DESIGN WALL WEDNESDAY

I'm late with my report this week.  I've been busy making labels for my quilts, and preparing cloth bags with labels for each as well.  My guild's quilts show is approaching quickly.  Tomorrow I'll be running a photography session all day, to take pictures of the entries for our CD, that will be for sale at the show.  DH is my able assistant, helping with setting up stands, backdrops, lighting, etc., and he is skilled at handling quilts as well!  I think he's a keeper.

I completed a Christmas table topper - I had made one to donate to my guild's dinner in  December, and made a second top at the same time.  I quilted it, and adding binding, so it will be ready for the boutique.  I used Superior Thread's Glitter hologram mylar thread to quilt the centre, but unfortunately it doesn't photograph well.

I made a Stack n Whack quilt a while ago, and had a narrow strip, with 6 matched layers remaining.  I decided to cut it into as many 60 degree triangles as I could, and managed to make 18 blocks that measure 2 1/2 inches across.  I added a dark blue border, and pinned it to my design wall.  Last week, when I went searching for an additional border fabric, I discovered a floral stripe that had been in my stash for a long time.  It looks like it might have been from the same line of fabric......  Another item for the boutique at the quilt show in June.

I'm linking with  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts .

 

DESIGN WALL MONDAY - TUESDAY AGAIN!

I seem to have difficulty meeting my deadlines lately!  DH and I were out all day Monday, and I was too tired (or lazy), to get this posted!

I've been working on several projects, but managed to get the first 20 blocks of my latest partly sewn, and pinned for the final stitching.  I still have 12 alternate blocks to stitch, as well as the pieced setting triangle for this "on point" setting.

Note my "leader and ender" square in my machine.  If I have been piecing, there is always one under the presser foot.

I've also been working on Esther Aliu's Diamond Hill pattern, and just completed hand applique on the 4th block of this wonderful project.

I think I enjoyed making this block the most!

I have been neglecting my guild's Block of the Month, and I'll have to dedicate some time to making the final set of blocks and stitching the centre of the quilt together.  My panel of clamshells is stitched together, and now I'm trying to decide whether to make a pillow top with it, or use it in a tote bag - a suggestion from a member in my group.   

I'm joining others at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, to share my "design wall" today.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY - OOPS TUESDAY!

I spent some time over the weekend playing with clamshells.  I chose 5 inch squares from a stack of leftover charm squares, and cut a stack of clams.  I tried the traditional way of machine piecing first.

I matched the notches, and used a ton of pins and very carefully stitched, making sure that all the fullness was eased in, and no tucks were formed.  I pressed the seam allowances toward the piece just added.



Then I tried a modified English paper piecing method.  The first row was stitched together.  Then I spent time turning the top edge to the back, using a freezer paper template that I had ironed to the back of each piece. 

 I spread some Best Pressed along the seam allowance of the top, and then, using a stylus to help, pressed the edge to the back with my iron.  When the block was cool, I pulled the freezer paper away.  When I had all the pieces ready for the first row, I used dots of liquid washable glue to attach the row, pressing the row dry with my iron.  I top-stitched the row, using a narrow, short blind hem stitch, with monofilament (invisible) thread in the needle, and regular thread in the bobbin.  I adjusted the thread tension so that none of the bobbin thread showed on the top. 
I like both methods, but decided to use the second method to make my pillow top.
I also began cutting pieces for a new large quilt project.  I am using some fabric from my stash, but also added a few yards to my stash at the end of the year to fill out my selection.  The first block is a pieced 9-patch, and I have completed the first part - simple 4-patch blocks, and started on the second part - a square or diamond in a square unit.  The orange/red is new - a fossil fern that called to me from the quilt shop shelf!
I'm connecting with others at Small Quilts an Doll Quilts this week.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I am in mid-pack for our winter visit in the south.  My machine is packed, ready for travel, along with lots of projects to work on over the winter.  My threads, rulers, cutters, and tons of other items too numerous to mention are packed into totes, ready to be loaded in our van.

I have 2 design walls in my basement studio.  This is the smaller one, next to my sewing desk.  I have pinned up some orphan blocks, and have been hoping for some inspiration.  The panel on the bottom left is a tiny "stack n whack" panel, made from leftover fabric.  I might have to finish it as a miniature, or a small wall hanging.
My larger design wall is in the narrow hallway opposite the staircase, and is almost impossible to photograph!

First is my hourglass leader and ender project - I'll continue with this next year....

 When I was making my table topper for my guild's Christmas dinner, it was just as easy to make 2, so the top is in waiting for quilting.

I found the bunny, eggs and flowers appliques in a bag, leftover from a previous project, and had the basket block from a shop hop kit.  I appliqued the parts, and hope to make it into a table topper in the spring.

I used this pretty floral stripe to make a mitered border on a quilt, and just couldn't throw away the cut-offs!

Leftover half units from the one block wonder quilt I made last year.  I'm hoping that inspiration hits, so I can use these pieces.

Right now, they all have to wait until spring, and by then, I'm sure I'll have a few leftovers from my winter quilting to add to the mix!



Fabric used this week  1.75 yards
Fabric used year to date  112.25 yards
Fabric added this week  0 yards
Fabric added year to date  52 yards
Net used 2017  60.25 yards

I'm linking with Small Quilts and Doll Quilts here, and Love, Laugh Quilt: Monday here!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I thought I'd see what was in my cupboard, and found 4 hangers loaded with fabric strips that had been overlooked, and a small bag of "parts".  I trimmed them into the sizes of strips and squares that I save, to be added to my bins for future projects.

I found some 4 patches, and decided to get them into a quilt top before they got lost again for another 10 years or so!

I started by adding triangles to each 4-patch, to set them on point, using green and gold fabrics.  Then I added a border to each one, using the same dark red pin-dot fabric that was in the original blocks, and a navy blue fabric with silver speckles, just a shade darker than the original blue print.

While searching my stash for a fabric to use for sashing, I found a piece of the autumn print that was part of the original 4-patches!  Once that was added between the blocks,  I checked my stash of green fabrics and found a piece that was perfect for the final border and binding, and I was able to use the whole piece!

Just think - it all started with a dozen 4patch blocks!  I'll get a better picture of the whole quilt after I find some backing and complete the quilting!

I'm linking to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.  Check out what others are working on this week.

DESIGN WALL / STASH REPORT

Fabric used this week  5 yards

Fabric used year to date  77.875 yards

Fabric added this week  1 yard

Fabric added year to date  52 yards
Net used 2017  25.875 yards

My grandson has started watching Bob the Builder.  When we visited their family I found a "Bob" book panel in the clearance area at Len's mill store in Kitchener.

I cut the pages apart, adding green sashing, printed with a large variety of trucks and construction vehicles.  The center section features Bob and some tools, also found on the side of the panel.  I had the bright yellow fabric with road signs, so it was added between the 2 blocks, and used as binding.

I also found this flannel in my stash, purchased many years ago, and just waiting for the right project!

The quilt picture was taken late at night, just before being packed up for delivery!

Our Grandson loves it, and has learned all the names of the tools!  We had another lovely visit, but I came home with a summer cold.....

I'm linking to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

We received great news yesterday.  The eldest daughter of our dear friends is getting married on September 2nd!  We have know the bride since she was a year old, along with her middle sister who graduates with an engineering degree next week, and her brother, who is our Godson!  This will be quite the year for this family, and we're happy to be asked to share their celebrations.  Of coarse, I spent the evening coming up with a plan for a quilt for her and her husband to be!  

When looking through my orphan blocks, I found these six blocks, leftover from a double Irish chain quilt that I made a few years ago.

I also had a stack of 4-patch blocks that I made as "leaders and enders" during the winter.  Using these, along with 2-patch units with a light fabric and a centre dark square,  I'll have the blocks made in no time!  I have already pulled an assortment of light fabrics for the alternate blocks as well.  I want to have lots of time to concentrate on the quilting of this special quilt. 

I'm joining others at a new "design wall Monday" link-up today, at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I just finished adding the final border on my "Shades of Autumn" quilt top.  The binding has been prepared, and I am just waiting on the delivery of the backing fabric.  The leaf blocks are ones that I printed at a workshop in September.  I'm looking forward to adding more detail and some dimension to the leaves when I work on the machine quilting

 It seems like such a long time since I stitched anything, even though it is just a couple of weeks.

I think I'll get out one of my collection of baby panels, and make a quick quilt.

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Here are some close-ups of the quilting on my redwork quilt.

I stitched in the ditch around all the triangles, and outlined all the embroidery.  Then echo quilting in the borders and setting triangles and squares.  I stitched curls and leaves around the embroidery in the centre block.

I plan on taking this quilt south, and it will decorate my living room in February.
Now back to stitching my grandson's next quilt!
Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I finally dusted off my camera and took some pictures of the baby quilt that I finished last week.
It began as a panel, called "A Beautiful Day", designed by Jacqueline Steves.  I decided to make it a bit larger, so I added two borders.  The small lime green border was made from a fat quarter - the only matching green that I could find in my stash.  The final border and binding was made from fabric that I bought from Connecting Threads - the colour was perfect, and the swirls in the fabric echoed the swirls in the panel design triangle border.

 I outlined the centre panel, using monofilament (invisible) thread.  I decided to outline all the designs, and not add any extra quilting, as the design is cute and busy.  I stitched flowers and leaves with curlicues in the plain pink area, wiggles in the lime green and curls in the final orange/gold border.
This quilt will be donated to our local hospital by my community quilts group at my guild.
Now back to my machine quilting.  I have to take advantage of the time I have today, as we have company arriving again tomorrow!

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Now that my community quilt projects are completed, waiting for the next workshop, I finally pulled out the stack of "one block wonder" blocks that were waiting.  I cut and stitched the half blocks while South last winter, but I don't have a big enough design wall to play with the layout.

I spent a couple of hours, arranging and re-arranging the blocks until I was happy with my choice, and yesterday I began stitching them into vertical rows.  Of course, DH took one look at the blocks and asked for his sunglasses!  I love bright, funky "what were they thinking of" prints for stack n whack blocks!

I managed to stitch a few of the rows before we headed out for dinner with friends and a concert in the park.  I began stitching on the darker side of the quilt....

Making stack n whack style quilts always puts a smile on my face.  Now back to stitching!

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times , and  Monday Makings at Love Laugh Quilt.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Here I am, posting late again, but better late than never!  First a picture of my guild's BOM project for 2015-16.  I finished mine a while back, but finally got around to taking some pictures!
The final border is from Judy's book, "60 Pieced Quilt Borders"
Here are some close-ups of some of the quilting in blocks...

 

Several of the quilting fills were inspired by the free tutorials at The Inbox Jaunt.

At my last get-together with our community quilts group, the coordinator asked people to take a box of quilt blocks, and make them into a quilt.

The first box I picked up had 60 small 9-patch blocks, made from gold, rust, tan and brown fabrics.

I began by adding triangles in tans and rust to make the blocks larger.  Then sashing and cornerstones.  The centre used 48 of the 60 blocks, so I used the remaining blocks as corners in one border and corners and centres in the final border.  I have the binding made, and it will head to the next community quilts get-together to find a backing and get pin-basted, ready for quilting.

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I'm still quilting my latest project, but I took some time off this afternoon.  After teaching a workshop on clothesline baskets, I came home and started wrapping some for myself.

I was inspired to try a new edging after watching a tutorial at Ami Simms website.  She made hers with cotton clothesline that was dyed, but I used the regular wrapped clothesline. 
The edging takes way more line that you might think, but it creates an interesting edge.

I also had a shorter piece of clothesline, so I kept wrapping.....

This used some leftover fabric from my grandson's quilt, along with the selvedge and some narrow strips of a multicoloured stripe that I used for the sashing in another project.  I decided to finish with some swirls on the outside this time.

Now back to quilting.

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I'm in mid pack, which means that there are piles of things everywere.  I brought some "kits" south in the fall with plans to complete them, but totally forgot that I had left several the year before!  I decided to sort through everything, and decide which ones were remaining again this time.I thought that pictures might help me to remember next fall, when I begin packing once more.  These are all baby quilts, mostly using panels I have collected over the years.  
Kit 1 is a narrow panel, and I've left an assortment of green fabric, along with a gold with colourful stars.  The fabric on the right will be binding, and the flannel is white with tiny green dots.

Kit 2 is a baby panel based on Twinkle Little Star.  It is very pastel, and the stripe on the left will be binding, with the baby print flannel will be the backing.

Kit 3 is a panel of calico animal toys, and shares the same binding and backing fabric.

Kit 4 is a panel with toys riding on a train, and the backing is a train print flannel that I've had for some time.  The binding will be made from the primary coloured stripe. 







Kit 5 is a cute panel  with pink gingham backing flannel.  I'll have to hunt for an appropriate binding fabric - I'll check my stash when I return north.

Hopefully I'll remember that they are here waiting to be made when we are ready to return next fall.

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

After making flying geese blocks for a quilt border, I had a few remaining, so I stitched them into these 3 blocks.  Now I have to make 2 more blocks to add to another baby quilt, and it will be ready to quilt.  
I have stopped trying to save leftover bits and pieces of blocks for future projects, but use them for completed blocks.  I'm hoping to make a scrappy UFO block quilt this summer, to use as many of my leftover blocks as possible.

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Nothing on my design wall yet, but I  hope to get these 4 quilts pin-basted this afternoon.  One is a larger scrap quilt, with braid border, and there are also 3 small baby quilts.  The binding is all cut, stitched and folded, ready to attach too!

We had fun on the weekend, entertaining all DH's band members and families.  I made pulled pork with onion buns, potato salad, and we also had coleslaw. 

There were snacks, beverages of choice, and lots of conversation during the afternoon, and we had great goodies for dessert as well.
 The band is performing for a group having a celebration dinner this evening, so I hope to get some quilting done while DH is out.

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I've been busy using some scrap 2 1/2 inch strips.  I made blocks, using Bonnie Hunter's Scrappy Trips pattern.  The blue borders are made from a piece of fabric that didn't make the final cut in my Storm at Sea quilt, and I also used more of the braid strips that I made as "leaders and enders" all last year.

When I was quilting with my community quilts group up north last spring, I found these "blue dog" blocks that had been cut from a panel, and then left behind.  I pulled some fabric from my small stash to turn them into two baby quilts.
The four square blocks needed 4 smaller pieced blocks to complete the top. 

 The six smaller, rectangular pieces were just sewn together, and then I added a "zipper" border, made from 2 fabrics.

Now I just have to find time to get all three pin-basted, so I can complete them.

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.