A promising start to the holidays

School term finished on Friday... so it's holidays for me and the kids for the next two weeks.  I will need to sneak in some work time, and the kids have a few plans, but I'm hoping to get lots of sewing done too.

The last week has been very wet and wintery, but I have been plugging away at my "designated task", adding sashing to my VQR blocks, and adding the framing to the My Tweets blocks.  It is always funny that projects that started like... 5 or so years apart are coming together at the same time.

My Tweets now has blocks added to the left, top and right of the central applique panel.  Just the bottom row to frame and add on now.

VQR has sashing added to half the quilt, and those rows have been sewn together.  Woot.  This means I can have half my floor back to plan other tasks (I feel like I should insert an evil laugh here...)

Finally my Craftsy purchase arrived.  Oh, did I tell you I ordered a kit through Craftsy?  It was something I really liked, but at full price + international postage was too expensive to justify.  Luckily it came up on a great special, so I figured, why not?

A layer cake, green yardage and white yardage.  It doesn't look overly exciting so far...

And the printout of the pattern in black and white doesn't look particularly exciting either... but I think it is a cool pattern, and I can't wait to break it all open (maybe on the open bit of floor).

While the design wall is looking free as well, I have moved the floral applique block into the central space.  Still waiting for that inspiration but I have a few ideas.  Need to play with size and fabric limitations.  It looks a bit lonely by itself. 

I've found some free patterns from my internet browsing activities over the last few weeks.  I really like the softness of this pattern, and could imagine it from many of the leftover groupings of fabrics from other projects.

Esther Aliu has many wonderful BOM patterns, and this is one of her current free patterns.

I am also being drawn to a Trip Around the World quiltalong at https://myteaandbrie.com/blog.  I have never really been keen on this pattern, it can be a little full on when all the diagonal stripes are different coloured fabrics, but I have decided to have a few stripes being plain, and a couple of low volume stripes, and the other ones are... FLORALS!  Yes, I have changed my mind from the Granny Square quilt (really because even though I can see those fabrics in the GS pattern, I just had too many fabrics I wanted to use).  So I am going to try out one TATW block, and see how it goes.

She has very comprehensive instructions for completing the blocks, tips and tricks, as well as a great table showing how many blocks and fabric you need for different sizes.  If you've been thinking that this is a quilt you might like to make, I seriously recommend the quiltalong, whether you stick to the timelines or not.

Where has the time gone?

Well, June disappeared and July is already underway.  I have struggled to work out what I have achieved the last couple of weeks since the last post.  Usually I take photos to remind myself... but as I started to think a new post was well overdue, well... it appeared there were no photos on the camera!

So... what exactly have I been up to?

Firstly, I did some redecorating in our bathroom.  Our family/only bathroom is pretty small.  Consisting width wise of a bath, basin and shower unit (the room is as long as the bath - 1.5m)... it's never really had any decorative elements.  That changed when I bought some storage boxes which my handy hubby attached to the wall, and a new toothbrush holder and soap dispenser.

I really like how it turned out, and we can now keep the window sill and basin top clear of all the crap that used to cover it.

I have been asked to run a FMQ class... so I requested that participants create a small quilt top (18 x 24" roughly) which could be donated to the local maternity unit as bassinet quilts once they are finished.  Being the tutor means that I will have to demonstrate too... so had to look through my bits and pieces to find something to put together.  I just happened to have a selection of rainbow squares cut... goodness knows why, and I realised they looked great with a strip of leftover backing from my Tokyo Subway quilt, and some odd pieces of white on white.  This is what I came up with.  It is insanely cute.

And talking about FMQ... I finally started quilting my Stack, Slash and Slide quilt top...

After much thought, I decided to stick with a simple interlocking boxes design all over... so far - I've got the first 1/4 finished.  Unfortunately I managed to strain a muscle in my side, which led to a twinge in my neck from overcompensating (like you do), and it took a few days to come back to normal.  Moral of the story... stick to small, regular sessions instead of marathon ones.

 Finishing all my mindless piecing jobs early in the month (RSC blocks and Tillies Lane hourglass blocks) meant that I needed something small and easy to just whizz through the machine as a leader/ender.  Tillies Lane for July is Month 8... and there is only Month 9 left after that.  Which is mostly putting the quilt together!  A little bit of preplanning means that I'm creating little four patches with my hour glass blocks.  Here's one I prepared earlier!

