Airplane Quilt

I was so excited when a friend of mine asked me if I would create a quilt for her nephews birthday. He LOVES airplanes so she wanted to give him something that incorporated airplanes in some way. I immediately went to the Embroidery Library website looking for something that would fill this request.  

I fell absolutely in LOVE with this design and I knew it would be perfect. The quilt top is a variation of Teacher's Pet Take 3 Quilt Pattern which was the very first quilt pattern I ever made. I used the larger block version to allow for the embroidery to stand out against the top.

I did a free motion technique using invisible thread on my Babylock Sophia. I wanted the quilting to resemble the wind and clouds in the sky. My friend gasped at the sight o the finished product. She is so please. The quilt will be gifted at the end of the month so I will let everyone know how it was received.

Happy Sewing,

- The Mad Quilter

How Funky is Your Chicken?????

These chickens are PRETTY FUNKY. This quilt was so much fun to make and it just brightens my day every time I look at them. My friend Sheryl was so helpful in teaching me this new technique.

The chickens are paper pieced. I wanted to learn this technique so that I can start working on a beautiful kit my grandfather got me when he was visiting down south. Sheryl made this easy to make and it was fun using such bright fabrics.

The buttons came from my friend Colleen...They are just so perfect...The doka pot wings came from one of the chickens Sheryl used in her Chicken Quilt. I love sharing fabric. It is so cool when fabric gets into multiple quilts.

We used wool felt for the feet, beaks and crown so that we did not have to worry about turning the fabric. I love how his feet hang down.

I used a decorative stitch with variaged fabric around my chickens. The boarder is made from 2.5 inch strips to create a piano key boarder. I used fabric from 2 30s charm packs that I had. This quilt makes me smile...

Happy Quilting
- The Mad Quilter

Americana Folded Star

This has been one of my favorite classes from PQ so far. Colleen made it so easy and believe it or not there is absolutely no sewing. This is made by simply folding and ironing. It was just wonderful in the class because I was able to see all the beautiful color combinations people used. I made six of these as Christmas gifts and people just loved them. I plan to make one for my home for each season.

We are gearing up for a huge winter storm for tomorrow. School has already been canceled for tomorrow and I am looking forward to being a snowbunny for the day. I have a ton of snow related objects to work on so I better get to it.

Happy Sewing
-The Mad Quilter

30s Christmas Stockings

 Every Christmas I start all these beautiful projects for my home. Then every Christmas I am so busy making gifts for other people that none of my projects ever get done. This year I was determined to finish my projects.

Both of these stockings were created were left over fabric from a large Christmas quilt I have been working on. I made 6 stockings total and people loved them as gifts.

Happy Sewing,
-The Mad Quilter

Aprons for Christmas

This year for Christmas I decided to make Aprons for my sisters out of this really cute NYC fabric. They are on their own and learning how to cook and take care of themselves. I used a pink pocket and used my babylock to put their names on each apron. The aprons came in their own homemade stockings with made from vintage christmas fabric with matching circle napkins...More gifts to come...stay tuned...

Happy Sewing...
The Mad Quilter

Attic Windows Wall Hanging - Halloween

If you cannot tell from all my previous posting I am just IN LOVE with Red Rooster fabrics this season. I love the soft colors and simply adorable novelty prints. My husband likes the fabrics also so it is a win win all around.

This quilt is a result of a class I took at PQ a few months back with Alice. Her sample was just beautiful with an Asian inspired print. I almost didn't take the class because it looked way too difficult for me. Alice encouraged me to take the class and I am so very happy that I did.  

Alice also helped me pick out the fabric. I knew I wanted to complete the wall hanging using Halloween fabrics but I did not see any that really spoke to me. Alice suggested I use this Red Rooster panel. I was a little nervous about cutting the panel up because I was afraid that you would lose the overall feel of the scene. Alice said that it would be like a "Picasso Tree" and she was right. As the quilt started to come together I just fell in love!!!!

 To create the attic window effect I needed to create templates using freezer paper. Alice walked us through the process step-by-step helping us minimize any mistakes along the way. I was surprised at how easy the quilt was once I got the hang of it. The templates we created also helped to create the beautiful mitered corners.

 What I like most about this quilt is that they way that the fabric gives each block a 3D feel. It really feels as if you are looking through a window. I think it is just such a cool effect!

 Once the quilt was together I had to decide how to quilt it. I decided to try some outline quilting, which is something that is very challenging for me. I worked very slow on my machine attempting to create this shadow type look. For this being my first time quilting this way I am pretty happy with the results.

I was so happy with this quilt that I have already began purchasing fabric for a winter themed quilt. I would like to create a similar wall hanging for each season for my house. Thanks to all the girls who helped me make this quilt possible.

Much Love & Happy Sewing,
- The Mad Quilter

Hallows Eve Wall Hanging

If you can't tell from all my recent postings I am absolutely in love with Red Rooster fabrics this season. I love holiday decor but my husband is not a fan of anything too over the top. Red Rooster Fabric line is a great comprise for us both. I still get to decorate for my favorite holidays and he doesn't have to feel like the holiday threw up in our house...Like they say...marriage is all about compromise.

So I will tell you that he loves all the Red Rooster Fabrics I have been working with this season. This pieces I actually made over the winter from a kit I purchased at PQ. I liked it so much that I made one for my mother-in-law also. I liked that it was Halloween themed without being overly complicated. I also liked that I could really use this piece the entire fall season instead of just until Halloween. I also used stippling when quilting this pieces and again I am very happy with how it came out. I am looking forward to enjoying this piece for many years in our family.

Happy Sewing,

- The Mad Quilter