Lizzy Mae's Medallion Month 3

I had the class at Quilter's Bazaar yesterday.

The great thing about this quilt is that it doesn't have to be assembled as you go so missing month 2 hasn't made any difference.

I have my fabric pack and some extra instructions from Lorraine.

Month 3 was supposed to happen last month and month 4 is in 2 weeks so it's a very busy month classwise!

We made the double X block which came together much more quickly and easily than I first thought due to Lorraine's piecing and cutting shortcuts!

Due to my still fairly fragile wrist I only made one and a bit blocks in class but I'm psyched to get cracking with them.

I can't believe how small they are!  They will be 5" finished so a bit bigger than Dear Jane and a bit smaller than Nearly Insane!  It's good practice for whenever I get around to these quilts I guess!

I'm getting that slightly overwhelmed feeling.  I want to work on Lizzy Mae, I have one Mystery quilt in progress and another to start shortly yet I have 2 quilts tops that REALLY need basting and quilting!!!!

Changing feet on the machine and lugging it to class every few weeks really interrupts my mojo.

I think I'll indulge in my craving for speed piecing at the moment and try to get Lizzy Mae done asap.  I may leave off doing a few clues of the DaChintzy Code and do them all in one go.

Not sure about Bonnie's Mystery.

I'd like to have one quilt basted and quilting underway by the end of the month.  I wonder if it will happen?

I haven't done any sewing today.  I did lots of cutting and pinning last night but the sewing machine is still rolling around in the boot of the car and I have a thumping headache.

On a more positive note, I'm pretty sure I've collected all my fabrics for Bonnie's Roll Roll Cotton Boll Mystery Quilt!

Finished for REAL!

I have two finishes to report...and I mean they're really finished - binding and all!

The first is the table mat/topper.

The class was on saturday at Quilter's Bazaar and Lorraine taught us how to make bias binding and how to use the Easy Scallop tool by Darlene Zimmerman.

I'm not thrilled with the colour of the binding but I didn't want to buy anything for this quilt.  I knew it was all to me made either with my arm in plaster or shortly after it came off (I got it off 2 days before the class) so I didn't want to waste good fabric by sewing plastered.

The other thing is the french braid table runner.  I finished hand sewing the binding last night.  Woohoo!

I have Lizzy Mae Class #3 tomorrow and #4 later in the month and 2 quilts which REALLY need to be finished before the weather gets too hot so I need to get cracking.

In other news...the lovely Mezzanines Fabric for my Sleepover bag arrived today!

October FNSI Results

I actually got something done!  It took way longer than I thought and the quality of my cutting and piecing it terrble but considering my plaster I'm happy enough with it.

Cutting:

Sewing:

 

The finished centre of the table mat 

I still have 2 borders to add and then it will be used for my scalloped edges class next month.  I need to sandwich it and quilt it before the class though!  Now that'll be scary!!

Lizzy Mae Progress

I've been slowly plodding on with the centre of Lizzy Mae's Medallion.

I missed class #2 which was on the inner and outer flying geese borders.  I'll arrange a time with Lorraine to make it up.

Class #3 is in a few weeks.  This one will be on one of the pieced rows.  That's why It's critical that I attempt machine piecing before then!

Anyway here is a pic of Lizzy.  The RHS is finished except for the stems which haven't been stitched down.  The middle only has a small amount of the top flower left and of course the stems haven't been stitched down. (click to make it bigger)

I tried to finish that flower last night but I simply couldn't.  I just couldn't get my fingers to move right.  I think they got a bit swollen.

Retail Therapy

 I was feeling all miserable and decided it was time to submit the order that's been in the shopping basket at:

I've been a little nervous about it since the range is an old one and has just come in from re-ordering.

I'm so relived I did because I could only get 1.25 yards of a particular fabric that I wanted 1.5 yards of.  Thankfully I only needed 1.25 but it scared me anyway!

I'm ordering fabric from Patty Young's Mezzanine range to make up my Melly and Me Sleepover bag when I do the class early next year.

I'm feeling marginally better. It's been a sucky day.  Just when I think I have a hold on all the stuff that's going on, something came up and set me off again.  This must be why fertility clinics hire counsellors!

Anyway I'm going to Gisborne Quilters again tonight (for the second week in a row) and that will help take my mind off things.  I've been working on Lizzy Mae and she is really coming along!  Maybe I'll post a pic tomorrow depending on tonight's efforts!

October Friday Night Sew In

FNSI is coming up again this friday!

I didn't want to commit until I was certain I'd be able to do something especially after my disappointing FNSI last month but I think it was understandable given I had just a few days to prepare for a hospital admission!

I'll be doing one of two things. If I'm able to machine piece, I'll be piecing a large block for the centre of a table mat which will be the class sample for my scallop edging class in early November.

If not I'll continue with either Lizzy Mae or my Aster Manor sampler.

Click on the pick to join in the fun!

September Friday Night Sew In

Will be held on the 17th this month.

Click on the piccie above to go to Heidi's blog where all the info is!

I'm still undecided as to what I'm working on.  September is a very busy month in terms of projects.  I may try to do DH's potholder. 

If I have surgery in October as I'm suspecting then he wont get his potholders until next year probably!  Hand piecing is OK in plaster and machine piecing is do-able towards the end when the pain subsides but I don't dare quilt anything for months afterwards.  It's just too painful.

Actually I haven't tried machine piecing in a above-the-elbow cast.  Only did it last year when I had a smaller forearm cast.  Should be interesting given my Lizzy Mae is a monthly class until December and the remaining classes are all machine piecing!

Lizzy Mae's Medallion Class 1

The class went really well!

There were 2 other ladies doing Lizzy Mae and a third working on a different quilt.

I'm not sure what amused Lorraine more - my copious use of Micropore or the bias stems disaster!

Anyway the first thing I learned was how to use one of those bias tape makers!  It was a somewhat hairy experience but it worked!  I've always wanted to learn how to do that!  It made perfect stems that could be fused in place!

I love how Lorraine uses modern quilting aids to achieve the look of traditional quilts in a fast and simple way!

The next thing I learned was how to use freezer paper for needleturn applique.  I must say it does give much nicer sweeping curves than when I do it without paper buuuut...slashing the back of the block to get the paper out is slightly nervewracking!!

The best news is that I got to enjoy the class because my wrist hardly hurt at all!  The down side is the antibiotics make me feel sick and dizzy.

As always I left Lorraine's shop with some supplies in tow.  Yesterday's haul consisted of Thread Heaven, cuuute pink embroidery scissors and some long, thin applique needles with tiny eyes.  These come recommended by Lorraine and despite the teeny eye, they were lovely to work with.

I like the length and they're very sharp so I didn't need to use brute force to get them through the fabric which is also a blessing for dodgy hands.  The only downside to the sharpness, length and thinness is that one of these babies can disappear into the fleshy part of your hand at least to the halfway mark before you even notice!

That could be because of the lack of sensation in many areas of my "poor hand" as DS calls it but it did mean I have something to gross the boys out with rather than the other way around!

Last night for "homework" I ironed on and cut out all the applique pieces.  Here is what they look like laid out - a little messy and shapeless because the seam allowance hasn't been folded over yet!

Aug Quilt Block Swap II Arrived!

My second August Block Swap block has arrived!!!

Linden has sent me a magnificent block and fantastic quilty card.  I LOVE historical quilts and more importantly her block is stunning with 2 gorgeous fabrics.

Thank you for your sweet words in the card, Linden!  And don't worry about the sewline pencil - I've used biro on mine when hand piecing (not on anything to give away tho!)!  I think I even used it on the front of a needleturn applique! (gulp).  I'm sure it'll wash out!

Your points are perfect.  It's only mine I have issue with!  I honestly don't mind less than perfect piecing since I regard all blocks received as a gift and I don't look a quilt horse in the mouth so I don't want any future swap partners out there to panic!!

In other news:
I've actually been doing some quilty stuff this afternoon!  I can't remember the last time I felt well enough! Admittedly I have my first Lizzy Mae class tomorrow at Quilters Bazaar.

I've cut out all my freezer paper bits and washed my fabrics.  I learned two things:

1.  Small bits of fabric that accidentally end up in the washing maching with FQs fare surprisingly well!

2.  When this process is repeated with all remaining small applique pieces the above outcome does not apply to bias strips!!!!

I guess this means I'm making new bias strips before tomorrow!  I'm not too upset since I'd prefer brown ones anyway.

I have also traced the applique pattern onto the background fabric (more or less straight - hopefully it will square up OK) with he aid of a large north-facing window and of course micropore tape!

The Table Runner Class

...happened without me!

This morning I woke up thinking maybe I felt well enough to go.  I had washed my fabrics but not pre-cut them and not packed any of my stuff.

I figured I'd try to do some - just in case I went but I could barely bend my fingers without doubling over in pain.  I'm talking about me good hand here!  I've had a few issues with finger pain lately and this particular lurgy seems to affect the most vulnerable parts of the body which of course is my dodgy wrist and fingers on the good hand.

I had to ring and cancel. I'm hoping I can make up the class in some way as I was really looking forward to it.

At least this gives me a bit of extra time to tweak my fabric selections since I'm not 100% happy with them.

This is what everyone else got up to without me:

Quilter's Bazaar QAYG Table Runner Class

The blue one is talking to me - can anyone else hear it??

ETA - All is well!  Lorraine said she's running another class this term and my name is on the list!  Yippee!  Just waiting on the date so I'm letting my life know it has to be accommodating!

A cupcake a day...

...keeps the teacher away?  Not in this case!  They seems to have the teachers swarming!

This is what I've been busy doing - 100 individually numbered cupcakes!

I can hear you all asking WHY???!!! (don't worry I've asked myself the same thing many times too!).

Well the preppies at my son's school were having a party to celebrate being at school for 100 days (and learning about the number 100).  They each had to bring along 100 things to show (eg small toys, stickers etc) and some party food.

DS who always has food on his mind suggested we make 100 cupcakes.

I figured it seemed like a good plan - afterall it was combining the two tasks right?

I'm pleading insanity!  Between worrying about Dad, the fate of my dodgy arm and my unco-operative reproductive system (OK Andrew is to blame there as well!) my headspace isn't the best.  In despair I do what all Ukrainian women do - feed people!!

I was concerned the effect all these cakes would have on my diet but I needn't have been!  Aversion therapy is the best!  I never want to look at another cupcake again!!

Upon arriving home from the party I collapsed in a heap from exhaustion.  Within half an hour my throat was prickly and every bone, muscle and joint in my body was on fire.    The last time I felt like this I treated the symptoms with painkillers and a healthy dose of denial and 5 day later ended up in hospital in the early stages of septicaemia.

I have my table runner class tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shopping!

This weekend has turned out pretty well considering the Nemesis has been in top form!

Saturday involved a trip to Spotlight for batting, backing and quilting thread for Chocolate and Aqua plus a few browns which may or may not go with the table runner for my class.

I hoped for a chocolate brown backing but there was nothing remotely close so I got a light blue one instead.  Not exactly aqua but at least any dodgy quilting wont show up on the back!

The cute birdie fabric was on the clearance wrack (yes I still have bird phobia) so it'll make a cute charity quilt for a little girl.

Today was even better.  I love online shopping!!  I placed one US order at The Quilted Castle for my Aster Manor yardage and an Australian one at Oz Quilts for a quilting stencil and a FQ pack of browns.

Here are my Aster Manor borders - red for the wide outer border and pink for the narrower inner one.  The sashing is cream with tiny brown spots.

I'm hoping the Aussie order arrives this week so I can pre-wash and work out whether I have a good selection of colours.  I suspect I'll still need to pop into Quilters Bazaar this week for the final selection!

Andrew will drop in on monday to pay for my Table runner class but I'm hoping to be able to drive by Tuesday to get the rest!

What a nice hubby!  I'm stocking up now while it lasts! *lol*

I'm also plodding on with Chocolate and Aqua - 12 sections complete and only 3 to go!!!

ETA - On closer examination I discovered a grave piecing error which required not only unpicking but re-matching colours as well. 

I blame those boys entirely.  It's very difficult to sew with "light sabres" crashing around you.  DS aka Darth Vader graciously allows his father to be Luke Skywalker and...well I'm so mortified I can hardly say it...was called...Jar Jar Binks.

The indignity!  The injustice!  EVERYONE knows I'm the Yoda of the house.  OK so I don't have hairy ears but I'm about the same height and right at least as often.  UGH BOYS!!

The Dinos are back!

I finally did some more work today.

It was frustratingly slow going - for every 5-10 mins of cutting I had to rest for at least twice that!

I couldn't be bothered dealing with borders today so I cut out all the squares for the backing of the dino quilt!


To my relief I had enough fabric (with some left over!) and enough variety to make it look OK.


It's strange fabric - supposedly cotton but with a funny texture so I'd prefer not to use it on the front of a quilt but the back is nice and bright and DS is happy with it!


The worst part was having to use my dodgy scissors! My good sewing scissors have vanished in very mysterious circumstances.  I strongly suspect foul play.

The piecing of the back had to wait til DS went to bed.  I didn't dare interrupt Top Gear with the whirr of the sewing machine.  I got about 1/3 done until I was too sore to continue.

I'll see how I go tomorrow.  Maybe I can get the whole back done AND attach the inner borders??

On a more exciting note, I rang Quilter's Bazaar this morning to book into my classes and thank goodness I didn't wait til tomorrow!  The table runner class was full and Lorraine is running another!

I know which feature fabric to use but I'm in two minds on whether or not to buy a bali pop for the braids or buy the fabric separately.  Not much is needed but I would like to make matching placemats which would make good use of the bali pop.  Decisions Decisions.  I only have until 7 Aug to work it out!

More Quilt Classes!

OK I need help!  Lorraine has just posted the Term 3 Classlist for her shop Quilter's Bazaar and I want to sign up for at least 2 of them!

One is a gorgeous fench braid table runner.  I've always wanted to try french braids and this is a nice way to start with something small.  Will make lovely presents!  I've been looking for a pattern for a runner for my sis and BIL's new house.  I this this might be The One!

The other is a 5 month BOM type thing called Lizzie Mae's Medallion.  It's gorgeous!  Thank goodness they're monthly classes and don't start til late August.

I need more projects like a hole in the head buuuut...I'm ringing on Monday and securing my place!

I suppose I should stop blogging and get on with my UFOs if I'm going to treat myself to some new classes!

Lorna's 12 FQ Quilt Class

I attended this class at Quilter's Bazaar.

It was run by Andrea and the thing I really loved (apart from how quick and easy it was to get finished!!)  was that I basically recycled one UFO along with some additional Stash-Busting and transformed it (OK still in progress!) into 3 charity quilts!

I have one completed top using Lorna's pattern (with borders), A second top with 3 out of 4 borders attached and the third quilt will be done using another pattern but there is plenty of fabric left!

I'm not intending to quilt these anytime soon.  I'm too sore still to wrestle quilt tops around the machine but finished tops are better than a pile of chopped up fabric in the too-hard pile!!

Here's the link to Lorraine's blog entry about the class:


Lorna's 12 FQ Class

I'm yet to photograph my version of the quilt but will get around to it...eventually!!

Hand piecing class

I figured since I enjoy having a portable project on the go that I should do a hand piecing class to learn properly.

It was a matter of bumbling my way through and hoping for the best before.

The class was run by Mary of Drapers of Mount Macedon and my first class was on 13 March - 13 days after my major wrist op and 2 days since I was put in plaster - well past my elbow!!

I managed well enough although I would have been happier if my points matched more often but then again I was effectively doing it one handed so I decided to cut myself some slack.

My delicious Aster Manor FQ bundle was used to make the quilt and it's turning out nicely!

Here is a pic of my block from Mary's blog: