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 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 - 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

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 - 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

Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop

Hello & welcome.  Today is my stop on the Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop, so come on in and thanks for stopping by. 

My name is Mina and I'm 30 something living in Houston, Texas with my 2 quilt dogs.  I started quilting when I got my first job after college as a creative outlet and to combat insomnia.  I work long hours as an auditor/financial analyst/computer geek, then quilt at night (and sometimes into the wee hours of the morning when I get into a groove).  I started my blog 1 year ago to document my projects and to join in all the bloggy fun!

I am self taught and tend to just jump right into a project.  Hey, I'm a great starter!  When I see something, I wonder how was it made or think "I can do that".  Once I was watching an athlete pole vaulting at the summer Olympics and I said "I can do that".  In slow motion, my mom and I quietly looked at each other then bust out laughing.  OK, I seriously CANNOT do that! LOL!

I realized during the Fall 2011 Blogger's Quilt Festival at Amy's Creative Side that I really did not have any quilts to show since I gave them away and did not make any for me.  I declared that 2012 would be my year to try all new techniques and new ideas.  My quilting has taken me in a new direction now and that's OK.  I can't wait to see what else I can do!

TIPS

My favorite quilting tip would be to not stay in your little box - with your quilting or with your life!  What I mean is, I used to think of myself as a hand quilter that worked with scraps to make quilts that I gave away.  The more that I read quilt blogs, I discovered that there is so much more to quilting and I wanted to try it!

My best blogging tip would be to accept that you are you.  I hope that these 2 bits of advice don't seem contradictory.  When I first started blogging, I was very discouraged because I could not get my blog and the photos to look so polished like other blogs.  Its been said before, but I'll echo that this is supposed to be fun.  If it isn't fun and you find yourself over-extended, step back for a bit and re-group.  Just know your workload limits so you can stay sane and keep it fun.

So here I am jumping into things with both feet, full steam ahead.  I had written a mini-tute, but now I think I want to show you the design process of my current project.

Earlier this year, many bloggers were writing about choosing a word for the year.  This really got me thinking because I knew that I needed to change since my quilting seemed stale.  With 2012 being my year to try all new things, I decided that my word for the year is STRETCH as in stretching my skills and my limits.

I have been working on several minis featuring my dogs.  Since one of the blog hop themes is color, I wondered what else I could make utilizing this mini quilt style of a focal piece within a patchwork frame.

 

Wow, this is a long post today.  Thank you for stopping by and please be sure to visit Suzanne at Suzclaas for her Let's Get Acquainted post today and her fun tutorial.  Also, check out last Tuesday's posts at Sewlandia and Mama Love Quilts.  The next blog stops will be Tuesday at Sotak Handmade and Plum and June.

A big, big thanks to Beth at Plum and June for all her hard work organizing this blog hop.

Now I am off to explore more new things, such as, conquering my fear of triangles, taking better photos of my work, and learning to machine quilt.  Any tips or suggestions regarding these would be very much appreciated!