Design Wall Monday - Week 44

Not Swoon! No, it's not done - it's just too big. It will end up getting laid out on the living room floor.

Not that this one is any much smaller.

Fall-gyle!

Lots of offset seams and bias edges, but it's going together faster than I thought it would. Which is good - I need something fairly simple to keep me sane in between Swoon blocks.

In unrelated news, it's my Blogiversary! Halloween is my favorite holiday, so it was a fitting day to start. I kicked it off last year with a picture of the Dude as a shiny turquoise dinosaur. This year his costume is just as shiny, but a little more subdued.

More on that tomorrow.

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 44

A finish!

I'm very happy that I got it done before Halloween. The Dude snuggled under it after Trick-or-Treating in the town square last night.

I also worked on a different stash yesterday.
Before:

After:

My awesome Dad built the case and my awesome son sorted the colors and loaded it up.

Used this Week: 3

Used Year to Date: 112.78

Added this Week: 0

Added Year to Date: 152.95

Net Used for 2011: (41.17) yards

Check out how everyone else is doing on Patchwork Times!

A Hex(agon) on You! - Blogger's Quilt Festival

Hey look! I finished a holiday project before the actual holiday!

I used Jaybird's hexagons, block three, and her second layout. Mine are 6" unfinished, which comes to about 30" on each side and about 50x60" across the widest points.

 But my favorite part is definitely the quilting! I did a spiderweb in glow-in-the-dark thread. I had trouble picking a backing - I tried a glow-in-the-dark fabric but didn't have enough. Then I tried minkee but the stitches disappeared in the pile, which defeated the purpose. I ended up using plain Kona black, and it stands out so well.

{Ahhh, wind outtake!}

I had help with the quilting. My black Halloween cat wouldn't get near it, of course. Those things never act like a prop when I need one.

All propped-out in my front garden. None of that was purchased for this photo shoot - I like to make my front garden into an abandoned graveyard so I don't have to weed for Halloween.

The yellow is The Name Game by Quilt Country (Moda) - leftover from the borders of the Steelers. The Halloween fabric is mostly Haunted House by Alexander Henry or Spooktacular by Sanae (Moda.) All but two of the fat quarters came from my stash.
Interesting tidbit - the batting is black. And it does make a difference with the black backing and several of the fabrics - the gold is darker than it is in the Steelers quilt.
 

{Bonus points if you can find the two other Halloween Hexagon quilts!}

{Also linked to Whoop Whoop Fridays, Stitch and Share, and Stash Project.}

Felt Food Friday - Banana

This felt food Friday is a cautionary tale.

If you want to make an adorably peelable banana...

Make sure the "skin" is cut bigger than the banana pattern.
Mine is from Simplicity 2445 - but this is an excellent tutorial that I will be retrying next week. Because this week's is just sad.

Work in Progress Wednesday - Week 33

My in-laws were visiting last week, so lots of WiPs were done...just not sewing ones. The fence is fixed, the Dude's playset is moved to a corner of the yard, cold-weather flowers are planted...but only one new Swoon block was made.

One more 16" block, then I'll be working my way through the 8" blocks.

I'm almost done prepping the binding for Halloween Hexagons (and probably enough for the Steelers Quilt.) It WILL be attached before Halloween!

Hunter's Star, round two - 58/90 light blue half-blocks

Quilt-Alongs: 
Fat Quarter Stars - I'm already behind a block!

Argyle Quilt Along - still cutting strip sets

LQS Saturday Sampler

Untouched This Week:

Chunky Log Cabin

Frolicking Pinwheels

St. Paul's Cross

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Steelers Quilt

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 0

In Progress: 14

Check out more at Work in Progress Wednesday!

Fifteen Minute Challenge - Week 9

Even though Kate is having a challenge to work on Christmas things, I'm still far enough behind that this week's 15 minutes were devoted to a Halloween project.

I'm making this pattern - a 1961 Simplicity dress - for one of the Dude's friend's little sister. She's going to be Shirley Temple from Stand Up and Cheer.

Since my in-laws were in town this past week, my 15 minutes on this dress were about all I got in the sewing room! But well worth it - I think the costume is going to be great.

 

Tuesday - read through pattern

Wednesday - ironed fabric, laid out pattern pieces

Thursday - laid out pattern pieces

Friday - cut pattern pieces

Saturday - cut pattern pieces

Sunday - transferred pattern markings

Monday - sewed darts, bodice

I should be able to finish the dress easily within the next week, with the added bonus of not getting frustrated with a step because I'm not devoting all my time to it.

Also in the coming week, I have to add the red markings of a black widow to the Dude's spider costume. Unfortunately, this means I have to Google black widow pictures.

Check out how others are managing their time at Life in Pieces!

Design Wall Monday - Week 43

Swooning right along...

{I tried moving the design wall over to get a full shot, but it's just not happening.}

I decided to use my Lollipop scraps to finish the last of the two 16" blocks, and I'll use the fall leaves scraps from the Argyle quilt for the other one. (That's the strip hanging on the right.) 

The Lollipop is a little darker/redder than it looks in this picture, so it blends well with the fall colors.

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 43

A little bit of fabric this week - I needed another 1/4 yard of the fall leaves to finish the argyle quilt. Actually, I needed another 4", but 1/4 yard is the minimum cut!

I took my mother-in-law to my LQS for its 10th anniversary party, and we each won a door prize - she got the Bali Pop jelly roll (with which I'll be making a quilt for her), and I won two charm packs of Meet the Gang from Andover.

I still didn't get the binding on the Halloween Hexagons, since I've been working on outside projects with my in-laws. They leave tomorrow, so I'll get back in the sewing room soon.

Used this Week: 0

Used Year to Date: 109.78

Added this Week: 3.72

Added Year to Date: 156.67

Net Used for 2011: (46.89) yards

Check out how everyone else is doing on Patchwork Times!

Felt Food Friday - Apples

Yet another one from Simplicity 2445 - though this tutorial is pretty much the same instructions and template.

My stem is an extra-fuzzy pipe cleaner. Double-stitched. (Lesson learned.)
I wanted to make a woven basket based on this tutorial, but Hobby Lobby didn't have stiff felt in tan. I will have to check the craft stores next time I go to a city.

We moved from fall to fruit, so next week, it's time to go bananas.

Work in Progress Wednesday - Week 32

Well, it happened sooner than I thought. I ran out of the colors I wanted for 16" Swoon blocks. I have just enough for a yellow/brown block...and I already have one of those!

So I scavenged through my scraps to finish the last two 16-inchers and threw them on the wall.

 I think the blue is too blue. I love the strip to the left of the blue, but that's all I can find...not enough for a Swoon block. There's plenty of the strip to the right, so it's a good contender.
I actually really like the plaid-ish pink-ish one on the left of the yellow/orange block, but it's very pink compared to the other reds...

The good news is I have plenty for a bunch of little 8" blocks. And I'm going to cut and pair them before any sewing, so I don't get down to two browns or something else useless!

Halloween Hexagons is now quilted but unbound.

Hunter's Star, round two - 56/90 light blue half-blocks

Quilt-Alongs: 
Fat Quarter Stars

Argyle Quilt Along - strips are sewn and starting to be cut. Because I'm making it smaller, I found it was easier to sew/cut two strips in a set. Plus, they fit so well in my new favorite shoe box.

LQS Saturday Sampler

Untouched This Week:

Chunky Log Cabin

Frolicking Pinwheels

St. Paul's Cross

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Steelers Quilt

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 0

In Progress: 14

Check out more at Work in Progress Wednesday!

Fifteen Minute Challenge - Week 8

I think what I learned from reviewing this week is that I'm completely unfocused right now. Which, considering I have the Holiday Marketplace in November and Christmas in December, is a bad thing.

I'm only making two simple quilts for Christmas - but I had plans for a lot more stuff for HMP and I haven't started anything.

Tuesday - measured motifs on Grinch panel

Wednesday - sorted charms for iSpy bags

Thursday - cut borders for Christmas Stars

Friday - Cub Scout patches

Saturday - sewed borders on Christmas Stars

Sunday - covered box in burlap

Monday - Girl Scout patches

I need to find my focus, and fast! I have two Halloween costumes to work on - one a full Shirley Temple dress; the other is minor repairs on the Dude's spider costume.

After that, it's 15 minutes of Christmas until the quilts are done. Covering a box in burlap? Really? What was I thinking?

Check out how others are managing their time at Life in Pieces!

Design Wall Monday - Week 42

Still Swoon... At about two blocks per week, I should have this done by, um, Thanksgiving. I want two more 16" and then as many 8" blocks that I can make from the remainders.

{My design wall is super-convenient for the location. Not super-convenient for the pictures.}

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 42

No changes to report - I finished quilting the Halloween Hexagons, but I don't count it out until it's bound.

Here's a sneak peek, though.

Caught something in my spider web!

Used this Week: 0

Used Year to Date: 109.78

Added this Week: 0

Added Year to Date: 152.95

Net Used for 2011: (44.17) yards

Check out how everyone else is doing on Patchwork Times!

Felt Food Friday - Pumpkins

It's fall in the play kitchen!

 Another one from Simplicity 2445, though I sewed the ribs on the outside after seeing these pumpkins. That meant I had to hand sew the stem and leaves, but it was totally worth it. They look so pumpkin-y!

Here's a tutorial for a quick and easy felt pumpkin.

The Dude is digging the fall theme, so next week is apples.

Work in Progress Wednesday - Week 31

Mostly Swoon blocks this week. I'm done with the biggest and working my way to a pattern/plan. It will be a 3x3 layout, some blocks will "float", I know I want to have a block of the 8-inchers repeating the layout of the 24-inchers, apparently I need a cat in the upper right...
I had to put it on the floor because it's bigger than my design wall. When I made that, I didn't think I'd make quilts bigger than my design wall. 

Hunter's Star, round two - 48/90 light blue half-blocks - I've got the last 3.5 strips waiting to be pressed and cut in between...

...quilting the Halloween Hexagons. The grid for the web is done; next I need to chalk-line the spirals.

Quilt-Alongs:

Fat Quarter Stars - the fussy-cutting of the center did not go well. 

Argyle Quilt Along - haven't sewn my strips together yet

LQS Saturday Sampler

Untouched This Week:

Chunky Log Cabin

Frolicking Pinwheels

St. Paul's Cross

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Steelers Quilt

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 0

In Progress: 14

Check out more at Work in Progress Wednesday!

Fifteen Minute Challenge - Week 7

I rocked my fifteen minutes this week, finishing two projects in the allotted time.

Tuesday-Friday I worked on my LQS Saturday Sampler block. Which, nice block, bad color choice. I hate when the pattern puts the larger-scale brown in small pieces. It's okay for fussy cutting 2" or so squares, but not in HST.

On Saturday, I pulled out a Halloween project from last year that just needed binding. Better late than never, right?
Halloween is my favorite holiday, and the Peanuts special is my favorite Halloween show. (Because there's so many other options.) So when I saw the book panel at Joann's, I had to grab it.
Of course, it's not printed straight, which made the piecing very difficult, and I ended up abandoning it just before Halloween last year.

I prepped the binding with flange as if it were piping or rick rack - I definitely don't prefer the flange, but I didn't want to go to the store.

The Peanuts backing fabric and binding are also Joann's. The sashing and flange are from Hobby Lobby.

Now I just need to sneak the ladder inside so I can hang it, but avoid replacing the light bulbs in the kitchen.

See how others are managing their time at Life in Pieces, check out more BOMs at What A Hoot, and check out more fabric projects at Quiltstory!

Design Wall Monday - Week 41

Swooning over my design wall still.

I'm done with the biggest blocks (24") because I'm out of full fat quarters.

I double-seamed the flying geese and saved the HST leftovers to see if I could reuse them in a 16" block. The answer is...yes but... There is just enough of Fabric B (the star) to do the same Fabric B in the smaller block. However, I don't want repeats in the same place, so I'm saving the HSTs for another project or the back.

Of course, there's plenty leftover of both fabrics from double-seaming the 16" flying geese, so those will get re-used in the 8" block and save me a few minutes of cutting and sewing.

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 41

I was not so good this week...

Some was necessary - I bought 3.33 yards for the backing of Halloween Hexagons, which I'm quilting this week. I decided on black Kona because I can use the leftovers for the Steelers Quilt binding.

I'm doing the Argyle Quilt Along and used 1.5 yards from stash...but I needed another half yard of focus fabric and over 2 yards of solid. One step forward, one step back.

I also picked up a half yard of the background fabric for the Fat Quarter Stars quilt along.

And that would be all of the "necessary" shopping... Then there was the Central Park Sudoku kit on Stitch Steals. And since I was already paying for shipping...I got a half yard of Sweet Divinity - I have some of the fat quarters.

I didn't finish anything...I really need to get some quilting done to knock off some backings.

Used this Week: 0

Used Year to Date: 109.78

Added this Week: 8.83

Added Year to Date: 152.95

Net Used for 2011: (44.17) yards

Check out how everyone else is doing on Patchwork Times!

Felt Food Friday - Eggs & Carton

{I know it's Saturday. Circumstances happened.}

This one is from Simplicity 2445, though the pattern calls for fusing two pieces of felt together. Seems to me that would be a melty mess. I tried it with a single piece of regular felt, which is too flimsy. Most craft stores carry a heavier felt - I think I'm going to try to add some to the top to add definition. I added the Velcro tab.

 The eggs, from the same pattern, came out perfectly. The Dude helped stuff them - small fingers are so useful!

Next week: pumpkins for fall!

Work in Progress Wednesday - Week 30

I was away for five days, so I haven't made much progress on most things. Today I'm home, catching up on laundry and paperwork, so I have lots of sewing time in between. And by "in between," I mean, I sewed for three hours and haven't folded any laundry.

Six Swoon blocks done, and I'm starting to work on a layout.

St. Paul's Cross - still need to tear the paper off the second block. I'm thinking about setting up one of my antique sewing machines for paper piecing, so I don't have to swap out needles every time I want to piece one.

Hunter's Star, round two - 36/90 light blue half-blocks

Quilt-Alongs:
Fat Quarter Stars - ran out of background fabric scraps, waiting on yardage

 Argyle Quilt Along - three of the fabrics came from my stash. Just need to pick a neutral and fourth accent fabric.
LQS Saturday Sampler

Untouched This Week:

Chunky Log Cabin

Frolicking Pinwheels

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Halloween Hexagons

Steelers Quilt

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

In Planning:

Cars Quilt (the Dude)

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 0

In Progress: 15

 

Check out more at Work in Progress Wednesday!

Fifteen Minute Challenge - Week 6

Finally, after two more fifteen minute sessions, I defeated the circle bag!

On Wednesday, almost the entire paper piecing class hovered over it during lunch, until we finally figured out how exactly the pocket side matched to the bottom to sew together properly.

Pattern is McCall's 6374, made about 2" taller overall.

On Thursday, I whipped together a pattern folder to go with it.

Which also folds into an easel for easy reading.

It tucks nicely into the bag for my sister to carry yarn and a knitting pattern.

And Friday-Monday, I was at my college reunion/mother's birthday party, so I got my daily 15 minutes in my hand sewing project, restoring my great-grandmother's quilt.

See how others are managing their time at Life in Pieces and check out more fabric projects at Quiltstory!