Friday Finishes!

Did you catch that in the title of the post.....finishes.....that's right not one to tell you about but two!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday if you are in the US. If you are not--I hope it was a good Thursday for you too!  This was the scene this morning from my window--

Ok Ginny, you say, but what exactly is that and what does it have to do with quilt finishes?

Well, it's not just a picture of the heavy fog but--- how appropriate is this....wait for it.... it is a flock of honkers Canadian Geese! One of my finishes is a Flying Geese pattern---Canadian Geese...Flying Geese... ok, on to the quilty stuff  (and yes! they do "honk, honk" loudly!) ;0

My Flying Geese mini quilt is complete and on its way to my Modern She Made 2 swap partner now, so I thought I would give you a close up, and the down and dirty details.  This was for the second round of the Modern She Made swap on Flickr. If you have never participated in one of these swaps, you are assigned a partner who posts a photo mosaic for your inspiration and completes a brief questionnaire on their style and what they may like. Then the stalking begins!

That's right you check out everything you can think of to see what their likes and dislikes are and then make something you think fits them. You can post teases, and questions to try and get more info. Some people comment on everything and some do not comment at all! All part of the fun, but I must admit, it is a bit stressful wondering if they will like what you have made for them. 

So here we go: 

Flying Geese Mini

Close up of quilting and binding

Close up of blocks and quilting

Back of mini with binding

Close up of quilting on back side

So there you have it, my Flying Geese Mini. 

Stats:

Size: 19 in x 19 in

Fabric: variety, including Kona Charcoal for the solid and Michael Miller Divine Damask on back

Quilted with walking foot and pearl grey thread

Next: the little extra that will be going with this mini quilt! 

Medium cosmetic bag in Washi Tape!

 This is my first little cosmetic bag! I love it! Not to hard. Took about two hours but I am sure that the next one would go much faster as I did have a few hic-coughs that had me sharing a bit of time with my seam ripper. 

The inside has a finished lining. So many of the bag/pouch tutorials that I looked at had and unfinished inside which I really didn't want. I used this tutorial from Flossie Teacakes, and really the only thing that didn't turn out was my zipper ends. Yes, I  covered them but they do not lay smoothly. But that may be because I used a zipper that was too long and I had to cut off-- maybe my measurements were not correct and it was a smidge (technical term) long.

Inside finished lining

Finished bag

I hope she likes it.....I do. I used a turquoise zipper and turquoise thread to topstitch it.

Stats:
Wahsi Tape Cosmetic Pouch
Size: 7 in x 5 in
Washi Tape on the outside and Lou Louthi as the lining  (interfacing for structure also)

I will be linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts Friday Finishes and TGIFF!







Happy Stitching!
Ginny

PS. I have had trouble with Google and Blogger tonight so this may have posted and I have now edited it to complete the post, it disappeared twice on me--- must be too much turkey! ;)

WIP Wednesday

It's WIP Wednesday!










Time to take a look at what was completed and what is now on the front burner this week!

I completed my U R Priceless little coin purse and Blog Hop. Love these little purses and was happy with the way it turned out

I finished all my cutting for all the fabric swaps I am in and popped them in the mail yesterday.

I also sent off my blocks for Hurricane Sandy relief organized by Jennifer over at the Knotted Thread.

Front and center for this week is to finish up my Modern She Made Swap mini for my partner!

Here is the layout chosen, and I finished squaring up the blocks last night, next it will be on to sewing and quilting!

A better shot of the pattern

Lets take a list at the List (with a capital "L" she said ;)

1. Finish up my Flickr fabric swaps by cutting and mailing off.
2  Finish up my U R Priceless Coin Purse and Blog Hop post
3. My Lime and Latte lap quilt: All blocks are made and the layout complete, now on to sewing the top up and quilting: so progress - just not as quick as I thought
4. Cut and piece my orange inspired Flying Free quilt: no progress here :(
5. My Modern She Made 2 Swap: Yes! Progress here, see blocks and layout above. Mailing deadline is coming up soon.
6. New set of scrappy hot pads: yes, there is progress here, the tops are pieced.
7. Craftsy BOM's : No progress here (yet)
8. Commissioned baby quilt: the fabric has arrived and the pattern decided on, so a little bit of progress here. Due by mid-January.
9. New to the list: The Weekender Bag! Yes I am going to make this bag--a bit intimidating by everything I have read, but this is not a rush project. I would like to finish it by March. Now on to scout out some fabulous fabric---or maybe I will do patchwork?

10. New--Not specifically sewing related, but I am researching updating my Blog--updating and a new look! So stay tuned, a fresh look is coming soon I hope!

Linking up over at Freshly Pieced!

Hope you are having a great week!

Ginny

Pick a Bundle!

