Industrious wouldn’t exactly describe my quilting progress this past month. There have been some big house chores, like power washing, and truthfully, I have been in a relaxed mode with my sewing this past month. There’s surprisingly has been quite a bit of progress, though. I got a quilt back from the long armer and did get it bound. I’ve been working on a quilt for our bed – bigger than I usually do and although I love it and it’s exactly what I’ve wanted, it’s a bit boring (all 3 1/2″ squares). I also finally prepped and began to applique the fourth block of “Lolly Pop Trees.”
Tag Archives: Metallics
My Pot of Gold & A Giveaway!
Several years ago, more like many years ago, I started collecting metallic fabrics. Many had an Asian theme and I loved them. It took me a couple of years to decide, but finally I decided to do a hexagon star pattern. I cut the hexagons on my Sizzix – I cut, and cut, and cut. Rather than cut the individual triangles, I sewed the hexies to strips of fabric and then trimmed.
I found this black with gold dots fabric and a friend suggested that I scatter a few black stars about. Had to admit – a good idea. It also meant taking some of the quilt apart in places, but it was doable.
Finally, I pulled the project box out and was inspired to complete this quilt top. I added the black borders. I played with a couple of cornerstones, but nope, the black borders were it! It is being added to my “to be quilted” pile, as I plan on quilting this one myself. The project box, however, is empty!
Leftovers – many hexie leftovers! And several pieces of the fabrics! I will not save them, but if someone out there would like them, they are yours if you leave a comment saying so. I will randomly pick a winner and announce the winner next Wednesday, July 3.
Linking up with: WOW Midweek Makers
Christmas Table Topper
An Island Batik Adventure
The Island Batik Ambassador project for December is a scrappy table topper. Oh good – I have been wanting to do a Christmas table runner – perfect opportunity! I wanted something festive yet peaceful. Not the usual red, whites and greens. I pulled out all the blue Island Batiks, mostly from the Blue Moon collection and was taken in with how pretty they all were! And doesn’t the touch of purple compliment it all so well?
This was going to be a project to be sewn at retreat, so it couldn’t be very complicated. A string quilt seemed the perfect answer. I chose to do four large rectangles and used muslin as a base. Then the fun began – First, I cut various size strips, half inch to one and one half inches. I sewed, and sewed and sewed! There are times I just love mindless sewing. I find it so relaxing!
After some simple quilting, choosing an applique design was next. Christmas trees, snowflakes, stars, snowmen or ornaments? Nothing seemed right. Snowmen would work, but I was going for peaceful, not cutesy. At Thanksgiving my daughter brainstormed with me, we auditioned fabrics for the applique, and with her help – Ah ha! White Poinsettias! After fusing all the Poinsettia leaves, I stitched and quilted using silver threads.
I loved the look. The centers of the poinsettias needed berries. I hunted through all my beads but nothing seemed quite right. After a lot of time at the bead shop, I found the silver disks and Swarovski crystals. Nothing like crystals to brighten up a piece!
This table runner is now on my dining table and I absolutely love it – a wonderful representation of the Joy and Peace of Christmas.
Not much time left to finish up projects – am really pleased with the progress to date!
Linking up with WIPS on Wednesdays
LOTS of Cutting
Finally, my “finish” pile is gone. Oh, I still have many works in progress – the finish pile was those quilts that were at the very end: a binding, backing, quilting, label… I have had two project boxes empty for about two weeks (out of 14 boxes.) Guess I just couldn’t stand it so I began cutting. I love to cut! I like laying out the fabrics, petting the fabrics and yes, even cutting the fabrics.The first project I cut for is for a hexagon and triangle quilt. When sewn together they form a star and there are no Y seams. I’m using all the metallic fabrics I’ve collected for a few years now and a solid gold for the triangles. This is a quilt that is sure to glisten!
The second project is for a Kim Diehl pattern. This is so out of my area – much more traditional than I have ever done. As I laid out each of the fabrics (30 fat quarters) I realized how much I liked them, but what a far cry they were from the more vibrant fabrics I usually choose. The pattern also has quite a bit of appliqué. Hand appliqué is one of my goals for the coming year. It entertained me that when I had gone to Mary Jo’s Fabric Store (a huge fabric store) to get the additional fabrics I needed, I could not believe it when I found myself in the Civil War fabric aisle! I’ll consider this a real growth spurt for me!
Some work was done on each project at a two day sew-in with friends this past week, but it will be quite some time before any more progress is seen on these two projects. They are tucked away all safe and sound in their respective boxes, and will probably be carried off to a sewing weekend some time down the road, or pulled out here when the desire to work on one hits me.
Do other quilters do this – work on several or more projects at once? Or are you a start and complete one project at a time quilter?