Monday, March 31, 2008

this one's for me

see, this is what happens when I try to take photos of my quilts.



and I'm really not complaining. :)

Yes, it's another happy hour quilt. This is a great pattern for a beginner. Aside from the cutting, (which is easy, but takes awhile) the quilt goes together in a snap. And it's a good way to show off fabrics with a larger print.

I used Heather Bailey Freshcut fabric, some Joel Dewberry and a few prints from Mill End Textiles. Oh, and there is some Denyse Schmidt fabric in there, too.

This time I used serger thread to quilt it. Although it's polyester, I love serger thread for a few reasons. It's thinner than the cotton stuff I usually use, so it blends in a bit better. And it comes on a spool with 3000 yards, so there is no danger of running out of thread during a project. I used light pink thread here and it blends in well, even with the green.

For the backing I used some Freshcut fabric that I got at my local quilt shop for 60% off. (It was difficult to stop from buying the whole bolt.)

The quilt measures about 70" square.
---------------
So this is the start of finish it up week for me. I have a bunch of projects that I need to complete, (pincushions, bunnies and quilts) so I am going to try to finish as many as possible. Anyone else care to join me?

66 comments:

Anina said...

I love the colors. Of course.
Funny enough I just put serger thread in my machine for the "winging it" quilte because I don't have enough regular off-white and figured this would do.
I will gladly join you in "finish it off" week. I have a couple of things on my list that I should really get to.

AndreaLea said...

Oh my, those are adorable pictures! The quilt and the baby are lovely.

Val said...

I will join in too. Thanks for the sweet comment on my quilt. I am proud but so scared I will do something to mess it up. Thank you

Kate said...

This quilt is fantastic! I remember my mom picking up this pattern at a quilt shop a couple of months ago and I didn't even think about using it for large patterns but it really is perfect, and I'm addicted to all the same fabrics, so will have to give it a try. I'm just starting on a finish it up month, way too many projects going on to finish in a week!

Gretchen said...

Lovely quilt!

I have multiple projects - both sewing and house wise that I need to finish. My husband is out of town - so this just may be the week!

Thanks for the inspiration.

Rebekah said...

very cute! I almost bought that book at the quilt show this weekend.

You really know how to crank out these beautiful quilts! I am so inspired/jealous :)

Pat at Bell Creek Quilts said...

Very pretty quilt. I'll have to put that pattern on my 'someday' list to do :) and I think you should have got the whole bolt at 60% off...where DO you shop, girlfriend? me thinks I need to get there fast! :)

Linda said...

lol! I giggled when I saw your kids on your quilt. I thought, "well, kids are better than cats" (which is usually how it goes at my house) Love your happy hour quilt.
I'll join you in the finish it up week. I have a few projects to get done. I've been sort of lazy and not finishing things, so this will be good.

Mama Urchin said...

I need something like a finish up year but I'll start with a week.

Anonymous said...

It looks great! Finish it up week is a great idea, I will have one next week. (we are renovating this week)

Abby and Stephanie said...

LOVE the Happy Hour pattern. Your colors are gorgeous. I did one using Kaffe Fassett fabrics (mostly)in persimmon, eggplant, blueberry, and celery. Not the colors I normally use but ONE piece of fabric called my name and I went from there.

kat | Taylor Made designs said...

It's so beautiful AmandaJean! I absolutely love the colours of this quilt. So springy. I especially like the cute little girl sitting on top :)

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you're keeping that one. It's so lovely. I adore how the quilt pattern lets the gorgeous fabrics shine through. Pink and green is one of my favorite color combos too. :)

Christina Lane | The Sometimes Crafter said...

Oh so cute! I have the same problem with pictures - only it's the dog that likes to get in the way! I so wish I could sit for more than 10 mins at my machine so I could "finish up" my million and one projects! Good luck!

dutchcomfort said...

