Starting a series

ooohhh - does this mean I'm becoming a "serious quilter"?  lol!

After trying a new method to finish my little Sunny Days quilt - I faced it rather than putting a binding on, following this lovely little tutorial over at Serendipity Patchwork, I decided that I had so much fun, I wanted to do it again! I really like how it turned out but what if....???? 

...this time starting with some colour and raw edge applique.

I echo quilted the sun rays, which ended up with a little curved cross hatching, and then I decided I liked the look of the McTavishing I did on the original one, plus I loved the Sulky holoshimmer sliver that I used in the sun, so I combined them for one of the sun swirls.

I'm liking it so far!

I've still got my 4x6ers Building postcard theme and my Tangled Textiles Games theme on my mind, as well as my Mini QT swap that I'm still tossing around ideas on, but nothing is happening there yet, so I figure this has been a great way to fill my time, and keep the creative juices flowing!

Hope you weekend is a fun filled quilting good time!

Happy quilting!

FMQ Challenge and Kitchen Goodies swap

So far I've been getting at least a little bit of quilting in everyday for the FMQ Challenge.  I have to say my results are pretty up and down!
After a very successful day on Saturday, I've either not had a lot of time, or have just not been able to get it the grove to quilt, so I don;t have a lot to show for it.  My practise piece is slowly progressing, but I've decided that it is best suited for continuous curve quilting, so it's kind of dull going at this point.  I will try out a few fills once I get the main stars all donem so that should create some more interest.  Here's some shots of my progress to date.



Day 1



Day 3 - tried some straight line fills and some curved cross hatching

Day 4 - variations on continuous curves

Day 5 - Was so not getting in the groove - so just played

Day 6 - felt better, but no time - a little more continuous curves

Day 2 was covered off in this post, and was my most successful day so far!

I did get my Kitchen Goodies swap sent and it has been received, here's what I put together for Paula - a set of potholders with matching tea towels.



and here's what I got from Anna - I really cute chicken tea cozy, some potholders, reuseable saran wrap and tea - I was spoiled!

Isn't this tea cozy cute?

Something that was really cool with this swap - I was making for someone that I knew from the VMQG, and unbeknowst to me, someone else at the guild was making for me!  This was an international swap, hosted by another VMQG member Sonja Callaghan aka artisania - just what are the chances of that?  You should pop over and visit Sonja - she designs some really cool paper piecing patterns, and has recently started to appear in several different publications!   Way to go Sonja!

Happy quilting!



Long Beach, BC
picture by Keith Griffiths

 Happy quilting!

It was a beautiful day!

The sun finally made an appearance today and it was warm!  I was going to continue to work on my row robin quilt - quilting it for the FMQ Challenge, but the sun convinced me to do something else. 

I've had this idea in the back of my head for quite some time - ever since I saw this quilt that Emma did, and have enjoyed watching various artists create zentangles,.  Now I'm no doodler, but I find them really intriguing, so I thought I would try out this idea I've had.
It started with a sketch

sorry about the poor quality of the pic

which I transferred to my fabric, selected my threads, and got started.

Various threads later, the sun was still looking a little pale,

so I pulled out my holographic gold sliver. 

That adds some nice sparkle! 

Time to work on the sky!

While I wasn't having any issues as I was quilting the sun, even with the sliver, the sky thread keeps giving me grief!  Several needles and re-threading later, this is where I've gotten too.  Time to call it a day!

Not sure what the weather will bring tomorrow, but I'm going to a VMQG sew in, so I'll be quite content!


Happy quilting!

It's a Hoot baby quilt

machine applied binding, a photo by What Comes Next on Flickr.

got it all finished up on Friday at the retreat, just need to add a label today, and it will be delivered to it's new owner Tuesday

got my
"lovely" toes in there!

these swirls went really quickly!

love the overall texture

Happy quilting!

Wow!

Take a look at this!
My just finished, mailed and received DQS10 has been featured on Modern Day Quilts! 

I feel honoured to be included in this group of quilts, thank you Heather!




Happy quilting!

Progress is being made!

Cruiser quilt, a photo by What Comes Next on Flickr.

I can strike the donation quilt off my list - managed to get it quilted, bound and washed yesterday afternoon.  FMQ continuous lines through the blocks - quick and effective for covering large ares quickly.


  And then I got started on the baby quilt - a Disappearing 9 patch, made using the charm pack of It's a Hoot, I won from Kaelin over at The Plaid Scottie.  Added a few extras from my stash, and got all the blocks done, and laid out.  I'll look at them for a while, but will have it quilted and bound by the end of the weekend.


I love it when things come together!  And a three day sewing retreat this weekend - wahoo!

And today I had my amazing friend Laurraine from Patchwork Pottery came over, and she was helping me re-organize my sewing space!  I love it!  Still sorting and organizing my fabrics, and no pictures right now, but I have floor - and room for my design wall!  Yayyy!

Happy quilting!

DQS10 Finished and mailed

DQS10 Finished and mailed, a photo by What Comes Next on Flickr.

It is on its way! While it changed from my original plan, I love how it turned out in the end, and do hope my partner enjoys it, too!

Now, on to my Kitchen Goodies swap - it is time to get serious about that one as time is running low!
Then I've got my 4x6ers postcard group - theme for the next round is buildings, and also my first Tangled Textiles, theme - Games - I've got a few ideas, nothing concrete yet, and last but not least, my QT Swap where the theme is Circles and Curves. I've got my sketch all done up for that one!

Oh, I guess I better not forget the donation quilt I'm working on, the baby quilt I need to start and finish by the 20th, and the wedding quilt!  Yikes!

What comes next for you?

Happy quilting!

Goodbye dear friend





Chico



Our Best Dog at our wedding

We miss you buddy!

Spring Cleanup!

I've been doing a little spring spruce up to my blog - what do you think?  Now off to tackle my sewing space!

Happy quilting!

Spring Is In The Air

Spring IITA, a photo by What Comes Next on Flickr.

I finished the binding on this one two nights ago and handed it in last night at guild, It is a donation quilt for a local Hospice. The blocks all came from my scrap bag, and the cotton linen blend border fabric and gingham backing was from my stash. Very simple straight line quilting, with random spacing, but direction following the piecing in the blocks.