Hexagon Holiday Table Runner

Happy Holidays and almost 2013 to everyone! I whipped up this Hexagon Holiday Table Runner as gift for my Book Club's annual gift exchange/white elephant party. It is a smaller Table Runner that can be used on a dining table or side table. The design was all improv and I think it came out cute. Laurie was the final recipient of it and I hope she enjoys it year round!

I finally cut up this Linen Echino Owl and Bird fabric that I had gotten as part of a "Scrap Bag" from Purl Soho last winter. I didn't want to go too Christmas-y- so blended in other Red, White, and Linen fabrics with a touch of Aqua. 

 

 Simple Strip-pieced Back side

There is something so satisfying about smaller projects in between big quilt projects - they get done SO much faster! Wishing everyone a healthy, happy, and successful 2013 - I can't wait for the Spring to arrive!

Memory Quilt - Gavin and Nana

 This was a very special project that came to me via the Internet. My friend Shanna referred me to LA Mom, Michelle, who posted on the Peachhead site (Community website for moms), that she was looking for a quilter to commission a Memory Quilt for her son Gavin. Gavin was especially close to his Nana, Beverly, who passed away in November 2011. Michelle wanted to give something to Gavin of his Nana's as a keepsake and memory of her. Jewelry wouldn't do for a 6 year old boy so she thought of making a quilt out of clothing Beverly had gifted Gavin as well as some of Beverly's clothes. I suggested adding in pictures and we also added in an image of a card signed by his Nana and an excerpt from her journal. 

Above is the finished quilt - each square is centered around either one of Gavin's t-shirts or a picture of the two of them together. I asked Michelle what Gavin and Beverly liked to do together and she mentioned cooking, gardening, and traveling. I found some novelty fabrics at Sew Modern with cooking utensils, modern apples, and airplanes to reflect their time together. In addition, I added in some coordinating dots, stripes and bright greens and blues. The dark blue is the denim from a pair of Beverly's jeans.

 

The pictures Michelle sent me were so heartwarming and really showed the special bond these two had.

 

Planes, Apples and Cooking fabric

 The excerpt from Beverly's journal

 For the back, I kept it simple with the dot and stripe fabrics with a strip of the other added fabrics used.

I delivered the quilt to Michelle on Wednesday and she absolutely loved it. She is giving it to Gavin tonight for the first night of Hanukkah and I look forward to hearing about his reaction. After working on this project I realized that a Memory Quilt is such a warm and intimate way for both Michelle and Gavin to remember Beverly/Nana on a daily basis. She was obviously a very special woman and I am happy I got to know her a bit through this process.

Fun, fast Baby Quilt commission- For Nathan

Patchwork Chevron Quilt 60" by 60"

 My cousins in Michigan are great supporters of my quilting habit/hobby/business. Lauren loved the quilt I made for newborn Max (now 7 months old!), so she commissioned a similar quilt for her friend CJ's new baby boy Nathan. I wasn't given much guidance other than CJ likes animal over sports themes. So I just went with what I like, and hope they all like it too! 

I started with the cute Owl/Squirrel/Bird print fabric from the Birch Circa 52 line (organic Woodland Friends) and then chose fun, modern fabrics that went with the grey, peacock blue, orange, and yellow palette. I am a sucker for a chevron print (especially in a Chevron quilt!) and love the trees from Lotta Jansdotter's new Bella line.

The backside

 The patchwork Chevron pattern was very easy to put together- 4" squares sewn into 9-patch blocks and then made into half square triangles with the solid Kona Ash fabric. So clean, modern and makes a big impact! For the back, I used up the fabric I had remaining and created a somewhat random strip frame around a patchwork "Nathan".

Sunny Fall Day!

New smaller Stencils used to spell NATHAN

I sent the quilt off to Michigan today- looking forward to both Lauren and CJ's feedback! Enjoy Baby Nathan!

Late Summer/Early Fall- Small Projects

 Here are some smaller projects that have kept me busy since returning from our 2 week vacation back East (NY and Maine) - I finally started a new quilt this week, so back on the bandwagon!

Modern Triangle Table Runner

While in NY, we stayed with Steve's Dad and wife Grace both in their LI home and upstate vacation home. It was Grace's birthday while we visited, and when we got back I created this table runner as a thank you and birthday gift for their newly painted dining room. Steve helped me pick out some of the fabrics at a quaint fabric store in a red barn while we were in Maine - Alewives Fabric. 

This was fun and easy to make. I used a Dresden Plate ruler to cut out the triangles. 

The back side is primarily linen with 2 strips of triangles. 

On display on our table, with a brand new pottery pitcher given to us as an engagement gift! I thought they went well together -

"E" Pillow

 

As promised, I created this initial pillow to accompany the twin size quilt I made for my niece Eden earlier in the summer. I used up some of the scraps from her quilt- and continued with the flower quilting. Every 3 year old needs an initial pillow, right? :)

 

 

 

Pretty Pear Placemats

 These I actually completed before our vacation as a gift for Steve's mom Sheila. We celebrated her birthday while in New York. There is a set of 4, all in this cheery bright green, gray and blue palette. I forgot to take these on a photo shoot before we left, so these are some quick snapshots Steve got at her apartment. I love these Pears, don't you?

