Sunday, January 19, 2020

The Winter Blues Blog Hop



Hi, and welcome to my blog!  Thanks to Carla, from Creatin In the Sticks for planning this fun for us!  It's the first day for the Winter Blues, but this is anything but sad.  This is inspiration, fun, and color!  Time to snuggle up with your favorite quilt, your favorite beverage, aka Hot Chocolate, and visit great bloggers who will clear away the winter cobwebs with 
BLUE! 
I am often working on something blue.  It's one of my favorite colors to quilt with.  I also love purple, but limit it to a few rooms in my house.  Blue can and does go anywhere.  I'm working on a blue and white quilt, the Hexi Snowflake, from the 2019 Quilter's Planner.  I am sewing up scraps of 2 1/2" strips I cut with my Accuquilt GO strip die, the left-overs from the fat quarters I used for the blocks.  Here's the top, waiting for the final borders.  I am adding a piano key, then a final batik print border.  
I cut all the leftovers into strips.  You can see here, it's so easy to cut even the chopped ones!  Just layer them on, and crank.  Pile of strips ready to go. 
But I should have made sure I was only sewing 2 layers.  One shorter one got hidden between 2 longer ones.  I'll sub-cut these down to 6 1/2" sections later.  I think I'll sew them in sets of 6 before cutting.  The shorter strips will be added for variety.  
Oops! lol 

But something blue I've been meaning to finish would probably be done faster than the strip sets for that border.  I decided to finish quilting the New York Islanders' Quilt, a commission for my cousin.  I needed to remove a small section, where the design went wonky because I didn't plan correctly.  I wanted to finish the ruler work, stitch in the ditch around the Autograph Block border, and add the hockey players in the outer borders, then was able to advance, finish the center swirled hockey stick design, and the rest of the autograph blocks, then do the bottom row of hockey players.  All of this was done with my Handi-Quilter Amara with Prostitcher.  I'm still learning, and really figured out a lot with this quilt.  It's the first time I did a border to border type design, and used different designs in the other borders, including ruler work for the ditch quilting. This is actually just borders around the jersey patch in the center.  

I used licensed New York Islanders' fabric, along with the gorgeous new Island Batik Solids, in Orange, Cobalt, and White.  Batting is Warm & White cotton, and the backing is a wide flannel from JoAnn's.  All thread is Aurifil. with 50wt white to piece, and Forty-3 to quilt.  4669, Stonewash Blues variegated.  I used 2725 for the bobbins in Vanna, the long arm.  

My son, who is visiting this weekend, went to the Northwell Health Ice Center in Westbury with me, and helped to take these photos.  He's tall, and the quilt is about 82" square, so we had fun.  His favorite was seeing the giant player statue, and draping it over the shoulder.  I'm so grateful he had some great ideas for these.  So, enjoy some blue and orange.  





 Matt was peeking to see if I had finished.  Thanks for being a great sport, Matt!  

I hope to see my cousin this week, to deliver this.  

Thanks so much for visiting.  I hope you take a few moments to visit the other Winter Blues bloggers, and remember to stop back at Creatin' In the Sticks to see the rest of the hopping days.   

Monday, January 20th


Since you got this far, please leave a message, and I'll choose someone to receive a few Island Batik FQs. Thanks!  I would be so happy if you followed via email, and stopped by my Facebook or Instagram pages, and followed, too.  
Giveaway open to US, and other countries if you agree to pay the difference in shipping from New York to your country.  

Please also note:  I'm selling the Cobalt, Orange, White, Grey and Black solids, and a variety of 10" squares, 2 1/2" strips and other Island Batik fabrics in my Etsy shop.  You can find the link above to the right.  I also have some Aurifil thread, and will make the Islander's quilt a custom order, as well as Rangers and New York Giants.  Contact me through my shop for further information.  

Thanks!  Have a great week, and enjoy the Winter Blues!  

Maryellen

61 comments:

Carla said...

