A Cross in the Road: my Madrona Road Challenge

Ta daaaa! I finished up my Madrona Road Challenge quilt in time for the VMQG March meeting - yay me!

I challenged myself in a few ways with this quilt. First, I used a block of my own design.

What should I call this block? 

Second, I wanted to make a quilt that could be used rather than hung (so, bigger than a wallhanging). That was challenging because the lovely packet of free fabric was composed of just eight Fat Eighths. I had auditioned a 3x3 layout for these 9" finished blocks, but the resulting quilt would've been smaller than I wanted. Challenge 2 b. was that I didn't want to buy any new fabric for this project. So I went back to the drawing board for the layout, and shopped my stash as well. I pulled out some yardage of Kona Stone that worked quite well. An off-centre cross layout was what I landed on, hence its name "A Cross in the Road."

Final dimensions are around 53" x 64"

Thirdly, by adding in all that negative space in the design, I challenged myself by extension to doing something creative with the quilting. I spent time with Angela Walters, in person at QuiltCon and virutally via her book and Craftsy classes, and just dove in. I'm absolutely thrilled with the results. Jojo behaved beautifully and the combination of Aurifil 50 wt and a 90/14 topstitch needle was just the ticket. The FMQ went very, very smoothly. Here are the highlights:

Some fun texture

A fun and very easy feather motif

I find this easier than a curved stipple because you can cross over whenever/wherever and it doesn't matter!

My first official feathers - they're easier than I thought!

The quilt is backed with some more stash fabric as well as a half-yard of the gorgeous large-scale pick-up trucks/farm print that I caved and bought along with some haystack in blue for the binding. 

While there are yet more photos in my Flickr photostream, I will add this one for your viewing pleasure. I had a photography "assistant" today when I photographed this quilt. I am completely biased, but I sure do think she's adorable.

It wasn't raining - the umbrellas/parasols were for imaginative play purposes.

All in all, a very "challenging" and satisfying finish. I plan to link up with Fabric Tuesday!

Just Three, Fresh Sewing Day and my February Challenge

Wow, January went FAST, eh?

Here's a little visual summary of my makes last month:

My Just Three for January were:

1. Complete the second appliance cover for my friend Cathy.

2. Make baby quilt for my niece who's due in February.

3. Donation quilt for a friend's fundraiser.

...and I scored a 100% woo hooo!

What do I want to do for February? Hmmm. I'll be going to QuiltCon and I'm very busy at work-work so I'm going to set the bar rather low:

1. Finish my Madrona Road Challenge project (blocks are all done!).

2. Make myself a Noodlehead 241 tote to bring to QuiltCon.

3. Make at least two more Scrappy Churn Dash blocks.

Last but not least, my friend Nikki The Girl Who Quilts is starting up a monthly challenge where you choose *one* thing with which to challenge yourself (doesn't even have to be sewing related) and share it, then check in the following month to report on your challenge.

My February Challenge is to try at least two new FMQ motifs in my Madrona Road Challenge project. 

And you, how about you? How's your year going so far? Whatcha got planned for February?

2012's Projects, December's Just Three and 2013 Goals

It's funny - I do the same thing every year when I mentally compose my recap post. I assume I did very little and then I'm pleasantly surprised when it turns out I actually did a lot!

This year's recap was no exception. When I started making my mosaic, I selected a 4x4 layout, planning to use the blank square(s) to insert a title. As it turns out, I made a few more than 16 things in 2012! Go, me!!

Click through to Flickr for the individual links for each photo.

I made quilts, some placemats, pillow covers, a bunch of clothes (for me, for G and for the Barbies), a couple of mug rugs, a fair number of pouches, a couple thread catchers, a cover for Bernie (my machine) and a bunch more stuff. I also wrote a few tutorials, taught my first workshop and joined the executive of the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild. It appears that my 2012 project theme was "variety" - I'm really proud of that!

So my December Just Three goals were:

1. Make a new outfit for each of G's Barbies. YES - birthday present!

2. Make at least 2 of 5 teacher gifts. YES - reusable shopping bag and 2 gift card holders.

3. Make myself a black pencil skirt. YES! Post with photos to come!

My 2012 goal was to sew more for me and my family and I am glad that I did that. I have been thinking about goals for 2013, and I've concluded that 2013 is going to be the year of Finishes. To that end, I'll be joining in the quarterly Finish-A-Long hosted by Leanne of she can quilt. I'll have a separate post on that in the next week or so. Until then, I hope the first day of 2013 treated you well and I wish you many good things for this year.

Update: I forgot to state my Just Three for January!

1. Complete the second appliance cover for my friend Cathy.

2. Make baby quilt for my niece who's due in February.

3. Donation quilt for a friend's fundraiser.

WIP Wednesday/November Just Three

Happy Wednesday! I haven't been able to get to much stitching done in the last while but I do want to do a little recap of what I've been up to.

Since my last WIP recap, ...

I participated in the VMQG Kona Modern Quilts challenge. I got a FQ of one of Cynthia's prints in the Pacific colourway and made another pin cushion/thread catcher using Elizabeth Hartman's tutorial from Sew, Mama, Sew.

I finished an appliance cover for a good friend's KitchenAid stand mixer:

This instagram photo is all I've got right now - sorry it's so awful!

No wonder I feel like I've done sweet fanny all since my retreat - it's true! None of those projects was on the list. Oh well.

Now for my November Just Three recap. If you'll recall, my Three were:

1. Make project for VMQG Kona Modern Quilts challenge. YES!
2. Make item(s) for VMQG's table at Got Craft?. YES - a small bunting! (but no photo - oops!)
3. Enter at least 1 quilt in the QuiltCon quilt show. YES! I entered my confetti quilt and Sea Glass on Sand.

For December, I plan to:

1. Make a new outfit for each of G's Barbies - birthday or Christmas gift depending on when it gets done.

2. Make at least 2 of 5 teacher gifts.

3. Make myself a black pencil skirt.

So that's it from me right now - I'm finished two of the four full-day workshops I'm delivering this week. So far, so good. They're fun, but I'll be glad when I'm done. It's exhausting work!

Fresh Sewing Day & October Just Three

Did you know that Lynne Lily's Quilts hosts Fresh Sewing Day and Small Blog Meet on the first of each month? It's a great chance to celebrate all we've accomplished. At the risk of sounding immodest, I am pleased as punch at everything I got done in October. A few WIPs got tackled and finished, which makes me especially happy.

Here's a collage summarizing my finishes:

A few quilts, some garment sewing and my last bee block for Stash Trad. Yay!

I'm also taking the opportunity to check in with Traceyjay Quilts for Just Three. My October goals were:

1. Finish new Halloween doorhanger. YES! With bonus placemat!
2. Make ONE colourful churn dash block. YES! Here it is:

3. Make one more Barcelona Skirt. YES!

Woo hoo! 100% YESSSSS! Now, for November. Let's see....I've got a delicious 4-day retreat coming up next weekend. Must...resist...unrealistic....goals....

1. Make project for VMQG Kona Modern Quilts challenge.
2. Make item(s) for VMQG's table at Got Craft?.
3. Enter at least 1 quilt in the QuiltCon quilt show.

There. That ought to keep me busy. How about you?

p.s. I forgot all about Kati From The Blue Chair's At the End of the Hallway linky. Go check it out! I am super happy with my overall productivity this month, but I think that Sea Glass on Sand might be my favourite. Ssshhhh! Don't tell the other projects! ;)

Twofer: WIP Wednesday and Just Three

Busy work, then some time off work (yay!), plus back-to-school excitement: all conspired to make September seem like it flew by. But October is my favourite month so I'm happy it's here.

Made progress On...

Sea Glass on Sand. She’s quilted and trimmed. I have a poll going to get input on the binding (thanks for your votes), and I’ve made my decision. Finished product to be featured soon.

Stash Trad Bee block for October (ahead of the game!). Cindy Live a Colorful Life called her month “Granny Says Boo” which I find delightfully amusing. We made granny squares from this tutorial (12” finished block) using Hallowe’en-themed colours of orange, lime green, purple, black, white and grey.

It was nice to end this Bee off on the high note of an easy block. Would you believe I've never made a Granny Square? I guess I'm a bit of a contrarian/johnny come lately when it comes to fads and crazes. It was fun to make, and I threw in some fussy cutting for the centre:

And that’s about it, WIP-wise.

Just Three Recap (a.k.a. “uh oh”)

1. Quilt at least one Siblings Together quilt. (NO)

2. Pattern test for Nikki. (YES)

3. Make 3 more Colourful Churn Dash blocks. (NO, but Holly made one for me in our mini-bee!)

Actually, it’s not that bad. I accomplished only one of my Just Three goals (Tote bag here), but I did a whole schwack (technical term) of other fun stuff so all was not lost.

Here’s a slightly more realistic Just Three for October:

1. Finish new Hallowe’en doorhanger (currently at "top complete" stage);

2. Make ONE Colourful Churn Dash block;

3. Make one more Barcelona skirt.

Just Three is a feature by Traceyjay Quilts where you set three simple goals for the upcoming month, then come back at month-end to recap/report. It’s fun! Come and join us! Also joining up with Freshly Pieced and The Needle and Thread Network.

WIP Wednesday: Cry For Help Edition

"Help me, quilty peeps. You're my only hope!"

I am stuck and need suggestions/help/inspiration of the quilting variety.

Issue #1: Another Easy Going Modern top.




It's not so much the quilting design that's stumping me (I do have a tried and true EGM quilting approach), it's the thread colour that's puzzling me. Whatever I use to blend with one colour is really going to show up on the others. I used a light yellow variegated thread for the original EGM and that looked fine, but what colour do you suggest for this one?

I'm also open to alternative quilting designs.

Issue #2 ("...Mr. Sununu" [I'm really dating myself with these pop culture references, aren't I?])



Yes, this one again. I really want this quilt's next appearance on the blog to be in its finished state. I need help with the quilting here, too. Those larger spaces are really begging for something, but I just don't know what. The viny leaf motif I did on the Memory Quilt? Or just some "organic" straightish lines (horizontal? vertical? both?) all over?

Thread colour? I've got a neat orange-to-yellow variegated thread I could use but that would be very light against the brown. I also have dark brown? Not averse to buying a new colour.

Whilst you ponder my problem, I will give my WIP roundup.

Finished!
Heather's Memory Quilt

New Projects
Nothing, but I've put my Stash Trad Bee quilt on the list - I want to plug away at more of those Scrappy Churn Dash blocks.

This Week's Stats
Finished Projects - 1
New Projects - 1
In Progress - 7 (I think I have been miscounting all this time. Dangnabbit.)

• The two quilts featured here (for Siblings Together)
• Stacked Strips
• New Wave
• Kaleidoscope
• Bee Quilt (Jeweled Squares)
• Bee Quilt (Circle of Geese)
• Stash Trad Bee Quilt (Scrappy Churn Dashes)

And my Just Three report for August: 2.5/3!
1. Memory Quilt (done!)
2. Siblings Together quilts layered and basted (one layered and basted, and backing is made for other one)
3. Stash Trad August block (done!)

For September, I want to:
1. Finish quilting at least one of the ST quilts;
2. Make a bag/fulfill my pattern testing commitment to Nikki;
3. Make at least 3 more Scrappy Churn Dash blocks.

Linking up with Freshly Pieced and The Needle and Thread Network (canucks!), plus Traceyjay Quilts for Just Three.

Just Three (July) Report

Have you heard about Just Three? Traceyjay (she of the fabulous patterns and adorable children) hosts a link up each month encouraging us to set three simple goals to accomplish that month. I love the idea even though I'm proving to be not great at actually achieving said stated goals.

Once again, I scored a 2/3 for my Just Three goals, which were:

1. Catch up in my Stash Trad bee by remaking June's block and finish July's: YES! and YES!

 

2. Christmas in July project. YES!

3. Finish Memory Quilt. Nope. I have done all the in-the-ditch quilting in that centre patchwork area, but those 8 days away in July really messed up my production! The project doesn't have an actual deadline and this procrastinator loves a deadline.

August's Just Three

1. Memory Quilt (third time's the charm? Maybe?)

2. Layer and baste both Siblings Together quilt tops:

3. Stash Trad (August block), a Lone Starburst for Brioni Flossyblossy (and Fat Quarterly). Check out the version Cindy Live a Colorful Life stitched up:

This is the tutorial we're using.

I think I can...I think I can...I think I can....

I expect August to be quiet here on the blog. I'm on a major, major deadline with work and I anticipate some overtime and thus less stitching time. I'll post progress as it happens, but probably pretty sporadically.

Enjoy the summer!

WIP Wednesday, an OOPS! and June's Just Three Report

Summertime schedules have hit our household, meaning The Child doesn't go to bed at the respectable (and Mama's-activities-friendly) hour of 7:30pm anymore. Therefore, little progress has been made on various WIPs.

Having said that, I did get a teeny bit of the in-the-ditch quilting done on the Memory Quilt.

My OOPS! is this block, the June Stash Trad bee block:

Cute, right? TOO BAD IT'S THE WRONG SIZE!

Like a dummy, I started sewing without reviewing the block tutorial that Tiffany kindly provided. I just went ahead and made an ASS out of ME when I ASSuMEd I knew what I was doing, only consulting a photo of a finished block for guidance. There I was, merrily piecing the block using my 2" Thangles, all tra la la fiddle dee dee, feeling smug for getting finished before month-end. I even had it in the ziplock all ready to go in the envelope!!

Off I went to the discussion thread in the Flickr Group to get Tiffany's address and what caught my eye? "This block sews up at 15½." My heart sank: I had, in fact, made it in the wrong size. (Those individual squares should finish at 3" not 2".) Worse: I didn't have enough of the Kona PFD that Tiffany had kindly supplied me with to redo the block in the correct size. A friend has come to my rescue (no local suppliers of PFD here plus there's been a slight colour change by the manufacturer to boot) and I will make a replacement block right away. Ugh.

Everything else is sitting with the exception of my Christmas in July project. I have added that to the list and moved it up in ranking since I need to have tutorial up on the 26th and I just put two and two together and realized that I scheduled a 10-day trip out of town right beforehand. I think I need a personal assistant. I've made good progress so it's not a Panicstations situation or anything. Here's a sneak peek:

I'm really excited to share this with you!

Just Three Reckoning....

June's Just Three
1. VMQG/PMQG swap pouches: yes!
2. Memory Quilt Finished: basted and very partially quilted.
3. Teacher Gifts (3): yes!

July's Just Three...
1. Catch up in Stash Trad - redo June block (ugh) and make July's
2. Christmas in July project
3. Memory Quilt finished (hope springs eternal!)

This Week's stats:
Completed Projects - 0 (sad trombone)
New Projects - 1
Currently In Progress - 8 

Lots of linkies for this post! Go visit them all! :)

WIP Wednesday and Just Three Report

I've got stitching to report! Yay!

Finished

The Habitat Pillow Covers - woot!

The A-line dress (off-list, again). Had to get that project out of my system. Will tackle another one in quilting weight cotton (on its way from the lovely Sew Sisters).

Made Progress On

The Memory Quilt (on my WIP list!). I am very pleased with this one, but far less pleased with the terrible photo. It's been rainy and dreary here so avert your eyes if you're easily offended by horrifying indoor nighttime photos.

The border fabric was used for my friend's daughter's bedroom décor when she graduated to a "big girl" room. It's since been changed (she's a teenager now) but Anne asked me to make a quilt with the leftovers as a keepsake for Heather. I'll be adding some large flower appliqués in the centre patchwork area using the scribbly stitching I did on the preschool quilts, and fabrics that draw out the colours in the border.

(Unsanctioned Project)

A VMQG/PMQG pouch swap pouch. My playing last week translated into this:

The pouch's dimensions didn't turn out as I'd hoped (though it's not wonky in real life like my photos suggest). This size isn't going to work for my partner. But that's okay - I have another recipient in mind. I do like the design and I learned a few things about linen (hello, lots of fraying!), so the next one should work out fine. I hope.

Just Three Reckoning

May's Just Three:
1. Complete the I Spy Quilt. Check.
2. Complete the Habitat Pillow Covers. Yup.
3. Piece the Memory Quilt. Oh yeah baby.

June's Just Three
1. VMQG/PMQG pouches.
2. Memory Quilt finished.
3. Teacher gifts (3).

I really like Tracey's Just Three - choosing three projects helps me break my longer list into more manageable chunks. Would you like to join in? Please do!

Patiently Waiting for Attention
Charity Quilt 
Stacked Strips 
New Wave
Kaleidoscope
Bee quilt (Jewel Squares)
Bee quilt (Circle of Geese) 

Latest Stats
Completed Projects - 1 (+1 unauthorized)
New Projects - 0 (not counting pouches)
Currently In Progress - 7

What's everyone up to over at Lee's and Monika's? Go see!

WIP Wednesday: Just Three Report

I swear I sewed this month! But I feel like I have precious little to show for it. Strange.

Anyhoodle, I did manage to make great progress on this WIP:

It's backed, basted, quilted and trimmed! All that's left is to bind it. Here's a sneak peek:

Full reveal is coming soon. Just needs binding and crinkling.

No progress was made on anything else. But that brings me to my Just Three report and list of Just Three Things I wish to accomplish in May. (Go here for Just Three details then do come and join us!)

April's Three:
1. Finish the tutorial for the scrappy potholder - done!
2. Make a backing for the I Spy Quilt - done (photo soon).
3. Baste the I Spy Quilt - goal exceeded - quilt is quilted!

May's Three:
1. Complete the I Spy Quilt. A gimme, I know. What can I say? I'd like to start the month with a win, okay?
2. Complete the Habitat Pillow Covers (last pictured here). I mean, really. This project has been a WIP for too long considering they're a gift. My sister's probably completely forgotten about them by now. To recap, three of four tops are pieced, and the fourth is ready to go (81 bleeping 2½" squares - *sob*).
3. Piece the Memory Quilt. This project is technically not a WIP because I haven't cut any fabric. But I will, gosh darn it. I WILL!!

This week's WIP stats:
Completed Projects - 0 (but we're close, friends!)
New Projects - 0
In Progress - 8

Linking up with Lee and Monika and also Tracey. Lots of linkies this week! Please check them out and join on in.