Small Blog Link Up

Not much new to show. I was able to get my small wirly-gig quilted and the binding sewn to the front. I also spent last night getting the larger wirly gig and the plus quilt pinned last night. I might start the quilting of the wirly tonight. I still have to figure out what thread I will use for the plus quilt.

WIP Wednesday

Not much going on around here. I got the binding done on my New Wave quilt and the Color Wheel quilt. I am so glad I took the time to do the lines on the New Wave - once it was washed it looks awesome.

I have not touched my sewing machine since Super Bowl Sunday. I got the main part of the plus quilt done and am unsure on what to do for the borders, so it is just sitting there.

I did start cutting out squares for the Granny Squares quilt that is floating around blogland right now. Used up more of my scraps - love that feeling.

Onto my quilt labels - there was a request to tell how I created them. I do all my designing using Adobe Illustrator. I created labels on a yard of fabric that were 3.5x2 (the size of a standard business card) - 180 of these, then shrunk the label done to 2 x 1-1/8 - 100 of these, then to fill up the remaining space I created 6 labels that were 1.5x1. For a total of 3 sizes - 286 labels.

 On my biggest labels I left a white area of 1/8-inch past my blue border. I am wishing I would have had a bigger white area so I could sew the labels into the corner of the quilt and have the binding cover 2 sides of it. Just for a little added security in keeping the label on.

I used my first label on my color wheel quilt. I have a busy backing fabric for this quilt. I am washing it as I speak and when I took it from the washer to put in the dryer - the label was very see-through. I am hoping this clears up once the quilt is dry otherwise I will have to come up with a solution on future busy backing fabrics.

I attached the label with fusible web. It held up in the washing part of the quilt - no loose threads on the edges of the label.

I did not go into much detail on how to create you labels - I am going to refer you to a website that I visited - Jaybird Quilts. She has a 2-part tutorial that will tell you everything you need to know about creating labels with Spoonflower.  http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/2009/07/label-tutorial-spoonflower-way.html 

If you do have questions I will gladly answer them.

My next thing to figure out is what type of marking pen I should use to write on my labels. Suggestions?

WIP Wednesday

I am going to start this WIP Wednesday off by saying that migraines suck! I have had one since Monday and am barely making it through the day. So needless to say no sewing going on here. Before the migraine struck I was being very productive. I got the binding done on my Valentine mug rug and on the Swoon Sampler.

Ready to quilt - 2 Wirlygig quilts. One is 40x40 and the other is a little larger with borders. I am out of batting so until I can get to town to get more these will hang in my sewing room.

Below is my color wheel quilt - This is actually quilted and ready for the binding to be hand sewn.

Next up is my new quilt labels!! (Sorry the photos are so awful) I designed them in Adobe Illustrator and had them printed at Spoonflower - a whole yard of labels. They turned out so awesome. I used my first one on the color wheel quilt. Before I was using the printed iron ons from Joanns.

I have made some progress on my plus quilt too. I am hoping to finishing sewing the pluses together this weekend and add a few borders.

Still to bind
- New wave quilt
- Oriental circles quilt

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.