Monday, 30 April 2012

Design Wall - Monday

Another week has gone by, times does really fly and sometimes sewing gets a little behind. Well, this week I finished my Summer Breeze table runner. At first I ,meant to use a lot of pinwheels and I started making them, but then...I made a mistake and instead of a Pinwheel I got a Broken Dishes block. Well let's unpick the thing. No, no. the block looked so nice that i decided to change to broken dishes instead of pinwheels


So here it is: My table runner. I love this line of fabric. It came from the Stitch Sanctuary, a great on line store, I love the blues and yellows.


I'm still working on my Granny Squares, I've made four thie past week and I've only more four to go


Last but not least I'm thinking about making myself  a Double Wedding Ring quilt. I've searched the net for information and I still don't know what the best method  or pattern to use. If any of you already made one give me l piece of advice. Should I choose foundation piecing or traditional piecing. What kind of templates to use? I've made a little sample using the foundation piecing method bur I'm a bit lost.
It's a big project and I wouldn't want to make a mess out of it.
Forgive me the poor photos, it's the sun reflection through the windows that caused the spots on the photographs. My fault, of course.

Friday, 27 April 2012

Vote for my quilt, please.

This week I've entered Quilting Gallery's "Wall Hangings Contest". It's my first contest ever. There are 59 entries from 13 countries but I'm the only portuguese.
I've entered my New York Beauty " Sunshine".


I would very much appreciate if you would vote for my quilt. To  vote just go HERE.
Thank you  very much,my quilty friends.
                                         
              

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

WIP Wednesday


This week was a bit slow. I had many chores pending and the sewing got behing. Nevertheless I still have something to show.

Completed Projects:

My Penelope's Paradise Quilt top is finished. I managed to do a piano border and I think it looks fine. At least Blackie does




New Projects:
I've started a new table runner. I'm using Summer Breeze II , that Linda from Stitch Sanctuary so generously sent me. It's a lovely line of fabric in blues and yellows with a hint of green.
I'm doing a pinwhell runner so I've startes with my pinwheels


I've sewn together 60 pairs of 5" squares to make the pinwheels. I'm using the fast pinwheel method

      Join together two contrasting squares, right sides facing and sew all over around with a 1/4" seam
    Cut the squares diagonally twice
 You'll end up with 4 HST
 And...Voila! A fast pinwhell
Only more 59 to go. LOL!!!


On Going Projects:
I'm still making Granny Squares for my quilt, I think I only have four left to make ( five, really one is only a bunch of cut pieces).

That's all for this week, hopefully I'll be back next week with some more projects. In the mean time link up with Lee at Freshly Pieced and enjoy everybody's projects.

Monday, 23 April 2012

Design Wall Monday - Quilting maths is a hard task

Today on my design wall I have my Penelope's Paradise quilt. The top is finally finished. Last week I sewed the inner border and asked for some advice about making a pieced outer border. I decided to make a piano border but...Quilting maths is no walk in the park. I had never made a pieced border before and it was quite a challenge.

It's not perfect but I'm quite happy with the final result

I have to thank Heather from Lark Cottons, she is my sponsor and the fabrics came from her online shop. She has a new website and she's offering a 10% coupon until the end of the month. Visit her store and you'll love the wonderful selection of fabrics she carries as well as a great costumer service.


I also made two more granny squares, I've made 14 and only have more six to go
Share the projects you have on your design wall linking up with the lovely Judy at Patchwork Times.

Sunday, 22 April 2012

Lark Cottons has a new website!!!

My Penelope's Paradise Quilt is almost done but that wouldn't be possible without the help of the lovely Heather from Lark Cottons.


Lark Cottons is one of my beloved sponsors and all the fabric in the quilt came from her online shop.

By the way...Have you  already visited Lark Cottons new and improved website?
http://LarkCottons.com


It provides the same great costumer service and has lots of new features:

Fabric is now sold in 1/4 yard increments, with fat quarter cuts available at no additional charge.  (must add to cart via individual product page to get FQ option box)
Shop by color, theme, and fabric type in addition to the typical manufacturer, designer, and collection.
Wish List - use to save favorites or see several fabric choices together on the same page
Fabric Cut discounts:
 - purchase 3 yards or more of a single print and receive 10 cents off per yard.
- after cumulative purchases of 40 yards, receive 10 cents every yard.  (in addition to three yard discount)
Customer Appreciation Reward - 
- receive a coupon code worth $20 for every $200 of accumulated purchases.

Heather is also offering a coupon code for 10% ( code = SEWON) and a free FQ with purchases of one yard or more. This offer is good through the end of the month.

Don't miss it, click on my Lark Cottons button on the top of my right side bar and enjoy yourselves shopping the most wonderful fabrics. Trust me, you'll love Lark Cottons as much as I do.


Wednesday, 18 April 2012

WIP Wednesday

Another week has gone by so quickly. It was a good sewing week with lots of work done

FINISHED PROJECTS:

Sweet Summer Cottage
I finally finished my hexie quilt. I began it last Summer, it was a very challenging project which involved about 540 hand sewn hexies.


SWAPs AND PIFs :
I love swapping and this past week-end I worked in some swap projects and also made some stuff for my PIF recipients

A Mug Rug


Two pillow covers


ON GOING PROJECTS:

Penelope's Paradise

The inner border in on. Now I'm thinking about a pieced outer border. What do you think? I'm opened for any suggestions, please fell free to give them to me.


Granny Squares Quilt

My squares are growing slowly, here's another one

 That's it for this Wednesday, but if you would like to check on more great sewing projects just link with Lee at Freshly Pieced and join the fun

Sunday, 15 April 2012

Pay if forward update

Last December 2011 I entered a Surprise pay it forward. I've got two recipients so far, would you like to be the third? Hurry then, leave me a comment on this post and you can be my third lucky recipient!


SURPRISE PAY IT FORWARD
I have spotted this great idea on Tanya's blog Wee Little Birds for a surprise pay it forward. This is how it works.


I will send a surprise gift to the first three people to comment on this post. This gift will be made by me and I will send it sometime within the next year. Exactly when you will receive it will be a surprise (it will probably be a surprise to me too :-D).
Of course there are some rules in this game. Here it goes:
Rules:1. I will make a little something for the first 3 people that comment on this post. It will be a surprise and may arrive at any time in the next 365 days (yes, a year).
2. To sign up to receive a gift from me you must play along too. Share the giving love on your blog by promising to send a handmade goodie to the first three people that comment on your blog post.
3. You must have a blog.
4. After commenting on my post, you have to post this (or similar) on your blog to spread the love.  If you haven't posted in 48 hours then the next commentor will be chosen.

Hugs,
TERESA

Saturday, 14 April 2012

At last I'm finishing my quilts!!!

I love to cut, sew and make quilt tops but then they go into the UFO cupboard and they stay there for quite a while.
This year I made a kind of new year's decision. Try not to star a project unless I finish some old ones.
Last week I finished the "Pas de Deux" quilt and today I have another finish! It's my very own version of Aunt Sarah's quilt and I'm calling it "Sweet Summer Cottage".


 I began this quilt last Summer and it was so much fun to sew all those hexies. I counted them and If I didn't make a mistake there are 540 little hexies in my quilt.



I love making hexies so I think this won't be my last hexagon quilt.

Wednesday, 11 April 2012

WIP Wednesday - Granny Squares

This week I have only one WIP to show. It's my granny squares. I've made 12 but I think I'm going to do some more

 I have been working in other projects but I can't show them yet.
I'm linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced, join the fun!

Monday, 9 April 2012

Design Wall Monday - Pas de Deux

This week I have ti show you my "Pas de Deux" quilt. It's finally quilted and bound. It's now hanging on my living room wall.
I tend to make the quilt tops but then I take ages to quilt them. I only have a domestic sewing machine and in Portugal I don't know any long arm quilters. As a result I have many quilt tops waiting in line but his week end I got brave and quilted this one.

 I'm linking with Judy at Patchwork Times.

Saturday, 7 April 2012

QBSA- April blocks for Brenda in the U.S.A.


My april partner is Brenda from the U.S.A. She requested Storm at Sea or a Log Cabin in blue and brown. After checking  the first block pattern i decided to make the Log Cabin


Two days later I thought... I'm being silly. Maybe it's a difficult one but al least I should give it a try.
It took me almost all afternoon to paper piece and sew all the parts together. It's not a perfect block but I fell good for having the courage to try. I just hope you like your blocks Brenda


Friday, 6 April 2012

It's Finished!!!


Last night I stitched Blakie's name on his quilt and today I sandwiched and quilted it. It's officially finished!

 I used a double batting to give the quilt a softer touch, almost like a pillow.


 The expert quilter is making an inspection. Maybe looking for faulty seams

         Trying it to see if its soft enough

 I think he liked it...

Thursday, 5 April 2012

Update - Blackie's quilt


Today I made the applique on Blakie's quilt. All the puppys are in place and I used the raw edge technique. Tonight I plan to stitch his name on the central square and tomorrow I'll try to quilt it.

Wednesday, 4 April 2012

WIP Wednesday

Blackie is my nine month old mini Scnauzer. He came to live with our family just seven months ago but he is a family member now.








I know he is not a real baby but we decided he needed his own quilt. In the winter he had a fleece blanket. it was very warm and soft and he loved it but now the Spring days are getting warmer and the blanket is too hot for him.

 I began Blakie's Quilt on Tuesday . The top is almost done, I only have to make some applique puppys to put on the light squares, as well as his name.

I think he's gonna love it!

Today I'm also linking uu with Lee at Freshly Pieced and see more Works In Progress.

Monday, 2 April 2012

Design Wall Monday - Penelope's Paradise

This week I made some advances on my Penelope's Paradise quilt. I assembled the two halves and sewed the flowers stems. The dresdens aren't sewn yet because I think I'm hand stitching them. Now I have to think about the way I'm doing  the borders. I'm accepting any tips or ideas cause I'm a bit uninspired today. Fell free to give me some advice.


If you'd like to check on more project, just link with Judy at Patchwork Times.