Sunday, May 31, 2015

Anna Marie Horner Mini Quilt Swap & Slow Stiching Sunday




Earlier this year, I signed up for the Anna Marie Horner Mini Quilt Swap on Instagram. Kate Basti is hostessing, and past members had such nice things to say about her swaps. I'd never been in one of any kind, but AMH! I had to! She was one of the first designers whose style attracted me back to quilting. The past minis from other swaps were gorgeous. Wow! These were some talented sewists, and I was worried I wouldn't measure up.

I ordered a fat quarter package of 'Folk Song',
and pulled out my high tech design tools--a pencil and some paper. This was the original drawing I started with, and I kept true to it. I integrated a few Missouri Star Quilt Co. templates I had purchased, but never used. I have to tell you these weren't made to be used together, and I had to do some tweaking at the corner diamonds.


I have one last line of hand quilting to stitch with my Aurifil 50#, and I feel like the teal corners need a bit of the coral and pink pearl cottons. Then it's time for binding, and I have a print in mind already.




#annamariehornerminiquiltswap 
#teamhonorroll 
#katebasti
#pinkdoxies


You might remember my cell phone and camera sling bag was made with the same fabric line, and another AMH I had in my stash.

I brought my mini home to work on thinking some slow stitching would be a nice change. It's been a busy week, and there's something theraputic about working with your project on your lap instead of zipping it through a machine. You see your work differently.

I've also wanted to link up to the Slow Sunday Stitching for some time. Kathy is a Canadian quilter after my own heart. She is also a scrapaholic, and is involved in quilting for Mennonite Central Committee



I haven't made any quilts for the auction like she has, but the women at First Mennonite Church in Sugarcreek do. They are an inspiring group. They meet every week to hand quilt on frames, while others ladies make utility quilts. These are gathered together in one location, packed, and sent to areas of the world where there is need. I machine bound two for them, and they will soon be on their way to a family in need. The scrappy ladies make sure they are colorful, cheery, and warm.




Thunderstorm pounded our area today, and I unplugged all my machines to make sure they weren't hit. We've lost small appliances before, and I've started unplugging my multi-strips when I leave for the day. It only takes a moment.

I spent the time cleaning up, and finishing some Moda Modern Building Blocks. You can see I filled the center of the largest block here, but I'm not satisfied with the inside grey. I think I'll replace it with the hanging print. 

By all rights, I should have thought through the whole project before starting blocks, but I was so excited to just make something! Now I'm hitting a wall, and have second thoughts about the palette. I'm not sure I like the colors I'm using, but I've been trying to follow the recommended solids as closely as possible. I may need to tweak it.



The last picture to share is the new/old stash on my floor. I went to a friend's house last week for a little fabric swap. Oo-la-la!
I know these don't look like my typical picks, but there are some projects in the Quilt Lovely book that beg for some vintage fabric. 

I'm interested obsessed in blending my vintage and modern stashes, and need to prove to myself it will work in projects. Jen Kingwell does it, and I am looking forward to learning how. 'Mrs. Bannister's Stars' pillow project starts today.


What's your plan for the month of June? Are you having a holiday weekend now, and enjoying some well earned family time? Do you have an idea for a project to be ready for July 4th? Are you working on your finishes for A Lovely Year of Finishes? Or, perhaps, Q2 Finish-Along for On the Windy Side?

Leave a comment to inspire your fellow sewists to get active in their creative space, and Be Makers this month! I applaud you all.

Link up with the Pink Doxies' Pet Project Show until Monday at midnight, and show off your latest make.


Come on, Doxie girls.
Let's go sew.




Linking up with~
Cooking Up Quilts
Hug-a-Bit Quilts
Show and Tell Monday
Molli Sparkles
Slow Stitching Sunday

17 comments:

Kaelyn Angelfoot said...

That is some great new stash and the miniquilt is coming along amazingly. Can't wait to see what you do with the pink and coral thread.

Kaja said...

Great mini quilt - I love those fabrics and really like your quilting choices. Nice new stash too - have fun using it for your pillow project.

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

Such an interesting post with so much going on and a lovely variety of eye candy to see :)

CathieJ said...

I love the stash fabrics. Your quilt is pretty. I love that you sketched that design yourself. So jealous of that talent.

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

Great mini! I have just started planning out my own quilts and it sure makes it a whole lot more fun! Such wonderful things you have going on! Happy sewing.

Colleen said...

Love the mini ! The tumbler and diamond round is wonderful :)
Colleen @ piecemakerquilts.wordpress.com

The Cozy Quilter said...

Sounds like a great way to get some new variety in your stash! Have fun stitching!

Bower Bird Patch said...

The AMH mini is just lovely Julie. You've done a great job and your swap partner should be well and truly stoked with it. AMH always look great together like no others I reckon. Jen

Lisa in Port Hope said...

I'm doing some slow stitching tonight on the binding for a mug rug. Kudos to you for making an original design, I think that's the scariest (and most fun) of these swaps--putting your creative powers and skills out in the public eye.

Quilter Kathy said...

That was fun to see the ladies hand quilting together :)
Enjoy your hand stitching!

evaj said...

Lovely Julie!!Hug Bambi

evaj said...

Thank you Julie for your inspiration you give us all on show and tell on Monday and your linking there / hug Bambi

Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts said...

I'm not familiar with AMH fabrics; they look good in your mini. I really like hand quilted items - your swap partner is sure to love this! Funny, your high tech design tools look a lot like mine. :) Have fun with your modern building blocks, they are looking good. And that stash! Woohoo!

Catarina C said...

It sounds not so good with a thunderstorm, you do right to unplugged. It´s always nice to read your blogg and I have to practice my english. You show very nice fabrics, looking forward to see what you are sewing. No I have no plans for June but I have some UFOs I hope I can take care of this month! Hug Catarina

Kitty said...

Your mini quilt for the AMH swap looks great! The hand quilting will be perfect, especially with the perle cotton. Have you tried 12 wt Aurifil? It's my new favorite for hand quilting!! Soooo nice.

As for my plans for June, I'm hoping to have a baby! He was due a week + ago, so any day now! I'm visiting from Monday Makers at Hug a Bit Quilts. :)

Nurdan Kulluk-Rennert said...

Your mini quilt looks lovely!
As for my plans for June, I want to be able to finish my son's quilt because we will be going to Turkey in Early July and I won't be able t do any sewing/quilting for a month. If I can't finish it, at least I want to be able to quilt half of it! Thanks for linking up with me!
P.S Have you changed your blog's theme?

Caroline said...

That embroidery thread is pretty.