Five Shadows

I am so super pleased with how all the appliqué is coming together for the Bargello quilt! It is taking longer than I’d like, but all the pieces are constructed – outrigger canoe & paddle, and the turtle scene which is fused to the Bargello quilt.

This is the lower right corner, inside the borders, of the king size bargello quilt. The pattern for the Honu (turtle) scene is Someone to Watch Over You by Barbara Bieraugel Designs. I enlarged the pattern by 150%.

Now I need to decided if I am going to be match-y match-y with the thread with each motif, or use monofilament thread all over. Monofilament sure would make it easier, but would the sheen ruin the look of the quilt?

I love Misty Fuse! It is my go-to fusible. I like the feel of the finished product. And I find it very easy to work with when fusing appliqué pieces. Do you have a favorite fusible product?

I didn’t have the One block Wonders August block on my To-Do List last week, but I did finish piecing a table topper using the pattern! The block is called X Box.

I also finished the August Machine Quilting Block Party. I needed some time away from cutting out all the little pieces of appliqué for the Bargello quilt!

How did I do on last week’s To-Do List?

1. Bargello – finish constructing appliqués! ✔︎ All constructed and I’m so pleased with them!
2. Bargello – fuse and blanket stitch appliqués to quilt!  - Fuse! ✔︎ The Turtle Scene is fused in place and starting to stitch around them today!
3. Bargello – sew back of quilt together! ✗

To-Do List for this week:

1. Bargello – Top stitch all the appliqué in place!
2. Bargello – sew the back of the quilt together.
3. Bargello – Hopefully, deliver to the long arm quilter! I’m so excited about completing this quilt!
4. Bargello – construct binding for the quilt.
5. Down load September pattern on the 1st for the Machine Block Party.

I’m linking to To-Do Tuesday and Linky Tuesday. Hope your Tuesday is going well!

I’ve been procrastinating. I reserved a spot in early September with my favorite longarm quilter for the Bargello quilt. Problem is, I still have to get the appliqué constructed and attached! Today, I finally made it to the local Staples store to enlarge the patterns 150%. After lunch out with my hubby, I got to work labeling & cutting out pieces and cutting fabric.

I’m working on the outrigger canoe & paddle from Paddler’s Heritage pattern.

Next up will be the turtle scene from Someone to Watch Over You pattern.

I raided my very small stash of Batiks looking for the right fabrics for the coral. I might be taking a trip to the local quilt shop tomorrow for more Batiks! Such a shame, right!?

Do you have a particular step in the quilting process that you procrastinate on?

Here is a photo of the completed baby quilt I shared last post, and gifts to go with it for little Olivia.

I used the green Moda Grunge with a white solid for the flange and binding. I’m very pleased with how this quilt turned out – the bright fabrics, quilting design, name, binding. My son and daughter in law visited last weekend (with my grand baby!) and my DIL commented on how she really liked this quilt. It is nice to get an unsolicited compliment! She particularly liked how I quilted the baby’s name. Guess I’ll keep that idea filed away for future quilts!

How did I do on last week’s To-Do List?

1. Bind baby quilt ✔︎ – completed! But not gifted yet.
2. Enlarge and cut out appliqué pieces for Bargello quilt. enlarged ✔︎ and have a long way to go to finish the cutting, fusing, & stitching.

To-Do List for this week:

1. Bargello – finish constructing appliqués!
2. Bargello – fuse and blanket stitch appliqués to quilt!
3. Bargello – sew back of quilt together!

I’m linking to To-Do Tuesday and Linky Tuesday.

I pieced this baby quilt a while ago. I only had a small amount of The Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric left from a previous gift, and wanted to figure out a way to make good use of it for another baby quilt. So I pulled out my brights and cut 6.5″ strips and sewed them together with a narrow band of a white print in between.

Next up, I wanted to add the baby’s name, but had not decided on just how to do that. What I ended up doing was printing the name out in a large font, cutting the letters out, and tracing around them. Then I stitched around each letter.  I didn’t think of taking a picture of the first couple of steps, oops!

Next, I used the walking foot and added straight lines for the over all quilting.

When my straight line quilting approached the appliquéd butterfly, I stitched around it until reaching the spot on the opposite side of the butterfly to continue the straight line quilting.

After stitching straight lines in four quadrants, I went back and did a FMQ ribbon in-between some of the straight lines. The straight lines are stitched  1.5″ apart.

I wish I had taken a picture of the name before deciding to fill it in. When filling in each letter, I tried to keep the FMQ lines perpendicular to the over all straight stitched lines.

