March 21, 2012

Too tired and achy to sew...

Not such great times on the sewing front.  I know I haven't blogged in a while due to vacation and trying to get some projects done, but as promised, I would always talk about the process...not just the finished project.  I have been rushing the past couple of weeks to complete a quilt that my hubby commissioned me to complete for a co-worker of his.  I really enjoyed piecing the top together and adding the sashing. The top utilized a block from Suzanne Woods' book called Modern Blocks.  I was excited that one of my favorite bloggers, Faith Jones of Fresh Lemons Quilts, submitted a block to this book and I wanted to try it.  Using assorted fire, flame, and fire truck fabrics, I assembled the top.  I even used one of the hubby's work shirts as it's own block in the layout which I haven't done before.  Mounting the t shirt on fusible webbing was a lot easier than I anticipated.  Unfortunately, I had a little trouble with the quilting.  Since I was dealing with such square blocks, I opted to do a square-shaped spiral in each quadrant of the block.  It turned out great in the end, but it was a lot of hard work to quilt, and it was not very enjoyable to do.  By the time I got to the binding, I was so tired of turning the quilt over and over again for those 90 degree turns, that I was sloppy with the binding and did not do my best work on it.  Ugh.  I was glad to finally finish the quilt and hand it off to the hubby to deliver.  I know he is happy with the outcome, and it is just my perfectionist self that dislikes it....but I am glad to not look at it anymore.

I was excited to try my hand at applique recently.  My friend asked me to make a tshirt for her for a one-year-old with a Mickey Mouse head and a #1 appliqued on the front.  I muscled through it, but in the end I think it came out really cute.  She seemed happy with it, so PHEW!!!

Recently, the hubby and I took some very needed R & R in Maui.  Little did we know when we booked the trip that it was humpback whale watching season!  I was inspired by those beautiful creatures swimming, jumping, and singing in the water right outside out hotel....I am thinking I will make a quilt that captured this serene experience....someday.  Once I catch up on all the other quilts I am making.  I did manage to find a cute little quilt shop while in Maui, and I was able to get myself out of there without breaking the bank too much.  I got a couple of cute patterns and some fabulous hawaiian prints.  They will make a great quilt, I am sure.

On the other hand, I have received a few quilt requests.  I was asked to make a baby quilt for a new little one for one of my dad's friends.  I have full design control with this one, so that is pretty cool.  I have been requested to make another penguin quilt and a puzzle quilt for a friend of mine.  And, I just received another request to donate a quilt to a dear friend that will be auctioning it off as a fundraiser for her breast cancer walk this year.  I am so honored that these folks are entrusting me to create quilts for them.  As a new quilter, this is humbling and amazing.  But I will be using this as an opportunity to hone my new skills and become a better quilter.  Pics to come ...as the weather has not cooperated for taking pictures of quilts.  Now, off to bed to get some rest so I can make it through the week at work.

Happy Crafting!!!