New Blogger Blog Hop Week 4

Just a quick note to remind you about the bloggers participating in Week Four of Plum and June's New Blogger Blog Hop.  I've already been around to a few of these blogs and they are filled with eye candy.  Definitely worth a cup of tea and a look see!

Friday, June 28

Green @ So Sew Green

Gwendellyn @ The Rainbow Revolts

Jessica @ Stitched In Thyme

Amira @ Little Mushroom Cap

Kathy @ Kayak Quilting

Michelle @ Factotum Of Arts

Paula @ The Sassy Quilter

Kris @ Sew Sunshine

Camilla @ Faffling

Bits and Pieces ALYOF for June

When I showed my husband the quilting in progress, he asked me how long it took me.  I laughed and said 18 months.  I was only half joking :)  I did start it that long ago but I definitely wasn't working on it full time.  However, it has consumed most of my waking hours for the last two days!

It measures 56" x 64" before washing and contains 896 2 1/2" squares. And all of the squares are scraps, most from pieces under 3".  Every time I collected a container of squares, I spent some time chain piecing them into pairs.  Even the binding is made from scraps!

It's backed in a teal flannelette sheet and quilted with white thread in a faux cathedral pattern.  The sheet did give me some puckering problems.  I'm not sure if it was the material, reduced sensitivity from my gloves or a combination of both.  I wouldn't swear off sheet backings forever, but I don't know if they would be my first choice.

I LOVED the quilting.  It's my first time FMQing that I went really smoothly.  I had no tension issues and the stitches were smooth and easy.  The gloves definitely helped!  It was time consuming but I will be using this pattern again.  I just love some dense quilting!

Someone else loves it as well :)  She couldn't wait to snuggle up under it.  Best part of the process was hearing her say "I love when you make me blankets.  They are so warm and snuggly!"  The 3 year old immediately requested one of her own.

I think my favorite part of this quilt is the fact that it's like a scrapbook of all the quilts and projects I've completed over the last few years.  Including some pieces from my 7 year old's nursery curtains, the backing of the baby's quilt and more.  I'll definitely be starting another when my scrap bin gets full!

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts, ALYOF and 5 Days...5 Ways

Summer Vacation!

Yesterday was the first day of summer vacation for my 7 year old.  This means that my sewing time will either be greatly reduced or will happen mostly at night.  At least that was what I thought!  For a few years now, she has been asking me to teach her how to sew.  And when I bought my Pfaff, I kept the old Singer thinking it would be a good machine to learn on.

Yesterday we got her set up.  She's close enough for me to help her and still sew on my own machine.  I started her out practicing basic straight lines and then lining up her stitches at 1/4".  It didn't take her long to get bored and she declared she wanted to make a blanket for her baby cousin.  I can't say I blame her since she just spent 20 minutes watching me FMQing :)

I pulled out my bin of scraps precut to 3 1/2" squares and she started choosing.  And sewing.  And pressing and pinning.  Before long she had her first collection of four squares.

For the most part they look really good for a first attempt.  Only one is extremely wonky :)  And she's standing behind me eagerly waiting to go down and work some more!

Linking up with My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday!

WIP Wednesday

After finishing up my wide open zipper bag and that stack of bibs (tutorial coming!), I moved on to quilting my custom order quilt.  After quilting the first few lines I thought it was going to take me a crazy long time to finish.

I am very happy to report that it's coming along much faster than I anticipated.  And it looks fantastic!  I'm eager to see it finished.  I predict another couple of hours and the quilting will be done.

In other news, some happy mail arrived yesterday!  Stragglers from the Happy Go Lucky Collection, including the honeycomb precuts and some great Bella Solids.  Those precuts look like so much fun and I can't wait to play with them.  Right now I'm offering free shipping in Canada/US for orders over $50 using the code SHIPFREE50

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.

Open Wide Zippered Pouch

The sewing fates were on my side yesterday and I finished both the stack of bibs and my wide open pouch!

I used the pattern by Noodlehead that has been circulating for a while now.  The pattern was an easy follow and I made it exactly as she directed this time around.

Next time I think I will do home decor for the outer and a quilting cotton for the inner.  I had some issues getting the lining to sit well but I think it was mostly due to the bulk that comes from double home decor weight fabric.

I don't do a ton of zipper work so I was pleased that those parts worked just like they should have :)  The heavier fabric did make the zipper tab a little finicky to attach, however.

I filled it with a summer mug, gift card and magazine and sent it off to school with my 7 year old this morning.  I hope her teacher enjoys it!

