What happened to summer?!

I can not believe that in just a couple of weeks, Labor Day weekend will be here! What the heck happened to summer? If you are like me, you've been busy with the garden (my was basically a flop with the exception of tomatoes), family fun, and quilting!

It seems impossible, but I've somehow managed to get several quilts, for others and my own, done this summer. This one was a simple lap quilt for a wedding that we dashed to Madison, WI and back last weekend. I used a pattern from

Modern Minimals where you did some "improv" piecing in the middle, flanked by two large expanses of "negative space". The negative space allowed me to use the ideas and techniques I learned in Krista Wither's workshop at the Machine Quilters' Showcase this past May (RIP IMQS and Machine Quilters Showcase).

The improv piecing took a little more thought that I was expecting but worked well and the Krista Wither's inspired quilting was just SO FUN! I used the bride's FiestaWear colors for the piecing and Glide thread for the quilting. I'm still struggling how to photograph Glide thread without getting lots of reflection--it's that Glide shine! Check out improv piecing--I'll definitely be doing more. And Krista's quilting inspiration--what can I say?!