Wow! It is already the last week of October. The month has flown by and not a lot of sewing has happened.
My last post I spent a lot of time talking about my fourth quarter goals. Now with October quickly coming to a close, those goals sound extremely ambitious. One of my distractions was attending PIQF 2019 in Santa Clara, CA this year. I usually attend my with my long time friend Mary Elizabeth Bellizzi @craftyme2018 . The last few years we have been meeting up with Toni & Teri (sisters) and their friends. Over the years we found ourselves in the same class. So the last two years we actually planned on being in the same class as well as having lunch and dinner together. Fun! Love meeting up with quilty friends.
I had hockey grandma duty Wednesday night so missed out on the opening night walking the show floor without the crazy crowds that are ever present on Thursday. We only had an afternoon class on Thursday, so I got to visit the showroom floor looking for wool vendors. I gathered a few cards as well as a few items $$$$. You may have noticed that I have slowly been getting into wool applique with the wooly mug rug series. What a great way to open the door to a new (for me) tangent on quilting. Love how easy wool is to work with and the vibrant colors.
That afternoon found us in Julia Larina ‘s Quilt that Shape class on Innovo long arm. I’m not a fan of the machine but it was an awesome chance to get someone else’s take on free motion quilting and ruler quilting. It was all about breaking down bigger shapes into smaller manageable shapes. Here are a few samples from our class.
Friday found us in this cool thread painting class with Joyce Hughes working on a raw edge Sunflowers with a vase. This was our group class this year. We had a lot of fun working on it. It was a new experience working with thread to cover the raw edges of the applique. Then adding highlights to the flowers and leaves. Here are some pictures below.
Saturday Mary Elizabeth and I took a hand sewing class on Japanese Boro with April Sproule. I wanted to learn how to layer fabrics and finish off for mending my jeans. April explained about different fabrics and what works well with this technique and doesn’t work. I have a book call Mending Matters and I just wasn’t getting the technique. Now I need to try again before I forget. Here is my class sampler.
Sewing on the Go
Ruby’s Flower Garden Quilt (EPP)
Since I have been on the go more than home, I have made some nice progress on Ruby’s Garden quilt. I finished my first diamond and started the next one. I have glue basted two more already. I order some liberty fabrics. The first batch I received doesn’t seem like it will go well with the quilt. I will set aside and as I add more flowered diamonds, we will see. I realized that the first four colors I cut were are aqua and cream. I need to mix it up and so some of the other colors – quick.
I also found the perfect background fabric blender to show off my diamonds. Comparing my quilt diamonds to Grandma Ruby’s – she definitely was a bright color girl. I have 79 more diamonds to pick colors for. I will have to up my game to match up with Grandma’s.
Farmers Wife 1920’s Quilt (EPP)
Since my on the go has been more about quilting and not hockey, I have not progressed much with this epp project. I did finish block 32 but have not taken the picture yet. Since I am in Vegas at a hockey tournament, I can’t take the picture yet. Have no idea why I never took it when I finished. Anyway, I am working on block 33 and I will definitely finish this soon. I have finished putting together the first half and the second half is almost done. Then just got to put the two halves together!
Just in case, I already glue basted blocks 34 & 35 and brought 36 to be glue basted. 36 will be my first all yellow block! Can’t wait to see it done. But it has tons of little pieces. The other two should go quickly. Should have a nice update next time.
Halloween Hexies (EPP)
I finished putting together my Halloween hexies to make a set of potholders and mug rugs. I did two different sizes. One is 3/4″ and the other is 1″. I am excited about finishing those up this week. Just need to be home to do it. These will be my first finished epp project. I have decided to take the papers out before appliquéing to the black background. Currently I am think the mug rugs will be round and the potholders will be square.
Other October Projects
When I have had time to sit at my machine, I have been pushing to finish my Halloween placemats. I have been quilting a loopy meander with pumpkins thrown in. I am on my last placemat. Next up will be trim and bind. Question is, will I be done before Halloween!? LOL! This is my one monthly goal this month. Speaking of goal, I have yet to have a #onethingwithAmy finish this month.
The two Halloween wall hangings are in the same state as last post. They are fused and layered, ready to be machine appliqued. I have literally done nothing on them. I need to get my new Tula Pink Bernina machine setup so I can do applique at same time I am doing free motion. Time. I just need more time.
The last two Halloween projects – Easy Pieced Table Runner and Wooly Mug Rugs haven’t even traced the pieces. I have found all the fabrics, so that is a plus! I have debated on skipping to the November projects, but I don’t think I will. Those Thanksgiving placemats will have to be next year.
On The Sewing Table
#365blockchallenge
I finished my last block which I showed you last time. I haven’t cut the next couple of blocks. On my list.
#QP2019Sewalong
Need to pull out this month’s blocks when I get home and get those sewn. Shouldn’t take long. Wow! I haven’t really pieced anything since I finished the #100days100blocks challenge. Need to get my grove moving along here.
Well it is time to get ready for our first hockey game. Have a great day!
Peggy Stockwell
The Halloween wall hangings are adorable!
Thanks Sarah. They are fun!