Pat Bravo's Minis Blog Tour Starts Today!

I'm so excited to be a part of Pat Bravo's Minis Blog Tour that starts today. Pat is a fabric designer for Art Gallery Fabrics and she invited 30 quilt bloggers to make mini quilts with her latest fabric collections: Dare and EssentialsII. Those 30 bloggers will be sharing their minis over the next three weeks. You can find all the details and links to each of the bloggers at Pat's blog here. I'll be sharing my mini on Friday, April 29. So, stop back by on Friday for the tutorial for my mini and details on the giveaway of 6 fat 8ths of Pat's fabric!

~Sharla

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B&C Log Cabin Swap Quilt Done!

I finally got around to quilting my Bonnie & Camille Log Cabin Swap Quilt this week. This is the first online swap that I've participated in and I'm very happy with the results. Of course, I love Bonnie & Camille fabrics so anything made with them would make me happy.

This was a swap on Instagram hosted by Samantha (@samanthaleeolsen) and Riann (@riann_g) and when they posted the invite last August, they were hoping for 11 people to participate. In less than 24 hours, they were overwhelmed with more than 200 participants! They did an awesome job with the swap too. It was so popular, a second swap was held last winter. Lissa Alexander, Director of Marketing at Moda, hosted the original Log Cabin Swap with a group of Moda designers last summer. You can find her instructions to make the blocks here.

It was fun seeing all the different layout designs people came up with. I opted for the traditional log cabin layout - but with a twist. I had a few charm squares leftover, so I made pinwheel diamonds in the corners of the log cabin blocks. I used an edge-2-edge design to quilt it but trimmed out the pinwheel diamonds and used a spikey fill in those. The quilt is so busy, though, that you really don't see the quilting.

The quilt ended up being 57" x 77", a great throw size. And check out that binding. I just love a stripey binding! Is 'stripey' a word?

Just to keep it real - not everything went perfectly. Out of the 36 blocks that I received back from the swap, I had to remake, repair, replace fabrics, etc. on 8 of the blocks due to holes, frayed seams, or spliced fabrics that just bugged me. Maybe I'm too picky! I was kind of disappointed at first, but it really didn't take that long to fix the issues. The fun part was a couple of people tagged their blocks so you could see where they came from. Wish I would have thought of that! And I received back blocks with a great mix of Bonnie & Camille fabrics that I would never have been able to accrue!

Have you participated in an online swap? What was your experience? The good experiences far out-weighted the bad (and it really wasn't that bad) for my first swap and I may consider another swap in the future - if I ever get caught up on what I've got going on right now in my sewing room. Who am I kidding! Do quilters really ever get caught up?!

~Sharla

P.S. This is also my first finish for the Q2 Finish-A-Long so I'll be linking this up at the end of the quarter. I'm also linking it up to TGIFF! (Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday).

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Finish-A-Long Q2 List

It's time to put my list together of projects I hope - maybe 'dream' is a better word - to finish in the next three months for the second quarter of the Finish-A-Long. Last quarter I only completed 2 projects so I'm starting with the carry-over projects from last quarter and then, of course, I had to add a few more. I want to be sure to include a project to cover every mood I might be in! lol

1. I'm so close to finishing this Bonnie & Camille Log Cabin Swap quilt. It just needs quilted and bound. In fact, I loaded it on the longarm yesterday so I'm ready to get this one done!

2. I'm hoping to get back to this Farm Girl Vintage quilt this quarter. I need to sash all the blocks together for the top, then I have fun ideas for the backing to make it a reversible quilt. So many ideas, so little time!

3. I still have this leaders and enders project that needs a bunch of postage stamp blocks made to complete it. Maybe I'll get those made this quarter as I work on these other projects.

4. I'm famous for jumping from project to project so I want to include a couple of new projects for when I'm sick of working on UFOs. This "Fall Frolic" quilt has been sitting on my shelf for awhile now. I bought it last year on our Row by Row girls road trip.

5. The other new project that's been sitting around for awhile is this Bonnie & Camille Frivols quilt. Have been dying to dig into this one but have been restraining myself. Maybe I'll restrain myself a little less this quarter!

6. But the first 'new' project I need to tackle is my grandson's Batman quilt. He requested this one when his little brother received his "Robots All In A Row" quilt and I don't want to disappoint him!

7. These are the blocks from my quilt guild's BOM last year. I've decided on a setting so now I need to get these blocks sewn up!

8. My last two projects are to celebrate Moda Bake Shop's 7th Birthday. As one of the co-hosts of MBS' ABC Birthday Sew-Along, I have been working on different projects using the "Spell It With Moda" alphabet block patterns. This is next on my list to finish up!

9. Then I have some secret sewing to do with this jelly roll of "Bread 'n Butter" that I'll be sharing on the Moda Bake Shop website in May!

There ya go! Nine projects this quarter. That's 3 projects per month! And April is half way over! It's time to kick it in gear. I'll be linking this post up with the 2016 Finish-A-Long for motivation to get these projects finished.

What WIPs and UFOs are you tackling this quarter? Let's hear about them!

~Sharla

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Medallion Quilt Challenge: A Rail Fence Ribbon Border Tutorial

This year, my quilt guild chose to challenge its members with a medallion quilt. The challenge really is to be creative and to challenge your skills. The first month, each member was suppose to make a center block - no other instructions. Each month following, an 'instruction' will be drawn for the next round. Oh boy, let the fun begin!

I decided to use a paper piecing pattern for my center block. I wanted something that was really striking and other than a few feeble attempts at paper piecing when I made my Farmer's Wife quilt, I haven't really done much of it. I found a beautiful book of paper-pieced stars by Carol Doak that I used and enlarged one of the patterns from a 12" to a 16" block for my center square.

I am using a fat quarter bundle from my stash of "Antique Fair" by Blackbird Designs for Moda. I bought some extra yardage of a Bella Solid that matched the best, and between the two I hope I have enough fabric to make it through all the rounds. I love the muted burgundy, brown and dusty blue colors of this collection.

The second and third rounds were assigned while we were traveling, so now I'm playing catch up. Applique was the 'instruction' drawn for the first round. I'm actually very happy that it ended up being the first round so that our applique wasn't a huge endeavor!

Using a couple of prints from the collection, I photocopied and enlarged a few of the flowers and leaves in the fabric and drew my applique design. I chose to use the raw edge applique technique and stitched the edges using a small blanket stitch. I'm okay with the way it turned out although I wish it stood out a little bit better.

The next round drawn was Rail Fence or Fence Rail (I've heard and seen it both ways so I don't know which is the proper term). I wanted to challenge myself and had seen a ribbon border using Rail Fence blocks. The challenge wasn't really sewing the blocks - it was the math to calculate what size of strips and blocks were needed to fit onto my 24" center. Although I was pretty confident in my math, my first attempt ended up being short 1/2". So I decided to increase my rail fence blocks by 1/4" and my second attempt was a perfect match! Whew! I don't have that much fabric to waste and had decided if my second attempt didn't work I was going to abandon the idea - so glad it worked!

To make a Rail Fence Ribbon Border, first you have to determine the size of strips and blocks you need. I don't have any wisdom here since my math wasn't successful. But I can share my thought process, which got me close. Since the size of the center block was 24", I decided I needed a block that had a diagonal finished size of 6" (divides evenly into 24) which ended up being a 4 1/4" finished block. I added 1/2" seam allowance, making the block size I needed to cut as 4 3/4". I divided 4 1/4" by 4 (the number of strips I was putting in each block) which was 1.0625" and then added 1/2" for the seam allowances. So I cut my strips 1.5625" or 1 9/16". Then I sewed my strips together and squared up each block to size. To create the "V" in the ribbon, I sewed my strips in the same color order, with my darker colors - blue and burgundy - on the outside. I'm not quite sure why I was off a little, maybe my seams were a scant too large. In the end I increased my strip size by 1/16" to 1 5/8" and my block size to 5" and the strips fit perfectly.

Square up the blocks then cut the blocks in half diagonally to create triangles. Be sure to cut half of the blocks from lower right to upper left, and the other half from lower left to upper right.

Arrange the triangles so that a 'V' is created with the darker fabrics.

Sew the triangles together. Be sure to offset the triangles leaving 'dog ears' on each end.

Sew the border onto the quilt center. Again, be sure to offset the ends leaving 'dog ears'. Work around the quilt, laying out your 'V' pattern around the corners and sides. Sew the side borders on first, leaving the corners until last.

After sewing the borders on all four sides, sew the corner triangles together and then attach to the border.

I really love the look of this border! Can't wait for our quilt guild meeting next week to see what round 3 will be!

Have you made a Rail Fence Ribbon Border? Please add any tips that you can share!

~Sharla

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Another Finish For The Finish-A-Long!

I made it, just under the wire! I'm so excited that I got one more UFO project completed for the 1st quarter of the 2016 Finish-A-Long (you can see my 1stQ list here). And it's one of my favorite projects - Lori Holt's "Have Yourself A Quilty Little Christmas". It was an Instagram sew-along from November of 2014 using her book "Quilty Fun". I think it turned out so cute! (Even though this photo is horrible and doesn't do it justice! The lighting conditions just weren't good but I wanted to get this posted before the 1stQ ended.)

If you follow my blog, you know that I love Lori Holt's patterns and this is no exception. Her patterns are just so fun to make. The details on this quilt just are the cherry on top! Isn't this gingerbread man adorable with his little buttons and ricrac trim?

And these little bows on the wreaths are just too cute!

I have enough of the gray tree fabric (seen on the stocking cuff) leftover to make some coordinating pillows for my loveseat in the TV room. I just fell in love with that fabric and I used that as my inspiration for the rest of the fabrics in the quilt. Oh - and don't you just love that fussy cut peppermint candy?

The scrappy border was perfect to set up a cross-hatch quilting design in, which was a new challenge for me. I was thrilled with how it turned out too.

I quilted an all-over design in the center that included feathers, swirls, pebbles and clamshells. I thought the fun design fit the fun, modern feel of the quilt. It was another pattern by Anita Shackelford and I can't wait to use it on my Bonnie and Camille Log Cabin Swap Quilt next (unfortunately I didn't get that one done for the 1stQ).

It feels so good to get another one off my UFO list. I'm ready to rock and roll in the 2ndQ of the Finish-A-Long! What UFOs have you completed so far this year? Doesn't it feel great?!

~Sharla

P.S. I also linked this post up for TGIFF.

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My turn On Paintbrush Studio's New Block Blog Hop

Welcome to Thistle Thicket Studio and my turn on Paintbrush Studio's New Block Blog Hop. I was so excited to participate in this blog hop again this year. Thank you to our hosts for inviting me and for organizing this blog hop. Now, without further adieu, let me introduce my block - Spinners.....

This block was inspired by one of our hosts, Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl. Yvonne was my mentor last year in the 2015 New Quilt Bloggers group and she has provided me with lots of invaluable insight into the blogging world in the last year and inspired me with her quilting. Many of the quilt blocks she designs are modern and abstract as a single block goes, but when multiple blocks are put together they create a secondary design in the quilt. Her block designs inspired me to explore that idea which led me to this Spinners block. Thank you Yvonne for your online friendship!

When you look at my block individually, I'm sure you wonder where the name Spinners came from. But when multiple blocks are combined, a wonderful design of spinners emerges! Click here for a free printable pattern of my Spinners block.

The block features fabrics from Paintbrush Studio's new Painter's Palette Solids Collection in Midnight, Daydream, White, Peach, Coral and Bordeaux. You can check out the entire collection of Painter's Palette here. This fabric has a wonderful weight and was so nice to work with!

If you follow Yvonne on her blog or on Instagram, you know that she likes to make mini mini quilts and exchange with online quilting friends. When I made my first two mini minis last fall, Yvonne asked if I would like to trade. I said yes, of course, but was busy spoiling my grandbabies and didn't have my sewing machine so I asked if we could do it after the first of the year. Since Yvonne is one of the hosts for this blog hop, she is the person who is collecting the completed blocks that will be made into charity quilts. So I decided to take the leftover scrap triangles created when making my block and create a mini mini for her to include in my block package. I hope you like it Yvonne!

And I included a little note on the back:

I hope you've enjoyed stopping by my blog and seeing my new Spinners block! Be sure to visit the rest of the blogs on today's portion of the hop:

Stephanie @Late Night Quilter
Vicki @Orchid Owl Quilts
Shelly @The Carpenter's Daughter Who Quilts
Amy @13 Spools
Geraldine @Living Water Quilter
Jan @The Colorful Fabriholic
Jinger @Trials of a Newbie Quilter
Kathryn @Up It Is Quilts
Jane @Jolly and Delilah
Josi @Avocado Quilts
Deanna @Stitches Quilting
Lori @SewPsyched!

Don't forget to sign up for the Ocean Sunrise half-yard fabric bundle giveaway while at Stephanie's blog, and then stop by Paintbrush Studio's blog "Inspired By Fabric" to sign up for another half-yard bundle giveaway!

Happy Hopping!

~Sharla

P.S. You can see all of the blocks designed for this blog hop on the Paintbrush Studio 2016 Blocks Pinterest Board!

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A Finish! 1stQ 2016 Finish-A-Long

It may be the only finish I'll have for the first quarter of the 2016 Finish-A-Long but its a finish nonetheless! I got sidetracked this first quarter with making my grandson's "Robots All In A Row" quilt and co-hosting Moda Bake Shop's "ABC Birthday QAL", so I didn't come close to completing all the projects I listed at the beginning of the quarter (see my 1stQ list here). I'm okay with that and I'm super happy to have this four-patch quilt out of my UFO pile!

This quilt started as a four-patch demo a few years ago, using a construction technique I'd seen done by Me and My Sisters. I searched their site and can no longer find the instructions, but I did find a tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co. on their You Tube site. Those four-patches, made from a charm pack of Lynette Anderson's " Quilter's Garden" that I won at a quilt show, laid around for quite awhile before I decided I needed to do something with them. I searched for coordinating fabric and finally found some "Neutral Territory" fabric by Donna Becher for P&B Textiles in two colors that I liked. I just framed the four-patches in the two colorways and then set the blocks in an alternating pattern. Quite simple but kind of blah.

So the quilt top laid around for another year or two until I signed up to do the 2016 Finish-A-Long and the UFO Challenge 2016 in January. I was determined to get at least one thing on my list finished before the first quarter ended so I dug this out last weekend to quilt it.

I found the perfect quilting pattern called "Modern Gem" by Anita Shackelford. I just love the movement this pattern creates and it was just the pop this quilt top needed to take it from ho-hum to awesome!

Now if I could just come up with some better backdrops to photograph my quilts. I seem to use this split rail fence a lot. But it does show off the quilting quite well. I'll be linking this up to the 2016 Finish-A-Long for 1stQ finishes later this week.

Well, I'm off to load another quilt on the longarm. Could I possible have two completed projects this quarter?

~Sharla

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