Medallion Quilt - Finished!

I love that today I have a finished quilt to show off.  So often it is just a block, or a half done batch of softies (that will be tomorrow's post) but today, a whole quilt!

This quilt started over on Meredithe's blog, Pomegranate and Chintz, as a medallion quilt-along.
I had the medallion, and I had a layer cake to match so I signed on.

There is a Flickr group too, if you would like to see the other quilts under way.

I backed it in a plain grey.  I had a lot of grey and figured it would tie in with the darker grey I used as sashing between each round on the quilt.

I used a strip of the sashing fabric to join the back so it was big enough.

I used the same grey for the binding.  I did buy this grey for the project, but everything else was stash.

This marks my April finish for AJ's 12 WIP's in 2012 challenge too!

I think this is my best quilt that I have ever made, and it is even better because I designed each round and quilted it too.  I even quilted the centre medallion by hand just for fun.

Autumn Tango

I finished sewing the binding down on my Autumn Tango quilt and wouldn't you know it is blowing a gale outside which has made it all but impossible to get decent photos.  The only sheltered areas seemed to be dark corners, or worse, full sun.

I am really happy to have finished this quilt.  This project was not without it's drama when UPS lost my fabric forcing me to source more after already waiting a month for the original order to arrive.  Locally I  managed to find more fabric, but the print I ordered to use for the binding didn't work in person so I ended up using grey.  I like the grey so this is ok.  The lost fabric did cause me to use more 'orange' than 'tangerine' fabrics, but by this stage I didn't care, I just wanted it done.

I used some of my Sandi Henderson Petal Party for the backing and I am very glad I did as I love it.  Neither the Mr or I liked this quilt as it sat on the design wall, but as soon as it came off the machine we both changed our minds.  It is nice that I have made something we both like and can use!

I am very glad I signed on for the Tangerine Tango challenge.  It isn't a colour I have used before and I am really happy to have this in the house now, very fitting for our first day of Autumn today!

It also counts as my March finish for AJ's 12 in 12 challenge.

And now that I think about it, it is Thursday so happy Creative Spaces to you all too!

Scrap Attack Quilt

I finished my scrap attack quilt, and I love it!

I love the bullseye effect, I love that it is scrappy.  So many of the prints used remind me of friends and projects past, it is a nice feeling to snuggle into.

Blue likes hiding under it, he calls it 'the hiding place'.  I like it too as the light shines through with the soft reflection of each colour triangle.  We have spent a bit of time under there together so far.

This quilt was part of the scrap attack challenge.  Link list to other scrap attack quilts here.

It is also my February finish for AJ's '12 in 12' challenge.

Nothing better than a finished project, especially one you love.

Swoon

Like nearly everyone else I know, I am participating in the swoon quilt-along .  I already had all the fabric as I have been buying every collection Denyse Schmidt has made lately.  The fact I already had the fabric means this quilt also counts towards the 12 WIP's in 2012 challenge too.  Double bonus!

dodgy flash photo, it was raining when I took this.

I have only made one block so far, but it is a giant at 24 inches square.  No wonder the whole quilt is only 9 blocks big! I don't think I will get this one finished in a great hurry, but that is ok, there is no deadline on this one.  It will be fun pairing different fabrics for each block.

Hurrah, Around The Block 1 finished!

Many moons ago I joined an excellent quilting bee full of clever people. More moons past and I pieced the top and tagged each block with the name of the person who made it.  You would think it would then be a simple matter to finish the quilt off so that the small boy could use it on his bed, but still more moons past.

I did indeed finally finish it, last night in fact.  The small boy seems very happy with it.

I backed it in a grey homespun and used some Kei honeycomb for the binding.  Perhaps I should have used a solid as it is a pretty busy quilt.  Oh well!

I quilted straight lines around each block and then I did a straight line geometric kind of fill in.   It was hard to know what to do given this was a wonky log cabin block so there was not much to line up with.

If you want to see the quilt top in full follow the link above.  It was too sunny here to get a good full shot so I didn't worry with one.

This is also the first WIP I have finished as part of the 12 in 12 challenge!  

Hurrah!!

