Unblogged Misfits of 2014

Ok, not really misfits... but here are the random things that didn't get blogged, but were made in 2014.

1600 Quilt  

with a Rainbow Jelly Roll

 Hanging on the wall at the store as a sample, but still not quilted.

Briar Rose Quilt

 Pattern here

Fabric: Joel Dewberry, Modern Meadow (just the blue color way)

Cathedral Window Mini

 The gray mini quilt with the diamonds is called a Cathedral Window. That's the one I made this year. A couple of the others up there are gifts from friends who might be reading right now! I hung all my minis on my office wall this year.

Patriotic Pinwheels

 Made for a sample for the store, quilted, but not bound. I saw a quilt on Pinterest and wanted to make it, but I didn't need a whole pinwheel quilt! So a table runner was a better option.

Rain Coat!!!!

 I finally made the Amy Butler rain coat, but I haven't taken good photos yet because it's technically not finished. I still need to put on the buttons. But I have worn the heck out of this rain jacket! It's lined with flannel!! But the sleeves are lined with a satiny lining fabric so they slip over my sleeves. Maybe someday this will get the photos it deserves...

PJ Pants

 I made a lot of PJ pants this year. This pair was for a friend who had a really bad broken leg. They are Star Wars and glow in the dark!!

Bat Girl Apron

 This was made for a class sample. I thought it would be fun to make a super hero apron.

Kaleidoscope Quilt

 I made this quilt during my class. I wasn't planning to, but this fabric was begging to be a kaleidoscope. I used the Kaleido-Ruler, which worked great! Fabric is Lexington, from Moda.

Matching Pillow

 I had a bunch of little triangles leftover and I had the perfect amount to make these half square triangles and make a pillow.

Amy Butler Blossom Bag

 See the bag on my arm? I made that. But never photographed it... I don't really use it, but I made it to see if it would be a good class. I did teach it, but no one finished it in the class. It's challenging! You can get the pattern free here.

Southwest Tiles Quilt

This is my own pattern that I was planning to blog when I got the pattern finished and listed on my Craftsy patterns page. But half a year later it's not finished, so I thought I should go ahead and post the quilt!

Probably never going to be blogged:

I made some really lovely khaki pants with burberry-esque trim. They are really nice! I tailored the legs to be a little slimmer than my normal wide legged pants - trying to be a little more stylish. Then I gained some weight. And can't get them on. Sadness.


I quilted a Halloween quilt for someone on a home machine (the long arm was broken) and did really cool patterns in the border. I *thought* I photographed it, but apparently I had a bad camera moment. Because the photos are gone.


I made Ethan some church slacks with elastic waist since he is growing so darn fast. But he refuses to be photographed. It's ok. They are just black twill, but they make a huge difference on how he looks going to church! (and is comfort level)


And there was one more "Trip Around the World" Quilt out of my beloved PB & J fabric. It's hanging on a wall with glass bricks and looks TERRIBLE in the photos. I mean really terrible. So that one will have to wait until I take it down to quilt it.


And with that, everything I made in 2014 has now been blogged!!!!!

Signature Quilt

Twelve years ago I started working at the best Arts and Crafts program in the Army. It was such a blessing to get the job and I loved it! I worked hard and when the job opened up to be the director of the program I applied. I never dreamed I would actually get the job! Nine years later I'm still here and still loving it!

Back when the store was "The Gussy Goose" we had a lot of quilters. When someone would move, one of the traditions was for everyone to make a block and sign it. Sometimes the blocks would go ahead and be pieced into a quilt top, and sometimes they would be delivered in a box for the person to put together the way they wanted.

I used to always joke, "I'm the one who never leaves. I'll never get a quilt!" Then a few months ago, when another employee was leaving, it dawned on me. Why not make my own memory quilt of everyone who worked with me?! Brilliant! I wish I had thought of it years ago!

I toyed with different patterns and nothing really felt right. Then just a few days ago I put the pieces together. I have been working on a postage stamp quilt of all my fabric scraps. What better way to make a memory quilt than to use THAT as my signature quilt?! 

So now for the signatures! I posted an all points bulletin on FaceBook and got a great response. More proof that you guys are the most awesome people to work with in the world! For those of you who said they would make a block and send it to me, this is your tutorial. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the memories we shared, what we learned together, and for your part in making the Arts and Craft program so incredible!

4 1/2" Signature Block

This is a preview of what the quilt will look like put together. The pattern is floating around the web, but I found this free pattern, if you are interested in making one yourself. I didn't use the strip method, but it's great for the rest of the pattern. 

Briar Rose Quilt Pattern

 Step 1: You need a 4 1/2" block of white (please make sure it's really white, and not cream) and two 2 1/2" blocks of scrap fabrics. This is fun because I get to see something from your stash!

Step 2: If it helps, you can draw a diagonal line across the little squares. That's where you will sew.

Step 3: Stitch across the diagonal, with the printed side of the fabric facing the white.

Step 4: Line up the corner of the little block with the corner of the white fabric. Then press. This helps get it properly lined up and keep the square 4 1/2". 

Step 5: Add your name, which facility/department you worked in, and the years you were here. If you have a fabric pen/marker please use it. If not, a pencil is fine and I can trace over it with a marker when it gets here.

I plan to work on this quilt for a long time, so there is no rush to get your block finished! I'm going to start this tradition with every employee, volunteer, and contractor when they leave. So depending on how long I stay here, it could be a very long work in progress. When you are ready to stick it in the mail, just shoot me a message on FB and I'll send you my address. 

Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH for being willing to participate in this quilt! I am so excited to start!

PS. This isn't my first time using this pattern. I had already started one with my BELOVED Modern Meadow that I finally cut into! This one is still a work in progress too, but about half finished. I needed to buy more white to finish it up. I started it as lap size, but loved it so much that I took it apart and added more blocks! I think it will finish out to queen sized.