Travelling Pic Stitch Blog Hop

The Travelling Pic Stitch party is going on over at Quokka Quilts.  As soon as I heard about this party, I knew that I had to join.  It involves two of my favorite things - travelling and stitching. 

 

The photo that I chose was taken several years ago when I visited Lisbon, Portugal.  I was taking a walking tour of the city and it began in the older area called Alfama.  We were just getting started and I looked up and snapped a photo.

Using this palette, I found that the colors matched well with my Sherbert Pips stash.  I wanted to use "Scoot" as a focal fabric, but couldn't decide between vanilla or gray so I used both.  Being new to English Paper Piecing (EPP), I decided to try something simple and work with hexagons.

 

I created a hexagon flower.  But somehow, I had a feeling that I needed to find a project to work on so my flower would not end up as an orphan block.  I found a tutorial at Terra Byte Farm for a Boxed Pouch.  Now, I have never made a pouch before, or anything with a zipper but the tutorial looked easy and I decided to go for it.

 

I added the side quarter hexagon pieces in the gray border fabric and was carefull to sew one of the Scoot piece upside down.

 

Coordinating fabric was used for the lining.  This is actually the first project that I have machine quilted.  (I still quilt by hand, but I have a class scheduled to learn machine quilting.  Its a 2013 goal).

Not only did I learn how to put a walking foot on my machine, but I also learned about my zipper foot.  And.....ta-da.....

 

I did it!  Making a pouch with a zipper was one of my goals for 2012 and I am quite pleased with my pouch.  I can't believe how easy this was to make and I can totally see more of these in the future (maybe some Christmas presents?)

 

 

 

 

Following this blog hop has been great fun and joining in has provided me with many firsts.  Check out the other Pic Stitch projects at Quokka Quilts.

Work in Progress - Cameo Sew Along

I originally thought of making 1 mini quilt for the Amy Butler Cameo sew-along., but have now started several more projects using Cameo fabric.

 

 

I did not use a pattern to create this mantle cloth for the fireplace.  I still have to put up my Christmas decorations, but I tested the fit and it works.  (Now I need to find more projects where I can sew on more pom-poms!)

 

 

I also finished sewing the hexagons together for the pillow.  I had planned to practice some machine stitching.  But after looking at the hexies all put together by hand, I decided to hand quilt the piece.

 

Linking up today to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

 

 

Design Wall Monday - Cameo Sew Along

Wow, I just reviewed my to-do list from last Wednesday and I realized that I have made great progress over the long holiday weekend.  I was able to get in a lot of good quilting time.

 

I started on my project for the Amy Butler Cameo sew-along.  I was over-thinking my design and did nothing for 3 days.  I finally just cut into the fabric and the piece looks exactly how I imagined.  

 

Since this mini quilt is almost complete, I started on 2 more Cameo projects - a hexie pillow and a mantle scarf for the fireplace.  This was my first time working with trim and although I love the look of the pom-poms, it was kind of a bear to sew.  I think this was because the pom poms did not have much trim material.  I just could not get this to work on my machine even when using a scant seam allowance.  I ended up blind stitching this by hand. 

 

 

Linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times. and to the Monday Link Up at Plum and June.

 

Work In Progress - Many Projects

Well, its good to be back.  Mickey, Minnie and friends are all well.  But looking around my sewing area, I see that there is quite a bit of projects to be done!

 



1.  There is progress on my Jazz Hands blocks.  I have completed 10 of the 12 blocks, but have decided that I want to make this quilt bigger so there will be more blocks to make.

 

2.  The Color Palette Challenge for November mini is almost finished, just needed is binding.

 

3.  I am still working on an English paper piecing (EPP) project for the Travelling Picstitch Bloghop at Quokka Quilts.  I am new to EPP and this is a bit of a challenge.  The linky party is November 30, so I need to get this finished soon.

 

4.  I am totally bummed that I did not receive my Tula Pink fabrics in time to finish a piece for the Tula Pink Sew Along, but I just received a bundle of Amy Butler's Cameo.  I do think that this bundle looks much better to me in person than on-line.  Hoping I can have a piece ready for the Cameo Sew Along deadline of December 5th.

 

5.  I did finish my signature block for Liz at Dandelion Daydreams.  She is making a thank you gift for Beth with signature blocks from those that participated in the Lets Get Acquainted Blog Hop.  If you participated in this bloghop, blocks are due by the end of November.

 

Wow, that seems like a big to-do list especially with the Thanksgiving holiday this weekend.  And, this list doesn't even include my Christmas to-dos.  I think I better get busy!

 

Linking up today to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

 

 

Color Palette Challenge - October

The color palette for October's challenge was chosen by Vicki Welsh at Field Trips in Fiber.

 

 

I wasn't quite sure what to do with these colors and I could not find a focal piece in my stash.  I pulled what colors I could find and decided to work with some very small scraps to create an 8x10 inch mini. 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out all of the other October challenge projects at Patchwork Times.  Also, check out the color palette challenge for November.