Free Motion Friday

Thanks to the Easter break I did complete some quilting on my Express Your Love goddess quilt.

I filled in some of the rays with zippling.  I enjoyed doing this design and started off really well. What I found though was that as the area to be filled got bigger so did my zippling.  I had a little trouble keeping the scale consistent but even though it is not 'micro' I am quite happy with the overall result.

I still hope to finish the rays with another design before I head back to work next week.

I also managed to complete a WIP.  I made this mini quilt with left over fabric from another quilt.  I did not follow any pattern or design.  I literally sewed strips together without thought, rhyme or reason.  This is the result.

I decided to quilt it with a simple stipple but I did try to challenge myself by stippling on a large scale.  I had to concentrate to keep the larger curves smooth but overall it is not too bad.

I still have a ways to go with my free motion quilting but I am gaining confidence every day.  Not so long ago I had to psych myself up before starting.  Now I am no longer afraid to dive right in.  It's only fabric and thread after all.

Leah Day has been the main reason I can fearlessly take on the fmq challenge.  Her down to earth approach and encouragement is inspiring.  Today I am linking up with her Free Motion Friday linky party. 

Have a great day.

Sue

Scrappy Strings

I had planned on getting a few odd jobs done around the house over the Easter break but instead I spent a considerable amount of time in my little sewing room.

I wanted to do something fun and easy (stress free) but I also wanted to challenge myself and do something outside of my comfort zone.  As I don't generally use bright colours I dug into my scraps and ended up with this pile of strings.

Then I "strung" to my hearts content on 6.5 inch paper foundation squares and ended up with this.

After trimming to 6 inch square I placed a 6 inch square of Kona solid on each string block, drew a diagonal line across the square then sewed 1/4 inch either side of the line.  I pressed towards the white fabric and this is the outcome.

It was liberating not having to line seams up or have straight stings.  I spend a weekend watching Friends (my all time favorite TV show) and managed to complete 65 blocks (finished at 5.5 inch square after trimming).

Now the fun really begins - deciding how to put them together.  I have come up with 3 layouts.

My husband likes option 3 but for some reason I find myself leaning towards option 1.  I just love the complete randomness of  it. The other thought I had was to do a series of mini quilts, say 3 or 4 each one using a different design.
I have a large undecorated wall in my family room that needs something on it and a series of (framed?) mini quilts might just fit the bill.

As I ponder what to do I had better get around to those household jobs that I keep putting off.

I am linking up with Plum and June Lets Get Acquainted & Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday linky parties. If you have some time to spare, it is worth your while to head on over and see what everyone is up to.

Sue

Free Motion Friday

I knew I would have trouble keeping up with my Express Your Love quilt project but I am ok with that. I had always planned it to be a year long exercise that I would progress on as I could (or probably more realistically, when I felt in the mood).

Here is my progress to date.

So far I have only managed the McTavishing but I have a 10 day break over Easter.  Amongst the jobs that have to be done around the house I plan to work on this some more and hopefully I will be finished the suns rays by the time I go back to work.  I am happy with it except for the colour.  I was going for golden rays but they look a bit ickey brown.  This is the thread colour I chose but it hasn't translated to fabric as brightly as I had hoped.

I have been busy on other projects and recently I finished my impromptu Retro Red quilt.

I quilted it with an all over geometric design which I broke up with a section of wavy lines and circles.

Can't really say why I added this except that it felt right at the time so I just went with it!

This week I finished my Soldiers Wife quilt.

Another all over quilted design except for the setting triangles where I quilted free form feathers. This was my first attempt at feathers on a quilt and I am really happy with the result.  Since taking these pictures I have finished the binding and the quilt is waiting to be hung on my sewing room wall.

I am linking up with Free Motion Quilting Project Free Motion Friday linky party so go over and have a look  at the amazing work that is on display.

Sue

Woohooo Wednesday

Oh my gosh, has it really been 6 weeks since I last posted?

I manage to find the time to read hundreds of blogs each week but I never seem to make the time to write on my own blog.  I really have to get better at that.

I spend countless hours pouring over everyone's blogs and I just love to see what everyone is doing.  I am constantly amazed and uplifted as I drool over the wonderful masterpieces people are working on.  The downside to that is that I sometimes feel a bit insignificant.  I mean who on earth wants to read about my little projects when there are such talented people out there in blogland producing incredible and far more interesting works of art?

I know that sounds very self depreciating but I did create this blog to document my quilty journey and share my experiences.  And right now, here, today this is what I am experiencing.  I need inspiration and I need it fast!

Despite my flat mood, I have a couple of finishes to share.

This impromptu quilt now lives on my bed.  I love its simplicity and I love the contrast between the red and white.  I got brave and quilted it myself with a geometric design all over.  For no reason whatsoever I decided to break up the geometric quilting with some flowing lines and circles.  No rhyme or reason as to why I did this.  It just felt right at the time so I went with it!

I also finished my "Soldiers Wife" quilt.  I pulled the border off and after all the to-ing and fro-ing, I decided no sashings and no border. I am really happy with that decision.  I used what was the border fabric on the back of the quilt with a few of the left over blocks.

Again I did an all over quilting design but added some feathers to the setting triangles.  This was my first attempt at free form feathers on a 'real' quilt and although they are far from perfect, I love them.  I just have to finish putting the binding on and then it will be ready to hang on my sewing room wall.

Ok, in the 10 minutes it has taken me to write this I am feeling somewhat better.  I have a couple of finishes under my belt - gotta be happy with that right?  Only 7 flimsy's left to tackle!  But what I think I need is a new project.  Nothing lifts one's spirits like a new project.  So that is what I am going to do.  I have a few folders overflowing with ideas and pictures of the 'one day I want to make' quilts.  I am going to pour over them and start something fresh, new and exciting.

Watch this space!  In the mean time, head over to Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday to be inspired by quilters from around the world.

Sue

Wasted Wednesday?

Today I was so excited to be finishing up my quilt top for the 2012 Barristers Block Sew-A-Long.
After much deliberation I decided to put the blocks on point with no shashing and I am reasonably happy with the result.

Everything went downhill when I decided to add a border though.  I have been holding on to a piece of fabric for 12 months that I was planning to use for the sashings and I thought it would work for the border.  Still everything not too bad but my next decision was to use the left over blocks in the corner of the borders.

Hate is a very strong word that I try not to use so let's just say that I really, really, REALLY dislike the final result.  I was not going to show a picture with the borders on (in case I die from sheer embarrassment) but I need your help so here goes.

I am not sure if it is the border colour or the cormerstones or a combination of the two.  Actually I think it is probably because the corner blocks are square rather than on point?  I really have no idea but whatever it is this does not sit well with me at all.  I am going to take the border off but I was wondering if anybody out there has any suggestion re how I should proceed???

On a positive note I had one finish this week completing my Mug Rugs for the Quilting Gallery 2013 Mug Rug Swap.  This is the first swap of any sort that I have ever participated in and I am so excited to get these in the mail to my designated recipient.

I made 2 extra mug rugs than what was required.  The swap was for the Owl and Winter Bird mug rugs but as we are in the midst of a hot summer here in Melbourne, Australia and the recipient lives in Canada, I decided to do a Summer Bird as well.  I was having so much fun making these and made an extra one just for the fun of it.  I hope the recipient will enjoy them.

Once again I am linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday.

I hope you enjoy a happy and productive week.

Sue

WIP Wednesday

I have not really done a great deal of sewing this last week or two.  I am back at work, one son back at school and sporting activities are in full swing which has left little time for quilting.

I finished all of the blocks for Barristers Block Sew-A-Long and had to decide sashing or no sashing? Let me tell you I agonised over this decision. I found a beautiful fabric that I have been saving for a year to use as the sashing but once l laid the blocks out on the floor with the sashing I was not loving it.  So I removed the sashing fabric and laid the blocks on point. After a day of to-ing and fro-ing I decided I liked this better.

I am 3/4 of the way through putting this together and I wonder if I have made the right decision. It is a bit busy and some of those seams are tricky to line up. With so many seams in some of the blocks the joins are pretty bulky but I am NOT going to pull this apart.  I have declared this a year of NO RIPPING.  Let's just call it another learning experience.

This week I also pulled out a very old WIP, my black & white drunkards path quilt (no name yet). Drunkards Path is my absolute all time favourite block. I love the movement and endless variations you can come up with and I have got so many projects planned based on the block.
In this case I was going for abstract but I am not sure how successful it is as some of the combinations of fabrics are fighting with each other.  This is the current layout I am playing with but I may make a few more blocks and play around a bit more.

No more progress on my Goddess quilt or my bed quilt but they are next on my list.  I hope to get one full day this weekend dedicated to sewing so I expect to have lots to report next week.

I am linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday. Make sure you have a look at the wonderful work by the incredibly talented people out there in blogland.

Sue

Work In Progress

Boy Wednesday sure does come around quickly.

I have had a reasonably productive week this week working on my Express Your Love quilt with Leah Day at the Free Motion Quilting Project, and trying to catch up on my Barristers Block Sew A Long blocks.  I managed to complete another 5 blocks taking it to 61 blocks to date. l  have got 6 blocks to go then I have to decide how I am going to put this together.  I have found a brown vintage fabric that I love so I am thinking of setting the blocks on point and sashing them with it.

These are the blocks I completed this week.

And this is all of the blocks so far.

On Saturday night I was in the mood for some mindless string piecing so I dug out all of my red strips and strings, some light interfacing (I couldn't cope with the mess and hassle of removing paper) and away I went.

I joined all of the strips end to end to come up with this.

Then trimmed them down to this.

I am going to make a quilt for my bed which will be predominately white with these panels across the width towards the bottom of the quilt.  I am updating my bedroom and the quilt will co-ordinate with the chairs I recently refurbished.

I salvaged these chairs from a curb side rubbish collection.  They were originally varnished brown and had filthy green velvet seats which had collapsed.  I don't know why but l saw some potential in them so quietly acquired them when no one was looking!  I stripped them down to nothing, sanded, painted, painted again. painted a third time, made a new base/seat and covered it with this awesome fabric find. I was going to stencil a design on the chair backs but I am in two minds.  I think I like the minimalist look they have now.  I absolutely love these chairs and they are now in my bedroom waiting for a co-ordinating quilt to keep them company.

I am linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday.  Have a look and be inspired by everyone's wonderful projects.

Sue