Works in Progress a.k.a Procrastination Sunday

I've been sitting in my sewing room for about 20 minutes watching Youtube videos and reading Facebook/Flickr comments because I'm procrastinating.

I have several projects that are in various states of "almost" done. I have quilts that have most pieces cut and need to be sewn. Some are projects that are mostly pieced but not sewn into strips/tops while others are done but not quilted. I even have one quilted piece that just needs binding. Don't even get me started on the fabric I've purchased with the intention of making specific projects that have not even been cut yet.
So now I am writing this post because I still don't know where to begin today...I have to work later tonight so I want to get something creative done.


Here's my first of two blocks for my next Skill Builder BOM. I basted all of the pieces last night as I finished up the last season of a TV show on Netflix. I will need to work on the diamond carat another day.

Chev N Hex basted, not pieced

 I saw a great tutorial on GEN X block library that I've always wanted to complete. I cut these pieces out a while back. They keep getting stacked and shuffled around on my sewing table but have yet to make it close enough to my machine to start sewing. I should finish up at some point this century.

Spiral Hexagon cut pieces

 I'm teaching a mini-lesson for the next OMQG meeting on hexagons. I shouldn't come to the meeting unprepared. I did cut them out so that's a start!

Hexagons for Wed. Tutorial

 I won these Shoo fly blocks last month and have most of my ideas on paper in my sketchbook. I  just need a few more sashes sewn to complete the tops I have planned.

Shoo Fly blocks from OMQG

 I scrappy baby quilt top for my good friend from work. They decided to let the sex of baby #4 be a surprise, so I thought, "You can't go wrong with every color in gingham". (Their son was born last Saturday so I need to get this done before he starts preschool!) I am hoping to complete this on a long arm and have some fun quilting it.

Finished baby top, needs quilting

 A finished blanket for my daughter-dog, Evie, who loves to sleep. A lot. She's 14 and mostly blind so I wanted to make something soft and light for her upcoming birthday in May. I love watching her circle and scrunch up her bedding to find just the right spot to relax.

Finished quilting, needs binding

 Here's a kinda sorta done Drunkard's path set of blocks that I am making, too. All pieces that I need are finally cut but I haven't finished sewing all of the pieces together yet. Then, I need to sew all of these rainbow/black blocks together for this crazy design idea I have in mind.

Halfway through Drunkard's Path Project

I often feel like the man in the Twilight Zone episode "Time Enough At Last".
(Spoiler Alert: In case you somehow missed this awesome episode!) All he wants to do is read in peace but there is no time in his busy life. He's the last one standing after the destruction of the world and he's kind of happy to get to the library after wandering around a bit. He's finally settling in with a stack of books. He walks outside, stumbles and then breaks his glasses. ~In my case, I would break my sewing machine or there is no more electricity when I finally have enough time to sit down and sew all day. Oh, the horror!

Hope you had a great and productive weekend.

March BOM and Robots

I finally finished both blocks for the March Skillbuilder BOM. The woven star and chevron blocks look so intricate but are quite simple to put together. The scant quarter inch seams were a must and resulted in perfect 12.5 in blocks. I am more in love with my soon-to-be rainbow quilt.

Woven Star and Woven Chevron

My rainbow star using the Woven Star pattern

 I can't wait to put them all together in the fall.

___________________________

April is the month of many birthdays including my mom, dad, and nephew. Mom's gift has already been sent and I have a special gift in mind for a great little guy.

He loves robots and this has his favorite colors.

The fabric I ordered arrived in the mail yesterday and I can't wait to get started on his gift.

QST and HST Make Me Happy!

I am such a huge fan of rainbows. The BOM quilt I'm making for myself this year is filled with solids in the various shades of colors I adore. I'm still on the fence about the quilt as you go method so I haven't put any backing on them yet. The tutorials seem easy enough, I think my reluctance lies with deciding on the thread colors I want featured.  I have a rainbow box of Gutermann in shades that match every solid I've selected but I want to narrow it down to 2-3 for the final project. I guess I can still decide later.

