Fawkes

I've started to  make the objects that sit on top of the bookcase of POD2.    Here is Fawkes the Phoenix:

 

You will notice there is a slight error in the pattern.  I could have redone that section of the tail, but it was a complicated section and would have taken a long time.  Instead, I just patched over the break with a red piece of fabric and sewed it down by hand.  My longarmer will be able to see the mistake, but the quilting muggles will probably not notice.

 

He will eventually get a button eye. 

POD 2, One More Block

This is the final block in the body of my POD2 bookcase.  I still need to do the objects, some of them books, on the top of the bookcase, but I feel like this is a major milestone in the construction of this quilt.

 

 

 

 

The Dark Forces:  A Guide to Self-Protection, 1000 Magical Herbs and Fungi, Break With a Banshee, and Quidditch Through the Ages.

The Project of Doom, Take Three

I have been quietly working on my third  Project of Doom quilt before my second it finished.  That is the kind of stuff that used to drive my mother crazy! When I was a teenager, I remember her bugging me to finish putting together a sweater I had knit before I started another.  She was all about the finished project.  I am all about the process.  She would be very uncomfortable if she knew how many UFOs and WIPs I have now.  It is a good thing we don't live together anymore!

I have 3 blocks done for POD3.  I'm keeping up with the POD stitch along, and it is pretty easy, except that I have none of the titles on any of these blocks yet.  I'm trying to get all the titles on POD2 done first. 

I rarely have a paper piece fail anymore.  And I'd done this block at least 2 times before.  The pattern was slightly redesigned for this stitch along, and I did the new parts fine.  It was the basic block I messed up.  Here's what it should look like:

 

 

This time, my first mistake was printing out the pattern at the wrong size:  it was about 1/2 an inch smaller than it should have been.  My second mistake was totally missing that little bit of background below the leaning book.  I ended up adding a piece to the top of the block to make it the correct size.

 

It is ironic that I made so many beginner's mistakes.  The hard part of the block, the deathly hallows symbol, came together fine for me.  I then decided that I'd try and make the mirror image of the block.  I had multiple failures with this block, and it took me almost a day and a half to come up with this (which I can't get to turn despite taking multiple pictures and going into picassa web albums):

 

 

Let me just say that if you want to make a mirror image of a paper pieced block, you must CAREFULLY redraw  the pattern, or it will not fit together correctly.  Also, make sure you have enough fabric, just in case you have make a mistake.  I will probably use both blocks in my POD3 quilt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Wild and Goosey

I been working on Wild and Goosey this week.  So far, I've made 65 units, up from 40 last Sunday. Each W&G unit has 13 little pieces, so  there are 845 little scraps in these blocks!  My goal is to sew my scraps into blocks instead of cutting,  sorting and storing them.  My sewing space is particularly messy right now!

 It takes me over an hour to make four W&G units.   I've had a lot of sewing time this week, but I'll be doing some traveling soon, so I won't be able to get as much done.  I'm setting a goal of making 10 W&G units a week.  That seems doable to me.  At that rate, it will take me about 6 months to make enough of these guys for a decent sized quilt.  I'm not sure that is realistic, but we'll see.

I've also been working on the last round of Group A Twilter Round Robin.  I've got the hard part (the designing) done.  Now I just have to execute it.  It needs to go out in mid February, but I'd like to finish it this weekend.  Sorry, I can't post pictures here until it gets back to its owner.

I'm also caught up with the Project of Doom block for this week.  All in all, a great week for sewing!

Scrap In a Box Mystery Quilt

The first clue in Charlotte's Scrap In a Box came out last week.  I've gotten all of the first step done.

 

I don't really need another project in my quilting lineup, but the last mystery from Charlotte turned out so well, I couldn't pass this one up.  Here is last year's mystery, 'Scrapitude'.

 

 

Last year's mystery was made mostly of  batiks.  I gave this quilt to my brother and his new wife as a wedding gift, and they both loved it. Charlotte's mystery quilts are a step down from Bonnie Hunter's in terms of effort and pieces required, but they are just as beautiful!  Last year's clues came out monthly instead of weekly, so keeping up with the quilt was easy.

 

If you are interested in a mystery quilt, here's the link:  http://scrapitudequilts.com/

Stash Report and Wild and Goosey

I have yards used to report this week because my Grand Illusion quilt top is finished.  It feels good to have one of my quilting goals for 2015 already complete.   I also bought 4 fat quarters for Project of Doom.  POD may be my downfall this year as far as buying fabric.  Already this year, I've bought seven and a half yards for POD.  

Used This Week:  6 yards                                                    
Used Year to Date: 6 yards 
Added this week:  1.0 yards 
Added year to date: 11.5 yards
 Net Added:  5.5 yards 

This week I need to work on the next quilt in my round robin even though what I really want to work on is Wild and Goosey.  I've got 40 Wild and Goosey blocks done already.

 

One of the things I like about making them is that it is helping me clean out my unorganized scraps.  I know a lot of quilters spend a lot of time folding their fabric, cutting their scraps, organizing by color.  I don't.  It doesn't bother me to work in a mess.  When I want to sew these blocks, I just dump out some bags of unorganized scraps and start sewing.  I would rather spend my time sewing than organizing lots of little bits and pieces.  Any scrap that makes it into one of these blocks is one less scrap I need to find a home for!

 

 

I never thought I would be addicted to itty bitty paper piecing, but I can't stop making these blocks!

 

To see more scrap reports:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2015/01/18/fabric-report-week-3-2015/

 

Grand Illusion Quilt Top Done!

I'm happy dancing!  My Grand Illusion top is done at last!  I don't have a place big enough to lay it out and get a good picture, but here it is:

 

 

 

 

Linking up with Sarah:  http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2015/01/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-time-for-another.html

  Amanda Jean: http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-new-bedroom-floor.html

and Pink Doxies:

http://pinkdoxies.blogspot.com/2015/01/linky-party-pet-project-show.html