Goodbye SeamedUP - Hello ThreadBias!

So I guess you heard.

Yes, we are so sorry to say that SeamedUP is no more.  It has been such an interesting ride, an incredible learning experience, and a tremendous opportunity to get more involved with the quilting community; in the end, we just couldn't sustain the amount of time and resources the site required.

One of the best things about being invited onto this team was getting to work with Brye and Allison and the volunteers.

The worst part was not having time to actually use this site that I loved.

Hopefully I will be able to keep the conversation alive with all of the quilters in this phenomenal community through more consistent blogging.

And, hopefully, I will now have more time to quilt and chat. 

On that note, I'm heading over to ThreadBias to set up my sewing room.  It looks like fun place to gather with a lot of the same features as SeamedUP.  I will be QuiltinJenny over there as well, so why don't you come too and we'll follow each other?

Thanks so much to everyone who joined us at SeamedUP.  We loved seeing every one of your projects and each glimpse into your sewing room.  




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#NQDSI - National Quilting Day Sew-In Giveaway

Have you heard about the National Quilting Day Sew-In SeamedUP is hosting on Twitter tomorrow?  The hashtag is #NDSI, in honor of the 22nd anniversary of National Quilting Day.

In addition to the great prizes from SeamedUP, you can also add your linky to the SeamedUP blog post and offer giveaways on your own blog.

I've decided to offer the "green" bundle below to a random commenter, either here or on my Facebook page.  You can be entered up to twice.  You do NOT have to come back here and post that you commented on Facebook; just be sure to like my page and comment on the post about #NQDSI.  I will count the comments in order here...1,2,3,4,5...and then keep going on facebook...6,7,8...and use the Random Number Generator to pick.

The prize bundle is "green", in honor of St. Patrick's Day and the future of quilting. It will include:

1. Strip Tube Ruler - so you can use all your scrappy strips in your stash
2. A stack of pre-cut denim squares, enough to make my Green (and Purple) quilt, and the instructions for how I did it
3. A 1-yard cut of fabric from my stash.  I have several in mind, and will just email images to the winner and let them pick their favorite.

I hope to see you on Twitter at some point during the day.  Good luck during the giveaways, and Happy Quilting Day!



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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - A Twist of Lemon

My last Modern Block is A Twist of Lemon by Ellen Luckett Baker.   

I don't have much of a garment sewing background, so I don't think I've ever made pleats.  This block intimidated me at first, but the directions are great and it went together so simply.  I'm really proud of how it turned out.  I think this would be a gorgeous pillow to add texture and a pop of color to a room.

And that's that!  I'm so happy that I did this quilt along 100% from my stash and didn't buy a single scrap of fabric.  Even if each block was one 12 1/2" square (believe me, they weren't) I used up about four yards of fabric.  I would love to know how much I really used!

I hope you've enjoyed the quilt along posts.  It has been fun for me and prompted me to step outside my comfort zone.  I also sewed more often over the last few months.  Have you participated in a quilt along?  Does it help keep you inspired or bore you?
 


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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - Fungus Family Portrait

Today's Modern Block is Fungus Family Portrait by Amy Sinibaldi.   

More applique...this is such a cute block, but getting the fusible off those tee-niny stems was a bear!



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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - Botanical

Today's Modern Block is Botanical by Louise Papas.  

I love this block.  It truly feels like a very modern block to me.  I love the design choices, how you can show off different fabrics, and that it would give you some beautiful options for quilting.  I had not heard of Louise before this quilt along, but have fast become a fan!



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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - Three Wishes

Today's Modern Block is Three Wishes by Jamie Moilanen.  

I really like this block, but it taught me an important lesson about "wonky" quilting.  I like the look of wonky and I like the freedom it gives to design your own blocks, but following someone else's pattern for a wonky quilt is just as - if not more - difficult than following a traditional pattern.  I really struggled with the angles and cutting pieces big enough for the space, much like I do with paper piecing.



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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - Winner's Circle

Today's Modern Block is Winner's Circle by Elizabeth Scott. 

Another great block for photo transfer.  The only tricky part was fusing the black piece around the photo without getting that hot iron on the picture itself.  Also, I think I have it angled a little too much!  This would be such a fun block for any sports snaps.  



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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - Slice of Heaven

Today's Modern Block is Slice of Heaven by Pat Sloan.   

This was not my favorite block. It just doesn't seem to go with the rest of the book.  It was easy, though, and a good way to practice machine applique.  You'd never know I ironed that sucker!



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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - Pixel Peaks

Today's Modern Block is Pixel Peaks by Amy Ellis. 

I was surprised at how easily this block went together.  It looked like it had the potential to get really wonky.  I pinned a lot and was very happy with my points.



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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - In the Hoop

Today's Modern Block is In the Hoop by Susanne Woods.

I am really enjoying the embroidered projects in this book, and have found a renewed interest in embroidery.  I have to confess that I cheated and used fusible bias tape instead of making my own bias strips.   



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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - Line Up

Today's Modern Block is Line Up by Angela Yosten.

What a sweet, simple block.  This is a great one to show off antique buttons.  I used some from my grandmother's button box.  I wonder about the blouse they were cut from.  She wasted nothing! 



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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - Maybe...

Today's Modern Block is Maybe... by Susanne Woods. 

This is a fun block to experiment with color.  I thought it was fun for Valentine's Day, so I leaned more toward the pinks.  

If you made this block, what would you write on that line?  

"Yes."  

"It's a girl."  

"I love you." 



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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - In the Window

Today's Modern Block is In the Window by Viv Wride.

I took another shot at curved piecing. This was a little more tricky because it was smaller, but I loved using this print and the wintry looking fabric around it. I'm so happy with the effect created.

I know the kids with the kite are really supposed to be from spring or fall, but I couldn't resist the effect of the kite crossing into the diagonal frame.



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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - Juicy

Today's Modern Block is Juicy by Mo Beldell.  I thought this one was appropriate for the Georgia girl to make. 

This is another block/technique I've always admired but was afraid to try, curved piecing.  Some day, I say, I'm going to make a whole Drunkard's Path quilt.  The instructions on this block were great and my curves came out pretty well! My only suggestion is to square up the block before adding the borders; if you look closely, you can see that my edges got a little wonky. I didn't realize it until I was squaring up the block.



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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - Stacked Squares

Today's Modern Block is Stacked Squares by Amanda Sasikirana

This block is super easy, especially if you do what I did and don't follow the directions. Maybe because Valentine's Day is coming up, but I adore the pink and brown together!



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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - Missing Your Kiss

Today's Modern Block is Missing Your Kiss by Penny Michelle Layman.

This block looked so intimidating to me at first, I almost didn't try it. I'm so glad I did! It went together beautifully and would be a great way to use up strings in your stash. It could also be a terrific leader/ender project to keep next to your machine. I think this would make a fun pillow with just one block or a fun whole quilt.


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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - To a T

Today's Modern Block is To a T by Cheryl Arkison.   

This is possibly the easiest block ever.  It's a fun one to play around with big graphic fabrics and contrast.  There are so many ways to arrange groups of this block!



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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - Turnaround

Today's Modern Block is Turnaround by Monique Dillard.

This is one of the more intricate blocks, but so fabulous!  I love the motion of it, and think it would be an awesome one made into a whole quilt or used as an alternate block to create a cool secondary pattern.  Are there any blocks that come to mind that would be a good pairing with this one?  Let me know what you think!

My one bit of advice is to trim away the excess fabric from your flying geese units to reduce the bulk.  Also, lay it out on your sewing table with the picture.  If you look at mine and the original, you will see that I turned my center unit the wrong way.  I don't think it particularly matters, but it is easy to do.  



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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - Stonehenge

Today's Modern Block is Stonehenge by Amy Ellis.

 This is another simple yet striking block.  It would make a fantastic two-color quilt, and Amy suggests strip piecing if you were going to make a bunch of identical blocks.  It went together in a snap, and (I think) would offer an interesting secondary design. 



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Modern Blocks Quilt Along - Escalator

Today's Modern Block is Escalator by Ann Haley.

This block looked harder than it actually turned out to be, and could be laid out in a whole quilt a bunch of different ways.  I used all the 1930's prints left over from Boxed In, and it went together easily. 

My only suggestion is that you lay it out on your sewing table with the directions in front of you and take your time.  It would be very easy to get a piece out of place, and those bias edges could get wonky quick if you had to rip out.



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