WIP Wednesday: March Madness

Progress being made.

Can free-motion quilt again! (Temporary fix)

Progress on the FAL 2014 Q1 list. The piece above is 'Night Garden', finally being quilted. Very slowly, because like a genius I've given it almost 7 layers in some places. But I'm a sixth of the way through it!

This weekend, I played with new colors....making palettes that were speaking 'Spring'. Bright.
My goal was to use these two palettes to inspire fabric selections for my March blocks in my Block-a-Day project.

This first is an actual art quilt by Karen Kamenetzky....I just loved the piece, it's on my pinterest Color Palette board :-)

Fabrics from my stash:

This next one, also from my Color Palette board, is another color way that I envisioned incorporating into a quilt. The piece is by Seattle artist Liz Tran, called "Burst". 

Fabrics from my stash:

I'm not totally sold on the selection above. I need more tomato orange. More blush-y mauve. Darker. Brighter. I'll keep looking. I fear I may have to purchase some new colors for my stash....hehehe.

Feeling like a juggler here with so many projects at once. And some stuff to seriously catch up on.

This weekend through Tuesday was set aside mostly for a birthday and relaxation. 

Tomorrow is Art Walk night, my coordinator duties will be heavy. 

The rain is over. The air is warm. 

My Marmalade Fabrics order came in the mail today!

Will share soon... secret project...I'm making something for me!

Linking up with Freshly Pieced!

Finish #2 Colorful Bunting FAL 2014/Q1

Ta-Da!
In the midst of my frustration over the FMQ foot dilemma, I finished the Colorful Bunting in a flash. And better yet, I mailed it to my sister for her (belated) birthday gift package! I'm so happy to check off another project from the list, only 18 more to go!
Speaking of my Q1 list and that FMQ foot.....I FINALLY found a solution and was able to make progress on projects that have been patiently waiting in a pile for free-motion quilting....
Here's some stipple quilting on another Q1 item (studio sign), almost done as well!

The solution...plumbers tape! I know I tried it before, wrapping it on the screw. But it turns out it works much better if I cram it in the hole and tighten the screw into it. I also put a bit of clear polish on the screw that's semi-stripped. All in all, I can now attach and tighten my free motion foot! (YAY!!!)
It may not look pretty, but it's working. And I can continue sewing....phew!

In other news, I'm almost done with super secret baby/mama gifts! Here's a peek at the table from last week and a custom made pattern. (It turned out sooooo cute, can't wait to share it!!)

And a nice little doodle I did and have been thinkin' about making into a quilt..."Bird Vision" is a tentative working title...

Happy sewing!

Hand Stitching Time : WIP Wednesday

Screwy Update:
It can be extremely frustraiting when your go-to machine is sorta, outta sorts. Still, the screw will not tighten. Glues, wrappings, I am determined to find what works!
But in the mean time, I've re-attached the regular walking foot and am almost ready to sew everything that doesn't require any free-motion quilting (bummer). I say 'almost' because I've spent most of the last week sewing things by hand, just to change things up and try to calm my nerves about the FMQ foot.

I made some (very little) progress on the Flying Fish Mola, started the top layer stitching. This project is on my FAL 2014 Q1 list so I really need to spend more time working on it. It's going to be one of those time suckers as traditional appliques usually are.

Speaking of traditional applique, I've been seeing that it's gaining popularity amongst the online quilting world! Above are some of my favorite tools that I've inherited from my Grandmothers applique techniques. Straw needles are excellent in helping make tiny almost invisible stitches. I've been using needles out of that case of 16 for over 6 years now, they last along time. But a word of caution! They are sooooo tiny and thin, be very carful not to loose them or have a cat try and eat one (that's a story for another time!)
I also like to use that niffty little awl to turn under the edge as I go along. But you can use anything pointy like toothpicks or an ice pick or even a bookbinders awl. You get the point.
I'm working on an Introduction to Applique tutorial and possibly a class structured around the Mola style appliques I've been working on. Pretty excited about that!

Also in the hand work category, I've been doing some embroidery at night. These two pieces are really random stitching. I was going to frame them by themselves, but having them on the design wall made me think about adding some patchwork boarders and making them the centers of mini quilts.

And the horse doll prototype is coming along. Next up are the legs and then the fabulos details like hair, eyes, tails and of course a costume! 

Back to work I go! Linking up with Lee @ Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesdays

In progress & getting it done!

Hello!!!
I've been busy in the studio!
And it feels sooooo good to be working on long over due projects (My FAL Quarter 1 list!!!)
Allow me to share!

First off.....my notebook open to the page for my Globetrotter BOM. I'm almost done piecing the center block, can't wait to share it! The colors I chose come together so well, I'm impressed with myself!

Second up in progress, my studio sign from my FAL Q1 list. I did some quilting in the background, outlined letters more and drew the grid for the rest of the background stitching. Can't decide if I want to stitch the rest by hand or not....hmmmmm.

And another off my FAL Q1 list....the "Night Garden" wall hanging. I added more "garden" to it last night while I watched Netflix, and I think I'm done with the piecing!! Which leaves the next step of quilting it up. The detail stitching will make it pop for sure!

Alright, that's all for now. Be back soon to share some FINISHES!

Linking up to Freshly Pieced! WIP Wednesdays!