Mystery Mondays - on the design wall

I found the pattern for this block in the Modern Blocks (99 Quilt Blocks) by Susanne Woods.  

This book contains 99 Quilt Blocks from several designers. 

The block I am making is called "Seeing DOUBLE" by Yvonne Malone.   It's a 12 inch block. 

...just playing around, nothing sewn yet, just moving pieces around to get the combination I like....

...I like these lighter colors as the first row around the gold centre square (see below).

...starting to add the second row of the gold fabric around...

3 different combinations...

I am adding the darker 2nd row of fabric after the gold fabric like a picture frame..

It's hard work but I will continue to play and sew some more squares. 

Yahoo - playing with fabric and sewing what could be more fun on a  "rainy Monday"

De-stashing, what does this really mean

It was the Fraser Valley Modern Quilt Guild's "de-stashing" event at our Meeting tonight.

De-Stashing what does it really mean to "de-stash" your stuff - down size your sewing / quilting fabrics and notions.  It does not matter if you call it recycling or trading in ... De-Stashing means many things to many people. What does de-stashing mean to you. How often should you de-stash?  Once, Twice or several times a year...hmmm  It gets you thinking....

It was my 2nd "De-Stashing" since being a part of this Guild, and it was more exciting for me this years as I was able to participate by bring items from my sewing room to "de-stash" with.

Prior to attending this Guild I had never heard of the term "de-stashing."   I believe it follows along the same lines as a "another man's junk is another man's treasurer," only this relates to sewing and quilting.

It was only just about a year ago when I attended my first "de-stashing" event with this Guild.  As a relatively new quilter I did not bring anything to add to the pile of de-stashed items, as I really did not have much to offer.  I was fun to watch all the ladies dig in and find some awesome treasurers to take home.  The ladies were kind enough that once they went through the items, anything left was up for grabs to us ladies who had not donated anything.  So I snooped a bit and found a couple of magazines on 'paper piecing' and a few pieces of fabric and brought them home.

A YEAR has passed and the notice came out that we were once again going to have the "de-stashing" evening.

I was really very excited to participate as I now had items I could de-stash with.  You always seem to have some bits and pieces left over from various sewing and quilting projects.  Why not participate and do some  'de-stashing' of my own.

I got my large plastic bag and quickly filled it with items to bring. Much to my surprise while I was cleaning and filling the bag of stuff I was planning to bring, I came across the very bag that still contained the items I got last year.  Yikes, I gasped, what the heck are you still doing in this bag.  Bad girl I told myself.  I quickly added these items to bring back.  Okay, so now I am taking items back from last year that I have not even looked at, much less used. I could not believe that these  items had been taking up valuable space in my little sewing room for a year.  This was not good I told myself.

I kept thinking about these re-found items and got to thinking that not only was I de-stashing, but "re donating" the very items I got last year and never used.  Does this take de-stashing to a new level or what?  Hmmm

On the drive to the meeting I  gave myself a stern talking to, and told myself I would give these items back along with all the items I had in my bag!  I told myself this several times on my drive to the meeting.

As the ladies arrived at the meeting they all seemed to carry bags, and bags of stuff...and more bags of stuff.
The tables were pushed together and all the "de-stashed" items were dumped on top of all the tables (very large piles of sewing quilting stuff).  It's like a dream come true, piles and piles of fabric, little bits of fabrics, big bits of fabric, buttons, ribbons, purse handles, patterns etc.    All kinds of goodies before my very eyes, and I kept telling myself I would not take anything.

I volunteered to take pictures , as the ladies got ready, on your marks, 1 - 2 - 3 GO!  There was an excited  frenzy in the air, and busy hands and fingers lifting, turning and examining everything on the tables.  FREEBIE'S GALORE!

I was smiling and taking pictures of the ladies having a great time collecting.

Hmmm, I wonder just how many of them went home with an old shopping bag full of new goodies... Enjoy and have fun creating with all your new de-stashing...

Frogs - I love Frogs - Nature's Great Friend

A quilting extravaganza was organized through our Guild.  Each of us received a fat quarter of fabric to build on and create a small quilt to give to our community quilts.

I obviously recieved the fat quarter of frogs and I was off to create.  I fussy cut the frogs and build a type of frame around them in various Kona solids. and then added some sashing and built a little quilt.

I tried to get a little picture of each type or group of frogs and then as mentioned frame around each one.

It really was a lot of fun.   It's a little hard to see the top of the quilt, as I have a design wall that runs through a corner in my laundry room...yikes a girl has to make due with what she has.

It is now quilted and handed in for delivery.

Hope you like it.

Debbie

Spiralling Under Control

Hello Everyone, it's a raining Saturday and what a great opportunity to get something that's been ignored for a while finished.

In Summary:  This started when I took a mini-workshop, "Spiralling Under Control" from the Langley Quilters Guild wherein I am a member.

This class was taught by Jean Jones who helped us conquer our fears of free-style piecing and create a simple place mat.

         Okay, I goofed up and my piece started out with the large square and really was not very representative of a place mat  and so it sat in my UFO basket.  Hmm  something I'd finish another day I told myself.

I picked it up last Tuesday, and decided I'd take it to the  Sit'n Stitch last Wednesday at our Guild.  This particular Sit'n Stitch by the way was going from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm  (12 hours YAHOO, I am in!!!!)  I was determined this was something I was going to get finished and this gave me plenty of time to do so.

Okay I got the top finished by adding the 2 small squares and turned it from a place mat to a small table runner for my kitchen table.  

While watching it rain outside from my sewing room window today, I quilted it, nothing fancy, as I do not possess these skills, but just a simple stitch in the ditch.  

I did totally forgot about setting aside the correct amount of strips for the binding, which I am sure is some type of quilting boo boo, but I did it.   In order to complete the binding I had to use a little bit of the solids to make enough to go around the complete piece. 

I did not even have enough of the one solid colour to add, so I had to add bits of each to make it fit. 

I am happy with it for sure, and the best part for me is that I can take it from my UFO (un-finished object) basket and make it a finished project I can use.  YAHOO! 

Jean, thanks for the lesson.   Hope you all like it.

Debbie

October MUG RUG Exchange

I plan on taking part in the October Mug Rug Exchange for the FVMQG (Fraser Valley Modern Quilt Guild) next week.   This is the mug rug i have completed to participate.

I fell in love with this panel and fussy cut out this portion of the cock-eyed goofy crazy witch with her trusted friend the cat (notice he only has one eye too).  He is keeping guard, while she cooks and stirs her witches brew for Halloween!

 I had a great time making this for the exchange and look forward to taking part in the exchange.

Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow to all you Canadians eh!. Happy Columbus Day for everyone in the USA, and of course Happy Halloween to us all (I know it's early but this fabric surely got me in the mood to make more Halloween stuff to have hanging up).

Debbie

Paper Piecing 101 Class with Sonja from Artisania

Paper Piecing 101 - The Fox and Gnome Tote Bag

I signed up and took a class today from  FVMQG -  Paper piecing 101 being taught by Sonja Callaghan artisania.ca from Artisania.  Sonja is a published pattern designer. Check out her website for an update on what she is up to.  I call her the paper piecing guru, she demystifies paper piecing so you will fall in love with it too.  Yikes she's good and a great teacher also.

We all worked very intensely and seriously at this paper piecing stuff which does require concentration and patience, but with each piece it gets easier and easier.

By the end of the class most of us had finished various blocks relating to our totes.

I was too excited and had to get home and retire after dinner for the evening in my sewing room to finish the tote.

The back side of the bag

I used the same fabric for the lining as I did on the front of the bag.  I fell in love with these large dots of various colors.

The front of my bag


Thanks again Sonja for teaching us some tips and tricks on paper piecing.  I had great fun.

My bag is done and I can now use it!  Yahoo!  I am excited about this as I love bags and totes.

Hope you all like it too.
Debbie

A little quilted case for my Clover Iron & tools

I had some of the Kona Modern Collection "Merlot" fabric left and made a padded/quilted cover for my new clover iron.  I also made a little holder with a zipper for the clover leaf iron stand and the screw driver, so hopefully I will not misplace them....

I just need to get a snap closure for the top flap.  I used a heat resistant liner.  It was a fun little project and I used up all the little bits of fabric I had left from the Challenge project of my Emmaline Bag, so this made me happy.  It's always great to use up fabric, so we can go get more!

Hope you like it.
Debbie