Favorite Things Friday ~ Fab Quilts and a QAL!

I've seen so many beautiful quilty things on other people's blogs lately.  You know how inspiring you all are, right?  Well, you are.  Talented too, my goodness gracious.

Here are two recent favorites, the first of which is Liftoff by Sandi at Piecemeal Quilts.  

"Liftoff" by Sandi of Piecemeal Quilts (with permission)

This quilt just takes my breath away!  I get a feeling of awe and wonder, just like when I'm watching a huge flock of birds rise up to fly in formation.  Some of that awe and wonder is also in regard to the number of HSTs in this quilt, something like 672 of them, all perfectly pieced.  Sandi and her mother worked together on this.  You can read the touching story behind the quilt here.

The second quilt is Gong Show by Lesly at Stitch Literate.  Another stunner!  I love the positive/negative thing happening in this quilt, the use of the brown as the neutral solid, as well as the clever configuration of multiple sized drunkard's path pieces.  Anybody else oohing and aahing?

"Gong Show" by Lesly at Stitch Literate (with permission)

A drunkard's path quilt is on my bucket list, and "Throw Me a Curve" is one of the categories on my 2012 NewFO Challenge list.  I'm just sayin'...  ;)

Also on my NewFO list is a category called "Oddly Inspired," which is where the Hubcap Diamond Star Halo quilt is fitting in, inspired by song lyrics.  But I'm obviously not the only one who thinks "Quilts Are Everywhere."  Sandi (Piecemeal Quilts) was recently inspired by a drawing of iron window coverings from a 1930s building.  She transferred the drawing to EQ and came up with several colorways.  Now she's agreed to do an Ironwork Quilt Along based on that design.  I am excited about that! 

Ironwork* Quilt Along at Piecemeal Quilts

I have been wanting to do something in solids, and this lends itself well to that (though prints would be cute too).  She is offering instructions for two sizes, a bed-sized quilt and a 40-inch quilt.  I'm going to make the smaller version.  

I've ordered my fabrics from Connecting Threads.  Instead of black for the ironwork, I chose Rosewood, which is dark enough to appear almost black (I think), but it's, well, rosewood-y.  Think possibly rusty ironwork?  I dunno, just being a little different in that one detail, seeing as I'm totally copying one of her EQ colorways, otherwise.

Want to quilt along?  Visit Sandi's blog for the details, grab the button, pull together some fabric, and you'll be all set!

Today's fab favorites brought to you by: