Design Wall January 18,2016

I started an applique project. It is really hard to take time to do it since I am usually knitting or my hands can't do it for a long period of time. I really do enjoy it though.

I prepped this block last week and finished it Saturday night. I now have to prep the next one (note...cut back on the glue).

The fabric is from Little House on the Prairie and the pattern is from one of Kim Diehl's books. I have 3 more sections to do like this one and then I can put the quilt together.

I need to hurry up. I already have my next applique project planned.

Head on over to Judy's for more inspiration.

Off to prep....I hope.

Michelle

Design Wall Monday

I didn't realize my class was this coming Friday. I better get busy. This is really not needed until the second Friday in Feb. but it would be nice to have the sample done early. I may just finish the top and not get the quilting done. I only have 20 more blocks to go and to put it all together.

Fabric line is Prairie - pattern is from the book Pre-cut Primer and is the 8th grade quilt. It really isn't a hard block to do - once you spend the month sewing and trimming up the hourglass units. I have been chain piecing 2 at a time and it seems to go pretty fast. I figured if I did any more at once I would mess up my color combinations.

For more design wall ideas head on over to Judy's. Hope I have something new to show next week.

Michelle

Design Wall Monday 12/2/2013

I've been working on a little bit of this and a little bit of that. It's back to work tomorrow so my sewing will be cut down a little bit darn it.

I finished the first set of blocks for my Downton Abbey Mystery QAL. I ended up using a solid background instead of the DA one. I think it looks fine. I didn't want to wait until the fabric came in or I would be way behind. This is a Christmas gift for my sister. I told her she wouldn't get it til January sometime though.

It is called Titanic and I am using Sybil's color way.

 

I also am keeping up on my Fit For A Hero (FFAH) over at Judy's. It's kind of nice that it only takes about 30 minutes to do the step and be done with it.

 

And finally I spent half the day Friday and half the day Saturday cutting but I finally was able to start sewing on step one of Bonnie Hunter mystery, Celtic Solstice.

I was able to get 180 blocks done so I only have 100 more to go.

Even though I really am not a fan of cutting with a templates, the ruler really made this easier. It is a little time consuming but when you go to start sewing the blocks together it works out pretty darn good. I think it is amazing that these wonderful quilters go out of their way to do these free quilt alongs for us.

 

 

I am hooking up with both Judy and Bonnie today.

 

Michelle





 

 

Design Wall Monday 11/25/2013

I started a new project. Like I don't have enough to do already. I just decided I needed something to do when I don't feel like knitting and EPP is not good on my hands. I figured a needle turn applique would fit the bill and it doesn't hurt my hands as much. Weird I know.

Right now my plan is to only make 4 blocks. Each one will have a different design and a different color - Jade - Hot Pink - Yellow - Lime Green, and they will all be on a black background.

It is kind of hard to see the outline and I haven't cut out all of the surrounding fabric. I figure in some areas it will be easier to cut as I go.

I had a really hard time getting this cut out. The book I have gave me directions to cut it out like we used to do the snowflakes. You know fold the paper a billion times then cut. Well, trying to cut through eight layers of fabric was not working real well. Of course I also didn't have a big enough piece of paper to use either. I ended up tracing each section (eight of them) on to freezer paper, cutting out, placing the puzzle and ironing down then cutting out from there. I am going to have to find me some big paper for the next three that is for sure.

I also was frustrated because the book told me to use a 16 inch square of print fabric but that was too small I really needed to use a 20 inch like the background so needless to say there was some fabric wasted in the cut out of this block. At least I can cut the other ones larger. I still have 2 fabrics I need to wash.

I am off to do some chores then try to work on my first Fit For  Hero section once Judy posts it. I also need to get my blocks for Downton Abbey sewn together as well. Oh a crafter's work is never done.

For more eye candy head on over to Judy's.

Michelle

Design Wall Monday 11/11/2013

I have been on a hexie kick lately. I am teaching a couple of classes next year and am trying to get the sample done. The second class is on machine piecing the hexagons. I decided to use a Honeycomb from Moda since they were pre-cut.

My original intention was to make this large. After sewing on it for awhile I decided that it will not be happening. Of course this would have probably be easier if I had sewn rows first but of course I didn't.

