April showers bring .... a belated post?

(I started this post back in April - hence the title).

So. I am up to my eyeballs in projects right now. (Have I written about this before?) I have picked up yet another couple of projects along my way (yes indee-dee it's true) and I find I've had to buy more project boxes to stash them all in an orderly fashion. (I'm now resorting to baggies).

I joined the "Pretty in Patchwork - Holidays Sew Along" on Threadbias a while ago just to follow along (ya right) and the next thing I knew I had bought the book and was scrambling to get the March project done. I started on the 29th. No pressure there. This was to be a "not one red penny" project - aka "stash buster" and aside from the fusible backing that I required- I managed to hold firm.

The March Sew Along was the "Harvest Vine Table Runner".  I wasn't really feeling the love for an autumn theme (it was March after all) but someone else posted a bright happy version... and needless to say I was off to my stash.

I am a sucker for bright fabrics. I also love the flowery stuff. I seem to purchase it by the metric ton - and then it sits forever while I try to figure out what the heck to do with it. (I do paw it alot however).

So here (left) is my final selection using 6 Kaffe Fassett fabrics from a fat quarter bundle I purchased around Christmas.

I spent a goodly amount of time learning how to piece curves. Turns out it's really pretty easy once you have a handy little video tutorial to show you how!

It took a leap of faith to just "let it happen" because it just looked too easy to be true. But it worked  like a charm and before I knew it all 24 curved petal bits were done.

I also wanted to try my hand at designing a "Creative Quilt Back". I'd taken a free Craftsy tutorial (of the same name) and using scraps from my quilt top this is what I ultimately came up with.

Next came the quilting! This is something I really love - the free motion bits. I'm not very disciplined at staying with a plan - so this little project was perfect for exploring techniques, threads etc. I used a transparent Mylar thread on top for two reasons: 1. I had a lot of colour and activity taking place on the top already and  2. if I screwed up I didn't want to see it.  A basic off-white machine quilting thread was used in the bobbin. This worked out well because I could see my quilting stitches on the backside. It was a good way to see where things went well and other areas... meh!

And finally a finished project!

Enjoy every making moment of your day!

April showers bring .... a belated post?

(I started this post back in April - hence the title).

So. I am up to my eyeballs in projects right now. (Have I written about this before?) I have picked up yet another couple of projects along my way (yes indee-dee it's true) and I find I've had to buy more project boxes to stash them all in an orderly fashion. (I'm now resorting to baggies).

I joined the "Pretty in Patchwork - Holidays Sew Along" on Threadbias a while ago just to follow along (ya right) and the next thing I knew I had bought the book and was scrambling to get the March project done. I started on the 29th. No pressure there. This was to be a "not one red penny" project - aka "stash buster" and aside from the fusible backing that I required- I managed to hold firm.

The March Sew Along was the "Harvest Vine Table Runner".  I wasn't really feeling the love for an autumn theme (it was March after all) but someone else posted a bright happy version... and needless to say I was off to my stash.

I am a sucker for bright fabrics. I also love the flowery stuff. I seem to purchase it by the metric ton - and then it sits forever while I try to figure out what the heck to do with it. (I do paw it alot however).

So here (left) is my final selection using 6 Kaffe Fassett fabrics from a fat quarter bundle I purchased around Christmas.

I spent a goodly amount of time learning how to piece curves. Turns out it's really pretty easy once you have a handy little video tutorial to show you how!

It took a leap of faith to just "let it happen" because it just looked too easy to be true. But it worked  like a charm and before I knew it all 24 curved petal bits were done.

I also wanted to try my hand at designing a "Creative Quilt Back". I'd taken a free Craftsy tutorial (of the same name) and using scraps from my quilt top this is what I ultimately came up with.

Next came the quilting! This is something I really love - the free motion bits. I'm not very disciplined at staying with a plan - so this little project was perfect for exploring techniques, threads etc. I used a transparent Mylar thread on top for two reasons: 1. I had a lot of colour and activity taking place on the top already and  2. if I screwed up I didn't want to see it.  A basic off-white machine quilting thread was used in the bobbin. This worked out well because I could see my quilting stitches on the backside. It was a good way to see where things went well and other areas... meh!

And finally a finished project!

Enjoy every making moment of your day!

Happy March 2nd! (aka) Happy Saturday!

This is just a quicky post to let you know where I am on the stitch-ey side of life. Lots of new projects on the horizon - now that I'm actually viewing some of the online classes I signed up for during the "great 50% off classes" event over at Craftsy on Black Friday.

Having spent all that moo-la, it is only natural that I would be working on the one "free class" I had in my basket - the 2013 Craftsy BOM. I have a FQ bundle called "Wordplay" (by Benartex) that's been sitting  (languishing?) in my stash for a while now, and this looked like a good option for it. Of course once I got started I realised I hadn't enough suitable background fabric so off I went to the shop. I also discovered they have more of the WordPlay fabric if I get desperate (Except for the 1 FQ I really want).

But I digress...

I put my blade to fabric and got cutting a few weekends ago as I was already 1 month behind. January's block is called "Offset Log Cabin". Offset in that the widths of the strips vary. I've never done log cabin as I was afraid to just "try it". It's a great block for fearful first timers... and it's nice to see how flipping the blocks can create different looks over all. (See below).

I fussy cut the centre square - but I'm not sure it was worth the effort. Would likely have been more noticeable if the object was a little birdie or something.

The February block is called "Spring Blooms" I suppose it looks like a flower. The skill being taught for this block was "partial seams." I really enjoyed this block - and I finally took the time to figure out exactly where the "scant 1/4 inch" sweet spot is on my sewing machine (I have "saved" this into the machines memory bank as well).

I practised my strip piecing and cutting techniques...

... and ended up with a block that fit together perfectly!

Last but not least my reverse side pressing fit together like a perfect puzzle! I am delighted!

I peeked ahead to see what my March block assignment was - but was told "No peeking!"... will need to get back there soon!

Happy March 2nd! (aka) Happy Saturday!

This is just a quicky post to let you know where I am on the stitch-ey side of life. Lots of new projects on the horizon - now that I'm actually viewing some of the online classes I signed up for during the "great 50% off classes" event over at Craftsy on Black Friday.

Having spent all that moo-la, it is only natural that I would be working on the one "free class" I had in my basket - the 2013 Craftsy BOM. I have a FQ bundle called "Wordplay" (by Benartex) that's been sitting  (languishing?) in my stash for a while now, and this looked like a good option for it. Of course once I got started I realised I hadn't enough suitable background fabric so off I went to the shop. I also discovered they have more of the WordPlay fabric if I get desperate (Except for the 1 FQ I really want).

But I digress...

I put my blade to fabric and got cutting a few weekends ago as I was already 1 month behind. January's block is called "Offset Log Cabin". Offset in that the widths of the strips vary. I've never done log cabin as I was afraid to just "try it". It's a great block for fearful first timers... and it's nice to see how flipping the blocks can create different looks over all. (See below).

I fussy cut the centre square - but I'm not sure it was worth the effort. Would likely have been more noticeable if the object was a little birdie or something.

The February block is called "Spring Blooms" I suppose it looks like a flower. The skill being taught for this block was "partial seams." I really enjoyed this block - and I finally took the time to figure out exactly where the "scant 1/4 inch" sweet spot is on my sewing machine (I have "saved" this into the machines memory bank as well).

I practised my strip piecing and cutting techniques...

... and ended up with a block that fit together perfectly!

Last but not least my reverse side pressing fit together like a perfect puzzle! I am delighted!

I peeked ahead to see what my March block assignment was - but was told "No peeking!"... will need to get back there soon!

Happy February Cinnamon Hearts Retreat Weekend!

So - here I was thinking that I might be the only person having their own little "in house" long weekend quilt retreat. Boy was I wrong!

Cinnamon Hearts QAYG stash

I woke this morning to start Day 2 of the Stitch Cat Studio First Annual Midwinter Stitch Retreat but thought I'd do a quick check of my email first (quick as in get the coffee and put my feet up).

The checklist:

1. the news headlines (just in case a meteor has hit and I need to hide my stash from end of world mad dog zombie crafters).
2. my mail (just in case another long lost relative has left me their winning lotto ticket).
3. my calendar (just in case I forgot the date and I'm actually supposed to be at work).
4. facebook (just in case SOMETHING ...)
5. Ravelry (I'm not knitting these days - but it's on the morning check list).
6. and last (but not least) "Threadbias" - my newest online place to hang out and talk quilts.

(you'll note I never check my bank account - how many ways can a ZERO balance be interpreted?)

I can (if pressed) do all of this in less than 5 minutes. I usually do it in 40. On weekends when I want to luxuriate in the wasting  investing of time I can spend well over an hour - but by then I've gone all zombot ...

... but I digress.

Yesterday I did pop by my LQS for my weekly FQ latte fix (since Fat Quarters are less expensive than lattes and don't affect my waistline I've headed down that route). I discovered I had a gift card from the store behind the counter! Yippee! This is like finding $20.00 in an old pair of jeans you haven't worn since... since... (hmmm there's a reason you don't wear those jeans anymore and made the switch to FQ lattes).

Back to the retreat. There was a big retreat in progress at the store. It started Friday night and was going all weekend til Monday evening. I admit - I was jealous. I wanted to be there too. But you know how it goes. Besides I do have a Quiltalong day coming up next week... and I was having my own private retreat at home this weekend. 

But this morning the mail was loaded up with blog reports about "Virtual Stitching Retreats." being hosted by The Liberated Quilters group and the Dear Jane BOM group.

So I am not alone....

Back to the actual -virtual Stitch Cat Studio First Annual Midwinter Stitch Retreat. I have a lot of red and pink fabrics in my stash (top pic). I am wanting to learn a few QAYG (Quilt as you go) techniques and I am taking an online class via Craftsy which is teaching this QAYG specifically. Since this is February and I love love love cinnamon hearts... hearts will be my quilt project for the retreat. "Say it with Quilts" is a book I found at the used book store.  

The quilt is comprised primarily of half square triangles and double half squares triangles (which is just two half square triangles on the ends of a rectangle. There are 14 large hearts, 14 medium hearts and 62 small hearts. I have cut 768 rectangles and squares. My biggest worry is that 248 of the squares are only 1" x 1". 

Thus far I have completed 7 large hearts. 

snip! stitch! sew happy!

stitch cat

Happy February Cinnamon Hearts Retreat Weekend!

So - here I was thinking that I might be the only person having their own little "in house" long weekend quilt retreat. Boy was I wrong!

Cinnamon Hearts QAYG stash

I woke this morning to start Day 2 of the Stitch Cat Studio First Annual Midwinter Stitch Retreat but thought I'd do a quick check of my email first (quick as in get the coffee and put my feet up).

The checklist:

1. the news headlines (just in case a meteor has hit and I need to hide my stash from end of world mad dog zombie crafters).
2. my mail (just in case another long lost relative has left me their winning lotto ticket).
3. my calendar (just in case I forgot the date and I'm actually supposed to be at work).
4. facebook (just in case SOMETHING ...)
5. Ravelry (I'm not knitting these days - but it's on the morning check list).
6. and last (but not least) "Threadbias" - my newest online place to hang out and talk quilts.

(you'll note I never check my bank account - how many ways can a ZERO balance be interpreted?)

I can (if pressed) do all of this in less than 5 minutes. I usually do it in 40. On weekends when I want to luxuriate in the wasting  investing of time I can spend well over an hour - but by then I've gone all zombot ...

... but I digress.

Yesterday I did pop by my LQS for my weekly FQ latte fix (since Fat Quarters are less expensive than lattes and don't affect my waistline I've headed down that route). I discovered I had a gift card from the store behind the counter! Yippee! This is like finding $20.00 in an old pair of jeans you haven't worn since... since... (hmmm there's a reason you don't wear those jeans anymore and made the switch to FQ lattes).

Back to the retreat. There was a big retreat in progress at the store. It started Friday night and was going all weekend til Monday evening. I admit - I was jealous. I wanted to be there too. But you know how it goes. Besides I do have a Quiltalong day coming up next week... and I was having my own private retreat at home this weekend. 

But this morning the mail was loaded up with blog reports about "Virtual Stitching Retreats." being hosted by The Liberated Quilters group and the Dear Jane BOM group.

So I am not alone....

Back to the actual -virtual Stitch Cat Studio First Annual Midwinter Stitch Retreat. I have a lot of red and pink fabrics in my stash (top pic). I am wanting to learn a few QAYG (Quilt as you go) techniques and I am taking an online class via Craftsy which is teaching this QAYG specifically. Since this is February and I love love love cinnamon hearts... hearts will be my quilt project for the retreat. "Say it with Quilts" is a book I found at the used book store.  

The quilt is comprised primarily of half square triangles and double half squares triangles (which is just two half square triangles on the ends of a rectangle. There are 14 large hearts, 14 medium hearts and 62 small hearts. I have cut 768 rectangles and squares. My biggest worry is that 248 of the squares are only 1" x 1". 

Thus far I have completed 7 large hearts. 

snip! stitch! sew happy!

stitch cat

A new project in process...

Okay - so my last quilting "gift" (in which I try to bring the kids over to the "traditional Christmas Stocking darkside") was a complete bust. Being somewhat miffed (understatement all around) I went into quilt hibernation for the rest of the winter.

