A Finish or Two

A little sewing here, a little sewing there, and you've got finishes to share, right? I'm happy to say I completed a Christmas stocking for my little grandgirl! Inspired by one found in Heather/@geminiredcraft's Instagram feed, with a palette gleaned from (half of) a fabric bundle curated by Kristina/@fabricbubb, from there I made it up as I went. Quilting with one layer of batting and some uneven straight-line gave the stocking some good structure and texture. I used the stocking shape template from Camille Roskelley's Merry, which I had used to make a hexagon stocking for baby's big sister a few years ago. That way, they are very similar in size and shape. Don't you love that fussy-cut feature fabric - Cotton + Steel's Noel Snow Babies by Sarah Watts? Baby's mama and I sure do!

I also finished the Tall Tall Trees pillow! It's a pattern by Amy/@amysinibaldi of Nana Company. I made mine using scraps for the trees, twill ribbon for the tree trunks, and the snow-like Cotton + Steel Sprinkle in gray for the background. I finished it at 12" x 20", just a little larger than the pattern directions. Not shown, the back is the same gray fabric, with a lapped zipper, then it seemed perfect to finish it off with more of that red stripe.

Believe it or not, there are just a few more gifts I hope to make before Christmas, so I better get to it!

2013 Finish-A-Long: Q1 Finishes

There's always a hopeful sort of feeling when one posts a new Finish-A-Long list, as I did just three short months ago. And I'm more than pleased to be able to report that I finished my list!

Mod Crosses - The blocks for this quilt were all done when the quarter started, but I was short on time to get the rows together before an appointment with the long-arm quilter. Thankfully I made it and was super pleased with the finished quilt, and hubby and I took it out for a fun photo-shoot.

Quiet Book - This project was intended as a Christmas gift for grandgirl, but the details took longer than I anticipated. At least she enjoyed it when I finally finished it.

Merry Stocking - Another belated Christmas item, but at least it's ready for Christmas 2013.

Scrappy Trip - On a whim I joined this sew-along on Instagram, and maybe even due to its impromptu nature, I thoroughly enjoyed putting these blocks together straight from the scrap bin.

Mod Angles Cushion - This was one of those finishes that really made no sense to have dawdled on so long. The blocks were already made, and once I sat down to stitch them together, it was a quick finish. And the quilting on this one was immensely satisfying. {tutorial here}

So that's it for this quarter - time to start pulling together a new list!

Linking up with Q1 post quarter link up at shecanquilt.

W.i.P. Wednesday

Thanks to a fun-filled, sew-till-you-fall-asleep quilting retreat last weekend, I have plenty to show for myself, which actually feels very very good. Mostly littles, but still . . .

Completed projects
Merry - Hubby's Christmas stocking may be late in coming, but worth the wait. I posted it here.

Sweet Heart purses - This project was timely and fun, a quick tutorial by Simple Things. So fun in fact, I made a second.

Open Wide Zippered Pouch - Again, after making my first . . .

I couldn't resist making another. Very fun indeed.

Mod Angles cushion - If this looks kind of familiar, it's because I made it with my Chicopee practice blocks from the tutorial I wrote back in October. The hst blocks were inspired by don't call me betsy's Double Flip HSTs tutorial.

Ongoing projects

Scrappy Trip Along - I'm SO excited I got my blocks all pieced into a top. The backing should arrive any day, so I hope to get quilting on this shortly.

Emerald mini/placemats - These two projects may have merged and become one. TBD. Meanwhile, I'm piecing blocks - 3 1/2", 6 1/2" and 9 1/2".

x and + blocks {#xplusalong} - I managed to get 12 blocks done and have 12 more ready to stitch up.

Woodland cross-stitch sampler and Modern Crosses quilt - no progress.

Upcoming projects
* flannel pillow for grandgirl
* table topper for mom
* scrappy Metrolink
* Polaroid block projects

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday.

Merry

Yup, this stocking for hubby was begun with every intention for Christmas 2012, but considering I just completed it, I'll consider it my first finish for Christmas 2013. The zig-zag design was straight from Camille Roskelley's Merry. I did tweak the overall shape, so it's more like imagine gnat's falling flakes.

I love the unconventional blue and gray color scheme, based on the O' Tinsel Tree Snowflake Dots, which also happens to back the stocking. Quilting was a basic diagonal at unevenly spaced intervals.

What a relief to have this done, especially since this project is on my 2013 Finish-A-Long, Q1 list!

2013 Finish-A-Long: Q1 List

It's time to link up with Leanne/shecanquilt and the new year's Finish-A-Long! If you've stopped by A Quilter's Table anytime recently, you've seen most of these projects, but they are nonetheless at the top of my first quarter to-do list.

Modern Crosses - The 60 blocks for this quilt are done! Now to piece rows together. Hopefully it will be handed off to my longarmer this week. I plan to make the scrappy binding while it's away.

Quiet Book - Since this was officially a Christmas present for grandgirl, I want to finish it pronto and get it back in her sweet little hands.

Christmas Stocking - Hubby said, "You've got a whole year to get it done." And I replied, "No, it's going on the 'to-do-asap' list, so it's ready for Christmas 2013!

Scrappy Trip Along - A month ago, this quilt was not even a twinkle in my eye, but today, it's all I want to do, and as soon as I deal with the above projects, it's all holds back on this one. Two blocks done, and I'm working on cutting strips . . .

Mod Angles Cushion - When I made the original Mod Angles Cushion, I first made some practice blocks. They are too pretty not to use.

