July 2024 achievements

Most of my achievements are on the small size, no big quilts but satisfying makes nonetheless.

Strawberry Mouse by Tiny Modernist just needs to be framed.

I had Halloween Tiny Town professionally framed and I'm pleased with how it turned out.

I made two focus finders by Arabesque Scissors, one of which will be gifted this week to my daughter.

I found some pretty to do lists in TK Maxx to use in the folio.

 

My first retreat finish was the Lucky Us cushion by Kimberbell Designs.

My second retreat finish was the Crafters Tool tote by Kandou Crafts on Etsy.

My final finish for the month was Boo by Hello from Liz Matthews. 

WIP Wednesday - Boo

 

I surprised myself by finishing the stitching of Boo by Hello from Liz Matthews from Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine yesterday. I used the called for overdyed thread and it was stitched on 32 count linen by Weeks Dye Works. Annoyingly the tag doesn't mention the colour unless the colour is linen!!

It was very hot yesterday, so I decided to fully finish the piece onto a pumpkin piece that I had painted for something else. I was so keen that I didn't even take a photograph first. I am planning on making some 3D bats on my embroidery machine to add to the edge and stalk. That will have to wait until after my trip to The Festival of Quilts.

Monday maintenance

 

I am very lucky to have a very local needlework store, just a five minute drive from my home and with one parking space for special customers. I would recommend getting to know your local stores to ensure you get the best service they offer. Rachel has just celebrated ten years in business, and I first met Rachel when she ran a very popular sandwich shop.

Rachel is also very responsive to messages. I was recently on retreat and my friend Gill, recommended a particular 1/4" foot. A quick message and it was ordered by Rachel and I bought it a few days later.

I was all set to finish sections 3 and 5 of the Ginger's kitchen bench pillow yesterday but it wasn't to be. A needle broke and despite a clean out of the bobbin area, it wasn't behaving. I had planned to drop my embroidery machine in for a service tomorrow as I'm heading to the Festival of Quilts later this week.  Instead, I will be dropping it in today after a Zoom meeting this morning. 

I would also recommend adding oil and leaning your machines once a week in your diary. I use the free Todoist app for regular tasks. I love ticking off a to do list.

Ginger's kitchen bench pillow

 

I am catching up with the sewalong for the bench pillow by Kimberbell Designs which is hosted in the Cristin Creates facebook group and Youtube channel.

I have sewn together sections 1 and 2 and love how they look, but I'm not happy with the alignment so will unpick this and redo the seam.

I need to catch up with section 3 and cut and quilt some filler blocks. I'm not happy with the position of the house next to the Gingerbread Bakery block so I will move the gingerbread house up to the top of the section.

I stitched the final gingerbread house yesterday and pieced section 4. The background for the house is not correctly orientated, but I don't mind. I still love the clamshell quilting I chose for the house blocks.

The video for the gingerbread man was released today and fortunately I had already made that block. We are nearing the end, and I can't quite believe how big this bench pillow is. This weekend I need to restitch sections 1 and 2, finish section 3 and probably finish section 5 as that's one embroidered block and two small filler blocks.

Tomorrow I am doing an escape room followed by afternoon tea at a friend's home. Then I can enjoy the Kimberbell day events and perhaps stitch up the free design. You can sign up for free here.

WIP Wednesday - BOO

 

This month's UFO challenge is to stitch Boo by Hello from Liz Mathews from Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine. It doesn't look like I've made much progress but watching a Flosstube video last winter, I found out that the colour key in the magazine was incorrect. So, on Saturday I made a start and completely unpicked the large pumpkin. I now have a week to finish this project and I am a slow stitcher.

Monday make - Strawberries for Wimbledon

 

Wimbledon may have finished a week ago, but I have only just finished Mouse's strawberry jam by Tiny Modernist. I used all of the called for overdyed flosses on 32 count Belfast Vintage stormy night. I deliberately omitted the backstitched scrolls on the label on the jam pot.

I have a finishing piece ready so in theory I could completely finish it this month, but I need to press on with Boo by Hello from Liz Matthews which is my UFO challenge piece for July for Jersey Modern Quilt Group.

The framer has done a lovely job framing Halloween Tiny Town by Heart in Hand and matched the bright orange on the stitched piece to the frame.

Friday Finish - Lucky Us

 

At retreat I worked on this Lucky Us cushion by Kimberbell Designs. The panel was already complete, so I added the borders, stitched in the ditch and made it into a cushion. I took my tools to install the Kam snaps but, in my haste, I installed one the wrong way around. On Monday morning I used my green machine and hole punch to remove the popper and install a new one. I also added a jolly label by Sew Anonymous.

It's good to have this project completed as I can now catch us up on Ginger's Kitchen bench pillow as a new video was released over the retreat weekend by Cristin Creates on YouTube.

WIP Wednesday - Folk Sampler 2024

 

The third project I worked on at the Modern Quilt Club retreat last weekend was the Folk Sampler by Art East Quilting. I precut three bee blocks and the mouse.

I stitched all four prepped blocks and before I left the retreat, I also cut out two thistle blocks. With the bee blocks finished, I was able to add the first row of blocks around the centre star. Still left to complete now are:

• Two thistle blocks
• Two birds
• Dachshund B
• Two flying geese fish blocks

I also need to alter the first dachshund block which is a little wonky and stitch another Ohio star block to replace the block in the top right.  Progress has been made and the end is in sight. I have a Jersey Modern Quilt Group all day stitching day on Saturday so perhaps I should try and cut out a couple of blocks ready to stitch.

Monday Make - crafter's tool bag

I returned from the Modern Quilt Club retreat near Leeds late yesterday evening and was very grateful for the lift to the airport as well as my security fast pass as the queues were long. I worked on the Crafter's Tool bag by Kandou Crafts on Friday and finished it early on Saturday morning.

At the retreat there is a buzzer that you press when you finish a project and at the last retreat I didn't get to press it. I did press it before everyone came down in the morning but pressed it again later. It is a great way to attract everyone's attention and then find out what the pattern is!

The tool bag has a few neat additions including this small notions' pouch which can be closed or snapped into place on the bag.

It also has a recessed zipper closure on the top and I had cut all of the correct pieces for the bag prior to the retreat apart from the placket inside the top of the bag but I had just enough spare of the pink fabric as well as some iron on interfacing.

I even remembered to add a small label on the back of the project. I used Decovil light to give body to the project and used denim paired with the Ruby Star sateen wide backing and pink splash print. A satisfying first project completed at the retreat.

Retreat starts today

Instead of flying to Liverpool, I foolishly decided to go via Manchester instead. Unfortunately there was a rail strike so I was forced to take a National Express coach to Leeds.

I have packed three projects plus an emergency spare. I am going to start with the Craft Tote by Kandou Crafts.

I have also packed the Lucky Us cushion from Kimberbell which needs borders to be added, stitch in the ditch and then made into a cushion.

I have also prepped five blocks for the Folk Sampler by Art East Quilting. I hope to pin these blocks this morning, ready to sew.

WIP Wednesday - Folk Sampler

I love a good sewalong and I am either all caught up or lagging greatly behind. The 2024 Folk Sampler by Art East Quilting, definitely comes into the latter category. I loved the first big block in the middle and the stars, but the fiddly acorns and bees have demotivated me. 

This week I've put the blocks back on my design wall and made one more bee block. I am planning to work from the centre out, trying to balance my colours. I have more blocks completed than I had realised and the thistles and arrows look like straight forward blocks without too many small pieces.

I am taking this project to the retreat this weekend along with two design boards to put the blocks on and carry stitched blocks to the pressing station. I am undecided whether to pack a small cutting mat to cut a couple of blocks tomorrow afternoon as I am arriving the day before the event starts. It is probably better to cut more blocks at home and then pin them tomorrow afternoon ready to stitch over the weekend.

The other decision to be made is what clothes to pack as despite it being July, the weather is decidedly cold and wet today.

Monday Make - The Focus Finder

As you might have guessed, I decided to finish the second Focus Finder by Arabesque Scissors for my daughter. The pattern is available for free here for a short time. 

The outside fabric is a favourite of Lizzie's which I paired with the Tula Pink hexies and neon fish. The graph paper is by Ruby Star Society.

My prep for retreat has progressed slightly. Yesterday I spotted my name badge and got my suitcase out. This morning I've put underwear next to my suitcase. My husband is going into town this morning, so I have asked him to pick up some Decovil Light for one retreat project which I will cut out this afternoon. I managed to put a machine needle through my nail yesterday whilst using my embroidery machine, so I've cancelled my manicure for Wednesday which frees up the day other than a hospital appointment in the morning.

 

Friday finish - Focus Finder

 

If you love stationery, then you'll love The Focus Finder by Arabesque Scissors. The pattern is available for free here for a short time. A sewalong has been going on these last two weeks and I finished mine this morning.

My version is using Ruby Star Society fabrics throughout. Fortunately, my local fabric store had the petite D rings and lobster clasps. The only thing I would change is the product I used to firm up the whole project, I should have used something even firmer and iron on.

I have one to finish for my daughter and I'm in a quandary whether to stitch it at home where I have all of the equipment for snaps and rivets to hand or whether to add it to my nonexistent retreat pile for next Thursday. I also need to source some cute notepads.

June 2024 achievements

Very few of my finishes this month were on my to do list at the start of the month. What does that say about me? Easily distracted perhaps.

Snap Happy by Pen and Paper Patterns was my largest finish for the month and I love it.

This was my quickest finish as it was an orphan block from someone else's stash which I turned into a mini quilt for SCBU.

A mystery sewalong using my newish embroidery machine to make this Christmas pillow. Patterns by Kimberbell and instructions from Cristin Creates Facebook group.

I finished Halloween Tiny Town which was our Guild's UFO piece for the month. Tomorrow I'm going to take it to the framer as none of the pieces I was thinking of using to finish the piece, quite worked out.

Wrist wraps for my daughter's birthday which she requested. She appreciated the Ruby Star Society canvas that I used.

And I have finished a long standing customer quilt which has troubled me and the original quilting had to be unpicked when the quilt was 60% complete. Hooray.

July 2024 plans

I have a retreat in Leeds this month so I need some achievable projects to take with me. Our guild UFO for this month has been drawn and it is Boo, which I thought about working on last week.

The last block for the 2024 Folk Sampler was released yesterday so I have put the blocks back on my design wall and I will be cutting out one block a day to try and finish it in July.

I started the Kimberbell Lucky Us cushion and I am waiting for some product to arrive to finish the last three blocks. I hope to take this to retreat for an easy finish.

The weather has heated up here in Jersey so I thought I would make some shorts. The fabric is washed and I have had the pattern printed locally which my husband is collecting for me today.

I thought that stitching up a strawberry pattern during Wimbledon would be fun, so have chosen this strawberry jam pattern by Tiny Modernist and will kit this up tomorrow as the specialty threads have arrived.

Another project to make at retreat is this Crafter's Tool Bag by Kandou Crafts. I saw this being made on the Okla Roots YouTube channel so will refer back to that video if necessary. No fabrics have been chosen yet which is the first step so I can cut out the pieces ready for retreat.

My first job this month though, must be finishing a customer quilt that I unpicked whilst my long arm was away being serviced.