How far will you go? QAL

Showing posts with label How far will you go? QAL. Show all posts

Too Far Quilt

04 October 2013

Here it is, my finished How Far Will You Go quilt. Huge thanks to Jess at The Elven Garden and Jess at Scrappy n Happy for creating such beautiful blocks and running such a great QAL.

I'm calling this quilt Too Far, despite the fact I actually didn't complete all the blocks in the QAL I chose the name because I'm giving it to a wonderful friend who lives too far away from me. Hopefully it will be a reminder of how much I love her and it is a small token of how much I value her friendship.

The quilt measures about 52" x 62". A nice size for snuggling on the sofa. I used my hera marker to mark out the straight lines and am pleased to say that despite taking a long time to quilt it those marks stayed put!

I love how the stitches blend nicely with the backing. So much so it was tricky to get a picture.

The backing is Shanghai Cut Outs by Misaki and it is bound in purple jewels by Lizzy House, which I think frames the quilt perfectly.

I used Aurifil cotton wt 12, 3840 to hand quilt it. The pretty variegated purple is gorgeous. It was from a sample pack and look how much I have left! I was so glad I got all those lines done and it just shows how far that little reel can go.

This is another tick off my FAL list so for Quarter 3 I actually had 5 finishes out of 6 and the one I didn't complete was my feathers quilt but I did finish the top so I'm still feeling good! Roll on Quarter 4, I need to get thinking what to put on my list!

I'm going to start working on my Le Challenge project tonight - I really can't wait to share it with you, the theme this month is THRILLER and I'm super excited to see everyone's interpretations. If you don't know what I'm talking about go and visit Le Challenge and link up with us on October 15th for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop.

Linking up:

at Quokka Quilts this week and you definitely want to add your finishes - there are prizes this month! and finish it up friday at Crazy Mom Quilts

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keeping my crossed fingers busy with sewing

27 July 2013

I have my fingers crossed and am chanting 'everything happens for a reason', believing positive things must be on their way after a bout of crapness.

Head down sewing time is good therapy and achieving something feels great!

Here's Sheila's blocks for the Bee A Brit Stingy Bee (I promise they are straight, just my bad rushed photography)

and Alice's block for the Amaranth group in Simply Solids Bee

Then last night I had a workout. Seriously. Hands and knees basting with pins in this heat?!! It was like some crazy hot yoga class. I had already given my arms a workout by marking the quilt with my hera marker but it had to get basted or we'd have no living room!

So the How Far Will You Go? quilt is now full of pins and I've started hand quilting today. All I can say is I love it even more.
Make sure you checkout the GIVEAWAY at Le Challenge, there's still time to enter!
Linking up despite the fact it is Saturday here today:

at What a Hoot Quilts
and finish it up friday at Crazy Mom Quilts

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the one where I go far enough

29 May 2013

Before the baby I started the How Far Will You Go? QAL.

I loved making these blocks and I've been meaning to get back to it for some time but my WIPs are growing and my 'one day' list is getting too long so in an attempt to see how far I'd gone I laid out the blocks I've done:

And would you look at that!

I think that I've gone far enough and will be sewing these together as they are.

There's one little Tippecanoe block I made that will make a nice quilt label:

I feel bad that I didn't make them all but I think I'd feel worse leaving it and feeling guilty about it and I know that's not the spirit of the QAL.

I am happy to have gone this far!

If you have any finishes this week be sure to come back on Friday because I'm hosting TGIFF!

Linking up:

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in suspense WIPs

09 January 2013

Here's a little round up of what I'm working on (not a full WIP report because it's too depressing!)...

I have attempted some short stints at my machine and quickly appliqued this robot, using this tutorial. I'm not making a quilt of them though, just a cushion and hoping to have it finished very soon.

Then (because I've had the pieces cut out for ages and I love this block) I wanted to make the Tippecanoe blocks for the How Far Will You Go? QAL - this was the straw that hurt the pregnant lady's back though and I've only managed one of four, the rest will have to wait until the bump has gone!

So back to EPP on the sofa and block 30 of my rose stars:

I just love getting post from far away and in an envelope from Australia I got another lovely Bee feather, this one is from Debra - I cannot wait to put all of these together!

Then this afternoon I had 2 fabulous visitors! My wonderful friend Rachel and her daughter, this was the first time I'd met her beautiful daughter (carrying a cute hedgehog bag!) and she so kindly made these beauties for the baby:

How gorgeous are they?!! So sweet of her. She had also made some scrummy biscuits (devoured by me and later hubbie!!) and Rachel gave me a jar of marmalade, which I will sample in the morning! I feel spoiled by these lovely treats, thanks ladies!!

We spent a nice time chatting and they really are so down to earth and funny. It was fun to have some company and hopefully they'll be back soon to meet the little one :)

Speaking of the impending arrival, my biggest WIP, I had a midwife appointment today and she suggested bouncing on one of those exercise balls to get the head engaged fully (it's hovering a bit apparently). So I will be spending the evening doing that!

Due date is tomorrow, husband is trying to point out that it's not officially late yet (doesn't help!!), but I hope it arrives within the next week so I can avoid having a sweep. Please send 'get out now baby' thoughts my way ;)

Linking up:

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going further

28 November 2012

I have managed a bit of a catch up on the How Far Will You Go? QAL blocks.

First I made the Dutch Rose, which is a 20" block:

Then I made the Clay's Choice blocks:

It's been a little while since I've worked on this and I've fallen in love with the fabrics all over again. It's so fun picking out which ones to use in each block. I have no grand plan, I just chose fabrics before starting work on each block.

Here's a collage of all the other blocks I've made so far, with no accurate depiction of scale mind you!

I really am learning a lot doing this QAL and the blocks are so fun thanks to the great tutorials by Jess and Jess. They've actually posted all the tutorials now and I'm playing catch up as there is another couple of weeks before they focus on putting the blocks together. I'd really recommend checking it out!

Linking up:

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I have lists of lists

17 September 2012

I've been busy doing family things as well as sewing whenever I get a chance. I have so many projects on the go it's hard to keep track, I seriously have a million lists right now. I crazily keep adding things I have to make because I love them/want them/need them, I want to try something new or because I need to gift things. I thought I was getting projects checked off but apparently not fast enough.

Anyway I've done some stuff...

All caught up on the How Far Will You Go? QAL:

I also let the little one loose on the scraps and she had fun gluing, talking about colours and making shapes. Fun game when you don't know what to do with those little extra bits!

One more Vintage Holiday QAL block done too:

I'm working on some things I can't show you yet but all in good time... ok maybe just a sneaky peek:

I'm joining in a couple of blog hops next month, click below to learn more! They are both going to be awesome:

Stayed tuned for some great tutorials and projects!

I also joined another Bee, how could I not when it's being run by the fabulous Helen, Nicky and Sheila! There are a wonderful group of women in the Bee, all very talented and inspiring so I'm thrilled to be part of it. It's kicking off in January and, thanks to Nicky (who reminded me I will be giving birth that month) that's my month to chose a block, so thinking cap on and all suggestions welcome! Also really love the premise of the Bee's creation... that it's scrappy and UK based so I can save some pennies :)

For spending on loveliness like this glittery Kokka text fabric from Pink Castle Fabrics I got recently (totally blaming Katy and her bloody What's New British/American Pussycat - where she lures us into sales and gorgeous new fabric lines from lovely online shops!!)

But it's so sparkly and pretty... and look it even has a message for me in it!!

Better lay off all those potato cakes, cheese and crisps then. Current craving is for jars of baby puddings... mostly fruit puree ones. Don't even ask, my husband thinks I'm totally bonkers!!

Linking up:

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Free house and working on WIPs

29 August 2012

I'm busy sewing and I have the house to myself, I'm going to be brief so I can get back to it!!

The 'you pick' giveaway is still open so make sure you enter if you haven't already :)

completed

- Pinwheels in the Forest quilt

- Tutorial for cube pincushion and baby blocks

I've also finished the hand quilted baby quilt for my very dear friend. I can't show pics as I want it to be a surprise, I will be handing it to her this weekend though and getting lovely baby cuddles too! Good job I'm already pregnant or I'd be majorly broody!

ongoing

- Tetris QAL. I'm not a huge fan of borders so I added three big pieces of fabric to one side - the jewels and the habitat prints really echo the tetris game. Quick and easy! Quilt top done!

- Blogger's BOM this month's tutorial is at Amy's Creative Side and I really like this one:

- How Far Will You Go? QAL - this is so fun and the two Jess' really are awesome!

St Louis Star - fabulous paper pieced pattern here

Jack in the Box blocks - great tutorial here

- Vintage Holiday QAL

- Sailor Mouth Swap, keeping this one under wraps until it's done and posted!

no progress

- Retro Flowers QAL (are you surprised?!) I will make one more so I least have a row's worth by next week. Think there's any prizes for being the slowest?! - Rose Star blocks
- All the other million projects that are in my brain!!

stats
completed: 3
in progress: 7
new: 0

Before I leave please go and check out Rebecca's awesome charm swap! You can nab a place if you're quick and the fabrics in the Flickr group are really gorgeous. Also the people involved are all brilliant, which is nice!

Linking up:

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