Finished: The Atomic Apps Quilt

I just can’t begin to tell you all how excited I am to share with you my finished Atomic Apps quilt. This is the one where I served as a pattern tester for Kati at from the blue chair, with its design based on a drawing made by her six-year-old daughter.

Kati did a great job with the pattern. In fact, I’d say it was one of the fastest tops I’ve ever finished. The straight-line quilting, however, not so much, but that’s OK, because I’m in love with how it turned out and was the perfect thing for my 1950s-inspired look.

A serendipitous element occurred when I had to buy more Kona medium gray. At the time, I didn’t know how much variation there is with Kona dye lots and wasn’t sure I wanted to proceed until I had enough to make the top from the same lot.

But I decided to go with it, and I’m so glad because I think the variation makes the top even more interesting.

Here’s a look at the back, which I kept pretty simple and with a focus on the inspiration fabric:

Believe me, the middle isn’t that wonky, it’s just my bad camera angle. Although if it were, it would go with the front.The batting was some Warm and Natural that I had on hand. Not my first choice, but it was actually pretty easy to quilt on, and the price was right. I made the scrappy binding with some of the leftover scraps.

I can’t resist adding one more detail shot, just for fun and a little self-promotion:

If you’d like to make your own Apps quilt, you can purchase the pattern at the following links:

http://www.craftsy.com/user/1036910/pattern-store

https://www.etsy.com/shop/fromthebluechair

I’m linking up with Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday — my first time ever! Have a great weekend, everyone.

XOXO,
Sandra

 

A very inspiring award

Just when you least expect it, the nicest thing can happen to you. I was minding my own business last night, watching “The Bachelorette” (try not to judge, even if you really want to) in between bursts of finishing the quilting on my Atomic Apps quilt.

I decide to take a quick look at my mail and saw a message from Erin at Crosstitchery telling me that she’s nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award!

To say I’m gobsmacked by this doesn’t begin to do my feelings justice. Erin, thank you so much. I am truly humbled by this honor.

There are a few requirements that go along with this nomination:

1. Thank and link to the person who nominated you.
2. List the rules and display the award.
3. Share seven facts about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 other amazing blogs and comment on their posts to let them know that they are nominated.
5. Proudly display the award logo on your blog and follow the blogger that nominated you.

Having had to come up with 25 things for Stephanie and our Supernova Friendship Block Swap, finding seven is easy:

1. My favorite place on earth is the beach.
2. On a rainy afternoon, there’s nothing I like better than stretching out on my couch under a blanket with a cuppa and a good book.
3. My three favorite animals are cats, elephants and whales. Unfortunately, I can only keep one of them.
4. I love all kinds of music and have sung semi-professionally.
5. I love old movies. One of my favorites is “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” with Rex Harrison and Gene Tierney.
6. I am seriously addicted to oatmeal and eat it for breakfast every morning. Sometimes even for a late night snack as well.
7. I love the adventure of going to new places. I hope to cross Australia off my bucket list one day.

Here are my blogging nominations (in no particular order):

1. Tallgrass Prairie Studio
2. Late Night Quilter
3. House on Hill Road
4. Buzy Day
5. Christa Quilts
6. From the Blue Chair
7. Wasn’t Quilt in a Day
8. Wombat Quilts
9. Cross Stitch Bobobitch Mononitch
10. Simplify
11. Lollyquiltz
12. CraftyPod
13. Don’t Call Me Betsy
14. Freshly Pieced
15. Film in the Fridge

I hope you’ll check out these other great blogs. They are definitely where I get daily inspiration!

XOXO,
Sandra

Random things …

I’m working on a few random projects this holiday weekend, which hopefully will lead to some finishes soon. I’ll let the photos tell the story this week.

First up, I made the top to my Michael Miller Challenge quilt. It’s my first design, and I’m really happy with how it’s turned out. (Though I’m befuddled as to why the center square looks a little skewed in this photo since I straightened it with a level on my design wall and set the camera on a flat surface before I took the shot.)

Here’s a close-up of the center:

To get ready to quilt, I’m making these practice sandwiches from old, cheap quilt fabric.

Last, but not least, I’m also almost done with my Atomic Apps quilt. Only two more block rows left! (Why didn’t anyone warn me how time consuming straight-line quilting is?)

And, if I recall correctly, I think there’s something called a Supernova Friendship Block Swap that I’d better get cracking on before the July 15 deadline!

Happy belated July 4 and July 1 (to my Canadian friends)!

XOXO,
Sandra