A New Quilt for the New Year

Crimson Ridge Drive

20" x 26"

©2013 Sharon V. Rotz

The quilting is finished, the binding is added, and I'm celebrating a 2013 quilt.

These fabrics were so much fun to work with. I love the bright colors and bold patterns of the Moda - Comma Mini Charm Packs

For the quilting, I alternated between the orange, yellow, chartreuse and grey "Dance with Me" threads by Aurifil. I mixed them in over the area of the quilt top. The coordinated threads were a perfect mate to the fabrics.

I also love the hand-dyed wool that I added into the mix. 

Explore the unexpected in 2013!

P.S. What did I do with my scrap of left-over fabric??

 It went back into the sewing trash. I have bigger worlds to conquer.  

Linked to Off the Wall Fridays

Save It or Trash It???

Thanks for all of your comments on my last blog. 

I hope you are all happy because you hung guilt over my head and made me do it. 

Today, I dug into my studio waste basket and pulled out that last remaining bit left from my fabric packs. (I don't empty the trash daily, obviously, and  I don't put other things in my waste basket -- only sewing scraps.)

And now the debate is on............ 

Should I save it (and use it) or am I crazy and this tiny bit of fabric should go back into the trash?

Seriously........

What would you do with it?

The Beginning or the End?

 

What triggers your quilting excitement?  Is it the thrill of breaking into a new fabric collection? Or is it the satisfaction that comes with using up all of the fabric?

I just couldn't wait to see what I could do with these bright and cheery Moda fabrics-- Comma Mini Charm Packs and the coordinating thread by Aurifil.

Out popped house after house, and with the addition of only three of my stash fabrics, I completed this wall-size quilt top.

To set off my 2-1/2" fabric squares, I chose a rich hand-dyed wool from The Wooly Lady. I also added a grey plaid homespun and a pearl grey polished cotton. Three different textures and finishes to create depth in the piece.

Now I was down to just a few narrow strips of my fabrics and used them in the borders.

There I did it. To my great satisfaction, I used it all.

Well, almost. I did have a small square of fabric left, less that an inch in size. 

I was conflicted, should I find a way to use it also?

In a bold 2013 movement, I gently placed it in the trash.

Linked to Off the Wall Fridays

Christmas Wishes and New Beginnings

My wish is that you had as wonderful a Christmas as we did. Everything was perfect, noisy, cluttered, wet and snowy, so much to be thankful for, topped off with a beautiful church service celebrating Jesus, the Light of the World.

Now, I can't wait to break into my sewing studio which was cleaned and things put away before Christmas. I was lucky enough to win a pack of threads from Aurifil and fabrics from Moda just before Christmas and I've been WAITING to plunge into them. I just love the colors.

I couldn't wait any longer and cut into them. It's so fun to see what can be done with a 2- 1/2" square of fabric (or two).  These became windows or are they gifts wrapped in colorful ribbons (a hold-over from Christmas gifts)?

Add some half-square triangles to the mix.

Do I see city lights in my future quilt making?

A few larger pieces of fabric may be in order. Come back and see where I go from here.

Meanwhile....

Celebrate a wonderful New Year.

The Wisconsin Quilt and Statewide Shop Hop

The Wisconsin Quilt

48" x 48"

©2012 - Sharon V. Rotz

Capture the beauty of Wisconsin as you quilt your way

 through curving roadways, amid rustling leaves and flowing waters.

Join in the fun of the Wisconsin Shop Hop

June 8-24, 2012

With over 70 quilt shops participating, you have destinations both far away and close to home. There are specials, prizes and fun for all quilters.  Holly Taylor of Moda Fabrics has a designed an exclusive Wisconsin Fabric Line to celebrate the event and I have designed a new pattern especially for you to use this new fabric line. (This pattern is now available at Antoinette's Quilt Shop in Plover WI.)

Choose the Moda Wisconsin Fabric panel and a quarter yard of each of the 15 coordinating fabrics (plus a bit more for binding) and you are set to create your own Wisconsin Quilt.

Quilters, start your engines for  a memorable trip through Wisconsin. Sharpen up your rotary cutters. Oil up your machines and sew away!

And, please, tell me of your Wisconsin adventure and your favorite shop in the comment section below.