Spring flowers - more tulips!

                                Click here for the April One Monthly Goal Link-Up!

Loved making the tulip quilt last week so much that I went ahead and made another one - table runner sized (15 x 30'') using some pretty colors from American Made Brand Solids.  (More information on pattern here.) 

Now the box shape of these tulips was one of those happy mistakes.  I misread the pattern but really liked the way it looked so kept it this way!

 I had fun doing some FMQ on the background - a bunch of loops.  The tulips were out-lined around the edge as well as along that highlight strip int he middle.  The leaves were needle turned.  (I need a new needle turn project now!)

I found this fun backing fabric on clearance.  Since this is a gift, I wanted something pretty!

There are no tulips growing in my yard.  But there are some azalea flowers.  So pretty!

My tulip table runner will be linked up with Main Crush Monday's,   Freemotion by the River,   WIP Wednesday's,  Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers.  Needle and Thread Thursdays, Finish it Up Friday and Finished or Not Friday.   My tuliptable runner is finish #17 for 2017 - many of these (but not all) are minis.


Have a wonderful day! Patty

Want to be part of the parade?

                               Click here for the April One Monthly Goal Link-Up!

On May, 3, I want to have a parade of all the improv finishes made during the play QAL.

What is a finish?   Any improv quilt you made, of any size as long as it is quilted and bound.

Joining the parade is optional but I do hope you will send in your photo and be part of the fun wrap up for the QAL.  You don't need to have a blog, Instagram or be part of the Facebook group in order to be in the parade.  And you can share the same photo in the final link-up (opens April 10th) for a chance at more prizes.

And there is some extra incentive.  One person will be randomly chosen from the parade photos to win an Aurifil thread pack of their choice plus two (2) mini charm packs from AMB.

To enter the parade, send an email to elmstreetquilts by Monday, May 1 8pm EST.

Include the following information -

• photo of your quilt
• your name and state/country in which you live
• name of the quilt (optional)
• 1-2 sentences on what you learned by trying improv (optional)
• your blog address and/or instagram so people can stop by and visit  (optional)
• your thread pack choice if you win - Tula Pink, Carolyn Friedlander or Bonnie & Camille Simplify

For more information about the QAL and the full list of prizes available, please visit the main event page.  5 prize packages will be handed out!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

improv QAL - text! (the last prompt)

Click here for the April One Monthly Goal Link-Up!

For overall information on play, the improv QAL, please see the QAL kickoff as well the main event page.  
The improv QAL has a set of basic rules - 

• you are in charge
• make what you want
• don't follow a pattern
• play with fabric
• experiment

Anything goes here. 

This is your project, your creativity. 

Wow!  This is the last prompt!  I really hope that you've had as much fun as I've had with this QAL.  If you missed the other prompts, here they are:

 wonky log cabin , the half triangle block. stack, cut & sew, wonky geese, wonky stars, crumbs, & strips / curves!

My guess is that many of you knew that a prompt for improv text was coming - giving the mini quilt that started this all.

Improv text is a little tricky - but nothing you can't handle!

Today's prompt is -

  Text

 Produce a mini or create blocks to be assembled together with other blocks from the QAL.

Remember, this prompt is just the start of this week's assignment.  Embrace it or ignore it.

I've been working on a wall hanging size improv quilt to be revealed in the parade.  The progress photo below gives you a sneak piece to some of the text that will appear.

See text progress in pictures - 

Some tips & ideas -

• Spellcheck before sewing (learned this one the hard way!)

• Trim with scissors

• Sew with a really tiny stitch length.  Mine was set to 1.2

• If you mess up, throw it out or cut it out.  Don't waste time on unpicking a seam.

• Roughly layout your fabrics to form the letter (first photo) and consider how best to assemble your letter block  

The letter K can be assembled as three pieces - the side piece (1), the top part of the letter (2) and the bottom part of the letter (3).  Sew (1), (2) and (3) together as untis and then sew (2) to (3).  Sew that unit to (1)

Remember - anything goes here.  It is your project, your creativity coming through.  Don't be afraid to experiment.  This might feel uncomfortable but don't give up - keep working through to the end product.

• Share your progress via Instagram  and/or  Elm Street Quilts QAL Facebook Group 

• Use #playimprovqal to earn entries towards one of the QAL prizes.  

• The quilt top (quilted or not) linkup, opens next week on April 11  and runs through April 30 

• The finish play parade is on May 3;  Finish means quilted, bound and done!  More on how to submit a finish for the parade in a post later this week.  (Submit finished quilts via email for the parade by May 1.)

• See main event page and the kickoff post for more information.

Have a wonderful day!