Paper Piecing Miniatures

I like paper-piecing blocks, even though it's challenging. I do appreciate that it helps to make miniatures or small parts of blocks in particular more accurate. Take these that I've done, for example:

The blocks look a bit wonky, not because they're just a "wonky" pattern. It's because they're challenging! In spite of the imperfections, I love the little star points. Each individual block of the 4 patch measures about 4.5". Together the block measures 9.5". Paper-piecing allows one to use scraps of fabric for projects, or specific fabrics for a more carefully designed work. I wanted to make a panel for a handbag with this 4-patch, but it's too big for the pattern I planned to use. 

Instead, I chose this set:

I surrounded each 4.5" patch with my hand-dyed fabric, purple/orange/pink/blue.

I quilted the panel with a simple grid pattern in pink cotton thread. Now the panel will be cut into 4 individual blocks for the handbag pattern. Those open squares are tempting me to do something else in them...machine embroidery? appliques? Will those overtake the star blocks? Hmmm....

These paper-pieced patterns come from the book Down in the Valley by Derksen and Harder. The book includes other very cute & very detailed patterns for paper-piecing. Has anyone else tried this particular book and made anything?? I'd love to see!

Happy quilting! Joining creative friends at:

     and       

and a new link site:

"Works In Progress" Wednesday feature: Chicken-themed Table Runner

I almost forgot about WIP! My sister, Miss SewCraftyChick, reminded me this morning.

You already know I like hens. My sister shares my interest in all things chickens. She gifted me with new fabric kit for Christmas to make a table runner with CHICKENS! The reds also match our dining-room and will look lovely on the table. 

Close up of block

4 Log Cabin blocks

Diana invited me to drive north for the weekend to visit and attend, for our first time, the Portland Modern Quilt Guild's "Sew-In". We invited her 20 year old daughter and my niece Aubrey, who also loves to make lovely quilts, and spent time with other creative people ALL DAY!! What fun! Attendance was impressive, and sewing machines, irons, and conversation pleasantly filled the large room. I completed the Log Cabin Kit and now I will quilt the top.

 

Sister Diana and niece Aubrey at "Sew In"

I'm planning to attend my first local meeting of the Eugene Modern Quilt Guild tonight. I look forward to getting know know more creative people in my community as well.

Are you part of a guild or group that inspires you? Share your experiences!

CONTINUED....

I've finished free-motion quilting my table runner. I decided that since a log cabin is "boxy" and linear, it needed a wavy, flowing line of quilting:

Now I can use it :)

A Tag Exchange: What's that?!

 

For "Works in Progress" Wednesday, I finally found a little something to share with you.    


I'm part of an online exchange group with other creative people who inspire me (like you)! So, in spite of the busy-ness of this holiday season, I made a commitment to prepare something "creative" to share with someone I don't know which I'm working on today. The only specifics for this exchange are that the tag needs to be made from cloth (simple!), and have a hole for hanging. No particular theme, so anything goes.

Tag front: a paper-pieced house (made a couple of years ago) combined with a block of words embroidered on my machine that mean house in 3 languages, Spanish, English, and Japanese.

Tag back: strip pieced block that I'd done several years ago. I might add some lace trim I made even more YEARS ago along the seams of these strips.

I stuffed it with fluffy batting and added some lavender to the inside to give it a gentle scent. Maybe I'll find a button or two for further embellishment!

Have a wonderful, safe & joyful holiday!

A stop at a local shop bursting with stimulation & inspiration, add an iced coffee mocha and... 

the Rest is History…

There’s a small shop in town that specializes in cramming every bit of its space with (new) STUFF. I used to enjoy going into this store while attending university. In fact, this type of small shop reminds me of browsing and shopping in Japan. I loved it! Real estate is very expensive in Japan, so making a space, however small, profitable is important. In fact, many of the shops are truly storefronts with their small personal living space behind a curtain at the back. It’s not unusual to find the shopkeeper watching tv, cooking for the family or doing other household tasks when I came by. I would peruse the space like a detective so I wouldn’t miss any nook or cranny. I had a fascination with all the items, some unfamiliar and curious. In any case, it’d been a long time since I’d stopped at this local shop, so after “visiting” the dentist (argh!) and being on that end of town, I decided to “reward” myself (ever do this??) and venture in, just for a little look. An hour later…

After returning home and eating lunch, I enjoyed an iced mocha at 2pm. I make it a habit, for my health, to take a daily rest, usually by 2pm but I didn't get to it early enough today. As I shut my eyes, it swiftly became apparent that actual sleep wouldn't be happening, no matter how long I lay there. Images flooded my head. My mind took flights of fancy, envisioning sewing and art endeavors that put a smile on my face. Excitement increased as each image and idea fled by, and I knew I was swamped…wrong beverage to drink at 2pm! So I gave up.

This is one idea I had today, and I will designate it as my project for "Works in Progress" Wednesday:

A seasonal banner

Close-up

I envision this little banner to be capable of hanging on a wall, a mantle, a shelf…wherever someone wants to add holiday cheer! 

So I’m still working out the details. 

What flights of fancy have come to you lately?

It's "Works in Progress" Wednesday!

I've been working on my Red & White Picket Fence Table Runner for a couple of months, along with other projects I've posted previously (and many that haven't been finished or shared yet!). 

I love the spark, the zap, the zing of this design:

Here's the top...

...and here's the back.

There's only the hand-sewing of the binding left, and maybe a little more machine quilting around the borders. I bought a charm pack of reds and whites assembled and sold at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show this past summer. I think it was a wise investment, don't you? I added a few more fabrics on my own for the back and the binding.

Have you ever made a "picket fence" block? Want to learn how? 
Leave a comment so that when I finish editing my pattern, and perhaps actually publish/pdf it, I can notify you.
Happy Quilting, or Sewing, or Cutting, or Planning!
Most of all, dream, dream, dream!

"Works in Progress Wednesday"

Forest of Trees!

I find paper-piecing of quilt blocks intriguing. The detail in following the patterns can be aggravating since it's so easy to make a mistake: mis-positioning the piece of fabric, using a piece of fabric that ends up too small for the section, flipping the fabric to the wrong side, or....each error necessitating ripping it out or finding another piece of fabric. So why do I like doing it?, you may ask. I like a challenge, even if it gets me into trouble sometimes. I also appreciate the results.

I made these trees last year and have as yet to commit them to something. I'm thinking along the lines of placemats. With winter coming, and the holidays, trees seem appropriate for something.

Have you tried paper piecing? Do you like it? Share some of your "successes" with me (and all of us!). Thanks!

I'm getting some great suggestion on how to trim these trees. Thanks so much!

Top view of runner & quilting

Close up of quilting

   Holiday Twirl: Almost Done!

I thought "Holiday Twirl" table runner should have an encore, now that I've finished quilting it. I still need to do the binding, but I think it's cheerful, don't you?

Back view of runner & quilting

Gardening & Harvesting, the other interest

How about this morning's harvest as well? I planted the carrots in September so we'd have those sweet darlings to enjoy in the Fall.

Now it's time to check out fabric at the store since the local newspaper had a coupon for a shop I haven't been to yet. Maybe those paper-pieced trees will find some fabric to play with!