Moira: Plugging Along

This past week has been a week of extremes.

I finished these 15" unfinished blocks that started with the bears being cut from a panel that I won from a blog posting. 

I did a funky log cabin type of setting on them and pretty much used all of the light blue scraps in my stash.

To keep things interesting I then made these 1.5" unfinished quarter square triangle blocks.   They will be a part of the Sept BOM block.  (Yes I'm nuts to make them this small).



















And I finished up with finishing this UFO quilt.  It is in the mail to it's new home as of yesterday.

Moira: Weekend fun

The house blocks are no longer "yelling" to get out of my UFO block stash because they are now in a finished quilt top.   Top finished out at approximately 50" by 80". 

The black Kona and the blue star print used in the borders were both from my stash.   The outer border is 3" cut, and the upper border (the "roof") is 15" tall unfinished because that was the largest square I could cut for the HST's I used for the sides.




Final 7 blocks were pieced into the backing for the quilt.  The black that appears solid is actually a black with blue dots all over it.

Nope this wasn't what I should have been working on according to my due dates, but  needed something fun w/o too much thinking this past weekend.



Next quilt to work on will see me back to working on the art challenge quilt.   Prepping more fabric for 3D leaves is on the plans for tonite.









And currently under the needle is this commissioned t-shirt with an origami crane on it.  This will be finished up in one more evening of work.  Fabric used for the applique is from a single fabric that is a gradation from very light teal to very dark teal. 

Next commissions up are a bunch of fruit cobbler/pie potholders.   4 for a friend in Austin, and a friend in Idaho wants to order 8 of them.  Gonna have to get more cherry print fabric, but I think I have enough for this order....just not any more afterwards.....lol.....

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 - Playing with UFO's

How can it be the end of March already?   Doesn't seem like time should be marching along that fast.

My hand was being uncooperative this weekend as I worked on the binding of the heart quilt and kept going numb.   =P  I should be able to get that finished tonite (have 1 1/2 sides to go).

In between working on that and income taxes, I pulled out a set of UFO blocks and started working with them.

These blocks started with the blocks and scraps that I had leftover from a group quilt top I put together back in 2003 for an online group that I've been a part of since 1997.  I ended up making 4 more heart blocks and 3 more of the four-patch blocks.  The blocks are 9.5" unfinished.  Since taking this picture I did rearrange the layout of the hearts a little.  All the rows are pinned in groups so that when I'm able to sew them together they will be ready for me.

I love the colors and fabrics in it.  And will be 54" square without a border.  Still thinking about what I want to do for a border, if I even end up doing one for this one.   And haven't decided if I'm gong to keep this one, sell it, or donate it.

Moira: Lots going on

This past week has been a busy one.  Finally got the boxes in my fabric room rearranged so that I can move around in there on Saturday and get to things....woohoo.....lol.    And in doing so was reminded about how much clothing fabric I have and how much of it I'll probably never use (I'm ignoring how much quilting fabric I have at this point!).  So the first thing in there that I need to go through and downsize drastically is the clothing fabric stash.   I've done that before, but it needs to be done again.  I know I want some of it (pants fabric and fabric for totes, especially), but the blouse fabrics I really don't need since I don't wear anything but knit tops these days.

 I've also got three boxes of patterns that need to be realistically weeded out and downsized.......since I'm not likely to do that much sewing of clothing again even if I can lose the weight that I need to lose.

 Then yesterday when I woke up at 3:30 am for the third time I pulled out a set of old swap blocks (from 2006) and started putting them together.  This is half of the first top (center part only).   Finished the center part of the top last night but don't have a pic of it.   Will be adding two borders -- an inner one of black Kona, and then a multicolor print (yet to be picked) for the outer border.  Might use the zebra print shown in the pic below.

I've got 11 blocks left and I'm thinking about layouts for them.   Currently thinking about the layout below with the zebra fabric.

The final project that I've made progress on is my challenge quilt. The riverbed is now fused down along the edges (center is not fused to reduce stiffness).  3-D boulders have been made and sewn on.   I've written many things onto the riverbed of things that either go by the wayside when buried under debt (at the bottom of the quilt) or things that can be a problem (at the top).   Once the water is added to this you'll only really be able to see the words down at the bottom of the quilt.    I've also started quilting the background fabric (green batik) using the ferns in the print as a guide.  Am about 25% done on the right hand side.   Lots more to go there.

Moira - Cross-stitch and more

Very short week for me  at school......but long week away from home thanks to the conference I was at with 17 kids and 3 other advisors.   Came home to one day at school and then a 3-day weekend.   I think I'm finally recovered!  Good thing too 'cause there are only 7 wks total left to this school year, and only 6 wks before the seniors are out of school.   Lots to be done between then and now.

While at the conference I finished three more little cross-stitch kits.   All will end up in either quilted postcards, snack mats, or mug rugs.







Since I had yesterday off and ended up staying home except for a quick trip to Walmart for sewing machine oil (had intended to head to Cheyenne but weather cancelled that trip) I was able to get some sewing done here.   Finished off the binding on the snack mat that was in process.









And then I took one of the cross-stitch pieces I'd finished at the conference and put it into a snack mat.  This will most likely be put up for sale.

Made a snack mat out of one of the umpteen finished cross-stitch pieces that I've made over the years.  Scraps were used for the setting fabric on the front and more for the backing.  One FQ made the ultimate sacrifice for the binding.














The final thing I've finished off before the weekend was over was to get borders on all of the blocks in this quilt so that I could trim them to the same size.   Several of them were 1/4 inch too small in one or both directions.   The green and lavender colors in the borders were pulled from the blue floral prints used in some of the blocks.   The top finished at 45" by 60" in size and most likely will be donated.











Did get the next "commissioned" project well underway over the weekend as well.   This is a memory quilt using baby clothes for a good friend that I used to work with at Joann's.   It'll be a gift for her 'cause I didn't get anything made when the munchkin was born (already had bibs made that she got then).  She chose and bought most of the fabrics for it.   I'll be using pics of it (and her testimonial) to show what I can doon things like this.

Most of the fabrics are flannel which she provided.  The Daniel Tiger block was made from a coloring page and his fav show.   I still need to add his name to the quilt top yet, but need to prep the fabric for the letters.   should be simple (ha!) to quilt and finish because she doesn't want batting and i"m using a med-dk grey flannel for the backing.    I'm hoping to finish this up this week.  =)

Next up for me (well other than trying to survive the end of the school year) is to get several commissions completed - 4 more scrub tops, the three leather knife sheaths, and baste the commissioned quilt top so that I can get it quilted.  Enough to keep me out of trouble....maybe......

Moira: Playing with UFO blocks and other goodies

Was a busy week last week with last minute prep for the Wyoming State Skills Conference (and contests) that I and 4 other advisors are taking 19 kids to this week.   Headed up there on Sunday and I'll be back sometime Wednesday afternoon after my weekly appointment with the Hematologist and bloodwork.  Will get back in time for Parent-Teacher conferences.....oh joy...........

At any rate, this week I've managed to hem 3 shirts up so that they weren't too long for me to wear at the conference, and added fabric to embellish 4 kitchen towels for a wedding present.  


















I also got the scrappy solid blocks together and the border onto the quilt top.   Didn't manage to sew it together the way I'd laid it out, but like it better the way it turned out.

Also played with 2 different sets of UFO blocks.  Both are destined to be Sunshine quilts, so once the tops are complete they will be headed off to someone else to quilt and bind.  


The quilt top with the polka dot fabric is waiting for me to have time to go stash-diving for border fabric.   The blocks were made by another gal using focus fabric I had supplied.

And the star blocks are waiting for me to figure out whether I want sashing and cornerstones to finish off, or if I just want to sew them together and add a border or two to finish it off.  Did have to add two blocks to this one to make the count even.

Moira - T-shirt Progress

Lots of sewing went on over the weekend on the t-shirt quilt.  The back side of the quilt is now together except for the final row of sashing.   I hadn't quite made enough sashing strips, so I still need to finish that after making more sashing strips.

Final size of quilt will be approximately 87" wide by 118" or so long.   Just gonna fit on the kingsize batting that I have for it.
Am glad that I have the tables at school to quilt this one since I'm going to have to use my little machine for that.    I'll be earning the money for sure wrestling it thru the machine.

Also made up the second pillow for my customer.  4 more pillows to go, and the front side of the quilt.

Snow day today here, so no school - YEAH.   Lots of drifting snow (18-24" drifts here at the apts by the building) and hazardous travel conditions.   So I get to stay home and have fun sewing.  =)  Will be making more of the strip sets for the sashing and start to prep more t-shirts.

Also need to get my next design nailed down for the block contest so that I can get it made and entered in time.

