Scrap Bee - September and October's blocks

Hello everyone!  Have two very different blocks to show you this time around.  September's block is not a block at all actually, they are shapes as requested by San-Dee.  She is planning on making quilts for Alzheimer's patients and asked that we cut out shapes from our made fabric.  Great idea!

October's block is super cool.  It's a modified grandmother's fan.  So much fun to make.  Can't wait to see all the blocks put together...this is going to be one fantastic looking quilt!

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances



I made a cloud, a tulip and a wonky heart for San-Dee's quilt.





For the October block, you need to start by making a large piece of fabric, at least 12 x 12.




Cut it down to 11 x 11 and then cut a piece of contrasting fabric the same size.




Place one piece of fabric on top of the other, both pieces must be right side up.  Cut in half, on the diagonal.




Cut off the bottom point of the triangle, about 3 inches up.





Make four cuts and switch two of the pieces as shown.




Sew the top pieces together.



Press seams and add a 3.5 inch black half square triangle to the bottom.  Voila, a modified grandmother's fan!
As always, you can see what everyone else is doing at http://www.15minutesplay.com/.

A little New York fabric

Hi Everyone - Just thought I'd show you my New York fabric purchases.  I may have to bring an extra suitcase next time to take advantage of the great prices!

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances


I saw these rhinestone initials and thought they would be a perfect way to sign my "Victorian Gothic" quilt currently in the works...sometimes you just need a little bling, right?




A few little extras I picked up at the notions store.



City Quilter creates their own New York city fabric.  I picked up some subway map fabric and a night scape.



Thought the postcards and city landmarks fabric would also work together.  The quilt store also has a quilt gallery where they display art quilts.  If you do travel to New York and plan on visiting the store, don't forget to take a look at the quilts on display in the gallery.




I took one look at this wild fruit fabric and thought to myself...Carmen Miranda!  It made me laugh, so I had to buy some.  Managed to find a few fabrics to go with it.




Couldn't resist the retro cowboys and cowgirls on the right and the purses will be perfect for an I Spy quilt...someday.




Loved the fresh look of the flowers and the classic look of the turquoise fabric behind it.




I only bought two yards of this Anna Griffin fabric and when I returned two days later, it was all gone.




I am trying to add brighter colours to my fabric stash...brights on a dark background count, right?




Thought this would be perfect for a baby quilt.




This was too much fun to pass up.




This is all they had left of the Laurel Burch fabric...no wonder if went so quickly, the colours are incredible.



A trip to the Big Apple!

Hello Everyone!  I was so lucky earlier this month, not only did I get to travel to New York city with a few friends, I also got to meet the one and only Victoria of Bumblebeans! 

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances

Victoria and I in her fabulous studio!

She graciously spent time talking to a friend and I and showed us a few of her incredible quilts.  It was a treat to meet someone from blogland and she gave us some insider tips on where to shop for fabric in the city.  What a generous and creative person...but if you follow her blog at all, you knew that already, right? :-)



Here's Victoria discussing her process...



...and showing us her all-time favourite quilt, the kitchen sink quilt.  What an incredible work of art...so inspiring!

Here's another inspiring work of art...Jackson Pollock's #31, found at the Museum of Modern Art.  I know abstract expressionism isn't for everyone, but there's something about it that fascinates me.



I also made a point to find the Museum of Folk Art while in New York and took a few photos of the wonderful antique quilts they had on display.




A Gee's Bend quilt...I was thrilled to finally be able to see one of these quilts in person!




Many of the quilts on display were star quilts, one of my favourite type of quilts.




This was called a Cactus Flower quilts, very striking!




One of the Amish quilts on display.  Most of the quilts dated back to the late 1800's and early 1900's.



Design Wall Monday and a few finishes

Hello Everyone! It's been a busy month, travelled to Montreal then to New York City where I met the wonderful Victoria of Bumblebeans...more to come on that adventure tomorrow!

Now that I'm back home and settled in, I've been trying to get a few things finished, as I'm sure my grandchild is due to arrive by Thanksgiving!  Yoohoo!

I've also started yet another project with some delicious fabric I picked up in New York.  I'm still undecided on background fabric, I'll let that percolate for a bit and focus on getting the blocks done this week!

Enjoy,
Mary-Frances




Finally managed to get a few baby things done this past weekend.  This is one of two burrito baby wraps I made. Isn't that a great name for a baby blanket?  I bought the pattern here.




Also made a few little burp pads with some leftover flannel.




One flannel blanket to keep the baby nice and warm.




Here are the blocks currently on my design wall.  Picked these fabrics up in New York City at a small shop on 39th Street between 7th and 8th Avenue.  Paid five dollars a yard...isn't that fabulous!!  Oohh, I do love a bargain!




Am undecided on the background though...I could go traditional and use a white fabrics like on the design wall.  Or, I could really kick the vibrancy up a notch and use this wonderful Kona solid...although, I'm not sure if I have enough for the whole quilt.




Or, I could go dark and use black, or possibly navy for background to really make the blocks pop.



Design Wall Monday

Hello Everyone!  Here's what's on my design wall today.  It's a little bit of everything really.  Projects I need to finish...like the pumpkins, to different techniques I want to explore...like my "cheater" water colour panel.   The other two projects need some attention as they've come to a complete standstill...time to pull some fabric and play!

Cheers,
Mary-Frances







These are the projects waiting for some attention on my design wall.




Watercolour quilt the easy way...buy a panel, cut into 2 inch squares, sew panel together again.  Right. But it's far from done, as now I get to play with applique, beading, couching and other embellishments in order to make this panel pop!




My no guts, no glory panel....I know I had a plan for this, I'm sure I have a sketch lying around somewhere...




These cute little guys have been waiting around for a year now and I think it's high time I finished this project!!




The divorce quilt...time to pull out the sombre fabrics and cut and sew, cut and sew, cut and sew...it really is a healing thing for me.



Thank heavens for small projects!

Hello Everyone!  I love smaller projects...I really, really do.  It's so good to be able to sit down and actually finish something in one sitting, don't you think?  Makes me feel productive, especially when I see my UFO pile looking like it's ready to explode!! ;-)

Enjoy!
Mary-Frances

Took a class in July and made a couple of wallets. 



They are a perfect size for my eyeglasses, or as one classmate suggested could be used to tote those smaller quilting supplies to classes.




They are super easy to make, I'm thinking they'll make excellent Christmas gifts.  I didn't have my camera in class, so next time I make one, I'll take step by step photos and post them....I promise!