So many projects . .

So I feel like so far this new year is going great in the quilting arena.  I have been doing a lot of behind the scenes work for an upcoming project that I am super excited about.  I finished up my 2 twisters, guest posted, and made both of my bee blocks including this new one yesterday.   

So why is my list of things to do so long?????  I will tell you why, because for every one project I complete I think of 2 more to add.  Oh well, it wouldn't be fun if I didn't feel like I had a million projects I was trying to juggle :)  Now just to keep track of them all.  I find I can't sleep when I have to many projects bouncing around in my brain . . . Thank heavens for the WIP Wednesday, where I can write it all down and make some priorities for the week :)


Designing Stage

• Lone Star for Grandma's 80th Birthday
• Twister Toddler Twin Quilt
• Solids Quilt for Free Motion
• King Size Serenity Quilt
• Jessi and Me Quilt
• Circle Meets Square Quilt
• 4th of July Table Runner for Sister-In-Law 
• Secret Project MB
• Secret Project QQ
• Moda Bake Shop On the Go
• Moda Bake Shop Take it All

Piecing Stage

• Stars Quilt-A-Long
• Secret Project SC
• Hugs and Kisses Quilt for Grandma
• Going Places Quilt

Quilting Stage

• Customer Quilt 
• Crib Quilt for Jocelyn

Completed Stage

• Baby Quilt for Special new Niece arriving in April
• Baby Quilt for Special new Niece arriving in March 
• January Bee Blocks

I am hoping to finish  both of my Quilting Stage quilts and do my Secret Project SC quilt this week.  If I manage to do some piecing on some of the other projects that would be fantastic.  But these 3 are top of the priority list :)

Playing with the Slice

I pulled out my Slice again.  I just love doing applique, and my Slice makes it all the better.  It is just so fun not to have to cut all of the intricate corners by hand.  Nope, I just select the shape I want and away it cuts.  And I so love all of the selection.  I am not the best freehand artist so having a choice of  20 different flowers is awesome for me :)

I used Natalia's starch applique method that she taught us at the Sewing Summit.  I love it and I love that you don't get the stiff feel of Heat and Bond afterwards.  Seriously, the Sewing Summit rocked!!!  Oh, and this pattern is based off of one of Natalia's Bake Shop projects.  I will show more soon when I have it all done :)
EDIT - Here is a link to Natalia's tutorial on Starch Applique for those curious minds out there :)

If you have no idea what a Slice is you can see this post where I discuss how much I love it :)  

Two Twister's

Well I finished up the Two Twisters for my Two new Nieces that are on the way.  I really enjoyed making these quilts and had fun trying the new diagonal twister design out.  I have some more ideas of how to play with this design for a later day :)  And a super fun note about these two quilts, I got the fabric for them out of my stash and I had 8 1 yard pieces.  I used up all of it with about an inch to spare.  Perfect!!!  You would have thought I had purchased it with these designs in mind :)

I quilted the this twister with a swirl design, I really like how it adds to the motion of the quilt.

And here is the back of it.  I forget how hard it is to keep a strip straight on the backing of a quilt :)

And this one is the infamous first quilting video quilt :)  It is done in a dasiy and loop design.  (Which I know, you can't see at all, but it still gives it that soft crinkly feel :)

And I loved this backing fabric, it is harder to see in the picture but there are cute little flowers in the white teardrop design :)

 And here they are together.  I am so excited to tie some ribbons around them and send them off to my wonderful Sister and Sister-In-Law.  Love you guys!!!

I am linking this to Kati's Slash the Stash!!! These were some great stash busters :)

It's Coming!!!

Something's in the works around here and it is going to be exciting!!!

TNT Thursday with A Video Attempt

EDIT - I think you should be able to view the video now, if not, please let me know and I will work on it some more.  Oh what a learning experience :)

So I tried it . . . . I attempted to make a free motion quilting video.  Now I will be the first to say, it isn't great.  But it was a definite learning experience.    Here is what I learned.

1 - I am not so good with words.  I kept tripping over them and even after 5 attempts I still said things that sound absolutely silly.  Hopefully with more practice I might be a little less nervous and actually be able to say what I am thinking.  

2 - There is a huge give and take of what you quilt on.  I love seeing an entire quilt worked on instead of a little square because I can get a better sense of how the quilter handles the bulk of their fabric, however, as this video demonstrates, it is a whole lot harder to see the quilting when it is done on a quilt instead of a little  solid dark square with high contrasting thread.  I am thinking about how to solve this.  Maybe a solid quilt made just for quilting videos???

3 - Trying to locate the best position for the tripod while still being able to reach your quilt to work on is not the easiest.  Maybe I need to get a partner in crime to do the filming??

4 - I wish I could figure out a way to do the sound after.  Is the sound of the sewing machine in the background to loud to understand??

5 - And this is an important one.  Never Ever, Ever, try to upload a video using blogger.  I had it uploading for 8 hours and nothing.  Seriously, has anyone ever used blogger to upload a video??  YouTube was only a mere 45 minutes.  (But I kept it private as I really don't feel like this work is worth publishing :)  

So it is back to the video camera for me.  Hopefully in the future I will be able to show some better quality free motion quilting videos.  But, you got to start somewhere, right :)  Please feel free to give any suggestions. I would love to hear what you would like to see in a free motion quilting video :)

So that was my Try :)  Let's see yours :)