Rhonda Bracey: At Random

Some time back I received a set of charm squares (5 and 10 inch) and matching 2.5 inch strips as part of a promotional ‘gift’ for subscribing to a quilting magazine. I never figured out what to make with all this fabric and, over time, I’ve used parts of it for some of the travel accessories I make and sell on Etsy — luggage tags, luggage handle wraps, luggage straps and the like (http://www.etsy.com/shop/RhondaMadeIt?section_id=6122839).

I hadn’t touched the pack of 40 five inch squares. Until now.

I decided to make a gender-neutral cot quilt out of them, using mostly the lavender and soft greens, peppered with some of the pinks and blues and the occasional orange.

I used a disappearing nine-patch technique and then mixed up the blocks to give a more random appearance. I separated each set of four blocks with sashing strips in the lavenders and greens, added batting and a purple backing fabric, then free motion quilted the entire cot quilt in a large meandering stitch, using lavender thread top and bottom. The binding is a mix of the remaining lavender and green fabrics.

I’ve now added this pastel, gender-neutral cot quilt to my Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/listing/72831508/lavender-and-green-gender-neutral-cot

Click on a small photo below to show it full size, then click on it again in full size mode to zoom in to see the stitching.

I’ve finally completed some of the projects that were still outstanding from when I returned from the Eleanor Burns Quilting Academy in California last month.

On Day 3 of the Eleanor Burns Quilting Academy, I was in the class that made a quilt top from a jelly roll in 6 hours, using a serger (overlocker). The pattern is an Eleanor Burns design, and Eleanor gave us labels for the pieces we made, which she autographed using a permanent fabric pen (see the photo of the label).

When I got home, I added the borders, the batting, and the very bright backing fabric, then spent many many hours (about 10?) free motion quilting it on a HQ Sweet Sixteen. I found that flame motifs worked well in the square blocks, and so did several blocks with flame variations. I used a red, yellow, blue and green variegated cotton thread in the bobbin, and while it worked well with the backing fabric, it did show through a bit in some parts of the stitching. I did hooked feathers for the white border. Finally, I bound this quilt with a mix of the jelly roll and border fabrics.

I’ve now added this very bright lap quilt to my Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/listing/72828803/bright-lap-quilt.

Click on a small photo below to show it full size, then click on it again in full size mode to zoom in to see the stitching.

I’ve finally completed some of the projects that were still outstanding from when I returned from the Eleanor Burns Quilting Academy in California last month.

On Day 1 of the Quilting Academy, I was in the class that made a cushion cover in 3 hours, using various embroidery machine techniques, including making three-dimensional pieces.

The only thing I had to do when I got home was finish the buttonholes and add some buttons — those pink and black polka dot buttons are just so cute and matched the super bright colours on the front of the cushion cover perfectly!

I’ve now added this cushion cover to my Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/listing/72827683/bright-floral-cushion-cover.

Click on a small photo below to show it full size, then click on it again in full size mode to zoom in to see the stitching.

I’ve finally completed some of the projects that were still outstanding from when I returned from the Eleanor Burns Quilting Academy in California last month.

First cab off the rank is the black and gold table runner I made in Eleanor’s class (see https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/quilting-academy-day-2-march-2011/ for details). She’s signed the label too!

I added insulated batting and my own backing fabric, then spent many hours free motion quilting it. These were the first feathers I free motion quilted after a couple of weeks of doodling them!

I was surprised how easy they were to do after doodling. Something about a brain shift and a hand/eye coordination thing, even though doodling is the direct opposite to free motion quilting on a domestic sewing machine. With doodling you have paper that’s kept static while you move the pen; on a sewing machine, you have a static needle (pen) and you move the quilt (paper) under that needle. I doubt I could do that with real pen and paper!

I’ve now added this table runner to my Etsy store (http://www.etsy.com/listing/72826221/black-and-gold-fan-table-runner). SOLD! See my comment below.

Click on a small photo below to show it full size, then click on it again in full size mode to zoom in to see the stitching.