Fly the Flag QAL Week 3

I have been happily plodding along with the Fly the Flag Quilt-a-long. I went back to work this week from 9 months of maternity leave so i was expecting to fall behind on this one. Sewing seems to be my relaxation method in the evenings after the kids are in bed.
My aim is to make twin baby quilts for a pregnant friend of mine. I have chosen an orange and aqua theme, with one quilt mostly orange with a hint of aqua and the other one the opposite.

I used my equaliterial triangle template to cut out the flags instead of the template in the pattern. I think my flags turned out a little smaller. Oh well! I have started on the Orange quilt but have the Aqua cut and ready to sew.

I also added some little hiding peek-a-boo pictures under some of the flags.

BFF Quilt

This quilt is destined for one of my closest friends in the world who is pregnant with her first bubba. I have called it the BFF quilt as my son and hers will only be 10 months apart and we are determined that they are going to be best friends! I had originally bought this gorgeous Dan Stiles "Safari Soriee" Birch Organic fabric for a quilt for my little man but as soon as my friend told me she was pregnant I knew it was perfect for her. Don't worry, Mr C won't miss out - I have some left.
I actually planned this quilt a bit more than I usually do. I did a quick mockup in Touchdraw to make sure I would get all the colours in the right spots. Simple equilateral triangles in the patterned fabrics and a few solids.

I love the feel of the organic fabrics!

The back is an Mix of my extra triangles, a few scraps and a dotty Erin McMorris print I had in my stash that just matched perfectly! Her little Mr already has already been named so I got to include it on the quilt.

I quilted it in a simple 1/4" off the seam either side. I must admit, straight line quilting is still my favourite way to quilt a quilt.

Also, no baby gift I give is complete with some matching bunting.

Now I just can't wait to meet the little guy - in 10 years my friend and I will be the soccer mums in the back row sneaking a beer!

Fly the Flag

There must be something wrong with me - have just added another 2 projects to my long list. But to completely justify it, I have a friend pregnant with twins who need some quilts! So in steps the Fly the Flag Quilt along being run by Aunty Cookie. It looks like an awesome cute project. I think I might fussy cut some squares to go under the flags!

In other news - the countdown is on --- 3 more weeks and I am back at work. So I have been trying to squeeze as much sewing in but haven't had the time to blog about it. I am finding Instagram good at capturing snippets of my projects so I seem to be on it a bit more now. Click on the link on the right to follow me {but be warned it ain't all crafty stuff - lots of my kids as well}.

FAL Q3

Here we go again -2013 Finish-A-Long 3rd Quarter Goals!

I am being a bit ambitious for my 3rd quarter goals - but i did a tidy up and found a few outstanding projects. I thought it would be better to document them here than forget about them! I may have also secured a childcare spot for Mr C three weeks before I am due back at work - so that means for 3 days for 3 weeks I will be child free - bit scary but I reckon I need to do a lot of sewing as therapy in preparation for returning to work!

1. Washi Quilt
This is a carry over from the last quarter. I would love to have this done by Summer for my bed!
What needs doing: border, back, quilting and binding.

2. St Louis 16 Patch
I may have accidental started this and finished the quilt top last quarter. It is currently basted and awaiting quilting - it is a monstrous size so I am waiting for a chance that I can dedicate a few nights quilting it.
What needs doing: Quilting and binding.

3. Tsuru Quilt
Another accidental start. I was waiting until I finished my Washi quilt before starting this but I could not help myself! I am using the Sew Mama Sew modern Block of the Month. I am totally digging the Navy and Orange Combo!
What needs doing: 3 blocks, and everything else!

4. Simply Solids Quilt - Solid Scrap Vomit Quilt
Mmmmm might need a better name for this quilt! The lovely ladies from the Simply Solids Bee have kindly made me some awesome B Blocks. I still need to decide on the layout - but my A Blocks are ready to roll. My little girl decided to rearrange them all the other day and asked if it was going to be a "beautiful quilt" for her - cheeky monkey!
What needs doing:  sewing the blocks together, quilting, binding

5. A and A Wedding Quilt
This is a must to finish for my sister-in-laws wedding at the end of October. I am using the Sew Mama Sew Modern Block of the Month again - in a purple and grey scheme. I will need to add an extra 3 blocks to finish it off, but I will remain hush just in case she sees this!
What needs doing: finish blocks, back, quilting and binding

6. Mr C's Car Quilt
Well last quarter I finished Miss E's car quilt so of course I then started creating one for my little man. I have cut out 80 squares but still need to go through my scrap pile to cut some more! I think I will use a different layout but it will still be an awesome I-spy quilt!
What needs doing: finish cutting blocks, quilting and binding

7. Elsie's Bento box quilt
Wow, this is another one from a while back that I was aiming to be done in time for my daughter's first "big girl" bed (which she has been in since Jan) Using Ashley from Film in the Fridge tutorial and one of my most favourite Amy Butler prints and some coordinating solids - I would love this on her bed for summer! I actually ended up making a winter doona cover for her bed so at least she had some lovely handmade goodness on her bed. Sorry for the poor pic!
What needs doing: finish blocks, quilting and binding

8. Kate Spain Quilt
I starting playing with a mini charm pack of Kate Spain Cuzco a few weeks back. I just need to add two borders.

9. Alchemy Quilt
A jelly roll and charm pack may have accidentally fallen into a shopping cart a while back and I started to play with a few different layouts. Not sure how this will evolve but I am keen to see!

10. Enchanted Forest Quilt
A carry over from last quarter.

So yeah - slightly ambitious but I have been in a quilting groove of late. Not to mention one of my bestest friends in the world is pregnant so I need to get a baby quilt done and another friend is pregnant with twins - so lets add another two to the pile!

FAL Quarter 2 Round Up

Ahhhh, we have reached the end of the quarter for the Finish-a-long at She Can Quilt. 

Sadly i didn't finish all my goals - but shock horror did a whole lot of finishes not on my list. Motivation and Inspiration are funny things! My original list is here. So my goals and progress for Q2 were

1. Spinning Stars Quilt.
The Aussie winter was fast approaching so BAM finished the hand binding one night while watching Monty Python's Meaning of Life! Oh how I love having a quilt for myself - so comforting!
Before shot

After Shot

You can read about my finish here
 
2. A Car Quilt for MissE.
Another Finish! I loved making this for my little girl - she loves looking at all the pictures on it. It has even made a trip into childcare for all the other kids to play ispy on. 120 squares in total. And I must be crazy because you will see version 2 of this in the next quarter list.
Before Shot

After shot

You can read about the finish here  

3. Washi Bedspread. 

Sob, sob- sadly no progress was made. 

 

4. Kids Quilt #1

Sad face - no progress

5. Kids Quilt #2

Yay a finish!

Before shot

After Shot

Read about it here

 

So 3 out of 5 isn't too bad. Next quarter will be interesting as I only have 2 months of maternity leave left and a pile of projects that I want to get done!

Another one bites the dust!

Just ticking off another projects from my FAL Q2 list - Goal 5. This was a baby quilt top I originally made for a friend but the colours did not suit her nursery - a little too retro! So her beautiful boy got this quilt instead and the old quilt top has been sitting in my "to finish" pile for a while. 

Meet the retro owls - i think each of my friends parents houses had bench tops in their kitchens in these colours (we were green - actually they still are - note to parents the 70's/80's  are over!)

 

I included some little bubba tags on this one.

 

The back

 

Straight line quilting - my favourite!

Spinning Stars FINISHED!

Finally finished the binding on my Spinning Stars Quilt! Have already spent many wintering nights snuggled under it on the couch!

I was so excited when I realised that my precious Amy Butler Wallflower print went perfectly with all my reds in the quilt. I was hoarding it for a special project and so excited that I got to use it on my very own quilt!

 

So that is now Goal 1 of my FAL Q2 complete! yeah!

Now the only problem is that I came out the other night and found hubby under my blanket! Tsk tsk. So I finally found the motivation to start his quilt which I have been collecting fabrics for a number of years for. I have been secretly making it during the day while little man has been asleep and even sneaking some sewing in after hubby has gone to bed. I was aiming to have it finished by the start of the week for his birthday but he was sick last weekend and has been home most of the week. It's been driving me crazy as I only have a few lines to quilt!! here is a sneak peek!

 

Getting my A Block on

So I have started making my A Blocks for my Simply Solids quilt. I think I am crazy for attempting this - by my calculations I need to make 18 Blocks - each block is 49 squares of 2" goodness so that is 882 squares. I'm crazy right? Well I have two down, a third half done - lucky they are fun to make! Still waiting on a few more B Blocks. I am leaning towards having all the B Blocks in the centre and then border it with A Blocks.
My lucky dip of 2" squares
As I sew each row randomly together I am liking some of these colour palettes!