EPP-ing

I am back to making my english paper pieced/applique Happy Flower Blocks.  I purchased Deborah's adorable thread pooping unicorn which conveniently arrived in time for hexie making!

Day 1 - notice the thread pooping unicorn?!

For our guild's Cre-active Club Challenge I need to have 75 of these blocks made by September's meeting; that's #4 on my list.  I love these blocks so I am happy to have an excuse a reason to work on them.

Day 2

My friend Stephanie offered EPP thread advice at our retreat. Now the stitches that connect the hexies to the black center square are less visible.

Day 3

Mary Sorensen, needle turn appliqué expert and lucky for me OrlandoMQG member, helped with tips on stitching the EPP block onto my background squares. I was embarrassed hesitant to show her my blocks, but her advice was worth the risk...ha! Now those stitches are less visible.

Day 4

When making my list, I thought one a day would be doable.  However, the month of July got away from me which means I pretty much need to make two a day to reach my goal. Yikes!

Day 5

Over the weekend, my daughter and I went away for a girls' getaway.  Hard to believe my baby will head off to college in less than a month! While away I did find time to whip up some blocks.  

Day 6

Stitching them onto the background squares will have to wait for another day. 

Day 7

If I am going to reach my goal, I need to pick up the pace!  

Thanks for stopping by,

2016 Finish Along Q1 List

I did not get a chance to link up with the first quarter Finish Along, but for my own accountability purposes I am making a list to finishes to complete.

I would like to make two more Layover quilts this quarter.  I have all the blocks made for a toddler size, and most of the fabric cut for another twin size.

Also on my list is a purple version of the Have a Heart quilt for my daughter.  Again, most of the fabric has been cut; it's just a matter of making a zillion HSTs, trimming and then assembling into a quilt.

This new toy was just delivered, so I guess learning how to use it while quilting the above mentioned quilts is also on my first quarter list!

How's your 2016 going so far in regards to sewing projects?

Goodbye 2015.....Hello 2016!

Happy New Year my friends!!  

It's the time we reflect on the past year and look forward to a new one.

I don't think I will ever be satisfied with the number of projects completed in a year, but 2015 wasn't too unproductive.

Finishes include six quilts, five pillows, nine pincushions, two passport holders and one sew together bag!  Twelve months of blocks for three different bees were also made as well as various guild blocks and "special needs" blocks.

I was fortunate to attend Quilt Beach and QuiltCon 2015, sew with good friends at our 6th annual Gruber's retreat, join in Crafty Tuesdays, enjoy the OrlandoMQG activities, and participate in 52 Quilters and the Good Neighbors Pincushion Party!

For 2016, I hope to be way more productive than at least as productive as 2015.  I also look forward to attending the OrlandoMQG Special Exhibit at QuiltFest, taking classes with Lee Monroe, Gwen Marston and Christa Watson, attending Glamp Stitchalot in June and Gruber's retreat in July and learning new techniques through Mighty Lucky, Tribal Block Club and Rachel's Color Theory series.

  

Sadly absent in these 2016 quilty experiences is QuiltCon West but I am super excited for QuiltCon East in Savannah 2017....I have the odd years marked on my calendar...

So what's your favorite finish of 2015, and what are you looking forward to accomplishing in 2016?!

Spiraling Butterflies

Spiraling Butterflies is my finish for the QuiltCon Michael Miller Glitz Fabric Challenge.

The butterfly blocks were made using Little Bluebell's paper pieced Modern Butterfly pattern.  I just love this pattern and have so many other butterfly quilt plans!

The background fabric is Michael Miller Cotton Couture in Blush and also in Love.  The color variation is quite subtle, but I like the depth using two different colors provides.

I finished making the blocks and determined the layout while at our Orlando MQG retreat (still need to post about that!).  Having creative input from others was awesome!  After that, the top came together quickly.

I used my walking foot to quilt spirals (THANK YOU Jacquie and Craftsy for the refresher) starting a little offset from the center.  Aurifil 2410 in 40wt was the thread I used.  I had just enough left over from this quilt and the color matched perfectly.

Twice before, I quilted spirals, but one was a mini quilt and the other was just on a portion of the quilt.  I said I would never do it again, but this time I found the process quite therapeutic.  Crazy, right?!

The Cotton Couture solids are SUPER soft, so possibly that made a difference in the quilting?  All I  know is, the {continuous} turning of the quilt through my Juki didn't seem as difficult as I remembered.

 
The backing fabric is Michael Miller What's Your Angle? and the binding is the pink pearlized dot from the Glitz line.

 The binding was hand stitched to the back while on Thanksgiving break.  I finished just in time to photograph and upload before the deadline.  This is my first time entering a quilt into a show.  I must admit, it was quite exciting and nerve wracking at the same time.

I saw on Instagram this morning that a record breaking number (1,810) of quilts were entered in QuiltCon 2016 and approximately 300-350 will be accepted!  What an incredible show it will be!

To me, it's a win-win.  If my quilt gets in...Cool!!!  If it doesn't....I don't have to make a hanging sleeve and ship it have to part with it!  Good luck to all who entered!

Hello 2015!

Goodbye 2014!  Hope everyone enjoyed a safe and happy New Year's Day!  I don't know about you, but I am ready to start a new year.  Originally, I was not planning to do a 2014 recap because I'm not pleased with my lack of creating and blogging.

Quilty New Year card

Then I got to thinking about all the wonderful quilty experiences from 2014 and what I DID create.  Here's a quick recap (in no particular order):

Good times after a weekend of workshops

SewDown Nashville was a blast!  Four wonderful teachers, reconnecting with quilty friends and meeting new ones.

My spiderweb quilt made with the help of my MCM Bee buddies

Our Mid Century Modern Bee's second year was full of fantastic blocks, and my first completed bee quilt is my favorite finish of 2014!

One of my favorite blocks

I'm thrilled the Wish Circle of do.Good Stitches welcomed me to their group in February.  I have long admired this charity bee.

Collaborative quilt made for Doris

Hard to believe 2014 was the fifth year retreating with my friends at Gruber's.  I love these girls so much!

I attended several great classes and workshops in addition to SewDown.  Here I am hanging with Carolyn and friends at Bok Tower Gardens for Carolyn's Quilting Florida exhibit.

Me and Jacquie

It was fabulous seeing Jacquie again in Florida where she gave a lecture and workshop at a LQS.  Of course I attended both the lecture and workshop!  Can't get enough of Jacquie!

Love this one!

So happy my sister drove down for one workshop

Our OrlandoMQG brought in Victoria for two days of workshops.  It was an inspiring couple of days!

Destined to be my first finish of 2015

Joined others in Rachel's Angled Camp class as well as a pillow swap.

Heart warming to see children enthusiastic about sewing

Participated in Maker Faire Orlando where our booth won a ribbon.

Festival of Trees quilt

Our OrlandoMQG presented a collaborative quilt to The Orlando Museum of Art's Festival of Trees.

32 Dear Jane blocks pieced in 2014

Started the Choose Your Own BlockAlong with Cindy and Michelle.

I did not complete as many projects as I would have liked in 2014, but you can see a few shown on my quilty New Year card (first picture in post) and by clicking on the link on my sidebar.

Looking ahead to 2015, I am excited about...

Attending QuiltCon again.  This time my sister is going as well!

Gruber's retreat in Minnesota!

My sister will be sewing with the OMQG in 2015!

The OrlandoMQG's sixth year.

Continuing with the MCM Bee and Wish Circle as well as joining a new Sew Sisters Bee.

Participating in several sew alongs and online classes including, but not limited to, 12 Months of Christmas, Choose Your Own BlockAlong, Pile O' Fabrics Skill Builder and EQ University.

Of course, I would like to finish more projects and be a  consistent blogger.

Whew!  This turned out to be a long post.

 Thank you for continuing to stop by and an ever bigger thank you to those who leave comments ;-)))

Happy New Year!!!

2014 Quilty Goals

I'm a little late with the resolutions, but I found it difficult to focus on goals with my hand in a cast and sewing off limits for the near future.  However, now I'm home and my spirits are lifted by the idea of wearing short sleeve shirts which work better with my cast than ski jackets and sweaters.  
{I am ignoring the below freezing warnings issued for the next couple of days.  My friends in the north have it much worse. }

Word for the year

Once the cast is off I have quite a bit of catching up to do, but once that is done, there is a list of projects I am excited to work on.  I am anxious to continue working on my spiderweb bee quilt and finally complete my cowboy/cowgirl quilt that has been a WIP for way too long.

2014 goals

As much as I love the instant gratification of Instagram, I miss my blog reading and want to reestablish that routine.  I'd like to create more gifts for friends and family and quilts for charity this year.  I have a list of specific quilts I want to make and a couple of patterns to be written.  I am super excited to attend Sew Down Nashville.

what the what???

Now to get this blasted cast off.  I was so relieved to learn I could travel over the holidays that I didn't even ask about recovery time.  I will find out soon enough as I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow.  Keep your fingers crossed as I can't cross mine ;-)

sweet Leo

I have a long list of personal goals which of course includes spending lots of time with this guy!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you are finding some time for stitching!