Focus : Week 1

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I have had some deadlines lately that I have just missed. I feel bad about it and decided that this month, I am committing to finishing up some projects.

This week’s WiP and focus projects are:

  • First priority: Sisterhood of the traveling quilts – Laura’s (@littleandlots) quilt addition…She wanted a row of blocks, that represent the rainbow.  I was pulling fabric trying to decide and all of a sudden I found that I loved Tula Pink + Alison Glass combination. It just happened I was pattern testing at the same time for Juliet @ Tartankiwi, and feel in love with the Can-can girl paper piecing template. I am almost finish – here is Miss Orange through Miss Violet…
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    Only Miss Red to go, and I am hoping that she will be finished tonight (PS. there might be a giveaway on Friday to celebrate completing these).
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  • Secondly: I plan to bind my Idea, Design, Create quilt to show at our Guild meeting this weekend…probably my Friday night sew along project. I got the quilt back from Sarah @ Crinkle Love who did the wonderful quilting!!IMG_4749

Planning ahead:

  • Project of the Month and my goal for ALYoF is the same as last month – my Spoonflower Sampler Quilt. I actually plan, starting next week to release a block or two patterns per week (total of 12 blocks), as I complete the quilting and binding on this project. So stay tuned every Saturday for the releases!!
    SpoonflowerSampler_Quilting
  • Sisterhood of the traveling quilt: Jess’ @Quiltyhabit who wants jewel tone curves. I have the perfect start, for this project and I am re-purposing this UFO.
    GetYourCurvesOn
  • Start and complete my quilt top for our guild’s Spoonflower charity quilt challenge.
  • Lastly, is my planning and buying supply’s for my possible QuiltCon entries.

Linking up for this week’s WiP projects @Freshly Pieced WiP Wednesday  and for my monthly goal, A lovely year of finishes (see buttons on the right).

 

Awkward Paper Piecing Angles??

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I love paper piecing and have been doing a lot lately. Previously, I blogged about some useful tips and lessons learned when paper-piecing. I have another tip, for those awkward angles.

You know those angles that the fabric starts off not in line with the shape you want to cover, at all. The one you can just cut a really big piece of fabric to make sure it folds over and covers the whole piece.

What about trying these few steps to make it easier.

1. Place fabric covering the shape you are piecing. In the photo I have the fabric, right side facing down and the paper template facing up.
Positioning_fabric

2. Fold  the template and fabric carefully, along the line of the paper template that you will be stitching on. Press with an iron.
Folding_fabric

3. You will now have a crease in your fabric.
Fold_Pressed

4.  Use that crease to line up your fabric with the template, readying it to stitch along the line. Note the fabric in the picture is now right side facing up, and is positioned in that awkward position. Hold in place (you can use pins or glue). Stitch along the template line.
Stitched_piece

5.  Trim excess (allowing for a 1/4″), fold over the fabric and press along the stitched line.
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6. This is how my block finished up.
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Let me know if you have any questions, or any trouble when trying it out. Linking up with Stephenie @Late Night Quilter for Tips and Tutorials Tuesdays.

New Blogger Series

 

In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle

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Last year, I won the design contest that Sara Lawson @sewsweetness held for her Jungle Ave Quilt. I couldn’t believe it!! The design was inspired from Tapa cloths that I had picked up in the Pacific Islands, hence the name of my quilt “Jungle Ave Tapa”.

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The prize included all the fabric to make the quilt and a chance to be published in Quilt Now. The fabric arrived and my first thought was OH NO (well actually sh*t) as I realized I now need to make it.
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It was a long process for me to make this one as I had to work out how to turn it into reality, after a grueling 4 months it was complete. The whole secret sewing thing is like torture for me. I decided to get it quilted by Angela Walters as I wanted her style of FMQ to highlight and bring out the shapes. I love the quilting, Angela did a fantastic job on the first quilt I have ever sent out!!
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For the big reveal, almost a year later, the quilt and the pattern is in this month’s Quilt Now magazine (picture from the magazine). (Happy Dance emoticons here!!).
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We actually took it on vacation with us and had our own photo shot (the assistants maybe not have been always co-operative….but we got it done ;-)). This is my favorite sequence of photos;  my son, who was suppose to be posing for me and decided to hide instead.
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The Hatteras Lighthouse grounds/backdrop made it a perfect location. It was purely by chance that the black, white and pink/red of the lighthouse correlated to the colors in the quilt.
JungleAveTapa_Full

The back re-uses the ladder shape amongst the city jungle of elephants and of course the hubby did a great job climbing in the shrubs for me!! (Ashley, if you read this…this could be us doing each others photo shoots…the hubby’s will be so happy).
JungleAve_Tapa_Back

By the time we got to do close-ups, I lost my models/assistants….but the porch chair made a great prop.

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Details

Name: Jungle Ave Tapa
Dimensions: 60″ x 70″
Design: Michelle Wilkie (does include paper-piecing the center strip.

Fabric: Jungle Ave, Sara Lawson for Art Gallery Fabrics; Pure Elements Snow
Quilted: By Angela Walters

Anyway, that was so hard to keep a secret….only 1 more of the 5 secret sewing projects to go. Linking up with Alyce @ Blossom Heart  Quilts for Sew Cute Tuesday (see button on the right) and Amanda Jean @ Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday.

Linking up with  Adrienne for 2015 Finish along, as this was a long time coming as it was one of my goals for Q4 2014 to finish.

2015 FAL at On the Windy Side