But now with spring coming up - and my interest in woolly projects on the wane - I've started to look for a portable cotton sewing project that I can work on in front of the boob tube. In need of a little stash enhancement I headed to my LQS (? is that what they call local quilt stores?) for some inspiration. I had planned on actually going to find a magazine and returned with some great fat quarters instead! (surprise surprise!)

This fat quarter bundle isn't traditionally my colour palette - somewhat subdued, but the little fabric piece with pictures caught my attention and I was suddenly transported back to a really comfy memory in my childhood.

My mom has always been a sewist (for more on this controversial term go here). Long rolls of fabric spread out across the floor and kitchen table, pins tucked into her shirt or pursed between lips as she places pattern pieces on the fold line. Checking the bias. Removing - re-pinning - reexamining. Huge black-handled metal sheers. Always reminded to "step back" as she prepared the first cut. Deep breath. The cut. And now we are committed.

Sewing while children nap. Sewing after we went to bed. Sewing pants, and skirts and shirts. A baby blue cape for Easter, dance recital outfits with sequins and fringe. Halloween costumes. The annual flannel pj's for Christmas day. Raggedy Ann & Andy. Paddington Bear. And now she makes quilts.

So back to my little packet of fat eights. The good news? When I went to pay for it I was told "50% off"... OOOOO! Yippee! The bad news? "50% off" means "no more anywhere  -aka - discontinued." That put a damper on things. Checked online - Ebay - you name it nothing. So then I headed down the "okay how do I use this to my advantage?" trail...

Ta - da! I'm making a lap quilt. And I plan on learning how to paper piece it. I'm think of a hexagon daisy type pattern - whereby the centre of each large daisy will showcase one of the little vignettes in the panel piece.

One of the wonders of the internet is pretty much anything I need to know - I can find it. (I know - tell you something don't already know... right?)

But I did go to YouTube and found out that I'd like to try paper piecing. I went to Selfsewn to learn how to do Basic English paper piecing. I've joined the Big Hexagons QAL  and I'm busily printing out hexagons on freezer paper  (I got the template online from The Sometimes Quilter ).

(Note: Luckily after I did this picture I realized I needed the hexagons on the wrong side of the fabric).

(More to come shortly)

A new project in process...

Okay - so my last quilting "gift" (in which I try to bring the kids over to the "traditional Christmas Stocking darkside") was a complete bust. Being somewhat miffed (understatement all around) I went into quilt hibernation for the rest of the winter.

But now with spring coming up - and my interest in woolly projects on the wane - I've started to look for a portable cotton sewing project that I can work on in front of the boob tube. In need of a little stash enhancement I headed to my LQS (? is that what they call local quilt stores?) for some inspiration. I had planned on actually going to find a magazine and returned with some great fat quarters instead! (surprise surprise!)

This fat quarter bundle isn't traditionally my colour palette - somewhat subdued, but the little fabric piece with pictures caught my attention and I was suddenly transported back to a really comfy memory in my childhood.

My mom has always been a sewist (for more on this controversial term go here). Long rolls of fabric spread out across the floor and kitchen table, pins tucked into her shirt or pursed between lips as she places pattern pieces on the fold line. Checking the bias. Removing - re-pinning - reexamining. Huge black-handled metal sheers. Always reminded to "step back" as she prepared the first cut. Deep breath. The cut. And now we are committed.

Sewing while children nap. Sewing after we went to bed. Sewing pants, and skirts and shirts. A baby blue cape for Easter, dance recital outfits with sequins and fringe. Halloween costumes. The annual flannel pj's for Christmas day. Raggedy Ann & Andy. Paddington Bear. And now she makes quilts.

So back to my little packet of fat eights. The good news? When I went to pay for it I was told "50% off"... OOOOO! Yippee! The bad news? "50% off" means "no more anywhere  -aka - discontinued." That put a damper on things. Checked online - Ebay - you name it nothing. So then I headed down the "okay how do I use this to my advantage?" trail...

Ta - da! I'm making a lap quilt. And I plan on learning how to paper piece it. I'm think of a hexagon daisy type pattern - whereby the centre of each large daisy will showcase one of the little vignettes in the panel piece.

One of the wonders of the internet is pretty much anything I need to know - I can find it. (I know - tell you something don't already know... right?)

But I did go to YouTube and found out that I'd like to try paper piecing. I went to Selfsewn to learn how to do Basic English paper piecing. I've joined the Big Hexagons QAL  and I'm busily printing out hexagons on freezer paper  (I got the template online from The Sometimes Quilter ).

(Note: Luckily after I did this picture I realized I needed the hexagons on the wrong side of the fabric).

(More to come shortly)