Beach Projects

I've written many times about my best friends. My Yaya's.  Every year we head to the Washington coast for a winter get-away of fun.   Our vacation always starts with a stop at Starbucks:

This year 3 of us turned 50 (M turned 50 two years ago) and were presented with our Tiara's.  We wore them all day on our way to the coast.  :)

This New Wave quilt was my main project.  We had such beautiful weather this year that I was able to get a picture outside.   I used Valori Wells fabric...most from her Nest collection.  I LOVE these fabrics. 

I also made my first journal cover. There are tons of free tutorials online and I read a bunch to see how they were made.   I chose to make a pretty plain one so I could see how it went.  I'm always a bit nervous about non-quilt sewing.   I love these Echino prints.   

I added a pocket for my pen.  I think I made it too skinny cuz it pulls.  Next time I'll allow more.

Remember this Mini Stacked Strips wall hanging I made.  Well I took the itty bitty scraps and made a Mini Mini one!   The strips are 1/2 inch and the whole thing is only 9 inches by 18 inches.  Some colors are missing because I didn't have enough.  But its still so cute.  That makes 3 of these Stacked Strips quilts from one Kona solids jelly roll.   :)

We had some amazing sunrises and sunsets.  

Nighty night!   :)

Free Motion Practice Again

First off let me say I really chose the wrong fabric to use for my free motion practice when I needed to be able to film it for the link ups!   Next time I'll be better.  :)    

Besides doing the weekly challenges of Leah's, I am also doing the monthly Free Motion Challenge over at SewCalGal.   Frances Moore is our teacher for January and she gave us this leaf design to work on.  Here is my first attempt at the leaves....if you can see it!

                                         They are fun to do but I struggle with consistency.  Oi!  


For my second try I did the leaves as a border to see if I could do that.  I had trouble flipping them so they wouldn't always look like a straight line.   Then in the middle I did week two of Leah's challenge -- which was to try to do stippling in rows.   Oh did that not work to well for me.  I learned to stipple years and years ago and was taught to randomly work so my brain just doesn't want to work in rows.  I may need to let it go with stippling and work on that idea with future designs.

Here's a close-up:

You're probably gonna be sick of my posts on free motion practice.  I'm linking up each week/month in order to get input from others and also for prizes with SewCalGal.    I'm even considering adding in the free motion quilt along over at Quokka Quilts to get even more practice.   We shall see.   Being house bound due to snow  for several days has sure helped with getting work done.   :)

Free Motion Quilting

2012 is the year for me to get free motion quilting (fmq) from just being head knowledge to being actual experience.  I've taken several classes and done a few quilts...some on my home machine and some on a long arm I rented.  But I've never practiced consistently...which means I'm constantly a beginner having to re-learn everything!

Leah Day from The Free Motion Quilting Project blog is hosting Quilt Along every Wednesday where she is guiding readers in learning fmq'ing.  She is starting us out with basic stippling.  I've stippled a little before so I just dove in an did it all over style.   I was trying to keep it big but found myself getting tighter...then I'd try to go big again.  Being consistent is definitely my issue!  No wonder Leah (and every fmq teacher I've ever had) tells you the key is PRACTICE!   :)
I'm quilting on a Juki TL-2010Q and using Aurifil 50wt. thread (cuz that's all I own).

Here's my first little practice piece:

And here's a close-up of some of my trouble spots:

Big stitches and pointy spots.  

I am easily distracted and it really affects my quilting.  A few minutes of the same old same old and I drift off mentally to something else.  Not quite sure what to do about that!  Maybe an actual quilt would help.   I also had trouble when I'd stop to relax (my shoulders get hunched up to my ears in no time flat) and would start again....my starts would be pointy or end up with those long stitches.   

Time for lunch and then back to PRACTICING.    

Pouches

I'm finally getting around to showing the other gifts I made this year -- Pouches!   I had so much fun with these.  I actually made another one but didn't get a picture of it. I actually didn't get any pictures!  I'm using these images that were taken at work for a blog post they did (we all made pouches).    We used Elizabeth Hartman's' "Perfect Zip Bag" pattern.  Her patterns are excellent.  I liked her method for putting in the zipper.  I created my own patchwork and added personal touches inspired by each of my friends.   

This is the back of  the air stream one.  So cute. 

I got those zipper pulls and the zippers from Zipit Etsy shop.  

And this is the back of the one with the glasses.  Those are one inch squares.

Such a fun project with so many uses.

Push for the New Year

No regular type of New Years resolutions for me this year.  Like so many of you, I never keep 'em.   

This time I decided to choose a word to focus on for the year.  I've been pondering which word........a task that normally would take weeks and weeks......until I realized that what I had to do to pick a word was my word! Push....push through the over-thinking and choose.   Nike's "Just Do It" is my self-nag but its already chosen and I wouldn't want to get into copyright infringement!   Hee, hee.  

So PUSH it is.  Push myself to: love more, get in shape (sigh), learn the auto harp, write a few letters, connect with people more, grow creatively, let go...and so much more.

Designing with Kaffe

Rhonda and I will be teaching a 5 session long class at Quilted Strait starting in February.   

This is the quilt we will be making:

A big focus of the class is asking "what if"?   So often people see quilts and want to make the exact thing....or think they hate it simply because they don't like the color or a particular block.  We need to be able see beyond what we see!    Why not change the block you hate to one you love?  Why not make a scrappy quilt a two color one?  Why not try to achieve a modern look or a traditional look?   Why not?

I am challenging myself to combine Kaffe fabrics (which I happen to love) with solids (very trendy in modern circles)....something that is new to me.

Here are my fabrics so far that I'm playing with:

Who knows what I'll stick with, what I'll take out or what I'll add.  Rhonda is also working with some Kaffe fabrics (stripes mostly) and also wool.  It'll be exciting to see what her version will look like.   That's the fun of it!    I absolutely LOVE this process.  

Happy Recipient

As you can see it was a pillow I made for Liam.  He was pretty excited about it and who doesn't love it when the recipients of our gifts love them?  :)   

Merry Christmas

I took this picture at my friend Yvonne's house the other day.  I LOVE the blue bowl with those little bitty bulbs in them.  If you look closely you'll see my reflection in each one.....so there I am over 40 times.....wishing you a Merry Christmas!!!!

Child's drawing to fabric

I am working on a Christmas gift for my oldest grandson and the picture is a little sneak peek.  :)     Several months ago I asked Liam to draw me some pictures and this dinosaur is one of them.  I wanted to take the drawing and turn it into some kind of fabric project.....not a quilt!    So easy to simply trace the drawing shapes onto the paper side of fusible web and then adhere to fabric.  Isn't he cute?     I'll show you the finished project after Christmas.  His Mama reads my blog and I want her to be at little bit surprised too!  :)

Comedy when you have nothing to post

It's been nearly a month since I posted anything.  Yikes.  I've been making quilty/sewing things but its been for birthdays and Christmas and I can't show anything yet.   I'm also not a fancy photographer who can blur shots just right so you get a peek but can't tell exactly what the project looks like.  So until I can reveal a few things, here's a chuckle for you:

Last One Yard Wonder project

This is my last One Yard Wonder project for work.  Its a dog bed.  I made it for my sons dog, Charlie.  Unfortunately I couldn't get a picture of Charlie on his bed so Carrie had to stage a photo for work.   :)

The bed in the book didn't have a zipper but I added one and used a pillow as "stuffing".  This way the cover can be removed and washed!    The directions also called for piping all the way around but I just pieced those side panels to give it the same look.....easier for me.

This project has been great to participate in.  Gave me lots of new sewing experience with things other than quilts.  

Playing With Big Huge Labs

I see these mosaics all the time on blogs I read and in Flickr when I'm peeking at beautiful things. I have always wanted to know how the gals were making them.  I started noticing this phrase underneath them: "created with fd's Flickr Toys".  When I clicked that phrase it took me to Big Huge Labs......and a new BIG world of FUN!   :)    

This is my first mosaic of projects others have made that I have in my "favorites" on Flickr:

1. DSC_2541, 2. Pretty Pouch- front, 3. Pretty {Little} Pouch, 4. lillian and jill, 5. Untitled, 6. Sewing Machine Block for Amisha, 7. Patchwork Strap Clutch, 8. Pretty Pouch- front, 9. Shirt block for Amisha

Mitered Blanket - One Yard Wonder

This was my latest "One Yard Wonder" project.   It's a small (18 inch square) blanket...doll size.  I used one of the striped fabrics in the picture.  It's a very fussy quilt to do....I wouldn't make another. It took 5 hours just to make those 9 blocks!  

You can see my other One Yard Wonder creations here and here and here.

Little Pouch

I made this little zippered pouch today as a thank you gift.  Its a pattern from Keyka Lou Patterns.  It was an easy pattern to follow and turned out pretty cute.  I did so much better on the zipper this time. Practice is definitely helping.  :)

Fully lined.  And see that cute zipper pull?  I got it from Zipit...a fun Etsy store.

The Mailbox and Six Year Old logic

I first told you about this mailbox in this post.  Hubby and I put the mailbox out some where on our property for our grandsons to find when they come to visit.  There is "mail" of some kind in it but WHO the mailman is is a secret.   :)    David is too young (3) to care about much more than what's inside.  Liam, on the other hand, is really trying to figure out who brings the mail....a little bit like wanting to see Santa bring your presents.

So this last visit, he asked me if he could write a thank you note to the mailman.  I said yes, of course.  He was hoping to catch the mailman getting his note!   LOL!!

Note written and gifts included:

Don't ya just love the handwriting of young ones?   So sweet. 

I have no idea how long we can keep the ruse up.  Hope it lasts a couple more years!

Mini Stacked Strips

We made a full size version of this quilt at work.   I took home the scraps from the jelly rolls when I was done cutting them to size at work.  The colored strips on the big quilt are 32 inches long and 2.5 inches wide.  I cut the scraps down to 6 inches long and 1.5 inches long to make a mini version.   It was such fast sewing....nothing to match and the stacks can be arranged any way you want.  Now I need to quilt it and that's where I'm stuck.  Easiest thing would be to stitch in the ditch.......but that's so boring.   

Any other ideas???

Finished Pips Quilt

I finished this top back in February and had it quilted a of couple months ago but never put up a pic of the finished quilt here on my blog.   I do that all the time!    Shelly Nolte quilted a clam shell design on it for me and I bound in one of the blue Pips fabrics.   It's neatly folded and waiting for just the right time to become some little girls blanket.   :)

Modern Row Robin Quilt Along - last row complete!

This is my last row.  As you can see it's hexagons.....oh boy...hexagons!   The row designer, Jen, had them straight across on a six inch background but I chose to change my layout.   Everyone seems to be doing something to make the quilt uniquely theirs.  :)   I also chose to fuse them on and will either stitch the edges or have the quilting secure them down...haven't decided that yet.

Here is a close up of the three large hexie's that I pieced:

And here is the final row lay-out that I decided on:

I just have to sew the rows together now and I can officially call the top done!  I've had so much fun making this quilt and absolutely love the fabrics.  Gonna be a keeper.  :)

Latest One Yard Wonder Project

I made this Classic Jumper for All-Ages (page 191) for my grand daughter.  It's my latest project for the One Yard Wonder year long project at Pink Chalk.   

Isn't it adorable?   I LOVE it.  Sewing for little ones is so much more fun than for me....no fitting fussiness.  :)

I made these covered buttons by fussy cutting the flowers from my fabric.  Much more fun than a plain button.   We started selling covered button kits at work and I've wanted to try making them but didn't have a reason....till this dress.  Gotta say, they are super easy!  

My next project is the only quilt in the book.   Woo hoo!

Modern Row Robin Quilt Along - row 4 done!

I finished row 4 of the Modern Row Robin Quilt Along. I tweaked it a bit like I've been doing.  I made mini-hourglass blocks for the centers rather than a plain square and I made the last border the white (actually Kona Snow) background to keep the quilt open and airy.   Here it is:

And here are all 4 rows so far:

These are the bloggers behind the quilt:

That Crazy Quilty Girl did row 1

Lilac Lane did row 2

Quilt Story did row 3

GenXQuilters did row 4

ReannaLily Designs will do row 5

Modern Row Robin Quilt Along

I am loving all the different sew-alongs there are in blogland these days.   My Bottled Rainbow blocks are part of a sew-along (I'm still not done with those due to my machine needing work).   3 weeks ago I joined another one.  It's a mystery row robin that you can read about here.  I'm using the leftover blue fabrics from when I made this blue quilt last month!

This was row 1.   Some gals oriented the rectangles vertically...some alternated....but I liked it all horizontal:

Row 2 was stars...oh how I love stars!   I left off one of blocks (a partial 16 inch one) and substituted an 8 inch with a 4 inch in the upper corner.   Personalizing the rows is one of the fun parts of this sew-along.

And row 3 were these cute houses.  I love the itty-bitty ones.

Here are all the rows:

There are two more rows to go.  New ones are posted each Monday.  I can't wait to see what they'll be.  

It's not to late to join in.  The blocks have been fun and fast.

More "One Yard Wonders"

One of the fun parts of doing this project at work is that Kathy let's us have our pick of fabric from the store....woo hoo!   Some times it's hard to narrow it down.  I know...poor me!   :)

Here are the next three projects I did for the "One Yard Wonders" project.

This was the "Yoga Mat Bag":

And my first try at clothing....the "Summer Nightie":

LOVE this Valori Wells fabric for the  "Grocery Tote":

I'm currently making a little dress for my grand daughter, Heidi.  It's not due till the beginning of August but I started early because there are buttonholes...and it's clothing, not my favorite thing to do!   

Finished projects are posted every Friday on the Pink Chalk blog. 

One Yard Wonders

At the beginning of the year the team at my work, Pink Chalk, started working our way through the book "One Yard Wonders"  making every project - two a week.   We each take turns choosing projects to do...kinda amounts to one a month.

 Diana  is our photographer and takes way better pics of our work than I do.  I asked her if I could use her images instead and she said sure!   I'll share my first three today and the other three tomorrow.

The "Organized Bed Pocket" was my first:

Second was the "Tea Cozy":

And my third project was the "Not-Ugly Car Trash Bag":

You can see I picked easy projects to do.   I pretty much make quilts and was worried about being able to make these craft things.   Quilting lets you hide "not so straight" seams but you can hide a curvy top stitch!   :)

You can see all of the teams projects on the Pink Chalk blog.  Just click on "One Yard Wonders Sew Along" on the top tab.  

My Yaya's

This was the only group picture I got of all of us Yaya's on my 50th birthday bash.  We were in the bathroom taking the shot via the mirror.....such a Yaya thing to do!    

Once I borrow a few more shots from the girls, I can show you the fun things they had me (us) do that day.

Fried Foods

I think I have some hidden Southern roots in my lineage cuz I *love* fried food!    Last week I tasted the above treat and have been craving them ever since.     I wonder how much time I have to spend on the treadmill to work those babies off?     :)

Bottled Rainbows - Block 8

 

My yellow block.....which is not a good color to photograph well.   I've stalled a bit on my Bottled Rainbow blocks cuz my brand new sewing machine makes a noise when zig-zagging that bugs me big time.  I took it back to have it serviced.......it was gone for 4 weeks........just got it back last night and made this yellow block.....but the noise is still there.   It's sewing fine, stitches look perfect...but I can't stand the noise.   Sigh.