Stash Busting: Throw Pillow, Improv Block, Potholder & Small Quilt

*First "Work in Progress":  "Friends" Throw Pillow

I used to embroider by hand much more than I do now. I find sewing/stitching by hand a relaxing, creative activity, giving me something to do while I'm doing something else. I came across an embroidered panel that I'd finished several years ago which included seed

beading. The red beads encircle the hearts and accent the tulips. I'm inspired to make use of it...finally! Invading my stash, I found two good print candidates to border the main panel and solid blue for corner accents. Then I found another fat quarter to use for the back with an all-over leaf print to continue the top theme of leaves. 

I pieced the top and decided that I could embellish the solid blue corners with machine embroidered hearts. I just have two more to do! I'm happy with the results.

*Second "Work in Progress": Cat Quilt? Throw? Wall hanging?

I have some novelty fabric of cats. I thought they'd look nice cut apart and set with machine embroidered cats I had stitched out using a variegated thread.

I needed another fabric to offset the 3 panels, so I auditioned the panels with some other fabrics from my stash and chose the red. I don't know who this will be for nor what it will end up being, but it's a creative process!

*Third "Work in Progress": Improv Block

Block is cut down to measure 9" x 9", per her request.

A member of my Modern Quilt Guild asked some participants if they'd make improv blocks for her. She provided some fabric scraps with some general suggestions...VERY general suggestions. I did some research and decided on the "Asterisk Block" on Moda Bake Shop. I added a small scrap (the yellow strip) from my stash with her fabrics. I like it and thought you might like to try it, too, or others shown on their site.

*Fourth "Work in Progress": Paper-Pieced Potholder

Another optional monthly activity our Modern Quilt Guild sponsors is a swap. Each swap features something different to make and exchange with others who choose to participate--we never know how many will actually do the swap until we're all at the monthly meeting. I haven't participated until this month, but last month they made small clutch bags, the previous month they made wrist pincushions, etc. The chairperson suggested we make potholders this month and try our hands at paper-piecing.

I've done paper-piecing and have some blocks that are still uncommitted to any project. I am using one of the paper-pieced house blocks and will finish it for next week's meeting:

The purples in my block match the spring bouquet
from a neighbor's and my yard :)

*Projects Finished: Quilt Label & 4th Mystery Quilt Star Block

I machine embroidered and sent this label off to my sister for her latest quilt for a healing friend:

I also added the bordering triangles to my (4) fourth star blocks for Eleanor Burn's Mystery Quilt.

It's been a productive week!!

Linking up with friends like you:

   AND  

Sweet, Unique Star Blocks and Labels

I'm working on the fourth installment of the Mystery Quilt sponsored by Eleanor Burns. Each installment has included different types of stars. She uses techniques that help me quilt more accurately. I think you'll agree that these fabrics from a fabric line called "In the Beginning" make it sparkle. I'm using yellow toned "Architextures" by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman fabrics as a background. I threw in other fabrics from Michael Miller, Clothworks, more Robert Kaufmans, and some I can't identify now.

Two of four stars, which will be joined by background triangles and another large scale green fabric triangles to become the corner squares of the borders.

Close up of Mystery Star 4

On my design wall, four different stars. 

These new stars are not in their corner spot yet because my design wall is too small.

My sister, Diana of SewCraftyChick.blogspot.com asked me to machine embroider another label. She is an ACTIVE quilter! I can't keep up with her, and she works full time, raises kids, and cares for pets!! I always collaborate with the individual requesting the label concerning colors, label size, motifs, fonts, etc. I'm able to send screen shots via the internet during the design process so that modifications can be made before stitching it out.

The label looked like this on the computer screen. Diana asked for bright thread colors and the butterfly motif to match her fabrics.

The finished label, measuring about 4.5" x 4.5" (note: I'm still snipping threads that connect the design on the front). I always leave an additional half inch or more around the label for the seamstress to trim and attach with their chosen method. As I stitched this out, I decided against the black thread for the script. It seemed too severe among these lively colors.

Other labels I've designed:

Designs can also include appliques, as seen of the Snow-girl on the left. 

Stitched out on selected fabric.

Screen Shot of Label

Screen Shot of Label

I've made and designed others as well, in various sizes. If you would like to order one, feel free to collaborate with me. It's a nice addition to whatever you're making, and so important to document the work.

Linking up with friends at: 

                                              

Piles of Stars as the Mystery Quilt takes shape

I made 24 of these stars.
I hadn't sewn this one together yet.

 

I believe my "mystery quilt", made up of various stars, may turn out to be one of the loveliest I've ever sewn. I am really happy with how it's taking shape. Since January, each star and its position is revealed monthly, and there's still 3 months left!

Popular topics: Chicks & Spring!

My post with photos of the applique chicks and the flowers of spring really attracted viewers! Thank you all for stopping by. Either we're all desperate for spring (probably!), or everyone really likes chicks! My sister, Diana, says I need to work on bunny appliques next.

Besides playing with machine applique, I'm still working on the mystery quilt sponsored by Eleanor Burns. Here's a sneak peek at the current blocks on my design wall (felt fabric tacked to the wall) and border panels that I'm working on for this month:

This hasn't been sewn together yet.

One of the corners finished in the past 2 months.

For those of you who are desperate for spring, here's the latest bouquet:

Camellias & daffies :)

For those who love food, here's the buttermilk dark chocolate cake I'm making for my foreign student's birthday, homemade (even using my own vanilla extract!): 

Yum! Never forget to eat chocolate!

Little Dickens, rest in peace :(

Have a wonderfully creative day, 

whatever your endeavors! 

Mystery Quilt Block 2: Alex's Star

I am enjoying the "reveal" of Eleanor Burn's mystery quilt block party--a new one each month for six months. I've never done a mystery quilt before, so I find it a little scary to commit to the fabrics, but committed I am now! I like some of the techniques that Eleanor teaches and she's been quilting for years.

Here's the new star I made for February, named after her special guest Alex Anderson:

 
I made 8 of these which were then joined to either side of January's stars named after special guest Marianne Fons. I'm excited to find out what the next star will be which will be revealed March 11.

Have you ever participated in a mystery quilt? Was it hard for you to wait and to select fabrics, too?

Happy WIP Wednesday!

Block Party and Stack the Deck Quilt

Wednesday is the day to share & link at "Works in Progress" on Freshly Pieced!

I've been productive!! Fortunately our small city has an equally small group that's been meeting as a Modern Quilt Guild. I began attending this month, and have had the fun of participating in two "Sew In(s)" locally, as well as the Portland one I enjoyed at the beginning of January with my sister and niece. That makes three!! With projects and sewing machine in tow, I show up, pay a small fee and sew all day, visit with other creative people, and have NO INTERRUPTIONS (unless I choose them). At our last local sew-in, we could have even left the machines, irons and ironing boards, cutting mats, tape measures, etc. behind, because they were provided. Wow! How convenient is that?? Almost like going on a retreat without having to go very far, and for a fraction of the cost. Especially nice are the designs walls to use throughout the room. Another quilter and I joked about renting the design wall space so we could keep playing with our quilts day after day. Someday I'll get mine put up.

I decided to join Eleanor Burn's Mystery Quilt "2014 Block Party." She's a bit quirky, but she's got some good ideas and techniques. I'm intrigued by this latest project, so I paid my fee and got started.I wanted to test the block out and pulled out fabric I already owned from In the Beginning ("Chickadee"). I ended up liking liking the result so much, I think I'll use them for the mystery quilt after all.

4 "Marianne" blocks, named for Marianne Fons, her guest

So at the local sew-in last Saturday, I pulled out my blocks for a quilt I wanted to give me husband. True confession: I started it at least 5 years ago! I already had the blocks made, based on the book Stack the Deck! by Karla Alexander. 

   
First, iron the seams of the sashing ...     

Seams are pressed...it looks kind of folksy, doesn't it?

Throw them on the design wall, with purple sashing 

& sew vertical rows together

The hearts are appliqued by machine on each block (which is a shuffling of fabrics in the green theme). And even though "Blogger" thinks it's smarter than me and it won't let me arrange my photos in the order I want them, the photo of the blocks without a caption are now on the bed, being assembled to their vertical sashing. Then I will sash the sides, top and bottom, put another border around that, and then it's time to sandwich and quilt. It's been a fun project. Better late than never, huh?

Happy quilting!