Browsing Tag

quilt blocks

work in progress

arkansas traveler.

Posted on August 25, 2014
Arkansas Traveler by Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studios

Arkansas TravelerWell, first, just a big old hello! I had to dust off the old sewing machine, and give her a nice oiling before I could even get started on this month’s do. Good Stitches blocks. I procrastinated big time. I knew these blocks, using Lee’s tutorial, were going to challenge me in lots of ways. And I knew I would struggle. And it’s summer. . . who wants to struggle? So, wait, I did. Until they could be put off no more!

Arkansas Traveler

These blocks involved two things I had never done before:

1) 60 degree diamonds. Up until this point I had a dog-ear allergy. But thanks to Lee’s well-written tutorial, and lots of patience (and air conditioning for my profuse sweating), I managed to sew the diamonds together with points in-tact and me high-fiving a million angels.

Arkansas Traveler

2) paper piecing. Yup. I am a novice paper-piecer. I messed up. I picked stitches that were as tiny as an ant’s elbow. But I pushed through and ended with only one major glitch. I’m sure you can find it if you study the pic below. But I had no clue how to fix it by the time I discovered it, and so I say, Namaste.

Arkansas Traveler

And there you have it folks! Just like that, I’m back! Didja miss me??? I missed you, too! Mwah! I’ll be back again mid-week with pictures to share of my finished Diamonds in the Deep quilt top! Stay tuned! Woo hoo!

work in progress

tying up loose ends.

Posted on May 1, 2014
Modern Sliced Block by Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studios

April LI Mod Block

I’m going to be embarking on a new project soon (big. Like, big! Like QUEEN-sized!), so right now, as I wait for that project’s fabrics to arrive, I am working my butt off to knock things off the to-do list. (It’s not a firm butt, mind you, but hopefully one that’s getting firmer — HOPEFULLY — since I joined the gym and have gone to two classes this week and I can’t even touch the skin under my ribs because my abs are so sore. But I digress). Where was I?

So, yes, this week. Well, I finished the charity quilt for my son’s preschool, and I’m thinking I’ll share that with you tomorrow — or maybe it’ll have to be next week-ish, if I’m too sore to move my arms to type tomorrow (highly likely). And my husband was away traveling all week (which is awesome when you have a 5, 3 and 2 year old, let me tell you!) but it means once the kids were in bed, I was lonely, so to keep myself busy I sewed. I made two blocks for my quilt guild: the Modern Sliced Block  (up above), which was due last month (I never got to because I was hauling it on the quilt for my nephew); and the Broken Herringbone Block (below) – one of the blocks for May — along with the Radiant Ring Block, which I plan to get to tomorrow.

May LI Mod Block

I also received my Gypsy Wife fabric in the mail today, which is awesome, because I plan to knock the From the Heart block out over the weekend! Movin’ and groovin’ and gettin’ things done! How’s it sewing with you?

work in progress

wonky pinwheels.

Posted on March 20, 2014
Wonky Pinwheels by Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studios

HOPE at do.goodstitches - March

I’m so excited to be the newest member of the HOPE do. good stitches sewing bee circle! I’ve finished my first blocks using this tutorial for wonky pinwheels, and I think they are so cute and fun! I can’t wait to see them mixed in with the blocks created by the other bee members – these wheels have such movement — I’m sure it will make for a stunning quilt! This month’s block called for lots of springtime colors – the full spectrum of blues and greens, with a light gray background. And given that today is the first day of spring, I think that makes for a perfect fit!

HOPE at do.goodstitches - MarchHOPE at do.goodstitches - MarchHOPE at do.goodstitches - MarchHOPE at do.goodstitches - March

Making these blocks was a challenge because there were a lot of pieces and some bulk to the seams, but I am feeling proud that they are completed and in the mail! Woo hoo!

Happy Spring!

 

work in progress

rainbow starflower and stuff.

Posted on February 24, 2014
Rainbow Starflower by Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studios

Fabrics for Rainbow Starflower

One of the reasons I started this space was to (hopefully) connect with other people who love to cut up little pieces of fabric and sew them back together like I do.  Even though I feel like there are so many quilters out there, it’s really hard to meet anyone my age and in my area that likes to quilt! Do you have the same problem?  So another way I’m trying to meet other quilters is by joining my local quilt guild. After Victoria Findlay Wolfe came to speak at my local quilt shop, they decided to establish a Long Island chapter of the Modern Quilt Guild. So, that is the one I’ve joined. It’s all really new, and we’ve had a lot of snowed-out meetings, so I’m hoping with the spring will come the chance to meet lots of new people!

As guild members, we are each working on a block per month to bring to meetings, each of which are chosen by the Board from the Gen X Quilters’ Quilt Block Library. So far, we’ve completed the Bow Tie block, the Cross Block, the Wonky Star and Stacked Block (you can see mine here). For this month, we have two blocks to work on: The Rainbow Starflower and the Cross Roads.

The tutorials are great, and really easy to follow. My only problem is not knowing what block is coming next — I feel like its hard to make the fabric choices without knowing what type of blocks we’ll be making. I guess I’m a bit of a control freak! To help alleviate some of the guess-work,  I’ve decided to use mainly Carolyn Friedlanders Botanics fabrics mixed with coordinating Kona Solids. Since I am not sure what the blocks will look like together, I figured using all the same fabric line will help it to look consistent!  Am I being too conservative? I rarely work from all one line of fabric, so even this is making me question my choices. . . hmmmmm.