Stash Bee 2014 Hive 4

Last year for Stash Bee I asked my hive mates to make me circle blocks.  I let them use any method that wanted with a low volume and texty print background and a fun selection of colors for the circles.  I asked for some patchwork in the background or circles.  And the blocks could be any size between 8" - 16".  I received such a great variety of blocks.  Over the past year I made a few more here and there to add to the quilt to make is a good size.  Since I am on a UFO kick, I decided this was a great time to cross this top off my list.

It took a few layouts to find the perfect fit for the blocks and lots of piecing in to fill int he gaps.  I have to say how lucky I am that my friend Peggy (from Stitchin with Peg)had recently given me a great stack of texty prints that fit perfectly with this top.  (I can't thank you enough Peggy!!!)

The layout of the hive blocks and a few of mine

Over a few days I worked on putting the circles together, adding in filler sections and extra circle blocks where I felt it needed it.  I am so excited to have the top together.  Now to figure out a backing and how to quilt it.  

Circle quilt top is 54" x 60"

And just for fun, Maggie was jumping and playing in the sun while I was taking pictures.  

Project Quilting Challenge 5 - My Favorite Fabric

This week was another week for Project Quilting.  I have managed to create something each and every challenge so far this year (I have to still blog about a couple) and I am trying to keep that trend going.

This week the challenge was My Favorite Fabric.  We had to figure out out favorite fabric and use it this week.  You have no idea how hard it is to choose my favorite fabric.  I love text prints and colors and novelty and well... every piece of fabric that I have.  I really have to love fabric to buy it.  My favorite changes daily or depending on what project I am working on.  I love text prints, but then again I love batiks.  Ya, a totally confusing time trying to choose, haha.  So I went to my sewing room and stood looking at my current favorite favorites, which live on a shelf next to my sewing machine until I decide to switch it up.

On the shelf was a bag with pieces of some of my favorite batiks.  These batiks are special, sold only here on the Jersey Shore.  This line has one printed every year and once it is gone, it is gone.  I love it and that is why I hoard each and every scrap of it.  You know if you get something with this batik fabric in it that I truly care, haha.  I used these fabrics in a quilt for my dad, All Framed Up on the Jersey Shore, in the past and I have used them in little bits along the way.  They were screaming to be used.

I knew they needed a new pattern so I sat down and drew out a new flying geese (Seagulls?) paper piecing pattern.  I pressed all the pieces and added a couple more that had the same shore vibe.  Once the pieces were together I decided they needed to be a small table runner.  I did super close quilting, following the curve of the geese.  I bound it in a blue batik, keeping it skinny to just frame the table runner.  It is backed in a pretty fern print batik.

I love this table runner and decided that it needs to be with someone else that I love.  My godmother, Aunt Carol, has a birthday next week.  She loves all things beach and shore related.  I think this is the perfect gift for her and I think that she will love it, too.  Maybe when the rebuilding is done it will live in their house in Lavalette.

Flying Seagulls Table Runner
Favorite fabrics: Assorted Jersey Shore batiks
12" x 23"

And just for fun, a photo of my "helper" as I took pictures of the table runner. She really loves the snow.