WIPs Be Gone Madness

While I haven't been able to quilt as much as I'd like with this arthritis flair up, I have been able to move forward on three WIPs - a little at a time usually only 15-20 minute sessions.

Here's one I actually finished:

I started and finished the top in September.  It's not as dark as it seems in the photo.  It's more like the following photo.  It is a raffle quilt for our local library's friends group.

Here's a photo where the quilting shows up better.  It's to be a family reunion quilt or memory quilt. Once someone wins it, I'll quilt the surname and finish the cross hatch quilting in the center. They'll be able to sign in the squares made by the quilting. If you click on the photo you can see a larger, clearer image.

Here's the back.

This WIP is one of my leaders and enders - all the parts are assembled - just need to construct the blocks from all the pieces. Started this years ago.

My other leader and ender are the stars for this Jubilee wall hanging - another old WIP.  It was suppose to have an outside border, but I like it this size with the stars as part of the last border.  I have three options I'm considering:  a. more red and white sections, b. blue strips that match the blue in the stars, or something similar to the flannel that makes up my design wall.  Please advise.

What are you up to? Would love to see it, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post, or even about what is going on in your life - not necessarily quilty. Share your goodness. Linky below closes Monday, midnight.

An InLinkz Link-up

I'm participating in the Pink Doxies new link up, #BraveQuilter. As part of the link party for April, my goal is to get this WIP top finished, so I have to decide on the border fabric. Something different than a plain border.

WIPs Be Gone

Used about 1/8th of scraps to start this:

Couldn't resist trying it after watching Karen Eckmeier's tutorial. Click here to watch it:

photo by Karen Eckmeier

This piece does have a scrap of brown, and I've pulled others, but that's all I've done toward this month's RSC2016.

On my hexie project (WIP #18), I've almost finished one side.  It's harder than I thought inserting those hexies, but I think it's worth it.  Here's the side I 've done:

I know some of you wanted me to leave it as it was, however, I like the separation that the darker line gives and how the rosettes on the outside are now more pronounced.

What are you up to? Would love to see it, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post, or even about what is going on in your life - not necessarily quilty. Share your goodness. Linky below closes Monday, midnight.

An InLinkz Link-up

WIPs Be Gone

Argggghhh!  I don't like it.  Why didn't I stop and take a photo?  I was so into making diamonds, I didn't stop and see what I was creating.  And now it's all together and darn if I didn't lose my center circle and those blue ones make for odd shaped rosettes!

They have to come out.  I made some various hexies and tried them out and found a solution.  But it's going to take a while.  So far I've taken three out and what a chore that was with invisible thread! I learned:

1. It's going to be tricky since I removed the papers from the hexagons. So the ones I use to reconstruct will have to have the papers, so that means new ones - not using the old ones I take off elsewhere as I first thought.
2. In order to rip out the stitches (which are very hard to see) I must put the two hexies with the seam between them right sides together, sit where the lamp is shining over my shoulder to make the stitches appear. Then I can see to rip.
3. It's a good thing I ties off at both ends of each small seam or the hexies would fall apart with this deconstruction
4. Sew the three I am removing into a shape before I add them back.

Little by little....

What are you up to? Would love to see it, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post, or even about what is going on in your life - not necessarily quilty. Share your goodness. Linky below ends Monday, midnight.  Be sure to go to the linky party tab above to see where I'll be linking.  You might want to join us.  The NET is so big it is nice to hear from you this way, so I can visit.  Thanks!

An InLinkz Link-up

WIPS Be Gone - A near finish and Giveaway

The binding is half way done and then it will be ready for gifting.  I had hoped to have this done on Nov 13th, but I broke my hip instead.  Oh well.  This will be WIP # 14 added to my WBG page.

What have you been up to?  Would love to see it, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post, or even about what is going on in your life - not necessarily quilty. Share your goodness. Linky below ends Monday, midnight.  I'm linking to Amanda's Finish it Up Friday and Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop? with this surely finished tomorrow WIP.  And because this is the season of giving, I have a giveaway this week. It's a mystery book for those who link up. Can be to a blog or photostream.  Here are some hints: posters, applique, Lose.  Good luck!  Any post will do.

An InLinkz Link-up

Update - 12/5/15  = It 's finished!

WIPs Be Gone Week 48

In looking for some more hand stitching, found my Anna's Garden, WIP #17.

I started this wall hanging about 3 years ago when I knew hardly anything about applique.  I prepped this block a long time ago and spent this last week hand appliqueing.  I learned I used way too much starch when attaching the pieces to the background. It made it hard to whip stitch in the seam fold. What order does one do the pieces?  Does one start on the edge and go inward so it's easier to hold? They had freezer paper behind most of them. Better to take them out as Kerry does at Simple Bird Applique.  Sometimes the least expected color of thread works best with an applique piece. Those gold needles are great for sliding through the fabric.

Any tips you'd like to pass on?  I'd love to read them. Leave me a comment.  I'm linking to Sarah's Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop?, Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Amanda's Finish it up Friday,  and Lyn's BOMs Away because this block is actually done.  Off to take my evening meds.

WIPs Be Gone #16

This is a little mug rug from last year's Oct retreat.  Kind of a fold and sew patchwork.  You end up with a piece that has folds instead of seams showing - kind of easy because one is always sewing around the edge.  I had only the binding to bring back and be done.  What would have taken me 10 minutes on the machine took me five days in between resting and meds for the broken hip.  Little by little....  And look it has a lime scrap.  Could this qualify for working with lime on the RSC 2015?

What are you up to?  Would love to hear. As this is a hand stitched finish, I'll link up to Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop? and Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching .

In Only a Moment

Have I shown you this bag before?  I really can't remember right now. In only a moment it went from grocery bag to walker bag.  Yes, walker bag. I fell and broke my hip in two places.  I was shaking out a pair of DGS Alan's shoes so we could go on a walk, then turned and tripped on the threshold of our patio doors. Alan was right behind me about two feet and in order not to fall on top of him, I twisted to the right and took the full impact of the fall on my hip.

In only a moment the rest of the year has morphed into pain, surgery, coming home to recouperate.  The good news is that I don't have a cast, and the pain is manageable (because of my allergies to most pain meds or opiates - I"m only taking Extra Strength Tylenol).  I've been home from the hospital for about 18 hours and I'm so tired as if I'd work in the coal mines all day.  So I rest 15 minutes and move 15 minutes. LOL - today it took me 30 minutes to brush my teeth.  Needless to say, I won't be doing much driving or sewing as it was my right hip, and it's cumbersome moving in the sewing room (and I Don't want to fall). Prognosis is 3 months - yikes.  Oh well, what must be must be.  I'm hauling out my 26 year old WIP that I am handquilting and will work on that.  Its time has come.

Before I fell, I pulled out this quilt top I found in a container to be WIP #15. It has lime green sashing for the RSC 2015 challenge. Don't really have any lime green scraps even though I like the color.  I don't know if I will get anything done on it, probably not, but we'll see.  It's at least working with the color.

This all happened Friday the 13th, and no, I don't believe all that stuff.  For all those of you who've commented on my quilt show post  and WIPs Be Gone post, thank you.  I'm sure you understand that for a while my time online will be limited and I won't be able to reply very much ( this post has taken most of a day to do what with my limited energy - lol). Be right back - have to walk a bit or I will stiffen up.  But I'd still like to hear from you.  Though you won't notice, I'll be keeping up with you through Bloglovin' and Facebook.

Take care, happy quilting, and watch where you're stepping.

Blessings,

Angie in SoCal

WIPs Be Gone Week 46!

I checked the calendar and there are 53 weeks in 2015 because of when Jan 1st falls in 2016.  Only seven weeks left! Wow - where did the year go?  I've been finally getting down to quilting again and have actually worked on a WIP.  Here is #14:

This is a quilt nine years in the making. In fact I gave these 9 1/2" square to my then almost 4 year old grandson, William, and told him to lay them out in the order he wanted and he did. He even picked out the plaid to use as sashing.  This quilt was going to be for him.  Well, he's 13 now and not really interested in construction vehicles, so I'm giving it to his brother who turned five on Veteran's Day. The day before  Alan (the brother) came into the sewing room ( I thought he was watching Wild Kratts) and said, "I like this quilt. Can I have it?" So , I know he likes it.  I told him I'd have to check with the lady who wanted it made.  He's getting it Saturday at his party.  I just have to do the binding now, and that shouldn't take too long.  This has a Lightning McQueen and Mater flannel backing and flannel as batting.  I've learned a lot since I made this top so long ago - like it would have been better if I had used sashing blocks in the middle so the plaids wouldn't look so out of alignment, and better still if I had cut the side sashing on the lengthwise grain to match the crosswise cut pieces bordering the blocks.   I meandered around the vehicles

in the large blocks. Since I SITD all seams I then just quilted some FMQ in the border.  With two flannesl it's heavier than other quilts. I don't think the flannels will shift. I did prewash them.

I'm also quilting the baby quilt I showed you last week.  I'm using FMQ on that also.

What are you up to? Would love to see it, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post, or even about what is going on in your life - not necessarily quilty. Share your goodness. Linky below ends Monday, midnight.  I'm linking to Amanda's Finish it Up Friday, Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop?,  and Lizzie Lenard's FMQ Mavericks with this surely finished tomorrow WIP.

An InLinkz Link-up

Not Exactly WIPs Be Gone

Winding down from our trip.  It's taking me longer to get back to normal.  The first day I slept 11 hours - lol.  Then the next day just dragged myself around the house. Yesterday, I started to unpack.
And WIPs? - Hardly stepped into the sewing room.  Finally, last night I did attach the last two borders to a baby quilt.

This block is called Seesaw Block. I enlarged it to 32" from an 8" block and then added 2" borders to get my 36" square for St. Anne's.  I like it but think the block units too big.  Will just have to do some FMQ on it.  I've decided that next year's blocks will have more pieces just so they won't have such large open spaces in them.

I have a favor to ask.  I'm looking for Quiltmania Issue #106.  It has a house quilt on the cover.  Does anyone have a copy they are willing to part with?  I'll pay $8.50 for it plus $3.50 for shipping. Please email me if you want to sell it.  I can pay you via PayPal. You'll find my email in my profile.

So, what are you up to?  Linky party below to share some of your eye candy.  I need a boost in that department, although I enjoyed going through all the categories of the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  Thank you all for your kind comments and praise for my entry.  I was gone so didn't have a chance to reply what with the almost 200 emails I had to wade through when I returned.  I'm linking to Michelle's Let's Make Baby Quilts and others on the sidebar.  Blessings to you all as we start to get ready for the coming Holidays.

An InLinkz Link-up

WIPs Be Gone Week 43 and a Winner

Our winner of last week's giveaway is Quiltsmiles who lives in NY.  Congrats.  I'll send you your papers as soon as I hear from you.

The Duarte family is now the Portland, OR family - they got there yesterday early afternoon after a two and a half day journey north.  Here they are the night before they headed out - the four right of center (ps - Lily is standing on a block so she wouldn't look so small):

I miss them already! It will be  a long while before I get use to this.  Now I have two adult children far away.

After roaming the house feeling lost for two days, today I finally got my quilting urge back and began working on a WIP.  WIP #5 to be exact.

I can see right away I'm going to have to get myself a bigger design wall - here is just some parts of the center and it's already bigger than my puny DW.  I started this WIP in 2011. The pattern is from Fons and Porter published in 2003.  It has 12 blocks - mine has only 4 as I have no place for such a large quilt. Those blocks are 14" finished.  My plan was to try different applique methods with each block and see how I liked them.  I can tell you that I like needle turn applique best, but I'm too slow at it. My next favorite method is Esther Aliu's one.  She has a great tutorial on her blog.  Give it a look see.

Okay, what are you up to?  Whatever it is I'd love to see it.  Linky below and it ends next Wednesday, midnight.  I'm linking to the parties on my sidebar and also Amanda's as I did finish machine appliqueing the fourth Jubilee block yesterday.

An InLinkz Link-up

WIPs Be Gone Week 42

I'm machine quilting the last block for my Jubilee Wall Hanging (WIP #5).

I've left it on the machine so whenever I have a minute or two, I sit right down and do a bit more.

Also completed hand stitching the leaves to my flowers in my Hexie Garden (WIP#3)

Now with those done, I can move on to machine appliqueing them to their backgrounds - all 36 of them. Again this was a project I left on the dining table to attack whenever I had a few minutes.  It will be a busy weekend, so I don't know how much else I'll get done.

 I've picked a winner and Random.org says it is:  Cloud 9
     "Nice job on your block, love the colors. Would love to win a Piece O'Cake Designs book as I've been wanting to do one of their projects. "

  Thank you so much to those who participated and left comments.  I wish I had time to respond to all of you but alas life is too hectic right now.  I so enjoyed all the eye candy.  You all have such fabulous projects.

Were you able to spend some time doing a bit of quilty this past week?  Would love to see it or anything else that is keeping you busy.  Linky below.  This week I'll giveaway one hundred 3/4" hexagon papers for any of you who would like to try this soothing hand sewing or add to a project you are working on.  Some have asked that the deadline be extended.  So as of now - they'll end on Wednesday, midnight.  Good luck!

An InLinkz Link-up

I'm linking to the various parties on my sidebar. Do check them out.

WIPs Be Gone #5 in Week 41 Plus Giveaway

I finished machine appliqueing another block of my Fons & Porter Jubilee Quilt.  This is my Lady Vase with Attitude. It is WIP #5.  One more block to do, and I can start assembling.  I used invisible thread to machine sew it.  I'm making a smaller version - a wall hanging - than the original. Don't know when I'll get to the next block as I have four such busy days coming up.

And because of all this busyness - here's a giveaway for you.  There are two ways to win.  One is to link up with the linky party for this week.  Show me your wip progress or anything you'd like to share, new or old.  I'll be checking once in a while to enjoy your link ups. That will probably be all I'll have time to do.  Linky ends Thursday, midnight.  You can link up three times and they'll all count.  Or you can leave a comment for one entry.  I'll draw a winner to announce at the next WIPs Be Gone post. Here's the book I'm giving away:

Brand new -it's a duplicate I found in a box.  I guess I really like it as I bought it twice. It has some really wonderful quilts in it. Good luck!

An InLinkz Link-up

I'm linking to Amanda's Finish it up Friday and Sarah's Can I get a whoop whoop? More eye candy there.

WIPs Be Gone Week 39

WIP #7 (a wall hanging) is done.

 I tried a wrap to the back border to finish the edges.  Didn't want binding to show on this border.  It will hang in my kitchen.

Used a cute lady bug fabric for back.  Hand stitched the binding down back. This is minimally quilted because I wanted the fabric to stand out - all batiks except for border.

What are you up to? Would love to see it, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post, or even about what is going on in your life - not necessarily quilty. Share your goodness. Linky below ends Monday, midnight.  I'm linking to Amanda's Finish it Up Friday, Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop?,  and Lizzie Lenard's FMQ Mavericks with this finished WIP.

An InLinkz Link-up

WIPs Be Gone Week 37

I'm still working on those three WIPs - a little progress but not much to show yet.  In between working on those this past week I finished the commissioned quilt.

 This was a comforter that was tied and the batting had shifted. It's the beloved quilt of my DGS so my DIL asked me to fix it.  The fabric is like brushed knit -cozy but problematic to quilt.  So I first had to deconstruct it almost totally to get it to where I could extract the batting.  Yep, the batting had shrunk about 6 inches along the long side.  It looks to be polyester and I was surprised it had shrunk. Who knew?   So cut some new batting and pin basted it heavily to be able to get a good 1/4" seam all around the edges to make an envelope.  I then turned it and check the corners. Two of them had to be resewn as the backing had worn.  I then sewed the opening closed and stitched a 1/4" away from the edge to stabilize it.

  I then heavily pined the quilt again and marked some straight lines to quilt with my walking foot.  The batting said I could easily quilt the lines 8" apart so I made a grid of 6 1/2" squares.

 I didn't go right to the edges so I wouldn't have pleats in the stretchy fabric.  The grid work also kept it nice and soft which is what he liked most of all about it.

I finished the binding on this baby quilt.  It went off to one of our St. Anne's members to tie the large page blocks and then it can go to a new baby.  Hope there is one named Noah.  It could happen as it is a popular name again.

What are you up to? Would love to see it, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post, or even about what is going on in your life - not necessarily quilty. Share your goodness. Linky below ends Monday, midnight.  And I'm linking to Amanda's Finish it Up Friday,  Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop?,  and Lizzie Lenard's FMQ Mavericks because I did finish two things.

An InLinkz Link-up

WIPs Be Gone Week 36

I quilted Noah's Ark.  It may seem like not very much, but I outlined the blocks and  "x" the corner stones. The St. Anne members will tie the blocks in five places to secure them. I'll start binding it tomorrow.  Then that one can be gifted this month.

I'm actually working on WIPs #3, 7 and 13 - just don't have photos to show you.  I hope to have some visual evidence next week so you can see the progress.

What are you up to? Would love to see it, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post, or even about what is going on in your life - not necessarily quilty. Share your goodness. Linky below ends Monday, midnight.  And I'm linking to Amanda's Finish it Up Friday, Richards Link A Finish Friday, Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop?, Lizzie Lenard's FMQ Mavericks because I did finish something (quilting that baby quilt).

An InLinkz Link-up

WIPs Be Gone Week 35

On my patio yesterday, it was 107.  Today, it is 108.  I'm very grateful that I have air for a second summer that is keeping the room I'm in a nice 82 degrees.  It feel like heaven compared to outside.

But I just feel so enervated. It's all I can do to type these few lines. No energy to take photos of the two baby charity quilt tops I made last week end. No energy period.

So let's link cooling photos of winter quilts
or refreshing waters. Something, anything to help us endure these temps.  I know my friends and family in the South are shaking their heads at me as they have high temps too and with their humidity - a heat index of 117 last week.  So who am I to complain?

Linky below.  Stay cool myfriends! I'm off to put on my cooling neckcloth, darken this room and take a nap.

An InLinkz Link-up

WIPs Be Gone Week 33

Hello, friends - I'm still in Colorado. And to celebrate WIPs Be Gone, I'm heading to the Rocky Mountain Quilt Festival in Loveland, CO - just a bit down the road from Fort Collins.  It runs the 13-15th.  I'm excited because they have the entire traveling collection of the Hoffman 2015 Challenge before it is split into the 12 traveling exhibits.  I've only seen parts of it at other shows in different years. 

And if you'd like to learn how they pick the challenge fabric, go here.  I'm always amazed with what the entrants come up with for this challenge.  I'll try to take some photos if they're allowed.

I've been working on my baskets, but it's slow go with a 6 year old to interact with - LOL.  I've finished three of the 8 I brought with me so far.  Today we went to the Denver Zoo and I'm all tuckered out.

 

I can't believe how few people had hats on while visiting the zoo. There must have been only 1 out of every 25 people with a hat and it was in the middle of the day and hot. Thankfully there is quite a bit of shade along the paths, but still enough sun to warrant hats.

So while I recover,  DGS is watching a video that was part of my birthday gift to him. Then I'm making Chicken soup. And then back to the baskets.

What are you up to? I'd love to know whether WIPS or quilty news or vacation report as above -doesn't have to be a new post.  Linky below ends Monday, midnight.  And to thank you for linking, I'm giving away an Edyta Sitar book, Scrappy Fireworks Quilts.  You can see it here. Her's one of the quilts from it I'd like to make:

An InLinkz Link-up

I'm linking to Amanda's Finish it Up Friday, Richards Link A Finish Friday, Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop? because I did finish two baskets, and on Monday with Lyn for BOMs Away because I worked and made blocks. Bye for now. Bye for now,  Angie in SoCal

Applique Tuesday Week 33

I prepped for applique this past week as I'm in Colorado this week and have no access to a machine. I needed a hand stitching project. It's WIP #13 I'm working on and I call it Hexie Baskets. I found the pattern for the blocks in an old Quilter's Newsletter magazine, issue 260 - March 1994 - way before I took up making hexagons or discovered Karen at Faeries and Fibres .  Stars in the Loft is the one that stunned me into the possiblities of hexies beyond Grandmother's Flower Garden.

So I pulled out the pattern and began assembling the hexagon flowers in 2012 after reading Karen's tutorials. I decided to only attempt a 9 block version.  The hexagons are 1/2" .  I brought with me 7 baskets and 7 handles to applique onto the 13" squares of muslim I cut.

When I get back from CO, I'll add the finished flowers  to the blocks, and they will look like this:
                                       
Then it will be time for more hand stitching, or maybe I'll do it with the machine - stitching around the flowers and leaves that is.

Bye for now,
Angie in SoCal

WIPS Be Gone Week 32!

Can you believe it - there are only 20 weeks left in 2015! Wow.

I finished a preemie quilt made out of some of those triangles I cut off units in making an early B3 quilt. With some leftover fabric I came up with this:

It measures 30" square.  I quilted it with straight lines following the seams. I wanted this one to stay soft.  Now this one I quilted differently:

There are diamonds in the outermost squares but you can't see them unless you spot them on the back.  Most of it you can see I just spaced straight lines on the whitest fabric. In the light blue I did some freezer paper work.

I cut out the leaves on the freezer paper that I had traced from the master. I then cut out part of each leaf to make the design continuous. I used a frixion pen to transfer the pattern to the actual fabric, and pulled off the paper to use it in the next space. I used a baby blue Superior So Fine thread with an 80/12 titanium needle.   Here's a closeup:

This is a B3 quilt whose free pattern is on my right side bar.  Looks modern to me. Here's the back:

On the WIP front, I now have a quilt top made out of #7.  I hoped to have it sandwiched, but I've been working a lot on trying to get WIP #13 - my hexie baskets - ready to take with me to CO as my hand stitching project.  I leave Sunday.
WIP #7

What are you up to? Would love to see it, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post, or even about what is going on in your life - not necessarily quilty. Share your goodness. Linky below ends Monday, midnight.

An InLinkz Link-up

I'm linking to Amanda's Finish it Up Friday, Richards Link A Finish Friday, Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop?, Lizzie Lenard's FMQ Mavericks because I did finish something and did some FMQ, then Saturday with Pink Doxies and Monday with Lyn for BOMs Away. Bye for now. I'll try to post from CO when and if I can.

WIPs Be Gone Week 31

Some progress on a couple of WIPs - specifically #7 and #11.

Don't have a photo of #7 - but it's the Bird of Paradise and I finally figured out what I'm going to do with it and found fabrics for two borders.  I was going to make it a pillow, but as it is raw edge applique, I've decided it's too delicate for that. So I'm making a wall hanging.  I hope to have a photo for next Friday.

WIP #11 is another long term project - it has 49 blocks, I think.  I got two more blocks done:
 They were so easy I don't know why I hadn't done them before. Guess I couldn't find my round-to-it. Working on a third one - it has applique.




Oh, and I finished another B3 quilt top - this is for the August offering at the Guild. Now to send off the pattern to my three testers.  Measures 30" square for the NICU at local hospital. A great one for large prints.

What are you up to? Would love to see it, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post. Share your goodness. Linky below ends Monday, midnight.

An InLinkz Link-up

I'm linking to Amanda's Finish it Friday, Richards Link A Finish Friday, Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop? because I did finish something, and on Monday with Lyn for BOMs Away because I worked and made blocks.  Bye for now.