Working on my stars (and a link party)

This year, for my 2018 QAL I decided I will share the blocks ahead of the actual release of the patterns!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - releasing the last pattern on Monday!
2. Starry Bright Sky QAL (2018) - see several of the blocks below
3. Art with Disney QAL (2018) - no progress
4. Splendid Sampler - no progress
5. Charity quilts - no progress
6. SK project - no progress
7. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - no progress
8. En Provence QAL - no progress
9. Journaling into my new Leuchtturm 1917 - progress as usual!
10. the 70273 Project - 4 more blocks done
11. Book binding - no progress
12. Twilters! Bee - paused until November
13. Pencases and zipper pouches - no progress
14. Rainbow Cascade QAL - no progress

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More blocks for the 70273 Project. If you are curious to see some of the beautiful quilts made with all these blocks check out this Pinterest board!

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I announced that I will be running a new QAL for 2018 on my other website.

Starry Bright Sky QAL at alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com

This time, instead of making the blocks and keep them all hidden in a drawer until the pattern release date, I decided I will share the blocks as soon as I make them. 

This is for few reasons:

1. This will get me more motivated to actually make all the blocks way in advance and be less stressed as the QAL proceeds;
2. I will put together the patterns ahead of the free date of release, and I will put them in my shop so if someone wants to work ahead of the schedule, or wants to get bundles of multiple patterns, that can be done;
3. Showing the actual blocks made in fabric may encourage more people to join... we know that computer colored blocks look cool, but never as cool as the real fabric blocks!! :)

In my QAL, I have actually 2 blocks a month: one known and one mystery, both using the same technique. Of course I won't show the mystery ones... but these will be included in the patterns for sale, if someone is interested! You will just have to trust me that it will be a second cool pattern :)... or alternatively you can just wait for the reveal month in 2018 and see it.

So these are the blocks I made until now

January 2018 (Fusible raw edge, silhouette continuous applique)

For this I actually made the mystery block too, but cannot share :)

February 2018 (Traditional piecing)

March 2018 (Fabric folding, origami style)

Oh, this was interesting and fun... I never done anything like this before, and it turned out quite interesting I believe!!

May 2018 (Fabric cutout, paper snowflake style)

I made two of these, because the red/cream one will be one side of a pillow cover I will make as a gift. I am still trying to decide which star to use on the other side of the pillow

August 2018 (English paper piecing)

I am having so much fun with all these techniques! 

The blocks are not that difficult, I completed them all in less than a week!

I want to make more of these blocks in November, so I am setting my One Monthly Goal (elmstreetquilts) as making the last 6 non-mystery blocks by the end of the month!

Are you planning to join?

If you are interested, just leave your email address in the Google Form at the end of this page!

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

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Puzzling times (and a link party)

While I have been crafty and creative, it is difficult to share these fun projects when heartbreaking hate is celebrated, justified and supported by some people with powerful positions.

This is why today I want to focus on one particular project that is sadly very relevant.

http://thebarefootheart.com/introducing-the-70273-project/

a project to "commemorate 70,273 voiceless, powerless people who were so callously and casually murdered by the Nazis because physically or mentally disabled – men, women, teens, boys, and girls"

For the people that think that "many sides" have to be called out...

For the people that think that "they had a permit, the others didn't have a permit"...

I want you to remember that the paperwork to murder 70273 disabled people between January 1940 and August 1941 (before the Holocaust began), was absolutely legal...

They had a permit...

Check out these pristine and beautifully calligraphed documents that list thousand of people that are legally killed because they were physically and mentally disabled (document from https://www.ushmm.org/).

They had a permit for many years to work on their idea to exterminate the Jewish people (doument from https://www.ushmm.org/).

If you are one of the people that buried your head in the sand by believing there was violence "from many sides" and that it's all good if "they had a pemit" (document from https://www.ushmm.org about the permits people had in 1930s)...

I hope that the event that will open your eyes on what is happening, won't be...
... the filed paperwork to murder your son because a threat to genetic purity ...
... the filed paperwork to murder your daughter because "useless" to society ...
... the filed paperwork to murder your mother because "unworthy of life"...
... the filed paperwork to murder your father because physically handicapped ...
... the filed paperwork to murder your spouse because considered "mentally ill" ...

...
...
...

I hope I will get back to share fun and cheerful quilting projects next week...

My heart goes out to people that are trying to spread love despite the sorrow and pain we see around us...
I will try to do the same!!

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

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Progress that I forgot to document (and a link party)

I forgot to share projects and blocks completed in the past few weeks

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - completed more blocks (cannot share) :)
2. Starry Bright Sky QAL (2018) - announced and started planning! (cannot share) :)
3. Art with Disney QAL (2018) - no progress
4. Splendid Sampler - no progress
5. Charity quilts - no progress
6. SK project - no progress
7. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - one tiny July block done (see below)
8. En Provence QAL - no progress
9. Journaling into my new Leuchtturm 1917 - loooove it, shared July review last week!
10. the 70273 Project - 12 blocks done (see below)
11. Book binding - no progress
12. Twilters! Bee - completed July blocks, but forgot to take pictures :)
13. Face scrubbies and other crochet sponges - completed a set, but pictures next week :)
14. Pencases and zipper pouches - several in progress
15. Goofy Lister - second version done (see below)

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More blocks for the the 70273 Project. If you are curious to see some of the beautiful quilts made with all these blocks check out this Pinterest board!

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About a month ago I shared a Goofy block I made for my Art with Disney quilt. I sent a link to the artist that the piece was inspired by Adam Lister, and he asked me if I was interested in making him a copy of that block in exchange for one of his painting! Of course I said yes... and this is the piece I completed for him.

Goofy Lister # 2 (17'' x 17'')

The quilting design is inspired by the work of Agnes Martin, an artist that Adam said he loves! :) Isn't it fun to mix and fuse so many different artistic point of view (mine, Adam's, Disney's, Agnes's) ?!? :)

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Then I finally completed one of July's block for the The Honey Pot Bee (mushroom challenge).
I am keeping the Disney/Alice/Cartoons theme so that all the blocks will make a coherent quilt (one day in the far far future :))

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Last week I announced the 2018 QAL I am running on my other website!!
I will be sharing more information in the next several months, so subscribe to the email list (at the link below) to be notified about future announcements!! :) :)

If you are interested in joining, submit your email address in the Google form at this link

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

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It's a slow, slow summer (and a link party)

I have been stitching, designing and planning, but I have been quite slow... oh well, let's enjoy the summer!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - July blocks will be shared tomorrow, August and September blocks are ready (cannot share). Already decided on what to do for my 2018 QAL :)
2. Art with Disney QAL (2018) - a second QAL for 2018 because why running a single event when you can run two! :) :) I assembled a block, but didn't quilt it, so I will share it probably next week!
3. Splendid Sampler - no progress
4. Charity quilts - no progress
5. SK project - one bookshelf section completed (see below)
6. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - waiting for July's block
7. En Provence QAL - no progress
8. Journaling into my new Leuchtturm 1917 - loooove it, will share in August!
9. the 70273 Project - 4 blocks done (see below)
10. Book binding - no progress
11. Twilters! Bee - paused until July

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I am working on my blocks for the Stephen King Quilt: I was planning to have 2 bookshelf sections ready as my One Monthly Goal for June... well... fell short :(
I have one done, and I collected the blocks for the second one, so it's not too bad...
But for July One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts I put back again this project, and I plan to have a total of 4 bookshelf setions done: so I have 2 now, 2 to go

More close ups and patterns will be available on Fandom In Stitches in August as part of the "Long Live King, Stephen" stitch-along :)
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More blocks for the the 70273 Project. If you are curious to see some of the beautiful quilts made with all these blocks check out this Pinterest board!

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And last, but not least, Jennifer sent out a call for blocks to make a quilt for a kid in need. This is my block!

Broadway Lion King, by Jennifer Ofenstein

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Worked on many projects this week (and a link party)

Finally I worked on projects I can share!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - no progress
2. Splendid Sampler - no progress
3. Charity quilts - no progress
4. SK project - 3 blocks done, two more designed (see below)
5. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - completed June block (see below)
6. En Provence QAL - no progress
7. Journaling into my new Journal/Planner - working on it every day!
8. 70273 Project - 4 blocks done (see below)
9. Book binding - no progress
10. Twilters! Bee - paused until July
11. Zipper pouch - completed! (see below)

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Working on my blocks for the Stephen King Quilt: in addition to book covers and quotes I will be adding objects that are connected to SK... this week I designed a block that resembles the bats/gargoyles he has on the top of his home entrance gates :)
For "Carrie" book cover I used regular Heat'n'Bond for the Carrie's silhouette, but I used Ultra Bond for the letters. The instructions say "Do not sew" on the Ultra bond, so I will try to leave it as is (and stitch around the silhouette): let's see if I will loose those after few washes or if the letters will stay on, let's hope for the best! :)

Carrie, book cover

Buick 8, opening line

SK house gate decor

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The block for the The Honey Pot Bee (June): keeping up with the Disney/Cartoon theme, this is Alice in Wonderland, of course :)

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More blocks for the 70273 Project. If you are curious to see some of the beautiful quilts made with all these blocks check out this Pinterest board!

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My partner really like this fabric and I made him a credit card wallet and a GPS pouch... he just got a new phone, and the leftover fabric was EXACTLY the size I needed to make a zipper pouch for his new phone. Now everything matches! :)

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Last but not least...

I started to design (and sew) a quilt that I will be offering as a QAL in 2018 on Fandom In Stitches! 

It is inspired by a recent publication of a newspaper in Italy. This weekly newspaper came out with a series of books about art history explained through disney characters. Of course I told my mom to buy all of them because how can I miss out on that?? :) 

Since the covers of those books are absolutely amazing, I decided to turn them into patterns and make a quilt for myself with all those inspiring artists through history!!

The blocks are fusible raw edge applique blocks, and I started with these two (Leonardo and Cezanne). If you are curious to see the original publication, check it here... the site it's in italian but you can see the books :) http://inedicola.gruppoespresso.it/prodotto/scoprire-arte-disney/

I am planning to make a quilt for myself with many of these covers, but I also wanted to include contemporary artists too! So I designed a block for Kara Walker, a block for Yayoi Kusama, and here below the latest creation, inspired by the work of Adam Lister (check his creations here). 

I have been in touch with Adam because I asked his permission to reproduce one of his paintings as a mini for the AMB Tiny Quilt challenge (my quilt: Vincent) and we also exchanged art pieces when I made this mini quilt for his daughter (in exchange he sent me one of his wonderful paintings).

Given how he inspired me and given his very unique style, I wanted to include him in my art history/disney quilt: he said his favorite character is Goofy, so let me introduce you...

Goofy Lister, , 20'' x 20''

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Mostly sewing for future reveals (and a link party)

A lot of sewing for projects that will be shared later in the year, so not much to show today!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - July blocks ready, August blocks ready, started September ones :)
2. Splendid Sampler - no progress
3. Charity quilts - no progress
4. SK project - completed one block
5. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - paused until June
6. En Provence QAL - no progress
7. Journaling into my new Journal/Planner - keeping up with it!
8. 70273 Project - 4 blocks done
9. Book binding - no progress
10. Twilters! Bee - made 4 blocks for the June's Queen
11. Zipper pouch - picked fabric

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Working on my blocks for the Stephen King Quilt.

Lisey's Story, opening line

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Few blocks for a block exchange in the Twilters! group

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More blocks for the 70273 Project. If you are curious to see some of the beautiful quilts made with all these blocks check out this Pinterest board!

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Reflections on values (and a link party)

Self-criticizim can be very difficult to handle, but maybe by sharing my little story below I could help someone else too :)

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - June blocks ready, August blocks ready, started July ones :)
2. Splendid Sampler - top FINISHED (and the self-criticism story)
3. Charity quilts - no progress
4. SK project - completed one block
5. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - paused until June
6. En Provence QAL - no progress
7. Journaling into my new Jounral/Planner - loving the new format (more at the end of the month)!
8. 70273 Project - 8 blocks done
9. Book binding - no progress
10. Twilters! Bee - waiting for June
11. Face cleaning crochet cloths - 4 more done
12. Zipper pencil case - done
13. Draft stoppoer - done

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At the beginning of May, I linked up at Elm Street Quilts, One Monthly Goal (link #37) that my goal was to assemble the Splendid Sampler top with my own setting design.

I designed the overall layout on my computer putting the postage stamps blocks as "sashing/dividers" so I didn't need more than 47 Splendid Sampler blocks and I could use up all those orphan blocks that were sent to me in a past swap.

I spent the entire month of April adding borders to the postage stamps blocks and I was excited to assemble the quilt top.

I laid out all the blocks on the floor and that's when the stress started!

The entire top looked too busy! Too crazy! Too many things to look at! The overall design that worked with empty squares on my computer was totally lost in the busyness of the actual blocks! Should I just start a new design? Should I just spend more months to make more blocks? Shoul I buy more fabric? ... And then I heard another voice in my brain say: STOP!

Me: Ok, don't yell at me... what? :)
Other voice: Why are you freaking out?
Me: Because I was ready to finish this project and now it looks terrible!
Other voice: Why does it look terrible?
Me: Because it's too busy! My eyes has not place to rest!
Other voice: Why do you think it's too busy?

Me: I just told you! There is no overall flow/design!
Other voice: No... that's not the answer to my question... Why do you think it's too busy?

Me: Well... that's my answer, do you have any other answer?
Other voice: Yes. You think it's too busy because you are looking at the entire quilt top.

Me: ????? yes... that's the point... ???
Other voice: No... that's not the point. You are looking at the entire quilt top like you look at a painting on a wall.
Me: ????? ok... so, what???
Other voice: Are you planning to put your quilt on the wall?
Me: ... no...
Other voice: Are you planning to show your quilt in a quilt show?
Me: ... no...
Other voice: What are you planning to do with your quilt?
Me: ... well... 90% of the time it will be folded into a 20''x20'' bunch and be on my couch... and 10% of the time I will be cuddling under the quilt, so I will actually be able to see not more that a 20''x20'' section of it...
Other voice: OK! so... by looking at 20''x20'' sections of the quilt top, what do you think?

Me: OH.... WELL... I think it's so interesting! There are words in the sashing used in each block! Colors that coordinate well to form scrappy and fun blocks! There are all kind of textures and prints that I can look at! Each block has it's own background and my eyes can rest there!
Other voice: So you see? No need to freak out!! Just put things in the right perspective!!

MORAL OF THE STORY: Do not use someone else's values to evalutate your work! Especially in these days of social media, we are all inclined to believe that some things are more important than others: for quilts, color balance, design flow, etc. But these may not be YOUR values for a specific project! This was not a quilt for a quilt show... it was not a quilt for a class on quilt design... it was a quilt I made because I wanted to be part of a fun community event... a quilt where I learned that I don't like samplers with small blocks... a quilt where I learned that I don't like samplers with too many blocks (and released too close together in time)... a quilt where I learned that playing with selvages and batiks is fun... a quilt that I want to use on my couch. So by reflecting on my own values for this specific quilt, I realized that the design was good enough and I could just go on with my life and enjoy this project instead of freaking out because it doesn't look like someone else's quilt!

So here it is! I actually added the horizonal pink sashing just to add an additional pop of color, because why not!!

The goal for June is to finish 2 more sections of my Stephen King Quilt.
How big these sections will be, I am not sure... but more or less like the first one I made (picture below)

I have several opening line quotes block, but not many book covers, so assembling 2 sections will take me the entire month, but I am up for the challenge!!

