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.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  7.75 yards

Fabric used year to date   187.625 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  33.75 yards

Net used 2016  153.875 yards

I completed my redwork wall hanging last night, sewing the final stitch in the binding.  The pattern is called Red Radiance.

Now back to working on another quilt for my grandson.  He's decided to have a quilt with him everywhere he goes, so he needs an additional one.  I'm using a cloth book panel - they don't all work, but this one is about opposites and has no beginning, middle and end.

Check out the progress reported at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week 0 yards

Used year to date  173.875 yards

Added this week 0 yards

Added year to date  33.75 yards

Net used 2016   140.125 yards 

It seems like all I did this week was work on new projects!  Our guild meeting on Wednesday evening was lots of fun, with many members attending.  The snack table was left with crumbs following the break!

I'm still working on my redwork quilt.  I'm taking my time so that I have lots of sharp points to show after taking such care to cut and stitch all the half-square triangle units!

Check everyone's progress at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I began my morning hunting through my recipes, deciding what I was going to bake for both our pleasure, and to take along to my guild meeting on Wednesday evening.  I'm in charge of this month's "social committee", and we are responsible for snacks for everyone, and generally helping where needed before, during and after the meeting.  Every member is assigned a month to do this, and it helps to get more involved in the goings on at our monthly meetings.

I spent the rest of the morning cutting squares - 140 white ones and 160 red ones.  Now I have to start up my assembly line to make half square triangles to complete my redwork quilt project.

It is difficult to photograph a quilt on my new design wall, especially when the fabric is white on the white flannel, the lighting in the area is fluorescent, and the design wall is in a narrow hallway!

I pressed all the units yesterday, and trimmed them to size. (The bottom border didn't make it into the picture!) The missing star points will be made of half square triangle units, as well as the inside and outside borders.  I can see lots of stitching and trimming in my future!

I usually make a redwork project each year, but all the others have been made for children.  I hadn't made one for the past couple of years, and this one struck a chord!  DH is always surprised at how much time I spend doing the hand embroidery, but I love to keep busy while watching TV with him in the evenings - a win-win!

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

There is nothing on my design wall, but I have a redwork project waiting in the wings.

I have stitched the centre medallion, the four corner triangles, and the four border units.  They all need to be pressed, then trimmed to size before I can continue.  I also need to make approximately 289 red and white half square triangle units to complete the project.

Currently, I'm machine quilting for a friend.  Her quilt top is like a giant puzzle right now, with me trying to find designs to stitch in each area!  Lots of fun

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I managed to get section 6 of "Christmas Wish" from Red Brolly assembled yesterday!

 I still have to to the blanket stitch around the stars, and I may add a bead or two......

Check out everyone's weekly progress at Judy's blog.

CHRISTMAS WISH 5TH SECTION

Once again I had fun rummaging through my Christmas fabric collection to finish this section.

I took a couple of short cuts.  I used fusible web to attach the hearts and stars and made a machine blanket stitch around the edges.  The pattern called for "star pockets", but since I don't know the recipient of this quilt, I chose the simple route.  I used metallic gold variegated thread on the stars and some great 30 wt. Sulky cotton on the hearts.

Now I'm impatiently waiting for the next installment of Christmas Wish from Red Brolly

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

My wall is a little sparse this week.  I've finished several projects and haven't really started anything new yet!

I do have the on-going Christmas Wish project from Red Brolly.  I finished the redwork embroidery section for part 5 and appliqued the curved top to the block.....

I have appliqued all the curved parts by machine.  I used a method taught by Sharon Schambers.  I started the same way, making a template and trimming the curve and cutting slits to allow the fabric to press to the back.  But then I pinned it into place and used some "school glue" with a tiny tip to add a fine line of glue to the exact edge.  This was pressed dry with a hot, dry iron.  Then I opened up the area and machine stitched on the pressed line.  The glue will come out with the first washing.  I've used this method many times, and I also use it when making a mitered corner on a border - very secure and very accurate!

Head over to Judy's blog to see what other awesome projects are on the design walls this week!

CHRISTMAS WISH

I finished the fourth section of the Christmas Wish quilt from Red Brolly, just in time to download the next one!

 I appliqued the stars, using fusible web, and stitched a machine blanket stitch around the edge with a variegated gold/bronze/silver metallic thread, to a dd a bit of shine!

Now onto the 5th section!

 

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I've been working away at the Red Brolly Christmas Wish quilt.  I've enjoyed doing the hand embroidery and the hand applique.  I still have to add some gold beads to the Christmas tree!

The third section looks strange, because I decided to use red sequins with bead centres instead of stitching the satin stitch berries.  I'll add all the embellishments once the top is completed and has a good press!  
I don't like this picture - it was taken with our old digital camera, while the one above was taken with the new one.  I'm always surprised at what a difference it makes.  I tried to adjust the colours, but only made it look worse!  The dark fabric in the checkerboard area is actually blue, and the stripes above and below the angel are more gold than green.....

I can't wait for the next step in the pattern.
I've also chosen a pieced border for the triangle twist quilt, but it will be a while in the making - lots of curved piecing!

Check out all the creativity this week at Judy's blog.

FIRST SECTION COMPLETE

As a break from paper piecing, I've been working on the Red Brolly "Christmas Wish" quilt.

Since I make redwork quilts all the time, I decided to go "non-traditional" with this project, and dip into my vast collection of Christmas fabrics.  
I hand appliqued the hearts, but used the fusible method with machine buttonhole stitch edges for the reindeer. 

I'll be adding the buttons on Santa's coat after the top is completed.  I like to give the whole top a good press before I layer it for quilting, so I don't want the embellishments to get in the way or get damaged.

I've been enjoying the time spent pulling fabrics, and knowing that more of my Christmas fabric is being used......

The next section is waiting for assembly, and the third section still awaits its two appliqued heart sections.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  140.125 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  112.875

Net used 2012  27.25 yards

 

I've been working away at the triangle spin paper pieced blocks this week.  I average 2 per day.   The extreme heat and humidity finally broke this week, so I've been enjoying the lovely sunshine and having the windows and screen doors open each day.  I've also been sleeping better, so I have a bit more energy!

 

I've been doing some redwork embroidery.  These are the first three blocks for my version of the Christmas Wish quilt by Red Brolly.  I love having some hand work to do in the evenings.

DH and I went on a date to see "Hope Springs".  The audience was filled with lots of couples "of a certain age", and the movie was enjoyed by everyone!

Head to Judy's blog to check on others' stash reports this week.

QUILTING AND OLYMPICS

I've been trying to get some quilting done on my latest redwork quilt, but the Olympics seem to get in the way (in a good way).

For someone who doesn't enjoy sports and doesn't follow sports, I love watching all the different competitions at the Olympic games!  I cheer for Canada - but I love to see all the Olympians - they are all winners!  Goods sportsmanship and fair play is the name of the game.

I'm off to my BFF's for an afternoon of sewing and then dinner with the guys, maybe even a game of cards.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

My wall is a little bare.  I have finished the last block of the fairy tale series by Bobbysocks Quilts.

 The twelve blocks will have to wait until I return to my stash for completion.  I have collected lots of red with white, white with red, and red, white and black fabrics over the past few years.  I save them to use with my redwork projects.  I guess I'll have to figure out an interesting way to set the blocks.  I try to do something different with each project.
I'm almost finished block 11 of the Baltimore Bliss quilt from Fat Cat Patterns.

 I also managed to do all the "stitch-in-the-ditch" quilting on my pinwheel "Stack-n-Whack" quilt this morning (blocks shown here).  I am in the process of hand stitching the binding, which will take a while as this quilt is big!

Now head over to Judy's blog to see what projects everyone has on their design wall.

ANOTHER FINISH

Raggedy & Friends is finished!  Thanks Kaaren at The Painted Quilt. 
I wasn't sure how to quilt it, so I used Kaaren's quilt as inspiration.  I don't usually do regular feathers, but managed to stitch some in this project.  I reverted to my "Hooked on Feathers" type for the border.

 I stippled around the stitching in the redwork blocks with shiny white rayon thread.  The stitch in the ditch was done with monofilament (invisible) thread, and the stitching in the black sashing was done with the smoke colour monofilament.  The rest was stitched with a medium beige coloured thread, showing nice dimension in some of the areas, and showing up wonderfully on the darker fabrics.  I stitched area by area, and was surprised how quickly I finished.  I used a chalk pencil to draw in some guidelines, but just stitched freely, using my Juki set into a table and moving the quilt.
Now I'll be able to add the fabric used in this quilt to my stash report on Sunday!

Design Wall Monday

My "wall" looks very empty....

 I did complete the stitching on "Rapunzel", and I'm working on "The Frog Prince", all designs by Bobby Socks Quilt Co.
I have 3 quilt tops waiting to be sandwiched,  the final fruit fabric quilt, the Raggedy and Friends quilt, and my pinwheel Stack-n-Whack quilt.  I pieced backings for them, then made sure they were washed and ironed (the biggest one is waiting to be done first thing this morning.)  Then I have to check the schedule at the clubhouse to see when a couple of big tables will be free for some pin-basting.

Bougainvillea

 I have the final two blocks to prepare for applique, and then I'll have all 12 of the "Baltimore Bliss" blocks complete.  I'll probably finish this quilt when I return to Canada in less than a month.

Check out everyone's progress at Judy's blog.

Design Wall Monday

I have finished all the "Raggedy and Friends" blocks!  Thanks Kaaren at The Painted Quilt.  I have added all the sashing, now just have to assemble the quilt, find fabric for border, binding and backing, and I'll have another project ready to be quilted.
Check out what everyone else has been working on at Judy's blog.

Stash Report Week 9

Used this week  0 yds
Used year to date  61.375 yds
Added this week  8.125 yds
Added year to date  19.375 yds
Net used 2011  42  yards!

I'm still ahead of the game, but my net used number is shrinking!  Of course, I am only calling the fabric "used" when my projects are completed, so I'm sure it will turn around soon.
  I realized that my collection of neutrals was quickly dwindling, so I picked up some on sale at Joann's.  I still had some of the fruit fabric from the stack n whack projects, but I had to add some more of the darker green fabric.  Then I attended the Tampa quilt show on Friday and 5 fat quarters that I can add to my redwork stash, jumped into my tote bag!

 I finished two more redwork fairy tale blocks from Bobby Socks Quilt Co.  The Princess and the Pea is the only block with another colour, as I just had to stitch the pea in green thread!

I just love the smug look on the cat/tailor's face in this interpretation of the Emperor's New Clothes!
I also pieced blocks 10,11 and 12 for the Raggedy and Friends BOM from the Painted Quilt, and I'm almost finished the embroidery on block 10.  A busy week, even with two sets of visitors and a quilt show.
Now head back over to Judy's blog to see how everyone else is doing.......

On a positive note

All the disruptions in my life have a positive side - I've been finishing lots of redwork!  Here are some more of the fairy tale series from Bobby Socks Quilt Co.

Design Wall Monday

I'm busy quilting a queen-size quilt, so my design wall is empty....
I do have a couple more redwork blocks to show, from the Fairy Tales BOM at Bobby Socks Quilt Co.

Head over to Judy's blog to see what creative happenings are on others' design walls.