WIP Wednesday-Vacation Edition

Posted in Works In Progress by StaceyinStitches

So this week finds me in the sunny Okanagan visiting family. Lots of fun for the little guy, and lots of fabric shopping for me! I found some solids at a quilt shop in Oliver. (Sadly, it is closing due to illness. It was one of my favorite stops.) They are by Northcott. I didn’t even know they made solids, but let me tell you, Oh My Goodness! The COLOR! It’s so rich and vibrant!

I can’t even photograph it, not with my phone or my good camera. The colors are so rich and saturated in person I couldn’t leave without them.

My pretties

I also picked up some Waterfront Park and some Folklore in my favorite color/print.

My Hoffman challenge quilt is at Joan’s to be quilted. I am so happy with how it turn ed out an due equipping is always perfect. She translates my half formed impressions and psychobabble and turns it into perfection.

I can’t wait to get my hands on this beauty. Deadline is next Friday! Eeek!

Stacey

Linking up with Lee@freshly pieced (hopefully!)

25Jun2014

WIP Wednesday

Posted in Works In Progress by StaceyinStitches

Stacey is going to Quiltcon!! Woot woot!!

I am super excited to be able to attend Quiltcon 2015. I don’t know how I am going to wait until Feb! Resgistration opened this morning, and man, that was a crazy nightmare of stress, but I got into all the workshops I wanted. It was hard to narrow it down, there are so many great speakers and teachers. I ended up with 3 full days of workshops. I don’t know when I am going to see the show. I might have to try and modify my schedule a bit. I am doing the Paperless Paper Piecing and Curved Seams Piece-lique taught by Cristy Fincher. For those of you who don’t know, Cristy Fincher is the daughter of the esteemed Sharon Schambers, multi-award winning quilter, and one of my personal quilting inspirations. Cristy runs the online business Purple Daisies, where you can find Sharon’s lessons and tutorials and patterns. You can also view her award winning quilt up close, Mystique. This quilt is amazing and all my favorite shades of fuchsia. Really, look at her gallery. It’s amazing!

I also got into two of Krista Withers half day quilting workshops. I am especially looking forward to these. I have had the pleasure of hearing her speak at a Vancouver Modern QUilt Guild meeting and seeing her work up close. The two workshops are about composite drawing and and ghost shapes. Exactly what I need!

I still have to go back and see if there are any lectures I might want to go to. Maybe free up some time, we will see what is left. A lot is sold out, but that’s okay, I might learn something new! I am mostly looking forward to meeting my quilting friends in person! So excited!!

On to the WIP portion of the evening!

My petal pinwheel quilt top is done and off to Joan for its VIP quilting treatment. Joan seems to be able to read my mind and interpret my psychobabble and give me exactly what I didn’t realize I wanted. So now I am on to my Hoffman Challenge quilt. I went a completely different direction with it this year. Normally I do these paper pieced masterpieces of color and stitchery, but this year I wanted to really bring it in and do something modern. Modern quilts are underrepresented in the Hoffman Challenge (read:none) I wonder if it’s not known enough in the modern quilting world, or it’s the fabric. Either way, its a load of fun and it is a CHALLENGE. You don’t always like the fabric, so creating something you love can be hard, but definitely worthwhile. I make sure I get the show book each year so I can look at all the lovely quilts that travel the country. The closest mine has ever been was Yakima, WA. Alas, I was unable to make the event but there will be others =)

Pile of pressing…

This evening has been filled with lots of pressing. There is going to be some stitch ripping after this post. A tip for ripping paper piecing stitches- place the blade between the paper and the fabric, the stitches come out cleaner.

I have a big mess of precut fabric shapes for such a small quilt ( the max perimeter is 160″, any shape). I also fussy cut the challenge fabric, the background between the print shapes is gorgeous and quite modern. That navy is delish! I also have some triangles cut from a Freespirit Designer Solid in Mulberry. I love that dusty shade of plum purple, and it fits the gray scale perfectly.

I thought about including a pair of butterflies in the blocks. What do you think?

I would love to see more modern quilts in the Hoffman show. Maybe I will write to the curator, and I certainly hope you pick up some of the challenge fabric and give it a try! You can find the details here, and the deadline is July 18. Quilts must arrive in Colorado by the end of that day.

Would you consider the Hoffman Challenge with me next year?

Happy Stitching,

Stacey

Linking up to Lee@ Freshly Pieced.

17Jun2014

WIP Wednesday

Posted in Works In Progress by StaceyinStitches

This Wednesday found me looking after a sick little moo, so the WIP I planned on finishing s still a WIP. Technically there are still a few hours left in the day, so it might make it off the list.

I have been working on my Petal Pinwheel MQG challenge. It is almost done, just 2 more border strips to go. I like it, its fun and whimsical and perfect for adding some fun to a room. It finishes lap/child size. I want to save the big reveal until after its quilted.

Pile of Hexies

I have a lovely pie of hexagons *dee-dally-dee-dee* One day I will make something from these, for now the pile keeps on growing.

I also got the pieces cut for my Hoffman Challenge quilt this week. Hard to imagine that the teeny tiny pieces in this bag will grow up to be a 40″x40″ wall quilt. I can’t wait to put it all together! It is inspired by one of my QDAD designs. The blue print you see hidden in there is the challenge fabric.

What are you working on this week?

Stacey

Linking up!

22Jun2013

Busy Busy Bee!

Posted in Finished Quilts, Works In Progress by StaceyinStitches

Its been a busy busy month here at Stacey In Stitches. Between custom orders, bees and personal projects, I find time to go to work and clean the house somehow. I am lucky that my husband knows how to do dishes and laundry, or we would be wearing paper bags stuffed with newspaper, because it has been so cold and rainy here lately.

I ordered and received my Tula Pink City Sampler book. I ‘need’ to get some more fabric for it, and even though I haven’t started any blocks yet it is on my list. Right after the Dragon Quilt, a couple custom orders, and my Bee blocks.

For the Star Block Bee, I chose Swoon blocks. All my Hive-mates agreed to make one for me. I am very excited for this one, its going to be a large quilt. I chose a pallet based on the Broken Herringbone print from Madrona Road in Citrus. I ordered them online, and the colors coordinate really really well.

The bundle I compiled for the Swoon Quilt.

I am using a Free Spirit Designer Solid in Chona Brown for my background, it really makes the colors stand out. It is warm and the color is rich and saturated. I have never worked with a FreeSpirit solid, but so far I am very happy with it. The hand is quite soft and it irons nicely, the weight is really good, not as thick as a Kona, and a nice tight weave like an Art Gallery.

Background cut and ready to go

I have also been working my tail off with this years Hoffman Challenge Quilt. The challenge fabric is much more vibrant in person, the online swatches really do not do it justice. I decided to do another Dragon Quilt, this one on a smaller scale than before. The progress is good, everything is cut out, it just takes time to lay it all out. I will keep updating as it gets closer to the deadline.

End of Day One

End of Day 2

Tools of the trade….

I also participated in a side swap with my DQS partner on Flicker. She make me a beautiful crochet basket. Its massive and holds all my quilt books from the visit with my grandmother this weekend.

Crochet Basket from AnnaMichelleQuilts

Lovely Large Handles

I made her a scrappy pillowcase. I used the Inverted Star Tutorial by Common Threads and enlarged it to make a 14″ pillowcase. The inside is lined and the zipper tape is enclosed. I forgot to take pictures of the inside/back before I sent it off. I used a large scrap of Grunge by Basic Grey for the background. It makes a nice background for a scrappy project, with just a hint of color and some great tone on tone movement. I free motion quilted the entire pillowcase.

Scrappy Pillowcase- Inverted Star Block

Quilting Detail

I also had the great fortune to make it to the Free Motion Quilting workshop set up by the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild. I spent lots of time fiddling with my machine until the tension was just right, then away we go! I finished that project, more on it later.

I also made a Custom Toddler Backpack (back in May!) I don’t know how I forgot to write about it, but it turned out super cute and she is really happy with it. The fox applique I made myself, as well as the piping. The lining and piping is a Timeless Treasures print, and the canvas is water repellent. Very important when making things for little ones! I used the Toddler Backpack Tutorial from Crazy Little Projects and modified it slightlyby adding inside pockets, padded straps with webbing, and piping. You do have to be careful when cutting out the side panels, you want to measure the diameter of the bag before cutting to make sure they are long enough. It will vary depending on your curves.

Foxy Toddler Backpack

Phew! Nice long recap! Lots of big stuff happening around here. Hopefully I will have much more progress on the Dragon Quilt to show you, and perhaps some Tula Pink blocks as well!

Until then, Happy Stitching!

Stacey

16Mar2013

Happy Worldwide Quilting Day!!!

Posted in Works In Progress by StaceyinStitches

Last year on Worldwide Quilting Day I was waddling around my house thinking to myself “please come early, please come early….”, whipping up a Turning Twenty baby quilt, and putting the finishing touches on client quilt (that’s me on the left).

Wedding Ring Quilt

Today on Worldwide Quilting Day, I was bouncing around the house thinking “please take a nap, please take a nap…”, mailing off swap blocks and printing out a pattern for my Fab Little Quilt Swap quilt.

FLIQs quilt for my partner. Original design

How things can change in a year!

Its crazy to think about. Next weekend is the Creative Stitches and Crafting trade fair, and last year it was the last thing I did before my son was born. I was huge walking around the arena, and so close to my due date that Hubby (bless his heart) would not let me go alone! I am convinced it was all the walking that day that encouraged the little munchkin to come right on time! I am very excited for this year because I get to introduce my little man to the quilt friends I haven’t seen in a while, not to mention all the great deals on fabric!

I also picked up my bundle of Les Amis by Patty Sloniger for Michael Miller. I swear I got one of the last complete fat quarter bundles online ( less one girl print) from Westwood Acres Etsy shop. Amanda was fantastic and held my bundle for me until I got my first paycheck (did I mention i am back to work as well this month?) I recommend her shop, it has lots of great bundles and the shipping is affordable!

Les Amis Fat Quarter Bundle from Westwood Acres

All I wanted was the teal colorway, but I am happy I got the entire thing. I plan to make Harry another quilt, probably using Melissa’s Starburst pattern and a very very light teal solid for the background. I still need to sit down and quilt my Starburst QAL quilt, but its on the list. As is the Listen With Your Eyes quilt, my Hoffman Challenge 2013 entry, and the first in a series that will be announced later this year (once I catch up and draft out the first quilt). Last year I would have planned it as a Quilt of the Month Series, but this year I know that Real Life dictates it be a Quilt of the Year Series *sigh*

I am also in the midst of planning Harry’s First Birthday Party. Its going to be lots of fun, and I finally settled on a Mustache Theme. Inspired by this lovely, professional photoshop (read: paint) job by my brother.

Hubby says he “doesn’t get it”. I keep telling him there isn’t anything to get, its just a fun theme, what is there to get? He still doesn’t get it…..

Have a great Worldwide Quilting Day everyone!!!

Stacey

21Feb2013

Oh Quilt Con…..

Posted in Works In Progress by StaceyinStitches

… how I wish I were at you!

Seeing the pictures on my fellow Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild blogs and Facebook makes me wish I were in Texas right now! Especially since its raining and 3 degrees here. *sigh* all the pictures of pretty fabrics and booths and quilts…..

So to cheer myself up I have been drinking lots of yummy yummy coffee and window shopping boots on Amazon.

Oh, and working on a special client order.

I was contacted a couple weeks ago through my mom group by a family that wanted to honor their fathers memory. He passed away a year ago in March, and the quilt is a surprise for their mother. We finished the design process and I have started the quilt. There will be pictures printed on to fabric interspersed into the white background as well.

I love making memory quilts. They are the perfect way to honor someones passing, commemorate an occasion, or save happy memories (I can’t believe you used to FIT THAT) I have been saving all of H’s baby clothes, the ones I simply cannot bear to part with, and when I have enough I am going to make myself a little wall hanging of them. Maybe a large swoon block with each piece a different outfit.

I drafted up the quilt in my EQ7. I really enjoy that program, though for some of my super duper custom crazy paper pieced extravaganzas it gets a little overloaded I have crashed the program more times than I can count trying to do something super intricate.…

The EQ version

The quilt will be made in strips instead of half square triangles because of the different clothing weights and stretches. There are quite a few knits and some heavier thermal type shirts, as well as a selection of beautiful handkerchiefs. I have pieced the inner star with fussy-cut handkerchiefs and the very outer borders will be handkerchiefs as well.

Center Star-not the best picture as it was taken with my phone, but you get the idea =)

I hope to have the quilt finished an bound by the end of the month. I am heading back to work in less than 2 weeks, and I still have a list of things to finish.

As always

Happy Quilting!

22Jan2013

Starburst QAL Week 2

Posted in Quilt-A-Longs, Starburst QAL, Works In Progress by StaceyinStitches

QAL Update! Week two was making the Goose in the Corner and the Half Square Triangles. A nice easy week, I actually managed to finish early. OKay, okay, I have a couple more HST to square off. But I am super happy with my background choice. The Pure Elements is super nice to work with and it feeds through beautifully. Its also making the colors pop. I can’t wait to get onto the next step. I might even try to work ahead!

QAL week 2- Finished!

15Oct2012

Phew, what a week! Lots to share!

Posted in Cathedral Window QAL, Other, Quilt-A-Longs, Tutorials and Patterns, Works In Progress by StaceyinStitches

Hello everyone! It has been a very busy week here, so I haven’t had time to do much blogging. I say week but in reality the last 15 days have been go go go!Between play-dates and appointments and pick ups and drop off I have had time to finish up all my 3×6 bee blocks and get them in the mail, catch up on my Modern Mystery Quilt, keep up with the Cathedral Window QAL, and make/hunt down some props for my little man’s 6 month photo session today. Throw in some grocery shopping and a sudden change in the weather read: from Indian Summer to torrential rain overnight and voila! Lots of excuses not to vacuum….. =)

I realize that this is the west coast, and normally by the start of October the rain has moved in, but it was so beautiful for so long. Thanksgiving weekend was so warm people were still out in shorts. We were going to go to the Pumpkin Patch and have ourselves a grand old time yesterday, but record rainfall coupled with a rainfall warning quashed that faster than you can say “eh?” I did get to try Harry’s snowsuit. I don’t think it fits quite right yet……but it sure is warm!

Do I look impressed?

Can you tell I don’t like the rain? I’m from Northern Alberta. It may be -40, but at least the sun is shining and your not soaked! Anywho….onwards!

It seems lately that everything I make heads out the door. I feel like I have been sewing like a madwoman but have nothing to show at the guild meeting tonight.

Here, this is my stack of finished blocks that need more to complete whatever I was going to do with them, 1/2 of the checkerboard for a show quilt, and all the pieces to a mystery quilt that I can’t for the life of me figure out how the end result will look….*chirp chirp*

However, I do have a cute little project that I whipped up last night as a photo prop that I can take with me. If Harry is going to be a dragon for Halloween, he needs a Princess to kidnap (and probably try to eat).

She looks so happy, just wait until the dragon starts gumming her head =)

The dress fabric is my favorite colorway from Treasures of the East by Hoffman. The teal/aqua colorway was the challenge fabric in 2010. I also picked some up in the fuchsia and sunset colorways. I can’t seem to find them anymore, so If anyone comes across either colorway, please let me know! Poppins Quilt Parlour in Penticton, BC still has the challenge fabric for anyone looking to nab some. They do phone orders!

I drew her face on with Sharpie markers. I think she looks suitably princessy!

You can find the pattern here as well as the tutorial. I just winged it with mine.

I was also doing some pinning while watching TV the other night. This is why you don’t leave your pin box where the cat can get to it!

Luckily I found them all (magnets are wonderful wonderful wonderful!) and I have yet to be stuck with a pin! It did inspire a pincushion design however, but more on that to come!

Tomorrow I will be posting my Scrappy Star block pattern, no tutorial yet though, so please be patient with me! I start a temporary job as a nanny for my friend who just welcomes their little boy yesterday morning. I have all the fabrics for her new baby quilt, I just need to get to it!
Happy Quilting!

2Oct2012

Cathedral Window QAL

Posted in Cathedral Window QAL, Quilt-A-Longs, Works In Progress by StaceyinStitches

Yesterday marked day one of the Cathedral Window Quilt A Long Blog Hop! Sara of Sew Sweetness gave us our first tutorial, the Layered Cathedral Window, and I love how her block turned out! I have decided to use a consistent color scheme throughout the QAL. I am going to be using Limes, Aquas, Teals and Yellows. There are 9 blocks in this QAL, so I hope I have enough fabric! Ha ha ha, like that’s really a problem for me…

Here is my finished block! I ended up ripping 2 portions apart and placing the fabrics in a different order, but I am so happy with the result. There is some definite movement in this block! I love the lime green! It is an almost impossible to find Robert Kaufman Blender. I ordered it from Australia 2 years ago (the only place I could find it) for $20/meter! But I love it so much! I will use it in all my blocks, though maybe I should have picked a different color, Cathedral Windows do use up a lot of fabrics! There are 5 layers to sew through on each side of this block. I pressed my seams open using my heaviest iron, lowering my board, applying a TON of pressure, and STEAM. The result is a nice flat block with no seam bubbles! Hurray!

A huge thank you goes out to Bree at My Crafty Crap for hosting this QAL, and to all the sponsors for the wonderful prizes! You can find the QAL rules, blog roll, and prizes there.

I can’t wait for the next block!

Happy Sewing!

Hexagon Star Sneak-Peek

This is the block I designed for my Quilt Con entry quilt. Its not due until November, so I hope to have it finished by the first! Here is a sneak peek of the star point. Stay tuned for more!

Happy Quilting!