WIPs Be Gone with Giveaway

Machine quilting the BAMA quilt, but before that I finished the 2nd baby panel and a Splendid Sampler block.

This block is called Bobbin Case.  I now have 44 of these.  There are going to be 100, however, I may stop at 48 - we'll see.

The baby panel turned out cute, especially with the coordinating fabric for the backing.

The St Anne ladies who sandwiched it used a fleece like batting. It made the quilt a bit more puffy than I'm use to. I machine quilted with my FMQ foot around the prints, animals, flowers and the lines delineating the inner squares. As I mentioned before - this was practice for getting the right "hum" from the machine to produce even stitches.  The inner border was done with a walking foot.


I waited til this morning to post this WIPs Be Gone, so I could announce the winner of the $10 Fat Quarter Shop gift certificate. And the winner is Margaret.  I've sent you an email, Margaret. Congratulations! I hope to hear from you soon.

This week's giveway is again 105 hexagons.  Enough to make 17 flowers.  The hexagons will have 1" sides.   Usual guidelines apply:   Leave me a comment for one chance.  Link your eye candy for another (link button below). Follow me and let me know for a third chance. Remember if you don't have a blog, you can always post a photo from a photo hosting service.  Please be sure there is some way for me to contact you. Ends next Thursday, midnight.

 I'll be linking to several parties including:

Finale

It's time to post our final (and fishy) round of the Gwennie Inspired Medallion.  I had no clue  how to interpret it. I thought I'd make pieced fish to go around the quilt. Here's a sample surgeon fish I made as a possible solution.

It might have worked if my star round had not been so busy. I would have had to add a plain border to separate them. That or my mind just couldn't see beyond the flower theme I was absorbed in, although many of my fellow participants proved me wrong with their fabulous interpretations.  So in the end I went with a very basic interpretation - water, and to keep my quilt to the size of a wall hanging. It finished at 39" square - just the right size for where I want to hang it.

When I quilt it I'll add sea life motifs to the water border.

This has been a wonderful experience letting the quilt grow as it would. Thank you so much Lori and the rest of the QAL contributors  for providing such a liberating experience.  And to the other quilters who participated - you are all amazingly talented and creative.  What wonderful quilts you have made!

Dear readers, if you'd like to see them, click on the link at the top of this post.

Being a Brave Quilter

What does that mean?  Well at Julie's Pink Doxies, she challenges us to try something new, out of our comfort zone, experiment, have fun with our quilting.  I took the challenge last month - we have a month to meet our goal.  Then we report about it.  I'm a wanna be applique enthusiast who does a lot of piecing (lol), so I set my challenge to try a new applique technique I'd seen online.  It  is suppose to make doing raw edge applique easier and with hardly any fraying. That was for me! Mind you, I love to do hand applique, but it takes so much time and I have so many quilts I'd like to do. I started out by buying the book, Crafted Applique...New Possibilities by Lara Buccella when she had her blog hop.  After reading it and obtaining a few supplies I got started.  I had already started a quilt which would have applique (my Gwennie Inspired Quilt Along) and hoped this new method would help me keep on track with it as I wanted to add another round of applique.
Here's the medallion center done with normal raw edge applique method:

background is really white

I do the stitching as part of the quilting after the sandwich is made.   Then I made the other rounds. Once I was ready for the next applique round I began to experiment.  Made a few test pieces (which I forgot to photograh) and felt it would work just as Lara said.   I then made this block using her method - easy peasy.

 So got out my tablecloth (which I'm using for my flowers) and started cutting.

I laid the cut pieces with their wrong side up and applied the Mod Podge for Fabric, and let them dry.

Next I cut out the flowers with very sharp scissors.

Above are some extra flowers above that I will use later. You can see that these would be difficult to turn a seam allowance under to make Broderie Perse in the traditional way - all those tiny stems and curves.

Then the hard part - deciding what the order of my flowers would be.  But once decided, placed and ironed on, I was done.  I'm so glad I tried this new method.  I'll be using it again. Oh, and you can go here to see that finished applique round.

Do visit Julie's - link above, and she'll be opening a linky for this month's challenge on the fourth. Now what shall I try next??

PS:  The Fat Quarter Shop Giveaway is open. You can find all the details at the top of the sidebar. Look forward to seeing you there.

