Wednesday, July 29, 2009

A Busy Little Elf

Did you know that it's Christmas in July at Sew Mama Sew, and that I got to be one of Santa's elves to bring you a Christmasy project to get a jump on the holiday rush?

You might want to learn how to make some 'extended maverick stars' a variation of Gwen Marston's maverick stars..
and combine those with some 'mod trees' to make a hip Christmas tree skirt. There's a pdf on Sew Mama Sew with all the instructions and some really fun Christmas fabric to choose from.
Meanwhile I'm still plugging away at this quilt.
I'm pretty happy with how it's coming along....about half done.
My loving husband is always bragging about me...well, turns out he was invited to a baby shower for a colleague in Chicago...just happened to mention I might be able to make a special quilt for their new little boy. So....the parents requested orange, brown and golden yellow...I went to my stash and chose these.
They wanted a zig zag quilt like this one. Instead of all those half square triangles, I used AmandaJean's no triangle method. Easy peasy...totally genius! Went together like a snap. The only change I made was to combine fabrics in some of the zigs...or are they zags? I like the look mixing it up a bit. It's very little boy to me.

It may not look like it, but I really am following doc's orders...short sewing sessions...limited time per day...exercises twice a day...every day...and a good attitude. (well, that last one may need a little work.)

61 comments:

Stina Blomgren said...

Ahhh.. you know doctors orders are important.. so keep that in mind..;o) Take care...
ANd hurray to be a little Christmas Elf.. saw the wonderful project you designed.. so it will be a lot of fun... :o)

Madame Awesomepants said...

Oooh, thanks for that link! A zig zag quilt has been on my list for some time and this way of piecing it might actually bring it to the top of the list.

Autumn said...

you are such an inspiration! Thanks!

dutchcomfort said...

A busy little elf with great projects!
The zig-zag quilt-top is absolutely gorgeous!

And thanks for the links!

One Shabby Chick said...

I LOVE the zig zag quilt - fantastic colors!! And I saw your wonderful project on Sew Mama Sew and thought it would be so great to make my mom one for her birthday - thanks for the tutorial!

Liz Jimenez said...

Isn't that zig-zag tutorial the BEST? I think it makes a perfect baby quilt, I made one myself a month or two ago. Simple, but a great outcome.

Love yours! I agree, perfectly boy-appropriate without being overtly BOY! TRUCKS! ARG! Know what I mean? :-)

Liz @ teeny tiny quilts

Twisted Quilts said...

I love the zig zag quilt. I must go to that tutorial, I haven't seen it but it is very appealing. I can't think about Christmas yet. It was over 90 here yesterday!

Andi said...

You've been so beautifully productive.
Andi :-)

Bethany said...

I love the tree skirt on SMS. I hope to make it soon! I really like the colors and style for the little boy.

Unknown said...

Are you sure you are following doctors orders??? I just love everything you are working on. You are like me, someone suggests something, like a baby quilt, and you just dive right in!

Two Dogs and a Quilt said...

Congrats on the christmas feature. I saw it and it's wonderful. The zig zag is coming along great - sure to be loved.

Nichole said...

i saw your tutorial on sew, mama,sew! congrats! your tree skirt looks lovely!

that baby quilt is also lovely! i really like baby quilt that don't look overly baby.

Anonymous said...

Love those wonky stars - I'll definitely have to download the PDF when I get home.

AND the zig zag blankie! I love when baby quilts aren't so "baby".

Abby and Stephanie said...

Always lots of goodness from Tallgrass Prairie Studio! How generous of your hubby to offer your to make a quilt! :o)

shellysquilts said...

Jacquie, I love all your stuff and I really like that tree. Your work makes my skirt fly up! Happy sewing sessions!

Quilt Rat said...

Totally FABULOUS!

Pat at Bell Creek Quilts said...

Thanks for sharing the tree skirt tutorial! and the baby quilt is so beautiful!

Glad you are following Dr's orders for a healthy you :)

beth said...

i get asked to make quilts for others too...my husband did the same thing...but my quilt did not turn out as beautiful as yours. lovely! and i'm definitely looking into that christmas project!

Dimple said...

Thanks for the tutorial; I haven't yet done a quilt, but am thinking!

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

Oh I sew enjoy looking at your work, it just takes my breath away!!

Junie Moon said...

Wow, that zig-zag quilt is amazing. I love the flow of colors in the fabrics you've chosen.

MichelleB said...

Love the zig zag! Those colors are great. I can hardly wait to go see what's at Sew Mama Sew.

connie said...

I am always excited to see your posts. How can you continually amaze us. Thanks for sharing and above all Take Care of yourself!!!

allsewnup said...

What a fun twist on the zigzag top
and I'll be checking out the star.
Carolyn*

Rebekah said...

your zig zag baby quilt is adorable! I love the color scheme the new parents picked out and your play with different fabrics in the zigs

Cheryl Arkison said...

Love that you mixed up the zigs and zags. Looks very cool. And what a different look you get using Amanda Jean's method instead of half square triangles, especially with directional fabrics.

Candace said...

Wow - the tree skirt is right up my alley, Jacquie! Thanks! I've been wanting to make one for some time now! Love the zig-zags - a terrific shower gift - and wonderful colors!
Cheers!

HMaas said...

I think that the zig zag will be my next quilt - thanks for the link to that great tutorial!! Yours has turned out great - what a nice quilt for a little boy.

Amanda Jean said...

thanks for linking to my zig zag quilt. it's fun to see it come together without triangles, isn't it? i love how you mixed up the prints in the stripes. so fun! also love it that it isn't traditional cutesy boy. but boy nonetheless.

Vicki said...

Wow, you have been busy. The Christmas tree skirt is so cool. And the zigzag quilt is wonderful too.

sko_G knits said...

your work always inspires me. as a beginner quilter, i am learning how important it is to have a good stash.

Carla said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Carla said...

BEAUTIFUL. What great movement. I'll have to try this. Thanks for sharing and I hope you are doing well.

Qubie said...

I think this is so cute. I love it!!! Think I might have to make something like this. Maybe not a tree skirt, but a wall hanging. LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!!

The Calico Cat said...

Nice job on thst little boy quilt.

Kathleen C said...

I love to hear that your husband boasts about you and your artistic skills. That brought a smile to my face.
The baby fabrics for the zig zag quilt tell me that you have a very good stash of luscious fabrics. I like that the parents chose an unlikely pattern and colors for their baby's quilt.
Now I'm going to look up the zig zag tutorial; bloggers are so generous with instructions and patterns.
thanks for your posts.
Kathleen C.

Nanette Merrill said...

Just came from Sew Mama Sew. I was so excited to see you join their creative team on this. Your ideas are always so original.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

The tree skirt on SMS is awesome as is this zig zag quilt!! Glad you showed me that I can use multiple prints in one zig. Thank you.

Di~ said...

oh such cuteness, I love it all! I showed the zig zag table runner that you made at quilt group today, they all loved it!

Aimee said...

Beautiful zags! I love the tree skirt on SMS. That is definitely going on my To Do list!

Alissa said...

Oh all three things are so pretty!! Love the zigzag.

Tif said...

I love love it all! I do love AmandaJean's tut, and your quilt came out beautifully!

Dorrie said...

Ms. Jacquie, I love this baby quilt! And I love Amanda's no triangle method too. Your other projects are coming along nicely. . . so pretty and so perfect! Don't forget to rest!

Cathy @ CabbageQuilts said...

Thanks so much for the link, I have love zigzag quilts and have yet to make one...I love this one the colours are gorgeous. xo

em's scrapbag said...

Thanks for the link. That's awesome.

Jrz Jenn said...

I love the quilt you're making! Your stitches are awesome, and so perfect. Can't wait to see the finished product!

Allie said...

I'm in love with the baby quilt!

Gigi's Thimble said...

That is such a cute baby boy quilt! Love it and the colors are great!

Unknown said...

Glad you are following orders! :) Your quilts are amazing - I can see why your husband is bragging!!

MightyMom said...

simply adorable.
I'm not YET started on Christmas...but it's coming next month!

Trisha said...

Fun to see a non-traditional Christmas quilt. The baby quilt is adorable. I like how you change fabrics along the zig zags.

audreypawdrey said...

I love the tree skirt you designed! I saw it up on on sewmamasew the other day and have been meaning on passing on congratulations for such a cool and well thought out pattern! The zig zag quilt is perfect for a little boy- they will love it! Your quilts are always amazing.:)

Donnelly said...

I love the tree skirt. I went right over and downloaded it. I think I am going to use "Figgy Pudding" by Moda for mine. Thanks for sharing.
Have a great day.

Anonymous said...

You're good to be thinking holiday so early. I really love those Mingle circles.

The baby quilt is lovely. Lucky boy.

Liz said...

I am always in awe at how wonderful your colors look together. These are just stunning.

Theresa said...

Very clever mixing up the zigs. I agree, it's a great pattern. I tried it with 2 1/2" strips too and that worked a treat!

Sophia said...

I love this Jacquie! The colors/patterns are so wonderful!!!

sewtakeahike said...

Jacquie!!! Congratulations on being featured at SMS!!!! Your project is so fun! I love that your husband is bragging on you, you so deserve it. The parents are sooooo gonna love that quilt!

Jodi Nelson said...

I must tell you. I want to make a quilt for Son #3's newly painted and re-decorated room. He rolled his eye's and said, maybe. No girly stuff mom. And I said, No! I know! I know exactly the type of quilt you would want. And then I showed him your blog and some of your quilts. He picked the gray and orange quilt! Something like that mom. I knew it! (Score!) Thanks for the inspiration Jacquie. Always! (he said it reminds him of a bunch of NES system's. (Nintendo) LOL.

Julie @ Jaybird Quilts said...

your zig zag rocks! the colos are perfect for a boy.. but not too plain!!

Darcie said...

LOVE the baby boy's quilt! All in your stash?! Wow! ;-) Who knew?! lol

You take care of yourself, Jacquie! One step at a time.