I love the pictures of your quilt with the little one using it! That’s what quilts are for! The pattern is wonderful and the fabrics make it even more gorgeous!
I probably need a decade to finish my projects, but I will join this week... !

Heather said...

Beautiful! I have Freshcut fabric curtains...love her colors. Have you seen Joel Dewberry's newest colors? Very bright!

Unknown said...

Your quilt is beautiful - I need to make a big girl quilt for my 4 year old. That pattern may just be it! Thanks

house on hill road said...

it's gorgeous! i love pink and green.

jacquie said...

Cute kiddies...cute quilt too. This is the last time I'm going to admire a quilt made from this pattern and not make one. I'm ordering the pattern tonight. I love this!

esusan94 said...

Love the fabric, colors and shapes you made out of the quilt. On a sunny day you should go hang it outside on your line or fence and take a picture of it. It's gorgeous. I love that your daugther plopped right on it just like she is supposed to do with a quilt. :) If you email me I can email you a photo of my one and only quilt I made and plan to do more when my other hobby is not as busy (making cakes and cookies). LOL

Sarah and Jack said...

It's gorgeous!

I wish I could join you in finishing my current quilt in progress. But I am delayed by a husband who still needs to do the pattern math for me.

Kari V. said...

Gorgeous quilt! What room are you putting it in?

Breanna said...

What a gorgeous quilt! This looks like one I might actually be able to handle, minus the quilting part.

Crafty Mama said...

Too cute! I love shots like those. I'm in on the finish it up week. I have non-quilting things to do as well! What a great way to get motivated!

Emily Cole said...

It's beautiful... I want to join you, but may have to wait until tomorrow... my cold is lingering... I need to get my quilt-a-long finished so I won't already be behind when you start your next one! Ha!

Amy said...

Ok, so my motivation for doing such a large project needs to kick in. This quilt pattern is so pretty and with such excellent choices for fabrics I have no choice but to let this inspire me!

Roxanne said...

Yes, yes, yes! I would love to join in! I have a whole pile of projects that need to get finished so I can clean up the mess!

Love this quilt by the way! My friend Sara swears by this pattern too!

Anonymous said...

so beautiful... as always!!

Chara Michele said...

Oh that quilt is absolutely lovely! I look forward to seeing all your "finish it up" projects this week. I would join in if I had my sewing machine, but I guess I will just have to watch :)

Two Dogs and a Quilt said...

I too have some fresh cut fabric and have been thinking about doing the same pattern with them for quite some time. Your quilt turned out beautifully. Thanks for sharing your pictures!

Clair said...

I like the quilt. I see little A still has a fondness for her Too Big book. I won't be finishing a project this week-I am going to a movie tomorrow, AWANA on Wed, Thursday is quilt club, and Saturday is the women's event at church.

Philigry said...

oh, amandajean, I am in love. when you first showed pictures of your fabrics for this one, I knew i was going to have quilt envy.
I am glad you are keeping this one!
beautiful!

sulu-design said...

Your Finish It Up week is off to a great start. I love this quilt pattern, and like the colors and prints that you choose for it. Your little one sitting on it is an adorable sight. Looking forward to your next installment (but not joining in myself, as my unfinished projects are things like window frames that need to be painted, and I just don't have that in my right now).

lera said...

So pretty.

I should finish some of the dozen or so unfinished projects I have in my house (including that quilt top from last year!).

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Your quilt is just lovely...choice of fabric as always beautiful...

Sherry said...

How cute! Love the quilt too! :) I'm with you on finishing up some projects this week. Actually with a new month upon us, I'm ready to get lots of things finished up in April. Soon it will be time to get outside & spend some time planting flowers & enjoying the outdoors. Thanks for your inspiration!

Jody Sanders said...

Beautiful!! Thank you for the thread info too ... I've never considered using serger thread.

QuiltNut Creations said...

it's fantastic. LOVE the backing fabric. congrats on finishing another

i usually end up with a child of the 4-legged variety when i go to take a picture of a quilt lol

Red Geranium Cottage said...

