summer stitching

There's been some summer stitching.  All of those red and cream hst's from my last post became sashing for these applique blocks.  Once that was done there needed to be a border of hst's as well.  I decided to use blue and cream hst's because they kind of frame it at the same time.  To speed up making them I decided to use triangle paper.  I was impressed at how easy it was to find, print and use triangle paper from the internet.  

This cream with little red star fabric was in my stash and perfect for a final border. Now it will have to return to the ufo bin until I have time to quilt it. 

I've been working on the bottom border for my signature quilt.  It is fun to be working with these fabrics and shapes again. 

 

 I've also been working a little bit on my Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt - On Ringo Lake.  I had to make the setting triangles for the edge so I could start putting the blocks together.  As part of that process some pieced triangles got cut off.  I didn't want to waste them so I made a potholder with them.  Now I wish I had more cutoffs so I could make a second potholder :0)

 

 Here is what I have assembled so far of the mystery quilt.  With solid pink sashing strips it goes together smoothly and the pieced sashing included in the mystery instructions I will use for a border.

I hope I can get the rest of this top together this summer. 

There's been lots of this going on this summer as well.  Some weeks are better for stitching than others...

Happy Quilting!!

not my Christmas sewing

It's the season of Christmas making and Christmas sewing.  I can't post about that stuff so looking back I see I haven't posted a couple of things.

 

I have enjoyed seeing online the Star a Day quilts using Karen Styles' pattern and templates.  I thought it would be the best portable handwork project ever. They're small stars -3 inches finished and I could make hundreds of them. 

They are handpieced.  I really believe that I should love handpiecing.  I love handsewing and I am usually okay with fiddly, small pieces.  However, I just don't love it. And I'm not very good at it.

This first star is not exactly square and the centre - ugg!  I'm about 1/2 way with the next star and I did cut a third one out but I'm not sure this is the handwork project for me.  The cutting out of these blocks is sloooow as well.  They are darling little stars though - so we'll see.  Maybe after a few more I will be hooked??

And I was surprised I never posted a picture of my 9 completed pots of flowers blocks.  This project has hit the back burner now because it's got to the machine stitching part - sashing and borders etc...  In the new year I will get back to this.  And in the meantime I am anxious to find a new easy prep applique project  :0)

Happy Quilting!!

one stitch at a time

I've been busy working on all the same projects.  With every stitch I make progress but it's not too exciting to post about...

I finished quilting the feathered wreaths and decided to go back to the applique areas with some fill in quilting.  This design is easily marked with masking tape and I like it - it looks a bit like a spider web.

 

 I like how it looks from the back too :0)

 

I am still having fun making these pots of flowers.  Here is the latest one.  I just love this background fabric.  

 

 I have 7 made now and I prepped the 8th just this afternoon.  I haven't made a plan yet for sashing/borders. 

So, as it turns out, all the same projects is still exciting for me :0)

Happy Quilting!!

handquilting progress



Progress continues with the handquilting on my Lily quilt. After I finished outlining the stems and leaves I decided to quilt little wreaths around the cornerstones. I don't have a template and so they are a bit quirky - adds charm right?



 I'm doing half wreaths along the edge and 1/4 wreaths will go in the corners. 

 After that, I have no idea what I will quilt next.  I hope it comes to me.

I can't seem to stop making these pots full of happy flowers.  My 7 year old saw these blocks laid out and remarked that they needed some fabric thingies in between them.  I think she's right :0)  They will need some sashing.  I'm pretty sure now that I will be making all 9 blocks like the pattern.

Happy Quilting!!

Fall stuff

Thanks so much everyone for all of your congratulations on my last post.  I continue to think about my next big applique project. I want to choose carefully - there are so many tempting options.  In the meantime I have appliquéd another pot full of flowers and have the 3rd block prepped.  This will be a good small project to tide me over my indecision :0)  The flowers are just so happy.



 I worked a bit on my Bird of Paradise border.  Progress is slow as it takes forever for me to plan and prep.

 I had to take yesterday afternoon to make tomato sauce.  I can't keep up with eating tomatoes and they are so yummy from the garden.

 I also made these 2 fox faces.  What fun, easy blocks.  Our guild is making a donation quilt with Elizabeth Hartman's Fancy Fox pattern.  I think it will be fantastic!

I was so pleased my sunflower bloomed this week.   Quite often the squirrels will climb up and chew the flower buds off before they bloom.  I was also glad it bloomed before we had our first frost last night.  It's such a short growing season here - but beautiful!

This should inspire me to get back to working on that wallhanging for my DD#1 with the circle I handpieced this summer.
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Happy Quilting!!

applique

With my Trailing vines panels finished up I was in need of a quick-to-prep applique project for a weekend away.  We were visiting family so I knew there would be time to sew.  

 I prepped this block from the Renee Plains book "A Bird in hand".  Fast and fun to prep there are 9 blocks just like this in this pattern.  I should have prepped more as stitching this down went fast too.  I am undecided if I will make 8 more.

This afternoon I finally had time to add the last panel onto my Susan McCord Trailing Vines quilt.  It was a nice surprise to find I had the top and bottom borders cut out and ready to sew on. 

I am very excited to have this top complete!  Started back in Nov 2011 these panels have travelled so many different places with me.   I want to take some nice pictures of it so I will show more soon.  I plan to quilt it by hand.  Will I be able to wait until my current handquilting project is finished before starting??