Summer of Kate Spain Quilts

The bright, clear, cheerful colors of Kate Spain's fabric lines are calling to me this summer.  I finished up my second Kate Spain quilt top of the summer; the line is Sunnyside. The pattern is from Moda Bake Shop and is called "Basic Math Quilt."  The quilt uses one layer cake and is fun and easy to make.

I had the blocks made for awhile and then "rediscovered" them cleaning up a pile in my sewing room.  
This will be another great lap quilt for the couch for the summer to go along with my Daydreams quilt (see next photo).  I have the backing and binding purchased and hope to get it put together to start quilting on my next day off.

Edgar Poe loves Kate Spain quilts as much as I do.

With a Little Help from a Black Cat

Yesterday, Remy and I finished up the borders on my "Bounce" quilt.  I did the sewing while Remy did the supervising and the unnecessary application of cat hair (ahem!) 

I left the room for two minutes....

and Remy decided to roll around and wrinkle up the quilt....

It's a good thing he is so cute.

Lint rollers are another good thing.....

early morning light--wrinkles by Remy

Despite Remy's help, I finished up the quilt top and decided to photograph it on the fence this morning to avoid any cat assistance. I used a layer cake of Kate Spain's Cuzco, Moda Bella Solid in Tranquil Aqua, and was inspired by Thelma's version for the border.

This pattern was so much fun to make and would work well with any type/pattern of fabric.  I was really pleased that you could use a layer cake so there aren't scraps left over (I seriously have a scrap basket problem but that is for another day).

I think it took longer to lay out the blocks and decide how to cut them than piece the blocks.  The instructions are clear and it all pieced together perfectly.  There are a couple of different versions included in the pattern. I used version 2 for the star blocks (solid stars instead of pieced center blocks).  My version has two different size stars.  For the pieced border, I cut the strips the same width and grouped the strips by color (similar to Thelma's version).  I can't wait to get this one to a longarm quilter to finish up.

Bounce in Progress

 I am having so much fun making "Bounce" by Miss Rosie.  I've been working on it every chance I have and just have the two outer borders left to add.

I am using a layer cake that I have been hoarding saving just for this pattern.  It's "Cuzco" by Kate Spain The background is a Moda Bella Solid called Tranquil Aqua.

We've had lots and lots of rain in Santa Fe this past week and Northern New Mexico is out of drought status, which is wonderful.   

Flowers are blooming 

The sunsets are incredible

And rainy days are perfect for napping in boxes. 

Hope your weekend is great!

A Friday Finish

I can't believe it's been almost two months since I posted here.  Spring just flew by in a busy flash and we are now in the long warm days of summer.  We are all fine here; I just haven't gotten around to blogging in a long while.

I finished this small lap quilt recently quilted, bound, washed, and de-cat-haired (for all of five seconds).  The pattern is Charm Box Quilt, a free pattern by Fat Quarter Shop.  I used two charm packs of Persimmon by Basic Gray and a Moda Bella solid in Prussian Blue.

I quilted it myself using the ever-so-easy squiggly stitch using Aurifil thread.

The backing is from the same fabric line.

We are slowly adding Southwest art and colors to our house and this fabric line seemed perfect for a quilt to throw over the chair in our living room (which is actually a quilt for cats to sleep on, of course).

This quilt matches nicely with the Native American ledger art we bought last year at Indian Market.

I have several other projects in the works but was inspired to start a new project (left).  Perfect colors for summer :)

A Finish for March

Finally finished the top for the French General quilt I worked on last month.
I just love this quilt and I'm waiting for some backing fabric to arrive to finish it up.  It's always windy in Santa Fe so it's difficult to get a good photo (if you look close Mr. SBQ's toes are peeking out but don't tell him. Also it was warm enough for bare feet here yesterday and I am sorry if it is cold where you are still).

With the arrival of spring, my quilting mojo is back and I am ready to work on a zillion projects at one time! I should be able to catch up with the Stars in a Time Warp blocks by tomorrow and will post those soon.

 We went for a walk yesterday and saw these blooming trees peeking out over a fence. 

 I opened a couple of windows to air out the house and the cats all crowded in to see what was going on outside.  (Rather unflattering view of Edgar and Stella looks like they need some running around the house time).

If Spring hasn't found you yet, I hope it does soon!

Post Edit:  I just discovered that I haven't been receiving all your comments via my email.  Deepest apologies if I haven't responded to your comments!!!!!!  I appreciate each and every comment. Thank you!!!! I hope I fixed the problem and will keep an eye out.  

Too Much Help

I am still working away on my French General project.  The pattern is called "Cribbage" from Monique Dillard's book Fat Quarter Winners.  

I just love the patterns in this book and the directions are very well done.  The blocks were fun to sew and I am happy to be using this hoarded bundle of French General fabrics at long last.

After finishing both sets of alternating blocks, I started laying the quilt out on my "design floor" in the kitchen.

 So far so good.  There are 140 blocks in the quilt so I decided to sew rows together as I went along instead of laying out the entire quilt and waiting for......

one of my four "quilting assistants" to happen along and the blocks to scatter all over the kitchen.  

REMY:  "I'm just going to rearrange this into a vertical layout for you"

"I want to be the Moda spokescat.  Every color goes great with my fur."

 "I think your 1/4" seam is a little off here"

It took twice as long to get to this point as it should have but here is the quilt about half way done.

If Remy lets me, I hope to get this one completed soon.

I have several other projects lined up including the American Patchwork & Quilting "Go Four It" quilt along.







I have my fabrics chosen and picked out this pattern.

I just need to start cutting and sewing.

This month's Another Year of Schnibbles pattern is calling to me as is the Stars in a Time Warp block of the Week so the fabric will be flying around the house this month.  Hope everyone is surviving winter and planning as many new projects as I am!

Tap, Tap, Tap...Is this thing on....

Why, hello there Blogland.  Is anyone still out there?

Hellloooooooooo from Remy

You may have thought I was abducted by aliens.

Which is perhaps more likely than previously as Roswell is only 190 miles (as the alien flies) from here (yes, this X-Files mega-fan will be making a road trip there once the weather is nicer. You can bet your replica Scully FBI badge on that).

In (boring) actuality, I just got busy with the holidays and work and then recovering from working during the holidays. And I spent some time trying to figure out what I was going to do with myself in 2015 as the past two years were such a crazy whirlwind.

And well here I am.

Everyone is fine here at Stella Bella Quilts.  The cats are as spoiled and happy and cute as always.

I finished a couple of little wool appliqué projects

A Primitive Gathering pincushion from 2011

and a green (alien??) owl pincushion from Guildcrafters quilt shop in Michigan.  Also an older-ish project I found while packing-unpacking.













I've been working away on the Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt and need to finishing sewing blocks and rows together.  Photo hopefully soon :)

I decided to break down and cut into a bundle of French General fabric that I have been hoarding for awhile and start a new project. It's mostly the Rouenneries Deux line and I just adore this line.  Why is it so difficult to actually use the fabric you love the most??!?!?!?

Woke up to a beautiful snowy morning today (my day off YAY!) so I'm spending the day working on my new project and planning which of the new sew-alongs I want to jump into.  And hoping my blogging mojo is back.

Back patio with 3-4" of snow this morning

Mini Stems for the Parade

Just a quick post to add my mini Stems quilt to the AYOS parade.  It was a busy holiday weekend and I nearly forgot to post my entry.

 I used an older Fig Tree line called Cinnamon Stars and Moda Bella solid in Fig Tree cream for the background.  This has a slightly autumn feel to it with the darker colors.  This was a fun quilt to make and I may have to add the "regular" size version to my list of quilts to make.

Hop on over to Sherri and Sinta's blogs to see the rest of the parade.

We all enjoyed our Thanksgiving here in Santa Fe.  We celebrated with a turkey dinner on Friday (I worked all day Thanksgiving).  The kitties hung out in the kitchen all day and were rewarded for their hard work supervising with some little bites of turkey.  Remy decided that turkey is his new favorite thing and purred up a storm until falling sound asleep in his box.

Hope everyone in the US had a great holiday weekend!

My Favorite Season

Happy Fall Y'all!!

I can't believe that October is right around the corner.  This summer just went zipping by in a flurry of festivals, fiestas, hikes, walks, busy work, sunshine, sleepy cats, good books, and who knows what else.  I am behind in all things email and blog posts and blog comments. Maybe I'll catch up when winter arrives?

There has been some sewing here and there.  (I made curtains!)

I have jumped into the Another Year of Schnibbles & a Little Bit More  (AYOS&ALBM) group for this year and have the top completed with time to spare (woo hoo!)

September's AYOS&ALBM quilt pattern is Whit by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. Instead of using the little 2 1/2" mini charm packs,  I used a single 5" charm pack from my stash--an older autumn line by Deb Strain, which I now have forgotten the name of, and Moda Bella solid in Off-White.

I chose the Dutchman's Puzzle layout for the quilt and loved making these cutemous tiny flying geese in happy fall colors and patterns.

The blocks are 4" finished.  Fun-sized.

 Voila!  Tiny quilt top is done (it's 22" square). I need to dig through my stash for some autumnal backing and binding.

 I see a potential photo bomb about to happen.

It's Remy!! Of course.

Late August Already?

Summer is zooming by here in Santa Fe.  Summer is a big tourist season and I have been super busy at Starbucks with all the extra people in town.  This week is Indian Market week  and the population of Santa Fe more than doubles.  Mr. SBQ and I will go downtown tomorrow as soon as the market opens and before I have to work in the afternoon.

I've been working on a few quilting projects here and there.  I did finish my second Charm Pack Cherry quilt. I just love the bright colors of Kate Spain's Daydream line with the periwinkle Moda Bella solid.

Purple was my favorite color as a child and this quilt just makes me happy. Stella and I can fully attest to the fact that this quilt is perfect for summer afternoon cat naps under the ceiling fan.

For the back, I chose the purple daisy print from the line.  I quilted it myself with my go-to Bernina wavy stitch.  This is a quick and easy way to quilt a quilt.

 More happy purple things at my house include these flowers blooming away in our back patio area.  The flowers we planted in early summer are doing well with the cooler and rainier summer that we are having in Santa Fe.  This is salvia and calibrachoa.

Late summer also brings an abundance of yummy blackberries to the farmer's market.  I made a blackberry-raspberry pie this week and it was divine!




















On warmer days, Stella likes to sprawl out on the cool wood floors.  

How are you spending the last weeks of August?

A Finish Just in Time

 I finished quilting and binding the baby quilt for my soon-to-be-new-niece-or-nephew.  The baby is due any day now.

I quilted it myself using a "wavy" stitch in horizontal lines across the quilt.  It reminds me of the clouds in some of the blocks.

The quilt is all washed and crinkly and in the mail.

Here's a view of the back and a close-up of the fabric and quilting.


I just love this fabric line from Kate & Birdie for Moda called Storybook.  The pattern is Charm Pack Cherry by Fat Quarter Shop.

I had lots of cat help on this project from beginning to end.

I woke Gomez up from a nap by snapping photos of him.  This is his usual sleeping spot every night--on the pillows above my head. We both like fun quilting fabric pillowcases :)