Sunday Design Wall - late....

Well, Friday night was a success! I was able to get several things done...it was challenging for me though, because I kept getting distracted. Yet, I finished all my holiday gift sewing!! Now, it dawns on me I can't share them until next weekend :( Dang!

Design wall is still my Ocean Bargello for this week - if I find sewing time. I'm sure after Wednesday, it will be scarce!

I've kinda put off posting in my blog due to lack of images, because I know everyone (me included) loves images. I did finish my commission top of kokopeli's:

I also am teaching the new Hoop Sisters Block of the Month program, Goose Tracks.  So, I've picked out my main fabrics for the project.  Had to laugh as my 17 daughter tells me (as she is looking at the picture for the quilt), "Mom, that will be hard!". 

(l-r) My backing, my outer border, my main background - yes, graduate colors - will be fun to design, light cream will be the "sky" of my geese and the teal my geese!  I hope to start a block this week (sometime).  I'm excited to get working on this! I'm going to use my leftovers from my ocean quilts as the filler fabrics. This will be fun!

I missed the lunar eclipse last night- - darn clouds in East Tennessee, but I have enjoyed seeing everyone's pictures.  Did you wake up to see it?

Good Morning!

I'm happy to see this week almost over!  Bills are paid and now serious holiday shopping starts - hoping it all comes in "in time".

As I ponder on what to share today, I realized I never shared this finish table runner I make for my shop.  We are hosting the Rose Of Sharon Block of the Month and this is the shop sampler--which none of these blocks are in the book...it was a bit unusual, but it turned out ok--minus the vines.  There wasn't enough green to make the bias vines in the kit!

I finished some other commission work but realize I haven't taken pictures, they will be shared tomorrow!

Back to holiday last minute shopping!

Block of the Months. . . .

I'm a month behind on one BOM, so I'm working on those blocks and started working on a few of my other ones.

I'm excited to say (and find it kinda silly at the same time) to announce that I signed up for the 2010 Designer BOM 12 Days of Christmas from the Fat Quarter Shop:

Of course I'm 5 months worth behind and the next shipment comes at the end of this week....I received all first 6 blocks yesterday and started cutting on Block 1 - hoping to do one a day this week!  I will be sewing a little more intently this week to start on the program as a monthly project!

Here's yet another Blog Giveaway, hosted by Leona.  She has a wonderful blog even without a giveaway!

I did a lot of computer work today - for Patches Quilting, there are a lot of new classes on their site!  So, I did do a little sewing but not much.

I've been working on this top for a commission, can't wait to finish it up with the start blocks I have to add into the "holes".

Looks like I'll be up tonight doing stuff, sewing cleaning and holiday gifting :)

Lessons Learned. . .

Always the hard way, ya know?


So, I'm working on another lonestar last week and very proud of my progress, moving along quickly and finished piecing and cutting all the strips, then piecing the perfectly fitting diamonds....then putting all 8 of those diamonds together to only realize. . . . .I cut at the wrong angle and ending making 6 points verses 8 points....le sigh.  The kicker?

I originally cut the correct angle on the first strip set and thought "shoot that was the wrong angle"....I had 60 degrees stuck in my head for some reason....needless to say, strips must be cut at 45 degrees (ya know the math of 8 times 45 equals 360....ya know a full circle - - ugh!!). 

Oh well, it still turned out nicely and will work fine as a 6 point star and a smaller quilt top, but I'm very sure I won't forget to ever cut the strips at 45 degrees again.  I'm using black as the background and some cool chili pepper fabric as the border.

Pondering. . .

A few weeks ago a friend told me about things that is happening in blog land....people stealing images and claiming works as their own (which has happened to me), people accusing other people of stealing their patterns or ideas.  Well, I decided just to back off from blogging and ponder this situation.  While I could take time and add my name to each image, I could take time to lock down my blog, I could just not blog again.  Then I pondered more and came to a realization.  Why I blog?  I blog to share my talent, I blog to let other be inspired as I am inspired by their blogs, I blog for feedback and most importantly I blog for friendship.

If someone feels the need to "steal" or "borrow" my images as their own, I say let them.  This is the internet and it will happen no matter what.  Obviously those individuals need the self esteem and self confidence more than I do.  If taking my ideas and images makes them feel more of a person, feel free.  As for be accusing of "stealing" others ideas/patterns, if you read through my blog I document everything.  If I am inspired by someone I give them credit, if I use a pattern I give credit.  All of my works are my own!

Now that is off my brain, I have stuff to share!  Don't know where to start being it's almost 2 weeks since my last post......start of with something BRIGHT --naturally!

I have been working for a friend the past 4 months making tops for her business and she has asked me to make a lonestar (ok, a lot of them).  Never did one before and let me say it was a learning experience and easier than I expected!  This top finished about 60" square and I'm already working on another one:

I have much more to share, but will spread them out over the week.

Been sewing....

and pre-posting....I had 2 more quick baby quilts to complete that were commission and basically all I need to do is bind one and quilt/bind the other.  Hoping to finish both by Wednesday.  I have enough left over fabric to make 2 more (without a panel).





I have two other smaller commission jobs for the shop and hope to work on them next week.  Then I can get back to sewing for me :)

Pictures!

I have a few pictures of what I have been working on over the past month or so....now I have done several other things, including a baby quilt and some Christmas projects, but this has taken most of my time.  It is a commission quilt for a friend - who is giving it to her Dad for Christmas.  It's at the quilters now and should be done today!  I love the colors of the top and I'm soooo please with how all the seams matched up....an Irish Chain isn't has easy as it looks.







The request for something with doves, lighthouses and representing Ireland was the challenge for this quilt.  Yet, I think I was able to pull it together.

My friend is quilting it for me and she is doing it simple with some doves in the stippling.  I hope to get better close ups when it's finished.  I have a new camera.......but it's wrapped and under the tree, hubby won't let me have it before Christmas....the turkey :)

I need to get back into blogging, I'm missing all my online friends so much.

More handwork....

I just post an entire week's worth of posts.  It was about an hour of work to do, but what an accomplishment and I got to show all my pictures I've been holding on to.  I definitely will start doing this on Sundays for the week.  I've enjoyed doing it!

Here's another one of my commission works.  It's my husband's golfing friend and so I feel a bit more "pressured" to do a very good job (not like any of my other jobs I didn't feel the need to do my best mine you).  It's a 20+ year old quilt his mom made for him and it is obviously well loved and used.  After examining it, I discovered it needed 35 diamonds replace, a lot of broken stitches redo and some blocks need hand quilting.  A lot of work.

Here are a few of the blocks (there are 28 total, 25 need some kind of work):



My biggest concern was actually finding fabric that would work.  I don't want to purchase new fabric for it because it's too bright compared to the other pieces, so I ended up at the thrift shop and picked up a few old cotton shirts and then luckily went stash diving at a friends who has pieces that fit the scrappy theme.

Next, is how to add the new pieces in?  I'm using hand applique technique.  I made a diamond freezer paper template (35 of them) and ironed them to fabric.  Next cut the 1/4" seam allowance, then basted the fabric to paper.



Now I've only got one block started (at time of publishing-plan to work on it a lot over the next week), but I'm happy with the end result.  I'm stitching in between the folds of fabric.   In the photo, the bottom left dark check is one I did and started the blue one that has the basting stitches still in.



Now, it's not going to lay perfect due to time and stress on the older fabric, but I think once it's quilted and washed again, it will work nicely.

Hoping to have it finish by end of the month!

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.

My first commission!

Ok, I have to admit it is my second technically.  I made a baby quilt 9 years ago for $25.



I've come a LONG way baby!!  I just did a great quilt and made a wee bit more that $25.  It is a Yellow Brick Road pattern by Atkinson's Designs done with (mostly) Neutrals from Marcus Brothers.  I'm very proud of this and how it turned out and luckily so is the customer :)



I now can work on some things for myself this week, though I do have another commission project to finish by end of October (in time for christmas)

My dear friend Donna gave me lots of goodies yesterday when we met up for Starbucks...and I love my new clock for my sewing area:



She also gave me a few more things for the sewing area, I'll share those later.

It's back to work reality.  Just feels like it is going to be a long day!

Monday stuff...

I actually don't have a lot to say....mmmmm...what's wrong with me?

I finished the borders on my commission quilt yesterday and loaded it up on the longarm:



My goal is to have it quilted by this weekend, then to put the binding on.  I'm grateful my friend allows me to use her machine!  I do plan to get my own one day.....

Going to be another hot day here in Maryland.  Glad I work in a nicely air conditioned shop!