Pillow challenge - take 2

The Seattle MQG is in the midst of a pillow-making challenge right now that I organized with Me+You/Hoffman fabric. I love their modern Indah batiks and wanted to give our guild the chance to play with them. Me+You was super generous in sending over tons of bundles for us to pass out to interested members, who are then to make a pillow cover with Me+You fabrics and any other Hoffman fabrics they want to add. They are going to be displayed at the Pacific Fabrics Northgate store for about a month starting July 15th.

I had a few ideas for what I'd like to make but finally decided on using the Meridian quilt pattern by Alison Glass and Jessica Beaudet. This is one of many patterns I have that I would love to make but have not found the time yet. All those curves are a little daunting as well so a pillow is the perfect place to start.

I cut up the provided fabric along with a few others (so happy I won some of their solids at Quiltcon!) to make 4 blocks from the pattern. I was not loving my creation. My 4 blocks didn't really look right to me but I could not figure out exactly what needed changing. I think they would be fine if I was making a whole quilt and all of the colors were incorporated into other parts of the quilt but not so much for just the 4 sections alone.

Yesterday, I cut pieces for 4 more blocks from a different section of the quilt pattern. I planned it out a little better this time and I think I like it better. Now I've just got to find some time to sew it together in the next few days and finish this pillow up! Although looking at it here, I may need to change out a piece or two before sewing. We shall see.

However it ends up, this has convinced me that I DO need to make a full quilt of this pattern. It shall be added to the never-ending to do list. Also, the original block (above, with the green) is now growing on me. Maybe it will be a 2 sided pillow!

A whole lot of WIPs

It's been awhile since I've posted my extremely long list of everything that's in progress. I don't expect to finish all of this in the next 3 months but hopefully will complete at least a chunk of it! Linking up to the 2015 Finish Along.

Timber Quilt - this is an Alison Glass pattern that I got for Christmas. I love it! There are SO many ways to change up the look of it. I decided to go with a warm, bright, sherbet-sunrise palette.

Project Linus scrap quilt - Pat Bravo sent a package of scraps for me to make a charity quilt with. I had a plan that involved triangles but once I received the scraps they didn't really seem to make sense with the design I had thought up. Right now they are sewn into 16 rectangular string blocks.... we'll see if they stay that way or not.

Ex Libris quilt - I was so excited to get some advance yardage of this gorgeous new line from Alison Glass! I started sewing this past weekend and should have the quilt all finished in the next 2 weeks at most. Okay, maybe 3 weeks.

Do Good Stitches arrows quilt - February was my month to design the quilt for the Believe circle. I asked them to make arrow blocks in a beautiful palette with a neutral solid background. Now it just needs to be pieced together to make a really fun quilt for a foster kid.

Jellyfish quilt - I started this at Quiltcon, in Improv with Intent with Cheryl Arkison. I need to make a whole slew of jellies to be friends with this guy.

Emphasis quilt - I'm really excited to make more blocks for this one. I have a design in mind that will involve a massive amount of negative space for some FMQ fun. I started this one at Quiltcon also, in class with Carolyn Friedlander.

Tallahassee quilt - I started this last year with members of the Stash Fabulous bee. I think I still need to make a few more of these adorable little paper pieced blocks and I have a plan to fill in the background with larger squares of low volume white prints.

C&S August Lions quilt - I started this one at our Seattle MQG retreat last November but I didn't have a use in mind at the time, I just wanted to use these prints. I think I know where it will be headed now though and I got some great ideas for the quilting part from classes with Angela Walters at Quiltcon so it's time to finish up piecing this top and get him done!

Technicolor Galaxy quilt - This one will definitely not be finished in the next 3 months but it's in progress nonetheless. I have fabric pulled and templates printed so I just need to get started! 

Paint Chip Challenge - Seattle MQG is doing a challenge right now, due in May, to make an 18" mini out of only the colors on our assigned paint chip. I better get on that now that I think I finally have a plan!

MQG Riley Blake challenge - my plan involves a little bit of fabric and a whole lot of FMQ. I think this is due in July. Maybe June...

Cotton and Steel Mini Quilt Swap - I think I'm making this sweet viewfinder pattern from Penny Layman's The Paper-Pieced Home. Swap is due in June.

Laurel tunic & Dress - I need to do the finishing on the teal one and start the aztec version. I really love this pattern by GreenstyleCreations! I actually used the pattern to also draft my own open front flowy cardigan!

Knit Staple dress - I've made one in woven and love it, time to get this one done for a little more casual, comfy version.

Fishy Izzy dress - I'm changing up the Izzy top by Climbing the Willow a little to lengthen the bodice and make a dress for my sweet 3 year old niece. I've already made her one that's tunic length and she loves it but she also loves to wear dresses.

Lane Raglan - I'm making the Lane Raglan by Hey June in this fun chevron print with solid blue sleeves and another with this pretty coral lace burnout. If I like them, I'm sure there will be many more versions to follow.

Flowy Knit Cardigans - I drafted this pattern as a mashup of the Laurel and some things I learned by watching Fit2Stitch on PBS. Oh how I love that show. I have at least 2 of these in the works and I would love to finish them so I can start wearing them. And then I will promptly make about 5 more.

Syrah skirt- I've been saving this magenta knit to make myself a maxi skirt and now I've FINALLY printed out the pattern after having it for several months.

Well. That's quite a to-do list. I better get started - my boyfriend just texted and asked for a pillow case tonight as well!