UFO Sunday - Sad goodbyes

As most of you know I had a pretty exciting month.  My dad had his 70th birthday, and as a surprise my sister and her family came over from the UK to celebrate with all of us.

So I thought of sharing two photos of all of us, my Mom and Dad, kids and grand-kids... It was so special!!  Clearly Kayleigh did not like the idea of having these pictures taken, she could not leave my side, and when it was time to take the photo with all the grandchildren I had to hold her up to not have a crying child in the photo, LOL

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, so we had to say goodbye on Friday when they left for the UK again, I sure hope that this time it will not take 9 years till all of us will be together like this again.................................

Anyway..... back to my sewing room...

Is it just me, or do you also find it hard having to choose fabrics for your quilts?

I went shopping yesterday specifically for backing fabric for my Sugar BOM and Lucky Stars BOM.  Which should not be that hard, since its for the back right?  But I stood in the shop for nearly an hour, looking at so many different prints.

I finally decided that I will quilt my BOM's using the QAYG (quilt as you go) method.  I've never done it before, so it will be a first for me.

Sugar BOM Backing

For my Sugar Block Club BOM I'm using white background fabric together with bright colours.  So I got this fabric for the backing.  I think it will compliment the blocks really well.  I realize that we've only done up to February, but knowing that all the colours I plan on using in the blocks will also show up in the backing so it should work really well together.

Lucky Stars BOM Backing

Now since my background fabric for my Lucky Stars BOM is black and dark grey, I went with this fabric.  The print is quite large so I hope when it comes to piecing them together it would not be an issue.

Unfortunately I could not get decent thread for my Goddess Quilt. I've only done McTavishing in the some of the rays and I still have so many to do, and I really want to do them in colour too, so catching up will take a few weeks.  

I guess I'll be on the road again on Monday... or maybe Wednesday.


I have some exciting news to share tomorrow, so be sure to come back then!

I'm linking up to UFO Sunday with Leah Day @ The Free Motion Quilting Project.

Happy quilting.

  

UFO Sunday

These past few weeks have been hectic.  All good fun though.  

My dad had his 70th birthday last weekend (I shared with you the Golf themed quilt I made for him) and as a surprise my sister and her family who lives in the UK came to South Africa to surprise my dad.  I was the only one who knew about it, and we planned it since last year July.  It was so hard to keep the secret for so long, but it was definitely worth while.  It was so nice having the whole family together.  

So during the past few weeks there wasn't really time for any sewing or quilting, but I made some time to sort out some of my scraps.  

I've been very inspired by all the hexie quilts out there, and what better way to make some good use of all the scraps I've been collecting in a drawer over the past year.  I'm not even sure what I'll end up with, or how big this quilt will be.  It does not even matter how long this will take, it could be years.  All I want to do is to use up all of my scraps.  I hate to throw out any fabric, and this way ALL of it gets used and the bits that will now end up in the bin, is really too small to keep or use.  

I've finished assembling my twister quilt top.  This was meant to be an experiment, trying out the Lil' Twister tool.  After seeing how easy it really is I will definitely want to make something bigger.

As I've mentioned my sister is here for a two week visit from the UK, she's a Stampin'Up demonstrator, you can visit her blog HERE and see all the gorgeous cards she's made.  She brought some of the fabrics they use in their crafts and asked me to make a bag for her.  So I thought of using my own pattern, only this time I'm quilting the panels.  I'm not done yet, but will soon share some pictures.

Free downloadable pattern

I'm linking up to UFO Sunday with Leah Day @ The Free Motion Quilting Project.

PS.  Remember to come back tomorrow for the "Anything Goes" linky party.  

Happy quilting

Gone golfing... back maybe!

Gone golfing... back maybe!

As many of you know I've been busy with a quilt I could not share with you since I made it for a special someone's birthday.  That very special someone is my DAD!  He turned 70 (yesterday) 9 February. He loves to golf, actually both my parents would probably go golfing 3 or 4 times a week, depending on the season.

My dad and ME (taken a few years ago)

Nice day at the golf course...
mom counting up the score

So the waiting is finally over and here it is.  I've named this quilt "Gone golfing... back maybe"


Initially when I bought the checkered print fabric I thought of making a quilt that leaned towards a Scottish theme, since golf originates from Scotland.  So I made four different 'traditional' quilt blocks.

But then I thought of being a bit more creative, and change the whole look...

I added a golf bag with a few golf clubs.



A turtle keeping guard at lost ball, LOL



A club house, which I think looks a bit more like a barn...





A 'green' with a red flag...

... and then I added my 'dad'... standing ready to tee off having another great golfing day!

I am the youngest of four children, and I suppose being the 'baby' in the house my dad is always very protective over me, but it has to be said that he has treated all of us fair, with respect and most certainly with adoring love and care like only a father can.  I treasure every moment I get to spend with them, they live so far and we don't get to see them that often.  Giving him this for his birthday was really special,...

.          .          .          .         .         .        .       .

Linking up to UFO Sunday @ The Free Motion Quilting Project & Let's get acquainted @ bold goods

Happy quilting

UFO Sunday - Cross Stitch

Another little sewing bug that bit me, is cross-stitching.  I found the chart for this piece I'm currently busy with HERE.  There are 100's to download for free.  Over the Christmas break, my husband would either play X-Box games, be out in the garden, or he was busy making my shelves and tables for my sewing room, and figured since we don't get to spend a lot of time together that at least this way, I can keep busy with something creative and still be in each other's company.  It's been sitting on the shelf for a couple of weeks now, so since things are back to normal with work and school I thought of carrying on at night...

Another UFO, almost a FO is this 'birthday' quilt I'm working on...  Don't worry, the time is really close for me to share this with all of you, so keep a look out for this secret project.  I did share some of the FMQ here.

Hand sewing the binding

Kayleigh cuddling with the quilt when I left for just a second

I made these hearts from the scraps of my Twister Quilt.. ♥ Valentines day is around the corner ♥

I am linking up to Leah Day's UFO Sunday, Sew darn crafty @ Sew Many Ways and Let's get acquainted @ Plum and June

Remember to come back on Monday to link up to "Anything Goes - Quilt 'n Sew"

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 #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.