I can't do random !

I learned something about myself today....I am not good at "random" !
I started this morning working on the backing for the Strata quilt. I decided to leave it the size that it is, and use it as a wall-hanging in my sewing room.

I wanted to use some of the scraps  for the backing because I did not have a big enough piece and thought that I could use up the left over fat quarters, left over Strata blocks and bits. Well, it took me ALL day!! I kept arranging and rearranging!!  ...cut the fat quarters into smaller pieces....

sewed them back together.......rearranged some more.....

I know....they look just about the same! I just couldn't help myself.  I think I must be obsessive/compulsive or maybe it is just the Virgo in me??? Even the random had to have some symmetry to it !!

Then a little voice in my head shouted...This is enough!!  This is the BACK of a WALLHANGING !!! So I just started sewing the bits together.....

WHEW!!  At least I got it finished and layered and pinned......which should have been done by about 11 o'clock this morning LOL !

Maybe after all that I will need to use it as a throw on the couch for awhile, so I can at least enjoy looking at the back sometimes.:)

Jersey Boys

We have just returned from a quick road trip to Las Vegas to see Jersey Boys.

The show was fantastic! I have not spent a lot of time in Vegas before, and don't enjoy gambling...(could be spending that money at the quilt store !!!) so did not try out the casinos.....although you have to walk through them to get anywhere in all the hotels! Actually that is not quite true.....I spent $3 on the slot machines!! I know, I am a big spender.....it was gone in about 30 seconds!  Quite and experience.

Anyway, we are back to our place in Phoenix, and the weather is cool and windy, so hope to get some sewing done : )

StrataVarious

I found this book in a quilt shop the last time I was here in Phoenix...

I really liked the look of these "strata" quilts, and had never tried this before...

So , I started one! That is my "finish" project for the next week.  I used a fat quarter bundle of Stonehenge by Northcott. I really liked the rich but muted colors.

For once, I did follow the pattern !! You start by cutting strips of various widths, 1 inch to 2.25  inches, then sew them in color order and cut into 6.5 inch blocks.

Then you cut each block on the diagonal....being sure to cut half in each direction.

Then picking one from each pile, match them up and sew the diagonal to create a "corner" block.

Because the strips are a variety of widths, they don't match up ...although in this picture they look like they almost do !

Then start the jigsaw puzzle of putting them together...

(on the floor)



I had a bit of a problem with the blocks that had 4 points meeting in the center. It got very thick with all the fabric and seams.  It helped to trim the seams a bit and then be extra sure that the seams were pressed in opposite directions.  A couple of the centers are not lying completely flat, so I may try pressing it again or maybe restitching that part. I think where it is very thick it may have kicked over just a bit as I was sewing over the thickest part.

All and all, it turned out OK. It is only about 40" x 40" though. I am not sure if I should make some more blocks and make it bigger or just be happy that it fit together HaHa.??
 Also not sure about a border?? The book did not use one, but it might look more finished??

It's cactus time!

We are spending a couple of weeks down in Phoenix, Arizona (actually in Fountain Hills). So we have gone from this......

to this.....

It sure is a nice break!  (no that is not our place.. we have a condo!)
I do have a sewing machine down here too, so I feel right at home. I must admit though, I have not yet had any time to sew!  We have been enjoying the nice weather here, lots of walking, golfing and visiting!
But....I did make it to the quilt store here.  I have promised myself that I am not going to start anything new until I get some things finished.....but that doesn't mean I cant buy the material, right??? The prices are so reasonable here compared to Canada, and they had a whole table on sale for $4.99/yard!  How could I not buy some??

I bought some backing for a couple of quilts that I have started at home (that really isn't buying something new...is it?)

I also bought some  material to make a quilt for my son. I will be taking this home to start later  :)
Not exactly sure what I am going to do, but have a couple of ideas..we will see what it ends to be later!

Then...I fell in love with these soft pinks! So I had to get some. I think I will try a Dresden Plate. I have seen so many of those on other blogs lately and love them. I picked up a "Dresden Plate Express" ruler....hope that helps ???!!! But that wont get started for awhile either. ...promise !

Snowshoes??

Well, I thought that I would start small on my quest to finish some of my unfinished work. So I picked a table runner.

I started this as part of a class that I took at Periwinkle Quilting. I forget what it was even called, but they are like Kaleidescopes. I thought this would be a good place to start my free motion practice. I did echoing along the straight line triangles.....

and then meandering around on the Kaleidescope parts, but you cant really see that.  Then I tried feathers along the border....I think they look more like someone walking in snowshoes......maybe I should just call it "Snowshoes" and pretend that is what I meant it to look like!! :) I see all the beautiful pictures on other blogs...guess I just need more practice??

Then for the binding!  I really liked the tutorials by Monika at My Sweet Prairie...there is one in the "Tips for Tuesdays" and then the "Binding 1-2-3".  I don't think I am ready yet to try a bias binding so just wanted to keep it simple.  Then I saw a tutorial by Rita at Red Pepper Quilts,  and she shares my dislike for hand stitching so machine stitches her bindings. She explains this all very clearly.

I started as usual, sewing the raw edge on the front, and pressing it to the back.

Then, pinned through the seam line on the front...... (sorry, the poppy is on my ironing board cover....bad picture)

being careful to catch the binding on the back.

Then, stitching very carefully in the ditch, on the front, sew the binding on.

I did botch (is that a quilting term??) one corner, but hand stitched it down after.

It is a bit uneven in places but I was pretty happy with the end result.  You can see the snowshoes better on the border here!!

I know this is not the proper way to finish a binding but I liked it because:

• I am lazy
• It means I don't have to do it by hand (did I mention that I am lazy)
• It is finished ! and otherwise would sit for another couple of months waiting for me to get the hand stitching done. 

I promise...I will learn to do them properly....baby steps!
But this is finished!! Yeah !

I really can finish something !!

Well the I Spy quilt is finished....and even before the actual birthday !!
I got the binding on, no problem...well, maybe a couple of little problems, but did OK.

For the back I used Dinosaurs! She loves dinosaurs right now, and it is flannel so really cozy too.

It is bright and pretty! My 25 year old daughter and her husband were over the other night and they had a lot of fun playing with it...I think they want one too !! HaHa!

OK, now I really am going to try to finish some of the other projects. I know that I will be tempted and find it  easier to start something new because now I am going to try my hand at free motion quilting ....and that is kind of scary! But here goes !! (maybe)

I Spy Progress

I am making progress on this little I Spy Quilt. Maybe it will even be a "finish" for me !!
I laid out all the blocks and shuffled them up a bit. I tried to both scatter the color as well as not have 2 "Pooh's" etc together. Then I stacked up the rows, and even numbered them to try to keep them organized.

But needless to say when I got it sewn together.....there they were...2 Sesame Street blocks side by side!! Oh well, she is only 2 years old, so wont notice!  And maybe that can be part of the game....to find the mistake !  HaHa!

It is about 40" x 50" I still have to add the binding.....good thing that Monika over at  My Sweet Prairie has binding as her topic for her Tips for Tuesdays!  Thank you Monika!!

This is my favourite block....

Or maybe this one???  I love that little turtle and octopus!! I brought them home from Maui :)

Well, I had better get moving and get working!  I could have finished it instead of talking about it !!