The Queen Bee's Buzz

Unwrapping the UFO - AT LAST!!!

2012-01-27T19:37:00.000-05:00

(Well - at last for 1... the other one is still in the hands of the United States Postal Service -hopefully to be delivered Saturday.)

So I have taunted and teased long enough - it's time to share one of the quilts, as well as a bit of the "backstory" on this project.

This project actually began in April, when Lazy Sister Sue, Jill and I got together to swap our fabrics for our SIS quilts (oh - and visit Jill and attend a big quilt show and some other fun stuff... but that's another story). Later that month, as I am cutting the fabrics - I once again realize that I have more fabrics than needed for the pattern. So even as I cut my top, my brain is plotting what to do with the scraps.

So my top is all cut - not assembled but cut - and it's now July and I come across this pattern on Moda Bake Shop. Instantly the lights go on in my head, and I set myself to cutting squares for half square triangles, planning on making this for Jill - who has told me she does not put up a tree for her and the pups.

The flimsy for Jill is finished in August (and mine is not): (note the green trees and grass, and flowers in the garden)

The quilting got put on hold as I needed to get my table adapted to do better quilting - and then with Christmas and new windows and a new furnace and a new hot water heater and a full time job and Cub Scouts - it kind of got put even more on hold. I opted not to rush through the quilting as I wanted to do some new things and did not want to be stressed about the calendar, too.

And then it FINALLY got finished. I was a bit spooked by all that open white space that just begged for FMQ - I was straight line quilting within the tree itself and thought straight lines in the open area would cause the tree to get lost on the back.

So I quilted some snowflakes. This was an experiment -and I had printed them out and quilted over the printouts - causing a bit of paper and toner to get trapped under the thread (oops - not good on WOW) but they look really great despite that!!!

Then on the borders, which were rippling slightly - I wanted really heavy quilting, so I did what I think of as "radiators" -kind of a loopy zig zag one way, then the other way, in squarish quadrants all around the border. This picture shows it on the red stars (red thread) and on the back (an offwhite pinstripe shirting fabric).

It was a tough secret to keep - only a few people saw the flimsy photo ahead of time. My son loves this quilt and wanted me to "decorate" the tree with ornaments, but I love the crispness and simplicity of it. It was fun to see the swap fabrics in a different light as they made up my "branches".

It is finally in Jill's hands -with some shortbread to sweeten the gift.

Un-unwrapping the UFO

2012-01-25T10:53:00.000-05:00

"Un-unwrapping" - double negative - which means WRAPPING!
Actually, they are both done, washed, labeled, photographed, wrapped, and packaged -and as soon as I click "publish post" I am headed to the post office to send these out!!!
(only a month after Christmas - not too bad?!?!?)

Pictures to follow after they have been received and opened by both.

The Tangled Web

2012-01-17T10:39:00.000-05:00

If I was playing by my normal rules - the Christmas UFO quilts would be done. I am normally a very conservative "quilter" (though my piecing can be crazy at times) - edge to edge with the walking foot is my norm...with all those pesky starting and stopping threads trimmed off when the binding goes on. Neat, clean and done...

Not this time. This time I decided to get "fancy schmancy" with lots of nested outline stitchery and lots of FMQ - with lots of starts and stops - and LOTS of tails of thread that need to be trimmed and buried.

So even though I have the quilts quilted and the bindings neatly attached both sides - I am not done...

This is going to take a while....

Unwrapping the UFO - Part 9

2012-01-14T18:55:00.000-05:00

Update -

The two gifty quilts are basically "done" - I put the last of the FMQ stitches into the one this afternoon (and am now icing my shoulder!!!) - there is more thread in this quilt than in any quilt I have EVER made before!!!!! - and I really pushed my comfort zone wayyyy out there on the quilting on this one. I went through more than 2 bobbins JUST on the border work!!!!!

I am almost done with the binding on the other -and still need to choose, make and attach binding on the FMQ quilt. Then LOTS of threads to bury and clean-up work to do... maybe they will get them by January 25th??? Only a month late - that's not bad...

Right??????

Unwrapping the UFO - Part 8

2012-01-08T22:51:00.000-05:00

Still no photos I can share, but I made a lot of progress this weekend.

One quilt is done done - except for trimming threads, adding a label and washing.

One quilt is nearly done - except for hand stitching binding, trimming threads, adding a label and washing.

One quilt is not quite so done - the FMQ motifs have been selected and marked out, threads chosen. Machine still needs to be swapped from walking foot to FMQ, and binding still has to be made. This one is going to take a while... I am stretching my skills with FMQ on this one and think it will be awesome when done, but don't want to rush it.

Sorry to keep everyone in suspense.

(oh - I also threw in making a name tag for the quilt guild I just joined. A bit of couching and hand stitching, some bead work and some final sewing to go on that and I can show pictures.)

(oh and I killed a spool of Aurifil by using it on all 3 quilts - but luckily won a few more spools from Amanda Murphy Designs, so I am good there)

Unwrapping the UFO - Part 7

2012-01-05T02:00:00.002-05:00

So when I talk about these UFO's and can't show pictures for fear of giving away the surprise, it's difficult to convey the scope of this project.

So here's some dimensions:
Quilt A - 51x60
Quilt B - 64x80
Quilt C - 58x72

So now there are three? Are you confused yet?
Well - one of these is the quilt I had to throw under the needle to free up the safety pins - so yes, there are 3 quilts simultaneously being finished - but one is a keeper.

Progress update (in no particular order)
1: straight line quilting finished - needs FMQ, trimming and binding (which needs to be cut and made)
2: quilting finished, binding on and hand stitching of binding has begun.
3. straight line quilting almost finished, some FMQ needs to be done, binding made but not yet attached.

I was hoping to ship these out this weekend -but that is not going to happen. MLK Day gifts, anyone? (no wait - no mail delivery that day. Dang)

UFO-is Interrupt-us

2012-01-04T12:21:00.000-05:00

We interrupt the ongoing work on the 2 Christmas UFO's so that me might quickly quilt another quilt that was sandwiched and waiting in the wings.

And why, do you ask, should we have the audacity to do such a thing -to make our two very patient recipients wait even LONGER for their Christmas gifts?

Why - because we are out of safety pins - most of them holding said sandwich together - and they are needed to sandwich one of the UFO's.

(on a good note - the straight line quilting on the UFO with the pinstripe backing (with red strip) is done - and awaiting some FMQ and border work).

Now to get the other one sandwiched while I have an open living room floor after post-holiday cleaning.

Unwrapping the UFO - Part 6

2012-01-03T02:00:00.000-05:00

To give equal time to the other backing - here it is:

It doesn't look like much in this photo - I had just sandwiched and pinned the quilt and flipped it over, so it was not straightened back out again. The tan is actually a really fine pinstripe, and was used to make crib skirts for my twin great-nephews - it was just a wee bit too narrow for the backing I needed, so I inserted the red strip to expand it out (yes- the same red from the pillowcase). Once the quilting is done on this one - it should really really POP on this backing. I can't wait!!! ;-)

Unwrapping the UFO - Part 5

2012-01-02T02:00:00.001-05:00

So in case Jill and Lazy Sister Sue have not already guessed, these quilts are Christmas themed quilts. The fabrics we swapped for our 2011 SIS swap were all reds and greens and golds and "Christmasy" colors.

I was able to piece both these tops from the leftover SIS scraps and some additions from my stash - right down to the backings. The backing on one of them, in fact, is a well aged fabric... and a well traveled one. It was purchased probably around 1998 in South Carolina - at a store that I believe is no longer in existence - and made the journey north in 1999 - to languish in a drawer for a long time. It's original purpose was for a Christmas shirt - but long ago I realized I would never make such a shirt - let alone wear it - and so it sat. A few pieces were cut off to make some holiday gift totes and book covers a few years ago but I could not figure out a use for the rest of it, until now. To be honest, the SIS quilt and these 2 quilts are the very first Christmas themed quilts I have ever done. Lucky for me there was plenty left to do the backing on one of these two UFO's (I won't say which)... and even a teeny bit left over to make ME a pillowcase!!! (and the red star fabric in the cuff part of this pillowcase is part of the backing in the OTHER quilt! Now how cool is that!)

2012 "goals?"

2012-01-01T02:00:00.001-05:00

I have never really worked off an annual goals list for my quilting. There are a few projects that hover around each year - like my annual quilt for Christmas gifting to one of hubby's siblings, and graduation quilts for nieces and nephews as they reach the end of high school (I have years of advance notice on those and still I am 3 quilts behind already - and just gifted one to a nephew who is in graduate school now!!! ooops)

This year I hope to finish up those 3 grad quilts so I will be back on track, and I have the fabrics for the annual Christmas Gift quilt (and the pattern, too!), so I can get a good start on that and hopefully not be IOU'ing it like I did this year.

Beyond that? Who knows. We will probably do another SIS swap this year, though I need to finish up mine from 2011 still (flimsy done), and I have a drawer full of other flimsies.

4Patches4Hope will play a big role in the first part of the year - with squares for well over 10 quilts I will be quite busy assembling those.

I may have a wedding quilt to make - just learned of a friend's engagement on Christmas Day and don't know when the magic date will be - they are also buying a house so it will do double duty. Looking forward to making that one - those are always fun!

Who knows what else the year will bring - I am keeping my mind, and my options, wide open!!!

Happy New Year!

This is not the UFO you are looking for

2011-12-31T16:59:00.000-05:00

I had another UFO in the works this Christmas that was delivered today - it is not one of the one I have been dropping hints on, but was a third one that was not done in time for Christmas Day gifting. This was a locally delivered quilt to Hubby's sister and family, and I wanted to get this one done and delivered before finishing up the other 2 (sorry Jill and Sue - you still gotta wait!)

I could not post pictures of this before delivery - so here it is - "Thoroughly Modern Mickey" - made from Oz by Sanae for Moda, and using this pattern from Clover and Violet. I added in a few fabrics from a different Sanae line to stretch this out and get the size I wanted - same colors, but different motifs - and you can hardly tell the difference.

The weather was cooperative enough for some "glamour shots" on the bench in the yard.

If you look really closely - you can see where the name of the quilt comes from. Another of my fledgling attempts at FMQ - this one was fun and I was really happy with how it turned out.

Another fun part of this quilt was using the thread I had won in the Aurifil thread naming contest in April. I used it in the top and the variegation in the thread color worked nicely with all the colors going on with this fabric line. On the back I used grey thread and the backing is also a grey houndstooth, so it blended in nicely.

Now on to the other UFO's.

Unwrapping the UFO - Part 4

2011-12-31T02:00:00.002-05:00

Inspiration for both quilts came from Moda Bake Shop some time between the months of April and September.

(oh did I not mention before now that these are both quilts? Yes - these are quilts...)

Quilting Table

2011-12-30T02:00:00.001-05:00

When I was posting about my studio revamp in the spring, I mentioned about my new sewing table, and how I was going to have hubby cut the table to drop my sewing machine in.

After some consideration, and some online browsing, we decided instead to bring the surface of the table UP - leaving us an intact table should we change direction in the future.

It's been a while since I have been able to get the table fully cleared off - as it was also Christmas wrapping central - but this weekend I was able to take this table to it's next step.

Table cover made of sandwiched together insulating foam boards from Home Depot, with a spot cut out for my machine. This was a very messy cutting process - if you do this, try to do it outside!

Cleared off table top - wow, have not seen it that clean in a long time.

Table with wedge in place, wrapped with a vinyl tablecloth. We do have heavy duty vinyl to put on this eventually, but I wanted the white under-surface rather than the pink, and this can actually be worked on. It won't hold up long though - especially in the corners. I used packing tape and actually taped this to the underside of the table.

Due to the foam thickness, we had to make a small platform for the machine to bring it up to level, but now my work space extends pretty smoothly from the machine bed right to the foam platform- and the projects slide nicely on the vinyl.

We left this spot open to get at the cords and also keep that little vent on the machine open - though I don't know what it is for. It also works as a nice spot to put a small pin dish or the seam ripper (not that I EVER need that?!?!?) you can see how the tablecloth wrapped right down to the bottom of this opening.

The view from above.

I have worked on one quilt on here already - and it is SO MUCH EASIER to not be fighting the weight of the quilt pulling it out from under the needle, especially since my machine's default is needle-up. I even did some FMQ in the center of that quilt, and it was SO SO SO SO nice to have better control and handling!

I only wish I had done this sooner!

Unwrapping the UFO - Part 3

2011-12-29T02:00:00.001-05:00

These 2 UFO's are SISters - but NOT twins.

QDD strikes again... or was it the 6 year old???

2011-12-28T16:20:00.001-05:00

I am so bad... here I am trying to finish up 2 UFO's for Christmas gifts (2011 Christmas gifts) and what did I do this afternoon? I cut the pieces for a quilt for a 2012 Christmas gift!!! I WAS working on the UFO's but then I got to a stopping point where I needed to move from working in my studio to spreading out on the living room floor (yes -THAT stage of assembly) - but the 6 year old was deeply engrossed in a program on the laptop in the studio and I couldn't budge him. I wanted to get him AND the laptop safely moved back to the 1st floor before I started to spread things out - so in the interim I started cutting.

7 "packages" of 5" precuts (30 per package) were just enough to cut out this pattern I found on the AllPeopleQuilt.com website (enlarged a bit to throw size). I had gotten the precuts in a clearance sale with this 2012 quilt in mind - but had no pattern chosen at the time. I am not working in flannel - and still need to pick a fabric for the sashing and borders, but I have some time for that. Maybe I can manage to get this quilt done early in the year and set aside and not be post-Christmas gifting like I am this year.

And just so the 2 UFO recipients don't get all panicky - I DID finally move the child and the computer - and worked on the next stages of one of the projects (but whose???? I will never tell!)

Unwrapping the UFO - Part 2

2011-12-27T02:00:00.001-05:00

In April, we swapped strips to make this - did you both REALLY think I could resist doing something with the leftovers???

And for those who suggested in their comments that I tease you with scraps.... there.are.no.more.scraps.left. I even had to supplement a bit from my stash to finish these, though it was in keeping with our original guidelines.

Unwrapping the UFO - part 1

2011-12-25T02:00:00.004-05:00

Merry Christmas morning!!! (no I am not on the computer - I prepped this one ahead of time!) Hope everyone is having a wonderful time!

For those of you following along on my UFO dilemma - I'm ready to reveal the first clue in the "Unwrapping the UFO" saga - which will continue on and off until the UFO is gifted, some posts with pictures, some just with verbal teases.

So here's the first clue...

There isn't one UFO... there's 2...

There isn't one recipient... there's 2... (hmmm... can you guess who?)

And BOTH of you will have to wait for the others UFO to be finished before you will get yours.

Turtle of the Day: the globetrotter

2011-12-20T11:03:00.000-05:00

(it's been a turtleless blog for a while -sorry about that)

My boss knows my love for turtles - so this little guy found it's way into my "Christmas stocking" gifty from the boss. I work with people who travel a lot- and he found this on one of his business trips.

It has great "nestleability" in the palm of my hand -and may never see keys!

(picture from the mfg. website - my desk top surface is not THAT dirty!)

Decision made... UFO wrapped

2011-12-17T14:25:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone for their help in solving my UFO dilemma. It seems that there was not a lot of support for making the recipient finish it herself OR wait until next year... so that brought it down between telling her what she is getting - and not telling.

I opted for the not telling - and will keep everyone in on the fun as I reveal it to her bit by bit during the finishing process. On Christmas Day I will post the little "IOU" I wrapped up for her - and then as I share clues, they will be posted here for all to enjoy.

Oh -and Abi is the randomly selected winner of the "thanks for helping me out" prize - I will be in touch with her via email to show her just what the gifty is supposed to be, and to get her mailing info for sending something along.

Thanks again everyone!

How do you wrap a UFO???

2011-12-11T16:33:00.001-05:00

I have a dilemma - and I need help.

I have a UFO that needs to be gifted for Christmas - only problem is that it will NOT be done in time to gift completed.

So - what should I do?

1. Send it to the recipient unfinished, and let her finish it? (yes - it is of the fabric/sewing variety - and this recipient is skilled enough to finish this project - no problem)

2. Send the recipient a photo of it as it is now so she will have something to unwrap -then send finished gift when it is done?

3. Send the recipient an IOU to unwrap but still don't show her what it is?

4. Send the recipient something entirely different and save this for next year?

Cast your votes in the comments - a random commenter will be chosen to receive not only a sneak preview of the gift in question, but also a little prize of the pattern/FQ variety (yes- you assemble yourself!)*

* if the commenter chosen is the person who is supposed to be receiving this gift, I may or may not send the preview -depending on what the majority has voted on.

Polls close Friday, December 16 - since if I do ship out a wrapped photo I'd best get it in the mail by next Saturday!

So what would YOU do????

(PS - if you want to win the little voter prize -you need to leave me a way to get in touch with you. No comment bloggers - I have no way to contact you! Sorry!)

Things that make you go WOW!!!

2011-11-26T08:30:00.000-05:00

I do not own a quilting frame, and my attempts at FMQ have been fledgling and very small scale - so finishing my quilts over the years has consisted of a great deal of straight line quilting and tying.

Thank goodness for Jill - being able to send some of my tops to her for finishing on her frame has been a wonderful option. I first sent her Summer Sunshine two years ago - and still need to take some "finished" photos of this quilt, though it has been on my bed for ages now. She also did this quilt and this one, too. But I have been very very bad at taking the BEFORE and AFTER pictures to show what a good quilting job can do to make a quilt go WOW!!!! (and so many quilts get gifted before I get the AFTER pictures - something about finishing binding on the way to a party may have something to do with that!)

Until this one:

Nearly finished - just auditioning borders.

Completed flimsy. I liked it - but all that muslin kind of left me "flat".

After Jill got her hands on it - it hasn't been washed, but now there is some movement in all that open space.

Love this square spiral - the quilt is for a young man, and this really gives it a great masculine feel.

Look at how the back just sparkles!!!

And doesn't every quilt need to come with a 6 year old with attitude (I think it's the hooded sweatshirt that does it!)

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T11:34:00.000-05:00

I've been neglectful of this blog as I've been busy with various projects and with 4Patches4Hope.
I do have some completions to post - but will save those for another day.

Today I am thankful for everyone who still takes time to read my ramblings (and especially for those who comment!), for my family for their support of all my zany ideas and projects, and for all my friends!

Thanksgiving blessings to all!!!

Regina

In my mailbox today:

2011-11-14T19:03:00.001-05:00

In addition to lots of squishy goodness for 4Patches4Hope (more on that in another post) - I got this today - courtesy of Whistlepig Creek Productions - which also happens to have one of my favorite blocks in here. (to clarify - I got ONE copy - not all 4)

I have all 4 issues - bought ONE, won TWO, bought THREE and now won FOUR. According to my son, I will have to buy FIVE and if they have a SIX, I will win that - since I am winning on the evens.

Goofy kid - I'd like to prove his logic wrong when FIVE comes out. Until then - I will drool and dream and plot and scheme some new quilts!

Still Here

2011-11-05T16:54:00.000-04:00

Sorry if I have been a bit absent of late - lots going on. 4Patches4Hope is off to a great start - one month in and we have nearly enough patches for the first 2 quilts, plus a bunch of generous quilters offering donations of quilting, backings and batting. More to come on that - I promise!!!

In the meantime, I have been working on some of my projects. Two are in the binding stage, and I hope to have pictures to offer up soon - and this is my latest flimsy completion:

This is "Merry ChristmaSIS" - made from strips swapped with Jill and Lazy Sister Sue. Jill has already finished hers - called "Argyle Holiday" - and Lazy Sister Sue has been busy as a new grandma to 3 so we have not seen her progress - yet. Jill and I made our finished blocks different sizes, but I think the finished quilts are about the same throw size.

Now to get this one backed and quilted before Christmas... but which Christmas! ;-)

4Patches4Hope

2011-10-04T01:00:00.004-04:00

4Patches4Hope began as a desire to use my passion for quilting, and the power of social media and word of mouth, to create quilts to comfort those undergoing cancer treatments and at the same time raise money for cancer research. The original timeline was to begin on Valentine’s Day, 2011 and culminate on my mother’s birthday –today - October 4, 2011.

For one reason or another, I did not get the ball rolling and start to get the word out about the project, so then I revised my start date to START on Mom’s birthday.

Unfortunately Mom’s cancer had a different timetable, and on July 12, 2011 her battle with this disease ended.

As I worked through the emotions that came after - I decided to forge forward with this project - as there are mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, daughters, nieces, friends and more who could benefit.

The concept is simple - Make a 4 Patch... Make a Donation... Make a difference.

How to Help:

1. Make light-dark 4 patch block(s) using 2 1/2” squares (blocks should finish at 4 1/2” square).
Use any colors you like for your “dark” but please try to use white or ivory for your “light.”

2. Send the finished block(s) to:

4Patches4Hope c/o Regina Arlauckas, PO Box 363 Churchville, NY 14428

3. Please consider making a $4 donation for each block you make to the American Cancer Society via the link at The American Cancer Society or enclose a check to the American Cancer Society with your blocks. (Please do NOT enclose cash and be sure your checks are to the American Cancer Society.)

4. The goal is 1000 blocks and $4,000 by February 28, 2012.

5. Received blocks will be assembled into “comfort quilts” and donated to the Anderson Medical Center in Anderson, SC and the Pluta Cancer Center in Rochester, NY.

6. Each block donated will enter your name into a drawing for “participation prizes.”

7. Donations of backing fabrics, batting and services are also appreciated.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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...Share the dream of a cure.