WIP Wendesday

Circle Quilt made with Japanese inspired fabric. I just need to get the binding on it. Even after the pebble quilting I still don't like it.

Our quilt guild is having a calender challenge. Our goal is to print a 2013 calender to raise funds and have each month showcase a member's mini quilt. We had to draw a month and make an original quilt showing what the month means to you. I drew August. A lot of ideas went through my head before I started, an applique of fishing, county fairs, laundry on the line, I ended up with quilts on the line. I used leftover pinwheel and double hourglass blocks for two quilts, then a simple patchwork, a tree to match my pillow, a circle quilt and a bulls eye quilt. It just needs to be bound.

Close-up of my Mini Tree Quilt

 I took my test Swoon block and made it into a big tablerunner. I added corner pockets in the back so it can be used as a wall hanging too. I love this block - I just need to find the time to make more. I am thinking of using all my scrap fabric to make them. Needs to be bound.

 This weekend I made a Valentine mug rug. I did straight line quilting on the stripes 1/4 inch apart. I love that look. Just needs to be bound.

 Then instead of working on my wirly gigs that I started a few weeks ago, I started a plus quilt from Camille's book. You need to have alot of quiet time with no kids or husbands around to get this laid out - it is very easy to lose track of where you are in the pattern. I only did the first 13 rows and started sewing them together Monday night. After I had two rows sewn together, I had to tear them apart - I had swapped fabrics so the pluses weren't lining up right :)

Other WIPS
1. New Wave quilt - needs to be bound
2. Wirly Gigs - I was going to make 2 baby quilts but might make one large quilt - so until I decide, this is on hold.

My goal this year is to use up my stash - I put a little bit of a dent in it last year but have a long ways to go. The only new fabric I plan on buying is my Kona white and I want to make twin quilts for my boys. I am leaning towards Hall of Fame. All the boys fabric that I've seen are geared towards toddlers, I want to pick something that they will be able to use for a long time.

WIP Wendesay, Subway Art, Lego Storage

This post is going to be 3 in 1.

1. Lego Storage - With 2 boys I have legos everywhere in my house. They love to take the building plates and hook them together to make rooms (and they have to do it in my living room). So after Christmas I bought a cubby bookcase and clear storage containers and we spent a day separating the pieces out by color, building parts, etc. Then I had my husband build trays that would house the building plates and would fit under our coffee table. I now have a clean living room - no more legos on the coffee table, floor, window sills. Also in October we went through all their lego sets and put them together, so they can now store those on the bookcase. Any sets where we were missing pieces I went online to Lego and ordered them plus some other special pieces from their Pick a Brick.

2. Subway Art - We have the ability at work to print on canvas material, so before Christmas I created subway art for presents and for myself, then stretched them onto canvas. Very inexpensive!

These holiday canvases will go in my living room on an easel.

I copied these from Sweetwaters designs. For the quilt block one, I choose my own blocks that I wanted to feature. The sewing terms mimics Sweetwaters, but in a different layout.

These will be end of the year teachers gifts. Artwork found at http://www.sweetcoconutlime.com/2011/08/friday-back-to-school-freebie.html

3. WIP Wendesday

I finally finished quilting my New Wave quilt. Tonight I am hoping to get the binding sewn onto the front of the quilt. It took a long time to do all the straight line quilting, but I love how it turned out. I can't wait to see what it looks like after it has been washed.

I bought this Japanese inspired fabric a few years ago but wasn't sure what to do with it. I finally pulled different colored fabrics for the 10 inch blocks and cut the Japanese fabric into 8 inch circles. I am thinking I will pebble quilt it but am still debating. Right now I am not thrilled about it but I am hoping the quilting will change my mind.

I have made some progress on my whirly gig quilt. I have all the blocks made. After laying it out for a large quilt, I decided to make two quilts 40x40.

I have also started embroidering a pillow for my oldest. He drew a picture of a hockey player named Gabe. So far I have the shoes, hockey puck and half of the stick done. I think it will be a long process

WIP Wendesday

 I had alot of sewing time this weekend and was able to get both pillows done for my couch. My youngest said the tree pillow is his favorite. I think that is one pattern that I would make again.

 I also got the binding done on my Charming Stars quilt. My first finish for 2012!!

Here is the beginning stages of my New Abundance quilt. I am actually almost done quilting it. I decided to do straight lines following the angles of the pattern, making the lines 1/4 inch apart, so it is taking alot longer than planned. I am hoping by this weekend I will be putting the binding on.

I have also been working on a wirly gig quilt. I am finally using a fabric collection that I bought 2 years ago plus some from my stash. No photos yet. My youngest was helping me chain stitch the pieces last night - big mistake he about took my fingers off. Maybe in a few years he can try again :)

2011 Review

A collage of some of my finishes for 2011. In total I made 21 quilts or tablerunners, 4 stockings, 5 snowmen embroideries, 4 wine bottle covers and 1 pillow...

Then I snuck in one more finish - this tree pillow.

WIP Wendesday

Stockings are done and hung in my living room.

Snowmen Embroideries for teacher gifts. I got a really cute star hanger for each.

I gave in and made a Swoom block. Do you notice my mistake (hint in the geese). I did not have enough green to fix it. I am thinking I might make one of these with my stash and make it rainbow colors.

In my last post I said that I wasn't going to start a new project in 2011, but I found this fabric at Joanns and wanted to create something right away. This top is completely put together it just needs to be quilted.

I also bought some DS Quilts fabric at Joanns but forgot to photograph it.

WIP:

1. Finish binding tumbler runner - I only have about 5 more minutes on this but it is not getting done.
2. Finish binding baby bowtie quilt - about 1/2 done.
3. Quilt charming starts quilt - started this on Monday night.
4. Wine bottle covers - 1 is done, 1 to go.

WIP Wendesday

 I finally got my Central Park quilt done. It has been hanging in my bedroom since May with the binding left to do.

I also for the binding sewn on my Verna Dresden mini but I have not taken final photos yet.

Back in October I went out east to visit family. I promised my nephew that I would make him a quilt for his stuffed dog and mail it to him. For 3 years old he had a wonderful grasp on how the mail worked. I finally found time this weekend to start the quilt but plan on saving it until Christmas so I can see him open it. He has a favorite stuffed dog, which is kind of sad since he is allergic to them, so I had some doggy material and used that.

I tried something different and stitched 'woof' throughout the quilt. Not to bad for my first time doing words.

WIP

1. Sew binding on doggy quilt
2. Sew binding on tumber runner
3. Sew binding on Central Park bowtie baby quilt
4. Quilt and bind Verna Charming Stars quilt
5. Make 3 wine bottle covers - got material cut out for one

Verna Pinwheel Sampler is finally done!!!

 The red and brown pinwheel is my favorite block. I would love to do a whole quilt of these.

I finally got the binding done on my sampler quilt. It went alot faster than I thought. I have barely touched my sewing machine in the past month. I think I hit a wall on my quilting. I am working on finishing up all of my projects so I can start 2012 all fresh and new. I got my Christmas stockings and snowmen embroideries done (I will post photos once I have taken them). I have been binding my Verna Dresden mini in the mornings while waiting for the bus. I started binding my Central Park quilt that has been hanging over my bed since May (when I pulled it off the rod the other night my husband commented that he thought it was already done - never mind the threads hanging out all over). I do have to make 2 doll quilts for my niece and nephew for Xmas, but that should be the extent of new projects for awhile.