Octopus's Garden

I can't believe I still have friends who are having babies when mine is about to head off for college but I do and I needed a last minute baby gift.  I'm not going to lie, I completely stole this idea from schnigschnagquiltsandmore.  I loved hers and had all the same fabrics so it was a no-brainer.

I've used this Garden Fence pattern by Hyacinth Quilt Designs before for A Walk in the Park - Just as easy as I remembered.  Strip piecing the outer edges helps this go together so fast.

For the quilting I used big swirls.  I'm never pleased with the shape of my rings but it seemed perfect for this quilt.  I tried to let go of my inner perfectionist and just embrace the effect.

Gratuitous basting shot because I always like to document when I do my least favorite part of the process.

I've learned the hard way that it's always best to make a test block before I cut all my fabrics for a new pattern.  My BQF talked me in to joining her for the Shimmer block-a-long so I decided to use my scraps and make a companion pillow.

And here they are together ready to be delivered.

Sharing the love and keeping the blogging world going with this week's Brag About Your Beauties Pageant by Michelle at From Bolt to Beauty.

Quilt Stats:
Finished quilt is 34" x 45"
Pattern: Garden Fence by Hyacinth Quilt Designs.
Fabrics: Coral Queen of the Sea by Stacy Iest Hsu for Moda.
Batting: Quilter's Dream Orient.
Thread: 50wt Aurifil in  Light Juniper (2845).

Pillow Stats:
Finished pillow is 18" x 18"
Pattern: Shimmer by Cluck Cluck Sew.
Fabrics: Coral Queen of the Sea by Stacy Iest Hsu for Moda.
Batting: Quilter's Dream Orient.
Thread: 50wt Aurifil in  Light Juniper (2845).

A Walk in the Park

Another one from my Q3 list for the 2015 Finish Along hosted by On the Windy Side.  This one has been a long time coming! I started it on the 2014 BMQG retreat. Then I dragged it back to baste at this year's retreat.  The blocks were made from a Central Park layer cake using this awesome Garden Fence tutorial by Hyacinth Quilt Designs.

For the quilting I used loopy flowers in the centers of each green square.  I didn't do a very good job filling the space but I still love this pattern.  I wanted the yellow bricks to really pop so I filled the printed blocks with free-form feathers.  They're not perfect but I'm pretty happy with how they turned out and will definitely use them again.  I must have got a magic spool of Aurifil for this one...  no thread emergencies, in fact I still had half a spool left after I quilted all the feathers.

I was angling for a trip to Central Park for the photo shoot a la Murray the Whale but had to settle for a visit to our local arboretum.  I'm always grateful for beautiful "summer" days like this.  Fall is NOT my season so I hang on to summer as long as I can.

A huge thank you to A Smidgen of Joy and A Quilting Jewel for sharing their stash where I was a bit low!!!  I truly couldn't have done this without you:-)

I don't usually get too fancy piecing my backs but in the interest of using what I have I made a couple extra blocks to stretch the zoo animal yardage I had in my stash.

I was so proud of myself for piecing the label in to the back when I made it.  Obviously I was a bit optimistic about the finish date... better late than never!

Linking up to the fabulous Finish it Up Friday by Crazy Mom Quilts.

Quilt Stats:
Finished quilt is 58" x 80"
Pattern: Garden Fence tutorial by Hyacinth Quilt Designs
Fabrics:  Central Park by Kate Spain for Moda,  FSDS Olive.
Batting: Quilter's Dream Orient Bamboo
Thread: Aurifil 50wt. in Natural White (2021) and Light Leaf Green (1147)