Meags and Me New Patterns

 I had the opportunity to work on 2 of the new patterns coming our for Meags and Me.

 I love pattern testing for these guys!  

Patterns I did were Tweet Tweet and Bird Brain.  

Tweet Tweet is at the quilter's and I just finished Bird Brain last night.

Here are pics from Bird Brain.

I did a machine free motion straight stitch around the applique.

I used the same for the legs, beak and ( ) on the birds.

I hand embroidered the eyes using a satin stitch.

I did the same free motion straight stitch around each of the flower petals.

I find this to go MUCH faster than doing a traditional blanket stitch.

I love using black thread to stitch around the applique as it really makes it stand out.

I made this entire project using fabrics from my stash!

I even found an aqua minky for the back that I had in my stash.

I used "frankenbatting" to sew batting pieces together for the batting too.

I just love how that Alison Glass fabric fit in that green block!

I decided to make bindings yesterday too.

I now have binding for both of the bird quilts as well as 2 others that used the same fabrics

that I used in the Tweet Tweet quilt.

I like to make my binding before I send the quilt away as I'm not a fan of making it at all.

That way when the quilt comes back I am ready to trim and bind.

Sometimes I forget which binding I made for which quilt.

This time I cut a post-it note into thirds and folded it into a U and stuck it in each of the bindings.

Hoping this will help me remember what goes together with what.

What do you use to keep track of your batting?

Do you like to make it before you send your quilt for quilting or after you get it back?

I have to do some house cleaning today.

Also hoping to get some more fabric listed for sale.

Then, I get to work on a new quilt for a baby that will be arriving soon.

(not my new grand baby)

What are you up to on this glorious Caturday?

~XOP~

Trick-Or-Treaters

 I have finished binding my pattern test quilt from Meags and Me.

It's called Trick-or-Treaters

I just love these little Trick-or-Treaters.

I used fabric from the Art Gallery line, Spooky and Sweeter for the upper and lower part.

I used a Grunge for the applique background.

I had to piece the upper and lower part because the pattern was wider than the fabric.

If you look closely you can see where I pattern matched down the skeleton.

It's a bit tricky but worth the effort, I thought.

I finally figured that if I had shrunk the applique section by 20% I could have used the WOF without having to piece the top and bottom sections.

I would suggest that if you are planning to make this you consider doing that too.

Alternatively, you could use a smaller print that wouldn't matter if it matched.

It is such a large area I thought this print would be too cute to pass up using.

In the end, I really love this pattern.

It was a fun one to make.

Next up I am working on finishing up another Meags and Me pattern test called 

Little Nugget.

It's full of Hedgehog goodness so you will NOT want to miss it.

~XOP~

Pattern Testing

 I have been working on another pattern test for Meags and Me. 

 It is called Trick-Or-Treat and it is adorable!

It is a group of Trick or treaters.

I decided to "build" the appliques using an applique sheet.

I couldn't find my Godess sheet so I used some small sheets I have to do it.

When the applique was too large I used some of the fusible paper.

You can see in the photo that I taped the original to my light box.

I put the applique sheets over the drawing.

I then placed the fusible pieces where they went.

It was SO nice using this system to get the placement just right.

Several times I had to lift the applique sheet to my ironing board to fuse them put back on the light box.

Here you can see the "built" applique.

These are the other children.

You can see that I have them placed over the original drawings.

They fit exactly.

In the next 2 pics you can see the "built" applique on my ironing board.

The nice thing about building the applique is that I can pick them up and they are intact.

I was able to lay them out on their background and fuse them.

So rather than try to guess about placement,

 I could place the while child and move as necessary.

I have placed them on their background but not stitched them down yet.

I also have not taken any additional pictures, LOL.

I am using this fabric to complete the quilt.

Unfortunately I did not realize my fabric choice means I will need to pattern match.

The width of the design is ~50" so since my fabric runs horizontal I will need to piece it.

I am not a huge fan of pattern matching, so this has been pushed to the back burner for now.

I would change fabrics, except I based all the colors on the vignette fabric.

Oh well, live and learn!

Going in for my third radiation treatment today.

Only 10 more after that!

Peacock painting up next so please stop back!

~XOP~

Current Projects

 I have been working on some older projects and some newer projects. 

 I was able to give my oldest daughter a quilt this week that I finished awhile ago. 

She will be sending it off to a friend that recently lost her dad. 

 Feels good to help others. 

 I had the meeting with the genetics counselor today. 

 I will be moving forward with some genetic screening.  

Will keep you all posted but that info won't be out for a few weeks after I get my blood drawn, 

 The pattern is called Heart Mania by Meags and Me.

 I hand stitched some of the hearts, 

 Colors are Pinks and golds.

I used a really pretty rose Minky on the back.

I showed you the cover finished, but this is with the pillow form inside it. 

Really happy how this turned out!

I bought this cute remnent from JAF.

It was a patchwork.

I put this navy flannel on the back

I then had to make a matching crib sheet.

And this cute little lovey with satin edging.

I like making these with Minky on the other side.

I can use up my Minky scraps like this.  

I do a 16" square and just round the corners.

That's all for today.  

I am working on another pattern test and will show you that soon.

Happy Caturday from me and the boys!

~XOP~

Itsy Bitsy Spider Quilt

 I have accepted some pattern testing from Meags and Me. 

 I love working with those ladies! 

 I have 2 of the 4 I committed to finished,

  I will show you the Itsy Bitsy Spider one in this post. 

 I traced the words and still need to do the hand embroidery on this quilt.  

My plan it to take it with me to NC and work on my hand projects while I am there.  

YES we are going for a week

 (maybe 2 depending on what I find out next Thursday so fingers crossed for good news).

  I used fabrics from my stash to make the quilt top.

  I will bind it with a navy and white stripe I think.  

This is the finished top.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

Climbed up the water spout.

Down came the rain

And washed the spider out

Up came the sun.

And dried up all the rain and the Itsy Bitsy Spider

Climbed up the spout again.

The pattern will be out in June if you need to make one too.

Isn't it darling?

~XOP~

A Few More Makes

 I have been sewing like crazy but most has been for gifts. 

 I will show a few things I have made that I can show.

  I don't think the people I made them for read my blog so I should be safe, LOL. 

I made another Nightingale quilt using the Dorothy's Journey fabric. 

 I just finished binding it!  

I have not taken a photo of the finished quilt yet though.  

Michigan weather has NOT been cooperating with my photo taking! 

 So just a sneak peek of this one.

Cole and I have been busy.  

I need to make 3 Christmas stockings.  

One for a friend and 2 for my sister-in-law.

I got started one of them the other day.  

I made stockings for this little one's parents when they got married. 

 Then I made them for their twins.  

Now it is time to make for the newest addition to their family. 

 You can see the front and the lining in this picture.

This is the back and still the lining.

Ta-Da!  The finished stocking all ready to mail out soon!

I had one block left over from the baby quilt so I decided rather than have an orphan block I would make it into a pillow cover for the baby.

This is the front of the cover, using the orphan block.

I had some fabric left over from making the quilt so I used it on the back.

If you look closely, you can see the zipper flap. 

 I was pretty excited to put a zipper in the back.

I will send it off with the quilt.  

They will just need to purchase a pillow form to make it into a pillow.

I have also been doing some test embroidery for Meags and Me.

This is one of the adorable parts of their Goodbye quilt pattern.  

I have finished all of the embroidery for the quilt, now I just need the actual quilt pattern to finish it.

They needed testers to use the format I use to check if the embroidery was alright, which it was.

Isn't it so adorable?

Hubby and I went out to pick up some things at Cabela's today for the basket raffle at our church.

We stopped in Dundee and shopped a bit.  Most of the shops have closed, sadly.

We walked by the river and I snapped this pic of us.

I have some more to share, but I need to take some photos.

So until then, happy stitching!

~XOP~