More FMQ ...

I am still working on the FMQ with Leah Day and I think I am getting a hang of things.  Leah's quadrant concept is quite logical and it gives the randomness of stippling a direction of sorts.  From the front of a busy pieced quilt you can't tell that it was worked in rows but from a solid back it's only slightly easier to figure that out.

Christmas Quilt.  Designer: Cheri Payne

I completed Lori's QAL Pink Lemonade top.  I don't know when I'll get to quilting it as I want to zoom into some sewing, at least till end of February.  I don't usually work with such bright colours but I bet the antique quilt was once this bright too.

Pink Lemonade. Size:20" x 26 1/2"

Just Takes 2 - Jan 15th

The house block was a royal pain, but it'll have to do!

An old lap size quilt top that needs to get quilted.  This was one of my early largish quilts that I pieced.  I didn't know about the importance of stitch length then.  I had to hand stitch all the seams tight before quilting further on this baby ... sigh.  Straight line machine quilting for this.  This quilt will be for my aunt who is not well.

My sewing book finally came early this month.  Still reading it.  Wonderful techniques and finishes.  Since cotton and linen are my preferred fabrics to wear and work with, this book is right up my alley. 

I did not need to add to the crotch line length to the front pattern after all.  So I removed the slashes that I made previously.  

 I altered my pants block yesterday and even cut out a new piece of muslin for the front. A tedious task because I had to unpick the waistband, inseams, side seam and hems, fortunately I used basting stitches.  I suppose I could just as well cut out a new back piece but I thought I should be frugal with my muslin.

The pants fits well now and I have a basic pants block to refer to.  Next will be to learn how to draft a bodice and sleeve block pattern.

Lillie's Birthday!

It was Lillie's birthday yesterday.  She said she had a fabulous day!  I stitched for her Blackbird Design's Souvenir de France (freebie) for the needlekeep.  It was stitched on 36ct coffee dyed white linen with 2 strands of Zarina's overdyed embroidery floss Aubrielle.  I went for a similar construction as the needle keep that my swap partner Mary C sent to me.

 

In keeping with the Paris theme I added the Kelmscott Paris needle minder and a mini charm pack by French General called Pom Pom de Paris.   And here's the whole package.

I am working on the Jacob's Ladder blocks.  Slowly but surely ...  Please don't mind the colour grouping.  I just cut and piece up some blues or red at a time and pin it on the wall.  They'll be moved around when I finalise the quilt top.  I am not sure how far I'll go with this but at this juncture it's twin sized i.e. about 140 blocks!  If you know me the quilt top may shrink to a crib size!

Some stitchery on the side lines :)

Christmas freebie by Gail Pan found here

 And then there's some joyful stashing :D

Fabrics from This-N-That

Rotating rotary mat is a genius invention!

Some lovely cross stitch charts ... be still my beating heart ...

Quilting a plenty

The quilts pin basted.  I used a hera marker to mark the quilting lines for the red and white quilt.

The binding all sewn together.  I am using a single layer binding.

Designer: Cheri Payne (freebie)

 I finally tried free motion quilting.  It was really scary but interesting at the same time.  The stitches are not perfect and their some jagged edges too if you look closely.  But I hope with practice the meanders will truly meander :)

Designer: Ann Hermes

I used the same colour scheme in the magazine instead of those in the instructions.  Straight line machine quilting in the form of a chevron.

Broken dishes block, straight line machine quilted.

The X-Quisite blocks quilt and Little Star blocks quilt (both are challenges on SQT) are all hand quilted and now for the binding.

It looks like I'm trying to clear all the WIP quilt tops that I have before I embark on a new one.  I've not done any piecing for some days now :p  But I think I need to pull out some fabric for some test Jacob Ladder blocks as done by Lucy.  

Peahen's Valentine. Designer: Appleseed Prim (freebie)

Tutorial for zipper bag found here.

  It's Margaret W's birthday today.  She messaged me to say she has opened her package.  It's a needlecase similar to the one I made for a swap recently but in semi-prim fabric Beach House by Blackbird Designs.  The zipper bag was easy to tackle but the bulk caused by the fusible batting was a concern.  I think I shall use regular interface the next time.  I made another zipper bag for Jackie W too.  Quite fun really!

The curtain is finally up but I think I need to swap the panels, too much red side by side.  A little busy if I may say so but I hope to get used to it.

I'll leave you with some tin whistle music.  Still working on Silver Spear :(  This is a basic The Foggy Dew but I hope to learn the ornaments and incorporate it into this lovely melody.

