Design Wall Monday 12/31/12

This is my last Design Wall post of 2012!  This year has gone by so incredibly fast.  December was a little overwhelming and not a lot of sewing got done.  With the holidays, overtime at work, and a passing in our family, time got away from me.

But I'm hoping to get my sewing mojo back now!  I designed a Valentine's Day table runner for my class that is starting -- next week!  You can see the beginnings of it above.  I'm off work today, so my goal is to get the whole top finished.  However, it's already noon, so I'm not sure if I'll achieve that particular goal!

There are a lot of exciting projects starting on some of the blogs I read.  Hmm.  Can I fit any of these into my schedule??  We'll see.

I wish everyone a happy and healthy new year!

Design Wall Monday 12/10/12

On my Design Wall today is the Mystery Mondays project from Little Bits of This and That that is finally finished.  Well, just the top.  I added the final borders this weekend.  I took the picture late last night, so unfortunately the lighting is a little dim.  I'm happy that I finished this up before the holidays.  It is only a top, but I will still have it out on display.  I'm hoping to finish a couple of other projects before the end of the year so I can start fresh in January.

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what is on everyone else's Design Wall today!

Dear Jane - M4

I'm not sure why I do this, but this is another block that was almost finished and left undone.  I pieced most of it over a month ago and left the corner triangles off.  Tonight I trimmed it to size and added those triangles.  All done!  The center area got a little wonky.  I paper pieced the center sections, so I'm not sure why they are crooked, but once it is in the quilt I don't think anyone will notice.  Except me, of course.  Lots of very tiny pieces in this one!

Dear Jane - H3

I felt like doing a little sewing tonight so I worked on this Dear Jane block.  I really didn't think I was going to complete it.  My goal was just to start it.  Then all of a sudden it was done!  This one went together pretty smoothly.  A strange little block, though.  I kept wanting to turn those top and bottom sections around to make a star.  Glad I figured it out before I sewed them on!

Design Wall Monday 12/03/12

Above is what is on my Design "Floor" today.  It's been raining endlessly for days here in Northern California, so the lighting is not great.  I'm pleased with how this is turning out.  Now I just need to add borders and the top will be complete.

This is the project that my Mom put together for my birthday.  She chose the pattern and fabrics for both me and my sister (we have different fabrics).  She couldn't decide on the color of the half square triangles which make the chevron shapes.  She gave me two different fabrics in my kit and let me choose.  So of course I decided to use them both!  I think it looks great!

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what every is working on today!

Happy Thanksgiving 2012

Design Wall Monday 11/12/12

I had a stressful week at work last week, but I got in some good relaxing sewing time this weekend.  I'm plugging away on the project my Mom put together for my birthday.  The nice big blocks make for a great, easy graphic quilt.  All blocks are now made, so I can start putting them together.  Hmm.  Maybe I'll make myself a deadline...  Okay, I'm going to commit to getting this top together before Thanksgiving.  That should be plenty of time if I do a little each night.

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what everyone is working on today!

Handmade Holidays 2012

It's November already, and with that means another year of Handmade Holidays over at Sew, Mama, Sew!  Every day in November they post links to fabulous tutorials for items that can be used has holiday gifts.  They have daily themes and lots of links to great ideas and products.  I get a lot of inspiration from this blog every year.  Be sure to click back to the first of month so you don't miss anything and check in daily for new ideas.

BTW, no affiliation here, just an enthusiastic fan!

Design Wall 11/05/12

 I have a couple of projects on my Design Wall today.  The little purple block is a Dear Jane block that is almost finished.  I need to trim it down and add triangle corners.  It sure makes my other project look gigantic!

Speaking of the other project, this is one that my Mom put together for me.  Every year she plans a project for me and my sister's birthdays.  We plan a date and all get together to sew.  We work on the same project in different fabrics.  I should have put the rest of the fabrics out - she pulled all the colors from the large-scale print.  I love it!  I still have a ways to go on it, but I'll be working on this tonight.

Also my sister made me the tissue box above - it is so totally me!!  Several months ago I had pinned this project on Pinterest, and she downloaded the pattern and made it for me for my birthday.  In case you are not a nerd like me, it is the TARDIS from BBC show, Doctor Who.  (Bad Wolf refers to a particular storyline.)  I totally love it!!

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what everyone else is working on today!

Design Wall Monday 10/29/12

On my Design Wall today is my Mystery Mondays project.  I was behind, but as of Sunday I am all caught up.  However, another clue will be posted today.  I think there are a couple of pieced borders coming up next.  Can't wait to see what it will look like in the end!  I ran out of the very pale green fabric I was using for my "light", so I'll have another print in the border.

Other than that, not a lot of sewing going on lately.  During the day I get all motivated to sew after work, but by the time I fight traffic and get settled, I'm too tired to sew.  So most of my sewing is in class on Monday nights and on the weekend.  But I keep plugging away!

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what everyone else is working on today!

Design Wall Monday 10/22/12

This weekend I finally started working on my This & That Mystery Mondays project.  I was having trouble deciding on colors.  I had chosen some from my stash, but in the end I decided they would be better suited for another project.  So when I was at the PIQF quilt show last weekend (more on that later), I found a great print that I knew would work for this project.  I pulled a couple of complimentary fabrics from my stash and I was off and running.  However, I am several weeks behind now.  I hope to get the rest of the way caught up tonight in class.

Check out Judy L's blog to see what everyone else is working on today!

Dear Jane - L13

I just finished L13 in my Dear Jane quilt!  It seems like a fairly easy block, but it took me several hours to complete.  Oh well, I guess hand applique takes time.  I'm really pleased with how this one turned out.  I've got 39 blocks done now.  Maybe I'll try to knock another one out this weekend so I'll have an even 40!

Dear Jane - J12



I just felt like sewing yesterday, so I pulled out my Dear Jane box and chose a block to work on.  I decided I wanted to do one with a little applique, and this one fit the bill.  I have to start working on the applique blocks or else they will all be left for the end.  I think it came out pretty good.  Now to decide on the next block...

Design Wall Monday 10/08/12

On my Design Board today is a Dear Jane block - J12.  I'm easing my way into doing some applique blocks.  I hand appliqued the basket handle and the rest was foundation pieced.  I use the starch method of applique so this tiny bit took a while to prep.  I should probably prep a few at a time to make it worth the trouble of pulling out all of those supplies!  Oh well, live and learn.  This block will probably be completed in minutes, so I'll post shortly with the finished product!

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what everyone else is working on today!

Design Boards

I've been slacking off on the sewing front lately.  But class has started again, so I'm gearing up to work on some new projects.  I recently made some design boards as gifts using Lori Holt's tutorial and I think they came out great!  The only thing I did differently was to make them a little bigger.  Lori's were 10" x 10", and I made mine 15" x 15".  It was very challenging because I haven't used my glue gun for about 15 years!  I was amazed that I was able to even find it!  I made 6 last weekend and 2 today.  I meant to take a picture of the stack I had last week, but I forgot and gave them all away first.  I had one more foam board and I really wanted one for myself, so I made two more (I can get two out of one foam board).  I think they're great!  Thanks to Lori Holt of Bee In My Bonnet for another great tutorial!