And repeat until finished

I've been really good with my quilting this past week, scheduling in an hours worth of FMQ each afternoon.  By Friday and with five hours under my belt, I still was not quite 1/4 finished on the background.  Progress did mean that I didn't feel too guilty spending a bit of time planning for the Mystery Medallion centre block, when it was my turn to host the Saturday patchwork ladies.

Out came the books and the fabrics... lots of ideas... you'll have to wait to see what it all looks like, but it is definitely coming together.

I received in the post the latest Down Under Quilts magazine...

With a wee feature of my Robot quilt in their kids quilts article.

Not too shabby... although I do wish I had a decent hanging space to ensure better photography.  Sometimes it's not what you know but who you know... and a big thank you to that enabling person... you know who you are!

Plans for this week... you guessed it... more FMQ.

Bits and bobs

Halfway there...

Some little birds

But whoops, there's a bit of a gap at the end.  Not so bad in itself, but the other blocks and borders extend further towards the outer edges.

The scrap paper from the fusible shapes does a quick stand in to see what a possible solution could look like...

Yip - I think this could work!  Tomorrow will be a bit more tracing and fusing.

Before I commit this scrap to the bin, I just thought you'd appreciate how close things were with the backing fabric for the Robot quilt.  I'd said that there might not be enough to cover both the borders and the backing... and I was almost right.  There was about 1/2" spare on either of the sides... reminder to self, don't do this again!

I had a weak moment.  A Fabricworm fabric sale email.  I clicked the link.  I was sunk!

Thinking that with overseas delivery, it could be that it wouldn't arrive until July... and then it would be OK.  But the package arrived in record time - about 13 days. 

But it's OK - 

 

... it's necessity fabric.  Have you ever come across fabric described in such a way on your customs declaration?  Little did they know, it is definitely necessity fabric... my precious!

And isn't it beautiful?  I am going to enjoy adding this into the stash cupboard.  In fact, it might call for some little bundles to be collated, fondled and photographed.  Watch this space :0)

And this little pattern made it's way into the bag as well.  Isn't it darling?  Pincushions and fiddley things aren't really my forte... so we'll have to see how this turns out.

A show, a pattern, a quilt, a bed and a sunset

Armed with camera and a little spending money, I attended the Whangarei Guilds exhibition yesterday, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  So much so... that I completely forgot to take any photos!  Not the first time this has happened... and unlikely to be the last.  Leeann who blogs at Quilt Whangarei already has photos up of the challenge entries (showing very imaginative re-purposing of shirts) and I'm sure she'll have the other exhibition photos up soon.

I bumped into a few old friends and had a great time catching up... as you do.  I also took the time to find out a little bit more about a particular pattern, from Kerry who has an online shop Tulis Textiles here in Northland, selling batiks, patterns and specialty rulers (amongst other things).  My bucket list includes a double wedding ring quilt - although I don't think I have the patience or stamina for the truly traditional version.  This pattern and ruler should make it do-able... when I'm allowed to start something new again of course.  My brain is already whizzing with possibilities.

I also visited with all the merchants, and carefully chose only two fat quarters.  Yup, just two.  Aren't I good?

On the finishing front, I put the last few stitches in The Robot Quilt binding, attached a label

Did a bit of personalisation for the new owner... a little boy...

who is going to turn four next week.

And the final, outdoor photo.  I'm very pleased with how this quilt has turned out - and super happy to have found a purchaser, with all money raised going to fundraising efforts for my sons snow trip later in the year.

With the end of the month rolling around tomorrow, it was time for a new quilt on the bed.  This one has not been slept under yet - and in fact, the binding still has just over a side to be stitched down... but all good things take time.  I've been consciously try to increase my speed slipstitching the binding down... and along with stitching in the afternoon as opposed to the evening, I have been getting better (the robot quilt only took a few days!).  So really, I should put this on my list to get {completely} finished by the end of the April.

My Gypsy Bandana Craftsy 2012 BOM Sampler quilt, experimentally straight line quilted on Janet (the handiquilter frame)

The view out the window this evening... glorious - although not sure the camera has really caught the moment.

No that's not a UFO - it's the reflection of our light pendant

OK, that's me all caught up with my adventures.  Plans for this week include working on the Bluebirds and Berries panel, with the last bit of vine almost stitched down, then the applique elements will need to be blanket stitched.  I hope to baste the Japanese ladies quilt this week... so it'll be another busy one, down in the Sewing Shed.  Have a good week!

Shock! Horror! A Wednesday Update!

The quilting on the Robot Quilt is finished and a bright green solid binding has been attached by machine, with the final hand stitching left to do.  I can see light at the end of the tunnel.

We have a stipple in the background - and an organic echo around the rockets...

the stars and the robots.  The robots also got treated to a spiral in the eye department...

and the zigzag chests got a bit of definition.

The border has an Angela Walters square pattern - if you follow it from the mid right, it exits at top left, and then onto the next one.  This is one of my favourite border treatments.  It certainly did wonders for the slight wave I seemed to have in this quilt.

I've also been amassing possible new projects for when the project diet is over.  I'm not sure that the whole diet thing is going to work.  A bit like a food diet... we all know what happens when the diet is over - you put the weight back on and then some.  I think I will probably finish this year with even more projects on the go compared with the beginning of the year.

I really like this free download - Starburst Cross Quilt from Sew Crafty Jess.  I have the perfect bundle for this... and it's on my one day list.

I've also signed up for the Sugar Club with Amy Gibson.  A new pattern each month... and I can just see these made up in my Bonnie & Camille stash left over from the Japanese Ladies Quilt.

On a bit of an Amy Gibson marathon... don't you love this Tuileries pattern?  Not sure about what I'd use exactly, but a bit of scrap management, a few low volume's maybe... this one needs to stew for a while.

Now I'd never make this one in pink, but it sure is a great graphic quilt... and pretty simple too.  This was a free download from Forth Worth Fabric Studio.  Imagine blues and greens... or teal and stone... yummo...

And while I don't want to sign myself up for any more charity quilts in a hurry... wouldn't this one be a terrific option?  I might just need one for myself...

So that's my Wednesday happenings... what's going on at your place?

In which Monday becomes Tuesday becomes Wednesday

After a less than stellar week last week... when I ended up doing absolutely no sewing... didn't even enter the shed... I planned to jump right into machine quilting the robot quilt on Saturday.  Unfortunately Cyclone Lusi had other ideas, with power cuts for the better part of the day.  So I ended up changing the lounge around to a new winter layout... better day time light... and cleaning up the resulting mess.  Do you know how dirty it gets under your sofa???  Luckily we had brief periods of power when the vacuum was heavily used :0)  While I like the new layout, other members of the household are not so keen... because you need to turn your head to watch the TV.  Any guesses which member of the family that would be???

Sunday was day of the robot... as was Monday... and now Wednesday.  Lots and lots of wiggling... otherwise known as meandering or stippling... but I think of it as wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, turn, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, turn.

Lots of lovely texture

This is the last area to be stippled.  But you guessed it... I've run out of bobbin fill!  Kerryn!!

And then it will be onto the border quilting... I'm thinking of an interlocking square pattern, and binding!

 I am going to reward myself for being so committed to getting this one done.  Because I can.  So... my carrot will be to complete another one of these delicious blocks.  Since I have no bobbin fill... I might just need to start laying it out tomorrow.... hmmm... now where did I put that project??

The Podcast Episode

Those last four rockets got made during the week, and even sewn together to form the quilt centre.  Woohoo!!  I like how the colours play so nicely together.  This was a mixture of remnants (bigger than scraps but leftovers from other projects) and small scraps for the star points, plus a light blue homespun background.

After a discussion with my quilting buddies, it was agreed that I should use some of the black star fabric I purchased as the backing, and add it as a medium size border.  I can always add a bit of variety to the back if it turns out I haven't quite got enough fabric for both areas.  I have my fingers crossed... ever the optimist... but I'm really pretty sure that there won't be enough for both.  Variety is a great thing!

I have also been busy stitching down this binding on my secret project.  I love this text print - and it makes an amazing binding!  More on the secret project probably next month.

Not much else happening on the quilting front.  However, if you happen to read Ms Lotties blog (The Slightly Mad Quilt Lady)... you'll know that she has started recording quilt related pod casts.  For those of you who like to listen, perhaps as you sew... it is a mighty fine was to multi-task - and learn a bit about what's going on around the world.

This episode she bought her voice recorder to our once a month Saturday quilting group (this time at my place), and recorded as we discussed this and that.  Then!  She interviewed me!  The evil woman!

So, if you want to know what I sound like.  Learn a bit more about me and how I see the world.  Find out how this quilt came about....

My first quilt!

 ... and a few other bits and pieces, tune in to her latest episode here.  It's a great bit of fun.  If you would like a bit more information... her show notes are on her blog post which is on my sidebar... or click here.

Be sure to let me know if you have a listen - and let me know how terrible my accent is!  Or if you would like more information about any of the things we discussed.  You have been warned!

Only four more rockets...

... and then this baby will be ready to sew together.

This one turned out a little more funky than I imagined.  The print is a bit large for all those little pieces that make up the face... but there is no way I'm making another one!

And I included a somewhat pinkish star even though the quilt is more of a boyish design... hopefully not too much?

Isn't this one pretty?

And just to show that you can make an ugly wonky star.  There's only a few letters difference between wonky and wrong

My evening hand sewing is still struggling along, even though I had a wonderful project chosen to work on.

3 1/2 pieces sewn down

Which helps to fill up this lower section!  Only about 30 more pieces to go.  I get the feeling this is going to be very colourful, if nothing else :0)

I did focus a bit more on my little Tillies Lane blocks (which are perfect leader/ender sewing), and completed the desired 6 this week.  Next week I have more binding to sew down... as my secret project gets that much closer to completion.  Whew!

How did we get to Tuesday already?

Somehow managed to miss my somewhat regular Sunday roundup.  So what's been happening in the sewing shed?  How am I getting on with my Fabric Diet and am I still resisting the urge to start new projects?

I'm being good :0)   Existing WIP projects only.

Robot Quilt.  We have robot number three!

Star Number One!

Rocket Number One!  And then the beginnings of the layout... woot!

It wasn't long before there was star number two... and I finally realised that the layout is a basic nine patch.  Duh!  Five robots, and four units made up of two rockets and two stars.  I have altered the original pattern slightly, making wonky star blocks instead of regular ones... I just like the twinkly effect you get from those uneven points.

On the fabric buying front... my package ordered from BD (before diet) finally arrived (two months later) with the two backing fabrics  destined (hopefully) for the two raffle quilts that are in the pipeline.  This star fabric will be a perfect backing for this robot quilt.

The other fabric I chose is a cute little woodland scene (well, we'll call it woodland due to the raccoon and owls... but it is a bit of a stretch), and I've still got my fingers crossed that it somewhat goes with the Japanese Ladies, in colour if not theme. 

No other new fabric has passed these hands.  Honest.

I've also been slowly plodding through piecing up the individual rows for the Nordic Star quilt - still a few long sashing strips to add before I make decisions about the size and design of the additional rows.

My hand stitching goal of finishing the hand stitching on The Giant Chevron's binding got finished on Saturday... just in time to be gifted to my expectant sister in law on Sunday.  Yay!

No new photo - you'll have to believe me

Last week I vowed that I was going to choose something more exciting in the hand work department... and have pulled out my needleturn applique Kim McLean project from Taupo Symposium.

Was it worth the wait?

Linking up with Jess and Rebecca from Fabriholics anonymous linkup and maybe Lee at Freshly Pieced if I remember.