Q2 Finishes - A Summary

I've been having a great few months being a crafty soul - but that has meant I've got very slack at documenting what I do, especially blogging.  So I'm going to take a little short cut and summarise my Q2 Finish Along and link up with Adrianne at 'On the Windy Side'.  I know doing it this way will mean I'm not eligible for the prizes (that's fine by me) but it does mean I know unto myself that I have completed some goals.

So here goes my summary...
1.  My Double Wedding Ring Quilt in blues for our master bed - not finished, but I have the quilt top in one piece (yay!) and have all the necessary pieces procurred to continue and finish in the next quarter!

2.  Flats' Pluses - not touched!

3.  Hoo's in the Forest - also not touched!

4.  A jersey for myself - Yay!  Finished and has been enjoyed!
I used 8ply Skeinz Vintage in 'Carmine' and knitted a Customfit 'Ayana' by Amy Herzog.  I'm really pleased to have  jersey that fits me well.  The fit is not perfect (nor is the body under it) but I've learnt heaps and already have another one over half-way done.  I loved knitting with this wool and the colour is great, but it's been pilling like mad, so I can't help but be disappointed.

I tried to take a picture of myself in the jersey, but I'm struggling with the 'selfie' pic still, and having a blemish free mirror!  And it's mid-winter here so a jersey has to be warm rather than photogenic.


5. Curtains for our Entry Way - yay!  Finished these today and they look great!
I had been given a bag of brown curtain trimmings from a friend of my sister's and then mixed it with some matching red, and added a thermal lining, I've made them into warm, stylish curtains. 

I started making them before we had our entry way re-wallpapered, and sort of forgot about both having stripes!!  Oops!  As the room isn't big and the curtains are quite thick I'll probably taken them down between seasons too.

6.  Curtains for my Sewing Room - not done yet

7.  Ironing Caddy - Finished -yippee!
I used this pattern to make myself a caddy to carry my iron to patchwork group.

The fabric is from 'Button Tree Lane' by Anni Downs (Hatched and Patched).  I used proper thermaflec heat resistant fabric which I got through fishpond.co.nz, as well as insul-brite and two layers of cotton batting.  I quilted through all layers (except the therma-flec) using a stipple and then quilted all layers on the folding lines with my walking foot.

8. Ballet bags - done!
We have a young ballerina in our house and she needed a bag for her costume and another bag for her hair 'bits'. 

I used a fat quarter of this Kokka ballerina print and matched some yellow dottie with it for her costume bag.  This was easy!

But making a hair 'bits' bag was trickier.  I used a basic - open wide pouch  design - and mixed in some other bag techniques I had learnt to make the side pockets.  This linen-mix print for this is also from Kokka.

From the initial photo (below) I used both the left and centre fabrics.

9.  Applique Dove - done!!!  Yippee!!
Earlier in the year I went to my high school reunion and it has inspired me to have a go making a mini applique using the technique and base pattern from Sarah Fielke's 'Quilting From Little Things' book.

The finished result... except I used steam-a-seam and raw-edge applique.

(Excuse the poor Instagram photo!)

10.  Quilty Mugs - Also completed!!!
I made Lori Holt's cocoa cups from 'Quilty Fun' in assorted Pam Kitty Morning fabrics.  Love the finished effect!

11. Flowering Snowball - not even started....

So I completed six out of eleven.  Not too bad, but it will certainly give me plenty more to do over the next few months!  I'll be off now to link up to the Q2 Finish Along!

Q2 Projects - Better Get Busy!

Firstly here are my goals for the Q2 Finish-a-long at 'On the Windy Side'.  I have rather a long list but need the inspiration to get things done!

1.  My Double Wedding Ring Quilt in blues for our master bed.
My goal in Q1 was to get the top pieced and I am only two (rather large) seams away from this.  It's been a HUGE task, but I'm pleased with how it is coming.

As you can see I chose a blue background (Kona 'Cadet') and it really changed the whole layout.  I'm not 100% happy, but it's too late now so hopefully I'll love it when it's quilted and finished - my Q2 challenge!

2.  Flats' Pluses
This one has been hanging around for far too long.  I need to piece the scraps into a design for the back, then quilt and bind. - Still to complete from Q1!!!

3.  Hoo's in the Forest
This one is even older!  I have the main pieced, but need to add final borders, then piece the background, quilt and bind.  I'm being optimistic here.  I do love the colours and hope I'll have some scraps left.
I made my daughter's plywood tree to match this quilt, so better get this finished before she is too old for both.

4.  A jersey for myself
I'm using 8ply Skeinz Vintage in 'Carmine' and knitting a Customfit 'Ayana' by Amy Herzog.  I'm super excited about having a jersey that fits me well, but just a bit nervous about how careful I was with the measuring. I just have some finishing, more blocking, then neckline and seaming!
This has been sitting in the 'almost finished/partly blocked phase for a couple of weeks, so once I get my head around the last tricky bit, it should be my first Q2 finish!

5. Curtains for our Entry Way
These are very close to being finished.... I have to just to hem one, the other needs lined.  But as winter is very close they need done ASAP!!

6.  Curtains for my Sewing Room
I'm using a plain white fabric as a base, then will applique a variety of clothes on to it in the style of Kasja Wikman.  It will then be thermal backed and turned into a roman blind.
Needs done soon!

7.  Ironing Caddy
I'll use this pattern to make myself a caddy that can be unbuttoned to make an ironing board - just right to take to classes.

8. Ballet bags
We have a young ballerina in our house and she needs a bag for her costume and another bag for her hair 'bits'.  For the former I'll go with one like this and for the later I might try and adapt a 'Sew Together bag'.

9.  Applique Dove
Recently I went to my high school reunion and it has inspired me to have a go making a mini applique using the technique and base pattern from Sarah Fielke's 'Quilting From Little Things' book.

10.  Quilty Mugs
I'm looking forward to Lori Holt's new 'Farm Girl Vintage' but in the meantime I want to make these cocoa cups from 'Quilty Fun' in some assorted Pam Kitty Morning fabric.

11. Flowering Snowball
I love 'Mimosa' by Windham Fabrics and want to use it with some Kona 'Coal' to make a Flowering Snowball quilt.  I'm keen to try another type of curved piecing.

I'm linking this up to Adrienne's blog for the 'Finish-Along' - and just in the nick of time too!!