"THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER..."

Yesterday about lunchtime I saw my mailman pull up next to my mailbox.  I could see he was putting a squishy in my box, so I ran out the door to see what it held.  It was as I suspected.  I ran back inside to rip it open and was delighted with the contents!  Inside was my doll quilt for the Doll Quilt Swap 9.  It turns out that Isaacsmama was my secret partner for this swap; she knew who I was, I didn't know who she was.  She made me this beauty titled "THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER..."


It's very bright and fun!



I think this purple guy is my favorite bird.  He's so cheerful!


Isn't this fish awesome?  He's got a fun fin and polka-dotted skin.  What's not to love?



I think these little guys are my favorite in the whole quilt.  The are just hangin' out swimmin' around through the polka-dotted kelp.  Love!


The back of the quilt is very pretty, too!  The quilting really sings on the back. 



See what I mean?  Love his feet & tail!



The quilted waves at the bottom are fun!


The little fishes!  :)




Thanks for the doll quilt Sudi-Laura.  It really made me smile and brightened my day!

DQS9

Jeanne over at Grey Cat Quilts put up a post discussing my DQS9 mini quilt.  She flickr mailed me asking if she could discuss what she thought was modern about my quilt.  It's always fun to have someone dissect my work... it takes me back to the critiques of my architecture school years.  It forces me to see things from a different perspective and re-think some of the decisions I made along the way.



One of the things I find interesting about when people discuss or comment on my work is the mention of my use of colors.  I've mentioned before that I'm trying to step outside of my box when it comes to color.  I'm really quite scared of mixing them; I usually cheat and just pull colors I like out of a conversation piece.  It's interesting to me that for some reason people seem to think I know what I'm doing.  Maybe people are just trying to be nice, thinking I'll stop talking about being afraid.  Maybe they're hoping I'll build enough confidence and just quit yakking about it.  Ya think?

Head on over to Jeanne's blog and check out what she has to say about my quilt.

DQS9

I've been working on this mini quilt a lot lately. This is one of the last projects I need to finish up before we pack up the studio to move. (We're moving the 21st of August if anybody is interested in relocating boxes with Jason and I.)


Jason snapped this picture of me a few nights ago working on the DQS9 quilt.  I'm trying trapunto for the first time, so I'm stitching around the circles here.  I want to quilt pretty densely around the circles to have them really pop. 


This is where the quilt is currently.  I have it waiting for pins.  I didn't have enough pins for 2 mini quilt projects, so I had to go buy a few more last night.  This is where I left off on it last night.  After I baste it, I'll be quilting it.  I has yet to be trimmed, so don't be concerned about it's irregular shape. 

The back is a little bit crazy.  I made it just like I made the orange wedges.  I used the same orange fabric on the back.  I'm thinking of using orange thread in the bobbin and in the top thread for the orange wedges to help tone it down a bit.  I'm not sure what color thread I should use in the top thread on the black wedge.  I'm not planning on quilting over the circles, but outlining them again to really bring out the trapunto.  Any suggestions on the thread color over the black?

I'm planning to use this method to bind this quilt.  I'm not sure which colors I should use.  I was thinking the same blue fabric I used for the piping separating the orange and black for the the  "piping" in the binding.  What are your thoughts?  Any suggestions?

Go here and here to look back at the progress I've been making on this project.

DQS9

I have my fabric all picked out for the DQS9.  What do you think, partner? 

Dear partner,

I'm so excited to be a part of this swap with you!  I'm grateful to you for making something just for me.  I can't wait to see what you come up with and am sure I'll love it!

I hope I haven't made researching or stalking me too difficult for you.  I've added a lot of new favorites to my flickr account for you.  I've added a bit more information to my flickr profile.  You should be able to find things I like to make myself on my flickr photostream, but don't think you have to make something I would make or do something the way I would do it!

I've even made a mosaic of things I like just for you!

1. for Beth, 2. Bee Pieceful - September 09 Block, 3. dqs7 quilt, 4. mini quilt, 5. doll quilt swap received, 6. Sailboat Pillow, 7. black bird mini with frame, 8. "my favorite dress" quilt, 9. mini quilt from Knit One Quilt Too, 10. Swap til you Drop - January 2009 Theme: Sing It, Watch It, Read It, 11. robin, 12. september mini quilt for lucette, 13. 4 Roseanne, 14. 4 Roseanne, 15. STUD Quilt for Piece of Me, 16. birds_with_snail_detail2, 17. gnome quiltlet, 18. fish quilt, 19. DQS8 #1 "Think Spring", 20. 6-12 inch mini quilt swap, November sent, 21. DQS8 Received from Karen!!!, 22. DSQ8 Doll Quilt full view, 23. it's mine!, 24. DSC02795 Black & White deer with red bird quilt, 25. DQS5 - Another Peek

I tried to show you some of the things I love.  In case it isn't very obvious or I forgot to mention...

• I love color and texture.  Do not be afraid!  I really like odd colors together!  I like bold.  I like bright.  I like dark.  I like light.  I don't think you can go wrong here!
• I love creatures.  Birds and fish seem to be the most popular these days, but I love just about all of them (minus snakes and eels, eew!). 
• I love camping and being outside.  I think trees are some of the most beautiful things around.  The best nap you can take is in a hammock strung between two trees.
• I was an architecture major in school, thus I definitely have a soft spot for buildings. 
• I love small details.  Feel free to add lots!

Some of my favorite fabric designers are: Heather Ross, Anna Maria Horner, Kaffe Fassette, Amy Butler, Tula Pink, Michael Miller, Lizzy House, Joel Dewberry, and Heather Bailey.

Please, make something you'll have fun with.  I'll love anything you make for me and can't wait to see it.

Happy quilting!
Jessica

Partners are in!

I'm a teeny bit excited!  I got my partner for the Doll Quilt Swap.  I can't wait to start searching her out and coming up with something really fun to make.  It's a secret, so I can't share it with you just yet, but I'll be sure to post things as time goes on.

I'm in!

I was given a spot in the latest and greatest Doll Quilt Swap.  This is round #9 and my first time playing in this swap.

I'm so excited to be a part of this round.  From the conversations I've been reading on the flickr discussions, it seems like I'll be swapping with a fun bunch.  If you're not familiar with the swap, check out the blog here or see the flickr group here.

The basic rules are:

1. Make a quilt for your partner that is between 12x12 and 24x24.
2. It's a secret!  Don't tell your partner that you are making their quilt.
3. You can't send out the quilt before August 15th. 
4. You have to have it in the mail by September 1st (if international) or September 8th (if domestic).

We have some time to familiarize ourselves with our partners by researching their blogs, flickr favorites, or anything else we can find about them before getting started on our doll quilts.

I can't wait to find out who my partner is and get crackin' on making something really fun for them.