Anything Goes Quilt 'n Sew #20 - May in review

When looking back at the month of May, what seemed like a 'not so productive month', have in fact turned out to be quite busy.  In between all of my sewing and quilting, I even had a week where I babysat a 7 month old baby girl.  

So, to recap, I started a baby quilt, played around crocheting butterflies, pieced my Lucky Stars BOM, free motion quilted a fabric postcard as part of a FMQ Postcard swap I joined on Facebook.  I started piecing and played around with hexies.  I also joined in a 'Feathers' Challenge along with others over at SewCalGal, and for fun I made a few Cathedral Window MINI key chains.

While I was busy sorting out photos on my camera I realized I never shared with you my Sugar Block Club BOM's for April and May.  So here they are:

April BOM - Sunny Days (Foundation paper piecing)

May - Signed-Sealed-Delivered BOM ... can you see the envelopes?

So all and all, I have quite a bit to show for this past month.

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.

Hexie fun!

My hexie quilt is going to be one of my biggest projects ever. When my mom sent me the hexies she basted for me, together with mine I decided to start piecing right away.  In case its your first time visiting, it comes to more than a  1600 one inch hexies.  I am still adding more basted hexies to this collection.  Most of the colours being used is either green or pink, so I'm adding blue and purple too. 

(I apologize for the bad light in these pictures, its early morning and the sun is shining directly against the orange curtains right behind my cutting table.)

I started piecing hexies at random, 4 pieces at a time and by shade separating them light, medium and dark rather than colour.  I have not really decided on a layout yet, but this morning I had an idea of making 'blocks' with 16 hexies in one shade.  So far this is one placement I have in mind.  Its rows moving diagonally from light to medium to dark, then starting again with light.  So far I think I am going to stick with this placement, but I'm sure once I have pieced a lot more that this I will be able to see if I really like it and if it will work. 

This has become a really nice pass time, especially on Saturday's when my husband watches every single Rugby match on tv.

I am using a light thread and was a bit worried that the stitches will be visible in the front, but the few stitches you do see, will definitely not be a distraction.  I think because they are spaced so close makes the difference.

Enough playing around, I have to get busy cutting fabric for my Sugar Block Club and Lucky Stars BOM's.  I still have to do April's block (sugar block club) together with May, so I have to get started, at least I've already picked out the fabrics I'm going to use for these blocks...

Linking up with WIP Wednesday over @ Freshly Pieced.

Happy quilting.

Sugar Block Club - BOM March "Forget me not"

I almost forgot to share last month's BOM for the Sugar Block Club called "Forget me not".

Making this block was pretty straight forward, the only thing I had to be careful of was to not sew over the points on all the corners.  

I apologize for the bad light, its been cloudy most of the week and this was the best shot I could get.

To see the other blocks I've made so far you can visit my SBC Page, or you can visit the flickr group where there are 100's of blocks made by others who have joined this BOM for 2013.

Linking up to can-i-get-whoop-whoop over at Confessions of a fabric addict.

Happy quilting.

FMQ Friday - QAYG BOM

As I've mentioned on my WIP Wednesday post, I've decided to QAYG (quilt as you go) all of my BOM's for the Sugar Block Club Block of the Month.

Before I get to that, and just in case you've missed it, be sure to check out my blog anniversary GIVEAWAY, I promise, its a good one!!

Back to FMQ Friday, I bought the Craftsy class by Leah Day, Free motion quilting a sampler, I only started watching it yesterday, and I'm so glad I bought this class.  There is a wonderful tutorial on how to sew your blocks together, which is still a long while from now.  

This is the January block - Snow Blossom, and during week I FMQ the February block too.

I outlined the flowers, hoping they would pop a bit, but the effect is not as I had hoped...

My SID (stitch in the ditch) has really improved!  At times I did jump onto the seam just a little but recovered quickly and its not that noticeable.

