The Star Continues

Crystal Star has been pinned to the design wall and I am so pleased with the results so far.  It is pinned because it wouldn't  hang there itself because of the tissue paper backing.  So the next stage was started sooner than intended as I didn't want it hanging there and pin marks appearing.  Well I have to say this was the worst stage in the process and its still not complete.  Pulling all the little bits of paper off the back took longer than sewing the sections!  It was a tissue paper pattern a bit like the dressmaking patterns I used to use many years ago, so the big bits came away easily but the littlest sections were a bit more of a challenge.  It is mainly done but I will have to go back over it again when I have a bit more patience - something I don't have a lot of!

Work in Progress

Whilst it was up on the wall I auditioned the border fabrics which came in the pack.  To say I was disappointed was a bit of an understatement.  In my eyes the border is the wrong fabric - its showing as a brown colour way and not the black of the rest of the background of the quilt top.  Hmmm! Plan number two is now in progress, after which it is being folded up for a while so I can come back to it with fresh enthusiasm.

I have been piecing another Connecting Threads kit in between times and its now hanging on the wall, I'm trying to get inspiration for the quilting of this one.

So as you can see I have a good couple of weeks and the little bundle of quilts for the elderly care home is growing.  I hope you have managed some stitching too, have a good week.

No Words

Well only a few to say how pleased I am to have this little beauty at last on my design wall!

The Box Under The Table........

......Is Empty!!!  Hurray - although it is empty I still have some of the fabrics to use up.  I think though I have done well using up the pieces.  As you know the box was almost full

then gradually some of the fabrics were used, 

then I managed to use a smaller basket, the middle one 

 and now I only have the little basket of bits left.  I call that a stash busting success.

I of course also had the wastebasket in which all the smallest of pieces go - its not quite fully so thats another stash busting project in the future.  Do you remember my Toes in The Sand Quilt?

This was the block of the month quilt and when complete I had so much fabric left over I have made these tops which are now waiting in the stack to be quilted.

40 x 35inches

                   

40 x 40 ins

                      

Random nonsense which doesn't take much thought or concentration but is good therapy.  Sometimes its good to sit at your machine and pick up small pieces randomly and stitch them together.  Im pleased with the results and they will go to the care home in due course.

Crystal Star is now coming together nicely after a short break for some scrappy stitching.  I need to jump back on to Gracie to keep the flow going.  Its a wet day here so I might just go and do that now. Enjoy your weekend and week ahead whatever you are doing.  

Freemotion Quilting

Determination and encouragement by others is the answer to any anxieties over free motion - I have decided.  Having good friends to prod and cajole you along sometimes is just what is needed at least it was exactly what I needed to get my rear in gear and get over my hang ups about my Gracie Frame.

Having invited two quilty friends both very good at FMQ to try out Gracie I had no option but to bite the bullet and give it another blast.

What a lovely couple of hours we had. We were all a bit apprehensive but I think it was just what we needed - just look what we managed to do.  Stipples, swirls, waves, bubbles and feathers.  Encouraging each other to try different shapes the time just flew in.  Thank you girls!

                 

Having been given that wee push I loaded another two quilts tops up this week and am reasonably pleased with the results.  As always you learn from your mistakes and there are a couple of things I will change in the future.  Probably not noticeable to anyone else, but I know they are there.  Photos of the completed quilts are on the Gallery Page.

The Crystal Star has been put on the back burner this week but I am ready once again for the next section.  I am enjoying the foundation piecing but it is very easy to get complacent.  The last time I was working on it I almost had a complete disaster.  I was  on automatic and I placed the first piece of the section with the wrong side facing up instead of right side up.  I trimmed it ready for the next piece when I noticed.  Fortunately being thrifty with my fabric I did manage to turn it and slide it into position, I was lucky and managed it by a whisker!  I decided that I should have a break from it at that point as I was getting too smart for my own good.

I've had a good couple of weeks and I'm enjoying having most of my sewing items and computer upstairs.  Today was spent updating said computer, tidying up files and updating photos.  As is usual when I start on this type of clean up things don't go as quickly or as smoothly as I would like, thus taking much longer than I anticipated so no sewing done today.  There is always tomorrow..............

........and Another Little Girl

Yes she was a little late too.  Ellen Isla arrived last weekend and her quilt is ready and waiting to be gifted.  I can't show you the girls quilts just yet but here are the boys quilts.

Finlay's

Harry's

Zachary's

That is the last of the baby quilts for the moment - I have some respite from baby fabrics for a few weeks the next arrival is due in September. 

So whats next?  Crystal Star is coming along nicely and I think I have put to rest my fear of foundation piecing.  I am thoroughly enjoying making ups these panels.  The fabrics are pleasant to work with, the instructions clear and although I have had a couple of oopsies and have had to do a bit of reverse sewing all in all its a fun process.  Here are a couple more of the panels.

