michael miller fabric challenge: pyramids in blue

Posted on 02.23.17 by Amanda | mucho xoxo

Finally sharing my finished quilt for the 2016 Michael Miller Fabric Challenge!

I love a good challenge, and this was a tough one! From the new Luxe line of 108″ wide back cottons, I received a piece of Tumble Blocks in Lagoon, as well as a Luxe solid in Luna. I adore the colors, and the fabric is so soft, with a subtle sheen.

luxefabric

I’m a big fan of letting the fabric tell me what it wants to be. But sometimes, the fabric just doesn’t want to talk. After spending some time with it, I was feeling pretty stuck. So I decided to take a risk and deconstruct the print. I cut the fabric into the different sections of colored stripes, and was left with a pile of squares, diamonds and other odd shapes.

Welcome to the point of no return.

Luxe_Fabric_Deconstructed

I started playing with the small cuts of fabric and… Ding! Finally! Inspiration!!! I decided to use the stripes of different shades to create the illusion of dimension and shadow. I created a paper piecing pattern, which ended up being very helpful when working with such small (and slightly slippery) pieces. It also made angling my stripes considerably easier.

mqg_fabric_challenge_2016_8

A lot of my fabric pieces were so small that I had to join them together to create a large enough piece for the block. Just call me Dr. Frankenstein.

I challenged myself to only use the fabric provided (along with a coordinating Michael Miller solid from my stash), so I knew that whatever I made would be small. This bad boy comes in at a whopping 16 3/8” x 16”. So little!

mqg_fabric_challenge_2016

I made as many pyramid blocks as I could with the fabric I had, and then started playing with a layout. In the end, I decided to stack them to one side and use the solid as a background and binding.

I used three coordinating shades of Aurifil 50wt for the quilting, following the angles of the HSTs. Matchstick quilting is labor-intensive, but it’s so worth it! This was the one time during this process that I was happy to have such a small quilt to work with.

mqg_fabric_challenge_2016

This was a fun exercise, and I’m pretty pleased with the final result.

OH! And did I mention that this quilt was accepted into QuiltCon?!?! I kind of can’t believe it. I spent a good while waiting for an email saying they had made a mistake. It’s not perfect, but I love it and I’m happy to share it with this awesome community. And I’m proud of myself for getting over the fear of entering a quilt show! I only wish I was going to QuiltCon this year so I could see it in person.

mqg_fabric_challenge_2016

So there it is, my little blue baby. I’m thinking I may need to make a throw using this quilt block now.

Have a great day! And if you’re heading to QuiltCon, I’m incredibly jealous and plan to live vicariously through your Instagram feeds ;)

xoxo

quilts for pulse

Posted on 10.02.16 by Amanda | mucho xoxo

Following the horrific attack on Pulse Nightclub on June 12th, the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild put a call out to help make quilts for the survivors and victim’s families. Quilters all over the country, and many abroad, were quick to mobilize and began sewing, sending supplies, and doing everything they could to make sure they reached their goal.

Along with the two scrappy heart blocks I made for the quilts from the LAMQG (tutorial by Crimson Tate), I knew I wanted to design and make a complete quilt. But what should it be?

I grew up surrounded by love of all kinds. It was beautiful, and inspiring. And something to be celebrated. This is what I decided to focus on when I sat down to design my quilt. I wanted to create something bright and cheerful. And I wanted it to be bold, because LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE!

So, without further ado, here’s my finished quilt for Pulse!

Something about nested or double hearts just felt right. And I couldn’t help but set them against the high contrast of a checkerboard background. I kept the back much simpler, so the quilting and focal fabric really stand out.

I designed and printed the “love” fabric on Spoonflower a while ago, and I couldn’t think of a more perfect use for it. I just love how it looks surrounded by the rainbow of Kona Solids.

I used my favorite grey Aurifil 50wt to quilt around each heart, as well as on a few key diagonal, horizontal and vertical points.

I’m so pleased how this turned out. I’m already itching to make another one. And I’ve started writing a pattern for it, so stay tuned for that!

