work in progress

Have you noticed it, too?  Curves seem to be everywhere lately!  Just this week alone, there’s been a blog hop for the release of Angela Pingel’s DVD on Sewing Techniques for Accurate Curved Piecing, Rita Red Pepper’s variation on the Drunkard’s Path, and just check out all of the amazing curves going on at Stitched in Color’s clambake quilt-along! It’s true: curved piecing is sweeping the globe!

As you already may know, I jumped on the curves bandwagon and am about halfway through Rachel’s Curves Class. I have been doing my best to stay on top of the projects, and am really happy with how the class — and my skills — have progressed over the past few weeks.

The latest project was an improv curves mini-quilt, titled Oh Christmas Tree.

My first tree was *almost* a success. That was, until I assembled the last seam against the tree’s left side. For some reason, my seam line has a few puckers toward the center of the curve.

Michelle (From Bolt to Beauty), who is also taking the class, recommended that I shorten my stitch length, which I did, and that helped to solve the problem. The shortened stitch forced me to slow down and gave me the time I needed to control the fabric. I realized that I had been tugging on the fabric to get it to pivot under the needle, rather than gently guiding it. Once the stitch length was shortened, I was able to hold the fabric with less tension on the curve, and this resulted in a flatter seam.

How do I know this, you ask? Well, that is because I made a second Oh Christmas Tree, though pared down a bit, just to practice the skills again.

The next project for the class is the drunkard’s path block, which I am uber excited about! I have only made one so far, but I am already in love! Here’s a sneak peek of my first block:

The class project is to turn this into a pot holder, but I don’t know if I can stop at just one! Have you ever made a drunkard’s path quilt? I’d love to see, if you did!

And if you, too, are having a love-affair with the curve, I’ve compiled a pinterest board with loads of curve-appeal!

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced and Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts. Happy Wednesday!

Have you seen the resolution link party going on at Quilting Jet Girl? Yep, it’s right up my alley! There’s nothing I love more than planning and dreaming about the year ahead, and how I’d like to learn, grow, and improve! So that’s why the time between Christmas and New Year’s is one of my favorites. I make tons of lists — and try to get everyone in the family to get as excited about it as I do (note: it doesn’t always work!). This year, we came up with an overall theme for our family. It’s not quite the “one word” theme as suggested by Gretchen Rubin, but on that same order. For 2015, that theme is Kindness: To Ourselves and Others. I also made a 2015 Bucket List of sorts — things I’d like to try this year. Places I’d like to visit, events I’d like to attend, things I’d like to see or do. Some are for us as a family, some for date nights, and this quilty list is just for me!

1. FMQ. It’s time to tackle this beast. I’ve been a chicken about it for a while (this was on 2014’s list, too! oops!), but I’m hoping 2015 is the year to face the fear.

2. Curves. This is another one I really want to get a handle on. There are many designs in my mind that I’d like to be able to execute once I can sew a curved line. I’m hoping Rachel’s Curves Class will be my ticket to becoming a curvy goddess! (wink, wink!)

3. Paper Piecing. I started tackling it this year — a few of my bee blocks and BOM blocks were paper pieced. I’ve got the gist, but I still get confused and will put a piece on backward or not cut it big enough to cover the template!

4. Public Speaking. Wait, whaaaa? How’s this quilting related? Well, at my local guild, I’m heading up programming for the year. And I have to announce the projects for the meetings. Not only do I stress about having to do it, but I know for a fact, I am terrible at it! I am so nervous that I forget important details, I stumble my words, it’s just a debacle. I’m not sure how (so if you have any tips, I’m all ears!), but I’m going to get this under control!

5. Slow Sewing. Over the holidays, we had the chance to slow things down. In doing so, I picked up my abandoned embroidery project and realized how enjoyable hand-sewing can be! I’d like to try a full cloth quilt like this, maybe even an appliqué project before the end of the year!

6. Charity Sewing. Even though I’m a part of do. Good Stitches, I’d also like to make at least one charity quilt on my own, to be raffled off at my sons’ preschool fundraiser.

7. Inspired by Art. I’d like to start a series here to explore different project ideas that are inspired by modern artist. Similar to my pillow project.

8. Attend a Retreat. I know it would be a sacrifice for my husband to watch the kids for a weekend while I was away, but I would love to have the chance to sew uninterrupted for a weekend while learning from others.

9. Make a Quilt for my Sister. I’m thinking something with Carolyn Friedlander’s Doe.

10. Start Holiday Gifts – In June! Maybe then I can actually finish on time!

11. Make a List of People I’d like to Meet. And then do everything I can do to make it happen.

12. Write a Pattern. This one is low down on the list because I’m not sure I’m ready for this to happen, but I’m hoping I will surprise myself with growth as the year progresses. A year is a long time!

13. Host a Giveaway. This scares me the most. Again, maybe as the year goes on. . .

14. Take a Drawing Class. I need help with my doodling! I’m looking at this Lisa Congdon class on Creative Bug.

15. Take a Painting Class. I’d love to learn about color using a different medium. There are Paint n’ Sip nights at a local art store here in town, so if I could get a friend to join me, I think it could be a blast!

And there you have it folks! If you stuck with me for all 15 then you are truly a friend, and I’m counting on you to hold me to it! I like to take out my lists once every few months to reassess/see how I’m progressing. So hopefully we will revisit the list sometime at the end of March and I’ll have a few notches under my belt!

And now, it’s your turn. Are there things that you hope to work on in 2015? I’d love to hear your plans — both sewing and non-sewing related! Happy New Year to you, friends!

Hi, there!

