I Itch to Stitch

design wall monday

2010-04-05T11:20:00.000-06:00

Wow, it has been so long since I posted. I have been sewing, a bit, but haven't taken any pictures and, well, I don't like to read blogs that don't have pictures so............I had to charge up the battery for the camera and get a photo taken.
This is what I have been working on over the weekend.

This idea has been in the back of my mind for a year or so. I think I saw it in a Kaffe book.
The other day I was driving by the thrift store and saw they had all clothing at $1. I did a quick u-turn thinking I would pick up a couple red sweaters to turn in to 'ugly christmas sweaters'.
As I was looking I kept seeing blue stripe shirts and remembered this project. 15 shirts later this is what I have to show. I still have about 4 shirts left to cut into but I am so over cutting at this point I needed to start seeing some progress.

What to do? What to do!

2010-02-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

The other day I was playing with some solids and ended up making some wonky log cabin

squares. I ended up with this wall hanging that I really like. I think it will replace the Picasso print that has been over the fireplace forever. I have only made one other quilt that I wanted to hang so this is new to me.

I need advice on how to quilt this . I am leaning to doing a crosshatch over the entire piece so the quilting won't make it too busy. But maybe I should pebble or something like that and use black in the black, grey in the grey and white in the white, that way the thread color won't have a life of its own.

Any comments would be appreciated. At this point I would love lots of ideas.

Design wall monday

2010-01-18T09:37:00.000-07:00

As I was trying to clean up my sewing room from the aftermath of Christmas I found all this great holiday fabric. I am truly trying to use up (some of) my stash so instead of putting it away I am USING it. I think I had about 25-30 fat quarters of this fabric. I am NOT going to put any of it back into my stash, except maybe the scrap bin. The whole ideas of using my stash is so freeing to me. My likes and ideas have changed so much over the years that my stash is dated. Maybe it will go full circle and come back into style before I get it used. Hmmmm.

As I am looking at the photo now I see there is a border strip that I was auditioning for a different top that was hanging next to this.

Maybe later this week I will post a finish of one of these quilts.

WaveRunner finished

2010-01-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

I finally sat down and quilted the wave runner quilt from the Bumble Beans quilt along.
I had planned on hanging it over the fireplace but I am not totally thrilled with the quilting so it is going in the hallway.

I so overquilted it. I am hoping after a good pressing it will hang better. I named it 'pick up sticks farmfields' and thought the quilting would look like furrows in a just plowed field. The quilting looks more like big banana leaves (except the edges of flowers).

I learned so much with this little quilt. No rulers is great and I am going to work with that for the next couple quilts I start. The wavy edge was a problem but I think I will try it again, this time with borders that are not pieced. The quilting was so much fun. I usually don't quilt so heavily because I have always thought a quilt should be used, so it needs to be soft, but I am starting to like the idea of hanging a small quilt. Also and the best of all........small quilts finish so much faster!

Has everyone else finished their wave runner quilt? I would love to see how you quilted yours.

Does anyone remember where..........

2010-01-12T14:30:00.002-07:00

I know recently I viewed a tutorial on making continuous bias binding. It looked so easy and I forgot to bookmark it. Can someone please help!!!
Thanks

Craft day

2009-11-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday a couple friends came over and Jan showed us how to make these fun wreaths. I couldn't picture how we could get all the balls on the small form. It is amazing what you can do with a hot glue gun. These were so easy and fun to make. I knew I had been buying bulbs at the after Christmas sales for a reason! Now I can hardly wait for the sales this year so I can make some more of these wreaths.
I'm not sure I like the bow but if I take it off I need to figure out a way to hang the wreath.
It is good for me to broaden my horizons and get out of the sewing room for a change.

I started with....

2009-11-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

this

and this

and this as my focus fabric.......

and ended up with this!

It sure isn't where I thought I was headed, but when it all had to come out of the stash it morphed. The backing came from the stash as well, it isn't what I would have chosen but the colors are good...it's just that plaid.
I am sure some little girl will like it. Gotta find her now.

Off now to finish a UFO so I can start a new project that will probably start before the finish.

Back to the 70'S??

2009-11-11T08:14:00.002-07:00

Too funny. My cousin sent me a pattern for a casserole tote. I haven't seen those since the 70's. But of course I had to whip one up. Thought I would make it in autumn colors just in case I think about using it soon. It wasn't quite the right size for my favorite cake pan, but I guess I wouldn't put a cake in the carrier anyhow. It was fun and quick to make and I got to practice my free motion quilting!
It's cloudy and drizzly here today so I get to skip the snowshoeing I was planning and play in the sewing room. YAY!

A start and finish!

2009-11-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

While I was trying to figure out what to do with the table runner quilt I made this top and back.

I was trying to not buy anything so I used some linen for the sashing. I have never used it before and have no idea if it will wash well. It sure made the top heavy. I think I will rent a LA to quilt it. So I better get another finished top to I can do two for the price of one!
It felt like I spent more time piecing the strip for the back then I did piecing the top. I like it alot, maybe even more then the top.

design wall monday

2009-11-09T10:32:00.000-07:00

This has been on my design wall for almost a week. It started off as a table runner (center piece) and after I had it quilted, with poor free motion circles, I realized I used batting when I was planning on just interfacing. It looked like a quilt on my table. Don't get me wrong, I love quilts, just not on my table. So, anyhow, I am going to make a quilt as you go quilt. This may be on my design wall for awhile.

While I have been ruminating over this I used my stash to make a chinese coin quilt. I will take some pics today in the sunshine and get them posted.

Ya gotta love the mail

2009-11-06T17:12:00.000-07:00

Look what a came in the mail today!

This photo doesn't get the vividness of the colors but you can see how fun it is anyhow.
This is a pay it forward from Victoria @ Bumble Beans. She had another 12 months to do it and WOW here it is already.
I better get moving on mine.

What a find!

2009-10-26T16:03:00.002-06:00

I'm so excited. I was going through a old trunk of my mom's and found this old hand pieced quilt that one of my greats had started. The edges of the rings make scalloped edges.
I think the top is complete as it is
sandwiched with some rough muslin and
cotton batting.
I was thinking I would have to find someone to
hand quilt it but the more I look at it I have
decided to figure out how to hand quilt it
myself.
I really have never thought I would ever like
to hand quilt but after playing with it I think I
need to.

Does any one have any ideas the best way to learn to hand quilt? I don't know anyone who does so maybe I will check with the quilt shops here to find someone who would like to share their expertise.

This should be a fun winter project.

Pick-up-stix farmfields

2009-10-25T16:53:00.000-06:00

Wow, this quilt was so fun and fast to make. Now I just have to figure out how to quilt it. I was thinking maybe concentric circles or eccentric circles.

I have never tried to bind wavy edges. Is it the same as straight edges. Would it be better to use bias binding?

I like the colors so much and was thinking about hanging it over the fireplace but I got a huge eye roll from the remote-controller man. So I guess he won't be helping with the hanging.

Bumble Beans has a great tutorial for making these wavy quilts you should check it out.

Breaking the rules.

2009-10-22T19:19:00.001-06:00

This is my kind of sewing. Doesn't matter if the seams are straight, don't havta matching seams, no templates. You gotta love it.

Project finished.

2009-10-10T20:10:00.000-06:00

I got all six of the tote bags finished. Feels good to have them done before the deadline. Maybe there is something to not procrastinating. All the bags are reversible. I changed up my pattern for each bag. I definitely like the ones with interfacing better. Here are photos of inside and outside.

I also made one for the guy in the house who I'm sure is not looking forward to 5 days with extra women in the house. His is the one on the bottom right, it has bottles of tequila and glasses of margueritas on it. The name of the fabric is 'pleasures and pastimes', that cracked me up so of course I had to sew the selvage on the front of the bag. So I guess I better fill the bag with marguerita makings so he can drink to forget?

A simple little project.

2009-10-07T23:41:00.000-06:00

NOT!

It really did start out simple. Really! Make a tote bag for each of my cousins with whom I will be staying while in Houston (it is the least I could do since I invited myself!).

Well the more time I spend in my sewing room the more stash I pull out and play with. I am like a kid in a candy store....... and then I look around at the mess and get a bit overwhelmed. Yiye! I have to use some of this up.

So here are my rules: - buy nothing

- at least one thing on each bag must come out of the scrap bin.

While I was telling a friend about my project she asked 'Are these self imposed rules and if so why?' Anyone who knows me knows I don't do rules. Don't make em, don't follow em, don't like em. Go figure.

I did manage to finish two of the bags, they ended up being reversible. I didn't have a pattern so am changing it up a bit on each bag.

I have not been using interfacing and I think that may be the next adjustment. I have not worked with interfacing since .....oh..... maybe high school.

I think maybe fusible is the way to go but should I fuse it to the lining or the front or both? Does anyone have any insight for me?

dreaming about HSTs

2009-10-05T11:41:00.000-06:00

Finally I am posting a photo of the quilt I just finished that has been in the works for a couple years. I dreaded doing all those HSTs so kept putting it off.

I am so not a perfectionist and as I was sewing all those little buggers together I had to keep laughing at all the easing in I had to do. As it turned out most of the points do match and those that don't you can't see while you are riding by on a galloping horse.

I like it alot now that it is finished. Can't wait for it to find a new home.

Quilt Scene

2009-10-01T14:47:00.000-06:00

If you are going to the Houston Quilt Festival make sure to stop by the Quilt Scene booth 1244.

There is a contest to win a bunch of freebies. Watch this video and Pokey Bolton will tell you how to enter.

Have fun at the show.

Mary

Today's the day!

2009-10-01T11:56:00.000-06:00

So I am finally going to get this out of my UFO pile. Think I can get it done by Oct 5? I have committed to donate it to a silent auction. I already have a few squares finished and on the design wall. As I was working on it I was thinking about making a tutorial for piecing for non-perfectionists. I have to admit, I have been feeling a little, no a lot, intimidated by seeing what amazing things people are making and how great they look and thinking I can't compete. But then I thought it is okay to not be a perfectionist, the quilts still work out well, I think I just spend more time fitting some of the wonkyness out.

So I am so excited about getting this finished cause then I can cut into this ..........

Isn't this fun?

I love deadlines cause I get to do something fun when I finish in time.

Pay it forward!

2009-09-30T17:07:00.000-06:00

PAY IT FORWARD.

I got in on the pay it forward on Bumble Beans blog. Now I get to pick the first three people who post a comment and I send them a homemade gift within the next year (I hope before the end of this calendar year). Then they pick three people to send a homemade gift to and on and on.......

This is a really fun idea. I hope you want to play.

design wall

2009-09-07T11:09:00.000-06:00

This has been on the wall all weekend. I took my machine to have it cleaned on Friday and FORGOT TO PICK IT UP!

Errrrrrrr!

I am going to try to turn the brown in four of the squares to have the letters H O P E. There is a breast cancer benefit coming up and I plan on donating this.

So with this being a no sewing weekend I have been playing with fabric (from my stash) for some new projects.

This lost some of the vivid oranges and aquas in the photo. They are pretty fun together in real light. I think this will be a baby quilt.

These I think I may make a wonky log cabin with tomorrow.

Now this is all ironed and cut and ready to go.

Yahoo!

2009-08-30T15:46:00.001-06:00

I just finished this quilt for the neighbor baby that was born in June. I was kinda afraid that he would be in preschool before I got it started. I was fun to make and it only took a couple days total. I love the bright colors, finally I broke away from florals.

I just got an order of books and in it was 'Goddess of the last minute'. It is a fun book of essays by the Goddess. Wow, she gets a lot done and still has time to publish a book. Phew! It inspires me to get more done, yet here I am perusing quilting blogs. Maybe I'll start tomorrow.

kayaking dog

2009-08-29T12:02:00.000-06:00

I finally made the big leap and bought a kayak. I had to find one that was big enough for my dog. The guy at the store thought I was nuts thinking I could take a dog especially since she is bigger than a shitsu (I know, I know that is not how it is spelled!). I wasn't sure she would like it. She does. Yay. So instead of sewing on these beautiful almost fall days I have been spending my time on the water.

I have been reading other posts and I have some great ideas for when the weather takes a turn. In a way I can't wait but I can't wish summer away.

Keep on posting those amazing quilts.

What's with all the flowers?

2009-08-23T11:38:00.000-06:00

When I am taking pictures of some of the quilts I have finished this summer I'm noticing I have a floral theme. What?! Me sewing florals? I usually make bright bold linear quilts. Well I guess it is good to sew outside my box once in a while.

Here are some pictures of the summery quilts.

I guess you can't see the flowers in the fabric on this but they are there. This is called 'Norwegian Star'. I found the pattern in a magazine and the colors reminded me of Norway.

This one totally lost it's vividness (is that a word?) in the photo

It is called 'Wholly Roses'

I am hoping I am finished with the florals for a while.

I have tons of ideas after seeing all the cool things you all are doing. Can't wait to start. Oh wait, maybe I have to finish a UFO first! Nahhhhh.

2009-08-20T16:40:00.000-06:00

Okay, after spending hours reading other quilter's blogs I have been inspired to do more quilting. But where do I start? Organizing my sewing room? Folding my fabric (that is dangerous, cause I love to play with my fabric)? Finishing old projects? Start a new project?
Hmmm. So much to do so little time!
So I guess I'll show you some pictures of my most recent quilts.
This is my favorite of the summer (and last winter). I love the bold colors. I think it is the pattern 'turning twenty again'. It was quick, no points to match. I used plain brown as a backing cause I was cheap. It wasn't worth it. I wish I had used a complimentary but subdued floral or paisley or something with more life. Next time I will!

When the light gets better this evening I will take pictures of the other quilts and post them later.

Mary