Row by Row: Modesto Beverly Fabrics

Next stop on the Row by Row Experience California: Modesto Beverly Fabrics. I was so happy with how this row turned out. I will admit I didn't know how much I would enjoy all the applique. Now, I know I really do prefer piecing. This row has just the right amount of piecing and applique.

I really like this block as it incorporates all the things that makes up the golden state: ocean, green valley, and majestic mountains. That sunset is pretty awesome, too.

Row by Row: Nimble Thimble

Next stop on the Row by Row Experience: The Nimble Thimble! This shop in Gilroy, CA, seemed to be a hidden secret when we parked behind the building. I was pleasantly surprised to find this shop was much bigger than I thought at first. This row leaves loads of room to add tiny quilts to tow behind your tiny camper. I am leaving the tiny quilts until I have completed more rows so I can use the leftover bits to make those quilts.

I might also use some of that space to document the shop names. I don't have a problem putting that information on the front of a quilt. There is no rule that says the label should be hidden on the back. It can be part of the design.

Row by Row: Scruffy Quilts

Another stop on the Row by Row Experience in California was Scruffy Quilts in San Mateo. A cute little shop.

This row isn't quite done but the piecing is done. Such a cute little ferry. I need to add some fusible applique details and it will be done.

Here are my to finished rows on the design wall. Each row seems like such an accomplishment.

Row by Row: Golden State Quilting

While in California to see family, I convinced Darling Husband he should take me to a couple quilt shops. The Row by Row Experience is a fun way to learn about new shops and support small businesses all around the country and the world. Their map works with the application (I am a Google phone user) on your phone to help you plan your shopping trip. I added each one as a stop in a logical order to get us around to the shops I wanted to stop at.

It is possible I got carried away with the shopping. I'll share each of the rows as I go through them and share a link (when available) to each of the shops. I had a great time looking around these shops and I intend to make a quilt with the rows to commemorate the trip to California.

I started the sewing journey with this fun row from Golden State Quilting. I purchased kits at each shop I visited and sometimes a little more. This kind of shop hop is great to get people to try new shops and I like to support small shops when I can.

The row is all raw-edge applique and I really enjoyed putting the row together. There is so much detail in this block that I'm not going to stitch around all those shapes before quilting. I don't think the finished quilt will get so much use and washing to worry about it. I'm certain the fusible and the quilting will be enough to hold it all together.

Mystery Quilting - Clue #1

Bonnie Hunter over at Quiltville hosts a mystery quilt every year.  Last year was Celtic Solstice, a mystery I didn't know about until after the big reveal.  This year is the Grand Illusion.  Go to Bonnie's post to learn more about this fun quilt mystery.

In her introductory post Bonnie talks about why she picked the colors she picked.  Unfortunately, they didn't speak to me.  This isn't a real surprise.  I often go my own way in picking fabrics.  I figure this is just my own creative nature stepping in to say what I like.  

I decided to go with a collection of colors that did speak to me when I was picking up paint chips for fabric selection.  What?  What does this have to do with paint chips?  Well, go check out my post about how they can be helpful.

I shopped for these colors during the Quilters Quest.  I really like the colors and how they work together.  I can only hope that holds true once the quilt is done.  This is a real risk with a mystery quilt.  I fall in love with every quilt I've ever made so I'm willing to take the chance.  

Step one was to cut and piece 280 half-square triangle blocks.  Easy!  This was the first time I've used the Easy Angle ruler by Sharon Hultgren.  It wasn't difficult to learn to use, it made the cuts simple and I think it really made a difference in the quality of my finished HST blocks.  I did have a few rejects, but only four or five.  Not a bad failure rate.  This tool is readily available online, at quilt shops and chain fabric stores. 

My Tucker Trimmer got a good work-out, too.  While the point is to make the block right the first time, I'm totally behind the process of trimming the block down to the right size for the sake of accuracy.  I did have less waste with this method than with other methods.  The Tucker Trimmer is still my favorite trim-up tool.

I managed to finish up all 280 HST blocks and cut my solid squares to join with them.  I've only sewn up a couple of the blocks at this point.  I'll fit in the piecing during the week.  I don't know if I'll have all 100 broken dishes blocks finished by Friday, but I know I'll at least have them all cut and ready.

Linking up with Quiltville's Link Party.  Follow the link to go see what others are doing.

Quilters Quest - Fourth Day, Final Shop - The Scrappy Apple

The story of my adventures on the Quilters Quest Shop Hop continues:

On the fourth day of shop hopping I grabbed my quilting buddy and we headed out to Virginia.  The last stop on my 2014 Quilters Quest Shop Hop was The Scrappy Apple in Winchester, VA.  This shop is way off the beaten path for me (about two hours from home) but I love how friendly and open Kelly is when I stop in.  Sometimes I can even get Darling Husband to take me because there is a Camping World nearby. 

Kelly had some really amazing quilts hanging up in the shop.  I snapped a few pictures with my phone.  I love the swoon block.  I really should make one at some point.

I'm pretty sure this one is Night Sky by Jaybird Quilts on a white background.  I will have to make one of these someday.

This is the Quilters Quest quilt from the Scrappy Apply.  This is the quilt I've decided to make so this is where I finished quest.

Here is my Quest finishing bag!  Doesn't it look great filled with the last of my loot?

There were some little treats inside.  I also picked up some fat quarters, a postcard pattern and some of the "bolt of the day" fabric.  The last thing on that list is the yards and yards of gray fabric that will become the background for my Quilters Quest quilt.  I'm looking forward to this one!  I think I've stocked up for the long winter months.

Did you participate in a shop hop this year?  Did you find new shops to visit and meet more quilters?

Quilters Quest - Third Day, Third Shop - Capital Quilts

The story of my adventures on the Quilters Quest Shop Hop continues:

Last Quilter's Quest was the first time I'd been to Capital Quilts in Gaithersburg, MD.  Such a great shop filled with fabric, machines and helpful people.  

This year the Quest quilt is just as stunning as it was last year.  Last year I made their quest quilt and I couldn't be happier with it.  Now, if I could just remember to take it with me one of these times I go down that way!

I was so excited when I found the Super Sidekick by Jaybird Quilts.  As you know I have a bit of a ruler problem.  I have many and I want more.  I used the Sidekick for a mini quilt and had a great experience.  The Super Sidekick was a natural fit.  I also found some more fun fruit and vegetable fabrics to add to my growing pile.  I should come up with a pattern for those soon.

Quilters Quest - Third Day, Second Shop - Jinny Beyer Studio

The story of my adventures on the Quilters Quest Shop Hop continues:

Our second stop of the day was Jinny Beyer Studio.

Jinny's quilts are just amazing.  They play with color intensity in a way that has a finished look that can be breathtaking.  This is the quest quilt.  The applique is beautiful and I know that even if I managed to make the lone star design I would never finish the applique.  The colors are beautiful!

I was overwhelmed and had trouble deciding on the few things I did pick up.  I added some beautifully bright batiks to my stash along with the quest strips and pattern.

Quilters Quest - Third Day, First Shop - Kelly Ann's Quilting

The story of my adventures on the Quilters Quest Shop Hop continues:

The third day I met my quilting buddy and we headed out to Kelly Ann's Quilting in Warrenton, VA.

Look at this huge selection Halloween and Ghastlies fabric!

I really need to pull out all my Halloween fabrics and make something.  Otherwise I'll just seem like a hoarder.

In the far back room they have so many fun and playful quilts hanging.  I had to snap a couple pictures.

Kelly Ann's had a really good-size collection of American Made Brand solids so I picked eight colors and got a 1/2 yard of each.  I see a solids quilt in my future.  Why is that Wonder Woman fabric in there?  Because sometimes you can send a text and your friend will cry out "buy me a yard!" from a hundred miles away.

Quilters Quest - Second Day, Third Shop - Cottonseed Glory Quilt Shop

The story of my adventures on the Quilters Quest Shop Hop continues:

The last stop on the second day was Cottonseed Glory Quilt Shop in Annapolis, MD.  This shop is close enough to home that I visit much more often than some of the other shops.