Eden's Big Girl Bed Quilt- Pink and Purple by request!

Polka Dot Front - Sunny day, hence my shadow!

 My very adorable niece, Eden, turned 3 in early May and is moving into her "big girl bed", aka a twin this week. This quilt is a belated birthday gift and a sequel to the very first quilt I made. Eden was my inspiration to start quilting, and I took my first class at Sewing Arts Center and made her this quilt - http://bymissywithlove.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html  while she was still in my sister, Robyn's tummy.

Stripey Back

 Eden confidently requested a "Pink and Purple" quilt and Robyn and I picked out these great fabrics at Sew Modern. Robyn wanted something that wasn't too baby-ish and that she can grow into and use for a long time. We added a splash of grey with the polka dot fabric and the fun butterflies to tone down the girly colors!

Flower Stamp Quilting

I kept the pattern simple and modern with appliqued circles/polka dots on the front and a scrappy border. For the back I did a simple strip quilt with alternating stripes. 

 

 I decided to play off the floral pattern in a few of the fabrics and used a Stamp-like all over Flower pattern for the quilting. I learned the technique from one of my favorite resources, Elizabeth at Oh Fransson! - http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2010/06/machine-quilting-loopy-flowers.html

Bugs like Butterflies!

Eden!

 I of course had to personalize Eden's quilt - and she loves that her name is on it! She pointed out the E's right away!

Taking a rest on a park bench

I can't think of a better inspiration for being creative than my spunky and fun loving niece, Eden. I can't wait to tuck her in some night soon - here is a picture of her looking especially adorable, in her favorite color of course- :)

Eden Malia!

Just One- Jessica's Wedding Lounge-

Just one picture of the pillows I made for Jessica's April Wedding- used in her "lounge" area! Great shot!

Pillow talk- Pillows for my sister's living room

 My sister, Robyn, has a built in bench area of her living room. A couple of years back before I knew a lick about sewing, we had picked out some nice, but neutral pillows from Crate and Barrel to adorn the bench. Robyn was looking to add some color and pattern to her living room, so we picked out these bright, modern, graphic prints - Peacock Blue and Taupe print by Lotta Jansdotter, and the bold Coral and White print by Lizzy House - and now she has new custom pillows!

 I used some Essex Linen to accent the pillows as well as this taupe stripe/dot print above.

I also added contrasting binding on each pillow and backed them in linen with a binded envelope enclosure. 

 

Robyn and her family love their new pop of color! If only I could figure out the cover for their long bench pad.... will try for the 3rd time sometime this week!

Four Seasons Mosaic Quilt - A Second Anniversary Gift for Ken from Angela

"Four Seasons Mosaic" Lap quilt

The colors of the seasons pop against the charcoal grey background

 Angela is an acquaintance that I met through my good friend Meredith (Addi's quilt) during Meredith's wedding festivities a few years ago. We've been Facebook friends since and she's followed my quilting work through FB and my blog. 

I was excited to hear from her in late March as she was looking to give a unique gift to her husband Ken for their Second Wedding Anniversary. Little did I know that in the Traditional Anniversary Gifts by year, the second anniversary is COTTON! And what's a more perfect cotton gift than a quilt? Angela is one smart cookie :) 

So we collaborated on an idea - Ken and Angela got married at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco and she thought it would be cool to do a Tree quilt similar to the Chuppah Quilt tree I did for Hayley and Brad.  And here we have it, the "Four Seasons Mosaic" Quilt for Ken and Angela. A very fun commission!

The famous Four Seasons Restaurant in NYC Logo -   inspiration

 As part of my design process I am always consulting Steve on ideas. He led me to the above logo for the Four Seasons Restaurant in New York City and I loved it's modern aesthetic. I used the way the branches are drawn to design the 4 different trees structure. Thanks Steve!

I connected each Season with a Mod Mosaic block comprised of the Fabrics used in the 2 connecting Season's blocks. Below is Autumn to Winter.

Close up of a Mosaic

SUMMER

AUTUMN

 Summer evoked a full green tree with lush cherries through out. Autumn is a mix of red, yellow and orange leaves including some falling of course!

2 Butterflies - Ken and Angela, married for 2 years

WINTER

 Winter was a bare tree with snowflakes floating by and holiday ornaments adorning the branches.

Spring is a budding green tree with pink cherry blossoms.

SPRING

View of the Back side and the detailed Quilting

For the back I kept it a simple light Grey (Kona Ash) so the detailed Pebble quilting could be highlighted. 

Tree quilt on a Tree!

Close up of the "Pebble Quilting"

 This was my first time doing Pebble quilting. I love the look and texture, but wow does it take a long time and A LOT of thread!

Dedication square - Ken and Angela married 5/30/10 - at the Four Seasons, San Francisco

San Francisco Fabric from Spoonflower

 I found this awesome San Francisco fabric on Spoonflower (www.spoonflower.com) but just a little too late, after I'd already started the front. But glad I could incorporate it!

I really love how it turned out and thankfully so do Ken and Angela. They received it today and Angela told me it is more than she ever imagined! :) Pretty awesome feedback. They are excited to have a visual memory of their Anniversary/Wedding day and also a really cozy one! Congrats Angela and Ken!