TWO FINISHES!!!

Just because the blog has been quiet doesn't mean I haven't been sewing up a storm!  Today, I have two finishes to share!

The first is the second quilt made with my leftover bits and pieces of Wee Wander.  This fabric is so adorable and I wish I had bought more. It is so much fun to work with. Here's the finished little quilt...

 

 

I decided to add a little touch of aqua which I think adds some interest to the quilt!  I love how this one turned out!

 

My second finish was made from fabric bought on a whim! I grabbed a pretty charm pack and some yardage with no idea what I was going to do with it. Only after I got it home did I realize the charm pack only contained 30 squares!  What!!!  Uh-oh. After much brainstorming, here's what I came up with...

 

 

Here's another quilt with tons of white!  I actually love how this one turned out!  Sometimes you've got to work with what you've got. Right!

Anyway...these two quilts, along with about 25 others, are headed two a 2-day craft fair I'm doing next weekend!  Like I said above, the blog may be quiet but the Bernina has been busy!

I hope to share more of my finishes over the coming weeks!

For my local readers, I'm doing the Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary School Craft Fair November 8-9 in Port Coquitlam. Would love to see you there!

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday!

Happy Halloween!

PS. What happened to October (my favourite month)!

 

 

A (FAVOURITE) FINISH!

Firstly, let me say a huge thanks to everyone who commented on my last post!  I'm pretty sure it generated the most comments I have ever received. It made me look at that particular quilt, and all my quilts, actually, in a new light.  Sometimes it's hard to silence that inner critic and listen to my inner creator! 



Anyway, this week I have a finish that I truly love! I've had a stack of Wee Wander marinating on my shelf for quite some time just waiting for the perfect quilt.  These prints lend themselves well to fussy cutting. I have to say, though, I have mixed feelings about fussy cutting.  While I love cutting out the little motifs, I absolutely hate wasting my precious fabrics. In the end, though, it had to be done.  Here is my finished quilt!

 

 

I'm really happy with the way it turned out. This is my own pattern that I created specifically for prints that work well with fussy cutting. This is my second quilt with the pattern (I sold the first one at a craft fair last year)!  I'm not sure I will be able to let this one go. I may have to save it for someone special!  We'll see! 

Have a great weekend everyone.

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish it Up Friday!

 

A QUESTION!

What do you do when you're working on a quilt you absolutely CAN'T STAND?  Do you power through and finish it or add it to your pile of WIPs, perhaps never to be finished or re-visited at a much later date? This has happened a few times to me in the past few months.  One has moved to the bottom of the pile and the other I decided to power through and finish!  I'll start with the back...

 



 

I love this elephant print. I bought quite a large piece of it awhile back and pieced a matching top! I really wanted to make another quilt using this as the back.  I only had a few small pieces of coordinating prints of tiny turquoise and orange elephants.  Here's the finished quilt...

 

 

I'm really not in love with this, but it has grown on me a tiny bit. It's no secret I love using white in my baby quilts, practical or not, but this is too much white even for me! Perhaps I would have liked it more had I used a different colour instead of the white!  Anyway, I would love to know what you do with your not so loved WIPs.  

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday!

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

 

ANOTHER FINISH!

Oh it feels good to finish a quilt, doesn't it!  This one has been on my list for a while!  Inspiration struck when I picked up a cute little animal print while on vacation in July. It came from a great quilt shop in Oliver, B.C., a short 15 minute drive from Osoyoos where we spent a week in the sweltering Okanagan heat! Unfortunately, the shop is closing, but fortunately for me everything was on sale!  Anywhere, here is my little finished quilt...

 

This picture shows a little of the back...

 

I decided to quilt it with straight lines about 1.5 inches apart. I really like how this quilt turned out and how the colours pop against the white! It came together really quickly and it was a great way to use up some of my never-ending scraps, too!

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday!  Be sure to check out her FABULOUS EPP quilt.  I'm so jealous!

 

 



BACK TO BASICS (AGAIN)!

As a quilter, it's nice every now and then to get back to basics...like this little quilt...

 

 

I had purchased (a looooong time ago) a charm pack and yardage for a project I wanted to try. It got put away and semi-forgotten.  In an effort to finish up some quilts for a craft fair coming up in November (don't gasp, it's really only three months away) and to use up some older fabric in my stash, I decided just to make a simple patchwork quilt!  After spending an entire today cutting and sewing a billion triangles (okay, maybe a few hundred) for another quilt, it was a pleasure to see this little quilt come together so easily!  The fabric doesn't really suit my taste any longer (I think this was one of my earliest purchases when I first began quilting), but it's really sweet!

 


 In other news, allow me to introduce Mara...

This sweet little girl joined us about a week ago. She's had a terrible life so far but she seems quite happy here with us and our other tabby Stewart! She's been hanging out in my sewing room with me.  She is very curious about what I'm doing and loves to watch me sew and cut fabric!  She's been welcome company!
Have a great long summer weekend to my Canadian readers!
 

A (LITTLE) FINISH!

Sometimes it's so nice to finish an entire quilt in one afternoon...