I will definitely be making at least one more of these pouches.  It came together really easily and looks great.  Has anyone else made one?  What was your experience?

Linking up with Sew Cute Tuesday at Better Off Thread.

On The Go

I had a marvelous busy weekend where the only thing sewing related was reading blogs and buying patterns! (FYI: Lee at Freshly Pieced is selling  a bundle of three patterns for $12.99 here).  I spent all day Saturday on a shopping adventure with two girlfriends as an early birthday present and Sunday I worked my part time job at the running store.  But I do have a few things I accomplished on Friday that I've haven't shown before.

I sell my tie bibs at a local artisan shop and they are needing to be restocked.  Hopefully this little pile will be finished and delivered today.  I've been thinking of doing a tutorial.  Would anyone be interested?

I started a new quilt (oops!).  I know I wasn't supposed to but I just couldn't help myself LOL.  I came across a picture on Pinterest and immediately was obsessed.  I thought about it for several days and knew it was just what I wanted for our bedroom.  The husband agreed.  After a few more days of thinking about it often, I bit the bullet and made one block.  The white is Bella Solids unbleached white, the orange is Bella Solids Clementine.  I'm going to allow myself one block per week until I finish up a few more WIPs.

Tomorrow is the last day of school for my oldest daughter.  I wanted to make her teacher a little something and when this decor weight fabric was 50% off at my LQS I bought some to make an open wide zipper pouch using Noodlehead's pattern.  This is another one that I need to get finished today! 

Guess I better get back to my machine :)  Linking up with Heart of Charmwood for the Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop.

Get to Know Ella's Cottage!

Today is my turn to post for the Plum and June New Blogger Blog Hop.  The last few weeks have been so amazing with this group of friendly bloggers.  It's been a wonderful conversation and I've found some amazing new blogs to follow.  Definitely check out all of the participants and consider taking part next year.  Beth has kindly given a list of prompts so let's do a little Q&A!

When did you start quilting/who taught you?

I am relatively new to the craft of quilting, only doing it for about 2 years now.  But I have always had a love of fabric.  I'm one of those people who has to touch every textile in every store :)  To be perfectly honest, I never liked quilts.  And then I started stumbling upon these modern quilts with graphic patterns and colorful fabrics.  I was pretty much hooked from that point on.  I am self taught thanks to the plethora of tutorials and videos available online these days.  But Amy at Diary of a Quilter definitely got me through my first ever quilt.

What is your favorite type of project?

I love a wide variety of fabric projects and am willing to tackle just about any of them.  But you will probably see more pillows and baby quilts than anything else.

What type of sewing machine do you use?

A Pfaff Ambition 1.0  I'm happy with it thus far but have had some issues with the computer.  Thankfully my local shop has awesome customer service and they exchanged it for a completely new one after the problems weren't solved after a lengthy repair process.

What are your favorite quilting notions?

Hmmmm, I guess my favorite notions are the ones I couldn't create without.  My Olfa cutter is at the top of the list.  I also recently bought my first pair of Machinger quilting gloves.  Oh my god!  If you haven't tried them, go buy some right now.  I put it off for quite some time but I don't think I will ever be without a pair again.  Two good pairs of scissors (one large and one snip).  And a water soluble marker.  Those are the tools I use daily and would replace immediately if there was an issue.

What are you working on now?

Bahahahaha!  I think a better question is what am I NOT working on now!  My WIP list is long ( you can click it up top to see just how long) and for every project I get finished, another three take it's place.  There is simply too much amazing inspiration and awesome fabrics to not be constantly thinking of new quilts I would like to make!  But my immediate priorities are a custom order twin quilt, my daughter's lap quilt and a stack of bibs for a local shop.

What is your favorite/least favorite part of quilting?

My favorite part is the planning of projects and piecing the top.  I love seeing an idea turn into a physical object.  Once the top is finished, I'm ready to move onto the next project.  So the quilting part is often tedious for me.  Although that is getting better as my quilting skills improve.  I don't think binding will ever become enjoyable though.  Absolute favorite part of quilting?  Snuggling underneath one :)

I hope you have enjoyed your visit.  Please feel free to look around and stay awhile.  And while you are at it, stop by and visit the other blogs on the schedule this week.

Friday, June 21

Leigh Anne @ Ella's Cottage

Stacey @ The Tilted Quilt

Sarah @ Quilt Candy

Jackie @ NW Patchwork

Liz @ Beadqueene's Bits And Baubles

Erica @ Happy Fabric

Stephanie @ Simple Sewendipity

Lauren @ Seraphym

Amy @ Cloud CouCou Crafts