The Elam House: Curated Quilts Mini-Quilts Call for Entries

When I first saw Curated Quilts call for entries with the color scheme of pear green, peacoat blue, poppy red, ocean spray, clay brown, and light gray with a theme of houses I knew IMMEDIATELY I had to do something with Frank Lloyd Wright. The colors where perfect! I love his style of homes and scoured Google to find the perfect image to work from. I fell in love with the angles of this house: The Elam House. Which I learned you can rent and stay in!!!

I turned this into a quilt! Photo from TheElamHouse.com

I began drafting a pattern to foundation paper piece the house. I like foundation paper piecing, especially when going from a picture to a pattern. I don't have to measure anything this way! The entries have to be square, so I took the opportunity to fill in the spaces with Frank Lloyd Wright stained glass patterns. I got the idea from the tiny spot in the image on the lower left between the garage and the house. I think that part is probably a metal door, but it made me think of stained glass 😁

The pattern I drew and lightly colored.

I had read about applique paper that you print on, sew over, and then it dissolves when you wash it. So I gave that a try for this project. The paper has a fusible side and I actually printed on that side instead because I didn't want to scan my pattern in to the computer and reverse it before printing. It didn't fold into crisp lines like I like unless I used a piece of cardstock to fold the papers.

The piecing went together quicker than I thought it would. There were only a few spots that had weird (non-straight sewing) seams, but I knew that when I drew it out. I had thought about sewing tiny pieces of the navy in between to look like the solder lines of stained glass, but didn't have a good way of making it even (and because it's "due" today!!), so I decided not to do that part. I still think it looks cool with all the gray pieces sewn back together.

I think the thick applique papers caused some of my pieces too large causing some pieces to not fit perfectly... BUT I'm super happy with how this turned out! I'm cutting it real close to the deadline (TODAY!)... I hope I get in this time...

Tumbling Blocks Santorini Tote with Cork Bottom and Straps

At the Modern Stitching Affair this spring, we got to learn weaving from the amazing Tara Curtis of Wefty Needle. I did not follow direction for the pattern and instead created a very random looking weave. BUT was in awe of people who were using the confetti ombre dots fabric and knew I had to create a weave out of it sometime. I picked out a ton of fabric; this green and neutrals for my mom and some different ones for myself.

After signing up for SewHungryHippie's newsletter and following her on Instagram, I knew I had to make the Santorini Tote WITH a cork bottom. I wove two panels to sew onto the cork. In hindsight, maybe I should have just wove one panel and cut it in half... next time!

I quilted around all the green hexies.

 

It's for my mom! She's sort of been watching me make it, but didn't know it's for her. Now to decide what to make with my colors...