Finally Finished

Finally, after several months I have finished the placemat for Mum. Not in time for her birthday or Christmas, but it will be ready for Mother's Day.

This a finish for the 2016 Finish-A-Long and OPAM.  At least I will have one. I'm also linking up with Monday Design Board. 

The Modern HST Sampler Block 3 - "Lantern"

I've been eagerly awaiting the next installment of the Modern HST Sampler, which came out yesterday.  I didn't have a chance to check it out last night, so had to wait till this afternoon.

The block has been named "Lantern", after the Green Lantern, but I think mine is more of a "Blue Lantern".  As promised, it used a different technique.  I did like this method.  It was quick and accurate.  I definitely prefer it to the method with biased edges.  This one came together rather quickly.

Now Alyce, our hostess with the mostest for this Stitch-A-Long is packing up her sewing space in readiness for her move from Japan back to Australia and has requested pics of our sewing spaces as inspiration.  

Mine is definitely not inspirational at the moment - but I'm including it here to keep things real.

My sewing space at the moment is a section of a family room next to the dining nook.  In just over a month we too will be moving to a new house, complete with a sewing room - nice and big, with doors that can be closed on it.  I can't wait to get myself set up.

I pulled fabric when I got home from work, making a mess all over the kitchen table, quickly made the block and then left to go out to attend a meeting, leaving the mess where it was.

When we returned home we brought the washing in to add that to the mix.  I will go and tidy it up a little when I have posted this.  I have to at least have somewhere to eat breakfast.

I'm linking up with Sew Cute Tuesdays.  Go and check out what some other clever ladies have been up to and to also see some sewing spaces - probably much more inspirational and tidier than mine.

I'm also linking up with Design Board Monday, be it a day late.

Design Wall Monday

One of those many commitments I have made this year was to take part in Cath's Design Wall Monday.  I'm sure I won't have anything to show on quite a few weeks, but with a bit of luck it will encourage me to do at least a little something.

All I have to show today is progress on the binding on my Jigsaw Place Mat.  This is one of my 2016 Finish-A-Long goals.  

I actually did the proper joining on the binding this time rather than the old fold over the end and tuck under the other end of the binding.  It worked rather well.  The hand stitching that I have done so far was completed in my lunch break the other day.  It will only take another lunch to be finished.  Let's try for next week.

Am I Biting Off More Than I Can Chew?

I keep  telling myself that I don't want to put myself under pressure with my stitching, rather just go with the flow.  However, that often means that not much at all gets done.

This year I seem to have made a few commitments.

Firstly, One Project a Month hosted by Peg and Kris.

Every year this keeps me motivated to complete something, even if it is little.  Sign up is open until the end of  January if you want to join in the fun.

Next is the 2016 Finish-A-Long hosted by Jess from Elven Garden Quilts.

In this one, you nominate what projects that you wish to complete in the current quarter of the year.  When you read some of the posts they are very ambitious.  My list for this quarter only has three items.  I'm trying to be realistic, particularly as we are going to be flat out between now and then.

Thirdly, I've joined in the Modern HST Sampler QAL hosted by Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts.

In this project there is a new 12" block each fortnight.  I'm hoping that is achievable.  It is a great incentive for me to use some blue and white fabrics I have in the stash.

I've also decided to have a go at linking up with Cath from Bits 'n Bobs for Design Board Monday.

 Some weeks I will have something to share, whereas others I won't.  I'll just do what I can.

In the background I hope to continue on from last year by making a Christmas item each month.  So far, so good.

That little lot should keep me amused.  If you look closely, you will see that quite a few double up, so it isn't as much as it looks.  It all should be a bit of fun.

The Modern HST Sampler

A couple of facts:

1.   I've always been a bit nervous working with half square triangles.  They never seem to be the right size, despite making sure the seam allowance is correctly adjusted on my machine.

2.   I have a little pile of blue and white fabric that I want to make some sort of sampler quilt out of.  There is plenty of fabric, but a limited variety, as it came from just one range on clearance.

 Along came "The Modern HST Sampler QAL" hosted by Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts.

This Quilt Along is free to joint at any time.  There are 24 blocks, finishing at 12 inches square, which will be shared over the course of the year.  Alyce is sharing various methods of piecing, which will be good to try.

This sounded ideal for me.  My colours aren't modern, but that won't matter.  It sounds like the blocks will be fine in blue and white.

I pulled some extra fat quarters and less from the stash to come up with this selection.

The first block was released a couple of weeks ago, so I jumped in with both feet.  Quite simple, so a good one to start with.  The blocks are so much easier to get accurate when you make the fabric 1" larger than the finished block and trimming back, rather than the usual 7/8".

The traditional Shoo Fly block has been renamed "Candy".

The second block was only released a couple of days ago.  Another simple looking block, this time using a different technique.

The traditional Friendship Star has been renamed "Ninja".

Now I have to wait a couple of weeks for the next block.  I wonder what it will be like?

By the way, the seam ripper has already been out to get the points to meet.  Not to worry.

I am linking up with Alyce at Sew Cute Tuesday and Cath at Design Board Monday.