Design Wall Monday--Fair Entries

Off the Design Wall!  It was a sweatshop weekend trying to finish everything I wanted to enter into our County Fair, with the deadline of Sunday at 5:00 pm for turning in entries.  My main project was the Metro Twist baby/wall quilt.  I made the bias binding from a purple woodgrain print and rounded the corners using the Quick Curve Ruler, and even made a hanging sleeve.  

I spent many hours hand stitching down the binding to the back, but I did a lot of it while sitting out on the patio enjoying the summer skies and a nice breeze on Saturday.  I'm happy with the way it turned out.  It didn't get a label, but someday it may be a gift for a baby so I'm okay with that. 

Next were two squirrel projects, a pillow from the Frolic Turnover (Sandy Gervais) made into Broken Dishes blocks, and the Yarnover tablerunner.

I chose a simple stitch from one of the four stitch menus on my Husqvarna and used the walking foot and a Hera marker for the quilting.

I was happy to find this aqua blue flower print and the binding fabric in stash.  I used the same quilting stitch on the pillow back hem.  This is such a great way to make a pillow cover, assembling it just like a quilt with the bound edge.  I overlapped the back pieces by about 3-4 inches. 

I think it turned out well.  The pillow form I used was a bit flat but I thought it would be better for display at the fair. 

 The other squirrel entry is the Yarnover tablerunner (Anka's Treasures) from Mini Charms.

After some simple stitch in the ditch I decided to add the embroidery detail, again with a stitch from the Husqvarna.  I selected it from the "utility stitch" section, but liked the way it kind of echoed the yarnover points.    To these three projects I added the set of four Tea Time placemats, the Big Bag of all dotted fabrics I made a couple of months ago, a modern tablerunner I finished for Sewtopia, and the May Stamp cross-stitch in  the hoop, so 7 total entries.  Sadly I didn't end up finishing Sue Goes to the Orient, but chose backing and binding and plan to make a mini quilt. 

My timing was good for getting down to the Fairgrounds, there were a lot of folks sitting around waiting for something to do.  We all had a laugh when I pulled out the Metro Twist and had a bunch of thread tails still sticking out.  A kind volunteer gave me some scissors to trim them off.  They were pleased that I had already looked up the categories I thought were right for my entries, saving a lot of time.  A few more people trickled in the last 1/2 hour of the day.  I'll look forward to seeing my entries when the fair opens next week.  

See more Design Walls on Small Quilts and Doll Quilts. 

Catching Up--Fair Entries

There seems to be a large lag once again between posts--ah, well.  Can I blame it on the heat and humidity?  Well, there has been a lot going on.  Let's see, I finished the quilt for my sister in law in time for entering it in the County Fair.  All together I have four quilted items entered.  Here's Laura's quilt--it needs a label when I get it back.

The loop quilting was simple to do despite multiple thread changes to match the ombre colors,and filling bobbins repeatedly mid row when I underestimated how much was needed.  I did have a bunch of thread tails to fix at the end.
 

The back of the quilt is this length of hand-painted batik from my sister Kathy's stash. She says I always pick her most expensive fabrics, lol.   I used the same neutral batik as in the squares on the front for the frame. 

Closeup of the quilting, binding and the batiks.  My sister in law was thrilled with the quilt in photos, as they went home to AZ before I got it quilted and she only saw the flimsy.  When I told the lady handling my entries that I quilted it in one day she said, "You did not!"  I assured her that I did :)   My other entries were a tablerunner, a mini quilt, and my Picnic quilt, all of which I've shown before, but here's a recap:

Sandy Gervais prints and some triple step zig zag quilting on the tablerunner. 

Snowman mini---12".  Adapted from a pillow pattern in the December 2013 Quilts and More mag.

Picnic quilt--Kim Brackett design, Scrap Basket Sensations.  This one was professionally and beautifully quilted by Mary Flynn of Quilt Hollow.  One quilted item didn't get finished which I wanted to enter, but I'm still working on it. That's the Pink Lemonade quilt from Humble Quilts' doll quiltalong. 

The colors are a bit bright in this photo but I'm using a hand-dyed Valdani Perle cotton to big stitch an echo of the churn dashes in the plain squares.

I'm taking it with me to work and getting some stitches in during lunch break.  I could enter it in the fair next year, ha ha, but will soon find out how I did this year--the Fair opens on Wednesday.

Of course there has to be a grandson Cove picture too.  He's just turned five months old and is spending a lot of time jumping in his jumperoo---and also anytime he's on a lap--as well as getting on his hands and knees and rocking.  That boy is on the move always.  His parents need to lower his mattress in the crib, he'll be pulling himself up before they know it.

Cove is here trying out some shoes. Cutest.Baby.Ever.  This pic makes him look a lot older than he really is, I think!  Mimi is filling in for the day care provider on Wednesday and is looking forward to it :)  More catching up, soon...

Ah, weekends!

I could sure use another three day weekend, but unfortunately my office will not be closed tomorrow for Cesar Chavez Day, unlike some government offices in the state. I tried to make the most of the weekend, though, with spending time in the sewing room high on my list.  Friday night I finished sewing down the last few inches of binding on the little tablemat I showed last week.  It's had a bath and is currently in the dryer getting crinkly.

Saturday morning was spent working on the doll quilt for the swap I joined on Lori's blog, Humble Quilts  where 61 people signed up to swap small quilts. I am so excited about how mine is turning out--the top is now complete with sashing.  It's hard not to share photos, but I think this is a secret swap so it will have to wait.

After a short shopping trip and some lunch, I picked up my 95 year old mother-in-law so we could take her over to see her new great-grandson.

Four generations in this photo.  Frances was very happy to get a chance to hold Cove and welcome him to the family.  Special times!

Saturday night I worked on this tablerunner I pin basted a week or two ago.  The poor thing has been languishing unfinished for at least a year.  

I used my walking foot and a three-step zig-zag stitch spaced about an inch apart.

I think it goes well with the more modern fabrics (Sandy Gervais line).  Simple and quick.  I got the binding attached last night and finished the sewing it down this morning.  Then I worked on the backing for the doll quilt and got that finished.

 Lastly, there were some more pieces and parts cut for the High Cotton quilt from Kim Diehl's Simple Comforts book, and one more block sewn. 

Some of these hoarded Bonnie Blue Quilts fat quarters will join the scraps and leftovers.  Man, it is hard to cut into them!  Hope you all had a good weekend as well. 

Crazy Eight

Last night I pulled out a quilt kit I bought a year and a half ago at a quilt show and started cutting and sewing.

This is a panel from Sandy Gervais' Crazy Eight line from a couple of years ago.  It is so cute!  I just love Sandy's designs, the whimsy and fun.  The quilt shop vendor I bought it from had kitted it up with the two borders, backing, and binding.  Gotta love that!

Hard to see probably, but for the first time I pieced some batting.  This was leftover Warm and White that I trimmed straight, butted together and then zigzagged with the maximum width zigzag and a 3.5" length stitch.

   Very quick and easy.  I'll be doing that a lot, I think! 

These Crazy Eight reindeer are sporting all manner of knitted gloves, leg warmers, scarves--just adorable.

Quilting commenced and is about 2/3 finished.  I had to go to bed sometime! 

Thoughtful designer

About a month ago I was visiting designer Sandy Gervais' blog, Pieces From My Heart.  She started her blog last year and I have been reading it regularly.  Very creative, funny and talented lady.  The quilt I made Grant was one of her designs, so I have been a fan for a long time.  Sandy posted that they had some scary news about her mom, who was diagnosed with colon cancer.  I expressed my sympathy and concern, as did many other commenters.  Upon checking back, this post gave the news that her mother was able to come home from the hospital and as appreciation, she had gathered the comments, cards and emails and picked some names for a giveaway.  What a thoughtful thing to do, I thought, as I continued reading.  Then, my name was on the list!  Well, sort of my name.  I sent an email and Sandy confirmed that I was indeed selected to receive a Turnover of Frolic.  I love Frolic and had been petting a layer cake in my LQS just the week before.  A package arrived within a week and I am the happy and grateful recipient of this:

80 precut 6" triangles of Frolic, a line that has so many of my favorite colors.  I have already bookmarked some Moda Bakeshop ideas but for now am just happy to look at it.  The caramel popcorn was half gone by the time I took this photo last night and is now 3/4 gone!  It was really yummy (company name is The Chocolate Season).  So, thank you again, Sandy Gervais, for your thoughtful and unexpected gift in your time of worry and concern. I hope your mom is feeling okay and getting the care she deserves.