WIP: Chevrons pillow

Chevrons (pattern from Pillow Pop: Brooke Biette)

I recently picked up a copy of Pillow Pop: 25 Quick-Sew Projects to Brighten Your Space. I've been wanting a few decorative pillows to use with my new quilt; using leftover scraps of Hoffman Fabrics from my quilt (including the batiks I used for the backing and binding), I've started working on the pillow pattern Chevrons (by Brooke Biette). I love the top so far - now I just need to quilt it, add the back, stuff it with a pillow form, and display it proudly on top of my bed!

I'm linking up to Freshly Pieced's Work in Progress Wednesday- can't wait to see everyone else's projects!

Strips and Squares

Strips and Squares: a Mitten to Apple original

I'm slowly (but surely) getting my apartment decorated, and one of the projects on my "to do" list was adding a few accents to my cozy (that's NYer for small) bathroom. I wanted the color scheme in the room to be pretty minimal: the metal finishes in the room are brushed nickel and my towels are a pewter/grey color, so I wanted to add a few things to compliment those hues. Well, when I was wandering through West Elm the other day, I came upon a new bath mat and I fell in love!

With my new mat in place, the only thing missing in the room was a bit of "color," you know? SO, I grabbed a few fabrics from my stash and created a simple wall hanging: Strips and Squares.

Strips and Squares: a Mitten to Apple original

As you can see, I included the fabrics featuring various pewter/grey colors (Next Wave and Ann Kelle Remix) that tie into my towels and new bath mat, and added yellow as a bright punch of color!

Strips and Squares: a Mitten to Apple original

Once I pulled my fabrics, I sliced up some strips and squares, and got to sewing. After piecing the top, I used quarter inch, stitch in the ditch, and pebble quilting to add a little more interest to the piece.

Strips and Squares: a Mitten to Apple original

I'm so thrilled I got a project finished and it is actually hanging on a wall- I think it looks quite sweet in my NYC bathroom, and really pulls together my towels and bathmat!

Strips and Squares: a Mitten to Apple original

*I'm linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts' Finish it up Friday - hope you're having a great day!

WIP: Coral+Turqoise

Coral+Turquoise: Mitten to Apple inspired by In Color Order

 I have a new work in process: Coral+Turquoise.

Coral+Turquoise: Mitten to Apple inspired by In Color Order

I've finished the inner portion of the lap quilt, but I've yet to add the borders and other accents I have in mind.

Coral+Turquoise: Mitten to Apple inspired by In Color Order

So far, I'm loving the look of this little project! I've admired Jeni Baker's In Color Order Arithmetic Quilt for quite some time, and when I received a bunch of eighth yards for my birthday in various tones of coral and turquoise, I immediately wanted to create my own version of her popular design.

Coral+Turquoise: Mitten to Apple inspired by In Color Order

So I paired those beautiful colors with some beautiful Robert Kaufman Quilter's Linen- swoon! Then, using some math (to figure out how best to utilize those eighths) and graph paper, I figured out exactly how many squares I could make out of my gifted fabric, and I filled in the missing "pluses" with the quilter's linen... so simple!

Coral+Turquoise: Mitten to Apple inspired by In Color Order

I can't wait to finish this baby up - won't be long I now (<famous last words, eh?)!

*I'm linking up to Freshly Pieced's WIP Wednesday!!

Farmhouse Hexagon

Farmhouse Hexagon: Mitten to Apple original design

 I was on vacation recently and had the time to make what I've taken to calling my Farmhouse Hexagon. 

Farmhouse Hexagon: Mitten to Apple original design

 I was on vacation in northern Michigan, and picked up these fabrics at Stitches for You in Mio, MI.  I had been dying to use my diamond ruler, and this little chevron was manageable project for this novice quilter. So I used the California Girl: Moda fat quarters I picked up and sliced away. I mirrored some of the seams when quilting and backed this mini-quilt with natural muslin.

Farmhouse Hexagon: Mitten to Apple original design

 Since I finished this cutie when I was still on vacation, I took the opportunity to take the completed photos along the Au Sable River - what a beautiful setting!

Farmhouse Hexagon: Mitten to Apple original design

I'm pretty pleased with this little vacation project - and now this quilt is proudly displayed on my coffee table and adding a splash of color to my living room.

*I'm linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts' Finish it up Friday! If you're stopping by for the first time, welcome!

Wonky Stars: top completed

When I started my quilting journey a few months ago and began searching the internet for accessible quilting tips and ideas, one of the first blocks that jumped out at my was the wonky star. As a first-time quilter, I was drawn to the idea that the finished stars weren't supposed to line up (for obvious reasons) -  so I scored some Heirloom (by Joel Dewberry) fabric on sale at The Little Fabric Shop (along with the background blue The City Quilter) and got to work.

I don't have a fancy design wall , but thanks to some painter's tape and an almost empty wall in my NYC apartment, I was able to hang my blocks as I completed them to make sure I had enough variety in my star shapes (I was about 40% finished at when I took this photo).

And after lots of cutting and piecing, I finished enough blocks to make a top for a comfy lap quilt.

I love all the bright colors in this top (I'm obviously just a kid at heart), and I can't wait until it is finished. I've decided to take a crack at quilting it myself (yikes!) so I'll pots photos as soon as I'm finished!