So much to share (and a link party)!

Few secret pieces revealed and several finishes!!!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Block Swap Adventure - paused until Dec
   (but making scrappy blocks for block lotto, see below)
2. Charity quilts - one quilt done (see below)
3. Americana QAL - no progress
4. Adam's wall hanging - finally I can show this off!! (see below)
5. 2016 QAL (secret) - no progress
6. Allietare QAL - first clue done (see below)
7. Knitted hand warmers - another pair done (see below)
8. Jane T - no progress
9. Xmas present 1 - knitted scarf (done about 15 inches)
10. Xmas present 2 - crochet caterpillar (found pattern)

The EverythingElse List:

1. the SK project - no progress
2. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
3. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
4. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
5. the Ender project - no progress
6. Embroidery calendar - no progress
7. Project of Doom 2015 @ Fandom in Stitches - paused for a while
8. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
9. As You Wish -  no progress
10. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
11. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
12. B quilt - no progress

--
Finally I can reveal a big project I am super proud of!!

Happy Pigeon - 20 x 20 inches

A while ago I decided to participate in the AMB challenge and I made a mini inspired by the wonderful work of Adam Lister (adamlistergallery.com) and his interpretation of Van Gogh's "The Starry Night". If you want to read more about that project, you can read the whole story in this post.

After I sent Adam the picture of the quilt, he said that he really liked it and that he wanted a quilt for himself :) so he proposed a trade: I make a mini for him, and he makes a painting for me. Of course I thought this idea was wonderful! He sent me a picture of a old painting he made ("Pigeon") and he said that my mini would be used as a decoration for his daughter room (she is one year old).

So I decided to mix up his style with my own... so I made a very square horizontal/vertical style background, and I quilted it. Then I designed the pigeon to have fun angles and I paper pieced that block. I then appliqued the big pigeon on the background.

Once I completed the mini, I decided to make a little something for Adam as well... because everyone needs a little custom handmade object! So I made him this little mug rug.

Nintendo Mug Rug (9 x 4 inches)

--

Another couple of Xmas presents are done!

Hand warmers for a friend (I really love the cable pattern... and they are extra comfy too)

Pattern by weezalana (knittywhipped.blogspot.com) 

And a little crochet bag for one of her kids: because every little lady needs a cute bag, right?

Pattern by Sara (tangledhappy.com)

--
In our Block Swap Adventure group we decided to add extra things to swap, just to make it more fun. Next year we are going to run a block lotto, where each month one person will win a bunch of scrappy 16 patches (1 inch finished little squares, each block measures 4.5 unfinished). Each month we will enter 4 blocks in the drawing... I used this project as a "break" between other more "brain demanding" projects as here there is no thinking needed: just grab squares and sew!

Two months of squares are ready to be entered in the block lotto drawing!!

--

The first clue of Bonnie Hunter's Mystery QAL is out. I decided to follow along, but I will make 1/4 of the units because I don't need a big quilt and I am not sure if I will like the design :) I loved the Celtic Solstice, but I didn't like the one done last year (which I didn't follow along anyway).

This time, I am still not sure if I am going to use her colors or replace the red with blue.
I have many more blues than red... we'll see...
In the meantime I already made a change from her instructions, as I decided to use a scrappy grey instead of a constant fabric... we'll see if this will work or not :)

Some of my trimmed HST... and a pile of many more to trim!

Linked up at the Monday Link-up party!

--

And last, but not least, I want to remind you that I am working on charity quilts,
and I would love your help!! 

Quilts are for a quilt drive to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 

And you can help me by donating orphan blocks, partial blocks, or fabric (scraps, strips, leftover, uglies, whatever). 

If you are willing to mail them to me, I could use them to make more quilts for these kids!!! 

If you are up for a loving donation, please send me an email at tweloq[_at_]gmail[dot_com] or leave a comment here with your email address so I could give you my mailing address. I promise that your donation will be used to make some kids happy and feel more loved!! 

One more quilt done!

Baby quilt - 40 x 40 inches

This is a project from my long Q4 list of projects! (Project 2. in the list)...
and I completed TEN projects since the beginning of October! WooooH me :)

--

How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Can you help me name a quilt? (and a link party)

Finishes and new ideas!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Block Swap Adventure - paused until Dec
2. Charity quilts - no progress
3. Zipper pouches - last three done (see below)
4. Americana QAL - one star done (see below)
5. Adam's wall hanging - done and sent (cannot share)
6. 2016 QAL (secret) - no progress
7. Allietare QAL - no progress
8. Knitted hand warmers - 1 and 1/2 done (will share when done)
9. NEW PROJECT: help me name this (see below)

The EverythingElse List:

1. the SK project - no progress
2. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
3. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
4. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
5. the Ender project - no progress
6. Embroidery calendar - no progress
7. Project of Doom 2015 @ Fandom in Stitches - paused for a while
8. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
9. As You Wish -  no progress
10. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
11. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
12. B quilt - no progress

--

I made three more zipper pouches (variation of the Sew Together Bag (by Michelle)). The smaller version of the bag is by Elizabeth (Mini Sew Together Bag).

This is a project from my long Q4 list of projects! (Project 9. in the list)... and I completed 9 projects since the beginning of October! WooooH me :)

--

One of the blocks for November/December patterns of the Americana QAL. I will make the big star as well, but for now, I choose to make this one as it was quick and easy!

--
And now... for the big reveal of a new project...

I am organizing a QAL for 2016 but that project will be already half completed by January as I need to test the patterns, make the pdfs, etc. So what am I going to do for 2016? I have several UFOs but ehi, I want something new too ;)

For years I have been watching people making few super traditional quilts (Dear Jane, Farmer's Wife and Nearly Insane). I really like their "sampler" look, and while I like that they are easily recognizable, they are "too traditional" for my tastes... I want to have a quilt that people can recognize but I don't want to have the SAME quilt that other people have!

So what is the solution?

Come up with a design that includes blocks from all those traditional quilts, and put them together in my unique design!

So after several hours of cut/paste of blocks I came up with this design

"Jane T"

Let me introduce you "Jane T", my take on few traditional quilts!

My question is: how should I name this quilt? The nickname is going to be Jane T, but for her full name I have two options:

1. Jane Tiger: the nearly insane wife of a farmer
2. Jane Tiger: the wife of a nearly insane farmer

:)

So my question is: who is nearly insane? the wife or the farmer? ;)

My quilt will be scrappy, using approximately those colors. Fabric requirements, measures, patterns links are not collected yet... however if someone wants to sew along with me, just let me know! I won't have an official QAL on this because I want the project to be a side project, free form and whenever I am inspired... but I would love to have others stitching this along! It would be a great incentive to have a support group!! :)

--

And last, but not least, I want to remind you that I am working on charity quilts,
and I would love your help!! 

Quilts are for a quilt drive to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 

And you can help me by donating orphan blocks, partial blocks, or fabric (scraps, strips, leftover, uglies, whatever). 

If you are willing to mail them to me, I could use them to make more quilts for these kids!!! 

If you are up for a loving donation, please send me an email at tweloq[_at_]gmail[dot_com] or leave a comment here with your email address so I could give you my mailing address. I promise that your donation will be used to make some kids happy and feel more loved!! 

No progress to report here this week... I was focusing on a couple of projects that had a early deadline, but I think now I can go back to those tops and get them quilted.

--

How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Progress is progress (and a link party)

Not as much as I planned, but few things got done, so I am happy about that!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Block Swap Adventure - blocks done (see below)
2. Charity quilts - no progress
3. Zipper pouches - one done (see below)
4. Americana QAL - no progress
5. Adam's wall hanging - 90% done (cannot share)
6. 2016 QAL (secret) - no progress
7. Allietare QAL - no progress
8. Knitted hand warmers - done (see below)

The EverythingElse List:

1. the SK project - no progress
2. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
3. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
4. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
5. the Ender project - no progress
6. Embroidery calendar - no progress
7. Project of Doom 2015 @ Fandom in Stitches - paused for a while
8. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
9. As You Wish -  no progress
10. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
11. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
12. B quilt - no progress

--

I made another of the variation of the Sew Together Bag (by Michelle). The smaller version of the bag is by Elizabeth (Mini Sew Together Bag). I am going to make few more as Xmas presents, and they are listed in my Q4 list, but I will count the project as done once I made a couple more! :)
In the meantime, I really like this one!!

--

These are the blocks I made for my November partner for the Block Swap Adventure. She wanted pastel colors and I couldn't decide if I liked the pink or the teal better... so I made both :)

--

Pattern by weezalana (knittywhipped.blogspot.com) 

Last week I made the left mitt, and while I liked the pattern, I used a needle that was too big and the pattern for the thumb was way too big for my tastes. So I changed the needle (3.75 mm this time) and didn't do all the increases for the thumb... and the right mitt fits much much better!

I will redo the left one in the near future... but in the meantime I can use them as they are and they are considered completed for my Q4 list!

This is a project from my long Q4 list of projects! (Project 14. in the list)
--

And last, but not least, I want to remind you that I am working on charity quilts,
and I would love your help!! 

Quilts are for a quilt drive to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 

And you can help me by donating orphan blocks, partial blocks, or fabric (scraps, strips, leftover, uglies, whatever). 

If you are willing to mail them to me, I could use them to make more quilts for these kids!!! 

If you are up for a loving donation, please send me an email at tweloq[_at_]gmail[dot_com] or leave a comment here with your email address so I could give you my mailing address. I promise that your donation will be used to make some kids happy and feel more loved!! 

No progress to report here this week... I will probably work on this today... maybe one will be ready next week.

--

How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Learning new skills (and a link party)

Good project this week and a new skill learned!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. SYS2015 future projects - Nov project shared early this week and missing tutorial skill learned! (see below)
2. Block Swap Adventure - partner assigned, Oct blocks received (see below)
3. Charity quilts - next top done (see below)
4. Zipper pouches - paused for a while
5. Americana QAL - received Nov pattern
6. Applique pictures - done! (see below)
7. Adam's wall hanging - no progress
8. 2016 QAL (secret) - no progress
9. Allietare QAL - no progress

The EverythingElse List:

1. the SK project - no progress
2. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
3. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
4. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
5. the Ender project - no progress
6. Embroidery calendar - no progress
7. Project of Doom 2015 @ Fandom in Stitches - paused for a while
8. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
9. As You Wish -  no progress
10. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
11. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
12. B quilt - no progress

--
These are the blocks I received from Cathy from Australia!
Two great blocks and the most wonderful aboriginal fabric ever!!!

--
This is a project that will be included in a Xmas present. I will fill a photo collage with pictures, but I wanted to add something different, so I made these two blocks as we identify with these two characters  :)

This is a project from my long Q4 list of projects! (Project 10. in the list)
--
I have to be honest with you: I organized the Stretch Your Skills series basically to "force" myself to learn or practice some crafts that I usually ignore (like crochet) or to learn some that I never tried before (like EPP or knitting).

Here is more of my EPP (this is for a secret project).

And when the knitting tutorial was cancelled, I was super sad :(

I tried knitting about 20 years ago and I didn't really like it because of the "boring" look of knit/purl flat scarfs (that was the only thing I could learn from my mom as she was not a knitter herself). Plus I had to use those long and heavy metal needles and my kids hands really didn't like them.

In preparation of the SYS knitting tutorial, I started looking around for knitting needles and I discovered that heavy metal needles were not the only option. So I bought myself a set of bamboo double pointed needles and a set of bamboo/plastic circular needles... not even knowing what they are used for! :) :)

Having the yarn and needles and no SYS project to use them for, I started looking around for a simple project that used circular needles and not just "boring" knit/purl. Then one day I found a perfect project: small, with a fun design and useful... knitted mitts!

After watching several youtube videos (as I had no idea how the circular needles work) I decided to jump right in and make the mitts! I knew that I was using the wrong size needle but the right size was too thin and my stitches too tight. So I decided to use the first mitt as a "test" project, to practice the stitches, getting comfortable with the process, design and gauge. I will count it as "left done" for the purpose of finishes projects linkys as it is technically done (and not even too big), but it has holes here and there (I don't know how it happened but I got confused several times on which thread to use for stitches increases, so it must be that). I will redo it after I finish the right one.

