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Showing posts with label sew together bag. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sew together bag. Show all posts

Sunday, October 16, 2016

What a week! (and a link party)

What a wonderful week! So many things to share!!


The Ongoing Project List:
  1. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - no progress
  2. Summer Solstice QAL - no progress
  3. Minion QAL - COMPLETED! and in use (see below)
    1. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
    2. Hello Block Swap - cut up one of the blocks 
    3. Splendid Sampler - no progress
    4. Secret event (January 2017) - "coloring" started
    5. Secret event (February 2017) - few more blocks done, but cannot share yet :)
    6. Secret event (August 2017) - no progress
    7. Secret event (Feb-Oct 2017)  - worked more on the design!!
    8. Xmas decorations - completed four (see below)
    9. Bullet Journaling - working on this every day!
    10. Sew Together bag - two bags done! (see below)
    11. Tote bag - almost done, more on this next week
    The EverythingElse List:
    1. 70273 Project - no progress
    2. Jane T - no progress
    3. The SK project - one block done (see below)
    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
    --
    One little block, cover of a Stephen King book!
    The pattern will be shared in Fandom in Stitches eventually, but if you want it, just leave me a comment with your contact info


    The Waste Lands

    --

    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. And since I think we should also make presents for ourselves, I decided to make 2 Sew Together Bags.
    I used some denim fabric from a recent Quilty Box...
    Lesson learned: never use denim fabric for this kind of project :)

    The denim is easy to sew... in one layer... in two layers... in three layers... but folding on folds on folds (which happens on the sides of this bag) it is pretty insane :)
    What I learned, however, is that if I move manually the needle of my machine, I can stitch a huge pile of layers without breaking the needle! Maybe some stitches are skipped, but if the seamline goes on, it is all good for me!

    I made one bag all denim, one half denim half normal cotton. 
    Both were challenging but fun in the end!! Now mine is full of my bullet journal supplies!! :)

    --

    I completed four Xmas tree decorations. I will include these in Xmas cards that I send around so everyone will have a little handmade gift to keep. They are cross stitched with glow in the dark thread. And the little tab is a modafabric ribbon (the one wrapping bundles) :) I don't throw away anything here!! :)

    --

    and FINALLY, I completed the quilting, added the binding (two colors binding, following Susan's tutorial). After washing it, the quilt is sooooo soft and scrunchy because I have high loft batting!!!
    --
    Last, but not least, I was finally able to reveal my piece for the Art with Fabric Blog hop!
    And the entire week, we had amazing artists sharing their pieces too!!

    Check out the page of the event for links to each of these AMAZING quilts!!

    It was a fantastic event, full of inspiration, tips, tricks, suggestions, and works of art that are very unconventional and unique.
    While the presented pieces are exceptional, the running of the hop was not that smooth... it was stressful mainly because of the lack/delay in communication of many people that initially committed and then dropped out. I don't want to stress to much about it, and I learned few lessons that I will implement in the next event :)
    But I wrote a "poem" to explain you all what went on behind the scenes :)
    My English poetry is not that wonderful, but you may understand the message :)
    Events are fictional... Numbers and timings are real :)

    "AND THEN THERE WERE FEW"
    (inspired by "And then there were none" :) )

    148 little emails went out to invite
    quilters to share their arts delight

    The message was sent out well in advance
    five months to account for any circumstance

    78 were under a silence spell
    neither yes or no they were able to tell

    ... and then there were 70...

    34 declined to join the event
    to follow along they would be content

    ... and then there were 36...

    A week full of posts I started to fill
    counting on 6 artists each day sharing their skill

    Biweekly reminders I kept sending out
    and some people unfortunately had to drop out.
    Some got captured by monsters at sea,
    some had to climb a tall bean tree.
    Others came to the rescue and joined instead
    enthusiastic to share their skill with the thread.

    ... and then there were 29...

    Now for each day artists are fewer
    but 5 in each post will sure please a viewer!

    Email reminders were sent closer together
    and the schedule was made public altogether!
    Enthusiastic response from many viewers
    who expected to admire art from fantastic sewers.

    As deadlines approached we start losing more
    some eaten up by a big crab on shore
    another said "bye" and vanished in thin air
    another had to go and feed a mean bear.

    ... and then there were 25...

    The deadline was passed, and some were still mute
    My emails became like a painful sore tooth!
    With few explanation we lost more creators
    maybe they got kidnapped by bad alligators!

    ... and then there were 20...

    This is the final line up I brought,
    at least is what I candidly thought!

    2 more haven't spoken to me in while
    and neither put up their post on time.

    ... and then there were 18...

    Eighteen is a good number... if it wasn't the case
    that I had days with very few people to praise.
    I could have planned for a more balanced event.

    This cute little poem is my kind way to vent :)

    --
    How about you? What are YOU up to?
    Link it here and share it with me!!


    Sunday, November 22, 2015

    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!!

    Sunday, August 9, 2015

    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
    --
    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
    --
    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!!
    --
    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!!

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


    --
    How about you? What are YOU up to?
    Link it here and share it with me!!

    UA-37918212-1