MOP Monday - the list is shrinking

The list is shrinking!! almost invisible ;)

-- MOP: The Xmas presents list --

1. Topolino quilt (MPB) - all sections quilted, start joining them (this is my project for Lovely Year of Finishes (Dec))

2. the Z quilt (CO) - DOOOOOOONE - off the list

3. convertible bag (IG) - cut the pieces!
4. something (SZ) - potholders done, pouch done!! - off the list

Extras (because if I have tons of projects to finish I need to add some extras anyway O_o):
1. the SK project - designed 3 patterns
2. small project for magazine - the block was not accepted for the magazine :( but this means that I will have a new pattern soon to share in my shop!! :)
3. block swap Nov - done and in the mail! cannot share but off the list
4. block swap Dec - decided pattern and fabric
5. Bonnie's Hunter Grand Illusion - put aside some fabric for this, but no time to actually sew anything so maybe I am going to wait until the mystery is revealed to start it :)
6. Color of the Year mini - the color of the year 2015 has been announced! I designed my yearly mini, more on that after I am done with the Xmas presents ;)


(Linking up at Let's Bee Social)

-- MOP: This week updates--
And finally I can share the finished Z quilt... its official name is actually "Message in a Quilt" and you can read below why.

"Message in a Quilt" 63''x84''

The quilt contains a message in each "element", from the design, to the color/fabric choice, to the quilting! These are the messages:

1. (easy to see) the three symbols are Fu, Lu and Shou, the symbols for Happiness, Prosperity and Longevity
2. (easy to read, at least in person) the word "Love", my name and the name of the recipient are quilted using a "text quilting" method shown by Jacquie Gering in the class "Creative Quilting with Your Walking Foot" 
3. the color chosen represent the colors of the Chakra and they are arranged following that order
4. the size of the blocks (22) and the size of the strips (3) have special numerology meaning (Number 3 resonates with the energies of optimism and joy, inspiration and creativity, speech and communication, good taste, imagination and intelligence, sociability and society, friendliness, kindness and compassion (from here),The Master Number 22 symbolizes the principle of precision and balance (from here) )
5. the fabric used is Stonehenge (from Northcott) and the different colors have names connected to elements of nature (Stonehenge is a mystical place in UK, you can read more about it here)
6. the quilting around the symbol is similar to the traces in the sand of a zen garden
7. finally (since me and the recipient are scientists) the vertical quilting around the text is arranged following the Fibonacci sequence :)

So this is a quilt full of mystical power, and I am sure it's going to bring good energy for the recipient and for our entire house :)
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I finished the other two pot holders and I made the zipper pouch! I really love the way they turned out... they are not perfect, but the design has been customized for the recipient and I am sure that she will like them :)  I will send the package next week so I hope to be able to show them off soon (right side up ;))!!

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All the sections of the Topolino quilts have been quilted and I tested few more times my cheap and quick basting method (you can read more in last week post)!

I think this is the first time that I don't have even a single pucker in my back!! I love this method.

And as you can see, my helper gave her contribution as well, even if for her this is kind of booooring.

"Basting is so yaaaaaaaaaawn boring"

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And now, what are YOU going to link?? :)

An InLinkz Link-up

MOP Monday - many things are cooking!

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving week and a safe Black Friday :)

I had a very very productive week!!!

-- MOP: The Xmas presents list --

1. Boxes of Rainbow (UO) - label attached to the quilt! off the list!!

2. Topolino quilt (MPB) - quilting started! see below for a "cheap" technique to baste it :)

3. the Z quilt (CO) - quilted the last section! (Couldn't finish the quilt for Nov, but I will finish it for Dec :) this is my project for Lovely Year of Finishes (Dec))

4. pillow (VP) - last week wasn't started, and now is doooone! off the list!!
5. convertible bag (IG) - printed pattern, and picked fabric
6. coasters & table runner (MO) - finished last week! off the list!!
7. something (SZ) - 2 potholders and half a pouch done, missing other 2 potholders and the other half of the pouch

Extras (because if I have tons of projects to finish I need to add some extras anyway O_o):
1. the SK project - printed next pattern
2. small project for magazine - block completed, but I cannot share (secret projects are fun ;) )
3. block swap Nov & Dec - printed patterns
4. food for Thanksgiving!!

(Linking up at Let's Bee Social)

-- MOP: This week updates--

First let me start with some updates from my Thanksgiving dinner:

Picture with the Fandom In Stitches mug that I won for my "Make it Mosaic" block!! :)

I took the picture after eating our Thanksgiving dinner for which I made: special braid bread (with olives), mayonnaise, risotto ai funghi (and arancini di riso the next day), and Pumpkin Crunch! If you want my recipes I can share them with you, just drop me an email :)

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And since I had few days off from work I had the chance to spend time finishing up some Xmas presents!!

This is a fun & quick project perfect for a man who likes ties!!

I found this idea on Pinterest, but there was no link to the original pattern or designer. I made myself the pattern and it went together super fast! I used 4 actual ties and 2 are cotton fabric that looked like ties to me :)
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The Z quilt is all quilted! Now the final step is to join the sections and bind it, for sure it will be done in a week or so!! I will share pictures once it's all done :)
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I have completed 2 potholders and half a zip pouch for a special person, but since I don't know if she is reading my blog, I don't want to share too much about them until she receives them ;)
But this is the back (fun fabric that a Block Swap partner sent me... isn't it perfect for a pot holder??)

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And finally, let me share this cheap way of basting my quilt! Pin-basting with a Foam Can Holder! :)
Ok, this is the story.
I didn't like pin basting for two reasons: 1) on a big quilt, I can never make the back smooth enough and then I spend hours trying to make it good and I just get frustrated; 2) I keep getting stabbed!! I don't like safety pins (they are too hard to put on and to move while quilting).
Now I found the solution for both problems!! 1) I quilt smaller pieces and join them later, so now having a smooth back is easier to achieve!! 2) I watched some videos where Leah Day suggests using straight pins but using some silicone "caps" to hold them in place and avoid stabbing! I checked them online and while they look cool, honestly they looked too expensive for me to buy not even knowing if this method would be good for me. So I looked around my craft shop and I found those Foam Can Holders (like these ones) for about 50 cents each... they are pretty thick so I cut them into 1 inches "squares" or weird shapes, and that's it!! here I have a ton of pin caps, super cheap and they work just great!!

They are big enough for a pin to go inside and be pretty stable, but they are easy to remove and reposition while you are quilting! Probably they are not as nice and durable as the official silicone ones, but I don't think anything can beat a 50 cents piece of think foam ;)
Now I am looking forward to baste more pieces of my quilt! :)

Here a picture before I started basting... my helper was really helpful in smoothing the three layers ;)

"Hey, I didn't do that, I found it that way!" :)

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And now, what are YOU going to link?? :)

An InLinkz Link-up