Paper piecing is for the birds

I have some blocks to share with you today, yay!

The CAMQG has member-led lessons and workshops throughout the year. I can't say how much I love them. The knowledge sharing and humor makes the guild meetings so special. As much as I love me a good online tutorial, there is something so energizing and inspiring about being the same room with folks who love the same stuff as you. Don't you think?

Alright, gushy stuff aside. One of our members, JJ, held a little workshop on paper piecing back in May. It was a good introduction for first timers, and included some tips and tricks for people who were more experienced. 

She chose this simple star block, and led the group through the process. 

As always, it was fun to see how everyone's fabric choices translated into the block.

Some people used scraps, some people strategically chose prints. I sort of cheated and just grabbed a fat quarter bundle that my mom had gifted me on the way out the door. It worked well though, since there was a variety of values and sizes in the bundle.  Plus, those birds are adorable and need to be in the spotlight. 

I completed one block during our workshop in May and set aside the leftover fabric until this week.

My sewing space is still not set up after our move, butI started going through serious project withdrawal I tell you! My quick fix was to take over the kitchen table and dig a small WIP project out of the boxes.

It only took 3 months, but hey, now I have two blocks done!

If you'd like to brush up on your own paperpiecing, 

grab the free printable template and instructions here.

I honestly wasn't familar with Carol Doak (the block designer) before the workshop, but I've spent some time on her website since, and WOW there are bunches of free patterns and resources there.

Prescription: Orange Peels

Well, I don't tons of fun quilty updates to share with you today. But I do have a photo from of this week's work in progress!

Confession time: I've been sewing while on drugs.  Fortunately mine would be of the lightweight prescription painkiller variety.  In my defense,  the Rx says I shouldn't drive or operate heavy machinery, but it said nothing about operating a sewing machine!

Anyway, the meds are working well, and I'm bouncing back quickly from my minor surgery.  But the drugs do make me a little drowsy and unfocused, so when I got a creative itch, I needed a simple repetitive block to work on.

Enter, orange peels.

I'm seriously in LOVE with these orange peel quilts, both feature scrappy low volume backgrounds and fun bright peels: Emily's Rainbow Orange Peels and Jessica's Scatter Quilt. I just saw that Jessica lives and quilts not to far from where I grew up, in NJ. She doesn't know it yet, but I am pretty sure we need to be best friends. Just sayin'.

I'm using the fusible interfacing technique from this tutorial by Emily.

Apologies for the slightly unfocused fuzzy cell phone photos. Let's go ahead and call that an intentional sneak peek into my foggy state of mind. 

So, the bad news is I technically started a new project but the good news is that it's scrap friendly, there's no deadline and I don't have to worry about messing up if I'm a little loopy.

Let's call this one a win.

Linking up:

Making a list

Katy's opened up the 2nd quarter Finish-A-Long! I work best with deadlines, so I'm excited to give myself a boost of motivation with this link-up. Ironically enough, tomorrow is the deadline for posting our proposed finish list, and here I am, getting in right under the wire! So proof positive - deadlines work!

Even as I write this list, I know I'm being over-ambitious. But if you know anything about me you know that is kind of my style. I have captured every single one of my started projects. Let's see how much I can get done in the next 3 months! It was a bit of a reality check to see how many there are. 

Small projects-

1. Monkey QFK-

This baby size quilt is destined for Quilts for Kids and it is so close... it's quilted so now all I need to do is put on binding!

2. Duck QFK-

This one is also destined for Quilts for Kids. Obviously it's not as close to finished but since it is a small project I think we can whip this out before the end of Q2.  I'm already thinking about how I want to put that maybe a modified Baptist's fan? Hrmmm, we'll see.

3. Turtle QFK-

Are we seeing a theme here? Top is pieced and needs to be basted.

4. Jungle quilt-

Pieces are cut and pinned, but I can't remember what the pattern was so I need to so some math before I can make real progress on this. 

5. Scrap-basket strip quilt-

I started this one as part of a block swap and have just sewn the last 20 6.5" blocks needed to get to this size. I don't know yet if it will stay with me or be gifted, but I do know that I want to try some free motion quilting on this one. Before I can do that though I'll need to pick out some backing and binding fabric. I pulled a black and white polka dot hoping I could calm down the crazy, what do you think?

6.  Halloween Table runner-

I ran low on the black fabric, got frustrated with the borders being too small to piece and stalled out this project. I will just bite the bullet and seam rip off the offending black border. The nice thing about this is even if I don't get to it before the end of the 2nd quarter, I'll have time to still get it done for the holiday.