Oops, I still have to hide the thread tails.  Close to the end of FMQ this block I started having tension issues, so I gave my machine a good cleaning, threaded and re-threaded everything, made some small adjustments and all is working fine again.

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

Happy Quilting.

WIP Wendesday - QAYG BOM

So I've finally decided that I will quilt all my BOM's for the Sugar Block Club Block of the Month, using the QAYG (quilt as you go) technique.

After I've added the sashing and starched the blocks really well I made sure to get rid of all the little thread tails at the back before I basted the blocks.  The background fabric is white, so I don't want any of those nasty threads showing up through the quilting.

I used basting spray to sandwich these blocks, and my blocks are ready to quilt!

I first started with February's block - North Star.  I am using coloured thread that completely blends with the background.

I did not really give the FMQ much thought, I just went along what felt right at that moment.

I think using the QAYG method to FMQ these blocks allows me to explore a lot more FMQ designs as I have a lot more control over the block while quilting it.  Having the space to move the block around gives me the guts to try out different designs, and I love it!

I have not yet added any quilting to the sashing.  I first want to look at ways to add the blocks together before deciding what designs to use.

For those who missed it, I am having a giveaway to celebrate my blog's 1st anniversary this coming Friday, 1 March 2013.  You can read about it HERE

Linking up to WIP Wednesdays @ Freshly Pieced.

Happy quilting

Sugar Block Club - BOM February "North Star"

I was so eager to start with the Sugar Block Club's BOM for February called "North Star".  I jumped right in and started cutting.  Little did I know that this block would really test my patience.  I honestly felt like giving up at times.  

The paper piecing part of it, was not hard at all.  Matching up those points and straight lines with no guides was a the real frustration.  Remarkably the center star block was NOT the issue.  It was when trying to add the side pieces of the star that made me want to scream...  I used my seam ripper so many times, and in fear that I'm causing too much damage to the fabric I decided to sit back for a few minutes, and just think.  

And that's when it hit me - GLUE!!!  I will use glue...  I was sure as hell not going let this block, or rather my impatience get the better of me.  What did I have to loose anyway?  I was already making a mess of it, it cant get any worse.

What I did was fold the piece that was going on top of the other's seam allowance over a little bit less than ¼ inch.  I checked to see if the lines will meet in a straight line and not have the seams overlap and make the 'star point' look wonky.  I then put a few dots of fabric glue on the 'star center block' and placed the other piece on top playing around until I got the lines straight, I had to work a little bit fast as the glue set rather fast.  Until I was happy with it I then ironed it to set the glue.  I then folded the piece open, and sewn as neatly as I could inside the crease line.  

IT WORKED!  I was so relieved!

When it came to adding the strip to the center piece, I used pins to secure it, and then only removed the pin at the place where I wanted to add the glue not to have the fabric shift around too much.

 My block is NOT perfect, but it's pretty close.  I'm so glad I did NOT give up.

(Left) Snow Blossom - Jan and (Right) North Star - Feb

I am still considering if I should use the Quilt as You Go method.. Undecided!

Go to The Sugar Block Club @ Stitchery Dickory Dock if you want to join in.

To see 100's of other BOM's go to the flickr group.

Happy quilting.

Sugar Block Club - BOM January 2013

This morning I started with my 1st block for the Sugar Block Club called Snow Blossom.  I have to admit that it was rather tricky and I had to use my seam ripper quite a few times.  Those corners are a real test, but I got it done and I am very happy with the result.  The block should be 12.5" but mine is slightly smaller.  Not by much so if need be I can make this bock again, but I doubt that it will be a big issue.

I fussy cut the flower print fabric to try and blend in with the pink and yellow.  Some of the petals on the flowers are hidden in the seam because of the seam allowance, but at least you can still see the flower.

For this BOM quilt, I am not going to stick to a certain colour or type of fabric, but decided to use scraps and what I already have in my stash.

If you wish to see the other blocks I made so far click HERE.
If you want to join in on the fun, click HERE.

Happy quilting.