Faithfully stitching!

I finished the September Birdie Stitches block just in time for October! It's my favorite one so far.

I love the tree and I really like the way the different colored leaves look.

I also finished 2 more blocks for the Clover and Violet stitch and quilt along. This one was a picnic...literally. I tried to do the new stitch on the basket, but I'm pretty sure I messed it up, but that's ok.

I did french knots for the flowers and they really stand out in person. I like this one too!

I finished one more block for this quilt last night, but I couldn't take pictures. Hopefully on Monday, I'll have pictures of it and the next one! Only one more block is left to be released for this quilt. I'm excited to see it all put together!

WIP Wednesday 09/28/2011

After a very busy weekend, I haven't made much progress this week! I've been working on my embroidery blocks to stay all caught up. I didn't have my camera last night or there would be a picture of my favorite Birdie Stitch block yet! Maybe tomorrow ;-) I also started a new project that I'm going to try to keep top secret until Christmas.

I also started the Blossom Bag for myself. It took FOREVER to get all the pieces cut out and interfaced! I haven't worked on it since then, because I needed a different colored zipper.

My other new big project is 2 baby quilts. My sister is fostering 2 little babies, one 3 months old and one 2 weeks old. Crazy, right? I am hoping to make them each a baby quilt with these cute forrest friend fabrics from Jo-Ann's.

I think I have an idea for one, but I'm not sure about the other. I don't want them to be the same. Any good baby quilt ideas?
Be sure to visit Lee over at Freshly Pieced. Is anyone else so excited to see her fabric collection?!?

Charm Baby Quilt Finish

Our first Second Saturday Sewing project was a charm baby quilt. I have had the top done forever, but hadn't just taken a few hours to finish it the rest of the way. I've decided that I'm not going to buy more fabric until I finish some things up, so I did it.


I just quilted on each side of the long seams and did some parallel quilting on the border.

I thought it might look a little like the plaid on the backing if I used a larger stitch and spaced the lines differently. I don't think i really achieved the effect I was hoping for, but I still like it.

I used some multi-colored plaid for the back. I think my favorite part is the aqua binding. I really like the way it looks with both sides of the quilt.

To be honest I didn't really care for this top at first. I didn't love it or hate it. It seemed blah to me. After I finally worked on finishing it, I do really like it. Hooray!

Kim's New Husband (or Second Saturday Sewing)

My friends gathered at my house again for Second Saturday Sewing. It was the most people who have been able to make it yet. It's so nice to get together, even if you're just there to watch. This time Susan change a zipper, saving my alma mater about $400 for a new robe! Heather made a bib. Marie almost finished her charm square quilt and I did finish mine (pics tomorrow hopefully!) Mandy made a crayon roll and Christy speed sewed on her rainbow quilt. It was really quite impressive. I think the award goes to Kim, who made a new husband!


Don't they make a great couple?!?

Back at it!

I've been sewing away, trying to get some unfinished projects into the finished pile! I have a couple of finished to show you this week!

First, I'm all caught up with the Skill Builder Sampler. I finished 2 blocks last night, but I had done the rest weeks ago. I switched purses and kept forgetting to grab my camera, so I never posted about them!


Breaking Out.
 I hate flying geese. I said it. I don't like making them and I don't particularly like how they look. Now I know.

Bow Ties.
I liked this block. Easy and you can do a million different layouts with them.

Virginia Star.
I like this block even though my points aren't perfect. It's the flying geese again.
Ohio Star.
Half square triangles are pretty easy. I don't love the orange in this block, but my points were spot on!
Double Star.
My points are TERRIBLE. Something was off on my piecing from the beginning of this block, but I like it anyway.
The hardest part of this quilt along is deciding on what fabrics to use. I keep putting them all up on the design wall to see which colors I need more (or less!) of.

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.