Slow Works in Progress

Today I added some wedding vintage lace to two corners of a silkribbon art design that I had not decided on quite how to finish.  I truly don't want it to be a pillow as they have a habit of being scrunched unless they are on the long ottoman at the end of the hall.

I have also set aside some gorgeous silk to work two more designs up, one in a pastel grey and one in a vintage muted green.

I am also wandering back to my pink and beige and lace stages.

I have also finished the applique on five of the blocks from the My Tweets quilt from Erin Russek and have two more nearing the stage where they will be appliqued down as well

I did finish her Miss Kelly and love it, now to find the time to hand quilt, and share the pictures.

Have a great day ................not to mention, I have been designing and using puppy pads as my little pomeranian is having accident with his bladder so a belly band was needed and rather than purchase these have designed my own version for little puppies.
Stitch your dreams.

Pictures as promised

Took some quick pictures of the five little quilts that I did on the machine and am sharing here..........the pattern is below.

Machine Quilting

Asked a year ago about machine quilting and I definitely would have said no, but as of two days ago., I have designed and finished quilting, but now waiting for binding a total of four toddler quilts.

Such a simple procedure done out of necessity as my dd was using my beautiful wall quilts as covers for her childcare children and my fears were of spilling and colouring so I knew there was room for change.  I will share my quick patterns and post pictures under the name of Pay it Forward Quilts.

Pay I Forward Quilts:-

Materials
Thread
1/2 metre of centre fabric
1/2 metre of border fabric
1 metre of backing fabric
1 metre of low loft quilt batting.
large saftey pins.

Wash and press all fabrics.

Cut feature fabric 30.5 x 38.5 inches.
Cut borders (1) top - 30.5 x 3.5 bottom 30.5  x 3.5

Cut Backing at least two inches bigger on all four sides lay riht side up on table.
Cut backing same size and smooth over backing.

Lay quilt on top two inches in from the sids and two inches down from the top.  Spread out evenly, and start pinning from the top down working out an wrinkles as you go.
Cut borders      side- 44.5 x 3.5 (2) add sides last

I now have worked both with and without  a walking foot and must admit on the last two the walking foot worked much better as the room was so humid the quilt did not want to slide evenly under the pressure foot.  Next time I will sprinkle a bit of powder over the surface to assist with sliding.

I set my machine to 4.5 stitches and eye stitched straight lines down the full length of the quilt.  I then quilted all around the inside border and then followed with quilting down the outside edges.  They are now ready for binding so I will cut strips two inches wide and join and double fold and attached all around each quilt, mitre corners and sew down, and then share pictures with you.

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I made one earlier for a nursing home and it was all handwork and I loved doing it as it was a wall quilt.

I did a second " Precious Moments " quilt panel with lace and ribbons and machine quilted this one as it will be washed a lot and donate this to the children's section of the nursing home.

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Started to also work on my winter caps again............must also take more pictures..........watching tv and crocheting I have made three adult and two children's caps.............I also have one child's size four apple pullover in the basket waiting to be finished.

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Once these are out of the way I will start my heirloom sewing gifts for Christmas and share

Have a great day.

Second Mini wall block.

This one has some tatting and speciality stitches as well as the initial.

This one has butterflies in organza, different stitches and all have the cherubs

This one has a new technique for initials as well as for working the butterflies in flight.

This shows the actual size of around eight inches and how puffy they truly are.

This is a little prayer pouch that I have made and set aside for now.  It was actually created some time ago, and just found it for the camera.

This is a second prayer pouch and it shows both the front and the back and the individualism of each one, no two are the same.

This is an 8 x about 14 inch block that I have finished stitching and want to get a frill added to and a pillow and back done before Christmas.  I am trying to work in tone on tone with a touch of pink.  I did not want to add any crazy quilting stitches at this time.  Love the antiqued lace, rusched ribbons and the double satin bows.

Sharing Time

This is a simple memory wall hanger that I have made for each of my sister's for Christmas.  The lovely lady in the picture is our ' mom '.  She was a beautiful lady and so missed.  The girls have complimented me on my framed memory piece on my wall so I thought I would surprise them with one of their own this year.

They all use the same roses and leaves, but all others techniques are different, they all have adaptions and the tassel at the bottom is a large double looped bow with a puffy goldtoned heart hanging from it..... the hanger at the top is made of satin ribbon.  Each one has their own initials embroidered onto them and done in colours I hope they will treasure.

Memory hangings for Christmas

Since my last post I have decided to downsize from the larger block to smaller ones that are turning out adorable.  I am impressed with how well the images have turned out and taken on a life of their own.  I did finish them all yesterday and here is a sample that was on my camera of one that I first started with until I misplaced my camera.

Motivation is starting.

     I took yesterday to piece a large fourteen inch square block with tone on tone in shades of beige to soft pastel browns.  I actually got to start some stitching on it as well and will take a picture and share before I work any further on the block today.  I needed an inspiration and chose to jump from making journal covers as gifts to large pictures and now pillows.  All  in one afternoon.

    As this blog is so full of bits of everything I am debating creating another one to share my ways of making items from start to finish, in particular pieced, embroidered , beaded, brazilian , and silk ribbon embroidery, along with my own ' prayer pouches ' , that I design and share.

Motivating myself with a personal challenge.

     I sat down with some silk fabrics and a large square and challenged myself to at least piece the block, as I have not been stitching as much as I would like to lately.  I wanted to start some early special surprise presents for family and friends and could not seem to stop from being overwhelmed, by my sewing room.

     I must admit there is a lot going on in there.  Between sane quilts, sane projects, silkribbon work and beadwork, not to mention embroidery in different stages it was time to take the plunge.  I lost and the room won. 

     I hope to not admit to defeat and will take the time to straighten out the room so that I can stitch in comfort in the fresh breezes of day.  Let's see what tomorrow brings.

Memory picture for a friend - original

Over the years my friend has sent me beautiful pieces of fabric, treasures of lace and beads and also shared her love of life and travel.  I have combined this in an anniversary picture and sent to her as a gift from my heart to remember those good times with.  It was a very rewarding project to work on.

Summer has arrived.

Summer has arrived and along with it comes some finished projects, which I have marked as ' done ' on my blog.

I must admit that I took a long break from writing and have done some serious cleaning out and up of projects that were started and never finished.

I am proud to say my angel bluework wall quilt is hanigng proudly on my wall and will share pics of this later on in the week.

I also have almost finished one more thread crocheted long christening gown, and it will be added to my page shortly., and , of course, have two more in the works.  I love to crochet and have done some small roses etc. for my quilting both sane and crazy.

Winter scenescape again.

     With another winter weekend coming up and the snowing falling it will give me time to finish some other items that are on my to finish in January list.  I have done some adult Inn from the cold crochet caps, as well as preemie caps, finished the two quilts, and done a blanket.  I have also almost finished a cuddle sack for a baby with a hood, and did finally finish a baby set, but it left the house before it could be photographed, as dd needed a shower gift.

     This seems like one of those weekends where I just want to curl up and read and put the rest of the world away, but won't do that.  I have to make room to set up my knitting frame and take some sweaters off to be ribbed and finished for next Christmas, and in this way solve two problems at the same time,tooooo much yarn in one weight, and presents ahead.

     I promise to share pics of the quilts and baby items soon, they are silent quilts so will wait until they are received.

Kick Butt List

     On encouragement from a group of on-line friends I have started to participate in a Kick Butt list that almost forces you to find the pleasure you once did on a project and get it finished.

     The last few days I have spent time on a cross stitched sampler I had set aside as not interesting enough, but it was at the time and is now.

     I have put a rug I started about ten years ago at least back into the beautiful adjustable hoop stand that I received as a gift and spent the afternoon in front of the living room window watching the birds and nature on our country lane.

     I have spent the last few nights finishing one prayer quilt that I had to make a decision on, it was not overdue, just needing a decision and I made it.  I am so pleased with how it went together and I chose to use a small batt and bead each bordered block into place by hand.  A lot of beading and  I hope to finish the beadwork this evening and then pick up a fabric for the backing.  Then I move onto prayer quilt number two and will make two missing blocks and finish this one in a similar manner.  The beads on black are amazingly beautiful and make each block a little masterpiece.  I will share some pics when they are finished.

     I have to look at my list on my blog and pick a couple of fast finishes in order to add something new to my list.  Hope this inspires others to move forward on projects they have set aside.  My philosophy is either finish it or give it to someone who will.

Happy New Year

Just dropping in to wish all a wonderful New Year.  I have some mini plans on the back burner to bring to the front and hope to finish a lot of little items that I did not get finished thus far this year.

I did get my quota of hats for the homeless done as well as baby sets , scarves, chemo caps etc. for the local hospital and I feel good inside for having achieved this.

I must admit that I have a list of things I have wanted to finish and in order to do someof the new things I want to do this year have to do two lists, one to finish and one to reward with a new project.

I will post my new system of time management before the first of the year.

Making Memories Block Two

Making Memories Block Two, shades of pink and blue.

Making Memories Block One

Making Memories is a quilt block that is going to Leslie Urhlich of Colorado who kindly donates her time and talent to making quilts for those less fortunate and to aid special causes, this one is very dear to all o four hearts ' cancer ' and is made all with wedding dress materials.  I have a second block that I do as well and this is for my mom who lost her battle at the age of 49.  God bless you mom, I do every day.

DYOB Faces 2 - Colleen's Block

Having finished working on Colleen's block, I fell let down as I wish I had another one to work on, I love this type of work and have headed my cq work off in another direction after all.

I used an antique piece of vintage lace aged naturally at the corners and attached the face cab, which I must admit I love.

I then hand gathered about four inch wide silk/satin fabric and added the rusched collar.  Following this I embellished with mostly earth items and then decided when I was finished it was time for it to take on a new life of it's own and glisten with gold and emerge from it's cocoon.

This block felt so much like " Mother Earth ", when I worked on it, that it was so hard to put dazzling beads on it until I realized the earth is filled with jewels.  I did not add silk ribbon to this one just ran a ribbon wave of burgundy double sided satin and couched it down.  The butterfly is from the scrap booking section and is three dimensional.  I have hand stitched the butterfly down and it does give the block a bit of colour.

Kimono 2010

     Finally the Kimono Quilt is finished and I am pleased.  I have visions of another one in my head and will have to plan it out carefully as I will carry it further than I did on this one.  I loved the actual piecing and final constructing of the blocks and must admit that I discovered a nice way to border a quilt and have it hold it's shape at the same time.

     I hand basted as shown below, then decided to cut the borders back to 2.5" and basted them down. I then added a braided upholstery trim to the front, carried it to the back and tacked it down.  It makes a very nice finishing edge.  I did the same for the kimono collar.

     I am setting aside the ribbons and fabrics that I had intended to use to skirt this one for a future quilt along with some drawings, but must finish some more UFOs that are as large as this and need to be done.

Silkribbon Pillow with design ideas for first sashing on kimono quilt.

On the sides of the above quilt I had wanted to add some dimensional flowers and wanted to audition some floral sprays that I felt would work.

I also find that rather than wasting the thread and fabric that a large gorgeous pillow could result if I were fortunate enough to carry the design through, as it was one I had wanted to try for some time.  It is not an orginal.

I am very pleased with the coloour of the background, the tlace and the threads  as well as the silk ribbon used in the design.

I will use this design with a sweeping type of design down the sides of the kimono quilt in the style of chery and peach blossoms to accent the quilt, just not sure how much of it to work, and if I will fill inthe background with a darker silk or not, but I have won in two ways I have a pillow that will be about eighteen inches squared, to be edged with braid and have a large flouce and done the block of my dreams from a pattern by a desugber in an issue of Embroidery and Cross Stitch.

Victorian Boquet Of roses and daisies.

This is an original design using colours from a kit that I received from Ribbonsmyth.  It was for a basket of flowers and I changed it to meet my own personal design as I love big boquets, baby's breath, fern and beads.  The little butterfly passed his audition and will stay.  this will be a frilly pillow aboout twele inches square with a double ruffle of lace and fabric.