WIPs Be Gone

I have a finish:

 Here's that baby quilt I was quilting.  It was an easy one.  Wavy lines at seams and stars in the middle.

 I used these Crayola markers to mark the stars - only marked the tips of the star and the intersections, and as these are fine line worked well by just lightly drawing. (I learned about these when reading Geta Grama's blog post). When it was all done, I washed the quilt with a SHOUT color catcher and mild soap in warm water on delicate cycle and all the lines came out.  I was worried about that because the marker box said "Wash promptly", and I had those lines on the quilt about 3 weeks.

I just love this flannel back of jungle safari animals.  

I've started another baby quilt.  This one is a panel on which I use the FMQ foot.  

These panels are great for practicing the rhythm of quilting (listening for that just right hum) and having consistent stitch lengths.  Try one.

What are you up to?  Link up below, or leave a comment and I'll come by to see your progress.  This week's giveaway is a $10 gift certificate for the Fat Quarter Shop.  Add a link or leave a comment for two chances to win. Good luck.

I'll be linking to Finished or Not Friday and other linky parties. See the tab below the header.

The Round is Done

Phew - the star round is done for my Gwennie Inspired Quilt Along.

What took the longest was cutting out the flowers (thank you, Lara for Crafted Applique!) and then deciding where to put each of them. Now I can get on to the next and final round - the fishy one.  I just have 7 days to come up/work on it -lol.

In the de-stashing report - used only .30 yd on three blocks - one a practice block and two Splendid Sampler blocks, but the commissioned quilt is sandwiched, and I'm raring to go on it.  My YTD total is 42.76 yds . 

What are you up to?  Leave me a comment and I'll come by. Friday's giveaway is still open - see top, sidebar for details.  Blessings as we start this last week in September.

A New WIPs Be Gone Giveaway

  A small finish - another Splendid Sampler block.   And a big finish - that commission quilt is a top.  I'm sandwiching it as you read this. My client saw our June Festival quilt and wanted one like it, but for his favorite team - here's a sample of the University's fabric.
 

He colored the letter blocks.  Fabric markers were used. Then I took an art pencil and went over the red again as the letters looked orange.  They looked fine by themselves.  It was the deepness of the other red fabric that made them look that way.  

What are you up to? Link below and you'll have a chance to win a book or hexagon pieces - your choice.  I'll send you an email asking for your preference. Usual guidelines apply: Leave me a comment for one chance.  Link your eye candy for another (link button below). Follow me and let me know for a third. Remember if you don't have a blog, you can always post a photo from a photo hosting service.  Please be sure there is some way for me to contact you. Ends next Thursday, midnight. I'll be linking to several parties.  See tab above.  Blessings!

Applique Tuesday

An applique block for Splendid Sampler. This one is a cute one.  I can see using it as a birthday postcard by adding a candle:

What are you up to?  Leave me a comment and I'll come by and see.  Giveaway still open - see sidebar.  Blessings.

It's Coming Together

Here's a third of it on my design wall. I'd be farther along if I hadn't sewn two rows upside down.  I didn't mark with my number labels as usual. Going back to that to avoid more seam ripping.  The blocks were colored by the client.  My first delay with this quilt was waiting for the fabric to arrive after purchasing online.  All things take time. I'm linking to Lyn's BOMs Away and a couple of others - tab above.  Link up to WIPs Be Gone and win a book.

Blessing to you and yours.

Stash Report & more

Moira's block

I had to make more blocks for the commission quilt so  used another 1/2 yard.  Tried to make a 12" block I saw online  at the Quilted Snail .  It didn't work, so I asked Moira.  She wrote back that she paper pieced it, so it's back to the drawing board to make the pattern I need, so I can do the same.  So there went .10 yd of scraps. My new YTD total is 42.46 yds . 
Today I want to mark and hand quilt at least one motif on my "ancient one". Sure wish I could get back to one a day - I'd be done by now, but life is full.

What are you up to?  Anything quilty?  Even if it isn't, stop by and tell me about your day.

WIPs Be Gone giveaway still open  - that book could be yours. See sidebar for more info.

