This past week I finishing a lot of odds and ends projects. So now I can start something new. Once I somewhat clear the clutter, I found a project that I purchased some time ago and just set aside. It is a paper pieced project, and I really do like that process.
I got the first block done. So nice when all the pieces come together perfectly. The beauty of paper piecing.As you can see I have a ways to go with this one. I bought the fabric kit with the pattern. It came with a lovely assortment of pretty batiks, but I just couldn't help myself and threw in a couple more pink fabrics from my stash.I do have the second block's pieces cut out so ready to start with another block.
I finished my Happy Trails charity quilt last week. This pattern used up a good deal of accumulated scraps, but was a real chore. I am glad to have finished it and get it turned in and be done with it. I have often said I am not a free motion quilter. Well, my table runner from last week's blog had to be quilted so I figured I just had to get over it and do it. I did cheat a little. I used a template to draw the stipple on my quilt, but once I had that in front of me I got going. It is not perfect, some irregular stitches and a few turnings with a point rather than a curve, but all in all unless you really get down there and look for them things look pretty good. Saturday was our guild's National Quilt Day meet up. About 20 of us showed up and made a lot of pillowcases for the Madera California Children's Hospital. This is an annual event and we contribute about 125 every year. We have a great time and even do a salad potluck lunch.
Happy Trails is beautiful as is your first Flower Power block...pretty pink. How wonderful to take part in that stitching day to make pillowcases for a hospital. What kind and generous people you all are!
ReplyDeleteFlower Power is going to be a fun project, This pink fabric you added is lovely and I love FPP too ;) Well done on the finishes, your free-motion quilting looks very good with the happy little flowers. Gifting pillowcases is a very good idea, and very generous of you ladies.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, and linking up!
Thank you very much. For some reason comments are not going to my email. So having to reply this way. I did add some fabrics to the fabric kit I purchased with the pattern. More fabric always better.
DeleteOh, yes, I can see why you're pleased with this first block! What a fun quilt that will be! Your Happy Trails is also so pretty. The white gives the eye a place to rest after enjoying such lovely spring time prints. :) Your quilting is so pretty! No quilt police here! The kiddos are sure to love their pillowcases!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much. Always a fun day making pillowcases.
DeleteYour paper piecing block looks gorgeous, just perfect!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd the quilt for donation is a fun one and looks great.
For some reason comments are not going to my email. Thank you so much. I was very pleased with the paper pieced blocks, it really came out perfectly with all those areas that have to be matched.
DeletePillowcases for the children's hospital is a great idea. I've got instructions for a burrito style pillowcase, but have yet to try it, I'd like to make some for the Foster Hope charity I support.
ReplyDeleteYou can never improve your skills unless you try to improve. And, unless you are entering a quilt for judging in a show, no one will really notice. :) Good job!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. I keep trying new things. I do enter quilts in my guilds quilt show and once had a piece in the Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara, CA and some pieces in a local art gallery. Fun events.
DeleteLove the changing directions of your substituted pink fabric in the top block. Paper piecing and I do not have a friendly relationship, LOL. Happy Trails looks so sweet, sorry it was a sour sewing experience!
ReplyDeleteThe pillow cases are very nice!
I almost always add a few fabrics when I purchase pattern kits. The kit is all batiks and I have a pretty good collections of them, so why not. I do like paper piecing and have had good result with it. It can be a bit of a learning curve though.
DeleteSo exciting to see you making my Flower Power pattern! Love the addition of the extra pinks--I mean, you just can't get enough pink I say! Happy Trails is a happy little quilt that will make someone very comforted indeed, as will those pillowcases. Nice of your guild to do that. Great way to celebrate National Quilting Day! Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason my email is not picking up on comments. Love the pattern, and yes I did add some extra fabric, I almost always do that as more is better. We had a great time making pillowcases and do it every year. I have just at home finished my last for, so my goal of 6 is done.
DeleteSome pretty projects and a lot of progress last week DonnaLee. Your sewing day must have been fun with so many people turning out. I love the flower power pattern and am looking forward to watching the progress. Happy Trails used a lot of your scraps and the quilting on your runner is great. The sharp points that are bothering you won't show after the runner is washed. :). Thank you for linking with To Do Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. We did have a great time making the pillowcases and even had a salad potluck lunch. I have not washed the runner yet, but find that if I step back just a little bit and look at it you do not see the little odd mistakes.
DeleteThose flower blocks must be big based on the size of the finished quilt. Fun pattern!
ReplyDeleteYes they are big, 16 inches. It is a fun pattern and I am enjoying the fun colors.
DeleteI like Flower Power, pinks notwithstanding. Your block looks great, but I would just sew it. Paper piecing and I are not on speaking terms most of the time. LOL Your charity quilt looks great, too. I could make one like that for Hands2Help with Confessions of a Fabric Addict, because I already have hundreds of squares cut. I might make one like that. Thanks for showing it.
ReplyDeleteWith all those points and seams to match on Flower Power I am not sure without paper piecing I could get them all lined up properly. But, paper piecing is not for everyone for sure. It does require a bit of backwards sewing. The charity quilt was a bit of a chore to do. It took a couple of blocks to get into the grove in piecing them. In the end it came out really nicely and did use up lots of scrap bin fabrics. However, I don't think I would every make it again.
DeleteI don't think without paper piecing I could have matched all the matching of seams. I do know that paper piecing is a complete different method from normal sewing. It took me some time to be able to manage it. I will never make Happy Trails again. Oh my, that pattern was a real chore, but it did come out nice in the end.
DeleteFlower Power is such a cute pattern. Paper piecing "kind of" scares me away sometimes, but I did it one time and really enjoyed the process. LOVE Happy Trails! The lady hiding behind her pillowcase at your guild gave me a chuckle. :D
ReplyDeleteI like paper piecing but it took me a while to get it. Happy trails was a bit of an issue, way too much little pieces, but in the end it did come out nice.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best gifts I gave myself was participating in Leah Day's Free Motion Quilt Along. I'm pretty sure she came out with a new FMQ motif each week. Before that I was an adequate, but insecure free motion quilter. Now it is one of my favorite parts of creating a quilt. I thought your stippling looked good. The lucky recipient will be delighted.
ReplyDeleteLove that vivid pink you added to the kit. Enjoy your new project and congrats on finishing off those odds and ends. Sorry to be so late to comment, I'm still rationing computer time. Thank you for linking up each week.
ReplyDeleteYour Flower Power block is beautiful. I am not a huge fan of paper piecing, but I do love the results when I use it! It's so great your guild is making pillow cases for the Children's Home. I love those "burrito" pillow cases! Free motion is definitely a skill that takes practice. I have gotten so used to the ProStitcher doing the heavy lifting, that muscle memory from FMQ tends to fade! It's fun to do it though. Thanks for linking up with Monday Musings, Donnalee!
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