I love those Island Batik solids and how well they work with your other fabrics. What a fantastic photoshoot. Your quilt is styled perfectly in those pictures! Thanks for showing a new way to fight the winter blues.

Farm Quilter said...

Snowflake is going to be stunning!! The Islander's quilt is so wonderful and your cousin is going to be delighted!! Love that you were able to take pictures of the quilt where the Islander's play and at their hockey game!!

Lee said...

Yours is the opposite of the Winter Blues! What a happy quilt and so well done! Love those colors and your photo shoot pictures!

Turid said...

Such a great and fun quilt, and lovely photoes. I've never used a fabric cutter, but it seems so easy. My quilt guild just bought one, so I have to try soon. Have a fun week hopping around, finding new ideas to try.

Joyce said...

Such clever and fun staging for an awesome quilt!

Elizabeth Coughlin said...

Gorgeous quilts!

Podunk Pretties said...

Great fabrics in this one, Love it!

Nancy L said...

I love blue also, so anything with blue catches my eye. I loved looking at your quilt pictures, and the awesome display you used.

Allison said...

I love the quilt, particularly draped over the hockey statue! Looks perfect!

Elizabeth V Kelbaugh said...

What a special quilt photo session! Wonderful quilt.

Anonymous said...

Great quilt and love the pictures. Happy quilting. Darlene dhoctor@sbcglobal.net

Denise said...

Congrats on a great finish. The blue and orange solids are a perfect match.

Home Sewn By Us said...

Hi Maryellen! This is just FABULOUS! Love, love, LOVE every bit of it and the staged photos could not be any better. I'm a huge hockey fan - we have the Milwaukee Admirals nearby that keep my hockey fix up and happy. WAY back when, a new arena opened in Milwaukee and Wayne Gretzky was going to be skating. I got tickets on the roof - serious nosebleed area, and then the worse thing happened. He was TRADED. What??!!! I was only going to see HIM play. Of course, I watched the ant-sized players from the roof area and finally left very disappointed. This is just the BEST quilt I've seen this year. Your cousin is going to adore it. ~smile~ Roseanne

Carol Swift said...

What a fun photo shoot for this beautiful and awesome quilt...love it! Hanging it over the shoulder was a perfect way to show it off. Thanks for sharing this fun quilt!

Susan said...

Two beautiful blue and white quilts for the price of one! Great setting for photographing your orange and blue quilt. Thanks for the chance to win the scraps. I love batiks and I'm ALL about scraps! How does anyone make anything without them???

Createology said...

I love every shade of blue and your quilts are amazing. Thank you for Winter Blues hopping. <3

wendy said...

Great quilt and super photo shoot!

Nancy said...

A GREAT hockey quilt. And I like your blue quilt. I like being able to see the seams to know how you put it together.

Vivian said...

Great project! The ice rink should rent that quilt --- it looks great draped over the shoulder of the player statue and would also look good hung next to the championship banners. I just now realized Islanders colors are the same as the NY Mets colors because I made a quilt using those same colors for a friend who is a fan of that team. Go NY sports!!

Kathy E. said...

Perfect way to incorporate blues into the New York Islanders quilt! I'm sure it will be treasured for years and used with pride!

Emily said...

I love the photo shoot at the rink! And using the giant hockey player statue was brilliant! Very fun finish.

Susan said...

Love the Snowflake quilt in progress. I think you did a great job with the NY Islanders quilt.

Jennifer Thomas said...

Wow. My husband would love that Islanders quilt. He's a huge fan and we go whenever we can when they are playing our local team, the Carolina Hurricanes. I love the photo with the statue! Fabulous photo op! curlicuecreations@gmail.com

Sheri said...

Your hexi snowflake quilt is going to be gorgeous when all quilted!!! I especially love your New York Islanders quilt! Great design and flow of colors!

Kathleen said...

I love that snowflake quilt - it will be a beauty. The NYIslander quilt is so much fun too! You are one busy lady!

Karrin Hurd said...