Scrappy

Today while Mary Poppins played on a gifted VHS I have been working on one of my WIP's for the 12 in 12 challenge.  An added bonus, in mentioning this quilt to Amy, I am now also taking part in the scrap attack quilt-along.  Another added bonus is that I also now know this is called a values quilt.

These scraps have been building up for awhile.  Left over projects, goody bags from Sew it Together (thanks Hawthorne Threads and Posie Patchwork).  There are also bits from charm square swaps and even the odd FQ in the mix.  I think it looks pretty good at this point, tossed on the design wall as is with each few blocks that come off the machine.

I have about 488 triangles that will end up in this quilt, more scraps than I thought I had, and there are still more!

Since taking this photo I have changed the centre bullseye fabrics so they are all navy and more of a focal point.  I have also filled the design wall and still have a pile of triangles so I need to start piecing!

12 WIP's in 2012 ~ The Master List

Aj over at Aj's Antics is hosting a challenge to clear 12 WIP's in 2012.  

One a month.  Sounds like a good idea to me.  

You have to have 6 of the projects as actual works in progress, the other 6 can be projects that you are yet to start, but that you have the fabric for, I have a few of those type of projects too.
For every project you finish each month you get an entry into a prize draw at the end of 2012, it sounds fun!  You have to donate a FQ to be eligible for a prize draw, but who doesn't have one or two (or a lot) of FQ laying about the sewing room?

WIP: 

Possums triangle quilt: half blocks made

Medallion quilt: needs quilting     edit: done! 8-4-12

Vintage fabric baby quilt: needs quilting

Ravelry Block Swap: needs piecing and quilting    edit: done! 31-5-12

Blue's wonky log quilt: needs quilting     edit: done! 20-1-12
Scrap values/target quilt: scraps cut      edit: done! 2-2-12

Projects Purchased and Pending:
Tangerine Tango quilt         edit: done 1-3-12!

Dick and Jane quilt (I own the kit)

DS Swoon quilt (I own the fabric)

DS Made in Cherry quilt (I own the fabric) top now pieced
Half Square Triangle BOM (I owned the fabric)

Other WIP, not a part of the challenge:
FQS Mystery Designer BOM
Handstitched Quilt

I am sure I have more to list, I will have to add to the list as I find them in the cupboard.

12 Months 12 Challenges ~ January

I signed up for Carolyn's sewing challenge for January which was make something for yourself.  I have not really sewn something for me before so this was a good challenge to get me started.

I chose the Anna Maria Horner Socialite Dress and my first attempt did not go to plan.  I did not let this stop me.  This version was much better.  I left out the pockets, made it bigger and added a belt.  Much better!

This red fabric came from Nan's stash so it was nice to use something I had, it has a small oriental pattern on it.   Red is not something I would buy for myself (too bold!) so it is out of my comfort zone a little.

Don't you love my 'if I don't look at the camera I can pretend I am not getting my photo taken' stance?

Challenging

I signed up for Carolyn's  12 months 12 sewing challenge in January which was to sew something for yourself.  I have had fun sewing for the children over the past 12 months so decided it was time I put some of my adult patterns to good use too.

I chose the Anna Maria Horner Socialite Dress Pattern.

Lucky I used $3/m Spotlight cotton for my first attempt...

With myself clothed, I measured once, I looked at the pattern and decided I had best measure again.

I am an extra small (apparently).  I held conference with my Husband and decided that I would make the size indicated on the pattern.  This was my first mistake.  I got cold feet and made the seam allowance smaller to give myself extra room which was lucky as it is still a tad tight.

My second mistake was putting the pockets in.  They just spoil the line of the dress and didn't look right.

If you don't like hand sewing this may not be the pattern for you.  The yoke is hand stitched on the inside.  Speaking of the yoke, I had to get my other half to read the instructions and tell me how to put it together, he is very good like that.  It makes sense, I just thought there must be a step missing not realising that hand stitching was to come further down the track.

You are meant to be able to wear this dress with, or without, a belt.  Not so in my case.  It looks like a shapeless sack if I don't have a belt :(

Don't let any of this put you off, I have made it again, in a Medium size, without pockets and with belt and it looks great.  I am just waiting on a chance to take proper photos.