LAL#7: Inspired by Online Ruler Work Classes, Bathroom Tile Projects, and Chasing Butterflies

 Oh my gosh, you guys -- how is it Tuesday AGAIN?!  Last week, my big focus was on finishing up the quick and easy (NOT!) baby quilt top that I dreamed up in December of 2018.  It was for a baby who is now nearing two years old and who will become a big sister on or about October 1st.  I finished the curved piecing of these 9 1/2" giant clam shells last week and added a 2" outer border matching the background fabric, just enough so the clam shells float away from the binding when it's finished.  And then I went off chasing butterflies...

...Like, LITERALLY chasing butterflies, because I had this idea that I wanted butterflies to look like they were flying across the quilt top, as though the printed fabrics were flowers in a garden.  I considered machine embroidery and had a design all picked out to embroider, but I couldn't bring myself to do it for two reasons.  First, this is a baby/toddler quilt and form needs to follow function.  The 7" butterfly design I almost embroidered would have created large stiff areas in what I intended to be a smooshable, cuddly little kiddo quilt.  Second, I was concerned that machine embroidered butterflies might make the quilt appear more store-bought and commercial versus a handmade gift, and when I considered everything I know about this particular baby's parents, machine embroidery just didn't feel like a fit.  

And then I stumbled across this butterfly print online, took a chance and ordered a remnant of it on eBay, and then spent a ridiculous amount of time figuring out how to do a turned edge, broderie perse, blanket stitched appliqué.  I won't bore you all with the details.  I'm just glad the top is finally DONE, with nice, soft butterflies that are just as soft and supple as the rest of the quilt.  Edges are turned under for durability and to avoid the use of any kind of fusible web.  Backing fabric is trimmed away.  The butterflies were a much bigger hassle than anticipated, but the quilt looked like something was missing to me before.  Now it feels "done."

I love that big Monarch butterfly SO MUCH!!  The backing for this quilt is seamed and ready to go, but first I have that outreach top that I showed you last week, still waiting to be quilted.  Planning to load that one up and start quilting tomorrow, promise!

I also designed and ordered fabric for a second baby quilt last week, a quilt for the baby brother whose arrival is expected October 1st.  No curved piecing or appliqué in that one!  Oh, and I convinced my husband to rip up the kids' Jack & Jill bathroom and start laying new tile:

We figured that the pandemic is as good a time as any for a little renovating, since all of hubby's overnight work travel is on hold.  This bathroom was SO nasty before that I can't even bring myself to show you the before pictures!  White subway tile will go on all of the walls to just above the light switches, as well as on the side walls of the tub/shower.  Small black hexagon tile will go on the back wall of the shower, and the offending shower curtain that led to all of the mold etc. is getting replaced with a sliding glass door that will keep the water IN the shower, where it belongs!  I'm not actually in the bathroom with power tools (that would not be healthy for my marriage), but I am heavily involved in the selection of tile, shower doors, fixtures, etc.

Last Week's Quilting Goals:

• ❌ Quilt pantograph on Veteran's Quilt
• ✅ Finish borders & fix backing shortage for Modern Baby Clam Shells
• ✅  design for baby brother quilt & purchase fabrics

To Do This Week:

• Load & Quilt pantograph on Veteran's Quilt; drop off is next Saturday
• Piece another block for my Moda Modern Building Blocks sampler
• Load Butterfly Clam Shell quilt

Cheeky Cognoscenti is Now Rebecca Grace Quilting

Oh, I nearly forgot -- the other thing I've been working on is a name change for my blog and my social media accounts, from Cheeky Cognoscenti (that no one can pronounce or spell) to Rebecca Grace Quilting.  Because I'm Rebecca Grace, and I write about quilting...  It was time!  I still need to create a new banner image for the top of the blog with the new name.

Highlights From Last Week's Linky Party

But some of you came here today looking for some legit long arm learning, so let's get on with that!  We had lots of great posts linked up last week, everything from free motion skill building projects to Julie Stocker's fabulous custom quilt job combining computer assisted motifs with extensive ruler work that was all done by hand.  Totally swooning over that one but not reposting her images here since her client will be submitting the quilt for publication.  If you missed it last week, be sure to check that one out on Julie's Pink Doxies blog here.

Next, I wanted to sprinkle some quilty love on Karin of The Quilt Yarn and CAMapleLeaf on Instagram (don't know her/his name!).  That's Karin's raspberry and plum block that you see above, and CAMapleLeaf's block pictured below.  They are both working through the same online ruler work class with Natalia Bonner right now, the 9 Patchalong.  

If you're looking for an online machine quilting skill builder, the 9 Patchalong Quilt Along looks like a really fun option.  It just started at the beginning of September and it's completely free.  You know, top notch quilting teachers like Natalia Bonner all around the world have had their teaching schedule upended by this pandemic and they are all being forced to explore new ways of leveraging technology to teach from their homes and studios.  This could end up being a silver lining for the quilting industry, because once these teachers have invested in the necessary equipment and worked out the kinks of this teaching model, I don't expect virtual quilting workshops to completely disappear once the COVID-19 crisis has passed.  And that means MORE options for quilting teachers to make a living with less time on the road and away from their families, as well as more opportunities for us quilting students to take classes with top-notch instructors.  

I know that Bethanne Nemesh and Lisa Calle are also experimenting with some different models for paid online classes.  Are any of you readers signed up for either of those?  Have you discovered any other terrific online learning resources for machine quilters that I should know about?  Please tell me about it in the comments.

I'm linking up today's post with the following linky parties:

TUESDAY

·       To-Do Tuesday at Home Sewn By Us

WEDNESDAY

·       Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

·       Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

THURSDAY

·       Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation  

FRIDAY

·       Whoop Whoop Fridays at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

·       Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More

·       Finished Or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

·       Off the Wall Friday at Nina Marie Sayre

·       TGIFF Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday, rotates, schedule found here: http://tgiffriday.blogspot.ca/p/hosting-tgiff.html

Long Arm Learning Linky Party #7

Now it's YOUR turn to link up and share your machine quilting projects from the past week!  Remember that all machine quilting counts, whether it's a domestic, sit-down mid arm, or a long arm on a frame.  If you, like me, were busy doing other things last week, feel free to link up an older post about machine quilting that you haven't linked here before.  Have a great week, and happy quilting!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter