UFO Sunday

Here is another UFO Sunday and my Greek Cross quilt is near the finish line.


The quilting is 75% done. The binding is made and ready to put on.

I decided to do this square loopy design. I will admit, as always, I wasn't sure how to quilt it. So, to think about it, I went ahead and made the binding. But, after much thought, I couldn't get this design out of my head, so I went for it. But I will say, circuit board was a second contender.  I am happy with the choice.

I thought I could get this one finished this weekend, but I guess I'm just not that fast. It will be finished before the next UFO Sunday!!

Quilt Along Wednesday

My QAYG Pointy Paisley homework is done! I seemed to have a lot more weird areas in this design that I had to backtrack and fill, but I like the way it looks. I reminds me of candy corn, especially on the orange(Kona School Bus Yellow).

I used leftover bamboo batting from my mini sample project. I have to say, I like it! It drapes so much better than the warm and white I usually use. My QAYG pieces are not all created equal. I have used different threads, and different battings to see what I like. I hope the end product doesn't get all funky after  having done this. I think(hope) it will be fine since it is just a bed quilt. I probably should be taking notes, but I'm taking mental ones;)

I have had a quilt in my head for a couple of weeks now. I was first inspired by the quilting on THIS beautiful quilt made by Fabienne Chabrolin. I LOVE the quilting on it. I don't have the patience at this time to hand quilt, probably because I'm on a crunch to make Christmas quilts. So I was thinking, what FMQ design could sort of mimic this simple stitch? Then I remembered Leah Day's Spikey Vine design. OK, now I was getting somewhere. That led to more inspiration! I knew I wanted a quilt fitting for a boy. So, For the design of the quilt, I came up with this.

So I'm thinking, Piece this design in the middle. Have a big chunky border with Spikey Vine quilted In the marbled direction likeFabienne Chabrolin's quilt. I think all of the feathers and chevron's we have seen lately also influenced this design. I am not sure how to create it. Strip piecing will be the easiest, but I am worried about the points and "v's" at the top and bottom of the graphic feather design.  How will I meet them up to look like one piece.  Oiy, figuring the math on things like this perplexs me! If anybody has any ideas, throw them my way! I have other things to work on while I figure this out!

This design is subject to change! I may keep as is, or by the time I am done, it could be totally different. :) But it is always fun to see one idea lead to another.

A Finished Top

I got my Greek Cross quilt top finished last night, or rather, very early this morning. I got in the zone and was not stopping until it was finished. Anyone else ever pull an all nighter in the name of quilting?

I randomly pieced these together. Really, I was just to lazy to move the cutting table to access my design wall:S. The only 2 fabrics I fussy cut ended up next to each other as a result. I took the photo of the top upside down. Another lazy moment:)

I used my most prized fabrics including DS, Heather Bialey, Anna Marie Horner, Amy Butler, and Tula Pink. They all look so good together!

I have one leftover block which I think I will incorporate in the back.

I'm linking up with Leah Day for UFO Sunday.

You all have a great day. It looks like a beautiful one outside!!

Friendship pincushion

I made this little pincushion using my leftovers from my "It's Raining Hexies" quilt for the Friendship Quilts Blog Hop which you can link up here. 

It's kind of hard to see but I used a chevron pixilated type of design. And as you can see from this angle, the roof isn't quite even, because I closed it at the top. Hmmmmm, I will definitely close on the bottom from now on. I could go in to why I closed on the top...blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda......but it didn't work anyway, so who cares:) I might re-do this later.

I did a little embroidery on it, and truthfully, I think it's the best part of the pincushion! I have minimal experience with this so it's pretty organic, but I love it!

So now, who am I gonna give it to? Ahem, after I fix it? It's a toss up. It is between my Mother-In-Law and my neighbor's Mom.

My Mother-In-Law is one of the greatest ladies I know. She has always been there for us. Always been supportive. She treats me like her own daughter. My husband CLAIMS she treats me better than himself. UM, he's a little jealous;) sometimes, HA! I really feel like I lucked out in the Mother-In-Law department. I love her:)

or

My neighbors Mom. She just moved here from Louisiana. Neat lady. I haven't got to know her alot yet, but just a thought to welcome to the neighborhood. 

Both these lovely ladies are sewers so I know that they will appreciate it. I guess I will have to flip a coin, and then make another one.:D

I'm going to link this up with
Diane from blank pages

Parade Day  with Katie from There and Back
 

and Kristie @ Quiet Play for TGIFF

I'm Finished!

 Many of you know about the panic I had the other day when my mini sample wrinkled like crazy in the feathers.  After blocking and re-blocking many times, and following Leah Day's suggestions, it still looked like this.

So, what did I do? I made an investment in this little Dritz iron. Man, they are expensive! But I had a JoAnn's Coupon for 50% off, so I got it.

After carefully ironing, it looked like this.

It was very humid today, so it didn't stay completely flat, but MUCH better!

I'm not totally happy with it. There are many things I would do differently.  But I am elated that IT IS DONE! It's outta my hair. Finito. Finished!! I can't say I enjoyed this project.

One good thing came out of it. I learned ALOT! Thank you everyone  for all of your input on fixing my sample!

Here's my snake paisley. Not sure what's up with the wrinkles. It doesn't look near as bad in person. Oh well. I think stitched out on green it looks like tropical leaves:)

Oh, I almost forgot. I tried Aurifil  thread for the first time. It was the orange spool I think, 100% cotton. I had 4 breaks in this snake paisley sample. It stitches beautifully, but not worth all those breaks! I'll stick with Isacord for FMQ;)

I'm linking up with Leah Day for Quilt Along Wednesday's:)

HELP!!

I got to the blocking stage of my mini quilt this evening. IT SHRUNK LIKE CRAZY!! I washed it on delicate, cold/cold water. Maybe this is where I went wrong instead of just soaking it, but I did this because I wanted to get the basting spray out. OIY! I'm smacking myself on the head!

I did NOT put it in the dryer at first. I decided that is what I need to do( at least until barely damp) to hopefully fluff that batting back up???So I unpinned it from my bulletin board to fluff it a bit. Then I will re-pin. Hopefully it helps! I will update you on this. I also think since I used 100% cotton thread made my feathers shrink like crazy! This is something I didn't even consider! I Bet Isacord wouldn't have shrunk like that;) Leah:)))) what would you do in this situation?? It's not pretty! I got the wrinkles out everywhere but the feathers. There are just to many small feathers going in to many directions. If I have to start from scratch, I will have to get more supplies and I may pull my hair out!:(((((((((((((((((((

I

I have made good progress on my mini quilt sample for my local quilt shop. I will get the quilting finished today and hopefully get it blocked tonight!(I must remember to measure before I submerge into water!!) 

I need to get this one done so I will feel good about finishing my UFO Greek Cross quilt!

I settled on Mettler silk-finish 100% cotton 50 wt. thread. It's not my favorite. The shop's thread selection was very limiting. It lents up like crazy. It will be the last time I use it. It will be the last sample I do for the shop. I have learned that if its is not in my heart, it's not enjoyable. I will not waste my time on a project that I don't have TOTAL creative control over!!

Hopefully by Wednesday, I can show you the finished product!! 

I'm linking up with Leah Day  for UFO Sunday on the Free Motion Quilting Project!

Now, I'm off to finish!