Anything Goes Quilt 'n Sew #15 - My Mom is the best!

A couple of weeks ago I told you that my mom was helping me basting hexies.  Well, she decided to send them to me and on Friday they arrived in the post.  

At first when I opened it up it was hard to imagine that there are over a thousand basted.  

So I started unpacking them on my cutting table and the picture changed completely.  

  

Its really  nice how things worked out as most of the hexies I basted are mostly dark colours and the ones my mom made are light and medium.

Don't they look pretty? 

I think this is going to be a nice project to keep busy during the coming winter months. 

That was not all that was in the box.  Some years ago when my parents where visiting my sister in the UK she painted these panels as part of a class that she was giving at the time.  The colours are so bright and much prettier than in the pictures.

  

I have not yet decided what I'll make with them, but one thing is certain, I will be quilting them.

My Mom is simply the best!  I honestly cant find the words to explain how much she means to me.

Let's get to this week's linky party.

It's Monday and a new week, so lets all share some of our projects, please link up any current projects you've been working on, anything at all...  This link is open for a week and will run every Monday.  Remember to come back next week, or follow my blog to get regular updates.

If you wish feel free to add any other blog posts you write during the week, since this linky stays open for a full week, I think its a great idea to share and keep sharing.

All I ask is that you either add the 'Anything Goes' blog button to your sidebar or add a text link to your blog post, and comment on a few of the other links too, share the love and make this weekly link party a fun way to connect.

<div align="center"><a href="http://marelize-ries.blogspot.com/" title="Stitch by Stitch"><img src="http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj592/MarelizeR/LinkyButton2_zps83805f35.jpg" alt="Stitch by Stitch" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Happy quilting.

Quilters Show and Tell - Wall Hangings

This week's theme at the Quilters Show and Tell contest is Wall Hangings, so I've entered my Tree Wall Hanging into the contest.

Tree Wall Hanging

This little quilt measures 26 x 26 inches and got the idea from a photograph I've seen in a magazine.  The free motion quilting was inspired by nature and my main source was from The Free Motion Quilting Project by Leah Day on her 365+ Designs page.

  

Here are the designs from the FMQP website for quick reference and if you'd like to see them stitched out on video:  Pepple ripples and Blowing wind.  I've also quilted tree bark inside the tree trunk.  

Voting starts today and will run until Monday, 29 April 2013.  Remember to leave a comment while you're there to stand a chance to win the giveaway too.  Click HERE to cast your vote.

Happy quilting.

Lucky Stars BOM - April "Black Hole Star"

Usually before I even start planning my BOM's for the Lucky Stars BOM, I would read up on the flickr group for any issues anyone might have with the block, trouble with seams not lining up, cutting instructions etc.  I found no comments or discussions so I went right on ahead and picked my fabrics and started cutting.

It being so close to the next BOM, and so many blocks already made by others, and because there was not any updated emails notifying us of mistakes with the pattern I thought it'd be safe to carry on.  I was just a tad bit upset after cutting all my fabrics, pieced half of the block when I found that there where two pieces of fabric that was one inch smaller than it should have been.  I went back to the instructions thinking that I made a mistake, but there it was written clearly, some of the pieces had a one inch difference and both should have been the same size.  So it meant that I had to start from scratch.  I'm making this quilt all out scraps, so the colours and prints I wanted to use was already cut and just enough for this block.  If it was larger than the instructions it would have been a different story.  If not for time I've already spent piecing I guess it would have been okay, making a block using this technique really takes hours.,.... sigh!

So, ...let me not complain to much about it, what's done is done, and I do like what I've ended up with.  Now at least I will know to look twice before even starting, regardless if anyone has posted concerns or not.

After piecing the separate sections, we had a choice of two different layouts.  'A' which is the  original placement and 'B' another variation.   

        

Layout 'A' Left - Layout 'B' Right

I liked 'B' the most, but felt that the light pink fabric was just too bright, and I think for it to have really worked it should have been a neutral subtle colour to not draw attention away from the center star.  So I went with 'A'.

