Art Gallery Textures Panel Challenge with Angela Walters

When I first heard from Angela that she had a new fabric line coming out- I was naturally over the moon excited for her.  Then I heard what it was going to be called and I really got excited.  Textures.  Perfect.  I love the texture that free motion quilting creates and I loved that she had themed her line after just that.  So when I was asked to participate in the panel challenge I jumped at the chance.  I was already feeling very inspired by the Textures line and I really loved the look of the panel, and making it a true "challenge" - I had never used a panel before for anything- so this was a first and I looked forward to it.

I know I could have made anything for the challenge- but I knew immediately that I wanted to make a quilt, and that I wanted to use my Quick Curve Ruler, and I knew I wanted to keep large pieces of the fabrics on the front of the quilt, and use the panel on the back- to give it a double sided look.  Each fabric got assigned it's own quilting design- which gave it it's own "texture"-  and each 1/4 yard I ordered was cut in half and half was kept uncut and the other half I sliced up with the QCR- and the design just kind of fell into place.  I like that in each row you can see one big piece of the line and little slices of all the other pieces-  and curves give it lots of movement-which combined with the textures- makes it a really fun quilt.  It was also ridiculously fast to piece together- just a few hours!  The back took a bit more thinking as I was unsure of how I wanted to use the panel.  It was so pretty, I just couldn't hack it all up- try as I might.  In the end I used half of it as is for the center square, and used pieces of the rest of it to make the smaller rectangles on the edges.  I also used a bit extra I had to give splashes of it in the binding.  I paired the panel with Cozumel Blue for the back- which I also used for the binding as well.   Another first for me with this quilt was using double batting.  I never have done that before, but I really wanted the texture to jump out at you for this quilt, so I went for it.  I will say I had my issues with it- not as easy to keep tight and basted with no shifting- but if you are careful you can do this in your domestic machine (I did)- though this method would be easier for sure on a long arm.  Overall I am very pleased with the results and hope you all like it too.  Nothing gets my little brain more excited then a creative challenge and I had tons of fun participating in this one- can't wait to see all the amazing things you all make too~

crosshatch

the slices

mod clamshell

all over feathers

wood grain

pebbles

swirls

square stipple

paisley

Thanks to Angela Walters and Art Gallery Fabrics for such a great challenge!

WIP WEDNESDAY a fun new ottoman

I have been doing lots and lots of sewing lately, but not much I can talk about yet.... so I have been a little quiet around here lately, but this weekend I made myself a fancy new ottoman- which really came out nice if I do say so myself.  This one is really just a practice version- I wanted to make sure I had the dimensions and construction method down before cutting into my yardage- so I dug through my scrap bin and found a pretty fat eighth of Good Folks by Anna Maria Horner- and I also found a large piece of linen I picked up at a thrift store a few months back- it had a few marks on it from being wrapped in tape- and a water mark- but I laundered it and even though it had marks I thought I could overlook that for a practice version.  I ended up filling it up with shredded paper- yay for recycling!  I can't wait to make a few more, it sure is nice to put my feet on- and really dresses up the living room too.  Fun stuff... can't wait to see what you all have been up to! :)  as always linking up to Lee at Freshly Pieced

fun weekend sewing

Soooo I have been in the depths of waiting for things in the mail in order to continue the WIPS I have, and I decided it would be nice to make a few throw pillows for our bed since the shams came out so nice.  I also got a request from the Mr that more pillows for the bed would be good.  I love a man who appreciates a well made pillow!  Anywho- I decided to do some round ones in the poof style- they were quick and easy to make, just like a dresden plate- and I love how they came out.  On one I used my walking foot and did some straight line quilting for a change of pace from my typical fmq.  On the second I was missing my fmq so I did feathers on it, one side has wavy feathers radiating from the center, the other has a big feather wreath.  Fun stuff and more beauty for my bed- win/win!