Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Charisma Spice Cake and Fresh Air in the Cabin

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After yesterday's nonsense, I decided to get myself in gear today and finish up a couple of things on my To Do list.  I got the borders on two quilt tops!  The one above is from a pattern called Spice Cake by Mary's Cottage Quilts.  The fabric is Charisma by Chez Moi for Moda.  The pattern uses a layer cake, and made an enormous quilt in no time at all.  The bed I have it shown on is queen sized, and it hangs down plenty long enough on each side.  This quilt is so simple, the fabric and the quilting design are what ultimately will make it sing.

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I LOVE this quilt.  It has a contemporary look that is so trendy right now.   I used fabric called Fresh Air, also by Chez Moi for Moda.  The pattern came from Evelyn Sloppy's book Log Cabin Fever.  This one went together quickly too, and was loads of fun with all the fabrics I had to play with–I think I had nearly 70, including my scrappy lights from the stash closet.  My quilt is one row shorter than Evelyn's pattern because I ran out of fabric, believe it or not.  If you recall, I had two jelly rolls that I cut down to 1 1/2 inch strips.  Even with all my extra tone on tones I ran short.  This pattern would be better made from actual yardage as the author recommends.

The block, by the way, is a very simple version of a log cabin style block called Courthouse Steps.   Three "rounds" encircle a center square in each block.  I really liked using the solid looking tone on tones in each block for
uniformity and to give the eye a rest from the busy prints.

This particular quilt would be sensational made up in a variety of different fabrics.   Gather up your plaids and some coordinating tone on tones and you would have a masculine or "cabin-y" quilt.  Or how about a collection of florals?  It would be very cool done as a Christmas quilt, with a selection of Christmas-y prints and some tone on tones in red, green black and gold.  Oooh, oooh, now I am excited!  How about a collection of Asian prints and some coordinating tone on tones?  The scrappier the better with this block. 

I liked making it so much, I may just do another one!

38 responses to “Charisma Spice Cake and Fresh Air in the Cabin”

  1. Nicole – You are such an inspiration! I enjoy your blog so much and I love your choice of patterns and fabrics. I have so many fabrics and patterns but what I don’t have is time. Do you know anyone who sells blocks of time? 🙂
    Karen L.

  2. Nicole – You are such an inspiration! I enjoy your blog so much and I love your choice of patterns and fabrics. I have so many fabrics and patterns but what I don’t have is time. Do you know anyone who sells blocks of time? 🙂
    Karen L.

  3. These quilts are beautiful … I especially love the log cabin one ..it’s one of my favorite blocks. Might have to add that one to my list of projects I want to do someday.

  4. These quilts are beautiful … I especially love the log cabin one ..it’s one of my favorite blocks. Might have to add that one to my list of projects I want to do someday.

  7. You have been getting sooo much done!!! I love the fabric in the border of the Sloppy quilt! You are right, that would look cute in plaids.

  8. You have been getting sooo much done!!! I love the fabric in the border of the Sloppy quilt! You are right, that would look cute in plaids.

  11. As usual they are gorgeous. I wish I could finish just one. Hee Hee. I love the choices of fabrics too.

  12. As usual they are gorgeous. I wish I could finish just one. Hee Hee. I love the choices of fabrics too.

  13. Both of your quilts are beautiful but I especially love your sleigh bed. Your blog is fabulous – I’m a regular reader.

  14. Both of your quilts are beautiful but I especially love your sleigh bed. Your blog is fabulous – I’m a regular reader.

  15. Love both quilts. But that first one looks like a fast and easy one. I need a Ca. King size maybe that’s the one for me.

  16. Love both quilts. But that first one looks like a fast and easy one. I need a Ca. King size maybe that’s the one for me.

  17. Yeah – you finally completed it. I am actually designing both of these quilts using layer cakes. I think it should be enough and I will give out the dimensions in my blog when I really get to it. Now I have three quilts that need to be quilted. Can’t do both because there is only one machine

  18. Yeah – you finally completed it. I am actually designing both of these quilts using layer cakes. I think it should be enough and I will give out the dimensions in my blog when I really get to it. Now I have three quilts that need to be quilted. Can’t do both because there is only one machine

  21. I have spent quite a bit of time playing catch-up on your truly inspirational blog! How I’ve missed all the wonderful quilts you make and the great ideas you have for creating even more.
    It’s good to see the adorable puppies, too. I’m sorry Sophie got an owie on her ear.
    I’m glad you made the decision to leave a job that doesn’t fit you. Life is too short to be doing something that makes you miserable. I know you’ll find something else much better if the mood strikes you.
    I LOVE the quilts you’ve been creating lately – I am trying to work from my stash this year, and you’ve given me plenty of ideas.

  22. I have spent quite a bit of time playing catch-up on your truly inspirational blog! How I’ve missed all the wonderful quilts you make and the great ideas you have for creating even more.
    It’s good to see the adorable puppies, too. I’m sorry Sophie got an owie on her ear.
    I’m glad you made the decision to leave a job that doesn’t fit you. Life is too short to be doing something that makes you miserable. I know you’ll find something else much better if the mood strikes you.
    I LOVE the quilts you’ve been creating lately – I am trying to work from my stash this year, and you’ve given me plenty of ideas.

  27. I don’t know which is my favorite, Nicole. But I’m thinking that second one. I love your use of those Fresh Air fabrics. That’s a LOT of blocks!

  28. I don’t know which is my favorite, Nicole. But I’m thinking that second one. I love your use of those Fresh Air fabrics. That’s a LOT of blocks!

  29. Both of these quilts are beautiful. They would freshen up any room. I don’t have a favorite, they are both so colorful and I love both patterns too. Well done.

  30. Both of these quilts are beautiful. They would freshen up any room. I don’t have a favorite, they are both so colorful and I love both patterns too. Well done.

  31. I just wanted to let you know that I think both of your quilts are beautiful, but I particularly like Spice Cake. I love the colour and the crispness of it. Well done.

  32. I just wanted to let you know that I think both of your quilts are beautiful, but I particularly like Spice Cake. I love the colour and the crispness of it. Well done.

  35. I love that Spike Cake top. I have a layer cake with matching border fabric. I’m going to have to try this pattern. Thank you for the inspiration.

  36. I love that Spike Cake top. I have a layer cake with matching border fabric. I’m going to have to try this pattern. Thank you for the inspiration.