 

 

even if it's a tiny one!!!

This sweet little doll quilt and pillow was made with Amanda Jean's wonderful tutorial with leftover Hello Petal scraps! Love it! I wish I had taken a picture of the actual pillow - it is so darn cute!!! Thank you, Amanda Jean for such a great tutorial!

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday!

 

 



FINISH IT UP FRIDAY (X 2)!!!

Hurray!  I have a finish (two, actually) and it feels great!  Here's #1...

 

 

It's no secret I LOVE using Kona white in my quilts. In fact, I've used almost an entire bolt in the past year!  I love the freshness of it and how it makes colours pop.  This quilt was quickly whipped up from a pattern found here! I had a few bits of Posey left over from a previous quilt and wanted to use them up.  I love how this quilt turned out. I especially love the little applique bunny in the corner...

 

 

It's a little hard to see, but I used a raw edge applique method and stippled over it for extra security!  I think it adds an interesting little detail to the quilt!

 

Onto finish #2. I had started this quilt quite a while ago. See this post! I hadn't made much progress until a few days ago when I became completely obsessed with it!  For some reason I just couldn't stop! I gave it a good press this morning, and here it is...

 

 

I absolutely love it! It measures about 36 x 41 inches so it's pretty small...perfect for a baby quilt!  I have a few ideas for quilting, but I'm completely stumped by what to use for the back. I go back and forth between a plain pink or aqua Kona solid or something busy in keeping with the top! I really want to get this one finished. The sad part is...it barely made a dent in my scraps. I'm thinking of having a scrappy giveaway so check back in case you want to get started on your own!

Have a great weekend everyone. Happy sewing.

Linking up with Amanda Jean!



BUSY SEWING!

Yes, I have been busy sewing up a storm...just not blogging about it!  But I'm back with a quick update!  Lots of blocks in the works...

 



A few tops...

 



 

But, alas, no finishes!  I hope to change that this weekend! 

 

No Turning Back Now!

Well...I did it!  I cut into my treasured bundle of Flea Market Fancy!  I think when I first started quilting and became enamored with fabric, the first release of FMF was at the tail end.  I always loved it but never found any to buy except for small bits here and there on Etsy at prohibitive prices.  I was so excited when it was re-released and purchased a FQ bundle for myself plus some yardage in my favourite prints here! After spending ages a little while admiring the beautiful stack, I finally decided on a pattern, put a new blade in my cutter, and got started cutting!

 

 

I am making one small change to the pattern (naturally). Instead of 8 1/2-inch squares of several focus fabrics, I'm going to stick with all patchwork blocks. I'm so excited to get started on this quilt and I can't wait to see how it turns out!  It's been ages since I made myself a quilt. Now...to get those blocks made!

 



FINISH IT UP FRIDAY (AND A FAVOURITE)!!!

At long last I finished up a little project I've been working on for quite a while! I have a habit of starting projects willy-nilly with no real plan in mind, crossing my fingers and holding my breath hoping it will turn out!  Usually sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't.  In this case, I'm pretty pleased with the outcome...

 

 

 

 

I've been wanting to try the QAYG method for ages.  For this bag I loosely followed a basic bag pattern but used the QAYG method for making the panels.  I cut batting slightly larger than the required measurements and trimmed them down to the correct size and constructed the bag as per the instructions. It turned out pretty good but there are a few areas I will change next time around! The flour label was cut from a piece of fabric originally purchased to make curtains for my sewing room but I couldn't resist cutting into it - it's entirely made up of vintage flour sack labels!  Who could resist! I see many more of these cute bags in my future.  This one will be used for my EPP projects.

Linking up with Amanda Jean!

Have a great weekend!

 



WHERE DOES THE TIME GO!!!

I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post!  I have been busy in my little sewing room working on lots of projects but finishing none! I'm sure you can all relate!

 

I finally decided to work on my aversion to paper piecing. I found a great pattern here and made up trial a block! I won't tell you how long it took me, but after a few false starts, I managed to finish this little block...

 I'm not sure why I have so much trouble wrapping my brain around this technique!  I keep wanting to place the fabric opposite to where it should actually go! I finished another block but when I turned it over one of my fabric pieces was too small.  Not sure how that happened!  I almost cried and spent probably more time trying to fix it than it took me to make the actual block!  Anyway, I feel like I have a handle on paper piecing.  I actually find it fun and love the precision.  Personally, I think the best part is tearing away the paper!

But here is my really exciting news!  Look what I bought...

Eep! Isn't it cute!  I have wanted a serger for ages and decided to treat myself!  I haven't fired it up yet, but I did buy some really cute knit fabric! Wish me luck!

 

A QUICK FINISH!

I haven't been buying much fabric lately, but I did order a bundle of Hello Petal from the Intrepid Thread! They always manage to have exactly what I want.  Anyway, I whipped up this cute little quilt in no time...

 

 

I love the softness of this quilt. These prints are so sweet! Who can resists cats and cute little girls! 

 

And...I'm finally ready to cut into these...