So, there it is. My quilt for Pulse. I hope it will bring the recipient some comfort in this difficult time. May it serve as a reminder that they are not alone, and they are loved.

I’m happy to report that not only did the Orlando MQG meet their initial goal of 102 quilts, they far surpassed it. The current total is over 1,000 quilts, and more are still coming in. If you want to see what other quilters have contributed (and get a good dose of the feels), you can search #QuiltsForPulse on Instagram.

LOVE WINS!

xoxo

Linking up with the 2016 finish-along for Q3. I finished something! Woo!

blogger’s quilt festival fall 2015: modern quilt entry

Posted on 10.29.15 by Amanda | mucho xoxo

The Blogger’s Quilt Festival, hosted by Amy’s Creative Side, is in full effect, so it’s time to throw my ~~hat~~ quilt in the ring!

I made this quilt as part of the RJR Fabrics What Shade Are You blog hop, and it might be my favorite finish to date.

I went with a combination of squares, HSTs and 4-patches to create the pattern. I’m rubbish at coming up with names, so this one is still “untitled” (like most of my quilts). Depending on how I look at it, I see open envelopes, or modern fortune cookies.

The richly-colored Cotton Supreme Solids I used for the project were a delight to work with. I took all of the leftover scraps I couldn’t bear to see go to waste and did an improve panel to add some interest to the back. I think I love it as much as the front!

The quilt is bound with Netorious in black from Cotton + Steel and quilted with a beautiful grey Aurifil 50wt.

quilt details:

finished size – 63” x 84”
pattern by me
fabric – Cotton Supreme Solids and Cotton + Steel Netorious
pieced and quilted by me

Be sure to head over to the Blogger’s Quilt Festival to check out all the amazing entries. (If you’re looking for inspiration for your next project, this is a fantastic place to start!)

And, if you’re so inclined, you can vote for my quilt in the modern quilts category here from Oct 29 to Nov 5. You can also find all of the categories here.

PS- Have an idea for a quilt name? Let me know! Suggestions are always welcome ;)

xoxo

cushion cut quilt: pattern testing & a giveaway!

Posted on 08.29.15 by Amanda | mucho xoxo

I’m so excited that I can finally share what I’ve been working on over the past weeks! Caroline of Nightingale Quilts has just released a new quilt pattern, called Cushion Cut, and I was lucky enough to get to pattern test it. Here’s my version, in all its glory/craziness!

The pattern plays with tone/value to create a fun 3D effect of a cushion cut gem. I decided to try to achieve this using only black and white. I’ve also been dying to have a go at fussy cutting stripes and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. I almost drove myself mad (not to mention blind) trying to plan this out, but it was worth it. I am completely smitten with how it turned out. It almost doesn’t look real!

The quilt top came together fairly quickly. I think I spent more time planning and cutting than actually sewing! I chain-pieced a majority of it, which is always a great time saver. I had every intention of having a finished quilt for the pattern release, but work/life derailed me. What can I say? Best laid plans… That just means I get to share more with you lovelies again soon ;)

I love it so much, I can’t wait to finish!

The Cushion Cut quilt pattern has all the information needed to make the quilt in 4 different sizes, from cot to king. (I made the throw size– 60”x84”). Caroline has written a fun pattern that everyone will enjoy, from confident beginners to seasoned pros. It is equally suited for solids or prints, fussy or carefree cutting. This pattern really is perfect for putting your own spin on. The possibilities are endless!

A number of talented quilters participated in pattern testing, you can see their fantastic versions of the quilt at the following links:

Excited to give the Cushion Cut quilt pattern a try for yourself? Caroline has generously given me the opportunity to give away a PDF copy of the pattern to one lucky winner!

*** THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED ***

To enter the giveaway:

~~Leave a comment letting me know what you would make with the pattern if you win. (A gift? Something for you? Would you use solids or pull out a coveted print from your stash?… You get the idea).~~
~~Earn a second entry by following me on instagram (I’m @muchoxoxo). Just leave a separate comment that you follow (include your IG name).~~

*The giveaway is open to everyone. Only two entries per person please.

*The giveaway will remain open until Sunday, August 30th at Midnight PST. One winner will be chosen at random and announced here, as well as being notified via email, by Monday, August 31st.

Congratulations to SHAYNA for being the lucky winner!!! I hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I have been! Have fun, and happy sewing!

PS- the first name randomly drawn was my good friend who, thanks to me, definitely knows more about quilting than he ever wanted to (he’s also holding the quilt in the pic because he’s tall and helpful like that). He doesn’t sew but got a big kick out of winning. He’s very happy that the pattern is going to a good home :)

The Cushion Cut quilt pattern is available now in Nightingale Quilts’ Craftsy shop. She also has a bunch of other great patterns, check them out!

A very big thank you to Caroline, and congratulations on the fantastic new pattern! I suspect we’ll be seeing many more of these soon. And if you make one, be sure to share it on Instagram and tag it #CushionCutQuilt.

Have a fantastic weekend! And good luck!

xoxo

*** THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED ***

what shade are you? blog hop & giveaway

Posted on 04.10.15 by Amanda | mucho xoxo

You guys, I’m so pumped for today’s post! I was asked by RJR Fabrics if I’d like to be part of their What Shade Are You blog hop, featuring Cotton Supreme Solids, and of course I jumped at the chance!

Solids are my first love, so I was excited to get in on the fun.

I knew I wanted to do something simple, graphic and bold. I’ve had an idea in my head for a while, and this seemed like the perfect time to try it. So, with my pattern in mind, it was time to choose my fabrics! After browsing the beautiful range of colors, I decided on this palette of lovely jewel tones.

colors from top to bottom: goldilocks, turks & caicos, night, purple haze, rhododendron, chili pepper, black, on the rocks

So, here it is!

The quilt is a combination of squares, HSTs and 4-patches. The finished size is 63″ x 84″, perfect for curling up on the couch with a ~~big glass of wine~~ cup of hot tea. I’m a big fan of bright colors and high contrast, but this pattern would look great in any palette. I may have to try it with prints too!

For the back, I took all my leftover bits and did a little improv panel to break up the black. I kind of LOVE IT.

I bound the quilt with Netorious in black from Cotton + Steel. Yum! I kept the quilting simple and stuck to the grid. I used a lovely grey Aurifil 50wt that blends beautifully with the different colors. It’s already so soft, I suspect this is going to be deliciously cozy after a wash and fluff.

This was my first time working with Cotton Supreme Solids, and I have to say I’m completely smitten! The fabric is super soft with a nice drape, and it sews up like a dream! They definitely give other premium solids a run for their money. And if you like working with Cotton + Steel fabrics, you’ll love these!

If you use a lot of solids, I’d recommend picking up a color card for easy reference and to take the guesswork out of online ordering.

Ready to give Cotton Supreme Solids a try? RJR Fabrics has generously provided a fat quarter bundle of my color palette to give away to one lucky winner! (The lighter blue is missing from pic but will be included in the bundle).

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**

To enter the giveaway:

~~Leave a comment letting me know what you would make with these.~~
~~Earn a second entry by following me on~~ Instagram ~~(I’m @muchoxoxo). Just leave a separate comment that you follow (include your IG name).~~

*Only two entries per person please.

*The giveaway is open to the US and Canada. Sorry, no PO Boxes.

*The giveaway will remain open until Wednesday, April 15th at 9pm PST. One winner will be chosen at random and announced here, as well as being notified via email, by Thursday, April 16th.

Congratulations to RUTH R. for being the lucky winner!!! I hope you enjoy working with these fabrics as much as I did :)

Be sure to visit the RJR facebook page to check out the other participants’ projects. There’s some great stuff, and a new post goes up every Friday.

I think there might be a little nap in the sun in my future.

have a great weekend!

xoxo

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**

orange peel quilt-a-long: appliqué

Posted on 12.05.14 by Amanda | mucho xoxo

It’s time for another Orange Peel Quilt-A-Long update! I’ve made a lot of progress since my last check-in, and have definitely found my groove with this project. Once I figured out my basting technique, finishing the rest of the peels was fairly easy. So with a big batch of peels basted and a nice stack of backing fabric good to go, I was ready to attempt my very first appliqué!

Again, I struggled a little in the beginning. But I found my rhythm and a method that works for me, and I just kept going. I found that my peels sat flatter on my backing and were easier to hold while stitching if I used slightly bent pins. Not necessary by any means, this is just what worked for me.

I strayed a little from Julie’s appliqué instructions and did what I’m calling a modified ladder stitch. Traditional appliqué has you come straight up through the back and catch a few threads at the edge of your piece. I had a very hard time with this! I felt uncoordinated and sloppy. So instead, I came in at a slight angle, went out through the fold/corner, and straight down to the back.

(I did a slightly exaggerated angle here so it was easier to see)

For me, this method was much easier. And the paranoid quilter in me feels like this will be more durable in the case of regular use and multiple washings.

So that’s where I’m at! I’m still not exactly sure what size this is going to end up. Right now I’m just making peels and enjoying the process… I’ll run out of backing fabric soon, and then I guess I’ll know I’m done! Then it will be time to choose my layout and trim blocks :)

Stay tuned for more Orange Peel QAL fun. And in the meantime, hop on over to button-button and take a look at everyone’s progress! You can also take a peek on Instagram by searching #orangepeelqal2014.

xoxo

orange peel quilt-a-long: fabric + prep

Posted on 11.17.14 by Amanda | mucho xoxo

Things definitely got off to a slow start with my orange peel quilt (too many projects going at once, maybe?) but I’ve made up for lost time and I’m back on track! Let’s start at the beginning, shall we?

The first task was pulling fabric. My only rule (as always) was that I had to pull from my stash. I knew I wanted to use color, and lots of it. So, I finally decided to go for scrappy/random peels in a range of colors on a neutral low-volume backing. Now, my stash has plenty of colors and bold prints, but neutral? I hardly have any! I did have a fun grey polka dot fabric that I’ve been wanting to use, so I decided to go with a uniform backing for the peels.

This is my first fabric pull, and I’ve since continued to add to it from my stash.

In the spirit of catching up (and planning ahead for being without my sewing machine for a few days), I cut 30+ freezer paper peels so I could just go go go! I went ahead and started ironing them to the fabrics I pulled. I decided to only do one peel per print, no repeats.

Then it was time to baste. I tried one… And, wow! It was a complete disaster! It was SO bad… This was my first time working with freezer paper, and I clearly didn’t iron it long enough. So before I was even half way through basting, the freezer paper started to release from the fabric and slide around. It makes it almost impossible to get a good grip on the fabric. No bueno.

(This is where the picture of my failed basting attempt would go, but it was so epically bad that I immediately threw it away. Yes, it was really that bad.)

Honestly, it was a little discouraging. But I was determined to keep going. Don’t let one bad peel ruin the whole bunch, right? I re-ironed all the peels to make sure the freezer paper had a nice strong hold. And I was ready to give it another go. It took a few peels to figure out a method that worked for me, but once I did they went pretty fast. Phew!

One thing I did in addition to Julie’s basting instructions that I found very helpful was to quickly finger-press the peels before sewing.

It creates a nice crisp fold and made the sewing go much quicker for me.

Next up, appliqué! More on that very soon, so stay tuned. In the meantime, hop on over to button-button and take a look at everyone’s progress. You can also take a peek on Instagram by searching #orangepeelqal2014.

Have a great week!

xoxo

blogger’s quilt festival: neon sea breeze

Posted on 10.31.14 by Amanda | mucho xoxo

Welcome, friends! My second entry into the Fall 2014 Blogger’s Quilt Festival (small quilts category) is my Neon Sea Breeze!

I made this quilt for my first ever QAL and blog hop, hosted by the awesome and awesome (yes I meant to say it twice) Angie of Gnome Angel.

The pattern we used is the Sea Breeze Mini from Canoe Ridge Creations. I chose a combination of lively neons and black & white to play with contrast and really highlight the lovely and versatile design.

I decided to keep the back simple and let the quilting be the main attraction. I used a neon yellow thread from Coats & Clark. It’s intense, but I couldn’t resist!

In keeping with the bold graphic look, I used a fun black and white print to bind the quilt.

It’s not always easy to put yourself out there, but I’m so glad I did! And because of that, this bright and happy quilt holds a very special place in my heart. Not only does it scream “Amanda,” it also introduced me to a whole new world of quilty friends. Really, such a welcoming and supportive group of people!

quilt details:

name – neon sea breeze
finished size – 22 ½” x 22 ½”
pattern – sea breeze mini by canoe ridge creations
fabric – neon solids from riley blake, kona solids in black and white, black & white fretwork from camelot design studio
pieced and quilted by me

Don’t forget to head over to the Blogger’s Quilt Festival to check out all the amazing entries. Seriously. Do it now. I promise, you won’t be disappointed :)

You can vote for my quilt in the small quilts category here from Nov 1 to Nov 7. I’ve also entered my Radiant Gem in the modern quilts category, check it out here!

A very big thank you to Amy for organizing the event. It’s quite an undertaking, and she has done a fantastic job, as always!

have a great weekend!

xoxo

blogger’s quilt festival: radiant gem

Posted on 10.30.14 by Amanda | mucho xoxo

The Blogger’s Quilt Festival, hosted by Amy’s Creative Side, is going on now, and instead of sitting on the sidelines this time, I’m jumping in and entering!

First up in the modern quilts category, my Radiant Gem improv quilt. Apologies to those who have seen it, bear with me as I get out all the details. And to all the newcomers, welcome!

This quilt was made entirely with scraps from my Radiant Orchid Challenge quilt that were just too pretty not to do something with.

I chose to matchstick quilt with a delicious variegated plum-purple thread from Coats & Clark. This was my first time matchstick quilting. It’s not a fast process, but well worth the effort.

I used Kona Berry for the back to really show off the quilting, and I of course had to do scrappy binding.

Of all of my quilts, I’m particularly fond of my little Radiant Gem. It was 100% improv, and I found the exercise very rewarding, and surprisingly relazing! It was the first time that I had absolutely no plan other than to just sit down and go (not always easy for me) and I just love how it turned out. Sometimes not having a plan is the best plan!

Quilt details:

name – radiant gem
finished size- approx 27″ x 23″
fabric- assorted cotton solids (kona cotton, hawthorne hues and alissa haight carlton)
pieced and quilted by me

The Blogger’s Quilt Festival is always a wealth of drool-worthy quilts and inspiration. If you haven’t already, go to Amy’s Creative Side and take a look!

And, if you’re so inclined, you can vote for my quilt here from Nov 1 to Nov 7. I’ve also entered my Neon Sea Breeze in the small quilts category, check it out here!

xoxo

pattern testing: high tea quilt

Posted on 10.27.14 by Amanda | mucho xoxo

The lovely and talented Adrianne of On the Windy Side has just released her first self-published quilt pattern, called High Tea, and I was lucky enough to get to pattern test it before the release. Here’s my finished High Tea quilt top!

The High Tea quilt pattern is super versatile, and would work equally well with pre-cuts or as a scrappy stash-busting project. I chose to use high-contrast black and white prints, most of which came from my stash (a current requirement for all of my projects).

The quilt top came together quickly and without too much trouble. (The only problem I had was 100% my own fault because I was paying more attention to Top Chef than my sewing). I absolutely love how it turned out, and I can’t wait to finish it!

Adrianne has written a fun and easy-to-follow pattern that quilters of all skill levels will love! The pattern has all the information needed to make the quilt in 5 different sizes, from baby to queen. (I made the cot size– 43” x 56”).

A number of talented quilters jumped in to help test the pattern, you can see all of their fantastic takes on it in Adrianne’s post here.

The High Tea quilt pattern is available now on Craftsy and Adrianne’s Etsy Shop. It will be available at a discounted price for a very limited time to celebrate the release, so pick it up now!

I clearly had a terrible time taking pictures ;)

A big thank you and congratulations to Adrianne on her first pattern release. I have no doubt that it will be very well-received. And if you make one, be sure to share it on Instagram (tag #highteaquilt and #onthewindysidequilts) or in Adrianne’s Flickr group.

Have a fantastic week!

xoxo