Snomaggedon or not?

Well,  I don't know if we are getting this much snow or not.  Lot's of dire predictions and cancellations but it seems a slow start.   Well what am I going to do today???


1.  Take Percy for a playdate with the Pointer Sisters (3 chocolate labs in our old neighborhood).
2.  Work on my Island Batik rep sample - sorry no peeking just yet at this fabric collection.
3.  Work on my new technique March sample - trying a few blocks with scraps before I dive in!

4.   Maybe purchase watch some Craftsy classes while there is this awesome deal (affiliate link).  One that I can recommend is  Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting A Sampler.  This expires March 11, but it is a good way to get a bargain class.  I love the classes I have taken and think this is a great way to learn from experts without having to travel!  I realize I have some catching up to do so I am going to pick one and play while I am working.
5.  And maybe finish Squiggles.

Okay, I am officially at too many things for one day, but tomorrow looks good too.
I'll report back later - wish me luck.

#365DaysOfArtPBQChallenge Week 9, Exercises 57-63

#57: Color in the concentric circles:  I liked doing this one, but didn't like  naming the moods. Somehow, I wasn't really feeling it.

#58:  Design a T-shirt:  This was more like practicing a quilting pattern - kind of like it.

#59:  Fill a page with things that are the color yellow:  The yellow wasn't showing up well - didn't float my boat.

#60:  Color in the dots:  I enjoyed this.  Did half in orderly lines and half random.  I don't think the coloring in lines was too successful.  Nonetheless, I enjoyed this one.

#61:  Calligraphy practice - thick lines:  Didn't spend time. Still don't have the pen.  Maybe next week.....

#62:  Color in the waves:  Loved this - was gonna do only blue and green but then just decided to play.

#63:  Fill the opposite page with texts/marks:  I liked doing this one too.  I used seeds in a packet in top left, a knitting marker on right, a paper clip and a business card on the bottom to get the darker lines.

If you haven't joined in - there is plenty of time.  Amazon has the book 365 Days Of Art by Lorna Scobie (not an affiliate) back in stock, so you can jump on the bandwagon! Stop by Sherry's site to see what we are up to.


Linking up with:  Powered by Quilting

New Goals: OneMonthlyGoal, APQResolution, and 2nd Quarter Goals

April is here...flowers should be blooming but they are having a hard time here in New England.  Nonetheless, I am commited to setting monthly and quarterly goals and here they are!


First, my One Monthly Goal and APQ UFO Resolution Project for April will be...


For the 2018FALQ2 - Finish along Quarter 2 I will include the above quilt....


Grandmother's flower garden - needs trimming, binding made and sewn on
Rose of Sharon - finish applique, quilt and bind
Typewriter quilt - quilt, binding made and sewn on

Linking up to:  Elm Street Quilts/One Monthly Goal
Elm Street Quilts - One Monthly Goal
She Can Quilt - 2018FALQ2
All People Quilt - Resolution

Fancy Forrest Deux - OMG February Finish

I love this quilt!  It is the second time I made it, using many of the same fabrics from the first but a few changes.  The pattern is Fancy Forrest by Elizabeth Hartman and I just couldn't help myself.  I changed a few things.  I wanted my thistles to be purple and I wanted Frances the Firefly (not butterfly) to have a bright yellow bottom - all lit up - like fireflies are!

I was cutting it close with this thread when quilting!  I made it - although truth be told - I did have another similar looking spool (same color) in my stash.  Must be one I really like!

The back was a fabric I stashed for awhile.  Of course, it wasn't big enough so it has its own border.  I didn't use my printed labels as this is for a baby and I didn't want the label to be a problem. I will sign somewhere discretely or put a small label on this side when I know who is getting it.

 I did quilting with my Westalee ruler set on my Bernina 440.  It allows you to do straight lines and other lines with a little more precision.  I had fun figuring out little ways to enhance the critters and the thistle.

I liked giving Hazel the Hedgehog some spikey hair.

Frances the Firefly just got some curves added to her wings.

I am pleased it is done and think I know where it may go.  That is the really nice part, knowing the quilt will have a lovely wee one to smile at it.   If I hadn't set this goal, I am sure it would not have been done.  Thanks for the encouragement!  This quilt was on my list for OneMonthlyGoal, 2018APQ Resolution and 2018FalQ1.  So great to have it done.  

Linking up:  One Monthly Goal

                     2018FALQ1

#365DaysOfArtPBQChallenge Week 8, #50-56

#50:  Design a pattern from the grid.  

I so wanted this to be spectacular.  First attempt got screwed up.  Then I used my colored pencils and was getting an idea about a tessellating design.  Didn't get there, but liked it better

#51: Add patterns to the vases

I enjoyed this one.  Not spectacular, but fun.

#52:  Continue the pattern

These are always fun. I really want to get some watercolors to enjoy these a bit more.

#53:  Design a pair of trousers

Good thing I didn't pursue fashion design.  Rainbow pants are everyone's favorite...NOT.

 #54: Add trees to the forest

I liked this one.  Some of the trees don't quite fit, but I had fun with them.

#55:  What has the pen just finished drawing

I thought writing so this is what I am thinking.

#56:  Fill the bowl with a mixture of colorful fresh fruit

Kind of enjoyed this, but feeling like I should add a few more.

Well not the best, but not the worst!  It was a busy week professionally, so to get this done in the in between time felt good.   This week will be more relaxed and I may get some of these things I'd like to have...a calligraphy pen or watercolors.

Also, expecting to finish my OMG...keep your fingers crossed!

Linking Up With:  Powered By Quilting

Amish Mini Love - Island Batik Ambassador - Project #2

Island Batik Ambassadors had two assignments our first month (Island Batik provided the fabrics for this mini quilt).  Minis area so much fun - they are fast.   You can hang them or use them on a table as an accent.  Having just downsized to an apartment, I have a little more wall space!  So some of my minis are hanging on a closet door and some hanging on sides of my storage unit.   The requirements were fairly simple.  Less than 24" on a side, use any fabric except our surprise fabric, and any design and post any day.

Today’s mini is an adaptation of an Amish Hex sign.  I grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania where there are many Amish and Mennonite communities.  I loved seeing the hex signs, which are traditionally a sign of welcome and many had hearts on them.  I haven't always loved the colors, so I thought why not do it my own way.  Hearts - mini love - batiks - my home town melded into this little quilt.

I did a little work in EQ8 to see what I could do.  Two problems arose - time and not enough of the background to make larger pieces.  What to do….  AH - make a drunkards path to get the circle - which could use the fabric I choose.  Furthermore, I could solve problem two by  hand-piece while waiting for furniture fabricators to finish up a job.  Brilliant!  

Hand pieceing while waiting

The rest was easy.  I did do machine appliqué as my quilting - again a time saver for this project. 

A mini tutorial:

1.  Make a 4 Drunkard's Path Blocks (size was 6 1/2" unfinished)
2.  Sew blocks together to make a circle or use this method if you have more fabric
3.  Iron fusible web - per instructions - to fabric for points, hearts, and petals
4.  Cut out shapes
5. Iron shapes to background (for a limited time you can download the shapes here)

6.  Sandwich quilt (quilting will be done as you finish the edges)
7.  Use your choice of finishing for raw edge applique

8.  Bind and label

Up next for Island Batik projects:  A new technique for me and a rep sample of our secret fabric. 

Other quilting:

• Quilt and bind Fancy Forrest by end of February
• Bind Squiggles during week of March 5
• Plan March One Monthly Goal project 
• Design a few more quilts

Linking up with:  Let's Bee Social
                             Sew can She Show Off Saturday

Happy quilting. 

Galentine's Day is February 13th!

 

 Here is my Galentine's Mug Rug.  For the Island Batik Ambassadors, we were given our first assignment - make a mug rug or postcard for one of your Gal Pals to celebrate Galentine's Day. The fabric for this challenge was provided by Island Batik. A little explanation below and you'll get the gist of what this day is about if you never heard of it (I hadn't before this).

If you’re not familiar with Galentine’s Day, it is a holiday created by the fictional character Leslie Knope from the TV show, “Parks and Recreation”, watch this video. As Leslie explains, Galentine’s Day is a celebration of our best gal pals and lady friends, and it’s the day before Valentine’s Day. Why shouldn’t we celebrate our fellow females who encourage and inspire us???

So what to do.  I decided, for a variety of reasons to do something very simple.  In fact so simple that the I forgot to take pictures as I was going along.  I had many elaborate plans in my head, but as schedules collided I decide that KISS - Keep it simple stupid - would prevail.  Squares and half square triangles and I would be there.  So I worked it up in EQ8 and off I went.

The Galentine's bundle I received from Island Batik is shown and I used each piece. Here's the formula for this little quilt if you'd like to make it.

Background	Pink Dots	6 - 2 1/2” squares	4 - 3 1/4” squares
Heart center	red fern	2- 2 1/2” squares
	Pink/Red swirls	2- 2 1/2” squares
Heart Outside	Red sunflower	2- 2 1/2” squares	4 - 3 1/4” squares
Backing	Beige butterfly	1 - 9x13” rectangle
Binding	Pink/Red swirls	2 1/2” strip 50” long	50” long

Brief instructions:

1. Place the light pint and dark red squares together.
2. Mark the 3 1/4" light pink squares with a center line, and 1/4" on each side of that line. 
3. Sew, and cut apart.  Press to dark side. TRIM to 2 1/2".
4. Lay out all the squares and the half square triangles according to the picture above.
5. Sew together (I usually pin to be sure I don't sew on the wrong side of the pieces).
6. Sandwich.
7. Quilt as desired.

I simply quilted the outline of the heart in a matching pink thread (Mettler 50wt. #803) and the interior of the heart with some free motion hearts (Mettler 50 wt, #960).  I thought it could use a little more so I just drew the little hearts in the bottom corners.  Yes, it was a close call with the one thread (but I did have another spool in case).

My label was attached, then the binding.  The label is from Tagtopia - and is a great way to get that done nice and quickly.  I sometimes do more extensive labels - you can see it in my tutorial.    I did use Aurifil #2600 for piecing and for the bobbin thread while quilting.  The threads played nicely and didn't need any tension adjustment on my Janome 3160 QDC (the machine in Maine).

Imagined, sewed, quilted, labelled, bound and off it goes!  I kept it simple and did my first project as an Island Batik Ambassador.  I hope my friend loves and enjoys it as much as I did!

Linking to:  Linky Tuesday    

                  Main Crush Monday 

                  Let's Bee Social

                 Wednesday Wait Loss