2012 Free Motion Challenge - January

I like Free motion quilting, and I like to practice as much as I can, which, unfortunately, isn't always as much as I would like!  The first month of SewCalGal's 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge is done.  Frances Moore provided a couple of tutorials as well as some tips - it was a great first month, and I am looking forward to the next 11 months with great anticipation.
Here are my practice pieces for the month of January:

first practice piece

I get really bored, really fast just working on quilt sandwiches, so I always try to have a donation quilt handy to do my practicing on.

in progress

quilting done

Frances showed us a variation on this leafy design which incorporated a swirl - I really liked the look of this one as well, and just happened to have another baby quilt needing something in a border - perfect!

swirly leaf - fancy heart!

Thank you Frances!  Now, to get all set for Diane Gaudynski and her feather plumes!


Today, taking a cue from Leah Day's Free Motion quilt a long, I decided to practice my straight line free motion quilting - no matter how many swirls and feathers you do, you still need to be able to follow a line, and Stitch in the Ditch (SID), so I finished SID the squares on the loooooong runner, and did some straight line quilting, all FMQ.  Definitely a slower go than quilting leaves and feathers, but I'm very happy with how it has come out.  I used my hera marker to mark a guide line, and then used the side of the hopping foot to space my lines.

SID & Straight line FMQ

I think it still needs more quilting if it's going to be used as a table runner.  Maybe next month will provide some more inspiration!


Happy quilting!

where has the time gone?

Did you realize that it is going to be February next week?  I better get moving - so far I've only had one finish this year, that was my Tangled Textiles challenge posted about here and here.  I do have several projects in the works, one that I talked about last post that I can't show, but I'm still busy hand appliqueing away.
Still have to do the binding on this one, but maybe I'll get that on later tonight.  But for some new pictures, here are two other projects I've been working on - thanks to the VMQG sew in on Sunday, I made progress on both of them.

pieced and ready to sandwich and quilt

progress on my charm square runner - sandwiched and have started to quilt it

Nothing fancy or flashy this week, but good steady progress.  Linking up to The Needle and Thread Network this week.

Happy quilting!

A quiet week

I'm still having some problems keeping the mojo going, but it is improving.  Maybe the weather this time of year has something to do with it?  The cold and snow has now been replaced by wind, rain and grey, grey and more grey. Definitely not inspiring.
I was busy this week, but unfortunately, I can't show you what took up most of my time.  Hand applique on a round robin quilt.  Took me forever to figure out what I was going to do, and even longer to now applique it.  My usual raw edge method just wasn't appropriate this time round.  Sorry no peeks as the owner of this quilt just might pop in, and she is not to see it yet!  (Hi Brigitte!)
But, yesterday I finally said enough handwork, and setup to practice some FMQ on a donation quilt.  Some more practice of the January tutorial for Sew Cal Gal's 2012 Free Motion quilting challenge design - this time the leaves with a swirl, compliments of Frances Moore, done in the border.

Today, I'm off for an afternoon of sewing with my pal's from the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild.  Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Happy quilting!

Up Up and Away!

Today is reveal day for our fourth challenge pieces over at the Tangled Textiles blog.  Our theme was "look up" - this is another theme that can result in a lot of different interpretations, so our results should be fun.  Check in regularly so you don't miss anything.
Several years ago we were vacationing in New Brunswick.  We arrived late at night to our hotel in Moncton -  about 1:30 am.  My DH had heard that there was a hot air balloon festival going on in Sussex, with the final day being the next day.  So, after very little sleep, we were up and on the road far too early.  As DH wanted to catch the balloons on lift off, he wasn't even letting me stop at Tim's for a coffee!
Luckily, it turned into a beautiful clear sunny day, and we made it in time.  One of the pictures my DH took was this one, which I have always wanted to try to capture in cloth.

photograph by K Griffiths, used with permission

This challenge gave me the opportunity to do just that, as we were definitely looking up!
Here is my progress, in photographs (my photos aren't nearly as interesting as my husband's!)
The plan:

Main piecing complete

progress shots

piecing and applique complete

trimming away the excess batting

doing the quilting

the basket

and here it is,

Up Up and Away

Don't forget to check out the other reveals!


(I'm also linking up to Amy's One Thing, One Week Challenge this week - go check out some other finishes here)

Happy quilting!

a little late

but I just had to pass on that my Sunny Days 2 quilt was shown on Sew, Mama, Sew a couple of days ago!  I was thrilled! 
Click here for the post. Deborah Moebes of Whipstitch  and the author of "Stitch by Stitch: Learning to Sew One Project at a Time" included it as one of her loves - thank you Deborah!

(check here and here for the making of this quilt)

Sew, Mama,Sew has been running a series on Reflections + Predictions, and there has been lots of inspiration appearing daily, as well as interviews with some very well known folks! Go check it out!


Happy quilting!

let the fun begin!

January 1, 2012 - I can't believe how quickly it arrived!  I do hope that 2012 doesn't fly past as quickly as 2011 did - I still am looking over my shoulder and going "huh? - how'd that happen?"
Let's see - one day down, and I can say I've not added anything to my stash!  In fact I used a bit of it it!



Currently on my design wall - This is a leaders and enders project - eventually, it will become a quilt of some sort - still in the planning stages as to what it will actually look like and how big it will become.  The beauty of this piecing is it just happens while you are working on something else, and before you know it, you've pieced together enough blocks to create another top!  For those of you unfamiliar with leaders and enders, it is a method you can use when chain piecing to limit the amount of thread wastage between piecing sections, and to keep your threads all nice and neat at the beginning of each section.  I went through my scraps and cut a pile of 2 1/2" squares, roughly sorted dark, medium and light.  I match a dark with a medium or light, and start my stitching on those to control the threads (leaders).  After stitching my project pieces, I finish off by stitching onto another pair of squares (enders).  (I try to always go for some contrast with my blocks, but don't put too much thought into it.  After all, it is all just scraps!)  Then just snip my threads and take my project to the pressing table.  The enders then become the leaders for the next set.  I keep my needle in the down position, and I always have fabric under the needle and my threads controlled.  While I am currently doing it with squares, you can do hsts or anything that you want as a leaders and enders, although some will require more prep and planning!


Also on the design wall is this bit of play - one of my goals this year is to do a few more preemie donation quilts.  I could just cut up big blocks and stitch them together and create a quilt a little faster, but I like to use these small pieces (36" square) quilts to do some experimenting, and definitely as practice pieces for my FMQ.  The extra time it takes to create something a little different isn't that much, and it is fun to play!  This one is currently measuring about 30" square, so I am planning a couple more borders, but then look at the space where I can quilt the heck out of it! 

Speaking of quilting - the first tutorial was posted in SewCalGal's 2012 Freemotion Quilting challenge yesterday.  It was the perfect design to use on another little quilt I had made a couple of days ago. After a little bit of play on a practice sandwich, I switched to the preemie quilt and off I went!  I love the way it has turned out!

 



This quilt was made using a charm pack and a Candy Bar - quick and easy and uses up a bit more of my stash!  Binding is on, just a bit of hand sewing tonight to finish it off.


Still waiting to be quilted - the pinwheel quilt I showed yesterday- I think I'll be practicing some feathers on it.  I will also be pulling out some of my UFOs and working them into the mix, too.  Some of them might be cut down and become multiple projects - we'll see.


Other projects that are really starting to get pushy - my Tangled Textiles challenge that is due January 15 - better get busy on that one! And we're doing a Mentors workshop at the BMQG - I've got to get my sample done for this Friday's meeting, so it looks like the FMQ fun will have to wait a few days!


Happy quilting!
Janet

Welcome 2012!

Happy New Year everyone!  We ushered the new year in nice and quietly around here - just they way I like it!  Hope you got to enjoy it in your favourite way, too!


Even though I had high hopes yesterday of actually getting another 2011 finish done before the clock ran out, it was not to be.

Drop in was a good time chatting and visiting, with not so much sewing taking place!  Today, well maybe I'll start the year off with a first finish?  We'll see!


My focus in 2011 was to work on my FMQ - I think I had a successful year, and look forward to doing even more practice this year, and with SewCalGal's 2012 FMQ Challenge to keep me going, I am already anticipating a good year!  A big goal for me this year is to do a wholecloth quilt - and have it ready for the Blue Mountain Quilter's Guild quilt show this October.  I have also committed (should be committed?) to working out of my stash and trying to whittle it down a little.  Hopefully, there will be some string quilts and scrap quilts making an appearance this year!  I joined a Stashbusters group over on the MQResource site to keep me going on this one!


Here's just a little of what I accomplished in 2011 - see my sidebar for a more complete listing, if you are interested!

A few of my favourite 2011 finishes

Not included in this mosaic are any of my Tangled Textiles Challenge pieces, or any postcards for the 4x6er's group, as well as a variety of smaller projects completed for swaps or just because!


I am looking forward to a productive and fun 2012 - I hope you are too!


Happy quilting!


Linking up to Fresh Sewing Day over at Lily's Quilts!