Stash Bee Square Dance Quilt

This year I participated in the Stash Bee, an online bee made up quilters all over the world.  I was in Hive 12, and my month was May.  I asked the members of my hive to make me blocks from my Square Dance quilt block tutorial using the paper piecing pattern that I created for this project (now available on Craftsy).

Custom longarm quilting

Here she is – in all her glory!  The members of my hive did such an amazing job with their blocks.  The variety that they added to this quilt is what really makes it shine!  I will really enjoy sitting on the couch cozying up with this quilt this winter knowing that so many people helped make this quilt happen.

A huge thank you to Heather, Cheryl, Jennifer, Michele, Kristel, Laura, Toni, Genevieve, Francis and Willa!

Quilting progress

Above are some pictures of the quilting in progress.  To see more pictures, please see my Quilts Actually blog post about the quilting of this Square Dance quilt.

quilt binding

This quilt was a little rushed because I was working to complete it before the fair.  The binding and I spent some late nights, a lot of time in front of the TV, and an all day guild meeting together in order for it to get done.

Hand sewn quilt binding

It was worth all the work though… I finished it in time to enter it in the North Carolina State Fair, where we earned 2nd place in the Group quilt category!  I’m going to say we were robbed… just kidding… I didn’t actually see the 1st place quilt, so the possibility does exist that it was better.

State Fair Quilt

Once I was able to pick up the quilt after the fair, it seemed like everyday was sunny or rainy so it I had to wait quite awhile for a nice overcast day to take proper photos.  Luckily, our fall colors were at their peak, making a nice backdrop.

Square Dance Quilt

The back of the quilt really shows the quilting in detail.  I also added a few extra blocks in a strip along the bottom.  I love that little pop at the bottom!  I was also quite proud of myself for adding the hanging sleeve right away (granted…it was forced because I wanted to enter it in the fair), but usually I wait forever and don’t have any backing fabric leftover to use.  The sleeve looks so much nicer in matching fabric!

Note to self: make the hanging sleeve when you first finish the quilt from now on.

Custom quilting

This is my Stash Bee Square Dance with my miniature quilt Square Dance.  These two quilts have earned a few second place finishes – North Carolina State Fair, Quilting in the Pines Quilt Show, and Floral Fantasy Quilt Show.

Award winning quilts

Finally, a photoshoot out-take…  My daughter was “helping” to arrange the quilts just like mom.  Maybe I have a future quilter on my hands!  Or a photographer…

little girl quilt

Thanks for stopping by!

-Heather

Linking up to whoever has the link up post this week of the following:

Anything Goes MondayFabric Tuesday @ Quilt StorySew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart QuiltsLet’s Bee Social Wednesday @ SewFreshQuiltsNeedle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt InfatuationFinish it up Friday @ Crazy Mom QuiltsWhoop Whoop Fridays @ Confessions of a Quilt AddictTGIFFFabric Frenzy Friday @ Ft. Worth FabricShow off Saturday at Sew Can SheSewing Saturday at Simple Simon & CoStash Bee Link Up

 

Summer Stash Bee Blocks

I kept up with my summer bee blocks, but not with sharing them!  Hive 12 of the Stash Bee has had some great blocks since March (the last time I shared), so enjoy 🙂

April was Michele’s month, and she wanted bright dresden plates with dotty fabric.  Her April Hive 12 tutorial is here.  She found a video that gave instructions to make the blades from charm squares!  It is a good way to use up those charm squares that everyone has laying around.  I would like to try this block again with a traditional ruler someday to see the difference in how it turns out.  She has put her quilt top together, and you can see “A Wee Bit Dotty” here.

April 2014 Stash Bee Hive 12

May was for me, and I have the quilt top put together, but need to make a backing so I can quilt it.  My Square Dance Tutorial is here.  Below are the blocks I received from the group, and then I made what seemed like a million more (but was really somewhere in the 30’s) to make this a decent sized lap quilt.  Lesson learned:  This block should be make in groups of 10, but no more than 12.  I think I did one round of 16 at a time, and that was too many for me.

May Stash Bee Blocks Hive 12

June was for Kristel from Work in Progress Girl.  Her June Hive 12 Tutorial is here.  She wanted brightly colored solid churn dash blocks to help finish up a WiP.

June 2014 Stash Bee Hive 12

July was for Laura from SewFrouFrou Quilter.  Her July Hive 12 Tutorial is here.  She called her block ROYGB Geese.  This is going to be a colorful quilt!

July 2014 Stash Bee Hive 12

August was for Toni.  She wanted a double pinwheel variation, as shown below.  Her August Hive 12 Tutorial is here.  I can’t wait to see this top put together, I think the patterns created when these are assembled are going to be fantastic.

August 2014 Stash Hive 12 Block

 

September was for Genevieve.  She wanted any style block that went with a variety of blocks she already had made to turn into a sampler quilt.  I saw a lot of orange, turquoise, some blue and green, and some pink, so I tried to make a block that hit those color ways.  I used the Corner Star tutorial from Modify Tradition.  Her block has the star centers as white, but when I laid the block out, that just looked like too much white for what Genevieve already had done so I changed the centers to be colored.

September Stash Bee Hive 12

 

Thanks for the fun ladies!

– Heather

Linking to:

Fabric Tuesday @ Quilt StorySew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart QuiltsLet’s Bee Social Wednesday @ SewFreshQuiltsWhoop Whoop Fridays @ Confessions of a Quilt AddictFabric Frenzy Friday @ Ft. Worth Fabric

 

Schnitzel & Boo Mini Quilt Swap

Round 2 of the Schnitzel & Boo Mini Quilt Swap finished up awhile ago, but I never shared my project until now.  I was checking the draft section and realized this post never got published, so here’s to catching up!

Schnitzel & Boo Mini Quilt Swap

My partner likes bright rainbow colors and the simplicity of Alissa Haight Carlton, the colors of AMH and Allison Glass, and Tula Pink’s quilt designs.  I hope this lives up to all of that!

Schnitzel & Boo Mini Swap

I was very inspired by “Every Color” by Alissa Haight Carlton.

Noodlehead Open Wide Zipper Pouch

I also included a little pouch made from the Open Wide Zippered Pouch Tutorial by Noodlehead and some bits of True Colors by Anna Maria Horner.

Quilt Label

From my “stalking” I discovered my partner’s favorite colors are aqua and pink, so I included that on the back.  I also tried printing on fabric for the first time for the label, and it was so easy!  I used this tutorial for printing on fabric using an inkjet printer.  I am not sure how this works for labels that need to be washed, but for a mini that will hang on a wall, I think this method works great!

I hope you liked this partner!

In return, I received this sweet heart mini with some treats from Pure Joy Creative.   That aqua fabric was used up with a week or two, so never fear that it is sitting unloved in a stash somewhere!  Thanks for the wonderful mini quilt swap!

-Heather

Linking to: Fabric Tuesday @ Quilt StorySew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart QuiltsLet’s Bee Social Wednesday @ SewFreshQuiltsNeedle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt InfatuationWhoop Whoop Fridays @ Confessions of a Quilt AddictFabric Frenzy Friday @ Ft. Worth Fabric, and Sewjo Saturday at My Go-Go Life.

 

Starting the Journey: Round Trip Quilts

During the Plum and June New Blogger Hop, several bees were started all over the world.  I’m taking part in a US/Canada based round robin bee called Round Trip Quilts.  We are starting this long journey this week as we mail the start of our quilts to the first person.

I went through many ideas for what I wanted this quilt to be.  I considered an ode to North Carolina (where we’ve lived for 5 years now – amazing for an Army family!), a sewing themed quilt for me, but landed on a quilt for my daughter.

Paper Pieced kind and strong

While preparing for a different idea, I decided I wanted to paper piece the phrase “be strong”.  Once my husband and I saw how great it looked, we started coming up with tons of other ideas for these phrases to include in the quilt.  Then, I realized that instead of just one of these phrases in my quilt, I wanted the theme of my quilt to be based on this.

While trying to come up with some more possibilities, I googled the phrase “wishes for my daughter“.  That’s when I knew what this quilt was going to be. This quilt is going to be called “Wishes for my daughter.”

I have provided paper pieced phrases to be scattered throughout the quilt.  I want the other members of the bee to create blocks or sections to separate the phrases.

Paper pieced Care

This isn’t really the traditional “center” that usually start a round robin, but I really loved this idea and hope everyone else enjoys working on it as well.  I don’t have a preference for how they separate the phrases – it can be pieced blocks, paper pieced designs, row by row style blocks, or anything else I can’t even dream of!  I think this will turn out really cool.  Then at the end, I will hopefully be able to size this up to a twin size quilt by adding some of the longer phrases that I did not have time to paper piece before the first mailing.

I suggested filling in the spaces with things a little girl would like… such as animals (red fox is currently a hit in our household), flowers, fruit, flying objects (birds, butterflies, airplanes), deer, dogs, outdoors, and traditional pieced blocks.  To include Mom and Dad, I mentioned that I like sewing and Dad likes fly fishing.

Paper pieced love

In case anyone wants the details of these phrases, I used the “Just my type” alphabet pattern from Quiet Play.  It looks great, but takes quite a bit of time!  I printed the pieces at 120%, which makes them 6 inches tall.  I wanted the letters inside of the words closer together so I cut the edges off 3/4″ from the edge of the letter.  I usually used the full width of the pattern for letters that started or ended words.

Paper pieced boat

My contribution to the “center” is this sailboat.  I was fortunate enough to sail quite a bit growing up (although on nothing near as fancy as this boat!), and so counted it as something I like to fit in with the phrases.  This pattern is from Daisy at Ants to Sugar, and she will be releasing this pattern on Craftsy soon.

I’m super excited to see what everyone comes up with.  There are already some amazing things floating around on instagram and flickr.  Round Trip Quilts now has a Flickr group and you can follow us on Instagram using #roundtripquilts!  You can also find a summary of all of our posts on Never Just Jennifer’s Round Trip Quilts page!  Eventually, I’ll get this on my blog too – but for now check out how organized she is and marvel 🙂


The full list of members is below:

Heather at QA Creations

Leanne at Devoted Quilter

Kim at Ties That Bind Quilting

Liz at Green Cheese Quilting

Mary at See Mary Quilt

Christina at WIPs and Tuts

Jennifer at Never Just Jennifer

Chelsea Huckins at Patch the Giraffe

 

Linking up to: Anything Goes MondayFabric Tuesday @ Quilt StorySew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart QuiltsWiP Wednesday @ Freshly PiecedWhoop Whoop Fridays @ Confessions of a Quilt AddictFabric Frenzy Friday @ Ft. Worth Fabric

 

Jewel Puzzle Paper Pieced Pattern

Jewel Paper Pieced Tutorial

Free paper pieced pattern for 12″ finished block that includes detailed photographic instructions on how to paper piece.

Today, my new Jewel Puzzle paper pieced block pattern was featured on Sew Mama Sew!  Head over to Sew Mama Sew for the Jewel Puzzle Tutorial.

Jewel Puzzle Block

This paper pieced pattern is probably a solid intermediate level… not too hard because there aren’t a lot of intersections to match up, but a lot of pieces for a true beginner.

I made this block to use a pillow in my daughter’s new room.  I wanted something bright and cheerful, and I think this block does just that.

I also made a version of this block for my Red & White Sampler.  It amazes me how different these blocks look with some different fabric and different fabric placements.

Red Jewel Puzzle Block

 

If you make this block, please let me know because I would love to see your work!  I’ve started an Instagram tag for #jewelpuzzle block, or you can email me a picture.

– Heather

Also linking up to:

WiP Wednesday @ Freshly PiecedLet’s Bee Social Wednesday @ SewFreshQuiltsWhoop Whoop Fridays @ Confessions of a Quilt AddictFabric Frenzy Friday @ Ft. Worth FabricShow off Saturday at Sew Can SheSewing Saturday at Simple Simon & Co,  Anything Goes MondayFabric Tuesday @ Quilt StorySew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart Quilts

 

Let’s get acquainted!

Hello, and welcome if you are new and stopping by from Plum & June’s New Blogger Hop!  If you’re a regular, then thanks for sticking around 🙂

QACreationsFinishedProjects
Pandora’s Box, Spinnaker Quilt, Geranium Dress, Daisy Chain Quilt

Welcome to QA Creations!  I’m Heather, and this is my little corner for sanity sewing.  I started with quilting back in 2010, but when I was pregnant with my daughter I sewed my first dress.  With complete ignorance of the fact that garment sewing is supposed to be difficult, I just followed the directions and made some garments that I am still proud of today (even with a little more experience).  Now I still make quilts, but sew for my daughter and even myself (still learning on the women’s clothing front!).

Let’s start with a few random facts:

– I adore chocolate, but don’t like doughnuts.

– I now love to sew and cook, but pretty much refused to do either before almost age 25.  I ate a lot of boxed macaroni and cheese and lean pockets.

– I was chastised by a tailor when I was in college because I took a shirt there to get a button sewn on.  Now, I sew clothing for myself and my daughter though I still rarely do buttons.

– Dream Vacations: Machu Pichu, Galapagos Islands, Northern Italy, New Zealand, driving tour of the National Parks in the western United States (I have a lot more dream vacations than time or money!)

– Favorite TV Show: NCIS

– Favorite Book: Anything by Bill Bryson

– Favorite Movie: McLintock, almost anything with Audrey Hepburn

– Born: Wisconsin

– Grew up in: Oregon

– Lived in: New York, Alabama, Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Iraq and Afghanistan (Yes, I used to be in the Army in case the last 2 didn’t give it away)

I used to blog as Bobbins and Bullets, but switched to QA Creations because it represents who I am now as opposed to what my job used to be.  The post announcing the name change explains it a little more.  Now, I am momma to a 16 month old little girl that loves doggies and her family (and yes, probably in that order!).  The name QA Creations is a combination of Quilts Actually, my long arm business and the stuff I create and document here.

Blogging Tip: Don’t choose a name that scares people!  No seriously, it’s better to choose something that has some room for you to grow and develop without boxing you into a corner or making people think you are some type of nut.

Quilting Tip: Label your solids and interfacing.  I learned this lesson the hard way because none of mine are labeled and when I go back to look at a fabric I bought years ago I don’t even remember what brand it was, much less which exact shade of the 30 possible greens there are that it is.  And just which white is it?  Why are there so many whites?!?

Thanks for stopping by, and please check out the other bloggers on the tour today:

Sarah @ Berry Barn Designs

Liz @ Green Cheese Quilting

Janet @ Simply Pieced

Ruth @ Charly & Ben’s Crafty Corner

Kristyn @ Melon Patch Quilts

Jo @ Riddle and Whimsy

Linh @ Calling All Stitchers

Alida @ Tweety Loves Quilting

Rachel @ Quiltineering

-Heather

Bee Blocks – Received!

It is always fun to receive bee blocks!  I try to do the 4×5 Modern Bee quarterly, which is nice because it has instant gratification as far as bees go.  You send your blocks and receive your blocks at the same time.  This spring I was in hive 3, and was fortunate to receive the following blocks to add to my Real World Red & White Sampler:

Spring 2014 4x5 Modern Bee Hive 3

1. Dawn, 2. Christina (illy23), 3. Brandy (Jade Rose), 4. Sarah (Coincidentally Quilting), 5. Cinda (Sewbusy64), 6. My Double Pinwheel

I am also part of the Stash Bee, which is a more traditional monthly bee where you send away a block each month, and then have to wait until your month to get all your blocks in return.  When it’s your month though – it’s magical!  Everyday going to the mailbox felt like my birthday.

Hive 12 did an amazing job on my blocks.  I requested that they do my Square Dance block using my paper piecing tutorial in gray and shades of aqua.  As you can see below, they did beautiful work.

Square Dance Quilt

Thank you to the ladies of Hive 12: Heather (Quilts in the Queue), Cheryl (Texas Quilting Gal), Jennifer (Taken Patiently), Michele, Kristel (Work in Progress Girl), Laura (Sew Frou Frou Quilter), Toni (Gypsygirl Wanderlust), Genevieve, Francis (Quilts n Stuff), and Willa.

 

-Heather

 

Linking up to:

Anything Goes MondayFabric Tuesday @ Quilt StoryLet’s Bee Social Wednesday @ SewFreshQuiltsNeedle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt InfatuationWhoop Whoop Fridays @ Confessions of a Quilt AddictFabric Frenzy Friday @ Ft. Worth Fabric, and Sewjo Saturday at My Go-Go Life.

 

Spring 2014 4×5 Modern Bee

I chose to make the Double Pinwheel Block from McCalls.

I think it’s a fun block, that isn’t seen very much around the inter webs right now.  It’s one of those classic blocks that can be modernized with fabric choices.  The only downside of the block is using the construction directions from McCalls there are a gazillion bias edges.  All you can do is starch like crazy and hope for the best.

Spring 2014 Hive #3 4x5 Modern Bee

Sarah requested aqua, lime, cobalt, and grey on a text or low volume background.

Double Pinwheel Block

 

Christina requested sea foam green, pale turquoise, pale gold, champagne, pearl white, and kona white background.

Double Pinwheel Block

 

Cinda requested aqua/turquoise, orange, yellow, and grey with a white or low volume background.

Double Pinwheel Block

Dawn requested red, turquoise, aqua and pink with a white background.

Double Pinwheel Block

Brandy requested purple and aqua with grey or low volume background.

Double Pinwheel Block

I continued with my real world red and white theme.

Double Pinwheel

– Heather

Linking to: Anything Goes MondayWiP Wednesday @ Freshly PiecedLet’s Bee Social Wednesday @ SewFreshQuiltsNeedle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt InfatuationWhoop Whoop Fridays @ Confessions of a Quilt AddictFabric Frenzy Friday @ Ft. Worth Fabric, and Sewjo Saturday at My Go-Go Life.

Blogger’s Quilt Festival

Welcome to my entry to the Spring 2014 Blogger’s Quilt Festival – the Spinnaker Quilt!

This quilt was a work of love, my Christmas present to my dad for Christmas 2013 (over 5 months ago already – can you believe it?)

The inspiration for this quilt was a brightly colored spinnaker on a racing sailboat.  My dad actually requested this quilt, and when dad requests something like this, I make it.  He wanted it to have yellow, green, red and be bright and cheerful.  I like to think I met his requests.

Spinnaker Quilt
Each of the 238 rectangles in this quilt are 2 inches by 7.5 inches finished size.  I used a variety of fabrics and tan linen to allow the eye a place to rest.

The quilting is an allover design of rounded rectangles, with the goal of softening up the hard rectangles while keeping it masculine.
Spinnaker Quilt

The back is pieced with the linen and anchor fabric to make the backing wide enough to fit the quilt.

Spinnaker Quilt

  The quilt roll shows the grey crosshatch binding.

Spinnaker Quilt

This quilt measures 68.5 by 53 inches, which is 243 inches around – just barely a large quilt category.  A little more in process information can be found in my original entry on this Spinnaker Quilt.
Thanks for visiting from Amy’s Creative Side!
– Heather

Cora’s Quilts Spring Sampler

In my continuing quest to create a queen sized quilt so I can actually sleep under a quilt I’ve made, I started the Spring Sampler over at Cora’s Quilts.

Block 1 is Pyramid.  These are all 12.5 inch unfinished blocks, so a great size for bees or a sampler quilt (in my case!).
Pyramids (Cora's Quilts Spring Sampler)
Block 2 is Beacon.
Beacon  (Cora's Quilts Spring Sampler)
Block 3 is Tombstone.  I varied the fabric placement a little from her suggestion to make it look more different than Pyramid, because it is pretty similar.

Tombstone  (Cora's Quilts Spring Sampler)

So far, I’m enjoying these blocks.  Cora has done a good job making these tutorials available, and I can’t wait to keep making more!

– Heather


Linking up to:WiP Wednesday @ Freshly PiecedLet’s Bee Social Wednesday @ SewFreshQuiltsNeedle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt InfatuationWhoop Whoop Fridays @ Confessions of a Quilt AddictFabric Frenzy Friday @ Ft. Worth Fabric, and Sewjo Saturday at My Go-Go Life.