Alpine Triangles Finished!

This is what my lovely looked like last night.

And today...it was super windy,but I was able to get all the photos except this one,and it isn't bad :)  I just had to wait to take the shots in between gusts.

My original plan was to have a totally pieced back with all the scraps left over from the front.  However time was slipping by and the end of the month is only a few days away.  So a change of plans was in order.  The center strip of fabric is a Madrona Road text print,the side strips are scraps of Nordika and Pure Elements Solids.

When I posted about how I QAYG in a previous post,there were several people who asked for more information.  So here is the skinny.  When I quilted my quilt it was with the top and batting only,and I only quilted the sides of the triangles,leaving the bottoms of the triangles un-quilted.

You might be able to see the quilting lines better in the photo above this one.  After pin basing the back of the quilt to the top and batting I quilted straight lines across the bottom of the triangles,where each strip was attached to the one above.

Here is a better photo,it is hard to see the quilting on the text print.  I hope that explains things for you all,if it does not,just let me know in the comments and I will try to explain better.

The binding is True Colors Woodgrain by Joel Dewberry,I think it is the perfect choice for this quilt.

I learned a lot during the making of this quilt,and still have a lot more to learn about sewing triangles!  It was such a fun time spent in the sewing room!  You can be sure there will be more triangle projects to come around here!

A Big Thank You to Paula over at The Sassy Quilter for all the tips on how to sew the quilt and for hosting the QAL!

Linking up to the Finish Party check it out for a whole lot more triangle sweetness :)

Wonderland bag finish

Sorry it has been so quiet around here this past week or so.  The reason for the lack of posts,well next weekend is the annual Climb to Conquer Cancer hike.  Which meant that there was a baking Frenzy going on at my house in preparation for the Big bake sale fundraiser....

Thursday after work was my first opportunity to set foot in the sewing room!  I got straight to work on this months Big City bags SAL bag.  All my pieces were cut out and the interfacing fused before the sewing machine was turned off for the night.

Yesterday after work I set to sewing all the pieces together.  This was my first ever time making bias binding/piping!  Let me just say,that making bias binding is a little confusing not to mention time consuming.

At the end of the evening my wonderland bag was finished!  My handles were purchased from Joann's and are shorter by a few inches than the suggested size of 28 inches.  They also do not have pre-punched tabs,so I made my own from the same fabric used for the lining.

Over all I love this bag that being said,I do not like the pocket design at all.  I divided my pockets into three sections instead of two(but I don't think that made much difference).

The reason I dislike the pocket placement is this,when you put items in them,cell phone,small wallet,glasses(what I put in my pockets on one side) the little amount of weight pulled the lining in to the center of the bag.  Which in turn makes the exterior of the bag dis-formed.(it no longer holds its shape very well).  I am not sure exactly how to fix this issue other than somehow attaching the lining to the exterior of the bag in more places than just at the top where the zipper is.

So if I can figure out a way to do this now that the bag is sewn up...(my idea is to do some hand stitching with thread that contrasts the exterior fabric,and coordinates with the interior )

Linking up my finish over at :
Sewing With Squeak

In other sewing news,this is what my Alpine Triangles quilt looks like at the moment.  I am hoping to have it finished by tomorrow evening...

...This is about a third of my baking Frenzy!
14 loaves of Cheddar Green onion English Muffin bread
6 loaves Cinnamon Basil Sun dried Tomato Bread
20 loaves Cinnamon Monkey bread
21 loaves Lemon Monkey Bread
So far we have raised around 1,700 our goal this year is 2,000

The (Not So) Convertible bag

This was my ALYOF(button on side bar) goal for this month.  The Convertible bag,only in this case not so convertible...

The bag is designed to work either as a cross body bag or as a backpack.  However since my machine and the thread I was using to sew up this bag absolutely refused to play nice,even after numerous attempts at adjusting the bobbin tension...

This is where I decided to quit fighting and just have a cross body bag.(which I am quite happy with :)! Right below the two center points is where the tunnel for the backpack part of the strap was supposed to go.  If you look close you can probably see the needle holes from where I had stitched it.  Alas,the stitches would not stay in,which I noticed after turning the bag for the umpteenth time...

A look inside.  The pattern called for a zippered pocket on the inside and another one on the outside back.  I opted to omit both of them,and instead just have one slip divided slip pocket on the inside.  There was a little confusion on my part when arriving at the instructions on how to sew the lining and main body of the bag together.  I did figure it out,but had a couple bumps (resulting in puckers) at both side seams.  However I think that could be remedied with practice.

So here she is in all her glory,my not so convertible bag!  The pattern called for a thumb tuck,or catch.  Since I did not have one,and the bag designer was only offering the hardware in silver...I used a front buckle closure instead.  Took me a while to figure out how to make it work,but I managed.

Yes I will make this bag again,I really like it!  Next time I will be using thread that Lil Miss Janome can play nice with.  That other thread,well it is in thread      (the trash)

Saturday evening I finally managed to sew up the other five blocks for Kevin the Quilter.  So this week I can send off ten!  You can still make and send blocks into June.  Info is all at the link above.

During the Flags on a Stick hop I was a Lucky girl!  These lovely patterns came to me from Rhonda over at Revelly1.  They have been added to my "list".

These lovlies came from Shirley C from the blog Shirley C.  After I drool over the charms for a while I will decide what to use them for,and I am excited to start filling up the bobbin holder.

Last but not least are these two new additions to my library!  These are what I chose from Martingale for winning the March prize in the Big-City SAL!  This was a crazy winning month for me,even more so since I rarely win :)

Alpine Triangles quilt & a sneak peek

I rushed home from work today to try and get a shot of my quilt top.

It was pretty windy,so I just snapped off a quick picture,because the link up over at The Sassy Quilter closes tomorrow!  There are so many beautiful quilt tops already linked up,you should go take a look.

And your sneak peek!  I have made lots of progress on my secret project :)  Which I should be able to post about at the end of this month.

Sew Happy weekend

Here is the proof...

Around the beginning of the year Jolene asked me to make her some little baskets to use in a game she plays with her dog.  My first thought was to use some of my stash of blue jean scraps,but I didn't have enough pieces large enough.  So after rummaging through my stash some more I found the navy with stripes piece.(there was just enough)

I am sure she will find a use for this one as well.

All of the drawstring bags I have seen online are made without any interfacing,and the first one I made,the little elephant bag on the right is too.  After making it I decided that they needed a lightweight interfacing.

Can you tell the difference?  I plan to sell these at craft fairs this summer,and think that the ones with the interfacing just make a much better presentation.  As the one without just looks really slouchy.

These are a great way for me to use up the novelty prints that have been in my stash for a long time.

These are also a great way to use up some larger scraps,not to mention a partial package of cotton rope.

The last one for this round of sewing...

Last summer one of my customers suggested that I might want to think about making/selling curling/flat iron cozy's.  So after two previous attempts..third time charm!  There is insulbright inside,so you can stash and go.  Great for when traveling,or if you have little ones running around.

Another item that I plan on selling this summer is bowl covers.  This was my first attempt,I still need to work out a thing or two,but I am liking it.  I also cut fabrics to make some tea wallets but ran out of time to sew any of them up...

Alpine Triangle Quilt (progress)

As you probably know I am participating in the

You can find this weeks link up here!  I am a tad bit ahead as my rows are already sewn into three sections.

Since it was Finally warmer today I planned to take a photo outside after work...But somebody forgot to tell the wind of my plans...The first two sections are already quilted,and the third as you can see is taped and ready whenever I can get to it.(hopefully tomorrow after work)  Of course I will need to make the backing as soon as the quilting is finished.  The quilting is on the diagonal because it is quick and easy straight line quilting.

I have been carefully(since it is too windy to do this outside) spray basting each section with Spray-n-Bond.  I found this at walmart last fall,and decided to try it because I have always been happy with Heat-n-Bond products.  What I like about this is that it does not have a scent/odor.  The cans are smaller,but work fine for smaller projects.  So far it has lasted for all three sections and there is still plenty in the can.  I have seen this at Joann's too.

April Goals...

ALYOF:

Since I did not get to the Convertible bag for March (bag of the month bag) it has been moved to my goal for  A Lovely Year of Finishes for April.  Wish me luck...

Aprils Bag for the Big City Bags SAL These are the fabrics I am hoping to use to make my Wonderland Bag this month.  I think that I will just be able to eek the pieces out of these half yard cuts (the pattern calls for 3/4 yard cuts).  If that does not work out I will be choosing different fabrics.

This months bag for the Bag of the Month Club  These are the fabrics I have pulled to make The Midtown Messenger Bag (I haven't printed the pattern off yet so no photo  of the bag for you)

As always there are also other sewing goals that I have not listed,but will post about as or when I work on them or finish them.    Speaking of which,this past weekend I made progress on my Triangle Quilt (button at the top of sidebar).  That will be another post this week!

Wishing you a week with time for sewing :)...

Giveaway Winner post

For my day during the Flags on a Stick I had a giveaway,and had planned to post the Winner on Friday(yesterday).  I  must apologize because that did not happen.

This is the little booklet that I am giving away,and some FQ'S will also go into the package.  Oh right the Winner ;)  She was commenter #57 Renea Congratulations to you!  I have emailed you for your mailing info :)  Thanks to everyone who commented on my flag!

204 Triangles later...

Last weekend we had to take a trip to Ikea (oh darn) on the way there I stopped at a new quilt shop where I picked up these rulers!  The one across the top replaces my old one,it has been used so much the measurements are starting to wear off!  The triangle  ruler is for cutting my triangles for the TQA over at The Sassy Quilter.

So far this week I have not sewed a stitch!  However that will change this evening...

All 204 triangles of Nordika and Pure Elements solids cut and waiting patiently...

Some other fabrics cut for a secret project I will share with you later this month.  Well yes,I am putting that new cutting table to good use ;)