March was a blur. I’ve got lots going on at my day job recently, so I haven’t really been concentrating on my sewing (or blogging!) this month. I did get a few things done though. I’d love to share with you!

On paper:

I’m excited about this southwestern inspired quilt design. I’m picturing this pieced with lots of low volume white and cream scraps, combined with a mix of black scraps. I think it will be a good lesson in contrast, AND hopefully be a good way to use some of the random fabric I’ve got in my stash.

On the design wall:

My art quilt bee is doing a Spring/bird themed challenge that I’m working on. Here’s a sneak peak at some of the pieces that I’ve cut out so far. Lots of bright solid silhouettes that are all going to come together (hopefully!) into a fun Spring scene.

For this project I’m going to try out a technique that Yoshiko Jinzenji taught at QuiltCon this year. It involves silver lamé layered with a shimmery sheer organza. I can’t wait to share this process with you. More photos soon!

My shot cotton quilt blocks came down off the design wall. Instead of a quilt, they might be turning into some placemats or something completely different. We’ll see – I’m not calling them a failure, yet. I still love the fabrics, but these blocks don’t go well as a complete quilt, so it’s time to take them in a different direction.

On the machine:

Nothing, yet!

On the hoop:

I’m ashamed to say I only worked on John’s quilt once this month! I need to set a goal and concentrate on finishing the quilting for this one. I’m probably 25% done. At this rate, my poor husband isn’t going to have a finished quilt until next year, so I better get to work.

All finished:

I finished my stretched hexagon quilt! It’s called Stretched Hex Number 4. The Carolyn Friedlander Doe prints go so well together, I just love them.

The backed is pieced with a row of leftover blue fabrics from the front, combined with a super bright orange fabric from the same line. The contrast adds a fun surprise, I think.

The binding is more of the orange, with a few tiny bits of blue mixed in.

I quilted this one on my domestic machine with lines that echoed the hexagon shapes, and I think it gives it great dimension. So happy with how it turned out!

I love this quilt so much, I want to make another one like it with another bundle – right now I’m loving Follie by Lotta Jansdotter.

So far I’ve really enjoyed sharing my recent projects, I think it’s helping push me to keep going and complete what I’ve started. Thanks for tuning in, I hope you are enjoying the process, too.

Here’s to a sewing-filled April!