Pattern by weezalana (knittywhipped.blogspot.com) 

My impression on knitting: I absolutely love it! even if I am slow at it...
The circular bamboo/plastic needles are just wonderful! They are light and easy to work with, perfect for projects-on-the-go, they fold easily and they keep the project safe without the need of needle tops.
I still struggle because I don't "see" the stitches (meaning that if everything is done properly, it's cool... but if I make a mistake, I don't know where I messed up and I don't know how to undo it properly), but I guess this will come with practice (I had the same experience with crochet).

--
And last, but not least, I want to remind you that I am working on charity quilts,
and I would love your help!! 

Quilts are for a quilt drive to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 

And you can help me by donating orphan blocks, partial blocks, or fabric (scraps, strips, leftover, uglies, whatever). 

If you are willing to mail them to me, I could use them to make more quilts for these kids!!! 

If you are up for a loving donation, please send me an email at tweloq[_at_]gmail[dot_com] or leave a comment here with your email address so I could give you my mailing address. I promise that your donation will be used to make some kids happy and feel more loved!! 

I finally finished another top! In this I included orphan blocks from one donation, with fabric from a second donation, charms from a third donation and fabric from my stash! I really love to include a little bit of love from different people!

Now I have 2 quilts done and 3 tops to quilt... yes, I don't like the quilting part, but I will work on that next week so maybe I will report a finish next week!!

--

How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

SYS2015 - Tutorial 10, English Paper Piecing

The tenth and last tutorial of the series is brought you by the amazing Bea (beaquilter.com).

Zipper pouches and pincushions with hexagons!

I made a long and skinny zipper pouch (this is Project 12. from the long Q4 list).

The pdf (link below) contains detailed instructions on how to create that beautiful piece!!

Click here to download Tutorial!

The link up for SYS2015 is still open for your Syndrome blocks, FPP projects, free motion quilting/tangle stitches pieces, crochet projects, pixel quilts, fabric postcards and embroidery piece!

This month, in order to add your project to the linky, you are required to make a project featuring hexies!

I encourage you to make a pouch or a pincushion, but if that is "not your thing", any other object featuring hexies will qualify as an entry!! As long as it's a finished object!

Let's see what you can come up with!

--

And the winner of last months is... Melissa, the only person entering projects in the linky last month!

I will get in touch with you for your prize!!

--
All the information about the series (as well as all the previously published tutorials) are available at the SYS 2015 page.

If you have any question about the series, don't hesitate to contact me via email or add a comment here on my blog (and if you want an answer, make sure you are not a no-reply blogger!).

So now let's go and Stretch Our Skills!!! :)

Until next time
Happy stitching!!

Happy Halloween, GREAT progress for me (and a link party)

I cannot believe that last night I actually finished my Happy Halloween wall hanging!!!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. SYS2015 future projects - good progress on Nov project
2. Block Swap Adventure - waiting for November swap
3. Charity quilts - cut several pieces for next quilt
4. Happy Halloween wall hanging - DOOOOOOONE (see below)
   This is my project for "A Lovely Year of Finishes" (Oct)
5. Zipper pouches - paused for a while
6. Americana QAL - waiting for Nov pattern
7. Applique pictures - no progress
8. Adam's wall hanging - "background" done (sneak peek below)
9. 2016 QAL (secret) - all blocks designed, more documents ready for future share!
10. Xmas decorations for cards - more done!! (see below)
11. Sweet birds - done! (see below)
12. Allietare QAL - Bonnie Hunter announced the next QAL. I like the colors and the theme so I may give it a try! It will start at the end of next month, but it's good to have it on this list so I don't forget!! :)
13. Spur of the moment, flatware boxes! (see below)
14. Gloves or similar: have the yarn and pattern
    
    This is my project for "A Lovely Year of Finishes" (Nov)
    

The EverythingElse List:

1. the SK project - no progress
2. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
3. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
4. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
5. the Ender project - no progress
6. Embroidery calendar - no progress
7. Project of Doom 2015 @ Fandom in Stitches - paused for a while
8. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
9. As You Wish -  no progress
10. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
11. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
12. B quilt - no progress

--
I needed few extra tapestry crochet ornaments for my Xmas card!

non-English pattern, but the schema is available treadyarknot

--
I finished the "background" part of the mini I am making for Adam Lister's daughter.

