Time to Pivot / Beauties Pageant 199

There are many things I do not like about Instagram. (Don’t even get me started about Reels!) But when I encountered a creative roadblock with a recent project, Instagram was the perfect place to work through the issue and consider possible solutions.

Exhibit A: An in-process baby quilt that was giving off an I’m-too-busy vibe. I knew when I started the project that there were going to be too many prints for my taste, but goaded on by an early January deadline, I jumped in anyway, quickly cutting and piecing the nine simple blocks. Unsure of how to fix the issue, I posted a poll to my Instagram Stories to see whether people thought I should continue on this course or give the viewer’s eye a break with skinny sashing.

A lot of people chimed in! After mulling over the results of the poll and my conversations with people about the quilt, though, I went a different way. I “unsewed” those blocks with a low-volume fabric on their edges and replaced it with a solid cream. Then I alternated the blocks with light edges and those with darker ones ...

I like it! The result is much more “me” than the original. I’m going to quilt the project with an allover crosshatch and finish it off with a matching yellow binding. 

I occasionally reach out to the Instagram audience about stuff like this, but this time was especially fun. I know the work of so many of the respondents, and for a good number of them, I could predict those who would vote to keep the original quilt as is (that is, because I know they are more adventurous with fabric and color than I am) and those who, like me, suggested changes. I kind of love that about quilting: Our projects tell others about what we like and what we don’t. You don’t need to design fabric/create patterns/submit to shows to have a signature way with the quilts you create. : )

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, I wish you a happy one this Sunday!

For those of you who are also on Instagram, I’m giving away a copy of Cheryl Brickey’s Just One Charm Pack Quilts. Look for this post for full details (entries close on midnight [GMT-5:00] on December 25) ...

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Holiday Quilts I Love / Beauties Pageant 198

As a kid, I loved seeing all the Christmas trinkets my grandmother would unearth every December, from her vintage reindeer candles to her manger scene. Those items were as much a part of the celebration as the tree or the desserts she contributed to the holiday spread.

Although I appreciated the familiarity of my grandmother’s holiday decor and enjoyed revisiting those objects year after year, it took me decades to realize that I’m not much of a seasonal decorator. And I have tried! I have bought some beautiful and meaningful objects over the years, most of which are still (even on December 16) in boxes in my attic. A few years ago, though, I started making quilts with Christmas and winter themes. Finally, I found my way of celebrating the season.

What you see here are the wintry quilts that live at From Bolt to Beauty world headquarters. It’s worth noting that I enjoyed making them so much that I sewed three of these four patterns twice (the twins were gifted years ago).

All of these patterns have their strengths. From top to bottom, the Christmas trees are a great stash buster, Kate Spain’s Chalet pattern makes the most of fat quarters, Camille Roskelley’s Norway design features big, bold blocks, and Gingiber’s Merrily quilt is an interesting way to use panels of a certain size. To read more about these projects—and to see some of their backs—click on the links below.

• Christmas trees (Amy Smart)
  
• Chalet (Kate Spain)
• Merrily (Gingiber)
• Norway (Camille Roskelley)

If you’ve encountered a winter-themed quilt pattern that you’ve loved enough to make twice, I’d love to hear about it!

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Quilty Christmas Postcard / Beauties Pageant 197

Have you ever made a quilted fabric postcard? My guild—the New Hampshire Modern Quilt Guild—recently participated in a postcard swap with the Capital District MQG. Having never quilted a postcard before, I decided to take part, and the beauty you see pictured here is what I sent to my partner in New York.

I referred to Sara Ruiz’s Quilted Fabric Postcard tutorial to determine my game plan. She suggested using postcards to explore new techniques, so I took that as a sign to give tiny paper piecing a try and purchased Berene Campbell’s HSL Tinies Christmas Pack.

For materials, I used what I had on hand and fell within the recommendations from Sara’s tutorial and Berene’s pattern: Art Gallery Pure Solids, Michael Miller Cotton Couture, 80 weight thread, and Peltex 71F.

The tiny paper piecing was super fun and satisfying. The pattern came with some helpful hints on how to get great results, which I really appreciated. The fireplace and wreath weren’t substantial enough to fill up the whole postcard, so I included a little lavender border and decorated with simple embroidery stitches. The edge stitching didn’t come out as nicely as I would have liked, but I’m sure to improve my technique with future postcards.

Swap participants were encouraged to send their creations as true postcards—that is, without envelopes. My partner sent the card she made for me as is, and it arrived in perfect shape. I chose to play it safe,  however, and sent mine in an envelope. 

If you’re considering trying your hand at a quilted fabric postcard, I recommend Sara’s tutorial. (She did a 100-day project making these mini masterpieces!) Some other suggested resources, from the swap organizers, include these:

Fabric Postcards: Easy Sewing Tutorials with Rob Appell of Man Sewing

Fabric Postcard Tutorial by Quilted Cat

I also recommend the HSL Tinies Christmas Pack. This wasn’t the first time I followed a Happy Sew Lucky pattern. You might remember my version of Berene’s Hello, Friend pillow which I translated into doggo lingo, pictured here:

Pattern Giveaway

As I mentioned last week, I’m providing content to Melanie Meyer’s Advent calendar. My first door, on day 7, includes a coupon code and chance to win a digital copy of Irish Twist. Click here to visit the Advent calendar, and comment on this post to add your name to the pattern giveaway. : )

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Irish Twist Pattern Giveaway

 

Update: Congratulations to Emily, the winner of this giveaway!

Hello everyone! And a special welcome to those quilters joining from Melanie Meyer’s Advent calendar!

I’m Michelle, and you’ve landed at From Bolt to Beauty, my little corner of the internet. Here you’ll find stories of my triumphs—and tribulations—at my sewing machine.

I have been sewing for 19 years and quilting for 9. In addition to being a quilt maker and blogger, I am also a pattern designer. In fact, a PDF copy of my latest pattern—Irish Twist—is going to one lucky winner. If you’re looking for a stash-busting, quick-to-sew pattern, Irish Twist is for you! Just leave a comment below to be entered to win.

This giveaway is open worldwide through December 31 at 11:59 p.m. (GMT -5:00). The winner will be notified via email. If you’re commenting anonymously or a no-reply blogger (or aren’t sure whether you’re a no-reply blogger), please leave your email address in the comment or send it to me directly at frombolttobeauty [at] gmail [dot] com.

Good luck!

From Bolt to Beauty links:

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Free Quilty Advent Calendar / Beauties Pageant 196

 

As a quilter, this is my favorite month. I’m not much of a seasonal decorator, but I love bringing my Christmas quilts out of hibernation in anticipation of December 25. 

If you celebrate Christmas, one quilty way to count down to the big day is Melanie Meyer’s digital Advent calendar.

Following along is easy: Just visit Melanie’s blog every day this Advent season to open a door on the calendar. You might find a coupon code, a giveaway, or a fun activity. I’ve contributed a PDF pattern to this event, so be on the lookout!

If you could use a reminder to check out each day’s surprise, sign up for Melanie’s newsletter here. And if you miss a day or join the party late, no worries—you’ll have access to all the doors that are already opened, so catching up is easy. : )

Other contributors to this year’s Advent calendar include @capaquilts, @fromblankpages, @makemodernmagazine, @meadowmistdesigns, and @sewpreetiquilts.

 Enjoy!

 

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The pageant rules are simple:

• Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
• Point your readers back here with a text link or use the button above.
• Visit and comment on other participants’ finishes.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter