Baskets

What fun I had making these cute baskets for Carla! June is her month as the queen bee for the Mid-Century Modern Bee. She chose well, I think, don't you! What a darling quilt she will have after she collects all the pretty baskets.

Making the liberated blocks reminded me of how much I enjoyed sewing my own basket quilt a few years ago. Here's my favorite ...tall and skinny.

At the top, I used some wonky letters to spell out the word baskets (in case someone mistakes them for pails, I guess.).

The four basket blocks were all tied up with a pretty bow...

...for my sweet grand daughter, Haven. 

I'm feeling like I might need another quilt full of colorful baskets in my life sometime!

Red Cross Pillow

It's Friday and I have a finish to show you! There's little explanation needed---only that I used Quilter's Linen by Robert Kaufman for the background and various reds from my stash to make the liberated cross blocks. It was my first project using the linen/cotton fabric....LOVE it!

Have a great weekend!

Modernistas!

Thursday night the Kansas City modernista quilters met for another fun and inspirational meeting of the Modern Quilt Guild. How I love to get together with these talented and excited quilters! We kicked off the Habitat Fabric challenge with lots of cute little bundles of Jay McCarrol's modern prints. The challenge is to create a quilt of any size using only the 6 fat eighths included in the packet plus any other Habitat fabric and/or solids  to make your "modern" quilt. The finished quilts are due back at our November meeting. Jaquie Gering is donating one of her awesome quilt racks as a Viewer's Choice prize!

 Show and Tell is a highlight of this active and quilt prolific guild. I was so excited and surprised by this fabulous quilt by Mary who used my Liberated Cross Block tutorial. Aren't the colors stunning! I might have to copy it.....

or steal it!

More Modern Cross Quilts

Here are two more awesome Modern Cross Quilts to show you today. Both are made by Jenny at Cut, Sew, Iron, Repeat. Jenny tells me she loves making the cross blocks and sees more in her future. I think you will agree that she is one talented lady with an eye for color!

Jenny is hosting a give away on her blog this week so hop on over and take a look around at her cute quilts and maybe win a yard of pretty fabric too! 

Jenny made both of these lovelies for charity using this tutorial. Can't wait to see her next one! It makes me want to make another one myself!

Baskets Quilt

A newly decorated bedroom with chocolate walls and candy pink accents could certainly use a new quilt to add a little pizazz, don't you think?

Hm mm...., wonder who I know that would want something like that?

Could it be my favorite, just-turned-four-year-old little girl?

My grandchildren all seem to enjoy getting a new quilt from their Lolly. When I gifted this latest creation to Haven this morning, she gave it a big hug and acted like it was the best present in the whole world! Wouldn't it be great if she became a quilter someday?

I know one grandmother who would be really pleased to pass along such a fun hobby!

Are you passing on your love of quilts and fabric?

Liberated Cross Blocks

 Blame it on my friend, Joan.  I'm starting another quilt!  I just couldn't resist when she put out the broad invite to join her at Wishes, True and Kind in a quilt along with Heather from A La Mode Fabrics. Her fabrics and blocks got me from "virtual hello".   Once I was hooked, I realized however, that I didn't even know how to make the  cross blocks for the mini quilt along. She and Heather are going by a pattern that I don't have. But, hey!  In my effort to be more "liberated", I have decided to just wing it!  What follows is my rendition of the cross block and how I am making them.  And Joan is right..............They are ADDICTIVE.  Good thing they don't contain calories!!

I've been collecting some solids from Kona and Moda and decided this project would be perfect for the yummy greens, aqaus, yellows and white that keep showing up in my solid container.
First, I had to decide what size to make my blocks. For fun, my blocks will all be the same height but vary in width. I cut my fabrics 12 inches high and "whatever" width, layering two fabrics when I cut.

Next step was to make two cuts across the "middleish" of the block, making the cross bar. No measuring allowed.  Just eyeball where you want the cross on the block.

Seperate the top and bottom from the middle section and eyeball two cuts on each to create the vertical cross bar.
Note: I did not cut through the middle cross section. So, there are now 7 patches to this block. Because there are two layers of fabric, I have cut two blocks at once.  Now, for the magic:

Carefully remove the top fabric from the "cross" sections and place the 3 parts next to the original block forming a cross. In this case, the parts are aqua, leaving the white underneath cross behind.  Now, move the white underneath fabric from each of the four remaing sections and place them on the second block, being careful to keep each in the same positon.

PIn and sew the upper sections of both blocks together.  I placed a pin in the upper cross section next to the middle to mark it's postion on the block.( I think you can see the pins in the picture if you look carefully.)

Now, sew the bottom sections together in the same way, being careful to keep the parts in the correct postitions. The pin  markers help to do that.

Pin the upper and lower sections to the cross bar, centering them and sewing together. I pressed all the seams open when making this block, by the way. Note: The upper and lower secions will be shorter than the middle cross bar.  Doesn't matter. Just sew them together.  No matching needed, really, for this liberated look we are going for.

You are almost done...............now just trim the blocks to the desired size. I decided to trim my blocks all to 10.5 inches high and various widths. This will make it easier to assemble the quilt in the end.

Here are my finished blocks!  I am pleased with the way they turned out. Each cross will be a little bit wonky for an interesting quilt.  I had to force myself to quit sewing. These were so much fun to make.  I don't know how many I need really.  Surely I'll get tired of making them sometime!
Thanks, Joan, for inviting me to join in your quilt along....I'm lovin' it!

And now, for the news you've all been waiting for:  The winner of the Boxer Give Away! 
The winner is Jennifer from That Girl......That Quilt. I'll send you an email and get your address so I can get the dog.........er, I mean undies and charm pack in the mail. Congratulations! Jennifer, who'se loving grey, yellow and purple color combo right now, is wanting some boxers to replace the ones her husband took over after her own trip to Target for some Liberty of London love! Thanks, everyone for the nice comments and messages.  A special thanks to those of you who became a follower.  You're awesome! 
Piecefully,
Carla