Love the colors of your quilt. Great job!!

seemownay said...

This I would also keep for myself. It is such a lovely quilt so beautifully colored. I love it!

vlijtig said...

What a lovely quilt you made there. Quilting is not my thing, but quilts like these make me want to start making one right away. Well done! www. vlijtig.blogspot.com

tess said...

you make so many beautiful things you are truly an inspiration!

Louise said...

Pretty, pretty, pretty!! You are amazing! I would love to try and finish up a few projects this week - not sure I will but I'll give it a go!

Melanie said...

If you are after thinner thread that is almost invisible (but isnt the horrible to sew with monofilimint thread) try silk. It comes in a variety of thicknesses with the thinnest being almost invisible on the quilt and being silk, its really strong! I have yet to try it myself though I admit, but once I get a new sewing machine and start quilting the many UFO's I will be :)

Thriftin and Craftin said...

So beautiful. I finished handbasting a quilt last night. I'm going to try and machine quilt it today. I've only made a few quilts, so I'm nervous, but you can't learn if you don't try, right? I'll post photos on my blog if I'm at least satisfied with the results! Your quilts inspire the rest of us! GREAT JOB!

MichelleB said...

Wow! Another beautiful quilt. I have that pattern and am really going to have to try it - all of your quilts using it look great.

Fabricmom said...

I love this quilt. Great finish. I usually have cats trying to get in my pictures.

Oiyi said...

So cheerful! Your models are cute, too.

M said...

*drool*

I.
LOVE.
THIS.

Cindy @ Creating at Home said...

Your quilt is so beautiful!!

I would love to know where to get heather bailey fabric at 60% off! :-)

Anonymous said...

to die, die, die for!

Paula said...

dang ... you are incredible woman. You're like a lean mean quiltin' machine. This said from someone who has quilted a lone table runner...but has lots of fabric :)

And your quilt choices and fabric choices are out of this world!

Keep sharing!

Rachel said...

I love the color choices on this quilt! It looks like something I would make. Do you think you will have another quilt-a-long soon?

Nanette Merrill said...

Its stunning. You do such beautiful work.

Anonymous said...

It's beautiful and looks like something I might want to try.. I'm a beginner! I linked to you today!

Melissa said...

OH MY HEAVENLY BEAUTIFUL!! It is lovely I love all the color variations and the square layout. How much I need someone like you living next door!!
Lovely!

BumbleBee Bagz said...

I love your quilt...I also sew, maybe we can be blogger friends?

Unknown said...

Lovely quilt!! I love the pictures!! How fun! I don't think I would have been able to resist, I would have purchased the whole bolt!

SLEastler said...

Love the colors you chose! Thanks to you I'm actually going to try out your tutorial to quilt my next quilt. I've mostly been quilting by stitching the ditch or diagonal lines - now it's time for more yummy texture!

Anita D. said...

Wishing I were there to sit on the quilt and read along.

Julie said...

I just love the colours you have chosen for this Happy Hour Quilt. I feel the urge to make another....a little smaller using some of my own lovely pinks & green fabrics.

Anonymous said...

Oh I just love this one. So beautiful. You are such an inspiration!

Phyl said...

The quilt is delicious and your assistant is darling:).

No One Home said...

I love this quilt and the little fingers holding it on the banister for the picture. I'll have to get the book. This quilt would be perfect for the fabric I just bought.

SuzyQSparkles said...

Just noticed the ADORABLE LITTLE FINGERS you have holding this up to the banister.

Looking for inspiration on your site for a monochromatic purple quilt. Thinking of doing this Happy Hour pattern or another Atkinson Designs... Take Two.

Thanks for the inspirational site!

:D

Anonymous said...

Beautiful quilt - such lovely colours. Could you tell me please what are the dimensions of each block and the dimensions of each piece within the blocks? Thanks!