quilting log cabin runner

 Here is a photo of about half of the runner quilted.  I changed to a different pattern for the center blocks using the ruler foot.  I was using the walking foot for the quilting on the end blocks.

Yikes....I should have done some practice pieces first!  That is what all FMQ teachers say.....always practice before going to your piece to FMQ.  My thinking when I switched to a different design for the center blocks was that using the ruler foot would  be easier............WRONG..... 

I was constantly turning the runner with the walking foot quilting so using the ruler foot would eliminate all the quilt turning.   BUT........Quilting going forward and backward work better for me than sideways quilting.

I am not going to publish a to-do list for the rest of this month.  March Madness is here!!

This last week I did part of my goals.  1. The runner above half of quilting done.  2. I don't have all of my fabrics for the Spiral Lone Star quilt along.  AND I may change my mind anyway....so no fabric prep.  3. I am about half done with the improv runner for the top of the file cabinet. 

Wondering.....do you do swatches of colors when you get new paints, pens, pencils, crayons?

Here is a photo of my new purchase that I have wanted for a long time.  I have started a swatch page of the colors.  I included some of my other swatch papers in the photo.  

Here is a photo of all the colors

I am slowly working on my kawandi runner....a little bit every day.  I am in no hurry...just enjoying the process of stitching.  

The NCAA BB tournament is so exciting every year!  AND since it was cancelled last year and our team didn't get to play.....it means so much more for out team to be able to go this year.  

Last week for the Mountain West tournament we watched all 10 games Wednesday through Saturday!

Go Aztecs!!  I will be watching as many games as possible for the tournament! 

linking to Free Motion Mavericks

https://quiltinglearningcombo.blogspot.com/2021/03/here-comes-sun-on-free-motion-mavericks.html

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

To-Do Tuesday #41

 Another To-Do Tuesday and linking with Roseanne at Home Sewn By Us

Here is last week's list and progress:

To-Do Tuesday week of November 17 through November 23:

1. Do another stitch and paint project ✅
2. FMQ for 4 days✅
3. Christmas project✅
4. Enter more quilts in Flickr and Pinterest✅

I have been doing FMQ on a Susan Winget Christmas panel.  I am using my BSR and not particular about following the lines exactly.  Some places I go over several times.  Here is the top right of 4 images.

I have discovered a way to use the stitch regulator and not switch to the ruler foot for straight lines!!

A thin wood piece that was a leftover from another project works great.  It doesn't slip and it is easy to hold to make a straight line with the stitch regulator foot.  Here is a photo of how I use it.......

I discovered a new to me You Tube channel with stitching and painting videos by

stitchesbyjulia                I can't wait to try some of her ideas.

I also found out about making manx blocks...........You Tube videos describing these blocks like log cabin all done by hand and a very different procedure.

To-Do Tuesday week of November 24 through November 30:

1. FMQ Christmas panel by Susan Winget 
2. paint and stitch project
3. Bonnie Hunter mystery starts Friday
4. start a manx block

This week will be busy with Aztec basketball games starting.  I would like to do some decorating for Christmas but not as much as I usually do each year.

Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving.  We will not be meeting with our family and it will be just the two of us.  We will cook our traditional menu and Zoom with our family..

I am linking to Roseanne's  

http://homesewnbyus.com/to-do-tuesday-68-and-weekly-list-update/

Be sure to check it out.

and also linking to Free Motion Mavericks

https://quiltinglearningcombo.blogspot.com/2020/11/finished-stars-and-making-plans-on-free.html 

Be sure to check out this link too

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

To-Do Tuesday #38

 My 38th week of linking to Home Sewn By Us for To-Do Tuesday

Here is the list from last week

To-Do Tuesday week of September 29 through October 5:

1. FMQ     Angela Walters has a new class on YouTube about using rulers ✅
2. Apple Crisp blocks ✅
3. start another Kawandi quilt ✅

I started another Kawandi quilt and blogged about it in my last post.  I also did another Stitch Meditation and the photo is in the last post.  I worked on the Apple Crisp blocks taking paper off and sewing together.

FMQ photos 

first is my new Taj ruler to use with my ruler foot and this is the first time I used it.  Since I had the tulip section to do on this little practice mat I thought I would try this ruler.  I used the outside for the leaves and the inside for the petals.  I quilted with the design upside down..

then I used my BSR on my machine to add the rest of the stitching in this area and over to the right area to finish up the quilting on this mat.

I watched Angela Walters video on using straight ruler quilting.  I thought this music fabric would be a good one with lines being helpful.  As it turned out...two factors I will change when practicing....use a different color thread so I can see better where I am going.  AND a different fabric.  Another thing...I need a different ruler that has dark lines to see the places to stop and turn when backstitching to the next row.  

Next time....pay close attention so I don't go past the line to stop!  You can see the stitching better on the back on the batting.  I was surprised when I turned it over to check as I thought I was doing my lines spacing better than that!!!

I am enjoying quilting with the ruler foot on my machine and really enjoy learning new things.  For anyone wondering if they should invest in a ruler foot and all the special rulers that you might need....I would say go for it!  It is a bit of a learning curve.......to hold the ruler next to the ruler foot...move the fabric...keep the stitches fairly even....watch the points on the fabric to stop....hold the ruler where it needs to be on the fabric....and practice all of these things often!!  Yes.....it is really fun!!

My plans for this next week are to do more FMQing and order the Slim straight ruler that Angela uses.  I will be watching more FMQ videos.  Also start quilting on one of my quilts after I find backing for them.

I am linking to Roseanne's   

http://homesewnbyus.com/to-do-tuesday-linky-61-and-weekly-update/

and to Rebecca Grace's 

https://www.rebeccagracequilting.com/2020/10/lal10-creating-manual-no-sew-zone-for.html

Also linking to Free Motion Mavericks

http://lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.com/2020/10/free-motion-mavericks-week-301-filling.html

Be sure to check these sites for fun inspiration

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

To-Do Tuesday #35 and dolphin runner finish

 My 35th week of linking to Home Sewn By Us for To-Do Tuesday

Here is the list from last week

To-Do Tuesday week of September 8 through September 14:

1. Finish dolphin runner yes
2. Work on other projects in progress..........scrappy rectangles.....around the cabin....and mini 3 crazy sisters AND my potholder FMQ practice pieces. yes

This dolphin runner started with me finding 3 dolphin fat quarters with the idea of making a runner for a friend to fit the top of her 50 x 18 cabinet.  She also really likes dolphins, blue and flags.  The decisions on this were the size of each section and the sashing...the cornerstones were needed to make it complete.  Then I decided on quilting with wavy lines with some crossing over each other.

And I remembered to FMQ my name and year at the edge...you can see it if you zoom in on that area.

The next photo is the scrappy rectangle quilt top finished and ready to find a backing and decide on quilting?  I used a black jelly roll to put vertical sashing on each block and used all of the length of the strips for the horizontal sashing.  I left the selvage ends on to sew the strips and will trim them after quilting.

I started a new project this week....actually two new projects........

I was watching The Quilt Show episode 2705 and became fascinated with the Kawandi quilt method shown by Sujata Shah.  I put photos and explained this in my last post on Sunday...Slow Sunday Stitching.

I also started another little quilt because of another fascination I saw on Pinterest....by Melody Johnson.  Nothing more about that now.

To-Do Tuesday week of September 15 through September 21:

1. finish hand quilting mini three crazy sisters quilt
2. start Cool Cats quilt in blues
3. FMQ 4 days this week

I am linking to Roseanne's 

http://homesewnbyus.com/to-do-tuesday-linky-58-weekly-progress-update/

and linking to Rebecca Grace  about FMQ

http://www.rebeccagracequilting.com/2020/09/lal7-inspired-by-online-ruler-work.html

and linking to Free Motion Mavericks

https://quiltinglearningcombo.blogspot.com/2020/09/sparkling-star-on-free-motion-mavericks.html

Be sure to see what everyone else is doing and join in the fun!!

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

To-Do Tuesday #34

 My 34th week of linking to Home Sewn By Us for To-Do Tuesday

Here is the list from last week

To-Do Tuesday week of September 1 through September 7:

1. Continue hand quilting the mini Beatrix Potter quilt 3 crazy sisters yes
2. Scrappy rectangle sashing yes
3. FMQ practice 4 days yes
4. Scrappy around the cabin blocks....join more together yes

I talked about three projects in my blog post 2 days ago with photos...

the Beatrix Potter mini, the dolphin runner and #20 Stitch Meditation.

I did some FMQ with my BSR and used designs I saw on Craftsy and IG by Christina Cameli. I made a practice sandwich using 4 images from Susan Winget fabric.

Sprials.......echoed paisley...pebbles.....S shaped echoed....she calls toothpaste swirl.....bear claws and my S or L shape echoed.

AND here are some other smaller practice pieces where I followed the lines of the design and used the BSR foot and also the ruler foot with a straight ruler to do the lines. The ruler foot works much better........I just need to get used to moving everything at once.....hold the ruler in place....move the fabric....and keep the ruler foot next to the ruler AND get a consistent stitch.

Another photo of the around the cabin blocks on a batting in front of another quilt. I made little cardboard pieces in different sizes to help with checking all the sizes of the blocks....so I don't have to keep measuring each block piece. They are laying on top of each group in the photo....5½" 6" 6½"....etc....

To-Do Tuesday week of September 8 through September 14:

1. Finish dolphin runner
2. Work on other projects in progress..........scrappy rectangles.....around the cabin....and mini 3 crazy sisters AND my potholder FMQ practice pieces.

I am linking to Roseanne's 

http://homesewnbyus.com/to-do-tuesday-linky-57-weekly-progress-update/

and linking to Rebecca Grace  about FMQ

http://cheekycognoscenti.blogspot.com/2020/09/lal6-one-where-dog-ate-my-blog-post.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CheekyCognoscenti+%28Cheeky+Cognoscenti%29

and linking to Free Motion Mavericks

http://lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.com/2020/09/free-motion-mavericks-week-297-note.html

Be sure to see what everyone else is doing and join in the fun!!

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

FMQ practice samples going to be potholders

 Today I am linking to two FMQ links.

I had planned on doing more for this blog post........ like actually showing some completed potholders!!.....but our A/C is not working......and we didn't think we needed to get it fixed because we can usually cool our house in the mornings and evenings.  BUT the temps have not been getting down to the 60s as usual....so our house is 85 inside with fans going!

So here is what I have.....

A zentangle design I have been wanting to stitch.

these first photos are before I trimmed.

I started by making the outside lines with a ruler.  I could see that was going to take forever....

So...I switched to my walking foot and did the design very quickly.

I trimmed the batting first by folding under the fabric and then turned it and I trimmed the outside fabric a little more than an inch from the edge.

I will join these two pieces that each have batting by bringing the jewel fabric folded to the top for a self binding.  The daisy potholder I previously blogged about using a wavy ruler.

AND I have blogged about this tomatoes potholder top.  I used a ruler foot and straight ruler and it takes a bunch of practice for straight lines.....holding the ruler and moving the ruler and moving the fabric AND trying to get a decent stitch length.  I am used to my BSR and this is a whole different thing!  I varied the width of the lines by accident and then I decided that might be a good thing!

The links to FMQ are so inspiring to see what everyone else is doing. 

Rebecca Grace  Long Arm Learning 

http://cheekycognoscenti.blogspot.com/2020/08/lal3-one-where-rebecca-finally-finishes.html

AND I am also linking with Free Motion Mavericks

https://quiltinglearningcombo.blogspot.com/2020/08/fmq-mini-on-free-motion-mavericks.html

Be sure to check their posts also.....it is so fun to see what everyone else is doing!

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Yellow Brick Road finished!

 This post is full of photos...of this quilt I just finished!

The first photo is being held and the second one is laying on the concrete.

This pattern is by Terry Atkinson of Atkinson Designs

I started it Januarry 21, 2014 and have blogged about it.  I had bought a 6 fat quarter bundle several years before I started this quilt.  I blogged about it 1/25/14 and then again 2/01/14, 2/08/14 and 6/27/14.  At that time it was a quilt top and it hung on my quilt rack for years as I did other quilts.

Then this year I decided I needed to finish it.  I used Diagonal Dots for the backing.  There are photos in 2/25/20 post of the start of FMQ.  I used designs by Lori Kennedy mostly.  The designs I used are flower power, Claire's peony, Faye's flower, Easy Peasy.  I also used wiggles, loops, heart leaves and spirals and meanders.  The first border I used lazy 8 Christina Cameli.  The outer border is #4 serpentine stitch on my machine 2.5 x 2.5.

The other blog posts with photos from this year 6/30, 7/14, 7/19 and 7/21.

Here are photos I took all over the quilt...starting at the top left and down and all around.  Since these photos are on my phone and then in my computer....they do go away....but this blog is where I can come to see them if they are gone other places!!

And the last photo is with a corner turned over to see the back.

It feels good to have this done....I had thought about giving it as a gift....but it has practice FMQ...but then that is what I usually call all my FMQ as it is hard to get it to look perfect.  OH that's right....I forgot I gave up being perfect and I am now striving to be perfectly imperfect!!!

Rebecca Grace has started a linky party and this is the second week.  She has invited me to join.

http://cheekycognoscenti.blogspot.com/2020/08/lal2-one-where-thoroughly-modern-millie.html

Be sure to check out the other posts......so many very interesting blogs to check!

AND I am also linking with Free Motion Mavericks

http://lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.com/2020/08/free-motion-mavericks-week-293-another.html

Be sure to check their posts also.....it is so fun to see what everyone else is doing!

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

To-Do Tuesday #8

I have been linking up to Home Sewn By Us and this is my 8th week.

So,,,,here is my list from last week and my progress

To-Do for the Week of February 18 through February 24:

1. Finish the improv brown tablemat yes
2. Do at least 3 more scrappy around the cabin blocks yes
3. Yellow brick road quilt top ready to quilt and start FMQ yes

1  I finished the tablemat and did a blog post about it 2/21... here

2  I got three more scrappy around the cabin blocks done for a total of 37 scrappy blocks done.

3  I started to do FMQing on the yellow brick road.  I am using a new to me design....flower power.  I had planned to do it all over.......we will see how it goes...I may add some different designs.  It is hard for me to do the same thing over and over!

Here is a photo of it basted and ready to quilt on the patio I took before I brought it to the machine!

AND I took a photo of my practice............I used a Susan Winget fabric and will make potholders with my practice pieces.

To-Do Tuesday for Week of February 25 through March 2:

1. Do more FMQ on the yellow brick road quilt
2. Do some class work in my 2020 Artfully Inspired Life...at least 3 days
3. Decide on fabrics and design for a baby quilt and start it
4. Decide on fabrics and design for a tablerunner for a friend and start it
5. Do at least one page in my creative journal and post in my FB Decorative Journaling group in February

I am linking to Roseanne's Linky #29

Be sure to check it out and join in the fun!

I am also linking to Free Motion Mavericks   week #269

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Improv scrappy brown tablerunner finish

 I have been blogging about this and yesterday I finished it.  I took a lot of photos and used this for my FMQ practice.  It will go on top of a desktop...that is 5' from the floor.

 Lots of closeup shots to show all the different stitching.
Crazy matrix.........open heart with echo....some closed hearts.....heart leaves...loops...
leafy meander....switchbacks....ribbon candy....lazy 8......u shapes and then backwards

 Designs from online videos and Bluprint classes.

 I used the improv piecing I have done before from Bluprint class by Jackie Gering and it is a fun way to do a quilt.  I used a lot of old scraps in this quilt.  I did 2½" rectangle pieced borders.
AND the backing is from a purchase in the 90's......

 I am linking to Free Motion Mavericks  week 268

Go and check out what others are making..........

I am also linking to Oh Scrap! 
This quilt has some really old scraps from more than 20 years ago!!

AND go check out the other posts in her link

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Kiwiberry batik rails finish and some zen stitching

 I finished a UFO that I started in November 2010.  I have blogged about it before and lately quite a lot!  It was a goal to finish this quilt this month.........and that is what I did!

 Here is the back.......I did a lot of different FMQ designs.......mostly as practice for the first time on each design.  This will go on our patio table.

 I took photos of all of the areas and decided to add them to this blog post.  There are words and short sentences added in different areas. AND I did some very big hand stitching in some areas!

next I will talk about what I call zen stitching.................

 This week I read a blog post about Stitch Meditations..........I became very fascinated and interested in checking out the video and learning more about it.
So here is the info I read and you can check it out on this blog post by Andrèe here 

The video she refers to is on YouTube by Liz Kettle   Stitch Meditations

Rules....No plan..take few minutes to pick materials...no taking out stitches. AND OK not to be perfect!! Here are my little pieces of creative bliss!!! I have used flannel 4 x 4 and 3 1/2 x 4 and my tiny saved scraps!!!  I like the idea with no plan and just decide as you go what you will do.  So I have spent about 30 minutes on each of these the past 3 afternoons....sitting on our patio with temps in the upper 70s............so relaxing......

And the reason I call it zen stitching.......meaning of zen is.....a state of calm attentiveness in which one's actions are guided by intuition rather than by conscious effort.

I am linking to Free Motion Mavericks  week 265

Smiles and hugs....Caryl