WIP Wednesday

Not much to report here.  Pretty much just been running around on my days off.  Busy busy.  Anyways, Here's what I was up to today.

I've made it farther since I took the picture.  I almost finished the whole middle panel.  I just did echo lines around the flowers, and then did meandering loops in between.  I love that blue colour of thread!!

I have not yet done this week's New York Beauty block.  I want to finish quilting this guy first!

As far as my Sew. Happy. Quilt. QAL., I have used every single basting pin I own on the above quilt, so it will just have to wait its turn.

Hooking up with WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced.

Sparkles and a Quilt Top

Thanks for the congratulations everyone!  I have gotten some pictures now, so I will do a quick fill-in on the oh-so-recent engagement.  First off, it was just a straightforward question, right in the middle of cleaning up the new shop (plumbing business to be), and then back to normal--just right for us!  Here it is:

This is a charm square from the rainbow charm swap!

So there, mega picture overload it is!  I know that white gold is all the rage right now, but when I tried on a ring in yellow gold it just looks better on me and I love it!

This week I missed the usual WIP Wednesday for a bizarre reason.  In Regina (capital of SK) the main internet/phone provider had someone accidentally sever a major fibre optic cable and knock out internet and phone for the day in South-Eastern SK.  Oops!  Turns out that was the day I got stuck in the mud on my way to work with no cell service so I had to walk until some kind stranger picked me up.  Oy vei.

Anyways, I didn't spend the entire past few days just staring at my ring, although I do that enough.  I was able to do two blocks for the New York Beauty QAL.  Turns out, I actually quite like paper piecing and I don't find it terribly hard.  Sewing curves together on the other hand....good gravy I suck.



Here's the first block.  It actually went okay-ish.  The fabrics are modernology from a giveaway by Aimee over at Salt Marsh Designs along with a few from my [tiny] stash.  I had to add some white to the bottom of the centre because it was not aligned at all.



Block 2 was bad though!  I was able to use almost all the scraps from block one, which was good, but when I sewed all of the elements together (5 of them) I was so far off that I had to trim it to 8" to work.  It's supposed to be trimmed to 8.5" as just a block.  Oops.  Hopefully it gets better with what is coming!! 

I plan to make one of each block (10) and do a table runner or else a wall hanging of sorts.  I really do like the look of them.

Also, I finished assembling my Sew. Happy. Quilt. QAL. top.  I did a little bit of a different style and I'm really happy with how it turned out.



My fiancee really likes this quilt, and our room is grey, so I'm going to make this for our bed.  The only thing is that will be huge, and as a result it would be a beast to quilt in my little machine.  So, I hope to succeed in my little plan that I've made in my head--I'm going to quilt this, then make and quilt some borders, and then attach them with a QAYG method.  as it sits, it is big enough to cover the top of the bed with little to no overhang.

Also, I did have a finish a while I ago.  I finished my Sparkle QAL mini quilt, and I really really don't like it.  I hate the quilting I did.  I didn't really love it to start with either.  Not sure why.  Anyways, I am using it to cover a little side table I keep my printer in and I can tolerate it there because only half fits and it's mostly covered.



It's too bad because the fabrics (Hometown by Sweetwater) are so great!

Anyone ever have one of those projects you make that you just don't like??

QAL Wrap Up

Well, last week was the final block for the Sew. Happy. Quilt. QAL.!!  I will be pretty sad now that it's done--I've really enjoyed the blocks each week, and I enjoyed being able to try something completely new that I'd never done before.  However, I'm going to try and do the New York Beauty QAL--all paper piecing (yoikes).  I'm already a week behind though, so I'd better get cracking on that!  Anyways, without further ado, here is the final block.

And here is the lot of them.  My plan is to put in some sashing, but not just the regular type.  I can't think how to even begin to explain it, so I will just have to leave it at that until I post a pic.  I start a stretch of 4 days tomorrow so it may not be for a bit!

On top of that, I've also pin basted my African quilt for my sister.  It's just waiting for the right colour of  thread for me to get rocking on it.  

In more personal news, I am officially engaged!!!  I'm very excited.  When I get a nice sunny day some blingy pics are most likely to follow :-).

Marching on

Well, time soldiers on.  Today I'm going to post my work from today, and from Jan/Feb to share with the blog meet at Lily's Quilts.  So sorry if you've seen it already.  In a burst of energy while the recipient of this gift was visiting, I finished up binding the table topper.

And here's a shot with the backing fabric

The true colour lies somewhere in the middle of this two pictures.

I also did this week's block for the Sew. Happy. Quilt. QAL.

I foundation pieced this puppy.  I am planning on taking part in the New York QAL which involves paper piecing (yipes) so we'll see which I like better.  I ended up ripping a lot of seams while sewing those four squares to one-another and I am still not ecstatic with the results.  But, from a distance--looks great!

Here's the whole kit and caboodle together, only one more block!

January saw two baby quilts:





February saw a Quilt top made with some fabric my sister brought home from Africa--this quilt is for her. Also, the table topper from above!



I'll be linking up with Sew n' Tell and Lynn's Blog Meet.