WIP Wednesday 08/31/2011

It's been a while since I did a WIP Wednesday, but I've been working away. I've done several of the Skill Builder Sampler blocks and will try to post about them later this week. I learned that I don't really care for Flying Geese. I haven't finished all of those blocks yet, but they are on the list for tonight!

I've been working on the Farmer's Wife blocks, but I think I'm going to stop. I don't really have the patience for the tiny pieces and I still can't figure out how to paper piece them even though I've read 10 tutorials and printed off the paper piecing templates. I don't get it. I don't love all of the blocks and I hate to keep making them, knowing I'm never going to make a quilt with them. Here are the latest 3 I've made:

I like this one. It turned out great and mostly all lined up!

I also like this one.

I don't like this one. The green goes from dark to light, but the way I pieced it looks like I just ran out of light green. You also can't see the elephants well. I hate to quit in the middle of a project, but I just don't like these. I'll have to find something to do with the blocks I've made. Hmm...

My one huge finish is the Plus Quilt for my daughter. I love it and so does she.

Before I start another big quilt, I'm going to finish a couple small ones that I have already started. I'm also hoping to get some Christmas presents made, so I'm looking for ideas! Do you have any great handmade gift ideas?

Be sure to stop by Freshly Pieced and see what Lee is working on!

Reversible John John

I saw this tutorial for reversible John Johns months ago, but didn't really add it to my to make list. I'm not really a john john type of mom. I don't really dress my kids in smocked clothes with their monogram on them. It's just not my style. But it is my sister's. She is fostering a cute little baby (and I mean little...9 weeks old!). I decided I would give it a try.


The tutorial from Growing Home doesn't include snaps. That is obviously not practical with a little baby. Someone in the comments was nice enough to explain how to put it together with the snaps. I had to improvise a little to get it to work, but I'm pretty satisfied with the results.

Wouldn't this look cute with an elephant on it? It did. I spent 45 minutes carefully appliqueing an elephant on only to discover it was on the back. Nice. It took almost 2 hours to pick out all of those careful stitches. Next time I'll get it!

This is a 9 month, so it will be a little while before I get to see how it actually looks on a kid! I'm going to try a few more. Any suggestions for cute boy fabric?

Finished!

I finally finished the Plus Quilt for my daughter's bed. I love the way it turned out.

The details:
Finished size~67x85
Fabric~Various 30s reproductions
Pattern~Plus Quilt found here
Quilting~Straight line quilting around each plus

I love how the quilting stands out here.

I pieced one strip down the middle for the back. I picked the yellow because I didn't want more pink after Little Miss insisted on pink polka dots. I ended up doing a small pink polka dot border and then using it for the binding as well. I've never done more than one border, but I really like the effect.

She really liked it too!

She spent about 15 minutes rearranging all of the pillows and stuffed animals. She says it's so cozy.

This is my favorite project ever. It was quick to put together. I love the material. I love the pattern. I love the result. The only thing I didn't love was the process of quilting it, but I love the end result. I'm glad I stuck with it and finally finished it! Now to start the next one...

My Sewing Space

I've posted pictures of my sewing space before, but we've recently been moving things around. I thought I'd give you an updated tour.

The white cart holds my precuts, some felt and batting, and the bottom drawer is full of works in progress. I've started keeping each project in Ziplock bag...all of the pieces and instructions for that project. Next to the cart are two plastic boxes of scraps. There is also that great pink train case that I'm still thinking about. (Note the Dali print. I HATE IT. My husband had it before we got married and insists that it be hanging. It freaks me out, so it can't hang in the living room or our bedroom, so now it's right beside me while I am sewing. We have to keep it because it's become symbolic of my husband's claim in our house. Ridiculous.)

My sewing table. How about that calendar still on July? I need to make a small quilt to hang there or something. It's a weird space because I wanted to hang that shelf high enough that I didn't hit it when I'm moving around a giant quilt. (I was getting ready to iron school clothes when I took this picture. Don't think I've done it more than once!)

My stash. I've stopped buying fabric until I get some of this used up. Also see that beautiful quilt folded up there on top? Look for it again next week....FINISHED!

Clover and Violet QAL

I am all caught up with my stitching after this weekend. I got all of the Clover and Violet blocks finished.

I don't love this block by itself, but I think it will look good with the rest of the blocks.

I was supposed to use a chain stitch for the banner, but I completely forgot about it until I was finished!

August Birdie Stitches

I finished the August Birdie Stitches block on Friday night. I really like it. I love the sunflower. I'm all caught up with this Quilt Along. I'm ready for the next block!

Birdie Stitches July block

I finished the July Birdie Stitched block last week. I have the August block all ready to stitch up, but I'm out of red floss. I'm getting it today so look for the cute August sunflower block next week! I am finally going to have a quiet weekend at home with my family this weekend and hopefully get lots of sewing done. My daughter got a new TV and Wii for her birthday last week, so there is going to be some rearranging in the office/sewing room/play room. Maybe I'll take some before and after pictures! Hope you have a great weekend!

Stitching Angels Follow-Up

In my busy-ness lately, I flaked on my stitching angels duty. I did get this cute little football stitched up. I'm not sure what it's going to be when it grows up, but I love the little tail.

I got 2 coasters finished up. I don't love them, but I like the idea. I think I'm going to make up a different one for my desk. I hate it when my lunch cup of tea sweats all over my papers.

Clover and Violet QAL

I'm back. I've been super busy. I had a birthday party for my big 6 year old, I went out of town for work, my husband went out of town, school started today. I'm trying to get back in the routine of life again! I've been working on my embroidery blocks for the last few days. Here is the 4th one for the Clover and Violet Embroidery and Quilt Along:

Everytime I work on this quilt, I get so excited about how it's going to turn out. I really like how it's all coming together. I have the 5th block ready to stitch up and then I'll be more than half way finished!

All four of my finished blocks together:

Does anyone else have problems with uploading photos on Blogger? These look super clean in Picasa, but are a little blurry in Blogger. Any suggestions for fixing this?

Stitching Angels

A few weeks ago Sara at The Split Stitch asked for "stitching angels" to stitch up some samples of her patterns. I sent her an email volunteering. When the list of patterns go to me, I picked the American Football pattern. I have decided to make some coasters, perhaps for a Christmas gift.
This week, she has asked that we share a little about our stitching process. I almost always use a washable transfer pen to transfer my patterns. It's quick, it's easy, it washes out. If I'm using a light fabric and an easy pattern, I just trace it through the fabric. My secret for more complicated designs or darker fabrics is actually my daughter's Lite Brite. It is much fancier than the old school kind I had. One side is traditional Lite Brite, one is dry erase, one is a lightbox/tracing area, and I'm not sure about the other. It worked great for this little football.

My blue transfer pen wouldn't work on the green fabric, so I just used a regular pencil. I almost always just stitch on white fabric, but I'm trying to branch out. This green is really football field green, not this color. The football stands out really well.

These are all stitched up and washed (the fabric isn't so thin, it's just wet!). I think I'm doing to add a little houndstooth and make them Alabama coasters. I really like the way they are turning out.

Please jump over to The Split Stitch to see how the other "angels" are coming along!