Art Gallery Fabric – Two Terriers Studio

All The Things Tote (s)

Published on January 18, 2024 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

Totes for Many

Have you ever found a pattern that you love so much, you want to make it over & over again? For me, a pattern that falls into this category is the All The Things Tote. It’s designed by Kait at http://www.knotandthreaddesign.com. This pattern comes in three different sizes and all are more generously proportioned than you might imagine. As soon as I made one, all I could do was grab yardage and get to work on more!

Fabric by Fancy That Design House; a hostess gift for Annie

Quilted Panels

Early 2023, I knew without hesitation that I’d be making a LOT of these totes. I could easily straight-line or decorative stitch some quilt sandwiches to then cut into pieces for the bags, but I wanted a little more flair. My intention was to make these for gifts and I thought it would be fun to experiment with different pantographs and fabric combinations. I also wanted to be as efficient with fabric and cost effective as possible when it came to professional longarm quilting. Thankfully, I have made a lot of quilts and have had excellent experiences with two quilters, each of whom helped me in this tote making effort.

The best part, I started early enough to not feel panic at the holidays while creating handmade gifts. Just for reference, I highly recommend the early start! So much more enjoyable.

I turned to Jennifer, www.knottedthread.com who has quilted so many of my projects over the past several years. Every single finish ships back to me in a timely manner and I never doubt it will be perfectly done. These bag panels were no different – so well done. Kait, at Knot and Thread, also quilted panels for me. Some were done with quilt batting, others with Soft and Stable Foam Stabilizer. I generally prefer cotton batting, but one bag in particular needed a little more structure, which was made possible with the soft and stable.

Juki, My Workhorse

I have two sewing machines and one, the Husqvarna Opal, is used entirely for piecing blocks and my Juki TL-2010Q is used for projects that require industrial strength and power to glide through thick layers. They are my studio babies and I can’t imagine sewing without either of them. They each perform so well for what I need and I’m thankful for the flexibility to move around a table to the machine which is best (for me) at different tasks.

The All the Things tote has a few areas/seams that are several layers thick. Think double sided fabric, stabilizer, binding, webbing straps…it’s a lot. My Juki earned its place in the “I can do this because of you” category this past year! While I didn’t attempt the thickest seams with my Husqvarna, I think a slow and steady pace might work with a variety of machines and heavy-duty needles.

The Process and the Finishes

With so much of this being “secret gift” sewing, I thought I would have taken more photos! As I started to write this post, I realized I didn’t have as many process photos as I usually take. It might also be that each bag was made from yardage panels and not pieced blocks. Some I finished with white webbing straps, others were webbing covered in coordinating fabric. The additional benefit is that each panel had a little bit of wiggle room and cut just right, I had some leftover yardage for zipper pouches. I mean, who doesn’t love a quilted zipper pouch?

Rifle Paper and Art Gallery Fabrics; always finished with my personalized labels

The Totes

With this one, I reversed the direction of the end panels so that the interior would face out with a pocket of yellow flowers. I like it!

Perfect for beach days; this one lives in Rhode Island

This directional beach chair fabric, was constructed just a bit differently so that all the chairs were accurately placed. It also makes me think about lazy summer days, toes in the sand, enjoying the surf with family & friends.

My youngest now has two totes, a large & a medium. The first is one of my favorites, complete with shark fabric, but do I have a photo? Not that I’ve found yet! I’ll have to do that. Any time I’m asked to make something by my kids, it’s a prompt, “of course”.

Then there are the maker friends, who share fabric (you know it’s you, Joanne!) or tell me about totes they’d like to have, but likely won’t make. I’m looking at YOU, Alicia. I’m fortunate to have a circle of creative people in my life and the sharing of ideas and handmade gifts is truly a joy. I think often times as makers, we don’t receive handmade gifts because others think we would do it ourselves. I can’t speak for everyone, but even though I sew, quilt, bake, make bread, I’m always excited when I handmade “thing” comes my way. It’s fun & I appreciate the time & effort someone invested into gifting me something from their own creativity and hands.

For a friend who grew up on a flower farm & who shares a love of hydrangea

Pink-ish & patriotic for the friend who serves and protects our country’s freedom

For a friend who patiently waits the arrival of her baby boy; a hospital bag/tote

All The Things

Such a perfect name for a tote that can be designed in numerous fabric combinations, carrying widely different contents, stabilized with a favorite material, quilted with unlimited pantographs or straight lines, pieced block pockets…it is and can be All the Things.

With eleven already under my belt, it still doesn’t feel like I’ve made all the combinations in my mind, so there may be more in 2024!

Happy Sewing!

All photos and written content property of Two Terriers Studio & not to be copied or distributed without written consent of the owner. This is not a sponsored post (although I wish it were!). All comments and collaboration notes are my personal opinion & from my personal experiences.

Homespun, Hoodoos, and the Hiker(s)

Published on October 30, 2023 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

Home. Homespun. Yes, count me in. I love being home; I’m probably too much of a homebody at times. But it is the space I enjoy with the people I love best, so HOME, yes. Always.

When this pattern, Homespun, was published by Morgan at http://www.modernlymorgan.com, I knew exactly which fat quarter bundle I would use from my collection. I also knew that a bit of fussy cutting would be thrown in, so I got to work. This pattern comes in three sizes: baby, small throw, and large throw. I made the large throw, which measures at 64″ x 80″.

