Still piecing

So I am still working on this Picture Piecing from Cynthia England.  It is taking FOREVER.  I was getting discouraged last evening but I realized I was doing the very complicated bit of fence shown in the middle of the picture.  I think after I finish all of the fence bits it will go faster.  I've re-watched Cynthia's youtube videos many times to pick up tips.  Honestly, I am usually very fast when I am piecing regular quilt blocks.  To have to go slow and rip out constantly (I keep sewing over the paper) is a new thing for me!

I've finished sections A thru F and tonight I'm doing Section G which I think is the last bit of fence.  I do think I'm getting better at the piecing which is a relief!  One thing for sure, this is a humbling experience!

 

Cabinet update

 Here's an in-progress picture of my Cabinet of Curiosities.  This was my Stitch Only At Work on My Breaks project but I've taken it home on the weekends a couple of times.  I love it so much.  Today on my morning break I started stitching a disected frog.

Cynthia England projects

I've taken two classes with Cynthia England.  The first was at Painted Pony N Quilts way back in 2010 and the pattern she taught was Life's a Beach.  I enjoyed the class-she's a fabulous teacher.  And I had brought my Featherweight with me and kept burning my hand on the lightbulb cover.  She had brought things to sell-sticks for pressing strips, LED lightbulbs, Karen Kay Buckley scissors etc.  Well after I burned myself for the THIRD time I jumped up and bought myself a new LED bulb.  It is great-much brighter than what I had and it never gets hot.  But back to the pattern, I still didn't feel confident with paper piecing-in any style.

So a few years later, and now a few years ago, QuiltyBFF and I took a class with her at HQF.  Again, she's a wonderful teacher but afterwards I didn't get back to this project either.  I even loaded up my Featherweight trolley with both kits, mini iron etc.  Nope.  Still intimidated.  So last night I unpacked my trolley.  I set up my sewing machine and mini iron and pulled out the Beach pattern and kit.  I decided to start on a bit of the beach as it was all sandy fabrics and it wouldn't matter if I messed up.  I studied the pattern and even cut out two pieces of fabric and ironed on the pattern pieces.  I'm hoping tonight I will actually sew them together. 

 

I'm keen to get these done because I also have the kit and pattern for this beautiful heron. Herons are among my favorite  birds, if not my favorite.  I would love to make this one and hang it in a prominent place.

 

February blocks

 I got up early this morning and finished the February blocks for the Saturday Sampler.  I feel very accomplished as we only received the pattern on Saturday morning!  I'm still sewing on my HD-1000 as my poor Janome Horizon is waiting on a new power supply and circuit board that is on a boat somewhere in the Pacific.  I'm working on improving my piecing accuracy as this machine does not allow me to move the needle to achieve a scant 1/4 inch.  Now that I've finished with these blocks I'm thinking about pulling out my Cynthia England projects and working on them with my Featherweight.

Honey Bear

I bought this kit at the HQF in November.  It's a Laura Heine whatever.  My family is crazy about honey so. . . This is my first collage quilt and it was a great introduction to Laura Heine collage.  It is 8 x 8 and I used the backing to do the binding for the first time. It's a little wonky but good for a first attempt.  The backing/binding fabric has little bees all over it!  This is already hanging in my kitchen.

 

Testing, testing

This is the first time I've ever tested a pattern.  My POTC teacher created this  pattern to keep her POTC blocks together when she was working on them.  I've only made one block so I have a ways to go!  My QuiltyBFF gave me this sewing montage fabric and I was dying to use it!  This turned out pretty well and I'm happy I finished it.

 There is a large zipper pouch on the left, a rectangle of felt for needles and pins, a small pocket for a pack of needles or clover clips or my glasses!  There's also a strip of trim to hold your thread.  The pocket on the right can be used for just about anything!  I will probably store my completed blocks there.