Below is a close up of the three types of quilting used in the quilt.

1. Back ground straight line quilting set at a diagonal, and off set, so they are not meeting in the center of the quilt.
2. FMQ ribbon quilting
3. Filling in letters with (somewhat) perpendicular lines to background quilting

The back of the quilt is The Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric that I found at a LQS. I was so happy to find yardage to coordinate with the little bit I had on the front! But it took running to 2 stores before I found it!

I plan to bind with the above green Moda Grunge.

This was a fun creative project. Starting with a scrap of The Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric, and then playing with ideas for the quilting. I have The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book to also give with this quilt, and my daughter has ordered TVHC stuffed caterpillar to add to the gift. The stuffed caterpillar should arrive this week, with that and the binding complete we will be ready to visit and gift the new mother and baby Olivia!

How has your creative process been this week? I’m happy with how this quilt is turning out!

How did I do on last week’s To-Do List?

1. Bargello quilt – finish borders & start appliqué  ✔︎ Borders on, and getting appliqué in order
2. quilt baby quilt ✔︎ quilted!

To-Do List for this week:

1. Bind baby quilt
2. Enlarge and cut out appliqué pieces for Bargello quilt

I’m linking to To-Do Tuesday and Linky Tuesday.

This Thursday, I host my quilting group, Curvy Quilters. I usually work on an UFO during that time. It’s a good way to get myself to work on the unfinished projects. And I have enjoyed seeing some progress, and even checking a few off my list this year. Today I pulled out the Timeless Tradition BOM.  I started it last year, while attending a Featherweight Sewing Club. I have the fabric cut for three blocks and all ready for piecing this Thursday.

As July came to a close, I did squeeze in finishing up the BOM for Leah Day’s Machine Quilting Block Party. I had the block pieced, marked, & sandwiched, so just had to quilt it. This BOM is using the quilt-as-you-go method. Each month we piece, sandwich, and quilt a block.

Yesterday, as the first of the month, the new block was available. I got it downloaded and fabric cut. Today I pieced the block.

For all the BOMs (I’m doing 3) I have challenged myself to use fabric from my stash. For the Machine Quilting Block Party BOM, I’m using scrappy prints in yellows, oranges, & reds, with the same white background for all the blocks.

Next up is pulling out the Bargello I started earlier this year. It’s time to add borders & appliqué. I had to set it aside for a while, as I had t-shirt quilts to create for customers. The latest went to the longarm quilter last week. I’ll take photos went it returns for binding.

After the Bargello, I have Christmas tree skirts I want to get started! I was hoping to get to those in July!

Do you have any projects that you are just waiting and wanting to get to sewing?

Back to the To-Do Tuesday list!

1. Host Curvy Quilters on Thursday – that means some house cleaning and baking to prepare for my guests!
2. Sew the next set of Timeless Tradition BOM blocks.
3. Add borders to the Bargello.
4. Friday the One Block Wonders August BOM will be available – download!

As the end of the month approaches, I’m trying to get caught up on the 2 BOM I am participating in this year. I got both blocks pieced, but not quilted.

Here is what I created from July’s One Block Wonders. I love how it turned out. I used hand dyes by Vicki Welsh and commercial Batiks. The picture does not do Vicki’s hand dyes justice. The blue background, oranges to deep rust are all Vicki’s. The blue dots are the Batiks. I’m not sure how I will quilt this, but I’m sure enjoying gazing at it every time I walk past it!

I won a scrap bag from Vicki earlier this year and pulled them out to play with this month’s block. Check out her lovely gradations on her Colorways website!

Next up is Leah Day’s Machine Quilting Block Party. My July block is pieced and marked for quilting.

I’ve also managed to piece a t-shirt quilt that I just took to the longarm quilter this morning. I’ll share a photo once it is back and bound. And I started a baby quilt, pieced, sandwiched, but not quilted, so I’ll show that one too once it is complete.

One last project, and, Oh Boy! was it ever a last minute undertaking! Hubs and I are going to a special friend’s birthday party this Saturday. She loves Hannah Montana! And believe it or not, a local quilt shop still has some HM fabrics! So today I bought 2 pieces, and a blue I liked with them, and sewed up a little quilt for her. I just put borders around two large pieces of Hannah Montana fabrics, sandwiched them – spray glue basting! – and did a quick curvy quilting stitch using the walking foot.

Pictured above is 1/4 of the quilt that measures 51″ x 60″. The pink center is flannel.

The flip side is quilters cotton. You can see the curvy quilting I did  ever 2 1/4″. I used the Flange Binding method, so you can see the purple flange on the flannel side. I’m so pleased with how this quick project turned out. I hope our friend will like it as much as I do!