Cottonseed Glory always has the special "buy 10 fat quarters and get one free."  I never walk out of there will fewer than 11 fat quarters.  This time I picked up some more solids.  How can I call myself a modern quilter if I don't have very many solids?

Quilters Quest - Second Day, Second Shop - Material Girls Quilt Boutique

The story of my adventures on the Quilters Quest Shop Hop continues:

I love this family-owned business.  They are so welcoming and I wish I lived close enough to take classes with them.  Their classroom is great!

The second shop my DH took me to was Material Girls Quilt Boutique.  I'm tickled when I pop and and they say "Welcome back!"  This quilt is hanging in the classroom.  It is the Moda Modern Building Blocks quilt.  I really like it and was hoping to get the block instructions but it seems this only comes as a kit.  I have enough fabric (can you hear The Bitchy Stitcher laughing at me?) so I didn't want to get the kit.  I may have to play with some of my scraps to put together something similar. 

Again I failed to take many pictures.  This one is from the notions wall.  A friend of mine was looking for this ruler and I wanted to let her know where she could find it. Creative Grids rulers are my new favorite for general cutting.  I have two and when I find another I can't live without it will be coming home with me.  This is the 6.5" by 12.5" which is a great size for trimming and smaller cutting.  I also have the 6.5" by 24.5" for cutting width-of-fabric pieces and strips and the 4.5" by 12.5" for smaller cutting.  

Here is my collection of mad loot from Material Girls.  I picked up a small pile of American Made Brand of cotton solids.  This is a nice alternative to Kona Cottons if you want a fabric that is made in the United States from cotton seed to fabric.  I don't have confirmation of this but I've heard from quilting educators that Kona Cotton greige fabrics are created in at least seven different countries.  That can create a great deal of differences in quality of fabric, shrinkage rates and quality of dye and color-fastness.  American Made Brand only has 62 colors to compete with the 303 colors that Robert Kaufman offers but I think supporting U.S. industry is important to my country's economy.

Quilters Quest - Second Day, First Shop - The Crazy Cousin

On the second day of the Quilters Quest Shop Hop I managed to convince Darling Husband to take me to a few shops.  We made a date of it and set out on an adventure.  The first stop was The Crazy Cousin in Fredericksburg, VA.  The Crazy Cousin is the newest addition to the Quilters Quest.

I picked up some more Riley Blake Zombie Apocalypse fabric to go with some fat quarters I picked up ages ago.  Some more fat quarters to go into the growing pile of fabrics for the Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt and another license plate from the Row-by-Row Experience to add to my collection.  I really do need to figure out what to make with those plates.  I love all of them.

Quilters Quest - First Day, Third Shop - Bear's Paw Fabrics

Next was at Bear's Paw Fabrics in Towson, MD.

This is my mad loot from the last stop of the day.  The strips that are part of the shop hop are light and pretty.  The pattern is great and I'm already planning to make it using my growing pile of batik fabrics.  The rest of the fabrics, all fat quarters, are destined for the Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt that starts the day after Thanksgiving.

I'm so very sorry that I didn't take a bunch of pictures this year.  I took pictures of the shops last year because so many of them are new to me.  This year I was so excited about the shopping that I forgot my camera in the care more times than I remembered it.

Quilters Quest - First Day, Second Shop - Patches Quilting and Sewing

The story of my adventures on the Quilters Quest Shop Hop continues:

On Saturday my quilting buddy and I traveled back towards home by way of Patches Quilting and Sewing in Mt. Airy, MD.  

This shop is packed with fabric and embroidery and more fabric.  

I picked up these great fabrics and the fun pattern for the shop hop.  Look at those sparkling stars!  The paper piecing is taunting me again.  I think I know which pattern I'm going to go with this year when I go to use the strips that are part of the fun shop hop.

This is part of my stocking up for the cold, dark winter months.

Quilters Quest - First Day, First Shop - Traditions at the White Swan

Last year I had a blast joining my very first shop hop.  I was surprised how many quilt shops were hiding out there in the Maryland/Northern Virginia area.  This year the Quilters Quest promises to be as much fun as last year.

