Friday, May 22, 2015

Nuanced Neon Voting Now Open

Hi friends!  Stitched in Color is having another color mosaic contest.  The theme this time is #NuancedNeon.  See my first post about it here.  

She just announced the finalists today and I'm happy to report that she picked my Classy Clashy Brights as one of the top 10!  Head over to her page to vote for your favorite (I really hope it's mine!) now through noon on Monday the 25th.  The two winning mosaics will be announced on Monday!

visit Stitched in Color to vote


Fabrics are as follows, left to right, top to bottom: 1. Speckled in Periwinkle, 2. Pressed Leaves,  3. Butterflies in  Red, 4. Gingham in Silver,  5. Leaves in Ultramarine,  6. Chasing Butterflies in Fruit Punch,  7. Word Find in Pink,  8. TinyScript in Red,  9.  Leaves in Plum

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Color Mosaic Contest - Nuanced Neon

Stitched in Color is once again having a color mosaic contest, sponsored by Mad About Patchwork.  The theme this time is Nuanced Neon...


Two winners will receive a FQ bundle of their fabric choices!  The contest runs through midnight tonight at which time Rachel will choose her favorites and then open up voting to the rest of us with the final winners announced on May 25th!  So get your entries in and then remember to go back and vote for your favorites!

Rachel guides us to "choose fabrics to express your interpretation of Nuanced Neon.  Your collection of fabrics can be playfully bright neon or more nuanced with neutrals or soft shades.  Just make sure to include a few very bright colors.."  I have been dying to make a neon quilt!  I LOVE neon; its my absolute.favorite.color.ever!  Just ask my husband.  He gets so sick of my overly saturated running shoes, pants, and jewelry.  


Nuanced Neon #1 - Tempered Brights

I wanted to create a more grown-up version of neon with this color palette.  I think that the bright oranges and greens are nicely off set by the soft blue and pink.  They give the whole thing a slightly more sophisticated feeling.  The warm grey neutrals give your eye somewhere to rest and pause.  So that even though your energized, you are still focused and calm.

Fabrics are as follows, left to right, top to bottom: 1. Dots in Sappy Green, 2. Droplet in Carrot, 3. Lilac Meadows in Bermuda, 4. Lulu in Persimmon,  5. Mercury in Chartreuse,  6. Ink in Parchment,  7. Apricot Sunstone,  8.Climbing Vine in Khaki,   9.  Fox Shrine in Green


Nuanced Neon #2 - Clashy Classy Brights

I'm fairly certain I've worn an outfit in these exact colors.  There is something so satisfying about these clashy bright colors all together.  They are pleasing to the eye but there's also something about them that makes you a little bit uncomfortable.  And if I'm not a little bit uncomfortable each day then I know that I need to make a change.  These colors inspire me to be open, excited, happy, strong, and adventurous.

Fabrics are as follows, left to right, top to bottom: 1. Speckled in Periwinkle, 2. Pressed Leaves,  3. Butterflies in  Red, 4. Gingham in Silver,  5. Leaves in Ultramarine,  6. Chasing Butterflies in Fruit Punch,  7. Word Find in Pink,  8. TinyScript in Red,  9.  Leaves in Plum






Blogger's Quilt Festival : Two Birds, One Stone

Its time again for the 2015 Blogger's Quilt Festival.  I'm entering my favorite finish yet: Two Birds, One Stone into the Original Design category.



For those of you that follow the blog, are you sick of seeing this quilt yet?  I'm not!  Every time I walk into the living room I'm happy to see it sitting there on my couch with the kitties.


This quilt was made for the 2015 Pantone Color of the Year challenge and for my local quilt guild's annual challenge.  It is an original design comprised of two different sized Birds in the Air blocks.  I set the blocks on point and then played with the layout until I had something I was satisfied with.  The real challenge here for me was creating something modern out of a more traditional quilt block.


I've had so many requests for a pattern for this quilt and I've heard you.  I hope to have something done by the end of the summer, though it's my first foray into pattern writing, so who know's how it will go.  (Any tips from you experienced pattern writers out there?)





This quilt also hung at my local quilt guild's biennial quilt show this year and received a very warm response.



You can read more about this quilt here, here, here, and here.



Link ups are open until May 20th, voting is open from May 22nd to May 29th, and winners are announced on May 30th.  Good luck to everyone who is participating!

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Noodlehead Open Wide Zippered Pouch {I made a bag!}

It's been quite around here lately, I know.  Work has been very busy the last few weeks plus we've finally cast off the last remnants of winter here in northern New England.  The weather has been absolutely glorious and my desire to be indoors has been minimal.  I'm also busy finishing up the first of two custom commission quilts before I leave for a weeks vacation in Florida with my mom.  (subtext: I'm so excited! I've never been!!)  I've started packing up my toiletries for next week and realized I didn't have a bag big enough to hold everything, so last night when I got home from the gym I wanted to remedy that.

Enter the Open Wide Zipper Pouch by Noodlehead.

Generally I'm afraid of anything three dimensional when it comes to sewing but I said to myself, "Aww screw it! Worst case scenario is: it comes out terrible, in which case I'll probably still use it!"  So in I went.



I went back and forth about which size to make and finally decided to make the large size.  Go Big or Go Home!!  According to the tutorial the large size should finish at 8.5″ H x 8″ W but mine is closer to 8.5" H x 12" W!  I'm not sure if I did something wrong along the way, but I'm not complaining about the size at this point.


I used pearl bracelets in Shadow for the bottom and a tonal cream and tan print for the top.  I can't remember the designer or where I got it from so if anyone knows I'd love the details!  I fused the outside to some Pellon 803 (I think) to help the bag hold it's shape.  According to the tutorial this is optional but I would definitly include it on all the pouches I make in the future.  I had a random invisible zipper from an unmade clothing project laying around that I used.  Next time I think I'll use a heftier zipper.  This one works for now but I worry about the abuse it will take while the pouch is in use.


I used a greyish-brown Moda Grunge for the inside of the pouch.  I figured since it was going to get dirty I mind as well use something that will at least hide a little bit of the dirt.  For the pull tag I wanted to add in some color but my husband veto'd all the bright scraps I pulled out.  I finally settled on this bit of aqua and lime scrap.  I think it's from the Denyse Schmidt Chicopee collection.   I just thought the back ground matched the top half perfectly and the floral pattern is accented with bits of black here and there to tie in the bottom.


Overall this bag took me about an hour to make.  I'll definitely be makings some more.  The tutorial was easy to follow and the bag was fun to make!