New Project

A few weeks ago, I saw this pattern by Lizzie Be Cre8ive Designs at Gina's.  So, I picked it up thinking this would be a perfect hand work piece - simple and fun.

 It's called Piece, Love & Applique.  The hardest challenge I have found is picking the fabrics for the feel I want.  After visiting a few fabric shops and even picking out 2 different "focus" fabrics, I decided on using the tones and colors in this piece (which will be used for a few of the blocks as well):

I have all my fabrics to get started now and I piece my first section - this pattern is done by months, was a BOM program.

I'm working on the applique now and hope to finish it in the evenings over the next week.


Don't forget to do your daily entry for my Manic Monday Offering!

Halloween Baltimore Album.....

I'm still plugging away on this handwork project.  I'm getting close to finishing my first block (that I got in the last week of January).  I'm sooo happy with how it is turning out.  I just need to find a specific time to dedicate to it:



I just need to add the leaves and the spider on my first block.  Here are the next two, while Block 2 looks intimidating, it's going to be easier with smoother curves and Block 3 should be a breeze....but unsure if I'll ever catch up:



Need to learn to watch more tv in the evenings.......

And life moves on....

I've had a rough time over the past 5 weeks.  Dealing with crazy snow weather, readjusting my work schedule, the seasonal "winter blues" and trying to maintain some pieces of my marriage while juggling something for myself.  I haven't been too successful in all areas of my life.

Yet, somehow I have found a few minutes here and there to do some quilting.  Not up to my normal pace but it allows me a few minutes of distraction from all that is going around me.

I first need to thank, Pat for sending this month's Cottage Block along...just perfect for February (though this year's here in Maryland will be remember by snow verses hearts):



To see all the previous blocks, click here.

Next I allowed myself a luxury and joined a Block of the Month club for the Baltimore Halloween Quilt I have mentioned in the past.



I started in the last week of January and so I have 2 blocks to do.  I've been working on my first block.  This is a challenge for me.  The applique pieces are tiny and teaching myself some new techniques to make this blocks turn out nicely.



I have also been working on my next bedroom quilt that represents some tranquility that I need in that room.  I'm making a Bargello using beach colors and hope with all these snow days, I might be successful and have it completed by weekend's end.

I hope to get back to pre-posting  and sharing pictures, once I find that "right" time to me to do things.

Hope all is well in your world.

Commission Work

I've got 3 commission jobs going on now...YEAH ME!  One is through the shop and while I'm not making as much as I would like, it is still experience under my belt.  It's a quickie baby quilt and the customer has the cupcake fabric and we ran with that.  She wanted something simple and pastel pink....I think we accomplished that.



I'm very proud of the applique part.  I created the pattern and then using a programmed satin stitch on my sewing machine I randomly added the "sprinkles" to the white fabric.  Next, I turned under the edge, using my iron and starch and machine stitched down.  Then I make my cherry using Karen Kay Buckley's Perfect Circles and hand appliqued it on and then added the embroidery floss for the stem.   Very proud of that part!



Now to ponder on how to quilt it.  It needs to be done by end of this week.

TGIF!

It's date night here!  Unsure what our plans are, but I think it's going to involve hitting little white balls.  I'll be sure to bring a camera.  I know you all want to see me "trying" to golf.

On the sewing front....I've been invited to a Sunday Stitch n' Bitch.  Granted most of the ladies are making garb (aka costuming clothing for the rennissance faire, which opens here in 2 weekends), I think I'm going to bring some quilting projects that just need to be put together fast.  I have 2 almost completed tops I need to whip together!

Pat Sloan asked me to show her my stuff!!  Ok, so I purchase the really cool new project bag from her at Hershey...I had no idea it was limited and special.  She now sells them on her site, but I'm one of the first--how cool is that?  I just love my bag!  So, what's inside?  Let's see....

Outside of bag....opening it from left to right...



First set of pockets, lets see what I have in them.  Again, l-r, I have a pair of reading glasses (I currently only need them for hand work...my eyes are getting bad fast through), my licky grip (stuff to put on my fingers to keep them dry), my HandEzee glove (great for sore wrists), then some of my packets of hexagons to do where ever.



Next set of pockets, are the center ones.  The two pocket pieces in center are snapable!  Which means you can easily remove them.  More hexagons, just in case I need to share/teach my obsession with someone else (and I have), my reading book light (PERFECT for hand working in poor lighting areas), my Margaritaville lanyard with my purple embroidery scissors attached to it.



Last set of pockets. LOTS of stuff!!  My needle threaders (I have two different styles), pencil sharpner (I just realize my silver pencil is missing...mmm to find that), my basting threads, glue stick, a tape measure, tons o needles pocket with a needle holder that I was given, my newest love-my gel yellow thimble (I LOVE THIS!), my Thread Heaven (swear by this stuff when doing bindings), seam ripper, thimblettes (well, that is what i call them), open thimble by clover (I use this for bindings) and my tweezers.



Lots of stuff to pick up and go.  I actually have duplicates of each of these items in my sewing stuff, but this is perfect for traveling even to the living room from the sewing room :)

Wow...that was a lot of stuff...sorry for a long post!  But I have to share one more image with you.  I was clearing out my husband's dresser yesterday and I swear, I walked away for less than 2 minutes and came back to my assistant taking a break....



Ms. Glory was tired of getting up and down from the bed as I was folding clothes, so I guess she though resting here was ok.

Off to do some house work!

My dream one day....

is to make this:



This Halloween Baltimore Album quilt is more specular in person.  I got to see it at Quilt Market and completely forgot about it until Betsy mentioned it the other day.

I need to save up $78 just to purchase this pattern, but I know I will be starting it before the end of the year.

Day 7...

I'm impressed that I've kept up 7 daily posts.  I have been using the pre-posting option which really helps on those busy days!

Borders are on and I'm ready to thread baste my latest obsession.  I have Needle Pushers club tonight and think I'll baste there.  I more tickled now seeing the borders on!



And I wanted to show you the various sizes of hexagons in our house right now.  Left to right, 3/4" hex is mine, 2" hex is my youngest, 3" hex is my oldest....man my hexs are SOOOo small :)



Long work day and then off tomorrow.....I need to work more on that "other" project I mentioned a few days ago.

My First Baltimore Album Block ....

is done!  All I need to do is add setting triangles (it's going to be on point) and 2 borders:



I'm very tickled with how it came out.  I will probably hand quilt it as well, it will only be about 33" square....we'll see.

Hexagons on parade....

per Betsy's request here's my hexagon project.

It's a pattern from "The American Quilter" magazine, in May's issue this year.  (COOLIO, they have the issue online free to view and print - click on the link).  It was designed with 1/2" hexs, but I'm using 3/4" (which is the size of each side of the hexs).



And if you look closely the background is all hexs too.....crazy I know.  It has a total of 537 hexs.

So, it took me several weeks to cut 2" squares and then "square" them down to 1/4" seam allowance, then I've been basting!  I did go ahead and piece together one section just to feel "accomplished":



All my pieces are in baggies.  One large bag that holds the basted hexs and another one to hold the ones to be basted.  Then I have little baggies sorted by colors/sections...I'm beyond organized with this project:



(those are the unbasted hexs)

I did finish making a pin cushion with my very first hex project.  It was a free sample from Paper Pieces, in fact it is this exact size that I'm using....this is what had me hooked:



I have my girls working on a summer project with prize money involved (hey, bribery isn't a bad thing).  One is doing it with 2 1/2" hexs and all sorts of scraps from my scrap bin.  The other is using pink and green left overs from her Pink & Green Monster quilt and her hexs are 3"...HUGE!  They are in the basting process right now, but it looks like they might be piecing in the next week or so--I'll have more pictures to share then.

I'm pre-posting this post being I'll be on my way to Hershey to see Quilt Odyssey with 6 friends ...a full van!  So lots of pictures to share for Sunday's post!

Have a good weekend everyone!