Big projects-

7. The maroon and orange one-

That's a pretty unexciting name for one that I like so much... what should I call it?? These blocks are sewn, squared, and ready to go! I need to start joining rows. I haven't done so yet because some of the white strips in the middle are varying in widths and it will take a little bit of finesse to get things lined up. Thankfully now that I have a design wall I can lay things out without crawling all over the floor. So, no excuses, let's get this one done this quarter! 

8. Sister's grad quilt-

This is basted and has been since February.  I need to conquer my fear of wrestling this bad boy under my domestic machine. Well, sister graduated last May so it's seriously overdue.

9.  Anniversary quilt-

This is the biggest, hardest and most sentimental project on my WIP list. I've got quite a few more blocks to piece to get it to the planned queen bed size, and they are time consuming. But the result is so worth it! Hoping to get this done this summer, get it to a long-armer and enjoy it for our 4th wedding anniversary in August. We'll see...

10. Made in Color-

 Started as part of a quilt-a-long, I ran short of some fabrics in the fuschia colorway, and set it aside. Two more points to go before I can piece the background.

11. Across the sea

This was my first QAL! I got to the point where I needed to add the last and had to pack up to move. That was 2 years ago. Oh I am a compulsive quilt staller... is there a support group out there for us?!

12. Sisters quilt-

My sister and I picked up fabric for us to make matching quilts (same colored strips, but different neutrals). I am still in love with the idea of us having different but similar quilts, that we work on together. Our strips our cut, but the sewing has yet to happen. Sorry about the terrible cell phone photo. Trust me when I say those prints are CUTE!

13. Mod mosiac bonus quilt

I'm piecing these improv blocks to use up scraps. Since this is a 'bonus' quilt I am not putting the pressure on to finish it this quarter.  I'll put it here though to keep me honest when I get tempted to start something new.

Sheesh! I better get cracking!

Busting scraps and winter blues

Sometimes a girl just needs to sew.

Sometimes, like when that girl is stressed or tired, she needs to sew and not care if her points match.

She needs to sew fast as fast as her machine can go until she runs out of bobbin thread.

On such a night, some improv modern mosaic blocks are the perfect solution.

Busting scraps,  stress, and the winter blues all at once, is just what this girl needed.

WIP Wednesday (2/15/12)

This will be a quickie WIP update - I've gotten alot done, but I don't have much time to tell you about it right now. 

Here are some photos to show you what's been going on behind the scenes here.

I got the Mini Quilt clipped and read to be bound. Here are some wonky houses and itty bitty circles .
You'll get to see more of when it's done

Moody Blues Bee/Dead Simple QAL Working on my layout now - the ladies from the MBB did a fantastic job with improv piecing!(no pics of this yet) ... 

and got I got 2 blocks made for Melissa, who asked for wonky stars in aqua and red.

I got a log cabin pumpkin done for Lisa

I took part in the OYGB orphan bock challenge- from oprhan to tea wallet, in less than an hour!

 

Stalled out on this one, I have to find space to do the piecing , here are the 4 quadrants to the center square.

...and off I go to the next appointment. What a whirlwind of a Wednesday!

As usual you should check out every one's works in progress at Lee's!

A New Year & yada yada

It's a new month.

It's a new year.

It's the widely accepted time for personal reflection, lists of goals and new beginnings.

Lots of people are looking back at their accomplishments at the Fresh Sewing Day linky party hosted by Lynne. Check 'em out :)

Considering some of personal hurdles that 2011 present me with, it may very well be a miracle that I got anything done.

But I did. And here they are!

1. Toy Train Bag, 2. His and Hers Christmas Stockings, 3. 1st 10 blocks, 4. Scrappy Tree ornament Tutorial, 5. stocking for kids - front and back, 6. finished halloween mug rug, 7. square blocks for sarah, 8. Modern Christmas tablerunner at home 9. Basement curtains


Did you notice that there is a noticable lack of quilts up there? Ya. Me too.

I'm trying not to beat myself up too much about it. I love my WIP quilts and don't hold a grudge against them, just because they are sitting abandoned on my table.

I am not the only one who has this dilemma, right?
Don't you have some unfinished sewing business from 'last year'?

I need a little kick in the sewing rump once in a while, and over the next 3 months, that kick will come in the form of  Rhonda's proposed Finish-A-Long!

I 'met' Rhonda via the tablerunner swap I did, and have developed a little blogger crush on her. 

Seriously she's awesome - see for yourself at her blog or flickr pool.

Where was I ...oh yes. Unfinished projects.

Here's how it'll work -

At the beginning of each quarter participants link up a blog post which includes a summary of the projects they intend to complete in that quarter (see Rhonda's here).

Then at the end of the quarter you link up your blog post (or Flickr pictures if you have more than one project and only one blog post) with the summary of the projects you completed in that quarter. It is the post-quarter linky party that the prizes will be drawn from. 

Genius. She's a genius. Why didn't I think of this?

Here are the projects I will aim to finish in this first quarter. Gotta aim high, right? 

1. ATS QAL Quilt : This was started 8/2011. It is just a back, and outer borders away from bring ready to quilt. It got too big for me to wrestle in my sewing nook.  I have a bigger table now, time to re-tackle this one!

2. Scrappy Friendship Quilt: This was started in 2008, as an in person fabric swap with my friends.  Its pieced, and bound and partially quilted. Haven't touched in since summer. The kicker with this one is that I am hand quilting the whole thing. It will be a 'full' mattress size when it's done. Cold weather and hand quilting sounds good - time to snuggle up and get it done!

3. Jungle Baby Quilt: It was started in 4/2011  Status: Pieces are cut. Ready to piece

4.Quilts for Kids Quilt: This is to be donated to a child in the hospital. It's partially pieced. It's a small project. I just sort of lost interest in it, which I feel sort of bad about - since it's for such a good cause.

Wow! This post is getting long .. .still with me? Good! 'Cause I wanna thank you!

Remember I said that 2011 had a lot of ups and downs for me?

One of the ups was certainly discovering the world of craft and sewing blogs.

When I started this blog in March, I had NO idea what an amazing trip I was signing up for.

I cannot begin to tell you how much the work, creativity and humor of people like you have lifted my spirits, confidence and energy when things became overwhelming. THANK YOU!!!

That brings me back to Lynne. She is also hosting her always fabulous Small Blog Meet.
It's a great way to discover some of the the newest blogs (and their wonderful writers) out there!
 
Oh wait, Lynne, what is that?
I have 48 followers, and meet the <50 criteria so I should link up again? Okay!

Since I've introduced myself several times {HERE and HERE} I will leave you with a recent photo and some (nontraditional but hopefully entertaining) questions I answered recently.

1. Worst pick up line you've gotten: "Can I borrow your library card? I want to check you out." Seriously??
2. What's the last thing you saw live in a theater? Local Professional orchestra, they were great:)
3. Do you give money to panhandlers? No
4. What's your drink? hot chocolate.
5. What's hanging above your sofa? the poster sized guest book poster thing from our wedding
6. How much is too much to spend on a haircut? This is embarassing. $0 I usually trade babysitting with my sister, who's a haridresser for my haircuts. Is that bad?
7. Brunch: pro or con? Pro, duh!
8. Cats or Dogs? Dogs, as long as they aren't super drooly.
9. What do you feel when you stand on the shore of the ocean? happy:) and usually Itchy - I am terrible about remembering sunscreen.
10. If you could chose to be an animal what animal would you choose to be? Why? An owl, Who wouldn't want to fly and see in the dark.. aren't those practically superpowers?

Bring it on 2012! I can handle anything you throw at me!
Especially with the support and witty banter of my blog family.

Wishing you a very happy, healthy and exciting year ahead :)

Train bag (a pain in my caboose)

I stayed in last night in an attempt to get a Christmas gift for my nephew done.  The back story is here, but the abridged version is the boy has enough toy trains to fill a tub. 

or swimming pool. 

or any other arbitrary 'large' object. 

He brings them with him everywhere, and they inevetably end up under someone's feet. 

Bad news for the trains, and bad news for the feet.

Since we are gifitng on a budget this year - I pulled out my stash of train fabric and went to work.

I got about 1/2 way done (hopefully that was the hard half since it involved a zipper, some swear words and a seem ripper.)

My brain fizzled out around 10:00pm .

I had to walk away and complete some flickr/blog therapy at about 10:30pm.

Today is a new day, however. 

I've had my coffee and ready for the final face off with Thomas and Friends...

 ______________________________________________

Edit: 12/17/11 6:00PM  

I win ... I WIN!!

I am happy to say it's all done!

..and it's my first successful zipper install!  

The artsy fartsy shot of the zipper.

Just don't look too close - it's a bit, special.

Fabric: Assorted Thomas the Tank Character Fabric
Pattern: Tutorial by Anna from Noodleheads