UFO Sunday ~ Shower curtain

I have been collecting these fabrics to make a shower curtain for our bathroom since Spring, not sure how best to arrange them.  I have been "quilting in glass" with my husband this summer, as we have been tiling our bathroom. 

Here are some photos of the fabrics ~ I had such a hard time deciding how to use them... Finally this week it hit.... I would create a strip across the top of the curtain using the pattern we used in the small tiles, squares on point and quarter square triangles... then to add some piping...

That is what I am working on today~ hope to have a finish soon!  Although I love the fabrics, seashell theme, will be so glad to have it off the design wall ....

These home dec fabrics don't handle as nice as the 100% cottons.   Once done, then on to bath accessories.

August FMQ Challenge Wendy Sheppard

Thank you Wendy Sheppard for leading us in the FMQ Challenge for August.  I have enjoyed seeing your work and your website! 

It was fun to learn the Jester Hat pattern!  I can see it in my minds eye appearing on many future quilted projects.  I really liked your color coded examples of the pattern, it certainly helped to see where the pattern has been and where to go next!

Thank you Wendy for participating in the challenge :) 

Thank you Sew Cal Gal!

Godspeed,
mary

QA #27 How to store your quilt

QA # 27 How to store your quilt

Although Leah Day had a computer malfunction, she still found a way to provide us with a quilt-along for the week.  Thank you Leah! 

I had just purchased a noodle last month to do this very project for my whole-cloth feather wall hangings we made in an earlier quilt along.  I made 4 small wall quilts having in mind that  3 of them were for gifts.  My plan was to roll them on a covered noodle, but love the idea of a sleeve!

The sleeve also provides for these three Christmas gifts to be wrapped way before Christmas!  Once I pick up another noodle, I will get this third one wrapped up in no time.  I took a shortcut and cut the end of the sleeves with pinking sheers and tied the extra fabric into a knot.

Question for you Leah?  Do you ever pin your quilts to the noodle, or does the tautness of the sleeve keep the quilt tight on the roll?

Another finish this week for me was my Applique quilt.  It is all done on my domestic sewing machine in FMQ, and the beadwork is all done by hand. 

I designed the pillowtop especially to fit our pillows, without tucking in, which allows the garland border to remain smooth without ripples.  

  I also did some special features on the corners in order for the gentle drape where the blue bows are.

One of the blocks is my own design, while the others are from an Eleanor Burns QIAD pattern.

Godspeed,

Mary

QA# 26 Painting a Quilt

QA week #26  Painting a Quilt

Thank you Leah for this weeks Lesson….  Earlier this year I had made a small wall quilt, "Twister", and I love the colors of the fabrics I chose for the Fall.  However, I used a Large sunflower on black background for one of the twister fabrics as well as a border fabric choice.  Not a good choice for this pattern.

 When I twisted it  the light colored center of the quilt no longer was visible, as it all blended together leaving the twisted pinwheels to not show up very well.  I tried embellishing with some needlework, and it helped, but this weeks QA had me decide to cover the bright yellow sunflowers and this idea really  helped the center twisted pinwheel pop.

Here is the catch, my oil paint sticks did not have a black, and my fabric dye liquid paint had dried up, so I did the next best thing, no I did not use permanent marker, but I chose a fabric crayon and although it did not completely cover the sunflowers, it allowed the flowers to recede enough so the center twist pops. 

 This winter scene photo is my quilt I painted with oil sticks on plain muslin fabric.  When it was dry, I quilted it!  It is my favorite of all my quilts that I have kept for myself thus far!  Love using paint sticks on fabric, still so soft! and the paint sticks don't dry out!  Just peel off the skin layer and they are ready to go.  I have had these oil sticks for over 20 years, and they still work! I learned these painting techniques from Jackie Paton.   Jackie has a fantastic fabric line you can buy similar style panels and fabrics ~ her wedding panel a few years ago was my favorite, I purchased three of them when they came out and made quilts for my adult children when they married (1 more to go). If you don't want to paint your own you can find her fabrics in quilt stores ~ I believe they are part of the Red Rooster line.

Thanks again Leah ~ Loved seeing you with your little boy in the QA video!  James is adorable! 

Godspeed,

mary

QA # 25 Cucumber Vine

August 7, 2012

Cucumber Vine

Quilt Along #25

Thank you Leah for instructing us this week in quilt along #25, Cucumber Vine.  While I spent most of this week doodling it (rather than stitching), as I was away on a long weekend vacation,  my main focus was on trying to get my "C's" going in opposite directions. 

I have to tell you a funny story about this Cucumber Vine pattern this week….While we were vacationing in Upper-state NY, (we went to meet baby "Ivy", one of the two new babies who the Precious Moment bibs I made last month are for).  Upon entering our hotel room in NY, as I turned on the lamp, there it was ~ Cucumber Vine ~ stitched right into the lampshade…. I chuckled and then took a photo for you ~

Later, I went for a walk to a quilt store (whenever I travel, stopping at quilt stores around the country is a must!), and wouldn't you know, I found fabric with the cucumber vine pattern on it too ! Yes, I bought a piece :)   

When I got home, I found I had been a student of cucumber vine for most of the week, and now the pattern was not hard at all to get onto the fabric.

Here you see my FMQ sample sheet, this will go on my ring of FMQ patterns.  

Here you see Cucumber Vine stitched onto a mug rug (this is made from a small piece of an old linen; it goes with my little quilted chair and tea table)..

 

 Back of the mugrug

Thank you Leah for another great week.  You are teaching me to be on the lookout for FMQ patterns throughout the day, and it is working!   I am finding them in all sorts of places.  Beside our lampshade having Cucumber Vine, our motel room furniture had some great feather motifs!  I took out my doodle pad, and included those sketches in my FMQ journal.

PS... Leah, got a chuckle out of the Advice column on your page; I hadn't seen that before today... I especially enjoyed the  ~ eat, quilt, sleep, repeat...

Godspeed,

mary