Finish it Friday - Quilts For Boston

This week I lamented that I had so many WIPs and I needed to focus on getting them completed.  Well, everything came to a stop when I read that the Boston Modern Quilt Guild is requesting blocks to assemble into Quilts For Boston.

There are a few requirements and the details are listed on their blog.  Basically, its a block made with the colors white, yellow, blue or gray in any combination.  There is also a Flickr group set up to share your blocks.

 

I found that I don't have much yellow in my stash, but I did open a fat quarter bundle that had all shades of blue.  I have finished several improv blocks and I think the next block will be a wonky house.

 

There is a quick turn around time and all blocks must be received by May 24th.  I hope to see your blocks in the Flickr group soon!

 

 

 

 

Linking today to Finish it Friday and to Whoop Whoop Friday.

Finish it Friday - Craftsy Projects

Last weekend there was a great sale at Craftsy of classes up to 75% off.  I ordered "Inspired Modern Quilts with Elizabeth Hartman" (Oh, Fransson) and I think this may be my favorite class so far.  I know that I will make all of the projects.

 

I just finished the first quilt top last night, "Tiles".  I really liked making this.  I am a quilter that pins everything, but this quilt went together with no pins.  I can see myself using this pattern again.

I have been thinking about tackling the Marcelle Medallion quilt that many are making.  I live in the 4th largest city in the U.S. and last weekend I could not find a copy of Liberty Love, not in 2 quilt shops, several fabric and craft stores, or a big book store. 

 

 

 

But I did find the spring issue of Love Quilting & Patchwork which features the Marcelle Medallion quilt on the cover on sale at Joanns.  I haven't finished reading this magazine, but so far I love it - lots of eye candy.  There is even a feature on Tula Pink (one of my current favorites).

Linking today to Finish It Friday and to Whoop Whoop Fridays.

WIP - First FMQ Project

I had been staring at my new Janome all weekend, kinda feeling overwhelmed.  I finally decided that it was time to just do it.  I pulled out my notes from my Free Motion Quilting class with Elizabeth Hartman of Oh Franson and pulled out my class sample to practice a bit. 

 

Then I found this vine mini that I recently made for a Craftsy class.  Making pebbles has been my favorite design and I thought it appropriate to use on this mini.

 

 

 

This is my first project doing free motion quilting and I think that I did rather well.  I worked on trying to vary the size of the pebbles.  I am surprised at the texture and how the quilting made the applique pop out.

 

I have a stack of tops that need quilting, but I am not sure if I should practice small or just jump in and go large.  I am the type of person to just jump in, so I have a feeling that I will be working on those tops next.

 

Linking today to WIP Wednesday.

 

WIP Wedensday - Tula Hexies

Since I got back from Quiltcon, I have kinda been overloaded with new ideas and techniques I want to try out. It seems that every night I have tried something new, but wasn't getting anywhere. 

I wanted to practice some of my new free motion quilting (FMQ) skills learned in class, but my old machine just doesn't like FMQ.  In fact, it down right hates it.  Hates it so much that it kept freezing up.  I took the machine apart and cleaned it, but nothing worked.  More freezing up, then small chunks of metal started falling out when I sewed.  Finally, last night I just couldn't get it working (and I swore I heard "Taps" playing in the background).

So, being machine-less means I have time to work on my Tula Pink hexies.  I have been participating in a charm swap on Flickr hosted by Mama Spark.  These are just a few of the charms I have received and I cant wait to get the next round hopefully this week.  I started cutting out hexies with this new ruler and it works well.

And, I do have some huge news!  Since my machine was acting up for several weeks, I had some time to do research and test several machines.  I was able to purchase a Janome MC8900 just like the one used at Quiltcon from the show sponsor.  It should be here in several days and I CAN NOT wait.  My old Singer sewing machine was bought in 1991 from Walmart when I was a kid.  Nothing fancy, it only did a straight stitch, a real work horse.

I have a feeling there is going to be a learning curve!

Linking up today with WIP Wednesday at Freshley Pieced.
 

 

Work In Progress Wednesday - Webs

Getting closer to a finished top with my spider webs.

Also, getting excited about going to Quiltcon.  The hotel has been booked, so now I am working on gathering supplies for my classes.  I have been quilting for many years, but this will be the first time that I have ever taken a quilt class.

 

Check out everyone's projects at the WIP Wednesday link up.

Work in Progress - Giveaways

I have been very lucky lately to have won 2 giveaways - which both arrived on the same day!

 

The first is the Charming Travelers traveling charm swap.  You can play along and win this travelling stash by leaving a comment on my December 11th post.  I have been having a good time going through my stash and pulling charms to add.

 

 Here is a sample of charms in the stash.

The second giveaway was from Random Thoughts Do Or Di as part of the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway.  Check this blog out - very pretty makes and inspiration.

 

I received the generous package of 11 fat quarters - 8 pieces of Amy Butler Cameo and 3 coordinating solids.

 

 



I couldn't resist and started cutting into this bundle.

 

 

I know.  Its just what I need - another project during Christmas.  But, I couldn't resist.

 

Linking up today to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Work In Progress - New Boxed Pouch

Last night, I decided to start on another pouch using this Boxed Pouch tutorial.  I cut into a roll of Field Study and decided to make the pouch bigger than the tutorial.  I know its only my second pouch, but I think I will take a chance and start playing with the dimensions.

I am hoping to make a few of these for Christmas gifts.

Linking up today to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

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.

 

 

Work in Progress - Jazz Hands

 

Over the weekend, I made three more Jazz Hands blocks.  I am having a good time making these.  It may be the hand sewing or just that this block is so portable.  This makes 6 blocks completed, so I have got 6 more blocks to go.

 

Linking to Work in Progress Wednesdays at Freshly Pieced.

Work in Progress - More jazz Hands

Just finished my 3rd Jazz Hands block from Material Obsession2.  This one was pieced totally by hand while I watched TV.  My first 2 blocks were machine pieced using Y-seams.  So far, it takes me one night to complete an entire block.  Three blocks down, nine more blocks to go.

Linking to Work in Progress Wednesdays at Freshly Pieced.

Blogtoberfest - Day 24

Work in Progress Wednesday - Feathers

 

I am still working on creating feathers and had planned to use a Kona tan background.  But I have been thinking about possibly using a print background.  After pulling a few prints from my stash, I now can't decide.  For now, I guess, I'll just keep making the feathers.

 

Linking to Work in Progress Wednesdays at Freshly Pieced.  

Blogtoberfest - Day 17

Work In Progress - Feathers

Making more feathers from the pattern created by Anna Maria Horner.  These are larger than I thought at about 17 inches long.  I really don't know what my final project will be yet.  So, I will just keep making more feathers.

Linking to Work in Progress Wednesdays at Freshly Pieced.

Blogtoberfest - Day 10

Work In Progress - Proverbial Quilt

This project started out on fire, but then I had to wait for more fabric and I moved on to another project.  Now, I am working on the final layout.  I have sewed all of the words together.  Next, will be adding the contrasting strips between the word rows.

 

When we are flat on our backs,

The only way to look is up.

Find release from your cares,

Tomorrow is another day.

 

Linking to Work in Progress Wednesdays at Freshly Pieced.

Blogtoberfest - Day 3

WIP - Proverbial Quilt Progress

I have completed putting the words together for the Proverbial Quilt Along happening over at Poppyprint.  The next step is to put the spaces in between the words.  Then, I need to determine how I am going to finish the layout.  The original pattern by Denyse Schmidt shows a contrasting color between the rows of words.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday today at Freshly Pieced.

WIP - Proverbial Quit Progress

Woo Hoo! I finished paper piecing all of the letters on my quilt for the Proverbial Quilt along.  Now, its time for me to put the words together.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday today at Freshly Pieced.

WIP Wednesday - August Color Palette Challenge

OMG!!!  I can't believe the amount of projects that I am juggling right now.......its all good though.

I thought I would get started on my project for this month's Color Palette Challenge at Patchwork Times.  I am glad that I have been able to keep up with all the color challenges for the months of 2012 so far. 

This is an in-progress pic taken with my iPad of my August mini (8x8).  When I saw this month's color palette, I thought that the colors were right for a civil war piece.  I wasn't to keen on making a civil war project since I have been moving more modern, but thought it would be OK for August.  I went to pull colors from my stash, but I didn't get very far.  This circle fabric was sitting on the top of a box and it matched up so perfectly that I knew I had to work with it.

I used some solid color scraps for the circles and thought it looked bland, so I started working with the beads.  So far, so good.  I should be finished with this soon.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday today at Freshly Pieced

Work in Progress - July Color Palette Challenge

Linking up to Work In Progress Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Just a snippet of my project for the July Color Palette Challenge at  Patchwork Times.   Are you participating in the challenge?  Here is this month's color palette chosen by Vicki Welsh at Field Trips in Fiber.

Work In Progress Wednesday - Mod Mood (Still)

Linking up today with Work in Progress Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

I am still working on the hand quilting of the Mod Mood quilt and am about 90% complete.  I am beginning to lose my focus somewhat on this quilt.  Don't get me wrong, I am totally lovin it, but there are so many other projects floating around in my mind right now.

I think it started when I ran some errands last Saturday.  I dropped books off at the library and I stopped to check out one of the books on the "New Books" shelf - "Fresh Quilting" by Malka Dubrawsky.  I later stopped by my LQS and they had just received "a stitch in color" by Malka Dubrawsky for Moda.  So I picked up a couple charm packs (since they did not have a fat quarter bundle).  I really do love the bright colors and simple lines of this fabric line.

I started playing around with quilt ideas and did a web search and found that Malka would be speaking at the Tri-county Quilt Guild on Tuesday.  Yesterday, I took off work a bit early, picked up my mom, and we went to the guild's meeting. 

The presentation was about the fabric dying process using stamps and wax resist.  It was quite interesting and my mom and I both enjoyed it.  I think I will be going back to the LQS this weekend to buy my mom some of this fabric for her projects.

Happy Leap Day! - February 29th

Not only is today a Leap Day, it is also the end of the month of February and a Wednesday.  So, I am linking up to WIP Wednesday  at Freshly Pieced and the 2012 New FO Challenge at Cat Patches.

February Projects --

(1).  This month, I started a Mod Mood quilt found on the 2010 Mod Mood Quilt Along  and am currently working on the decorative hand quilting.

(2).  I completed an AAQI mini for the February Color Palette Challenge.  Linky party is March 1st.

(3).  I completed a mini to enter in the Modern Mini Challenge  at Ellison Lane Quilts.  I couldn't pass up a chance to win all those lovely goodies.  Linky Party is March 5th.

(4).  I also played along with the Fugly Fabric Party at Charm About You. 

I think that I have managed my 2012 goals quite well so far of getting more involved with challenges, blogging more, and learning new techniques.  I have worked on minis, curves, and branched out to more modern quilts.  So far, so good.

Work in Progress Wednesday - Mod Mood Quilt

Linking up today with Work in Progress Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. 

This past week, I worked on other projects with deadlines but now I am back to work on the Mod Mood quilt.  I have finished a few rings on the quilt and am running out of scraps.  So I think that it is time for me to wrap up the design part and come to a finish.  I think that I will only need a few more arcs and should have the top completed soon.