A New Week

I did not get much done last week, but it is a new week and I am excited as I have to get things done. Nothing like a deadline to get projects moving.

The biggest goal I need to do is finish starching the fabric for my Storm at Sea class that I will be taking with Wendy Mathson during the San Diego Quilt Show, and then cut out the pieces to be prepared for class, plus get the usual things prepared on my machine, such as a new needle, full bobbin, and changing the foot.  I am really excited, and of course I will share my experience once I take her class.  I picked out all of my fabric for the first quilt I am going to do during my all expenses paid quilt shop trip from my wonderful husband, as a birthday gift.  Bonus, most of my fabric for this quilt came from my LQS's sale room!!!  During this trip I was able to get the last of the fabric needed for my second and bigger storm at sea quilt, plus some other quilts I have been collecting fabric for.  I want to work on it all at once!

Second is to cut out this lovely baby quilt, which will be a simple rail fence quilt.  I am going to make it scrappy, so I need to cut each individual piece out and then start sewing.  I did not make any progress on this last two weeks, so I really hope I can this week.

Third goal is to make progress on a surprise quilt.  I want to cut out the next section this week, but I can not do it while dear hubby is around, as it is a surprise for him.  Shhh, do not tell him.  (Due to this fact no pictures, I will share when I get it completed.  Hopefully before Christmas or maybe Valentines Day.)  I have not made progress on this item for the last two weeks.

The fourth goal is to iron fabric and then start cutting it to make my Magnolia Mystery Quilt, hosted by Meadow Mist Designs.  I always like her designs, and I'm excited to see how it shapes up.  I will share my fabrics once I pull them out, aka next week :)

The fifth goal is to start cutting out step 3 of Royal Gardens, which is my Breakfast Club's assignment at my LQS.  I would like to try and get it done early this next month.

The last item is when I have spare time in the evening, which is to finish knitting this afghan.  I have about 8 rows left, maybe 11 depending upon size.  I have a deadline (even though it keeps changing!), and I'm close to getting it done.

I'm excited to see what everyone else is working on!

Linking up to:

Monday Making

Design Wall

-Christina

Design Wall Monday

This week, I only have a few goals.

First is to finish planning out my quilt for the Storm at Sea class I will be taking with Wendy Mathson at the end of the month at the San Diego Quilt Show.  I have it almost all colored out, and I have found the teals that are in my stash, however I need to go through and approximate the yardage I do have vs the yardage I need.  Then I get to go and spend my birthday present.  My birthday present is an all expenses paid trip to the quilt shop from my wonderful hubby.

Second is to cut out this lovely baby quilt, which will be a simple rail fence quilt.  I am going to make it scrappy, so I need to cut each individual piece out and then start sewing.  I did not make any progress on this last week, so I really hope I can this week.

Third item is to make progress on a surprise quilt.  I want to cut out the next section this week, but I can not do it while dear hubby is around, as it is a surprise for him.  Shhh, do not tell him.  (Due to this fact no pictures, I will share when I get it completed.  Hopefully before Christmas or maybe Valentines Day.)

The last item is when I have spare time in the evening, which is to finish knitting this afghan.  I have about 8 rows left, maybe 11 depending upon size.  I have a deadline (even though it keeps changing!), and I'm close to getting it done.

I'm excited to see what everyone else is working on!

Linking up to:

Monday Making

Main Crush Monday

Design Wall

-Christina

Design Wall Monday

It has been a while since I did one of these posts.  This week I have several things on my design wall.

First thing is finish Step 2 of Royal Gardens.  It is my Breakfast club project, which is held at my LQS on the 3rd Saturday of the month.  I got it all cut out this weekend, I just need to sew it all together.  I am loving how easy it is to put together, and the directions are fantastic.  (You can get the pattern at Cozy's Creative Center)

Second is to cut out this lovely baby quilt, which will be a simple rail fence quilt.  I was thinking about doing putting it together strip piecing it, but maybe I should cut each rail out by itself and put it together scrappily.  What are your thoughts?  By getting this cut out this week, I will have made progress on my September one monthly goal.  One step at a time, each week.

Third item to work on is planning out my quilt for my Storm-at-Sea class I will be taking with Wendy Mathson at the end of the month at the San Diego Quilt Show.  I am excited to make the quilt, I have the design picked out, I just need to figure out finished size of the quilt and amount of yardage needed so I can go spend my birthday present.  My birthday present is an all expenses paid trip to the quilt shop from my wonderful hubby.

Fourth thing is to make progress on a surprise quilt.  I want to cut out the next section this week, but I can not do it while dear hubby is around, as it is a surprise for him.  Shhh, do not tell him.  (Due to this fact no pictures, I will share when I get it completed.  Hopefully before Christmas.)

