Nova

When I was planning my quilting lineup this year, I know I wanted to include at least one ultra-special quilt in this lineup. By ultra-special, I mean quilts that have been elevated to pedestal status in my queue, to the point that I'm afraid to finish it. Usually it means quilts that have special fabrics, or took forever to make, or had a great deal of handwork.

Nova, designed by Tula Pink, is all of the above. It is an English paper-piecing pattern using Alison Glass fabrics that I fussy cut, and it took me about forever to make. I actually wrote 2 posts about the making-of, here and here.

How in the world do I go about quilting a quilt like this? Well, as it turns out, this quilt is already so beautiful on its own due to the fabrics and the pattern that there's not much I have to do. I just have to enhance it a little bit, and that I can do.

I quilted the background with some big swirls, leaves, and pebbles.

I kept the quilting in the star pretty simple, with just some geometric dot-to-dot designs to enhance the piecing. The hardest part about this quilt is actually keeping all the quilting facing the correct direction, so that whether they're pointing inward or outward, they're all pointing in the exact right direction. I kept a design diagram with me at all times to refer to, as otherwise I'd get easily confused when my face is a few inches from the quilting.

Nova is so special so it also deserves a special backing, so I used some of my out of print Tula Pink Freefall backing. It hurt a little to use it, but I'm also glad it has found a worthy quilt top to pair itself with.

I'm so glad I finally finished Nova! It is such a gorgeous quilt and I know I'll keep it forever.

Day Trip Cell Phone Wallet & Partridge Bag

I think I just found the perfect wallet and the perfect airplane mini-bag. But let me start from the beginning ...

I actually made the Day Trip Cell Phone Wallet once before, years ago, and I thought it was an absolutely terrifying experience. It was possibly the hardest thing I've ever made. I was nearly in tears by the end, and just hanging on for dear life.

But since it's been years, and I had forgotten the pain, I decided to try it again, this time with one of my favorite fabric prints in the last few years, from Zen Chic. Well ... it's pretty easy, I thought to myself. No problem. I thought to myself. I kept sewing and sewing, and I was wondering what the fuss was all about. That is, until I reached the final part, and then I remembered. It was still harrowing, it was still painful, and I think I'll need quite awhile before I forget the pain again. But when I saw how beautiful it came out, it was very much worth it!

One of my favorite things about this bag, besides the fabric, is actually the zipper. This is a leftover rainbow zipper tape and pull I had from the Superbloom bag I made earlier this year, and it honestly looks like the colors were made to go with this fabric! It was pure coincidence, but it went together perfectly.

I'm so happy with it, but there's no denying that it was very difficult, and unlike most of the projects that I found difficult, I don't know what I could do to make it better next time. But Will I make it again? Maybe in another few years. I hope my workmanship can last that long!

***

The second bag I made was initially just a project to make, but not to use. I really wanted to make it, because it was cute, but I thought I'd have no use for it. It was skinny and just didn't hold that much, I thought.

All that changed the day before I was to go on an airplane, and I suddenly realized this little bag is just perfect for plane rides. I can wear it on my shoulder, separately from a bigger plane bag, and it fits my phone / Kindle / ID / cash, so I won't have to rummage in my bigger travel bags for that stuff. Yet, because it has such a thin profile, if a flight attendant complained that I was carrying two personal items, I can always stuff it in a larger travel bag.

So that's what I did, and it worked perfectly! I was shocked how much usage I got out of this bag not just during the plane ride, but the actual trip as well. As soon as I brought it home, I hung it in my travel section of my closet, where it will patiently await my next trip.