Sample Party: Lots of pictures

 For the past couple of years (I don't remember exactly) I've been making samples for a quilt shop.

 They would send me all the fabric, batting and pattern.  I put it together and sent it back.

 Right about the time I decided to quit, they decided to retire - so it all worked out.

 I received all my samples back in the mail last week.

 I've blogged some in the past, and not others.  These pictures are a selection that I've either not blogged, or don't remember.

Celebrating Spring with Quilts

 Three little mini quilts I finished up this past week.

 Happy Spring Everyone!

Yellow Brick Road Sample Finish

 The other quilt that I finished up for a store sample was Yellow Brick Road by Atkinson Designs.  I like this pattern a lot.  It is based on fat quarters, and actually uses them up thoroughly.  I have a couple of FQ stacks that might be destined for this pattern in the future.  Seriously, that good.

 The fabrics sent for this were 30's fabrics, I think mostly from Moda.  With FQ you don't always get to see the selvage. 

 White border, which I personally tend to avoid white, with the 5 kids and all, but I can see how it tied all the various prints together.

 Stripey binding, which was actually a Christmas print.

 Because my deadline for finishing was fast approaching I did giant loop-de-loops to finish the quilting fast.

 The back is a red based alphabet block.  Again, not something I would choose myself, but hey, its the back and I just had to follow directions.  I think E may claim this quilt when it comes home.  She helped me with the floor layout as I constructed it since it was just after my fall.

 It finishes at 56"x74", which is called lap size, but is really quite large.
Batting, the mystery cotton, once again.
This one was quilted with white Aurifil on the top and my favorite cream Aurifil on the bottom.

Big Blocks Sample Finish

 I know I've mentioned it before, but I've found that I can either Finish Quilts OR Blog Regularly (but not both).  Last week I finished two quilts and published my first newsletter for my Quilt Guild.  Throw in a couple rounds of the flu for family members over the weekend, and therefore, no blogging. 
Today I can start sharing my finishes.

 This was one of two patterns I was sent to make for a sample.  Big blocks.  I only had to make 9 blocks, though.

 I don't always love the fabric I'm sent for samples, but this is really pretty. I like it a lot.  Mr. Riley even commented on it, so this will probably be a keeper, whenever I get it back....

 I did swirl quilting on it, which in hindsight was probably way too much effort for the quilt, but it reflected the swirls in the fabric, and I like it.  It just took a long time.  That's something to consider in quilt designs.  If you have to trace your quilting, you aren't actually adding quilting to the overall quilt...

 The back.  You can see the lines where I had to piece it to make it work. 
The finished quilt is approximately 53" square.
The batting is a mystery cotton (maybe even a blend?)
Thread was some Coats and Clark cotton quilting thread.  A little thicker than the Aurifil I usually use, but the color was spot on.

Two More Finished Samples

 The Crazy Train of Sewing has so far managed to stay on track. 

 Two more samples finished and in the mail.

 These snowman snowflakes are super cute. 

 And they take a lot of time! 

Trace the pattern six times to make the snowflake, then trace three times on wonder under, then fuse, then cut, then fuse again, and then applique. 

Once again for the sake of time and reality, the applique stitch and the quilting are on in the same.

This one measures 13"x39"

The tree table runner was all pieced.  Triangles and angled rectangles.  It went together surprisingly fast.  I plan on a post about using paper and your ruler instead of cutting plastic templates for something like this.  Soon. Really.

The quilting is done in a silver grey from Aurifil.  I love how it makes the quilting pop more from the white.

This one is 12" x 48"

Four Sample Finishes For Christmas

 I'm keeping busy, hopefully right on schedule, with getting all these projects done and out of here.  I finished up the first four samples today and mailed them off.  Yep, the pictures are a little dark, it was rainy - hey this isn't a fancy pants blog.  But you don't get ads either....

 The minis are pretty self explanatory.  They finish up at 7.5" square.  They are not fast.  Too many pieces, too much applique and too much embroidery to call them fast.

 They are turned, however, so no binding, and minimal quilting.

 This is the fanciest one, and probably my favorite.

 I also finished this wall hanging.  It finishes around 20" square.  I like this one a lot.  Can't wait until I get them all back....in a year or two.

 I used the button hole stitch for applique - and as the quilting.  Partly for time, partly because its a wall hanging, so really no one will be looking at the back (except for all of you!)  And then just some straight lines around the borders.

Two more samples to go.