Category Archives: Quilting

Ink and Spindle Landscape Quilt

I have the great pleasure of having Cloud9 Fabrics as a design client of mine (a favorite, in fact). I work on various projects with them throughout the year (books, catalogs, project sheets, patterns, post cards, and the like). I also am lucky to sew up samples for them occasionally using their lovely fabrics…the benefits of being a designer that can quilt, too. 🙂

Ink and Spindle designed a collection for Cloud9 called Landscape. I love the graphic yet organic designs.

Here is a quilt designed by Ink and Spindle that I pieced and quilted using one of the colorways. There are a couple of Cirrus Solids used as well.

photo by Cloud9 Fabrics

After a quilt top is made, I take into consideration its design and feel so I can figure out how to quilt it. I went with horizontal wavy organic lines to compliment the rectangular, graphic nature of the quilt design and to mimic the lines in the darker orange fabric. I also added matchstick quilting in some areas for added texture.

photo by Cloud9 Fabrics

Black White Red and Grey Improv Pillow

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Another improv pillow! This pillow and needle book were gifts for a talented quilter and artist for the birthday swap we participate in on Instagram. She appreciates improv work and loves polka dots, red, black and grey. Linen, too. Metallic, even!

I pulled inspiration by exploring various art pieces such as abstract paintings, collages, and typography posters. I also used graphic design principles to embrace negative space and to incorporate line-work and balance, while maintaining spontaneity and fun.

I gladly dove into my linen stash: grey, white, cream, metallic (all Robert Kaufman except the metallic). I also used some Cloud9 Fabrics Cirrus Solids in Lava and Midnight.

The pillow is matchstick quilted, because sometimes, is there any other way?

I love how the palette made the overall design of the piece feel even more graphic.

– Daniela

Improv Landscape Mini Quilt

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I was very excited to be in the third round of the Schnitzel and Boo Mini Quilt Swap. My partner has great taste as she indicated that she likes linen, bright colors and solids (yes!).

I improv-pieced this mini quilt with three types of Robert Kaufman linen, a drop or two of Kona solids and a beautiful range of Cloud9 Fabrics Cirrus Solids.

Based on abstract art influences, I used color, balance, and scale to make small improvisational blocks. I also used scissors and a design as you go method to appreciate the process and the journey of creating this piece.

I would like to make something similar for myself in the same palette. The beauty of making another is that it will never be the same, but that is what I love about the nature of improvisation and of handmade.

The improv mini measures about 16 x 20 inches and is matchstick quilted.

-Daniela

The Tooth Fairy Makes a Visit

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Oh. My. Goodness. This Girl.

For the past year, my little love has been asking when her “teeth will start to get
wiggly, mamma?”

At the start of the school year, her first bottom tooth became very, very wiggly. Soon after, a second bottom tooth became very, very wiggly.

During the second week of school, one tooth was so loose it came out right before she went to bed. Ms. Tooth Fairy came and left my little gal some shiny half dollars and a nice note.

The next day, when I picked her up from school, the first thing she said was, “Mamma! Look!” She gave me one huge smile. Well, would ya look at that. The other tooth came out at school.

I posted this photo to my Facebook page.

I received a comment on that post that made me chuckle. My friend Jen suggested that my little Miss needed a Tooth Fairy Pillow, and fast. Oh, yes. She was right!

My gal picked her fabric. She chose Heather Ross’ Far Far Away (the reprint). I made the unicorn the center of attention as the pocket, quilted the front and the back of the pillow, over-stuffed and stitched.