FMQ-ing Another Baby Quilt

Quilting another baby quilt - not the flying saucer one as I have to assemble a batting for it - just a bit different.  It's just some 6 1/2" squares I got from the St. Anne's stash.  
I'm quilting it differently by using wavy lines along the sewing lines and stars minimally marked in the centers.  Going along fast.

I'm linking to Lizzie's FMQ Mavericks and hope you have something to show us, too. My giveway is still open; check the top of the sidebar for details.  Blessings,

WIPs Be Gone Again

I do have a small finish:

This is block #61 of the Splendid Sampler. Think I now have 41 of these blocks. You can still join up - 59 to go - you can make as many as you want or all.

I'm mostly working on the commission quilt. It has 49 blocks and it's taking me awhile.  But I did finally decide on what to do with my Gwennie medallion. Thank you so much for all your suggestions.  They helped a lot.

So I made more flowers: 

I'll talk about that process in a later post. Did some more cutting of fabric, and came up with this:

Made the white round smaller with the narrow strips of the corner fabric and that tied it together for me. It also made the flowers fit.  I have two more sides to complete in between working on that commission quilt. Slow progress forward is progress.

The winner of last week's paper pieces is Kathy E.  I've sent her an email.  Thanks to all 28 who participated.  This week's giveaway is a mystery quilt book - that means if you win I'll ask you what you like to make as a quilter and I'll provide three titles that fit (as close as I can from my pile) for you to chose from. Usual guidelines apply:   Leave me a comment for one chance.  Link your eye candy for another (link button below). Follow me and let me know for a third. Remember if you don't have a blog, you can always post a photo from a photo hosting service.  Please be sure there is some way for me to contact you. Ends next Thursday, midnight. I'll be linking to several parties including:

Check tab above. Blessings!

Design Wall Monday

My wonky stars now inhabit corners of my Gwennie quilt - more later. Their absence is the only change to my design wall except the addition of a few more sawtooth stars and hourglasses.  You can see they are pinned in bunches in places.

Those blocks are growing slowly as leaders and enders.  In fact I'll have to take a few minutes to cut a few more before long.  Giveaway still open - see top, sidebar for more info. Blessings!

Slow Sunday Stitching and More

I now have a plan for my Gwennie Medallion and am working on that, but not ready to show.  Also working on another SS block, but also not much to show. I'm going to go sit down and finish a couple of motifs on my ancient WIP while I listen to Schubert.  After that, it's time to sandwich a neonatal quilt.  This is officially a WIP as I made the top in March.  Time for it to be finished and given.

This will measure 30" square when done.

I fell in love with this darling Michael Miller Retro Rocket Rascals print.

A reminder: the giveaway is open - see top right sidebar, click on title to learn more. Closes Thursday, midnight.

WIPs Be Gone Awry and a Giveaway

I'm working on a couple of WIPs, but nothing I can show you yet except this one that I really want to get a move on, but ???   I don't like it. Something is missing.  Are the Broderie Pers flowers too small?  Looks like I'll have to go on to plan B.  Ugh.

Well, enough of that.  I'm giving away 100 1" hexagon papers this week. These guidelines apply:   Leave me a comment for one chance.  Link your eye candy for another -linky below. Follow me and let me know for a third. Remember if you don't have a blog, you can always post a photo from a photostream.  Please be sure there is some way for me to contact you. Ends next Thursday, midnight. I'll be linking to several parties. Tab above. Blessings!

Some of This, Some of That

Working on the commission quilt, I had to pull some white solid from my stash - another 1/2 yd gone. Made two more stars and 4 more hour glasses - another 1/2 yd.  Made an SS block 

- another .03 yd for a total of 1.03 yards used last week.  That brings me back to  a YTD total of 41.86 yds.

Over the weekend I was able to get back to my ancient WIP and hand stitched two motifs and prepped another - way behind there as I wanted to do one a day. I've also started on the actual star round for the Gwennie QAL - meaning I'm prepping the applique that goes with those hexi stars I made.  

In making the commission quilt I discovered a trick if you need to cut two diagonals and you don't have a rotating cutting mat (I do, but I can't find it!).

 Place your block on-point on your (stationary -lol)cutting mat. Line up the ruler from point to point. Make your first cut.

Now move your ruler horizontally to line up to the other two corners. Make your second cut.  LOL - it took me forever to stumble on this trick of not having to contort myself to cut that second diagonal.  It may be an old trick to you, or you've seen it done elsewhere (if so, congrats). I'm just so glad I found this as now my cutting is more precise.  That's always a good thing.



So what are you up to?  Leave me a comment and I'll come by.  Off to link up to some parties (tab above). And  heads up:  I'll be having a welcome back WIPs Be Gone this Friday with giveaways!

FMQ-ing Again

As you faithful readers know, I make baby quilt tops for St Anne's Sewdality.  Starting this month we're going to try a different process.  Other members will make tops and I will quilt them.  I'll get to practice more FMQ-ing that way (and start linking to FMQ Mavericks again).  Here's the first top (one I made) that was sandwiched and given back to me:

 After all the straight seams were SITD, I did loops around the octagons and serpentined (sp?) around the owls.

I then made four leaf motifs in the cornerstones and then stippled the outside border.

There are cute little flannel owls on the back, too.  

BTW: "I'm participating in the Pink Doxies new link up, #BraveQuilter. As part of the #BraveQuilter link party for September, I going to try a new applique technique (for me) as seen in Lara's book, Crafted Applique ".

My Design Wall and Gwennie

With my two weeks of traveling in August and all the other crazy stuff of the past month, I only finished 3 stars for my next round of my Gwennie Inspired QAL. They're the blue and yellow stars on my design wall.  The fourth is in the final stages of being constructed.

Those hourglass blocks are the first of my leader and ender quilt blocks (as per Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville).  The four sawtooth stars are for a new medallion quilt I started.  The block assembly instructions are from Barbara Brackman's Star in a Time Warp BOW she did last year.  They are a snap.  I don't usually like working with triangles because of the bias, but if one just guides the fabric in doing this star, no problems.

I hope to get back to my Gwennie Inspired this month in between working on the commission quilt I'm hoping to finish soon.  What are you up to?

Some of This and That

I took hand stitching with me on my trip.  What with interacting with family, travel restrictions and other fun sewing at both destinations, only got a bit done. One star in CO and one here.  Two Gwennie inspired stars:

Two to go.  

I used about two yards for Lily's Quilt and 3/4ths yd for the quilt repair and a tenth for these two stars. I also bought 3 yards of fabric that I am keeping, so my YTD total ending August is 40.83 yds.

Speaking of traveling, I was in awe of the huge mountains (really, volcanoes) I saw from the plane and in Vancouver (Mt. Hood).  This is from the plane on the way to CO, and believe it is West Crater - Mt Hood would have been on the right side - I was sitting on the left side and saw three of them north of the Columbia almost in a row.  The other two may have been Indian Heaven and Mt Adams. WOW.

DS#2 took me on a scenic drive from Horsetooth Reservoir to Estes Park to visit the Rocky Mountain National Park.   What a beautiful drive through Drake and Glen Haven!

In Glen Haven we stopped for fudge and to admire the gorgeous quilts - all for over $1K each.  On the way back, we stopped in Drake for a cherry pie - yum!  And our destination:

Phone was acting up again, so I bought a postcard - looked like this but without the fall color.  Had lunch in a restaurant next to the Fall River Visitors Center.  It was a wonderful day.

And in Fort Collins

I got to do some sewing also.  DS#2 was gifted years ago with a quilt from DD.  He uses it a lot,  and the quilt had come to the point where it needed repairs.

 One of the bandannas needed to be replaced.  I was so happy I had read Sandra Hatch's book, llustrated Guide to Vintage Quilting (Master Quilter's Workshop).  She shows you how to repair an old quilt.  So I knew what to do.  Went to the LQS.  They happened to have some bandanna fabric. Bought 3/4th yard (I needed a 21" square), some Perl cotton thread, and a sharp tapestry needle. Fortunately, I had pins, invisible thread, and a seam ripper in my hand quilting box to round out my supplies.  Back at DS's , I removed the torn square, inserted the fabric and whipped stitched the square in place.  Again, I had to use a carpenter's tape and a straight edge and the scissors I bought to cut it.  I used the Perl cotton to tie the square once I was done inserting the block.

It is a big quilt - queen size - the one photo I took of it was too dark to show. And hand sewing?  Didn't get much done on that - I'll show how far I got in my Kathy's Slow Stitching post.