My goal was to get this made before my stores opens. It opens today and I finished this on Saturday.
This one is just like the other two I've made. Click here to see mine and click here to see the one I made for my mom.
I made this as a gift. I'm pretty sure the recipient doesn't read my blog, but just to be on the safe side I will not name names. This used the last of the bag inserts I purchased. I may need to get some more of them. I would love to make my own inserts, but I can't even purchase the materials to make one for less than these cost already made!
As promised, here is the completed top for my version of the Postcard from Sweden quilt.
I made the smaller version which finishes at 48" by 60". I followed the pattern as closely as I could since I will have kits available for this quilt in my brick and mortar shop, Alamosa Quilt Company. In fact, if you click on the link you will notice that I am using a photo of this quilt as the header photo on the website.
I took lots of photos since I was trying to get one I could use for the store website. Here is another one I like.
One last time, the free pattern for this quilt is available by clicking here. The original pattern uses 36 Kona solids. My version uses a combination of Moda fabrics: Bella Solids, Grunge and Crossweave Wovens.
I had a wonderful time at my retreat over the weekend. It was a nice break. I'll be really busy this week preparing for my store opening on the 15th.
The mystery blocks this time were "hugs and kisses" blocks. Here are the two I made.
And this is the completed top.
One of the ladies will finish it and turn it in for our oncology project.
I only worked on two of the five or six projects I took with me. My main project was my Postcard from Sweden quilt. I showed you the fabrics I was using previously. Click here to see them all.
There was quite a bit of snow up at the retreat center so I took my project outside after I had a few rows together for a photo.
I came home with half of the top together and all but one row of HST units made. I will finish it up this week and get a photo for you. This will hang in my shop as a store sample. I plan to make up kits for my version of this quilt. The original used all Kona solids. My version uses all Moda fabric, because this is mainly what my store has at the moment. The fabrics are a mix of Grunge, Crossweave Wovens and Bella Solids.
The original quilt is gorgeous, but I really like the movement the Grunge and Wovens add to the solids.
I'll show you the other project I worked on later this week.
Have you seen any of the Postcard From Sweden quilts? I saw my first one a few months ago and promptly downloaded the free pattern. Click here to see the original and get the free pattern.
Here are the fabrics I am using.
This is a mix of Bella Solids, Grunge and Crossweave - all from Moda. I plan to offer kits of these fabrics in my shop. I'm making the smaller size that requires 5" squares.
I'm off to my guild retreat this weekend and these fabrics have gone with me. This will probably be my last opportunity to go to my guild retreat for a while since I am now a business owner. I plan to enjoy my "last hoorah."
I've been thinking about this for a while and this month seems like a good time to start. My scrap group is starting a new project this month and you are invited to sew along with us. Our meeting day is the third Wednesday of each month. That will be February 17th this month. On that day I will post directions here for our project so you can sew along with us if you choose.
The project will be a block of the month I'm calling "Goose on the Loose." Every block will use flying geese units and we will cover various ways of making flying geese. There will be twelve blocks, twelve inch finished size. The blocks will be sashed in some way and there will be at least two border options. The working finished size is 52" by 66", but this might change. I have been known to change alter my initial plan.
I have a drawing and I've made the first two blocks but I am working along with everyone so I don't have a finished quilt to show you. This is the first block.
And this is the second.
I am using all scraps but you could restrict your background to a single fabric.
The details:
On the third Wednesday of each month I will post directions for at least one block until we've made twelve blocks. Once the directions for all twelve blocks have been posted I will post sashing and border instructions. I expect this will take about a year since instructions will only be posted once a month.
You are encouraged to play along with us. If you just want to collect the patterns each month to save for later, that is fine too. Before the end of February I will add a tab for this so that you will be able to easily find the posts each month.
Start cutting your scraps! The first block requires 2", 2.5" and 3" squares. The second block requires 2.5", 4" and 4.5" squares.
I usually cut my scraps into 2" squares, 2.5" squares, 3" squares, 4" squares, 5" squares and 6" squares. If necessary I cut larger squares down into smaller ones. For example, I don't usually cut 4.5" squares to stash. When I need 4.5" squares, I cut 5" squares down to 4.5". You need to decide what sizes work for you and start cutting.
I've been able to do a bit of sewing lately. It isn't fancy, but it is a completed top.
If it looks familiar it's because this is the second one of these I've made. Click here to see the first one. I have enough squares already cut for a third one of these.
The plan is to quilt it simply like the first one and turn it over to my guild's charity quilt chairperson.
Alamosa Quilt Company Update:
I have a logo!
The guy came Friday afternoon to install it on the front door. I tried to get a picture of it but it is really hard to photograph because of the position of the door and the windows. I need to find something dark to put behind it so that I can get a photo. I have an idea but it requires an assistant. However, it looks pretty much like the above.
We have all of the fabric entered into inventory in the computer. Whew! That was quite a job. We cut four fat quarters from each fabric which adds up to over 1000 fat quarters that had to be folded. Believe it or not, they are all neatly folded.
Here are some photos from around the shop.
The shop is not full by any means but the rest will come with time and as finances allow. Lots of fabric has been ordered but the ship dates are spread out from now through October. That's just the way the fabric business works.
Opening day has been set, February 15, 2016. The grand opening will begin February 29th, which will be a fun date to celebrate on in years to come.
