I'm gonna wreck it!

Happy Halloween readers!  This year I had a blast figuring out my costume and it turned out really awesome!  

I went as Fix-It Felix and highly recommend watching Wreck It Ralph if you haven't already seen it.

I can Fix it!

I'm squeaking in with my October finish for the Lovely Year of Finishes tonight as well.  Linking up over at Fiber of All Sorts.  This is also my first finish for Quarter 4 Finish A Long and will be linked up accordingly.  Also linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts Finish It Up Friday!

I finished up the Pinwheel quilt originally posted here and loved experimenting with the quilting on it.  This was a top Momm made and I used a pieces of red fabric from my stash for backing.  

I quilted it with Aurifil thread and using a flower design around the center.  In the sashing pieces I just did a little swoosh-like motif.  I did little swirls in each of the blocks as well which look really fun on the back.

The binding is fabric from my stash as well and is machine bound.  I'm definitely getting better at the machine binding, though I prefer to finish binding by hand.

quilting back detail

This quilt will be donated to a charity for kids as soon as I can get a box and decide which one to send it to.  There are so many great options out there and I hope whoever gets it feels the love and joy that went into making the quilt!

improv free style

Hey readers!

starting block

  I was lucky enough to take a workshop with Denyse Schmidt a couple weeks ago and it was fantastic!  I've been wanting to try some improv piecing and it was a perfect opportunity since the workshop was through my work and didn't require a lot of travel on my end.  :)   

Denyse was wonderful to work with and a fun teacher - helping each of us branch out and see what we can create using a traditional foundation.  We started with a traditional block and templates in order to get the basic structure of the block.

Then we were free cutting pieces to re-create the block!  It was fun to see how much we we think we need the ruler and how much the eye corrects in quilting.  Each of us brought 2 solid fabrics to use and having that restriction helped to focus on the block itself.  

starting to design wall

Then it was time to see how far I could push the boundaries of the block - this was so much fun! I wanted to see how I could push it and still keep them together. 

Rearranging the blocks was fun and seeing how moving one piece could change the look of it. 

I started with 10" squares- one of each color - and sliced them in three cuts as desired.  I got a lot of variations and kept adding them to the design wall.  It was tricky to 'square' the blocks up at the end, but I added extra strips in as needed to make the blocks all about the same size to sew together.  I think that just adds to the look of the quilt and it isn't really noticeable.

Since I don't own her book and couldn't have her sign that, I asked her to sign one of my blocks in the quilt!   I ended up with this layout and planned it to keep the darker blue to the outer edges, sort of containing the light blue fabric.  

finished top!

I had the best time and will definitely be doing more improv work in the future.  With a finished top, I'll be thinking of what to use on the back and making plans for quilting this one in the near future!

Secret Project Reveal!

A bit overdue in sharing this secret project with you readers!  Was so excited to make this quilt and gift it to good friends.  Can you guess what it is?

please ignore the wrinkly bits

The Empire State Building of course!   

I made this quilt for good friends L&D (miss you guys!) and knew it would a perfect quilt for them seeing as they got engaged at the top of the Empire State Building and had a NY themed wedding.  Seriously, could it be any more ideal?  I submit that it cannot! :D

I had the city skyline print in my stash and only one piece of the tan I used for the actual building.  No room for mistakes!  The building fabric was also an ombre print which made it even better.  I Googled images of the ESB and found a great line drawing to help me get the outline accurate.

The building & tower are fused to the backing and machine appliqued with a button hole stitch.  I machine quilted lightly - just an outline around the ESB and some lines out from the tower.

L&D have already got it on their wall at home and I hope they love it!

Fourth Quarter Finale

Wow! It's already time to make the last list for the 2013 Finish a Long?!  I went back to my previous 3 lists and out of the 10 projects I've linked so far this year - I've finished 7 of them!  :D  I decided to go big for this final Quarter - it's nice to make progress on some WIPs even if I can't get them all finished.

So here's the official list for Quarter 4 (in no particular order)::

1. Pinwheels: 
 Lingering from the Q3 list that's almost managed: I need to finish the quilting & bind it. *Edited: #274 on the Q4 finishes link up!

2. Challenge Quilt: 
I got the top put together this summer and recently ordered the perfect backing.  Needs basting, quilting and binding.

3. Swoon:
Also lingering from the Q3 list, but I did get the backing together and batting cut.  So it need basting, quilting & binding as well.  Still have no idea how to quilt it - any suggestions??

blocks

pieced top

4. Christmas Sparkle:
 Not sure if this will officially count, but it's on the list.  Momm pieced this awesome quilt and we got it basted recently.  I volunteered to quilt it before Christmas so I can snuggle with it on vacation! :)  We coordinated a plan on quilting and should have just enough of the red fabric for binding as well.
*Edited: #275 on the Q4 finishes link up!

5. GS Quilt:
 So this quilt is lurking in my sewing room....it needs some serious attention (note: seam ripping) and just hasn't been at the top of the list.  I would like to get the top figured out  at least so it's back on the list....

6. Camera Bag:

I almost forgot to add this to the list but am putting it on before the deadline! Momm had some great camera fabric that I used to make a Wide Mouth zipper bag to store my camera & cords & such.  So fun.  It's partially put together, but still needs to have the lining stitched shut, top stitching and zipper pull attached.  This will be a straight forward finish.

*Edited: #276 on the Q4 finishes link up!

Linking up at SheCanQuilt and checking out all the other great projects.  There's still time to join in - make a list and grab some motivation!

Hello October

Happy it's starting to feel like Fall now - crisp mornings and cloud strewn skies.  Also happy that October brings the start of hockey season! (Go Wings, go Caps!)

My project for October will be to quilt and bind my Pinwheel quilt.  I got it basted in September and have a plan for the quilting design as well.  This quilt will be fun to finish and it will be donated to a charity for kids once it's all finished.   

Linking up at Fiber of All Sorts goal setting party and cheering on everyone joining in this month.