WIP Wednesday

I decided it was finally time to bust out some scrap jar star blocks that I received in a Flickr swap last year.  I asked for a rainbow of colors because, who doesn't love a rainbow?  Playing around with blocks on the design wall led me to put them on point and see what happened.  I like it! 

 

I'm making a few more purple blocks to put in the corners so the overall design is a cool toned X with warm toned fillers.  I'm debating between making this borderless and chopping off part of the scrap jar stars or adding white setting triangles so keep the integrity of the blocks.  I'll probably end up adding the white, just because I can't bear to cut them down! 

In other news, I'm sewing my extra purple blocks on my new 1941 Singer 221 Featherweight, Ethel.  Isn't she darling?  If you haven't sewn with one, they make the cutest little click clack noise while you're sewing away!

WIP Wednesday: Pink and Orange!

Have you signed up for Quiltcon 2015?  I really wanted to take Anna Maria Horner's color theory class but didn't make it in time, so I decided to make it up to myself by creating a saturated quilt in summer orange and tangerines with pretty pink and fuchsia.  

The pattern is called Happy Weekender by for Moda Bake Shop, using charms and Kona white.  No two charms are alike and I received them in a Flickr swap ages ago, plus added some from my collection.  I like to put my favorite fabrics in the center of my quilts, and here we have some apples from Farmers Market, Zen Garden swirls, Henna Garden, Tula Pink Nest and more!  

I don't have solid plans for the lucky recipient of this quilt, but it's definitely going to be a girl, right?    

WIP Wednesday: Family Room Pillow

I bought a house in October and I've discovered it takes me a very long time to make certain decorating decisions.  Like picking pillows for my family room couch.  I've been pinning and shopping for at least 2 months now!  Ridiculous.  

I finally decided to make my own because I'm a) cheap and b) tired of looking at (expensive) store pillows that aren't exactly what I want.  The other day I sifted through my Pillow pinterest board and chose Alissa Haight Carlton's pillow pattern as my first test subject.  My living room colors are navy, coral/orange, and grey with a little preppy green mixed in.  As I was looking through my stash, my beloved Katie Jump Rope that's been sitting on a shelf for who knows how long jumped out at me and I thought, what the heck.  Let's cut that!  Why not see my favorite fabric everyday on my couch?  Besides, it only needed a little bit.  Plenty left over!

So here's the front, almost all quilted.  I need a zipper and back panels quilted before I'm finished, so it's a WIP I started to avoid working on my Modern Quilt Guild Michael Miller challenge project due next Wednesday at our guild meeting.  Another day, another story :)

A February Finish!

Remember back when I started working on my custom sewing table?  I was inspired by From Marta with Love.  Aren't their tables fab?  My bf helped me do the power tool stuff back in November and I finally finished adding the decorative touches - aqua paint of course!  I used Sherwin Williams SuperPaint in Tidewater 6477 and gave it a couple of coats of poly.  It's so smooth now and the fabrics just glide right over when I'm sewing.  I can't wait to start my next quilt!

That pillow under the table?  Yeah that's a cat bed.  Carlton and Zoey like to visit me in the sewing room and love sitting on the cat bed under the sewing table.  It's made from a fish shower curtain that I found at the thrift store!

DIY Ikea Sewing Table Hack

I've been thinking about making my own custom sewing table for quite some time now.  I guess having a new house and a whole room for sewing was just the right kick in the pants to git 'er done, right?

The tutorial I used is at From Marta with Love.  You can use any table that has a rail under the tabletop, because that's where the hidden supports for the shelf that holds the sewing machine go.  I decided to follow her lead and bought the Ikea Ingo table for $80.

The only real downside to her plan is that you need a tool called a Kreg jig to add the sewing machine shelf supports to the table frame.  There are 3 versions of the Kreg jig and they cost either $40, $100, or $150.  I decided to go with the $100 version because after watching their video, I immediately dreamt up about a dozen other non-sewing related projects I could make with it.  All stuff to fill the empty rooms in my new house, of course!

I have a Bernina 440 (Francine) with a knee lift, so I let my boyfriend expertly cut the hole on the top for Francine to is in and then I totally botched the hole in the table rail for the knee lift.  He left me alone for awhile, came back, and just said, "I wish you hadn't done that" when he looked at my knee lift hole.  Ooops :D  I don't have a problem with how it looks, so whatevs...

I'm planning to paint this with enamel paint to make sure the top is smooth and lets the fabric glide as easily as possible across the table top while I'm sewing.  So far, so good!  I'm plugging away on my maple leaves!

Katie Jump Rope and Architextures

Have you build yourself a custom sewing table?  Any suggestions for other readers?  What color should I paint this bad boy?  Thanks for sharing!

WIP Wednesday: The one with a zillion maple leaves

I went to my first quilt retreat last weekend with some lovely ladies from the Austin MQG.  It was so much fun!  I learned how to properly use my walking foot, dumpster dove for fabric scraps, and discussed the differences between starch and Best Press.  What a weekend!  I did finish my vintage sheet Planetarium quilt top while there, and I started on my scrappy no two alike Sparkle Punch quilt top.  

Vintage sheet Planetarium top finished! 

Can you spare a square?  Sparkle Punch quilt is officially renamed the Seinfeld quilt.

Sparkle Punch loving on the Planetarium :)

Here's what I'm most excited about lately though: maple leaves!  I've always like the look of the maple leaf quilt, and I finally decided to cave and make my own because of the #modernmaples craze that's struck Instagram.  I've pulled (way too much) fabric to make a nice set of leaves and I'm planning to use low volume fabrics for the background.  I don't have too many low volumes, so luckily Burgundy Buttons is having a sale and I just bought 13 half yard prints so I doubt I'll be running out anytime soon!

The massive fabric pull...

What have you been sewing lately?  If you're in the Austin area, our monthly Austin MQG meeting is tomorrow night at BookPeople.  Find out more info here!

I'm finally sewing again!

Wow... it's been over a month since I've sat down at my sewing machine!  I guess when you move, other things take priority.  Like scrubbing down the insides and undersides of all your kitchen cabinets. How did they get food there??  Or spending all your free time coordinating viewing and delivery of Craigslist furniture.  Or mopping every surface you thought of and then some.


Anyways, what am I sewing?  I'm working on my Planetarium quilt using vintage sheets.  I've separated my sheets into warm and cool colors and the cool colors set is finished.  Just making more quarter square triangle sets in warm colors and then I'll be ready for sashing!  Woohoo.  It feels great to start sewing again!

Munki in the Middle September Block

September was sadly the last month of my Flickr swap group called Munki in the Middle.  We used Munki Munki or Heather Ross fabric as the focus feature of various quilt blocks.  This was a great way for many of us to have a quilt block with Heather Ross fabric we didn't have in our stash.  I've been incredibly lucky with great Heather Ross fabric swaps, but don't let me fool you - I spent a pretty penny on some of my stash too!

Here's one of my September blocks.  Kristy requested a churn dash using a low volume background and a bright churn? dash?  I'm not sure what that part is called :)  I used Katy Jones' churn dash tutorial.  The center fabric here is Calypso and was only available in pj's I believe.  The churn dash is Lizzy House jewels and the background is a Moda Sweetwater text but I can't remember which line.  

What have you been sewing this week?

 

WIP: Chair Edition

I've always wanted a French arm chair for my living room, but they can be pricey, even on Craigslist.  When I found this one at a local consignment store for $65, I basically dragged it around the whole store while I was searching out other great steals.  When a fabricaholic is deciding what to reupholster with, things can take awhile....

I finally decided to go with the obvious: Echino Decoro buck in blue.  Obvious, because I'm an eye doctor, and that buck is wearing a fabulous pair of specs.  Here's where I'm at so far.  Everything is stapled and sewn back in place onto the wood frame, which I painted a glossy black.  I just need to finish the chair cushion cover, which is no easy feat.  I bought new foam for the cushion and it's a beast to cut to the proper shape!  Tips are much appreciated!  

People keep asking if this is going in my waiting room at my office.  Um, no.  It's going in my new living room!  And I'm going to call it my throne.  Or Zoey's throne, because the cat seems to be saying, hurry up already, I need something else to get fur all over!  I'm going to need a couple bottles of Scotchguard before this is all said and done!

On a Whim Sewing

I've been working on Camille Roskelley's On A Whim quilt pattern for awhile now.  Remember that Amy Butler Weekender bag I made using Tula Pink Birds and the Bees?  I used the leftover fabric from cutting out this pattern.  This quilt will turn out as amazing as the weekender bag, I'm sure!  For the corners, I'm using a wine-purple linen blend.  I didn't pre-wash it, so I hope it doesn't bleed!  Yikes...  I have 13 of 20 blocks finished and I'm hoping to have the top finished before I move into my first house next month :D

If you have all the pieces cut, these blocks go together pretty quickly!

Starting to come together

Just keep sewing

And soon enough you'll have a finished block!

I threw in an AMH just because it played well with the others :)

On the AYoLF Q3 front, I did manage to baste my blue and yellow patchwork chevron quilt last weekend.  I still haven't settled on a quilting design, so that's on hold for now.  I only have 19 days left to finish so I'd better hustle!

What did you sew this week?

WIP Wednesday: Bee Block Edition

This month I'm running way ahead of schedule with the Flickr Ima Bee!  Wendy asked for 12.5" Japanese x + blocks in bright colors with dark cross ends and a low volume/white background.  I'm in love with navy and orange-yellow combos lately, so the first one is no surprise to me.  The second is so girly fun!  I finally cut into my Alexander Henry Farmdale fabrics, but just a teeny bit.  Wendy's been great sending me extra Munki Munki or Heather Ross prints, so I'm sending her a little surprise too!  These will be off in the mail today, bound for Alaska.

WIP: The rainbow medallion is growing!

I've had quite the busy week!  Last Sunday I decided it was time to add to the rainbow medallion, which calls for 21 borders in the pattern.  I'm not sure how long that will take, but this is meant to be a fun project that uses a lot of scraps from other projects along the way.  I've decided to group the borders into 2-3 of each R(pink)OYGBIV to make a radiating outward rainbow quilt of fabulosity!  Plus I have a thing for cool colors and those will need the most scraps because they're on the outside.  Here it is, currently 13"x13" and just waiting to grow.

I also had a fun weekend at the Austin Shop Hop.  Finding new places to shop for fabric is always at the top of the list!  Here's the loot I scored.  Lots of Anna Maria Horner and even some scraps of the original Flea Market Fancy and Melody Miller typewriters.  And of course, eyeglasses for the eye doctor.  Please, sir, may I have some more?

WIP List:

Finished!

  - Scrappy Trip Along charity quilt top

Being quilted

  - Over and Under in Sew Cherry

Finished quilt tops

  - Aqua/Yellow Patchwork Chevron

  - Happy Go Lucky in Vintage Modern

  - Round Robin Medallion

  - Neptune Squared 

In pieces

  - Hexa Go Go Stars & Stripes

  - On a Whim in Birds & Bees

  - Rainbow medallion

Want to Win a Traveling Stash Box??

                                                  

Have you heard about the Traveling Stash boxes?  They're such a fun idea.  A large priority mail flat rate box has been filled with sewing goodies, a drawing is held on a blog for a winner, and when the winner gets the box, you can take anything out of the box (as much as you like!) to keep for your stash.  The only catch is you have to replace it with items from your stash of equal value and hold a give away on your blog to mail it to the next lucky winner.  

I won the box that Susan had last, and now I'm going to pass it on to one of my lucky readers!  To enter, just leave a comment telling me what your dream traveling stash box would have in it.  Please make sure I have a way to contact you if you win!  I will choose a winner on Sunday, August 11, around 9 pm Central time using a random number generator.  Please be aware that if you win, you will be responsible for mailing this box to the next person via Priority mail flat rate for a large box (~$15).  Sorry, but this is for US addresses only at this time!

In order not to spoil the surprise when the lucky winner's box arrives, I'll just post a couple pictures of what I put into the box and what I took out.  There's a lot more than what is in my pictures here, trust me!  It's also a mixed variety of several different tastes and items including fabric, notions, buttons, magazines, and other fun stuff.

Here's most of what I'm adding!  Lots of QuiltCon swag there.

Here's what I'm keeping for myself!

Also, here's a WIP to keep you satisfied this week :)  I'm working on my paper pieced fussy cut blocks for my friend Amanda's swap.  Here are the couple I have finished along with the centers I've picked for the rest of them.  I'm sure glad I have a stash of kawaii fabric from Bunny's Designs!  

I'm linking up to Show and Tell Tuesday, Thursday Threads, Fabric Tuesday, We Did it Wednesday, Giveaway Directory Thursday.

WIP: Paper Pieced Fussy Square Blocks

My friend, Amanda, and What the Bobbin? tempted me with a block swap.  Like I need another project!  But looking at the Flickr pool made me cave.  They are too stinking cute!  I'm not sure what I'll do with all these little guys, but I'm positive it will be magical.  I made my first block with some Heather Ross pink gnomes and then I remembered that I have a great sampler pack of Japanese kawaii prints courtesy of Angela from Bunny's Designs.  This is going to be so much fun!    

4.5" block. Hello Mr. Gnome :)

Ok Scrappy Trip Along, You Finally Got Me...

I've finally fallen for Bonnie Hunter's Scrappy Trip Around the World quilt!  I purchased most of this fabric at a yard sale a couple weeks ago for $1.25.  I did add some strips from my stash that I acquired when I just couldn't help myself and had to order a 12 lb grab bag/box (or 2 - sheepish grin) from Fat Quarter Shop.  

Only 6 more blocks and then this will be ready to stitch together.  I'm hopefully going to have this finished by the August meeting of the Austin Modern Quilt Guild so I can show it off and donate to the guild's charity quilt drive.  

Thanks for stopping by!

2013 Finish Along Q3 Goals

I've decided it's time to set goals for finishing some of the projects that are piling up around here!  What better way than to join the 2013 Finish Along with She Can Quilt?  For July through the end of September, here are my goals. I'll be adding pictures later.


Sew Cherry Quilt
Scrappy Trip Along Quilt for charity
Stars & Stripes From Hexa Go Go
Neptune Quilt
Echino Buck Louis XIV Chair re-upholstery project

Those should keep me busy for the next several months!

WIP Wednesday

Happy Wednesday!  What have you been sewing this week?  Finish anything?  Me neither...  Start a few new projects?  I sure started a whopper...

I've seen the lovely Marcelle Medallion quilts on Instagram and really would like to make one, but I didn't have the book sadly.  Instead, I found another great version of a border upon border upon border quilt in a book I already had on my shelf.  Saturday, I spent the afternoon hand tracing these teeny tiny templates onto a rainbow of scraps from my bin and some low volume (aka mostly white) scraps.  Here's the arrangement I came up with for the center medallion:

See those pieces?  I put a bobby pin on one of them for size reference.  Small, right?  I've started sewing a couple of the rows together and had to unsew them right away because I wasn't happy with the way the points matched up.  

The pink hearts print is vintage from my grandma's stash!

This quilt has 21 borders mostly all made with 2" or smaller pieces, so this will take awhile, years maybe.  But the fun part will be to watch it grow on my design wall and add scraps from other projects that I'm working on in the meantime.  I can't wait to share more of my ambitious project in the future!

WIP List:

Finished!

  - Nada

Being quilted

  - Zilch

Finished quilt tops

  - Aqua/Yellow Patchwork Chevron

  - Over and Under in Sew Cherry

  - Happy Go Lucky in Vintage Modern

  - Round Robin Medallion

In pieces

  - Hexa Go Go Stars & Stripes

  - On a Whim in Birds & Bees

  - New project! Medallion quilt