Wednesday WIP-Done!

I have finally finished the quilt top with the No Point Stars pattern by Allison of Cluck Cluck Sew. What a great pattern and my quilt top would have be done so much faster, except I decided to sew together all the HSTs an use them for sashing. Well, turns out that didn't work out. There weren't enough of them. And I didn't have enough extra fabric to just make more. So I went to plan B. But I had to come up with Plan B first.

 The first Plan B that I really liked was to change and use this bright green for the sashing. But, my sister didn't think it worked and when I showed my daughter, she said "what else do you have?"

 So I pulled out these two purples. One is marbled and red violet and the other a dark purple that leans more towards blue. She didn't like either of those. "Got any grey?" Yes, it turned out that I did have about half a yard of grey. It was just barely enough, and I got to use my bright green as the corners.

 And here it is. I am having trouble getting true colors indoors. It has been rainy and windy here, so maybe tomorrow. But it is done.

 I used the HST strips for the outer border. I love the way it turned out and yes, I know the contrast is not the best on some of the pieces, but it's for a two-year-old so I think it's fine. And I like it too.

 Now I just have to piece together a back for it so I can pin baste it. I already know how I want to quilt it. But for now, this project goes back burner for a few days. My sewing space doubles as a guest bedroom and we have a guest coming, so I will need to pack everything up until next week.

 But that's okay, because I am hand quilting my Penny Sampler Quilt with Pearl Cotton and I still have quite a ways to go on that. I will show you some pictures of the progress next time. Until then, Happy Wednesday.

Long Time WIP

I have several WIPs that I started years ago. I still pick them up occasionally and try to finish them. I know you have some too. Everybody does. Here is one I just picked up again today and now I have a plan to get it done.

 I know I started this about 7-8 years ago at least. I got the fabrics at my LQS. I don't often use batiks. I thought this would look so nice on the couch I had at the time, which was blue denim.

 The piecing went fast and I had decided to hand quilt it. I wasn't doing too much machine quilting then. So I got started. I did work on it a lot in the beginning.

 The only way I might be able to date this quilt is the backing. I think this is a Heather Baily print and I love it so much. This is the back of the quilt.

 I surrounded it with a dark blue marbled fabric. This quilt is about a lap size, but I haven't measured it lately.

 Look at how beat up the batting is. I have to get this done, just to save the quilt from the ravages of time at the very least. It's very wrinkled.

 The centers that are quilted have a Celtic design. It's hard to see here. That is what slowed me down. The small squares are almost all done. So I am changing gears. I am going to do a simpler design in the rest of the centers.

 I need to get this thing done, bound in lord only knows what. I know there is not any scraps from this now.  I will keep you posted and let you know when it is done.

 Not bad for someone who hasn't hand quilted in a couple of years. I forgot how much I love the look.

Wish me luck. Here I go...

WIP Wednesday...Yay!

I am still here and I am finding that I am still enjoying sewing, although not as prolifically as before. Just plodding along really. And for now, that's okay by me. The mojo is still there, just turned down a bit. For today, this is what I have for you:

 Remember these? Back in January I picked these great spring greens from my stash. I was really wanting to make a small quilt for above the mantle that was really spring-y. I let this sit and gel for a bit and finally came up with a plan.

 A single, large Dresden plate in spring greens, with a sunny yellow center to represent, duh, the sun! I wanted a very pale blue Kona solid to represent the sky in the spring. You know, those days when the sun still feels so thin? I think this one is Bluebell. It looks really grey here, but that is just the indoor lighting.

I am debating the quilting of this. Any thoughts? I have already decided to bind in one of these great spring greens too. Should finish at about 34 inches square. Lovin' it so far. Happy Wednesday to you. Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.

WIP Wednesday...Buzz Buzz Buzz

Hi! It's been awaile since I have participated  in WIP Wednesday, but as I was perusing the blogs this morning, I realized I had something to share. I started this last year, just before Christmas and then it sat until January. It is moving along slowly now.

 I bought a yard of Tula Pink's wonderful bees in this light aqua and pink colorway. It really called to me. Then, I pulled a bunch of coordinating fabrics from my stash and just looked at it for a few weeks.. I saw a snowball and ninepatch on someone's blog and knew that was it. So I began.

 As is typical for me, I began without looking up to sse what measurements were to be used for the pieces. I made a couple of blocks and the size was off, so they will end up on the back of the quilt. My next attempt was better.

 I love the way this looks. It will be a fairly small quilt, either a baby size or a wall hanging. This photo is with the camera flash. While still not true, the colors are a bit darker and closer to true than above.

My daughter and I decided that this needs a border. I have ordered and just received some Gail Kessler Dimples in a sort of peacock aqua. I plan a one inch finished border followed by one more row of 2/5 inch squares like the nine patch blocks. I think that will look perfect. Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.

Buzz Buzz...WIP Wednesday

Well, this will probably be my last WIP Wednesday for awhile. A forced sewing break begins next week as I have my surgery. I plan to sew up to the very last minute, though. Here's what's on the design wall right now:

 A bit pale and washed out color-wise due to the lighting, but it is a very soft color group for the most part. I saw a snowball and nine patch quilt on someone's blog a couple of months ago and knew right away that I wanted to make one with this Tula Pink bee fabric.

 It is my favorite one in the entire line, so I bought a yard and had hoped to pair it with my stash. So far, so good.

 I have decided this will be a small wall hanging. I don't have enough fabrics to make it too big and I don't really want to keep adding fabrics just to get a bigger size. I like the ones I am using.

 I had cut the squares for the snowballs a half inch smaller to start, so I could center the bees. Unfortunately this did not work with my nine patches which are made of 2.5 inch squares. So I cut them a bit bigger. I still like the look.

This is going to be so pretty when it's done! Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.

WIP Wednesday

A freezing rain fell here overnight. Brrrr..... Here is what is going on here:

 Swirls...lots and lots of swirls. Been quilting on this thing for a week or so now. Not every day, no time for that. Many days though.

 Loving the way it's looking. I may run out of whit thread, though and no where near here sells it, so I will have to order it.

 I am going to see how far I can get. Only a week and a half until my surgery and I would love to get this beauty finished first!

 So hopefully I can grab an hour after work today to make a bit more progress.

Have a great Wednesday. Linking up to Lee at Freshly Pieced.

First WIP Wednesday of the New Year

Ahhh...another year of WIP Wednesdays. The biggest one on my list this week is my Fair Isle Quilt.

 Here it is, all pieced before Christmas. Then, I stalled out with no backing in sight. As soon as I solved that problem, I got down to pin basting on the floor.

 And got it all done. One of my least favorite parts of quilting. Hard on the knees and the back.

And now the quilting is begun. I am quilting in an all over swirly pattern. It reminds me of blowing snow. Very appropriate for a winter quilt, I think. Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.
You can find my 400th post giveaway here.

WIP Wednesday

Wow...it's been a whole week since I've been here. Not that I haven't been busy and doing some sewing.  I have been bouncing back and forth between quilting J's quilt and piecing my Fair Isle quilt. Here is the proof:

 Here are the sections for the reindeer blocks for my Fair Isle quilt. All cut, clipped together and marked so they don't get mixed up.

 I know how easily things can get mixed up, so I marked the top left of each block with a safety pin so that I don't accidentally add a row to the wrong end as I build them.

 This is my favorite part of the binding step of a quilt. Seeing all that freshly pressed binding cascading off the end of the ironing board.

                And then rolled up around a clothes pin. I love the way this looks.

                      Prettiest fabric lollypop ever.

And here it is, ready and waiting for the binding. So happy the quilting is done. It took a long time. Linking up with Lee at freshly pieced for WIP Wednesday.

Another WIP Wednesday

Lots of sewing going on here. In an effort to keep as many projects moving forward as possible, some with deadlines and some not, I do a bit in each. Here's what's up this week:

 Working on my reindeer blocks for the Fair Isle QAL. I know I need to work a bit ahead or all will be lost.

Got my poinsettia and fir tree blocks done.

 Working on the quilting for J's quilt. Lots more to do, but I am loving what I have so far. Not too sure if I can get all this quilted and bound by Thanksgiving. Three weeks, hmmm, maybe.

And I cut all the rest of the pieces for my Cat Weave Quilt. Not sure when I will find time to sew this one up, but at least it's ready to sew. Have a great week. Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.

WIP Wednesday-Busy, Busy

Lots going on over here these days. So many projects, but I just can't seem to help myself. Lots of starts and a few finishes every couple of weeks. Not bad. Starting on some holiday sewing too. Here's what's up.

 Got a bunch of pieces cut out for holiday table runner. This is from a Warm Wishes bundle by Red Rooster fabrics. I won a $30 gift card to Ms Apple Heart's Etsy shop and this was what I chose.  This is the Etsy shop run by Madame Samm of Sew We Quilt. Pop over and check it out. Lots of great things, and the proceeds are going to help her assistant with college expenses. A win-win for all.

 Next, I have started the cuttin of pieces for the Fair Isle quilt sew along with Lee at Freshly Pieced. It doesn't start until tomorrow, but with all these pieces to cut out, I need all the extra time I can get. Can't wait to get sewing on this one.

 I have 2 of the 4 rows put together, pressed and on a hanger for J's new quilt. I hope to get this quilt top finished by next week. The goal is to get it quilted and ready for J when he comes for Thanksgiving. I need deadlines people. They keep me moving. Projects without deadlines languish around here.

 A couple of trick or treat bags for V and B. I did J's and took it to him a couple of weeks ago when I went to visit and drop off the Fall Wedding quilt to my daughter and her hubby.

 And while I was there, she asked if I could fix the binding on this quilt She made it in sewing class, way back in 1999. For some reason we mad a single fold binding and for a quilt that is loved and used as much as this one is, that was the wrong decision.

 I found enough of this in my stash to make a new double fold binding so I will be working on this too. Also with a Thanksgiving deadline so it can go back home with her.

 The sewing on the edges where the binding was are very irregular and the batting is so very thin now. I told my husband I think the fabric weighs more than the batting does for sure.

I do love seeing these older fabrics. I remember when we went to choose them. I had hoped I had another quilter in the family, but nope. This is the only quilt she ever made. She doesn't really like to sew. Oh, well. Hope your week is as productive as mine is shaping up to be. Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.