Sunday, March 20, 2016

Monkey Wrench and Flying Geese: challenge 6, Project Quilting 7



title: Hello Peanut
size:35" x 35"
location : Lewisville, NC
designed and quilted by:  Colleen C. Yarnell
Inspiration:  Im going to be an Auntie!  I just started with a monkey wrench shape and thendesigned it and wrote the pattern


After I wrote the pattern I pulled out a fat quarter bundle of Hello Bear by Bonnie Christine.


On Sunday I pieced and quilted it quickly from the pattern I created.  With a little tweaks.  There is one large center monkey wrench can you count how many flying geese?

I pieced with Aurifil 2615 my favorite gray and quilted with a cool gray variegated Aurifil 4060.  



But I had a back problem that kept me from doing the quilting until Saturday. 



Sofia keeps thinking Im making these quilts for her when Im basting on the floor.


Sofia decided to help with the quilting too.

   I used the gray background Hello animal print for the back.



I kept the quilting simple and used an appropriate to this challenge triangle print from the line for the binding. 


Ill try to add another photo of it in the cradle at my parents when I get the chance.

Keep dreaming...Colleen
Sofia wrestling with her stuffed Melody.

Monday, March 7, 2016

NC Book Girl: NC Bookgirl reads Who Says women cant be doctors b...

NC Book Girl: NC Bookgirl reads Who Says women cant be doctors b...: Who Says Women Cant Be Doctors:  The story of Elizabeth Blackwell is another NC Children's Book Award nominee.  I love the enthusiasm ...

Sunday, February 21, 2016

I Need a Vacation : Challenge 4, Season 7 Project Quilting




the mountains are calling...be one with nature...come with me into the trees



title: Into the Woods
size:  45" x 57.5"
location: Lewisville, NC
design:  Quick Curve Ruler mini trees block in own layout
pieced and quilted: Colleen Yarnell on a Viking Sapphire
inspiration:  project quilting season 7 challenge 4 I Need a Vacation!


I picked a bundle of my favorite Denyse Schmidt Flea Market Fancy and cut it into 5" squares.




Sofia helped with the basting.


I straight line quilted it on my Viking Sapphire with my new walking foot using Aurifil 2615.


I bound it with scraps from piecing and put a favorite large scale Denyse Schmidt floral on the back. 




Keep dreaming...Colleen



Sunday, February 7, 2016

Thread: Challenge 3, season 7, Project Quilting

I almost thought it wouldn't get made, but here it is.  



title:  Helical Ridge

 size: 28" x "20.

 Inspiration: dictionary definitions.

 designed and quilted by:  Colleen Yarnell

Pieced and quilted with: aurifil thread 50wt, white, light gray and dark gray.



I started by searching the definition of thread.  The words  thread, strand, and helical ridge circled in my mind. 

thread

THred/
noun
noun: thread; plural noun: threads; noun: screw thread; plural noun: screw threads
  1. 1.
    a long, thin strand of cotton, nylon, or other fibers used in sewing or weaving.
    • cotton, nylon, or other fibers spun into long, thin strands and used for sewing.
      synonyms:cottonfilamentfiberMore
    • NORTH AMERICANinformal
      clothes.
  2. 2.
    a thing resembling a thread in length or thinness, in particular.
    • literary
      a long, thin line or piece of something.
      "the river was a thread of silver below them"
      synonyms:streakstrandstripelinestripseamvein
      "the Fraser was a thread of silver below them"
    • a theme or characteristic, typically forming one of several, running throughout a situation or piece of writing.
      "a common thread running through the scandals was the failure to conduct audits"
      synonyms:gist, train of thought, driftdirectionMore
  3. 3.
    a group of linked messages posted on an Internet forum that share a common subject or theme.
  4. 4.
    a helical ridge on the outside of a screw, bolt, etc., or on the inside of a cylindrical hole, to allow two parts to be screwed together.

 Then Sunday night I was drawing in bed in one of my graph design notebooks.  Don't we all keep one under our pillow?  Then I picked charm squares and scraps from my Denyse Schmidt stash.  


Unfortunately due to issues with my now waiting-for-service Babylock Sofia I didn't sew all week.  Finally Friday I got out the Viking Sapphire and started sewing.  Yes another rainbow Denyse Schmidt themed quilt.  The background came from a bag full of low volume scraps.  (I love getting scraps from friends!)




Then after digging out my Singer Featherweight for the BOM at Trailer Stash Fabrics, I continued sewing Saturday afternoon until I finally finished at about midnight.  BTW since before Christmas Ive been sewing in my den on an ottoman.  My sewing room has become a bit of a dumping ground.  Plus its warmer downstairs.  I'm sure this has never happened to anyone we else.




I watched two old scifi movie classics along the way-Dune and The Fifth Element.  

Piecing with white Aurifil.


I was excited when I had the top done!  And it looked good!  
Better than I thought it would!  You know how when your piecing and your
wondering if its going to look like crap?  or come out they way you envisioned it?



I quilted it on the Viking Sapphire.  Free motion quilting the word Thread in the empty space with                  dark gray Aurifil. I also used light gray to FMQ synonyms for thread down the middle.  I was missing my Babylock Sofia and her walking foot when it came to the straight line sewing.  I need to save up for a Viking walking foot!



I used my three favorite Aurifil threads.  I also like my Aurifil yellow but didnt use it on this quilt.





Check out all the other quilts and vote for your favorites here.

Project QUILTING

Keep dreaming...Colleen
Sofia and I cuddling Saturday morning.


Saturday, January 23, 2016

Seasons :challenge 2, Project Quilting season 7

morning snow light
When this second challenge was announced I did what I always do when I need inspiration.  I look at my photos, then I googled it and read definitions and look at images.
Add caption
It was exactly what I was imagining but was having trouble drawing out.  So next I picked backgrounds from my stash to match each of the seasons. 
Sofia helped me pick.

 I also decided to use my Denyse Schmidt stash for the applique elements in the design.  I found a great Flea Market fancy print for the trunk and branches of the tree. 

 The I picked out 2.5" and 5" squares to cut out the flowers and leaves.  Good thing I have a giant stash of charm squares from all the swaps I have done.  I got out my Sizzix Big Shot and my favorite Tim Holtz Tattered Floral die and a Westminster Sunflower/Poinsettia die. 
 I cut out the pink flowers for the spring red bud tree and the green and yellow/orange leaves for the summer and fall sections. 

 For the winter section I free hand cut some gray turned to the back side. I glued everything down with applique glue. Then I got stuck. Should I finish the top, baste and quilt? Or should I free-motion applique?  

Well I was leaning that way and Kim of Persimon Dreams encouraged me  so I did.  It turned out great!  Tomorrow I will starch it good and figure out the borders, backing, basting, and quilting. Right now it is 24" square.  I really love it! 


I quilted vertical wavy lines for spring and summer (thanks Laura Davies for the idea),


FMQ leaves for fall,



and snow flakes for winter.  BTW the piles of snow are also a Denyse Schmidt.  I just used the wrong side of the fabric.  Its a great technique to use in any quilt!

 All on an awesome Viking Sapphire machine a friend gave me!  It was so generous of her and its amazing what I can do with a machine that actually wants to FMQ!!



I used the same brown Hope Valley print for the back and the binding.




  • title: Seasons of Change

  •  Size: 28" x 28"

  •  Designed, pieced, quilted by Colleen Yarnell

  • Location:  Lewisville, NC
  •  Inspiration: Project Quilting Challenge 2:Seasons



Project QUILTING
Click here to see the other quilts made for this challenge and vote starting at non central time for your favorites.

Keep dreaming...Colleen
Sofia giving me her approval on another quilt I'm planning.