And although the pile is still pretty small... it is growing!

The project needing the leader/ender, is operation "My Tweets block framing".  I've got the left hand side blocks added now.  I can almost see the end of this one now.  Almost.  I've chosen the framing fabrics for the right hand side and started the top right hand block.

When I was sorting through my sewing shed a few weeks back, I found this orphan block.  Luckily it is the perfect match for a new commission - a single bed sized quilt for a little girl - purple being the chosen colourway.  I haven't quite decided how one block is going to turn into a full sized quilt, but with it up on the design wall it's just a matter of time before those creative juices start flowing.

I spent the last Saturday of June sewing at my favourite fabric shop (The Country Yard)... and just happened to buy the following fat quarters.  From a Sweetwater range... of course, none of these fabrics have labeling on their selvedge.  Gorgeous.  I am in love.

And these totally random fabric purchases arrived in my post box also... maybe some of these purples could end up in the kids quilt.

Thoughts about goals for July.

Well, I still have this quilt all over my floor.

The RSC colour for July is BLUE.  So really, I need to lay out the blocks so far, to do some planning before I can choose a new block to sew.

I'd like to sew another dress, so I really need to lay that out to be able to cut it out.

I'd like to lay out Tillies Lane because, well, it's almost finished people!!!

I can just see the My Tweets top falling off the design wall completely as it gets bigger and heavier.  If that happens... well, I'll need to lay it out on the floor.

Also on the horizon is Charlotte's mystery quilt - which already has month threes instructions up on Carol's Quilts blog.  Not sure if I really need to lay this out yet - but you never know.

So to do any of these things... I really need to get these VQR blocks sashed and sewn together.  I feel a bit weird because it's working backwards order-wise to how I've been doing things most of the year.  Today I sewed together my first row.  OK, I can do this.


Right, I think I'm all caught up... hopefully you are still awake.

Progress!

This month I had two VQR blocks to complete - to catch up with Monika... the last two from the book (20 different blocks).  One was the second block we were supposed to make... but I had problems with the paper piecing... and didn't like it, so put it aside and forgot about it for as long as possible.

Using some of my new paper foundation piecing experience (both from this quilt and the Sugar Club blocks), I re-printed the paper templates, and this time printed the template piece (which was only supposed to be a cutting template for the large fans), and attached it to my paper foundation.  Then I paper pieced four identical sections.  I also chose fabrics which would hopefully help hide any imperfections.

Woot!  We have success!

My join was still moderately dodgy... but those clever fabrics mean you can't really see it.  It was 100% better than my first attempt with different fabrics.

And the difference with Monika's block is amazing... you view it totally differently.

The second block I needed to make was another paper pieced one.  Great!  But actually, I really like it.

Because my ultimate quilt layout only needed 36 blocks (for a 6 x 6 grid with sashing), I didn't need to finish these particular blocks for my own quilt.  I am tempted to complete this last block for myself, but I don't even know if I have enough fabric to do the same layout.  And if I did make the block, well, I'd need to decide which block it would substitute.

It is so hard to get a good photo of these large layouts, but I'm pretty happy with things so far.  Now for the sashing!

I've also put a few more borders onto my My Tweets blocks, so now I've got the centre panel finished, and the two top blocks attached.  What a moment!

I must admit to being a bit scared of trimming the large centre panel down to size, but finally bit the bullet and just did it.  I did measure twice, or maybe three times before I cut though!  I wanted variety in my sashing - so that it was interesting - but still keep it relatively mid-toned. 

The fabrics I've chosen as sashing have all been used else where on the quilt... well, except for the outer border on the centre panel - that was from leftover border fabric from my Bluebirds and Berries quilt, but it fits in perfectly with this collection of fabrics too.

I have also had some sneaky packages arrive in the mail.

A sale at Grandmothers Garden netted the following metre pieces.  All interesting and useful... but of no purpose at this stage.

From left "Tangier"for Clothworks: different designs in Blue and Cream, African Sky Fabrics, A Quilters Garden by Bird Brain Designs

Fat Quarter Shop also had a sale, and I picked up these patterns.

And a new book which has some good ideas.

And a new solid - Essex Linen in Steel.

I'm thinking that Nadia is probably due for a new quilt at some stage, as although she still uses both her quilts, she's probably outgrown the princess one below...

And this one is just so faded it is almost impossible to photograph.

So the Frances Firefly pattern is looking tempting.  And the Urban Grunge pattern is just so blokey...

AWOL?

I've not really been AWOL, maybe MIA would be a better description, because I have been busy and am excited to share the end of month progressions... and goals for next month.

With a clear floor, I spent a few hours pinning my Stack, Shuffle and Slide quilt, which has now been moved to a "holding zone" awaiting quilting. Perhaps once the blanket stitch station is free, I can get this one started.

With the last of the Sugar Club blocks upsized.  Yes, you read right... the LAST BLOCK, I have had it laid out on the floor and closely scrutinized, to get the perfect layout.  I may never sew another half square triangle.

And I've been cutting, pinning and sewing the sashing strips and blocks together.  Only one lonely block to attach now, and then the last row to sew... then it's just the final plain border!  I always underestimate the time it takes to get this stage finished... it just seems to take for-ever!

Getting away from machine piecing, I took the last My Tweets block to my monthly sewing session at my favourite patchwork shop - The Country Yard.  Although I didn't finish it all up there... there was a bit of cutting and ironing at home too... I did get the block constructed over the weekend.

And I'm all ready to tackle the blanket stitch as part of my June goals.

I decided to sash my blocks a bit differently to the pattern, so I've got a narrow 1/4" dark border framing the blocks, then a mid toned 3/4" frame.

A close up of the fabrics!  It is a bit fiddley doing the narrow borders, but as I don't have enough of the dark fabric to waste - I am being extra careful, and with the help of my friendly spray starch, so far so good.

I've selected a few other fabrics that will suit being sashing... both being somewhat mid toned and large enough!

My Tillie's Lane large applique block for June is this one, plus a small applique and 24 hour glass blocks.  I've got two done already!

I need to get my VQR blocks finished as Monika is ahead again... there are only two blocks left, so this will be my first priority to get finished this month.

Also on the radar are the RSC blocks... still don't know what colour June will be, so will keep you posted.

And, I have high hopes to get another dress finished up.  You won't believe it but I actually bought another fabric.  Once the Sugar Club blocks are cleared from the open floor space - I think it will be time to pin out another pattern.  Can't wait.

Sounds like it's going to be another busy month doesn't it?

It's still the end of the month somewhere in the world, right?

The week leading up to the 31st of March is D-Day week in the Accounting world in New Zealand.  To say it has been a stressful few days (well, it's actually been stressful since January, it just gets more intense) would be an understatement.  Hence, sewing was a bit stretched out and patchy, and I needed the first day of April to get those last few pesky jobs finished.

VQR Sampler Blocks - Mosaic No 8 has been finished!  Woot.  Again, I used a quick spritz of spray starch to the pieces before construction, and it helped prevent distortion while sewing.  I chose to press all the seams open for this one, and it turned out relatively precise.

Goal for April... this paper foundation pieced block.  I see Monika has already snuck ahead again...

Tillies Lane:  I had a tiny bit of blanket stitch to finish on the wreath block, so that got finished up this morning.

April's blocks are this jug block, two petal applique blocks and 12 hour glass blocks.

My Tweets:  Goal for April is to construct the applique on Block 12 (really block 11 because I switched the last two block positions).  I really like this noughts and crosses background fabric... so cute.

Sugar Club:  Goal for April is to get this block finished, plus get the last square centered block upsized.  That will leave just one block left that will need to be upsized.

Starburst Cross Quilt: with the changes I have made to this one, I have another five blocks to piece.  We'll see how this goes, but would be "nice" to get this pieced.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge:  This month the colour is "multicoloured fabric"... so that will be interesting.  This could be the opportunity to choose one of the blocks that have larger pieces... and really go to town on the fabrics.

New Baby Quilt:  and just because there are never enough quilting projects... the baby quilt has been added to the list.  What sewing I have done this week has been on this, and really I have made good progress.

I've just got another multicoloured strip and a white strip to add to the bottom (to make it that much more usable rectangular shape), and I'm thinking I'll be ready to get to the quilting stage.  Have I mentioned that I really like this quilt pattern???  Ideal world... goal for April... get this finished.