Apple T-shirt Quilt

Many people these days are building memory quilts out of old t-shirts.  It is a great way to commemorate a particular time period---college, high school sports, favorite band t-shirts---this way you don't wear them until they have holes in them...but end up with something to happily remember that time. 

This particular assignment came from my brother-in-law, who had worked in Apple retail stores for years and collected quite a few t-shirts, but was transitioning to the corporate side of the business (no more t-shirts).  The nice thing about working with these t-shirts was that for the most part they had a formula and a general size----a pre-curated selection, if you will. 

Here is how the process goes:

Step One: Cut out the artwork and fuse to a fusible interfacing for backing jersey material---thereby transforming your jersey into a stiffer fabric that you can work with more easily.  Make sure to iron with another piece of fabric between your t-shirt and the iron or you will get melted ink on your iron.

Step Two: Select your border fabrics and begin to sew blocks.  In my case, I was in the beginning stages of planning this quilt when Carolyn Friedlander's collection "Architextures" came out (read more about this collection by clicking on the photo below).  

Since my brother-in-law was in charge of managing retail displays and working with contractors in new Apple Stores, this was a no-brainer of a choice---manly enough for him, but stunningly elegant and beautiful to me.  Plus the colors were just right.

Photo by Rita Hodges, Red Pepper Quilts

Step 3: Start planning your layout.  This can be the hardest part.  I like to work improv, so I enjoy the process, but it can still be difficult.  I had many iterations of the layout for this quilt before I settled on one I liked:

Finally, I decided that the blocks shouldn't be right up against each other, but needed some breathing room and rest space.

Step Five: Do you need borders?  I chose some of Lotta Jansdotter's Glimma fabric for the borders.

Step 6: Quilting.  I had this quilt machine-quilted by my friend Kristin with a a square pattern that I felt mimicked the blocks and also had a more manly feel.

The back using Lotta Jansdotter's Sylvia collection and a blue textured solid from Michael Miller.

Some details of the blocks:

This quilt also has a lot of New York references which I loved, since the transition from retail to corporate also meant a move from NY to CA.  

Do you have a stack of t-shirts somewhere you can't get rid of?  Consider making a t-shirt quilt---or asking me to!  :)

Job Perks

One of the best parts of my job (for a fabric-aholic, this could be considered enabling, but that is another discussion) is access to gorgeous, new fabric, hot off the presses.  To get ready to release this darling ORGANIC collection by Carolyn Gavin of Ecojot to the world, 

we needed some sewing done---and, since a certain someone I know was having a birthday, I got right to work:

Love that mug.  Three-year olds not always being the most cooperative of subjects, we had to use what we could get!

This dress is made from the Roller Skate Dress pattern by Oliver + S.  It was my brilliant mother's idea to make it reversible rather than add a lining.  No pattern alteration necessary---even better!!  The pattern was so easy to sew and comfy to wear for the active girl, that I already have another in process---this one with horses, natch.

 And just to prove the point that this is a multi-generational collection, not just a sweet children's line,  infinity scarves for Mom and Nan:

Currently, this collection is only on sale to wholesale customers, but you consumers will be able to get your hands on it before too long---June 2014---just in time to make some beautiful summer items.  In the meantime, stayed tuned to the Windham Fabrics blog for a giveaway before then...maybe you will get your hands on an early batch, like me!!  :)

Deadlines.

Let me start this post with a little background.  1) I LOVE deadlines.  Pretty much if I don't have a deadline, nothing gets done.  2) I am also a terrible procrastinator. Always have been, always will be.  3) After having four kids in quick succession, I have very bad sleep habits.

So...when the invitation to the Garrison Children's Education Fund "Spring Thaw" fundraiser arrived last week, I thought: "Oh, what a great opportunity to do something with those quilt blocks from sewing class last winter!!" Six of my sewing class students that worked on these blocks go to the school the auction benefits, so I thought making a quilt from these scrappy green blocks they made would be a nice addition.  

*Note: Most likely this photo was taken at about 2 a.m.

The morning after that late night, I got right to pinning...

Pinning led to a great fort diversion...

And dove into quilting:

A quick machine binding last night and, voila, a finished quilt for tonight's auction! (I am still kind of in shock myself).  

 Hopefully, the parents will think this turned out as great as I do!  This is a wonderful cooperative effort and I am so proud of all of my students!  Thank you Anna, Fiona, Evelyn, Caroline, Emerson, Ava and Natalie for your contributions to this quilt!!

In with the New

I recently got interested in checking out the online quilting community that exists on Flickr.  I got accepted to a bee that asked us to do blocks that included some kind of hexagon.  Having done Amy Gibson's Block of the Month on Craftsy and with my local quilt guild, I had already experimented a little with English paper piecing and hand-sewing hexagons.  I looked for a way I could do this in an improv fashion and still get some hand-sewing in---great for doing while catching up on episodes of Mad Men...

Here is what I came up with:

We were given each person's color choices and then asked to make the same block in each palette.

This was my first block and I was a little bothered that the hexagons came out a little wonky, but then I decided to embrace the imperfections and run with it.  In the end, I am pretty happy with how they turned out.

What do you think?

Here is another little hexagon project that will become a baby quilt.

I look forward to sharing all the blocks I receive when I get them. Getting mail is such a rare treat these days!!

Mail order fun!

To mark the end of school and a tough week, I treated myself to a couple of sale (I am a sale sucker, I recognize this) charm packs from Crafsty featuring one of my (and lots of other people's, that's why it's been reissued) fabric lines: Denyse Schmidt's "Flea Market Fancy". The package's arrival just made my day (I love good mail...and parentheses):

Then, I opened it up and BONANZA:

These colors are totally inspiring me lately. I love the mellow grays and punchy yellows.  The bright pinks against the cool blues.  A "Flea Market Fancy" fabric was one of the first fabrics I fell in love with so much that I bought yardage instead of just a fat quarter.  I didn't even know who Denyse Schmidt was at the time. All week I have been thinking about what to do with these beauties...a baby quilt for a new baby boy in the family?  The primary blues, reds and yellows might just be perfect.  A blog give-away...

Since the time I first learned about these fabrics, I have educated myself a whole lot more.  NOW, I am cognizant of the fact that Denyse Schmidt is Modern Quilting's GODESS.  She is an amazing quilter, artist, designer and from the looks of her latest book, historian!

I was so excited when I opened the sort of boring-looking brown paper envelope my husband handed me on Christmas morning to discover that he was sending me to a quilt workshop with none other than Denyse---at her Bridgeport, CT studio!!  Oh yes, he is a GOOD man (unlike another husband who gave his wife the gift, but the wrong date---OH NO!!!!).

From start to finish, it was an amazing and inspiring day.  I will write another post all about that day, but for now...

Have you ever been to a great quilting workshop?  Tell me about it!

A few of my favorite things...

Flowers, fresh fruit and honey from our hives.  Does it get any better?

My friend Breida (with a B), over here, turned me on to this fun link party organized by Laura of Ironstone Nest.  Since I am new to blogging and have four kids, I don't always get done (craft-wise) what I hope to in any given week (but in general, my children are fed, clean and clothed and often having fun, that's something)...but here is something I can do: a list of my favorite things. Here goes!

I love quilting.  That is the purpose of this blog...to talk about my love of quilting past, present and future and show some things I make.  I have wanted to make a red and white quilt ever since I went to this show last year. Lately, to get ready for my first Hudson Valley Modern Quilt Guild meeting, I have been working on some blocks led by Amy of Stitchery Dickory Dock through Craftsy (DEFINITELY A FAVE!!).  Using up my red & white stash...

These are the first four.  I have six more to catch up!!

Another favorite thing of mine is when my wildflower garden does what it is supposed to.

My flowers are often home to my bees.  I love bees, beekeeping and their product. 

Yup.  That's me.

The honey pirates!

This basket from the Pennsylvania Basket Company I got at the Rhinebeck Craft Fair a couple of years ago is so amazing---the craftsmanship astounds me.  I love to look at it even when it's empty...

But I love it even more when it is full of produce from my garden!!!

And little people help.

In the soap wars, Breida, I come down on the side of Peppermint Dr. Bronners! Minty fresh!  And cannot get through the day without my wicked wax.

I cherish that my boys love for me to read to them and are always bringing me their books.

Finally, I love handmade, natural wooden toys.  I save up for special occasions, usually Christmas.  And then I head over to Nova Natural for some things I love as much as my kids! And, handmade gift bags!  Saves paper and make great collecting bags later on!

Thanks for reading!  What are your favorite things?  Stop on by the Ironstone Nest and leave your list!!