MOP Monday - Xmas presents list

First of all, if you want to check my 2 entries for the Bloggers Quilt Festival you find them here:

1. Mini (Radiant Orchid)
2. Scrappy (Boxes of Rainbow)

Then I decided to change my weekly list because, let's face it, it's almost Xmas and I have a ton of presents to make and I need to focus on those and keep track of the progress :)

-- MOP: The Xmas presents list --

1. Boxes of Rainbow (UO) - you can check my finished quilt in the  Bloggers Quilt Festival post!!

2. Topolino quilt (MPB) - no progress
3. the Z quilt (CO) - third and last block done!!! (see below)

4. small pillow or table runner (VP) - not even decided what to do :(
5. convertible bag (IG) - fabric collected
6. coasters & table runner (MO) - not started
7. something (SZ) - I need to think about this :)

Extras (because if I have tons of projects to finish I need to add some extras anyway O_o):
1. the SK project - 1 block done (see below)
2. Make it Mosaic (on FiS) - pattern done, background grey fabric selected but need to decide about the rest

(Linking up at Let's Bee Social)

-- MOP: This week new blocks --

My last Chinese symbol block is done!!
And there were different versions for the same symbol but I took the one that looked more "easy" to sew. I hope is what I want it to be. If any of my readers know that symbol and if it means something else please do NOT tell me ;) unless it means a very bad word ;).

Shou (Longevity) (22''x22'')

Now I am ready to quilt this block (using a quilt-as-you-go technique) and I already have a plan for the rest of the layout! Let's hope it's not going to take too long to complete!!

--
And finally we have 1 new opening lines for my SK project.
This is the first book by SK that I've ever read, so here is where my obsession started ;)
--
The Dead Zone
--

Pattern available on "The SK project" page

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And now, what are YOU going to link?? :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Bloggers Quilt Festival - Scrappy - Boxes of Rainbow

(Don't forget to check my other entry (in the Mini category))

If you are new to my blog WELCOME!!
If you are a constant reader, THANKS for your support!! :)

If you are new around here, let me just point you to my main addiction: designing and sharing for free tons of paper piecing patterns :)

As you can see from my header picture I designed patterns for Disney characters, Peanuts and Snoopy, Downton Abbey, Alice in Wonderland but I have many many more (Maleficent, The Simpsons, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Betty Boop, Minions and more)!! Some of them have to be tested, some of there are tested. You can find them just navigating the different tabs or just typing the character name in the search box at the top of the page.

My other love (that you could also appreciate in most of my paper piecing blocks) is SCRAPPY looks!! I love to play with fun prints, mix and match them! So I have a pretty large collection of small scraps, and when I saw this project I had to use it and make it mine.

Boxes of Rainbow - Size 63''x 78''

The original pattern is the Rainbow Starburst quilt by Shanon @ lilabellelane (you can find the pattern here). I love that block! It's super easy, super scrappy, super wonky, super fast... and I did just few blocks at the time... I didn't even know how big the quilt was going to be, or how many blocks I would needed... I just cut 3'' squares and I put them together in blocks of similar colors... and when I had about 15 of them I lay them out in a rainbow order and added corners that "merge" the colors on the two sides.
Then I wanted to add something to calm down the scrappyness of the blocks and I added the white sashing. But I thought simple sashing was too "boring" so I added the shadow box effect (which also made the quilt a good size without adding new blocks!). For the shadow I chose to use a batik because I don't like to work with solids, but any print would have been too crazy for the shadow. The color is the pop of dark red on the back/binding of the quilt so I think it tide up everything together pretty nicely!

Folded and ready to be sent to the lucky recipient :)

This quilt received careful supervision and testing at every step of its construction by a very special helper as you can see below! Help was provided during:

Piecing

Pressing

Making sure the final top has been pieced correctly and the quilt is big enough

Making sure the quilt is good for hiding (left top), cleaning (left bottom) and playing (right)

And last, but not least, making sure that the quilt is super comfy for great naps!

So I hope you like it!
I have to admit that even if the quilt is ready and washed, the label is still missing :)
But I need to design a special label to acknowledge the help of the cute friend so that may take some extra time ;)

(Don't forget to check my other entry (in the Mini category))

Bloggers Quilt Festival - Mini - Radiant Orchid

(Don't forget to check my other entry (in the Scrappy category))

If you are new to my blog WELCOME!!
If you are a constant reader, THANKS for your support!! :)

If you are new around here, let me just point you to my main addiction: designing and sharing for free tons of paper piecing patterns :)

As you can see from my header picture I designed patterns for Disney characters, Peanuts and Snoopy, Downton Abbey, Alice in Wonderland but I have many many more (Maleficent, The Simpsons, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Betty Boop, Minions and more)!! Some of them have to be tested, some of there are tested. You can find them just navigating the different tabs or just typing the character name in the search box at the top of the page.

And my entry for this Blogger Quilt Festival is a paper pieced one (obviously) ;)

This is the mini I designed for the 2014 Pantone Quilt challenge, Radiant Orchid:

This is a little wall hanging (size: 17x17 inches)

I love scrappy projects... and I am pretty sure that one of the fabric I used is Radiant Orchid... I have no idea which one because it's hard to see the real colors on a computer screen... but I used so many different purple/pink tones that I must have picked something that is pretty close to the real Radiant Orchid ;)

And a few close-ups and the back to see better the quilting... 

It's the first time I quilt with color thread... I don't know if I like it... it's easy to see the "mistakes" but I think it's ok, considering the fact that is one of my first time I try a design different than stitch-in-the-ditch :)

If you want to make your own orchid block, the pattern is available in my Craftsy shop!!

And let me throw an additional bonus mini if you are still here :)
This is the other "Color of the Year" wall hanging I pieced: Emerald. I decided to make color of the year wall hanging for each year that I have been sewing... I don't have much backlog since I just started last year LOL ;)

Now go and check out all amazing project's in the Festival.

(Don't forget to check my other entry (in the Scrappy category))

MOP Monday - Good progress

-- MOP: The list --

WIP:

1. the SK project - designed 2 new blocks

2. Rainbow Starburst - DONE DONE DONE!!! now I just need to take some pictures and you will be able to see it soon since it will be entered in the Bloggers Quilt Festival!!
3. Topolino quilt - no progress
4. the Z quilt - second block done! only 1 more to go (see below)

7. Tea Towel challenge and PPV BOM - no progress

WNEIP:
1. Reversible sewing machine cover - no progress
2. College Days Blog Hop blocks for tote/grocery bag - no progress
3. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
4. As You Wish - no progress
5. Happy Halloween wall hanging - no progress
6. Crazy optical illusion - no progress

(Linking up at Let's Bee Social)

-- MOP: This week new blocks --

So this is the only thing I can share with you now because my other big finish will be revealed next Friday! :)

Fu (Happiness or Good Luck) (22''x22'')

Again, please ignore the wrinkles :) the block is pretty big and I don't want to spend too much time pressing and ironing until the top is done :)

It is a Chinese symbol that I hope is what I want it to be. If any of my readers know that symbol and if it means something else please do NOT tell me ;) unless it means a very bad word ;).
Its a pretty big block and it's done with what I call "2-steps PP" meaning that the center of one of the quadrant is done first with a PP pattern, and then the surrounding circle is obtained from a different pattern. This is why I won't share the pattern here with you, it's too complicated to make it understandable for others :) if you are interested you can send me an email and I can share it with you at your own risk :)

--

And now, what are YOU going to link?? :)

An InLinkz Link-up

MOP Monday - Hurray!!!

Final assessment of MOP Monday: test passed!!! Hurray!!!
So I will keep it going, because now that there are several people linking up, it's a lot of fun and very very inspiring!! Thank you for believing in it and for participating!!

Now for My Own Progress:

-- MOP: The list --

WIP:

1. the SK project - 2 new blocks this week! (see below) Hurray!!!

2. Rainbow Starburst - QUILTING DONE! Hurray!!! Still missing the binding, but I really like that part so it is going to be done in time for the Bloggers Quilt Festival!! Hurray!!!
3. Topolino quilt - no progress
4. the Z quilt - started next block, but not too much progress there

7. Tea Towel challenge and PPV BOM - no progress

WNEIP:
1. Reversible sewing machine cover - no progress
2. College Days Blog Hop blocks for tote/grocery bag - no progress
3. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
4. As You Wish - no progress
5. Happy Halloween wall hanging - no progress
6. Crazy optical illusion - no progress

(Linking up at Let's Bee Social)

-- MOP: This week new blocks --

I will reveal the Rainbow Starburst quilt for the Bloggers Quilt Festival but I can tell you that it was pretty painful to quilt because it is pretty big and squeezing/pushing/pulling it through my small sewing machine was not fun!! This is why I think I will never quilt another big quilt this way!! I will use a Quilt-As-You-Go method for my next ones and then let's see how it goes!!

--
And finally we have 2 new opening lines for my SK project.
Again I used the super-great method that I mentioned last week to transfer patterns on fabric: crayola washable markers! Kate @ Thorn Trace shared on Fandom In Stitches her very through experiment.
If you want to read about it, just check it out on Fandom In Stitches.
--
Salem's Lot
--

Pattern available on "The SK project" page

--
Firestarter
--

Pattern available on "The SK project" page

--

And now, what are YOU going to link?? :)

An InLinkz Link-up

MOP Monday - Around The World Blog Hop

I have been tagged!
It's just great because this week I didn't have much progress to share so this tag comes at a perfect timing ;)
But remember to link up your progress at the end of this post because this is the last week of my trial linky party ;)

The wonderful person who tagged me is Susan @ TheBoredZombie.
To describe how wonderful she is I wanted to show you one of her projects, but I cannot pick just one because honestly, how can I?? There is an amazing Futurama quilt, a Pac-Man purse, an Addam's Candy Bag, pixelated quilts, Super Mario cross stitching, ... I mean, I could go on forever...
OK, I picked one, and it's my favorite just because I am a geek and geeks cannot resist to anything that have binary code on a black background!!! and in her tutorial she also provides a link to translate a secret message in binary code!! I mean, do I need to say more?!?!?!

Ok, so now a little about me :)

1. What am I working on?

A super secret event that may or may not involve one or none of the people that nominated me ;)
If everything goes as pictured in my mind, I suggest you to follow my blog in 2015 because there is going to be a lot to learn from many talented fellow bloggers!!

I am also working on encouraging people to share their crafty weekly progress with me!! So please check the linky party below and think about adding your last post there!

Oh, and did I forget to mention the 4 quilts (out of which only one top is done) that I need to get done for Xmas? And probably  a couple of bags too :) well if you want to know more, just check my previous post below! you will find a lot of pictures of my WIPs ;)

And I started some to draw some Zentagles! This may or may not be connected to the super secret event as well... in some way... maybe ;)

These are my first ever zentangles... some are nice, some are less nice but I am learning, because there are no mistakes in zentangles! :)

(Pages of my Zentangle journal. On each page, on the right there is the main pattern in "basic" shapes, while on the left there are variations in terms of color, shapes, scale, etc. I really like playing around with these!!). If you want to see more details, click the picture and you should be able to see it more closely!!

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre? 
3. Why do I write/create what I do? 
4. How does my writing/creating process work?

Let's answer to all those questions together!
My work differs from others just because I am a big fan of some specific themes from my childhood and not everyone likes the same things! and I create patterns starting from those images/quotes and I share them all for free on this blog!
My most recent works are revolving around Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Alice in Wonderland and Stephen King.

And let me conclude by saying two things about me that maybe you don't know (but please don't sue me for those):
1. I don't like solids. I cannot work with solids, they are just "boring" to me. Not in the final piece, they may be perfect for the final look of a block, but while I am sewing, I need to see some fun prints to keep me going, otherwise I would never be able to finish a single block!
2. I don't like quilting :) ok, then my blog name looks weird right? well when I started I thought that quilting was "piecing" not "quilting-quilting" :) but now it's too late to change my blog name and maybe it will become true one day ;)

And these are my tags:

Jennifer @ Sewhooked (or @ Fandom In Stitches)

(Trick or Treat Sue)

Jennifer is the reason why I started sewing!! I was looking for a pattern for a fandom pillow and I discover one of her sites (Fandom In Stitches) and paper piecing. Since then I never stopped stitching!! :) Jennifer has been creating fandom quilt patterns since 2005. She is a designer, crafter, webmistress and instructor. She is best known for her Harry Potter Paper Piecing effort, her many designs at Sewhooked and for her weekly inspirational craft vlog, Talk To Me Tuesday. She is an amazing woman, that on top of all her crafts, also coordinates many charity efforts for fans in difficult times.

Esther @ ipatchandquilt

Esther is an art teacher from the Netherlands and she designs very fun paper piecing patterns (that I had the chance to test once) and she is a very talented quilter! I am so jealous of her quilting skills (see my previous comment about not liking quilting ;) ).

Kristel @ wipgirl

Kristel is another great inspiration for me because she has an amazing taste in fabric, she is incredibly talented (just check the fun pouch above!! Do I need to say more??) and she also shares her progress in the Talk To Me Tuesday community. You should check out her work, because she has so many amazing projects going on!!

And finally, please remember that this is my last trial week for the linky party... and the previous 3 ones passed the test, but is it this one do it too? It's up to you!! :)

Let the game finish (trial linky party, week 4 :) )

An InLinkz Link-up