Bloom-Topia: A finished quilt top

Our Bloom-Topia charity quilt along journey began in January. Now it is July and we can look back at the fun we have had along the way. It feels wonderful to have participated in this effort! Many thanks to Fat Quarter Shop for hosting this annual event, which will benefit the Make-A-Wish foundation of central and south Texas. To date we have raised over $55,000, with Fat Quarter Shop and Moda Fabrics each matching up to $10,000. Here is my completed Bloom-Topia top:

As you know, I stitched my own version of Bloom-Topia using mostly prints from the Harvest Road collection by Lella Boutique for Moda. It was both challenging and rewarding to strike out on my own path. Once it was time to join the blocks, I deviated from the pattern layout just a bit. The navy was so dominant, that I moved the blocks around until that color seemed better balanced throughout the quilt.  

The pattern calls for one neutral border, but I chose to add both an inner and outer border to my quilt top. Adding a navy outer border was the right finishing touch for my quilt.

The original Bloom-Topia quilt designed by Fat Quarter Shop features the Summer Sweet fabric collection by Sherri & Chelsi for Moda.  If you would like to make one just like the original, there is still time to purchase a Bloom-Topia kit in these luscious colors!

Thank you for following along as I shared my Bloom-Topia blocks each month. Sampler quilts are so much fun!

~Taunja

Important Links:

Fat Quarter Shop: Release 1, Release 2, Release 3, Release 4, Release 5, Release 6, Release 7, Release 8, Release 9, Release 10, Release 11

Purchase a kit: Bloom-Topia kit
Purchase a backing set: Backing set kit

My intro post: Bloom-Topia Quilt Along
My blocks: Release 1, Release 2, Release 3, Release 4, Release 5, Release 6, Release 7, Release 8, Release 9, Release 10

Fabric requirements: Fabric Requirements & Pattern Release Schedule

Jolly Jabber landing page: Bloom-Topia Quilt Along

Donation page: Make-A-Wish

Barn Style quilt . . . just because

Sometimes I have to make a quilt just because my heart tells me so. I bet that’s true for a lot of you as well. It doesn’t matter if I’m too busy or have other sewing projects that should be a priority, that desire to sew up a particular pattern with treasured fabrics is too strong to ignore.  And that’s how it was for me recently, when I stitched up the Barn Style pattern by Lella Boutique using some of my favorite fabrics.

I love everything about this quilt. The bold, over-sized blocks create a simple yet striking design. The color palette is soothing. The background fabric has so much depth. The quilting is phenomenal. When I finished binding this quilt, I laid it in my sewing room to admire it. It looked so pretty, I snapped some photos to share with you.

Today I simply wanted to share this quilting joy . . . to have a virtual quilting show-and-tell with you, my quilting friends on the internet.  But I would be remiss if I didn’t give you the details on the quilt, so here’s the scoop:

Pattern: Barn Style by Lella Boutique

Fabric: Harvest Road and Farmer’s Daughter (Lella Boutique), Sweet Tea (Sweetwater), Indigo Chambray (Moda 12051 13)

Quilting: Machine quilted in a fan motif by the wonderful Jennifer of Farm Fresh Stitches. I couldn’t be more pleased with how this turned out, Jennifer.  Absolutely beautiful!

I’m so happy I listened to my heart and made this quilt, just for me, just because. I would encourage you to do the same, because you deserve it. We quilters spend many hours making quilts for those we love. It’s okay for us to make one, now and then, just because our heart tells us so!

Thank you all for allowing me to share with you.  Now, please go and get carried away quilting!

~Taunja

Pattern sale: Summer Breeze

It's finally summer, so let's celebrate the sunshine and warm weather with a pattern sale! For a limited time, my Summer Breeze pattern is available for $5 on my Etsy Shop!

This sweet little quilt features colorful pinwheels spinning in a soft summer breeze. Grab your favorite mini charm pack and some coordinating fabrics to create this cheerful scene, all wrapped up by a dancing ribbon. Summer Breeze finishes at 26 1/2" square, making it the perfect size for a seasonal wall hanging or kitchen table topper. 

The ribbon effect is achieved by selecting two greens that are the same color tone, with one being a few shades darker or deeper than the other.  

I added mismatched buttons to the centers of my pinwheels, giving each one a little spinning anchor! In these closeup photos you can see the beautiful custom quilting by Nancy Jolene Quilting of Danube, Minnesota. It's just perfect!

Summer Breeze is available in both paper and PDF format on my Etsy Shop. I hope you'll give this fun pattern a whirl. Now go and get carried away quilting!

~Taunja

Bloom Topia: Release 10 (the final block)

I cannot believe that we are nearing the end of the Bloom-Topia quilt along with Fat Quarter Shop. Today I'm sharing the final block (Release 10) which is the large Richmond Block. The next time I post about my progress, I'll have all of my blocks sewn together and the borders attached! So be sure to check back with me on July 1.

The Richmond Block finishes at 18 1/2" square and is so easy to stitch together. For my center square, I used the navy text print from Sweetwater's Sweet Tea collection. Don't you love a text print that contains inspirational messages?

The rest of the prints in this block are from the Harvest Road collection by Lella Boutique for Moda.   

The original Bloom-Topia quilt designed by Fat Quarter Shop features the Summer Sweet fabric collection by Sherri & Chelsi for Moda.  If you would like to make one just like the original, there is still time to purchase a Bloom-Topia kit!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Taunja

Important Links:

Fat Quarter Shop: Release 1, Release 2, Release 3, Release 4, Release 5, Release 6, Release 7, Release 8, Release 9, Release 10

Purchase a kit: Bloom-Topia kit
Purchase a backing set: Backing set kit

My intro post: Bloom-Topia Quilt Along
My blocks: Release 1, Release 2, Release 3, Release 4, Release 5, Release 6, Release 7, Release 8, Release 9

Fabric requirements: Fabric Requirements & Pattern Release Schedule

Jolly Jabber landing page: Bloom-Topia Quilt Along

Donation page: Make-A-Wish

A patriotic Picking Petals by Sweet Treasures Quilts

Please excuse the horn tootin’ going on over here, but I’m quite proud of my pattern Picking Petals. This was one of the first patterns I released when my business was new, and over the years she’s been stitched up by thousands of quilters in a variety of colorways and themes. It’s a quick little quilt to sew, and the results are always lovely. Recently the folks at Sweet Treasures Quilts sewed up a patriotic version, which is sophisticated and striking!

Patriotic sample photos courtesy of Sweet Treasures Quilts.

Sweet Treasures is offering kits of their patriotic Picking Petals, but I’ve heard that they are selling fast, so don't dilly dally. 

Picking Petals is charm pack friendly and finishes at 20" square, making it the perfect size for a table topper or wall hanging. Just look at the lovely way that Sweet Treasures displayed their finished quilt.

In this photo you can see another beautiful quilt the Sweet Treasures gals made from my Window Garden pattern. I believe they may have one or two kits of that available as well!

If you missed out on a patriotic kit from Sweet Treasures, you can still purchase a PDF version of the pattern on my Etsy shop. Maybe you have enough reds and blues in your stash to get started today.

Materials Needed:

• Charm Pack: Will use (17) 5” squares
• Stem Fabric: 1/6 yard (Sweet Treasures used a wonderful red ticking)
• Neutral Fabric: 1/3 yard
• Binding: 1/4 yard
• Backing: 3/4 yard

I’ve made this quilt four times myself! Here are some of my past versions:

Picking Petals in Strawberry Fields Revisited

Picking Petals in Calico Days

Picking Petals for Christmas

Picking Petals for Autumn

Many thanks to the talented ladies at Sweet Treasures for showcasing another one of my patterns. Friends, be sure you are following Sweet Treasures on Facebook and Instagram! Not only will you be inspired by their beautiful projects, but you’ll also be inspired by their generous and encouraging spirit.

Thanks for stopping by. Now go and get carried away quilting!

~Taunja

A sunny, sweet graduation quilt

Last week I shared some sentimental feelings with you about making graduation quilts, and here I am again, full of emotion over another graduate we are celebrating, our niece Madison. She will be heading off to college in the fall, where I am certain she will excel in her studies and make the most of her college experience. Madison is smart, kind, funny, compassionate and hard working. She will be a blessing to everyone she encounters.

When I was choosing fabrics for Maddie’s quilt, I was drawn to Lella Boutique’s Lollipop Garden collection because it reminded me of my sweet niece . . . pretty, positive and hopeful. Ever since she was a little girl, trying to keep up with her big sisters and big cousins, she has been a determined ray of sunshine, bringing the light to those around her. I think this fabric is a perfect representation of that dear girl.

Do you recognize the pattern that I used for Maddi's quilt? It’s my 9-Patch Pivot pattern, which is fat quarter friendly and finishes at 66” x 77”. This has become one of my favorite patterns for a few reasons. First, fabric selection is so easy. Simply gather 21 fat quarters and 1 1/4 yards of neutral fabric and you have all you need for the top. 

Second, this pattern is versatile. I made my original in a beautiful palette of blues, greens and browns, while other quilters have made it in primary colors and Christmas prints.  It’s definitely on my list to make a Christmas version some day!

Finally, this pattern is easy to sew and achieve great results. The center 9-patch with surrounding sashing is set on point for visual interest, but it “floats” within the block.  What’s so great about that? Well, it means that you don’t have to match any points when you sew the blocks together. If you are interested in my 9-Patch Pivot pattern, it’s available on my Etsy shop in PDF format.

The fabulous Starlit Bear of Starlit Quilts did the machine quilting on Madison’s quilt, and it is absolutely perfect.  We chose a pattern called Marmalade, which is soft and swirly and flirty. Thank you so much, Star! Your work is always wonderful!

I am extremely grateful for simple pleasures . . . quilting, spending time with family and celebrating those we love. I sincerely hope you all are well, safe, and able to find comfort in your love of quilting. Take care!

~Taunja

Bloom-Topia: Release 9

Happy first day of June! I hope you all are well, safe and happily quilting! I'm excited to share my latest Bloop-Topia blocks with you today.  These are my Release 9 blocks, titled Evening Star and Dragonfly, and I just love how they turned out. Have you been quilting along? I sure have enjoyed this slow-paced quilt along with Fat Quarter Shop.   

The Dragonfly blocks were made using a tool called the Starburst 30 Degree Triangle Ruler by Creative Grids. I love it when a pattern pushes me to try a new technique or tool. The Bloom-Topia pattern provides good visuals on how to use the ruler to create the wedges, which are then sewn together and trimmed to a square shape. It was a clever trick and a fun process to try!

Most of the prints in these block are from the Harvest Road collection by Lella Boutique for Moda. The pretty taupe gingham you see in the star centers is from Lella Boutique's Farmer's Daughter collection.  

The original Bloom-Topia quilt designed by Fat Quarter Shop features the Summer Sweet fabric collection by Sherri & Chelsi for Moda.  If you would like to make one just like the original, there is still time to purchase a Bloom-Topia kit!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Taunja

Important Links:

Fat Quarter Shop: Release 1, Release 2, Release 3, Release 4, Release 5, Release 6, Release 7, Release 8, Release 9

Purchase a kit: Bloom-Topia kit
Purchase a backing set: Backing set kit

My intro post: Bloom-Topia Quilt Along
My blocks: Release 1, Release 2, Release 3, Release 4, Release 5, Release 6, Release 7, Release 8

Fabric requirements: Fabric Requirements & Pattern Release Schedule

Jolly Jabber landing page: Bloom-Topia Quilt Along

Donation page: Make-A-Wish