WIP Wednesday - jingle all the way

I have joined in the sewalong for Jingle All the Way by Kimberbell Designs. Cristin Sohm hosts the videos on Youtube and it slowly take you through the blocks for the project section by section. I though I was about ten blocks behind, but it turns out to be fourteen blocks and two filler blocks!

The first block was Jingle all the way and you can either do the one block for section 1 or two blocks for the whole quilt. The benefit of doing all of the identical blocks is the work on later sections becomes lighter.

Next were two nine patch blocks for which I am using grey rather than black. They were quick to piece and then were quilted on my embroidery machine with a plaid pattern.

The three Le Moyne stars were next which was more of a challenge as my hoop is not quite big enough, but I reduced the quilting design from 8" to 7.75" and removed the basting stitches. I like how these turned out.

Next were two border blocks and time to stitch together section 1. I forgot to put stabilizer on the back of the border fabrics and I can see the difference in how they turned out. However, section 1 is complete and I'm starting to catch up! 

Next should have been five peppermint twists but instead I decided to do the simpler candy cane blocks. Watching the embroidery being done is so hypnotic. I am pleased with my choice of background fabric for these two blocks.

 A new video was released this morning, so I now need to stitch:

Three filler blocks for section 2

Five peppermint twists - one of which I need to complete section 2

Stitch together section 2

I'm not doing too badly given I had only started this project this week.

Monday make - thimble SAL

The Thimbles sewalong with Happy Sew Lucky started a week ago, so when I started sewing the blocks on Saturday, I was already behind. I am combining my Ruby Star stash with Kona solids for the background.

Unfortunately, the first block I sewed was for week 3! Not a good start but I was pleased with my fussy cutting of the word "strawberry".

The week 2 blocks turned out beautifully with records, a tomato, another strawberry, pop, an owl and a skier. Very random!

Yesterday I finished the last of the week 1 blocks too. The blocks look great together so far.

A few months ago, I started tidying up my solids stash and destashed any smaller pieces. I then sorted the remaining solids by colour which made choosing the background fabrics much quicker.

 

Friday finish - Christmas tiny town

 

Christmas Tiny Town by Heart in Hand was the UFO selected for October for our Guild FO Challenge. Fortunately, I had worked on it during September, so I finished it early in the month and it has now been framed.

What to work on next? I have an ultrasound later today after supervising some work at my father's apartment, so a busy day, but I hope to make more progress at the weekend.

WIP Wednesday - bee quilt

 

This is another fabulous quilt made by Gisele, which I quilted with a bee and floral design in medium grey Glide. I am amazed at the variety of yellow bee fabrics used for the pieced hexagon background. Another stunner ready to be returned to its new owner.

Monday Make - medallion quilt

 I have been quite productive over the last few days, but tech seems to be working against me and making progress slower than I had hoped. I loaded a customer quilt on to my long arm last Monday and quilted it yesterday.

All of the floral fabrics were giving off spring vibes as we head into autumn. A central medallion is surrounded by these rectangular floral blocks. The quilt was all hand pieced by our talented friend Gisele and when her stash was sold, this quilt top was purchased by a friend. 

I used Glide thread in the colour bone and the digital pantograph Malachite by Urban Elementz. My next job is to load another customer quilt onto my frame.

Sneakers and September 2024 achievements

I am thrilled to have finished these sneakers purchased from sneaker.eu by my daughter for Christmas 2022. Lizzie finished her sneakers in 2022. My first attempt wasn't successful, so it was added to my Guild UFO challenge for 2024. The Fabric is from Stitch Fabric at the 2024 Festival of Quilts and will become a matching dress.

I unpicked the labels from my first attempt and added it to the tongue. I now need to find a source for shoe laces and wash the shoe laces from my shop bought shoes too.

A stiletto to open up the stitch holes and the big green machine to punch the stitching holes into the fabric uppers and tongues made this project much easier the second time around.

This was my only finish for the month and completed on the last day of the month. I am looking forward to a more productive October.

October 2024 plans

September was a bust, so I need to work on the following still:

Christmas Tiny Town is one of my UFO challenge pieces that I started in August and I did some stitching on during our river cruise. Fingers crossed this is chosen for October as it should be a quick finish and then I can get it framed professionally.

Another small piece that I have started and put to the side is Spring Quaker by Primrose Cottage in a pretty monochromatic lavender thread. 

The Cristin Creates FB group are already on block 7 of the Jingle All the Way quilt so I have some catching up to do. My husband has finished painting the room which contains my long arm and embroidery machine so I should be able to make progress on this. I will use my own choice of fabrics again, but I did purchase the embellishment kit.

I would like to make two versions of the Cassie dress this month. The denim stars fabric is already cut out and I made a toile of the bodice.

The blue and pink floral is prewashed, but I will only cut it out once the denim version is complete.

I also have three customer quilts ready to quilt and I need to catch up on the Karlee Porter Graffiti quilting class. As my husband is away visiting his family for two weeks, in theory, this is all very achievable.

Monday BOGOF

 

I don't know if BOGOF (buy one get one free) is a universally understood phrase but I am feeling the love for these two projects. Whilst on holiday earlier this month, I realised I needed more light cotton summer dresses. A Jersey dress is just much warmer than I needed. 

I purchased this very light denim with stars fabric from Stitch Fabric at the Festival of Quilts 2024 and the Cassie dress from emporia Sewing Patterns at the 2023 show. I hope it's a match made in heaven. I toiled the bodice and altered my paper pattern. The fabric is cut out and ready to be sewn together.  I have not cut the third tier yet as I don't want a long skirt so will adjust the width of the tier accordingly.

Having cut out the dress, I then moved onto cutting out the pieces for my sneaker kit which was a Christmas project with my daughter in 2022. I repurposed the Fabulous! labels from my original attempt and next I need to cut the holes in the uppers and tongues ready to stitch to the base. I will use my Big Green Machine for this and then there are some eyelets to add too. Unfortunately, this is my September UFO so it needs to be finished today!

I am hoping that my October UFO will the Christmas Tiny Town cross stitch which is almost complete. I am also going to load a customer quilt onto my long arm today so I can work on it tomorrow.

Back from Holiday

We returned home a week ago from a European river cruise starting in Dusseldorf and finishing in Budapest. Continuing family crises have meant very little crafting whilst on holiday and since our return. 

The only project I've worked on over the last three weeks is Christmas Tiny Town by Heart in Hand. Having worked from the centre out to the left and right, I am now working from the left and completing all of the motifs apart from the buttons and backstitching. This is not a big piece, and I have made so many mistakes and ripped out numerous problems.

One of our first ports of call was Koblenz where we passed two quilt shops which I had to visit! Lizzie suggested this window display was a bit pants.

I did support the German economy and bought the black fabric for the borders of my Pumpkins and Potions ladder quilt and the Tabby Road fabric because I was late to the party as usual and have missed out on Tabby Road Deja Vu by Tula Pink.

Later on in our holiday, I visited a TK Maxx and was delighted to find two Rae Dunn mugs. The deep orange mug is for my daughter Lizzie, and I am keeping the neutral mug.

Our thoughts are with all of the people displaced in Europe who have been affected by the river flooding. We missed a stop in Bratislava so as to keep ahead of the flood waters and were fortunate to make it to Budapest from where we flew home. Our cases were kindly routed to our final destination by British Airways despite not having a through ticket and we were also upgraded to business class on our Budapest to London Heathrow sector which was much appreciated. Though the free drinks are wasted on me.

Pumpkins and potions

 

As I have been trying to focus on one project at a time in August, I didn't get many of the blocks finished before going on holiday, but I have made a start. I had planned to spend the day before we left for our holiday working on this project, but two family emergencies in one day, cut into any free time I might have had.

WIP Wednesday - catching up on customer quilts

 One more quilt completed for a customer before we left for our holiday. Just 43" square so a quick stitch.

Pat used some spare blocks on the back. The pantograph is Circuit by Anne Bright, and I used a medium grey Glide thread.

I have one customer quilt left to load, but it needs some extra borders added to the backing and will await our return from holiday.

 

August 2024 achievements

A few finishes for August which has been busy with a trip to the Festival of Quilts, a one day trip to London as well as family commitments.

My final finish for August was Autumn Squirrel by Barbara Ana Designs.

Sailor top to go with my Mave skirt with fabric purchased at the Festival of Quilts 2023 and 2024.

Pyjama bottoms packed for our holidays.

 Ginger's Kitchen bench pillow by Kimberbell Designs.

Caesarea Quilters Challenge quilt finished well in advance of the deadline of 21 October. I have also quilted three customer quilts and have just one waiting to be quilted.

Friday finish - Autumn squirrel

 

Autumn Squirrel by Barbara Ana Designs for Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine was one of my 2024 UFOs for our Guild challenge. I thought it was a good project to take to my Wednesday morning group as it has blocks of colour to stitch. However, I have been stitching on it every day and it is now complete.

I am stitching it on 28 count cashel in light mocha / mushroom using the called for threads.  I love those mushrooms at the bottom. I will frame the piece in the month it is chosen as our UFO challenge piece. It would be perfect if it was chosen for September.

September 2024 plans

We are away for the first two weeks of September so I need to realistic about what I can achieve! That would be a first. Our Guild UFO challenge has four months to go, and I am crossing my fingers for a cross stitch project to be chosen.

Christmas Tiny Town is one of my UFO challenge pieces that I started in August and plan to take on holiday with me, so even if it isn't chosen, it will be further along.

Another small piece that I have started and put to the side is Spring Quaker by Primrose Cottage in a pretty monochromatic lavender thread. Very portable for our holidays.

I have started the Pumpkins and Potions ladder quilt by Kimberbell Designs, but I haven't stitched many of the blocks. I should try and make good progress in September as Halloween will come and it won't be ready.

I had decided not to participate in the Jingle all the way sewalong with the Cristin Creates FB group. Imagine my horror when I was putting stuff away from finished projects, I discovered that I had already purchased the embroidery book and embellishment kit for the project. Shockingly I only purchased it in the last two months! I think I will try and arrange the blocks into a ladder quilt.

I would have liked this dress for my holiday, but I should do a toile and take my time. The fabric is already prewashed.

Packing for my holiday - the crafty edition

Do you pack crafty projects when you go on holiday? When we used to rent a villa in France and drive down from St Malo, I used to pack either my sewing machine or scrapbooking kits with photos printed. My husband isn't a morning person so I could craft for an hour before he was ready for the day. We are heading off for a two week river cruise so I need to take something to keep my hands occupied. Last time went on a river cruise, I took a quit kit with me and cut all of the pieces ready to stitch up on my return. The only project kit I have is too big and heavy for my suitcase.

So far I've packed Spring Quaker by Primrose Cottage.

And Christmas Tiny Town by Heart in Hand. Let's hope this is chosen for my September Guild UFO challenge.

I also have a knitting project planned but first of all I need to find where I put the printed instructions!! That was simpler than I thought, the pattern was in the same room as my wool stash. The skeins need to be wound into yarn cakes before being packed.