Plume Feather

I had an odd shaped triangle that I was trying to machine quilt. I looked at all sorts of websites but couldn't find anything I really liked.  I started looking through some of my quilt books and finally found what I was looking for! It is called Plume Feather. It's more of a fern than a feather.Thank you, Angela Walters! I found it in her book, Free-Motion Quilting. I buy books all the time and don't always end up using them. This time, this book was a life saver!

I practiced it a few times on some scrap fabric and when I was comfortable enough, I did it! I was a bit nervous but am happy with the results. Here's another view:

I'm happy with my quilting so far.  I just tend to take awhile in making decisions concerning just what quilt motif to use.  I can all over meander a quilt in a few days but find it so much more time consuming when quilting different designs in different areas. Maybe, in time, that will become quicker too.

I'll be linking up at Amy's Free Motion Quilting Adventures for the final week of free motion feathers.  This month has just flown by!

 

More FMQ!!

I made more progress machine quilting. This time I quilted safety pins/pulleys. I saw the term channel quilting and I guess that's what I'm doing. I'm quilting every other open channel. I must admit I quilted 2 areas right next to each other. It took a long time to rip out all those stitches! I've chosen a different quilting pattern for each individual area. I still have to decide what pattern to use for my next area.

Here's a close up:

I started off a little shaky but feel it got better as I practiced and progressed through my quilt top. It added some great texture to my quilt. I'm really enjoying this process and feel I'm growing more comfortable with each new pattern I try.

I also started putting together the Basket Case quilt. This took a lot longer than I thought it would.
Again, I had to iron seams while sewing the blocks together. It's so much easier when the seams are going in opposite directions.

One row down, only 5 to go!!

It's snowing out, again! I heard the cold weather is returning after one day in the 30's. I think this may be the longest winter yet! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Projects Updated

I've been keeping myself so busy working on my projects. As you can see above, I finished the second block of the Tone it Down Quilt Along. There are lots of pieces, little pieces, but there is a certain satisfaction when the block is complete. I love looking through my stash and finding fabric I forgot I had. There are some smaller pieces that I wasn't sure I would ever use. They sure are coming in handy now!

I finally finished my 30 blocks! I always have a tough time finding the perfect arrangement. I always notice the same fabric right next to each other, after I've sewn the whole thing together!! I'm going to look at this for a few days and see if I can catch my mistake ahead of time.

I'm still working on my machine quilting project but nothing new to photograph. I've marked a new section and may try a different design. Will post when I'm done.

It's snowing again. It's only 12 degrees. I'm so tired of winter. I'm dreaming of spring and summer. I think it's another 60 days until spring! Can't wait!

Latest FMQ

I thought I'd post a few pictures of my latest Free Motion Quilting. I couldn't decide how to machine quilt this pattern. This block is made up of 2 inch x 6 inch strips. I wanted to try something a little different. I bought this book by Judi Madsen and was looking for ideas.

I love her machine quilting! She is so talented and her book is beautiful. She calls this simple straight-line quilting design with added details. You can use different designs within the lines. I chose stippling in the above picture.

I used paisley/clam shells in the above picture instead of stippling. I really love this effect. It's very pretty and looks as though there's a layer of lace on top of my quilt! It also adds a lovely texture to the quilt.

 

 

Here's a wider view of one of the blocks that's been quilted.

 

 

Here's a peek at the back of the quilt. I'm really liking this quilt design! So glad I waited. Can't wait to finish it and see the whole quilt completed!

Latest Baby Quilt

 

I gave my friend her baby quilt yesterday so I'm finally free to share a few pictures.  I used the disappearing 4-patch for the front of the quilt. It seems easy enough but it's a challenge to match all those seams!

 

I started off with a 4-patch. Each square was 5 inches.

 

Then I cut one inch from the center seams on all four sides.

The center rectangles were just swapped around so the fabrics contrast.

 

This is repeated and the blocks are put together. The seams are a mess however. I ended up ironing a lot while putting the blocks together. However, it did work out very nicely. I machine quilted all over little loops.

 

 

I also bought a panel for the back. I thought it would be fun for the baby to see some animals instead of my blocks! I like the idea of a 2-sided baby quilt. More things for the baby to explore. I hope it's loved and well used!

Tone it Down Quilt Along Block #1

I just had to share my first block of the Tone it Down Quilt Along sponsored by American Patchwork and Quilting.  I have decided that I should try and work from my stash this year. It seems as though my stash is multiplying even when I'm not shopping. This quilt will force me to look through my stash and actually use up some of those scraps.

I really love how it came out. It's lots of pieces to cut but sewing it together was easier than I expected. Everything seemed to line up. The directions are so well written. I'm hoping to use up some of those small pieces I've been saving. This may turn out to be a free quilt! (Just a quilt I used stash for. I did pay for that fabric at some point but we'll forget that for now!)

Hoping to start cutting for the next block! What are you doing this weekend??

Gifts and Pojects

 

I can finally show a few things I made for Christmas now that the holidays are over. I made a few pillowcases for the holidays as gifts. I made the kitty pillowcase above for my daughter. Of course, she loves cats! I made one for my son with guitars on it. He took it back to his college apartment before I could take a picture.

 

I made this mug rug for my Secret Santa. I found out she loves to drink coffee so I thought a nice big mug would be appropriate. I hope she's using it and enjoying it. I find mug rugs come in very handy. They're fun to make and so practical.

This is my current project.  I love it! It's fun to make and so cheerful.  I'm using a jelly roll and a white polka dot on white background. I put it aside for over a month and am very glad to be working on it again. I need a total of 30 blocks. I've actually made a few more since this picture was taken. I'm getting there!

Anyone thinking of joining this Quilt Along?  I've been trying to find a project to work on where I can use up scraps only. This one seems very interesting. It's called Tone it Down since you use many background fabrics with low contrast. It's being offered through American Patchwork and Quilting and I was lucky enough to have received the magazine for Christmas. Santa knew what I wanted!

I hope to show you the baby quilt I made.  As soon as it's gifted, I'll post pictures!! It's even double sided!!

Secret Santa Reveal

I'm so late in revealing and thanking my Secret Santas. Between working the holidays and the stupid snowstorm, my usual schedule has been disrupted.

First of all, I'd like to thank my Secret Santa, Bellezza who blogs over at Every Stitch a Prayer. I hope you check out her blog. She's working on some great projects and I find her blog has lots of fun stuff going on. She sent me these wonderful homemade cookies and I forgot to thank her. Thank you, Bellezza! They didn't last too long in my house! We truly enjoyed them. Thank you for the New Year card. I wish you a Happy New Year and thank you for all the wonderful gifts you sent. I feel as though I've made a new friend! Hope you feel the same!

I was Secret Santa to Joanne who blogs at My Random Insanities. Her blog is packed with everything vintage as well as her adorable grandchildren. I've never thought of myself as someone who looks for vintage items but I seem to have more vintage in my home than I thought. I hope you'll visit her blog also.  She has some gorgeous pictures to look through.

This was my first time being a Secret Santa through my blog and I kept hoping I was doing everything properly. This whole experience was so fun.  It was a little different for me. I have been a Secret Santa at work but that's a little different. You actually know the person and can ask fellow employees for ideas when buying gifts. It was challenging to buy gifts for someone you can only know through a blog. I'll know better next year!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I'm always happy to see the holidays coming but also happy when they're over!!