2014 Quilting Year in Review

I finished more than I thought in 2014 but of course not as much as I would like.

Here is a quick post in pictures. It will be nice to look back on down the road.

Here's hoping to do better this year.

Michelle

Final Finishes of 2014

Here are the last 2 quilted finishes I had for the year.

Downton Abbey - I worked on this for a year and it was the quilt from he!!. I couldn't get anything to do what it was supposed to do. I consider this a labor of love. It was made for my sister and she loved it.

It was so big I had nowhere to lay it out properly. One of the student from my Loyal Union, Kris, was a sweetheart and long arm quilted it for me.

Dad's Christmas quilt. I love flannel really I do as long as I don't have to sew with it or have it in my house. Every stray cat/dog hair finds it's way on here. I finished this with a couple days to spare. I just stitched in the ditch on the sashing rows. I used a wool batting. It is very fluffy which was what I wanted.

If only I could have a quilt done every day. That sure would be nice.

Michelle

The things you do for your Brother.

My brother works at Rock Bottom Brewery. My brother knows I sew. My brother asked me if I could make a curtain to cover some area at his work. I said sure. My brother asked if I could embroider the name of the brewery onto the curtain I said no but maybe I could iron it on. My brother gave me the graphic, it is black. My brother needed the curtain black. Can you see the dilemma? I am good at certain things but trying to get a black iron on to a black curtain taint happening.

After some trial and error this is what I came up with. I just had my hubby print that graphic onto printer fabric and top stitched that puppy down. I thought the grommets would be the hard part boy was I wrong. But it is done. I was paid and he is happy.

Michelle

A Sewing Post...really

Most of my sewing is not lately is not something that is done quickly. They are all BOM and various other versions. I remember the days when I pieced things quickly. One of these days I will be doing some more of that.

My sister asked me for another diaper bag as a gift out of Mickey Mouse Fabric. So after searching and finally finding the fabric at Hobby Lobby I was all set to go.

I usually make the Bow Tuck purse pattern and modify it a little bit. Not this time. I had to much stuff to do and not a lot of time, as usual, so I changed things up. I used the Tahoe Tote pattern and boy did it go quick. It only took a couple of hours. Now, to be honest it may have taken a little less time but lately I can't seem to read directions to well. Even though I read them a couple hundred times and felt in my gut I wasn't sewing it together right. I still did my own thing. I then of course had to rip out the last seam which of course is the most difficult. I had sewn the outside to the inside but backwards and upside down and who knows. I just know that when I was finally at the magical - pull the bag through whoo hoo step it was not right. Nothing like un-sewing a complete round of complex stitching. But, I finished.

As easy as bags are to make most of the time they are still not my favorite. I don't really know why.


Blessings,
Michelle

A Little Quicker Than I Thought

Someone requested a quilt. I am not going to mention any names for their safety. I had already planned on making one. I thought about the time frame (baby not due until Sept) and what I had on my plate and figured OK I got this.  I should of known.

Yeah, the little man is not due until Sept. but the baby shower is in June. Hello!! Seriously!!!

Well, all the planning went out the window and everything else was put on hold. No painting, no nothing I will just have to live with the bedroom and half of the bathroom crap still being in the living room. No worries, just don't look in the front window and don't be expecting and invite anytime soon.

I decided on a pattern and was already to go. Then the night before I get a text with the "colors" and the "theme" . Seriously!!! Hello!!! If I didn't love that girl and she lived much closed I can say she might have been in some deep kimshi. So, there goes the plan. Right out the window. Again. (She was also lucky I hadn't already bought the fabric or she would of ended up with what I wanted not what they chose)

New plan, new fabric and a lot of crazy cutting and sewing and hair pulling.  But, it was finished on time and mailed to get the shower in time.

It was a good thing she liked it....that's all I am saying.

So, even though I am not here I am busy. Good thing is I cut back my hours at work so maybe I can get more done. We shall see.

Design Wall 3/3/2014

I have been working most Monday's the last couple of months and I keep forgetting to post my Design Wall Monday. I have been very busy even though it may not seem like it. I have a lot more going on than I have pictures but what's new right.

I started a new BOM - Mastering Miniatures so I couldn't resist making a few of these right away even though I have tons of things to do. I figure I will make one block a week, and since I work Friday I went ahead and made this weeks as well.

I also made a mini quilt yesterday using Jaybird Quilts Pattern Northern Lights. I am taking it in to work as a sample and I have one more mini to make. These use the new hexagon mini ruler and I love it.

I have since washed, dried and removed every stray thread. Which wasn't an easy task. I bet I un-sewed parts of this top 4 or 5 times. I couldn't seem to get my brain to work.I think I will make another one of these with civil war scrappy prints. Depending on how you lay out the rows this quilt could have tons of different looks.

 

 

On a side note, my niece asked if I had any skull fabric. As a matter of fact I did. She needed a poncho to fit a soda can.  Hmmmm..well I came up with this.

It looks better flattened down and would look better on a taller can but what can you do?





 

 

I am also working on  Jo's Little Women's club applique quilt I will try to post pictures next week. I am also working on a Downton Abbey Ladies quilt almost done with the 50 blocks. I also have Downton Abbey Mystery going on. Not to mention Sylvia's Bridal Sampler and Loyal Union Sampler. I could keep going that's for sure.

 

For more design wall inspiration head on over to Judy's.

 

Have a great day,

Michelle

Hexagon Table Runner

I had originally planned to make this a nice size quilt. I figured that would be great for the class I'm teaching in March. After spending quit a bit of time with those pesky seams and sewing from dot to dot I was ready to pull my hair out. So, this became a nifty table runner. I didn't even add an outer white border I just chopped off and went about my business.

I ended up quilting this with a decorative stitch on my machine. I just changed the stitch length and eyeballed the lines. No one says it has to be perfect and I am actually happy with it.

I will be able to add more to my numbers this week as an added bonus.

I hope to get another little project done this week but I have to work on Sylvia's so that might not happen.

Have a great day everyone.

Michelle

Design Wall Monday Jan 6, 2014

I actually have some finishes to share. It might be all for awhile since I have to go back to class stuff, Sylvia's and Loyal Union Sampler, which will be blocks and blocks and more blocks. I do have some Hexagon stuff to get done but we shall see how that goes.

I started this New Years Eve and finished it on Jan 2. It is the strip club for High Country Quits. It is made with the Barcelona fabric line and Yin Yang pattern from Cozy Quilts. I was really unique and titled it Barcelona Yin Yang.

I ended up just making the throw size. I wish I had more time since I have made this before and also in a throw size. I would have liked to make it bigger.

 

 

 

I also finally finished my EPP Hexagon pillow. I love EPP but my hands do not. I guess this will be my only project for awhile. I will be taking this to work as my sample for my Hexie Along With Me class next month. I had wanted to hand quilt it but time was also not on my side. Oh well, maybe another project down the road.

Before quilting. I really had a hard time cutting into those puppies to square the pillow up when done.

Finished.

Close up of the straight line quilting.

 

 

 

Today I also start my 15 minute project. I will work on something for 15 minutes a day for 5 days a week. I will report my progress on Tuesdays. We shall see how much I get done or how long it will last.

 

 

For more eye candy head on over to Judy's

 

Have a Blessed Week everyone.

 

Michelle