Friday, July 29, 2016

a new quilt top and a few more pincushions

Welcome to finish it up Friday!

Last weekend I managed to sew some blocks that have been sitting in limbo for a long time into a quilt top. According to Instagram, I was working on these blocks in February of 2014. Yikes! I guess some projects need to marinate longer than others!
These blocks were inspired by a little doo-dad that my son made out of perler beads several years ago. It just goes to show you that inspiration truly can come from anywhere! I started with one mini charm pack of Tula Pink fabrics, which are surrounded by Oakshotts. The colors of the cross weaves are so brilliant--they shimmer! The background is Essex linen in the color flax.
I like that some of the blocks have 4 squares inside and some only have 3 squares inside. I also like the setting of the blocks! The quilt is a twin size...and any name suggestions are welcome. :) I'm still mulling over how to quilt it, and hopefully that won't take me 2 years to decide!

I'm still on track with my pincushion challenge. It has been so. much. fun!
Day 26....
I made another diamond pincushion (based on my diamond pillow pattern). I love this simple design and it uses super tiny scraps. It measures about 4 1/2" square and it is scrap project # 172.

Day 27....
I made 2 pincushions for day 27 because I was testing some measurements. (I'm working on writing up a set of pincushion patterns...I hope to release them in a few days.) I made another diamond pincushion, but this time I used a striped fabric in place of the scraps. I thought that was a lot of fun twist...and much quicker! The pincushion on the right is a multi-colored version of the pincushion I showed on day 1. These are scrap project # 173.

Day 28...
I am rather fond of this little herringbone pincushion! It was foundation pieced onto paper. Again, the scraps are super tiny...most of the strips finishing at just under 1/2". (!!!) It measures 2 1/4" x 6" and it is scrap project #174.

One more thing for today...
I made these needle minders as gifts for my retreat friends last weekend. I thought they turned out pretty cute! (I love that I didn't even need to add a watermark to this photo. ha!) These are made from scraps as well, and are project # 175.
 
 
Alright! That's it for me today. Please link up you finishes for the week. Thanks for joining me for finish it up Friday! Have a safe weekend! 

41 comments:

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

Somehow the quilt top reminds me of prayer flags or prayer beads; I like the variation in the number of charms in the blocks as well. If those ideas don't resonate, it also looks like a path of pavers. :)

Kitty | Night Quilter said...

I LOVE your pincushions! I never thought to make a long and skinny one, but since seeing yours, I have one (slowly) in the works! So much fun :)

Your pattern oddly reminds me of robots or computers... "disk drive" comes to mind as a name! LOL (I have a 4 year old son who is constantly in imagination land as a robot... it rubs off!)

Julia Graber said...

I love your windows in your cityscape quilt! How about High Rise?

Melanie said...

Because of your inspiration I would call it Pearl Charms. The blocks remind me of the small pearl charm bracelets or the pearl zipper pulls and that it's a word play to the included charm pack - even better :)

Lorna McMahon said...

Sadly... I'm not good at naming quilts... But I do agree that it is Simply Charming. What a great pattern for showing off mini charms or treasured scraps! Love seeing all your new pin cushions. You sure are a busy stitcher!

Jan @Cocoa Quilts said...

I love these pincushions. I have mixed feelings about the month coming to an end. I get to see a few more pincushions and I don't get to see any new pincushions.

Can't wait to see the last few.

✾Jamie Lee Cooley✾ said...

How about "beacon?" Or maybe "dot dot dash?" Or "bright beads?" It sure is pretty whatever you call it!

Kris said...

I'd go with "Bead Box". I used to make jewelry, and it reminds me of those little divided storage containers.

And I see it quilted with some funky angles, like triangles or staggered rectangles. Like this: http://quiltingstencils.com/take-five-paper-pantograph-4/ or like this: http://quiltingstencils.com/metropolitan-paper-pantograph-7/.

I tend to like really simple quilting lines, tho.....

Tori said...

Love those adorable needle minders! Please tell how you made them?

CherylB said...

Hmmmm...... Reminds me of the 'old' film strips!?
'"Film strip" or "film at 11"

Lucy | Charm About You said...

Beautiful quilt and love your inspiration! I like the suggestion of Bead Box! Lovely pincushions and very cute needle minders :)

SewPsyched! said...

I would call that lovely quilt Pez Dispenser! XO!

Joan said...

The quilt reminds me of those Japanese room dividers called "Shoji Screens."

Dasha said...

Those tower blocks remind me of a city at night with the sky scrapers lit up. Lovely quilt.
You make me feel dizzy with all those pin cushions you are making. I am flat out making one in a year. LOL They are so diverse and so pretty.

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

The quilt is awesome. I love perler beads. It's been fun following your pincushion journey.

KaHolly said...

Your quilt top is just delightful! I like the term 'marinate'...almost makes it sound intentional! I think you've officially become the pincushion queen! Great focus! Pincushion patterns for some of these would be great!

Julie Bagamary said...

What a fun quilt!

Sarah Craig said...

Oh, I love that quilt - and what a great way to use those mini charm packs! I have several, but never know quite what to make with them. I also have some shot cottons tucked away and I think I've still got some Essex Linen - so I see one of these in my future! Oh, and that herringbone pincushion is sheer genius....

Mama Pea said...

Thank you for the needle minder. I love it. I still stick with Apiary for the name nuts fitting and sounds cool. �� I love this quilt!!

Karen said...

I think they look like paper lanterns. Will look beautiful quilted.

GabiP said...

I hate to ask a silly question, but what is a needle minder? They are very cute...but I don't know what they are" 😳

Rita Montgomery said...

"Beads in a bottle" or "High Rise". Lovely quilt.

P11otter said...

Your pincushions are adorable! !

Cindy P. said...

Thanks for sharing all the pincushions lately! When I saw the quilt top, I thought of fused glass prisms for a wind chime. Someone else mentioned lanterns, and that made me remember construction paper lanterns we made as kids. Just a little food for thought. Can't wait to see it quilted, so don't take to long to finish it, please!

PersimonDreams said...

I love your new quilt top! Mixing up the number of squares inside was pure genius!

Maybe just name it "Perler Beads" ... I think it's awesome to find inspiration from there!

Cathy Melancon said...

I think it's safe to say that I love everything that comes out of your studio! The top is so pretty and I love the Essex linen background - it totally makes the blocks pop! I am not good at naming quilts - sorry! I never get tired of seeing your pincushions! Adorable and so modern! Oh, and the needle minders! Perfect!!!

Lois said...

They look like windows to me - I love it😀

ronnie said...

I have loved all the pincushion posts too! I want to make a pincushion to sit at the throat of my Janome, now I just have to decide which one I like best..... I'd love to know how you make a needle minder too. Your quilt is so cute. It reminds me of "elevator buttons", at least I wish they were colorful like that. Love your blog. Thanks for all the inspiration.

Nancy said...

Quilt name -Summer Windows. They look so pretty.
Love all the pincushions!

Marrianna said...

Hello Amanda Jean. I am a new follower of your blog. I hopped on via Bloglovin during the Amy Butler blog tour. I love your pincushions. I followed back to your post that listed what you used for stuffing for the pincushions, thank you so much. But now I can't figure out thie
"scrap project #174" that you list in each description of the pincushions. Maybe you could put a link to the blog post where you started the "scrap project..." Maybe? Please?
I'm enjoying your quilts so much. I'm a new quilter and I don't get as much sewing done as you do. But I love fabric and I love seeing the fabrics all stacked together.
Anyway, I'm here and I'm glad of it.
Take care,
Marrianna in Flagstaff, AZ

Jessica said...

Great use of little scraps! I love it! Maybe emphasize the "windows" with echoing?

Marsha L said...

Love the quilt and I've really enjoyed the pincushions. I'm curious about the needle minders, too, and would love to see how those are made.

Blue dragonfly5 said...

Love the quilt, great us do the small mini charms.

Unknown said...

I made some needle minders for my quilt group and a few extras to throw into Guild swaps, etc. I have a few for myself, but I can't ever remember to use them, need to but it with my thread or somewhere I will remember to use it!

Karen said...

Elevator buttons--Going Up?

Sandy said...

Maybe you have answered this before,but what is the gray fabric that you use for your pincushion background?

Nell said...

What is wrong with just calling it "the Doodad quilt"? You amaze me with your productivity. Your blog never fails to make me want to sew. I did clean off my desk today so a sewing session is definitely getting closer lol

Tami Von Zalez said...

I goofed up on my link - can you delete it for me? I can't edit the link but my good post is at
http://thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com/2016/07/pink-and-scrappy.html

Abby said...

I agree. They are just so cute and a lively stitch gift. I'd love to know how you made them.

KathyinMN said...

Love the quilt. They look like candles to me, the kind with multicolored insides. I suggest Lumos, the wand lighting spell from Happy Potter. The pin cushion challenge has been inspiring to follow.

CherylB said...

Marrianna I'm a newbie as well! I get inspiration from this blog and diary of a quilter blog. I'm on quilt 10!! Only 1.5 years in as a quilter! I love it! I believe she uses the crushed walnut shells or lizard litter as stuffing