Update!

I have been AWOL from Blogger for a couple of weeks, since my brother arrived from Australia we have been too busy and really no quilting time.

 We took time to show him around a bit, drove to Colorado and spent a week at our house up there along with son JW and his wife and son.

 This is an early original bank building still in use in Silverton, CO.

 The brewery at Ouray CO., the weather was delightful sunny and warm even at 9,000ft.

 The Boy with his great Uncle John on the Telluride gondola.

 DH, son and wife

 This is around 11,000ft, Telluride is a great area to ski. You can see the actual town is way down below in the background.

 A rock wall at the Telluride Plaza, Matthew was keen to try with a leg up from Dad.

 A very cute phone box old time style.

 And time for cuddling in the evening.

 A visit to my friend's farm and meeting the miniature donkeys, Rosie and Pepe!

 And one of several of their roping horses.

 The park in Ridgway has a retaining wall with lots of kid's handprints, Matthew found one just his size! Across the street from the park is the True Grit Cafe where the John Wayne film was made.

An interesting carved tree with a hollowed out trunk.

Another helping hand from Dad!

 The cottonwood trees are in full autumn leaf and this park is awash in gold!

I love this picture with the Boy, so much that I am framing one for both of us!

There is no legalized marijuana in Aus. so we decided to show my brother what a dispensary is like! He looks quite mellow don't you think, LOL?

The only sewing has been on the rag quilt below for my DIL in Aus, I want to send it back with my brother. It's been a long time coming, rag quilts are not my thing so it has been on the bottom of the list.  In fact this will be my first attempt. And likely the last, LOL.

All that's left now is to clip the edges and launder it a couple of times. I have looked around for a pair of the special shears used for this job of snipping all the raw edges but do not know which ones to choose so if you have a recommendation please leave me the info on it!

Linking up with Needlework Tuesday

Quilt Retreat in Lakeside

A four day quilt retreat with five friends was a wonderful break last week We stayed at a beautiful retreat center the Arizona Creative Connection owned and run by the delightful Frances Howe, gourmet cook and outstanding hostess,

Frances  has provided every possible convenience for a woman's comfort including gourmet but healthy meals and snacks.

Brunch one of the days.

 I worked on this little baby quilt and since have added a pieced border of the 30's repros.

Another  set of blocks, a UFO I took along hoping for design ideas and Jennifer took up the challenge. These blocks I had put together completely wrong and decided they would do, not caring enough about them to undo all that sewing I was unable to find a coherent arrangement until Jennifer took pity on me! Now they only lack setting triangles.

It really wasn't all that hard Jennifer said!

 I began to rotary cut these flannels for a rag quilt for my SIL in Australia then discovered I did not have enough of the burgundy fabric so that project came to a halt. 

 

I had exhausted my stock on hand so went off and purchased this kit which I had briefly considered and was available in a quiltshop in Sholow for a reasonable price. 

Jen and Limbania also purchased the same so we three sat down on Saturday afternoon to begin construction

It turned out to be quite the challenge, a few booboos in the instructions and for two of us a less than perfect fourth inch foot on our machines. 

The pieces above cause some grumbling and unsewing but we eventually got the idea and from then it was smoother sailing! Notice I said smoother, not smooth!

 This looked a bit intimidating but with the skills learned from the first little bit I was able to put together this piece and then it's mirror image

 to make up the center piece below which is not sewn, only attached to the design board.

 This will be an ongoing project, as for the next few weeks we have my dear brother visiting from Australia.

The above beauty is another of Jennifer's projects.

 Anne's project a little zippered bag for her quilting tools.

One of a few that Susan brought along, it only lacks the final border.

Celeste and one of several projects she completed.The last two ladies were I think, the most productive, they came very well equipped for an extended sewing binge!

 Our spacious workroom, large individual work tables and this huge cutting area. There are design boards on every wall so we never ran short and a flat screen TV.

This was such a wonderful experience that we are planning two a year, the next in May and another the following October 2017.

Highly recommended, Arizona Creative Connection!