Sneak Peek :)

I absolutely love how it's turning out! I think I was able to integrate my style with his and with tastes of a cute 1 year old :)

--
Another project of my long Q4 list, done (project 8. on the list)!

Birds from "Sweet Tweets (by Erin Cox)

I really like this project! It was the first project after the long break of last week, and I wanted something easy to sew to get me back on the horse/machine!

The initial plan was to make just a couple of pieces and connect them (the center piece) but I couldn't stop! Waaaaay tooooooo cute!! :) :) :)

I didn't follow the measures in the pattern exactly but I got the inspiration from there!

This was also the first time I ever try to make a blanket stitch by hand to use it as base for the crochet edge: I loooove this look! I see it happening again on many small pieces! Plus she says to use embroidery floss (all six strands) and I realized that's a genius idea to use the floss I really don't like for embroidery (like the variegated colors) as they will work out wonderful in a crochet border!!

--
And I have actually another project of my long Q4 list, done (project 1. on the list)!
(FlickR link for future linkup)

My loooong overdue Halloween/Christmas wall hanging! 

This is my project for "A Lovely Year of Finishes" (Oct)

Halloween/Christmas wall hanging (44''x39'')

You can read more about this project in these previous posts:
1. Horror story about FMQ
2. All patterns and link to designers
3. Modern Tree QAL (October 2013... TWO years AGO O_o)

I am extremely happy that last night I waved in the last piece of thread and I can call it DONE!
The quilting is plain terrible (see the point 1. above) but I cannot see it neither from a galloping horse nor from the couch :) so I am happy and proud of displaying the piece for Halloween today and later this year for Christmas!

I learned many many lessons from this piece so we can call it a success in this sense!!
--
Yesterday I also bought some new flatware... and I didn't have more those little boxes for my drawer.
So what does a crafty person do? Go to the dollar store and by more boxes? Of course NOT!
I made two boxes with fabric :)

Size: 10'' x 3'' x 2.5''

I just worked them out as I went... no pattern and few mistakes, but they just have to stay in my drawer so I don't care :) Plus I used some cute Xmas fabric so now I have a themed and cheerful flatware drawer!!

--
And last, but not least, I want to remind you that I am working on charity quilts,
and I would love your help!! 

Quilts are for a quilt drive to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 

And you can help me by donating orphan blocks, partial blocks, or fabric (scraps, strips, leftover, uglies, whatever). 

If you are willing to mail them to me, I could use them to make more quilts for these kids!!! 

If you are up for a loving donation, please send me an email at tweloq[_at_]gmail[dot_com] or leave a comment here with your email address so I could give you my mailing address. I promise that your donation will be used to make some kids happy and feel more loved!! 

I don't have finishes to report as I was hoping, but I cut several pieces for the next quilt so I guess I am back in the making!!

--

LAST LAST THING! :)

Go and vote for your favorite quilts at the Blogger's Quilt Festival!

This year they are all in one page (which is great I think), but the page may take a while to load, so be patient!! I have two quilts (Vincent in two categories, and Flying Geese in one).

If you want to go and show them some love they would be very happy :)

This year if you refresh the page after you voted, you will see the total number of people that voted for all the entries. Mine are always in the bottom of the pile :( oh well, I like what I do even if very few other people share this with me :) and there are many more "traditional" quilts that are pretty amazing and it's obvious that they get more votes! So that's ok, that's life!

--

How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Halloween Haunts Blog Hop!

The spoooky season is here!!  Isn't this a wonderful season to make cute and spooky craft projects to decorate our homes? If you are new around here, welcome! If you have been here before, I am glad that you came back!!! :) If you are new here feel free to look around and you will find tons of FREE paper piecing patterns of very famous cartoon characters! :) And do you know that I have been running a fun series of tutorials call Stretch Your Skills where every month we learn a new skill, with a simple and finished little project?!?

From Foundation Paper Piecing, to Applique, to Crochet, to Quilting, to Design and Software!! You can download all the tutorials from the series page and there is still time to enter your projects for a final giveaway mystery prize!!

This is the project I made for the hop:

Spooky Hoopy Art

The Nightmare Before Christmas

I had this big quilting hoop for a while and it makes the perfect frame for a cute cross stitching pattern I designed from a scene of "The Nightmare Before Christmas". If you want to make one of these for yourself, you can download the pdf pattern for the cross stitching piece below. Click here to download the pattern!
And you know what? The blog hop has a daily giveaway too!! A $25.00 gift certificate from the Fat Quarter Shop each day of the hop!! It is a daily giveaway, the winners will be announced each day of the hop (one entry per day, not per blog). Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway
Oh, and just because it's Halloween, I want to share a recent pattern that I created in response to a "Halloween Fandom Pattern" challenge over at Fandom In Stitches

Peanuts Pumpkin!

This little coaster is the third project I complete for my long Q4 list of projects (project 15. in the list)!
Now, just hop over the other wonderful projects showcased today!! Alida (Tweety Loves Quilting) - http://tweloquilting.blogspot.com (You are here) Agnes (Dachies with Moxie) - http://dachsieswithmoxie.blogspot.com Catherine (Cate's Place) - http://cateslinens.blogspot.com Abbi Howatt (Feather Your Nest) - http://featheryournestquiltstore.com/ Comments are moderated so they won't appear right away. However I answer every single comment within 24 hours, if it's a no-reply blogger! :)

Bad week for sewing, but good for crochet (and a link party)

Being sick and weak for 3 days means not much sewing, but a lot of unplanned crochet!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. SYS2015 future projects - Nov project almost done
2. Block Swap Adventure - waiting for November swap
3. Charity quilts - no progress
4. Happy Halloween wall hanging - no progress
   This is my project for "A Lovely Year of Finishes" (Oct)
5. Zipper pouches - paused for a while
6. Americana QAL - done (see below)
7. Applique pictures - no progress
8. Adam's wall hanging - first part of the top done
9. 2016 QAL (secret) - 3 blocks designed, 1 quilted
10. Xmas decorations for cards - done!! (see below)

The EverythingElse List:

1. the SK project - no progress
2. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
3. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
4. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
5. the Ender project - no progress
6. Embroidery calendar - no progress
7. Project of Doom 2015 @ Fandom in Stitches - paused for a while
8. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
9. As You Wish -  no progress
10. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
11. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
12. B quilt - no progress

--
Unplanned days in bed meant not sewing... but I was so bored that I needed something to do...

So I went back to my Q4 list and found the tapestry crochet ornaments to do!

non-English pattern, but the schema is available treadyarknot

I had sooooo much fun making the first one (even if a little too big) that I decided that will be the detachable tree decoration I will include in many of my Xmas cards!
So I stitched up a bunch of them with thinner cotton, and I really love them!

Second project of my long Q4 list, done (project 6. on the list)!
--
Before getting sick, I was able to complete October block for the Americana QAL. A fun schoolhouse!

--
And last, but not least, I want to remind you that I am working on charity quilts,
and I would love your help!! 

Quilts are for a quilt drive to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 

And you can help me by donating orphan blocks, partial blocks, or fabric (scraps, strips, leftover, uglies, whatever). 

If you are willing to mail them to me, I could use them to make more quilts for these kids!!! 

If you are up for a loving donation, please send me an email at tweloq[_at_]gmail[dot_com] or leave a comment here with your email address so I could give you my mailing address. I promise that your donation will be used to make some kids happy and feel more loved!! 

I have to say that sadly I didn't work on this project much in the last couple of weeks as I was trying to get ahead in the QAL idea. But I think that by the end of the month I may complete another quilt and finish another top!

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

SYS 2015 - New prize and my project!

Earlier this month Jordan shared an embroidered literary quote for a chic piece of hoop art.
You can find the tutorial on the SYS2015 page!

I made mine! Since I am pretty familiar with basic embroidery, I thought: how can I make it challenging for me to "Stretch My Skills"?

I never used a dark fabric before, so that would be fun to try!

I researched several methods to transfer the design to the fabric (since usual markers are not visible on black fabric). I don't have fancy chalk markers or pen. Many people use a water soluble stabilizer that positioned on the fabric and dissolved once all the stitching is done... but I don't have that fancy thing either. Then someone suggested using tissue paper... when I read that I though "great, another fancy kind of paper that I don't have, moving on to the next option"... but then I stopped... wait... isn't tissue paper that thing you use to wrap gifts? I DO have that at home!! :)

It's great to transfer the design as it's very very thin.

The fact that is very very thin is a good thing also when it comes down to taking it off your work when you are done.

The fact that is very very thin is not that great as you are trying to pull your work through the hoop. You have to be very delicate... and I found out that using pin to hold it in place is not good... using washable glue along the text is actually much easier... 

I never tried stitching on dark fabric and I thought the thread wouldn't show up well... but I really like the contrast. I also used a variegated thread and different stitches, just for fun and I like that it's very dynamic.

So overall I really like how it turned out!

I will frame it when I find a suitable frame, but it's all done!

First project of my long Q4 list, done!

Are YOU enjoying making stitching up your quotes? Share your creations below!!

Remember that in this link party only projects belonging to the SYS2015 series should be added 

(I reserve the right to delete any non compliant link). 

This link party will be open all year long and you can add as many finished projects as you want! 

The same link party will be shown on the SYS2015 page.

Each link will give you a chance to win one of the monthly prizes.

This month, in order to be eligible for a prize, you are required to embroider a literary quote on a piece of fabric!

I encourage you to use Jordan's quote, but if that is "not your thing", any other quote from any book will qualify as an entry!! As long as it's a finished embroidery piece!

As the first entry, you can entry the embroidery block, and for additional entries you can enter any finish (different than simply putting in a hoop or hanging it) that you come up with! Let's see what you can come up with!

You can still link up blocks and projects from the Foundation Paper Piecing, Quilting, Crochet, Pixel Quilt and Fabric Postcard tutorials!!

For rules about what will be accepted in those cases, please refer to this previous post (Tutorial 1), this other post (Tutorial 2), this other post (Tutorial 3), this other post (Tutorial 4), this other post (Tutorial 5) and this other post (Tutorial 6).

This month prize is offered by myself and it is an 10$ Amazon gift card! (or equivalent value in other currency, if an international winner is chosen).

Remember that ANY new project (even from previous tutorials) will be entered to win.

I will draw a winner (using random.org) on November 4th between all the new entries in the link party. 

International participants are welcome!!

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An InLinkz Link-up

2015 Finish-Along: Q4 plans

Before my plans for Q4, let me celebrate the amazing finishes I made in Q3!

1. Water Lilies - quilt done!
2. Secret Cross Stitching project - pin cushion, done!
3. Happy Halloween wall hanging -  95% done, carrying over to Q4
4. Mirror mirror afghan - no progress here, carrying over to Q4
5. AMB Tiny Quilt Challenge piece - finished but I cannot share pictures or stories because the results of the challenge are not made public yet!
6. College Days Blog Hop blocks for tote/grocery bag - bad done!
7. Cute Kitten (cross stitching) - done and gifted!
8. Lighthouse (cross stitching) - done!
9. Selvage zipper pouches - done and gifted!
10. D wall hanging - done and gifted

Each quarter the size of the list increases, but I am up for the challenge!!!

As usual the list contains projects that I am 99% sure I will complete... and others that I am 80% sure I won't be able to complete, but it's a good incentive to have them there ;)

This is my list:

1. Happy Halloween wall hanging - need to finish quilting & binding
2. Charity quilt 1 (baby) - need quilting & binding
3. Charity quilt 2 (toddler) - need quilting & binding
4. Charity quilt 3 (baby) - half blocks done
5. Charity quilt 4 (unknown size) - have fabric and an idea but nothing more
6. Tapestry Crochet Xmas ornaments - have the pattern and the material
7. Mirror mirror afghan - several blocks done, seeeeeveral more missing, carried over from Q3
8. Sweet birds wall hanging - have the fabric and pattern
9. Xmas zipper pouches - have the fabric and pattern
10. Applique photo collage - designed the pattern and have the fabric
11. SYS embroidery project - have the design and pattern
12. SYS english paper piecing - have the fabric
13. Memory quilt - several blocks done, seeeeeveral missing, probably will carry this for next year, but it's good to aim for some progress
14. Gloves (knit or crochet, not sure yet) - have the yarn
15. Pumpkin coaster - top done, need quilting and binding

Ok... that's a huuuuuuge list...

How much am I going to accomplish? Not much if I spend my time here writing ;)
So let's get sewing!!