Bloggers' Quilt Festival

Amy at Amy's Creative Side is hosting a Bloggers' Quilt Festival! I decided to show my quilt "Maple Leaf". It was made quite awhile ago from a pattern in Leisure Arts A Quilt for All Seasons.

I cut out hundreds of squares from as many different fabrics as I had. It was a Sunday and I realized I didn't have the right dark background fabric. A quick trip to Wally Mart I(the only store with fabric open on Sundays) and I thought I found the perfect one. NOT. I ended up cutting and sewing all the dark and colorful half square triangles I needed. Steamed them really really well (Yeah, I know better now!) and realized #1 - I didn't like the background fabric and #2  I had stretched some 1/2 square triangles and shrunk the remainder!

Several months later I started the quilt again, this time with a better background choice. Once I sewed everything together I decided that some points didn't match - so I put it away again. Months later I said I'm going to get that thing done! I added borders, quilted it and it is one of my favorite quilts that I've ever made. Now I try and relax a little with my quilting, and most of the time it's working. If things aren't perfect who cares? I for one have better things to do, like more quilting!

Be sure to check out all the other quilts here!

I Won!

The FMQ Challenge that I took part in finished up this week. I have FMQ Madness now. I find myself devouring books,  maniacally searching the web for anything to do on the subject, pouring through every magazine I own to see photos of the quilting on the quilts. I'm not sure there is a cure. I may have to go to my doctor for advice, but I don't know if that will help - she is a quilter too! 

I won 7 Fat quarters perfect for a Christmas Quilt!

The challenge was a wonderful experience. The combination of daily practice and all the encouragement I received from the other participants greatly improved my free motion quilting. If that wasn't enough, I also won one of the 2 prizes in the random draw! Joanne from Thread Head (she hosted the challenge along with Wendy from Inky Threads) dropped them off to my house just a few minutes ago! Thank you Joanne! It was wonderful to finally meet the person who's work I have been admiring for weeks now. 

I received a wonderful package in the mail on Friday. This cute pincushion and matching pin cushion ring!I participated in a pincushion swap that Linda from Quilt Cookies hosted. Thank you Linda! They are beautiful! I showed them to my guild members and they fell in love with the pincushion ring. I'm guessing there will be a few of them showing up at our next meeting! I hope my pincushion/needlecases arrive at their destinations soon.

closeup of pincushion/needlecase

Jaxi - Posted here just 'cause I love him!

FMQ Challenge

This week has been quite special. My dearest friend who has HAD cancer finished her last chemo treatment this week! Yippee! She's had almost  a year of radiation, chemo, surgery, chemo again,  and some really scary moments but things are looking up!

I've been working on my last week of the FMQ Challenge. I was given a small table topper to practice quilt on. It was already quilted in the ditch and bound, but not a favorite piece (no worries if I messed up!). It was nice to work on actual blocks, rather than just doodle pieces. A little shaky on my backtracking, but not bad.

The newest piece is just muslin. Maybe a pillow, or small centerpiece for my coffee table.

I like marking with the water soluble pen. Much easier to see,.

Everything looks okay. I even like the back, tension was pretty good! Then I saw....

Oh Pickles!

I thought it felt a little different in the corner, but I was determined to get it done tonite. Lessons learned: 1. if it feels different FIND OUT WHY!, 2. probably not the best idea to be quilting at midnight. Me and the frog are going to spend some quality time together.  The challenge is over tomorrow. I'm kind of sad. It's been a lot of fun. I may just have continue on my own!

Happy Stitching!
corina

I'm Back

I think I'm finally set up with the new computer. A few issues yet, like I can't find my bookmarks, email contacts, can't send email yet with my regular account. Oh, and blogger doesn't seem to have the blogs I'm following! Oh well, whatever I'm doing is faster now and that's a good thing!

Pincushion Swap

I made these needlecases for a pincushion swap. I know, not a pincushion right? Actually they are pincushions too. The monogram has 4 layers of batting underneath, therefore, a pincushion! The reason I made the pincushions this way was to get around size restrictions. Luckily I checked Canada Post for postage prices to the UK before I sent these off. Once the letter is over 2 cm thick, it is qualified as a small package and costs - get this - over $30! Anyway, I think my partners will be happy.

I tried out the pockets, but sent the case empty.

Free motion monogram

I wanted to post pictures earlier but wanted to leave some time for the needle cases to reach my swap partners.

FMQuilted and ready to be sewn

Time to post the last week of my FMQ Challenge. It's been a rather frustrating week with the whole new computer thing. after mine finally kicked up a really big fuss. It's taken days to find a computer, get it set up and home, and then to try and makes heads and tails of where everything is  I miss the familiarity of my old one, but not its' turtle like speed. Hopefully the learning curve on this one won't be too steep, I'd rather be quilting!!!

Happy Stitching
corina

FMQ Challenge Day 2 & 3

I tried a few fills yesterday and a small feather. I tried to remove the green chalk I used, but it just made a mess of things. I am going to get a wash away marker tomorrow!

 Today I worked on marked motifs. I found it challenging to follow the lines but I still enjoyed it. There are quite a few places where my stitches became very small - my brain couldn't handle 2 tasks at once! I noticed my shoulders and neck really tensing up, even after only a couple of minutes. Will definitely work on relaxing a bit.

 

My favorite flower. Next time will do bubbles (not brains) in the center!

I enjoy doing this fill.

The fabric is actually ivory muslin, not grey. Will try daylight pictures next time

This challenge has really pushed me to try things I don't think I would have done on my own, at least not anytime in the near future. I've received lots of encouragement which has helped tremendously to boost my confidence, so I thank everyone who has commented on my progress so far!

Happy Stitching
-corina-

Amazing Free Feather Motifs

I'm participating in The FMQ Challenge and was looking for designs when I found Forest Quilting..This website has the most beautiful feather motifs to print out. Pat Adams of Minnesota started the website and she offers paper piecing patterns, feather motifs and quilting patterns ALL FOR FREE.

I'm going to try a couple of her motifs tonight. I'll be posting my results tomorrow. I hope I can do her patterns justice!