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Two 3D objects that I needed: a draft stopper and a zipper pencil case for my new mini-happy planner

Super easy... just folded the fabric, made the channels and filled them with all the little scraps of fabric/thread and other things that other people throw away... I keep them because they are fantastic to fill these kind of objects that don't need to be soft or light... I pack them up very tight and it works amazing!!!

Video tutorial on YouTube

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More blocks for the 70273 Project. If you are curious to see some of the beautiful quilts made with all these blocks check out this Pinterest board!
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Last but not least, another of the Stephen King's book opening line

Opening line, Duma Key

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

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Community sewing (and a link party)

Sewing along and events that people join as a group are so fun and inspiring!  

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - Working on future blocks (cannot share)
2. Splendid Sampler - few rows
3. Charity quilts - no progress
4. SK project - one block completed (see below)
5. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - completed (wrong but ok, see below)
6. En Provence QAL - no progress
7. Journaling into my new Jounral/Planner - loving the new format (more at the end of the month)!
8. 70273 Project - 4 blocks done (see below)
9. Book binding - no progress
10. Twilters! Bee - waiting for June
11. 2017 Pantone Quilt Challenge: entries will be open from May 19 to May 29. My piece is ready since January :)

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More blocks for the 70273 Project. If you are curious to see some of the beautiful quilts made with all these blocks check out this Pinterest board!

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More progress on my Stephen King project... I will run an event on Fandom In Stitches this summer with many of these blocks! I hope people will enjoy making them too!!

Black House - Opening line

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I completed my second piece for the Art with Fabric Blog Hop that will start ON MAY 15TH!!!

The block involved piecing, applique, quilting, embroidery and crochet!!  

Curious? Come back THIS COMING MONDAY!!!!

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I made three bags for the #BusyBagSewAlong. I saw this sewalong on Yvonne's blog and it is run as a collaboration with The Quilter’s Planner to benefit Sadie’s Dream For a Cure

The first bag was made with a kit that I ask them to send me. They sent me the kit (all cut and ready to sew) and an extra label that I attached on a second bag... and then I decided to make a third bag, because, why not! The pattern is very easy to follow and the bag doesn't take much fabric.
I used fabric that was donated to me a while ago for charity quilts. Unfortunately I am stuck with those projects because putting together a quilt seems to be a "big project" so I always postpone it... but these bags are easy and fast, so I am happy to be able to help children in need with these practical objects!

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And last, but not least... two (wrong) blocks for the The Honey Pot Bee sew along: they were supposed to be leaves... I cut them wrong, so I turned them into modern striped block and moved on! I loved the fabric I used and I didn't have enough to make more blocks so these are the blocks that I will use in my quilt! :)

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

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Fun with embroidery (and a link party)

A lot of embroidery (some shared, some secret) this week!!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - May blocks shared! (see blow)
2. Splendid Sampler - no progress
3. Charity quilts - no progress
4. SK project - two blocks completed (see below)
5. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - will work on this today
6. En Provence QAL - no progress
7. Journaling into my new Jounral/Planner - loving the new format (more at the end of the month) !
8. 70273 Project - 4 blocks done (see below)
9. Book binding - no progress
10. Twilters! Bee - completed May's blocks!! (see below)
11. 2017 Pantone Quilt Challenge: entries will be open from May 19 to May 29. My piece is ready since January :)

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More blocks for the 70273 Project. If you are curious to see some of the beautiful quilts made with all these blocks check out this Pinterest board!
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Good progress on my Stephen King project... I have almost all 50 opening lines completed! Soon I will need to put together a little recap post because I haven't seen some of those blocks in years ;)

The Cell, The Dreamcatcher - Opening lines

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I also completed one of my piece for the Art with Fabric Blog Hop that will start ON MAY 15TH!!!

The block involved piecing, applique, quilting, embroidery and crochet!!  

Curious? Come back next week!!!

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Twilters! Bee block swap... I couldn't resist, and I had to make two :) block from Missouri Star Quilt Co.

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up