Counting down... - Day 20

In 14 more days, I will officially be on vacation! I'm so excited that I can just burst.

I know this might sound odd but I'm using a big part of my vacation to work at home on projects that I never have time to complete. This is work that I actually want to do because I am getting rid of some furniture, sorting out my sewing room, and making a waist level cutting station and a proper design wall. No more bending over on this low table for hours of cutting need to make some quilts. I've been using the dining room table as a "design wall" for more years than I can stand at this point. It's something I've dreamed of doing for many years but now am taking the plunge.

Sunday's Sew Time

It took a lot longer that I thought it would but I finished my quilting on the table runner I mentioned in yesterday's post. I really love how it turned out and might just make another one for myself to keep.

(Echo quilting on this beast.)

Now, on to binding it!

Continuous Binding - My Nemesis

I spent some time today working on binding. I still haven't mastered the art of continuous binding so I wanted to practice before finishing up some bigger projects on the horizon. I made some little Halloween pot holders that would be the perfect size to work on this skill that seems to elude me. (I recently lost one of my favorite pot holders to a stove incident. I can laugh about it now but it really hurt.)

The rat's nest I kept getting when the fabric
got stuck in the feed dogs.

I kept getting it twisted up once I sewed it down.

After sewing and unpicking the same seam 3 times, I finally turned to Youtube for some sanity and found the most wonderful video. I've bookmarked this gem for future reference. The directions here were so amazing and simple. (I was almost to the desperate stage of just chucking the pot holders and ordering one of those fancy binding tools I've seen online for ten bucks.)

 I ended up with two pot holders and a few hours of frustrating attempts to make the binding line up on the diagonal and lay flat the right way so I can sew it down. I do feel that I am getting the hang of it and am not so scared to do it again next weekend.

 Hope your weekend was super fun and productive. Wishing you a great week ahead!

Getting It Done! - Day 19

Today, I decided to finish up some projects that are needed later this year. It felt so good to check things off of my "to do list".

Wedding Gift

I'm almost done quilting this table runner I started a while back for some dear friends in NC. They are getting married in November and this table runner will be part of our gift. I'll make the bias binding to attach it next weekend so I can have it in the mail soon.

A Dresden ruler was used to make this fun, curvy design.

Halloween Fun

I completed the front plate of my nephew's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costume for Halloween. Since he already has a mask and turtle shell backpack, he just needed a few pieces to make his outfit complete. Here's the front that will be attached to a tank top to resemble the underside of the shell:

I just have to make the "leather" strap that holds his bo staff.

Anniversary Gift

I finally finished the Tetris quilt top for my friends' 10 year wedding anniversary. (I'll take a picture of the completed quilt when it's all done.)
My favorite part is the side where I made little mini Tetris pieces to resemble the upcoming pieces when you're playing. I embroidered the high score with their wedding anniversary date.

Since it's queen sized, I think I need a date with a long arm machine to have this thing quilted by March. I would love to have it done by Christmas but I don't want to rush it and ruin all the work that was put into it.

I look forward to a productive Sunday.

Did you get to finish something fun today?

Simply done - Day 5

Today, I was able to spend some time with my family for a joint birthday for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. We all shared some tapas and good conversation. I was even schooled in air hockey by my 5-year old nephew. (Final score: Nephew 5 games, Me 2 games)

I made them a few items including a table runner and some trivets. I forgot to take a picture of the table runner. (It was purple with bonsai trees and running water from Japan. They are both into Japanese art so I knew it would work well with their decor.)

I also made some trivets using a few of the Halloween BOM from Wed's lottery win. (These were more on the sweet side of Halloween. I am using the scary ones for the bigger quilt I started for my godson.)

Front of Trivets

Back of Trivets

 I used Isul-brite with extra cotton batting and quilted them in a square spiral. So easy and simple to create. (I've been making her pot holders and trivets for each holiday since they lost many of them last year.)

I love when my weekends are simple again. Fall is in the air.

Hope you had a great Saturday!

Is it Fall yet?

Summer is the craziest time of year for me. My job keeps me pretty busy from April until September. So, of course, my blog gets put on the later pile of things to do.
I have made time to quilt and sew over the last few months even if I haven't stopped to share them with you. Some projects have kept me sane while I tackle the chaos that is my life once a year.

Picture Time!

Block of the Month (BOM)

Pippi Longstocking Block with an Afro.
I wanted my OMQG August BOM to look like me.

*Somehow I don't have a picture of my July BOM for the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild (OMQG) using the Snail Trail design. I guess in the excitement of choosing the BOM I forgot. It was made using red, black, gray and white colors. I'll be making more of those blocks so you'll see it again soon. (It's on the main website from the June monthly meeting in case you're curious.)

The Geo Swirl
Of course I made a rainbow swirl!

Chev N' Hex
Sewn by hand...never again I say!

Diamond Carat
Sewn by machine using clear thread...so much faster!

The Switz Block

Half way done with the Skillbuilder BOM

Half way done with the Skillbuilder BOM

I'm really in love with these rainbow BOM and can't wait to see how they will come together when they are done later this year. I enjoyed paper piecing more than I thought I would and will definitely take on more of those projects now.

In addition to my BOM for Skillbuilder and OMQG, I've also finished many projects for the annual Wayne County Fair. My "In-Laws" live in PA and each year I share my artwork in their local county fair. This started my passion in 2004 for creating unusual quilts, canvas work, and various household items to enter even if I don't win. I've made "modern" quilts before it was considered an actual art form in quilting and usually came in second or honorable mention next to traditional designs. I don't fault them for not getting my work. I think it was just too far out there for them to see what I wanted to present. If I knew there was going to be Modern quilt movement, I would have found "my people" years ago.

August Fair Items

Quilted Purse-Modified pattern from Modern Patchwork Magazine (2012). I added a strap and finished it with black borders. I also quilted the black and gray portion of the chevron for some texture. The straps can be tucked inside to make a fun clutch.

 

 

    

Baby Bunting-I created my own pattern with a huge poster board and used hexagons to create a fun little wrap for a little one. I sewed down one flap to keep the feet tucked inside and warm. At the suggestion of my sister-in-law, I didn't add any closure for the outside flap so there are no potential choking hazards or scratchy Velcro tabs. I didn't have actual baby or doll to try it out but it's soft and cozy to the touch.

Baby Blanket - Finished baby gingham stripped quilt. I used the left over squares to make a border and added a simple blue gingham backing fabric.

Christmas Gift Bag - Made a simple quilted bag with drawstrings for a holiday gift. I used a simple Santa fabric with green and red borders. (I didn't take any clear pictures of the front but I love the stripes on the back the most anyway. It makes me think of candy canes!)

Finished Home Items

Table Runner -Made from great Shoo Fly block Lotto win. Thanks to Michelle from OMQG I mastered the art of continuous binding and love the result.

French Press Cover- I used left over strips to make a fun rainbow cover for our beloved French Press. It's lined with Insul-bright to keep fantastic coffee warm. It's fastened with Velcro and (thanks to my girlfriend) found that it looks great in reverse too with the fun circle fabric I used as backing.

                                                     

Dog Blanket - My remaining dog blanket for the OMQG charity project. This was the last of my Michael Miller Noah's Ark scraps from my nephew's baby quilt. (He's now 5 and it was time to use them up!)

There is more to come later this month. I can't wait to share notes and photos from my class with Jacquie Gering!

Thanks for stopping by and reading all the way down to the end of this crazy-long post.

Rainbow Fun Times

I had great weekend mostly away from work. The rainy weather allowed me to sleep in a bit and get some sewing done. I worked on two rainbow pieces that I started a while back. I'm really excited about them.

Rainbow Spiral

 I completed all of the quilting on this hexagon that "spiraled out of control". I machine quilted around the design and increased the distance in an attempt to imitate a water ripple. Now, I need to figure out the binding. (That's my least favorite part of making quilts. I need to find a binding master/mentor that can help make the process easier.)

Rainbow Wave

Using a Dresden ruler, I cut these pieces a while back but put them away when they became frustrating. I kept trying to make an actual circle using rainbow colors but could not make it work. (Six does not go into 20 very well, even with matching rainbow polka dot dividers.) I started playing with a half circle and it naturally formed into this wave. I cut circles in half using white fabric to cover the edges. I stitched the edges down and several pin pricks later I have the top done. It measures  36" by 18" so far and could be my next table runner. I have no clue how to quilt it yet and am open to suggestions.

Hope you have a healthy, happy week.

February So Far

So far this month I've completed many projects but have not blogged about them. I really want to get better about posting as I go, but the habit has eluded me. "There is always tomorrow" I tell myself and then I get bogged down by the minutiae of work and my personal life. I am at least getting better about remembering to snap a picture of my projects when I'm done! (I am thinking about a new camera instead of my cell phone. The colors never really match when I see them online. I want to do these projects some justice.)

Here's a summary of the fun things I've been able to make:

Rainbow Table Runner

My first attempt at diamonds.

I learned the hard way about piecing them correctly.
(They are not supposed to be  sewn evenly.)

A happy accident becomes a trapezoid table runner.

          Pillowcase

I also completed a pillowcase for a niece's birthday in February. I haven't sent it to her yet and I can't wait to see if she likes it. I made it double-sided with her favorite pink and green colors and a matching row of flowers. 

Paper bag template used to make the heart center.
Fat quarters and half a yard of
green and pink to make borders and the background.

I love the opposing color blocks I created.
(I should have created a pattern for others to follow.)

          Skillbuilder Block of the Month Work

 I am finally making a quilt for myself thanks to the BOM from Pile o' Fabric. After 12 years of quilting, this is the first project I plan to keep. (I can't believe that I've never made anything for my own bed. I was so in love with the Kona colors I found on sale that I couldn't resist getting a rainbow.) It took forever to pick the fabrics I wanted but I am so pleased with the results. I love the easy to follow directions that are filled with tips and tricks to make any skill level quilter feel accomplished at the end of each piece. I know that future projects are going to be so much nicer as a result of these tutorials.

Rainbow Sound Wave is my favorite so far.
 It contains almost all of the colors I plan to use in the quilt.

January's BOM
Sound wave and Magnum

February's BOM
The Mood and Em Dash

I am still deciding on the quilt as you go method for these blocks. I did purchase the backing and borders just in case. The table I ordered to help become proficient in free-motion quilting is on it's way. I hope it will help settle the matter once and for all. (If it's easy to do on a practice block then it's going to happen!)

              OMQG BOM for March

My recent sew day with my guild has really inspired me to push myself to create more daily. I've always loved the soothing aspect of sewing but have never been able to share that with others in a group. It was a lot of fun to meet with these crafty women who were all doing their own thing. I was always a modern quilt lover and didn't know it had a following or even a name for that matter. I wish I found this group years earlier!

The block for this month is so pretty. The Garden Fence design is one I see appearing in future quilts due to the ease of assembly and simple yet elegant design. I can see so many colors working with this pattern. (I was not very fond of yellow until now. I made 2 in the hopes of winning these lovely yellow and gray beauties back.)

Garden Fence for March's BOM (OMQG)

Well, there you have it. February is almost over and I am having "sew" much fun. I look forward to posting more soon.