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 #19: Printing at Spoonflower

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I am so excited, as I got fabulous mail this week. It was a sample collection (ie. 8″ swatches) of my own prints, that I printed at Spoonflower.

I mentioned on Wednesday that I had a circle design using solids and stripes and could not decide between a quilt or fabric….well I am making both. Here are the  “Phased Circles” in fabric, I love how the colors printed.
Phased circles

The idea of Spoonflower is fantastic. You load up your image that you would like printed, you can modify the colors and use pic monkey for addition edits. Once you are happy with it, I recommend you add it to a collection. You can then print a sample sheet of each print in the collection (~$1.20 per print instead of the $5 per swatch), chose your fabric and check-out (these are all Kona cotton).  If you wish to sell your design then you must print off every print you wish to sell to ensure you have checked and approved it…which makes sense.

It takes about 2-3 weeks (lately, it has been a little on the slower side) to have your swatches arrive in the mail (those are US-based times). You open your bundle and then you can go back in and make it available for purchase (in fabric, wallpaper, gift wrap etc) or purchase more yardage for yourself!!

Mosaic Tiles

The theme of Geometry, landed up inspiring a few more designs, so I also have a set of “Mosaic Tiles” prints (above) and “Segmented Hexies”. Below, is the first take on the segmented Hexagons….it started off as low-volume triangle prints. The new design which is still to arrive is the same triangular design but shape in 6 triangle segmented hexagons.  You can see the top part (3 segments) of the triangle along the right side of the prints. I also fixed the gap between the repeats…so I can’t wait to see the updated prints.
Segmented Hexies_take1

I will share the modified prints when they arrive. I also have a text-based print too, that has a chemistry theme, coming too. Right now though I have to decide on a cool project to use my own fabric in.

If you are interested and taking a look, you can see all the designs here. Linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash (see button on right).

The End: Kaleidoscope of Butterflies

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It’s finished!! My butterfly quilt. Can you believe it, I actually finished a quilt in one month…I mean it is actually quilted and bound. A couple of first’s with this quilt:

  • My first time Free-Motion Quilting a quilt
  • My first time quilting on my new Janome machine
  • First time machine binding a quilt

I loved how it turned out. I was so nervous last night, as I changed the quilting design from a meander (stippling) to a loopy design. I quickly practiced, since this was going to be my first Free-Motion Quilted quilt. I decided I could do it. Here is the big unveiling: Kaleidoscope of Butterflies

I backed the quilt with Les Amis Ripples in Aqua Flannel purchased at Hawthorne Threads. I love the binding with the small grey lines (fabric: Just for fun, tiny stripes, from Marisa and Creative Thursday which can be found at Rock Paper Scissors NJ), from a distance it looks like a light grey solid. I have machine bound smaller items like pot holders and coffee cup sleeves but never a quilt. Why not give it a try. It turned out well.

Kaleidoscope of Butterflies_BackBinding

Lastly, like I mentioned above, I free-motion quilted loops. I think it turned out pretty well. I am happy that I changed from meander to loops. For some reason meander designs always reminds me of either coral or alien fingers :-). I loved the denseness of the quilting as it leaves lots of texture. I loved using my Aurifil Light grey thread – it quilts so nicely.

Kaleidoscope of Butterflies_LoopyQuiltingSo, one last photo of the two big butterflies as I think they are fantastic and a highlight for me.
Kaleidoscope of Butterflies_OverChair

Details

Name: Kaleidoscope of Butterflies
Dimensions: ~ 30″ x 50″ (Crib-sized quilt)
Design: Overall quilt is original design; Butterfly paper piecing patterns are by Juliet @ Tartankiwi
Quilted: FMQ Loopy Design in Aurifil 2600 wt. 50
Fabric for Front: Includes fabrics from Amy Butler, Frances Newcombe, Kaffe Fassett, Carolyn Friedlander, Alison Glass, Tula Pink, Deena Rutter,  Rashida Coleman-Hale, Lotta Jansdotter
Backing: Les Amis Ripples in Aqua Flannel, Patty Sloniger
Binding: Just for fun, tiny stripes, from Marisa and Creative Thursday

Other details can be found in these two posts:

Linking up with ALOYF (see button on the right) as this was my May goal…and I made it (for once :-D…big smile) and Sew Cute Tuesday (see button on right also).

 

 

 

Coffee Zakka Pot Holders

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This is a quick post today. I promised a friend to make a set of pot holders for her, way back in December. I finished the first one (I think ) in January. Well, this week, six months later she finally has both of them.

PotHolders_Coffee

I loved how they turned out. The pattern is from Zakka Style. All the coffee fabrics are from Spoonflower, and the green and taupe fabrics are essex linen. The back is Taupe Essex linen, as well.
Potholder_Back

I am linking up with Amanda Jean @ Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday, as this finish needs to be celebrated that it is finally of my to do list!!