#82 Ready For Spring

I have been doing a lot of secret sewing lately and all of it is being done with bright, fun and spring like colours. Which is making me long for spring to get here!! I guess I shouldn't complain too much at least the sun has started to shine regularly and the temperature is finally going up, but we are still covered in snow, with no spring flowers in sight for a while. (this is not an old picture I took it today March 8th)

This week I have been having fun with my new AccuQuilt Go!Big. My fantastic husband surprised me with it for my birthday!! And let me tell you it is amazing!! It came with a flying geese die cutter, which I wasn't thrilled about,  this block has always caused me problems. Mine are always wonky.....Insert sad, no frustrated face!!! That feeling quickly turned to awe when I cut and pieced 3 blocks and they all turned out perfectly!!! Since then I have purchased the 3.5" tumbler, Bow Tie, and 7" drunkards path, another block that I love but have problems with (haven't tried that one yet will get back to you on that)

Putting the tumbler to good use, cutting out about 320 so far, to make some placemats (using 197) from 27 FQ of different reproduction civil war prints. I will be cutting the rest of the fabric this week for a lap sized quilt in tumblers!! I used the Bow Tie cutter to trim up the scrap fabric pieces and was able to put together a sweet table runner! The Bow Tie die is made up of (4) 2.5" and (2) 1.5" squares so when I bought it, I was thinking multi use- block and scrap busting. It's working out great!! (getting a wonderful head start on Mother's Day!)

More of 

What I've Been Up To:

Love these prints by Cloud 9, Shapes of Spring. Used them to upsize one of the Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM to a 32" here's my finish.....I had to wait for the binding fabric to arrive (along with some more....I couldn't help myself....)

 And here's all I can show you of my secret sewing.....I promise as soon as I can I will show you.....

A paper piecing quilt project of love, I am helping with.....

And a very exciting project I can't wait to talk about and share with you all.......which involves some Sunnyside and Cotton & Steel 

#79 Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM... Putting it all together

It has been a great 6 months of making incredible blocks and meeting new people. I have had such a great time and it has been so much fun being a part of Jacquelynne's amazing project and all the prize giveaways!!

This month is even better....bigger giveaways and even bigger announcements

At each participating blog you get a chance to win, Jacquelynne's Digital book, Child's Play.

    and at Jacquelynne's blog you have a chance to win a prize bundle with a retail value of $70.                                            Also there will be a Big Announcement you won't want to miss!!!

What I've Been up to:

Over the course of the 6 months I have made the 6 blocks into a table runner and turned two of the blocks into Super Sized.....

I finished my runner with a simple sashing and contrasting binding, but pieced the backing so that I would have two choices in one runner

I also appliqued a monogram on one of the blocks for a Christmas table topper...

And my SuperSized Blocks: 32" Square

 I really Like how this one turned out...went with an oversized digital quilt pattern for the oversized block!! It's called Splish Splash....
Now I just have to wait for the binding fabric to arrive and this beauty will be going on my family room as a table topper!! Just in time for spring....I hope....come on sun!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



UpstairsHobbyRoom (you are here)
Jacquelynne Steves

LilyPad Quilting
Quiltscapes
Crazy 'Bout Quilts
A Quilt and a Prayer
Bejeweled Quilts
Wedding Dress Blue
Mountain Quiltworks
Garden Path Quilts

#76

I have been slacking off on posting to my blog again....

Sew Kitchy BOM 2014 at Quiet Play. Kristy is doing another Paper Pieced BOM this year with a Zoo Animal theme....so cute

I have found it hard to get back into the swing of things since Christmas and the New Year happened. As some of you know, I have learned in the last year, after being sick for years, I have a lot of food intolerances. As much as I try to avoid eating the food that ultimately hurts me, it isn't always easy. Sometimes the ingredients are hidden and sometimes I'm just too tired, and all of this is just too new and still seems to  require so much energy, eek. So needless to say, if you understand allergies, I haven't been at full energy or wellness this month. 

It's really hard when gluten, wheat, eggs, all dairy ( the protein) and a few other foods are the things that are hurting you. So much of our diets revolve around these staples. So, I have pledged to make learning and educating myself on my food issues a priority this year, especially the finding of recipes... like bread and pizza dough (I can handle the no cheese  but the gluten free crust at the pizza shop...not great).  It's been really hard adjusting and still is some days, but I do feel so much better when I behave, and silver lining, I have dropped 2-3 sizes (not sure how much weight, I don't weigh myself) :) 

I would love your help too... If any of you have or know someone who has some of the same dietary restrictions and have a great recipe... I would love for you to share it with me!!  I am also thinking of starting a new blog just to keep track of websites and information, I'm horrible at remembering all this new information. So if you share a recipe, add if I can post it or not (if the blog happens, thanks). You can email me at upstairshobbyroom at gmail dot com. 

Hope you don't mind the sharing, for now back to Quilting!!

What I've Been Up To:

I have 21 bibs made to send to Noah's Ark in the Philippines...I just need to bind them:
Girls version: (Velcro will be added when they arrive so they can get the right placement)

 Boys Version:

Finished all the BOM for 2014 (blocks only, still need to assemble tops):

 Classic Meets Modern:

Update, I'll be posting more pictures in another post next week!!

 Sugar Block 2014 at Stitchery Dickory Dock

Aurifil Designer of the Month 2014

Assembled the Globe Trotting BOM top:

Got the bindings on 2 of the 3 quilts I had finished:

Made the 4 mini Sew Together Bags from OPQuilt.com worksheet in her Tutorials tab (you need the Sew Together Pattern from Sew Demented) and used only my stash #sewmystash2015. I have joined in on the challenge, widget link on right side of blog page.

Had a great Sew Along Day on January 10th, with Jacquelynne Steves for the Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM:
#sewmystash2015 (used my stash for this beauty too)

 I upsized the pattern to a 32" block for my coffee table...

And started on the Companion Carpet Bag by Samantha of At Home With Mrs. H , January bag from the Bag of the Month Club from Sew Sweetness: (used my stash other than the exterior...don't collect heavier fabrics, #sewmystash2015)

This is my first real structured bag pattern...I joined the club last year but only manage to sew the Poolside Tote by Noodlehead (awesome pattern) So I am over the moon with how well it has turned out so far. Waiting on the handles and frame to finish. My goal is to make the remaining 5 patterns from last year and the 6 new ones from this year....insert, hopeful smiley face, lol.

 my handy new sewing awl, for when my handles arrive

And my list that will follow me this year to keep me on track, hopefully....

To Complete List

Blocks to Piece (blocks not finished)

• (3)Triple Star Blocks
• Playing Cards (Bee Blocks)
• (?) Scrappy Trip Around the World Blocks 
• Fusion Quilt
• Flower Patch Quilt
• Lattice Bones Quilt
• Colouring Box Quilt
• Sew Kitchy Paper Pieced BOM (one more block, Miss Betty)
• Craftsy BOM 2013

Quilt Tops to Sew Together (blocks are complete)

• Sugar Block Club 2013
• Sugar Block Club 2014
• Block Rock'n
• Classic Meets Modern
• Aurifil Designer of the Month 2014
• Globe Trotting BOM
• Layer Cake Challenge
• Come Together (Bee Blocks)
• Playing Cards (Bee Blocks)

Quilt Tops: to Quilt

• City Sampler
• Churn Dash QAL
• Nested Churn Dash
• Parade (tester pattern)
• Square Deal
• Trifle Dish Moda QAL
• Modern Blocks QAL
• Virtual Quilting Bee
• Triangle QAL
• *Globe Trotting BOM
• *Classic Meets Modern
• *Sugar Block Club 2013

Quilts to Bind (that's all I have to do, you would think I would just get it done)

• Bloom Bloom Pow
• Craftsy BOM 2012
• Mystery Quilt

New Projects to Do this Year:

1. 15-30 adult size bibs for special needs children at an orphanage in the Philippines (church missions trip in April) (the number turned out to be 21-just need to bind them!!)
2. Design 2 original projects and write up the patterns ( I am excited about this challenge) more info on this in the future
3. 2 quilts (one niece/one nephew )
4. Set of Placemats (12)
5. 4 mini Sew Together Bags
6. 4 Regular Sew Together Bags
7. 6 Duffle Bags
8. 6-11 purses, yup not kidding, I join the Bag of the Month again this year over at Sew Sweetness and last year of the six I only made one of the bags. This year I am determined to complete them all.
9. New Christmas Stockings (8)
10. Christmas Tree Skirt
11. Misc sewing of pouches, because there is always a need for a simple pouch or 10, lol.
12. *Elephant Parade, because it was so cute I couldn't resist!! Which makes an even dozen new projects. One per month....that's doable.......

*updates

Sew Sweet Simplicity Block #3 and Bonus Block #1

What fun I've had with this months block. I made two version and tweaked the bonus block to give you all something to think about and maybe try for yourselves!! ;)

BOM Info:

There is going to be a "Catch Up" Sew Along Day on January 10th 2015. This event will run on FaceBook and Instagram and is a great way to get started on your blocks, or get caught up, or maybe just to make some extra blocks...more information to come.

But first....the give away, excuse me, the give aways for this month!! Yes there are multiply giveaways this month!! (I'm going to show you up front and not make you scroll to the bottom. Lol, an early Christmas gift to all.)
If you are here first because you are following my blog (thanks) you will want to go over to Jacquelynne's blog for the chance to win one of the 3 Mini-Kits she is giving away. You can enter here for the PDF pattern bundle. You can also enter at each of the other BOM hosts sites as well to increase your odds of winning the PDF prize bundle. (Links provided below)



a Rafflecopter giveaway

UpstairsHobbyRoom (you are here)

LilyPad Quilting
Quiltscapes
Crazy 'Bout Quilts
A Quilt and a Prayer
Bejeweled Quilts
Wedding Dress Blue
Mountain Quiltworks
Garden Path Quilts

 What I've Been Up To:

Block #3

My table runner version of the block...(sorry the lighting was really bad)

and the back of the runner...

Version 2 of Block 3

Using a font from Word or check out dafont.com for lots of free fonts to download. I printed this at 450 I think , but had to trim to make it fit, so double check your sizing.

I could say I decided to put the block on point to add to the tweaking....but I like to keep it real, I'm not perfect... lol, I misjudge the block layout and appliqued the W side ways!!! So it was on point or redo.... ;)

Silver Lining.....I love it!!!

My Version of Bonus Block #1

I took the bonus block 1 pattern and upsized it to 32" square to put on my coffee table for Christmas

I love how it turned out!!

No tutorial, but here is a quick list of the dimensions I used:

• 5-5.25" for half square triangles (then trim down)
• 4.5" for squares
• 4.5 x 8.5" rectangles
• 16.5" centre

The last thing I wanted to share with you today is Jacquelynne's free Emagazine. If you haven't signed up you should check it out. The Emagazine is full of lovely crafts to do, yummy recipes, and graphics by the talented Jacquelynne, and if you need another reason...besides free and full of great projects to try...sign up this month and you will receive the Red and White Quilt pattern for free too. (it would look great as a blue and white or green and white or yellow and grey or.....I think you get where I'm going with this....lol)