Thursday, January 28, 2010

Design Wall - 1-28-10

I wasn't able to sew the last two days; however, I finished the little heart blocks this morning, and they're actually on the Design Wall :D



Not exactly sure what I will do with them, but I have a panel of "sister sayings" and since I only made 3 blocks I thought one of those 'sayings' with a tiny heart under or beside the wording would be cute for the 4th block....need to do a visual though... small wall-hanging for my sister.

The nice part is when I finished the blocks I had 'bonus' blocks; extra half-square blocks measuring 3" and 1.5".  I was so proud of myself for remembering to follow Bonnie Hunter's hint :D




Sunday, January 24, 2010

Design Wall Monday 1-25-10

Happy Monday All!


Sad to say I don't have anything new on my wall. But by this afternoon there will be...I cut fabric for three 6" heart blocks, this evening. I plan on putting those together first thing Monday morning. Eyes are too tired to try tonight, but it's a super easy pattern; they're gifts.

Remember my lucky polka-dot find last week? That fabric is as close as I am going to get. I made a call to a LQS The Quilt Basket and spoke with lovely Mary. I told her what I wanted and then sent a picture, within 5 minutes she called and said she had good and bad news..."bad news was there aren't two more fats but the good news was there was 1 more fat. I can do do what I need with two, so that was definitely good news!

Modern technology is wonderful - just think before e-mail and digital pictures we might have spent quite a while explaining just which pink we wanted...it's in the 4th drawer on the right in the bin just as you walk in the shop and it was in the, ummm- I don't remember which row, maybe it was the 3rd drawer..."...LOL

Because of what I am considering Good Fortune I plan on pulling "Pink All Around"...UFO #4 out and work toward completions...baring no more miscut material or mis-sewn seems. I have to re-make the one block, taking out the 'mis-sewn' piece and replace it with a 'good piece' from one of the other two unsewn blocks. I will make the last two blocks alternate in the pattern (quick thinking, huh?). It's a tabletopper, it will work out okay, and I could actually finish by the end of the week! 

"It could happen...LoL"

  


To see what other quilters are working on, check out the link box on Judy's blog.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Block is Finished ... Yeah!

I finished...yeah...this was a new to me block pattern.



It's not perfect and I have to admit when I picked out the pattern, Arizona #2 from Quilter's Cache, I was so excited and then it dawned on me, as I was making this block, I've never really worked with many half-square triangle blocks; thus, this block was a learning block and a challenge for me.

I think it turned out pretty good. I showed my DH who said he liked it and I did a great job on it, as I went to show him my 'mistakes' ...he backed his chair up and said .."do not show me the mistakes I think the block is very pretty, I don't see any mistakes". Now you know why I love him so!  


I Learned Something New Today

Oh yes...the smell from the kitchen is wonderful!  Three loaves of banana bread ...DONE....going to be yummy my tummy :D



While the bread was baking I was working on the Arizona 2 block for an on-line group BOM.  I realized (on the 1st block) my center point was not lining up properly.  To accommodate for that I simply pressed one seam toward the dark fabric and the other toward the light fabric, that way I was able to 'nestle' the two.  See how nice the points came out...I think they're perfect!!

I also found (for this block) if I press the seams open the strip lies flatter (bottom pic)



I feel so good when I learn something new!!  All-in-all, it's a good day and it's not over yet...woohoo!! 




Monday, January 18, 2010

Design Wall Monday 1-18-10


My design wall still isn't up ... but here's my cutting table. 





I temporarily have shelved "Pink All Around" after several issues & problems.  I was, however, able to find some material that "is close" in value to the polka dots I was using - now to decide whether to take apart two blocks down to the polka dots or leave two with the 'original' polka dots and make two with the 'new' polka dots ... decisions, decisions!




Because of all my "issues" I decided to stick to something easy ... :D  I decided to work on a BOM.  I had cut, sewn and pieced one color then decided it wasn't really what I (thought) I was looking for...I didn't like the color combination I had chosen - so I put those 20 half-square's in the orphan box and cut new fabric.  I really like the new combination much better .  I should have the block finished up by day's end!

I also did an "Experiment" of my own - silly, but I did anyway.  I wanted to see if using 'guides' vs. marking vs. tube (using Wondercut ruler) really made any difference in the final half-square triangles...I'm not sure there's one bit of difference, except to say using the tube is definitely faster and I like faster....




Which block do you prefer blue or mustard (not sure what to call this color) ? You have until day's end to let me know. I'll check back later to see if anyone makes comments.









Here's the block I'm making Arizona 2 from Quilter's Cache










Friday, January 15, 2010

Mixed UP and Jumbled

Around 11 PM last night, a lightbulb went off in my head !!  I've been trying to figure out how to make two pages in Blogger ~ while re-reading the blooger tutorial I realized I can't make two separate pages.  I must make two separate blogs...and then I said DUH!!

So, I posted the articles for "What's on Your Design Wall" to a separate post...the one you are reading right now!

In doing so, however, I mixed up the posts a bit.  I'm going to go back and see if I can't back-date them so hopefully they will end up in the right order.  Now, I can get back to business of sewing blocks...the house will wait.  I am doing laundry in-between .





Thursday, January 14, 2010

What's on your Design Wall - Update

Well this went from bad to worse...if you can believe it! I thought I had all pieces cut and then lo-and-behold I realized I was one set short. Now that isn't too bad considering I had enough material for everything ... BUT....the polka-dot material.

So, says I to myself, I can fix this! Just cut another template 1/4" smaller (all sides) and that should do me.... I was able to salvage a couple of small pieces that barely fit which was a good thing, yes? Accordingly, the seam was sewn so close but I continued onward, LoL and pinned and prayed.

It worked but since I had to make four 'smaller' pieces I decided to divide them up among the 3 total remaining blocks, which left one block with two pieces which I sewed on last night. Yeah!!!

I got up this morning and proceeded to feel good about my accomplishment only to realize, as I put the last piece on the PP that one of the 'smaller' pieces was going the wrong way - it's the one in the picture below, note the direction of the point - now, why did I not see that until just now! I'll have to frog 2 pieces, which have been trimmed, and re-do! At that point, I must say I shook my head and decided that this UFO was going to be shelved for a while longer. I just can't seem to get past the road blocks, so I'll take the road block out of my way.






The BOM:
I put together my 1/2 sq. triangles and found I was 3 squares short...do you think you know where this is going?

I did, however, put my blocks side-by-side and decided I didn't really like the color combination I had chosen so it wasn't a lost cause after all ... I made Lemonade!



Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Progress & Keeping Fingers Crossed

Here's a pic of my small seam...got both on but there's not much room for the next piece so the seam there will be even smaller....I can do it, I can, I can (I've got my fingers crossed...LOL) !!!







I believe !!!

Yes, I know Monday has passed but I'm still struggling a bit over here so until I get this one figured out, it's Monday...LOL

I cut the template and albeit it's smaller with a little push here and tiny tug there .. I got 1 on...LOL  I know just one?  But, here's the deal it took a bit of time to get it just right and by the hair on my chiny-chin-chin it will work.  I took pictures and it's ever sooo close! 



I have decided, however, that I am going to put 1 of each of these pieces in the rest of the blocks.  I believe it would try my patience to try and fit all four of them on one block.  Since I only have 3 blocks to finish (clearing throat) I'll have to put 2 pieces in 1 block, making sure they are on opposite sides.

Okay back to the humming of my Featherweight ...more to follow.

Template Re-do

I've gone ahead and made up a new "smaller" template and am crossing my fingers this works....

Hopefully, I've been successful. I am now able to fit 4 more pieces on the 2 small pieces of fabric I had put in my scrap bin.  The pattern piece that is horizontal is the 'original' .. see how big it is relative to what I actually need....there's that extra material I thought I had...LOL



I think I can, I think I can ... Wish me LUCK!!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Another setback or is it an opportunity?

I got up this morning all ready to complete the PP blocks.  I pulled out all the pieces (yes, I put things away when I'm done for the day) and lo-and-behold...I didn't cut enough of one fabric and guess what ....??  I don't have enough material to finish!!

I don't truly believe in tarot cards and horoscopes but there are days when the message seems to fit the current situation, perfectly. With that said, my tarot horoscope for today says I am to have a good day...LOL

Keywords: victory, (material) success, mastery, graduation, completion
Description: The Chariot symbolizes enthusiasm, competitiveness, and triumph.
Success and victory are achieved by employing all powers at his disposal, physical, spiritual, and intellectual. The positive sides of the self, being strong and self-controlled, balancing conflicting emotions, triumphing over obstacles, and sustaining an effort, support attaining goals, thereby leading the way to transformation and self-knowledge.
I'm hoping to triumph over this obstacle (as the tarot card said) by trying to use the small piece of the one material I'm short on, cut it smaller than the PP pattern leaving just 1/4" on each side and see if that will work for me.  If not, then I guess I'll have to find another 'pink' in my limited pink stash, finish up the 3 blocks I have started and make one more velum to get 4 blocks.  That's my obstacle for the day.  I'll let you know if I succeed!

I guess I was most amazed by the fact that I didn't have enough material.  I'm a give-me-a-yard girl, usually I get 2 yards...so what happened ??? 

Sunday, January 10, 2010

What's on your Design Wall?

Hello Everyone,

It's Monday morning and I am hoping that this post will start a new page - I am dedicating one separate page for DESIGN WALL MONDAY @ Judy's   website "Patchwork Times".  It's a wonderful site, great owner and a great way to catch up on those UFOs that somehow got away from us (we all do it...LOL).

I worked on "Pink-All-Around" this weekend.  I don't have my design wall up yet as I am testing the Block Butler to be sure it will, in fact, stay up on my walls since they are texturized.  However, I did want to post WHAT NOT TO DO!

I was just chugging along on Sunday without a care in the world, happy as a clam to be sewing.  While trimming up guess what I did.....and then I felt defeated - actually was more upset with myself than anything!  Always, always be sure to check what should be cut and what not to cut...LOL  Lesson Learned!




So, I put that aside and worked on a single BOM block for an on-line group and made mistakes.  I think my mind must have been in a 'fuddle' because, as you can see, I'm going frogging this morning...Grrrr



 

At this point, I stopped -- had to was afraid of what might happen next...LOL