Let’s catch up! This week I’ve been working on the randomest assortment of projects. Let me start by saying it’s been raining. A lot.

The biggest work-in-progress, by far, is the creation of a dedicated sewing space for meeeeee! We decided that carving out a spot in the guest room would be the best place for me to set up permanent shop.

We decided this back in July.

Well, this past weekend we made some great headway. I made a simple design wall using this tutorial. My new desk is set up. And my stash is now in the guest room instead of the dining room.

As I cleaned out the closet to switch my stash’s location, it was like pulling works-in-progress out of the vault! And it gave me a whole new set of angst after this week’s finishes. One was this canvas purse I decided to make (ages ago) with visions of Anthropologie in my head. I bought paints. And then put them all together on the shelf, where they sat for almost a year. So, at this point, I was like, what is there to lose? Either it sits in the closet waiting forever for me to suddenly learn how to paint like an artiste (read that with a French accent), or I whip out the paint brush and see what happens! So I just sort of followed the shapes and forms of a Lullie Wallace print we have and suddenly, it was done! It’s not the best, but it’s not nearly as bad as I expected! I think it can be kind of quirky and fun if I finish the bag the right way, no? I also happened across this timely post by Radiant Home Studio about waxing canvas fabric. So, I ordered some of that. Serendipity, no doubt!

And finally, I started quilting the LIMOD sampler. More on that another day. I may need your advice. But for now, I am off to practice some yoga — to work on myself — the biggest WIP of all.

Hope you are having a great week so far! Linking up with Freshly Pieced and Sew Fresh Quilts.

ps – sorry for all of the dark photos, but as I said before, the rain and gloom just hasn’t stopped!

It’s been a productive week around here! I have a completed sampler quilt top (finally) and I’ve completed this month’s bee blocks for do. Good Stitches. I’m feeling good about what’s been accomplished and I’m feeling good just in general that stuff has been accomplished! Sometimes, that in and of itself, is enough.

The two older boys have been causing some mischief at school — expected for my middle guy —  a surprise from my rule-abiding biggest guy. So, this week, we’ve been having a lot of discussions with them about making good (a.k.a. better) choices. I know it’s not something they will learn overnight.  It’s a lifelong process that I still practice every day — and I’m way older than they are!

Confession: Sometimes at the end of the night it’s just easier to sit on the couch and watch crappy tv with a glass of wine than it is to start thinking about quilt math.  Sometimes the easy choice is to do nothing, even when I’m excited about a project, because I let my tiredness serve as an excuse.  But deep down, I know when I accomplish something (like bee blocks that I know will go to a quilt for someone who really needs it) I feel really proud. And it’s a sense of pride in myself that doesn’t come often as a stay-at-home mom. I constantly feel pride for the things my boys accomplish, but so rarely for things I accomplish myself!

So, while I’m really pleased with my projects that I’m sharing with you today, I’m also feeling good about having something to share. And I feel good about being a part of a community where we all have something to share. So I’m just taking this opportunity to say Cheers to all of us! For making, and in doing so, making good choices!

Happy Wednesday, folks!

Linking up with Freshly Pieced and Sew Fresh Quilts.

You may remember from a while ago, that my local guild (LIMOD) had a sampler quilt block of the month. Well, at the last meeting (back in May), we all agreed to bring our finished quilts to the next meeting (scheduled for September 16th). You also might remember I made finishing this quilt a third quarter goal in the 2014 finish along.

So, um, yeah. In other words, I’d better get movin’!

So I came up with a plan:

I’d make a variety of different sized blocks, in addition to the 12 inch blocks we finished for the guild, to make the quilt feel unique to me.

I completed an 18 inch Wheel of Fortune block,

a 24 inch Figgy Pudding block (it’s the big one on the bottom right),

and the six-inch blocks in the top photo (six so far). My plan was to make 19 of the six-inch blocks, and have them fill the gaps in the above layout. But, things started looking a little too busy. And then I found another block I had made for the guild that I wanted to include, too, which means I need to re-evaluate my plan.

As of now, I’m thinking of adding more negative space in the form of whites and some of the low-volume Carolyn Friedlander Botanics — but, that’s as far as I’ve gotten. I think it will require a little more playing around with the layout before I am exactly sure where I am going. Truly a work. in. progress.

What are you working on today? Any deadlines looming that have you sweating?

Linking up with Freshly Pieced and Sew Fresh Quilts.

The day is here! I’ve been so excited to share my completed Diamonds in the Deep quilt top with you, and the day is finally here!

I was honored to test this pattern in the queen-size for Kirsty over at Bonjour Quilts!! It was my first time testing a pattern, as well as  my first time making a queen-sized quilt top, and I have to say, I feel so proud of the final result!

This pattern is seriously well-written! I mean, this queen-sized quilt has over a thousand pieces (is it possible that it’s over a million???), and it still came together in a snap!

Don’t get me wrong, it was a queen-sized quilt, so I’m not saying that it wasn’t a good deal of work — but it never felt like work, because Kirsty’s directions were so clear and the diagrams were so informative.  I never had to spend time “figuring things out” like I’ve had to do on some tutorials or patterns in the past. That’s one of the reasons I was excited to take on this challenge, because I had made one of Kirsty’s patterns before, and it too, was precise and easy to follow.

So, I hope you love my tangerine take on Kirsty’s pattern as much as I do! If you are interested in making one, too, you can purchase the pattern here. And be sure to take a look at some of the interpretations the other testers have had! It’s been so much fun to see the different spins we all put on the same original design!

Linking up this week with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced, Lets Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts and Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation.