YIKES! The year is flying by.

Hi Quilting friends.  Wow, 2014 has been a doozie for us at the Villa Varela.  So much illness and calamity.  I have fallen behind in my projects.  Resolved now to get it together and get stitching again.  I've put together my FMQ motifs for Myles On the High Seas.  May I say thank goodness for children's coloring books?  Yes, that's where I found most of them.  This child will be grown before I finish this!

There  are some sweet little things in here.  A Merman, fish, birds...now just to quilt it.

I've also started a "little" side project.  I think I have probably lost my mind.  The Hexie Christmas Quilt.  Well, at least I had the good sense to make them at 2.5 inches.  This is my current "while doing nothing else with my hands" project.  Great for watching tv, waiting at the doc office.  It can be done just about anywhere.  My ZORRO gave me a great little carry case for my supplies.

I have also gotten back to the Building Blocks Quilt Along with Leah Day and an untold number of Quilters around the world.  (Hi BBQA Buddies!)  Photos of my progress of that to come later.

Happy Spring to you all.  Get those quilts out for a day in the lovely weather.  Sweet Myles loves it!

MrsMelanieVarela

If it's not One thing...and When it rains, it pours!

I have been absent for the past month.  2014 has not been nice to my family.  Burst pipes, hospital visits, frozen heat pump condenser and a neighbor accidentally driving through my yard and breaking stuff, has kept me busy.  (My neighbor if fine btw.)  I've been watching my fellow BBQA folks show off their work and I've been so jealous, as I haven't had time to sew.  I'm finally caught up and have my miserable attempts to show for it.

The first 3 blocks we did were 4-patch, which I pieced with ease, but the FMQ (especially the Spirals...made me dizzyand want to cry!).  Here are my efforts.

 These are my practice blocks that will be made into a Puppy Quilts.  One of the BBQA'ers, Hazel suggested this use, and I am all for it.  I'll be binding them up and taking them to my local shelter.

   These are my "keepers", such as they are...
I know I still need lots of practice.  So I expect there will be  many more of these.











Our  second set of blocks are 9-patch.  I'll just go ahead and say I hate doing 9-patch.  It's not my thing.  So here are the results of that hot mess!

 I realized the marker I used was making the lines too wide, so I've ordered new from Leah Day's shop ( http://www.leahday.com/).  She has a great sale going on through the 18th.  ZORRO is building me a light box too.  I know that will help.

And here, my "keeper".  I did so much of this side to side, as I like testing my limits and those of my machine.  Can you see where I missed a tiny half line?  My Noni always said "No quilt is perfect, if you look hard and long enough, you'll find the mistake.).  Wise woman...she knew me well!






I do like to practice a bit before I start and was so satisfied with my 1st practice piece, I may have been a bit too confident.

This was all done side to side, and I thought I was hot stuff when I finished.  My other blocks tell a different story.









I also watched this video this past week.  For those of you who  use Sergers and dread buying multiple spools of the same color, it's a great saving tip.

http://moonthirty.com/serger-thread-hack/#more-819

I'm still learning to take my foot COMPLETELY off the pedal when I stop.  I have a few extra stitches here and there as a lesson to myself.

Linking up with Leah Day at the Free Motion Project and on Facebook at the BBQA group.

http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/


https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildingblocksquiltalong/

Stay warm and dry out there...I'll be at my machine.

MrsMelanieVarela

On The High Seas and other projects, (and a 3 day tragedy).

Well, we experienced some very cold temperatures over the past week, and like so many Tennesseans, we had a busted pipe.  We're not accustomed to such extreme  weather and our homes are not built to withstand them.  While ZORRO has been sawing out drywall and searching for the failed pipe, I've tried to get a few things done. 

ZORRO was kind enough to take a break this morning and cut open my Quilting/Darning foot.  It's nice to have a Rocket Scientist/Engineer around for things like this. 

Modified Quilting Foot.

 

I joined up with Leah Day and a slew of other folks around the world for the Building Blocks Quilt Along.  You can find it here:  http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

and here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildingblocksquiltalong/578877705523675/?notif_t=group_activity

We've been choosing our fabric and thread, sharing with each other and getting to know the group.  My fabric choices for the top are some silk/metallic fat quarters I've had for a long time and some Christmas scraps from my stash.

Silk/Metallic for my blocks

My squares for backing.

The Backing fabrics are some my Uglies that I'm not sure I would ever use in a project, and since this is to be a learning process, they will do well in this one.

I've finally picked out the quilting from True Love Knot and liberated it from the sashing.  It needs a good soak, tumble dry and press to get the tracks out of it.

Last, I have trimmed up On the High Seas for Myles.  Something I always dread doing.  I don't know why, it's so simple.  But the thought of slicing into my work always makes me cringe.  I've also worked on the backing a little more, so there will be a Sea sandwich next week and quilting will begin.  I also drew up a FMQ design that I will be using in the waves.

All Squared up!

 

My FMQ Design

So it's been an interesting week.  I hope you are all safe, warm and have no plumbing problems.

mrsmelanievarela

New Years Resolutions.

Normally, I am not one to make Resolutions.  But I look at my PIGS and WIPs and know that I have to get them cleared out.  Just a few of them...

I know this doesn't look like a lot, there are 7 there, and many more in bins and in the closet.
So, I resolve to finish what is shown on this photo. 

In 2014, I resolve to finish more projects than I start!  (we'll see how that one goes!)

Additionally, I am still picking out the Celtic True Love Knot that I'm making for the oldest Daughter, and creating a backing for the little Sailboat for Grandson.

I hate picking out more than anything sewing related.  But I was SO dissatisfied with my work AND the design, that I just have to do it!  I'm also going to change the border fabrics.  Just not happy with the way it looks.  Plenty of work still left here.

I also resolve to learn (I mean REALLY learn) a new Free Motion design every month.

Have you made your Resolutions for 2014?  Do you make any at all?  Do you accomplish your goals?

I hope I do.

Happy New Year to you all.

MrsMelanieVarela


Linking up with Leah Day at the http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/

Washed Clean and Blown Out!

Last night, the severe storms marched across the southern states and hammered us with rain and high winds.  Local towns had weather sirens blaring out the warnings.  This Sunday morning, we have been washed clean and blown out.  Although still a tad damp, leafless, and stark, there is a freshness about it that I like.  The temp is still warm.  Go figure...please...do...I've lived in Middle Tennessee for 20 years and have never been more confused about the weather, (we had snow last week).  Where else can you wake  up, put on your parka, shorts and flip-flops, then sit by the fire with the windows open, to have your morning coffee. 

It's time to go out and have a walk around.  Pick up the tree branches that Mother Nature trimmed off for me.

Later today I hope to block a quilt and prepare it for binding this week.  So sorry ZORRO, I'll be taking over the living room with my big tables once again.  There are also the  little boy's caps to finish up.

Happy Sunday to everyone and Merry Christmas.

mrsmelanievarela

A Week of Gifts.

This past week as been a busy time.  Both in our computer shop and in my sewing room.  More often than not, when I make something, it's for someone else.  So I've been making little gifts for my Grandchildren.  They vary in age from 6 months to 13 years.  So it's actually easy to make something each one of them will use and enjoy.  I'm blessed with Grandchildren that appreciate items that Gramma  made.

For Calysta, who is learning Guitar, there is a cute little tote for transporting her music books and lessons.

Little Dania, who loves to twirl and dance, a couple tutu's in her favorite colors.  (That Gold really glittered up my room.  I even had it on my face.  My Dear Husband pointed this out and I winked and told him it was from  my night job!  HAHAHA!)

Here was my helper...

Louie took a break from sewing to go out and play with Squeeky Chickie Baby...and apparently dig into some mole trails.  Silly Boy!


Young Sarah will receiving this cute little hobo bag in her favorite colors.

This fabric is SO cute!

Left on the table...and waiting for me in the morning are hats for the boys.

I'll get these finished up and then get back to quilting.  Those PIG's and WIP's are still waiting for me.  I also had a visit from my neighbor Mrs. Kravits (bearing the annual Christmas Pumpkin Loaf...(I thinks it's a bribe yet again, as I use our lawn vac to clear the sycamore leaves from their culverts every Fall)), telling me her daughter had brought a quilt to her for repair.  Yes, she wants my help.  I was secretly thinking it's gonna require more than one Christmas Pumpkin Loaf to get me into that.  But I know I'll cave in and help her...she's a nice neighbor even if she and Abner know more of what goes on at my house than I do.

I hope you are all prepared for the upcoming Holiday and that you have opportunities to be with Family and Friends.

Merry Christmas,
MrsMelanieVarela

Linking up with Leah Day at http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/

Quilts In Que: FMQ Friday...

Tomorrow is Friday.  It will be my first  time sharing a blog post on other blogs.  There are a couple I will be sharing with.  Please keep in mind when viewing my work, I know about piecing a quilt (I have shelves full of books to help me with that!), but I've always been a quilt tie-er or a stitch in the ditch quilter.  Always leery of trying to get too fancy or stepping into the unknown.  When I came across Leah Day on Youtube, I found a new desire.  FMQ.  Yep, she inspired me to try it out.  I'm very much in the beginning stages.

Here is the quilt that inspired me to visit Youtube to learn.

This is a crib quilt for my Grandson Myles.  I found these lovely fat quarters and thought I could "make" my own panel.  I satin stitched them up, used a French Curve to make my waves, and a little poorly appliqued sail boat tucked in the waves.  I really wanted the boat to POP...and I think it does.  Maybe a bit too much.  I really wanted to get those swirls in the waves and some ripples in the water.  The areas of dotted fabrics will have pebble FMQ, and the areas with rectangular print will (I hope) look like cliffs.  I'll FMQ some clouds in the lighter sky area.   There are still touch ups to the satin stitching to come, and some  stabilizer to pick out.  Next time I'll use water soluble.

I'm also working on a True Lover Knot for our Oldest daughter and her husband.  I echo quilted all around the knot, then realized what a bad job I was making of it.  So it's all got to come out.

There's so much to pick out, but I know I'll be happier for it.  I'll give you a front photo after I clear out the mess I made!

Linking up with http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com