Wednesday Work in Progress {Bottled Rainbows}

I'm finally getting back to my sewing machine.  And I thought it would be nice to ease in with a project that has been a waiting for me  for a long long time.  I would like to reintroduce you to the Bottled Rainbows quilt along sponsored by Stitched in Color.

Am I the only one who hasn't finished this one yet?  Come on... I know there must be others, right?

Well, either way.  It's back and I'm madly in love with the project again.  Here is the deep tangerine block.  I love spending time with the scraps, figuring out where I want everything, pinning them, and then sewing them down.

There was a lovely day this past weekend that I spent outside in the sunshine working with my scraps.  Darn near heaven!!

The girls thought it was divine too!  Here is Katie snoozing.

Sammy slept a wink here and there, but spent most of her time chasing ants and bugs and in general trying to devise a way to get her paws on my scraps.

Isn't that fox just adorable?

Once in awhile something interesting stirred the pups to move around. 

But I melted when I saw where Katie decided to rest her head.  Awww!!!

These two can be the best quilting buddies ever sometimes.  What more could a girl want besides sunshine, pups, and fabric?

Here is the lavender block.  I didn't have as many scraps that perfectly matched this color, but I decided that wasn't going to hold me back.  I think that was what stopped me the last time. 

So, in the hopes of finishing this quilt up over the next month or so, I pushed through and decided that as long as it complimented ... it would be used.  And I love it!

I also never really appreciated the portability of being able to pick, cut, and place fabrics away from my sewing machine.  And then later sew everything down.

Here are the four I have completed and sewn.  Although, somebody (no naming names.... rhymes with Whammy) thought it would be funny to run and slide through my squares.  Puppies!!

Here is a more proper picture of the four. 

I have the lavender one nearly sewn down and I am starting in on fuchsia after that.  I am still trying to come up with the name of this quilt, but am just enjoying this project again ... and that's what quilting is all about, right?

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats:

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 5
New Projects: 0

Finished Projects: 2 (The Lake and Sunrise -- finished pictures coming soon!)

Total WiP's: 3

Sew Little Sewing

With the long weekend and ample sunshine my sewing machine was a bit neglected. But I did find a few neat things at the flea market!!  A flowery vintage sheet and a green glass float! 

And yes, that's Sammy's paw in my picture.  She can nearly get up on my desk... growing like a weed and getting so tall.

--COMPLETE--
Happy Hippo Stenciling - you can read more about Happy here.

-IN PROGRESS--
Crewel Spring Flowers
I have started another flower and am enjoying every stitch!

Star Struck
Star quilt-a-long by Melissa at Happy Quilting.

I finally made my first star last week.  I am using a stack of vintage sheets for the stars and the brown is a mocha flannel.  The combo of soft sheet and flannel is dreamy soft!!  I am so ready to cut and assemble a few more!

 

Katie Fiber Art

 

A long neglected project.  I have actually scrapped the past one and started over with a different technique.  Here is a preview of where I am with it, but I am going to write a whole post up to with more details soon!

 

 

--ON PAUSE--

 

{Insert Name Here}: Bottled Rainbows {ticker tape quilt-along}

I am looking froward to getting back to this one, but decided I needed a finish, so this one was put aside. 

Big Blue

Still waiting for one last sashing row to be cut out and attached. 

Still thinking about putting a border on this one as well.

X Marks the Spot

Haven't started quilting this yet. 

I need to clean off my desk and just give this a go!

 

You Can Sew-a-thon!!

You haven't heard of it??... check it out here or read about our first project (Strawberry Pincushion).

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats:

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 7
New Projects: 1 (Dog in the Forest)

Finished Projects: 1 (Happy Hippos)
Total WiP's: 8 (finished one, added one -- so same)

Creative Tuesday: Ice Cream

It's Creative Tuesday!  Do a little dance with me! 

Oh, how I've missed sitting down to spend time with my pad and color pencils, it was just wonderful to see what came out for the theme over at Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesday's assignment!

This week's theme was Ice Cream! Yippie!!  I sure have had my share of ice cream this summer and must admit it's one of my favorite pleasures.  Now you can see why I had to find a few minutes to play along.  But what to draw?

{I'll let you in on a little secret.}  I have spent my doodling time trying to dream up a fabric design worthy to submit to the Connecting Threads fabric design contest.   I am sure that this creative piece is the result of some of the ideas I have been toying with.

Fun right?  And who couldn't go for an extra extra large twisty cone?

For you font geeks out there... yes, I hand drew hippo font -- it seemed only fitting!

 

Mr. Toast, that was a ton of fun!!  Great theme!  Thank you for the challenge and looking forward to already saying YES! to accepting your next challenge!  

I hope you consider joining in this or the next assignment (really hope you do) and please take a look other artists in the community here.   

 

Now, off with you happy hippo sweets!  Off to the rest of the day with a bounce in your step!

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

Snuck in Successful Sewing Sessions

I snuck in some small amounts of sewing time over the last two weeks.  Here is a check on what is on my sewing table.

--ONGOING PROJECTS--

X Marks the Spot {thinking now, I may keep the name}

The front has been pieced for a few weeks now and it was time to work on creating a back.  I didn't have anything planned out, so I just grabbed the stack of scraps I had accumulated and thought I would see what developed.

Here is where I am with it now.  Some large pieces are laid out and starting to fill in the backing.  I haven't quite had that ahh-ha! moment where I know it the way I want it, but I feel close. 

Happy Garden (king sized)

 

I made the binding and laid it along the edge of the quilt to see again what it will look like.  It's the perfect choice!

 

 

I also wanted to share with you one of the ways I roll my binding to keep it from getting wrinkled. 

 

Start with an empty thread spool.  Make your binding.  Then get a small piece of tape.  Secure one end of the binding onto the spool with the tape.  And then begin to wind the binding around the spool.

Yup, simple as that!  The extra bonus part is that as you are working to attach the binding to the quilt it unrolls very nicely... doesn't get tangled... and just over all makes me feel more like I know what I'm doing!

I have also attached the binding to the front of the quilt... all the way around.  Have I mentioned lately that is quilt is gigantic?  Last thing is to attach the binding now to the back. 

I am debating on this one... I could either hand or machine stitch it.  By hand with have a nicer finish, but will take forever; which may be ok as the weather cools off and I would want to snuggle under it as I work.  But, on the other hand I want to get this one finished so I can wash it already and see what the quilting wrinkles up like.

My dilemma... to hand or machine sew the binding to the back?  What do you think?

 

--STALLED--

{Insert Name Here}: Bottled Rainbows {ticker tape quilt-along}

 

I am looking froward to getting back to this one, but decided I needed a finish, so this one was put aside. 

 

Crewel Spring Flowers

Nada -- poor pretty flowers.

Katie Fiber Art

No action here.

You Can Sew-a-thon!!
You haven't heard of it??... check it out here or read about our first project (Strawberry Pincushion).

 

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats 

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 6
New Projects: 0 (I have been so good to try and focus on what I already have going)

Finished Projects: 0
Total WiP's: 6 (same as last time)

---Linking to W.I.P. Wednesday with Lee at Freshly Pieced---

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

I'm Sewing Again!

Can you believe it's been two weeks since my last update?  Time flies when you get a puppy.  I am happy to say that I managed to sneak in some sewing time ... which has been wonderful!

--ONGOING PROJECTS--


X Marks the Spot {still re-thinking the name of this one}
I shared last Friday that I was starting back up with this one and boy oh boy am I ever happy to be back with this quilt!!

I did redesign it once again.  Not too far from where I started, but I am so happy I decided to add solids.  It was really needed to allow the patterns of the Fandango fabric to shine.  This is a quick sketch I made of the pattern so I can remember where everything goes. 

The color pencil colors each represented a fabric below with the X in the center being on of the X blocks I had already made from the Fandango fabric.  I am also excited to play with the border of this one since I decided to let the 'arms' of the X's fall into the border rows.  Should be like it is almost trying to break out of the center (or something like that).

Yes, Katie was in attendance!  I always enjoy her company in the sewing room.  Here she has decided to rest her head in my hand.  Melts me.  Melts me right down.

Yes, Sammy also wanted to pay a visit to the sewing room to see what all the fuss was.  Needless to say she was escorted out quickly -- more about that in the Truth About Puppies post coming.

Ok, so new pattern drafted... new squares cut (they are 6.5 inches in case you were wondering) I started to lay out the quilt on the floor.  Now you can begin to imagine why the puppy couldn't stay around too long.

By the end of the night I had the whole top completely laid out and was happy with the colors and placement of things. 

Over the next few days I started to assemble the top by making 4x4 squares.  It has been challenging to keep the pattern correct, but it's going to be so worth it in the end! 

The extra single blocks that I pinned to my design wall are the 'arms' that will extend into the border... therefore I saved them and set them aside for when I will create the border.  Makes sense, right?

So far, I have about 2/3's of the top sewn together.  And I am head over heels!! 

I still have another column to piece and put on the right side of this, but I can really start to see it coming together... and it's much easier to defend a sewn top from the puppy versus all those loose squares laid out on the floor.

After the middle of the top is together then it's on to the border.  I'm enjoying getting back in the sewing groove again!

{Insert Name Here}: Bottled Rainbows {ticker tape quilt-along}

I have also been able to complete another block for my bottled rainbow.  It turns out that arranging the fabrics and pinning them down is a good thing to keep nearby when chasing a puppy around.  Most of the last two weeks have been all about Ms. Sammy-whammy... but for those precious few moments when she drops and sleeps... it's been nice to have this handy to work on.

There also may have been some chocolate eating.  Although... note to self... eat quiet food when the pup is sleeping or else you risk waking her up and having to chase her around again.  Good times!

Isn't this wrapper awesome?  It's from Cracker Barrel courtesy of my darling and thoughtful husband.

As I was able to get back to my sewing machine I started to attach all the scraps.  Taking out the pins as I go along. 

Normally I use straight pins for this.  But the safety pins were... well... safer to use around the puppy.  That way if she grabbed the block and booked down the hall with it... she wouldn't get poked in the mouth.  Not that I am speaking from experience or anything -- she may or may not try and steal everything I am holding. 

Here is a sideways view of the block all put together.  Really liking this one!

If you look closely you can see I even have ants on this one -- fabric ants that is -- green ones.  Check out the picture, you'll see what I mean.  Cool fabric, isn't it?

So, now I have a grand whopping three finished.  I am taking the 'slow' paced quilt along a little too slowly, but enjoying every step.  And I'm ok if this one isn't finished until fall.  I am really trying to embrace the whole there's no rush or deadline, just enjoy the process thing on this one! 

Although, I have to admit that seeing all the finished blocks and tops makes me want to get a move on already.  And then I remind myself that it is about to be hot as the dickens here in NY... definitely not snuggling under a quilt weather.

--STALLED--

Happy Garden (king sized)

I still have to finish the quilting on this one -- I have so little left, but have just felt too lazy to get that whopper back out and put my free motion foot on.  Lame, lame, lame!   

Crewel Spring Flowers

Nada -- poor pretty flowers.

Katie Fiber Art

No action here.

You Can Sew-a-thon!!
Adding this back to the list.  You haven't heard of it??... check it out here or read about our first project (Strawberry Pincusion).

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats 

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 5
New Projects: 1 (added Sew-a-thon back on)

Finished Projects: 0
Total WiP's: 6 (up one)

---Linking to W.I.P. Wednesday with Lee at Freshly Pieced---

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

Midweek Project Check-in (WIP)

I haven't finished anything, but I do feel {finally} like I have made a fair bit of progress on things this week!

--ONGOING PROJECTS--

{Insert Name Here}: Bottled Rainbows {ticker tape quilt-along}

{I need to take a finished picture of this one to share with you.} 

I adore working on these blocks.  Each one is like it's own little quilt or fabric mosaic.  I spent a ton of time fiddling, cutting, arranging, and re-arranging scraps of fabrics.  I even created some scraps to get the look just so. 

Heavenly!

When I started this quilt along I thought I would just be learning how to ticker tape quilt... using the quilt as you go style.  And maybe it would be a good way to use scraps.  I had no idea how utterly enjoyable and relaxing it would be.

Pure bliss!!  It's one of those projects I can do half tired or half playing with the dog which I appreciate also.  So easy to pick it up for a bit and put it down again.  Certainly my new go to project if I have a few minutes.

I started putting a few more blocks together.  I decided a break from green was in order and jumped to orange, lilac, and sky blue (my names for the colors... not the official Kona fabric color names).

You can almost bet I will have a few more to show you next week.  To date I have finished just the two greens, but I am sure I will be catching up with the larger group rather quickly!

Oh, and I had been asked a question about the citrus fabric I plan on using with one of the orange blocks.  And the secret is that it's from an old skirt that I have been hanging on to.  Fun to reuse from unexpected places!

 

 

Flourishing Happy Garden (king sized)

 

Aside from renaming this quilt... I also pieced the backing!  It's a mix of deep blue/navy (not pictured), khaki, and this golden animal outline print.  Here is a closer look at the golden animal print.... I don't know it's name, but I feel in love with it pretty quickly -- and it was only $2 a yard!

Remind me again why I thought it was good idea to make a king sized anything?  I know it will look nice on my bed.  I know it will better assure equal quilt distribution while we are all snuggled in leaving no cold anythings... but oh. my. word. this is a big quilt.

Did you hear my moans and groans the last few days from there behind your monitor?  That was me trying to sandwich this giant.

Let's recap how making the quilt sandwich went... backing, batting, and top.  Smooth, smooth, smooth, smooth.  Pin, pin, pin, pin.  Cut a ton of threads.  Remove all dog hair.  Roll up with a grin of triumph only to find a major wrinkle/bubble in backing after pinning the whole quilt.  Un-do way to many pins to count.  Re-smooth, smooth, smooth, smooth.  Re-pin, pin pin. -- you get the picture... a few tears may or may not have been shed.

Hold on.

What's that? 

Why yes, it's the quality inspector (Katie) come for a closer look.  And it looks as though she has brought her inspection tool: one large fuzzy orange monkey. 

I know... but once she had already done the home run slide on the quilt and plopped down (looking adorably cute) I could only take pictures and then just keep pinning like it was a normal occurrence. 

Because ... well... it is a normal occurrence for this quilter. 

She's the butter on my toast. 

The milk in my cereal.

The peanut butter in my oatmeal... yes that really is a good combination...

What I'm saying is that we need each other. Like, a lot. Yup.

After nearly two hours of wrangling with this monster (the quilt, not the pup) I had passed Katie's quality inspection for comfort and snuggle-ability and the basting was completed too.

Now, I wanted to "stitch near the ditch" through some of the major lines to hold everything in place and give this quilt a bit more strength since I plan to use it everyday on our bed.  Yes.  I said "stitch near the ditch."  As in why fight it... so just roll with it and I also wanted to be able to see the stitches for these lines on the top.

To prep for quilting I cleared off most of my desk to maximize my space, filled a bunch of bobbins, and told myself that I could do this.  Yes, I could!

To fit the quilt through the neck of the machine I used a rolling technique I read about in one of your lovely blogs.  It's as simple as it sounds.  You roll the part of the quilt that needs to be stuffed through the hole.  I give it an A+ rating for working.  Made this seem more manageable. 

There are six lines across I am doing both vertically and horizontally.  I finished the first set of six and finished two on the other side.  It's been doable so far.  I still want to do some fancy quilting in the sashing diamonds -- might get to start on that tonight.

I'm still not really looking forward to taking all the pins out, but it will signal that I am one step closer to saying that I made a quilt for my own bed... what a happy thing that will be -- I can only imagine the sweet dreams we will have in this Happy Garden!

--STALLED--

Crewel Spring Flowers

Only a very small amount of progress on this one. 

X Marks the Spot

No action here and I have to admit I am getting a bit stress still seeing this one on the design wall.  Once my king size is done... then this is the next one up at bat!

Katie Fiber Art

No action here.

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats 

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 5
New Projects: 0 (I'm still being good and focused!)

Finished Projects: 0
Total WiP's: 5 (same as last week)

 

---Linking to W.I.P. Wednesday with Lee at Freshly Pieced---

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan