Friday Finished and More

As I stated in my last post, my sewing time has been limited due to some dental issues. I'm feeling better; but with more work being done earlier this week, and more to come in the next couple of weeks, I'm still kind of a mess. Even with that though, I've been successful at doing some sewing, just nothing that requires a great amount of thinking.  😀

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a picture of what looked like a very messy and crowded design wall. I've been working on those items and am happy to say that I'm being successful at finishing some things.

I completed the binding on my 24" version of the Tartan Terrace Table Topper and I like how it looks. Not bad for using scraps to test my math skills.  😉  I think I might make the larger version too. It's pretty easy and goes together quite quickly.

I also quilted and bound my larger Faith Hope Love wall hanging. In the past, I've generally made three individual wall hangings and I've always liked them. (I think they make great gifts, especially wedding gifts.) I've only made one other single wall hanging before, and I wasn't in love with it. I followed the pattern instructions, but felt like everything was too close together and cramped. I made adjustments and this is a bit larger (44" wide x 23" high) and like it much better. 

Here's the backing I chose and I'm very pleased with that! 

I can't believe that I'm saying this, but I think I want to make yet another version of this. I envision more spaces between the figures and making it longer - like twice as long. I've sketched some quilting ideas for those extra open spaces and think that I'd like this as a bed runner. I'll keep you posted...

Buried underneath a bunch of smaller projects on that design wall was this Patty Cake Quilt. The top was complete when I posted that pictures but I was debating on what I wanted to do for the backing.  

Here's what I decided. I took the scraps from piecing the blocks and what I had left of the background, and pieced this. I'm happy with results. 

This is actually on the frame waiting for me to feel good enough to quilt it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that happens today, but won't be too disappointed if it doesn't.

I'm stitching the binding down to the last side of my large version of the Wayward Transparency This should be done tonight and I'll post pictures of both of my versions. I really like this quilt and am so happy I participated in the Quilt Along with Yvonne of Quilting Jetgirl. 

I used some of the same fabrics from my Wayward Transparency quilt for this Zen Table Runner, which uses a Curvy Log Cabin Ruler. This is quilted and ready for binding. Since it's not very large (18" x 52"), I should be able to get this done tonight too. Yay!  I pulled some of the binding back and clipped it to verify that I liked my dark brown binding choice. I do! 

Here's a close up of the quilting. I used a simple meander in the blue and then freehand quilted repeating half circles in the dark areas. In retrospect, I really should have used my walking foot for this. I did that on the first one and since this one is for me, I was feeling a bit daring and decided to try it freehand. I think I was over-confident in my skill level because there is some unequal spacing between the lines on many of these. Good thing I had matching thread! I pieced the backing from left over fabric and will show that when it's all quilted. (Yikes! The uneven quilting lines really show up there!)

Also on that design wall were blocks from the pattern testing I did for Rachel Rossi. The top is done and I'm deciding on backing so I can get busy quilting it. I can't share it yet, but will do so when Rachel gives the go ahead. I like how it turned out and can't wait to show you!

I guess that I better hop off of here if I want to accomplish everything on my list. Oh what should I do first.....

I'm linking up with Sarah over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. If you need inspiration or want to see some really neat quilting stuff, be sure to check out Sarah and the others who link up today. 

Design Wall Monday

My design wall probably looks like a mess to you right now, but to me it is organized and there is a plan in place for it all. 

These are all projects that I want to will complete by the end of the month.

The small hexagon table topper is done except for a little more hand stitching. That will be done tonight. This is a half size version of Tartan Terrace, a pattern by Doug Leko of Antler Quilt Design in his book Winterlude. I have a friend who asked for my help in reducing this from 48" square to 24" square. Of course I needed to buy the book to do that, and I'm so glad I did. The book contains 18 patterns featuring the fabric collection "Forever Green" by Holly Taylor for Moda Fabrics. I really like all of the patterns and can easily see myself making at least eight of them, if not more.

The blue and brown table runner (Zen Table Runner, made using the 8" curvy log cabin ruler) needs to be quilted. I have the backing and binding is already made for this. (That's hanging on the left side by the houses.) This is the second one of these I've made and I gifted the first one before taking pictures. 😞 I'll quilt this on my Bernina and it won't take long. Perhaps I'll layer this tonight and get started on it. 

The Faith Hope Love wall hanging on the right, behind the table runner, is also ready for quilting. Unlike the others that I've done recently, this is one piece instead of three. Like the Zen Table Runner, the quilting will be easy on this and since it's small, I'll quilt it on my Bernina. I have yet to decide how I'm going to bind this, but I'm kind of thinking about a black binding or a scrappy one, using the fabrics in the body of the quilt. I'll decide after I quilt it.

The Patty Cake Quilt  top which I showed last week, is now complete and I decided to not add any more borders. I've got the backing ready for this and hope to get this quilted by the end of next week. The only fabric I have enough of to use for binding is the teal (first complete block in the top left corner), and I think I'll like that. Of course, like I usually do, I'll wait until it's quilt and make my final decision. 

And finally, I've got a handful of the blocks for the Rachel Rossi pattern testing up on the wall to help me decide fabric placement for the remaining few blocks I need to make. (This is not all the blocks, but just what I needed/wanted to see to make my decisions.) I'm loving these blocks and the fabrics I'm using.  

What are you working on today?

Check out the quilting eye candy at 

Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

and

Beth's Monday Making

More Projects

I've recently been asked to make Faith Hope and Love wall hangings for a couple people. The good thing is that since I've already made them, it was easy and I didn't have to hold my breath and hope that the pattern was correct. The "bad" thing is that I sometimes get bored when I make a quilt more than once. Nevertheless, I'm happy with the results and so are the recipients. 

As requested, I made all three sets using the same fabric so I'm only posting one picture here. I'm hoping that the final recipients (they are Christmas gifts) will enjoy them.

 Annie and I had an umbrella class this past Thursday. Here are a few pictures of the umbrellas made by the courageous ladies who braved the winter storm in order to get to the class.  Thank you ladies! We had a wonderful time and we love your creations.

I love the fabrics Chris chose! She did a great job and was very quick too. :-)

Bonnie is shy and didn't want her picture taken. Her fabric brighten up the classroom and almost made us forget about the snow and cold. 

Beth and Jeanie were a lot of fun, just like their fabric choices! 

 Jeanie's key fabric was really neat and I love the finished umbrella!

Isn't this fabric fun? 

Kathy didn't want to show her face either, but I love how this umbrella turned out. I think it looks like raindrops on the umbrella. The best part for her was that the fabric was on sale. Yay!

 Diane's umbrella fabric umbrella (would you say her umbrella umbrella? 😉) looks great! She was going to alternate panels with a really fun big dot fabric, but decided to make two umbrellas - one from each fabric. I look forward to seeing the next one. 

It's fun to teach these classes and I always look forward to seeing the finished project. I know some people that are getting some homemade umbrellas for Christmas! Yay!!!

I finished the Wayward Transparency quilting, but don't have a good picture to show. Hopefully that will happen tomorrow morning.

Design Wall Monday

I have finally gotten the backing fabric for the table runner and placemats that I was working on last week and will hopefully get to quilting them tomorrow night. In the mean time, I've got these three wall hangings on the design wall.

The pattern is Faith Hope Love by J. Michelle Watts. Instructions are provided for making this as one single wall hanging or three separates ones. As you can see, I prefer the three separate ones. This is the fourth set I've made and I have one more set to make. Here is the second set I made back in March.

I need to applique the pieces down and then do the quilting and binding. It really shouldn't take long, as they are all pretty small and I just free motion quilt them. My goal is to have the first set complete tonight. 

It seems appropriate on which to be working today, considering the horrific events in Las Vegas last night. I am so saddened by this, and wonder when it will end. I'm struggling with wrapping my brain around what's happened and what may happen next.

I want to retreat into my own world of happiness and peace. I want to block out events like this, along with hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. I know that I can't turn a blind eye to these events, but I really want to.

I need to step back and evaluate how I can help. I know I can't stop the natural disasters or the actions of other people. Instead, perhaps I can help in the aftermath of these event. I've got a bunch of pillowcases ready to send out to Sarah over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, and I'm already somewhat involved in helping Scott Fortunoff, President of A.E. Nathan Co., Blank Quilting, StudioE, and Vice-President of Henry Glass Fabric give away free sewing machines. (I have a bunch of used machines that are being given away.) If you haven't heard about this, check out his original blog post HERE.

Scott's blog today says he has more machines to give away; so take a minute, think about who could benefit from this, and send Scott an e-mail.

What are you working on today?

Check out the eye candy at

Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

and

Beth's Monday Making 

Misc. Projects

I've been lax in posting pictures of projects lately so here you go...

This is a BIG disappearing nine patch that is created using 10" squares. Although I don't have a picture, this is quilted and bound.

I made another set of the Faith Hope and Love wall hangings. These make great gifts, hence the reason I needed to make another set. :-)

Although I use EQ a lot, I still like to use a sketch pad at times. This project is pieced, quilted, and bound. Yay! I'll share a picture of the finished project soon.

I have a few other projects done, but I don't have pictures of them. :-(

I also have a few projects done that I can't show yet. I'll be able to share them soon, and I'm looking forward to that.

Tomorrow I'll post pictures of a few projects some friends worked on while we were together. I love it when I see students/friends complete projects they started during a class with me. Of course I tell them that I feel like we should have joint custody of those projects, but no one seems to agree with that.