Have you stopped by Sew Lux Fabric? This online fabric shop is run by a mother and daughter team, Linda and Chrissy. You can find them here or you can find them on Etsy here. They are having a Guest Curated Bundle Contest where you search the fabric in their shop and put together a bundle of 8. Pick a name and submit it to their Blog linky party and you might just win that bundle! Entries must be linked up by 11:59pm on November 20th.

If you are the winner, you not only win your bundle but the bundle with the most votes will be featured as the Curated Bundle for December in their shop.

Sounds like fun, so I played around today and came up with two bundles (max you can enter).
Take a peek:

A Spot of Tea Please

I was thinking about how windy it is here today and although it is sunny and warm for this time of year, the wind was chilling. A nice hot cup of tea to wrap my fingers around would feel so good!  I love the combo of aqua and red, and adding a bit of pink and royal blue just makes the colors pop even more. The pink reminds me of sweetness, like the sugar I have in my tea. The creamy white reminds me of the milk some use in their tea. 

These teacups are so cute--couldn't you just see this bundle as a great mug rug?

 

My second bundle pick:





Cuz You Can!

I love the colors in this bundle! The saturated aqua from Chicopee, the deep plum from Simply Color remind me of the changing colors of the lake waters I see outside my window and how they change from dawn to dusk. The tangerine, green and gold remind me of Autumn which was gorgeous today in the sunshine although it is quickly fleeting, and the raspberry is warm and lucious, one of my favorite colors!

It was fun putting these bundles together! A relaxing Sunday afternoon :)

Happy Stitching!

Ginny

U R Priceless Blog Hop

Hi everyone and Welcome to day 4 on the U R Priceless Blog Hop!





Have you checked out all the little cuties that are being made? Wow! Lots of different styles- novelty, sophisticated, embroidered, monogrammed, no limit to the imagination. Over 100 little purses!

I would like to Thank Madam Samm over at http://www.sewwequilt.com for the wonderful pattern and great instructions! The many photos and fun instructions (she instructs you in it  that it is now time to take a break - a 23 minute break! LoL! ) were easy to follow. I would also like to thank Katherine over at http://www.sewmesomethinggood.blogspot.ca/ for organizing and being the Cheerleader for this hop- great communication and organization!

And did I mention prizes? Oh yea-there are prizes! See below for how to enter and win!

HOW CAN YOU WIN?

#1 all those who participated will have a chance to win

#2 All those who are in our top 3

#3 All those who leave comments ( each comment leaves

you another chance to win) 

So comment away! We all love comments don't we!

Ok on to my little creation :)

I used VeloCity City Scene at Night for the front and back of the coin purse. I think it really is an interesting fabric in a large piece and then to cut it down made it very abstract looking--not a bad thing for a modern little coin purse! On the sides I used Too Muchery in Orange. and the lining is Metro Living Circles in Carrot. I just love the orange and navy combination!

Here is the bottom of the little purse, it meets nicely in the center for a diamond or hourglass look.

A peek inside at the lining

And I finished it with a heavy duty thread in coral for a bit of pizazz!

Overall this little purse was pretty easy to make. Didn't take too long - probably about an hour or two. The hardest part was sewing on the frame but once you get the hang of it, it goes pretty fast. I plan on making more of these as Christmas gifts.  Cuz you know...after you make the first one, they are kinda addictive and you start to thinking about all the people you could make them for and what great fabric pics you could use and customize the purse to that person! Alot of Fun!

So leave me some comment love and tell me what you think, and be sure and stop by the rest of the blogs on today's tour listed below and leave comments for a chance at winning some great prizes :)

Happy Sewing!

Ginny

Day 4 - Nov. 8th

as sweet as peaches
Deborah B
Birgit H
Fish Creek Studio
A Quilter's Table
Lily Patch Quilts
Cherry Blossoms Quilting Studio
Mary F
Rose Prairie Quilts and Farm
The Desert Rat Chronicles
Sally K
Paris at a Certain Age
From Blank Pages
Quilt Taffy
Barb H

And if you want to see ALL the bloggers and their coin purses, CLICK HERE 

This is the list for the whole hop

Hurricane Sandy Blocks and U R Priceless Blog Hop

Just a quick post to show you the blocks I made for Jennifer over at Knotted Thread for the quilts she is organizing/making for people who have been impacted and displaced by Hurricane Sandy. They are fast and easy. If you cut one 8 1/2in strip the WOF you can make a total of 5 blocks. Here is a link to the Flickr group if you want to get in on this great charity event:  https://www.flickr.com/groups/2153869@N22/

I hope these ice cream blocks bring a smile to someone. I chose this fabric because I thought of walking the Boardwalk in the summer and eating a yummy ice cream cone. I hope it brings back good memories, and that someday whoever gets the quilt with these blocks gets to do it again. Or just simply enjoy one of the little things in life - a sweet, creamy ice cream cone! :)



Don't forget to stop by tomorrow -- I am on the U R Priceless blog hop from Katherine and Madam Samm.
Have you seen all those little cuties? If not, stop by Katherine's over at Sew Me Something Good for the schedule. The hop started on Monday and continues through the 15th!

Happy Sewing!

Ginny

Hurrincane Sandy Help-Donate Blocks

I am sure you have seen the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy. If you have never been through something like this it is hard to imagine.


And unfortunately after the massive storm has come and gone and the media coverage starts to slow down it is easy to carry on with our lives in normal fashion. But these people are still without power, gas, and the most basic of needs: a home and for some, even food. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. If you have spent anytime without power and electricity you know what it is like to be inconveinced and cold, but to loose your whole house and have your belongings spread miles away....it is hard to imagine, but many are living that right now.

In the Midwest we have tornados that do this, and ice storms that cut power.. but no, I have not experienced a Hurricane and hope that I never do.

One of our quilter friends, Jennifer from Knotted Thread is from the New Jersey area that is so devastated.

Here is the linke to her post: http://www.knotted-thread.com/2012/11/helpless.html Please take a moment to read.

She has started a quilt block drive. Just sign up to make 1, 2, 3, or however many quilt blocks you would like to make and send and she will make the quilts and hand deliver in December when she goes back home.

Here is the tutorial for the block: http://www.sosarahsews.blogspot.com/2011/12/tutorial-for-next-project.html  Easy!! And it makes a great looking quilt!

Please take a look at the Flickr group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/2153869@N22/discuss/72157631904633183/  And sign up if you can. A quilt brings such comfort and for many of those affected,  December will bring no relief from the massive losses they have experienced. They need to know that someone cares and recognizes their loss.

Thanks for stopping by,

Ginny

Bloggers Quilt Festival

Hi, have you been over to Amy's Creative Side and seen the amazing display of inspiration and talent by all the wonderful quilters/bloggers?

 

If not be sure and stop by-- you will probably need more than one trip -- as there are hundreds of quilts to see. There are many prizes to win, just by leaving a comment or if you enter and win in your category there are great prizes for that too! Readers will be nominating their favorites in each category, so go and have fun! (after you finish reading my post about my entry of course! :)

I am pleased to be able to finally show you my finished Retro Flowers quilt!

I am so happy with how this turned out! There were times when I wondered if I would ever get all the flowers together! For all of you that were following my progress - Thank you! Your encouragement was so important and helpful in motivating me to continue and finish.

This quilt started with the Retro Flowers QAL earlier this year in April. It was my first Quilt A Long. I loved "meeting" other quilters that were particpating through the Flickr group. And I loved seeing everyones fabric picks and progress. There are some fabulous quilts and quilters in that group!

I love this pattern and look with the crisp white sashing and couldn't wait to start. I took a bit of a "modern" approach, even though the name is Retro Flowers. I chose Art Gallery's Modernology line of fabric  which included some small-medium prints but also some very beautiful large prints. I was a bit concerned how the larger prints would work with this pattern as each petal of each flower is made up of 3 curved pieces and one square. So there would not be much of a chance to match those large prints up at the seams. I instead used them to balance out the flower by making sure they were scattered in each petal equally so the eye would move around the whole flower.

 

I also used the Curve Master foot to help with the curves. This special foot helps guide the two pieces of fabric together while sewing the concave and convex curve. This  seems very unnatural when actually sewing them together, but so worth it! Once you get the hang of it, it goes much more quickly and I liked this method as I did not have to pin the seam!

 

For the backing I chose a grey Modernology print that reminded me of  the Retro Flower itself. I love the colors and repetitive simplicity of the pattern.

 

 

The binding I chose is navy blue with an aqua print from the Modernology line. I really like the way the navy contrasts against the white sashing and coordinates with all the navy and aqua in the quilt while contrasting with the corals, pinks, and reds.

The quilt was quilted by Kathy Holman, Fort Wayne, Indiana. She did a wonderful job! I  requested  a "swirling pattern"  and not only did she find it but she was able to enlarge the pattern so that it was proportinate to the quilt/flowers. I love the all over pattern and the way it really shows up on the front. Once washed the quilt sqrunched up so beautifully! You can see this so well in the first and second pic above! This quilt is now ready to be hung in my guest bedroom and is one I will always cherish.

Quilt Stats:

Size 57x58 inches
Special tool: Curve Master foot
Fabric: Art Gallery Modernology and Kona White
Quilted By: Kathy Holman
Best Categories:  Favorite Wall Hanging, Best Professional Quilting, Favorite Throw