Quilting Stitching and Sew On

WIP WEDNESDAY - Hand quilting and stitching

2012-02-15T12:37:00.000Z

This week has been dedicated to hand quilting and stitching. It's the best kind of craft to do in the cold evenings while I watch a little TV.

I'm hand quilting this table topper. I love these fabrics, this line is Buttercup from Fig Tree. My stitches are still a bit crocked but I'm getting more consistency as long as I continue the work.

I finally decided I'd stitch the four sashing corners of my Valentine's mini quilt.

I've only stitched one corner yet. I'll try to finish it this week-end.

To find more about our works in progress just kink up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.

Happy Valentine's Day and Tuesday treasures

2012-02-14T13:02:00.000Z

I wish you all a very happy Valentine's Day!!! May it be filled with lots of love!!!

My Tuesday treasure is Valentine related. I'm sharing a Valentine's gift that my DH gave me a couple of years ago.

It's a ring with a buch of red little glass hearts. It's so sweet!!!

Inside there's a small inscription that says, guess what.... I LOVE YOU, of course!!!
I still love my little hearts ring.
If you'd like to see more treasures just visit Melody at The House on the side of the Hill.

Design Wall Monday - My Aunt Sarah's Quilt

2012-02-13T19:15:00.000Z

My very modified version Of Aunt Sarah's quilt is finally ready to be quilted. I finished sewing the border to the main quilt.

I first planned to hand sew all around but I had to give it up and did it using the sewing machine. I looks pretty well...I think.

If you want to share your design wall or check out on other quilters just visit Judy at Patchwork Times!

I have a new sponsor - Lark Cottons

2012-02-11T19:55:00.003Z

I am so glad to share with you a new sponsor on my blog. It’s the online fabric shop Lark Cottons! Lark Cottons is owned and operated by Heather in Portland, Oregon. She is a growing shop of over 400 bolts of beautiful fabrics. Heather sells fabric in 1/2 yard increments as well as Fat Quarters (love when shops offer FQs!)

Heather also has a blog - Green Pea Studio.Besides staying busy with Lark Cottons, she also sells beautiful fabrics at her Etsy shop.

Thank you very much, Heather!!!

A finish and Rouenneries Deux

2012-02-11T19:18:00.000Z

To day I finished my mini Tenessee Road quilt. I quilted it during the week and today I sewed the biding. It's finished!

I quilted it on my domestic sewing machine with flowers and loops. I'm still a free motion beginner so forgive me the imperfections.

Rounneries Deux

Fat Quarter Shop is sponsoring my blog and they sent me the most wonderful Rounneries Deux charm packs. The fabric is gorgeous. I loved it so much that I didn't want to cut into it. Then I decided I had to choose the right pattern to enhance the beauty of the line. After a lot of thinking I went for a quite simple pattern in order to show all the great prints instead of distracting ones eye with an intricate pattern.

After a couple of hours I already had made seven of these blocks The fabric is wonderful, smooth as silk but is doesn't fray or stretch. It was very easy to sew and to get all the seams to match. The quality of the material really matters.

In the afternoon I couldn't stop and did more seven. This is how it looks so far

Forgive me the poor light on the photos. I still use my bed as a design wall and the light is kind of yellowish.

What do you think, should I use sashing between the blocks or not? Please give me your kind advice.

February block is here!!!

2012-02-09T19:07:00.000Z

The mail man delivered my February block from QBSA. It came from Linda in the USA. This year I decided to make a friendship quilt, so I've asked for an autograph star that should be signed by it's maker. I think it will be a great quilt. This is the lovely block Linda made me

WIP Wednesday

2012-02-08T13:18:00.001Z

This is my first WIP Wednesday.

I'm currently working on my Birdie Stitches top. I've done the sashing but I only have this photo to show you. I'll post more today if I can.
If you wish to see more works in progress just link with Lee at Freshly Pieced

Tuesday Treasures

2012-02-07T13:12:00.000Z

This week I'm showing my Big box. You know i love boxes and this is one of my favorites. It's a jewelry box.

I love the paysley. And the two drawers are big enough to put all my stuff

And then it has a great hidden feature, when you open the lid you get a mirror.

To see or share more treasures link with Melody at The House on The side of the Hill

February Hearts

2012-02-04T22:19:00.002Z

Last year Robyn at Daisy Quilts released a free valentine pattern- February Hearts. I loved the project at once but I didn't have any fabric in the right colors or prints.
This year I got my fabrics in time to make the pattern. It's lovely, I've made the top but I still don't know wether to do the stitchery or not. Anyway I'm very happy, it turned out just like I thought it would. Thank you Robyn for sharing such a wonderful pattern.

One of the pieced hearts blocks. I paper pieced the hearts, I find it easier and all the seams match perfectly.

The four blocks sewed together

Adding the scrappy border

The finished quilt top

What do you think? Should I do the stitchery or just quilt it just as it is?

Notebook covers

2012-02-03T13:09:00.000Z

This week I've made a couple of notebook covers using some leftover fabrics and some scraps.

Fat Quarter Shop is the best!!!

2012-02-02T12:57:00.000Z

As you know Fat Quarter Shop is my sponsor. It's my first one and I couldn't be happier. If you need fabric, notions, patterns you should visit FQS. They carry a huge selections of fabrics from the most talented designers and great manufacturers.

There is so much to say and love about Fat Quarter Shop: great costumer service, fast shipping and amazing selection! Pay them a visit.

Today I received a package from FQS. It's my first and I love the fabrics. I asked for some charm packs and solid yardage.

I love Rouenneries Deux from French General. It's even more beautiful than I anticipated. Lucky me for instead of one I got three charm packs, Yeah!!!

The other CPacks are Late bloomers from Sandy Gervais and Redwork Renaissance from Chloe's closet.

I can't wait until the week end to cut into this fantastic bundle. I think I have an idea.....

Blogger has done it again!!!

2012-02-02T07:54:00.000Z

If you visited my blog in the past 24 hours you will notice that many things have changed. It wasn't my fault or the urge to change, Oh no!!! Blogger Did it Again!!! My blog widgets simply disappeared. I had to ask my daughter's help in order to get it more or less fixed. I'm sorry !!! I just hope things get better or I will have to try word press.

Tuesday Treasures

2012-01-31T12:46:00.003Z

Here I am again to share more of my treasured boxes.

I specially love the small tin sewing box. It's meant to use when you go on holidays or on a trip.

If you'd like to see more treasures or to share some of yours, link up with Melody and join the fun!

Blogger's Bom - January block and My new table runner

2012-01-29T18:35:00.001Z

My January Blogger's BOM block .

My Newest table runner!!!
It's ready and in it's proper place...my coffee table.

I love it !!!

My first Bargello is finished!!!

2012-01-28T18:15:00.003Z

Today I finished the third part of Katie's Bargello Quilt Along.
My Bargello table runner is ready. I love it.

I must thank Katie at Katie's Quilting Corner for I couldn't have done it without her clear instructions and great photos. It made everything so much easier.

Road to Tenesse Mini-Quilt

2012-01-27T20:55:00.002Z

I used a Moda Bake Shop tutorial to create a mini Road to Tenessee Quilt.
The blocks are 5" finished and it's a good pattern to use scraps.

The top is finished, just needs quilting and biding

In tougher times we know the true friends

2012-01-25T21:04:00.001Z

A couple of weeks ago I commented with a blogger friend that I was going through difficult times and I couldn't buy fabric for my quilting. She immediately and most generously volunteered herself to send me some of her fabrics. And today I received the most wonderful present

Sue Belleli is an Australian quilter that I've only "met" through Quilt Blocks Swap Australia, a swap group she founded. She is a wonderful person with a great heart. Even though she never met me, and probably never will, Australia and Portugal are so far away, she didn't hesitated and came to the rescue.

I received a real rainbow of wonderful fabrics. I will treasure them as if they were gold for they represent one of the most important things in life: FRIENDSHIP. I can never thank you enough for your king gesture. You always be in my heart, Sue. Thank you very much!!!

ROSE STAR BLOCK PARTY

Last Friday I entered FNSI and began a rose star, It's English paper piecing and I finished my first one today

Tuesday Treasures

2012-01-24T08:10:00.000Z

Today I decided to join the lovely Melody, at The house on the side of the Hill, for more Tueday Treasures. I'm going to share with you my greatest treasure - MY FAMILY!!!

