WIP Wednesday :: So many projects so little time!

I am happy to say that I have actually been sewing since the weekend.  I think unearthing some old projects gave me the motivation to get out of my sewing slump and achieve something.  I worked on two of the projects from my Projects to Finish list, but also added a few to the list too!!

The first one I worked on was the Baby Quilt from Samples.  Looking at the fabric that was left, I made another with leftover units from the sample and then decided to make 5 quick and easy bordered 9 patches.  Once I had decided that it really didn't take that long to piece them and then the quilt top.  Why did I leave it lingering for sooo long?  I think because the fabric isn't really me I wasn't grabbed by it.  But now that it is finished I see lots of possibilities for quilting.  I have no photos of this yet because it was a dark wet day when I finished it so rubbish for taking photos.

I think I am going to custom quilt this one using Pro-Stitcher.  It will be my first proper quilt to custom quilt and so will be a learning curve if nothing else.  I have wadding in my studio and I am sure I have backing I can piece for this, annoyingly it is 45" so normal width fabric is just too small, so it really shouldn't even go back on the shelf ...... watch this space!

The second quilt I worked on was my Black and Silver Jelly Roll quilt.  I pulled some black and silver fabric and thought I would add some 2" strips in the opposite direction on both ends of the quilt so that the thin red sashing wasn't on the edge of the quilt.  When I looked at it again I realised that I could use what I already had.

I unpicked 4 rows into the jelly roll portion and then simply turned it around so that the thin red strip was in the body of the quilt.  I have to say I hate redoing things - don't ask me why I would have preferred to have made piano key borders but it was actually so much quicker doing what I did and it really isn't that bad unpicking a little bit.  This is a head shift I need to make.

This quilt is going to have an E2E design quilted over it and I already know the one I am going to use.  The Pro-Stitcher library comes with loads of designs in it both designed by Handi Quilter and other designers aswell.  Saying that there are 1000s of designs out there that you can buy although I did say I wouldn't initially.  But you know how that goes right?  I saw this design being quilted out by a fellow longarmer and just loved it so I gave in!  I haven't quilted this yet and I am looking forward to it.  It is called More Square Drama from Wasatch Quilting.

So I am really happy to have two quilt tops ready to quilt .... and I am determined that they will not sit on the To Quilt Pile that I have.  A finish for Friday?  Probably not, but wouldn't it be great if they were both quilted to show you next Wednesday?!

WIP Wednesday ....

Being worked on in my studio at the moment ...  There are three projects that are on my 2016FAL list:

1.  This is for the Rainbow Mini Quilt Swap Round 2 over on IG

 

2.  The black and silver strips are for a quilt for my eldest daughter.  I bought my first ever Jelly Roll back in November and the quilt was going to be for Christmas - the flu put paid to that.  The upside is that she can be involved in the process because it's now not  a surprise.  It was lovely being in the studio with her on Monday evening and picking the fabrics.  The majority of fabrics are from the jelly roll but there were 4 strips she did not like.  We then pulled some blacks, greys and silvers from my stash and picked some.  These have now been cut so it really shouldn't be that arduous to get piecing!

 

3.  The purple strips are for a my quilting club's Secret Challenge and have now been pieced and are ready to iron and cut.

 



I have also been working on my longarm machine and trying out some freehand designs.  These are now off the frame and waiting to be neatened up and put into a sample book.

 

Only one extra block done for the Farm Girl Vintage sampler.  I am now behind in my self-imposed challenge of a block a week and need to make two this week to catch up!



 

 

And finally a piece I started at a recent workshop with Gillian Travis, which I still haven't blogged about.  I have got as far as I can at the moment until the felt batting arrives (hopefully today) but am determined to get this finished and hanging as soon as possible.  I find that projects from workshops tend to get set aside and languish on my shelves for  months, if not years!

 

 

But I had one outline left so I thought I would have a go at quilting it on my longarm.  I am not yet sure whether to quilt on my longarm or on my DSM.  I think the feel of the felt batting may make that decision for me.

 

 

And that's it!  I am linking up with Let's Bee Social and WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced today. x

 

PS If you fancy some blocks which will be made into quilts for Project Linus then please head over here to see what I am asking for!!





2016 Finish Along - first finish!

I have my first finish from my list for the 2016FAL.  I have plenty more to finish but I am always excited by the first finish!

 

I was recently sent a box, anonymously, with lots of fabric, blocks and tops in.  The sender was donating it for Project Linus and I have recently become a local co-ordinator and so was very appreciative of all the material goodness inside.

