FMQ Practice and My Postage Stamp Blocks

I recently participated in a postage stamp block swap on Flickr.  I decided to use a couple blocks to make these cute fabric boxes that I saw on pink Penguin blog.  so I get started with my block, batting and backing brcause I'm used to making the quilt sandwich......duh I did it wrong because I need to leave the back off, do my FMQing then make the lining....So. I made a mug rug.  I did some straight line stitching for the quilting, bound it and it was done.    

I then started on my box again, this time doing it right.  I practiced stitching in the ditch FMQ instead of using my walking foot.  Then I did basic stipple in every other square.   I love my little box and I get to see my swap blocks all the time.  My remote fits perfectly in the basket and will never be lost again....maybe.

Quickie Hanger for Mini Quilt

Dog days of Summer

I made a butterfly quilt for my daughter and she wants to hang it up and because it has scalloped edges I didn't add a  hanging sleeve.  So necessity is the mother of invention...here is my invention, inpromptu hanger.  In my example I am using a skewer (Mel will totally get this), a needle, thread and some picture hangers.

Lay your skewer on the back where you want it and whip stitch into place.  

Make your stitches snug and don't go through the front.  You can just do this in a few places along the way or go the whole length...your choice.

Tie off at the end and use a picture hanger with a hook, to hang from wall.

 As you can see my stitches are not even or neat but no one will never know.    Put your skewer closer to the top than I did so the top doesn't flop down...

 2 kinds of picture hangers....for a larger quilt you may want to use 2 on the wall, one at each end, making sure they are relatively level.  For this mug rug one will do it.





Ta Da you have a hanger to hang the beautiful butterfly quilt your mom made for you!!!

Kitty loves to sit in/on your purse....

Sunday Sewing

      Today I am going to work on my EPP hexagon blocks for my Candied Hexagon Quilt.  Here are some of the most recent blocks....I'm trying to really stretch my imagination with the piecing so that I will have lots of one of a kind blocks mixed in with the simpler styles.   They do take a lot longer to sew up.  Like 3-5 hours to cut, baste and sew.  Rip and sew again in some cases.  Crooked corners makes me crazy and I have to rip it out. Ugh!!  My goal is to do 5 a week.  I only got 3 done this week.  It's ok, I have vacation at the end of the month and I can catch up!!

The colors look a little odd in this one?  I assure you it looks good in person!!

I have been doing quite a bit of fussy cutting to pull the secondary prints out to add more variety to the total look. The mini flower print is an accent from this fabric.  All of these pinks were secondary prints from the circles from the fabric above in the pink colorway.

This one has a bit of bleeding from my printed triangle paper but it will come out when I wash it.... It also has LOTS of starch.  lol it was pretty wonky after all the bending and sewing and ripping....these little1/2" triangles were a challenge.

When I am done I am going to make these super cute and fast fabric baskets that I saw today on Pink Penguin's Blog.  Just what I need to organize my sewing space and practice my FMQing.  Yeah.   Happy Sewing, K

Pencil Cases

Sunday Sewing.....Pencil Cases             

I know lots of kids are getting out of school right now, but summer session for my college baby is just starting.   She was admiring a charm pack of Noteworthy that I have been saving and said she would love to have something in these fabrics.   So ta-da a new pencil case is born.   I had this chunky long zipper and was able to unzip it and get in nice and close to topstitch the edges (with my walking foot).  With a regular zipper there would be no way to get in close enough.  She loves it and that's all that counts anyway....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91636153@N07/8931789522/

I had to piece the charms, a rollie pollie would have been perfect to just cut the strips to the right width.

I used Kona solid light grey for the lining and a thin fusible fleece for the batting.   Perfect weight for the bag.

 Love these Noteworthy fabrics.

She doesn't use crayons anymore but they look good in the bag!!!

 Case number 2, bad photo...its actually too sunny today....

Off to sew up a new top, before going back to work......

Happy Sewing, K

Sunny Sunday Sewing on the Go??

Looking out the window and it's a beautiful sunny day in California !   My flowers are all blooming or going to bloom very soon.   The outdoors is calling me....please come outside!   So I will take my hand stitching poolside and enjoy a day in the sun.

Lantana in wild abandon

I have contemplated taking my sewing machine outdoors...have you ever heard of anyone doing so?  I don't have a patio cover, just an umbrella or an easy up but that takes a bit of help to put up..funny since its called an "easy up".   I once read that Pokey Bolton likes to take her machine out onto the porch in warm weather....

Lantana

My only issue is running back inside every time I remember I need something..like the seam ripper or the other seam ripper or a different thread....I already do this when I need to run upstairs for some notion or another.

 Scarlet Trumpet Vine....I never thought it would take to the dry, dry rocky soil......

Are you an outdoor lover too and do you create outside?  Love to hear your comments.....

 The first Hibiscus....they take a while to start blooming, but will bloom all summer long....








 Raised vegetable beds to keep the bunnies at bay.  Tomato sprouts and a lone zucchini plant.

Giant Bird of Paradise.  Not sure if this is the real name...

 Peek of the pool, hillside view

Off to sew away the day, K

Update, here's the blocks I finished today while enjoying the garden....

Linking up with Plum and June.

Help Kickstart This Great Artist

When I first started blogging I spent tons of time looking for other bloggers.......I didn't know what I was doing so I would just click next blog at the top of the blogger page.....this is what I found.

The Cart Before The Horse


I fell in love with these little handmade bits of art.  If I were to live again, this is the kind of free spirit Artist,  I would love to be....   This husband and wife duo are going to go mobile....check out their adventures and follow along with me.  If you can, help them along with a donation to their Kickstart or check them out on etsy......

Happy Sewing, K

The Outline

This layout would require 216 hexagons.

This layout is 14x11 and would need 154 hexies....

Closer look.....

I like them like this, it looks like a lot more than 60.

They make me smile, the fabric is so pretty.  What are you up to this weekend?