Black and Cream HST

This quilt is actually one that I made myself!  I was at a quilt retreat in Dryden this fall and one of the activities over the weekend was an auction.  One of the items up for grabs was a layer cake of from the Benartex line called New Traditions.  (I prevailed even though a friend tried to keep up bidding me.)

I decided there was no time like the present to whip that layer cake into a quilt top while I was at the retreat.  I googled for some layer cake ideas, but when I realized the layer cake had equal proportions of dark and light fabrics, I decided simple HSTs was the way to go.  I had 40 squares, but decided 42 would made a much better sized quilt, so I popped over to the vendors and added one beige FQ and one Black FQ and the border fabric to my pile.

I quilted this with the Fanciful Fliers pantograph in my favorite gold thread - Magnifico 2063 Clover Honey.  I used some coordinating fabrics for my stash to make an interesting backing.

I was very pleased with how this quilt turned out.  It met the size parameters for Quilts of Valour Canada so I have donated it there.

Wanda's Blue and Orange

Wanda made this bold quilt for a high school graduation present.  The recipient loves blue and orange!  This fun layout really makes some simple HSTs shine.

Wanda selected the Ebb and Flow pantograph and we ran it in the vertical orientation rather than the more common horizontal one.  It looks like flames this way, which was the desired effect.

The wonderful Fireside backing makes for a really cozy quilt and shows off the quilting too!

Mushrooms for Rory

Reneta made this fun baby quilt using the mushrooms from Art East Quilt Co.'s Mushroom King quilt pattern and her own creativity for the layout.

My immediate reaction was to suggest the Oak Breeze pantograph.  Reneta agreed wholeheartedly.  I love the movement this pantograph adds.

I'm sure Rory will love his new quilt.

Pretty in Blue and White

Donna made this pretty quilt is a collection of blue and white florals.  This quilt reminds me that things don't need to be complicated to be beautiful.

Donna requested a freehand stipple pattern and I was happy to oblige as I don't seem to do that kind of quilting very often and I do enjoy it.

 

Madeline's Celtic Knots

Madeline purchased this gorgeous Celtic Knot quilt kit on a trip to Ireland.  It contained a wonderful panel with knots and crosses and beautiful coordinates that all have metallic accents.

Madeline chose the Obsidian pantograph which has a complimentary movement to that of the border fabric. We went back and forth about using a gold thread or black, and ultimately decided to use black thread to keep the black leading lines crisp.

I don't use this pantograph often, but I really like the texture that it added here.

Kitty Cat Charm Quilt

Val made another wonderful scrappy quilt.  This pattern is called the Kitty Charm quilt by Robert Callaham and is available on the Quilting Daily website.  It was originally published in the October 2000 issue of McCall's quilting.

I love the heart charm on the yellow cat!

Val really used a great mix of fabric.  Some seem very modern and some have probably been aging like fine wine in her stash but they all work well together! 

Val chose the Soho pantograph for this one.  It looks lovely on the cozy flannel backing too.

Lots of extra sewing to add the points on the piano key style border, but certainly adds a little something extra!

 

Val's Scrappy Squares

Val brought this great scrappy quilt that was a Christmas gift for special family members.   It is a generous queen size.

Val chose the Cassava pantograph which adds a soft finish to the quilt.

Val told me she was running out of her background fabric, so when it came time to do the final border she got creative and added some extra piecing to make it work.