A big show off! :)

About two months ago, I had a "sad" post where I was complaining about the fact that I didn't feel that my effort in putting together the pdf patterns, color them, share them, etc. was worth it...
because I was the only one actually sewing my patterns...
at least that's what I thought...
But I was WRONG :)

Many of you reached out to me after that post and really cheered me up... and shared with me fabulous blocks that you made with my patterns!

So this is a "happy-dance" post that collects all the pictures that has been shared with me in the last couple of months (and one of the pattern is tested, fixed and released in its gigantic beauty ;) )

So without further ado, let's start this wonderful-blocks-parade!!

Betty Boop - pattern designed upon request, and pieced by Sarah 

Minnie Mouse - not one, but two very cute Minnie blocks, pieced by Lois

Minion (short) - pieced by HerbMyst

Minion (tall) - pieced by Tiffany

Snoopy & Woodstock - pieced by Jan (FB)

Sally, Linus and Lucy - pieced by Jaclyn (Pinterest, Craftsy)

SNOOPY QUILT - a complete QUILT featuring some snoopy fabric and my blocks, pieced by Tabitha

Sword in the Stone - Kysaundra is making another full "Sword in the Stone" quilt... using colors that are from the original movie... aren't those block gorgeous???

and last (but not least)

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland title, pieced by Raven

And thanks to Raven's comments and advice I fixed the pattern and now it is available in Quilt&Stitch-TestAlong.

And as a conclusive word, if you are thinking about testing one of my patterns (or the many more that other FiS designer have), join our new Facebook group. Pattern Designers and potential Pattern Testers! You can see sneak peek of patterns that will be available soon on FiS ;) and you can grab this fun button and put it on your blog ;)

MOP Monday - old things and new things

I still didn't get back my paper piecing mojo :(

But what is the best way to get it back? simple: doing something else (e.g. traditional piecing), get tired of that and wanting to go back to the nice things of paper piecing ;)

And I also have some old blocks that I did some time ago but I couldn't share, so, let's get down to

-- MOP: The list --

1. As You Wish - Miracle Max & Valerie (paper piecing and embroidery block (see below))
2. Celtic Solstice - Finished (see last week post)
3. Tea Towel challenge and PPV BOM - no progress (progress last week)
4. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
5. Happy Halloween wall hanging - no progress
6. Topolino quilt - no progress
--
7. B&W pillow - DOOONE (actually done 2 pillows, see below)
8. Grocery bag - done last week (off the list!)
9. Triangle QAL - Final show off, post last week
10. Emerald wall hanging  done last week  (off the list!)

-- MOP: This week new blocks --
Last week on Fandom In Stitches, the last pattern for the As You Wish quilt was released...
I designed the PP block!! Here it is

 You can find both patterns on Fandom In Stitches!
--
And as I mentioned before, to get my paper piecing mojo back, I did many other things :)
First, I completed my Downton Abbey pillow... and then I made a second pillow for a person who loves music.
The Downton Abbey pattern is available in my Free Pattern page.

(pillows - front)

The piano keyboard make some "pockets" in the front... because the pillow is intended to be a "remote control pillow" :)
And I think that the fabric on the back of both is a really good fit: for Downton Abbey there are cars from the early 1900 and for the music pillow has some musical instruments, notes and names of famous musicians! ;)

(pillows - back)

--
And then, to get tired of traditional "cutting + chain piecing" I made 5 blocks for my Rainbow Starburst quilt (you can find the pattern here).

I love that block! It's super easy, super scrappy, super wonky, super fast... and I do just few blocks at the time... I don't even know how big the quilt is going to be, or how many block I will need... I just cut 3'' squares and I put them together in blocks of similar colors... and when I have enough I will make a quilt :)
--
And my partner for the Block Swap received her block so I can share it here with you!
This is the Star I choose for her (pattern available on Craftsy)

--
And last week I promised a special post to thank all the wonderful people that used my patterns and shared they work with me, but I didn't have time to put it together... I will do my best to share it this coming week... and there will be a new Alice in Wonderland pattern tested, fixed and officially released...
--

And now, link YOUR own progresses below!!