 

 



These came from Mad About Patchwork, my favourite online Canadian fabric retailer.  I have had these for quite a while as I have been unable to decide on a pattern.  I've finally made my choice and I'm almost ready to start cutting! I'll keep you updated!

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday!

Have a great weekend!



A QUICK LITTLE FINISH (SORT OF)!

My much younger friend just had a gorgeous baby girl last week! In an effort to put my garment sewing skills to the test, I whipped up these...

 

 

I think they turned out pretty good!  The pattern was great and all went well until the waistband when I had a little trouble. In the end I made a casing and inserted the elastic and it worked out just fine!  I do enjoy working with knits (is there a serger in my future - perhaps) and making these small projects is so satisfying! Pattern found here! 

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday!

Have a great weekend!

Go Canada!!!



WINNER!

We have a winner for my first little giveaway!

 

It's #3 - Ohiomom!

 

I used the Random Number Generator website to pick the number.  I don't know how to copy it to my blog so you will have to trust me on this one!

Send me an email Ohiomom with your contact info!

 

Thanks to all four of you who entered. Check back soon...there may be another one!

Happy Family Day to my BC readers!

 



A LITTLE CELEBRATION!

At long last I had my first sale in my little fabric shop! To mark this momentous occasion, I have decided to have my first giveaway! I put together this little bundle of 1/4 metre cuts (that's 10 inches to my American readers) of each Kona cotton in my shop which also happen to be my favourite Kona colours...

 



These include White, Snow, Ash, Aqua and Peony!

Now, I know I don't get a huge amount of people reading my blog, so I'm going to leave this giveaway open until I have ten comments or until Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. (which happens to be Family Day here in B.C.) at which time I will randomly pick a winner!

Hopefully, this is the start to more sales and I can stock more colours! As my friend Caroline said (who happens to have a fabulous Etsy shop), every conglomerate started with one sale!

 

LOW VOLUME???

For the longest time I've been admiring all the low volume quilts out there in the blogging/quilting world.  I decided it was about time to give it a try!  Here's my (almost) finish...

 



 

I think this qualifies as low volume.  The colours are actually much softer than what is depicted!  I again used some of my Posy prints with a few solids, polka dots and gingham prints from my stash.  I didn't manage to get the binding finished due to a busy week at work - will hopefully get to it today (or perhaps I should wait until the Super Bowl)!  The little squares finish at 3 inches with a 3 inch border.  I often forget how nice it is to just make a simple patchwork quilt! I really enjoyed the peaceful rhythm of sewing the squares together and watching the top come together.   

Linking up today with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday!

Have a great weekend!

A PRODUCTIVE WEEK!

Yes...I finally feel like I'm making a little progress lately!  I finished up my Posey Road Trip quilt which I blogged about a week or so ago!  I love these prints!  I had originally only bought a mini charm pack and whipped up a mini grannie square quilt! I found a few prints at my LQS a few weeks ago and decided I couldn't pass them by!  Here's my finished sweet little quilt...

 

In keeping with the colours, I decided to keep the quilting a little simpler and used these soft wavy lines I've done a few times before. This little quilt is so soft and squishy!  It's going to be hard to let this one go but I have listed it in my shop! 

 

In other quilty news, I received this great bundle of Hello Petal from the Intrepid Thread in California...

 

 

Julie always has exactly what I want and her shipping is so fast!

 

I can't wait to cut into these adorable prints.  Aneela is having a little contest on her blog using Hello Petal.  Check it out!  I've decided to enter and already have a project in mind.  I've drafted up a pattern. Hopefully it works out!  I'll let you know!

 

FIRST FINISH OF THE YEAR!

Well...almost!  Is it already January 17?  Where does the time go?

 

For my first quilt this year, I put together this pretty little stack of fabric...

 

 

and whipped up another Road Trip quilt (a la Cluck Cluck Sew).  I guess I'm going to have to eat my words. I have vague recall of a previous post where I talked about rarely making the same quilt twice.  But there are exceptions to every rule...right!  I think I've made at least five of these! Anyway, here is the finished quilt (sans binding)...

 

 

I took advantage of a sunny moment to get a quick picture!  The colours are actually much softer than they appear in the photo.  I used a few Posy prints and added in some turquoise, grey, and yellow from my stash. 

 

Have you ever sat down at your machine to quilt a quilt and had no idea what you are going to do? This was my experience with this quilt.  I didn't feel like attaching my FMQ foot and my walking foot was already on my machine so I decided to go with wavy lines to keep the quilt nice and soft!  I've done this type of quilting before but much more dense.  In the end I think this was the right decision for this quilt!  I've decided that I need to get a little more adventuresome with my quilting this year so I think I'm off to a good start!

 

In other quilting news, I've decided to loosely join the Economy Block Quilt-Along going on right now! (See Rita's blog for details.) Her tutorial is great and my blocks have turned out perfectly - all three of them!  Here they are...

 

 

I'm planning a small baby quilt with these and hope to make four or five a week!  Only 56 more to go! Fortunately they are lots of fun to make!

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday!

Happy Belated New Year!