My Kingdom for Chrysanthemum {#1940}

Embroidery Library design

I have been wanting to finish up the embroidery for my storybook quilts, but I was running dangerously low on Mettler Poly Sheen Chrysanthemum #1940. Machine embroidery uses a huge amount of thread even for little projects.

Could not find it locally!!!!

Honest, I had to get a little more thread....Red Rock Threads have a $5 flat shipping fee.

 Sew now I have one more new embroidery design to stitch for the first storybook quilt, then 3 repeats for the second quilt. Then I'll at least be done with the embroidery for both quilts.

But before I do anything else, Humphrey really, really wants to go for a walk. It's supposed to be almost 50 F today!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

QAYGFMQQAL!!!!

I am super excited to start on Quokka  Quilts QAYGFMQQAL {quilt as you go free motion quilting quilt along}. Laura put up the starting post yesterday and last night after much hemming and hawing, I finally (I think) decided on my fabrics. The rules were to choose several solid fabrics and a neutral solid for the sashing.

Kona Cottons

Blues, greens and teals with white sashing, 2 squares of each color.  I even sprang for some white Aurifil thread.  JoAnn's had a flyer in the mail on Wednesday showing a 50% off all packaged batting, such a deal! So I will be good to go in no time!

So go check out Quokka Quilts QAYGFMQQAL and join in the fun!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Try New Things (TNT) Thursday: QAYG Experiment

I'm really loving learning how to free motion quilt, but I'm not really loving trying to stuff a huge quilt under my sewing machine needle.  I decided to try a Quilt As You Go (QAYG) method I read about at The Quilting Edge.  I dug through my stash and found some really ugly fabric and quilted up to samples (practicing a little stippling for Leah Day's QAL and heart leaves for SewCalGal's quilting challenge).

Stippling practice (this was my warm-up, pretty ugly!!!)

Heart leaves, still pretty ugly.

Square up the blocks

I added a 2 1/2" strip top and bottom of the block (note: I should have made the top strip wider)

stitched strips on with a walking foot.

My seam allowance was a fat 1/4"

cut a piece of batting to fit into the sashing.

Use the zigzag stitch

Zigzag the batting to the seam allowance

Sew the back strip to the second block, using a fat 1/4"

Trim the batting to fit snugly into the sashing space and fold over the top sashing 1/4" and press (this is where it would have been nice to have a little extra fabric on the top strip. I need to learn to read the directions!!! )

Top stitch the sashing in place

Your blocks are now joined

Top stitch the other side, so it looks balanced

Quilt as desired

Voila! Blocks joined QAYG!

Marianne at the Quilting Edge has the best tutorials on several QAYG methods. I've been wanting to try this because I want to quilt my storybook quilts this way. So with this successful experiment, I think I will go ahead and QAYG.

I'm linking up with the wonderful Melissa at Happy Quilting for Try New Things (TNT) Thursday.

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

WIP Wednesday: Storybook Quilt Progress

It feels good to get back into a rhythm, after the crazy holiday season. I missed linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday (it really keeps my on track).  I started working on two  matching twin sized quilts after Christmas, trying to use up some "orphaned" blocks. I'm pretty happy with how the first quilt is turning out.

I feel like I need one more embroidered block. I love the design process. Anyway here are my stats for the week.

In-process: (5)
Hip to be Square FMQ sampler (still at 14 out of 30 blocks quilted)
Purple heart wall hanging ( needs borders, backing, quilting and binding)
Expanding Possibilities quilt (needs backing, quilting and binding)
Storybook quilt # 1 -  Blocks are being pieced
Storybook quilt # 2 - Embroidered blocks waiting to be pieced

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!


Finished (0)

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

Color Me Quilty!


Pat

Heck Yes, I'm Gonna Play in the 2012 Finish-A-Long (FAL)!

I've been seeing a lot of these buttons from Quilter in the Gap across the quilty blogisphere and I decided I really have to play!

I mean, something that encourages you to finish projects and gives a chance at prizes for doing it. It's a no-brainer!

So, I have 3 quilts that I would like to finish this quarter!

I have started two twin sized storybook quilts. Yes, they are basically identical, but since there are two of them, I'm counting them as two projects.  

Both storybook quilts need to be pieced, backed, basted, quilted and bound

 

This is to prove I have BOTH quilts started!

I would also like to finish my Hip to Be Square FMQ sampler.

Finish quilting and binding

I have other projects I would like to work on this quarter, but since I haven't started them, they don't count. So there you are, three projects to join the 2012 FAL!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

I Will Tell You A Story!

How good is your imagination? Can you tell a story? Let me help you a little bit.

I know, but doesn't every fairy tail start this way?

There lived a smart and crafty Princess, but she was lonely.

Her Fairy Godmother knew of a charming, intelligent (nerdy) Prince in a nearby neighborhood. (Don't we all need a Fairy Godmother?)

The Prince was very lonely, because he had lost he first princess to a terrible disease. So the fairy godmother introduced the Princess and the Prince.

After a whirlwind courtship, they were married and lived happily ever after (at least 10+ years and counting)!

Okay, so it's still a work in process!

I have to say, I'm really enjoying making these quilts. 

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Fresh Sewing Day: 2011 in Review!

1. Tadd's Quilt, 2. oven mitt, 3. oven mitt, 4. Fish Pillow Back, 5. Fish Pillow Front, 6. Turtle pillow Back, 7. Turtle pillow Front, 8. A little bit of wonky 001, 9. Big Girl Pants 024, 10. Co-worker Christmas and other stuff 037, 11. Giveaway Purse 002, 12. Cubic Rhythm Final 004, 13. glue and binding 007, 14. Last of the stockings 002, 15. dog mats 002, 16. Wonky Potholders - Red, 17. Wonky Potholders-Orange, 18. stockings, 19. stockings, 20. Ladies of the Lake pillows, 21. Quilty Purse # 3, 22. Free Motion Bird 002, 23. Colors to dye for 013, 24. Expanding Possibilities Quilt Top DONE 003, 25. Bears and Moose, Oh My! 001, 26. Another Quilty Purse 009, 27. 2011 summer quilts 002, 28. Mermaid potholder 1 001, 29. quilted purse 1, 30. Transitions Quilt

I've come a long way in 2011. I feel like I've started to find my own style in quilting, bright, bold and happy. Blogging has changed me, I love the new friends I have met and have cherished their support and encouragement. I am looking forward to some of the challenges and quilt-a-longs in 2012. But most of all I'm looking forward to growing in my creativity through the inspiration from this fabulous quilty community and meeting many more wonderful friends!

Happy New Year!

I'm linking up with Lynne at Lily's Quilts for Fresh Sewing Day 2012!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat