Slow and steady gift making (and a link party)

Steadly working on many projects.

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Hello Block Swap - paused until next month
2. The SK project - one more block done (see below)
3. Secret event (January 2017) - "coloring" completed, ready to start stitch!
4. Secret event (February 2017) - one more block read (cannot share yet)
5. Secret event (August 2017) - no progress
6. Secret event (Jan-Nov 2017)  - worked more on the design!!
7. Xmas decorations - 4 more done (see below)
8. Crochet flowers - 4 completed (see below)
9. Bullet Journaling - working on this every day!
   Waiting to migrate into my Quilter's Planner (it should be here next week... I plan to use it as a "blank canvas", as I am not really into fixed weekly spreads any more) :)
10. Various bags and pouches - one done! (see below)
11. En Provence (Bonnie Hunter's mystery QAL) - as usual, I plan to follow along with a smaller version. I love purple so I think this year it will be fun!

The EverythingElse List:

1. Splendid Sampler - no progress
2. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - no progress
3. Summer Solstice QAL - no progress
4. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
5. 70273 Project - no progress
6. Jane T - no progress
7. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
8. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
9. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
10. As You Wish -  no progress
11. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
12. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
13. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress

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Let me start with the Teal mini swap organized by Beth every year.
This is what I receveid by my wonderful partner Allene

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Patty (elmstreetquilts) is hosting a fun event (Bag It) to encourage people to share any bag they make for chances to win great prizes and to inspire each other (Bag it, entry page)!!

I have few bag presents on my list for Xmas so I thought to start it early. 

This week I wanted to make a little pencil pouch.

My sewing helper wanted to make sure I used the cat fabric as appropriate :)

Pencil case pattern and tutorial

The pattern is very easy and the only thing I would change is to add a tab on both sides. The second tab is my usual ribbon, but next time I will stitch it within the body of the pouch like the other one, instead of hand stitching it at the end!

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Working on Xmas presents, I made these crochet flowers for my mom. She makes some compositions and she can always use some extra flowers. I am using only the cotton I have on hand, so the colors are kind of limited, but that's better than nothing!! :)

And speaking about Xmas, I made few more cross stitch decorations to include in holiday cards

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Another book cover for my Stephen King collection is ready!

The pattern will be on Fandom in Stitches eventually... if you need it sooner, just send me an email :)

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Last, but not least, a very simple and needed object: I had a twist turban towel for about 5 years and I loved it!! It is now in very very very bad conditions :) however all the ones that I found online and in stores now are the terrible microfiber material that feels horrible on my hair!! This is why my original one (made with classical towel material) has been used to death.

Now... I have been spending so much time and energy trying to find an alternative... why??? it is such as simple shape and I can sew!!! Sometimes I try to convince myself that it would be a "waste" to cut up a perfectly good towel to do this... but seriously isn't it a waste to have many towels that I don't use anyway??? sometimes I am so stubborn :) it took me maybe 15 minutes to stitch up the orange new version!! 

I have enough towel left to make another one, but I want to test it first to understand if my version needs any improvement (like the orientation of the towel)

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Little projects are rewarding (and a link party)

I have been working on several big projects, but they are too early in the process to share. That is why I needed some little projects to reward myself!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - September board (the last one) has been released (see below)!
2. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - new top started (see 3.)
3. Summer Solstice QAL - no progress
4. Minion QAL - no progress
5. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
6. Hello Block Swap - paused until October
7. Splendid Sampler - no progress
8. Secret event (January 2017) - "coloring" started
9. Secret event (February 2017) - well... few more blocks done, but cannot share yet :)
10. Secret event (August 2017) - no progress
11. Secret event (Feb-Oct 2017)  - sketches started! I think the idea is taking shape!!
12. Teal Mini Swap - mini mini done (see below)
13. Xmas decorations - few (almost) completed (see below)
14. Bullet Journaling - shared September rewiew in yesterday's post

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - no progress
2. Jane T - no progress
3. The SK project - no progress
4. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
5. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
6. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
7. As You Wish -  no progress
8. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
9. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
10. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress

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The last board for the Play with Me QAL!

Even if this is the last board, you could still join and have the chance to win amazing prizes for the final giveaway of the QAL. If you made even a single board, you could win one of SEVEN prizes... just saying :) Just send me an email or leave a comment below if you have questions!

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 Pumpkin coaster (5''x5''), Teal Mini Mug Rug (3'' x 6'')

The coaster is a tradition: every year, on October 15th, we celebrate Pumpkin's day (the day when Pumpkin (our cat friend) joined our family). For this day I will cook many cool dishes, and as a memory I make a little coaster to use for the year. This year I decided to make a HST pumpkin... each square finishes 1'' so pieces are very tiny. I love it!!

I made a Mini for my partner in the Teal Mini Swap (see last week's post) and with some leftover scraps I made myself a mini-mug rug, so that I will have a memory of what I made for my partner. I did this last year as well, and it is a good reminder.

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The only other thing I made are these cross stitching Xmas decorations.

about 2.5'' x 2.5''

They are stitched on red aida with glow in the dark floss. The effect is pretty cool. I will send them out with Xmas cards, because I like people to have a little hand made gift for the holidays

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Last, but not least, this is the block I received for my Hello Block Swap partner in September.

I have 3 blocks to choose, and people can pick they favorite colors too...

It is interesting to notice that I am getting many of these quarter flowers and many in pink.

Block sent by Nathalie

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

More coming soon, I promise (and a link party)

There is a lot of planning for events, hops, QAL etc that I am going to announce in the next few weeks. This means again very little sharable crafting, but again something small and cute...

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - finished Sept board, will be shared next week. This is the last of the QAL :( but I am already planning 2017 QAL, so stay tuned
2. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - new top started (see 3.)
3. Summer Solstice QAL - no progress
4. Minion QAL - no progress... SERIOUSLY?? I just have the final few lines of quilting to add, but I cannot make myself do it... ufff.....
5. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
6. Hello Block Swap - paused until Sept
7. Splendid Sampler - no progress, lost interest :(
8. Road Home Row-A-Long - finished row, finished post. Ready to be shared soon!
9. Secret event (January 2017) - started designing
10. Secret event (February 2017) - few blocks ready to stitch!
11. Secret event (August 2017) - button designed
12. Secret event (Feb-Oct 2017) - sketching started!
13. Gift Bookmarks - second one done (see below)
14. Teal Mini Swap - STILL FEW DAYS TO JOIN, link from EvalPaige Quilt Designs
    I got my partner info, the fabric and I picked the design. Now just need to implement it

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - no progress
2. Jane T - no progress
3. The SK project - no progress
4. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
5. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
6. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
7. As You Wish -  no progress
8. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
9. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
10. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress

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Ok, so basically this is the only picture I can share... cute bookmark.

3.5'' x 9.5''

I designed it in Google Spreadsheet and stitched it up using cross stitching!
It went together super fast. I then just used a decorative zig-zag stitch around three sides, slided in a piece of thick paper and then I  stitched the top close. In this way if it bends, we can just change up the cardboard inside and the bookmark will be like new!! :)
The other fun thing is that on the two characters I used 2 strands of floss and 1 strand of glow-in-the-dark thread... when you turn off the light, Snoopy and Woodstock light up! I think they needed their own light because they want to read when they are closed in the book ;)

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Slow, slow summer (and a link party)

There is something about summer that makes me slow down... well, at least I have few small finishes!!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - finished quilting August block, starting Sept board
2. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - new top started (see 3.)
3. Summer Solstice QAL - new instructions have been released. I will work on this tomorrow
4. Minion QAL - if only I could convince myself to quilt the borders... well, maybe this week!!
5. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
6. Hello Block Swap - paused until Sept
7. Splendid Sampler - no progress
8. Road Home Row-A-Long - no progress
9. Secret event (January 2017) - started designing
10. Secret event (February 2017) - design completed
11. Secret event (August 2017) - button designed
12. Secret event (Feb-Oct 2017) - sketching started!
13. Gift Bookmarks - one done, one designed (see below)
14. Gift pillow cases - two done (see below)

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - no progress
2. Jane T - no progress
3. The SK project - no progress
4. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
5. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
6. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
7. As You Wish -  no progress
8. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
9. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
10. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress

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Two more pillow cases done! These are a birthday present. I am becoming super fast making these... and that's a good thing because guess what everybody is getting for Xmas this year..? :)

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The only other little project I completed is this cute bookmark.

2.75'' x 9''

I designed it in Google Spreadsheet and stitched it up using cross stitching!
It went together super fast. I then just zig-zagged a couple of times around three sides, slided in a piece of thick paper and then I hand stitched the top close. In this way if it bends, we can just change up the cardboard inside and the bookmark will be like new!! :)
I really really like that print! I have a fat quarter of it, and I used it to make my boyfriend a credit card wallet, a zipper pouch for his gps and now this. I still have some fabric left for other small projects. Don't you love when everything coordinates? ;)

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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 - Tutorial 8 (3) - Software tools, cross stitching

Third installment of my short series of tutorials about the software tools I use for my crafts.

Before you run away screaming "I am not good with computers, I don't like new software, they are too complicated" please remember that you don't need to know everything about these software to make them work for you.

The tutorials are written in a very simple way, with tons of screenshots, so, let's Stretch our Skills and get our tech love going!!

The eigth tutorial of the SYS series is brought you by "Yours Truly" Alida (tweloquilting.blogspot.com, you are here ;)).

The third tutorial is about how to take a picture and turn it into a Cross stitching pattern and how to turn the different parts of the pattern in a single pdf file with information about the designer, links, embroidery details, etc.

Everything done with FREE tools!

The pdf (links below) contains detailed instructions on how to make that pattern from start to finish!!

Click here to download Tutorial!

QUESTION: Do you have any question/curiosity about Inkscape or Quilt Assistant? In the last tutorial I will collect some information about those software and present it with example, but if you have any specific question, I would love to hear and maybe I would be able to help! So please, let me know!!

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 cross stitching projects!

We won't have prizes this month since there are many tutorials coming and I want you to get some time to catch up on past projects.

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All the information about the series (as well as all the previously published tutorials) will be 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!!

Three finishes and a new secret project!

Great progress this week... projects getting off the list and new coming in! :)

The Ongoing Project List:

1. SYS2015 future projects - paused until September
2. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
3. Block Swap Adventure - paused until September
4. the SK project - no progress
5. Tiny Quilt Challenge (American Made Brand) - no progress - closing on Sept 15, need to spend some time on this!!!
6. Zipper pouches - paused for a while
7. the Ender project - no progress
8. Geese project - doooooone (see below)!!
   This is my project for August, A Lovely Year of Finishes
9. Americana QAL - August block done (see below)
10. the 31000 Xs project - good progress (see below)
11. Ravenclaw Mug Rug - dooone and delivered (see below)
12. Halloween Haunts 2015 - new project, blog hop - piece designed (cannot share yet)

The EverythingElse List:

1. Embroidery calendar - no progress
2. Charity quilts - next bargello designed
3. Project of Doom 2015 @ Fandom in Stitches - paused for a while
4. College Days Blog Hop blocks for tote/grocery bag -  dooooone (see below)
5. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
6. As You Wish -  no progress
7. Happy Halloween wall hanging - no progress
8. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
9. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
10. B quilt - no progress

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This summer, I mentored a student and help her prepare and present her first poster! It was a fun and rewarding experience, and the last day I learned that she is a big fan of Harry Potter (and that she belongs to the Ravenclaw house). So, of course, I made her a little mug rug as a memory of this experience!

Patterns available on Fandom In Stitches, Harry Potter

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Deana (over at dodmystery.blogspot.com) is hosting 2 QALs and I joined the Americana QAL! I am not making Deana's row quilt, but this is August installment of the Americana QAL for me!

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I finally found a way to use the 10'' block I designed for the College Days Blog Hop!

Since I started cross stitching and since I bought my floss organizer, I wanted a project bag big enough to hold it, padded enough to avoid it's "spiky" things to poke me (or my sewing assistant) in case we sit on it. Other requirements were that it must have a zipper (I don't like when things fall out of my bags) and it must be simple to make. All requirements were met when I saw this video tutorial by A Fate So Twisted and I realized that I had some left over heavy interfacing from my beach bag.

I slightly change the width of the body piece (from 15'' to 13'') and this perfectly accommodates my 10'' block! For the other side of the bag (since it's going to be mainly a cross stitching project bag) I used the cross stitching project I planned to frame: this bag is a much better use of that!!

Plus I used leftover fabric from Pumpkin's play mat, which decorates the floor of our living room... in this way my project bag will match the home decor ;)

Height: 12'', width (top): 11'', boxed bottom: 3''x 9''

Project for Q3 finish-along (full list of Q3 projects here)!

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The Geese project is complete! Well the label is missing, but that's the only thing missing ;)

Size: 23'' x 23 ''

I bought the geese panel on Etsy and I designed the panel on the right myself on Spoonflower. The top is applique (patterns I created from a picture). I really love how it turned out, and I think the recipient will really like it, with all the inspirational and positive quotes!!

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This is the Cross Stitch month for my Stretch Your Skills series, so am working on a biiiiiiig project. I decided to approach this pattern one "page" at the time, completing the same three colors everywhere, and then moving on to other colors. I don't know if that' how people approach cross stitching pattern, but it makes sense in my mind, so that's how I do it :)

Week 1 (left), Week 2 (right)... one more page done and the third already marked!!

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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!! 

--

How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

SYS 2015 - What's crossing your mind?

Earlier this month Lisa shared a cute tutorial for a fun pincushion with Pascal from Tangled :).
You can find the tutorial on the SYS2015 page!

Are YOU enjoying making this pincushion? Share your creations below!!

I want to share with you this other cross stitching project I made recently: these patterns can be integrated into bigger projects and add that great accent that makes the piece really special!

(right) my first ever cross stitch project from a kit!

Project for Q3 finish-along (full list of Q3 projects here)!

(left) I reproduced the cross stitch pattern on a smaller aida (14 counts instead of 11) and added as the perfect accent for my Dresden wall hanging!!

I am extremely happy that Lisa unleashed my passion for cross stitching! It's such a portable and quiet art form and it creates the cutest little projects!!!

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 prizes, you are asked to make a cross stitched pincushion!

I encourage you to use Lisa's pattern, but if that is "not your thing", any other character or any other design from anywhere else will qualify as an entry!! As long as it's a finished pincushion!

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 Lisa and is:

A cross stitch kit ("The Canterbury Fairy, Flower Fairies kit)! 

I will draw a winner (using random.org) on September 3rd between all the new entries in the link party. 

International participants are welcome!!

--

An InLinkz Link-up

Can you help me for a good cause? (and a link party)

Not much progress on old projects, because new ones rolled in (and if you can help with one, that would be nice) :)

The Ongoing Project List:

1. SYS2015 future projects - paused until September
2. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
3. Block Swap Adventure - blocks done (see below)
4. the SK project - no progress
5. Tiny Quilt Challenge (American Made Brand) - no progress - closing on Sept 15, need to spend some time on this!!!
6. Zipper pouches - paused for a while
7. the Ender project - no progress
8. Geese project - assembled panel, need to work on the applique!!
   This is my project for August, A Lovely Year of Finishes
9. Americana QAL - no progress
10. the 31000 Xs project - good progress (see below)
11. Ravenclaw Mug Rug - new project - first block done (see below)

The EverythingElse List:

1. Embroidery calendar - no progress
2. Charity quilts - new projects, here I need your help (see below)
3. Project of Doom 2015 @ Fandom in Stitches - paused for a while
4. College Days Blog Hop blocks for tote/grocery bag -  no progress
5. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
6. As You Wish -  no progress
7. Happy Halloween wall hanging - no progress
8. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
9. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
10. B quilt - no progress

--
This summer, I mentored a student and help her prepare and present her first poster! It was a fun and rewarding experience, and the last day I learned that she is a big fan of Harry Potter (and that she belongs to the Ravenclaw house). So, of course, I will make her a little mug rug as a memory of this experience! This is the first block.

Patterns by Jennifer, Harry Potter, Ravenclaw Crest

--

The main panel of the Geese project is assembled! Not much work here, but better than nothing ;)

I bought the geese panel on Etsy and I designed the panel on the right myself on Spoonflower. I really like the fact that I could use all kind of font, sizes, alignment, etc. I would not be able to make it so clean using embroidery... plus it would have taken me forever ;) So a fat quarter from Spoonflower is a little pricey, but for a small project like this it's worth it! 

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This is the Cross Stitch month for my Stretch Your Skills series, so I started my next biiig project... I want to still keep it a secret, but can you guess what it is? Color "palette" and first section partially done :)

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These are the blocks for my August partner in the Block Swap Adventure.

 Flutterby pattern and Jacob's ladder

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And last, but not least, this is why I would love your help!!

I found out about this project, organized by Francel, to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter.  You can find out more information about her quilt drive here.  The shelter has about 600 children there!!!  The current drive is looking for baby (40x40") and toddler (40x60") quilts and after that she will move to bigger quilts. After talking to her, I decided I could not NOT help!! :)

So I decided to make some quilts! As a start, I decided I will make 3 baby quilts, then few toddlers ones. And you can help me here!! Do you have some orphan blocks sitting in your sewing room for years? Or fabric that you bought and then you don't like any more? A strip in a jelly roll that didn't fit your project? A left over scrap that you don't know how to use? A couple of charm squares left from a project? An ugly fabric that was donated to you and you don't know how to use? Some HST that you cut the wrong size? If you are willing to mail them to me, I could use them to make more quilts for these kids!!! I have some material, but I don't have a big stash and you all know how much fabric is needed to make quilts ;) So, 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!! 

This is the first quilt top I made

Size: about 40''x40''

This is my first quilt using jelly rolls, and it shows what I like and what I "don't like" about them.

- What I like: they are precut (so ready for strip piecing) and they create a nice variegated look without too much effort. I actually used strips from 3 rolls, because I am not a "fabric line" kind of girl. But it was very easy to get a coherent look for the Bargello part.

- What I "don't like": the variety of the pieces in the roll means that if you use up one strip and you don't quite cover the area you planned, you have to use another color to finish up! This is what happened with the border: I wanted to test the BasiX ruler that I got in my Quilty Box, and I really liked the zig zag effect. Unfortunately one set of strip was not quite enough to even go all the way on one side!! So I had to assemble the remaining scraps in "weird" ways to get enough fabric to cover the corner. It actually creates a very funky and modern look IMHO... it breaks the regularity of the border. So it all worked out for the best... but still, that's something to consider, if you want more coherence (and you are not following a pattern ;) ). Also the two solid borders don't have the "exact" color I was looking for, but they work anyway.

This was also my first time trying the Bargello technique! I started with a super basic design just to test the technique... it's very simple... super simple... actually so simple that is borderline boring for me :) luckily it was a small quilt... and my sewing assistant helped me keep it fun (tugging strips and rolling on the pieced ones :) )

--

How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

SYS 2015 - New prize announced

Earlier this month Lisa shared a cute tutorial for a fun pincushion with Pascal from Tangled :).
You can find the tutorial on the SYS2015 page!

Are YOU enjoying making this pincushion? Share your creations below!!

I shared my version in the tutorial! Project for Q3 finish-along (full list of Q3 projects here)!

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 prizes, you are asked to make a cross stitched pincushion!

I encourage you to use Lisa's pattern, but if that is "not your thing", any other character or any other design from anywhere else will qualify as an entry!! As long as it's a finished pincushion!

For additional entries you can enter any cross stitching project that you completed after August 1st!

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 Lisa and is:

A cross stitch kit ("The Canterbury Fairy, Flower Fairies kit)! 

I will draw a winner (using random.org) on September 3rd between all the new entries in the link party. 

International participants are welcome!!

--

An InLinkz Link-up

Long week, but productive Saturday (and a link party)

I had a long and tiring week at work, but Saturday I was able to complete few projects! 

The Ongoing Project List:

1. SYS2015 future projects - paused until September
2. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
3. Block Swap Adventure - arranged next blocks with my Aug partner
4. the SK project - no progress
5. Tiny Quilt Challenge (American Made Brand) - no progress
6. Zipper pouches - first big bag done! (see below)
7. the Ender project - no progress
8. Geese project - printed pattern, received fabric, ready to sew
   This is my project for A Lovely Year of Finishes
9. Cross stitch scene - doooooone (see below)
10. Americana QAL - got the next partner
11. the 31000 Xs project - started!! more on this next week :)

The EverythingElse List:

1. Embroidery calendar - no progress
2. Animal blocks for charity quilts - paused for a while
3. Project of Doom 2015 @ Fandom in Stitches - no progress
4. College Days Blog Hop blocks for tote/grocery bag -  no progress
5. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
6. As You Wish -  no progress
7. Happy Halloween wall hanging - final 2 letters done (see below)
8. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
9. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
10. B quilt - no progress

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A busy week at work, meant little time and energy for sewing... but I managed to complete the last two letters I need for my Happy Halloween wall hanging!

Patterns by Jennifer, Harry Potter's Alphabet

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A busy Saturday made up for a unproductive week! I finished my first full size Sew Together Bag (by Michelle). I made few of the smaller version by Elizabeth (Mini Sew Together Bag) last month.

You can see the difference between the larger version and the smaller. They are all very cool and I will make more!!

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This is the Cross Stitch month for my Stretch Your Skills series, so I picked up this old project and finished it

Cross stitching project, from a kit

Project for Q3 finish-along (full list of Q3 projects here)!

I will just frame it and call it done!

I learned a loooot of things with this project. I bought this kit ages ago, when I still didn't know anything about cross stitching... so these are the things I learned...

There are 2 kind of basic material: aida and stamped fabric. I thought that this, being stamped, with all the X printed on the fabric, would be the easiest for me. I was wrong :) Since the fabric is normal fabric, I had to use a sharper needle, which meant a lot of more finger stabbing :) plus I had to use the hoop (which with a stiffer aida I don't need). Plus since the X are printed, they need to be bigger than the small stitches on the aida, which makes for a cute X look, but not that tight and smooth as working on a 14 count aida.

And despite the fact that the X are printed, they had all the same color, which required me to use my "washable markers" technique to transfer sections of coloring to the fabric (so it didn't save me much time).

Finally, because I could see the X but there were not preexiting holes, some of the X are less uniform than others. I don't see those problems in the final piece, it's still pretty cute! But it's something to consider for my future projects.

About the colors... I assumed that floss in a kit was sorted and neatly packaged... I was wrong again!! The thread was all in this big blob and it was pretty hard to distinguish some colors that looked soooooo similar to each other (light grey, very light grey, pearl grey, ...). So some sections may actually have a "wrong" color, but since they are so similar, the overall design doesn't suffer from it.

However I learned that it's best for me to buy just the pattern and then buy the floss separately so I can sort it and store it in a nice way!

I already started my next project... a secret for now (and probably for a long time, given the size)... I will call it 31000 Xs because that's the size of the project. I am very excited to work on it and I've already started sorting the floss and marking the pattern. More on this next week!!

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And finally these are the blocks I received from my June partner in the Block Swap Adventure.

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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 - Tutorial 7, Cross Stitch!

Let's give our sewing machine a little summer break!

The seventh tutorial of the series is brought you by the wonderful Lisa (SquirrelyStitcher, Superfunhappystitch).

Isn't this the cutest pincushion you've ever seen???

The pdf (links 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 and fabric postcards!

Next week there will be more details on what to link to win our monthly prizes...

And speaking of prizes...

For the third time in there were no new entries since last month, so no winners for my bag of scraps :(
I'm very sad to see that there is not much participation... but I go on and I have high hopes for the future months!! :)

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All the information about the series (as well as all the previously published tutorials) will be 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!!

Crossing things of my lists (and a link party)

Help!! I have a new obsession and I need someone to stop me ;)

The Ongoing Project List:

1. SYS2015 future projects - finished August project (cannot share yet)
2. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
3. D wall hanging - no progress
4. Block Swap Adventure - my partner replied, I will make the block this week
5. the SK project - no progress
6. Tiny Quilt Challenge (American Made Brand) - cut and fused few shapes
7. Zipper pouches - no progress
8. the Ender project - cut next color
9. Geese project - ordered fabric
10. Dresden project - dooooone (see below)
11. Americana QAL - no progress

The EverythingElse List:

1. Embroidery calendar - no progress
2. Animal blocks for charity quilts - paused for a while
3. Project of Doom 2015 @ Fandom in Stitches - paused for a while
4. College Days Blog Hop blocks for tote/grocery bag -  no progress
5. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
6. As You Wish -  no progress
7. Happy Halloween wall hanging -  3 blocks done (see below)
8. Crazy optical illusion -  no progress
9. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
10. B quilt - no progress

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Three more blocks are done for my Halloween Wall hanging it has been in the UFO list for probably two years... that's why I put it on my Q3 list for the Finish-Along!

Patterns by Jennifer, Harry Potter's Alphabet

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The SYS Skill for next month is Cross Stitching: this is not a secret, but the actual project for the tutorial is very cute and I cannot share it.

Since I never tried cross stitch before, I decided to start with a small project from one of those kits to "teach a craft to your kid" :)

I really like this technique!! It's just so simple, so quite and so portable! Sure it takes a while to cover a "big" space, but for small projects or add "accents" to quilts (see below) it's just too cute!!

(right) my first ever cross stitch project (from a kit)!

(left) I reproduced the cross stitch pattern on a smaller aida (14 counts instead of 11) and added as the perfect accent for my dresden wall hanging!!

And the Dresden Plate wall hanging is also full of "first try":

1. first time I add a cross stitch pattern to a quilted project
2. first time I use a Dresden ruler (bought with a coupon I won in a past giveaway)
3. first time I use jelly rolls (again bought with a coupon I won)... I really like how two very different styles of fabric (batiks and prints) add interest and blend together. And the jelly rolls were very easy to use with the ruler: I assembled the dresden in a snap!!
4. first time I use the "wave" stitch on my machine to quilt... much better effect than FMQ!!!
5. first time I use a blanket stitch (to secure the center): really love the effect, I didn't have a blanket stitch on my previous machine, but now I see more applique with this technique in my future

And as a final note: I didn't measure the center of the dresden nor the kitten pattern: they came out with the perfect size for each other by chance! The Universe sometimes makes everything fit to place perfectly, don't you think??

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up