Tuesday, April 30, 2013

April UFO finishes and my goal for May

It had to happen; the flu found its way to me too! :( Coughing, sneezing, sweating... you all know it! I must say I have been very fortunate; no flu for about two years and I do not take any vaccination. I had almost forgotten how it feels when it hits - LOL! Life has been very slow over the last couple of days, but I believe if the bug hadn't hit me, most probably I had not managed to finish one UFO! Feeling slack, I don't feel for doing much, except a little bit hand stitching.
 
The 'Love is' #1 crib quilt is finally done! :)
 
 
The last stitches were done this morning.
 
 
All the text in each block is outlined using 2 strand DMC embroidery floss.
 
 
Are you tired of seeing the Postage Stamp quilt once again?! I'm tired of showing it still as a UFO! :) Well, since this post I have added the borders and it is now ready to be sandwiched. I was so sure I had enough backing.... NO! :( More is on its way from the US, so hopefully it will be finished during May!
 
 
'Love is' #2 is slightly bigger and more squarish than the crib quilt.
It is quilted, and what has to be done now is to outline details and text on the small blocks (as I did with the crib quilt). It is a bit confusing since I have used the same fabrics, same backing and same binding... :)
 
 
The third UFO I want to work on for May is yet another one where I have used Nancy Halvorsen fabrics. I was rather hooked on her fabrics, but there are limits to everything, isn't it?! :) 
For this quilt I have used a mix of different fabric lines; 'Love is', 'Cidermill Road' and I think there are a few fabrics from one of her Christmas fabrics too. Since it doesn't look very Christmas-y that doesn't really matter! :) Good thing with this one is there's no blocks where I have to outline most of the details! :)
 
 
I have finished a UFO that has been sitting there for about two years... if not mistaken!
A pair of Capri pants! Capri pants is usually what I wear all year round in this tropical climate. I had one that was almost going into powder - lol - so I ripped all the seams and used each piece for pattern. It worked well! This pair is one size too big, but that doesn't really matter since I'm going to wear it at home. :)
I bought some linen/cotton fabric some years ago... I think I will make one or two more, because they are something I badly need.  
 
 
It's time to link up this post at A Passion for Applique - here.
 
 


Monday, April 22, 2013

Long overdue update

Again I wish a day had more than 24 hours!
This morning I just decided to sit down doing this blog post, to share with you what I have been up to since I last posted. Tropical cyclone 'Imelda' kept us in suspense for some days before she decided to take an easterly direction and moved away from us. Instead, she hit our tenth district the island of Rodrigues. She did some damages like power cut etc - fortunate not a strong cyclone; gusts of about 75 miles/h / 120 km/h - enough to do some small damages. We got rain for some days and when it finally cleared up it was time for gardening!
... and of course I have been sewing! What else to do when it rains?! :)
 
I have finished a baby (crib) quilt I started earlier this year.
I have used scraps from pink pastels, white tone-on-tone and a Teddy Bear panel that was stored away I think for the last 4-5 years.
 
 
I think these Teddy Bear blocks are so cute! :)
 
 
Another one...
 
 
I'm working on a blue one too, using blocks from that Teddy Bear panel
 
 
... but again, this is what happened!
More is on its way from the US! :)
 
 
Yes, I HAVE been working on the UFO's from this post! :)
The PSQ... From the two jelly rolls I used, I was left with some already sewn together squares. As you may recall, I had in mind to add piano keys, but that again meant I had to buy more fabrics, which is not easy to get. Since I already had the squares, here's what I did... Good use of the jelly rolls; I'm left with 3-4 squares - only! :)
Next step is to add the last border and then its ready for sandwiching! Hurray!
I was hunting high and low for more of those fabrics, and ended up at a wonderful seller at eBay! :) The fabric has arrived, so hopefully I'll continue on this one this week...
 
 
#1 'Love is' quilt... This is the smallest one, a crib quilt size.
The binding is done, but I have some more quilting to do....
 
 
Some of you may say 'that's not possible'! LOL
Let me explain; when I quilted it, I wasn't sure what to do with the blocks (panels). When the quilting was done and binding attached, I saw the blocks 'puffed' too much, so I decided to outline part of each block. That was a lot of work! :) Now I'm left with the text (words) on each block, which has to be hand quilted....
How did it turn out that wonky on the photo?! It is straight! :)
 
 
#2 'Love is' - is also quilted and the binding is thread basted.
#1 'Love is' I quilted straight stitches, on this one I have FMQ (free motioned quilted).
On this one I have to outline some of the details on the small blocks (panels) too.
 
 
When looking for something, we always find something else, don't we?! :)
I found a rectangle where I had already added 2.5 inch squares together. Those squares are leftovers from Christmas/winter table runners / toppers I made 2 years ago!
I decided to make a pillow cover, which was needed for one of the pillows... I just added a small border around it to make it fit the pillow, and VOILA! New pillow cover! :)
It was not in the plans to finish this old UFO, but it was just a few hours work - and it's done! :)
 
 
Blue sky today and not too hot, so perhaps we'll go for a walk to a temple not that far from our house. The temple is situated in a hillside with stunning view over the town and surroundings.
Have a wonderful day everyone!
 


Friday, April 5, 2013

Not working on UFO's....

Can anyone tell me why there is so difficult working on UFO's?!
My goal for this month is to work on 3 UFO's - see my previous post - but I have one zillion excuses not to work on them - LOL!
 
It's a long time since I made a bag... I've been looking for bag patterns in some of the quilting magazines I have and ended up with one I want to make. The pattern is very basic and a bit 'simple' for me. That said, I'm far from a 'bag guru'; making a bag - the way I want it - takes a lot of brain work! :) The bag doesn't have any pockets - I have added pockets to the lining. The front and back of the bag is quilted and ready to be sewn together, but first of all I have to make the handles. I want to make it different from the pattern and that takes time; lots of brain work again! :) I think I have figured out how to proceed... :) 
 
 
I got the idea to make a table runner using plaid fabric...
 
 
... and a table topper...
They are both ready to be quilted. I think I'm going to hand quilt... I'm a bit anxious, because hand quilting is something I have never done before! I have yet to decide on thread; 'King Tut' or pearl cotton #8.... What needle size to use etc ... Your suggestions - please! :)
 
 
The madness is here again!
Yes, I'm talking about the 'Postage Stamp Charm Swap 2013'! (The swap is now closed, but there will be another one in October). The swap match lists have been sent out and this round my swappers are in the US, Canada and Australia. 
The 2 inch and 2.5 inch charms are cut, packed and will go in the mail one of the first days, as soon as I have all the addresses.  
 
 
I had to cut a few more charms and while doing that, I discovered some pieces if Christmas / reindeer fabrics....
Guess what happened to it?! Yes, right; I have cut them into 2.5 and 2 inches! :))
I know! I know it's not Christmas now, but who cares?! :) I think the fabrics are cheerful and it will be fun playing with the charms making them into a table runner or table topper. :) Not sure how I want it.....  
 
 
Much more fun working on these projects than the boring UFO's! :))
 
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
 
 
  

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

UFO's - My goal for April 2013

It's time for putting up my goals for April.
 
UFO #1
I can't remember why I put this one aside... It is quilted and ready for the binding.
I have fabric for the binding, just ready to go! :)
 
 
UFO #2
...is similar to the one above, but slightly bigger.
I like the dotted flannel I have used on the one above, but didn't have enough.. Had to order more from the US, which I got a couple of weeks ago.
 
 
UFO #3
Again the PSQ (Postage Stamp Quilt) quilt - LOL! Wonder how many times I'm going to show you this one before it is finished?! :)
You can read about my plans for this one in my previous post.  
 
 
I'm not sure I will manage all three, because I'm working on some NewFO's too.
I'll show you the NEWFO's in another post.
 
It's time to link this post up to A Passion for Applique.