Free Motion Mavericks - Week 155 - Variation on a Theme

Repetition is no bad thing when you want to churn out a few little quilts, but I have to confess that I am getting a little bored and need to do something different soon.  It's all getting a little too deja vu at the moment.

Having said that, I particularly like the shades of blue in this quilt.

The green spots give a nice fresh look...

... there is a bit of entertaining detail in the binding...

...and the butterflies on the backing are an absolute delight.

Here goes for Week 155.

The project that caught my eye in Week 154 was Karen's mini quilt enhanced with fabric paints.  If you haven't seen her blog post yet, nip over now and have a closer look.

If you love free motion quilting, whether you are a beginner just taking the plunge, or you have reached the stage where you can do ostrich feathers with your eyes shut and still achieve perfect symmetry, then please link up.

Remember, FMQ is FMQ, whether your machine was made last week, or it is older than your granny.


Here are the very easy and slightly elastic rules:-

1.  Link up with any recent post, ideally from the last week but within the last month, which features a free motion quilting project, whether it is a work in progress or a finish.

2.  Link back to this post in your own post and/or grab the linky button for your blog's sidebar.
  
3.  Visit as many of the other participants as possible and say hello in the comments box.

4.  The link up will remain open for four days, from midnight to midnight GMT for the long weekend, Friday to Monday.

So far quilters from the USA, England, Wales, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, France, Macau, Russia, Ireland and Brazil have taken part.  The first participant from each new country will get a special mention the following week.

Linking up to Sarah's blog Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Friday.

Free Motion Mavericks - Week 153 - Strips, Stripes And Checks

If there is an element of deja vu to this cradle quilt, it is because I made a job lot of strips of squares some months ago and am just coming to the end of them.  This quilt is very similar to one I made earlier this year, even using the same beige check for the strips between the squares.  However, I have a rule.  No two quilts can be identical.

So for the border I used a tiny check...

...and for the binding a bold black and red stripe...

...with more of the beige check for the backing.   Somehow this quilt has a no nonsense feel to it, as though any baby that sleeps beneath will turn out to be sensible, hard working and practical.  Wouldn't that be nice.  

Here goes for Week 153.

The project that caught my eye in Week 152 was Louise's Fiery Tree quilt.  If you haven't seen her blog post yet, nip over now and have a closer look.

If you love free motion quilting, whether you are a beginner just taking the plunge, or you have reached the stage where you can do ostrich feathers with your eyes shut and still achieve perfect symmetry, then please link up.

Remember, FMQ is FMQ, whether your machine was made last week, or it is older than your granny.

Here are the very easy and slightly elastic rules:-

1.  Link up with any recent post, ideally from the last week but within the last month, which features a free motion quilting project, whether it is a work in progress or a finish.

2.  Link back to this post in your own post and/or grab the linky button for your blog's sidebar.
  
3.  Visit as many of the other participants as possible and say hello in the comments box.

4.  The link up will remain open for four days, from midnight to midnight GMT for the long weekend, Friday to Monday.

So far quilters from the USA, England, Wales, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, France, Macau, Russia, Ireland and Brazil have taken part.  The first participant from each new country will get a special mention the following week

Linking up with Sarah's blog Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Friday
and Amanda Jean's blog Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday
and Michelle's Romantic Tangle for Let's Make Baby Quilts.

Free Motion Mavericks - Week 152 - Pink Scooters Cradle Quilt

Roses around the border put this quilt firmly in the girly category...

...and the colours of the scooters in the centre called out for shades of pink with browns and greys.

So in went a bit of teapots and jam pots on grey...

... and a bit of blue-grey batik...

...and even a tiny bit of khaki green next to some brown batik...

...and some reindeer on pinkish grey.

Pink binding holds the whole colour scheme together...

...and the reindeer put in an appearance on the back.

I loved working with these colours.  Somehow the finished effect was restful, perfect for a peaceful baby.

Here goes for Week 152.

The project that caught my eye in Week 151 was Dione's charity quilt.  If you haven't seen her blog post yet, nip over now and have a closer look.

If you love free motion quilting, whether you are a beginner just taking the plunge, or you have reached the stage where you can do ostrich feathers with your eyes shut and still achieve perfect symmetry, then please link up.

Remember, FMQ is FMQ, whether your machine was made last week, or it is older than your granny.

Here are the very easy and slightly elastic rules:-

1.  Link up with any recent post, ideally from the last week but within the last month, which features a free motion quilting project, whether it is a work in progress or a finish.

2.  Link back to this post in your own post and/or grab the linky button for your blog's sidebar.
  
3.  Visit as many of the other participants as possible and say hello in the comments box.

4.  The link up will remain open for four days, from midnight to midnight GMT for the long weekend, Friday to Monday.
So far quilters from the USA, England, Wales, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, France, Macau, Russia, Ireland and Brazil have taken part.  The first participant from each new country will get a special mention the following week.

Linking up with Sarah's blog Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Friday
and Amanda Jean's blog Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday
and Michelle's Romantic Tangle for Let's Make Baby Quilts.

Free Motion Mavericks - Week 151 - Elephants Cradle Quilt

Flowery elephants called to me when I was shopping a few weeks ago.  I couldn't resist this fabric.  It came in several different colour combinations, but this is the only version I felt I could happily play with.  

The background is a curious shade of not-quite-yellow.  I'm not really sure what I should call it, and I thought it might jar with the paler colours I wanted to use, but once I got home and started trying it against the other fabrics I realised how versatile this design is.

The pink elephant would have settled in perfectly well with a pinky purply girlie combination of colours...

...but this time I went with the blue.  And the spots.

Even the wheels on the trains carry on the spotty theme.  The other theme is tiny checks...

 ...with absolutely miniscule squares on the binding...

...and calming restful beige for the backing.

It was great fun getting back to quilting again after such a long break.  It made me glad that the hot weather is well and truly over.  Am I allowed to say that?  I think I am.  Treadling in a heat wave isn't for the faint hearted.


Here goes for Week 151.

If you love free motion quilting, whether you are a beginner just taking the plunge, or you have reached the stage where you can do ostrich feathers with your eyes shut and still achieve perfect symmetry, then please link up.

Remember, FMQ is FMQ, whether your machine was made last week, or it is older than your granny.

Here are the very easy and slightly elastic rules:-

1.  Link up with any recent post, ideally from the last week but within the last month, which features a free motion quilting project, whether it is a work in progress or a finish.

2.  Link back to this post in your own post and/or grab the linky button for your blog's sidebar.
  
3.  Visit as many of the other participants as possible and say hello in the comments box.

4.  The link up will remain open for four days, from midnight to midnight GMT for the long weekend, Friday to Monday.
So far quilters from the USA, England, Wales, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, France, Macau, Russia, Ireland and Brazil have taken part.  The first participant from each new country will get a special mention the following week.

Linking up with Sarah's blog Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Friday.
and Michelle's Romantic Tangle for Let's Make Baby Quilts
and Amanda Jean's blog Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday

Free Motion Mavericks - Week 127 - March Hares Cradle Quilt

Exactly the same as last week's cradle quilt, except for the colours.  This isn't my usual colour scheme at all.

Blame the March hares, bouncing in a month early.  I found this fabric in a remainder bin a little while ago, hoping there would be enough to back a cradle quilt.  It was about three inches too short, so the next best use was as a border, but I have to admit that the pinky beigeness of it threw me slightly.  The whole thing has ended up looking a bit 1970s, which I remember all too well.

I enjoyed all the prints, though.  The doggy doing his cooking is a hoot.

And I love the coffee coloured floral print.

The backing is beige (just embracing the theme) with an angels song on the back.  Shame I don't know it, but if you recognise it please sing along.

Here goes for Week 127...

The project that caught my eye in Week 126 was LeeAnna's Valentine's quilt.  If you haven't seen her blog post yet, nip over now and have a closer look.

If you love free motion quilting, whether you are a beginner just taking the plunge, or you have reached the stage where you can do ostrich feathers with your eyes shut and still achieve perfect symmetry, then please link up.

Remember, FMQ is FMQ, whether your machine was made last week, or it is older than your granny.

Here are the very easy and slightly elastic rules:-

1.  Link up with any recent post, ideally from the last week but within the last month, which features a free motion quilting project, whether it is a work in progress or a finish.

2.  Link back to this post in your own post and/or grab the linky button for your blog's sidebar.
  
3.  Visit as many of the other participants as possible and say hello in the comments box.

4.  The link up will remain open for four days, from midnight to midnight GMT for the long weekend, Friday to Monday.

So far quilters from the USA, England, Wales, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, France, Macau, Russia, Ireland and Brazil have taken part.  The first participant from each new country will get a special mention the following week.

Linking up with Michelle's Romantic Tangle for Let's Make Baby Quilts
and Sarah's blog Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Friday
and Amanda Jean's blog Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday.

Free Motion Mavericks - Week 126 - Blue Meets Beige

Now for another quick finish.  After finishing a big project that took nine months there is nothing more therapeutic than churning out a couple of cradle quilts in as many weeks.  Anyone would think I had just given birth to twins.

This quilt is made to the same pattern as the "not pink" creation I made last year, except this one is definitely blue. 

Lots of the old favourite nursery prints have made an appearance, including the trains on turquoise and the washing on the line...

... and the stars and stripes print has ended up next to stars and stripes on the line.

I love the beige check used for the dividing strips.  I can't believe I just said that I love beige, but this check is such a versatile fabric, and is actually a woven check, unlike the blue, which is a print.

The reindeer and Christmas trees print on the back tones in really well with the beige check. 

I need to be enthusiastic because I have got loads of the check fabric, so I have to learn to love beige. 

No, I still can't believe what I am writing. 

Here goes for Week 126...

The project that caught my eye in Week 125 was Olena's stunning meadow quilt.  If you haven't seen her blog post yet, nip over now and have a closer look.

If you love free motion quilting, whether you are a beginner just taking the plunge, or you have reached the stage where you can do ostrich feathers with your eyes shut and still achieve perfect symmetry, then please link up.

Remember, FMQ is FMQ, whether your machine was made last week, or it is older than your granny.

Here are the very easy and slightly elastic rules:-

1.  Link up with any recent post, ideally from the last week but within the last month, which features a free motion quilting project, whether it is a work in progress or a finish.

2.  Link back to this post in your own post and/or grab the linky button for your blog's sidebar.
  
3.  Visit as many of the other participants as possible and say hello in the comments box.

4.  The link up will remain open for four days, from midnight to midnight GMT for the long weekend, Friday to Monday.

So far quilters from the USA, England, Wales, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, France, Macau, Russia, Ireland and Brazil have taken part.  The first participant from each new country will get a special mention the following week.

Linking up with Sarah's blog Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Friday
and Michelle's Romantic Tangle for Let's Make Baby Quilts
and Amanda Jean's blog Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday.

Free Motion Mavericks - Week 125 - Stamp Collection Cradle Quilt no. 2

Stamps are a perfect design for a pieced quilt, giving plenty of colour at the centre.

The background colour is reminiscent of manila envelopes.

I just happened to quilt the large blue stamp on the day that the Queen celebrated the sapphire anniversary of her accession to the throne, so I spared her a thought before running across General Franco and his Scottish postmark, which gave me great mirth last time I used this fabric.

In true scrappy fashion, I used up every shred I had left of the red and white fabric that frames the central panel, and had to add a tiny bit to the end of the strips.  Spot the seam.
  

And spot the spots.  The spotty binding went really well with the starry border.

The backing is a rather sophisticated Christmas print in toned down colours.

It was almost a relief finishing a quilt so quickly, after expending so much time and energy on the Secret Project...

...which is now the Secret Quilt.  Here it is hiding underneath the cradle quilt.  I just had to show you the gorgeous shade of red that I found for the binding, but now it is going back under wraps for a few weeks.  All shall be revealed.  Eventually.

Here goes for Week 125...

The project that caught my eye in Week 124 was Gwyned's assembly of different pieces of quilting. If you haven't seen her blog post yet, nip over now and have a closer look.

If you love free motion quilting, whether you are a beginner just taking the plunge, or you have reached the stage where you can do ostrich feathers with your eyes shut and still achieve perfect symmetry, then please link up.

Remember, FMQ is FMQ, whether your machine was made last week, or it is older than your granny.

Here are the very easy and slightly elastic rules:-

1.  Link up with any recent post, ideally from the last week but within the last month, which features a free motion quilting project, whether it is a work in progress or a finish.

2.  Link back to this post in your own post and/or grab the linky button for your blog's sidebar.
  
3.  Visit as many of the other participants as possible and say hello in the comments box.

4.  The link up will remain open for four days, from midnight to midnight GMT for the long weekend, Friday to Monday.

So far quilters from the USA, England, Wales, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, France, Macau, Russia, Ireland and Brazil have taken part.  The first participant from each new country will get a special mention the following week.

Linking up with Connie's blog Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Friday
and Amanda Jean's blog Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday
and Michelle's Romantic Tangle for Let's Make Baby Quilts.

Free Motion Mavericks - Week 113 - Not Pink

Girl or boy?  That's the burning question when making a quilt for a baby that has not yet been born. 

I pieced all the strips of squares some months ago and stashed them away with the intention of making cradle quilts specifically for baby boys, so none of the prints are the slightest bit girly and the colours are strong and functional.

Some of my favourite nursery prints have made a reappearance - planes, trains, and toys pegged on the line...

...and there's a little bit of fun and nonsense in the binding.

The blue and grey butterfly print backing is a definite nod towards a baby blue colour scheme, whereas the quilt top has a pink look about it.  The funny thing is that there are only the minutest touches of actual pink in one or two of the squares.  It's all a matter of perception.

The fabric strips between the strips of squares are a cream colour with a grid pattern printed in dark red.  The border fabric is a tiny gingham print in rusty red and beige, averaging out to a colour I associate with too much fake tan.  But if you think girl, and look at the quilt as a whole, you see it as pink.

So, job done!  A baby quilt for a boy or a girl with a shifting colour perspective, achieved by accident.

I shall be going away visiting next week, so this quilt will find its way to its new home very soon, by which time the baby might have already arrived.  All the quilting was done on my 1945 Singer 15K treadle, and the piecing and binding on my 1916 Singer 99K.  The 100 year age gap between machine and baby should add a little entertainment value.

Here goes for week 113...

The project in Week 112 that caught my eye was Karen's quilt made from a rescued vintage top - gorgeous!  If you haven't seen her blog post yet, nip over now and see more photos.

If you love free motion quilting, whether you are a beginner just taking the plunge, or you have reached the stage where you can do ostrich feathers with your eyes shut and still achieve perfect symmetry, then please link up.

Remember, FMQ is FMQ, whether your machine was made last week, or it is older than your granny.

Here are the very easy and slightly elastic rules:-

1.  Link up with any recent post, ideally from the last week but within the last month, which features a free motion quilting project, whether it is a work in progress or a finish.

2.  Link back to this post in your own post and/or grab the linky button for your blog's sidebar.
  
3.  Visit as many of the other participants as possible and say hello in the comments box.

4.  The link up will remain open for four days, from midnight to midnight GMT for the long weekend, Friday to Monday.

So far quilters from the USA, England, Wales, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, France, Macau, Russia and Ireland have taken part.  The first participant from each new country will get a special mention the following week.

Linking up to Sarah's blog Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Friday
and Nina Marie's blog Creations... Quilts, Art... Whatever for Off The Wall Friday
and Amanda Jean's blog Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday.