Birthday Month Come and Gone...

Well I was able to accomplish my goal this month.  The Circle of Nine quilt has made it to Melody.  She is the proud owner of her very own quilt.  She is my siste in laws second child.  It is funny how the second child does not get all the cutesy handmade gifts that the first child gets.   I was the second in my family…. and my mom only filled out one or two pages in my baby book.   This is why I am sticking to only one child… and spoiling him to death!

Most of the blocks in the quilt were made through a Circle of Geese Swap on Flickr.  I made a few of them to round out the number.  I then took a class with my friend Janet Houts to learn her style the Circle of Nines.  I love the way the quilt turned out.  I decided that I was going to try and learn how to handquilt.  Unfortunately this is not my style and the results were not fast enough for me.  So I did the center block and that is where it ended.  The rest I free motion quilted.



Overall I am very happy with how it turned out.  Originally this quilt was going to be for me… but Melody and I have the same favorite colors, so she won!



Here is where I wrote about my original goal.

Goals for January:
Finish Circle of Nine Quilting and send it off in time for Melody's Birthday.: Achieved!

Other WIP:
Work on Bedroom quilt to match the curtains :Working!
Santa decoration No work.
Medallion Quilt No work.
Dress repair and hand embellish Alabama Channin :A few stitches.
Trip Around the World (Sew Blues Bee) :I have received 6 out of 11 back.
Laurel: Finished!

I also made a birthday dress that was not on the list and started some more projects of course!

I am linking this up to a Lovely Year of Finishes.

Happy New Year

With a New Year comes new goals.  I have not been blogging a whole lot this last year and I continue to think that maybe this is just a place to keep me honest in what I can and can not accomplish.  In 2013 I thought I was going to bust my stash.  That did not work out so well, since I have now decided that I really like to make my own clothes.  I have accomplished a whole lot this last year.  I was able to move some WIP of the shelf and on to their new owners.  I have filled these shelves with new projects of course and no.., not all WIPs are gone!  This year I plan to get back into the blogging just to keep myself accountable.

Here are some of my accomplishments since my last post!

All of the blocks were made by the ladies in my Flickr Bee Sew Blues Bee.

This is the second bee I have done with these ladies and the second set of curtains that have come from them.  We just started up our third bee and my month is January. 

My neighbor and crafting buddy Cat has leant me the Alabama Channin books and I highly recommend checking them out.  I have had them for awhile now and I should probably be  a good friend and get them back to her... they are just so fun to flip through.  I want to make at least one more project... but that would mean starting something new before I finish any of my works in progresses. Okay okay I have talked myself into it.  I will give them back.  I can always borrow them anew. 

I also made two bathing suits this summer.  I was inspired from Katie Kid_md at katiekadiddlehopper . She did a Swimalong series this summer and made it look so easy.  It really was.  Of course I am still learning and I have room to improve, but the suit turned out fabulous and I wore them proudly all summer.  Now it is no longer swimsuit weather as it is snowing in these parts however, I look forward to wearing them to the hot tub over the winter and making some new ones next summer.  It is always so fun to wear something you have made.  So many compliments make it worth it.

I got a lot done and took no pictures. Nothing to show for it! Yes I need to get better at taking pictures. I somehow just wanted the projects out of the house and forgot to document them! Oops!

Goals for this Month:
Finish Circle of Nine Quilting and send it off in time for Melody's Birthday.

Other WIP:
Work on Bedroom quilt to match the curtains
Santa decoration
Medallion Quilt
Dress repair and hand embellish Alabama Channin
Trip Around the World (Sew Blues Bee)
Laurel
Craftsy Scarf

WIP: Mid May Progress

This week I did not get much accomplished...
Well I did go on several runs and we had a wonderful Mother's Day picnic.  I made Quilt Blocks for the Boston Quilt Guild and I traced the Meringue pattern, cut the fabric and started sewing.  I just do not have any finished projects!  Hope you had a great week!

Last Week's Plan:

3X6 - Go have a picnic! Accomplished!
Baste Rainbow Quilt (Not Yet!)
Get started on a new wardrobe piece: Started the Meringue Skirt


Projects finished over the week:
Quilt Blocks for Boston

Projects I worked on during the last week:
Quilt Blocks for Boston
Meringue Skirt

This Week's Plan:
Baste Rainbow Quilt
Finish Meringue

May Goals: 
Finish 3x6 (DONE) and last dress for closet repair... If I can squeeze it in make a new outfit for me....so many to choose from not sure which one!

Goals for this Quarter:
Finish quilting Under the Rainbow (no progress)
Finish hand embellishing Alabama Chanin Swing Skirt (no progress)
Finish Closet repairing the items that need repair (seven of eight items done !!!)
Finish Quilting 3X6 Done!!!!!

Other WIP with no progress:
Hand Quilting Circle of Nine
Quilt blocks for our bedroom quilt (Fabric is now all in hand.)
Curtains for our bedroom
Civil War Quilt ( I only started one block so far!)
Felt Hat (Cut out)
Santa decoration
Medallion Quilt
String Quilt 2
Rainbow Quilt
Dress repair and hand embellish
Hand sew Alabama Swing Skirt
Trip Around the World (Fabric Cut)

Projects I have the fabric for but have done nothing:
Polka Dot Amy Butler Apron Dress (Washed the Fabric!)
Curtains for the upstairs door
Curves Quilt
Curtains for downstairs
Curtains for the laundry room
Weekender
Polaroid Sleeping Bag
Pillows for students
Idea Pouch
Bottled Rainbows
Knit projects for Craftsy Class
Laurel Dress from Colette Patterns (Fabric Washed!)
Sassy Librarian Shirt on Craftsy
Sewaholic Renfrew View A
Swimsuits

Please check out all the other projects on: WIP: Wednesday

Quilts for Boston

Please join in on the effort to make quilt blocks for the Boston Quilt Guild releif project.




Check their blog post for complete instructions.

These are the blocks that I made.

WIP and the BIG Finish

WIP: May 8, 2013

I am so excited!  I have finally finished my 3X6 quilt.  I love all of the blocks that I received during the three swaps I did with the 3X6 Flickr group.  Thanks to all the people that made me blocks for this quilt.  I pieced the top a long time ago and had a very difficult time deciding how I was going to quilt it.  Once it was pieced it sat for a long time and then once it was basted it sat for another few months! Finally I took the Craftsy course on Free Motion Quilting with Leah Day.  Her class is geared toward quilting the 2012 Sampler Quilt that is a free class over on Craftsy.  I have watched many of the videos for that class but I already had two sampler quilts going so I decided I did not need another.  I needed to quilt the ones I already have done!  Therefore I had to do a bit of tweaking with the designs to make it work for my quilt.

Step One:  Watch the videos on FMQ and decided which patterns you would like to debut on your quilt.

Step Two:  I took a picture of the quilt top and started drawing out the individual blocks.   I decided in the end the actually quilt laid out was easier than the picture.  Once I outlined all of the blocks, I started comparing them to some of the blocks in the Craftsy Sampler quilt and decided I had a few of the same blocks so I just did the same designs on those.  Then I looked for ones that were similar and redrew the patterns on top of my sketches.  What I have learned is the more you sketch out a design the easier it is to sew it.  Free Motion Quilting is so fun to me because I love to doodle.  I also found a source for Zen Doodlig that just blows me away!  It is called Zentangles.

Step Three:  Beginning in the middle start stitching in the ditch and then quilt each block interior.  I did not stitch all the blocks first.

Step Four: Bind and Celebrate!

I also had another finish this week:  Baby shower gift  The project is "R" for Romper from the Sewing for Boys book.  I am trying to do all the clothing projects from this book I bought last year at Sewing Summit.  I have a 4 year old so the romper is not really his style anymore.  I thought it was fun to make but way too time consuming for a shirt that is going to last for a few weeks or maybe even face total destruction with one wear if it gets pooped out!  Hee Hee!  My friend Cat and her husband adore all things British... he is a Brit!  So I had to make my gift something a little British!

Last Week's Plan:
3X6 - FMQ and binding Done!
Hand sew Alabama Swing Skirt: No progress
Baste Rainbow Quilt: No Progress

Projects finished over the week:
Finished Free Motion Quilting on my 3X6... bound and ready for the first picnic
Keep calm and Sleep on "R" is for Romper from Sewing for Boys


Projects I worked on during the last week:
3X6 quilt Done!
Reviewed Craftsy Class
Made a Baby Shower Gift

This Week's Plan:
3X6 - Go have a picnic!
Baste Rainbow Quilt
Get started on a new wardrobe piece (Fabrics are washed.... let's get a move on!)

May Goals: 
Finish 3x6 (DONE) and last dress for closet repair... If I can squeeze it in make a new outfit for me....so many to choose from not sure which one!

Goals for this Quarter:
Finish quilting Under the Rainbow (no progress)
Finish hand embellishing Alabama Chanin Swing Skirt (no progress)
Finish Closet repairing the items that need repair (seven of eight items done !!!)
Finish Quilting 3X6 Done!!!!!

Other WIP with no progress:
Hand Quilting Circle of Nine
Quilt blocks for our bedroom quilt (Fabric is now all in hand.)
Curtains for our bedroom
Civil War Quilt ( I only started one block so far!)
Felt Hat (Cut out)
Santa decoration
Medallion Quilt
String Quilt 2
Rainbow Quilt
Dress repair and hand embellish
Hand sew Alabama Swing Skirt
Trip Around the World (Fabric Cut)

Projects I have the fabric for but have done nothing:
Polka Dot Amy Butler Apron Dress (Washed the Fabric!)
Curtains for the upstairs door
Curves Quilt
Curtains for downstairs
Curtains for the laundry room
Weekender
Polaroid Sleeping Bag
Pillows for students
Idea Pouch
Bottled Rainbows
Knit projects for Craftsy Class
Laurel Dress from Colette Patterns (Fabric Washed!)
Meringue Skirt from Colette Patterns (Fabric Ready!)
Sassy Librarian Shirt on Craftsy
Sewaholic Renfrew View A

Please check out all the other projects on:


 

Precision Piecing with Norah McMeeking

Well folks, I have some exciting news.  I received an email a few weeks ago asking me from the Craftsy company asking me if I would like to take one of the online classes and write a review on my blog.  The class is Precision Piecing with Norah McMeeking.  I had seen the class on Craftsy and was already interested in taking it.  I am a self taught quilter so tips are always great especially when it comes to how I can be more precise.   I have taking several quilting classes on Craftsy, so I was delighted to be able to take one and review it.

Norah does a great job of explaining the blocks she is using for the class, she has loads of tips and even a very helpful template to use to make your piecing more precise.  I am not working on the exact pattern that Norah shows in the class; however I had a similar block up on my design wall when I started the class and it is perfect for putting some of her tips into play.  I got out my template plastic, printed out the course materials and got to work.

The techniques require a great deal more pinning than I ever do.  The results were outstanding.
I have not yet made a block using the second or third style that Norah describes in the class.  I am looking forward to using all of the tips I learned.  If you would like to take the class, the folks over at Craftsy are offering the class to you at 50% off.  What a deal!  The class is brand new so jump on it if you are wanting to refine your skills.  Here is the link to get started.  I hope you come back and share the photos of the projects you make using some of the precision techniques.

If this is not the class for you there are many other quilting classes over on the site that you should check out.  I have really enjoyed all of the classes I have taken, and am always checking back to see what new classes they have to offer.

If you are just wanting to check out Craftsy there are many classes you can take for free!  I have taken many of the free mini classes and can not say enough about them.  I really enjoyed Mastering Zipper Techniques.  I met Sunni at Sewing Summit last year and she is a delightful teacher.  I will go back to this class over and over to review the techniques.  She is thorough and really makes zippers feel a lot more manageable.  Another free class I have taken is Sewing Machine 911.  I always recommend this class to my friends that are just learning how to sew.  I was lucky to have my mom show me all the ins and outs of my sewing machine when I was just a girl.  This class will inform you on how to make sure your making is clean and running smooth! 

Check out all of the other free Craftsy mini-courses by clicking here.

Progress, WIP, and Revisiting Goals

WIP: May 1, 2013

With so many goal driven parties happening in the sewing world I have decided to list them all in one area so I can cross reference my lists and make sure I am setting attainable goals!

The boys were out of town for the last two weeks so I really got a move on my 3X6 Quilting. Actually I only have one block left. I am hoping to wrap this one up by the weekend. Hopefully next week it will be off the list! Today is May and May Goals are in order!

Projects finished over the past few weeks:
Repaired 7/8 pieces of clothing from the closet.

This Week's Plan:
3X6 - FMQ and binding
Hand sew Alabama Swing Skirt
Baste Rainbow Quilt

May Goals: 
Finish 3x6 and last dress for closet repair... If I can squeeze it in make a new outfit for me....so many to choose from not sure which one!

Goals for this Quarter:
Finish quilting Under the Rainbow (no progress)
Finish hand embellishing Alabama Chanin Swing Skirt (no progress)
Finish Closet repairing the items that need repair (seven of eight items done !!!)
Finish Quilting 3X6 Almost there!

Projects I worked on during the last two weeks:
3X6 quilt (Almost there... one more block to quilt and bind it off!)
Watched a few Craftsy Classes (Reviews to come)

Other WIP with no progress:
Hand Quilting Circle of Nine
Quilt blocks for our bedroom quilt (Fabric is now all in hand.)
Curtains for our bedroom
Civil War Quilt ( I only started one block so far!)
Felt Hat (Cut out)
Santa decoration
Medallion Quilt
String Quilt 2
Rainbow Quilt
Dress repair and hand embellish

Projects I have the fabric for but have done nothing:
Polka Dot Amy Butler Apron Dress (Washed the Fabric!)
Curtains for the upstairs door
Curves Quilt
Curtains for downstairs
Curtains for the laundry room
Weekender
Polaroid Sleeping Bag
Pillows for students
Idea Pouch
Trip Around the World
Bottled Rainbows
Knit projects for Craftsy Class
Laurel Dress from Colette Patterns
Meringue Skirt from Colette Patterns
Sassy Librarian Shirt on Craftsy
Sewaholic Renfrew View A

Please check out all the other projects on: