Moira - Various Projects

Lots of work going on various projects.


Made these two Quilted postcards for two different friends who had milestone birthdays last week.  .

Finished this little outfit for my great-niece in Indiana.   It should go in the mail today.

Made a lot of progress on my snail quilt.  It is about 86" square right now.   I'm currently putting together the final 15" high band for it.

This is the left side of the quilt

And right side of the quilt at this point.

Once the top is assembled, then I'll add a final scrappy green border using 4.5" cut squares to finish it off.

I'm hoping to have this ready to send to the quilter by the end of the month.
















And I've pulled out all the washcloths that I'd purchased yrs ago to make into baby bibs (and then never did....sigh) to get them made up and actually ready for gifts when needed. 

I've finished 21 of them, have 11 more in process and about another 20+ yet to actually work on.

Moira - Catching up after a long weekend

I had a long weekend and made it into a stay at home quilt retreat.  Didn't even go out of the house on Sat (well except for mail) and Mondya.

These 14 string blocks were made on Friday.   I'm now through 4 colors of my batik strings in this slow moving UFO project.













I got the label made for the back of this quilt.   Yes it is big and in an unusual spot, but the backing didn't cooperate with me when I quilted it at Christmas so I had a long pucker to cover up.  =)

The label went onto this quilt and with that this UFO is officially finished and ready to be listed for sale.


















I finished the final Christmas for last year.  A little cross-body purse made for a niece.   All gifts for that family will now go out in the mail early next week - woohoo.  Fabric chosen was in the Vera Bradley general style because that's what she likes.

And over the last week I've started a new project that will be for myself.  It will be snail themed (goes back to a childhood nickname and collecting snails as a result). 
This is the first block made with orphan block parts from my friend Susan and scraps from my stash.  Block finished at 27" wide and 18" tall.







This is the second block made over the weekend.  Again made with orphan block parts (the 2 rail fences) and scraps from my stash.  Same size as first.












Finished off 2 UFO's on Monday, one of which I can't post a pic of yet.   The second one finished was my London tea towel quilt.

Most of the fabrics in the pieced and appliqued blocks were from ones that I bought at Spencer & Marks while there in London in 1997.  Red flange is by Hoffman fabrics and the scrappy cream tonal background fabrics in the blocks are assorted ones that I've collected over time.  All applique designs are mine.  All total 29 different fabrics are in the quilt.

So all total 4 UFO's were finished over the weekend, and progress made on lots of other things.  =)

Moira - Almost forgot

Finished up three projects -

Binding was sewn down on this wall hanging.  Now to write up the pattern for it so it can be released with the next BOM block.  The red is a wide flange

The binding was sewn down on this UFO quilt.  Finished size was approximately 48" square.

This has gone in the mail to my niece as a baby gift for her new daughter.

And close up of the the Label for the quilt.

Final thing finished was this commissioned passport holder.   Finally figured out how to easily put in a zippered pocket on it.

And yesterday I scored a great deal on the buttons that I need for these at joann's - clearance price at 50-80% off of retail plus an additional 25% off.   Now to get the third commissioned one done so I can start all the ones I have cute travel themed fabrics for.  =)

And just because I needed something brainless to sew on this morning, I started sewing together Red & blue scrap squares this morning that will make 4-patches eventually.  I've got a scrappy quilt in mind for American Heroes for them.

Moira - Finished Wedding Quilt

Spent the weekend in Indiana visiting cousins and attending the wedding of my sweet niece and her new husband.   Had a wonderful time not withstanding the snow on Sunday night that I had to scrape off the rental car at 6 am Monday morning!

Finally have a pic of the entire wedding quilt and the recipients.   Quilt finished at 85" square and fits on a queen-sized bed.  There are approximately 230 different fabrics in the finished quilt.

Next up - it'll be back to the passport wallets that have been ordered, and several others that I've got fabric for so that I can start getting some made up for sale.  Also need to get quilts already finished up listed for sale...........oh and still need to find a house....lol.

Moira: finishes

A couple of finishes and a start-

the first commissioned passport wallet has been finished and delivered via the mail to my friend.

 Wedding quilt was finished early instead of the night before I leave for the wedding...lol.

 The right side of the quilt














Corners got appliqued hearts after the binding was done in order to repair some damage that  didn't see until I got it back from the quilter (not her fault!).

I also got the skirt for the wedding this coming weekend made, but did not get a pic of it.  Used a charcoal grey heathered knit for it and put an elastic waist in it.





And the next commission in progress.  Binding currently being pinned down for final stitching.  However having said that I'm thinking of taking the black off and replacing it with the same Mickey print already in it.   Strap will be out of the black.

Next one after this is cut out it will be worked on next week.  Frogs and polka dots will be fabrics in it.

Moira: Too much going on.....lol

The Aurifil designer block of the month for March caught my eye and I took a detour this weekend to make one.   My finished block will be going with these three blocks.   These were all block samples from several years ago.  The top one was published by QuiltMaker in one of their 100 Blocks issues, the middle one was submitted to them, but not selected.   And the bottom one was a design I used in the quilt I did for the Michael Miller challenge I took part in.





Finished putting this flannel quilt top to.   
I've already pulled fabric for a backing for this and it will be finished and sent off as a donation for the Hands 2 Help challenge this year.











Started on the purse for myself.  All pieces are cut and interfacing ironed on.  Outside pockets have been made and attached to the bag sides.  Band on the zippered pocket reflects the colors in the lining fabric and is made from scraps.









Fabric has been pulled for the next commissioned passport wallet - frogs on the outside, polka dots everywhere else.

And a piece that I picked up as a remnant.   Have enough for 4 outside covers if I use coordinates for all of the insides on the passport wallets.

Also in progress is a skirt to wear at the wedding (fabric is cut) and I'm about 25% of the way done in sewing down the binding on the wedding quilt.

Moira - Lots going on

First thing done was this wall hanging that is going to the worship pastor and his wife at the church I attend.   She just had their first child last week.

The back of the wall hanging was used for everyone at the baby shower the church gave them to sign.

Then in doing some straightening and cleaning on Saturday in my sewing room (prep for moving) I found three more pieces of fabric as potential linings for the purse I have to get made myself.   I'm leaning towards the bottom right, but only have a yard of it so it may not work.   Second choice is the floral on the top of the pic. 

I also finished off the remaining two of these four commissioned pot holders.  They will be mailed out sometime this week (once I get paid for them).












And in process now is this commissioned passport wallet.   And I was told that someone would buy one if I made it in Mickey Mouse fabrics.....hmmmmmm, gotta think about that.   Aiming to have this one done by the end of the week.

And I spent Saturday morning on the house hunt once again and ended up putting an offer in on this lovely house.   All paperwork has been signed and the offer accepted, so I'm now a homeowner in process....lol.   Inspection will be sometime this week, followed by all of the other stuff that has to be done to close in just under month.....

Packing and sorting out will be the order of the day for the next 4-6 weeks or so for me.......complicated by the fact that I have at least one commission to complete (really should do a 2nd so I don't misplace the fabric in the move) and I have to get the purse for myself made before the end of the month.   And I'll be gone for 5 days the end of the month for a wedding to boot........yikes...............

Moira: Getting there....

Made lots of progress this past week.

The top for the baby room wallhanging was finished.   And the back as well (used for signatures).   Still to be put together and finished.
















Also finished was the top for the table runner that is being published by QuiltMaker magazine in their Quilts from 100 Blocks magazine.  PP'd unites shown here 'cause I can't post a pic of it online till after the magazine is published.   This weeks task include getting this basted, quilted, bound and labeled.

 My next scrappy project will probably be working with these scraps from charm squares (at least a couple of different fabric lines).    There are 46 or so different pieces all different and all widely varying in looks.   Definitely eclectic in nature.   QUilt will be donated after finishing.

I have an idea of how I'm going to put it together but am auditioning different background fabrics.  At the moment I'm leaning towards the top one (the blue), but haven't decided for sure.

Moira: Finished Wedding Top

Finished the wedding quilt top and found a wide backing in my stash for it.   Backing is white with black floral sprays on it and 108" wide.  So no piecing required to put it together....YEAH!  At this point I'm figuring that I will bind the quilt with blue.  Haven't decided though if it will be a single blue print, or a scrappy blue binding.  Got enough that I could do either one.   

And once I get it back I'll put it on my bed and then try to count how many different fabrics were used in making it.  I've estimated that there are approximately 200-250 different ones, so it will be interesting to see if that is true or not.

And I've even managed to get the final block for last years BOM released.  Now to get the first one for this year ready to release.  =)

Moira: Ready for the new year

The five days I house-sat while in Phoenix saw me making progress on several more projects.

Got the sections for my mini swap quilt for the Modern Quilt Guild.   These still need to be pressed and trimmed to size before assembly can happen.


















Put these 6" blocks together.   They were one of my many UFO's and as best as I and friends can date them, are from a swap back in 1998.  I've got 5 more blocks, 4 of which will be used for the corners of the first border.   Remaining border will be the same WOW that I used for the corners on the top and bottom rows.   And then a final border will be a green 30's print.  However, before borders can be attached I need to press it.

 And I finished off this small Cross-body purse that is my last Christmas gift for the year.   It will be mailed off with the other gifts for my friend and her family this coming week.

This bag was the first one that I've used fabric scraps to encase the ends of the webbing I used for the strap.  I like the look of it and will most likely use this technique again in the future.

Moira: Merry Christmas!

Just a quick fly through - I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas yesterday!

I've been enjoying my vacation and am sad to see the days winding down for me.   It'll be back to work 1 week from today for me.

I did bring my sewing machine out here and several projects.   So far I've completed the top for the wedding quilt, altho I don't have  a pic of the full top.  Next up are several small projects that I need to make progress on as I move to where I'll be house-sitting for the rest of the time out here.   I've estimated 200-300 different fabrics in this top, but must admit that I didn't keep track of them.

Have also had fun doing some shop-hopping thru the state while here.   And even found some Benartex precuts at great prices at Tuesday Morning which was a surprise.

More next week!

Moira: Vacation Sewing

Yes, I brought my sewing machine and several projects with me on vacation.   The blessing of staying with friends is that they know I sew and don't mind if I do it during the day time.  =)

First project to be worked on is the wedding quilt.   I know have 20% of it together (5 blocks + applicable border sections) and am working on block #6.   Thankfully they are going together fairly quickly, as a result I'm hoping to get this together before I change residences.  First two rows from the top are in progress.

Project #2 will be working on my art challenge quilt for this year.   It is basically a whole cloth quilt, and I've decided to baste in where I need to stitch......I think..........lol........I may pick up some tissue paper from the dollar store and draw it out on that instead then stitch through the paper.   I'm still debating on how to do the ladybugs to show depth - currently thinking of beading over stuffed little figures.  I do know I'll have to make some of the leaves 3D to give the right sense of 3D-ness to the quilt.   Final stop of 4 or 5 for this group exhibition will be a month long stay in an art gallery in PA where those that want to can put their quilts up for sale.  And I've said that I'll put mine up for sale.  =)  I'd like to get all of the plant stitched in while out here.   Beading I'll leave for home.   Here is the pic I'm working from (found on the web).


Project #3 will be making the blocks (and hopefully top) for a mini quilt I need to get completed for  an online swap.   Pattern has been decided on, just need to pickup fabric for it.

And should all projects make progress I have a set of swap blocks made with 30's repro fabrics
that just need to be put together.........lol.