The Best Laid Plans...

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!  I was fortunate to have a 10 day vacation from work, and it was a much needed break at that.  Of course I had the best of intentions to get a lot of sewing done, and take lots of pictures showing my most glamorous and fabulous holiday self.  Instead I got the flu. 

Therefore, instead of showing you how "glamorous" (or disgusting) my holiday was, I decided to share my biggest quilting goal for this year.

I have been working on Kaffe Fassett's "Postcard Quilt" (from "Quilt Road") for nearly 10 years.  About 3 years ago I finally made some progress at a retreat, but it hasn't been touched since.  The reason for this is that the quilt freaks me out.  It is written as a template pattern, but I have been converting it to rotary cutting.  My original piecing is not perfect either.  However, I intend to square up what I've already done, and keep going.  My goal is to get this quilt done this year.

This is the original quilt that is published in the book, not my personal quilt.

This quilt made it onto my "Big 5" list of goals this year, so you know it's important haha!  My friend Justine has an equally impressive quilt as one of her big 5.  It's a beautiful template pattern by Edyta Sitar.  I'm sure you'll get updates on our progress throughout the year.

I did get some sewing done over break but not a ton.  I have all the blocks finished for my lap quilt using Denyse Schmidts first line for JoAnns.  It feels really good to be busting some of my stash, and see some of these beautiful fabrics used in something.  I have also been watching the #scrappytripalong, and I think it might be time to jump on that bandwagon and use some of the random fat quarters that have been sitting in my stash for far too long!

Also my Plume quilt is finally getting quilted, and I should have a pattern to share with you all soon!!!  I'm so excited.

Do you have any big quilting goals for 2013?  I'd love to hear about what you're working on!

Cristina

WIP Wednesday!

I am pretty proud of myself folks!  I have been BUSTING MY STASH (slowly, haha).  I have been working on projects that have been looming over my head for quite some time, and I've actually been getting things done!  It feels so good! 

Here is the current list:

Projects that are being pieced:


Civil War Sampler (still needs it's last border)

Classic Strippy Quilt

Kaffe Fassett Postcard Quilt

Scrappy Friendship Braid

Giant Granny Panties

DS Quilts



Tops awaiting quilting:

Gabe and Renee's Wedding Quilt

Garden Party Shadowbox

Plume Quilt

1974 Quilt

Meadowsweet 2 Quilt

Amy Butler Picnic Quilt

Happy Hour Quilts (x2) (Hanging in the store)

Patches and Pinwheels (scrappy)

Stack and Whack (Parrots)

Vintage Floral Quilt

Make it You! Log Cabin

Batik Scrap Quilt

Deer Valley Girls Best Friend

Sparkle Quilt-Along

Christmas Wall Hanging

Charlevoix




Projects that I have not started (but have the fabric):

Neptune quilt

Parisville quilt (still not sure what pattern)

Solid flying geese

Bella Medallion Quilt

Grinchmas Quilt


Total Projects: 27


New Projects this week: 0
Total finished this week: 1


The list is still daunting, BUT it is getting shorter.  I think I am going to renew my resolution from last year, and only work on projects from this list (here's to hoping).  I definitely have a problem with finishing projects after I complete their flimsy.  I have yet to explore free motion quilting on my home machine, and the turn around time at my local quilter is agonizingly slow.  Maybe I'll have to take her a few next time! 

Cristina

Finally a Finish!

I have been working on a special project for my Mom for quite a while.  It was intended as last years Mother's Day present (don't judge me for being so slow), and I FINALLY got it done. 

This quilt is not traditional.  My mom had a coverlet for her bed that she liked, but wasn't "colorful" enough.  She asked me if I would applique some fabric onto it, and I reluctantly agreed.

Why reluctantly you ask?  Because this quilt is HUGE, and I have a small throat machine.  Also, I do not have adequate hand applique skills.  Nevertheless I got it done after struggling to fit it under my machine.

I also made the pillow shams, and the throw pillow.  I had a great time with making these because they were easier to maneuver.  I was able to piece batting scraps for the pillow shams so I felt extra resourceful, and the last of the fabric scraps were just enough to make the throw pillow!  Score!

My mom loves it (thankfully), and my favorite part is that I have one more project crossed off the list!  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Cristina

P.S.  Thoughts and prayers to all the victims of the Connecticut shooting today.  It is a terrible tragedy, and the nation is mourning with you today. 

12.12.12

Well folks, here is my obligatory 12/12/12 post.  It will be the last date like this we'll see in our lifetime (unless progressing science allows us to live to REALLY old ages).  While scouring the internet today I came across this newspaper clipping from 12/12/1912.

I especially love the fact that there seems to be a lot of focus on women's rights.  I wonder what people will think of today's news in 100 years?  Unfortunately the news of today seems a lot more violent and sad.  

Stay tuned this week, as I have a finished project to share!  I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their Wednesday!

In a bit of a conundrum.

I have stumbled into my first real difficulty as a blogger.  In the winter time, I am getting A TON of sewing and quilting done, but there is not enough daylight to get things photographed properly.  How do you all deal with this?  I work full time, and it is dark when I get to work, and when I leave work.  That leaves the weekends, but often I forget the camera, or I am too busy to schedule photo time.  Maybe I just need to make it a bigger priority.

Anyway, I am very nearly done with my mom's quilt and shams that I have been working on forever!  It will be nice to get these to her before Christmas, and since I will headed to Lansing soon I am hoping to get them on her bed without her noticing.  This will be a huge weight off my shoulders, and one more quilt finished on my intimidating WIP list!

I also started cutting fabric for another project that should move rather quickly.  It is nice to see fabric get used, and move out of the stash.

That being said, I DID buy a little bit of fabric this week.  Field's Fabrics has a great sale section with a lot of high quality designer prints for $5.97 a yard!  This week they had some Habitat by Jay McCarrol on sale, and at that price I couldn't leave it behind.  These are the prints I picked up!

If you don't know Jay McCarrol, he won the first season of "Project Runway".  According to his bio, he started quilting at a young age, well before he did any garment sewing.  Kinda like me!  I love this line of fabric, and I was super excited to find some.  I may go back next week and see if I missed any more of his prints.  Otherwise I'm sure these will get worked into a quilt in the near future.

This weekend is Quilt Camp here in Michigan, and I am SO JEALOUS of everyone that gets to go!  I wish I could've made it, but it didn't work into the schedule this year.  Have fun everyone!

Cristina

Recent Fabric Favorites

There were some fun lines of fabric released at this past Quilt Market, but I personally didn't feel drawn to most of them.  Its not that they weren't great fabric collections, its just that they aren't something I would choose to use in my home.  However, there was one collection that I really loved, and the best part is that it's from a designer that I haven't sewn with before.

It is "Splendor 1920" by Bari J for Art Gallery Fabrics.  The colors remind me of an autumn sunset, and they are warm and invinting.  According to Bari J's website "Inspired by the high society of the 1920s in Europe, Splendor 1920 has a deliciously decadent feel with a modern mix of florals, lively nature-inspired prints, and art deco geometrics that will inspire quilters and sewers alike." 

The 1920s seem to be a reoccuring theme in current pop culture.  With shows like Downton Abbey, and The Great Gatsby, it's no wonder that print design is taking suit.  I am excited to see more art deco influences mix into modern design principles, and there is a pleasant mix of the geometric and ornate.

Sadly, I'm still not allowing myself to buy fabric.  However, if I can get some projects finished before Christmas, I MAY allow myself a splurge for the holiday season.  Here's to hoping right?

I am currently counting down to Thanksgiving, and I can hardly contain my excitement.  It is time for a much needed break.  I hope everyone has an enjoyable and safe holiday filled with food, football, and LOTS of recharge time.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Cristina

It's a great day for Kaffe.

One of my goals for this year (and I suspect for next year as well) has been to finish some old WIPs.  Yesterday I was able to cross one of this old projects off the list, and it feels GREAT!  I pieced this quilt in 2005 while I worked at Kean's Store Company in Mason.  The top hung on display for a long time, and now 7 years later (yikes) it is finally finished.

This quilt was made with a pattern called "Granny Squares" (sorry, I haven't been able to find the pattern anywhere, I think it's out of print).  It is very different from the recent Granny Square quilts that have been so popular, but I can definitely see the inspiration.  All of the fabric are older Kaffe Fasset designs.  I love his use of color and the fact that the designs are all hand painted.  We've become so reliant on CAD in this industry, that it is refreshing when someone goes back to basics.

I quilted this quilt by sewing straight lines in the sashing, and then sewing "x's" through the center of each block.  I did the quilting this way because my piecing left something to be desired, and that way miss-matched corners are a little left obvious.  I did all of the quilting on my home machine with my walking foot, and I have to say it's gratifying to be able to finish something myself.  I would love to get a darning foot for my machine, and see if I can experiment with some free motion.

I finished the binding yesterday with added motivation from my dear friend Justine.  She always is a great cheerleader, and we got done with our projects with barely enough time to snap some photos before the sun went down.  Thanks Justine!

Anyway, I had a great weekend quilty-wise and otherwise.  Now it's Monday again and it's nose to the grindstone!  Have a great day everyone!

Cristina