Wednesday, February 13, 2013

WIP Wednesday 13-02-2013

Missing my deadlines really bugs me, as I am usually really prompt and often early!
So when Sana put in her request in December for our
 Star of Africa
 Star of Africa bee, I thought it would be pretty easy.
But, when it comes to original ideas and designs, I fall by the wayside!
Big time!
So, here it is, the middle of February, and I'm just getting it done.
Sana asked for something that reminds us of home......
so, here it is Sana!
The beaver is our national rodent animal!
Now, I have to get busy on Tina's and Fiona's blocks!
**********
WIP -No Name Triangle quilt
Well, this darn thing has been a thorn in my side ever since I started it!
I do love Chicopee, but the triangles...not so much!
I've discovered (not to my surprise) that random placement just makes me nuts!
I kinda just threw these darn triangles together to get them off my design wall......
I'm really not loving it, so when it came time to decide on quilting, I was kinda blah about it.
Finally, I decided on a circle using the red Aurifil 28wt I had waiting around to be used. Love the thread!!!
I wanted to try using the round FMQ foot that came with my machine, but I had never used.
Well, lets just say....it ain't pretty!
I can't follow a circle, and to call it "organic" is an insult to the word!
but...I've started...and, as much as I really want to pick it all out and start over........
I won't!!!
No one will see it way back in the closet!!
and I don't like enough to start over either!
this is the back.......only a few triangles and the rest is Kona coal.
oh goody...you can really see the wonkiness from the back!!
let's just move on, shall we....
********
WIP Bella's Curves
one of the most fun things ever!
Using the quick curve ruler, and traditional blocks redesigned by Jenny and Helen.
this fan block is the latest.....
and here is what I have done so far....
My fabrics are Bella by Lotta Jansdotter.
Each block is 16" and we will be doing 12 blocks.
********
 I still need to get busy and quilt Starry, Starry Night and that will finish up my WIP's from last year. Yay! 
Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced 
WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced
Have a great sewing week!

18 comments:

Nutsy Coco said...

I love your fan block!

Celtic Thistle said...

Know what you mean about coming up with original ideas for the Star of Africa Patti, I love your beaver though!

Your quilted circles don't look anything as bad as you are making them out to be either.

Cindy Sharp said...

Well done...on all of it. I am sure that there is someone who will love your thorn in the side and call it beautiful.

Dolores said...

Wow, you have been busy. We are our own worst critic.

Newbie Jen said...

Your Star of Africa "Home" block is wonderful. I just love the background fabric and the beaver's expression.

I'm also really impressed with your Curve QAL blocks - dare I say they look even better than our hosts??

jan said...

That fan block caught my eye! So pretty, but all the curved blocks are really nice!

CitricSugar said...

Oh, Patti…! :-) There is nothing wrong with your circles - in fact, for being free-motion, they're really good. I've found that concentric circles are easiest with a walking foot with that little guide arm attached but I'm really curious about your foot….

Anonymous said...

I'm enjoying quilting in my "retirement" as well. Isn't it great to look forward to having the time to do something you've always enjoyed, at least I have, and then wake up in the morning raring to go! Don't sweat the small stuff. Round is overrated.

Ellen

Heather D. said...

Ahhh, love the beaver! I'll admit, I was mildly obsessed about beavers when I was in about grade 5 or so. I remember doing a very detailed report on them. :)

I'm no good at random either. I always say that my random takes a great deal of planning. hehe

Chris said...

I really like the randomness of the triangles.

gpc said...

Your post shows how far you've come in life -- if I had done the triangles and circles, I would be beside myself with joy!

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

I love those triangles! You've got a really good balance of colour in the way you've laid them out. And I would love to able to fmq circles. I also think all those bella blocks are stunning and of corse the beaver is adorable :)

BendingPins.com said...

Shazam! If I could swear on your blog, I would! I did some circle quilting today too and yeah, it sucked but you can't really notice it that much on my Fractured quilt.

How did I miss that Curve Along??? Is it too late to join?? ~ Tabatha at BendingPIns.com ~

Carla said...

Oh dear. You are way too hard on yourself ; )
It will be fine when it's all done.

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

I love all your projects...especially the curve quilt!

Jess @ Elven Garden Quilts said...

Your curvy blocks are awesome! I agree with Janine too, your balance is great in your triangles - and I think the quilting looks really great.

Heather A said...

Well, I for one think your chicopee triangles look great the way you've arranged them. I like the randomness. I'm going to try circular quilting, too, this weekend but am going the walking foot route, which I'm new to but I'm still too scared to try fmq.

The circular blocks are wonderful! LOVE 'EM!

Karen said...

Some days nothing wants to go right!! And inspiration always comes when you are at your busiest.
I think the positive is that you are getting lots done and developing your skills at the same time. I really like the beaver and I think the triangles are looking good, too.
Great to see all the different blocks as well.

18 comments:

Nutsy Coco said...

I love your fan block!

Celtic Thistle said...

Know what you mean about coming up with original ideas for the Star of Africa Patti, I love your beaver though!

Your quilted circles don't look anything as bad as you are making them out to be either.

Cindy Sharp said...

Well done...on all of it. I am sure that there is someone who will love your thorn in the side and call it beautiful.

Dolores said...

Wow, you have been busy. We are our own worst critic.

Newbie Jen said...

Your Star of Africa "Home" block is wonderful. I just love the background fabric and the beaver's expression.

I'm also really impressed with your Curve QAL blocks - dare I say they look even better than our hosts??

jan said...

That fan block caught my eye! So pretty, but all the curved blocks are really nice!

CitricSugar said...

Oh, Patti…! :-) There is nothing wrong with your circles - in fact, for being free-motion, they're really good. I've found that concentric circles are easiest with a walking foot with that little guide arm attached but I'm really curious about your foot….

Anonymous said...

I'm enjoying quilting in my "retirement" as well. Isn't it great to look forward to having the time to do something you've always enjoyed, at least I have, and then wake up in the morning raring to go! Don't sweat the small stuff. Round is overrated.

Ellen

Heather D. said...

Ahhh, love the beaver! I'll admit, I was mildly obsessed about beavers when I was in about grade 5 or so. I remember doing a very detailed report on them. :)

I'm no good at random either. I always say that my random takes a great deal of planning. hehe

Chris said...

I really like the randomness of the triangles.

gpc said...

Your post shows how far you've come in life -- if I had done the triangles and circles, I would be beside myself with joy!

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

I love those triangles! You've got a really good balance of colour in the way you've laid them out. And I would love to able to fmq circles. I also think all those bella blocks are stunning and of corse the beaver is adorable :)

BendingPins.com said...

Shazam! If I could swear on your blog, I would! I did some circle quilting today too and yeah, it sucked but you can't really notice it that much on my Fractured quilt.

How did I miss that Curve Along??? Is it too late to join?? ~ Tabatha at BendingPIns.com ~

Carla said...

Oh dear. You are way too hard on yourself ; )
It will be fine when it's all done.

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

I love all your projects...especially the curve quilt!

Jess @ Elven Garden Quilts said...

Your curvy blocks are awesome! I agree with Janine too, your balance is great in your triangles - and I think the quilting looks really great.

Heather A said...

Well, I for one think your chicopee triangles look great the way you've arranged them. I like the randomness. I'm going to try circular quilting, too, this weekend but am going the walking foot route, which I'm new to but I'm still too scared to try fmq.

The circular blocks are wonderful! LOVE 'EM!

Karen said...

Some days nothing wants to go right!! And inspiration always comes when you are at your busiest.
I think the positive is that you are getting lots done and developing your skills at the same time. I really like the beaver and I think the triangles are looking good, too.
Great to see all the different blocks as well.