Works in Progress Wednesday - December 19, 2012

Ah, my last WIP post of 2012!

New Projects:

Pillowcases for Newtown: Like many people, I'm having a hard time dealing with what happened in Newtown. I've read news articles, but haven't watched much of the TV coverage. I just can't. I'm trying to keep busy and positive for my kids, but I bawled during their Christmas concert yesterday.

So I'm making pillowcases. It's not much, but it's something I can do since I can't vote to change the gun laws in the States (yes, I know it's more than just about guns, but had he not had such ready access to so many guns, many more of those children and teachers would still be alive) or improve mental health services there.

If you'd also like to make pillowcases for the survivors and the other children in Newtown, here's the tutorial I used and here's where I'm sending mine:

Quilters Corner

312 Danbury Rd.

New Milford, CT USA

06776 

Here are the pillowcases I made -- hopefully they will help give some children some sweet dreams.

Completed Projects:

Jelly Belly: Done and blogged about here.

Jelly Belly - Front

Jelly Belly - Back

Current Projects: 


Su{Brrr}nova: Last two blocks done. As I was laying out the blocks though, I didn't like the stripes in the centre block so I did a little snip and tuck to change that out. Much better.

Centre Block

Travellin' Pic Stitch Blog Hop: No progress

Seeing the Forest for the Trees Quilt: No progress

On Hold/UFO Mash-up:

Don't Worry {Bee} Happy Bee
Appliqué/Quilt/Paint Thing
Mini I Spy Charity Quilt

Stained Glass Lillies

Modern Block Monday Sampler 

Chop Suey

Collage Tree 

Asterisk Christmas Table Runner 

Red and Tan Bargello in the Round 2

Happy Villages

Kingston quilt

Fibonacci's Not Random

Red and Cream Amish Wedding Ring

Wedding quilt

Nine patch colourwash

WIP Wednesday Recap: Still under 20!

New projects: 1

Completed projects: 2

Current projects: 3

On Hold/UFO: 15

Bucket List: 34

I'm linking in to WIP Wednesday at The Needle and Thread Network and to W.i.P. Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. 

Hoping that you are having a wonderful Wednesday!

TGIFF! - A Scarf, A Pillowcase and A Mug Rug Walked Into A Bar...

"I see you've got things covered," said the bartender. Sorry, that was bad, but I couldn't resist.

While I didn't get Micah's growth chart finished yet, I did finish a few other Christmas gifts that I thought I'd share with you.

My husband and kids are big fans of the Ottawa 67s so I thought I'd make them some fan scarves. I got a bit of practice making these last year when I made a whole whack of them for a friend's kids' hockey and ringette teams. I was a little scarved out last year, so my boys got them this year instead. (Sorry for the bad photos - these were taken at about 1 a.m.!)

They are very simple to make - just cut 4"-6" wide fleece in your choice of colours. Stagger the colours in the arrangement you want and then sew with matching thread four or five times so that all the layers are secure.

Another option is to stack the fleece fabric, sew once or twice along the middle and then cut every 2" or so perpendicular towards, but not all the way to, the centre seam. This creates a more ruffled scarf.

Feeling a little guilty that I hadn't been able to finish Micah's growth chart, I made him a pillowcase to match his brothers'.

And finally, some more mug rugs. Again, using unused strips sets from previous projects, I sewed, slashed and sewed again. This time I decided to do what Shanna @ Sparrow in Flight did with some of her mug rugs, which was sew straight lines at different angles both horizontally and vertically.

I'm linking up with TGIFF!, which is being hosted by the joyful Jess at Life Under Quilts. If you've got a finish, why don't you share it and link up?



Happy Friday!

TGIFF! - Dreaming in Colour

As I mentioned the other day, I've started my holiday gift list. Two of the items on the list are pillowcases for my older boys. Last year, they spotted some Grinch pillowcases at a craft fair and loved them. I searched high and low, but couldn't find any in time for Christmas last year.

This summer though, I spotted some Celebrate Seuss in Avonport so I snatched it up right away. I paired it with some left over Dr. Seuss stripe from their Bottled Rainbow quilts and added a solid red fabric for the trim.

A quick search on the internet found this fabulous pillowcase video tutorial by Missouri Quilt Company. Super easy, super fast. And now I can cross two Christmas gifts off my list! Hope the boys like them. :)

I'm linking up with TGIFF! over at Sparrow in Flight.



Happy Friday all!