Charity FMQ Unmarked Baptist Fans, Orange Peel, Feathers

I finished another Quilts for Kids!

This one I had planned on sewing together so the squares would be on point, but I goofed so just have strange corners instead.  The leader of our local Quilts for Kids said it would be okay so I went ahead and basted and free motion quilted.  I started with some feathers in each of the corners, but the pick thread makes it very difficult to see that detail.

I decided to try some unmarked Baptist fans, was afraid I would run out of thread so switched to orange peel design that would use less thread.

It's my first time for both of these.  It would have been easier if my working space were consistent instead of having the strange corners.

So this quilt has several firsts for me:
1.  The first huge mistake with piecing made it so I didn't get to try the on point setting as I wanted to.
2.  First feathers on something more than a practice piece (and those were done in 2012!)

Example Feather - each corner has a different interpretation of a feather.

3.  The first Baptist fans

Unmarked Baptist Fans - they do look nice from a distance!

4.  The first orange peel

Unmarked Orange Peel - Very easy to stitch in the squares.

I didn't break any needles even though I'm just getting back into sewing and quilting again.  Had planned on using some gold thread but that didn't work out so grabbed the one spool of pink that I had just to get going on the project.  My hand was unsteady so guess it's okay that the thread blends into the background in most cases.

I have another quilt with these materials that is made of all squares waiting to be finished.  I wonder how that will end up being quilted?  It will have binding made from bring the fabric from the back to the front.

This one was made with the top and back facing each other, then it was turned inside out.  I've only done this one time before. I think I should have basted this one even though my 'teacher' said I didn't need to.  There is one spot where things bubble with extra fabric.  Perhaps that could have been avoided with some basting.

Still it will be a nice quilt for someone.

It was pretty easy to move my tables so I had extra table behind the sewing machine and to my left - think I will be liking the new sewing space!

I just realized I hadn't posted a full photo of this project.

Made from charms cut from fabric with Studio GO.  Was supposed to be on point, realized after sewn that I had to add corners to make the quilt a rectangle!

Back was one piece, sewn as an envelope then pulled inside out, so there is no binding.

I think this is my fourth finish for QFK.

: )



Here are I think better photos of the project.  Including a few toes!

20150208 Official Quilts for Kids Sewing

I went to Chula Vista for the official Quilts for Kids sewing time.

There were two pairs of moms and daughters then the organizer and me.

Lots of room to sew and work.

I got the rest of the charm squares sewn into nine-patches then went thru her fabric to pick fabric to use for setting triangles as I think I will make at least one of the quilts so the blocks are on the diagonal.  I have enough nine-patches to make at least two quilts for quilts for kids.

Next time she will have batting I hope so I can start to actually quilt the projects together.

I hurt my back last Sunday after my friend left, helping my DH move some furniture to and from his office - a few flights of stairs were involved.  Today is the first day I have really felt completely well again!  I spent a few days in bed, then got up to do more and more things.  On Thursday I walked to our nearby coffeeshop, but had to have DH pick me up as I was worn out.  Friday after the quilting class I went right to bed and slept for hours and hours, but today I didn't have to do that!  So again I have learned that I need to be careful with picking up things and helping out.

I put my sewing machine in a suitcase so it was easy to move it to and from the sewing places this week!  I couldn't have picked it up I think without wrecking my back again.

20150206 More progress in crowded room

Attended the adult ed class.  The room was so crowded, I had to set up in the back row where the tables have computer monitors!

The tables are about half as deep, but I was able to push the monitor back so my sewing machine fit nicely.  I was behind some nice ladies who included me in on their conversation.  They attend a monthly guild that is near my house - at a church.  Each month there is sharing and sewing time in a big room they said with lots of seating.  The dues are just $25 a year so I may check them out.  After the first lady left the second felt she needed to tell me they have a lunch and say a prayer before eating.  So I have to think about it some more.

Even with all the talking, I got more of my charm squares sewn together.  I sewed so I have a bunch of pieces with three squares across.

No pictures this time.

By being in the back of the room, not only did I have the ladies behind me to listen to and chat with but I was facing a window with a beautiful view so it was, it turned out, a very nice place to set up my machine.

20150130 Final border on the green QFK project

Shows detail of the one pieced block.

Today was the first day of the new session of the adult education class. A lot of time was used to register. Each student had to stand in three lines! One for attendance, one to register for the class, and then to pay for get the handout. I helped with the last thing. Too bad it takes so much effort and time to do this.

I did manage to iron on several of my circles for the Abacus quilt.  However, I did not have black or grey thread so instead of sewing the circles down worked on what I could with beige thread. I put the final border on the green Quilts for Kids project, and got more of my charm squares sewn (for another QFKs quilts or maybe for a lap quilt for the house).

I have more charm squares in these fabrics ready to sew together.  I plan to combine the squares then to cut apart to add more interest to the end project.  Maybe I'll add longer strips of other fabrics too.  I'm not sure...

20151227 More progress on the QFK top

Attended class again, didn't finish the top.  Talking instead of sewing...

I found a piece of the beige fabric so I pieced in a piece so the selvedge wouldn't show.  Got the rows together and one of the borders.

There was a lot of talking in the class.  Next week is the first session of the new term so we need to be sure to get there on time and have some hand work to do as there will be a lot of people in the class.  Always is for the first few sessions then people drop out as the room is too crowded to any work.  It's a shame they do not just offer more classes, but if I can stick it out then it's a nice place to sew and possibly a place to meet people.  That hasn't really happened yet for me but perhaps if I attend more regularly it will!

The other topic was the Road to California Quilt Show.  I was one of the few not attending the show.  Maybe next year.

My out of town friend is still here so I'm having fun going about with her and having nice meals and outings.  We went to Orange County: breakfast at Knotts, South Coast Plaza and Ikea, Dinner at Tiako.  A nice day.

She is going to clear out more things at her place when she returns.  Was hoping when I heard that that she'd want to sort of report in progress each week or so so we could share and urge each other on, but she is not interested in that so I'm on my own for that.  I've signed up for a seven week yoga class so my plan is to go thru everything and get rid of extras within that time - so at the end I'm ready to go about hiring workers to make the improvements on the house that we/I want.  I can start as soon as my friend leaves...  But I'm so liking that she is here now.

20150116 A little more sewing

I attended the adult education class again on Friday and did more on the disappearing nine patch.

Sewed the blocks, cut them into quarters, then sewed them into rows.  The selvedge shows in one of the blocks so I wrote the Quilts for Kids coordinator for direction on what to do (replace with another beige or just let it show).  I have the two borders cut out so this this coming Friday I will finish the top.  Too bad I don't have the batting and backing but we will be meeting in person again the 2nd Sunday of February so I can pick that up from her then.

Next time I bring home fabric I'm going to ask to bring the left overs so I don't have to think about needing extra fabric!

And next time I make a disappearing nine-patch I'm going to do in a different layout so it looks like the quilt is made up of sashed squares!  I didn't have enough fabric to do this this time.

I finally found a photo with the general layout for the kitchen that I have been dreaming about:

This isn't exactly what I want or can have...  My window and sink are now wider so I wouldn't have the cabinets on the right of the sink.  And I think the door by the frig would have to be moved over so I would have the cabinets and space on each side of the oven.  

I like the way the wall behind the sink has tile - then the window starting so that would mean the window would need to be changed.   

Need to figure a spot for the microwave - a built in spot. and we put the coffee maker and perhaps the ninja and some seasons the toaster on the counter too.  So it's not exactly what I want or can have - but it's so pretty that finally my DH and friend could sort of picture what I was trying to explain so I'm glad to find the photo!  (hope I can find the source photo again!)

20150109 - Got the sewing machine out!

Today I went to the adult education class and brought my machine and fabric for a Quilts for Kids disappearing nine-patch and some charm squares.

So I actually sewed today!

First I put together some random scrappy four patches.  I had to remember where to put the needle to get quarter inch seams. One of the secrets to good quilts is good colors and fabric.  I just grabbed what I had, guess I should have been more particular!


Then I had enough nerve to start on the Quilts for Kids fabric I had cut at their working day a while back.  In real life the center fabric seems very close to the darker fabric, it's nice to see in the photo that there is a good contrast there.

My friend is here from out of town, we are having a nice time doing things together and dreaming...  We went to Home Depot and found this terrific back splash for a dream kitchen.