 

This cute little top was just folded up in there waiting to be turned into a quilt.

 

 

I used some yellow sheeting fabric I had on my shelf for the backing and the wadding was a hi loft polyester that I happened to just have enough of ... no idea where it came from.  Due to its loft it has made a really fluffy quilt which is very touchable!

 

 

The backing is rather unforgiving and trying to do arcs of a circle freehand is pretty hard!  However, the overall effect is fine and hopefully this will soon be bringing comfort to a child who needs it.

And as for the other things I was working on last week:

- the Harry Potter cushion cover has not been touched, other than to move it from place to place!

- the Bee blocks are all done, you can see them here if you like

- the canning jar block from the Farm Girl Vintage is now pieced.  It's not perfect but ..... if I started unpicking  all the time the quilt would take years to finish so I'm going with it!

- but the project that has been taking up most of my time is longarm quilting my first customer quilt.  It has been a very exciting, nerve wracking and frustrating experience which is almost over and then I can show you the results!

I am linking up with Lorna over at Sew Fresh Quilts and Lee at Freshly Pieced today. x
 

 

Happy Mail and WIPs ....

On Christmas Eve we went over to my Mum's for a family meal.  We got back at just gone 5pm and the was a 'Unable to Deliver; postcard from the postman.  It was international and it required a signature ......... it would be available to collect from the depot on 'the next working day'.  That was 5 days away!!  I thought I knew what it was but had to try to forget it was sat in the locked up depot.  I was there early on the 29th and it was well and truly worth the wait.  It was my prize from Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts for my entry into her Dog Gone Cute link up.  Thank you Lorna and your very generous sponsors and thank you to everyone who voted for my quilt!

 

The prize, on the quilt that won the prize, on the bed with my daughter, whose quilt it is, underneath!!!

 

 

There are 23 fat quarters in there, Grecian Water Colorstory.  The colours are delicious ........ I have never owned any Kona Cotton before so there was quite a lot of squealing going on in this household.  Now, of course, I have to find the perfect project for them .... that could take some time!

 

I finally made it back into the studio after what seemed like forever, but was probably just 10 days, and have started lots of things.  First is a long term project from the Farm Girl Vintage book.

 

This was a little present to myself and I have decided to make all 48 blocks.  I have set myself the challenge of one block a week, which should be easily achievable without becoming toooo addictive.  So far I have made 3 blocks, so I am a little ahead of schedule!

 

 

With the fourth all cut and ready to be sewn!

 

My niece is a huge Harry Potter fan and it is her birthday at the end of the month so I have started a cushion cover for her.  I can't get a decent photo at the moment which shows the true colours.  I am hoping that shoe will love it.

And last, but not least, I have started on my Bee commitments for the month.  It's been a few years since I have joined in with any Bees and I am so looking forward to getting to know and sew for the member in the Neighbourhood Block Swap, Stash Bee and The Bee Hive.  This block is the January block for The Bee Hive.  I really enjoyed making this last night and have the second block cut out to make today.  Oh, is that another one also cut out?  I have, in my wisdom, decided to make an extra block of each Bee block I make this year.  I thought it would be a great idea to have a quilt top to put together easily at the end of the year and it would make a lovely keepsake of the Bees.  Well that's what I am saying in January I'll have to see if I keep up all this good work!

 

So back into it now after the 'flu, Christmas and the New Year and I am really looking forward to the year ahead, both in terms of sewing and family.  Lots of lovely things planned and adventures to have.  Linking up today to Let's Bee Social and WIP Wednesday. x

 

 

WIP Wednesday - and there's lots of it!

So there has been some progress since last week ...... The pockets I had cut from the Advent Calendar panel have now all been attached and it is pinned to my design awaiting quilting.  I have a couple of ideas rumbling around my head for this .....

 

The tissue box blocks (as I call them!) have now been pieced together and are also waiting for quilting ....

 

 

And my other WIP from last week, which was my extra four blocks from my Schnitzel & Boo Mini Swap, are now finished and on my wall.  I think I will be linking that up to Finish It Up Friday!

 

Being loaded up on my frame this morning is yet another Project Linus top.  This was hiding in the bottom of the bag so it was kind of a surprise to find it!

 

And three others already to go with backing and batting cut to size ....

 

 

There is another Advent Calendar on my ironing board.  My youngest daughter assured me she was going to make this herself but with 30 November fast approaching she politely asked me yesterday whether I could make it for her!

 

And then there is something completely new and completely different ....

 

 

Old clothes + dye + curtain fabric = ????

 

Can you guess what it might be? 

All will be revealed over the next couple of weeks - the deadline for this project is 04 December!! x

 

Going to be linking up to Sew Fresh Quilts and Freshly Pieced today.

 

WIP Wednesday

For those who remember I participated in the Dog Gone Cute Blog Hop over at Sew Fresh Designs, that ran through October.  The quilt along, which ran through September, generated lots of interest.  Now all those people who have made something from the lovely Lorna's pattern have a chance to win!!  I have entered into the linky party over here and VOTING's now open!! 

 

Of course, I would love for you to vote for me .... but why don't you head over and see some of the amazing creations and decide for yourself who to vote for!!!  Hint:  My entry is No 30 .....

 

As a visual reminder, this was the quilt I made from the pattern, Cats and Dogs, for my daughter's birthday.

I had a very productive weekend in the studio finishing of two Project Linus quilts, here, here and here, and also working on a couple of WIPs.

At the beginning of November I sent off my package for the Schnitzel & Boo mini swap.  It arrived safely with its new owner yesterday  and, thankfully, she loves it!!  I have made some ATC cards to swap in the past and once I have sent them off I wish I had one for myself.  This time I made some extra squares as I was going along and now just have to finish it off.  It's not going to be an exact copy but more a reminder of the swap.

 

 

Then I finished piecing the top that I started at a Project Linus sewing day in August. 

All the blocks made on the sewing day

On my design wall waiting to be pieced together

And finally onto Christmas things ...... I have made a start on one of the Advent Calendars.  OK so it's a small start having just cut and ironed the pocket seams but it's a start nonetheless!!

I bought this when my youngest was 1, she recently turned 9 - whoops!!  It is an item on my Finish Along Q4 that I will be really pleased to tick off.

Linking up to Let's Bee Social and WIP Wednesday today. x

 

Not much sewing ....

It feels like a long time since I have actually been in my studio and sewing.  I have spent some time this last week sorting, tidying and cleaning which is great and makes for easier and quicker sewing but it's not much fun!

 

I finished the last house on my Italian Houses which I started last week.  I then had to put it back on the shelf because none of the blue fabric I had worked as the sky .....

 

Cue a Quilt Show at the weekend - Malvern Autumn Quilt Show to be precise.  Whilst I have lots of lovely images of that but they will have to wait for another day.  But the roll of handyed fabric I bought from Farne Designs did not disappoint.  The softest blue at the top works perfectly as the sky!

 

Some crochet has been done .... these whilst watching the second semi final of the RWC.  Of course watching the first one, All Blacks v South Africa, was not conducive to crochet!!  These require one more blue round and then they will be made into badges for the street collectors for Gaga UK.  I have been helping with The Remembering Tree and thought it would be fun for the street collectors to be wearing a rather bright crochet motif!  If anyone out there who knits or crochets would like to donate a square or two there is still time.  All the information can be found over here.  If you happen to be Home Educators then please get in touch with me and you can send squares to me because we are going to be yarn bombing our own HE community tree!  My square total now stands at 28!

 

This one has come all the way from ....... Canada!  Isn't it amazing?

 

This weekend saw the end of British Summer Time with the clocks going back an hour.  An extra hour in bed?  No, don't be silly!  But it did mean that I got all the dinner prepared before 8.30 in the morning .... all under the watchful eye of Smiggle.

Garlic and lentil soup which felt suitably autumnal and body nourishing ......

 

and apple crumble - always a failsafe recipe in this house.

 

And finally I made it down to my studio last night.  Whoops I got side tracked and this is what happened .......

 

 

My eldest daughter would like a black and white quilt.  I had very little in my stash so some fat 1/4s were purchased at aforementioned show and together with a few reds (I'm not sure I want to make just a B&W quilt) they are looking rather good together.  She requested a cat quilt ..... still not sure on that either.  The Dog Gone Cute quilt I made for my other daughter was gratefully and enthusiastically received for her birthday and it's my turn to shout out it on the Blog Hop tomorrow.  Thank goodness my day is here I've been almost ready to burst with wanting to show the finished quilt!!

 

Here's a sneak peek ........

 

 

Be sure to pop back tomorrow to see the finished quilt.  It's worth taking a little time and visiting some of the other participants because there are some lovely finished projects - and all so different.

 

Linking up today to Let's Bee Social over at Sew Fresh Designs and WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.