My daughter Catarina when she was about one year old and my son José only six months old.
They were so cute!!

They both loved to swim in the pool, this photo was taken on the Summer vacation ( a couple of years ago). We had great fun the three of us, I too love to swim.

Here we are in Paris, in a Bateaux Mouche. This photo was taken two years ago on our 20th aniversary. We went to Disneyland Paris and chose this day to visit the city.

I hope you enjoy meeting my family.They are my most valuable treasure.

Look how much he has grown

2012-01-22T21:13:00.005Z

Our dog Blackie will be 7 months old next Wednesday. He has been with us for only 5 months and we can't live without him anymore.

He has grown a bit since my last post about him and he loves to sit in the sun.

Sometimes he even takes a little nap

He just loves his red coat

A Sunday's work

2012-01-22T18:21:00.003Z

Today was a lovely Winter morning, cold but sunny and not a cloud in the blue sky. I got to make all my chores before lunch and in the afternoon I sneaked into my sewing space. The sun shined through the windows and it was warm and cozy with lots if light.

I sewed away until got dark, when I'm sewing my mind flews away from all those bad thoughts about the facts of life. It's like I enter another dimension.
O.K. enough of small talk. Let me show you what I did...

I finished something that is going to be a gift for a dear friend, so I can't show you much or I'd spoil the surprise. I still have to do the quilting and the biding. I think I might hand quilt it.

I began this block from Annie Downs book Some Kind of Wonderful. I'm not doing the sew along but I intend to make many blocks and other projects. I love that book.

My First 2012 FNSI

2012-01-21T14:42:00.000Z

I had planned to finish my Bargello table runner but Katie had some technical issue with her blog and the part 3 of the Bargello Quilt along had to be delayed. No worries, there is always my faithful EPP ( English paper piecing) to turn to.

After sewing millions ( well hundreds ) of hexies I decided to try something new.

Firstly I made a star using diamonds

Then....another star

I finished my FNSI with a beautiful but challenging block ( which I didn't finish, but I will)

The pieces are tiny and hard to baste bur the final result will be awesome ( I think)

I'll post a photo as soon as I get it done.

A Great Day

2012-01-20T21:07:00.003Z

I'm so happy I could dance. Some of you know that I've been in economic difficulties and buying fabric was almost out of the question but today I received the most wonderful news. Fat Quarter Shop is now sponsoring my blog. Isn't that great. I love Fat quarter shop and now I can keep on with my quilting.

THANK YOU Fat Quarter Shop!!!

November QBSA blocks from Lyndell

2012-01-18T18:49:00.002Z

Today the mail man brought me a package with two beautiful blocks.

Lyndell was kind enough to buy retro fabrics specially for me. Not only did she make two beautiful blocks but she also sent me the leftover fabric.

She must have guessed I'm on a very, very strict fabric diet ( due to money shortage).

THANKS LYNDELL!!!

Pincushion Parade

2012-01-17T19:25:00.003Z

I just love pincushions. I have a small collection of them and it's growing day after day. So, I decided to join Beth at Love, laugh, quilt and show you some of my pincushions.
Sorry about the poor quality of the photos ( it's the photographer's fault.... ME!!!).

Bargello Quilt-Along Part II

2012-01-15T16:28:00.004Z

I'm so HAPPY. I spent all week waiting for Friday to see what Katie had posted about the Bargello Quilt-Along.

I followed her great instructions very carefully and cut my tubes and unpicked the strips

I assembled all the strips to make sure the design was right

The strips are overlapping but the design is perfectly visible.

To be pretty sure, I tried the design on the floor

Then I began sewing the strips very carefully trying not to make a mistake and...Wow!!!

I made my first Bargello, I can't believe how easy it was. Thanks Katie for all your help and clear instructions.

Now I have to wait until Friday again to finish my wonderful table runner. In these difficult times I'm going trough, quilting is my therapy. Today it was almost like someone above was helping me, the seams nested perfectly, I didn't make any mistake and the corners matched so well. Maybe it's a sign that things might get better. I really hope it is.