Author Archives: mlwilkie

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About mlwilkie

Software Developer, Mother, Wife with keen interest in art, design and crafts of all kinds.

Sunday Stash #25: A long time coming

Let’s start with some miscellaneous fabrics I purchased for my stash. These were all from Sew me a Song‘s Etsy store. My random selection, definitely looks like a possible quilt pull in this photo.
Miscellanous Stash builders

I have included links (left to right) of those that are still available.

  1. Chalkboard in Green, ABC Primeby Wilmington
  2. Newspaper, Collage, Carrie Bloomston
  3. Newsprint in Grey, Stof of Denmark
  4. Pencil Stripe in Brown, Stof of Denmark
  5. Pencil Stripe in Green, Stof of Denmark
  6. Empire Mark in Tailcoat, Curious Nature, Parson Gray
  7. Circles and Text in Purple, Adventures, Stephanie Wright
  8. Painted Cups in Yellow, Collage, Carrie Bloomston
  9. Dots and Lines in Gray, QH Textiles (linen)
  10. Dots and Lines in Natural, QH Textiles (linen)

So, onto my non-fabric ramblings…I have come to a couple of realizations lately:

1. I can honestly say that I could post a Sunday Stash until the end of the year without buying any more fabric. The fact, I have had to start an overflow room (in the guest room) while I frantically make up some projects so I can store all the fabric back in my sewing room may be a good indicator…hmm….maybe I need to put another budget together to finish out the year.

Have you got a list yet for the end of the year?? I do (hehe):

  • Zen Chic, Figures, (Available now)
  • New Kona Cottons, Robert Kaufman (August)
  • Carrie Bloomston, Paint (August)
  • Leah Duncan, Gramercy (August)
  • Alison Glass, Handcrafted (October)
  • Francis Newcombe, Cherie (August – just some of the prints)
  • Bonnie Christine, Winged (August – just some of the prints)
  • Tula Pink, Moonshine (September – just some of the prints)
  • Anna Marie Horner, Honor Roll (November – just some of the prints)

2. I have not posted a Sunday Stash in a while, which I promise is an indicator that I am really trying to get some stuff finish – the “kaleidoscope of butterflies”, the “wonky herringbone placemats” and now the “phased circles” quilt and the “Spoonflower Sampler” quilt. While happy I am starting see things finish up, I also feel really bad for all those that have commented but I have not responded lately….I am definitely catch up on the last weeks worth of comments tonight.

How do you find the balance between blogging and sewing??

Linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash (see button on the right).

High hopes for vacation projects

I had high hopes for completing a slew of projects on this vacation. Unfortunately, they were dashed, not by the usual reasons but for running out of fabric. Can you believe that!!

Here is what I did accomplish, which definitely will put me in good stead for upcoming weeks (please excuse the photos as I did not have my usual settings or choices in the beach house we were renting).

Spoonflower Sample Quilt
This was actually the one finish I really had. I finished all 9 blocks for my Spoonflower Sample quilt. That means all my classes are prepared for the Modern Block series I am doing at Spoonflower.

Sample Quilt Blocks Complete
Just the white sashing to add and then onto finishing the whole quilt!!

“Neighbourhood” quilt
One of the designs I liked from the first week of Quilt Design a day, the Neighborhood quilt, has been sponsored by Oakshott cottons.

Oakshott-ButtonI was actually able to make a start on it yesterday, and I am already 1/2 way through making this mini quilt (32″ x 34″). The fabric colors are amazing and I am surprised at how well it sew up without too much fraying. I totally understand the love of oakshott cotton now.
Neighbourhood Quilt Row1_2

“Phased Circles” quilt
As mentioned on Wednesday, the back is almost complete but I ran out of 1 print + Kona white 2.5″ strips.
Phased Circles Back

Paper Piecing Testing
I am super excited about this pattern, I am testing. It took a little while but all pieces are cut and glued….ready to start!!
Paper Piecing Testing

It’s a wrap. That is all the progress and 1 finish I made this week. So, overall not too bad, if I do say so myself. Linking up with Amanda Jean @ Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday.

QDAD: Quilt Design a Day (Week 5)

I have a little catching up to do today, with regards to my quilt designs a day. I will admit I took a week break in between but here are my last few designs (just over a week). Don’t forget if you want to join in the fun or just watch – go over to Facebook and check out Quilt Design a Day. Each of the color palettes below links back to the source @ Design seeds.

17 July:
Screen Shot 2014-07-24 at 10.21.48 PM
Definitely not my favorite color palette, with all that pink and sweetness ;-). My first design was with a repeatable block which I like (obviously would make it in a different color though).

QDAD_FlowerGarden_17July2014

I decided it may look better with more of the blocks. It almost looks like a Granny Square in one large quilt…and I did like it better in the dense layout.

QDAD_FlowerGarden_dense_17July2014

18 July:
Screen Shot 2014-07-24 at 10.20.48 PM

I didn’t mind this palette though I usually like coral with navy’s. I decided to go abstract with the design and play with triangles, straight lines and angles….like a flamingo’s legs.QDAD_18JULY2014

19 July:
Screen Shot 2014-07-24 at 10.20.38 PM
I love yellow. I think it is one of my many favorite colors. It always makes me smile. I really wanted to play with hexagons and triangle designs and wanted an aztec feel. Instead I came up with butterscotch toffee’s. I am not sure how I feel about this one, still….though I got great feedback from the group (thank you guys!!). I do like the secondary unaligned square that you get when you alternate the direction of the shape.QDAD_Honey_19JULY2014
20 July:
Screen Shot 2014-07-24 at 10.20.28 PM

I loved the green in this shot and decided to play with the broken rows from the rolling hills, and how the sun may play on those rows and make them lighter as it moves right.QDAD_Windows_20JULY2014

21 July:
Screen Shot 2014-07-24 at 10.20.10 PM

I had a lot of fun with this color palette. I decided to make a start to a medallion quilt. The star which is made up of hexagonal shapes and the first border. QDAD_StarMedallian_Blue_21July2014

Then two other possible color combinations, still using the same color palette inspiration:
QDAD_StarMedallian_Grey_21July2014 QDAD_StarMedallian_Brown_21July2014

22 July:
Screen Shot 2014-07-24 at 10.19.58 PM

Let me tell you, this color palette was totally out of my comfort zone, which is one of the reasons I decided to give it a go. I decided to see if there were things I could find around me, while on vacation. This is the first of a few that were designed with this theme in mind.

I was inspired by our beach umbrella shown here (photographed by me).
IMG_2127

Here is the first attempt which is very geometric. Maybe too much like a pizza box.QDAD_Beach_22JULY2014
So, I went to the abstract for the second attempt. Anne @ Play Crafts gave some great feedback with regards to the circles not being integrated…..which turned into the third and last attempt (and I might print this one off and hang on my wall as art).
QDAD_BeachUmbrella_22JULY2014  QDAD_BeachUmbrella_PartialCircles_22JULY2014

23 July:
Screen Shot 2014-07-24 at 10.19.43 PM

Inspiration for my next designs (including some next week) will be from Savannah. The wrought iron work around historic downtown Savannah is fantastic. This gate lead to the inspiration for the design of the day.
IMG_2161

I loved the simplicity of the gate design.
QDAD_Gate_23JULY2014

That’s it for this week. I hope you like the addition thought process and the photos of the inspiration. It is how I get from point A to point B.