How about you, have you ever dreamed up a project and pulled it off in a day? Really, I must say this is the first project I pulled off so quickly!

To- Do For this week:

1. Quilt July’s Machine Quilting Block.
2. Enjoy Saturday’s party.
3. Do some much needed house cleaning!

I’m linking to To-Do Tuesday hosted by Stitch All the Things and Linky Tuesday.

As of late, Hubs and I have been busy helping our son & his family prep for a move. I’ve been helping them pack, and playing with grand daughter as they do all the things related to their move. One of the things Hubs is doing is building a new back porch for them. The old one had some rotten spots, and dear DIL (and she is a dear, whom we love dearly!) was afraid it would not pass inspection when listing the house for sale. Once Hubs got into pulling up some rotten floor boards, he found rotten floor joists. So even though this was not how he planned on spending his free time in July, it sure looks like a good thing the rebuild is taking place. And truly, he does enjoy woodworking, he is a natural born handyman!

The question is, what did I accomplish in the sewing/quilting world the month of June? Very little! I did manage to keep up with my two BOMs.

Here is June’s block from Leah Day’s Machine Quilting Party

and here is my June’s One Block Wonders creation, one block repeated 4 times.

The kids are moving this weekend. I’ll be traveling with them Saturday. I hope to fit in a few days to help them unpack and keep grand daughter entertained as they get settled in, but not sure which days exactly! There will be a bit of traveling back and forth between here and their new location.

Hubs and I made a long weekend of it by traveling east to Maryland for a nephew’s wedding. It was great to be there, not only for the wedding but also to reconnect with relatives we have not see for a few years.

It was a lovely outdoor setting at Musket Ridge Golf Club for the ceremony and then indoor dinner & dancing. Congratulations again to Dan and Callie!

Next up was visiting my folks in Hanover, Pennsylvania with some of our crew catching up with us for the visit.

Noel, Dad, me, Hubs/John in back row. Charis, Mom, Anna in front row.

We also got to connect with some more of my side of the family at my brother’s home in Maryland.

While in Maryland, we learned that our son and DIL had their offer on a house accepted. That is a huge step in their moving plans. Next they need to list and sell their current home. Since we are home again, I’ll be available to help in whatever why they need, cleaning, childcare, packing, meals? Taking one day at a time.

How did I do on last’s week To-Do List?

1. Continue childcare for son and DIL as they prepare to move, they hope later this month or early July. ✔︎
2. Prep for out of town wedding this weekend. (laundry, pack, gift shop, etc) ✔︎
3. Maybe Monday mark and quilt block 6 ✔︎ it is marked!

To-Do List for this week.

1. Quilt block 6 of the Machine Quilting Block Party BOM
2. Stay available for my son & DIL as they prepare to move

As you can see, very little quilt related activities here right now. I suppose that is part of Summer. How about you? Does your sewing time change with the seasons?

I’m linking to To-Do Tuesday hosted this week by Busy Hands Quilts.

Last Summer, I was asked by a client if I could make a hobo bag/cross-body bag out of t-shirts. I thought that would be doable, so playing around with a t-shirt I no longer used, I came up with a design. Life happened, and even though we chatted on the phone several times, we did not meet up again until this Spring. She liked my design, gave me two t-shirts, we picked out fabrics, and TaDa! Here is what I created for her.

Batik fabric creating a large outer pocket.

She wanted her bag to be larger/deeper/wider.  I added a squared bottom to get the wider. I cut the t-shirts as large as possible to increase the size. I used one shirt for the side of the bag with a large outer pocket created with Batik fabric.

Another t-shirt was used for the other side of the bag.

For the shoulder straps, I used a solid black fabric and fusible interfacing to add durability. Then I decided to get all fancy-shamancy and add hardware making the straps adjustable. This was my first time to make adjustable straps, which I found out are really very easy to make and attach to the bag.

Can you see the black hardware rings and sliders in the above photo?

I used one of the black t-shirt sleeves as an inner pocket.

The lining is the same fabric as the outer pocket.

I’m happy to report that my client was very pleased with her Hobo Bag!

So far I’m keeping up with Leah Day’s Machine Quilting Block Party.

Block #6 Solar Flares

Family news! Son #2 has accepted a job 2 hours south of us. I’m happy for him, since this is a step up for him in his chosen career, but that means less time with him and his family. Life will be changing for all of us. Less grand baby time, less time helping DIL who comes over weekly for sewing lessons – she’s making a quilt! Less shared meals. I’m sure we will all adjust to ‘less’ but hopefully more quality visits. After all, my hubs and I are the ones who moved away from our families. 10 hours, not 2!  That all said, I think this month will be filled up with helping them. They are on their 3rd round of house hunting. And grand baby is spending the day with me!

What about you? Are you keeping to your regular sewing schedule this Summer?

How did I do on last’s week To-Do List?

1. Start June’s Machine Quilting Block Party BOM ✔︎ Block cut and sewn together!
2. June’s One Block Wonders pattern should be available Friday! ✔︎ Printed off pattern. I’ll have to ponder what fabric to use this month.
3. Helping son pack and move. ✔︎ This is going to be on-going for a while. I’ve mostly been doing childcare, with several trips with them to house hunt.

To-Do List for this week.

1. Continue childcare for son and DIL as they prepare to move, they hope later this month or early July.
2. Prep for out of town wedding this weekend. (laundry, pack, gift shop, etc)
3. Maybe Monday mark and quilt block 6

I’ve made some progress on May’s One Block Wonders BOM. I decided to make a table runner using 6 blocks from May’s design.

I altered the 12″ May Blooms blocks to 6″ to create a 14″ x 43″ table runner. The appliqué pieces are fused in place using Misty Fuse, but still need to be stitched down. I really do like how this is looking!

I just finished machine quilting, literally – just minutes ago – May’s Machine Quilting Block Party BOM.

Night time photo color is way off! That is a white background. And I still need to remove the marking for the quilting guide lines. Ugh. Horrible photo. Sorry. But hey! I’m now ready for the June block that will be posted tomorrow!

I also made progress on the t-shirt Hobo bag. The red is a t-shirt and the black batik is forming a pocket. The Batik is also the lining. The flip side is a made from a black t-shirt. More photos next time. Straps will be solid black and the batik.

All it needs is the shoulder straps. I could have finished it last night, but decided to make the straps adjustable. Daughter and I ran errands today, and my plan was to stop at Joann’s and see what kind of hardware they have. I forgot to stop! I was just down the road by a few blocks, and totally forgot. And later I was even across the street from Hancock’s (going out of business) and mentioned to my daughter that I want to stop in Hancock’s after we finished in the store she wanted to stop in at. We both forgot! Let’s hope I can remember tomorrow!

I really am a list person and should have had a list today to remind me to stop at Joann’s! How about you, are you a list person?

To-Do List for this week.

1. Start June’s Machine Quilting Block Party BOM
2. June’s One Block Wonders pattern should be available Friday!
3. Helping son pack and move.

How did I do on last’s week To-Do List?

1. Hobo bag – making progress!
2. Curvy Quilters meet Thursday, I’ll work on the BOMs. ✔︎
3. I’m adopting a WIP from a local lady. It is a Trip Around the World. I pick it up today to finish the top for her. I’ll share more next week. ✔︎ This project turned out to be an Amish Diamond in a Square out of prints that I am guessing are from the 70′s. I didn’t take pictures, but the top is complete and returned for quilting.

I’m linking to To-Do Tuesday and Connie’s Linky Tuesday.

Are you sensing a theme here on my blog? Slow it is! Since not much quilting is happening here, I’ll share a few beauties from our garden.

This is a tiny little Iris that I believe is named Bumble Bee.

Hubs is the gardener around here. As a college professor, he is teaching part time during the summer meaning he is home a lot more. He enjoys his time out in the garden.

I’m not sure of the name for this Iris, but I love those speckles on the falls.

Both Hubs and I have to find a new balance with the end of the school year, and it takes a few weeks. Not complaining! I enjoy having Hubs around!

Lilly of the Valley. My favorite Spring flower. Sweet scent! We have a large patch on the north side of our house that I can pick and keep in the kitchen. I love walking in the kitchen and smelling that sweet scent. Of course I love their scent out in the yard too!

How has your week gone? Does your sewing/quilting time change with the seasons?

How did I do on last’s week To-Do List?

1. Hobo bag – I bought and washed accent fabric for the bag this week. But no sewing.
2. Work on BOMs: Machine Quilting Block Party and One Block Wonders May block – I made a little progress on the OBW.

To-Do List for this week. Oh my! My list is not changing from last week!

1. Hobo bag.
2. Curvy Quilters meet Thursday, I’ll work on the BOMs.
3. I’m adopting a WIP from a local lady. It is a Trip Around the World. I pick it up today to finish the top for her. I’ll share more next week.

Linking to To-Do Tuesday at Stitch All the Things and Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River.