Interlocking Star

 

There is only 12 days left before it's time to move to our new home and I'm looking so forward for it. Every part of it! The cleaning, the painting, the unpacking, and the most part will be to explore our five acres. Also planning our garden. So much fun!

Meanwhile what can be done at home, beside packing the few things we have here at the rental. Well like any quilter I know, so much can be achieved during that short period. I've started  working on the Interlocking Star Quilt, which I had pre-cut for 2011 quilter's retreat! That's how long that project was left in the plastic bin.  I was smart enough or my organizing talent, gave me the insight of leaving a copy of the pattern in the bin with the project.

Going Back

Going Back to this project after a long sitting time isn't something I do much and now I know why: It's not much fun to work on a older project. The drive to work on it is gone! Even if everything was well prepared and labelled, it took me awhile to figure out the pieces. It simply puzzling! 

Read the Instruction

I took every mini-bundles and laid them out by their section, but it was to no use, I still couldn't figured out how the pattern worked. Also working with an interlocking design doesn't help much.  So I read the instructions and it did helped me figured out the sections.

 

Piecing 

Now the fun part began.

This is one block finished. There are 24 more to go and are in different color.

 

 

 Interlocking Star sections needed to be sewn with accuracy, otherwise the interlocking effect will be lost. 

This pattern can be purchase here:Interlocking Star Quilt

I find mine in the Fons & Potter's Quilting Magazine February 2011

 

Gardening

                                                So looking forward for gardening too!

Have a blessed weekend and love you all

Labeling Your Quilt

It was wonderful walking outside on a springy warm day with my husband and Merlin, but some days are rather still cold and rainy or even snowy, so meanwhile, I've continued piecing or quilting some 'in progress' projects.  The meetings on zoom with the International Association Quilters is my newest attend to stay in touch with quilters, not only local but abroad. Quilters are genuinely friendly and fun to be around.  Even if the zoom meeting are interesting, it's certainly not the same as in person-meeting and I've really missed the annual quilter's retreat.  Ah, the good old days!

LABELING YOUR QUILT

Going through my recent quilts, I must admitted that I haven't sewn any labels on at least on six  quilts. When I made a label, I wrote down the bare information with a permanent fabric marker. I also embroidered my logo on the label.  

For more information how to label your quilt, check out this webpage: How to Label Your Quilt

                                                        I should labelled those ones too!

Free-Motion Challenge

  Star Cube Quilt:  I sandwiched my quilt, using the living room floor, because my tables are still in storage. It's all quilted but I'm waiting for a nice sunny day to take a picture of the finish quilt.

Last week I practiced a few new design free-motion quilting by Angela Walters. Quilting with rulers has became very popular and made quilting a notch-a -bit-fun and practiced those new design on the Star Cube.

Angela Walters' Rulers

One of my latest extravagant purchase are: Quilting Rulers!  

Before I purchased the rulers I asked myself a few questions:

•  What are the pros and cons of investing on quilter's rulers
  
• Searched which rulers would work best for my needs and sewing machine
  
• Can I have free access to tutorials that will goes along with those rulers
• Will I even use the rulers or  was this just another tool that will be left on my shelves. 
• Reflected many months on it  and also watched different quilters with their own ruler products
  

 My end decision to purchase Angela Walter's quilting rulers came with a blitz of joy and satisfaction when the Amazon box arrived at my door. My poor husband has to put up with my 'energic-happy-moments- I love him for it. He endures it all! 

 Now it time to put those new tools to the test on my own sewing machine. If you want to know more about Angela Walters, she has a Free-Motion Challenge Quilt Along that used those rulers. So far I've already practice with the Slime rule on the Star Cube. 

You can learn from Angela Walter at Quilting Is My Therapy

Let's have fun with quilting, let's go Quilt! 

God bless your week;)

 

Forgiven

The dream of designing my own pattern that reflected my Christian's faith came into fruition yesterday, when I finished sewing the binding on the wall quilt.  My pictures are not great and I wished my sweet friend Laura could have done so for me, that is, if she lived closer to us.  But I shall be content to share what I have with you.

I learned so much through this process of design a pattern and I've still so much to learn.  I've already scribbled another idea on paper for my next one.

 

What I learn:

1.Keep it simple

This process didn't happened over night, I educated myself in pattern making through wonderful quilters, either in person when you can or on Youtube. I did not take classes or when to a drawing school, I just simply used what talents God's gifted me and went from there.

2. Keep it Small

At first, I wanted to go BIG with my design. Like a large wall quilt or bedspread and also imagined all kind of wonderful borders and quilting fillers. I was thing BIG. But I needed to keep it simple and small for my first attempt, because I would spend alot of time figuring  things our on my own.

3.Keep it Going

Through the entire process of designing and drawing this project, I had to figure HOW this quilt was going to be sewn together and HOW the proportions of the woman,  the cross, and the landscape will all fit in accords with each other. No matter how little I knew of the "Do" and "Don't" of designing,  I kept at it until I was satisfied with the overall design. Each steps helped me to build up confidence as a designer. Wow, that sound weird to admit that to myself, but it's true (laugh).

4.Share!

The best things I've done is to ask other quilters for their options on certain part of my design.  I've also asked my family for their options and help on this project. I couldn't have done it without my daughter willingness to let me take a picture of her for the portion of the body.

5. Don't Fret to Long over Details

I had a hair problem! Sound funny but so true.

                                                                 Grey & White Hair

At first I love that idea of a silver and grey fabric but it didn't work as it blended to much with the background. Also the white fabric I choose for the skin was see-through, not good enough to cover the background.( Oh the face wasn't on yet )

                                                          Blue Hair

This is my original idea and loved the blue hair as it made the woman stand out of the background. Also changed the sleeve of her body and used the silver fabric for skin. It worked!

 

                                                      Brown Hair

If you noticed the brown hair also is blending with the background, but it was at my husband request that I caved in. After all it will hand in on our walls. But next time, I definitely will still with blue hair *smile*. 

Fillers & Quilting

                                               Swirls and wavy lines

                                                    Woodgrain for the Cross and echo lines for the land. 

A big thanks to Leah Day for her podcast #122 How to Design your Own Goddess" It did helped me greatly to accomplish this quilt. 

 

And all the quilters at the Leah's Quilting Friends Club for their support. 

Now let's go quilt!

              Psalm 23                         

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
    He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

 

Winter/Summer Trees

This quilt was designed with four orphan blocks. Three of the 12 applique square I started in 2002 were never completed due to busyness with homeschooling and driving my kids around town for their classes and games.  It amazed me that all those years I never rid of them or gave them away, but kept those three blocks hidden in my closet. This year it was time to pull those orphan blocks and do something with them.

 The tree blocks are from :Piecemaker 2002 Times and Seasons 
 

More detail of one of the block 

And I also used two orphan blocks from Spring Thaw Quilt

 

 

 

For all the star blocks, I used precut scraps and picked color  that would match with the center. The whites and beige fabric was purchased for this project. You can learn how to sew the Criss Cross Star tutorial by Lori Holt  Sew Your Stash Serie #10

 

 

 

Be My Neighboor- Black & White

Another Be My Neighbor quilt that was done in the black and white version with all scrappy fabrics. I started in 2017 and completed last week. One project mark off my list. 

For this quilt, I kept the quilting design simple with only two main fillers. One are curve lines that are  echoed about five to six times. The other filler was a swirl to brake the monotony of the quilt. I used the quilting foot for the curve lines and free-motioned for the swirls. 

                                                      Very scrappy, but the result are great!

                                                    Closer details of the quilting

How much would you pay for a twin size quilt?

Here are the facts for this finished quilt size is: 68″ x 84.5"

1)TOP: Fabric ranges from $9-$25 for the top. Scraps are still good  and worth its original price.

2)WIDE BACKING: Price ranges from $19-$35. All depends of the novelty of the fabric. 

3)BATTING: Purchased in bulk or half-price, it  still comes at $12.99/meter

4) BINDING: The finished edge of the quilt

4) THREAD: Quality thread varies from $5-$15 a spool.

 5)LABOR: Priceless. It's made out of love for quilting and to give away.

 Be My Neighbor Quilt Pattern

 

                                                     Psalm 5:11-12

 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
    let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may exult in you.
For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
    you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Explosion of Blues

Explosion of Blue was designed using all the fabric and pieces left from the Curved Log Cabin.  It was surprising that there were enough for a small quilt.  

                                                                   Explosion of Blues

My design was simple but very effective as it left nothing for the scrap bin after I was done with it.  There is  a combination of blacks, greens, and very little of blues fabric.

Designing the top quilt really helped with the assembling of the entire quilt.

 

They were four main section on this project. The top will be quilted at another time.

 

Praying Woman: Stained Glass

 Winter is one of my favorite season, because I've always enjoyed walking or playing outside after a snowstorm. The snow is as white and fresh, and cold as you can get it. Yeah, don't forget the cold part too. But today it's only -4 C ( 25F). We took our daily walked in one of the parks and there are not many people walking, so we're pretty much alone in the trail.  It's so pleasant to hear the chirping of the chickadees and I'm thankful for this precious moment of quietude and peace were I can rest my thoughts in God's steadfast love; when in reality, the world around us has gone crazy. 

After our walk, we went home and warm up with a homemade soup and bread.

Praying Woman Quilt

This week I fused the bias on the background of the Praying Woman quilt, which gave that stained glass effect. Love it! It's my first attend and it was fun and easy. The bias is a bit costly, but so effective, especially for the stained glass technique. 

More I've worked my first creative design, the more I enjoyed it. My mind it already planning my next one.

 Prioritizing our project can help finishing those ones that have longer to long under our sewing table or like my Praying Woman, it's a desire and dream to finish that one sooner than later.

This is the same journal I started in 2020 and I'll be continuing using it for 2021 as there are many pages left in the notebook and it would be a waste of time to transferred all the "in progress" project into a new notebook.  This year though, I want to record my journal monthly; whatever it is 'in progress' or BOM or reworked project.