Design Wall (and Floor) Monday

Here's an update on what I'm working (and not working) on.

These pieces make up three
more swoon blocks. My friends and I are doing a swoon-along this summer and all our fabric choices are different. Mine is a gift for my cousin's daughter. All my blocks will be the same. After I made the first three one at a time, I decided I'd had enough of that and was going to start chain piecing to go faster. It sort of defeats the purpose of a swoon-along, but then I decided I really needed to finish something this summer so went ahead. Also, my sewing friends might just be competitive enough that it will motivate them to keep going.

Here are the three blocks I have finished. They are huge - 24" finished - and they only place there is room to lay them out - barely - is on the floor.

On my actual design wall is my Dear Jane. These are rows D and E. I an woefully behind where I should be according to the schedule set by the teacher. This is definitely my next project.

I'm linking up to Patchworktimes - go over to see what everyone else is up to.

My Latest Project

I've been very busy around here, doing the job that pays the bills. I'm almost finished though and have a sewing project that needs my attention.

I've wanted to make a pictorial quilt for awhile - I like the way they look and I think it's a neat way to quilt. An opportunity arose for me to make one, so I've jumped on it.

My Uncle Gerald owns the family farm - my grandparents bought it in 1943 (or maybe 1942). My mom was born there and raised there as well. I spent a lot of time there as a kid and have many fond memories of being on the farm. My uncle has had several health problems, most recently a partial paralysis in February. He talked about selling the farm then - luckily he's recovered enough and is not selling right away, but I think a sale is in the works. He also turned 65 on June 21, so I decided to make a pictorial quilt wall hanging of the farm for his birthday present. There is a big party next Sunday, so I have a lot of sewing to get finished.

On the May long weekend my sister and her fiancee came home and we went to the farm so that Ian could take photos for me.

This is my master photo:

I took a Craftsy class to get some ideas - and it helped a lot.

Here are some progress pics - if there is a glare it's from the vinyl overlay.

This is my pattern master, printed actual size - 2' x 3' I think

making patterns using freezer paper

using highlighters to mark the colours of clouds

first layer of fabric, building forward

a tree

where I ended off tonight.

It's coming together really nicely and I'm pretty proud of myself. I just need enough time to get the sewing finished!

I'm linking up to Patchworktimes tonight.

Back to the Sewing Machine

It's been a busy few weeks at school so I haven't had much time to sew. I've been looking forward to this weekend so I could have a break from work and do some sewing.

I got three Dear Jane blocks completed:

L8

M4 - with 49 pieces!

M6

I have one more triangle piece then my homework is finished for this month.

Here's my design wall tonight

It's going to be a quilty week for me this week. Today I went to a quilt show in Ailsa Craig, where every year they host an international quilt show. This year it's quilts of Great Britain, and this blogger, who I read, had some quilts in the show and I wanted to see them. I took a bunch of pictures - unfortunately they have a strict copyright rule, so I can take for myself but I'm not allowed to share.

Tomorrow C and I are going to hear Zen Chic give a trunk show at a local quilt shop. That should be awesome. Then Thurs is guild night. Not much time in there for sewing though.

What do you have on this week?

Back at the needle

I've been away from the sewing machine for a bit - my paying job was making some serious demands on my time. I had a bit of a respite this weekend, so jumped at the chance to do some sewing.

On Friday, C and I had a sewing retreat at her house. I got two Dear Jane blocks finished there:

L5

BR 5

It was a productive day.

Saturday I did a little shopping with my sister - hit a quilt shop but didn't take any photos. I also did another Dear Jane triangle. Here is BR 6:

BR 6

I got back to my sewing machine tonight and fixed up this block:

K5

I had the bottom right hand corner mixed up - it wasn't mirroring the top left corner and it was bugging me.

Here's what my design wall looked like when my Dear Jane homework was finished:

I'm linking up to Patchworktimes Design Wall Monday.

I Pieced A Top Today

I'm pretty pleased with myself.  Here's my progress in pictures:

on the design wall this morning

starting to sew horizontal rows together

my cat wanted to sit in the sewing chair - so did I

horizontal rows in pairs

flower detail with bad lighting

fused down then free motion sewed around twice with a swirly centre

all done - my squares all line up - doesn't look like it here though

Design Wall Monday

It's Monday morning and I'm at home with a whole day to myself - we have Family Day here today so I've got the day off work.

Here's what my design wall looks like right now:

It's a low volume quilt with a few purple flowers - it's for a couple I work with who are expecting their first child together in May.

I need another flower or two I think - I've re-arranged them about 5 times and I'm likely not finished.  I have some small ones but took them out for this photo.

My goal is to finish piecing this quilt today - the shower is March 2 and I want it all finished by then.  I'll post my progress at the end of today.

Check out Patchworktimes to see what everyone else is up to.

Design Wall Monday

I don't have much to say today - here's what's on the wall.

Design Wall Monday

I got some sewing finished after our shopping trip. And I'm tired, and it's past my bed time, so this will be short and sweet.

Here's the Design Wall tonight:

I've added some Dear Jane border pieces:

BR 1

LS 9

And I made some baby shoes:

I'm linking up to Patchworktimes.
And now I'm going to bed cause it's past my bedtime.

Mini Retreat At My House

I invited some friends over for a day of sewing at my house - C made it. We had a great day. She arrived about 9:40, with two coffees in hand (I'm not a coffee drinker so none in my house). She set up in my dining room and we got down to business.

Notice a coffee and a giant drink of water

C sewed away on sugar block of the month. They look great but are pretty finicky.

I finished this quilt top this morning - the one for my niece.

for some reason these are flipping when I insert them and I can't get them straightened out - kindly tip your head

Once I'm back to work next week I'll get it sandwiched then I'll start quilting. My machine likely needs a tune up before I start quilting though.

For lunch I made us homemade roasted red pepper soup - delish but I forgot to take a picture.

My afternoon sewing consisted of gifts for people who read my blog - I took pictures and will show them once the gifts are given.

I'm linking to Patchworktimes - check it out.

Design Wall Monday

There's not much on the wall this week - cause the wall is still upstairs in the old sewing room.  I want to get it moved downstairs but need to finish cleaning my house first. And get ready for Christmas.

I finished this for my sister-in-law for Christmas. She's just started her Masters so I'm putting some nice pens, sticky notes, cash, etc in it.

the front - Charley Harper fabric

the back - also Charley Harper fabric

the pattern

 This went together really quickly - so quickly that I thought I'd made a major error. I hope she likes it.

You might remember this tablerunner from a few weeks ago:

I started appliqueing around the shapes and letters - a bit hard to see in the photo.

 The appliqueing is going well, except when my cat jumps up on the sewing table, sits on it, and weighs it down so I can't move it. One of these days she's going to get her tail caught under the needle.

We've also just had a major ice storm go through my area. Lot's of damaged trees and power outages. My big tree is so far okay, with only some small branches coming down. My lilacs are a bit weighted down but I hope when the ice melts (next weekend maybe??) they spring back up. Here's a few shots:

a good 1/2" of ice

lilacs - finally the sun has come out

more lilacs with sunshine

Merry  Christmas!

Design Wall Monday

I must be busy cause it's been awhile since I posted. My friend L asked if I was okay. I am, just busy with work I guess. And I had a cold too.

My design wall update is on the floor this week because the design wall is upstairs still and I'm too lazy to go up there.

Here are two more rows for the quilt for my niece

My blocks all seem to be off square and wonky - oh well. A little trimming goes a long way and hides a multitude of sins.

Head on over to Patchwork Times to see what everyone else is up to.

Design Wall Monday

I made great progress this weekend - I decided I'd worked at my job hard enough all week and that I needed some rest and play time.

I love having my sewing room on the main floor - it's so easy to slip over there and sew for a bit here and there. For some reason, going up the stairs before was a huge obstacle.

Here's what's on the design wall this week

This is all my progress to date; Row D and E of Dear Jane and the top row of the Animal Parade quilt for my niece

Close up of Animal Parade

Check out what everyone else is up to.

Progress!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I'm so grateful for all the many blessings in my life.

All summer I worked, with my dad, on renovating my house. This weekend I moved part of my sewing room down to the main floor. My new sewing room is in my front room and is much larger than the bedroom upstairs, has better natural light, and will let me do a few more things. I'll still have to use the upstairs bedroom for sewing storage, etc. - there isn't a closet in the front room and the one in the bedroom is full!

my view when I sew - out into the front yard



the other end of the room; I still have a lot of tidying and sorting to do

 



I sewed for the first time in my new sewing room tonight and it was a dream. I looked for over a year for this house and it took me quite a while to realise I was looking for a sewing room with a house attached. Thankfully I found it.

Design Wall - still upstairs but it will come downstairs soon. These are rows D and E.

E4

 Check out Patchworktimes to see the design wall progress for the week.