Tula Pink Mini Quilt

You may remember that I was part of a Tula Pink Mini Quilt Swap a few months ago. 

 I ran the swap too.  It was so much fun. 

 Tula actually put together a mosaic video of many of the quilts.  I realized, looking back, that I never shared the finished quilt with you!

I tried to make a rainbow (of sorts) with Tula Pink fabric.  I used some of my most precious fabrics.

That full Moon Forest Owl is a favorite, but super difficult to come by!

I felt so good being able to share it with someone else too!!

I chose concentric circle quilting for this one too.  I sure do love the effect!

I love this little froggy too!

 This is one of my favorite prints for binding.  Cut on the bias makes it look so neat!

So this is my entry into Finish it up Friday.  

Have a great weekend everyone!

~XOP~

Tula Pink Mini Quilt Swap

I know you all have heard me say this before but, THIS, this little quilt right here, 

is the reason I do mini quilt swaps!!!  The talent out there is astounding!

I can't even begin to tell you how amazing this little gem is!  The background is all pieced.  

The rosette is hand pieced!  

She did a fabulous job on the quilting too.  Just look at how cute the label is too.

She even included the selvedge!!  

Swaps can be hit or miss to be sure.  

I have received some that I thought were just ok but the last 2 I received were just amazing. 

 If you want to see some amazing mini's take a look at the hashtags on Instagram:

#tulapinkminiquiltswap

#tpmqspinkteam

#tpmqstulateam

Even Tula Pink herself noticed!  She wants to put them all together in a slide show!!!  

Isn't that exciting?!  

The group of women in this swap was outstanding.  

I am so happy that my friend Tracey decided to co-host with me too.  

It is always more fun to do things with a friend!!!

I did work on the BIG purple and gray wedding quilt this past weekend too 

so will show my progress on that on Wednesday.

~XOP~

WIP Wednesday

I am working like mad to get my Tula Pink Mini Quilt ready to send out for my swap partner.

I finally had some time to do the quilting on it and now just need to do the binding. 

 I can't show the front as I want it to be a surprise for my partner.  

I will show a little about how I did the quilting though for anyone that might be interested. 

 I decided to do concentric circles. 

 I love how this looks when done and the quilt is small enough that 

I thought I could manage this myself.   

I used a circle from the Perfect Circle set (the bigger one) to do the first circle.  

I used a purple disappearing marking pen to make the first circle.  

I took the picture when the pen still showed up.

This is part of the way finished, from the back.  

I used my walking foot to guide the quilting lines as I went along.  

I also used Superior Threads Monofilament thread to do the quilting. 

 I didn't want to use a dark gray over the light squares on the front and 

I didn't want to use a light color on the dark gray. 

 My lines are not perfect so let's not accent that = )

I also decided to just quilt over the label so I didn't have to sew it on.  

I hate sewing on labels!  

I used some Elmer's School Glue on the back of the label, placed the label where I wanted it on the back of the quilt and then  heat dried it with my iron.  

Once I knew it was in place 

I was able to keep quilting on the front and quilt the label right into the quilt!

After I finished I decided that froggy needed additional quilting. 

 I took out a few more of the Perfect Circles and drew in those lines. 

 It was too difficult to guide those small circles without lines.  

You can see the purple lines if you look closely.  I like it MUCH more with the additional quilting!

Next up was the binding.  I cut this print on the bias just because I like how it looks. 

 I managed to get it attached and there it is.  

I just have to turn and sew it down and it will be all ready to go in the mail.  

I sure hope my partner likes it.  

I really love how it came out and will share with you all once it has been received.  

I hope this helps someone give circular quilting a try. 

 It is kind of fun and pretty easy on smaller things.  

I'm not sure how I would feel about doing a big quilt on my domestic machine though.

I will be linking up to Freshly Pieced's WIP Wednesday.

Have a stitchy kind of day!

~XOP~

Hey What's UP?

I feel like this blog is being neglected, by me, for Instagram.
 I am not getting many comments so wondering if anyone is even still out there?  Hello?
 I was wondering if there is something you all might like to see over here.
Give me some feedback what you guys are interested in.
 Maybe no one is actually out there.
Sigh.

I am going to share what's been happening over at my little corner of the world.
I have actually been sewing quite a bit!
 I am running a Tula Pink Mini Quilt Swap on IG.
 I designed my top and have it all sewn up.
 I auditioned quite a few backgrounds like this.

This is a purple texty print by Alison Glass, which I really liked

This one is Moda Bella Feather (light gray)

Gray linen

 I was all set to go with the text print and then decided to try Kona Coal.

Kona or Text?

I put it out there on IG to get some opinions and Kona Coal it was!
I sewed late on Saturday night and put it up for a photo.
 Oh NO!  I sewed some of the things wrong!
 I had to un-sew and re-sew.
Then ready for another photo?
Nope, I see a different part is wrong.  GAH!!!
More un-sewing and more re-sewing.
 I now have the top finished.
I don't want to show it just in case my partner reads my blog or pops over here.
We are showing peeks but not full shots.
Although some are showing the whole finished top!

I also started working on the "muslin" for my daughter's dress.
It took me forever to cut the tissue pattern out.
 Then I pre-washed the fabric, pressed it and laid out the pattern.
 I have a love-hate relationship with multi-sized patterns.
So much cutting and folding later, I had the pattern pinned and then cut out and finally marked.

These guys were a HUGE help!
Obviously.
 I would much rather have been curled up napping with them.

I am not fond of garment sewing.
 I did manage to get part of the bodice sewn and the pleats put in the skirt front.
(I'd much rather be quilting my Tula mini).

I hope this thing turns out well.
I need to go back to the store to get some lining after work tonight.
My goal is to get over half way done tonight.
We are leaving on Friday morning really early and I am working all week.
  That doesn't leave much wiggle room for shopping and packing before we go!

Wish me luck!

~XOP~

Working On A Swap Project

The deadline is quickly approaching for a swap that I am in.  

Autumn is praying that I will finish it in time.

I did begin the embroidery portion of the mini quilt and this is the outer border,

 or one of them anyway.  

I am using a pattern by my friend Kelly.  

You can find it here if you want to make awesome wavy goose borders for something too.  

I had to make 8 of these for my project and they took me most of a day to get them all finished. 

 I graded them by shade then decided that I should have made 2 more but 

if I do that now they won't grade.  

This just means that the outer 4 corners will be white, but I'm going with

 "it's a design decision" not a brain bubble.  Right?

I am going to link up with a Lovely Year of Finishes and

 this is the project I want to complete for January.
I am also linking up to Freshly Pieced's WIP Wednesday.

I also decided that I most certainly did NOT have enough things of my own to do so decided to host a Tula Pink Mini Quilt Swap over on Instagram.  

Sign ups are complete and I am working with my friend, Tracey, to get this organized and to get partners assigned.

It should be a lot of fun and hopefully not too much work!  What have you been up to?

~XOP~