Love the snowflake quilt! The NY Islanders is lovely too, Thanks so much for sharing!

Scrapatches said...

Your projects really beat the winter blues. Thanks for sharing ... :) Pat

Danice G said...

Really pretty quilts, so bright. Your photography is also perfect.

Carol Andrews said...

Wow those are inspiring projects. What beautiful use of fabric to bring movement to those quilts.
😄 Carol

Rebecca Smith said...

I love that you took your quilt to the hockey rink to do your pictures!

tink's mom said...

Your cousin should love, love, love this quilt. It is perfect for a team follower. You and your son couldn't have found a more wonderful spot for the photo shoot. The pictures alone would make a great gift to a fan.

Nancy D said...

Love your quilts, especially the Snowflake quilt!

Brenda @ Songbird Designs said...

Snowflake is gorgeous. It will really be great with that piano key border! I really liked the setting of the second quilt. It's great to have a quilt model sometimes! LOL Great job on both.

Rozz01 said...

Wow a lot of work in those two quilts. Blue is a fav here too and clever NY Islanders quilt.

LJ said...

Blue and white...with the orange is a perfect combination. I love the quilt being showcased with the statue - thanks, Matt.

Jodi - usairdoll said...

Beautiful quilt! I know your cousin will love it!

Thanks for being part of the hop. Love it!

Leah said...

Such a fun quilt! I love your work in progress too. It will be fabulous.

Kistaco Farm said...

WOW! Look at all the wonderful comments! I <3 the Hexi Snowflake. The colors are fantastic and your work, as usual, is beautiful. I <3 seeing your works in progress.

Sally said...

Two FABULOUS quilts...you are rocking 2020!

cghundley said...

Lovely quilting and
a fun photo opportunity!
Carla from Utah

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Love your blue star quilt. The Hockey quilt is awesome too and how fun to photograph it somewhere awesome.

Charlene McCain said...

Beautiful quilts! Love all of your pictures showcasing the blue and orange quilt. You did a super job!

BarefootThunder said...

love the snowflake, I am not a hockey fan, but it is also a very nice quilt. I'd say you had day out with your son.

Sue D said...

I like your blue projects!
slrdowney at hotmail dot com

Pamela said...

What a neat project! The colors are perfect, and your photo shoot was so much fun, perfect place for pictures!

GranChris said...

I love your fabric choices. Turned out wonderful.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

The very modern snowflake quilt is lovely. BUT, just love the hockey quilt and what a great setting for taking photos.

Michelle said...

Both very pretty quilts.

Bonnie58 said...

Beautiful quilts! Thanks so much for inspiring and sharing with us all.

Karen said...

I love both your quilts. Thanks for sharing.

Calicojoan said...

That is a hockey fans dream quilt. Love your photo shoot locations too. Great job...Now I want to go to a hockey game! LOL!!

Susan said...

That's a lovely quilt, full of different snowflakes!

Karen's Korner said...

Such pretty and different snow flakes. Love the photo shoots for blue and orange one.

MissPat said...

I hope you give your cousin some of the shots from the photo shoot. He should be very pleased.
Pat

marebear said...

Hi Maryellen, Great job on your post. I liked your bright photos.

The Joyful Quilter said...

Both BLUE quilts are wonderful, but you made a wise choice in finishing the commission for your cousin. Nicely done!! The photo shoot was brilliant.

Beth said...

What a fun photo shoot! You make me feel very boring, thinking of how I photograph my quilts; I'm going to have to up my game. Also--thanks for the reminder to follow you on Instagram. I can't believe I haven't been doing that before now.

Anita Jackson @ Domestic Felicity said...

so cool! I love how you got photos with the Statue!

Rachel C said...

Awesome huge quilt :)
I'm following you on Instagram now too!
rach62803 at yahoo dot com

Sharon said...

Thanks for sharing your winter blues!

Sharon Aurora said...

Your cousin will love it and your quilt will be beautiful. Thank you.