Rules for the linky party:
1. You can link finished projects or WIP at any stage! Every step is worth sharing
   (A journey of thousand miles is made of single steps)!
2. Link to your specific post to make it easier for others to read about your progress!
3. Spread the word and post my button or a text link (code for the button on the side bar)
4. Comment on other links!! It's always good to support each other every step of the way!! :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Triangle QAL - the final show-off

And here is the end of a very fun QAL: the Triangle QAL by Paula @ Sassyquilter.

This is my finished baby quilt

And here are some thoughts about this QAL

1. I was not planning to participate because I hate triangles :) but they I won a triangle ruler in a giveaway and a friend told me that she is pregnant so I listened to the sign of the Universe and I decided to give it a try

2. I have been rewarded by the Universe because I won one of the gift cards in the weekly giveaway!! yeeee... and I used the gift card to buy the backing for the quilt... a sooooooooo cute piece of fleece with australian animals (my friend is crazy about Australia, so I thought that was just the perfect fit, thanks Universe). 

I bought a yard of that without even measuring my quilt (how crazy is that???)... but again, the Universe made it work... it was exactly the size of the top... I have 1 inch of selvage left from that piece... how cool is that, no leftovers, no waste, just perfect...

3. remembering the basic thing about geometry helps not to panic: I cut all my triangles with the ruler I had... and then I wanted to follow Paula's instructions about aligning the pieces to put together the rows... but then I realized that my triangles were not equilateral (so they were not perfectly overlapping one another... paaaanic)... but then I realized that my ruler is simply isosceles (which means that the bottom edge is 6'' and the height of the triangle is 6'', but this means that the other two sides are NOT 6'' :) )... however they are all the same size, so once I understood what I had to align and where to put the pins, everything went smooth

4. I still don't like triangles much... I love the overall look of the quilt... but let's face it: I cannot align all the points... and I am not going to obsess about it... it is a cute quilt, and since it's all scrappy, the misaligned/chopped corners do not show that much... 

5. since it was all an experiment, I tried to finish it with a different technique... so I quilted the top with the batting first (just one "straight" line next to one of the edge of the triangles) and then used a pillow case method to attach the backing. I turned it inside-out and then top-stitched the sides with a scallop decorative stitch (love it). Then I wanted to quilt another "straight" line next to the other edge of the triangles (on the three layers now), but this was challenging at the beginning because I didn't realized that it could create huge puckers... and I initially panicked... but then I drank my coffee and then told myself: "if I just cover the quilt with pins (to distribute the excess fabric uniformly) and I use my regular foot (instead of the walking foot), things may work out better". And actually they did!! no excessive puckering, just a soft fleece back with uniform quilting lines!! I really like quilts that are "not interrupted" by the binding... so I may use this technique on other projects too... probably is better to use it only on small projects... but I was happy to try it!

6. triangle quilts have so many fun layout opportunities, if you plan your colors in advance... I saw many great ideas during the QAL, so if I will ever going to make another triangle quilt, I may try one of those fun designs... go there and check them out yourself!!

So as a final thought, Paula was a great host for the QAL and I am very happy that I overcome my hate for triangles!! ;)

MOP Monday - TWO baby quilts done!

I kind of lost my "paper piecing blocks" mojo recently... I do not seem to be motivated in testing my own blocks :( I hope my mojo will come back... but in the meantime I completed (as finished-finished-done!) not one but TWO baby quilts!! 

-- MOP: The list --

1. As You Wish - no progress
2. Celtic Solstice - DOOOOOOONE (see below)
3. Tea Towel challenge and PPV BOM - one of April's block done (see below)
4. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
5. Happy Halloween wall hanging - no progress (progress last week)
6. Topolino quilt - no progress
--
7. B&W pillow - quilted the top, need to make the back with the zipper
8. Grocery bag - done last week (off the list!)
9. Triangle QAL - DOOOOOONE (see below)
10. Emerald wall hanging  done last week  (off the list!)

-- MOP: This week new blocks --
One of the two blocks from April PPV BOM is done!

--
And I received my block from Dagmar for the Block Swap Adventure: Storm at sea, loooove it!!

--

Celtic Solstice / Celtic Sunrise.

This is the baby quilt with two fronts ;)

Left - Celtic Solstice by Bonnie Hunter, Right - My reinterpretation of Weave, by Kathreen Ricketson.

Liked up at A Lovely Year of Finishes.

The quilting is very very imperfect... because I tried to trace the spirals but my pencil was not very easy to see on all those colors and I decided that I didn't care about precision or consistency... as long as it looked nice, it is ok even if it is imperfect.
And this is the first time I wash my quilt in the washing machine and then dry it in the dryer... I hand-washed my previous ones and dried them outside... but noooooo more... this turned perfectly wrinkly soft and it took no time or effort!!
I was thinking to bind it in a different way, or actually about not binding it at all and trying the "pillow case" method... unfortunately I just made my quilt sandwich as usual and after quilting the first spiral I remembered that I wanted to try the pillow case method... oh, well, too late for this quilt... but not too late for the other ongoing quilt... the one with triangles :)
--
And here is my finished Triangle baby quilt!!! I just looooove it.

I will share more pictures and more stories about it next week when I will make a post for it for the final linky of the QAL... but for now, you can see it in its full and softy beauty!!
I liked the pillowcase method... it was challenging at the beginning because I didn't realized that it could create huge puckers... and I initially panicked... but then I drank my coffee and then told myself: "if I just cover it with pins (to distribute the excess fabric uniformly) and I use my regular foot (instead of the walking foot), things may work out better". And actually they did!! no excessive puckering, just a soft fleece back with uniform quilting lines!!
--
And come back on Wed, because I have a very special post to thank all the wonderful people that used my patterns and shared they work with me... and there will be a new Alice in Wonderland pattern tested, fixed and officially released...
--

And now, link YOUR own progresses below!!

Rules for the linky party:
1. You can link finished projects or WIP at any stage! Every step is worth sharing
   (A journey of thousand miles is made of single steps)!
2. Link to your specific post to make it easier for others to read about your progress!
3. Spread the word and post my button or a text link (code for the button on the side bar)
4. Comment on other links!! It's always good to support each other every step of the way!! :)

An InLinkz Link-up

MOP Monday - a famous Abbey and more

Late post this week... because I had a crazy weekend... not very crafty... or actually yes, crafty but not in the sense that I had more blocks done... :(

I will move in a month so I had to start packing the things in my sewing corner :(

Luckily I realized I don't have too much stuff... all my "unassigned" fabric fits in a small plastic drawer, I have a file folder box with my ongoing projects (with assigned fabric), another box of orphan blocks, books and other sewing material and a box of "other material"... that's it... 4 boxes and I am ready to go... kind of...

Anyway, it took a lot of time to sort out those things so I didn't have much time to spend on my projects... but I had progress on things not on my list... so... let's get down to my list!!

-- MOP: The list --

1. As You Wish - no progress
2. Celtic Solstice - no progress
3. Tea Towel challenge and PPV BOM - signature block done (= no progress for me ;) )
4. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
5. Happy Halloween wall hanging - no progress (progress last week)
6. Topolino quilt - no progress
--
7. B&W pillow - big reveal of a fandom pattern... below!!!
8. Grocery bag - done last week (off the list!)
9. Triangle QAL - pieced all the rows, but still not put together (task for this week)
10. Emerald wall hanging  done last week  (off the list!)

-- MOP: This week new blocks --

And the big reveal for the B&W pillow is here... it's a Downton Abbey pattern!!
The pattern is available in my Free Pattern page.

--
Extra blocks:
Two blocks for Samantha (see group effort over at Fandom In Stitches)...
it's a great project and if you want to join there is still time!!

And I finished my block for the Block Swap... I love how it turned out...
I cannot share it here yet but this is a teaser picture :)

And this is the signature block for Jennifer (Sewhooked, PPV)

--

And now, link YOUR own progresses below!!

Rules for the linky party:
1. You can link finished projects or WIP at any stage! Every step is worth sharing
   (A journey of thousand miles is made of single steps)!
2. Link to your specific post to make it easier for others to read about your progress!
3. Spread the word and post my button or a text link (code for the button on the side bar)
4. Comment on other links!! It's always good to support each other every step of the way!! :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Emerald green

Last month I started my Emerald wall hanging and I just finished it yesterday!!
So, here it is:

The pattern for the Emerald is available in my Craftsy shop!

And while I was still postponing the process of sorting all that green fabric left from that project, a call for patterns from the Wizard of Oz came on Fandom in Stitches FB page... so I thought that the scrappy greens could be used for an Emerald City block before getting them back in my scrap bins ;)

So I designed and tested this block (and postponed again the sorting of my fabric scraps :) )

The pattern is available in my Free pattern page.
Ok, I guess now it's time to sort my green fabric pile of mess scraps! ;)

MOP Monday - few progress, but pretty big ones!!

I don't have much progress to share with you in terms of number... but they are pretty big so let's get down 

to...

-- MOP: The list --

1. As You Wish - no progress (progress last week)
2. Celtic Solstice - "back" done!!! see below!!
3. Tea Towel challenge and PPV BOM - printed April block
4. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
5. Happy Halloween wall hanging - no progress (progress last week)
6. Topolino quilt - no progress
--
7. B&W pillow - no progress
8. Grocery bag - done TWO grocery bags!!! see below!!!
9. Triangle QAL - pieced 2 rows (see below)
10. Emerald wall hanging - no progress

-- MOP: This week new blocks --
I never worked with home decor fabric and I made one bag before in my life... this is why I decided to make not one but two grocery bags for my mom's birthday!! I like to challenge myself ;)

The first one

The tutorial for this great bag is available at sew4home.com.
I changed a little bit the pattern... I added a lining for two reasons: first I wanted to add some fun pockets inside and it's easier to add them on the lining... second I never worked with heavy fabric... and some of the seams where turned many times and pretty bulky... so the lining hides everything ;)
The other thing I added are some snap fastener at the top because I don't like bags that do not close... even if I use them for grocery, when they are not too full or before the trip I like them to close, so this was an easy addition.

The second one is a lighter and more "foldable" bag... I didn't follow a pattern for this... actually I deconstructed my favorite grocery bag (scaaaaaaring process ;) ) and I used it to cut the fabric and reconstruct this other bag

(side note: I was able to reconstruct my original bag too... that was my biggest worry ;) )
I don't know how sturdy these two bags are... I guess I will know when my mom will start using them!!

--
Finally I finished the back other front of my Celtic Solstice baby quilt: here they are next to each other!

Left - Celtic Solstice by Bonnie Hunter, Right - My reinterpretation of Weave, by Kathreen Ricketson

The "other front" of the quilt was inspired by the Weave, the quilt on the cover of "Brave New Quilts" by Kathreen Ricketson. I won that book in a giveaway and I absolutely love that quilt... however the way she construct it is a little bit too "matchy-matchy" for my tastes and for my skills ;) so I did it a little bit more scrappy and less calculated... and I went for a single diagonal line: what I wanted to represent is the sun rising on a Celtic hill (this why the greens and the browns in the lower part, and the orange/red/blue of the sky). I absolutely love the way it turned out... so bright and so scrappy... it perfectly matches the scrappyness of the Celtic Solstice front.

Now my goal for April is to quilt it and finish it!!

Liked up at A Lovely Year of Finishes

--
The next step in the Triangle QAL @ sassyquilter has been published few days ago and I started piecing together my triangles. The first few were frustrating because I was trying to align the wrong points... once I understood how it should be done, it became easier... now I won't say again that I hate triangles... I just don't like them too much ;)

This is my progress.

I need to cut more triangles because I just cut a few to get a feeling about the process... and as I said, I don't hate it, so I think I will finish it!!

--
And as a last note, I received my block from my Block Swap Adventure partner (Melissa @sewgreenm.blogspot.com/)... an amazing Snail Trail block, thanks Melissa!!

I printed the pattern for my next pattern... it's going to be fun and colorful... I hope she will like it!!
--

And now, link YOUR own progresses below!!

Rules for the linky party:
1. You can link finished projects or WIP at any stage! Every step is worth sharing
   (A journey of thousand miles is made of single steps)!
2. Link to your specific post to make it easier for others to read about your progress!
3. Spread the word and post my button or a text link (code for the button on the side bar)
4. Comment on other links!! It's always good to support each other every step of the way!! :)

An InLinkz Link-up