UFO Project #2

I blogged a post a couple of weeks ago after I had just finished UFO Project #1, that I had the next UFO project picked out.  I worked on about a third of it and this is the result.  Does it look like a row of corn on the cob?  Try squinting and maybe it will be so?  If not, it will when I get the whole project done.

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UFO BOM progress

Well, this last week was slow going in the sewing room. Mostly because of some health issues, but I got to feeling better by Thursday, so to keep it simple, I worked on all of the UFO BOMs.

First up is block six of Land of Lincoln Sampler called "Farm Friendliness".

Next up is  Month 5 of the Tribute to the Civil War blocks.  This month called for (4) 12" blocks .  Here is a full view of the block made up.

And here is a pic of all four of the blocks done.

Then, last but not least, I added the sixth row on my civil war color way Farmer's Wife quilt.  There are a total of 15 rows all sewn on the diagional.  This is a side view of it hanging on my door.  When all the rows are done it will be a queen sized quilt!

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FQS Mystery Designer BOM #5

Here is block 5 done for this BOM.

If you would like to see the prior months blocks, just click on the on the tag Fat Quarter Shop Mystery Designer BOM 2013 at the end of this post.  Apparently to use this blogger program limits the space you can use, and pictures take up a lot of space, so instead of adding the past pictures of the blocks for this BOM, i'll just have to refer you to prior posts.  Bummer!

Leftover Table Runner Project D.O.N.E. Done!

Yipee!  We are done! Done! Done!  I will be the first to admit that I am not the speedy sewer/quilter there is out there, but this one has taken the prize for one stretched out project reaching the finish line.

And, even after quilting, some of the wonkiness is still there.  (Sigh).  So, I am going to wash it and then do a really good steam press on it and wash my hands from it.  I probably should have scrapped this as soon as I made the first block of triangles, but I didn't and I made the commitment to my self that I am not leaving unfinished projects laying around.  It would have been easy to just bundle the unfinished project up and put in in a bag or bin and tell yourself, "I will come back and get to that later".  Nope, that's not what my new mantra is all about, especially since I am no longer working outside of the home.

So here are the finished pictures.  The first one here is the runner folded in half.  I didn't take the time to totally unfold it for the pictures, mostly to save face on all the wonkiness going on with this thing called a table runner.

Close up picture of the one corner of the quilt and it shows the cross-hatch quilting I did.  This is probably my most favorite way to quilt, as it is straight line quilting (no special changes on the sewing machine itself or the feet), and it usually is just following the lines of stitching the block together.  Going around the border I just straight stitched at one inch intervals.

Another close-up of the cross hatch quilting.

Cute view of it folded up.  Too bad that it looks the best this way rather than laid out on the table.  (Snicker)

This picture is a view of the backing I used, which is the same as the last border on the front.  I got really lucky, as I didn't have enough of any of the scraps left over from the big quilt to do a backing, so I spent a couple of late nights surfing the web, and found matching fabric.  It was posted as scraps left over from a long arm quilter and only cost me $3.50, including postage to get the backing.  Half of the fun is the hunt for the right material to complete the project and make it look like you had it all from the beginning

And, last, but not least, here is a close up of a corner to show the binding, which matches the red in the quilt top.

Now that it is done, I am feeling pretty good about sticking it out and completing this project.  It shows now that I can do a little designing and have the self discipline to follow through with something I started.

By the way, if anyone is interested in this design, leave me a comment with your e-mail address, and I will send you the graph paper sketches I did in the planning of this table runner.

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A Peek at the Leftover Project

This leftover project has taken more time than I really wanted to commit.  My original thought was, "Here is a stack of leftover triangles, I should be able to whip up something really quick!"  (Snicker)  Yeah, right!

Using leftover little triangles causes fitting issues, as they are the off cast of the correct fitting flying geese and each leftover triangle may or may not be the same size as the other cut off triangles.

So, there is a little wonky fitting, including a little tuck here and there.  But overall, I think it is going to come out rather nicely using up all the leftovers from the big quilt.

I am hoping to quilt it and bind it this afternoon and evening.  

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Dress forms

It is no secret that I like and have a small collection of dress forms.  Some have been found in re-sale shops, and some are new found in various retail outlets.  I have them displayed in several places throughout my sewing room. 

Here are a few standing in my window sill, all lined up in a row.

This one is hanging on my back wall.

These two wire framed pink ones are found on top of my fabric shelves.

This one is a pretty one in a chiffon flowing dress, and it's pink!

Yesterday, we were at a factory outlet discount store and look what I found!!!  Yep, another dress form, and this one comes with it's own little matching purse.  Cute, huh?

My collection would be much bigger, but for some odd reason, dress forms in any fashion (wire, clothed, jewelry holder) are usually quite expensive.  Most of mine bought in a retail store have been on sale at at least 75% off.  The lowest price on the small ones start at around $30 and if they are over 12" high they hover around $100.

I feel fortunate enough to have the collection currently residing in my sewing room.

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Sewing Buddy

I'm not sure what is is about cats, quilts, and sewing rooms, but they seem to be one of the most posted items out in blog land.  I am no exception!

Here is my helper today...

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