Bright on Bright

I used my stash of Alison Glass Fabric, the Trinket collection. It’s bright on bright, which I believed would be a fun spiral of color in this particular pattern. I also switched from my favorite bleached white background to a denim blue by Art Gallery Fabrics and that was a good decision. I rarely do it, but I’ve not been disappointed when I shift to dark backgrounds. There is so much color in the piecing, the denim blue anchors it all.

Priorities

At the time I started this quilt, I was testing patterns for three other designers, so my personal projects were last on the list. I always meet my deadlines and knew I had to finish the quilts that were pending my written edits and sewing; this one had to wait. I had set out the Homespun pieces on a large foam-core board so that I could eventually lay-out each individual block and ensure the direction of the fussy-cut centers. I almost feel that “meticulous” cut is a better description; maybe we should start calling it that instead of “fussy”. But there it sat, in various stages of completion while I worked on the testing deadlines. It was never far from sight, but it was also 4th on the list of studio work to be done. And you know what happened? Two years passed. TWO years. I worked on other things, this one never far from my machine. Embarrassing? Yes, a little. However, in that time my skills had improved and this went together so quickly once I restarted.

The bees. How stinking cute are the bees? I had used this Art Gallery Fabric in another quilt and could not get enough of the bees. I bought more & more and then sort of hoarded it. I HAD to have these as the centers of these Homespun blocks. While I didn’t spend an exorbitant amount of time thinking about the layout of the other colors, I did spend a lot of time ensuring all the bees were in the right places, directionally correct. Then it was a matter of chain-piecing until it was done.

Fast forward to 2023

It’s now 2023, 28 months since the first cut was made. I had a trip to Utah on my calendar and was intent on bringing this along. I got it finished and packed up. I bring quilt tops in my carry-on bag; never trusting all that work to cargo, that’s for sure. This was day three of our trip and elevation sickness found its way into my life the night before this photo was taken. Goodness. Wow. Ugh! It didn’t occur to me right away what the culprit might be. I underestimated the toll on my body from a day of travel, a day of hiking and then adjusting to 7K+ feet shift in elevation. I recommend giving yourself some time to acclimate. Lesson learned! I’d already had a sneak peak of Bryce Canyon the night before and there was NO WAY I was skipping this adventure. No way I was quitting; I was hiking that canyon, nauseous or not and if it took me all day, I was going to do it. My husband’s patience was a godsend. It was hot and so steep; we stopped often for me to collect myself, but we got it done. It was absolutely awe-inspiring and I’m so glad we pushed through. Just as I imagined, these colors in that canyon – magic.

I say this with almost every single “Quilt in the Wild” photo, but the pictures never do the real thing any justice. I thank God for this beautiful world and for the capacity to see just a smidge of it in my lifetime. Travel and exploration is worth every penny and every minute. It certainly puts life into perspective when you see how small we are in comparison. As “homebody” as I can be, travel, sightseeing, meeting other people and experiencing different cultures (even within our own country) is a blessing. To see my quilts in the places I’ve traveled with my husband or our family, it means a lot to me. It’s a documentation of work & fun; a combo scrapbook of sorts.

Curiosity

This might be one of the funniest memories and photos from the quilt photo vault.

As we traversed the canyon, I saw this crevice where I thought my husband could stand and be SAFE from the edge with a steep drop, but also have a pretty dramatic photo. Of course, we gave right of way to all the other hikers and patiently waited for an opening in the path. I was standing uphill, around another bend, thinking I would politely call, “now, do it now”, when no one else was around. I think this gentleman totally missed what we were doing and as soon as hubs unveiled the quilt, this man STOPPED in his tracks. Of course, only I could see him. I waited, he didn’t move. I waited more, he kept looking. I’m sure my husband was thinking, “Take the darn photo! Can I put my arms down now?” Our fellow hiker continued to look. I was both amused and curious what he was thinking. We are usually alone when documenting quilts, so to see a complete stranger take a hard stop in his own journey to watch this, made me smile. I have wondered many times how he told the story, or if he ever did, once his hike was done. This photo is one of my favorites.

The Hoodoos

One last shot of my Homespun quilt, among the Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park. This may have taken me years to sew, but I always say that things happen for a reason. Maybe it was meant to be photographed here. Finish too soon, miss the shot.

That’s about as close to the edge as I want to be!

Back home & finished

It was long arm quilted by Jenn, http://www.knottedthread.com with a honeycomb pantograph. The binding is a navy and white stripe; the backing is Alison Glass’ Art Theory. So much color!

It’s now 2.5 years since this began and it’s done. It holds a lot of memories and a lot of miles and for that, I think it finished right on time.

-Happy Quilting!

All photos and content property of Two Terriers Studio and not to be copied or distributed without written permission of the owner.

Star Pop 2, #2

Published on October 28, 2023 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

Lately, I’ve been documenting things out of the chronological order in which they were created, so here’s one more to keep it going! Star Pop 2, the second one I’ve made. I made the first Star Pop 2 quilt in the spring, as a baby gift for my American Sign Language teacher, but I kept it under wraps to keep the surprise. My youngest fell in love with that first version and asked me to make another. Of course, the answer was YES. Now, many months have passed and I’ve made a second of this same pattern. It goes together quickly and the structure of the blocks allows favorite prints to shine, as they aren’t cut too small. Also, who doesn’t love stars in a quilt?

Star Pop 2 is a modern sawtooth star pattern. It’s beginner friendly, too. The pattern comes with six size options: baby, square throw, large throw, twin, queen, and king. The first one I made in baby size, this one is the large throw which measures 60″ x 75″.

The Fabric

This quilt is made with some favorite Art Gallery Fabrics I purchased from my friend, Brittany at http://www.whiteplainsquilts.com when she had an online fabric shop. She still designs and sells beautiful quilt patterns, so go give her website a look. She phased out the fabric portion of her business, but when she was in the thick of it, the curated bundles were exceptional. Several of these prints are from my own AGF stash, but they all came together beautifully, in my opinion. I was drawn to the “Willow” fabric collection by Sharon Holland, and most especially, Rosewater Ballet. It truly reminds me of ballet, the days watching my child at the conservatory; the swans also remind me of the Swan Boats in Boston…it was the spark for this particular quilt.

This beautiful Rosewater Ballet print and the stack of white blocks, that will become the stars, makes me smile. I think there’s something really cool about seeing the elements stacked and ready, knowing the end goal.

Piecing

Seriously? How sweet is this? The owl, the flowers, the colors. Let’s all just acknowledge the simplicity of the block too. If you’re one who likes chain piecing and efficiency, this pattern by Emily Dennis, http://www.quiltylove.com , is a good choice.

If you’ve seen many of my quilts, you know I often finish them with a pieced back. I use up all the bits from the front or make duplicate blocks for a section across the center. I am still learning to piece backs with a single fabric, but I knew this one needed no interruptions or other fabrics. It’s not perfect pattern matching, but with only a couple of these under my belt, I’m OK with it. I also know the recipient won’t be judging it harshly. I’ll tell you, it boosted my respect for people who hang wallpaper! Geez. That’s a skill.

Ready for Travel

Here she is, pieced and swirled and ready to be quilted. When the colors and the prints are all tossed into one shot and there’s that exhale of relief that what was in my mind, worked out in the process. Even better, a thumbs up from the one who requested it. That’s all I need.

In the Wild

This summer, my husband and I were in Utah and visited two national parks. Not having been to Zion National Park before, I didn’t really know what all we would see, but I thought this quilt would photograph well in that environment. The rugged terrain and the delicate prints, a perfect balance. If you’ve never been to Zion, ( http://www.nps.gov ), I recommend giving it consideration. The trails were not as crowded as I anticipated and the views were unbelievable. I found myself stopping every few feet because the view was even better and then realized none of the photos were as breathtaking as the real thing. So, it became “take photos, but take it in”.

Is that not jaw-dropping, beautiful nature? I thought my quilt was pretty cool, but the landscape dwarfs it by comparison. I mean, seriously. How is a quilter supposed to compete with the Master Artist and thousands of years of time? Impossible. Just be ok with being second, here.

A little closer look; plenty of wrinkles after the hike

The sun shifted just a bit as we were walking out of the canyon, across this riverbed. We paused to take a few more minutes to soak it all in, not knowing if we’d be back. The air is so clean; there was hardly a sound even though we weren’t alone, and the scent of the vegetation is unlike anything in New England. I wish I could add sound/scent to these pictures. The quilt draped across this branch, a little airing out, but looking like stained glass windows. I’m always a sucker for quilts in the wind.

I couldn’t do this without my husband (photo assistant, location coordinator, wearer of big river hiking boots!)

Finished

I had this professionally long-arm quilted by Jenn, http://www.knottedthread.com. This is the Macintosh Rose pantograph in white thread. I chose this because it’s sweet and the swirl of the roses is a nice contrast to the larger square blocks and star points. It’s a feminine finish…I love it.

It just needs a quick wash, another hug and then off to live with my youngest. May she feel the love wrapped up in this project.

-Happy Quilting

All photos and content property of Two Terriers Studio and not to be copied or distributed without permission of the owner.

The Night Vision Quilt

Published on April 27, 2023April 27, 2023 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

It’s been a LONG time since I’ve shared stories of quilts here. I didn’t realize how long until I started this post, but hello again, I’m glad you’ve joined me. I’ll be catching up with stories and photos of many quilts (some from 2022!) and travels very soon. I hope you’ll come back and visit.

A Pattern Test

This project was a pattern test for my quilt designer friend, Morgan, of www.modernlymorgan.com. She and I have worked together several times and when she asked me to test / review this pattern, I was happy to do it. Pattern testing gives me a path to keep my editing skills fresh and to work with talented makers, as well as having a sneak peek into yet to be released designs. It’s all good.

The Fabric

There’s a joke around the internet that buying fabric and quilting are two different hobbies. As a quilter, and fabric enthusiast, I tend to agree. I often buy fabric I love, without a clear-cut plan for it, but I know it will be used one day. Nothing goes to waste in my studio. For this quilt, I pulled a fat quarter bundle from my stash. This particular bundle is called Americana, by Art Gallery Fabrics. While it’s not specifically Stars and Stripes, the color variation is definitely one that evokes patriotic feelings. In a decade of quilting, I’ve not made a patriotic or Independence Day summer quilt, so this seemed the perfect time. I purchased this bundle from another friend, Jen at www.knottedthread.com.

There’s something so beautiful about freshly cut fibers, stacked neatly together. To take yardage, cut it apart and reassemble into something new is a wonderful thing.

Half-square triangles in the making. I’ve only recently started using Seam Tape when piecing HSTs. It certainly cuts down prep time and results in accurate measurements too.

Fabric confetti is an unavoidable “work hazard”! Even these tiny pieces have a purpose. I donate these to a friend who uses them as “stuffing” for bedding for local animal shelters. It makes my heart happy to know that nothing goes to waste and that these trimmings give comfort to an animal in need.

Piecing the Blocks

The instructions for this quilt are very straight forward and allow for a lot of chain piecing. I like the repetitive nature of matching blocks and being able to sew several sections all at once and then work on the layout by color value / design. Morgan’s patterns are precise and easy to follow. I never question the math or accuracy, even in the “testing & editing” phase.

Tools

I rely on a few tools in my studio to enhance my quilt blocks. A wool pressing mat, tailors’ clapper, a HOT iron (no steam) and Faultless “magic” spray. This is not a sponsored post (although, I wish it were!), but here’s a glimpse of some of my favorite tools. The combination of these really helps to create flat seams and we all know that flat seams build flat quilts.

A Stack of Blocks

Seeing these photos reminds me, again, how long it’s been since I’ve blogged! I started this quilt while there was still snow on the ground. The colors brightened those winter days and made me look forward to summer picnics and celebrations. This quilt has traveled all around the eastern USA; see the sights below.

The pieced top, not yet quilted, traveled to Florida. For my family, the beach is among our favorite places to be, so of course, I needed to photograph this here. I do travel with quilt tops; I like the varying scenery for backdrops, but it also blends my hobby/work with family adventures. My husband is my trusted quilt holder & photo assistant, and thank goodness he’s tall and willing to hold these for all the photos! I literally couldn’t do this without him. He’s my biggest cheer squad too.

Quilt Travels Continue

Quilted, not yet bound. Photographed at the Norman Rockwell Museum, MA

I sent this quilt top to NJ to be longarm quilted by Jen, at Knotted Thread. Her work is the exact finishing needed to bring these to life. I went with a swirl and star motif to balance the squares and to add a flair of celebration, as would be appropriate for Independence Day!

When it was returned to me, I brought it along on a trip to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA. Norman Rockwell’s paintings and illustrations tell the story of American life and it was not only a treat to see all his work, but the property is gorgeous too. I thought it was an ideal location to photograph my Americana themed quilt; at the home/studio of a renowned American illustrator. If you ever find yourself in western Massachusetts, stop in and see his work. It’s even better up close. I was in awe of the details – you don’t want to miss it.

Night Vision at the Norman Rockwell Museum, along the footbridge

The Details

This pattern comes with instructions for four sizes: child, throw (as I’ve made), twin & bed. It is fat quarter friendly and would also be great in a scrap-busting finish. You can purchase this & other designs at Morgan’s website as linked above. Check out all the other testers’ versions on Instagram too; so much creativity and inspiration to be found there!

Thanks again to Morgan for including me in the tester group. I end up with so many beautiful projects by doing this work.

All photos and stories property of Two Terriers Studio & not to be duplicated or shared without written consent.

Urban Light Quilt

Published on July 5, 2021 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

What’s the saying, “better late than never”? That applies to this post! The timing of my blogpost has nothing to do with my enthusiasm for this pattern or quilt. I finished the quilt top MONTHS ago, but I’m just now getting around to showing the final project.

In the spring of 2021, I was asked by Karen, http://www.bloomingpoppies.net to test this pattern, the Urban Light Quilt. When I saw her mock-ups and how the color choices influenced the overall design, I knew immediately I wanted to make this. Not to mention, just wanting to work with a designer who loves improvisation, like I do.

I pulled from my fabric stash and settled on this Catch & Release collection by Art Gallery Fabrics. More than 2 years ago, I sewed for the AGF Look Book & Blog party, and at the time I was so obsessed with the designs, I purchased several yards of each fabric after the maker projects were done. I’ve hoarded it a bit over the past couple years, but finding ways to incorporate it into new quilts has been nice.

The Urban Light Quilt comes in 5 sizes, I made the large throw. One thing to note about this quilt is that the blocks are large, they repeat and make for a fast finish. The cutting instructions are very easy to follow and if my memory serves me correctly, I was able to put this together in just a couple days. I preface that with the reality that I have few distractions and blocks of time each day to sew. In any case, it’s not a pattern that will take much time given the design and overall block size.

There are traditional elements like flying geese in this design. I love the no-waste approach. I did incorporate text fabric in my quilt and while some of it “reads” correct, directionally, I decided to not be too fussy about the blocks individually. With this particular print, the text is multi-directional on it’s own, so there didn’t seem to be an “up” distinction anyway. Also, with a square quilt, who even knows which direction it will be used on any given day. It all works out; don’t sweat it.

Aren’t the fish & florals just a perfect nod to summer? I think they are so sweet. There’s something whimsical about it that made me look forward to summer days.

This block, on its own, would make a beautiful pillow cover to accompany this quilt.

My favorite color is red and I chose to add a pop of this AGF Pure Elements Solid to the mix. In my opinion, it’s the perfect, clear red. I believe it’s actually called “London Red”. Favorite color and one of my favorite vacation destinations, how could it not work?

As I mentioned, this quilt top and the pieced backing were finished in the spring of 2021. Snow was still on the ground in New England, but this bright fabric was calling for summer. I really like the simplicity of the blocks, but each time I look at it, I see another element in the design that pulls my attention.

Fast forward to summer, June 2021 to be more specific, and my Urban Light is back from the longarm quilter. I brought it along on our family vacation, knowing that these water colors, fish, florals, and the patriotic feel would be perfectly photographed at the beach.

I chose an edge to edge pantograph that mimics the ripple of water. Don’t forget that the thread and this quilting is yet another element to be considered. After all the work to piece it together, I have to remind myself that there’s one more decision to be made. No time for snoozing. With so many angles, I like the smooth curves and motion across these blocks. The binding is done in a small floral, framing it all in red, white, and blue.

This is a pattern I would highly recommend and it’s available on the designer’s website mentioned above. Take a peek at her account or follow the hashtag to see the other tester’s variations; it’s interesting how color choice changes the look of this quilt. Seeing my own version, sometimes the center appears to be a floral motif, sometimes I notice the stars, sometimes it’s the POP of red. How fun to have a quilt with such dimension. I love it and hope it brings cozy snuggles to anyone who gets a chance to use it.

I’m appreciative of the opportunity to work with Karen & to have tested this pattern. I’ve worked with her again since making this one & that second quilt will be posted soon!

Happy Quilting…

All photos and content property of Two Terriers Studio; do not replicate or distribute without permission. This is not a sponsored post.

Garden Paths Quilt

Published on May 4, 2021 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

It’s now May 2021 and I’m ready to be outside, enjoying all the spring gardens have to offer. Coincidentally, it’s also pattern release day for this latest quilt, designed by Brittany Tunison for White Plains Quilts. Meet the Garden Paths Quilt!

When the opportunity to test this pattern came up, I had zero hesitation. All of Brittany’s patterns are well written and make creating a unique quilt a breeze. I had recently seen a fabric by Art Gallery Fabrics http://www.artgalleryfabrics.com called “Little Clementine” and it was the catalyst for this color scheme. I was drawn in by the whimsical graphics of animals, florals, lettering, bicycles and more. The peach and plum colors are a bit out of the box for me, but I really love this print. I asked Brittany to “kit” fabric for me using this and a floral by Amy Sinibaldi for Art Gallery Fabrics called “promenade plum”. I could not be happier with the outcome.

Trimming

This pattern is heavy on the half-square triangles, probably best suited for an advanced beginner or someone who is interested in mastering their HST skills. I mean, I’ve made hundreds (thousands?), of half-square triangles, but there’s always room for improving those points, right? I think back to the early days of my quilting journey, about a decade ago now, and remember thinking, “Do I need to trim all these dog ears?” The answer is YES. It may not seem like much, but squaring up blocks is important and that little bit of excess over the entire quilt does add up to a lot of inaccuracy. Just take the time to trim your blocks, if you’re not doing it already. Added bonus, look at all that fabric confetti goodness.

I like to press my block seams and see all the pieces lined up along the way. Sometimes progress is slow, but having pretty fabric and little piles of finished pieces is motivation for me.

Block Assembly

The Garden Paths Quilt is designed around two block structures. You’ll make a different quantity depending on the size of the quilt. In this case, the baby quilt I made was relatively fast to assemble. This pattern comes with instructions for three sizes: Baby, Throw and Twin. I opted for a bleached white background, but now having seen other tester’s quilts, as well as the designer’s quilt in a dark background, all color combinations are stunning.

Long Arm Quilting

I had this quilt professional long-arm quilted by my friend, Deb, of Owl Quilt It. I’ve said it before, but choosing the motif or pantograph at the end of the piecing process, is often the hardest choice for me. This is a baby quilt, but the colors are not specifically “baby”. There are beautiful graphics in the fabrics and I wanted to highlight the theme and name of Garden Paths. When I saw this design, I knew it was right. Notice how the leaves and berries so closely mimic the florals of the Little Clementine fabric? No doubt this was what I was looking for in the quilting. 99% of the time, I opt for a white thread; I want it to blend into the quilt, and not be distracting. This one will get cozier with each wash & tumble dry!

I like dense quilting. Some quilts lend themselves to more open stitching, but I like it when my quilts have a little tighter sizing on the edge to edge quilting.

The Finish

Even my husband noted how much he likes this quilt. He’s my sidekick when it comes to photographing quilts, but also the one cheering me on along the way. He’s seen plenty of bright, bold, graphic prints and colors, so this one really got his attention. He said, “this isn’t usually what you choose, but I really like this one. I wouldn’t have thought I’d like it so much, but I really do.” Go figure….it’s OK to step outside our comfort zone of color!

Garden Paths Quilt featuring Art Gallery Fabrics

Quilt Backs

The Pieced Backing of my Garden Paths Quilt

If you follow me long enough, you’ll see a pattern of pieced quilt backs. I LOVE them. I do think there’s a beauty in a single fabric background, but I see the quilt back as one more chance to make something unique…it’s good “real estate”, if you will. You never know which side will be right side up when getting wrapped or cuddled with a quilt, so I want the back to be interesting too. It’s a good way to use any leftover bits and pieces that indicate what is found on the other side. You can see the Little Clementine fabric here, in all it’s glory. How sweet is that? It makes me smile. Oh, don’t forget to label your quilts! Artists sign their work; quilters should too.

The Details

This pattern is available beginning today, May 4, 2021 from http://www.whiteplainsquilts.com. All orders placed there today will be entered for a drawing to win $20.00 in shop credit. Patterns from this site will be discounted 20% until May 7, 2021. Brittany will also have limited quantities in quilt kits available, so shop early if you’re interested. This is not a sponsored post; I’m sharing these details so that you, too, can make this beautiful quilt pattern.

As I mentioned, I’ve used fabrics from Art Gallery Fabrics in prints and pure solids. This is also not sponsored by AGF (but I secretly, not so secretly, wish it were!). The feel of their fabric is delightful. The drape is something you just need to feel.

Thanks, Brittany, for including me once again in your team of pattern testers. I enjoyed it & I’m so happy with this fabric pull and finished quilt. I’m adding it to my collection of favorites!

All photos and content are property of Two Terriers Studio and not to be copied or distributed without written permission. This is not a sponsored post.

Scenic Road Quilt

Published on April 17, 2021 by twoterriersstudio1 Comment

When we think of Scenic Roads, it may bring memories of wide-open country spaces, city skyscrapers, or rocky cliffs with an ocean on the horizon. Each of us has a different place we consider scenic or that calls for us when we need space. When I think of scenic roads, the very first vision is that of a particular bridge that leads into one of my family’s long time summer get-away towns. Crossing that span, windows down, arms out of the car, inhaling the salty sea breeze equals summer and time together. It is a blessing.

I was asked by Amanda, of www.artbycritter.com, to test her Scenic Road Quilt pattern and when I learned the back story, I was all in. Her father created a real, wooden barn star, that now hangs on a barn at the corner of Scenic Road and Hubertus Road in Hubertus, Wisconsin. This quilt design was a tribute to his work and a collaboration for them in the form of this quilt. Having grown up in the midwest, and visiting farms of my own extended family, this concept and design rang true for me in many ways. I remember the drives down gravel roads, the barns, the barn stars. I also thought of how fortunate I’ve been to see so many places across the USA and how each is scenic in its own way. Family, special places and horizons meshed into a quilt? Yes, please!

Fabric Selection

For my version of this quilt, I opted for solid fabrics that remind me of the shore. The blues, greens, gray and a hint of pink are all reminiscent of sunsets across a sandy beach. I spent the first 18 years of my life, land-locked in the midwest, but the ocean is where I feel most at home. This quilt design and these colors seemed a perfect union of those two things. I also realized this would be my first-ever, all solid fabric quilt top. I tend to lean toward bright colors and graphic prints, so this was a new scheme. I selected fabric by Art Gallery Fabrics http://artgalleryfabrics.com from their pure elements collection. The drape of this fabric is perfect. So smooth and easy to sew. It makes for a dreamy finish.

Building Blocks

Even the “inside” of a quilt brings beauty. We so readily focus on the finish, but all great quilts start with a precise and solid foundation. I’m the first to admit, I like a quick to finish project. However, I’m slowly learning to enjoy not only the joy of that last stitch in a binding, but the measured and precise steps along the way. It all adds up, so I’m slowing down & enjoying the journey.

A Completed Top at Hillstead

Once my quilt top was complete, I wanted to get it photographed. I was so happy with how it turned out and couldn’t wait to share. Finding a place in New England in the spring became a little challenging, because Mother Nature was delivering the wind. Lots of quilt-whipping wind! My husband helps me with every photo shoot and I was so thankful he had a good grasp on my work as we moved from place to place looking for stillness. This may have been day 2 or 3; the first day sent us home pretty wind-blown; toting a quilt that needed another pressing.

I love this shot taken at the Hillstead Museum. A beautiful home, now a museum, is the first architectural project of Theodate Pope Riddle, the fourth registered female architect in the USA. She is an early proponent of historical preservation and caretaker of the family art collection. I thought it a fitting scene for this project

Quilted

This is a large quilt, so I had it professionally long-arm quilted by my friend, Deb, of Owl Quilt It. I think she did a wonderful job and I really like the edge to edge design that swirls though the straight/geometric blocks. It reminds me of leaves, the wind and if I look just right, an “S”, which is the initial of my first name. I truly try to tie it all together with my projects, from the pattern to the final stitch.

The Finish

Ta-da! It’s all done. I’m thankful for the opportunity to have been included in this pattern tester group and I’m happy to add this to the collection of quilts that will stay with my family. The large blocks, simplicity and accuracy of instructions lead to a quick finish and a quilt I love.

Today, April 17, 2021, the pattern is available for purchase. Amanda has designed a limited edition art print and a sticker that are also available for purchase. Look at her Instagram account (@quiltsbycritter) for the link in her bio for these items. Proceeds from the limited edition print will be donated to @mentalhealthamerica.

I hope all roads lead you to places of joy, health & prosperity. Thanks for being here to see my version of the Scenic Road.

Enjoy & happy quilting!

All photos and content, property of Two Terriers Studio; not to be duplicated or shared without written consent. This is not a sponsored post. (I wish it were!)

Sawtooth Shine Quilt

Published on February 19, 2021February 19, 2021 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

I’m often asked if I buy fabric with a specific quilt in mind. Sometimes, yes; most of the time, no. As I’ve mentioned previously, creativity comes to me by way of “the story”. If a fabric quickly reminds me of someone, a special location, or an event, I’m easily hooked. This collection by Art Gallery Fabrics (artgalleryfabrics.com) is called Little Forester Fusion. The moment I saw it, I added to my cart! No hesitation. (Thank you, Victoria, @midnightquilter!). I live in a very wooded, full of creatures, kind of neighborhood. We have more squirrels and chipmunks than I can count; deer tracks criss-cross our snowy lawn, not to mention the bears, bobcats, owl and red fox. Yes, bears. Our home is surrounded by woods & over the years we’ve lost a dozen trees to ice storms and planted more in their place. ALL the nature I see at home, I see in this collection. Even the marshmallows on a stick. We have so many family memories of making s’mores around the fire pit. I had no doubt this collection would one day be a perfect quilt for my family.

Almost simultaneous to buying this fabric, I was asked to test a pattern, the Sawtooth Shine Quilt, designed by Brittany Tunison of White Plains Quilts (whiteplainsquilts.com). It was actually more of a discussion about which of TWO patterns I’d like to make, as she was planning a double pattern release for February! TWO. Can you imagine? We’ve worked together on several other pattern tests and they have all been great experiences for me. She is talented; such an eye for detail and precision. I appreciate that she’s likely made several versions of a pattern before even considering sending it to testers. I enjoy the collaboration; seeing if I understand the instructions as she intended and if there is occasionally something in my experience that may be helpful to her in the written portion. It’s a really cool process, I think.

In this pattern release, there is the Sawtooth Shine Quilt (as I’ve made) and Sawtooth Sparkle Quilt. Each pattern has three different size options: baby, throw and twin. Additionally, both quilts will have two different layout options. It’s truly like having access to six quilt designs with each title. There is room for unique personalization. Yes, at first glance they may look similar, but there are subtle differences between the designs, and therefore also in the method of cutting and piecing. The blocks finish at a size that could potentially be a pillow cover, mini-quilt/wall art. The limits are only in the maker’s imagination.

As they say, measure twice, cut once. So much accuracy in a quilt is found in the initial cutting. Pressing. Pressing, not ironing. Who knew this was a thing before they became a quilter? One more thing I have to consciously remind myself to do; pause, press, not iron.

Untrimmed flying geese; seeing the colors coming together

I like to stack my quilt block pieces as they should appear, just to double check seam allowances and directions of prints. It’s easier to move things at this stage than after it’s all been sewn. For this particular fabric, I wanted the print to be in a top to bottom linear format. On the more bold prints, as shown below, there would be some pieces turned on their side.

Coincidentally, as I was sewing this block with an owl print, designed by Jessica Swift, I could hear the faint “hoot” of an owl in a tree outside. I hadn’t heard it much before & now it seems more of a regular occurrence. One more element of the story built into this quilt. There truly is beauty all around if we stop, look and listen. Having lived in a city, with all of its bustling street noises, adjusting to the “woods” was a learning curve for me. I’d miss these critters, sounds and clear night skies if we ever moved elsewhere. The crescent moon reminds me of my youngest and the rainbows – ALWAYS the sign of a promise.

As I make each block, it is my new favorite. Until the next one is made, then IT is my new favorite. Thankfully, I didn’t have any that I didn’t like in this quilt! Does that happen to anyone else?

Secondary patterns emerge as the blocks are joined. The boldness of the stars is echoed in this secondary element, almost like a pinwheel. Look at those bees, and the squirrels gathering acorns. How cute are they?

When the blocks are complete and the quilt top gets that ‘held from the corners, whip into a full length view’, it’s the moment of truth. This page of the story is the culmination of the designer’s idea, the interpretation of the instruction, fabric selection and layout of color. Did it work? Yes, I think so!! I’m so happy with this result, even with one more chapter, the quilting and binding yet to be completed.

My Sawtooth Shine Quilt on the river bank

Just as each new block becomes my “favorite”, trying to choose a backing and binding fabric turns into a question of which fabric do I like best? Which of course, isn’t fair, because I like them all. I’m still uncertain which to use or whether I may make a pieced backing. For now, I’m happy with this top and I’m taking time to decide the last steps of the process. It’s going to be a quilt that will surround my family in handmade love for many years to come, so I’m not rushing it.

In celebration of her double pattern release day on February 19, Brittany will be offering a 20% discount on patterns in her shop through Sunday, 2/21/21. For those who can’t pick a favorite, or for anyone who loves a deal, a bundle option will also be available. Shop: whiteplainsquilts.com

I’m so thankful for the opportunity to work as a pattern tester. It improves my skills and results in quilts I can keep for my family or gift to other friends & loved ones. I take my role in reviewing text, layout, instructional details, as well as sewing, seriously. It’s creative & fun, yes, but it’s also a collaborative effort to put out the best finished product possible. While it is most obvious that a tester works to assist the designer, I have to say that designers assist me too. I learn something new with each test. I’ve built relationships and made friends I would not have had without these projects. It’s a blessing. It’s a part of the story I did not anticipate when I started sewing as a hobby all those years ago.

Make something beautiful…

This is a non-sponsored post; all comments and photos property of Two Terriers Studio and not to be copied or distributed without written consent.

Spinning Top Quilt

Published on February 18, 2021 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

Meet the Spinning Top Quilt, a pattern I tested in February 2021 for Monika Henry of Penny Spool Quilts (pennyspoolquilts.com). I’ve worked with Monika before this project & always find her patterns to be well-written, which also results in a lovely finish. This one is no different & I might add, I was able to finish piecing it in one, uninterrupted day. Yes, one day. The linear design & mirror image layout speeds up the process without sacrificing interesting design.

I used a couple of collections from Art Gallery Fabrics (artgalleryfabrics.com) for my baby sized version of this quilt. The florals are called Extempore Fancy and Extempore Celebration, designed by Sharon Holland (sharonhollanddesigns.com). I added pieces from both Art Gallery Fabrics “Fusion” Collections, Serenity & Ballerina, and a touch of Pure Solids. While I really like the softness of these colors together against the bleached white background, I think a bold or dark background fabric is equally pretty.

Binding strips ready to go, once the quilting is complete

Add-on pattern features

This pattern features cutting instructions for three sizes, pillow, baby & throw. As a consumer, I like having more than one size option for a specific design, but the add-on of the pillow size is really nice. While I could most likely adapt the pattern & calculate it to suit my needs, having the pillow dimensions already available is a nice touch.

For my pillow, I recreated the front of the quilt and kept the quilting simple with a few straight lines. The back of the pillow is a single panel and I opted to add my zipper to the bottom edge. I like this placement because when I sit it on a bed or chair, I orient the zipper to the bottom and it’s virtually invisible. It also keeps the back panel as one continuous piece.

Longarm Quilting

I sent this quilt to be professionally quilted on a long-arm machine. Some of my projects, I quilt myself, others, I leave to the pros! More specifically, if I have an intricate design in mind, or if the quilt is large, I send it out. This quilt is called Spinning Top. It’s a very linear design & initially I thought concentric circles would bring an illusion of “movement” but also break up the bands of horizontal color. When I shared my ideas with the pattern designer, she was already quilting her personal quilt with concentric circles! We laughed, realizing that we had the same idea. I then saw this edge to edge pattern and it immediately represented the mark a spinning top would leave, as it moved across the floor. Done. This is my choice. When I create, I’ve found the best results come when it all ties together for me into a story. The name, the fabrics, the feeling, the design. Granted, not all projects have that need or nuance, but when they do, I really like it and feel more connected to it from start to finish.

I underestimated how tricky it might be to get good lighting and photos of a quilt with a white background on a snowy, February day. Luckily, my husband is more than willing to drive around with me until we find the right location! I could not do this without his help.

Spinning Top, a quilt in the wild…sewn by Two Terriers Studio

I had someone in mind as the recipient for this, but guess what? That someone is now “my collection”. Maybe there will be a duplicate in the future, but I’m not ready to let it go. Oh man, are we all singing that song, in our minds now?

Monika is offering 15% off the pattern price, in her shop, until February 21, 2021. No code will be needed at checkout, and the pattern will be available for purchase after that date as well.

Happy Quilting….

This post and project are not sponsored; all comments and photos property of Two Terriers Studio; not to be duplicated or shared without permission.

Firefly Cabins Quilt

Published on November 28, 2020November 28, 2020 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

Have you ever purchased fabric for one project and when you finished, you wished you had more yardage for something else? This Big Sky collection by Annie Brady for Moda Fabrics is that fabric for me. The first time I saw it, the nature scenes, animals and colors just grabbed me, but I didn’t have an intended project. My yardage choices were random, because I didn’t really have a plan, but I knew the right thing would come along. I didn’t want to miss out on this beautiful collection. Fast forward a year (or more) and the Firefly Cabins Quilt pattern by Brittany Tunison for White Plains Quilts came my way. I knew right then, that this was the pattern for this fabric I’d been saving.

There’s something to be said for simple, efficient patterns. Firefly Cabins is an efficient, yet still so interesting pattern, in my opinion. I like to sew or create most days, and sometimes, being able to quickly put a quilt or gift together is just what I need. I never want my work to look rushed or half-done, but I often have so many things in progress, that the one “simple” finish is a blessing. What I like about this pattern is the repetitive nature of the blocks, the ability to showcase the fabrics in larger swatches and the option to chain piece. There is a time investment in cutting, and we all know that the best cutting accuracy leads to the best finished product. However, because of these block designs, once the strips are cut, chain piecing fits right in for a rapid finish.

As most of my readers probably notice, I choose and use bold prints far more often than solids. I am slowly learning to incorporate low volume prints and solids into my fabric stash and luckily, this Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Element Solid in “Honey” was the perfect match. It’s just what I needed (and fortunately, already had!).

Firefly Cabins by Two Terriers Studio, November 2020

Another feature of this pattern are the center set blocks which would be perfect for fussy-cutting a favorite image. Mine aren’t necessarily fussy-cut, but the repetition of animals in the largest blocks makes me smile.

I send a lot of my quilts to be longarm quilted, since I’m not always 100% thrilled with my own quilting on a small domestic machine. I do quilt my own, when the project is smaller or I think I’ll be happy with straight line stitching or a simplistic design, but more often, I lean toward a theme and need some talent from other professionals! This leaf theme, edge to edge design, was just the ticket. It mimics the fabric design and pulls in that feel of nature. If you look closely, you’ll see that the thread choice is a pale yellow. I rarely venture into colored thread for quilting, but Deb of Owl Quilt It, encouraged me that this would be a good choice and she was exactly right.

Binding by machine, not hand, this time.

I opted to bind this quilt by machine, rather than my “go to” hand-binding. I have a funny relationship with quilt binding. I want it to be perfect, but I also want it to be DONE. By hand is always more precise for me, but I recognize the only way I will improve in machine binding is to do it & practice. What’s that saying about 10,000 hours? Goodness, how many quilts would it take to fill 10K hours of practice?

All Done…Firefly Cabins Quilt by Two Terriers Studio

Finished. This quilt has a pieced backing with the Moda Bleached White, and two prints from Big Sky. The binding is also a third color-way of the Big Sky leaf motif. A single piece backing is clean & neat, but I also like to think of the back of a quilt as an option for more interest and a hint of what might be found on the front side. It’s almost like two quilts, literally bound together.

The pattern for this quilt can be purchased from Brittany Tunison (@brittanytunison) on Instagram.

I’m curious if you purchase fabric you love first and then find the project, or only purchase with a project plan in mind. Tell me in the comments! To be honest, I’m a little bit of both.

Happy quilting…

All photos and content property of Two Terriers Studio and not to be duplicated or shared without written consent.