Quick Fabric Delivery

When we returned yesterday yesterday, the UPS man delivered my fabric.com delivery.  I love the fabric I ordered.  I order small amounts of the Hoffman Royal Mendhi collection.  It really is prettier in person than on the computer.  I just sent another order in for some more of the Medallion Scroll Sapphire to be the backing.  Using an online coupon of course.  In the same delivery I received, I order a yard of the Moda Blush Red fabric to make binding for my Moday Blush Lap quilt.  I already created the binding last night.  I'll add it this weekend.  Well, off to more appointments.  Have a great weekend!!

 Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Slow and Steady Mock Cathedral Window Assembly

The mock denim cathedral window quilt assembly is a slow and steady process.  First I cut out the circles using my AccuQuilt Go out of the black denim.  Next, I cut out the batik squares for each circle, then cut out the fusible web for each circle.  Then I trim those batik squares again because I cut them all out too big.  

For assembly, I then attach the circles in a straight manner (not that easy).  Iron down the fusible web and batik squares and then finally sew down the circle flaps.  I'm just not that sure how big I want the quilt to be.  I love the color contrasts the batiks provide.  I may have to buy more black denim.  I'm leaving the last column open in case I want to make the quilt larger.   

Here's the progress over the last week.  In the last photo, our dog Mindy was out cold on the floor and I thought she needed a blanky.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt

I love watching all my favorite bloggers create their Sampler Quilts using different patterns.  I watch Anya at Hills Creek Quilter, Stephanie at A Ditchin' Time Quilts and Angela at Country Scrap Quilts create each of their unique Dear Jane Quilts.  They are all dedicated to completing their Quilts and it's great watching the progress.   I recently saw another type sampler quilt that I liked that was mostly pieced and I didn't see any applique.  I purchased the book and the companion EQ6 CD. 

So, I'll be reviewing it this weekend and deciding if I want to pursue the challenge or just use the great patterns and templates.  I'm pretty sure I won't be able to crank out a block a day, but, we'll see what I can decide upon.  It all depends on the long awaited test results for my husband's treatment that ended 3 months ago.  Who knew you would have to wait so long to be tested results.  Luckily, I have had crafting to keep me busy.  We'll take all the prayers you can send for clean results in the testing.  Hopefully, it's all gone!!

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Name that Stitch Issue - Dreaded UFO

In my last post I mentioned that I was finally working with my HQ16 and working on stippling.  On the last quilt, it was not obvious the stitch issues that were on the backing.  However, on this UFO practice piece, I can now see some issues I am having when I do some curves.  My guess is that I'm going too fast in my meandering and it can't keep up on the curves.  What do you think?  Maybe my bobbin tension needs tightened?  

Oh how I dislike this UFO.  Don't adjust your monitor, the colors are really orange, green, pink, etc...  The true colors are best seen in the first photo of the stitch issues.  It was a crazy quilt kit I got when I first started piecing quilts.  I figured it would be a good practice piece.  Not so much because I had difficulty following my quilting on the top with all the busy fabrics.  I'll donate it to our local animal shelter when the binding is added.  If you have any suggestions on my stitch issue, please let me know.  I appreciate your help!

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Blush Quilt Top Quilted

Yeah!  I finished the Blush Lap Quilt top using a stipple quilting design on the HQ16.  I used an all over stipple design.  I can see my stipple design getting better than dreadful.  It doesn't resemble a bunch of long fingers this time.  I used a variegated thread on the top and basic white in the bobbin.  I really like how on the back, the white just mixes in with the backing and you can't see my mess ups.  On the front, the pattern is so busy, you can't see the mess ups there either.  Now, I just need to determine the right fabric to use to make the binding.  If you click on the photo, you may be able to see my quilting.

I am just getting back into the grove of practicing on the HQ16.  When trying to stipple, I just have to keep telling myself, no straight lines.  We recently placed the HQ16 back on it's table.  We put the machine up in storage while we were away for DH treatment and regaining his strength.  I also quilted a UFO quilt I've had for a long time.  I'll show photos of that tomorrow, it was not as successful.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Dritz Petite Press Packs a Punch

I often thought about naming my blog the Gadget Girl.  I love gadgets and new things to try.  When I went iron shopping recently, I picked up a second iron.  I had a coupon and got it half off.  It was the Dritz Petite Press iron.    I like it better than the mini irons out there.  On the mini iron, I touched the metal bar and ouch that smarts.  This kind is covered most of the way.  It's large but small for tiny spaces too.  It has 4 different heating levels.  I was able to use this on my Mock Denim Cathedral Windows quilt when ironing down the batiks with MistyFuse.  It was great getting into the tight spaces.  It has a nice "kickstand" that keeps the iron high off of the table when not in use.  This will definitely be my go to iron for the little things.  Oh, and it has a great long cord.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Mock Cathedral Window Quilt - Progress Update

I had some time today to work a little more on the Mock Cathedral Quilt using denim circles and batik centers.  I started using Mistyfuse fusible webbing to iron down the batik squares each time I move to the next block.  It's working great so far and is not adding any extra weight to the soon to be heavy quilt.  I decided to do a single line thread side sew down instead of a zig zag stitch and leave a little edge in each flap to fray on the denim.  I love colorful quilts and I think this one will be very colorful.  Click on each photo for a better view.  On the back of the quilt, you can barely see the single line of black thread creating the circular sewing pattern.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Cheater Panel Pillowcases

It's time for me to continue on with my one a week pillowcase challenge.  However, I've been distracted with some spring cleaning lately.  Sometimes, spring cleaning is almost like going shopping.  You find things you forgot you had and it's like new all over again.  I found a whole bag of really pretty star cheater fabric.  I cut some in the size of a pillowcase.  I'm not sure if I want to use 1 and 1/2 stars and a solid border for the pillowcase or no solid border and use just the two stars.  I think I'll test out the 1 & 1/2 stars concept this weekend.  Maybe add a solid green accent strip too.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Pieced Backing - Vertical or Horizontal?

I've seen so many fabulous pieced backings out on blogs lately, I just had to try it.  For one purpose, it was because I didn't buy enough backing.  For another purpose, it was to add block fabric from the front.  In any case, I usually sit there for a while trying to figure out if I should go horizontal or vertical.  On the one where I did not have enough backing fabric, I had no choice but to go horizontal.  I worried the whole time that it would not be straight.  Luckily it worked out.  On the pink backing, I had a lot of blocks left over from the Blush Lap Quilt finished in February.  This one needs to be assembled with the quilt top yet.

What's your preference if you piece a quilt backing?  Is it to save on backing fabric or to use left over quilt blocks?  Do you randomly place them or go in a straight line?  Here's what I ended up with.

On the blue T-Shirt quilt backing, I added horizontal swimsuit blocks to the back and brought in border strips.

On the Blush Lap quilt, I'm going to go vertical with the pieced blocks.  I'm going to try and offset the front blocks strip to the left of the quilt top backing.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Denim Mock Cathedral Windows

I've always had in my mind that someday I would like to make a mock Cathedral Window quilt out of pre-cut denim squares I purchased many years ago on Ebay.  So, now with my AccuQuilt Go and the circle die, I've been going to town cutting the circles out.  I joined a few circles and it's not as easy as I thought.  However, I knew this is going to be one of those projects that takes a long time and you work on in between other projects.  So, here's some photos along the way.  The only thing I haven't decided yet is when I sew down the flaps, I'm either going to use zigzag to completely sew down, or come in a 1/4 inch with a normal stitch and let it fray like a rag quilt.  The side are not that big though so not much room for fraying.  As you can see, I'm also playing with my digital scrapbooking files.  Be sure and click on the photo for a better view.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

AccuQuilt Go has arrived

  My new toy, the AccuQuilt Go cutter has arrived.  That was quick!  It's relatively lightweight for what it does but pretty heavy when receiving the delivered package.  I immediately took it out of the box and started to test out the circle die.  Wow, that's fast and easy.  I am using denim for the circles.  I just did a few and then placed it back in the box for this weekend when I have much more time to play!  I did have one issue.  When you feed the die through, you are supposed to feed it on an angle.  I had too much of an angle and the die would not feed through, it hit the side.  So, I have to practice the right angle needed.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Do you know what these are used for?

These rolls of fabric (which I'm assuming is some type of binding fabric rolls) were found in a thrift shop for pennies.  I thought there has to be some use for them in quilt.  For the life of me, I can't figure out.  I'm assuming they are some type of binding.  However, the left most one has a pink edging on it that would be folded under if used on binding.  They are more of a satin feel.  The are also 4" and 6" wide so bigger than the standard 2.5" binding.  I just thought someone out there would know what their original use were for.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Simple Scrap Fabric Card

For the longest time, I have had the Creating Keepsakes fabric samples boxes from when I joined one of  their clubs one time.  I kept thinking there must be a way to use all these beautiful fabric samples.  Yesterday, I made this simple greeting card on double folded card stock.  The card size is approx 4.25 x 5.5 once I folded a simple 8.5 x 11 paper in half twice.   I simply used a bit of double sided tape on the center of each 1.5" fabric square and adhered them to the card stock.  They are not completely taped down, just the centers.  I printed out the small greeting on regular paper and used a glue stick to add it to the card.  For some reason, I like the fibers coming off of each square.  Now, based on the number of squares I have in these two boxes, I could be in greeting cards for a while.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Western Stars Quilt Completed with Bold Binding

During my weekend, I was able to finish up the Western Stars quilt by sewing on the bold binding.  I love it.  It adds just the right amount of color.  I liked the fabric so much, I went back to Joann's and bought more for any future black fabric quilts.  I love black with bright colors in a quilt so I'm sure I'll use for it in future as well.  I also have learned to love sewing down the binding.  It really goes fast when watching TV.  Here are photos of the finished quilt and the backing. As always you can click on the photos for larger views.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Batik Beauties - Block of the Month Catch Up

I recently stumbled across Shannon's (Pieceful Kwilter) Block of the month series.  I found it on block number 5 and decided to join in.  I had a boat load of batik smaller pieces (just a sampling in the photo) that I wanted to start using and thought this would be the perfect project.  Go wild, combine colors that I would not normally.  I finished all 5 blocks in 1.5 days, that's how much fun I had.  Unfortunately, I saw the layout last and I don't think I am interested in completing the applique center.  So, I might have to create all the blocks and then come up with some other type of layout.  Put your sunglasses on for these colors.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Bit the bullet - AccuQuilt Go

I have been toying with purchasing an AccuQuilt Go fabric cutter ever since I dropped my rotary cutter on my foot.  It happened so fast that I was thankful it did not do too much damage. So, I often watch second hand prices for the Go machines.  I'll admit the dies are expensive but once you have them, you are good to go.  I especially wanted the tumbler die!  I found a place that was having a 20% off sale (still on as of this writing).  I am not associated with them in anyway.  I just thought they had great prices.  They are RitzCamera.com and it's sister site ScrapbookingAlley.  Their prices were about the best I have come across in a while.  So, now I just wait for my machine and dies to get here.  Yeah!!

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Pillowcase Pile

I finished all my Navy/Blue/Green pillowcases using the hot dog method and french seams and that puts my total up to 14 completed so far.  I think I mentioned before that my goal is to make one pillowcase per week for the Million Pillowcase Challenge.  With that goal, I now have two weeks I can either sit back and relax or get ahead even more.  Time to find more fabric for the challenge.  The weather here is going to be close to 80 over the weekend.  Can't wait!

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~