Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Wednesday Wip - Glad to be Back!

After being gone all last week it was really nice getting back into my sewing room this week!  I pulled out a project I had left partially finished and decided to get it done.  After sewing 12 blocks I realized that they were all 1/2 an inch short.  I ended up ripping them totally apart, buying new fabric and redoing them because I had not only cut the center section short, but had also cut the center of the two side sections of the block short!  Once I got them finished I was very pleased that they measured correctly and went together with the other blocks perfectly.  So I got one top finished!  (Thought it is a small one.)
In between ripping out and going to the Quilt shop to buy more fabric I got the 12 foundation pieced blocks finished for Barcelona Nights.  They went together well, but I accidentally cut out four extra blocks.  Guess the quilt will have a matching throw pillow ;)
And I did some designing for a Block of the Month for the quilt shop I work at!  That was super fun, and I enjoyed checking out the new fabrics for Christmas.  I'm rather fond of Kate Spains line - In From the Cold.  Might have to find some online to play with!  Here is my Classic Christmas Block of the Month in those fabrics:  
Love using EQ7 to play with different fabric lines!

Today I chose fabric to actually make this quilt in, so maybe next week you will get to see that.  At the least you will get to see block one finished.  Are you working on Christmas stuff yet?  I am hauling my big box of Christmas fabrics down and will start working on some projects this month.  I have several quilts and other things in mind and can't wait to get some new fabrics, too! 

Make sure you go over to the Quiltsy Team blog and see what our other members are up to - and check out our upcoming giveaway - you won't want to miss that!


Wednesday, June 12, 2013

WIP Wednesday - 6-12-13

I have so many things in the works right now that it's hard to keep up!  This week I worked on Barcelona Nights and got all of the A blocks done and the B blocks - good progress for a week that was half out of town getting to greet my new grand daughter.  The B blocks gave me a bit of an issue as the directions did not match up with the illustration.  I tried to reach the writer of the pattern, but haven't heard from her as yet, so I made an executive decision and went with what I felt looked right.  I am doing this as a shop sample, so when I write up my hints and tips for the kit will include directions for how my version varies from the written instructions.   The next blocks are paper pieced so I am looking forward to doing those.  The red and black are very dramatic and dark, not really my usual choice of colors, but they are very striking and I think I will like the finished quilt.  Pictures definitely don't do it justice!



I also completed the piecing for my Giant Dahlia quilt!  I have loved working on this and can't wait to choose a pretty background for it!  I thought it was really easy to piece - now the cutting, that's another story!  It was really great to go digging through my batiks for these bright happy colors, though.  This quilt is one that's been on my "life list" and I actually can see myself doing more of these in the future.  Not as hard as they look!

And speaking of cutting I got this in the mail this week - the new Olfa Splash cutter!  What can I say, but I love it!  The feel of it in my hand, the way it cuts so smoothly and the gorgeous color - this is my new favorite tool.  And the best part - it is guaranteed forever!  Wow!  My grandma is 94, so I'm pretty sure I have a lot of good quilting years ahead, so I will be putting this to the test.  My original Olfa cutter is going strong at over 20 years worth of cutting, so I'm sure this one will stand the test as well.

Next week I'll be at my daughters house snuggling the new grand baby, and playing with my sweet grandsons - so I'm not sure if I'll be getting any sewing done, but I might pack up some Dear Jane blocks to hand sew.  We'll see!  I will have some cute baby pics to share, though.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

A New Grand Baby!

Where in the world did the last couple of months go?  I haven't been doing a lot of quilting lately, though I have hemmed a ton of prom dresses and wedding gowns.  The best thing that has happened is my new grand-daughter!  I plan of making lots of cute little things for her....little girls are just too much fun to sew for!
Hope your summer is starting out as wonderfully as mine is!