WIP It Up!

I have been diligently working to finish up my WIPs/UFOs over the past two months. I'm still not caught up, but I now think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

For my Leah Day homework this week, I was able to incorporate it into a quilt (Expanding Possibilities) that I'm trying to complete. I probably prefer stitching regular paisley, but I love the look of pointy paisley.

 This quilt is just about twin sized, so somewhat large and heavy. So my question for Leah this week is; Do you still recommend the Gidget II sewing tables? I haven't seen them on your shop website for a while now, which I realize could be a purely business decision on your part. I hope that this is an appropriate question to ask, but Christmas is coming! ;) 

This week I finished up some smaller projects and worked on a few more - YAHOO!

Sew Cal Gal FMQ challenge for June - binding done!

Table runner from last week's homework - binding done!

Sew Cal Gal's September FMQ challenge - done!

Embroidered the missing two blocks for my library quilt.

 I was very bad, I ordered some fabric for my next (after all of these projects are done) quilt. I'm REALLY looking forward to starting something new, but I NEED to finish up these last four projects!

My stats for the week:
In-process: (4)
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)

New projects: (0)

Finished (2)
Flip and sew orange table runner - done.
Sew Cal Gal June FMQ Challenge - done.

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

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

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

WIP Wednesday # 7: Motoring Along

If I were ever in a race, I would be the tortoise, not the hare. I did get a few finishes and work on a few more, but I'm moving slowly.

My step-daughter has two little terrier/chihuahua crosses and she does a lot of obedience training classes with them. She wanted some training mats for them, so I have the first one ready for binding.

I had fun FMQing a few flowers.

All ready for binding

 I also started and finished 2 sets of wonky potholders.

 I finished the last 2 Christmas stocking (for my husband and me). Shown here hanging on the mantel with our Corgi's stocking (which was completed before ours). I gave away 14 stockings to family members on Thanksgiving. I made 17 Christmas stockings this month! Phew, glad that's done!

I finished up this table runner, just in time to use it for Thanksgiving.







Sew all in all, a fairly productive week. Now that I have my good machine back from being repaired, I can finish up some quilting.

So the stats for the week:

In-process: (5)
Hip to be Square FMQ sampler (still at 14 out of 30 blocks quilted)
Cubic Rhythm ( still 1/4 quilted)
Purple heart wall hanging (nope)
Expanding Possibilities quilt (nope)
Turtle pillow - (need to quilt and assemble).

New projects in the cue to start: (3)
FLMQG solids challenge crib quilt (Not started)
New Wave quilt (not started)
Friend's baby quilt - fabric picked out!

Projects completed this week: (9)
2 sets of wonky potholders started and completed.
Table runner
Last 2 Christmas stocking completed
Free-Motion practice samples - Superstar- linked up at Fluffy Sheep Quilting this was the last week :(  Machine quilting class at Quilters Corner.

I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday!

Color Me Quilty!


Pat

Try New Things (TNT) Thursday: Gluing The Binding

I opted for a glue stick!

Happy Thanksgiving! But before I slip into cooking mode, then eating mode, then food comma mode, I would like to tell you about my latest experiment! Gluing bindings before machine stitching, no pins, no clips! Yup, it's true and it works like a charm. Jenny at Sew Kind Of Wonderful had this tip!

Went on like a dream!

I pressed the binding in place (otherwise it didn't stick)

Stitched from the top! It did NOT gum up my needle.

Front binding

Back of binding

All done and on the table for Thanksgiving!

This table runner represents so many Try New Things: 1st time to FMQ, 1st time to glue a binding, 1st time to machine (not hand) stitch a binding down. All in time for Thanksgiving and TNT Thursday.

I'm linking up with the wonderful Melissa at Happy Quilting for TNT Thursday. I can't wait to see what wonderful things everyone else is trying this week!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat