Birch Tree with Branches top!

I finished this over a week ago but I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to post it yet! I love this pattern so much! The original pattern in from Crazy Mom Quilts, but I added an extra touch by adding all the branches! I love it! I didn't do every block that way - I think it would end up looking too busy.

Arrgh!

Sometimes things don't go the way you plan! I've had this layer cake (French General) from Moda for over 2 years, just waiting for the perfect pattern to use it, something that would show off all the pretty prints. I thought I had finally come upon it - a brick quilt pattern. But when I cut them and lay them out on my design wall, I hated it! Well, "hate" is a strong word, but this is just ugly! Lol!

I was going to use Kona white in between each two bricks, for that layered brick wall effect, but I didn't like that either! So frustrating! What is it about this fabric line that has me all flustered?? Maybe I've attached too much importance to it!

Anyway, I am going with this. It's a four-patch construction and will end up being a twin size quilt! I don't want to cut this layer cake down any further, otherwise I'll loose the effect of the old-timey French prints! It's not what I really wanted (whatever that was!) but hey! A bad day quilting is better than a good day at the office! Hahahaha!

Stacked Squares top finish!

Woohoo! I'm on a roll! I've had this pattern in my favorites for a few years now. It's called "Stacked Squares" by Kitchen Table Quilting. https://modafabrics.wordpress.com/2013/06/08/simply-style-stacked-squares-quilt/

I finished this quilt top today, and started cutting for the backing! I'm going to use the leftover blocks to make a fun pieced back! Should have it loaded on the Monster tomorrow!

Promotional Giveaway!

I have gotten so much support from friends, family, and community members in my goals to make quilting my business, that I have decided to have a giveaway! And just in time for the holidays!

You have a chance to win this little monster and her quilt! I have sold a handful of these in the past and their little charges have all raved about them! The monster is crocheted in Caron Super Soft and two buttons have been sewn on with yarn (maybe not suitable for children under 2??). The quilt was hand made by me as well, and is a patchwork quilt in miniature! If you prefer less pink and a more traditionally "male" monster, just ask me to swap it out! :) You pay $3.00 shipping if you don't live in Summit County.

Leave a comment at the end of this post to be entered in the drawing! You can leave a comment on my Facebook page too at Just Susie Quilt@justsusiequilts. Drawing ends November 25th, 2019!

 She's even got a little tail!

Cotton Candy Doughnut Quilt on the Monster!

I am so happy to have this on the Monster! (I've been quilting my butt off, haven't I??) Haha! I'm doing an all-over medium stipple because I really love the texture and what happens when it is washed: All that wrinkly goodness!

And look what else is on the Monster! A matching hand made card! Isn't it cute?? I will be gifting it with the purchase of the quilt in my Facebook shop. Stay tuned for that! Should have it off the rack and binding done today.

Which Is Next??

I found these pictures on Pinterest. I posted on Facebook that I was going to make all three of them at some point; I queried everyone as to which they liked best.

 Well, before anyone even responded, I decided to go with this one! (No one even picked #2! Haha!) It isn't exactly the same pattern (because you know, I go my own way! ha!), but the doughnuts are awfully sweet, don't you think? I am calling it "Cotton Candy Doughnuts"!

Birch Trees and Blogging

I read a lot of quilt blogs and am so inspired by what people in the quilt world are doing! Sometimes it seems a little daunting to see all the talent out there and think that I can do this too....who the heck am I?? Sometimes I want to start making a specific quilt because I think it is what people would like. But then that stresses me out and I remind myself that I am quilting because it fills my soul, not other people's. If it ends up being something even just one person loves, that's frosting! :)

Speaking of what I love and filling my soul, I started adding some branches to my trees. This is a very time consuming project, but I am SO in love!

UFO!

I believe in UFO's! I even have a few of my own! Un Finished Objects, that is! Ha! I love my V Dubs, especially the red one! I actually owned a red one in my youth! This UFO is about 15 years old, all made from batik fabric! Aren't they cute!?

 I haven't applique stitched them on my Pffaf yet, but it's on my to-do list. I find applique very relaxing for some reason! Well, on the machine, not by hand. I am in awe of people who use the turn applique method!

Interpetive Tumbler!

I made this a few years ago when we didn't have any space at all but I needed to MAKE! I have a Go Cutter, and hadn't used my tumbler block yet. Take a bunch of strips of Kona solids in a rainbow of colors, sew them all together, set it on your die, and cut away!

 Of course, you need lots and lots of them! And solid white ones too!

 I quilted feathers free-hand on my Juki (no Monster to make things easier!).

 And since I love to piece my backs, here's a wee block in a sea of Kona grey! Those were some of the leftover from all that cutting and piecing! I went with a scrappy binding too, because scrappy bindings are the spice of life!

 I put a sleeve on it to hang in the 2016 Summit Quilters quilt show. Oh, I just love a pieced back!

1930's Repro Baby Quilt All Done!

I don't know why but I have been hoarding my huge stash of 1930's reproduction prints! I guess I just hadn't found a pattern that I thought would work perfectly for them! I have since found a few. This one is a lattice bones pattern from Julie Hirt.

I chose to do a butterfly panto to add to the whimsical nature of the prints. And just look at those cows jumping over the moon!

I love a red binding!

                                               
I used a yellow backing in a repro print too!

Monsters Need Quilts Too!

I made these little crochet monsters some time back. Today I needed to make her a quilt! She's much happier now, don't you think??

Snowy Day Sampler Work

Been working hard on this client sampler quilt! I took it off the Monster yesterday after free-motion quilting the sashing and borders. Today I am doing the shadow quilting in each block on my Juki with walking foot attached. Excuse my strings! Those will get buried with a needle when I am done!

My client's pattern originally calls for poly batting, which was typical of that period (see-through and hard to work with, not to mention flimsy and cheap! imho), but I exclusively carry Warm and Natural 80/20 - hence the tighter quilting. I suppose I could have done a loopy quilting in the sashing, or even stitched in the ditch, but I really love the texture here!

 This is looking out my front door! October 20. Ugh. Oh, well. Makes for happy quilting hours!

Awl Made Here Quilt!

Tracey Keating, from Awl Made Here - awlmadehere.com - asked me to make her a quilt! I was so nervous because her leather work is beautiful and her skill is top-notch (I've ordered from her before)! This is while it was still on the Monster. Another panto by Urban Elementz.

I chose a simple modern design. The pictures don't do it justice - they never do! I just love Kona solids so I settled on a mix of eye-popping colors. 

 I chose to piece the back so that it mimicked the front. I love that one little splash of orange in the bottom right corner. All by itself but making lots of noise!

You'll have to zoom in to see it but the binding is also a little play on the theme of the quilt. I chose to add only four or five colors in the binding, and then the rest of the binding is a royal blue Kona Cotton. I really enjoyed making this quilt for Tracey! She's so inspiring to me!