The last item is when I have spare time in the evening, which is to finish knitting the ball of yarn I currently have going on this lovely baby afghan.  I have a deadline, and I'm close to getting it done.  A little bite out of the elephant goes a long way.

Linking up to:

Monday Making

Main Crush Monday

Design Wall

-Christina

Sunday Slow Stitching

Today, as laundry is going through the cycles I was able to remember what Kathy at Kathy's Quilts reminds us to do, which is slow down and stitch.  I was able to make progress on this lovely knitted baby blanket that is so nearing completion!  I have about 36 inches done and just need 41 inches.  I now have a deadline as to when the baby shower is, which is about 3 weeks away.

Just look at that lovely texture that has been created with the yarn and pattern.

One thing I would like to share.  I recently bought this yarn ball holder off of Amazon, and I like it.  The one thing I do have a problem with is the spinning is not 100% easy, especially when the yarn gets stuck at the base of the part that spins, like it is in the picture.  If you need one, check it out.

Sharing at Kathy's Quilts.

-Christina

September 2017 OMG

This is the month!  I am going to get this baby quilt cut out and pieced to have it become a top by the end of the month.  One small bite each week of the month and it will get done, as that is how you eat an elephant.

This is after I have not been able to accomplish this for the last two months, especially after setting it as my one monthly goal due to time running away from me.

Sharing over at Elm Street Quilts, and setting the challenge.  Check back each week to see if I am making progress on my goal.  If not, start emailing and bugging me about it.

-Christina

Paper Piecing Class

Last weekend I had the pleasure of taking a paper piecing class from a Judy Niemeyer certified instructor with my Mom.  I worked a little on both Judy Niemeyer patterns I have started and made progress.

The first I worked on was Woodcarver's Star.  I finished the pieces for the center star, and I am so excited for the colors that I choose.  I can not wait to see the whole quilt put together with my colors.

Because I got the technique down to finish the bigger star at home, I moved to the next piece of the pattern that I did not understand.  I got one of the pieces done, with many more to do.  There was basting involved and curved piecing, which I'm going to be pretty good at by the end of the year if I do all of the curved piecing I plan to do.

Then I switched to Vintage Rose, which is the Certified Instructor/Shop pattern only (this means you can only get it through them, not your LQS unless they are a certified shop).  I had the center section done and added the yellow and purple pieces.  Each step took some time, with the cutting out the fabric, glueing, basting stitches, trimming and then sewing onto the center piece.  The purple pieces were also curved piecing, so that took some extra time. especially since I am learning how to do curves.  I am so excited for these colors too as the end result is going to be bright and fun, which is different for me and my husband to approve!

I started to cut for the next step that will be added to these petals, which are thorns.  But the next step includes a lot of paper piecing, so it will be slow.  I am perfectly happy with that.  Eventually these quilts will be finished, but it is not a race, instead I believe it is about the experience and the knowledge I am gaining from making these quilts is vast.

Sharing with Busy Hand Quilts.

-Christina

August 2017 OMG

No progress was made on my August 2017 One Monthly Goal :(  I did iron the fabrics after starching, but I have not cut into them yet.  Maybe the month of September?  Now to think of what my September OMG is going to be.  See you in a few days.

-Christina

What I Have Been Up To

The first part of the month I was able to serve in Tsaile, AZ with an organization that is near and dear to my heart, Sierra Service Project.  My family (parents and husband) and I drove to Tsaile and served a week completing wheel chair ramps, and stairs for people on the Navajo reservation.  We had two days of mixing concert in wheelbarrows, which was not easy, and using plenty of power tools.  We had a great time.  Below is a picture of me in front of the tool trailer with their logo.

My family and I stopped at Canyon de Chelly before our week started at Sierra Service Project, and a thunderstorm moved in right as we got there.  We stayed in the car until it was over, but the end result was amazing.  Water was running off the canyon walls as waterfalls into the canyon.  Here are some of the pictures from it, plus the White Houses, which you can hike down to.  I have done the hike twice before, but did not do it this time.  The ruins are from over a thousand years ago.

Because we drove from Southern California over to the Eastern part of Arizona, we were able to stop at a few quilt shops along the way.  The first was:

And I collected these wonderful goodies from them.

Here is a picture of their business address.  It was a cute shop with lots of fabric.  It was very nicely organized and the sale room fabric was small but had some wonderful deals within.

The second shop we stopped at was:

These are the goodies that I collected from them.  I love how the lady who cut our fabric folded the pieces together.

I am thinking about making a pillow case for me from the princess fabric and pink.  One day.  This shop was huge!  They have a big machine service section of their business, along with a few different brands of machines.  They even had a long arm or two within the store.  Their selection of fabrics was gorgeous!  Some yummy Christmas fabric, and my biggest surprise was finding the wonderful red batiks.  I was so excited I found them.  They also had a huge wall of notions, and some pre-quilted fabric and other types of fabric.

My Mom and I loved visiting these shops as we were passing through town.  Both shops were very friendly.

Right before we left for this wonderful trip I found out that I had won one of the Christmas in July's blog hop prizes from Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  My beautiful prize is below, I love all of the prints in this line.  Now I just need to figure out what pattern I'm going to use to show off the prints.

The morning we left I ordered some beautiful fabrics from Pineapple Fabrics as they were having their anniversary sale.  These are what ended up in my cart.  All items have goals for them.  I just have to make sure they get where they are going, aka projects.

Once we got back, I had to catch up at work and at home, some serious cleaning needed to happen, which is mostly done.  I just need to finish a few smaller things now.  Then this last weekend my Mom and I took a paper piecing class from a Judy Niemeyer certified instructor.  I will share more about that and what I was able to finish on Friday (hint, come back and check it out).

This next weekend is a serious sew weekend with some things mixed in, but I have goals and I want to work towards completing them.

Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts for her Lets Bee Social and I'm excited to see what is going on with everyone else.

-Christina

August 2017 OMG

As I did not even come close to finishing my goal for July, I am going to continue that goal, which is to get the top completed for a baby quilt by the end of the month.  The fabrics are below and just SEW cute, I can not wait to work on them.  I have one sew day to go to this month, and hopefully I can find some time at home too.  I am out of town for a full week though, which takes away some wonderful weekends to sew.  I will try to accomplish even with that scheduled conflict.

Linking up to Elm Street Quilts and One Monthly Goal.  Good luck to everyone else trying to accomplish their goal, whether it be to finish a UFO or project, or just make progress on something.

-Christina

Trip Back East

In the middle of July my husband and I went back to Ohio to visit my side of the family.  We had a grand time.  I love it back there.  It is so relaxing and I love the change of weather and of course the rain.  While back there we were able to hit two different craft shops.  The first stop was The Crafty Ewe in Broadview, OH.  I was able to find a few cross stitch patterns there.

The second shop was Miller's Dry Goods in Amish country in Middleburg, OH.  This shop was huge, two buildings with tons of fabric.  Here is the sign:

And my purchases.  I made purchases for Bonnie Hunter's Leader and Ender challenge, and future quilts for my grandparents in which I need scrappy scarlet red and grey.

I had a wonderful time, and next time we are back there I plan to hit new to me quilt shops that are around the area by my grandparent's house.

I'm sharing at Sew Fresh Quilts for Bee Social.

-Christina

Sunday Slow Stitching - End of July

Today I am taking some time to sit and knit.  I have been working extremely long hours for work this past week, and today has been a catch-up day around the house.  However, tonight we are going to watch Moana, and it is a perfect time for me to sit and knit.

The item I'm going to work on is a baby blanket.  The welcome baby party has been pushed back another month at work, so I have a few more weeks to finish it.  I am a little over halfway done with it now.  Next week some serious knitting will be done on it while in a car for some time.  I can not wait!

Hopping over to Kathy's Quilts and linking up with Sunday Slow Stitching.

See you there!
-Chrisitna

On the 12th Day of Christmas

Hello!  Welcome to Christina's Handicrafts and the last day on Confessions of a Fabric Addict's 12 Days of Christmas blog hop.  My name is Christina, I live in Southern California, and I am under 30 who loves to craft, especially quilting.  My husband tolerates my love of crafting and our fur kid, Hershey, loves it.

I have two items to share with you today.  One is a snowflake pillow made with squares that finish at 1 inch.

I think it turned out awesome, and I believe it will add some Christmas and winter season spirit to our living room this upcoming holiday season.

The second item is a snowflake table runner, that turns out like this:

The finished size will be 12 inches by 36 inches

Materials needed:
1/4 yard of the accent (teal)
1/3 yard of the snowflake/star fabric (purple/blue)
1/2 yard of the background (white)

Cutting:
Accent
2 1.5 inches by WOF strips

Snowflake/Star fabric
2 4.5 inches by WOF
Sub-cut 12 triangles cut with the Tri Recs Ruler and 3 4.5 inch squares

Background
2 1.5 inches by WOF strips
2 2.5 inches by WOF strips
Sub-cut into 24 2.5 inch squares
1 4.5 inches by WOF strip
Sub-cut into 12L and 12R from the Tri Recs Ruler - to make this go quickly, have rights sides of the fabric out and cut.  You will end up with 1L and 1R with every cut you make.

Putting together:
Sew together along the long sides the 1.5 inch strips, matching one background and one accent.  Perform this task twice.  Press to the accent.

Sub-cut into 48 1.5 inch sections to create 4 patches.

*Helpful hint: Place one strip set on top of one another, having an accent strip and a background strip touching each other, and nest the seams.  Then cut, and you only need to make 24 sub-cuts, and they are ready to go through the machine.*

Sew a 4-patch to a 2.5 inch square.  Press to the white square.

*Helpful hint: When sewing the 4-patches to the 2.5 inch squares, make sure the 4-patches to sew and press them all the same way.*

The sew the 4-patch and 2.5 inch square unit to itself, flipped around.  See picture below.

Sew together the triangles with the best method for you.  I pressed to the triangles (darker fabric).  The unit should be 4.5 inches square when finished.

Lay out the block as shown below.

Pay attention to pressing, to have all of your seams nest when sewing the blocks together.

Sew your blocks together if you are making three to form a table runner.  You could make just one for a candle mat, or even go bigger for a throw quilt.  (Something I would love to do in the future)

To finish the table runner quilt, trim and put the binding on it.  Then enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed the small project which would be perfect for a present during the holiday season or to grace your home during family meals.

Make sure to leave a comment on ALL blogs posting today, plus Confessions of a Fabric Addict for an opportunity to win the giveaway for the day.  Comments for the giveaway closes at Midnight, tomorrow, July 26.  Confession of a Fabric Addict will be announcing the winners on Friday, August 4th in her Whoop Whoop Friday post.

One last thing, make sure to check out all of the other blogs participating in this blog hop.  There are a ton of great ideas out there.

Friday, July 14th

From My Carolina Home

Vrooman's Quilts

Pampered Pettit

Saturday, July 15th

Citymousequilter

Vicki's Crafts and Quilting

Quilting Fun

Sunday, July 16th

Swimming in a Sea of Estrogen

Everyone Deserves a Quilt

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting

Monday, July 17th

Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats

Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life

Crayon Box Quilt Studio

Tuesday, July 18th

Seams To Be Sew

Stitchin at Home

Domestic Felicity

Wednesday, July 19th

The Colorful Fabriholic

Smiles From Kate

Thursday, July 20th

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting

The Inquiring Quilter

Selina Quilts

Friday, July 21st

Katie Mae Quilts

Quilted Blooms

QuiltFabrication

Saturday, July 22nd

Devoted Quilter

Kathy's Kwilts and More

All Points of the Compass

Sunday, July 23rd
Mel's Quilting Blog
Resourceful Momma
Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting

Monday, July 24th
Anja Quilts
PickingandStitching
A Dream and a Stitch

Tuesday, July 25th
Christina's Handicrafts (that's me!)
Abyquilts

Kathy's Kwilts and More

Thank you for checking me out!

Linking up to Sew Fresh Quilts for Bee Social.

-Christina

A Small Finish!

I was able to finish a belated wedding gift for a co-worker and friend.  She loved it.  It was my June OMG, however I did not finish it until the 2nd of July.  That is what procrastination does for you/running out of time!

I created the pattern, a simple rail fence on the front, and then for the back I did strips, making it double sided.  I drew it out, and then went for it.  It was simple to put together, the biggest problem for me is finding time to do it as I feel like housework trumps sewing time after work and sometimes on the weekend.  Does anyone else ever feel that way?

The colors on this table runner turned out wonderfully, and I love the texture that the quilting added to the runner.  I was very happy to complete something off my long list of things to make.

I am linking up at Crazy Mom Quilts.  This project was #1 on my Quarter 3 Finish-A-Long list, number one of many.  Hopefully I will see actual movement on this list this quarter.  I can not wait to see what everyone else is working on.

-Christina

Monday Design Wall

There are only a few things on my design wall this week due to lack of close proximity to a sewing machine.

The first is gifting this gorgeous table runner which I finished yesterday, yippeee something off my long to do list! (Check out my 3rd quarter goals, this is #1)

More pictures will be posted when I do my finish it up Friday post next Friday.  I loved how it turned out, and the quilting was just simple straight lines but added so much to it.  Another sneak peak:

The second is working on this cross stitch.

Not a lot is done one it, but I think this week will be the perfect week to start making some serious progress on it.

I'm linking up to:
Monday Making
Main Crush Monday
Design Wall

I can not wait to see you there!
-Christina

July OMG

I did not finish June's OMG, however it got done this weekend.  I will show pictures during a finish it up Friday.  However, due to finishing June's OMG (not on time), I need to come up with a new project for July's OMG.  I have a sew day coming up this month, and my plan is to get a project cut out and start to get the top sewn together during it.  The fabrics are below.

This will be a baby rail fence quilt for my cousin's baby who is almost 6 months old now (where has 2017 gone?).  I am a little late.  My goal for the month of July is to get it cut out and the top sewn together.

I think it is doable, as long as I squeeze it in between creating my tutorial for Confessions of a Fabric Addict's 12 days of Christmas.  I'm presenting on July 25, the last day!  I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts for the month.

-Christina