Am also in process of deciding what on what UFO's I want to work on and finish up this year.   I've decided to start with some of the umpteen sets of swap blocks that I have.  And also will be working to work on using some of the many finished, but unframed/used, cross-stitch pieces that I have.   Have a bunch of them that are 5" by 7" or so when finished and have decided to make mug rugs or snack mats from them, either for gifts or to sell.

Moira - UFO Blocks, Scraps and Christmas Gifts

What do UFO blocks, scraps and Christmas gifts have in common you ask - well my scraps and UFO blocks were a great place to start looking for starting points for some of the Christmas gifts that I needed to get made this weekend.

First up were two sweatshirts that needed to be embellished.  Found the fabrics for both in my scrap fabrics.  Gotta love being able to use up things like that.

Next up were three mug rugs / snack mats that I needed for gifts.  All three that were completed came from my UFO block tote.  The Butterfly block and the purple & light blue checkerboard ones were from UFO's that other people had given me at some point in the past.  The green one started with leftover triangles from a project that I had done at some point in the past. 

I added the machine embroidered words to all of them.  Had to used sew-in interfacing for stabilizing because I couldn't find my stitch-n-tear.   Worked ok, just had to cut away the extra.   Stitching wasn't perfect, but then again neither is the maker.

On these I tried pressing the binding flat on the front side before hand-stitching down on the back and it went down so much nicer.  Might have to start doing that on all of my quilts, well the smaller ones at any rate.

Moira - busy weekend

Woohoo....I'm actually remembering to write my post early this week!   Miracles do actually happen...lol.

I took advantage of the Thanksgiving weekend and having 5 days off of school to make a lot of headway on getting Christmas gifts made.  I also finished up a couple of mug rugs/snack mats for swaps.

For the Christmas gifts I finished up three pairs of flannel pj pants.   I also made one pair of matching pillowcases and have a second pair of pillowcases almost done.    The mug rugs and snack mats were all made using UFO blocks or leftover sections from other projects.  Binding is hand stitched down.

Top two pics are the mug rugs and the bottom two are snack mats.

I also managed to get all 200+ half-sq triangle blocks pressed open.  Those are now set aside till I have time to work on making blocks from them.  Most likely after I get back from Christmas vacation.  =)

Projects yet in the works - my pattern for the November block contest, three sweatshirts that need to be embellished for Christma gifts, and possibly 3 more sets of pillowcases.

Moira - Time to quilt!

I actually got to put some serious quilting time in over the last few days.   Feels so nice.  =)

First up was working on some flag blocks that were a UFO.   The striped sections are made from pp'd pattern sections leftover from a quilt I made years ago for myself.   They were to have been a piano key border, but while I did that border I didn't use the patterns.  I've still got enough pattern sections for about 13 or 14 more flags.  

These blocks will just be sashed and have a simple border.   When finished the quilt will go to American Heroes for a veteran.

The second thing I've almost finished is a Christmas mug rug.   The checkerboard section is made from the scraps from the striped sections of the flag blocks.  Tree was free-handed.   Buttons were used for the ornaments on the tree.   I've used a dk green for the binding (sewn on but not down yet).  This will be going in the mail this week to my swap partner in Australia.

Still have one more mug rug to make for another swap, but I haven't decided on a theme for it yet.   It also needs to be done this week so I can finish off that swap package.

As for the block contest, I didn't win. =(   This month's traditional block to play with is the Bow Tie block.   Gonna have to think about that one to decide what I want to do with it.   I am working on putting the pattern for the last one into my computer program so I can write up a pattern for it.   And am thinking of putting the pattern up for sale on Craftsy.

Moira - Checking in

Not a lot to show this week as a result of focusing more on getting the paperwork for taxes under control.

Did start a new quilt as a result of finding some red/white/blue HST's in my orphan box.    Have all the parts made for the blocks in the quilt and am now in the process of putting them together.

I've finished the remaining 10 blocks this morning thanks to having a day off of school thanks to freezing rain, sleet and generally speaking a wintery mess outside.     Blocks finish out at 18" square so this quilt top will go fast.   It will need a border to stop all the white in the background, but I'll decide on what that will be when I have the blocks together.

Will put the blocks together next and then go shopping in the stash to see what I find that will work for a border.  Layout below is what I plan on using for it.....and yes, I reversed the direction of the large star points.   That's what happens when I do it from memory instead of looking at the pic I drew up.    Oh well, not a big deal.

Quilt top will be donated to American Heros when finished.