The gradual transition upstairs is ongoing - I cant believe its taking me so long.  I think because there is no deadline yet I am just faffing.  My desktop has been cleared and filing trays and stationery moved.  The last bookshelf is almost empty and will be moved this week when Techie is around.

So lastly for now - do you remember this fabric.  Yes you have seen it before and once again I am using up leftovers.  This range of fabric was used for the Farmers Wife Blocks.......... eh no I have not completed them all, and I never will.  I am however happy to say the decision has been made and I have sewn the last of these blocks using up the layer cake of fabric.  Enough is enough.  I will eventually sew the blocks together but meantime they will remain in the basket.  

These squares however were given to me by K, leftovers from her Twister quilt she made from the same fabrics.  I decided there were too many to lie unused so here is what I've come up with

The leftover squares from K

On the design wall - just to see how they looked

All back down again to be trimmed up to size.  There is something quite enjoyable seeing all those trimmed sharp edges and all the little slivers being put in the bin.

So I have had a good weekend, achieved quite a lot both in the home and in my sewing.  I hope you have too.

Baby Number 4 - A Girl!

I spoke too soon last time.  It was a good job I was ahead of myself and had all my housework up to date and my baby quilts for now, all just about finished.  I had an extremely busy week this week.  Extra chores at Dads, decisions to be made, a lot of juggling and organising and running around.  I think we are all fixed for the moment so fingers crossed for a more leisurely week this week.

Amelia arrived later than her due date so one of the girly quilts will be parcelled up and delivered later in the week.  I hope she likes it - well I know a bit too soon for her to like it but I hope her family do.

Although busy I did manage to start a new project as promised.  sewing is my therapy and makes me switch off and it usually clears my head.  This one has been around for a while.  It is a Jinny Beyer kit called Crystal Star.  Now there is a story behind this kit which was bought four years ago and in fact I bought two kits.  2013 had an unpleasant start for me, you may remember Mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died in June of that year.  It was also the year of the Alberta floods and impacted hugely in the community we visit most years and our good friend's home and possessions were washed away.  As a means to try and recover from these life changing events I bought the two kits while in Canada, leaving one with my good friend M to perhaps help in the healing process and eventually when the time was right it would act as therapy to return to quilting.  I of course brought the other one home which sadly has lain on the shelf for 4 years.  Truth be told when the kit arrived I realised that the kit was beyond my capabilities and probably M's at that time.

Over the years my kit has been moved from shelf to shelf, looked at, and placed back for another time.  Well in the removal upstairs it appeared again and this time it 'spoke' to me or perhaps it shouted.  Last weekend I opened the package, opened out the fabrics, looked and stroked........and finally read the instructions.  Oh oh! just as complicated as it was 4 years ago.  Back it all went into the packaging.  I mentioned to K my trusty quilting friend just what I had done.......she called me a woose!  That was enough to get my dander up - so the kit came out again and this time I made a start.  I am progressing slowly and my fear of foundation piecing is slowly beginning to disappear.  Here are a few photos of where I am to date.

I'ts out the packet

Looks complicated - 150 different fabric pieces in the star

Reminds me of School - dressmaking patterns

Numbering the fabrics

Oh no - one piece not the correct size! Hopefully it will be in the mail soon

Ta Dah!  1st piece of 35 sections

 So Ive started and I will finish............ eventually but it may take me some time.  I will post my progress as I go.  Have a good week folks.

Ahead of the Game

Just at this moment I am ahead of myself, for once.  My house is reasonably tidy the laundry is all up to date, and I have had time this week for some sewing.  I have made further headway with returning my dining room into just that and have moved my computer and printer etc upstairs to join all my other quilting equipment.  All in preparation for the decorator and the new carpet arriving next month.  

I have had a little reprieve and time to breathe with regards to the baby quilts and I may actually do something completely different not involving children's fabrics this weekend.  I will probably spend too much time pondering I won't actually achieve much, we will see.

Zachary's quilt is finished although he hasn't received it yet.  Corner of 5th and Fun is waiting for a photo before being parcelled up and sent off.  I hope he enjoys playing with it for years to come.  You  always wonder if your quilts are used, and I recently heard that one such quilt gifted to Evie four years ago has been well used, played with often and has washed well and now is the floor covering for her teepee tent!  It gives me a huge amount of pleasure knowing that the fun I had making these little gifts are treasured and give others pleasure too.

Corner of 5th and Fun for Zachary

Two more babies are due to arrive this week and I am pleased to say I am ahead of schedule and there are 3 completed quilts and one just to have the binding attached all ready for the new arrivals, whatever sex they may be!  I will give you a sneak peek but of course not of the finished articles.

I have updated my Gallery photos this week too so if you have a minute go have a look.  The photos have mainly been taken indoors as the weather recently has been a bit wet and windy for nice outdoor shots.

Enjoy the weekend ahead and perhaps like me you will embark on a new project.