FINISHED-ON-FRIDAY (Wk 38)

What a busy week this has been.  I had to actually take things off my plate in order to make room.  And, sewing has suffered.  Although I had high hopes, I did not make one stitch toward my Riley Blake Retro Travel Bag.  I did however, work on my Big-Stitch Quilting in the evening and when I found some time during meetings.  So, I got all the stitching around the flowers and have started quilting lines using the dots as a guide.  Perfect fabric for a first-time project. 

I did fit in a few gifts I need.

A couple of pillow cases and some small boxes.   Maybe some chocolate will sneak into those boxes.

Have a great weekend and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

FINISHED-ON-FRIDAY?? AND MORE (Wk 37)

What a great time we had at the Riley Blake Fabric Fest.  Almost 4 days of fun, fun, and more fun.  I have to share some of it with you. 

Monday evening the "Vendor Mall" opened for business at 7:00 PM.  It was set up to resemble a mini quilt mart.  Only, this one had tons of appetizers and drinks.  Very nice.

I had two classes on Tuesday.  In the morning Robin and I both took Melissa Mortenson's, of Polka DotChair,  Retro Travel Bag class. We could purchase kits and I selected the grey and yellow chevron. These are Melissa's samples.

In the afternoon, I took a Big-Stitch Quilting class taught by Andrea Goddard of Quiltique, a local quilt store in town.

Wednesday morning I took Summer in the Park, taught by Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Company.  I'm sure many of you are familiar with Jenny's tutorials on YouTube.  Yes, she is just as wonderful in person.

Wednesday afternoon I relaxed by sitting back and listening to a lecture on Pre-Cuts by Kim Thurgood & Kris Christopherson of MyGirlfriend's Quilt Shoppe and Kimberbell Designs out of Logan, Utah.  Cute twins and a very fun lecture.

On Thursday morning I took another lecture on the merits of the Social Media while I worked on my Big-Stitch Quilting.  It was a panel held by Paige Hill of Riley Blake Designs, Becky Vandenberg of U Create, and Kari Sweeten, Jen Hadfield, of The Crafting Chicks. 

I loved all of it; and, I came home with three new UFOs.  But, it was all worth it.

This was their first Fabric Fest, attended by over 300 sewers.  I don't know when they will be holding their next one; but, I want to be in line early when it's announced.

However, I can now show you my first "Secret" project I had been working on.  A C-R-A-F-T friend needed some friendly hugs.  This collection of hearts was mailed to me.  I assembled them, added the border and quilted it.  And, I'm sure she is now wrapping herself with our hugs.

Have a great weekend and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

FINISHED-ON-FRIDAY (Wk 36)

I forgot all about Friday.  It has been hot enough here that I am not thinking clearly.  These were finished in plenty of time, in fact, I made four pillow cases.  And, the other two are already either in or nearly in their new homes.  Told you I'm not capable at all these days. 

 

But I do have these that will go to their new home next week. It's suppose to be cooling down.  Fingers crossed.  Sigh.........

Have a great weekend and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

FINISHED ON FRIDAY (Wk. 35)

Turns out that I managed to get all three made this week and work on my "secret" projects. 

Aren't they just so stinkin' cute?  The pattern is Fat Quarter Shop's Diva Frame Wallet designed by Jessica Van Denburgh.   It is a very well-written pattern.  Another photo of the wallets opened. 

Which one is your favorite now that you see them finished?  My favorite keeps changing.  These are going to make great gifts come Christmas.  Now back to working on my "secret" projects.

Have a great weekend and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

FINISHED-ON-FRIDAY (WK 34)

Here is what I managed to get done with those left-over charms (what I can show you at least).  I made these before and you can find the tutorial on Geta's Quilting Studio. 

 

They make up quickly and are quite useful.

 

Now, for what would you use them?  Threads, notions, candy, potpourri? Just wondering.

Have a great weekend and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

FINISHED ON FRIDAY (Wk. 33)

My quilt room is so nice and bright now with all the added lights that sewing has been a pleasure these past few days.

This week has been dedicated to both quilt guilds to which I belong: Orange Grove Quilters Guild in Garden Grove and Quilters by the Sea in Long Beach.  Orange Grove Quilters Guild is having a Tea and Auction on October 19, 2013.  And, Quilters by the Sea will be holding their quilt show on October 26 -27, 2013.  Both guilds will be holding a boutique and are looking for some quilty items to sell.  I made some of these earlier in the year, and I will probably make a few more, or at least finish the kits I have already assembled. 

First, I made four sofa arm pincushions (or chair arm pincushions). 

 

Next, I made four notebook covers.  This is Robin Gallagher's pattern and you can find the pattern on her website here.

 

Then I sewed four card cases.  I use one I made a while ago, for my driver's license and ATM card, and have attached my keys.  It makes for a quick run somewhere that you don't want to take your purse.

 

Lastly, I sewed four (do you see a pattern here) travel iron cozies.  Don't you hate it when you go to pack up at the end of a workshop and your iron is still too hot to put away?  Problem solved.

Have a great weekend and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

ALMOST FINISHED ON FRIDAY (Wk 29)

My House Quilt isn't finished.  I will continue to work on it next week.  It has been a bit more of a challenge than originally anticipated.  But, you know, that is a good thing.  It is nice to be challenged.  Here is how my week went.

Monday (Trudy's there for moral support)

 

Tuesday (finished the wonky stars)

 

Wednesday (decided to concentrate on rows)

 

Thursday (2 more rows to go)

and close up of what's finished, so far.

 

I have a wonky border in mind.  So far, it is only in my mind.

However, I did finish the Nine Patch for the Tea and Auction in October.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a great weekend and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

FINISHED-ON-FRIDAY (Wk 28)

I quilted on the nine-patch quilt all week.  I expected to either get bored or finish sooner so I could work on some of my small kits.  But, no.  I did, however, get the top quilted.  I stitched in the ditch around each 5" block and then diagonal on each block.  Simple, yet it feels right.

 

And, I'm still binding away.....

Have a great weekend and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

FINISHED-ON-FRIDAY (Wk 27)

I must say this was a fun project putting together these blocks.  I decided to make it about color really.  So, I grouped like colors together as best I could. 

I agonized over whether to make it a square quilt or use all the blocks to add a little more length. Then I agonized over whether to add or not add a border.  I looked around the internet and it seemed like there were very few vintage quilts that utilized borders.  So, I asked my friend, Susan over at The History Quilter, who echoed that rarely were borders utilized in this era vintage quilt, and if they were it would be a skinny border.  So, I have used a 2.5" border and will add a solid color binding. It now measures 76" x 81" and all but 2 blocks were used.

Lucky for me (and most quilters living in the area) that M & L and Jenny's is having their annual sale starting today.  Wahoo!!  Guess where I'm off to hunt for a special backing? 

Have a great weekend and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

FINISHED-ON-FRIDAY (Wk 26)

Here are a few more items for the quilt show's boutique.  Not a lot of anything; but, then it turned hot and all sewing has stopped and lunching at nicely air-conditioned restaurants has commenced. 

Have you ever had to leave your hotel room when your curling iron was still hot? 

Curling iron cozies

I bet you have had to pack up a hot iron after a workshop or sewing with friends. 

Iron cozies

And, a couple of containers.  Someone asked if they were for a casserole dish.  I suppose they could be.  But, I think they are more of a catch all.  Let me know what you think.

Have a great weekend and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

FINISHED-ON-FRIDAY (Wk 25)

I managed to get several items made to donate to the Quilt Show's Boutique.  I love this Scone Mix idea with a bright fabric bag and a pocket.  The pattern is "My Other Kitchen" by Vanilla House Designs.

These card cases I blogged about here.  I only managed to get two done this week (and they still need buttons).  There are more cut out and ready to go.

Lastly, this week I made four armchair pin cushions.  I also made one of these earlier and discussed it here: 

Have a great weekend and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

FINISHED-ON-FRIDAY (WK 24)

What I thought was going to be a quick little hand-pieced project turned out to be far more fussy that I had anticipated.  The pincushion top was hand pieced and hand quilted while watching TV in the evenings.  I was almost ready to call it Finished on Saturday; however, I pushed it and actually finished it up at my Thursday night quilt guild meeting.

 

But,  didn't it turn out cute? I found the pattern in one of the recent quilt magazines on Bags, Pillows and Pincushions. The designer is Penelope Tucker. I have been avoiding the increasingly popular English Paper Piecing hexagons.  Not because I don't like them.  More, that I am afraid of getting hooked on them.  I keep seeing more and more uses for these hexagons, other that Grandmother's Flower Garden quilts.  Perhaps I will tackle a few more "small" hexagon projects.  Have a great weekend and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

FINISHED-ON-FRIDAY (WK 23)

After hemming and hawing on what to make with the Ty Pennington Charm Pack, I decided on pillows. The small pillow is inspired by “100 Pretty Little Projects” by Lark Crafts. I ran out of charms and the last square in the small pillow is sans charm.  It  all works.

I love them both.  They actually took longer to make than I anticipated.  I couldn't decide on which way to do the back.  Envelope style with buttons, use an invisible zipper, or Velcro.  Velcro won out because I had it.

Now, should they live on my sofa?

 or in my entryway? 

Or, should I donate them to the guild?  Enjoy your weekend and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

FINISHED-ON-FRIDAY (Wk 22)

This is how far I got on the baby-boy quilt.  Panels almost piece themselves.  There is a sense of order that just comes along with a panel.  So the piecing just about happened by itself.

The picture is a bit blurred; but, it is quilted.  Here are a couple of close ups. 

 

 

There is a lot more quilting than I would normally do for a baby quilt; but, I just couldn't stop myself.  There is so much going on in the panel.  I bet Wyland must just keep going on like that.  Long Beach has a Wyland, Whaling wall downtown.  It was quite controversial when he painted it.  I love it.  It makes me smile.

 

It still needs a binding and I have enough of this left over from the T-Shirt quilt I could use.

Otherwise, I have to go shopping.  Oh horrors!  Have a good weekend and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

FINISHED-ON-FRIDAY (Wk 21)

Oh what a fun shopping week.  I found almost everything I had in my mind.  I have a bed skirt on order.  It is one of those elastic ones so I will no longer have to lift the mattress to apply or adjust the darn thing.   Here are the before and after photos. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The picture on the armoire will need to be changed.  It really needs a nice summer scene or at least a beachy sign.  I'll find it.  Do you see Gracie photo bombing?

Have a good weekend and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

FINISHED-ON-FRIDAY (Wk 19)

                      or

THE THREE CONTAINERS

You see these cute fabric containers all over the internet, on blogs, on  Pinterest, even in books. My plan was to make some of these fabric containers which should go together rather quickly.  Some of the ones I've seen are made from linen with cotton lining.  I had a few remnants of home dec fabric and decided to go with this. 

The first one is made with no interfacing, thinking the home dec fabric would hold up.  But, it is too soft.  (never mind that it upside down with directional fabric)

The next one is made a tad smaller using heavy weight (maybe even extra heavy weight) fusible interfacing.  And, it is too hard.  Besides I don't like the size.  (but it was right side up)

The third one is using a mid weight fusible interfacing.  And, it is just right.

Since I was on such a roll, I made three more all just right.

And, they are convertible. 

By the way, the "too soft" container inside out is right side up.  Oh, I so meant to do that.  Ha!  Now what are they going to contain?

Have a good weekend and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn