Misc Stitching

I've been busy stitching, but, on different things. 

I did a bit more work on the Elephant, fusing the tree onto the elephant background, and making the tail.

tree is fused, the gray elephants still need to be hand appliqued

The tail was fun, but, took a long time.  First, I took three strips of the different greens, and braided them.

3 strips, braided

I did this 3 times, then took the 3 braids, and braided them together.  After that was done, I tied on the scraps pieces, from when I trimmed all the fabrics, to make the tail 'hairy' like a real elephants tail.  I like how it curved on it's own.  I didn't make it do that.

tail completed

tail laid on elephant

Then I had to put this project aside for a while.

 I have several purses that need to be mailed out this month.  I started on the first 4 purses (same pattern).  Here are pictures of what I've done so far, so you can see the fabrics.

inside pockets and zipper

front of purse

inside pockets and zipper

front of purse (hard to see the pocket on this one)

inside pockets and zipper

front of purse

inside pockets and zipper

front of purse

The top one is using pre-quilted fabrics, which I haven't done before.  I'm having to figure out the changes as I go.  The colors didn't show up well.  The pink/purple/blue (bottom) is really deep colors, but, the pictures show it washed out.  Oh well.

I still have to finish these 4 purses, then, I have another one, with an older pattern to make, and still another one that uses the screening. 

My little quilt guild (Wego Quiltin') met on Monday night.  Jinnie had kits ready for everyone, and we made wool needle keepers.  I finished mine yesterday morning.

front of needle keeper

inside of needle keeper

What a cute project!  Thanks Jinnie!  Since we are such a small guild (about 15 members) we teach each other different projects or tricks.  I taught the ribbon bookmarks last month.  One of the members had made about 48 of them, for her bible study group.  She showed them off at guild.

One of the ladies at guild gave me a present.  She cleaned it up before she gave it to me.

attachment box

full of top clamp attachments

Not sure what top clamp machine these will fit, but, fun to have, no matter what.  Thanks Kandy!

I've also basted more hexie's, while watching TV. 

hexies

I've finished all the green, and some of the others, too.  I'm about half done now.

Not sure how much sewing I'll get done the rest of the week.  It's a busy week here. 

Hope you are having a productive week!

Engrossed in Elephants!

My challenge quilt is consuming me!  It is pretty much the only thing I've been working on lately.  I seem to eat, sleep and dream elephants.  Almost every technique I'm using on this quilt is new to me.  I'm making things up as I go. 

my design

I took my drawing in to be enlarged (that was a debacle).  It was supposed to be ready in 2 days, but, 4 days later, they hadn't even started on it.  It took them a couple of hours to finally do what I asked, and enlarge the elephant to the size I wanted.

enlarged elephant taped together

 It just fits in the size requirements.  We had to take the tail off, so that it wouldn't be too long.  I have an idea for something for the tail. 

I traced the elephant onto fusible fleece, then added another layer of fusible fleece underneath, since I needed more stiffness for the trunk and legs, when hanging,  I then stitched along the inside of the lines, thru both layers of fleece, so that I'd have the pattern on the back, to follow when cutting everything out after the fabrics were fused on the front.
I used red thread, so that I could see it easily.

red thread shows the outline of the elephant from the back

While I was waiting for the elephant to be enlarged, I cut my fabrics into strips, and started making 4 patch units with the greens.

80  4 patch units

I then pulled out my Texture Magic, to see if it would work the way I wanted it to, on the elephant.

background strips cut, strings to be kept (keep tuned) and Texture Magic pinned to back of grey material

stitching the outline of the elephant

stitching curved lines across the elephant

stitched both directions

front of stitched elephant

after ironing elephant

The Texture Magic worked just like I wanted it to.  It shrinks the elephant 30%, so, I made the elephant 30% larger to start with.  Now the elephant looks like it has bumpy skin, like a real elephant. 

I did the same thing with the baby elephant yesterday.

baby elephant

Both elephants are ready to be appliqued onto the quilt.

I stitched my green 4 patch units together, to cover all of the elephant and it's feet and trunk.

bottom of elephant

I then stitched the gold strips in to 9 patch units, and covered the top portion of the elephant.  I over lapped the 2 pieces, so that I could cut a wavy line in the gold, and applique it to the green.

wavy edge of gold fabric

 I then fused everything onto the fusible fleece, and basted it all around.

fused onto fusible fleece

This afternoon I quilted wavy lines across each row of the elephant, using variegated thread.  I had this thread in my stash.

green to tan thread

Then I did this to my quilt.

