During my participation in the 2016 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop I connected with some great quilters. Janice from Color, Creating and Quilting and Jen from A Dream and A Stitch are hosting a Shadow Block Mini Quilt-along. I decided to jump in, because I only have five or six quilts I’m currently working on. Right after I decided to sign up, my Mom came to visit and house-sit while I traveled. She brought these luscious green batiks with her and gave them to me!
Batiks have been my passion since I began quilting back in 2000. Fabrics are like drugs to me, and I would say that batiks are my heroin. This particular batch was acquired by my Mom on a pilgrimage we made to Keepsake Quilting, in Center Harbor, New Hampshire. It was our second visit, and will probably not be our last. My nieces were with us, and helped me pick out some breathtaking fabrics. (They are still in my stash, waiting their turn on the cutting table.) Mom chose a set of Hoffman’s Bali charm squares, a layer cake, a jelly roll of neutrals (not batiks) and some yardage. She also picked up a package of Tailor’s Quilt As You Go backing, which I do not currently have a plan for. I’m not sure what her vision was, but I have a whole new plan to use these greens.
So, first step is to get out the 5″ charm pack and pick 20 for the Shadow Mini Quilt. This took longer than it should have.
Next, press them all and trim. Don’t get your keeper pile confused with your reject pile, drink a glass of wine, then come back in to the studio. You will be really confused in the morning.
Here we are – all cut and ready to assemble. I have two thoughts:
- I’m loving that cutting out an entire quilt took less than an hour.
- What was I thinking. There are 40 1″ squares here. Have I learned nothing from the City Sampler? I don’t like sewing 1″ bits.
Unfortunately, sewing had to wait until after the family Labor Day picnic. One trip to Pennsylvania under threat of a tropical storm will make coming home to the studio all the sweeter. I probably won’t even mind burning my finger tips while pressing open the seams on the 1″ squares.
Well, maybe just a taste…
Life turned out to be busier than expected this weekend. Wahh. I had to take my older son to college on Sunday, and rather than just a few hours, it ended up taking all day. On a side note, if you ever have the opportunity to visit Ikea on Labor Day, don’t. Also, if your 19 year old assures you he has everything he needs, double check, so you don’t have to drive back to college with towels. When we finally got home, I pretty much collapsed, rather than finishing the quilt as planned.
So, this is my progress this morning. I love seeing the quilt get closer to complete on my design wall. Initially it looks okay, but as each seam gets joined, the piece really starts to pop.
Here she is all basted.
I call this one “shark farts,” which is my new favorite curse picked up from our Netflix sessions of 30 Rock. Don’t let your backing fold over before you quilt.
And here are my obligatory weiner photos. It is important to keep your hands properly moisturized while quilting.
This is where my quilt stands right now, at 9:47AM. The majority of the quilting is complete. I want to quilt the edge of each green square where it floats above the grey, but that requires a thread change, and I have a few non-quilt things to finish today. My younger son looks like a Chia pet and school starts tomorrow. I hope we can get his hair cut, gather his school supplies, and finish up some paperwork for my college boy. The quilt should be finished tonight. I hope. I will update the post as soon as I have completed the project.
Here she is, in all her glory. It’s dark now, so no fancy photos in the yard. I did minimal quilting. I love the elaborate quilting others did on their versions, but I just wasn’t feeling it. I really like the strength of the illusion.Here is a list of other quilters participating in the project – be sure to check out their quilts. Leave comments to be entered into a drawing for prizes! I will be giving away a set of 5″ blue charms in batiks so that you can make your own Shadow Mini quilt.
Jen Rosin at A Dream and a Stitch
Janice Holton at Color, Creating and Quilting
Debora Exum at Studio Dragonfly
Amanda Everest at Quiltologie
Susan Arnold at Quilt Fabrication
Bonnie Stapleton at Institches with Bonnie
Jennifer Fulton at Inquiring Quilter
Jennifer Strauser at Dizzy Quilter
Joanne Harris at Quilts by Joanne
Anja Clyke at Anja Quilts
Mary Schuberg at Needled Mom
Jennifer — I feel your pain on the backing flipping over… I did two rows of quilting before I realized I had sewn the extra backing to the quilt. ARGH. Luckily this is a very small quilt and was easy to rip both out and resew. Your batiks are definitely YUMMY! This was definitely a fun, fast project.
I’m starting to see the allure of the mini quilt. Ripping is much easier! And thank you!
I love the magic of seeing a quilt top being sewn together. I hope you have fun finishing the quilt tonight!
Thanks! I’m sure I will. I do love finishing.
Good morning, Jennifer! ooo! I really love your fabric choices for this mini. It just has a look of a magical, mystical forest. I feel a little comforted knowing I’m not the only one who got something caught under their quilting! Thanks so much for participating and thank you also for the giveaway! I admire that you went ahead and got as much done as you did with all the things you have going on in your life right now.
Thanks!
I like that this went together so fast. You are quick with the sewing machine. Is this pattern In a book?
It is actually from Debora at Studio Dragonfly Quilts. She has a wonderful tutorial here: http://studiodragonfly.blogspot.com/2015/09/how-to-make-shadow-block-mini-quilt.html
I love the shark farts! We have little kids so get pretty creative with swearing. Rat farts and butt flaps are kind of standard here. And your quilt looks lovely. Very nicely done. Happy back to school for everyone.
Definitely a forest mini – well done!
Isn’t it amazing how fast it comes together. I know I got so excited when I stepped back and could finally see those shadows. Beautiful fabric choices!
Love your forest mini quilt. Just found this blog hop so now I want to make one for myself.
Definitely do it! It is fun and quick.
Cool, I don’t post comments but I love seeing all of your blog’s!
Thanks!
i too have a great love of batiks! Aren’t those greens luscious? You’ve made super progress so far and I can’t wait to see it finished. Won’t take long as these are really fast! Ha! Love your college adventure. I was visiting my college sophomore this weekend and just got my post up in time. The photos are dark as her room isn’t sunny but shady, but oh well! And ditto asking to make sure they have everything, but that doesn’t always do the trick I’ve found. My sweetpea forgot her ID, despite me having asked her to make sure she had it! She’d changed purses at the last minute. Lucky it didn’t entail us having to make two trips as she quickly got that fixed. But oh! Can I relate!
Not only do I love the batiks, but I also have a dachshund! Mine’s a mini and doesn’t like it when I bind quilts and don’t pet her instead. 🙂 Such a lovely mini!
I like the fabrics you choose. I haven’t sewn a quilt with batiks yet.
Batiks are wonderful. There is so much variation over the length of the fabric, and they are fairly stiff before washing, which makes precision work easier. I’ve found they soften up very nicely after washing.
Shark Farts! I love it! Especially since I have a moment where that expletive would be appropriate at least several times a day! Love your mini – great job squeezing it in with everything else you have going on!
Thanks for sharing! I like the colors of the quilt.
Great colors-I think simple is great!
I really like your fabric choices. Beautiful quilt.
Lovely quilt, I love batiks. I think most quilters have had backing problems at one time, or two times, and some of us never learn 🙁 I’m like you, my hand get ‘moisturised’ every day 🙂
Very pretty. I love the shadow effect.
Pretty quilt, unique design.
You quilt is gorgeous! I love batiks too. Thanks for the inspiration and the chance to win!
Batiks are my passion and I love what you have done on your quilt.
gandn74@ymail.com
Thank you!
Doggie helpers may not be the best helpers, but they are the cutest!
LOVE your Quilt! Perfect just as it is…quilting fancy stuff would have taken away from design..I think..giggle It is Awesome!!
Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way too! 😀
I love the shadows and you make it look so quick and easy! Thanks for the tutorial and the chance to win!
Thanks for the tutorial, I wondered how this look was made,lol but true. Blue is my favorite color, so you should pick me!
I am a batik addict just like you are. Thanks for sponsoring this giveaway!
I appreciate how you shared your life events – it’s nice to know I’m not the only one whose life keeps interfering with craft time! I’ve sewn for years but am just learning to quilt. A mini quilt sounds less intimidating! 🙂
I really like illusion designs like this. It gives the eye more to look at and the brain something to think about! I also like the simplicity of simple quilting!
Looks great! This was a fun project to work on. I love that we all started with the same pattern but ended up with such different outcomes. Awesome.
I have never made a mini quilt but this one I would love to make! Lovely! thank you!
Lovely quilt, I really enjoy seeing pets “help” with quilting.
I’m also in love with batiks, love the feel of their fabric, the designs and the colors, oh yes….
Your quilt is so cool, love it love it.
and what a cute picture of the pup helping out, yes, we need all the help we can get, lol.
Thank you! I definitely need help. Lol.
Wow! Beautiful quilt ♥
summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com
What a great idea the batiks are for this quilt! I just love Keepsake Quilting in Center Harbor, NH. Lucky for me I live in Massachusetts. It’s still a hike but worth it.
Wow, light to darker, beautiful batiks, lovely quilting, and greens, your Mum is a winner, and hope the haircut went well.
Like this. I would not have used the “shadow” fabric you did, but it worked great1
I have always admired shadow quilts but have yet to make one. Making a mini would sure be the way to go for me as it will allow me to serve my curiosity and be creative at the same time. I too love batiks. they are beautiful.
tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Wow what a great shadow quilt. I’m going to have to buy some Batiks and try it.