This month, both BOMs that I'm doing involved triangles by some strange coincidence. Making half-square and quarter-square triangles are nothing new but the designs are endless. 

Here's my newest Skillbuilder BOM that was so simple to put together. (The original design uses 3 colors and creates a woven pattern. I made a rainbow sketch with the template and decided to go this route instead.)

I am in love with this scrappy chevron for the OMQG's May BOM! I see many quilts with these half triangles in my near future. I found quadrilaterals of all shapes and sizes in my scrap bin to use for this one.

I think I will find more in all 6 colors and try my hand at a rainbow chevron. It could be a lovely baby quilt that's also unisex.

We have a winner!

Yesterday, I won the blocks sweepstakes at my OMQG meeting.
I was so excited by the potential for awesome with the colorful Shoo Fly blocks everyone shared. I created a few sketches in my notebook while I was at the Dr's office after the meeting. JG gave me a few great ideas when I came home, too. I cannot wait to start sewing them together!

Stay tuned for more info.

Happy Easter! (Eggs and Rainbows for All)

Eggs, eggs, and more eggs!

What a wonderful weekend! It was filled with family, egg dyeing, chocolate croissants, scrambled eggs, bacon, and eggs containing a wild treasure trove/scavenger hunt. The Council of Egg Hiders decided it was to be an adventure and so it was.

(Don't even get me started on the deviled eggs that ensued today. Yum!)

I made a quilted place mat for our nephew for which I received many kisses and thank you's.

Rainbows!

The Easter Bunny dropped off a great gift on Saturday for me! He knows how much I love a pretty rainbow of cotton fabrics.

So many great colors, I don't even know what to make yet. Any suggestions?

Making Progress in March

This month has been a whirlwind of fun. Despite a busy season at work, I'm still making time to sew and quilt. I even completed my long arm certification at my local quilt shop so I can make larger projects this year. I haven't had a chance to rent time on it yet, but I can't wait to expand on designs in my sketch book. (My guild president offered to show me how to use her L.A. machine, too, which makes me eager to get crafty!)

I completed a few mini quilts for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative challenge and a several pillowcases for the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge. I can't wait to create more this year for the different challenges our guild plans to sponsor.
I also spent a lot of time enjoying my sewing table and practicing free-motion techniques before I put together my QAYG project.

Time for a photo summary...

"I Wish I Made That" Winner at OMQG

Gifts from QuiltCon. I am so there in 2015!

Bargello Blues for AAQI

Missing You for AAQI

For Mom (AAQI)

BOM for April OMQG

My Pillowcases

More of my pillowcases

I love our guild's creativity and generosity.

Leftover gingham strips for top of baby quilt.

Drunkard's Path blocks
(Pattern TBD)

... and that's all for now. I look forward to making more to share.

Madrona Road Challenge

The Madrona Road Fabric Challenge was interesting. I do love a challenge and had a design that morphed a few times before I settled on a sketch that I hoped would work.

I started by fussy cutting blocks from the various fabrics that I wanted to frame. (My favorite is the journal design which says "Sweet Dreams" with a heart in the center.) Here's a quick look at how I made them:

White squares marked to cut in half.

Pinned squares to corners.

Squares sewn on the diagonal line.

Measured 1/4 in and cut off  the excess.
Then press open.

Add borders to all sides.

After completing the "frames" for each block I used the remaining fabric to create a braid that I thought would show how the fabrics complimented each other. Finally, I used black to unify the squares. The effect I wanted was a gallery wall of colors and fun. I think it worked well.

Madrona Road Top finished!

The final size is 45 by 46 which I think will be a perfect lap quilt once the border has been added. I have not finished the backing because I'm torn between using all white or all black. However, I do plan to use the chevron fabric on the back to mimic the braid on the front. I also haven't figured out how to to quilt it. I want to learn how to use a long-arm quilting machine this year and think this might be a great first project.