I Couldn't Quite Seem to Follow the Directions

When I decided I wanted to quilt, I decided I only wanted to make stuff that I liked. Sew Cal Gal's September FMQ Challenge, by Paula Reid, has been running around my brain all month. It is a lovely motif, very traditional, just not my style. So, to keep true myself, I decided I could stitch it out if I followed the spirit of the directions, although not exactly the pattern.

Front

I did mark the circle, but the rest is all free-hand. The center feathers are a little lopsided, but I still like the feel of this motif.

Back - a few thread blobs, but not too bad.

And this is what the pattern that I was supposed to stitch

Sou'rce Sew Cal Gal - The Stencil Company

Mine is a lot more "organic" and a little wacky, but it makes me happy. I think I will hop on over and check out everyone else's feathered circle at Sew Cal Gal September FMQ Challenge.

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Oh Yeah, Another TGIFF!!!

They may be small, but I have two finishes this week for TGIFF (Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday)!

The first one has been hanging around my sewing room since June. It was my Sew Cal Gal's June FMQ challenge piece. All it needed was binding to make it into a fun little wall hanging.

I had this green and purple batik in my stash. I thought it was perfect for this.

My second finish was the quick table runner that I used as my FMQ homework for Leah Day. I was able to trim it and put the binding on it to last night.

I thought my odd angle corners turned out well. I won't say this is my favorite piece, but I think it will make a nice fall table runner/birthday present.

So of course I'm linking up with Kristy at Quiet Play for TGIFF! Can't wait to see what everyone else finished this week!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

I Love and Miss You, Mom!

In many ways it's hard to believe that my mom has been gone two years today. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her. Over the last two years, there have been any number of times that I've wanted to pick up the phone and tell her about my last quilting project or other event in my life. She always was and will always be my greatest champion. She IS my quilting inspiration!

My mom with just a few of her quilts!

In loving memory of Lois A. Wiley -  7/7/1930 - 9/27/2010

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Feeding the Fire and WIPping It Good!

I know that Leah Day called this week's design, "Snake Paisley", but it really looked like flames to me. Especially since I stitched it on bright orange.

This is the second week I decided to stitch out the design with matching color thread and I like it. It is gives amazing texture to the piece.  This little table runner I whipped up on Monday night was just perfect for this design. Now to figure out what to stitch on the borders and finish up this little project.

Wrinkled batting

I have kind of an odd question for Leah this week. How do you handle really wrinkled batting? The picture above, isn't really badly wrinkled. But sometimes I have pieces of batting that are much worse, especially a curl on the edge of the batting. Do you press it before basting it or do you just try to smooth it out the best you can as you baste?

I did work on some other projects this week. I started quilting my Library quilt.

I stitched in the ditch around the borders, and echo quilted the kids' applique. Should I continue to echo quilt and fill in the background or leave it as I have it? I find it a bit distracting to have some of the puffing areas, but I don't want my quilting to take away from the kids' designs.

I also finished up my bird pillow. I'm quite happy with how it turned out. And the best part is that it takes one off of the WIP list and into the finished list! Yippee, Skippee!

Front and Back of the Bird Pillow!

My stats for the week:
In-process: (5)
Purple heart wall hanging ( needs borders, backing, quilting and binding)
Expanding Possibilities quilt (Continue to quilt)
Storybook quilt # 2 - All embroidery is done
Geneva Public Library quilt - join and quilt (maybe make a block or two to even it out)
Sew Cal Gal June FMQ Challenge - Need to bind.

New projects: (1)
Flip and sew orange table runner.

Finished (1)
Sew Cal Gal's April FMQ Challenge - finished the pillow.

I'm linking up with  Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday and The Free Motion Quilting Project for QAL Wednesday

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Quick and Easy Table Runner

Flip and sew table runner

 I had about an hour to sew last night and I needed to prepare a project for my Leah Day homework for this week. And you know, it's getting close to Christmas, every project (and homework) has to count! So, I whipped up this cute little table runner all ready for some FMQ  "Paisley Snakes".

I cut backing 23" x width of the fabric (WOF) and a piece of batting approx. the same size

Then I cut a center strip about 11" x WOF and two side border pieces 4.5" x WOF. Centered (by eye) on the backing and batting.

Flipped the borders, pinned and stitched through all of the layers.

You will see the seam stitches on the back. Instant stitch in the ditch!

Pressed both side down. Ready for some FMQ!

In less than an hour, I picked fabric, cut, switched my machine from FMQ to regular sewing, wound a bobbin, stitched up this table runner!

You could put borders on the ends in the same manner, but I plan on cutting mine to a point after I FMQ it.

Now Humphrey is feeling a little left out lately, so here is a little gratuitous picture of Mr. Humphrey Bogart! I love my little Corgi!

Humphrey Bogart!

I'm linking up with A Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday, Plum and June for Let's Get Acquainted and Free Motion by the River for Linky Tuesday!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Is This Quilt Beyond Repair???

I made this quilt for my grandson three years ago for his first big boy bed. He has always loved American Flags and the Buffalo Bills since he was tiny!

It might not look too bad from a distance.....

This happened in the washer.  Our best guess is a small, sharp toy (matchbox car??) was in the washer.

These are some of the worst spots, but there are smaller holes scattered on the quilt.

The back has the same damage.

Even the binding was damaged! 

I know that my step-daughter felt bad when she saw the damage and just stuffed on to a shelf in the laundry (in an unfinished basement) since it happened last spring. Last week, I finally demanded that she bring the quilt to me to repair. To add insult to injury, the quilt mildewed and bled.

Mildew stains

I believe the pink is the back of the quilt bleeding through.

Is this quilt worth trying to save? It's not an antique. I could probably make one faster than I could repair this quilt. I'm not sure how to even start to repair. Do I patch the holes first or try to remove the stains? If I do make a new one, what do I do with this quilt, just throw it out? Should I have a campfire/flag burning ceremony?

I'm linking up with UFO Sunday (since the damage was done last spring) and hoping that some of you out there have a fabulous solution on repair (or just words of encouragement to start over).

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Woohoo! We Have A QED Winner For September!

What a treat we had this for this month's QED! Gene Black shared such a fabulous quilt beading tutorial!

Gene Black an Alabama Artist and Quilter!

 But today we need to find out who linked up and won QED for September!

The winner is Janine from Rainbow Hare Quilts!  You all REALLY need to visit Janine's blog, because she has some fabulously creative projects!

Source Rainbow Hare Quilts. 20" cushion cover! Fantastic hand stitching!

I'll be contacting Janine shortly to send her this cute little applique pattern! Enjoy!

Giveaway prize for QED September!

Be sure to join in the next Quilty Embellishment Day (QED) on October 15th!

 Color Me Quilty!

Pat

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together!

Woohoo! I finished my bird pillow. This bird has been on my WIP list since April. It really didn't take that long to turn it into a pillow, so why did I take so long to get around to doing it???!!

Front

Back

Now that this is done, I need to work on my library quilt. But for now, I'll link up with TGIFF (Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday) over at Where Jane Creates!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

WIPping out the Pillows

Gosh, it feels sooo good to be able to sit down at my machine and FMQ without any thread burps or birds nests. Yippee Skippee! I so enjoyed stitching out this week's homework, "Lava Paisley" (Leah, just so you know, your husband's name for it was stuck in my head as I stitched it! Please tell him thanks a lot! ;o  )

 I was surprised how much I liked the texture of this motif when stitched with matching color thread. The best part is that I was able to use it a UFO/WIP and move it towards completion. I plan on making this into a pillow.

The fabric and buttons I plan to use for the back.

Aren't those buttons cute??!!  I found them in my tin of spare buttons. How lucky am I?

So my question for Leah this week is, If you FMQ with polyester Isacord, why do you piece with cotton Aurifil. Don't get me wrong, I love Aurifil thread, it makes a great seam because it's thin. But, what is the advantage to piecing with cotton?

On to other projects this week. I finished up my Gilty Quilty pillow that I started last week.

Front and back of my Gilt Pillow

And I also, FINALLY, started working on the my Library Quilt.

I was able to sash all of the blocks the kids (and librarians) in the library created. I'm still working on the center blocks. But since I'm doing this project as a QAYG, I can sandwich these blocks and start quilting them.

So all in all it was a pretty good week for sewing.

My stats for the week:
In-process: (6)
Purple heart wall hanging ( needs borders, backing, quilting and binding)
Expanding Possibilities quilt (Continue to quilt)
Storybook quilt # 2 - All embroidery is done
Geneva Public Library quilt - join and quilt (maybe make a block or two to even it out)
Sew Cal Gal's April FMQ Challenge - Need to make into a pillow.
Sew Cal Gal June FMQ Challenge - Need to bind.

New projects: (0)


Finished (1)
Metallic FMQ pillow

I'm linking up with  Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday and The Free Motion Quilting Project for QAL Wednesday

Color Me Quilty!

Pat
P.S. Besure to check out Quilty Embellishment Day (QED) for September! I have a WONDERFUL guest blogger Gene Black an Alabama Artist and Quilter. There is still time to link up any of your QED posts from this month!