On Saturday, I grabbed a quilting buddy and we headed out to the first stop on my list for the day:  Traditions at the White Swan.  Since the shop hop is ten shops in ten days I didn't want to rush it so we decided to take it easy.  I only planned to hit three shops.  Traditions at the White Swan is over an hour from my house so we started that way and planned to stop at the other two shops on the way back.

This shop was filled with fat quarters, kits and some amazing people doing demos and talking about tools, books and techniques.

I filled my little basket with fat quarters that I intend to use on Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt.  More about that as the Quest continues and I pick up more fabrics.  I'm going off-script with colors but I'm pretty excited about it.

While there I met a really fun and creative lady that is Cabin in the Woods Quilters.  Penni Domikis was great to meet and I really like her ideas on how to use up scraps with the tools we already have around the studio.  She shared stories about going to Quilt Market, a thing I hear about but will probably never get to go to.  If you are an Instagram user you should check out Penni's feed.  Loads of fun pictures to share.

Row by Row Experience: Capital Quilts

I managed to squeeze in another shop.  This time we went down to Gaithersburg, MD, to Capital Quilts.

I know I've talked about this shop before but I do like their shop.  They have an amazing array of fabrics and books and notions.  I love their notions!  I picked up their Row-by-Row kit and their plate.  I couldn't resist some coordinating Moda to go with some charm packs I already have.  The red thimble and Frixion pen were mostly because I love red things.  The buttons just wanted to come home and be added to my guild badge.  You know, the one I haven't made yet.  I'll get to it.  Someday.

Have you been to any of the shops in the Row-by-Row Experience?

Quilt Quest 2013 - The Big Finish

Yes, yes, I know.  Monday was a big tease.  You'll get over it.  This is the big finish for my Quilters' Quest quilt from 2013.  The pattern is from Capital Quilts.

All that quilting took ages and ages to finish.  Feathers and swirls.  Ruler-work and free-motion.  All of it is in there.  I love every stitch of it.  It spent two weeks on the long arm frame with me working on it after work.  Did I mention it took ages?

Over the weekend, we went camping and I had some time to finish the binding and take some pictures of the (mostly) finished quilt.

The binding was made using four fat quarters from Jinny Beyer Studios.  I bought this fabric during the Quilters' Quest Shop Hop.  It is scrappy and wonderful.

I love the back almost as much as the front.  No forgotten orphan blocks, just a plain purple fabric.  I'm torn between wishing I'd used a busier background and the fact that you can see the quilting.

I did get a couple pictures at one of the local state parks but it was before I finished the binding.  Now I have to come up with a name for this beauty and get a label stitched on.

If you're over in my part of the country come November, you should totally check out the Quilters' Quest Shop Hop.  It's fun and you can go on an adventure to new quilt shops.

Tool Tip Tuesday: Fiskars

A few months ago, I changed the blade in my Fiskars rotary cutter.  This was the first time I changed the blade in this particular rotary cutter (this one is in my kit for going to classes and to Quilts for Kids) .  The blade then developed an unsatisfactory wobble that made it next to impossible to use safely.  Changing the blade didn't help.  Tightening the thumb screw didn't help.  I was very unhappy about it so I purchased a new one.  While reading the packaging, I saw that the manufacturer warranty is pretty good.  I wanted a replacement rotary cutter so I hopped over to their website to file a claim.

They want some information from you when you file a claim.  They asked for a picture, where I purchased it and when I purchased it.  As you know, if you've been reading this blog for any amount of time, I buy stuff all the time.  Even if I did have a box full of receipts finding a specific receipt would be next to impossible.  So, I submitted the claim with just the picture.  Yes, that picture above.  That is my proof that I own the rotary cutter in question.

A few weeks later, I received a replacement rotary cutter in the mail. That's it, no questions asked.

I know there are other rotary cutters out there.  I know people have their favorites.  I'm just going to say that Fiskars will keep my business because they've earned it.  The first rotary cutter I ever purchased is the one still on my cutting table.  I've had it for over a decade.  I'm not even sure when I bought it. This new rotary cutter is back in my to-go kit waiting for another class or retreat or Quilts for Kids.

Do you have a favorite cutting tool?  Or a tool that you've had for years and refuse to give up?