As with all the other BOM's I used the scraps that was left after making the 12½ inch block to make the 6½ inch block.

The only thing that worries me a tiny bit, is all the bulk of fabric that comes together at most of the points.  I actually broke a needle going over one of the points of the star, I guess when I quilt it I'll have to try and move around it rather than stitch over it.

To see the other BOM's I've made you can find them all HERE.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday @ Freshly Pieced.

Happy quilting

Anything Goes, Quilt 'n Sew #14 - A long, LONG time ago...

2002 - I chose to put this one first as it's my favorite!

...I used to enjoy pencil sketching.  So I thought of sharing these with all of you today.  Some of these are not complete, you'll notice that many of my pictures don't have a face or even a head.  That was the one part of drawing that I messed up completely, oh and the hands... 

I've tried to put these in order, from NEWEST to OLDEST... I wrote the dates on the back so it was easier putting them in order.  I have not tried to draw anything in such a long time, I wonder if I even still can...

2007

2007

2007

2001 - I drew this one from a greeting card.

2001

2001 - My first try at using charcoal

2000

1998

1998

The next two pictures was my very first drawings, both was done in 1993.. I was 15 years old!

1993

1993

Let's get to this week's linky party

It's Monday and a new week, so lets all share some of our projects, please link up any current projects you've been working on, anything at all...  This link is open for a week and will run every Monday.  Remember to come back next week, or follow my blog to get regular updates.

If you wish feel free to add any other blog posts you write during the week, since this linky stays open for a full week, I think its a great idea to share and keep sharing.

All I ask is that you either add the 'Anything Goes' blog button to your sidebar or add a text link to your blog post, and comment on a few of the other links too, share the love and make this weekly link party a fun way to connect.

<div align="center"><a href="http://marelize-ries.blogspot.com/" title="Stitch by Stitch"><img src="http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj592/MarelizeR/LinkyButton2_zps83805f35.jpg" alt="Stitch by Stitch" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Happy quilting.

So much fun!

The weather has cooled down considerably this past week.  So I did not spend a lot of time behind my sewing machine.  

Instead, I've been basting some hexies again.  This project, I thought would take a long time, but it's turning out to go much faster than expected.  Many of you know that my mom has been  helping me, so with all the hexies she has basted, together with mine, it has come to a total of 1600, roughly...  

So I found this LINK to calculate how many hexies you'll need for a specific size quilt.  For the total we have at this moment, I would get a quilt of aproximately 65 x 65 inches.  I don't have a specific layout or design in mind jet.  Once I have all the hexies here with me, it would be easier to decide where I want to go with it.

Free motion quilting design hot-hot-spiral

I also worked a bit on my Goddess quilt, and  free motion quilted hot-hot-spiral in one of the rays.  Its a fun design to stitch, but I found it was so easy to stitch myself into a corner, luckily travel stitching around the edge of the rays made coming out not such a big issue.

Kayleigh had her birthday yesterday so I baked her a chocolate cake.  I tried really hard getting a picture of her licking out the bowl, but every time I came closer with the camera she stood up. She is such a busy body... LOL.  You can see a cute video I posted yesterday where she blew out the candles, she is such a cutie.  They grow up way too fast!

This morning I woke up to the sound of rain.  So I decided there and then that soup will be on the menu tonight.  I started very early preparing the soup and suddenly from no where I had an urge to crochet.  I don't have a lot of experience in this craft, so I found a 3 part video tutorial on youtube and made these cute little flowers.  I think I will stick them too some hair clips for Kayleigh to use.  Or I'll try making some head bands, and use it for embellishment.



Then ...

...I have a kind request from all of you here at blog-land.  I have submitted my disappearing four patch baby quilt to the Quilter's show and tell contest.  The theme is 'Just squares and rectangles.  To vote click HERE.

Voting starts today and will end on (my mom's birthday ♥♥) Monday morning 22 April 2013.








Linking up to FMQ Friday @ The Free Motion Quilting Project.

Happy quilting.

Happy birthday Kayleigh!

Yes, my baby girl is NOT a baby anymore.  I guess every parent realize how fast time goes by, just by looking at the 'speed' at which our children grow up.  It feels like yesterday when we came home from hospital when Kayleigh was born, not to mention that Marco had his 17th birthday a few months ago.

Proud 'Oupa' Grandad holding Kayleigh a few days after she was born

Kayleigh at ONE year old

Kayleigh at TWO years old

Can someone, ANYONE just his the pause button, only for a little while!

I thought it would fun to share with you when Kayleigh blew out the candles on her cake (which I baked by the way).  I think the whole experience was a bit confusing to her.  The whole time I was afraid she'll burn her little fingers, it looks like she wanted to grab the flames...  

Happy birthday my girl, I love you so much!

If this video does not appear, click here.

Happy day, it's almost Friday.

Lots and lots of hexies.

When my parents where here a few months ago, I mentioned to my mom that I needed a 'hand' project to keep busy at night.  For some reason I find it so boring watching tv lately, that's when I decided to start piecing one inch hexies.

So I started cutting out templates and sorted out scraps.  My mom then volunteered to help.  So I prepared a bag with scraps and templates that she took home with her.  Here she is (left) at her home sorting out all the hexies by colour and prints.  This picture was taken about a month ago and she already has over a 1000 basted in total.  She even went out and bought extra fabric to help this project along.  I love her to bits ♥♥

I too have been busy basting hexies but I don't have nearly as much.  Here is a post I wrote with some useful links to create your own templates, not only for hexies but other shapes too.  

So I eventually ran out of templates and on Monday I printed out some more and started the tedious job of cutting them out.  It took a whole day to cut out 20 A4 pages.  My thumb was so sore and tender after, that I decided stop.  I can carry on another day.

I now have a little over 400 hexies basted and still counting.  The plastic container I used was completely full, so I moved them to a larger one.

It looks so empty now...

2½ inch pieces of fabric

I am linking up WIP Wednesday @ Freshly Pieced.

Happy quilting.

Anything Goes - Quilt 'n Sew #13 - Printing quilt labels 'TEST'

As you know I like to search the internet for tips and tricks, and found this tutorial showing you how to print your own quilt labels using an inkjet printer.  In the tutorial she mentioned that there are some fading when washed, so I wanted to test this and see what the result would be after a few washes.  After all, seeing as a quilt can 'outlive' you, surely the label should last just as long.

I followed the steps and used freezer paper as interfacing at the back, but only one sheet, not three as specified. I think I over looked that part... oops!

This is the sample before it's been washed.  

I soaked the label in cold water with mild detergent for about 20 minutes.

I washed it really well, rubbing it quite vigorously and then rinsed it under cold running water.  As you can see while rinsing it the colour did not appear to be too bad.  I repeated this step 4 times.  I did notice that there wasn't any change in its appearance even after its 1st wash, but I wanted to be thorough.  

After the 4th wash I left it to dry and pressed it really well.

Here is the 'before' again

As you can see the ink did fade a little (picture below) but not as much as I thought it would.  I was quite rough with this little sample so I doubt that the ink will get much (if any) lighter with more washes.  Anyway, when you wash your quilt I doubt that it be washed as intensely I did this piece of fabric.

This is the result 'after' a few washes

I think it looks quite good!

Now it's time for this week's linky party

It's Monday and a new week, so lets all share some of our projects, please link up any current projects you've been working on, anything at all...  This link is open for a week and will run every Monday.  Remember to come back next week, or follow my blog to get regular updates.

If you wish feel free to add any other blog posts you write during the week, since this linky stays open for a full week, I think its a great idea to share and keep sharing.

All I ask is that you either add the 'Anything Goes' blog button to your sidebar or add a text link to your blog post, and comment on a few of the other links too, share the love and make this weekly link party a fun way to connect.

<div align="center"><a href="http://marelize-ries.blogspot.com/" title="Stitch by Stitch"><img src="http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj592/MarelizeR/LinkyButton2_zps83805f35.jpg" alt="Stitch by Stitch" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Happy quilting.