Need to Clean

I am a messy quilter.  I pull fabric out and don't put it back.  I drop paper all over the floor when I'm tearing it off of a paper pieced block.  I miss the trash can when I'm trimming dog ears.  Right now my sewing space is out of control.  I've been meaning to clean it up for a couple of weeks now but haven't gotten around to it yet.  If I show you my mess, I'll have more incentive to get it cleaned up.

 

Today I lost my second seam ripper in there.  I need to clean it up!!!

Grand Illusion, Step 2

I finished Step 2 of Grand Illusion today.

Bonnie gave 3 different methods for making these units, but I decided to use Deb Tucker's (Studio 180) Corner Pop tool instead.  The ruler is pricey, but, for me, the accuracy makes it worth the price. I don't mind sliver trimming if that will help my accuracy.  http://www.studio180design.net/videos/?id=32

I've made several Bonnie Hunter patterns with that same unit, and my accuracy was never very good before.  I can't say that all my units are perfect now, but they are much better than they used to be. I believe the only way I could get better accuracy would be to paper piece them.

Linking up  with Mystery Monday:   http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2014/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-2.html

Stash Report

Are you tired of seeing pillowcases yet?  I made three more last week.  The Great Pumpkin pillowcase is a Christmas gift for a friend's mom who loves Peanuts.  We spend Christmas Eve with our friend's extended family, and give small gifts to her parents. 

 

The baseball ones are for my squeaky wheel sister who has been dropping big hints that she would like homemade pillowcases.  She lives within walking distance of the National's baseball field and sees as many games as she can, so I think she will like them.

Used This Week:  3.875 yards                                                    
Used Year to Date: 75.375 yards 
Added this week: 2.0 yards 
Added year to date: 80.125 yards
 Net Added:  4.75 yards

Project of Doom Toad Block

I finished the embroidery on another POD block.  Both times I've made Trevor the Toad, I've had a hard time getting everything to match up correctly.  The second time was easier than the first, but I still had issues.  I am not entirely happy with this block, but I'm not making the darn toad again!  This time I am not happy with the contrast between the dark back legs of the toad and the background fabric.

 

 

 

I decided to outline the back legs to make them stand out a little more.  That helps but doesn't entirely fix the problem. 

 

 

 

Here's Trevor the way he appeared in my first POD quilt.

 

 

The most exciting quilting news of the week is that I have finished piecing all 30 blocks for the body of the bookcase.

 

 

There are still 10 blocks that need titles, and I will be making more blocks for the items that are on the top of the bookcase.

 

 

Grand Illusion, Step One

I got step one of Grand Illusion done this morning.  I wasn't sure until I started cutting what colors I would use.  So far, they are Bonnie's colors but in different places.  The pink is consistent in this step, but I won't have enough of it for the whole quilt. The goal is to use my stash only.

 

To see more Grand Illusion Quilts:  http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2014/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-1.html

Stash Report

I have fabric used to report this week because I made pillowcases.  And then I went out today and bought more fabric for more pillowcases.  Tis the season, I guess!

Used This Week:  3.625 yards                                                    
Used Year to Date: 71.5 yards 
Added this week: 2.625 yards 
Added year to date: 78.125 yards
 Net Added:  6.625yards

Christmas Pillowcases

I finished 3 pillowcases today.   The farm one is for my nephew.  The Grinch one will be used to wrap a Christmas gift.

 

The third one I'd already used to wrap a gift before I remembered to take a picture.  It is not really Christmassy, but my BIL loves comic books, so it is perfect for him.

 

You can see the cuff and band in this picture.  I used safety pins to hold the whole thing together.