Browsing Tag

denyse schmidt

finishes

let’s catch up!

Posted on January 13, 2015

Anna Maria Horner Embroidery by Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studios

Oh, hello there! How are you? Can you believe we are already almost two weeks into the New Year? Time seems to be flying by as I am trying to get myself ready for the start of Curves Class with Rachel from Stitched in Color! I’m excited, as it was on my list of resolutions for this year, and my head is already spinning with ideas of things I’ll be able to make with my newfound curvy skilzzzzz!

In order to get myself mentally ready for the class, I’ve been trying to get all of my other obligations and tasks out of the way. The first order of business was to finish the Anna Maria Horner embroidery project that I had started ages ago. It’s the first embroidery project I ever embarked upon, and I had NO idea what I was getting myself into! But I love how it turned out and can say it was definitely worth it in the end!

I also finished my blocks for this month’s do. Good Stitches.

I got a sleeve on this quilt, so that I can package it up and send it off to Austin!

And started the process of teaching myself how to appliqué, as part of my entry for the LIMOD Charm Square Swap Challenge. (Wish me luck!)

The last thing I’ve been doing (which was also on my list of resolutions) is taking an online drawing class. I signed up through Creativebug for Lisa Congdon’s Basic Line Drawing AND her Sketchbook Explorations class (I know, it’s like I have New Year fever!), and I have already learned a ton! (I have tons to learn, trust me! But, here’s a few snaps of my first doodles!

I’ve been watching the two classes in increments with my four year old, who loves to draw, and we’ve really been enjoying it! Obviously he is young to be grasping the technique, but he loves to watch her pen make shapes on paper, and even though he is not able to replicate her designs, he’s still absorbing the knowledge. Plus, it’s fun to snuggle with him while we watch the videos!

Okay, I think that’s pretty much it for now. How’s your year been so far? What are you working on? Are you gearing up for a big project? Already in the midst of a project that you started on the 1st? I’d love to hear what you’re up to, so please, catch me up!

Linking up with Sew Cute Tuesday!

finishes

diamonds in the deep: a finish.

Posted on December 2, 2014

Improv Pillow by Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studios

I am so excited and proud to share with you my finished orange-version of the Bonjour Quilts pattern Diamonds in the Deep. This quilt has taken up the better part of 2014, and it has been a huge learning experience for me. It was my first time working on a queen-sized quilt, my first time testing a pattern, my first time experimenting with value, and my first time collaborating with a long-arm quilter. And I can say, I am a better quilter for having been through the experience!

I plan to elaborate on my experience working with a long-arm quilter in the future, but for now, I just want to emphasize how amazing Shelly Pagliai of Prairie Moon Quilts is to work with, and, as the pictures clearly show, how amazingly talented she is! I feel so lucky to have *met* her and to have had the stars align so that we could work together on this quilt. Shelly custom quilted the entire quilt using hand-guided free-motion. Each block is quilted with a total of five separate patterns, to complement and highlight the piecing.

The binding on the quilt is Denyse Schmidt’s Voltage Dot in black, and the design of the fabric is echoed in the outermost layer of each block.

I could not be happier with the end result. As hard as it was to make a quilt of this size, I also feel a queen-sized sense of accomplishment and pride for having tackled this challenge. So many hours and so much love went into the making of this quilt (both mine and Shelly’s!) — I think it’s the perfect embodiment of our efforts!

Thanks for hanging out with me while I bask in the glory of this finish! I hope that everyone in the states had a wonderful holiday weekend!

Linking up (later this week) with Needle and Thread Thursday, Finish it Up Friday, and, as this is one of my Q4 Finish Along goals, The Littlest Thistle.

finishes

carnelian & iron.

Posted on March 2, 2014

Carnelian and Iron by Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studios

Done! This finish has been a long time coming. I started this quilt as a “quick” project right at Thanksgiving – I think that’s what inspired me to pick the rusty-orange Denyse Schmidt fabrics at the time. And then before I knew it, the holidays were here and my sewing room (er, um, my dining room) was packed away until after the new year. Then — I’m sure you know how it is — once you stop. . . it takes a little effort to get back into the swing of things. . .and before you know it, your fall-ish quilt is being completed on the first day of March! But. . .alas, it’s done!

I’m really happy I decided to go with a white binding on this quilt. It keeps the mood of it happy and light. I was considering a dark grey, and it just looked so heavy and serious to me. Now, I feel like the quilt is still appropriate for a baby, given that the size is 36×36.

For the first time, I tried machine quilting the binding, and I’m so glad I did! It was so easy!! I used Rachel’s method from Stitched in Color. I made a couple of small errors at first. But then I made the important realization: if I don’t want the zigzag stitch to wander from the binding on the front side of the quilt, I needed to keep my zigzag stitch perfectly centered on the seam I made when attaching the binding to the quilt top. Once I made that connection, it was easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy.

I did a LOT of quilting on this little guy, and I used both grey and orange threads. It really gives the quilt a lot of texture, and makes the back even more fun to look to at!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

work in progress

working with florence.

Posted on February 17, 2014

Quilt for Jane by Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studios

I have to be honest with you — oranges, burnt oranges and orange-reds are not colors that I would normally gravitate toward. But after working with Denyse Schmidt’s Chicopee line to make this baby quilt for my friend Melanie’s fourth baby girl, I wanted to work with more of her fabric, whatever color it may be. Even though it’s outside of my [color] wheelhouse, I am really happy with the graphic quality of the quilt. I mixed in a lot of grays that I purchased in a bundle from Pink Chalk Fabrics, and I think the coolness of the grays made the fiery oranges really pop! I’m looking forward to basting and quilting it up this afternoon, because I have a new project waiting in the wings!

denyse schmidt

let’s catch up!

diamonds in the deep: a finish.

carnelian & iron.

working with florence.

lelandavestudios