It dawned on me recently that the Christmas holiday seasons were so full, that I finished two projects that I never had a chance to share. Just when the weather is starting to warm up and one is thinking about cook outs, shorts, and swimming pools, and I'm talking about Christmas... talk about a way to make your ice melt in that perfectly chilled beverage?!? So, how
about a little "where's waldo" search with me, then you might
stumble onto a few background decorations that don't exactly fit in the
hot weather months.
Last winter I had asked my youngest son what his favorite animal was? "A Bieber, Mama" (that's beaver in German) Well, I knew exactly where I needed to go for the perfect pattern... Lorna from Sew Fresh Quilts, of course. I've been linking up with her Let's Bee Social for quite a while now, but this is the first time that I've sewn any of her super cute, but equally well done patterns.
The orginal pattern, found here, is with a Canadian Leaf in the body area, but I adjusted the pattern without the leaf on the body. I picked colors to match his room, and made a couple matching pillowcases. If you've not tried the burrito method of making pillowcases, let me just say that I highly recommend it - super easy, and fully finished inside and out.
I decided on a simple wavy line quilting, and always love how easy it is, not to mention that it gives a little more interest than straight line quilting. I love my walking foot and I don't have to focus like I do with free motion quilting, so the fact that I don't have to abandon it is a big plus for me.
So, perhaps it goes without saying that I will be linking up this week for Let's Bee Social.
P.S. I've been having problems with my emails, and I have not been able to answer emails for the past week. I've not forgotten... I can recieve them, but just not answer them.
How many quilters out there find themselves wowed and awed when admiring the work of a really, really, and I mean really good free motion quilter? After all the ohhhhing and awwwing, the progression of things seems to shift to start comparing it to your own work, often self confidence is too quickly washed down the drain.
I know that practice makes perfect, but I have come to the conclusion, that I really don't like freem motion quilting... that is to do it myself. My grand ideas to practice some free motion on a smaller quilt, quickly came to a halt when I finished the first row of leaves on my Woodland quilt. Quick, quick, I've got a pressing deadline on this one resulted in shifting to wavy line quilting, but I couldn't drop the idea of incorporating leaves in the overall quilting design. It hit me that on such a small quilt, it was still doable with a walking foot!?! Ok, so there would be a little bit of turning, but still doable.
I think what I am most proud of on this quilt finish is that it a.) it pushed me to incorporate some unfinished blocks for a finished project and b.) I used mostly scraps on the blocks, the background, and the binding... it's a great feeling to use what you have from those scrap bins!
Quilt: Wooland Friends
Blocks: Mini Woodland Bundle from Tartankiwi, Forest Floor from Lillyella's World, reverse applique leaves from Campbell Soup Diary
Started: August 2016
Fabrics: Basic Grey grunge and various stash scraps. Low volume background
fabrics.
Backing: Various scraps
Finished quilt size: ca. 48 x 60 in. (122 x 152 cm)
Do you end up comparing yourself to other quilters? Do you find it discourages you when you are not able to master a certain technique?
Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Sew Cute Tuesday. and Scraptastic Tuesday.
I'm finding that I am enjoying having several of my handmade things peppered throughout the house. I haven't always sewn with myself in mind, but find that I love being greeted by this table runner in the hallway, this pickledish table cover in the living room, and this mini mini gone super size adorning my favorite chair.
In the evenings before I go to bed, I usually take up a glass of water with me. I guess this is the part where I shamefully admit that for far too long, I had simply put a towel on my nightstand to protect it from any water damage. But as my Mom always says... if you want to get your house in order, then invite company! And a recent visit pushed me to do something that I should have done a long time ago!
I'm totally smitten with Sew Kind of Wonderful's Green Smoothie quilt, which was the color inspiration for this little table runner. Simple. Fresh. Green. The more I think about this quilt, the more I want to make it, but this at least satisfies my "craving" until I can get some of my other WIP's knocked out the way.
I actually used my free Mini Mini Foliage template and simply let it grow by adding more leaves. If you've never done reverse applique, then you can check out my tutorial here for a complete how to.
I'm really starting to become a big fan of wavy quilting... it really adds such movement to a piece! Now, what would a project of mine be without adding a few Basic Grey grunges to the mix? I used a understated grey fabric for the backing, and Carolyn Friedlader for the background and the binding.
So, do you have any corners in your house that are begging for a little handmade touch? Do you usally sew for yourself and things to use in your home, or do you just sew where your inspriation lies?
Linking up to Let's Bee Social and Sew Cute Tuesday.
