Jaybird Quilts

Friday, May 9, 2014

Mini Tiny Dancer

Today's new pattern introduction is all about Mini Tiny Dancer!

Quilt Details

Fabric is Kona Solids by Robert Kaufman Fabrics

Pattern - Mini Tiny Dancer, JBQ 144

Quilted by Angela Walters

Started on 4/20/14

Finished on 4/30/14

Mini Quilt measures - 12½" x 18½"

She's a Mini Hex N More quilt (click the link to the ruler to see the video tutorial on how to use it) that was inspired by her big sister pattern, Tiny Dancer.

The wind was still going strong when I was shooting the cover of this quilt. This picture would have been perfect... if only it was in focus!

Mini Tiny Dancer has already been nicknamed "Tiny Tiny" by a few friends of mine.

Angela's amazing quilting really makes this one dance, too.

The pattern is printed in full color, and it includes templates. Plus there's no Y seams! I posted a Single Fold Binding tutorial to help you finish this quilt easily. This pattern is available now at local quilt shops.

Be sure to share your photos with us on social media using the hashtag #JaybirdMini so we can share in the fun!

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Mini Lotus

One of my favorite Hex N More quilt blocks to create is the Lotus block. When I released my Mini Hex N More ruler (click the link to the ruler to see the video tutorial on how to use it), I knew it was only a matter of time to bring you Mini Lotus.

Quilt Details

Fabric is Artisan Batiks: Asian Legacy 4 by Lunn Studios for Robert Kaufman Fabrics

Pattern - Mini Lotus, JBQ 143

Quilted by Angela Walters

Started on 3/20/14

Finished on 4/29/14

Mini Quilt measures - 17½" x 20½"

Once the cover quilt was ready for her close-up, I headed out to the park with a clothesline and some clips.

It was really windy so the mini quilt started flying!

At one point the quilt almost flew off the clothesline!

You can see some of the awesome quilting that Angela did on this close up photo.

Once the wind calmed down I was able to get a great photo.

The pattern is printed in full color, and it includes templates. Plus there's no Y seams! It's available now at local quilt shops. I posted a Single Fold Binding tutorial to help you finish this quilt easily.

Be sure to share your photos with us on social media using the hashtag #JaybirdMini so we can share in the fun!

I hope you enjoy making this mini quilt as much I as I have been!

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

New Patterns! Spring 2014

I've got some new patterns coming soon!

Since we're having so much fun with our mini quilts and Mini Hex N More ruler, we made some new friends to join the #JaybirdMini bunch. There's also a new full sized Hex N More pattern, too!

Here's my Mini Hex N More ruler hanging out with some Robert Kaufman Kona charm squares on the dining room table.

Introducing.... from left to right, Mini Come What May, Mini Tiny Dancer, & Mini Lotus.

And here's the whole #JaybirdMini quilt line up: Mini Disco, Mini Lotus, Mini Come What May, Mini Northern Lights, Mini Radio Way, & Mini Tiny Dancer.

Mini Lotus

JBQ 143

Mini Tiny Dancer

JBQ 144

Mini Come What May

JBQ 145

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And the full sized Hex N More quilt pattern:
Delight JBQ 146

I'm excited to introduce #DelightQuilt. This new pattern is perfect for those large prints you just can't cut up! The fabric featured is Oh Happy Day by Dear Stella.

Mini Lotus, Mini Tiny Dancer, Mini Come What May are all available now! Ask for them at your local quilt shop!

Delight will be available to ship to shops June 1. Look for the patterns to arrive in shops, local + online, the first week of June or so.

The Mini Hex N More ruler is available now. Check my 'Where to Buy' page for shops and be sure to ask for it if you don't find it.

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Arizona Tour + Giveaway!!

disclosure: this is a sponsored giveaway by April Rhodes

One of my favorite pattern designers, April Rhodes, is now a fabric designer, too! I've made a few of her dresses, The Staple Dress & The Date Night Dress come to mind.

I was thrilled for her when I found out about her limited edition Arizona fabric line for Art Gallery Fabrics, and I was even more excited to see the yummy colors and fun designs in her fabric.

She asked me to make a Jaybird Quilts quilt for her bloghop (and it might make an appearance in her quilt market booth in a few weeks) and after a few moments loving the colors in the Arizona line, my Northern Lights quilt came to mind as a great way to feature how well these fabrics play together.

The quilt is a WIP still, and I'm loving how well it's coming together!

You can check out some of the other blogs on the tour + projects in the works using Arizona:

Thursday, May 1 - Anna Graham - @noodlehead531 / http://www.noodle-head.com

Friday, May 2 - Shelley Figueroa - @figgysstudio / http://figgys.myshopify.com/blogs/figgys

Saturday, May 3 - Julie Herman - @jaybirdquilts / http://www.jaybirdquilts.com

Sunday, May 4 - Erin Sobon Sundet - @sewbon / http://sewbon.com
Monday, May 5 - Jenna Brand - @howtobejenna / http://jennabrand.com

Tuesday, May 6 - Kelli Ward - @truebias / http://www.truebias.com

Wednesday, May 7 - Rachel Howard - @familyeverafter / http://www.familyeverafterblog.com

Thursday, May 8 - Delia Randall - @deliacreates / http://www.deliacreates.com
Friday, May 9 - Kelly Costas - @cutcutsew / http://www.cutcutsew.com

Saturday, May 10 - Rachel Gander - @imaginegnats / http://imaginegnats.com

Sunday, May 11 - Devon Iott - @missmake / http://www.missmake.com

Monday, May 12 - Mary Dugan - @marysdugan / http://mollyflanders.blogspot.com

Tuesday, May 13 - Shannon Cook - @soveryshannon / http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com

Wednesday, May 14 - Penny Layman - @sewtakeahike / http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com

Thursday, May 15 - Katie Blakesley - @swimbikequilt / http://swimbikequilt.com

Ready for the giveaway??

One lucky reader will win a fat quarter bundle of April's Arizona limited edition fabric line from Art Gallery Fabrics.

The Rules

1. Leave ONE comment to enter. Make sure your contact info is in your profile or that you leave it in the comment.

2. In your comment tell us what kind of sewing or quilting project you would make with Arizona fabric.

3. Comment entries must be left on this blog, www.jaybirdquilts.com, to be valid. Comments sent via E-mail, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any other social media will not be counted.

4. Simple as that!!

~~You have till 9PM PST on Wednesday, May 7th to enter.~~

Giveaway Now Closed.

Winner will be selected by

True Random Number Generator.

The winner is...

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Modern Traditional #DSTTchallenge Judges Quilt Reveal

Today is the judges mini quilt reveal day for the Dear Stella + Timeless Treasures Modern Traditional mini quilt challenge! While Katy of I'm a Ginger Monkey and I comb through your entries, we'll entertain you a bit with our takes on modern traditional mini quilts.

I decided to go modern traditional with my fabric selections, and not just my design. I used some Tonga Treats Mini Boysenberry squares with some of my Dear Stella Confetti Dots.

My pieced mini quilt top.

I just did some basic straight line diagonal quilting across the mini quilt.

A mini quilted sandwich.

Adding the binding to my pieced back. (I've got loads of free binding tutorials for you.)

My finished modern traditional mini quilt!

Quilt Details

Fabric is Tonga Treats Mini Boysenberry & Dear Stella Confetti Dots

Pattern - Mashup of my Mini Radio Way + Science Fair patterns

Quilted by me

Started on 4/13/14

Finished on 4/25/14

Mini Quilt measures - 20" x 20"

The quilt is a mashup of my Mini Radio Way + Science Fair patterns. I was inspired by the negative space modern element of my Science Fair quilt and the traditional rails of my Mini Radio Way quilt to craft a tetris-like take on the two quilts with their complementing modern and traditional elements.

When it was time to make my backing + quilt sandwich, I found I had enough scraps of left over trimmings from an older quilt I made with Dear Stella fabric to make a pieced back (check out my tutorial on pieced quilt backs here). Talk about scrap busting!

I love the way the pieced, scrappy back makes a for a great home for my quilt label (and I have a quilt label tutorial here - part 1 - and here - part 2).

Dear Stella & Timeless Treasures will be announcing the winner of the Modern Traditional mini quilt challenge tomorrow on their blogs. You can check out social media posts from entrants using #DSTTchallenge.

What's your favorite part about making mini quilts? How do you use your mini quilts at home and out in the world? Tell us about your mini quilts + quilting experiences in the comments. Thanks!