Carried Away Quilting: August 2016

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Autumn Quilts: Picking Petals & Sweetly Scalloped take on a fall flair

I try not to bring out my autumn decorations before the school year officially begins. My husband is a middle school principal, and he tends to give me that "one eyebrow up" look if I start pulling out pumpkins and fall foliage before he even has students in the building, which won't be until after Labor Day.

However, both of our children are already off to college, so I figure Mr. Kelvington will just have to cut me some slack. I'm experiencing a bit of the empty nest sadness, and one sure fire way to perk myself up is to bring out my autumn lovelies.

I'm actually quite excited to show you the two fall quilts I made this summer, because they are from two of my patterns: Picking Petals and Sweetly Scalloped. I love bringing a pattern to life in a new way, just by changing out the fabrics!

In my Picking Petals mini quilt, I used mostly Farmhouse fabrics by Fig Tree & Company for Moda Fabrics, but I did sprinkle in a couple of other oranges I had on hand. The awesome black print with little taupe etchings is from the Sturbridge line by Kathy Schmitz, also for Moda Fabrics.

The soft and simple meander quilting was done by Barb at Quilts on Broadway, my local quilt shop.

I have Barb to blame for the idea that I should also sew up Sweetly Scalloped in autumn prints! I found this beautiful pumpkin fabric at her shop. It's called Wicked Pumpkins Black by Timeless Treasures. I think it makes a perfect focal fabric for Sweetly Scalloped, and it just happens to work beautifully with my (abundant) Fig Tree stash! I also threw in a text print and some other oranges and tans I had in my stash, along with the black Sturbridge print for the scallops.

Once again, Barb helped me choose the perfect quilting design for my project. I love the vine quilting in taupe thread!

Because I like to move my things around the house quite a few times before I'm satisfied, I also displayed a few of my fall favorites on my quilt ladder. The top quilt is a pattern by Fig Tree & Company called Canned Pears. I made this quilt a few years ago, and I have it on display nearly all year. It's one of my treasures and seems to blend in from season to season! I made the middle mini quilt last year. The pattern is Mini Shine by A Quilting Life. I think Picking Petals (bottom) may stay right there on the quilt ladder.

If you are in the mood to look at more autumn quilts, please stop by my post from last September titled Fall Frenzy: Seasonal Project Complete! While I love all of my quilts, seasonal quilts bring a different kind of joy, don't they? Mine are tucked away carefully in a closet, and it's such a joy to bring them out, give them a good shake, and find a special spot for them!

If you are interested in purchasing either the Picking Petals or Sweetly Scalloped patterns, they may be available at your local quilt shop or at one of my blog sponsors. You can also purchase directly from me, but I encourage you to shop locally or through one of my sponsors when possible! Quilt shop owners: my patterns are being carried by Checker Distributors and Moda Fabrics.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today. I hope you get carried away with some autumn quilting!

~Taunja

Friday, August 26, 2016

Friday Bundle Batch with Fort Worth Fabric Studio: Tuscan Garden

Are you familiar with the Friday Bundle Batch offered by Fort Worth Fabric Studio? Every Friday, shop owner Jodie and her team release a custom curated fabric bundle on their website and newsletter. They do a great job of pulling from different fabric companies, collections and designers to create beautiful, unique bundles.

Today's Friday Bundle Batch is simply gorgeous! They've named it Tuscan Garden, and the name couldn't be more fitting. The color palate includes rich mustard yellow tones and deep sea blues. With its sophisticated mix of damask, botanical and text prints, this bundle calls to mind a romantic Mediterranean setting.

I decided to make two simple placemats with coordinating napkins that might be used for a romantic dinner for two. My husband and I are empty nesters now. I'm thinking maybe our kitchen counter meals for two deserve some snazzy place settings. :)

Aren't these fabrics just beautiful together? I love the mix of the more sophisticated fabric and the spunky polka dot.

Please head over to the Fort Worth Fabric Studio website for more information on this bundle, and be sure to sign up for their newsletter! Also, the Fort Worth Fabric Studio Blog includes many free quilting and sewing patterns if you are short on ideas for a fresh, fun project. Please take a moment and check out their blog. You will be inspired!

If you are interested in making a similar set of placements and napkins, I've posted some basic instructions here.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you get carried away quilting often!

~Taunja

Monday, August 15, 2016

Crossroads Quilt Along: Finishing the Top

It was 8 months ago, December 9 to be exact, that I wrote a blog post announcing my participation in the Crossroads Quilt Along with Fat Quarter Shop. It has been a wonderful journey. The excitement began in January, when the much anticipated Strawberry Fields Revisited fabric collection by Fig Tree & Company arrived on my doorstep. Since then, I have truly enjoyed the process of slowly, month by month, creating these beautiful blocks. And now it is August and the top is finished. Pure quilting joy!

I hope you will forgive the amount of pictures I have posted. I'm about to be one of those annoying (but loving) proud moms who shares way too many pictures of her baby!

The only problem I have now is deciding where I will hang this treasure after it is quilted. I may have to rearrange a whole room in my house just to give it a special spot. Oh, my husband will be so thrilled to hear that!

We have one more step with this quilt which will take it over the top! The instructions call for a pretty pieced backing, and I will blog about that on September 15. Hmmm . . . does this mean I need to hang my quilt in such a way that people can see the front AND the back. I really need to get creative now! (My poor husband!)

The Fat Quarter Shop is hosting this quilt along, so please visit their blog to learn more! All proceeds go to the March of Dimes.

Who else is quilting along?

Below is a list of the talented quilters who will be sharing their progress each month on their own blogs. Please visit their blogs to see their creations as well!

Joanna of Fig Tree Quilts (@figtreequilts)
Pat Sloan (@quilterpatsloan)
April of Prairie Grass Patterns (@amrosenthal)
Tina of Emily Ann's Kloset (@emilyannskloset)
Melissa of Oh How Sweet (@ohhowsweet)
Angie of Gnome Angel (@gnomeangel)
Vanessa of Lella Boutique (@lellaboutique)
Melissa of Happy Quilting (@happyquiltingmc)
Erin of Why Not Sew (@whynotsewquilts)
Greg of Grey Dogwood Studio (@greydogwoodstudio)
Sondra of Out of the Blue Quilts (@sondradavison)
Sedef of Down Grapevine Lane (@downgrapvinelane)
And my Instagram handle is @taunjalynn

Thanks for stopping by the blog! I hope you get carried away quilting often!

~Taunja

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Apple Farm Blog Hop

Today is my stop on the Apple Farm blog hop with Elea Lutz and Penny Rose Fabrics . . . and I'm struggling with what to write. I could stick to business and describe my project and how I selected fabrics using this precious new collection that Elea has designed. However, I'm feeling compelled to be a bit mushy. You see, this is the week I've been dreading all summer. This week my oldest child is returning to college and my youngest is heading off to her first year of college. And so, I'm feeling like a bag of mush.

Apple Farm (fabric by Elea Lutz for Penny Rose Fabrics) sewn using "Sweetly Scalloped" pattern.

As I worked on this quilt, I was filled with tender reminders of my children's younger years. I hope you'll indulge me as I share with you what Elea's Apple Farm fabric means to me.

It means sweet memories. . .

Two little blondies riding their bikes through our neighborhood, one at break-neck speed and one with training wheels trying to keep up with her big brother.

Trips to the local apple orchard every fall, to ride the flat-bed wagon between the long rows of trees and pick our own apples to take home and bake into a crisp . . . and weeks later to ride that same wagon in search of pumpkins to carve.

Shopping for school supplies and watching young eyes light up over a new box of crayons.

Little hands raking enough leaves in the backyard to create a fluffy "run and jump" pile.

Searching for milkweed along the gravel road at the edge
of town . . . food for caterpillars.

Laying out quilts on the back lawn and setting up for an afternoon of lazy fun . . . books, toys, dolls, snacks and juice boxes. There might even be some napping.

Good, good memories.

Every time I sew with Elea's fabric, I feel an emotional connection. There is a tenderness in her characters and an excellent use of color and print that just draws me in. You can see it, or rather feel it too, can't you?

The pattern you see in this quilt is my newest pattern, Sweetly Scalloped. It is a great choice for showing off a fabric collection in a simple but pleasing way. Sweetly Scalloped is being carried by several of my blog sponsors: Fort Worth Fabric Studio, Stash Addict Quilts, Lou Lou's Fabric Shop, My Timeless Day, Quilts on Broadway and Fat Quarter Shop. It may also be available at your local quilt shop!

Apple Farm is in stores now. While the fabric is perfect for any time of year, it has a nostalgic, back-to-school feeling. I just know you will fall in love with this sweet collection! Ask about it at your local quilt shop, and please visit my sponsors who are carrying the line: Fat Quarter Shop, My Timeless Day, Fort Worth Fabric Studio, and Stash Addict Quilts.

Feeling thankful

Quilting is a personal art form. We love the craft, and we love the people for whom we sew. I guess it's okay to get a bit mushy. Heart-felt thank you to Elea and Penny Rose Fabrics for including me on this hop! I treasure my quilt made in Apple Farm and the memories it has evoked. And a special thank you to Barb at Quilts on Broadway for the lovely quilting! You're a gem, Barb!

There are many talented bloggers sewing up their personal creations using Apple Farm during the next two weeks. I've included a complete list below. Today I hope you'll visit Nadra Ridgeway of Ellis & Higgs. She's a brilliant sewist and a lovely person. I can't wait to see what she has created. And tomorrow will certainly bring us some special designs, as we stop by and visit Shari Butler of Doohikey Designs and Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt!

Thanks so much for visiting the blog today! I hope you get carried away quilting often!

~Taunja