Time for the wrap up - Summer Sewing

Let's say my summer sewing plans did not go exactly as planned, but still it's been fun. 

Part 1 - As planned (according to the original and the mid-term modified plans that is):

1. Make some more wallets for gifts. 
2. Make a pouch for my sister.
3. Finish the Lily's Quilts QAL quilt.
4. Make chocolate, lime and orange (well, rather reddish) quilt for my sister-in-law.
5. Try paper piecing.
6. Back, quilt and bind the first quilt top I pieced last December and then put aside for times I would be more confident with quilting (and for the decision what to back it with)

Part 2 - Not exactly as planned:
1. Finish designing a quilt for these beauties (and at least start the cutting):

As you already know the green became lining for two bags (and there is still quite a lot left). 

Moreover, the blues and the orange found their perfect project in the Skill Builder Sampler blocks:

And the red/pink/brown is still waiting.

2. Find or design a pattern and sew a quilt from the Australian fabrics I got from my cousin - still no quilt, but the top is ready:

Part 3 - Totally not as planned: 

1. Make 2 pillows with the hexie pieces from Lynz or a picnic blanket - Still not done, but definitely it's going to be a blanket (unless I change my mind again).
2. I also have some plans which would involve combining quilting with my now somewhat neglected drawing, but I don't have any details for you yet - Still not done, waiting for winter, I'm afraid. 
3. Start making blocks from Civil War Quilts from various second-hand shirts  - I think I'll get back to it next year, for now I'm thinking about a different pattern to use for the second-hand shirts I've collected so far.

So, that's it. Could be better, but still not so bad, don't you think?

white chocolate, dark chocolate

I know the quilting could have been much better, but I'm proud of myself and my little Singer anyway:

So, which side do you prefer?

Getting there

(i.e. update on my SBS blocks)
Although it looks like I'm a few block behind, the Ohio Star is actually ready:

 (I might have to make a better version, the top right corner makes me cringe ;))

And I've started "making" fabric for the Beacon Light:

And I've had a most wonderful surpise from my cousin, just look:

my very first real quilting ruler!
And don't you love the fabrics? I've been thinking about violet/purple and orange combination lately, there must be some telepathy in the air. Thank you so much, Jan.

basting fights

Does it ever happen to you?
You go to a friend who kindly offers you her floor for basting the big quilt. Although you don't like basting very much you have a great time chatting with the friend (some white wine might be involved, too, but not too much). You finish basting, fold the quilt, checking if everything is nice and smooth, and it is. On the next day you start quilting. The pattern is big squares, set randomly against the squares in the quilt top. The first square has some minor puckers but you can live with it. Instead of unpicking you continue quilting, doing 3 more square before checking the back. You shudder with horror and spend the next evening unpicking the whole lot.
And then, not wanting to bother your friend again, you invent a strange re-basting method, involving a curtain rack and a table.
I tried quilting a few squares yesterday and they look OK now, so it's going to be the quilting weekend. And since the quilt is taking me much longer than expected, I'll show you the back.

(It's before the re-basting stage, so please ignore the creases and folds and the shining basting pins. And the cluster of big squares is actually the bottom of the quilt)

bags - my very third

Here it is - the 241 tote.

I'm sure you've seen a lot of them recently, but I just love the look of this bag, so I had to try, too.
Sewn from Anna's (Noodlehead) great pattern.
I'm stepping way outside my comfort zone with the colours of the flowery fabric, but I like the shape of the flowers very much.
As I didn't have any matching zippers I decided to go with the side pockets. However, I cannot imagine a bag with at least one "safe" pocket, so I added a flap and a velcro to the inside pocket.
Actually, the bag could almost be reversible, if you didn't mind the side pockets taking some space inside.

small blog

I think it might just be a question of character.
I'm more of a lurker than an active participant, and so even though I blog, my blog posts aren't very frequent and usually don't reveal too much. So although I love to know that someone visits my blog, it's only natural to me that there won't be many followers.
Actually, I'm constantly surprised (and delighted) that as many as 24 people have chosen to follow my blog anyway.
Still, I think Lynne's Small Blog Meet is a great way to discover creative people and inspirations I would have probably missed otherwise, so I'm joining in.

A warm welcome to anyone who decides to check out my small blog :)
And because I don't want to leave you with a no-photo post, here's block 9 of the Skill Builder Sampler:

August sewing

Not much of it actually, although not as little as you could have deducted from the three meagre August posts.

So what I didn't show you in August is a wristlet (from a nice tutorial found here) and one finished quilt top (just a sneak peek for now I'm afraid). The blocks for Skill Builder Sampler you already know.
I hope it's not to late to link it to: