blogger’s quilt festival spring 2013
by melissa on May 22, 2013
I recently found out about the Blogger’s Quilt Festival :: Spring 2013 via my friend and fellow Triangle Modern Quilt Guild member Valerie from between quilts! I actually ended up volunteering with Amy at QuiltCon at the registration booth – she’s such an awesome lady and I’m very excited to participate in this years festival.
I’m entering the throw quilt category with my Urban Patch quilt. It’s 57″ x 69″ and I have it placed over the lower part of the bed in the photo, but it’s much too small to be considered a true quilt for the bed. It does match the room really well so it stays in there most of the time.
{ urban patch } 
designed, pieced and quilted by Melissa Herboth
This quilt came to be from our own local guild challenge and I was excited about trying something new or should I say old. I decided to take some inspiration from Denyse Schmidt’s latest book Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration and use the ocean waves block, or a version of it at least. The result? A throw quilt I love more than I thought I could.
The idea behind the challenge was to create something that represented the word city. I didn’t want to do a literal translation as I’ve lived in many different types of cities. Small, large, medium they all have one common theme – they have a history, a start. That beginning is usually framed by traditions and I wanted that to be the foundation for this project as well. Beginning with the traditional ocean block I used 4 blocks to create a city square – or an urban patch.
{ detail & backing } 
The fabrics chosen were vibrant and geometric – perfect in my eyes for an urban setting and the red backing spoke to me – I loved the leaf shape of the pattern from the Chicopee line. It was organic when everything on the other side was geometric. True opposites. There is also a leftover block on the back, reminds me of the more rural areas surrounded by wide open space.
And one last photo, it’s one of my favorites.
{ city living } 
That’s our cat, Jackson, enjoying some city living. He always seems to find the freshly washed quilt around here to lay on.
nine patch gone
by melissa on May 13, 2013
I’ve done quite a few baby quilts and when I was asked to do another, I was determined to shake things up a bit and do a patten or technique that I have yet to do. After a couple hours of reviewing my pins on Pinterest I decided on the disappearing nine patch or D9P. The D9P has been around, and used in traditional quilts for quite some time. But like most traditional quilt patterns, it has been modernized, and my favorite tutorial I found on how to do just that is from Kristy at St. Louis Folk Victorian here
First step is to always find the perfect fabrics. This was easy since the main choice came from the purchaser, they wanted to use Heather Ross’ Nursery Versey the cute little itsy bitsy spider in purple.
{ itsy bitsy spider } 
Then it was what to pair with it… Purple and gold were obvious and since it was for a boy I wanted some more boyish prints, so I went with greys!
{ fabrics } 
Then it was to picking the 9 patch blocks and the arrangements. Once all those were put together, I got to cut them in half… I know after all that work I was just going to cut them up again so I could then put them back together!
{ blocks } 
Apparently i forgot to take a photo of the fourth block as a “whole” before chopping it back up… Whoops!
The arranging was the most fun part, swapping & rotating. Stepping back and then swapping some more until I found a good balance of color and negative space.
{ the arrangement } 
{ final layout together } 
Overall a fun pattern to use you don’t have to worry about things lining up and it’s super modern in my opinion!
woof wag & fetch
by melissa on May 2, 2013
I’m a maker and a believer in well made, handmade products and I’m honored to be a part of some great products for your favorite four legged companions that say woof!
If it barks makes awesome collars and leashes for puppies and dogs of all sizes. I myself have purchased several collars for my parents furry friend and let me tell you, they hold up extremely well! And by the way, look oh so stylish! You can now search the if it barks for things designed by me & other designers!
{ patchwork collars } 
I’ve been cooking up some ideas on products for pet lovers and am so excited about what’s coming in the next few months! Stay tuned here to my blog, facebook and if it barks for upcoming news!
stitches
by melissa on April 21, 2013
I’d be kidding myself if I said not much is going on in the blustitch world. But I think it’s best described in photos…
{ more bags } 
{ new things } 
key fob & plush kitties
{ the machine } 
Yes I made the decision to get a new machine. I picked up this lovely Janome at QuiltCon and am still getting used to the differences from my more basic machine. But I am completely in love with it!
blockin’ it #3
by melissa on April 11, 2013
We’re well into April and I realized I had not posted about my March block! These are fun, but I find myself wondering how they’re going to look together. I bet there’s an app for that..
{ march block } 
{ three blocks } 
Off to a good start I’d say.
delinquent
by melissa on April 5, 2013
My last post was March 21st. Delinquent is an understatement. Busy lives often get in the way of things like blogging, at least they do for me. Just to put your mind at ease I’ve not posted anything inspiring or less than inspiring because I’m working on lots of cool projects!
In the meantime some North Carolina springtime pictures will have to tide you over.
{ blooms } 
{ ready and waiting } 
{ abandoned } 
The last one I took during a shed hunt with my parents. We came up with no sheds, just the abandoned turtle shell. It was great to get out into the woods, away from sounds of the city.
brightest moment
by melissa on March 22, 2013
Today. Over. Done. Period.
Let’s just say I’m happy about those four words, together, in that order. I don’t know what happened or why everything about today seemed to be so difficult. As I was driving home contemplating my horrific experience that was today, I took a less traveled route that led me past a lovely lake, the sun was bright & reflecting off the water, it was blinding and screaming at me:
{ just let it go }
so i did.
bag lady
by melissa on March 14, 2013
I’d been on the hunt for some cool toiletry bags for a while before my big trip to QuiltCon. I also was looking for a good sized take anywhere purse. So when I couldn’t find what I wanted I decided to make them. The fabric choices and pairings is my favorite part, I must of set out a dozen possible options before settling.
I fell in love with this fabric line from Anna Maria Horner. So much so that I bought more from one of my favorite shops – how could I not? It was on sale! I found a great tutorial for just the bags I wanted from Anna at noodlehead. They are super easy and come in multiple sizes!
{ toiletry bag set } 
I saw a bag that I really liked by the talented Jess at how about orange. So I made some guesses, did some sketches and voila ~ in two sizes!
{ crossbody purse no. 1, small } 
{ crossbody purse no. 2, large } 
I ended up using that one more. If I make more (which I’m sure I will) I want to experiment with an adjustable strap.
Then I just got crazy and made another zipper purse for my “sewing kit” that was needed for my workshops. I love the fabric combo on this one the most! The orangey red tab and inside go with the mint green & black polka dots that make you dizzy I’d you stare too long at them.
{ dotted zipper bag } 
And what girl doesn’t need a dirty linen sack for coming home. Everyone needs one of those! Even my husband wants a set in multiple sizes.
{ drawstring linen sack } 
Like I said, I went a little bag crazy.
QuiltCon favorites
by melissa on March 7, 2013
I still have flashbacks to wandering around the quilt exhibit at QuiltCon. There was such a lovely group of quilts on display – and such a variety! These are some of my favorites.
{ favorite color combination } 
Streetscape by Katie Blakesley
{ favorite “I want to do that” } 
Flying Geese and Swans by Lotje Meijknecht
{ favorite quilting } 
It’s Just Peachy by Nancy Scott
{ favorite mini-quilt } 
Helix by Nicole Neblett (from our very own triangle MQG
{ the one I wanted to take home } 
Adrift by Tina Michalik
These are just my favorites, there were so many beautiful ones there it was hard to narrow down to just these! Congrats to all the winners & to the MQG for such an awesome event.
blockin’ it #2
by melissa on March 4, 2013
I’ve been trying to catch up since I got back from Austin a week ago. It seems much longer than a week – I might still be on a post-convention high.
This past weekend I had a lovely house guest who reminded me the joy of just being. We made some delicious food, drank some delicious drinks, did some crafting and watched four movies! Four (that’s a record for me in one weekend I think). Overall just the weekend I needed after being on the go these past couple weeks.
I managed to sneak in my overdue block for February. I think it turned out just lovely and I’m really enjoying working these in between all my other projects.
{ block number two } 
March is in full swing and there is lots in the pipeline! Stay tuned!
