WORKING ON 41

Here is block 41 Sew South from the Splendid Sampler.


I wanted to fussy cut the motif for each hexie, so I made a little window using the large hexie.
I traced around the medium hexie and cut out the hole.  Using part of a Ziploc baggie, I taped the plastic to the large hexie over the cutout.


Then I arranged it over the motif, using a pen, I traced the pattern onto the plastic, then traced around the outside of the large hexie - which would be the cut lines.
I then lined up my tracery onto the next motif and traced around for the cut out lines.  I did that six times.

 

Now I just need to applique the parts to the background fabric and I'll be done!

BLOCK 36

Splendid Sampler number 36 is Inchy Hexie Club has hexagons that are only 1/2 inch on a side.  It was designed by Jane Davidson, QuiltJane.

I was a little intimidated by this at first, but boy, was it fun!

This is one of my favorites so far.   I love it!

I finished appliqueing it down at work today.

The finished block will be a 6" square and all the fabrics are paisleys.

RICK RACK

I had to go buy some rick rack for this block.


I remember when it used to be in everyone's sewing basket, mine included.


Where did it all go?

It's a work day...

BLOCK 37

I got some things cleaned up in the studio and threw out some stuff.

I got a project mostly cut out and found a project box for it.

Then I still had some time so I made another Splendid Sampler block.

This is number 37, Dashing by Chocolate.

And of course, they are all paisleys.

TOP DONE

I think I've done a lot of posts with that title - Top Done, but I need to do more.

I was putting the last of the borders on the Floral Trails quilt top and I figured I was going to run out of bobbin thread.  It always happens to me when I'm sewing a really long seam, and I get to the end and realize the bobbin thread ran out two miles back.  AAARRGH!

So since this one was pinned so precisely, I was paying attention and checking it regularly.

I was completely taken aback when I got to the end and went to snip the bobbin thread and there was none.  It had ended precisely one quarter inch after I had back stitched and ended.

Hallelujah!  I promptly went out and bought a lottery ticket because I knew the gods were smiling on me today!

That has never happened and I'm sure it will never happen again.

Too big for my wall

STUDIO TIME

"Studio Time" is the name of last week's Solstice Quilt block by Pat Sloan.
She has been re-doing her studio.  She removed everything, moved in new Koala furniture and re-organized.

I've been sort of doing the same thing, but not at such a frenetic pace.

I sold my Ettan press to make room for my new longarm coming soon.  I have a strong desire to downsize and declutter, but it is so difficult.  I don't even know where to start.
I've gotten rid of a few books and some bookshelves.
I need to reorganize and make some tough decisions.
Come on!

SO LITTLE

One of the Splendid Sampler blocks has tiny little hexagons - 1/2" on a side.

I was worried it would be very difficult, but I'm happy to say it wasn't.

I'm having fun!

Got one done, need to make six.

FIRST DAY OF SPRING

Happy Vernal Equinox!

This Little Clover block is the perfect block to make today.

I also had time to make the Lemonade block for The Splendid Sampler.  I'm surprised the curves turned out as nice as they did.  I put alot of pins in that little curve.  It took a while to make.  But it was worth it.

THE WISHFUL GARDEN BLOCK

I just finished up the Splendid Sampler block #35, The Wishful Garden.


I had made the block at least a week ago, and I've been embroidering on it, off and on.


I've taken out almost as much as I've put on.  I had to change some of the pattern - I don't like French Knots.


I'm not very good at embroidery, and I don't seem to be getting any better.


Again, these are all paisley fabrics.

PINCUSHION LOVE

Pincushion Love is the name of this little 6" block, designed by Pat Sloan for the Splendid Sampler Quilt-along.  I'm using just paisleys for mine.

Got this one done today (at work...shhhh).

I love this block!

ONE MORE LITTLE BLOCK

After the press went away, I made a block that needs some embroidery, which I will work on this next week - so I'm not posting a picture of it, yet.

Then I made a paper-pieced block:

I SOLD MY PRESS

In preparation for my coming longarm, I put my Ettan press for sale on craigslist to create more room in my studio.

A wonderful man came and bought it this morning.

It kind of breaks my heart...

This means it's the end of an era - I won't be making prints like that again.

And I hate letting go of such a beautiful, finely crafted piece of machinery.

Goodbye, I will miss you.  I hope you are happier in your new home where hopefully you'll actually be making art instead of collecting dust.

He also got the custom made cart my talented husband made for it.

JACOBS LADDER BLOCK

I was making the next block for the Solstice series and had three fabrics picked out, a light, a medium and a dark.  Then I was invaded by a little girl who came with her dad to visit my husband downstairs in his shop.

So, I'm going to blame it on her.  I accidentally cut the pieces out from just two fabrics.  Since I am very limited on the amount of fabrics I have, I had to go with what I cut out.

It turned out okay.

Years and years ago, my sister Sue and I made a beautiful quilt with the Jacobs Ladder block.  I wonder where it is now...

TWO MORE LITTLE BLOCKS

Didn't make much progress on the Splendid Sampler this week.

STYLING

It took me two days to paper piece this cute little block from the Splendid Sampler series.  I picked out one of my paisley fabrics that I didn't think I could use in regular piecing - it's a border print.  

It was fun and frustrating both.  But very satisfying in the end.

DRESS BLOCK

In preparation for the new longarm, I've been rearranging the studio - throwing things out, basically.

I thought I should hang some of my paintings to get them out of the way.

My flower paintings are going into the stairwell.

I noticed some of them needed to be sealed so I did that today, too.

Looks like a mess, but it's an organized mess.

I worked a while on this Splendid Sampler block.  It's paper-pieced.  This is just 2/3rds of it:

CATCH UP DAY

I spent my sewing time catching up with the Solstice Quilt and the Children's Library Quilt.

I am behind by three blocks with the Solstice Quilt.  I made two today.  I'm conflicted about the other block, it's very big and I don't think my fabric will stretch far enough to make it and the rest of the blocks.  I'm still thinking about what to do.

[I spent a wad of money buying blue flannel plaids online and none of them ended up being good enough to go with this group of fabric I'm using.  So, I'm not going to use them here - which means, I have a big pile of flannels that I have no plan for...omg.  I think that soured me on buying fabric online for a while].

Here's the next block for the Children's Library quilt, which only comes out on the first of the month.  I'm only a week late!

I'm really liking this quilt so far - 

SEW EXPO 2017

I went last Thursday to the opening day of Sew Expo at the Puyallup Fair Grounds and looked at all the different longarm machines there.  I collected brochures, asked questions and played around on each kind of machine.  I left there with my head spinning and more confused than ever!

The next few days, things settled down and started to gel.  I did some research, narrowed it down to a few and went back this morning, on their last day of the show.

I just visited two booths.  I asked more questions, played a little with the machines and I think I've made a decision about which one I like and want to buy.

Afterwards, I wandered about and looked at everything.  I figured I better buy something!  How can you go to Sew Expo and not buy something?  [other than a longarm!]

So much beautiful fabric, beautiful threads, beautiful patterns to see, sewing machines, gadgets and what-nots.  It was great fun.

This is what I ended up buying.

I think this is the first time I've ever been to Sew Expo.  I might end up going every year.