Kim Diehl Warm Regards quilt finished!

I have been working on my version of Kim Diehl's Warm Regards quilt for over a year.  I started this quilt with two friends, after Lisa gave me the book Simple Friendships as a birthday gift and pointed out the patterns by Kim Diehl and Jo Morton were designed for friendship swaps.  

Instead of swapping blocks we each made our own version of this quilt.  I normally use a more subdued palette, but decided to use as many brights as I felt comfortable with, which turned out to be a lot!  I also stretched my comfort zone to include black in some of the pieced blocks.  Kim Diehls pattern calls for yo yo flowers, but I chose to needle turn applique mine (and only used red and pink) using the Perfect Circles and starch and was very pleased with the results.

Lisa made the Jo Morton version of the quilt (no applique just pieced cross blocks) but amended it to add a centre of yo yos, as she loves yo yos!  Vicki made the Kim Diehl version, also appliqued her berries, but she choose a black background but followed the scrappy colours theme of the berries. 

Vicki is a long arm quilter and texted me in late February to say that she had a custom cancellation for March and I could have the spot if I wanted.  It was the push I needed to finish the border and I got it to her in time.  In a nod to Jo Morton I found a piece of JM fabric in my stash that was big enough to make a backing from, which I was delighted about. There was lots of consulting as I have only ever had one quilt custom quilted before.

Post delivery of completed quilt I found this little wing was not completely stitched down by me..big opps!  So glad that the machine foot didn't get caught in it while Vicki was quilting.
I am delighted with the outcome!   

Happy quilting Sue

Warm Regards by Kim Diehl flimsy finish

Warm Regards - 60 x 60 " pattern by Kim Diehl.  I have made a few adaptions to the pattern, nothing serious, but appliqued my berries rather then make suffolk puffs.  

Its hard to get a good photo when it takes up most of the space on the lounge room floor.  But I was handing it over to Vicki Jenkin, long arm quilter expert to work her magic.  I am just very lucky that she had a cancellation in her schedule, so there was a rush to get it finished.  It was the push I needed, because other projects are calling me and I was ready to start something new, but did not want this become a UFO.  I have several quilts that are honestly at the stage I need to either throw them out or give them away, but its like that favorite dress you don't fit anymore, because one day I might loose weight / find the motivation to finish that quilt LOL!  Another reason why this quilt is going to the LAQ, because it would never get finished if I was to quilt it!

Happy quilting Sue.

Warm Regards flimsy progress finally

Generally I find, there is a task as a quilter that you simply avoid doing, for me its cutting large pieces of fabric.  Or in this case, trimming back my 20" square central applique block for Warm Regards quilt.

I had procrastinated for three days....which meant that I had two cot quilts fully quilted and with binding machined on....even stitched the ends in!

But finally at the end of the weekend I just "did it!".  

Sew with a perfectly trimmed square I was able to sew on the three block deep sides, and then the longer sides with more applique and pieced blocks.

I am thrilled to finally get to this stage! The only thing delaying progress had been my fear of trimming that centre square!

However I was productive in the meantime nad have been making appliqued blocks for the final border.  I squeezed in piecing two borders before I had to stop and make tea.  The final step is to applique more berries over the joins in this borders.  I tried, but didn't quite match up all the triangles with all the block, so I might need to unpick a one or two to make them perfect.

Very excited to see this beautiful quilt nearly finished.

And the hunt for a backing fabric must commence....damn another excuse for shopping trip!

Happy quilting, Sue.

Warm Regards progress

I dragged out the basket with Warm Regards and started by trimming one of the four corner appliqued blocks.  Then sewed the Italian cross blocks around it.

I did another corner section,  and then added a row onto the section of blocks that go in between.

I managed to get all the sides completed in one afternoon, which was good going as I had two lots of visitors.  I was short about seven Italian cross blocks and my mother's arrival was a big help, as she helped me with the final colour layout and choosing colours for the last blocks.  

The next step is to trim back the centre applique panel which is 20.5" square.  Unfortunately I cut the background slightly larger, but it hasn't shrunk at all, despite all the applique.  And when I drew a line as to where I had to trim back to, and another line for the seam allowance it was very evident that I was going to loose lots of appliqued leaves :(

SEW there is lots of unpicking and resewing that needs to occur next...needless to say, the centre panel is back in its basket, waiting for another day when I have the time and patience!

Dont worry I am keen to move this project along.  I have given away quilts lately to family members and my much loved aunt choose the only quilt I had finished this year.  Its new home is on the opposite side of the country (henced too far for it be safely returned for next years guild exhibition), so I need to get another finish in, so I have something to show!

Happy quilting Sue.

Slow and quick stitching

In desperate need for some quilty gratification I spent the day adding sashing to these I Spy blocks we made back in March. 

That makes for a decent sized quilt for favorite kids charity group, so not adding a border.  Went to Spotty and brought some nice green fabric as backing on sale.  Then at 5 am this morning when I woke up and decided I was going to sort backings to quilts and deliver them to my long armer....I changed my mind.  So stripy backing it is!

The applique all got finished for the four corner blocks this week.  I made a couple of design changes, to these blocks, minor but just made life easier.  

The most obvious one is that I used a star centre on two flowers in pink and a yellow circle on the other two.  Just liked it more!

No motivation to work on this quilt further at present.  I dread squaring up blocks and that is what has to happen next.  So off to distract myself with backings for now.

Happy quilting Sue

Warm regards centre block finished

Last night I stitched the last two leaves on to the central applique block for my Kim Diehl Warm Regards quilt.  I have four other smaller blocks to complete that sit in the corners - the stems cross over from the central block to the corner blocks, hence those last bit remain unstitched for now.  

Not sure if I am going to piece the rest of the pieced blocks next, or keep appliquing.  The weather has turned wintery, so hand piecing seems appropriate, however my soul needs the therapy of mindless piecing.  

Happy quilting Sue.

Progress on Warm Regards

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In a last minute rush, before we left to go on holidays, I prepped some hand sewing and packed it into my checked luggage.  It came out once, but was not touched!  There was plenty of reading, just no stitching.  I am blaming the heat for my lack of action...sweaty fingers!  When we got home I had my monthly sewing group, it was a no brainer to pack the prepped Warm Regards blocks and the most progress was made on this corner block.  

Prior to going away I had made slow progress (one birds wing!) on my Warm Regards centre.  But I am also counting the purchase of this beautiful green fabric I brought online as "progress".  Yep I finally overcame my reluctance to buying fabric off the web.  I just had to have this "old" Judie Rothermel print,  for leaves on this central panel. 

First weekend back from our holiday, we had to go away to attend my husbands oldest niece's engagement party.  

There was hand sewing galore in the car and at my in laws, and I used all the prepped leaves, stems and baskets, plus stitched down the last pesky bird wing.  

So I am back to needing to prep more leaves and some more flowers :)

Happy quilting Sue.

First finish for the year!

I have been plugging away at the Warm Regards quilt, making the background blocks, here is my progress so far.

I have also started the applique in the centre block.  Just made the berries (took most of a day!) and have tried their placement here...which I haven't finalised,  I think I need to buy some applique glue, as an alternative to pins.  I am normally happy with pinning, but there are too many berries here that will move when I go to pin them one at a time.  

And after all that teasing, finally the reveal of my first finish for 2018!

I love a cheats finish...this was quilted by Vicki Jenkin, long arm quilter and she finished it after Christmas.  But then I had to put the binding on and to be really honest, the label is stitched down, but not written on!  I needed to find the name of the fabric line as well - so I could write the label!

But I though I wanted to use fabric line name, so I can give this quilt a name!  However it was a "Collection with a Cause Historical Blender" jelly roll from Moda, so not inspiring me at all.  The pattern is Vivid Grid by Sharon McConnell and was published in Quilts and More Spring 2017 edition, which I have made before, from my bright 2.5" scraps.  Think that I used a whole jelly roll and yardage of background fabric - a tan check.  I like the muted soft colours, but not sure who I am going to gift it to yet.

So quilt without a name, you are my first finish for 2018, lets hope there are more to come!

Happy quilting Sue.

Good bye 2017, welcome 2018!

I don't do New Years resolutions anymore, I dont allocate a word for the year coming and I don't pick a colour.  But I do make lists.  

Lists of quilts I would love to make and lists of what I have completed.  Then more lists, of projects half done and what I have to do to finish them.  I love lists so much, a friend gifted me a beautiful weekly organiser and to do list in matching stationary!

So here we go, the wish list for 2018; 

• A Plus quilt - I took a photo of at our quilt show last May.  As much as I would like to make it in scrappy backgrounds, I am lacking modern neutrals so I was going to make it in three colours, using the flannel I have in my stash. BUT I am hoping to get a roadtrip in to some patchwork shops soon, so I might come home with some modern prints that would suit this pattern.  We will see what takes my fancy!

• I have oodles of novelty fabric which I would like to use up.  I would like to buy a gender neutral bright print to use as the corners, like this photo I pinched off the web.

• I recently downloaded this pattern Moda Love LayerCake quilt.  A friend gave me a layer cake (partially used) which would make a nice bright quilt for a child/teenager and I like this easy but interesting pattern. 

• Tic Tac Toe quilt was on the list to make for 2017 and never got a look in.  Be nice to start it this year...finishing is another thing! 

• Sew Kind of Wonderful's pattern Urban Abacus was also on last years list to make, because I want to use my curved ruler again.  But again I would like to make this in modern prints, not my beloved reproductions.  So that shopping trip list is getting longer and longer!  

• Simply Friendships quilt book by Jo Morton and Kim Diehl was one of my birthday gifts and I have already started this quilt!  So it needs to go on the wish list - because I wanted to make it as soon as I saw it....and the starting happened before this post, so it still deserves to be on the list!

So that is plenty of dreaming about NEW projects I would like to start making, if I get just one started in 2018 I will be really happy! I know that I am setting the bar very low, but I do have two exciting holidays coming up this year, and it will impact my time for sewing.  So going to keep the list long, to give myself interesting options to choose from, but being realistic at the same time!

Happy quilting Sue. 

Quilters Harvest buying frenzy

 None of my usual retailing road trip friends were available for a quick shopping trip to Warracknabeal, but that was fine, as I had limited time to dally.  Off I headed to Quilters Harvest, a 45 minute drive away, to buy up at their sale.  While it is always nice to get a bargain, there was no celebrating, because no buyer for this lovely business :( means they are going to have to close the doors.  

 Toile, not normally high on my buying list, but my new book Jo's Little Favorites has a great mini pattern that uses a lovely red/cream fussy cut toile print.

 Ahh, all of these (except the toile) were just "because I love them too much to leave them in the shop"!  And without a doubt would kick myself if I had.  

 Yep not much excuse for buying these either.  Middle shirting and bottom print (a Kim Diehl),  I brought the rest of the bolt.  It was my plan to buy enough of one background to make a large Irish Chain, but alas there wasn't enough yardage.  Still they came home with me!

 Complete bargain (30 cm each of six prints) this roll of fabric, and l already had that bottom print in the other colour ways, so in the basket it went!

 More wool, baby measuring panel, neither of which I have a specific project in mind for.  Well I am going to make some Very Snuggle Quilts, but the panel may or may not work, as it is very narrow.    Oh but the red and white stripe, I did need that for last weeks binding of my mini spools.

 Progress shot of my completed Woolly Baskets wall hanging (by Dawn Heese of Linen Closet Designs).  The final border fabric was purchased in this same shopping trip.  So I guess there was a purpose to shopping frenzy after all!

I brought about four different fabrics, because I couldn't make up my mind, for a border print for this project.  But I cannot find the photo I took of them. Pink is not normally my thing, but trust me I brought a lot of pink on this trip.  

I ran out of shopping time, but as you can see I did try my best to help Del and Shirley out by reducing their stock.  Thanks for great customer service ladies, hope to see you "around the traps" in your retirement/new adventures.

Happy quilting Sue.

Two not quite finished finishes!

I finished the four stars from Kim Diehl's book "Simple Christmas Tidings"..

 

They are slightly addictive and I have more pieces cut out in different colours.  In the meantime the kids put up our Christmas tree, honesty there is not a spare branch on in it for another ornament!

I just need to add some perle cotton for hanging them...somewhere!





 

I finished this mini Dresden in reproduction fabrics some time ago.  Which I love on the linen.

I even hand quilted the top!



But I am not in love with the side join.  Hence it has not been on public display.  However recently I saw a pin cushion in this design with ruched sides.  So a new ruched side for this mini pillow/giant pincushion is on my "to do" list, after Christmas, while I am on holidays.

 Not in linen mind.  I have never heard of ruched linen.  But then again I have never ruched anything - gathered yes, but ruched no, so I am happy to be told different!

So there you go, two not quite finished projects!  I am running out of things to show you, must be time for a new project.  Oh that's right I am going on holidays soon....new projects started (not finished) are guaranteed!

Happy quilting Sue.



Log cabin from pre cut strips out of my stash

I am ashamed to admit there are no real progress photos of this quilt!  I needed a quick fix of mindless piecing and grabbed my box of  home made (using up stash) pre cut 2.5" strips.  I had a plan (e.g. pattern) for log cabins using red and green fabric with stars at the intersection of the blocks. I didn't give a lot of thought to contrast and therefore the original plan failed.  

 So I had to move to plan B, plain Jane log cabin blocks.  Well, first good friend Lisa came around and provided the motivation to make up a plan B!  Prior to that there was great temptation to stuff them in a corner and ignore them!  So first some unpicking.  And a bit of rethinking, but not too much!

 Some blocks are "red" and others "green", but in the end the mix works really well.  Mind you that blue/green strip sticks out more then you would think!  The blocks are suppose to be 12" finished but I had to trim them back a tad, so the flimsy comes in at 59" x 71". Not bad and I used up loads of scrap!

No border required, I am done with this top!  It might be pushing my luck, but hoping for a suitable backing in my stash!

Next: I made up these little stars, rotary cut (with a freezer paper template) and machine stitched.  The next step is backing, stuffing and a button is sewed in the center, hiding all imperfections ; )

I am hoping these can serve as cute Christmas Tree decorations - the pattern is from Kim Diehl's new book "Simple Christmas Tidings".  

Happy quilting Sue.

Stitching at Quilters Harvest

I have been stalking my next Kim Diehl book online and decided I would go for her new book, Simple Christmas Tidings.  But wanted to support my local quilt shop...so I asked Quilters Harvest to put a copy aside for me.  No point in getting this book FOR Christmas, I need it now, to make stuff!

It is full of good projects, but I cannot get distracted yet, I have to finish some of the things I started with Quilters Harvest Spring Sewing day!

 A day out with Lisa, meeting up with friends (new and old) at Quilters Harvest in Warracknabeal, is just what I needed!  The spring sewing day started out with a small gift, a lovely coffee mug, which I used all day!

 There was the usual goodie bag full of new patterns, all very stitchery focused.  I started off with this pattern, by Melissa Grant of One Day in May.  Can you see the tiny orange flower....it is double sided fused - totally raw edge, only held down by a few embroidery stitches in the center.

I did not think to take a hoop, but it didnt matter.  Melissa showed us how to make the tiny blue dots, and the orange flowers.  This is the embroidery for the needle book in the pattern.  I really need a stitchery roll, which is also in the pattern, but going to try and finish the needle book first!

This project (sorry no photo of finished item) is by Lisa Cantlay of Fig n Berry Creations and is going to be pin cushion and sewing pouch. There was lots of satin stitch in this project so I had a lesson on that from the tutor.  I have never mastered satin stitch, so was thrilled to finally get my skill set up to speed there.  And she showed me out to do colonial knots - I could never follow the diagrams in books, and stuck to french knots.  But I am true convert to the colonial knot now!

And then there was some shopping, one of Melissa Grants patterns, and two by Petals and Patches designer Leanne Knell that spoke to me!  Especially Tilly the turtle!

And the final bit of shopping was the linen here, which I need for my stash, no immediate use, just had used up what I had brought a few months ago.

Last but not least, my first gift for the day was this cute little needle book, all in repro fabrics from Mandy.  Very cute and very appropriate for the day!  I tucked all my threads in it carefully before we left, so I can continue my stitching....I did manage to finish some of last years projects, so my aim is to get these two done...probably over summer when its too hot to quilt. 

Happy quilting Sue.