Sunday, November 24, 2013

DWR Quilt - otherwise titled as "Never Again"

So let's get right to the pictures, shall we?

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I guess I should start with what started this crazy idea in my head - it was after seeing this blog post by Faith on her blog Fresh Lemons Quilts.   If you follow the link it will take you to the exact post with the DWR table runner she started.   I saw that and automatically my mind went to the latest AMH collection that I'd purchased, Hand Drawn Garden.   I thought those big melons would be a great way to showcase those amazing prints in the line.   I'd also purchased a coordinating solids bundle from Westwood Acres.  So I thought about it for a few days, how would I do the arcs, what fabric would I use for the squares, etc.   I also didn't have the templates, so I entered the giveaways still open in the EZ Quilting DWR Challenge blog hop.   I had actually priced the templates online, decided Amazon was probably the best place to get them when I got an email saying I'd won a set of templates!   So, of course, I had to do it!   The only thing left was to determine which fabrics I would use for the 4 square centers.

Ok, which 2 hugs and kisses print?  Or should I go crazy and use all if them?
Auditioning fabric for squares!

After a few fabric auditions, I decided on using all of the hugs and kisses prints from AMH's loulouthi line.   All of her fabrics play so well together!   I didn't have any concerns about them not looking great together!

Once I got started I ran into a few hurdles.   I didn't have enough variation in the solids.   So I consulted my stash.   Lacking.   So I consulted the post "What goes with What?" on Pink Chalk Fabrics here.   I was able to flesh out my blues, greens, oranges, purples, and yellows.   It's hard to see in some of the pictures, but I used several different shades of the same colors.   There are at least 3-4 different shades of red/pink-red alone.   The purples and blues?   Lots of those too.
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You can see some of the different tones of the same colors I used!
I've done so much cutting I developed a blister and had to take a day off... I also had to work, but that's not near as exciting.

The templates made it so easy to cut the fabric!   It wasn't exactly fun, but that was because there were so many pieces.   

Almost finished piecing this guy - hopefully by this week!  #dwrquilt #annamariahorner #handdrawngarden

A design wall was definitely a "must-have" for this project.   There's no way I would have been able to accomplish this without one.   I mean, carpet would have been okay, but with pets/kids there's no way it would have survived til morning!

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Once I had the top assembled, I had to decide on quilting.   If you've been following me on instagram (here), you'll see that I had quite a bit of trouble.   I unpicked a LOT of quilting.   But as you can see from the pictures, I finally decided on something!   I'm really happy with what I settled on.



The never ending binding... #dwrquilt
Binding

The binding I settled on is the green Hugs and Kisses print.   Attaching the binding was ... hard.   I consulted The Plaid Scottie's DWR QAL she hosted a few years ago (here).   That really helped me out quite a bit.   I think if I needed to bind another DWR quilt I would choose 2.5" binding instead of 2.25".   That extra wiggle room would have been really nice.

Now here's a couple more shots to end the post:

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I'm entering this quilt in the Double Wedding Ring Quilt Challenge hosted by EZ Quilting & the NYC Mod Quilt Guild, along with a lot of other people that you can read about here.  

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Quilt Stats:
Size: Twin
Fabric: AMH Hand Drawn Garden, AMH Loulouthi Hugs & Kisses, various solids
Binding: AMH Loulouthi Hugs & Kisses
Quilting: Me (machine and hand)
Finished: 10/31/2013

A Xmas Pillow Swap

Here's the "stuffed" picture of my new pillows!

My new Christmas Pillows!

They were made for me by my sewing buddy Emily.   She said they were her first pillows ever!   She did such a good job making them.   The star one on the left might have a permanent spot on my couches.  :)


@esposetta seriously gives the BEST gifts!! I got a hand made cowl!  I love the color!  Claire had to try it on immediately, but I've taken it back and told her she's never to touch it again, lol!  And I'm going to go make the pillow forms right now!  Can

She seriously spoiled me with this swap.   I got those chocolate goodies, which Claire demanded to have one of right away, some Tula Pink scraps, Thangles (can't wait to try them out!), a sample of Soak, and a drawstring pouch that had the best gift of all - a hand-knit by her cowl!   I feel so incredibly spoiled.   Claire wanted to wear it, but I took it away and told her never to touch it again!   It's all mine.  :)   And isn't that bottom left face hilarious?   I told her to smile.   That's what I got.   Ha!

She should get her package on Monday - and I'll write a post detailing what I sent!  

Thea's Baby Quilt

Here's a washed and crinkly picture!  Also reposting this because the previous picture wasn't showing up on the #westwoodacresgiveaway #finishit2013 and @acraftyfox_amanda !! (Sorry if it did and it just wasn't showing for me!).

So I have this awesome friend named Johanna.   We've been friends since 8th grade.   I wasn't really interested in being friends at first... in fact, I kinda hated her.   Ya know, cause I was 12.   Anyways, the usual 12 year old drama played out and 1 month later we were the best of friends.   Ha!  

This baby quilt is for her newly arrived daughter, Thea.   Last Friday I finished the quilt (and jokingly said that it's okay if she arrives now!), and on Saturday she was born.   I made a trip to Dallas to visit and deliver the quilt.  Little Thea had to stay at the hospital for a few extra days, but today she's home!   We're all so delighted she's at home and healthy.

The quilt is from the book Liberty Love.   Or, the main idea is.   I skipped making the drunken path blocks and just appliqued the circles onto 4 patch squares.    I wish now that I hadn't have already cut out all of the squares before I changed my mind about the pattern, but I think it turned out all right!   I kept the quilting simple and sparse, so it would be nice and soft.   The binding was machined on for durability!   I'm sure this guy will get lots of washes!   The background polka dot fabric is Riley Blake's Le Creme line, and the circles are all from stash.   Some Lizzy House, Heather Ross, Amy Butler, an Art Gallery print with no selvage, Violet Craft, and Cloud 9's Organic line for Joann's.   The backing is the pink herringbone from Cloud 9's Organic line at Joann's.