Black and White Tessellation Quilt

Here is your English lesson for the day.

Q: What is a tessellation?


A: A tessellation is created when a shape is repeated over and over again covering a plane without any gaps or overlaps.



Probably the most famous artist that employed this method was M.C. Escher. Here are a couple of his images--the 2nd and 3rd ones are definite examples, by definition.


I liked this quote from Escher:

"At moments of great enthusiasm it seems to me that no one in the world has ever made something this beautiful and important". M.C. Escher

Below is the quilt I wanted to recreate--in blacks and whites. I found this picture in a children's art book, "Making Amazing Art: 40 Activities Using the 7 Elements of Art Design", by Sandi Henry.

I have been working on my quilt for a bit already. It will take awhile as there are 392 pieces to cut out for my quilt. I don't have even those all cut yet, but I have enough to get started. Here is where I'm at for now.

Hopefully in the long run it won't make our eyes go absolutely buggy. I'm pretty excited about it right now.

Bean Bags

File this little project under the EASIEST. I had some fabric leftover from other projects cut into 6" squares (potential blanket) and some phantom black eyed peas that we don't eat and never will eat. So I decided to make L some bean bags. She really didn't care about them until last week when she discovered that putting them on your head and letting them drop is hilarious. Who knew?

I just left one end open and filled about half way with peas, but you could use rice or any other dried bean.

Small Magazine

One of my little dresses (on the right) made it into the latest issue. Sent a few things (including aprons) and this is what they ended up using.

Browse through the whole issue here. Or just jump to my favorite page.

photos by Lesley Semmelhack

Doesn't the model look exactly like Emily's, K?

Baby Quilt--Blue and Green Version #2

After finishing version #1 using these fabrics, I still had plenty of fabric to make another little baby quilt. I started it, not knowing who I might be giving it to. While I was working on it, another friend who I hadn't heard from in awhile, sent an email baby announcement. (Yeah, I know, I didn't even know she was pregnant, so it had been awhile.) Well, little Levi, you are the lucky recipient of version #2.

Front side.


Back side. The finished size is 38" square.


And his big sister April will get a matching dolly quilt too. Thanks, Em, for the great idea. Her quilt's finished size is 22" square. I made two of these, because I had enough fabric leftover, and so one will stay at our house for either play or display. Not sure just yet.


I had to piece one of the doll quilt's binding and I'm not sure if I like it or not. However, by this time I was scraping the bottom of the barrel with my scraps and didn't want to go buy anymore just to finish that little part. I guess it is better to audition it on a little doll quilt, when the little girls won't care one way or the other. It definitely gives it a different look--see the left quilt for a closer inspection.

Back sides.

Bento Box Quilt -- Finished!

I am happy to report that I am finally finished with my Bento Box quilt!

Front

I had to add the border so that it would be long enough for us. Finished measurements are 54" (137.2 cm) by 64" (162.6 cm).

Back

It took me awhile to decide on how I wanted to quilt it. In the end I used this quilt as my inspiration.

Here is a closer look at the quilting...

I really, really like it --

and I'm happy that I used the stripe for the binding. It makes the quilt look like candy, to me.

Here is the matching doll quilt I am keeping. It's
only slightly different than the one I gave away.

Now that it's DONE it needs a "quilt" name! Can anyone think of something better than just "bento box"?

Birthday Surprise

Happy belated Birthday to Leslie!!

Her Birthday was on Saturday.

I knew that she'd be spending her birthday with her family, but they were all coming to my house for Sunday dinner. We had agreed a few weeks back that instead of her making L a quilt, we'd rather just do a trade and I would make the quilt and she'd make some clothes for my girls. (I still think I got the better end of that deal...)

So on Sunday when I gave her her present, I also included the quilt--finished and ready to go! She was super excited, and I was happy to give her that little surprise!

I've been doing well, so far, on keeping gifts a surprise, though it's been hard. I wanted to pick up the phone numerous times this week and tell her how cute the quilt was turning out! I resisted...and I'm so glad I did! I just love surprises!

The other part of the surprise was that I made L a doll quilt to go along with her baby quilt. I have gone a bit doll quilt crazy since making the one for the giveaway and have now decided that I should make some sort of doll version of all the quilts I make. How cute would that be?! I can use them for the quilt wall! We'll see if I actually do it, but in my head it is a great idea!

I've got to give credit to Leslie, though, she picked out some beautiful fabrics and wasn't too picky with what she wanted. That's a combination that's pretty easy to please!

Lastly, I am happy to report that I have now figured out how to properly hand sew on a binding and have it look good! I might even venture to say that I don't hate hand sewing anymore...well, I almost don't hate it!

So, again, Happy Birthday Leslie! We all love you and are glad you are our sister! (And I'm glad you loved your gifts! It was well worth the biting of the tongue this week!)

Baby Quilt--Blue and Green Version #1

It appears that I have caught the quilting bug--like I knew might happen, and therefore I had been resisting for many a year. (OCD and all....) But I don't mind the baby quilt size, and I do like trying new things just to prove to myself that "I can DO it too!"

My friend Natalie is having baby boy #4 after a 6 year gap--so needless to say she doesn't have much baby stuff as she gave it all away. I decided to try a little different quilt for her babe. This basic idea comes from the book "Thinking Outside the Block" by Sandi Cummings --again. I think that I really like this book, and I really like that I can check it out from my local library.The chapter on 6" Square-within-a-square blocks is what I wanted to try for her baby quilt.

I also then used Emily's Kidz Quiltz idea to get the size that I wanted. I added a 3" border around the edge. I just love these colors together. Natalie's kids, and mine too, attend a Spanish immersion school and so this green piece of fabric was perfect. One, two, three, uno, dos, tres...red, blue, green, rojo, azul, verde. My fabric store actually had this print in a pink and a yellow version. Unfortunately right now everyone I know is having boys. No pink quilts yet.Then on the back I tried a little Crazy Mom Quilts idea of adding a pieced strip through the backing for some added character.I didn't get brave enough yet to do free motion quilting throughout. But I thought the pattern lended itself easily enough to do a grid on the diagonal. I really like it. And I hope Natalie does too, or I'm taking it back. ;) Got that Natalie!? And maybe she'll feel a little better about not getting that one girl she had hoped for.

This is my front side binding. I've decided that I really like the look of topstitching, even if it isn't necessarily proper quilting etiquette.

View of the back side of the binding.

Toddler Dress

Butterick 4176




I made a size 2....It's actually not bad with this pattern. Here is another version I made for S. It fits, but there is plenty of room for her to grow into it. She should be able to contiue wearing at three.

"Oliver and S" FEST

I finished the little tidbits left on L's shirts. There are more. But here are the ones that are done.


2T top paired with apple leggings (GAP clearance).




back view




12-18 months. fabric from Joann's calico wall




12-18 months. Mary Engelbreit fabric from local quilt shop.




2T. Sandi Henderson "Vintage Dots" fabric bought on etsy




18-24 months. Amy Butler "Wallflower" fabric in cherry. Bought on etsy.

Oliver an S 2+2 blouse

I have been making this top in every size the past couple of weeks. This is just one of many.



And here is a happy accident....



I just happened to make a size three top in yellow that perfectly coordinates with the size three skirt I already made. I love it when that happens.





I love that it buttons in the back. so cute!







Want to know more on my feelings for Oliver and S patterns? They are the BEST!!! And here are the reasons why.

Winner, Winner!

It's you...

Congrats, Nancy!

Your doll quilt is on it's way to the great state of Missouri!

My family spent 4 years in Missouri and loved every minute of it! So, hello to all our MO friends!