Wednesday, May 8, 2013

It's for the Birds Blog Hop - My Turn!!!

Time for the It's for the Birds Blog Hop - Yippie!

I have been excited about this one because I had a specific project in mind to do and this gives me a reason to DO IT. To explain, I shall have to start at the beginning...

I had won some fabrics designed by Amy Bradley

during the It's All About Me Blog Hop for my Mama Z bag, (here is a link to that entry) and one of the bundles of Amy's fabric had birds on it. As I opened the package on the dining room table, my 16 year old step-son Heron (yes, that is his name, just like the bird), was Oooing and Awwing over the fabric. He loves to sing and in fact sings ALL the time (we often have to remind him that there are others in the room that may not want to hear him singing at that time), and some of the fabrics have musical notes on them.
He REALLY liked them and thought all of the fabrics were really cool. As I was examining the fabrics and laying them out on the table, Heron quietly mumbled in a sheepish tone, "I'd kinda like a quilt with birds on it." His nickname is Birdman for obvious reasons, and even though he was a bit sheepish about his Bird Quilt request, I was listening.

Along came the announcement for this Blog Hop. I was so excited! It gave me a reason to get this quilt made for my step-son. I have made it in secret and have decided that it will either be a birthday present for him in August, or a Christmas present.

In designing this quilt, I decided to start with H blocks since his name is Heron. I debated whether or not to actually put a Heron on the quilt, but decided against it as it would not go well with the adorable multi-colored birds in Amy's fabrics.

I wanted to feature this cute white fabric which had the singing birds on it, so I added a square in a square block.

This blue "birds on a wire" fabric was just so adorable, that I wanted to let as much of the birds be seen, so I cut 6" squares and added them to the over-all design.

In order to get the most out of my "bird" fabric, I calculated how many blocks I could get out the fat quarters, using every last scrap that I could. I decided to go with a layout of 4 x 5 12" blocks consisting of 4 six inch blocks in each.

I had to add a few mismatched blocks here and there to complete the layout, but I really liked the look of how random it was, so I actually ended up adding a few more in the mix.


I concentrated on using colored fabrics from my stash to compliment the colors that Amy's birds were in her fabrics.

The border is made of birdhouses that I simply made up as I went along. Didn't bother using patterns, I'm kinda a miss-matched kind of girl, so I just MADE them, again, using fabrics from my stash and a ripped sheet that I chose to "up-cycle".



I had a spot where the fabrics did not quite meet together, so, (considering that I live in a suburb of Portland, OR), to quote the skit from the show Portlandia, I "put a bird on it". I picked up the blue fabric and simply free-handedly cut a bird out of it, sewed it on, and gave it thread details.

Here is the entire quilt.

The back of the quilt consisted of solids that I had in my stash.

I quilted by machine in yellow thread using a simple meandering stitch all over. I completed one or two strips at a time to avoid too much bulk and it being too heavy to maneuver with my machine. I think the back makes for a pretty cool modern-looking quilt all on it's own.

I am pretty proud of myself for completing this Bird Quilt. I love the fact that I did not have to purchase anything to complete it and simply used what I already had. Makes me want to see how much more I can make and finish just using that which I already have here at home. I think my next project that I would like to start is a "modern" style quilt because I have never done one, and I think it might be pretty cool to do so. I have another step-son that would need a quilt too... hmm...

Thanks for stopping by! A BIG thank you to Madame Samm and to Mary for putting this Hop together.

Please visit our other Bloggers today:


Thursday, May 9




Have a very Tweet day!


Lavonna ZWB

62 comments:

  1. wow! I love it. with each photo it grew and grew and grew. You have every right to be proud of it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a great use of the Amy Bradley fabric! I know Heron will love it. Thank you for sharing. (Hope he doesn't read your blog!)

    ReplyDelete
  3. That is really a great quilt! I am sure he will love it. The back is a work of art too! Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a wonderful quilt. Great job. I think you might be in for a tune when the gift is received!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your quilt is awesome. I love it. Thanks for being part in this hop and sharing your creativity

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a fun project and so colourful, thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Its wonderful. love it.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Frederika

    ReplyDelete
  8. That is just the cutest quilt! What a great job!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great job! I bet he'll love his new quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Such great projects - your birds made me smile! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. You did a terrific job. Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is wonderful, isn't it extra special when our sons notice and appreciate our quilting? My son's quilt is much different than this but gave me a similar joy to make it for him... it tugs at my heart to hear your story about yours asking for one...I wouldn't wait but give it to him sooner ;). Sounds like you have another in the works!

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a wonderful quilt. I am really beginning to love Amy's fabrics.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Fabulous! and I love the story behind it!
    Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  15. lovely work. I haven't gotten the hang of stippling yet. nice

    ReplyDelete
  16. Heron will love his quilt, I'm sure! How pretty!! Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow this is fantastic. You are super talented and creative. Thanks for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Just plain ole wild and wacky fun! Love it!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love this quilt ... such happy colors! Heron is going to love it. Will you be able to wait until August or December to give this to him? That will be hard. ; )

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a great quilt. Heron is one lucky guy. Thanks for sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Heron will be excited when he sees it! Great job. I love the bird houses!

    ReplyDelete
  22. The fabrics are fantastic and your quilt is amasing!

    ReplyDelete
  23. That fabric is just SO cute and your quilt turned out wonderfully--love those birdhouses in the border! I think your stepson is going to love it!

    ReplyDelete
  24. fantastic quilt! love the colors and that fabric.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi!!! Wonderful quilt!!! I love the whole thing!!! I think it has a very modern feel to it!!! Love how you used the h's and everything to personalize it for your stepson!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Lovely quilt-can't go wrong with Amy Bradley-she's such a great designer. Your bird houses really add to the quilt. From CA, thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  27. That is such a beautiful quilt and that fabric is just adorable! I love how creative you got with the pattern and adding the bird to fix a boo-boo was a genius move. :O)

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'm sure he will be happy with the quilt. I love the shy 'i want a quilt,but i know how much workthey are, so i don't want to ask' request. He sounds like a nice guy.

    ReplyDelete
  29. What a great gift for Heron! I love your design, it is personal and shows your love for him. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  30. totally fun ...don't you just love this collection ....it suits you perfectly too

    ReplyDelete
  31. I think you just DID a modern quilt, girl! Your DSS is going to be thrilled with this as you already know he really liked the fabric! I hope you doesn't read your blog and the beans were spilled?

    Thank you so much for sharing your quilt and the process you used to make it!

    ReplyDelete
  32. This is just so stinkin' cute, I can't believe you will be able to withhold it from Heron until a later date (Christmas) I think you should give to him now he will be so happy (maybe he won't sing for a while)I can't believe you didn't make the top 3, I just love it.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Great quilt for your son! Love the fabrics and the fact that you made it from your stash. Better get working on the next one! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I love that quilt! I am sure Heron will love it too!! I think it is great that you made it all from stash.
    Have fun
    Jan

    ReplyDelete
  35. Your step son aught to love that birds quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  36. What an adorable quilt and I'm sure your son will LOVE it! He'll probably sing louder now! haha!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Your quilt is wonderful! good job!
    cheers
    maggie

    ReplyDelete
  38. Wow! You did a wonderful job on the quilt. Great job on using the Amy Bradley bird fabric. Thank you for being part of the hop.

    ReplyDelete
  39. that fabric is really cute and your quilt turned out so well. I like the pieced backs now too.

    ReplyDelete
  40. I love the first picture in your posts! So funny.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Wonderful quilt. Your son will be so pleased.

    ReplyDelete
  42. love the bird quilt and your story behind it. thanx for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Such a cute quilt and fabric! Thanks for sharing your story!!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Great quilt - love the AB fabric, too. The border with the bird houses is so inspiring. What a creator you are!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Great creation. I'm sure Heron will love it.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I love that fabric and all the little houses around the border. Sew sweet that your stepson wanted you to make him a quilt too though it sounds like he was shy about it. I love the back too.

    ReplyDelete
  47. What a wonderful quilt I bet Heron really liked it. Thanks for sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
  48. AWESOME Quilt!!!! Lucky Kiddo!! Know he will love it!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  49. Fantastic quilt! And a kid named Heron deserves it!!

    ReplyDelete
  50. I wish I was able to see the look on Heron's face when he finally gets it. What a wonderful way to show him that you was listening to him even he doesn't think it really counts!!! Thsi shows him that it ALWAYS counts. Good for you!!!!!

    Thanks for not only sharing your quilt but also the endearing story that goes with it... I hope you will share the grand reveal with us in the future.

    Sincerely,
    Tricia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PS how does one become a follower on your blog? Am I blind and not see "follower" button?

      Thanks again,
      Tricia

      Delete
  51. I too won that fabric but I haven't yet cut into it. You did a great job on that quilt, he will love it. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    ReplyDelete