Confirmation that I'm a geek

(As if you needed it.)

I sent this mini quilt off to a friend last week.  It is a Patchwork Death Star.




The inspiration for it started when my friend, Blair, sent me this most fabulous embroidery hoop.




Perhaps, more accurately, it started much earlier when we started talking about how smooth Lando Calrissian is.  Once it was determined that we were both Star Wars fans, the pins and tags just kept flying.  She is super sweet and talented so she made me that hoop of awesomeness up above.

It is really, really hard to craft for awesome crafters.  It took me a l-o-n-g time to decide what my theme would be.  And then I was stuck on making the Death Star all in florals.  It turns out that I didn't have enough small scale florals for my idea and getting the right value changes was going to be impossible.  But I have gray fabric up the wazoo.  Once I decided to do the pattern with English paper piecing things went pretty smoothly.  Some advice from Melissa and Jessie helped, too.

I really didn't think that there would be many people who would want to make a Patchwork Death Star of their very own.  But the requests for a pattern have been pretty insistent.  I still need to finalize how to print the pattern out, but I hope to have it up tomorrow. 

Have you ever shown your geeky side in your quilting?

March Recap

Two posts in two days may sound a little too crazy, but here goes nothin'...

In March:

I KNIT A SWEATER!  I don't mean to holler but I LOVE it.  I really really really do.  It isn't finished in this picture but you have to believe me that it is done, ends weaved in, blocked, and I wear it in all of its squishy, yummy, colorful glory.  I have a big crush...on my own sweater.  (Now I just need to gather the courage to take a picture of me wearing it.)  The pattern is Practically and is available on ravelry. 




I finished my last bee block for the Ringo Pie Bee and this one was for Penny (sewtakeahike) who was the one that taught me how to design my own bee blocks in the first place.   No pressure or anything.  I am very happy with how this one turned out.  I used a crapton of different techniques on it.  That seems to be my thing.  My little odd person niche in the world is to use a crazy number of techniques in order to realize the vision of the block in my head.  And that works for me.




We've been working a lot in our new community garden plot on warm days

and then we get a few more snow days.




I'm trying out sewing hexies by machine.  There is a big plan in the works for this piece!




And I've had a few secret gift projects up my sleeve this month.  My first gift reveal gets it own post...very, very soon. 

Number 5

Yup.  This is blog post number five for 2014.  (Henry likes counting in Spanish so he would say, cinco).
I could apologize for my absence, but I won't.  This is a place I come to with things that have inspired me and stories that I want to share.  And I have no regrets for how I've spent my time so far this year.

But how do I catch up to the current inspiration?  Thankfully flickr and IG remind me.

I wove a scarf on my loom.  I'm delighted that I found a good place for two of my favorite stash yarns and super duper glad that a good friend was willing to give this scarf a home.




I gave up knitting one sweater.  But selling the yarn and some hoarded fabric allowed me to buy...




...some Madelinetosh yarn to knit another sweater.




I had to rip that sweater, too.  But when I love a yarn that much, I don't mind knitting it all over again.




We took a road trip with the boy...to Wisconsin...in February...with the added fun of a polar vortex. We had a great time on our trip, but I swear that we should meet up with my family in a warmer locale next time.




While in Green Bay, I helped my mom quilt her Farmer's Wife quilt.  It was a huge job but definitely satisfying.




Lastly, I finished some ancient bee blocks.  I feel like ancient is the primary adjective I use when describing bee blocks here.  I think I need to keep up on my bee block calendar a wee bit more for the rest of 2014.  Do you agree?





Whew!  That was all January and February.

Stay tuned for my next update.
I'm totally serious.  I will be back very soon.

2012...

...was a challenging year for me.  Henry's autism diagnosis, starting early childhood school, therapies, fixing up our house, moving to Maryland and then selling our house--whew!  It was a year of personal life growth for sure.

But, it was also the year of creative growth, too.  I feel lucky to be among such talented company in the Cocorico, Pastiche, and Ringo Pie Bees.  The monthly themes challenged me to my limits, but my sewing skills kept growing to match what I imagined for my design. 

You'll notice that these mosaics are a little thin for bees that I've been in all year.  I still owe 4 bee blocks for 2012.  Luckily my bee-mates are patient with me. 

This was also the year of the Farmer's Wife quilt. I wish I could say that I've finished it, but that is not the case. Maybe I can finish it by spring?

 I did a little knitting this year. Most of it was very tiny, but I do have the one big shawl to warm me up.

I finished a couple of quilts to cuddle up in, but I did gave them all away except for one (my AMH voile quilt is covering my lap as I type this (bottom right).

And, lastly, there are some other sewn items that I'm proud of from the year.




2012 was supposed to be the year of the finish.  I had nine items from 2011 that I wanted to complete.  Unfortunately I only finished of those nine!  So, I officially declare that 2013 will be the year of completion.  All projects from 2011 will be done this year as well as some from 2012.
Really.
I mean it this time. 

I'm grateful for this space to share my adventures in sewing.  Occasionally I need a space where I am a mom but I'm a person, a designer and a sewist first.  Thank you all for joining me over the last year.

Please, take a minute to tell me what you made this year that you are most proud of.  Do you have any specific plans for 2013?

Friendship Quilts Blog Hop

Diane of from blank pages... asked me to join in her blog hop.

The theme is to make any sewing or quilted item that looked like a friendship bracelet design.

So, I made this potholder for my friend, Tina.

I met Tina in college, when I was far past my friendship bracelet stage.  She is the type of friend that you can bring a "big question" to and she'll hear you out without giving any opinion.  She'll listen, ask clarifying questions and then, when you ask what she thinks, she'll quote what you said right back at you.  Do you have a friend like that?  I hope so, because someone with that skill is so valuable.  Tina doesn't push any agenda on me.  She leaves me to make my own decisions.  She makes me giggle at silly decisions I made in the past.  But the biggest thing is that she listens so well that I can hear myself think.

So, I made her this potholder.  She moved into her house last year and I made her a house potholder.  I guess I'm a single potholder kind of gal.  I just don't bother making the same design twice.  This time I used nearly all of the same fabrics as her first potholder and then I turned it into a friendship bracelet design.  Friendship bracelets are just lines and lines of pretty knots, so  I wanted that reflected in my block design.  each "knot" block on this potholder is 1x1.5".  I think the design would work better in a larger quilt project, so you may see this again.

But something you won't see again on this blog?

A picture of me from the 80's.  Diane specially requested photos as a throwback to the age of friendship bracelets.  How about the huge glasses and the pale pink henley sweater.  It makes me shudder....

To see more fun projects, stories of friends and 80's photos, check out the rest of the blog hop:

 September
3: Friendship Quilts Kick Off! at from blank pages...
4: Diane of from blank pages...
5: Whitney of The Peacock Tree
6: January T of Sew Sew Go
7: Melinda of Quirky Granola Girl

10: Courtney of Mon Petit Lyons
11: Jill of Made with Moxie
12: Danielle of Fresh off the Spool
13: Kelsey of Kelsey Sews
14: Kristy of Quiet Play

17: Marika of Live, Laugh, Love... Sew
18: Karen of Sew Well Maid
19: Rachael of imagine gnats
20: Katie of There & Back
21: Lori of Lori H. Designs
   - LINKY FOR YOUR PROJECTS OPENS

24: A SURPRISE LINKY PARTY OPENS!!! (You do NOT want to miss this one!)
25: Secret
26: Secret
27: Secret
28: Link up closes for projects
30: Suprise Linky closes

October 1st: at from blank pages...  Judges picks and random drawing for the rest of the prizes,

Bee blocks update

Leila, in the Ringo Pie Bee, asked for the block theme of Favorites for the month of September.  She was adding these blocks to her sampler quilt of 6" blocks, so, of course, I thought of my favorite Farmer's Wife block pattern, #53 Jackknife.

I also made her the block that I did the recent tutorial for, my Farming Duo block.

Kylie, in the Cocorico Bee, asked for the block them of Best of the British for September.  I immediately knew I wanted to make a London phone booth block.

I'm still working on some blocks with themes of Gypsy/Bohemian, Grocery Store and Magnum P.I. So stay tuned.

By the way, what is the craziest quilt theme that you've ever made a block for?  (Magnum P.I. has to be my choice, but I know that Tamiko is going to rock that quilt.)

Curvy

I tried sewing clothing for myself a couple of times but not since high school.  I determined way back then that quilting was more my style.  I liked sewing things flat, square and simple right angles.  Curves and 3D sewing were just was not my thing.

Well, after my bee block sewing this week...

Rex Ray themed block for Krista, about 11x15", inspiration source

50's housewife themed block for Leila,  6 ½" square

... I think I'm ready to start tackling some clothing for myself. 

What do you think?  Do you like sewing clothing or do you stick to quilts?

Summer

I have not disappeared off the edge of the Earth.  It is just full-on summer here, complete with heat and visitors and water play.

But there has been plenty of sewing, too.  Here is the landscape themed block for Lucinda in the Pastiche Bee.

I have two more bee blocks in process as well as a tutorial coming up soon.  And, of course, there is lots of sandbox play, splashing in the pool and one person in the household is practicing his tricycle!  I hope you are enjoying the season no matter which hemisphere you are on.

The (non traditional) traditional house block

Kerry's theme for the month of May in the Ringo Pie bee was traditional house blocks pieced with an emphasis on using our stash creatively.  I drew up this block using the top right house in this photo.  And then I picked colors based on the flower fabric in the "front yard".  I think it ended up decidedly nontraditional.  I hope that works for her.  If not, this block has grown on me and I won't complain if I make her another one and keep this block.  I particularly like the architectural drawings on the siding of the house.  I'd love it if my own front yard had such big flowers, too.

Scissors

Have I ever mentioned here that I was invited to join the Ringo Pie Bee? When I got the invite back in November I actually squealed and jumped up and down---more than twice (but I won't admit how many more). Ringo Pie is full of some of the most talented block design and paper piecing ladies on the web.  The first round folks wanted a break so we began again in March.  And...

...then I promptly got too nervous to make Ayumi's block.

So now it is June and I'm finally finished with one block for my dream bee.

Amber requested sewing themed blocks.  After just seeing all of the lovely designs to come out of the Sew Out Loud group, I wasn't sure where to start.  I had considered making my design for Sew Out Loud, but I wanted Amber to get a new design from me.  Then late last week I had a brainstorm while using these scissors that have been handed down enough times that I don't know who the original owner was.  They are heavy and sharp and huge and I don't often grab them, but they feel so good in my hand.

I drew the design on June 8th.  I picked fabrics on the 10th and finished the block yesterday.  When the right inspiration strikes, I can move mountains!

I used a stamp for the screw and I did some thread sketching around the top blade of the scissors to differentiate it from the background.  There are a few curved seams and y-seams thrown in there for good measure.

I was SO nervous to make my first block for this bee.  Now that I've finished it I love it so much.  I've already warned Amber that it may take a few days to find the heart to put it in an envelope.  I really love this block and I wish it was staying here.

What is your favorite thing that you've made and then given it away?

Making progress

I'm behind on replies to comments, but be assured that I appreciate each and every one of them.  In fact, I think they have motivated me to finishing a few more projects that have been sitting on my to do list.

Here is my Pastiche Bee block for March.  Suzanne is a teacher and wanted vintage school and office supply blocks.  She specifically mentioned wanting a block with her glasses frames.  She thinks they look school marm-ish but I think they look cool.  It took me forever to decide how I wanted to do the background for the glasses on her block.  but as soon as I settled on piecing hexies for the background, the block was done in three days.

And Charise, in the Cocorico Bee, wants house blocks.  I had to start with the windows because I love old window panes.  In high school I spent a summer working at a historical park stripping and repainting the old buildings.  I didn't enjoy all of the detailed woodwork around the windows then--picture 90 degrees in the sun, wearing a gas mask and using a heat gun to strip the old lead paint off of the woodwork.  But I old windows and woodwork now.  My favorite thing is to be inside an old building and looking through the glass to see the ripples and flow and how that changes your view of the outside world. 

Well, I'm off to plan and start a few more bee blocks that I'm behind on. Thank you for the supportive comments lately.  They were just the kick in the pants that I needed. :)

Sew Out Loud Quilt Along--Heirloom

I am in three or four virtual quilting bees at any time, I participate in a few swaps, and I have at least two or three quilt gifts in the process.  I've noticed that when making bee blocks, gifts or swap projects that I come up with a fabric combination I love love love and then I have to send it off in the mail to someone else.  I usually don't want or need a full quilt out of that fabric combination, but I still want a little piece of it to save for myself.  So, I designed the Heirloom block for the Sew Out Loud quilt along.




Can you imagine a quilt made of these blocks with dates and quilt recipients? Or one block made with baby fabrics framed and embroidered with the baby's name and date of birth and then framed on the wall?


The Fat Quarter Shop generously donated fabrics for this quilt along.



The fabrics in this photo are available at the Fat Quarter Shop.

Moda Bella Solids
Blueberry Crumb Cake by Blackbird Designs in Sky Blue Sampler
Hometown by Moda in Town News in Cream
Sketch by Timeless Treasures in Lime (Lime isn't available at the Fat Quarter Shop at this time, but they have many other colors of Sketch)

These fabrics are from my stash and the last fabric is an import from Japan and may be hard to find.

Weekends by Erin McMorris in Hopscotch Lime
Innocent Crush by Anna Maria Horner Maybe in Indigo
Sewing Pattern Pieces by Suzuko Koseki in pink (color B)

The first three fabrics were just released but are flying off the shelves.  The last one in this photo is only available in Australia . 

Flea Market Fancy reprint gray seeds, green seeds and pink seeds
DS Quilts print from Denyse Schmidt's Winding Road collection, Australia only print.

To start your own heirloom block, print the template. Download it here.  The patchwork portion of this block is made up of 83 scraps approximately 2x2".  



Cut out the patchwork portion of the template.

Cut the template into the lettered strips.

Arrange your little squares into the pattern you prefer.

Use paper piecing technique to piece the strips, ironing after each seam and trimming seam allowances.




Here is an example of how to do the teeny, tiny pieces at the end of a strip.  First choose the fabrics.

Then flip the fabrics so the wrong side of the fabric is against the wrong side of the pattern.  Leave a seam allowance and stitch along the printed line.

Iron fabrics open.  Trim the excess with 1/4" seam allowance around all sides.

Here is the finished J strip.

The H strip before trimming.

And after trimming.

Once the strip is pieced, I like to starch it heavily.  Then trim the edges 1/4" bigger than the template.

To sew the strips together, match the seams but do not nest the seams.  Instead, place your pin through the fabric at the intersection of the paper and the seam.

Poke through to the seam on the other side.  Pin each intersection this way.

Then carefully stitch right next to the paper line.




Remove the pins and the paper and iron seam open.

Here is another example of the pins from the front.

And the back.

When all of the strips are together in your mini quilt, then add binding piece 1, followed by binding piece 2. Then add background piece 3 followed by background piece 4.

Embroider a "thread" line coming from the quilt.



You could embroider the needle itself. Instead, I carved a stamp out of an eraser and stamped my needle on with fabric ink.


Here are some great tutorials for making your own stamps.





If you have any questions about the tutorial, please post them in the Sew Out Loud group on flickr. That way we can all read the questions and answers and learn from each other.

Happy sewing to you!!