Still Working

I haven't given up, yet!  Right now I'm working on the yellow and purple snail's trail quilt.  It's a pain because there has been so much repairing to do.  I pieced it years ago when I just barely knew how to operate a sewing machine.  But I got a border on it, and am deciding how to proceed.  I'd like to do an allover spider web quilting design with clear thread, then embroider a metallic silver web in two of the corners.   Hmmm, still thinking.

I am also doing a table runner for my cousin.  It's in the hand-quilting stages, which I'm really enjoying.  Pictures when there's more to show.

Birthday Gift

I enjoyed making this one for a Cancer whose birthday is this month.

It was going to be a mug rug, but got a little out of control when I realized I had the blue and yellow fabric to go with it.  Then I found the iron-on stars.  I just had way too much fun with this.

I machine quilted it (I still suck at that, but slowing getting better) with yellow thread in star patterns.

I'm digging through my stash looking for bright rainbows for my next project.  I'm also again working with the snail's trail quilt (the yellow and purple one), fixing some of the seams and trying to get it done by Father's Day...  we'll see about that.

Finally!

Big Blue is complete!  I just finished the binding Thursday.  I really hope Andy likes the quilt.

Remember, I'm a beginner.  It's not the most glamorous work, but it's pretty sturdy, and very comfortable.  I guess that's all a quilt needs to be.

Next Step

Finally finished quilting Big Blue!!  And I've concluded that I need a better foot for my sewing machine, and a *padded* chair at my sewing table.

Now I need to square it off and bind it.  I hate this part.

Waiting a Little Longer

So here's one from 2003.

This was the first time I'd ever had to cut pieces that weren't all the same size.  And I was using a Sharpie to mark my fabric....  Also, I was an utter beginner on the sewing machine, at which I've never been very gifted.

I started the project for my now husband.  I stopped at ten squares because I was tired of it, and thought a nice wall quilt would look just fine in our Nightmare Before Christmas themed bedroom.  I have almost a full yard left of eache fabric, though.  I've been waiting until I feel like doing a big bed quilt, but I just don't know if I'll get there.  So now I need to figure out what to put on the borders and backing.  It's hard to find a fun fabric that goes with both yellow and purple without looking too loud... 

So this one's going back on the shelf until I have some dollars laying around for just the right fabric.

Fail

I'm too embarrassed to post pictures of my failed quilted coaster experiment.  There are free instructions all over the internet, but I didn't bother because I got too excited to get started.  Seemed simple enough.  What a pain!  I am now dramatically avoiding contact with my sewing machine until it's time to finish Big Blue.

Lesson learned.  Binding a teeny 4"x4" quilted coaster is wrong!  It seems I was supposed to do it pillow-style, sewing inside-out and flipping it...  I may try again in a few months.  I have too many scraps to avoid something like this for long.