Quilting while on vaca

I'm having a wonderful visit with my sister  in Arizona. It's my first time here and the low volume varied texture of the  landscape is inspiring many quilts to come.

The project in the works now however is a rainbow beachy themed surprise gift for one of her friends.  I told her that I could make a quilt in a weekend and we are trying out that theory.  We don't get to spend time together often so this is really special.

The goal is to teach her FMQ so it's important not to get caught up on the back because I know that's easy to do when improvising.  Odds are it'll turn into a "second front", we'll see.

We've seen the Chihuly in the garden exhibit, toured Frank Lloyd Wright and she pampered me yesterday with a day at the spa.

Sewing on the Juki fresh out of the box has been fun but mostly creating collaboratively with her makes the late night marathons worth the puffy eyes in the morning.

We picked up my son from the airport last night and have baseball games every day from now until we leave so Spring Training takes front stage from here on out. 

Linking up to WIP Wednesday

Progress:

Paula's Quilt

To Do:

3 birthday quilts

2 wedding quilts

improv workshop top

curve on quilt top

2 year Blogiversary

Today is my 2 year Blogiversary.  I feel torn because I'm almost too busy-distracted-preoccupied to even write a post and wouldn't have thought that possible two years ago or even last year on my first anniversary.  

Maybe it's partly because my latest project is a secret so i can't show you even tho I finished last night.  It took a dozen bobbins to pull off and I'm pooped.  

And maybe because it's taken me so long to get to this point in the quilt.  I feel like "in the old days" as soon as I basted it went straight to the machine but this one sat for an entire week.  

FMQ and I still have a love hate relationship.  Quilting with a contrasting thread is terrifying because everything shows but you at least you can see what you're doing.  I tend to get sloppy and lost on blendy fabric because its so forgiving, so I'm not sure which I prefer.

And maybe because time is just flying by.  This picture of me and my baby grand girl who is now a Half Year old proves my point.  She's already sitting up by herself now. 

Workshop 

Here's my piece from the latest workshop last Sunday "Stitch Africa" taught by Marion Coleman .  The large aboriginal scrap was the closest I had in my stash and I added some tapa cloth and bits she brought to share.  I was really drawn to those birds. 

As I teaching artist, she was nice enough to allow photos of her work and this quilt below spoke to me as did many of her raw edge appliqué portraits.   Add this technique to my bucket list.  

Quilt by Marion Coleman

Actually, making a bucket list is on my bucket list - how out of control is that?!

Thank you for stopping by my blog and a great big thanks to those who are followers. 

Swapping and Where Does The Time Go?

SBAMQG Pincushion Swap  

My secret partner said she likes Amy Butler so I used this Love fabric as inspiration and as the bottom of the pincushion.  I had to dig quite a bit to locate my Polaroid Blocks from the swap and found the perfect one.

To weight it down I sewed a bean bag and put in inside before adding the stuffing.  The vintage piping I picked up at our Quilt Show bargain garden and since it was a finishing technique from a recent workshop I made a point of practicing what I had learned.

The boxed shape was kind a done by winging it using two sized of fabric and tucking in to even them when sewing the sides. 

Since I post the photos from our meetings I'll share a few with you.  See my smiling face and the perfect pincushion I'm holding for my friend Merydith? Improv solids in the most "me" colors.

Swap Recieved 

Goal Setting March ALYoF and FAL Q1 status

Houndstooth March ALYoF

Somehow it is March. 

I'm pretty sick of seeing the Houndstooth so it's my ALYoF goal for March. Please let it be done.

Q1 Status - so far

Only a few more weeks left in 2014 FAL Q1 and I thought I'd chosen wisely when I made up this very conservative goal of 4 projects.  The Pantone challenge has a deadline that I may not make (sad face) and the others are open ended.  Check out these Radiant Orchid quilts on flickr.

My latest very time consuming and brain twisting project is actually a secret so I can't share. And of course I've got those other two overdue birthday quilts and upcoming two wedding quilts on the list.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday  with guest host Stephanie from Quarter Incher

February 2014 Monthly Mosaic

February 2014 Monthly Mosaic, a photo by capitolaquilter on Flickr.

Somehow I missed making a January Mosaic but am pleased to be presenting some projects from February and link up to Fresh Sew Day.  (The 2 Sun Bonnet Sue blocks, the Echino Clutch and some Houndstooth progress are all that come to mind for January)

Only one item (the pillow) was on my 2014 FAL Q1 list so that's not the best stats so far, thumbs down. I did include several non-quilty items with a New Year resolution to branch out so that's a thumbs up.

Since it's the shortest month of the year I think I did pretty well, how about you?