peeks out...

....the shutters and sometimes he speaks and tells ho(w)

This is what I had embroidered on Vega's quilt....more to come tonight.  I have been focused elsewhere the last few days, soon my house will be back in order and I can focus on my projects again!

For now enjoy a few pictures of a quilt I made for one of my best friend's.  It took almost 4 years to complete, but it is pretty amazing.  These are not great shots, but the others had my daughter in them and well you know my rules of public blogging.  Enjoy and I'll be back to pictures of current projects soon. 

May be not....

I may be putting a new back onto the Crown quilt.  We'll see what Mary decided when she sees it, I am very nervous about the whole thing.  It became sort of like making something out of paper towels, actually what the Crown fabric felt like by the end was exactly what Color Catchers feel like after the wash.  I have always wanted to do something with those but never knew what, but I digress.

It was not victory when I posted it was done....I knew that.  It is what happens when you jump in with 2 feet blind to use a fabric you are not familiar with when you are spoiled with snotty quilt store fabric (I mean that in the most loving way, as I often refer to myself as a snob about several alright many things in my life and fabric is one of them).....but I learned things as I went that I can use later if I ever want to do anything like this again.

I am back to working on Vega's quilt right now.  Today on top of much cleaning that I accomplished I have embroidered ....he peek...ad part of the s today.  Tomorrow will be another cleaning day, Sunday too.  We will see what I accomplish then.  More pictures tomorrow, come back and check them out!

Declaring concession!

Not victory, not defeat just conceding that it is done!  

I have learned many things with this quilt...and for the first time where I think it will need it...I am also giving it a replacement guarantee....when it wears out (and it will) I will make a second one for just the cost of parts.  

This the back, I ran out of the purple and had bought all that Jo Anns had....oops, plus I had more squares then I thought and wanted to make it bigger.  So I used more of the (originally) off white flannel, and this is how it ended up being pieced.

What I learned about using Crown flannel bags for a quilt, and what will go into any future one that I do....

1) prewash, probably more then once with many color catchers and nothing else.

2) use a fusible interfacing at least, may be even a fusible web and felt to stabilize the flannel.

This part was actually more of an issue then the color bleeding. It seemed that every time I finished one step I had to go back and redo something that had pulled loose on the step before.  I realize that I may not have perfect seam allowances but I gave them plenty of extra space to avoid this!

As I said I learned as I went...this is what happens when you jump in head first without a pattern or instructions and just do!  

Anyone ever done something like this?  Thoughts? ideas? Comments?!

Vega's Quilt

This is where I am on Vega's quilt.  It is nearly to the corner, and then only one side left.  ANother reason I really want to get the Crown quilt done.  After this one I have a slight quandary, I have 2 cousin's who are expecting their first babies.  Ok so far I have not made quilts for my cousins' babies, that said I have quilts to finish for my 4 children.  So which do I do?  I am trying to figure out a way to get both done.  It is part of why I am doing such tiny steps toward getting big projects done.  Like weaving a little a day, or the yoyos I do while waiting.  

I have big plans for somedays...someday I want to be able to do craft shows and have an Etsy shop.  Just enough to feed my own fabric stuff and may be get to buy some presents for my husband....and ok maybe some things for me too, you know big dreams....books, Vera Bradley, Doc Martins.

Have a great night, and stop back again.

Trimming

That is it for today...trimming of the crown quilt.  I'll post a new picture when it is completed.  I am going to work on Vega's quilt for a while before bed.  

The quilt is my niece Lilia's.  It was not quite done in this picture, but you sort of get the idea.  This was the first quilt that I used Crayola washable markers to mark the quilting lines.  Trust me I prayed hard that it would come out and you know what...they did and have every single time I have used them.  This was a really cool quilt pattern, but ever single piece was a bias seam so seriously I had to quilt it flat!  The back has lilies of the valley on it.  Hope you have a great weekend!

Crown Quilt

This is a quilt that I am making as a commission for my sister in law's brother in law....got that.  My husband's sister's husband's brother, commissioned by his fiance for Christmas.  It is made with Crown Royal bags and some other flannel.  

Oh and by the way that is a Monster High rag doll (the werewolf one) on the quilt.  

I am making it in the rag quilt style, this is my first attempt and I am learning as I go.

These are the color catchers that I used in the wash, but it was not enough....I should have prewashed.  It is done.  Color Catchers work quite well, as you can see they just only hold so much!  I always use them when ever I wash a quilt for the first time.  They are one of my cheater quilt bits of nonquilt stuff I use.

It needs much trimming and I am going to get some more thread and stitch down the gold parts.  As I said I am learning.  It will be done no later then Wednesday so that my In Laws can drive it to Indy instead of me having to ship it.  But notice that it is sort of lavender not so much off white anymore.  My husband says he likes it better, I hope Mary and Brandon do!

Have a great night and I hope to post some more soon.

No pictures

I have no current project pictures, sorry....I will finish the Crown quilt tomorrow.  Then I will post it.  I have a tee shirt to paint before Saturday too.  It will get done, my house will be more of a wreck...but it will get done.  Hopefully within the next couple of weeks I will be able to baste Vega's quilt!  That will be great pictures too!

Be Bold!  Be Brave! Be Amazing!

     Simon Work of Art

Today

This is what the tree looks like today.  I nearly have it appliqued down.  Next I will have to move some of the birds.  I was hoping to get the embroidery done by the shower, that is so not happening!!  But it is half done, so that is something!  Next will be the Crown quilt.  Tomorrow I am buying the stuff for a rag quilt for my dad for Christmas...yep I am a bit nuts but it is what I do.  Now if I can just figure out something amazing for my husband!  Have a great night!  Enjoy your Thursday....I have a whole list of what I need to accomplish and very little of it has anything to do with this project, or any project.  I guess being a stay at home mom means less stay at home artist really.  

Tree!

The tree is coming along great! It is taking a long time, but it will be done by the weekend!  This is the last picture I have for now.  This was before it was pieced and basted.  SOme of the birds will need to be moved, good thing they were just basted too!  I'll post more tomorrow....be patient please, thanks!

Swerve!

That is the direction I took this in last night!  And I am so incredibly excited about it.  Here is the only place you will see these pictures, because I am going to have the new idea done enough that it will be amazing at Vega's shower next Saturday....wish me luck!

So far I have removed the pieced squares, and took them apart.  Carefully, so I can reuse them.  The new plan is to piece a tree to have the birds in and around.  It is going to be amazing!  COme back and check in tomorrow to see the progress. I have drawn the tree but I have not taken a picture yet.  I will iron the pieces and lay out a few squares and then begin piecing.  At least by next Saturday I can have the tree basted down to the center.  For the first time in this project I am excited about this quilt in a real way.  I bough the batting for it today as well.  Hopefully by Thanksgiving I can be quilting it....starting to formulate those ideas as well.  Let me know if you have any thoughts as to what some quilting designs could be.

Vega's quilt

Inspiration nursery

This is how I add embroidery to most quilts I do, most often with  a song, poem or part of a kids book.  I always write both in the embroidery and on the label where the words came from.

These are the birds that I cut out from print outs from the pictures that my sister emailed.  Then I traced them on 2 fabrics with Washable Crayola markers.  Which are my favorite marking tool!  I buy several thin sets at back to school time and I use them until they wear out then I toss them.  Much cheaper then the markers that I have bought at quilt stores.  And I have had no trouble with them washing out either.   But that is my personal experience only.  

Next I cut them out and basted with water soluble thread, sometimes I use water soluble glue to attach them.  This time I will be using safety pins....the economy you know, and I don't want to spend as much as it would be with shipping to just order the glue.  I have not needed enough to place an order for enough things to buy the glue either.  Unfortunately the 2 specifically quilt stores and one thread and sewing machine shop and the multipurpose fabric store closest to me do not carry the glue.  I wish that washable school glue worked that way but it does NOT!! It only washes out while it is still wet.  I have used the glue sticks, but I don't like them as much as the liquid....again just my personal experience!!

So that is my current project...enjoy and come back to see other stuff that I have done and will do!

Current project

This is the quilt I am working on.  It is for my sister's daughter who is expected in January.  We as a family refer to her as Vega, though that is not going to be her name.  But for here it is probably what I will refer to her as.  So far it also has the Lorax (well part of it) on the border that I am embroidering.  Also I have birds to applique as well.  I will probably cut and baste the birds this afternoon, so check back in there may be another post before the day is out.

I also have several other things going, so stop back in and check to see what new thing I share!