FMQ Challenge: Bonus Tutorial #1

When I first saw this tutorial posted by SewCalGal featuring Linda Moran's gorgeous hand-marbled fabrics, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.  Last year's Christmas gifts included a piece of our oldest grandson's art work printed on fabric.  This would make a perfect little wall hanging for my sewing room framed with some of Linda's hand-marbled fabric.  I learned that Linda also occasionally sells her fabrics on eBay and I was the lucky bidder on two fat quarters.  My stash produced a small piece of peach colored Radiance and a purple solid nearly matching the dark purple border on the art print.   These were used to frame the art print before adding the hand-marbled fabric.

I liked this piece of marbled fabric for the strong linear qualities and the almost herringbone effect of the very tiny feathers, although the other piece I purchased with its stone/teardrop designs might have proved a bit quicker and easier to quilt.  My finished sample measures 15 inches across, and I'm really pleased with the way it turned out.  Here are a few close-ups:

The back is not particularly a thing of beauty.   It looks a lot less densely quilted than the front appears.

Thanks to Linda Moran for providing us with this great tutorial and introducing us to free-form quilting possibilities with many types of patterned fabric!

The holiday season tends to be one filled with nostalgia, especially the older we get, and this year is no exception.  My daughter will be 30 years old come mid-December.  This past summer while rooting around in my sewing stuff, I discovered this tiny hand-pieced log cabin Christmas ornament.  I was working on this very ornament when I went into labor with my daughter.  And here it sits, some 30 years later, still pinned and ready to be finished.  I think it's about high time I set about completing this and get it in the mail to her - what do you think?


On Sunday, December 9, SewCalGal is hosting a Quilters Christmas Party extraordinaire, benefiting Operation Homefront.  The party has two versions: a physical party in San Diego as well as a virtual party for bloggers world-wide!  This promises to be a fun event with raffles and door prizes, and for us bloggers a plate of our favorite homemade Christmas cookies and cup of tea as we visit with many other quilty bloggers attending this event.  I hope you will be joining the fun!  For more information from SewCalGal's site, click here.