I cut it up!

Don't worry.  I didn't ruin it.  I just cut the elephant out, from the back, following the red thread outline.  This is what it looks like now.

quilted elephant

The end is in sight!!!  I need to applique the elephants on (by hand) then trace the tree, and add it, using fusible.  I'll machine applique the tree.  I even have leaf buttons I may add to the tree.  I do still need to make the tail before I can add the backing.  I'm going to try to 'turn' this, envelope style, for the backing.  With all these curves, I hope it works.  I really don't want to make bias binding and bind the regular way (especially since it will be a problem with attaching the tail).  I may also use some of my green 'scraps' for the end of the tail.  That is why I saved them.



I have been working on some other things, too.  I'm not 100% engrossed with this elephant.  When I cleaned my sewing room, I found some hexies that I'd bought at a quilters garage sale booth, at a quilt show, a while back.  I started basting them.

hexies

Not bad for a $5 bag of hexies.  These hexies are huge!  Each side is 1 3/4" long, and there are tons of these.  I have no clue what I'll do with them when they are basted. 

I also made another table runner, earlier in the month, but, couldn't show it until it arrived at it's new home. 

chicken table runner

table runner, showing the egg backing fabric

Kevin the Quilter, has better pictures of the table runner on this blog post.  It looks great on his new dining room table.  I made it for him after I saw him the end of January, while traveling back home from Texas.  Kevin gave me some yummy eggs from his chickens.  Hey, I even used the extra binding I made for the rooster placemats, last December, in this table runner.  See, I'm finally using some of my scraps.

I still have some mug rugs that I made that I can't show yet, since at least one of the possible recipients follows my blog.  I don't want to spoil the surprise. 

I also made a baby quilt, using the I Love Precut Quilts pattern I used for the blog hop.  I made the baby quilt smaller, using only 12 blocks.

baby quilt

pink Minkee on the back

I couldn't show this, either, until the new owners received it.  The baby shower was this past weekend.

big sis and mom holding the new baby quilt

These were NOT my usual colors, but, the mother requested greys, and pastels.  I had the grey in my stash (bought for something else, but, never made, since I don't like grey) but, I don't have pastels in my stash, so, I grabbed brights instead. 

What are you working on????

Terrific Trip Treasures!

I drove my son's dorm stuff back to Oklahoma last week.  I didn't get a chance to stop at any fun places until I was on the way back home on Thursday.  I had fun stopping at antique stores on the way back.  A girl's gotta rest sometime, doesn't she?  I did get a tiny bit of stitching done while I was away. 

2nd Hedwig block embroidered

I did manage to find a few sewing related items for really good prices at some of the antique stores in Missouri and Illinois.  The most expensive thing I got was $7.50. 

I found another flat iron for only a few dollars.  I haven't plugged it in yet, to see if it works or not.  At least the cord is in good shape.

flat iron

flat iron

I also found some doilies, a hankie and some patterns.  One has a vintage machine in the pattern (gee, can't figure why I'd be drawn to that pattern, can you)?

these were too pretty to pass up

Dresden's are so pretty!

look at that vintage looking machine

I found several sets of attachments and buttonholers, too!

New Home box of attachments with a button hole cutter, too, also 2 double needles

vintage White attachments

vintage White attachments and part of a manual (not sure if it matches my machine or not)

not one but two Domestic buttonholers in cases

Domestic buttonholers, one with instructions

I did find a sewing machine, but, not what you think.  I found a Holly Hobbie toy sewing machine.  I doubt it works, but, for $5, it sure is cute!

Holly Hobbie toy sewing machine

I also found something from the USSR.  Check out this cool thimble.

above the hammer and sickle is 'CCCP'

I also found 20 hexie flowers for $7.50 (my most expensive purchase) in Missouri.  I'm thinking that I need to stitch them to muslin backgrounds and make a quilt with them. 

I love the fussy cut centers of these

another 'pair', fabric wise

love how they turned the pieces randomly

another pair

check out the frogs in the middle rings

another pair

one flower is all the same fabrics (still pieced)  I've never seen a 'solid' hexie flower before

these fabrics don't match any other flowers

some 'oddball' hexies

last set, kinda thrown together

I only had internet connection for one evening, and it was S-L-O-W!!!!!!  I couldn't check out any blogs at all.  I'm behind, but, I'll catch up on all of you soon. 

Monday is another quilt guild meeting, then Quilts of Valor on Tuesday, in Batavia.  I'll try to remember to take some pictures.

Have a great week!