Le Moyne Star quilt top

 I got the quilt top completed about a week ago.  It measures 41-1/2" x 52-1/2".  Blocks are 8" square finished.  The 9 patch setting squares are 3" square finished.  Fabrics are Beach House by Blackbird Designs for Moda with Kona Solid Snow.  I opted without a border because I got lazy and decided I had enough of this quilt!

Before I put all the fabrics away, I cut up the binding and sewed them together.  This will be a scrappy binding.

Designer: Primitive Bettys

The crow pincushions are all stuffed and sitting pretty on my desks.  Weighted it with walnut shells and did some elongated blanket stitch all around the pincushion with cotton a broder thread.  Just love the pairing.  Beneath the pincushions you will see the X-Quisite doll quilt which is currently being hand quilted.

Patchwork curtains still in progress, took more time than I anticipated :s

 Bought 2 more spools of YLI silk thread off eBay.  So I got the lights, mediums and darks covered for future applique!

About Crows

Designer: Primitive Bettys (Freebie)

When I was working on the applique portion of the bow-tie quilt, I was using a piece of felt to poke my needle and applique pins.  For someone who does needlework, it's a shame :)

So I looked for simple pin cushion patterns and loved those by Betty Dekat.  She's a generous soul with so many lovely freebies.

Her most recent freebie is Sunflowers & Crows.  It was stitched with DMC 928, 3011, 3820 and 782.  As for Crow it's stitched with DMC 3371.  The linen is 35ct Fagales by HDF.  I really love the pairing of these 2 designs, quite primitive I must say.  I will weigh it with crushed walnut shells and finish it with a blanket stitch variation all around using Anchor's coton a broder thread.  One for my stitching table and one for my sewing table!
 

 I've completed the 20 star blocks and the 12, 9 patch setting squares.  So now it's a matter of sewing up the sashing and the blocks together.  It's gonna be a good lap quilt size and I'm quite pleased that it is nearing completion. This has taken a while.

The layout will 4 by 5 blocks.

I'll leave you with an Irish folk tune!  This tune is recorded earlier before the lessons got to be more technical.  Learning very important ornamentations in Irish tin whistle playing ... it's tough ...

Strawberry Fields Quilt Top

Strawberry Fields.  QAL by Lori D.  Size: 26" x 20"

I love this quilt top.  It now joins my ever growing 'To-be-Quilted' basket!

My needlecase swap from Mary C in Canada.  It's done in wool and roomy.  There's a whole lot of work in the small XS piece that has been tea-dyed after stitching .  Since I've been doing a lot of quilting and some sewing lately, I realise cross stitch is way way more time consuming.  Mary Glover is going at a snail's pace ...

Ilhan's shirt in progress.  It still needs sewing the sides.  I am thinking of sewing the French seams method, buttons and button hole and pockets.   Looks a little short to me.  Maybe If I used a slightly smaller hem I would be able to pull it off. 

More blouse fabric for myself.  Mostly cotton and cotton blend.  Second from right is a lining similar to acetate lining for a blouse I am planning.  And right most is cotton-linen blend gingham for some crafting.

Huswif Swap and More Birthday Gifts

 

My Yahoo Group Small Quilt Talk recently conducted a huswif / needlecase swap.  My partner was Mary C in Canada.  Mary said that she wanted to be surprised.  Since Mary is in Canada, I went the French style :)  Yeah corny I know :p  It took a whole 3 weeks for Mary to receive it. In this year and age, in 3 weeks one can fly to the moon and back!  Mary knows how I've been worried that it was lost.  But all is well now.

The cross stitch design is a freebie by Casamia in Italia.  Mary's initials flank the French maid.  Stitched with DMC3777 on 32ct Belfast Raw Linen.  The fabrics used are Rounneries by French General for Moda, with a piece of wool felt which has been blanket stitched at the edge.  Also some French linen decorative ribbons along the wool felt piece and to tie the needlecase.  I've used mainly the tutorials from APQ and Heidi's old blog.

 Gifts from Margaret W!  I absolutely adore the key holder.  I am using it for my house keys already! I like the fabric combo, sometimes the simple things are the best.   Great fabrics choices as usual which will be suitable for some XS finishings and 6 spools of lovely prim coloured cotton thread.

Lovely box from Lillie with a design by BBD (my favourite) stitched on top of the box cover. The box is quite sturdy and Lillie is utilising fully her lessons in cartonnage recently.  The box was filled with sewing thread and buttons which have been thoughtfully included due to my recent sewing blaze.  More Yoko Saito fabrics for the bag I am planning.

The 39 cross blocks measuring 3" square are completed and the setting squares are all cut..  Now to get them pieced!

 My crazy quilted plaid mug rug has been selected as one of the finalist by This-N-That.  So if you don't mind and be so kind, won't you vote for me?  I am No. 5.  Pretty please?  Much obliged!