Design Wall Monday - Maritime Challenge

 

I have finished my Tula blocks and thought I would have some time this weekend for sewing the top together, but I had to stop and make a quilt for my mom to give to her sick friend.  Maybe, having a project break was good because I am still waffling on the final layout.  Not sure if I will stick to a grid layout, or attempt something more complicated.

 

So, I think its on to a different project.  The Le Challenge theme this month is "maritime" and the linkups are on the 15th.  I can't believe it, but I have been through my stash twice and still do not have a plan or any inspiration.  Nothing like waiting till the last minute on this project.

 

But, I am happy to get a package today.

 

Terri at From Here To Quilternity is taking here shop in a new direction and is having a blow out sale.  I love to shop from this site as I always get my order right away.  Some of the fabrics I saw were as low as $1.95/yard.  I bought some Amy Butler and Tina Givens.  Unfortunately, no fabric will help me with the "maritime" challenge.

  

Also, the 2013 Lets Get Acquainted blog hop has started at Plum and June.  I had a great time last year and can't wait to visit the stops in 2013.



 

Linking up today to Design Wall Monday and the Monday Lets Get Acquainted meet up. 

City Sampler Quilt Along - Tula Pink

I am still continuing with the City Sampler blocks for the Tula Pink QAL. 

 

 

 

So far, I have 47 of these little blocks finished.  But, today is the day to link up blocks 4-6.

 

 

 

Block #4 is modified slightly from the original.  Since I am using solid scraps, I found that these scraps fit perfect for this block.  The Tula Pink fabric is from Parisville.

 

 

Block #5.  Not sure which Tula Pink collection these fabrics are from since they came through a swap.

 

Block #6 using fabric from my favorite collection - the Birds and the Bees.

It may by time to start figuring out how I am going to put them all together.  I am leaning toward using the 100 blocks and making the cover quilt.

Linking today to the Lets Get Acquainted link-up and to Design Wall Monday.

 



Design Wall Monday - Quilts for Boston

I am continuing working on creating quilt blocks for Quilts for Boston.  There are many creative quilt blocks in the Flickr group.

 

I have found that I don't have much yellow in my stash and really don't use it.  So I am putting "making something yellow" on my to-do list.
 

 

I think that these asterisks blocks go together quite quickly.  The pattern is from the Craftsy 2012 Block of the Month class.

Linking to Design Wall Monday and the Lets Get Acquainted link up.

DWM - Triangles Galore

Over the weekend, I thought that I would tackle one of my goals of conquering my fear of triangles.  I have had the Triangles Galore block from Bumble Beans on my to-do list for awhile.

The block was created by paper piecing and it went together quite easily.  I hope to make several more.

 

I also was able to finish my entry for this month's project at Le Challenge.  The theme this month is "geometrics".  Any type of project is accepted and linkups are on the 15th.

 

Linking up today with Design Wall Monday.

Design Wall Monday - Leaves

Since I am working a lot lately and with Quiltcon coming soon, I didn't want to start a big project.  I decided to work on a mini inspired by the project "Spring" which is in Sarah Fielke's book "Quilting from Little Things".

 

This type of quilt has always been on my to-do list.  Something like a tree of life or a vine with leaves.  I am doing this project free hand, not really measuring too much and just going with the flow.

 

 

The plum fabric that I used for the background was the only plum in my stash. It is some sort of linen and is not ideal.  It wrinkles very easily and it collects fuzzies and loose strings.  It will not be a fabric that I would chose to work with again.

 

Linking up today to Design Wall Monday and to the Monday Link Up. 

 

 

 

Design Wall Monday - Star Parts

I am almoooooooooost done with my stars.  All the parts are complete.  These triangle blocks just need to be pressed, then sewed into stars.

I can feel the end is near and a quilt top of stars will be posted soon.

Linking to Design Wall Monday and to the Lets Get Acquainted Monday Link-up.

Design Wall Mondays - Stars

I can't stop making these stars!

 

I laid them all out on the floor and there are 20 stars, so it may be time to put them together. I still need to cut the sashing strips that go between the stars.

Linking to Design Wall Monday

Design Wall Monday - Flat Pouch #4

 

On my design wall today are more pouches using this great tutorial from Terrabyte Farm.  Just a few weeks ago, I had never made a pouch or had ever worked with zippers.  Now I am on my fourth pouch and am tweaking the design, just a bit.

 

Friday, I was working on a boxed pouch and decided to leave it flat to store my rulers.  But I did have an issue with the centered zipper.  It did not allow me to easily insert some of my larger rulers. 

 

So now I am making another flat pouch with a plan to off set the zipper toward one end.  Not only do I think this will store my rulers and supplies, but I think it is the perfect size to be a case for my iPad.  I had my iPad on the sewing table and noticed that the pouch is the right size.

 

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

Design Wall Monday - Christmas

I feel like I have been going non-stop this weekend.  Ah....the holiday season.

 

On my Design Wall today is a red/white/blue quilt that is a Christmas gift.  I only have to create the top and gift it.  The quilting will be completed by someone else.

 

Also, I am going through my stash pulling fabric for this month's Color Palette challenge at Patchwork Times.  There is no color guide.  This month we are to pick a color and make a monochromatic project.  More details are at Field Trips in Fiber.   This project is something that I really have to think about, I don't think I have ever made a one color project.

But, I have been very good at completing projects on my to-do list.

For the Amy Butler Cameo Sew-Along, I finished a pillow and a large table runner .  This is my first pillow and it turned out just like I thought.

 

I have some good news too.  I won the Charming Travelers swap package from Kelsey at Kelsey Sews.  I can't wait to see what's in the stash.  I'll be posting soon about this giveaway, so watch for it if your interested.

 

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

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.

 

Design Wall Monday - Just Cutting

Cutting, cutting cutting......

I finished my second Jazz Hands block and I love it, but it seems all I am doing today is cutting.

Linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.

Blogtoberfest - Day 22

Design Wall Monday - Feathers

I have always liked the feathers pattern created by Anna Maria Horner.  I have a bundle of Happy Go Lucky that I did not know how to use.  Its a bit too floral and pastel for my current tastes, but I had a feeling that it would work well as feathers.

 

 

I made a test feather and am quite pleased with the result.  The pattern has an option of a pieced background, or you can choose to applique the feather.  I am still choosing a background and am leaning toward this tan Kona that I have in my stash.

 

Linking up today to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times and to the Lets Get Acquainted Blog Hop.

 

Blogtoberfest - Day 8

Design Wall Monday - Proverbial Quilt Progress

I have been getting positive feedback on my Proverbial Quilt.  But, progress has stalled because I needed some more background fabric.  I just got some Kona snow yardage, so I expect to get back to work on the quilt this week.  While I was waiting for fabric, I started a second Proverbial Quilt.

  

I have also received questions on how I created the letters.  This is the process that I used for the letters, which go together quite fast using a jelly roll.  

I traced the letter "A" on tissue paper that I found in a gift bag (I had already used all of the tissue paper that I could find in my shoe boxes).  Then, I cut pieces of fabric to cover the letter and sewed them to the tissue paper.  Since these are wonky letters, I did not worry if I did not sew exactly on the lines.

I continued sewing the pieces of the letter "A" making sure that I had enough fabric for the outer seam allowances.  Iron the letter flat.  (I waited till a I had bunch of letters made, then ironed them all at once).

 

Flip over the letter and locate the outer outline of the letter.  Add 1/4 inch to the outside and trim all sides of the letter.  I removed the paper backing before I joined the letters together.

I hope that my process will help you when you create your letters.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

Linking up today to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.

Also, its back!  2012 Blogtoberfest hosted this year at I Saw You Dancing.  This is a fun event where you challenge yourself to post every day in October.  I did this last year and loved it.  More info and sign ups found at Blogtoberfest 2012 

Design Wall Monday - Project Hope

I have a lot of projects going on right now, but I wouldn't be me if I didn't start something new.  The final 2012 project has been posted at Margaret's Hope Chest.  The block chosen for this project is Fun in the Middle.

The blocks are to be made using pastel colors.  I spent the evening fussy cutting the middle 4 inch squares and working up a few blocks.  I should have a stack of these blocks ready to go out later this week.

Linking up today to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times and to Blog Hop News at Plum and June.

Design Wall Monday - Proverbial Quilt

I have finished paper piecing the letters so its time to put the words together for the Proverbial Quilt.

One word completed, only 22 more words to go.

When we are flat on our backs,

The only way to look is up.

Find release from your cares,

Tomorrow is another day.

Linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.    Also, linking to the Blog Hop News at Plum and June.

Desing Wall Monday - Proverbial Quilt Along

This weekend we finally got some much needed rain.  This means plenty for time of sewing and not much time for bicycling.  But, I did get a short ride in and the very first thing I did when I pulled away from my car was crash.   Not a big crash.  I just ran into those skinny white divider plastic cones.  FYI - those cones make a real big noise when you run into and over them.  

So, I had time to start my quilt for the Proverbial Quilt along at Poppyprint.  I have several jelly rolls and some bundles of Tina Given's Havens Edge that I have been wanting to cut into.  The pattern calls for making templates.  After making a few test blocks , I realized that I could paper piece the blocks.

I do not have much experience with paper piecing, but thought I would give this a try.

After piecing, I turned the letter over and trimmed the blocks to include a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

I still have many more letters to go.  I decided to use the quote that came with the pattern:

When we are flat on our backs,

The only way to look is up.

Find release from your cares,

Tomorrow is another day.

Linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times. 

Also, linking to the Blog Hop News at Plum and June.   This week's schedule on the Lets Get Acquainted Blog Hop:

Aug 21
Marta from From Marta with Love
Marion from My Quilt Diet

Aug 23
Ginny from Fish Creek Studio
May from Confessions of a Fabraholic

Design Wall Monday - New Quilt Along

Well, I seemed to have done it again - started another new quilt project.  I just cant help myself since the more I read blogs, the more projects I find to make.

I just signed up up for The Proverbial Quilt along at Poppyprint.  It uses the Proverbial Quilt pattern by Denyse Schmidt.  Now, I just need to find a quote.  The first thing that came into my mind is "Live Long and Prosper" (LOL), but I think that I will need a longer quote.  I may need some time to think about this.

Still working on the pinwheels from Material Obsession 2.  I have finished the "cool" blocks and now need to start on the "warm" blocks.

Linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times and to the Blog Hop News at Plum and June

Design Wall Monday - Pinwheels

This weekend I thought I would work on several of my 2012 goals:  conquering my fear of triangles and using my good fabric.

I started cutting into some of my Flea Market Fancy stash and making blocks for the Playground Days quilt found in Material Obsessions 2.  The block reminds me of a pinwheel and there are plenty of half square triangles.  I supplemented the FMF with other Schmidt fabric that I got at Joann's.

I have created a small stack of blocks, with plenty more to go.  Not sure I will get any more completed this week with company in town.

Linking up today to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.



Design Wall Monday - Made in Cherry Throw

Well, I sure have been stitching away while watching the Olympics.   I finished my July color palette challenge piece, so I started on another quilt based on the Made in Cherry quilt pattern.  I have already made a large quilt using this pattern which I called a Neapolitan Star.

 

This time I chose to make it in a smaller size based on the dimensions from the Made in Cherry Quilt Along at Pins and Bobbins.  Also, I was able to use my stash.  The top is about complete and the Olympics just started.  I think I may start on another throw, but this time use greens.

Linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times..

Design Wall Monday - Wiggly Bags

I have had a busy weekend working on several projects.

*  Wiggly Bags

I have never heard of a wiggly bag and I had to google it.  It is basically a bag that is used to hold a hickman or a "wiggly" line for a child who is undergoing cancer treatments.  A tutorial and more information can be found at Strawberry Patch Ramblings.  The bags are made with two 6 inch squares, twill tape, and velcro.  I tried to use a mix of fabrics, including those that might appeal to a teenager.  18 bags were completed and are ready to be mailed out.  I stopped making them, only because I bought up all the twill tape at my Joanns.  

 *  4 Patches 4 Hope

While I was making the bags, I thought I would stop by 4 Patches 4 Hope to see if they needed more 4 patch blocks.  Regina started this project last year to honor her mother, and now her older sister is being treated in the same facility where her mum was treated.  Please stop by and send her some encouragement.  A box full of patches is also ready to be mailed.

Linking up today to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times and to the Lets Get Acquainted Blog Hop at Plum and June.  Featured this week on the blog hop are:

July 24: Colby from Sew Quilt Explore, Fiona from Celtic Thistle
July 26: Mary from Spoolhardy Girl, Fiona from Finding Fifth