Joining in on the Fun - Blogger's Quilt Festival Entry #1

Hello all! I want to join in on the fun over at Amy's Creative Side and offer a couple of my quilts up for entry into the Blogger's Quilt Festival. First offering...

My Duplicity Mini

This quilt began as a take off from my original heart mini. Which was created in response to Jolene's beautiful heart quilt and also an interest that I had in trying this fabulous tutorial from Elizabeth at Oh! Fransson.

And peacocks for the back, so colourful!

Duplicity Quilt

Finished Quilt Size: 11 x 11

Best Category: Doll/Mini

Quilted by: Me

Thanks for visiting my entry into the festival. Best of luck to all the quilters. Now head on over to Amy's Creative Side and check out all the wonderful entries!!!

 ~Lisa

Duplicity

I really HAD to make another mini heart quilt. I enjoyed the process immensely. I pretty much stitched the last stitch on this binding and then picked up my rotary cutter and dug in my scrap bin - more 1.5 inch squares were on my agenda. Some of these wee squares were turned into teeny tiny HST's...

Some miniature HST's...so freakin' cute.

 For me, the layout stage is always a party...

As in my last mini heart, I found the task of transfering the squares to the grid quite satisfying - very neat and tidy - every little square in its own little home. For both my mini heart quilts I have used this fabulous tutorial to make the block.

And finishing up at a whopping 12 inch square...I have added this little one to the growing collection on my sewing room wall.

Have a wonderful week all! What sewing fun have you been up to? Linking up with 'Let's get Acquainted' Monday link up being hosted by Martha at Weekend Doings.


~Lisa

And She's Done!

I finished up this wee little heart last week. It sewed up as a 12 inch square mini quilt - complete with a toile (my fave!) binding. 

I mentioned in my previous post that I was going to use this tutorial to sew it together. Well, let me tell you....what fun I had! I loved this technique and it sewed up very easily. The funniest part was when my family saw it go from being laid out on my cutting table as 1.5 inch squares (18 inches across in total) to being sewed up as 1 inch squares (12 inches across) - they could not believe how much it SHRUNK.

I decided to quilt it with a free hand 'sketchy' type stitch, a heavy thread and my triple stitch function on my machine. I even 'coloured in' the corners, allowing myself to sketch with my needle and thread. Choosing to quilt in this free form way was VERY hard for me, as I am a 'a place for everything, and everything in it's place' kind of gal and letting myself 'freely' stitch feels foreign and disorganized to me. I far prefer the stream lined feeling of stitching from side to side in STRAIGHT lines. Even though I like the way it turned out, I still have the urge to rip it all out and do straight lines! HAHA!

Ooooh love the look of all these 'organized' and tidy seams. So pretty!

When making small quilts, I really enjoy the opportunity to practice my binding. For some time now, I have been narrowing down the binding steps/techniques that work/don't work for me, in an effort to come up with my 'works every time' binding that makes me feel happy with it EVERY time. So far, my bindings have been a little haphazard for my liking. For this reason, the last time I bound a quilt, I wrote a list of what worked and what to try for future. This is the list I used this time...I am definitely getting closer to my happy place!

When I pinned this little quilt up on the wall in my sewing room, the first thought I had was 'it needs a buddy'! I may or may not have already started cutting out more little squares...here's to a wonderful week of sewing! Have a great week all.


~Lisa

On my Mind

Ever since I saw this fantastically fabulous quilt by Jolene from Blue Elephant Stitches -it has been on my mind - such inspiration in a photo! I needed a pick me up this weekend -something fun and new and colourful- so I decided to follow my hearts inspiration and make a heart quilt of my own.

I began cutting wee little squares (1.5 inches each) late last night...and laid out my plans.

I was pondering how I was going to sew all these mini squares up into a block and then I remembered that I had bookmarked a tutorial - a mad dash through my bookmarks and I came up with...this tutorial. Genius! 

So, following the tutorial, I drew myself a grid. I drew mine on the back of some lightweight fusible interfacing.  To help guide and keep my lines straight, I used my cutting mat, lining up my ruler on the same line on each side.  The tutorial suggests drawing the grid on some muslin, which I may do next time, as it means you can use it over and over by simply laying your interfacing over top of it to see the squares. 

I flipped the interfacing over and began to lay my squares on top of the fusible side, using the grid to give each of my tiny squares their own little spot. I loved this part - it really spoke to my affinity for organization and orderliness. The interfacing's gluey side has a slight rough surface, which holds the little squares from shifting too much before you iron them.

And the VOILA! I ironed it and so far it looks like this....

Now, to follow the next step in the tutorial, I need to fold along each line (one at a time) and iron it into an accordion of sorts to prepare the sections for sewing.

Not sure what this guy will be made into - likely a mini quilt. I like the opportunity to practice my binding and quilting that a mini quilts offers and also because I think he will look so cute hanging on my sewing room wall.


Happy sewing all!

~Lisa

Mini Magic

Oh soooo much fun! I have had a blast with this...

Isn't she just such a fun wee thing! This is my very first paper piecing project and I am thrilled with the process. I have heard so much from others how perfect the points are with paper piecing - well you all were so right - there is just such a preciseness that is amazing.

This little mini came about because I joined the Lucky Stars BOM put on by Elizabeth at Don't Call me Betsy. I decided to do a practice 6 inch star before I went ahead and cut into my fabric that I will be using to make my monthly blocks and ultimately my finished quilt. After I finished my practice it just begged to be sewn into a mini - so voila - here she is!

Looking forward to going ahead and cutting into my fabric this weekend, now that I have found out how much fun this is!!! Happy Weekend all. Linking up with Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.