Hey there! Just popping in to give my monthly update…I’m a bad blogger lately. Hoping to carve out time for more crafty projects real soon. For now, I’d love to share the state of all my current quilty projects around here. If you want more info about a previous stage of a project, check out the posts on March, February, and January.

On paper:

No new quilty designs on paper this month. Instead, I’m letting the fabric do all the talking. Here are a few of my recent purchases!

Maker-Make Drafts Raw, by Art Gallery Fabrics

Zaza Zoo Blue, by Andover Fabrics

Etno-Cubist Perception, by Art Gallery Fabrics (this is a knit)

Each of these fabrics was purchased at one of my favorite local shops, The Cloth Pocket. Check them out if you are in Austin…if not, check out their online shop!

I’m also finding a lot of inspiration from my two new books: Savor Each Stitch, by Carolyn Friedlander, and Happy Handmade Home, by the gals at A Beautiful Mess, Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman. The project tutorials in both these books are really inspiring, I’m hoping to make something from each of them very soon!

On the design wall:

I love how these quilt blocks are coming together.

And here’s the fabric I’ve picked out for the back.

The top is coming together quickly, it will be ready to quilt soon!

On the machine:

Lately just using my machine to piece the quilt shown above. In the process of piecing this one, I discovered my standard sewing machine foot isn’t a good gauge of a quarter inch seam. I had to place some washi tape on my machine so that I am able to be more accurate with my quarter inch measurement! My normal sewing machine foot is slightly larger than a quarter inch, so I ran into some problems…this is working nicely though!

Speaking of machines….can I tell you about a fun new techy thing I got for my birthday? (Thank you, honey!) It’s a Wacom Intuos Pen and Tablet, and I plan on using it to draw some fun pattern designs. I’m a big fan of Spoonflower, and would love to come up with my own hand-drawn fabric design, print it, and sew it up into something pretty. Have you ever created a digital fabric design? I have a lot to learn, but I think it will be pretty fun. Can’t wait to share the results with you when I figure it all out.

On the hoop:

Probably only worked on hand-quilting John’s quilt a total of 3 times this month. I’ll admit I’m super slow to finish this one…but the cat seems to approve at least!

All finished:

My Spring Challenge quilt is done! I loved trying this Yoshiko Jinzenji technique of layering lamé, fabric cutouts, and organza. I used a glue stick to arrange the cutouts on the lamé, topped it with the organza, then pinned all the layers together on top of batting. I then did some simple straight-line quilting with silver thread.

I think the simplicity of the quilting really lets the shapes shine. Literally!

The back is a piece of fabric I picked up years ago and couldn’t bear to cut up. She was the perfect bright and floral fit for the back of this mini quilt.

What sewing or crafty projects did you finish in April? What are you currently working on? I’d love to hear! And as always, cheers to a sewing-filled May!