So there's my list - hopefully manageable, as you never know what else will come up to tempt and motivate!

Linking up with the 2013 Finish-A-Long, Quarter 1!

W.i.P. Wednesday

In lieu of a W.i.P. Wednesday post last week, I shared about several small finishes. Since Christmas, the little time I've had in the sewing room has mostly been spent on a few wips that I really want to finish before moving ahead.

Ongoing projects

Quiet Book - This was my Christmas gift to grandgirl, though it was only half done. So I'm working on finishing the remaining pages. It's very like one I made for her mommy years ago.

Binary - I've pulled together the blocks from my month with the Modern Blocks Bee. I'd had no big plan for these blocks, so basically just want to get them sewn into a small quilt. Hope to be able to call this a finish by week's end.

A stocking for hubby - It was crazy to start this so late in the game, but I do want to finish it so it's ready for next year.

Modern Crosses quilt - I'm embarrassed this isn't already done, and shame on me for setting it aside. But Christmas is over, and it's high on my list!

Scrappy Trip Along - I didn't mean to do it. I mean really, I have the above wips I really want to finish! Call it peer pressure . . . curiosity . . . nostalgia. Block one is done and we'll just see where this goes.

Upcoming projects
* FAITH Circle January "Sparkle" block
* That Stash Bee's January "Birds in the Air" blocks
* Lucky Stars BOM - practice block + January block
* scrappy Metrolink
* Woodland cross-stitch sampler
* plan for FAITH Circle's February quilt
* Polaroid block projects
* placemats

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday.

W.i.P. Wednesday

Whew! I've been going non-stop. Work is b.u.s.y. this time of year so the days are long and the deadline looming. Same can be said of the sewing room. Mass gifts and wraps  - some already gifted, some soon, some in progress. I know it's W.i.P. Wednesday, but I can't show you all the wips, if you get my drift and I'm sure you do. So please forgive if there's more finished projects to show this week. I promise you, all in due time . . .

Completed Projects
Ruby Star Wrapping Snack Sack minis - I tweaked the pattern to make the little sacks just right for a gift card. Talk about quick and easy!

 

Falling Flakes stocking - Love this pattern by imagine gnats, who offers a free tutorial on her blog. It was super fun to put this together. I trimmed about 1" off the top to make its size more comparable to our other stockings, plus made my own fabric hanger, rather than use a ribbon.

 

Drawstring bags - Used Jeni's pattern of course. I'd really planned to make oodles of these, but so far have only managed to make the two that have already been gifted. oh well. The dotty one is The Project Bag (13"  tall x 8") and the bird one is The Snack Bag (8" tall x 4.5").

 

Zakka potholders - Used some DS prints and plaid along with some white Essex.

Zakka frame purse - just for fun. I adore this pattern.

Infinity scarf - Not very photo friendly, but fun to make. I referred to a tutorial by Nancy Zieman, plus got some help from Heather. I'll keep trying to get a decent photo - love the voile I used - first real item I've sewed using voile.

Frame purse - I confess I love how this one turned out with fussy cut Field Study poppies. 

 

Lining is Nordic Diamond by heaven & helsinki. Sorry I only managed to get the thread in focus, but my tiredness precluded me from popping the camera card back in and trying again. At least you get a peek at the contrasting interior. It makes it, imho.

Ongoing projects

Modern Crosses quilt - No progress but top priority once Christmas is done! Serious.

Zakka frame purse without the pleat - I set it aside for a bit, so still working at stitching that frame on.

A stocking for hubby - Not sure why I decided he needed a new stocking this year, but I'll be using Camille Roskelley's Merry pattern (the zig-zag one), so am working on piecing some hst's. Shouldn't take long once those are done.

Plus other Christmas surprises are in the works!

Upcoming projects
* more Christmas!
* more frame purses
* Ruby Star Wrapping - pillowcase pouches + ??
* Binary quilt using blocks from Modern Blocks Bee
* scrappy Metrolink - January?
* Polaroid block projects - January?
* placemats

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday.

W.i.P. Wednesday

Two weeks from this W.i.P. Wednesday, Christmas will be over! SO much still to do!

Completed Projects
Ruby Star Wrapping - The Simple Drawstring Bag had a slow start but ended up being just delightful and I hope to make a few more.

December do.Good Stitches blocks - Shown in last week's Random post, they were mailed off today!

More Brrr! Potholders - Love this simple design, and I love making them in pairs!

A Maisy Quilt - This was my proudest finish of the week! Not only is it on my fourth quarter Finish-A-Long list (two done!), but it coordinates with the tree skirt I made last year. In the reveal post where there's plenty of pics, I failed to mention that the initial fabrics came from Nancy Halvorsen's Jingle All the Way, so there are really "Christmas" fabrics in there, though several stash favorites were also included. Unconventional as it is, I'm super pleased with it and love it in our living room.

Ongoing projects
Modern Crosses quilt - It may not look like much, but I have all the remaining blocks started - over 10 yards of continuous piecing! Now time to cut apart and press.{oh joy}

Snack Sack minis - Haven't touched these yet. In addition, I have several other littles in a variety of stages . . .

Falling Flakes stocking - I loved this pattern by imagine gnats, and have the front and back of this one quilted.

A Zakka frame purse without the pleat.

And some Zakka potholders.

Plus other Christmas surprises are in the works!

Upcoming projects
* Christmas!
* more frame purses
* Ruby Star Wrapping
* Binary quilt using blocks from Modern Blocks Bee
* scrappy Metrolink - January?
* Polaroid block projects - January?
* placemats

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday.