Friday 16 November 2012

Getting there

I have been working on a new quilt for a few months, and I am finally getting some work done on it.  It's made with Modern Meadow by Joel Dewberry and some moda solids.

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Here is a few of the hourglass pieces.  I spent so long meticulously trimming them that they deserve their own picture!!

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This is the first row, pieced together.  I didn't quite start high enough so I couldn't fit it all on the wall.  I plan to sew it before I assemble the next one.  It's going to be a very colourful quilt!

I'm hoping to have the top finished soon, but I just bought a new house!  So, we'll see how much free time there is to be had!

Wednesday 7 November 2012

WIP Wednesday

I feel like my posts are so far and few between these days.  I have some exciting things going on though.  On the weekend, November 3rd to be exact, I got married!  It was a perfect day, and if you're the type that likes wedding photos please take a gander at the photographer's page...she did an amazing job!

I did actually do something recently though!  A friend at work is getting married, so I made a swaddler for her coming baby.  They are not going to find out the gender before hand so I tried to stay gender neutral.  It's too bad because I have some really lovely children's fabrics.

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This is a dumb dot print by Michael Miller that I got from the Fat Quarter Shop with plain white on the inside.  

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There it is open, and it's hard to tell but I placed the velcro so that there would be the max amount of adjustability with the least amount of velcro.  I used a pattern from Pinterest, but the original design is available for free here.  I didn't have an appropriate fabric for lining it (fleece/flannel) so I used a cotton and then lined it with batting.  This makes it a bit thicker than it's supposed to be, so hopefully it all works out ok.  It was a good afternoon project and I think it makes a wonderful shower gift.

So, sharing this on WIP Wednesday!



WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Thursday 6 September 2012

A New Leaf

Well, I have to say it has been a while since I have posted anything.  I'm hoping that with the coming of fall I may do more--but I can't promise that.  Mostly I have been wedding planning, only two months to go!

Tonight I decided it was time to start a new quilt!  I have had all of the fabric, along with the pattern, sitting in a rubbermaid shoebox for a few months, just waiting for me.  The collection is Modern Meadow by Joel Dewberry.  I love it so much I have put off cutting into it, but now is the time!

Cutting
Late night fabric cutting.
Anyways, i'm using an easier patter, with larger blocks, to show off the fabrics.  It's called "Bizzy Kid" from Cluck Cluck Sew.  I'm making the twin size.

I always feel a bit sad cutting into fabric I love, but I think that I'm going to love this quilt.  Hope everyone's week has been great!

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Red in the Face

I have to say, I'm a little bit embarrassed about how long it has been since I was on here.  This summer has been good, and full to the brim.  However, I am making it work today because I finally finished something!

The first finish I have to share is a long time coming!  I even had the backing laid out on the floor for a few weeks before I got anywhere with it.  Finally though, I just grit my teeth (not really) and went for it.  So, here is the final product.

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The picture isn't the best, it's a lot 'fresher' in real life, but I think this gives a good idea.  The charms came from a swap I took part in much earlier this year.  The binding was actually left over from another quilt where I got a little bit carried away and make about triple the amount of binding that I would need (I still have a big roll left!).

This runner now graces my table, and if I'm ever awake when the sun is shining I will take a picture.  I just worked two nights, and only have two days off until I work another four nights.  So, I just kept up with sleeping through the day.

The next is another instalment on my journey to making cloth diapers.  I did this one with snaps and screwed up, but you can't tell from the outside.

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Also, after making this, I think that I would make a few changes to this pattern.  There should be six snaps on the front, not the back, and I am not crazy about the placement.  However, the dinosaurs are pretty darn cute!   I think that tonight I will try to tackle a diaper with FOE.  We shall see how it goes!

Anyways, since it's actually Wednesday--just barely--I will be sharing this with Lee's WIP Wednesday.

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced



Take care all!

Friday 18 May 2012

Blogger's Quilt Festival

Okay, so I would like to join in this year!  I don't have many quilts in my repetoire, but there is really only one quilt that I could make this entry about.  My Starry Eyed Quilt.

Starry Eyed Quilt

This quilt nearly defeated me.  I'm still pretty new to quilting, and it was a big reach for me.  The stars were a lot of work to piece, I messed up and used white tips for them that barely show up, and I did some hand quilting on it--I'm possibly the slowest in the universe.  

Starry Eyed Quilt


However, from the second I saw the pattern I knew I had to make it.  It was designed by Angela from Fussy Cut (it can be found on Moda Bake Shop), and I couldn't get it out of my head.  I even used the exact same fabric as she did.

Starry Eyed Quilt


The backing was the only thing I changed, along with adding the hand quilting around the stars. 

I've picked this one because it's a house favourite--we don't put this away in summer--and because it is my biggest success to date.  I almost thought I wouldn't make it through, but it was so worth it in the end.


Amy's Creative Side

Tuesday 15 May 2012

Progress is, in fact, being made

In the last couple days I have finally managed to get some sewing & quilting done!  I am off work from Monday-Friday (good ole shift work) so I am balancing between helping my fiancee get his shop ready, cleaning the house which is always the first "responsibility" to be ignored, and having some fun!  First off, I made a nursing cover for my sister-in-law.

Nursing cover
The fabric is from the line Giddy-Sandy Gervais

Nursing Cover


I used a tutorial from Prudent Baby, and it was a snap to put together, although I made the short strap much shorter to avoid having to try and do it up behind one's head.  If I was to make another, I don't think I would bother with the d-rings.  I would just do one strap connected on both sides or two equal length to tie together. It's still better than fighting with a receiving blanket!

Then I continued on my diaper making kick :-).

Medium pocket diaper


This size medium diaper is made with micro-fleece inside and PUL print outer to be water proof.  There is a pocket inside and the absorbent liner is made with some terry cloth that was on clearance at fabricland.  I think it's darn cute!!  I did screw up a bit on the tabs (facing the wrong way) so I had to rip-rip-rip those out and redo them--they're crooked now.  Oh well, better luck next time.

Last off, some actual quilting! I am finally getting going on my Sew. Happy. Quilt. QAL. quilting.  I did one middle grey panel and one block so far.

Sew. Happy. Quilt. QAL.


I am going to do the other middle grey panel the same as this one, and then just kind of make each block up as I go along.  I don't know what I will do in the dark grey sashing, but I think that once I pick I'll do the same in each.  Here's a pick of the quilt top in case you would like to be reminded what the whole thing looks like.

Finished QAL Top


Anyways, I hope everyone's summer is off to a great start, take care all :-).  I'm linking up to WIP Wednesday, the button is on my side bar :-)

Friday 4 May 2012

Wednesday 25 April 2012

It's not what it seems

I'm not making this out of necessity. Rather, for a probable future occurrence. Besides, sooo cute. The design is Rita's Rump Pocket. Might as well get prepared!

This is made with scraps and will need a liner or some sort and a cover. You all may see more of these in the future.

Monday 16 April 2012

Finally!

Well, I actually have something to share now!  I finished my sister's quilt that I've been making.  This is using the blue fabric panels that started their life as a wrap dress.  I cut the piece in half and used one side as a panel for the quilt, and the other was cut into 5" squares for the rest.

Emma's Quilt


My sister wanted the quilt backed with a flannel sheet for comfort, so I had her provide the sheet for me.  She ended up getting a duvet cover, so I used extra from the other side of the cover for the piecing on the front as well.  I don't have a picture of it finished and held up because I was by myself and it's big and heavy!!

Emma's Quilt


Quilting

This picture shows all the types of quilting that I did.  In the middle I quilted around all of the little flowers and then did loopy meandering between.  I did loops around the two narrow border diamonds.  The paisley part got the big loopy style stuff, and then the grey border is just stippled.  I did echo printing for the square borders the long way, leaving that part fairly minimally quilted.  

Black polka dot binding

I sewed the binding on with the machine and it turned out really well.

My label!

I finished the quilt off with a label I got made on Spoonflower.  I attached it with steam a seam lite and then did some zig-zag stitching around the edge.  I am not sure why the one side was so tight because I didn't change anything, but I like how it works out.

I'll be linking up to Manic Monday Linky Party with Sew Happy Geek, and WIP Wednesday with Lee at Freshly Pieced.

Wednesday 11 April 2012

How embarrassing!

So, my fiancee and one of his friends are starting a new business.  A plumbing business that is.  And they got a building right downtown so the location is good and it was pretty cheap.  However, it is cheap because it's a 100 year old piece of junk.  So, the past few weeks I have spent pretty much every single day I have off in there helping out.  They've had to basically build in a new foundation, put two beams in the crawl space and one in the building and then tear down and rebuild a whole brick side of the building.

So I have nothing to show for myself at all. I  wish I did.  I finished quilting my sister's quilt and just need to bind it.  I tried on some wedding dresses.  I bought one, but not the one in the picture.  It's a secret!


This is the runner up!

I am so far behind on the New York Beauty QAL I'm embarrassed, but I will get to it.  I still love looking at everyone's beautiful work, albeit quickly, and will hopefully soon get back into the swing of things!

Wednesday 21 March 2012

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.

Quilting


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.

Friday 16 March 2012

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:

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This is a charm square from the rainbow charm swap!

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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.

Week #1

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.

Week 2

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.

Finished QAL Top

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.

Finished Sparkle mini quilt

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??

Sunday 11 March 2012

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.

Sew. Happy. Quilt. QAL. Block #12


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!

Sew. Happy. Quilt. QAL.

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.  

Pinning galore


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 :-).

Friday 2 March 2012

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.

Finished Table Topper


And here's a shot with the backing fabric

Finished Table Topper


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.

Sew. Happy. Quilt. QAL. Block #11


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!

Sew. Happy. Quilt. QAL.


January saw two baby quilts:

SIL's Baby Quilt

Boy's Baby Quilt

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!

Emma's Quilt Top

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







Lily's Quilts