After thinking some more I have come up with an easier plan of action. I am going to sew another sections of prints on the left side then another row of background but a row on the bottom and top and call it done. I may come out a weird size but it can be a wall hanging, table topper or something. I figure this was way I have a sample and I can use the other hexagons to make something easier. I have seen a few patterns that will work. I can say with honesty that I love English Paper Piecing the hexies a whole bunch better and I love the smaller sizes as well.

A lesson learned for sure.

For more eye candy head on over to Judy's.

Michelle

Design Wall Monday 11/4/2013

I have got a lot of little things I'm working on so it seems like I have nothing done.

I finished up my strips for the swap at work. They are 1.5 in strips. It will be nice when it is all done and put together. It will most definitely be scrappy.

I also have been working on my hexie project. This will be a class next year and I am trying hard to have it done before After Market Party at work on Dec. 8th. Don't know if that will happen though since my fingers are not working with me but against me. I am only able to do a little bit of hand sewing at a time before my thumbs go numb. Guess after I get this project done I will take a break for awhile and see if that helps.

I am almost finished attaching row 4 then I will be half way done. It will eventually be 8 rows of 7 and will be a pillow about 16.5 square. I used all of the fabric from my stash. It was kind of nice to pull my squares out and start using them on something.

 

 

I am now off to work on Sylvia's. I only have 54 blocks left and I set a goal for myself to do one block a day 'til it is done. Today, I will do two since I work tomorrow and know I won't want to sew when I get home. I rarely ever do.

 

For more inspiration head on over to Judy's.

 

 

Michelle

Design Wall Monday 10/14/13

I actually worked on something that wasn't Sylvia's and I finished it. My sister kept asking me for a diaper bag and I kept forgetting. So finally Thursday morning I went and bought the fabric, went home and procrastinated, finally started late afternoon Thursday and finished before football started.

Now, that is a way to get a project done I think.

I even bought some extra owl fabric to make my niece a skirt.

Hubby's off today so not much sewing. Tomorrow I have to get ready for 3 days worth of Bonnie Hunter classes. Busy week for sure.

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

Michelle

Design Wall Monday 10/7/13

I have been working on a lot of everything so it seems like I get nothing done. I am still stuck on Loyal Union Sampler. It is like potato chips I can just make one. I had to force myself to put it up so I could get my Sylvia's done for this month. I only have 3 more to go plus the 4 extra ones then I can get back to some other projects.

Sylvia's

 

 

 

Loyal Union Sampler

Hopefully with hubby back to work today, no thanks to the shutdown,  I can get some major sewing in.

For more eye candy head on over to Judy's.

Michelle

Design Wall Monday 9/23/2013

I tried to resist. I really did. Friday in between making pasta for all the kiddos I took about 45 minutes and caved in. I started the Loyal Union Sampler because doing Sylvia's Bridal Sampler wasn't enough. Although I did show everybody in my class on Saturday so it looks like there will be a class for this one. We won't start it until March/April though. Maybe by then I can get more SBS done.

These were three of the easiest blocks.

 

 

I also worked on some applique then I was back to working on my hexie project. I finished sewing to strips together, making the third strip and now I am sewing that one on. I only have one strip left to do after this then I can assemble my handy dandy needle case and of course move on to the next project.

 

This one is nice because all of the fabric came from my pre-cut scrap bucket.

 

 

Off to do some chores then hopefully sew some more today.

 

For more Design Walls head on over to Judy's.

 

Michelle



Design Wall Monday 9/9/13

I have been really busy these past two weeks. Between a friend visiting, soccer, football and school work I have not touched the sewing machine.

I did, however, finish my little hexie top.  I have never done English Paper Piecing before and I absolutely love it, my hands unfortunately don't.

I started this project probably a good 6 months ago. I now just have to starch it and stitch it onto the background fabric and I will have a nifty little table topper.

I used those fun little mini charm packs and my handy Aurifil thread. I cut my hexagons with my Accuquilt Cutter.

I ran out of fabric so placed a white in the middle. If I would have though about it I would have bought a FQ or to finish it more like a diamond. I decided I didn't need another mini charm pack for 8 more hexies so I am leaving as is. I will use a yellow as the background and I might even try my hand at with some big stitch hand quilting.

 

 

Hopefully now that life has calmed down to a slight roar I will get some things posted that I finished and some more things done. I am now off to cut a kit for work.

 

Enjoy the day and for more DW head on over to Judy's.

 

Michelle.

Design Wall Monday 8/12/13

Still chugging along. I did a couple more blocks yesterday before stopping watch my niece. I then went up and knitted and knitted and knitted.  I will get it done come hell or high water that's for sure.

I have 16 blocks of my Short Story Schnibble's done. I am hoping between today and tomorrow to finish them up and then I can get the top done.

Still need to come up with a name for this one. Pink lemonade, Tequila sunrise. Who knows.

I am off most of this week but have chauffeur duty.  Soccer tryouts every night and football practice every night. It is back to cooking dinner and piling in the fridge until they come home and ravage it. I always feel weird cooking dinner at home alone then shoving it in the fridge but what else can you do.

I did get my next batch of Sylvia's blocks done too..still not liking those set in seams.

Churn Dash

54-40 or Fight

Bride's Bouquet

Glorified Nine Patch (applique style)

Farmers Daughter

 

Making progress slowly but surely. I have 64 out of 140 done and 2 of the applique blocks in progress. Good news is I am really not getting tired of this one yet. Unlike Dear Jane. 

 

 

For more inspiration head on over to Judy's.

 

Michelle

Design Wall Monday 7/22/13

I thought I was done with samplers. I was wrong. I have Sylvia's in progress and I am starting on two more.  Call me crazy that is for sure.

Here is the first few blocks of Pony Club, it is as I like to call it Farmer's Wife 2.  I may be teaching this class next year but haven't decided yet. These blocks seem huge to me. They finish at 8". So far I have used scraps only, which I like.

Fishing Boat (fb)

Home Treasure (ht)

 

Pleasant Paths (pp)

 

I had been working on about a block a day when I had time. I did this one and then realized it was wrong, go figure. I had to do it again of course and I just love set in seams...yeah right.

North Star (ns)

 

Pony Club only has 90 blocks so it will seem like nothing after DJ and Sylvia's other than the fact that these have a lot of paper piecing and set in seams. Oh well.

 

 

For more DW head on over to Patchwork Times.



Design Wall Monday

I have another finish. Who would have thought it. I finished my Sylvia's blocks for the month and decided to quilt a Schnibbles real quick. I even put a label on it.

I work more than usual this week so I don't know how much sewing I'll get done, besides, I have to finish Camp Loopy and I feel like I am behind.

 

 

One of the blocks I am working on for SBS is a Dresden plate. So far I don't like it, but I hope I can figure it out and it will get done without major issues.

 

Still trying to figure out what I want to work on next...sampler for next years class (maybe) or a couple more Schnibbles, or a UFO...hmmm decisions, decisions.

 

 

For more eye candy head on over to Judy's.

 

Michelle

 

 



Design Wall Monday 7/8/13

I AM DONE!!! Finally...I have my Dear Jane top completed.  Is it perfect? Nope far from it but that is ok. I learned a lot and maybe one day I will make another one. Just not anytime soon.

I started this top May 2011 and I put the last rows together last night. Talk about a quilt hanging around. I worked on it every month, 10 blocks each month.

I couldn't find a good place to lay the whole thing down. Of course Zeus had to see what was going on as well.

If I do another one it will be black and white only (I think).

 

 

The only thing I have to do now is my Sylvia's (and that is only 5 blocks a month). Maybe once Camp Loopy is over I will be able to crack out some quilts and get my stash report started.

 

 

For more ideas head on over to Judy's.

 

 

Michelle

Design Wall Monday 6/24/13

My DW isn't anything exciting this week. I have 5 more blocks done for Sylvia's Bridal Sampler and that is about it.

Bears Paw

Bow Tie

Mother's Delight

Old Maids Puzzle

Rambler

 

I have 2 columns of Sylvia's done but I will be frogging those as well. I don't like the sashing so I am going to redo it. Another thing to add to my to do list.

I have to get 9 more blocks done for my Dear Jane and I am finished..just have to put the last little bit together. Unfortunately I have to do some frogging first. I had almost all 4 borders done but realized I totally messed up the color order so now they all have to come apart. I already finished one side only three left and then 18 blocks to sew into rows and add the borders and the Dear Jane will be completed.  I can so totally not wait.

I haven't been sewing much and other than have to get done's I probably won't be. I can't seem to sew a lot and also Camp Loopy a lot. So I will be camping much more than sewing this summer.

For more Design Walls head on over to Judy's.

Michelle