TEN UFO Sightings!

No, no!  ET has NOT landed.. but MY UFOs has!  You know those UnFinished Objects you ignore up to a point when you realize its either time to finish them or forget them completely!  Well I have ignored my UFO's for far too long now, and decided that this year I am going to do my very best and finish what I've started.  

So I am joining in this years' a lovely year of finishes hosted by Fibre of all sorts and Sew Bitter Sweet Designs.

The plan is, to finish off at least one, either old or new project in one month.  Now I have more than enough projects to keep me busy for quite some time, but there is at least one project that I am sure that I wont be able to complete in one month, and that is my one inch hexies quilt.  There are over 1500 basted hexies to piece together, so I am going to make it my goal to piece at least 50 together in a month.  This will not be part of the linkup I am sharing over at a lovely year of finishes but just a personal goal I want to set for myself.  If I dont make it, its okay too, I just feel that unless I push myself I wont finish at all!

So for January I am going to concentrate on my clam-shell crochet blanket.  I am close to finishing it, and to just get into the whole idea of completing something before month-end I am going to keep it simple.  I want to add at least another 10 inches to this blanket (at 47 inches wide), so it should be finished it no time.  

There is a catch though, it is summer, and with temperatures going up to 34°C (93°F) it is going to be,... well ... HELL, lol.

But I am hopeful, and I am going to get it done!

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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.

Anything Goes - Quilt 'n Sew #11 - March in review

I have been quite busy this past month.  I actually cant believe how much I got done!  I have added links to each of the photo's I've posted below if you'd like to read more.

Made this photo mosaic with bighugelabs

I got to catch up quite a bit on my FMQ on Express Your Love - Goddess quilt, I made a  Picnic basket cover for a good friend.  I made a Table topper/wall hanging which was a bit of a flop, but overall turned out not too bad.   My March BOM Lucky Stars - Ninja Star was a good sewing day.  I also started and finished Kayleigh's Flannel baby quilt this month.  I played around making a few Cathedral window pincushions.  Loved FMQ my QAYG Sugar BOM - Snow Blossom and of course I had some time in between to make some more Hexies.

I would love to see what you've been up to!

Sew 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.

Express Your Love #6

I should actually hide my head in shame, I can't believe it has been two months since I've worked on my Express Your Love - Goddess quilt.  My excuse is simple, I did not have the right threads for the job and I was simply too busy with family visits, and of course other little projects that got in the way.

But this week, I had so much fun coming back to her.  Every day this week I learned a new FMQ design.  Here are some close-up shots of what I've stitched.

I decided to, in contrast to Leah Day's Goddess Quilt, stitch Concentric Circles in red.  Because the McTavishing design is so bold and stand out so much with all the travel stitching I wanted it to not be too overpowering, and since there is quite a lot of travel stitching in this design too, the red does not draw that much attention.  Because my quilt already has so much colour I was also afraid that it will take away from it rather than add to the quilt.  

But I think I am wrong, all of the colours I've used looks great!

Concentric Circles

The next two designs, New Flock of Geese and Micro Zippling I decided to use together, this time in yellow.  That was before Leah posted the Wiggle Wiggle Spiral design with the Flock of Geese FMQ design.  

Flock of Geese and Micro-Zippling

The reason I decided to use Micro Zippling together with the Flock of Geese design, was in the beginning I made the mistake of stitching McTavishing in too many rays in comparison to Leah's quilt.  So I was scared of adding it to the others that I might not have enough rays left to learn and stitch new and different designs.

The next design, Boomerangs had me a bit nervous.  I sometimes have difficulty knowing in which direction to stitch, especially if it has a very distinctive and specific shape.  But I am very happy with it, and I just love how the travel stitching makes it pop.

Boomerangs

I also got around to echo quilt around the words in the first phrase I've added.

So, as you can see I have a had a very rewarding FMQ week, much better than the one I had last week, LOL.

Previous Posts:
Express Your Love #5

Express Your Love #4
Express Your Love #3
Express Your Love #2
Express Your Love #1

I am linking up to FMQ Friday with Leah Day @ The Free Motion Quilting Project.

Happy quilting.

Express Your Love #5

More and more McTavishing, can you see the difference with the scale.  I don't know why on earth I went bigger, and then smaller again while stitching this design.  So much travel stitching too, it looks as though I've outlined each 'leafy' shape...

What I noticed when I just started with this design that at the bottom left ray (circled in red) that my stitched looked like they where floating on top of the fabric, instead of having defined stitches.  So I made a practice sandwich and played around with the tension, yet nothing seemed to make it look any better.  Then I tightened the little screw on the side of my bobbin casing, and from there on my stitched looked perfect again, without having to adjust the tension on my machine.

I can see a clear difference when looking at my quilt that that section looks more like lines than stitches but it will have to do.  There is no way I'm ripping them out!

And then,.... oh boy!  Just look at what I did, a SPELLING mistake!!!  Can you believe it?  Well that I had to take out, I just don't hope that in the long run the fabric was too damaged after stitching repeatedly over one place.  Of course you'll ask, 'why did you not MARK your letters out?' ... well I did, it was so light and I just went on without thinking.  Luckily I noticed that after the one letter, imagine I had done the whole thing!!!  ...sigh

The spaces between the letters and words are rather wide, and I don't think that they really 'pop'.  When I marked them out it looked okay, but stitched out this way, I am not too happy with the result.

You might wonder why I chose this particular saying, "True beauty shines from within" since it has nothing to do with the theme of this quilt "Express your love".  I just feel that to be loved, you must love yourself.  ...hmmm another phrase I could use.

So many people, especially woman (even me) go through life with an idea of what beauty really is, and I must learn that it does not matter what my waist line is, how much freckles I have or the fullness of my hair.  I am beautiful, and if I have to see this message, read it everyday, I will soon start believing it!

Previous Posts:
Express Your Love #4
Express Your Love #3
Express Your Love #2
Express Your Love #1

I am linking up to:  Leah Day's FMQ Fridays, Find a Friend Friday @ Sew Many Ways and Fresh Sewing Day @ Lily's Quilts.

Happy quilting.

Express Your Love #4

I made very good progress with my Goddess quilt.  During the past week I started stitching all the outlines and this morning she was ready for me to start quilting.

When I started adding the rays, I made a slight mistake when I travel stitched my way back to get to the next ray of light, and went completely off the line.  I hate ripping out, so I tried to travel stitch a few times over that same line to correct my mistake, and it worked out really nicely.  I liked the effect so much, that I did it with all the rays.  It makes them stand out even more.  It did take longer and I used more thread but I think it really looks good.  

I still have to quilt the part in the ocean, and of course add the phrases but I will get to it.

I was so eager to start quilting inside the rays, that I never marked where I should quilt, so when I started quilting the second ray, it was completely the wrong one.  I can't undo this mistake, the stitches are just too small, and with all the travel stitching it would be impossible to rip it out.  So it will have to do.  So I decided to take a break, and to carry on when my mind is clear.  

I really like the mctavishing design, its the first time I've tried it, all I need to try is to make the lines a bit more wiggly but I think the scale looks good.

This might sound silly, but have you ever paid attention to your 'face', especially your mouth while you FMQ?  Today I found myself SMILING as I was busy stitching out the design inside the rays.......  :-) I guess its a way my body and mind wants to show that it approves, he he he

Previous Posts:

Express Your Love #3

Express Your Love #2

Express Your Love #1

I  am linking up to:  FMQ Friday with Leah Day, Find a friend Friday @ Sew Many Ways

 & Lets get acquainted Monday @ Plum and June.

On a SAD note... My parents left this morning after a two week visit, and saying goodbye is always hard.  It felt like yesterday when they arrived, it was so nice having them here... I will miss them so much.  Goodbyes, I HATE them!

Happy quilting

Express Your Love #3

I can not begin to explain how much fun I'm having making this quilt.  At last I'm ready to start quilting.  What made it even more fun, is that my parents are here visiting from the Cape.  It's been a very long stretch since I've seen them in August 2011, over a year ago.  So you can imagine how much fun it is, having my mom here with me while making this quilt top.  Getting her input and having her see what I'm doing makes it even more special.

The biggest test was the outside curves and the sharp points, but I got it done.  I am very happy with the result.  I like the effect after changing the design of her hair, and I think it gives her a totally different look.  I had hoped when I went fabric shopping for her hair on Friday, that I could have found  vibrant different shades of blue, but when I put these browns and yellow together, I liked it very much.  

I also decided to add a border, a narrow inner purple- and a wider black border.   Then she will be ready to start quilting.  To imagine, there is so far not one single stitch sewn.  I really like the 'No sewing until you quilt it' technique, it makes this art quilt really simple to piece and it opens up so many possibilities.  The sky is the limit, and I love it!

After seeing Leah's tutorials on quilt painting, I would love to try it too, maybe not on this quilt, but  I would definitely give it a go in the future.  It makes the lines look so precise and the colours are really vibrant.

I am linking up to:  UFO Sunday on the Free Motion Quilting Project & Sew Darn Crafty @ Sew Many Ways

Previous Posts:
Express Your Love #2
Express Your Love #1

Update 23/01/2013 - I have started my very own linky party called "Anything Goes - Quilt 'n Sew" which will run every Monday, check it out HERE

Happy quilting.

Express Your Love #2

I am having so much fun making this quilt top.  I think she is coming along very nicely and that I am making good progress.  With regards to the problem I had with the background seam allowance showing through the coloured fabric, I simply cut the seam allowance of the background a bit smaller and it makes a huge difference.  I am hoping where it still shows up a bit, that the quilting will cover it up.

I do however find it much easier to work at night, this summer -especially these past weeks, have been very hot.  The other day we had some chocolate bars, and they where almost completely melted, the kids had fun eating them, I guess I did too, licking out the wrapper made me feel like a kid again.  

Anyway, so far I am happy with my Goddess quilt, I still have quite a lot to do.  At least I already know what she'll be saying...

Previous posts:

Express Your Love #1

I am linking up to:  WIP Wednesday @ Freshly Pieced

Happy quilting.

Express Your Love #1

I decided it was high time I started on my Goddess quilt - Express Your Love.  A quilt many of us are making following along with Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting Project.  

When she came up with the idea that all of us will be working on this quilt together, I thought it would be great to at last learn the 'no sewing until you quilt it' technique.  

Its nice how things come together.  I bought the "No Sewing Until You Quilt It - Super Combo" book, that includes a DVD and 1 yard (big enough for this quilt) of french fuse from her quilt shop Day Styles Designs just before Christmas.  So I had everything I needed to carry on with this project. 

Except experience of course, this will be my 1st try at this technique, and so far it is much easier than first anticipated.

I did however make some changes to the design and that's her hair.  I am having the background all black instead of two colours, I will just quilt in those lines later.

As you can see from the picture below, the curves on this piece is not as smooth as I would have liked it to be.  I just cant get the outside curves right.  I wonder if I should try and needle turn applique those parts instead of gluing them down...  

There is one thing that bothers me about the piecing.  I fused the background colour which is black down first.  But the coloured fabric that goes on top is quite transparent, and you can see the seam allowance through the fabric.  To take this whole quilt apart would mean I will have to start all over.  And I'm more than half way.  I'm also wondering if the quilting itself wont cover it enough to not be so visible...  What would you do?

Another question, to those who also live in South Africa - I have inquired quite a few local online quilt shops, and non of them have french fuse, do any of you know if we have this product available here in South Africa and where I could buy it, or at least a substitute?

I am linking up to:  Leah Day's FMQ Project - UFO Sunday & Flamingo Toes - Think Pink Sundays

Happy quilting.