wow, do I have a handle on the worktable projects?

My work table.  Hard to work on it when there is sew much stuff on it.  :(

But I got the baskets cut out, well at least the coloured bits.  As usual my math is dismal.  There are 24 baskets!  :(  This is really gonna be a challenge for this busy month.  So 18 pin dots are not enough.  I found a few more and two similar.  The other six are gonna be that " but the shortage of fabric just makes the quilt better!" kinda scenario!  LOL

I'm actually glad that I didn't cut the background fabric because the original didn't work with the lighter basket handles  (1/4 inch finished!!!!) so a flowered white will do even if it doesn't 'exactly' match the white on the multi dots which I hope will be sashing.  See above scenario! 


We are still experiencing cold April showers so there may be no rush to get May baskets up on the wall:

As with most things, this series of wall hangings is a learning curve.  I wish I'd made the outside strips wider so I could trim them for proper width after determining the binding treatment. I think the whole shebang would also block and lay flatter.  :O  I am also wanting a better hanging method. 

I was happy with my raindrops and the soft puckering after washing.   I am not so happy with the icy rain and intermittent snow flurries in May though!  :(

I fell badly off the budget wagon this month.  VBSigh. Some journaling supplies and I 'm thinking ahead hopefully to a flowery, summer month.  But gee, my orange period is sure lasting a long time.  ;-O  I can quickly stack these somewhere but the mixed media is mixing heavily with the sewing projects on my worktable this month.  And if the Tablets for Dummies is as helpful as I think it'll be,  I'll be slipping off the wagon again to get Dummies for Windows 8 and for PhotoShop Elements next!

If anybody reading gets a chance, pull your wagon over to The Needle and Thread Network and see what they've been playing with!

wow, Wednesday again

My worktable is not covered in snow but I thought it fitting to pose my finished holly berries on it.

I cut the backgrounds for the Modern Irish Chain wall hanging.  I was holding my breath as I cut scraps for the last few patches. 

I made my half square triangles and then trimmed them for quick nine patch blocks.  I hope to have the top ready by next week.

I am hand sewing the binding in place on the teacup wall hanging.  I think a wash will smarten it up but I am also evaluating my machine quilting.  Modern to me doesn't have piles of intense quilting but this seems to be missing something.  I may do more in the outside border.  ???

edited: I washed it up and I think the problem is the batting is too soft.  I need a much firmer batting.  :(

I wonder what the TN&TN workers have on their worktable this particular Wednesday???

BTW!  This is my 1000th post.  :)

wow- good, Better...

Yesterday  I machine quilted the scrappy yellow lap quilt.  I am in a hurry to finish ufo's for the finish-a-long.  But it said, "not good, not finished'!  Sew.. 

I want to use my binding attachment.  While I was waiting for my great dealer to get back to me on the instructions I carried on...

I got it all the roosters done.  I flipped it over and one section could be better.  Not sure why the tension in that section is off.  I need to listen to Nina better.  I now recognize the sound of an almost empty bobbin and I bet she sends out some kinda moan when she is struggling!  lol

Elizabeth phoned because of Internet problems and we had a lovely chat and then she gave me a couple of web sites.  NOW, I remember why I got the binder at the last Bernina sale.  whoo!  Easy and cute says the video.  So I shall be dragging all the sewing stuff back on the worktable.

I have made up an ABC, and a DEF schedule for Creativity 101.  It starts with A for arrival and some creative warm ups.  Then a Downtown time  (or dessert time) in the middle and we'll Finish up with FUN!
I don't know about my gals but I need the structure!  lol

During coffee with the painters we chatted about what kind of options I had for painting the hutch.  I had filled it with an assortment of accessories that I use throughout the seasons.  I'd like the hutch to look better and showcase the various seasonal decor.  Top is funky fall, middle left is summer cottage, middle right is simply spring. and the bottom is traditional winter!  ???  I do know that the white knobs are definitely going!

Before I lay out the binding fabric I took the time to do some more pages for Printing the Journal  with Margaret over at Joggles.  Serious fun and I'm getting better!

I hope that good and even better things are happening at The Needle & Thread Network.

Wow 2, wrapping it up

I am wrapping things up.

I did this in a bit of a rush but I needed to just do it.

I also need to stop doing the 'in the ditch' stitching for each section as I can baste it well enough without adding those extra lines which end up with double stitching.  I just fee motioned back and forth down each row of blocks.

I can't remember if I had chosen the binding fabric  but I don't know where it is if I did! lol  So I'm  auditioning this green.

The back looks pretty cool!

It is a lap sized quilt.  I would like it bound by next Wednesday.  I'm linking up to my fellow Canadians at The Needle and Thread Network.

Wah on my Wow day

It is going to be back to basics for me!  This quilt is very ripply and I'm kinda puzzled as to why.  It is probably due to sloppiness; a loosening of the all the details that are necessary for quality control!  It isn't terrible but it is a wake up call.

I approached this quilt with a desire to work in a less controlling manner. That's okay except I am seeing some problems. I like it overall but it has caused much angst!  ;^)  So here is my critique:

First I could have thought out the fabrics better.  The more colours the more skill needed to get it right.  I had a palette but the proportions of colours should have been adjusted. I might have been better to fore go the blue which is not so prominent in the theme fabric.   The blue border ties in with the tiny bit of blue in the sashing. which is purposely offset and made sense when I did it.  LOL

Then I used stash fabric for the backing which was great except I never thought about the binding.  Not good.  Pink seemed the best but I went to sleep last night with an uneasy feeling.

In the morning I dragged out more fabric.  aha!  My theme fabric.

This also solved another problem. It added bits of red which I spent considerable time trying to spread all around the edges but particularly where there seemed to be a  serious lack.  Another accent gone amuck. I seem to like accents so much they start to assume a secondary position.  :{

I did go back and applique a pink bud in the centre of the lower left green block. The dark was a coordinating fabric that wanted to be another accent.  sheesh!  (I'm assessing as I type and I'm learning lots!)

I like asymmetrical and hence the wonky sashing.  It solved a fabric deficiency for the final border and I'm cool with that.  But I should have been measuring the sides, not sewing and cutting which seems to be what I must have done.  Bad!  Dock 20 points!  The machine quilting is fairly evenly spaced.  First thread I used was very linty, a variegated Wonderfil.  Nina coughed at one point.  I tried some Invisafil from the same store and all I can say is I'm anxiously waiting a Machine Quilting Sampler of threads from Superior Threads.  I used some scarlet cotton threads and the thread has bled some. grrr

So this is not an award winning quilt but I feel okay about my kids giving it as a gift.  It'll be used and loved.

I have another quilt up for MQing. But for me!  No pressure and no pressing deadline.  I'm set up to do it and I'll work on it at a more relaxed pace.

But I also have some little projects cluttering the worktable.  I need to make some stamps.  And I need to do my snippets challenge.  Until next week...

Quilting

 Common Threads quilt group last night.  Show and tell.  Many are still working on the spiral table runners and some got the latest 'snippets' challenge done.  It was all about hand piecing and hand quilting and I've been there, done that, and have realized if  I'm to finish anything at all,  it'll be with the machine.  I do like hand sewing bindings and hand applique.  But time constraints will have me looking for better options for those as well.

Home stretch with the sampler.  Two more sides to go!  No time to slack off now so I'll be back for a look at my work surfaces tomorrow.

Friday Finish!

The only thing I can offer this morning is a quick cup of tea, coffee, or as my new thrift shop mugs say, chocolate. The four plates have writing on them and an infinite variety of uses for vignettes! The runner was a machine quilting sampler I made up quite a few years ago. I used a varigated thread for the quilted motifs and a cream thread for the various filler designs.

I'll be finishing the week off with another day in the car. My monthly sewing club is this morning and then the poultry order arrives this afternoon and that isn't even chicks but turkeys and ducklings.

Perhaps if I get back soon enough I'll put all the sewing enthusiasm to use and finish something for Friday!

Facing the deadline

For sure I needed some more motifs.

I cut four more out and fused them in place. Then they all need some stitching to further secure the edges which I'd like to make less noticeable but I'm not exactly sure how to best do that. Good thing there is always a 'next time'! ;^)


I thought I should also outline some of the flowers in the background with some free motion quilting. Needs some hand stitching on the back facing but DONE.

The facings are easy to apply. I'd like to figure less bulk in the corners, though.

The wider vertical strip on the left end changed the dimensions of the zig zag quilting and that threw a curve in the works and I could have resolved the open ends better, I think. But it is okay, another next time!

I won't hand stitch this down just yet as I'm thinking I should add some quilting to those pinwheels.
This set up can be improved but not for this quilt. It is go, Go, GO!

look what I found!

I was away for the weekend and hopefully rested and refreshed because I have a lot to finish up for the quilt show. I was tempted to just put down quilt show five times on my list but the devil is in the details they say so I will detail the new week in the side bar and in my day book.

I was also very excited to FIND out something about my style. My word for the year is find and I do need to identify what my particular style is. I'm all over the place but not really settled on one thing. I know I can't 'do it all' so I'd like to fine tune my options. I was MQing the straight lines on the convergence and admiring the way it has layers, depth! As I read about mixed media techniques I am very drawn to the layering and how that creates such richness to pieces. I thought about my favorite quilt! My style is going to involve layers of depth, of interest! I'm quite delighted to be discovering these things.

This Trellis quilt is a pattern that I tweaked many, many years ago. The lattice has 2 white tone on tone fabrics that hardly show any dimension. That was a bit disappointing but value is something I knew I needed to work on. I do like white lattices and I surely didn't want a bold lattice.
I did not have enough of the Hoffman floral fabric so I added a very close fabric that I'm almost sure has some polyester in it. But it really works well and the bit of brightness adds some depth to the florals peeking thru the trellis.

I really like the border fabric, the subtle pattern and washes of colour. I also felt very much in the 'zone' with the free motion quilting. I hate marking and I found the path for easy outlining of the trellis. Then I did leaves and flowers in the open areas. I just think 'leaf' and draw it and I must admit I can do a better drawing with the sewing machine needle than I can with a pencil. Same with the flowers which are pretty much fantasy. I like a subtle variegated thread. I used the even feed foot for a spine in the border and then just filled in with flower shapes.

But it is really the layers that I like so much in this quilt. I want to leave bought patterns behind but this one so appealed and I was pleased with how it all turned out and now I find that I understand why. Layers are the way for me to go! 8^)

Away we go!

The zig zag star quilt was bound, washed, dried, and sent on its way. This is probably the truest colour representation.

It was approximately 54" wide by 72" long. This is the size of a double bed but it will be meant for a couch quilt.

The navy Bali was my starting point. I made the stars with a variety of teal fabrics but the star itself is a soft aqua with some mauve shadings. The centre square was a bright aqua. The zig zag was squeaked out of a mottled fabric that had some teals and touches of purple. It went well with the Bali and I did a bit of piecing to get my last triangle. You cannot cut a pieced block in half for the edges. You lose the seam allowance so they were especially made as half blocks.

The quilting was done with a variegated blue thread. I'd have preferred a better, more subtle blend of the blues but I had 2 spools of it and I wasn't as smart as I am now. lol A touch with a permanent marker fixes up a few troublesome stretches of the very light blue on the very black background. ;^) The quilt needs to be soft. I use cotton batts but kept the quilting about 2 inches apart so the quilt is pretty cuddly.

The backing was pieced and I would pay better attention to the fabric edges as the backing thread needed to change colours. Toile is such an excellent backing as the thread just disappears whether it be light or even the darker thread colour. This was left over from another quilt backing and it was really wide. I wish I had more and other colours but who knew how great it would be!

I hope I've answered a few questions about my process. The wee bit of pieced block peeking out from my design wall is probably my next project after I get my WIP blocks all pieced and the layout confirmed. Something to look forward to as spring approaches.

I'm off for a winter weekend away. I'll be thinking about my weekly journal quilts and the possibility of making them colour studies. I'll post this weeks quiltlet next week because I won't get to it till then.

When I wish upon a star

When I met my new neighbour many years ago she invited me to come learn to quilt. Making more work for myself by cutting and resewing didn't seem like something I wanted to do. I sent my little girls. But we became fast friends in spite of our differences and when she moved again within the year I went to visit her and she took me to Quilt Canada. Whoa!!! Totally changed my work ethic! LOL

She has been diagnosed with the big C and I knew she needed a quilt. This zig zag star top has been in my Loose Feathers section waiting for this moment.

I got to know my new machine when I did the zig zags. I used the walking/evenfeed foot and the guide to mark my line. I am constrained by time and I want a soft quilt so the lines are far apart.

I did a free motion heart in each centre and then I did a curved outline around the centre and around the star. This was surprisingly easy to do. I'll do more.


I wanted a free form, unmarked shape for the outer square. I was thinking something like an ele in script but it morphed into a kinda bud or leaf shape. By the time I was done I had figured the best way to do it and I unpicked the first 2 blocks to improve them.



I got to luv Nina when we finally got into the free motion MQing zone. I remembered why I luv machine sewing!


I like the effect of variegated thread but I do not like the real light on the dark nor the real dark on the light fabric. I wish I could find a better blendable brand of variegated thread.

I will use that walking foot to put on the binding because this afternoon another neighbour and good friend is coming to help hand sew the binding. She sews but doesn't quilt.

I wish everyone had good friends, best buds.

I wish everyone had good health, robust.


I wish everyone had good hobbies, creating.

(I also wish I could take better photos.)