Joyeux Noel et Bonne Année

With Christmas around the corner, it's time to be with family and friends.

So, until January have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Retreat Galore!

Retreat 2009-2010

 The first time I went to a retreat I didn't know what to expect, so I joined the mystery quilt craziness and finished the blocks on the first day there.

  And then switched to my Dresden plate.  I sewed tons of large and small petals, hoping to rid of my bright-scrappy fabric. I didn't even make a dent into it. The pattern was from a Quiltmaker magazine.

  Retreat 2011-2012

    Using white-green fabric I purchased in a previous years and the pattern Be Square.

  Retreat 2012-2013

 I sewed half-Triangle in blues, greens and whites. There are 100 blocks in this queen size quilt.

There are so many varieties of the curved-log cabin design and choose to make this one of my own.

 The Hexagon Park posted below is the one I worked on at the retreat this year.

Quilting Frenzy

   My blog is another fanciful project I started last spring. My goals were twofold: To encourage other quilters who procrastinated over their project, because nobody knows they are addicted quilter. Our ambitions are so wild with have the tendency to take to many projects at hands and they are left unfinished in a dark, dark corner of our sewing room.
   Also, I wanted to share my love for quilting with other quilters. There are so many tools and techniques out and it's overwhelming at times, but if you're like me and is anxious to try a few, then I hope you enjoy what I'm posting here.

 

My small stash of fabric

Project 8: Diva

   Ten years ago I purchased a Diva pattern and got in mind to sew it right away, but homeschooling my three children  made that a bit of a challenge and left the poor Diva aside for now.  Then two years ago, I pulled the Diva out of my drawer and got the ambitious idea that nothing would stop me this time . When all the pieces were fused on,  I was so how disappointed with certain things. One of them is I wanted to personalized the Diva. I didn't want her to look so old granny.  After procrastinating of the project, I finally finished it.

  I changed Quilt Diva for my motto which is Quilter4Him

   Instead of sleepers and a skirt, I fuse cowboy boots and caprice Jean.  

My fillers choice worked well on this design. It gave depth and texture.

   I used some of Leah Day and Angela Walters for brainstorming fillers ideas

Project 3: Big Ten

This pattern made of small and large squares and rectangles, made it interesting in many colours schemes. This is my third time I sewed this pattern and each time, I tried to do different free-motion quilting.

   I wanted a fall theme with this one and also it's part of our guild photo-quilt challenge.
I love how it turned out and I may do another one for myself as this one is a gave away gift.

   For the first time, I planned the filler (free-motion). I thought it would be tedious and boring, but it's wasn't and enjoyed the drawing process. I learned that if you brain-hand can't coordianted the pattern on paper, it won't be easier at the machine.  I brainstormed,  ideas using different books and internet resources available.

   In each of the nine squares I'm quilting a maple leaf, putting a  bit of Canadian heritage into my quilt.

   Braking the queen size quilt into six quadrants helped to focus on a specific area. As you see, I drawed a bit to visualize the effect of the fillers.

     I set one table beside and behind my sewing table to help with the weight of the quilt. Also I used the Supreme Slider, Machinegers gloves, and inserted inside the bobin plate a Little Magic Bobbin Genies.  Everything combined together helped for sure, but with a queen size quilt, there is always a bit of a pull when I sewed toward the right.

   Every squares and rectangle are individually free-motioned.  Interesting enough, the pattern doesn't show much on the quilt, except maybe on the light solid blue fabric.

 

A closer look at the front and back.

  The free-motion maple leaf was easily done using the template. Overall, I'm satisfied with the quilt and I'm almost tempt to keep it for myself. 

Project 2: Curved Log Cabin

I always wanted to make a log cabin, and this one as a twist to it. On one side the strips are larger than the other side, creating a curve effect.

There are 100 blocks alone in this queen size quilt. I had it quilted by Barb Friesen.

My new sewing machine!

At the retreat last month, a great opportunity to purchase 

an Horizon 7700QCP, which I couldn't pass by came into my attention.

After discussing the matter with my husband,I bought the Horizon looking forward to put it to good use. I believed this is my fifth sewing machines I purchased since me starting sewing.

And purchased my Juki TL-2010Q for quilting about three years ago. Nothing but a plain, straight sticht with great tension. I love it!

                    
 I didn't want to buy a $500.00 table especially for my Juki, so I asked my husband if he would mind using one of the brown folding table we had for years and cut a hole that would fit my Juki. For $16. he got few large bolts, cut a small piece of plywood and ....voila! 

Now I will have to sell my other Janome to a good home. Lot of good quilting with that one too.

Sewfast

Today I finished sewing a cute simple dress and because I've gained weight, it's doesn't fit me at all. Yeah, that's what happens when  a pattern is cut two years ago before sewing it right away.

 I bought the fabric at Fabricland on their clearance area and the pattern was on sale too. No zipper to sew and very few seams. Shessh...I sewed this thing in a few hours. Because it's too small, I'm thinking of giving it to my daughter and make another one for myself.

You don't see it, but it's tied up in the front. There is a slip you can make with it. A great place to visit before purchasing a pattern is at :http://sewing.patternreview.com/

It's free to sign up.

Both garments were sewed in one day, but have in mind they were already cut. Okay, sewing clothing will not be part of my Challenge 12.

 A blouse done in a silky-light grey. The pattern  instruction are easy to follow, but  I struggled with the stupid neck-binding and couldn't remember how to make a thread-lop!

.

 No worries, saved by Youtube snap-video lessons, I was able to  accomplish the unthinkable. Voila! Beautiful neck-binding and under arms. Okay...back to quilting. Yes, yes, and yes to that.

Project 7: Professional Tote

Two years ago I bought everything I needed to make this tote. All good intention disappeared when other commitments kicked in. Another UFO laying dormant in a dark corner of my sewing room.

   This pattern can be found at:The Creative Thimble

When I finally got back to it, I sewed the two tote in a week. Love this bag.

 It has a lots of pockets and zippers to add, but it was worth it.

And now that I've finished this UFO, upon seeing this tote,

 my daughter and a friend asked me to sew one for them.

Well...well...well...I shouldn't be surprised that my bag became the envy of few friends and now I have to sew them one! Lucking me.

Project 1: Hexagon Park

Fabric I purchased in Edmonton, Alberta with a friend two years ago. This fabric laid dormant in my closest and with a retreat coming next week, I decided it was time to cut it all out using a Hex N More ruler.The pattern I will be using can be download for free at: http://www.modabakeshop.com/2011/02/hexagon-park.html

Another colorful option

First I cut the fabric into strip of the desires, then used  the Hex N More ruler to cut it into half-hexagon. The pattern doesn't required this ruler, but it made it much more easier. Finally a tool I purchased and used.

After few stupid errors, I finally figured what I was doing wrong. I was cutting the strips smaller then the hexagon size.  To top left hexagon is perfect, the other are out of balance. You can see in the picture above this one that the strip doesn't go all the way tot he top.

All cut and ready to sew.  Ness Lake Retreat 2014, here I come!

Update:

      First evening, setting up and started to sew.

  By next evening all my half-hexagons were sewed and started to play with them on a design wall.

                             I alternated the pattern. The small triangles added to the half-hexagons didn't worked for me, so I made a sampler that work and was lest frustrated. Then cut 1/4'' from the hexagon edges. Now the quilt is ready to be quilted.

 

 My living area is a great place to sandwich my quilt.

                          I quilted a double-triangle in each section of the hexagon and swirls in the sashing and outer border.

I washed the quilt for a fresh and wrinkly look and loved it!

Introduction: Engineer Homemaker

 I have homeschooled my three children, loved my husband, kept the house in order, and I've sewed for 38 years with breaks in the between. Like the average quilters, I bought fabric that fancied my eyes without a future plan for its use.

 

 That beautiful fabric lingered in my stash at least for years before a pattern hit me. After that, it was only a matter of time the fabric was pressed, cut into small bits and pieces, and turned into a wonderful, usable quilt
 
To make things more fun, I've decided to set a goal of completing 12 projects in one year, regardless if it's a UFO, quilt, or small project. Ohh...and the fabric has to come from my old stash, no new fabric. Okay, I didn't say I wasn't allow to purchase fabric, that would be too insane and unreasonable. 

So I dared myself to do this with a good creative attitude, lots of fun, and go where no quilter has gone before. I will explore my potential creativity and get out of my comfort zone. That will be a tough one!