Just a little sample to show you what I'm working on now . . .
Learning new things is one of my New Year's resolutions.
In this project I am learning many new things.
This is called "A Quilt As You Go"
and I am doing the entire quilt on my sewing machine.
What you do is create each square . . .
sandwich them together with a backing fabric and batting in the center.
Then have fun with freehand machine quilting.
I think that the trick will be joining them all together,
but I found this wonderful tutorial on You Tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji8BLS2rNHA
So, I'm giving it a try and using up lots of scraps left over from past projects.
One of the very best things that I am learning in this project,
is to forgive myself for imperfections.
It is allowing me to relax and have fun . . .
Every stitch does not have to be perfect . . .
and when it is not . . . I'll call it "Whimsical" :)
This is one of the stitches that I did . . .
I am having fun . . .
freehand machine quilting is like drawing with thread,
and anything goes :)
I'll be sure and post my quilt, when it is finished:)
Keep Smiling
&
Thank you so much for visiting.
I love having company :)
Your blogging sister,
Connie :)
That looks wonderful! You are doing a great job. I have never heard of quilting that way although I have done a few applique pieces like that. It ought to be tricky trying to connect them. Well, you will learn something new there, too- xo Diana
ReplyDeleteHi Diana, it will be tricky connecting them, but the video on You Tube makes it look fairly easy . . . we'll see, LOL. The important thing is I am having fun :) Thanks so much for visiting.
DeleteUh, WOW, Connie! What a great project!
ReplyDelete:)
It certainly is a fun project . . . there is a lot in it that gives me freedom to be creative in a very fun way :)
DeleteConnie-
ReplyDeleteI'm with you... I'm trying new things this year too. I learned to Knit earlier this week... and I love it! I've only made one thing; but am looking forward to do some more!
I LOVE that little camper quilt block. I would love to have my camper ready to decorate...and show some camper love. :)
That is going to be a cute quilt. I say...GOOD JOB! and HAVE FUN WITH IT!
blessings, Pat
Good Morning Pat, I love knitting, once you get the knit and plural down you can make so many wonderful things. My first beginner book had hats, scares, mittens and even sweaters. I never got pass that first book, but I can knit you up a cute winters hat and a simple sweater :) You are going to have so much fun learning this. Have a lovely day :)
DeleteOh cute...makes me want to start sewing and making things. If I were not so involved in making cards, I would pick up sewing again. My crochet basket keeps speaking softly to me also.....wish there was 3 of me so I could do all three things at one time (don't know if the world would be ready for 3 Louise's though)...hahahaha!!
ReplyDeleteGood Morning . . . I think that the world would welcome three Louise's . . . you're a sweetie pie and we can always use more of them :)
DeleteI know what you mean, I have so many interests but only time for one at a time. I jump around as the mood and inspiration takes me.
Have a wonderful day and thanks so much for visiting and taking the time to comment. I love reading what my sister bloggers have to say about my posts :)
Evening Connie, Now, you know that little camper quilt grabs my heart! And those flamingos are too sweet as well! Looking forward to the finished project! We are in a heat wave for the next few days.....40's and 50's! Stay warm! Blessings~~~Roxie
ReplyDeleteHi Roxie, it is 9:50 a.m. and 50 degrees outside . . . I know that this warm spell won't last, but I'm enjoying it while it's here. I knew that you would like the little camper. I was thinking of you when I downloaded the design to my sewing machine ( You and Sweetie). Have a lovely day and get out and enjoy your heat wave . . . that's what I'm going to do :)
DeleteLooking good Connie - I can see you are having fun with this! I have just finished a 'Quilt as you go' quilt as well and found it a great way to do the fmq-ing.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Raewyn, I'm coming over to visit, hoping that you have photos of your quilt. I think that it is going to be tricky when I go to joining my squares, but I'm learning that if I concentrate on just one step at a time, things go pretty smoothly :)
DeleteYes, I am having a lot of fun :)
I like what you are working on Connie. It all looks wonderful as is your FMQ. Hugs.......
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Noela, thanks so much for visiting . . . I'm having fun with this and will post photos when it is finished.
DeleteYou're a sweetie, I appreciate your encouraging words :)
How clever! I have sewing machine envy here! :) I have been meaning to start my first quilt for a while now - maybe 2014 is the year I will take the plunge. Best wishes, Pj x
ReplyDeleteGood Morning! I want to encourage you to start that quilt . . . it is so much fun :) I have been enjoying your early spring photos . . . I always look so forward to spring.
DeleteI tried QAYG once - never again! Connie I was SO fed up with all the faff putting the blocks together it to ally negated the advantages - ie working with small manageable pieces. But I shall be interested to see how you get on with it. To me one of the pleasures of quilting is feeling the quilt develop its 'quiltyness', the added weight, the change in the 'hand' of the quilt., and this also is something you miss out on with QAYG. Of course, if you have mobility or other difficulties with your hands I can see but would be an advantage. Oh, and a very Happy New Year to you and yours! lx
ReplyDeleteGood evening Lynne, I get a little thrill whenever I see that you have come to visit. You have got to be one of my more interesting sister bloggers and if I could step into anyone else's shoes for a week, it would be yours. You have so much talent and in so many different areas of creativity. Now, when it comes to putting my pieces together we'll see how it goes. I'm enjoying the creativity of freehand machine quilting, but I have to say it is definitely not the same. I'm only about half way through and I'm realizing that by now I would be sitting at my frame hand quilting in peaceful contentment. I also have a feeling that the machine stitches are going to make this quilt a bit stiffer than the ones I hand quilt. The blocks are not having the same softness. Oh well . . . time will tell. It's a new adventure and I plan on taking many new adventures this year, whether creatively or stepping out and conquering a fear or two. The older I get the more I realize that I better pack a little more into it before I'm sitting in my rocker :). Thanks so much for visiting. Here's wishing you a year filled with good fun and even better health and happiness :)
Deleteoh that is very cool. I like the blocks you've done so far. I'm curious about how you join the blocks. Can't wait to see it when it's finished
ReplyDeleteGood Evening Ann, it's a totally different way to quilt and I'm not sure if I'm enjoying the process as much, but I am enjoying the results so far. I like how it is turning out, but I'm missing the quiet time and homeyness that hand-quilting brings to the table.
DeleteHi Connie, I have enjoyed catching up. You are making some beautiful quilts, and I am glad that you are having fun.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Kathy M.
Hi Kathy, it has been a while . . . it is great to see you. Here's hoping that your holidays were wonderful. I know that you live in ski country, did you get any skiing in, or any snow time fun? I'm going to come over and check out what you've been up to. See ya :)
DeleteWhimsical is the perfect way to describe these wonderful imperfections. Your blocks are looking great. I've not tried the QATG method but can see the advantages.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen, it is a give and take sort of thing. There are advantages to Quilt As You Go and I am finding that there are disadvantages too. I'll probably go back to hand quilting on the frame for most of my quilts, but I will use this method again for quilts where I want to make a more creative artsy-ness (making my own words) to them. This method gives you a lot of freedom with each square :)
DeleteThat's amazing! So cute. It is great fun to just have a go sometimes and not to worry too much about perfection. Although I must say I can't see any mistakes in your stitching...
ReplyDeleteWell, you are a sweetie pie to say that . . . I am having fun :)
DeleteI can't believe that you are doing the work on the sewing machine.
ReplyDeleteMy new creative space should be up and running tomorrow and I really want to do a lot more sewing - quilts, crafts, pillows, etc.
Hi Carol, do check out the you tube video above . . . she as a great technique down for doing the entire quilt on your regular sewing machine.
DeleteI just had to give it a try . . . she makes it look pretty simple :) We'll see when it's time to join my blocks. I'm so happy that you have your space ready to go and I'm looking forward to seeing some of your creations.
Love the flamingos!!
ReplyDeleteOops :)
ReplyDeleteThis should be fun watching all of your new projects. Great job on your quilt.
ReplyDeleteCindy Bee
Hi Cindy, I hope that you enjoy them, because I sure have been having fun making them. I saw something about bees the other day and I had a question for you and of course now that I see you, it has skipped my mind. Oh well, I'm sure I'll think of it sooner or later, LOL
DeleteI'm getting forgetful in my old age :)
Dear Connie, thank you so much for your sweet comment on my blog....
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to get to know you, I love your blog and your creativity! Lots of love from Mirjam.
Hello, I am delighted to have you visit and thanks so much for following my blog. I love making new friends :)
DeleteHi Connie! Thank you so much for your lovely comment on my blog! Came to have a look at your blog, wow, your quilt is looking amazing! So bright and cheerful, I think iit will be stunning when you put it all together! Xx
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Wendy, thanks for the visit and for your encouraging words. I'm excited to see this quilt finished and put together, too :)
DeleteThat is really nice of you to go to all that work and give it away! Nancy
DeleteHi Nancy, I think by this comment that you may have met for it to go on the give-a-way post( 2 or 3 above this one).
DeleteConnie, in my teens and twenties I was quite an accomplished seamstress. But once I stopped, it seems I'm done forever! A calico patchwork quilt I started at the end of my "sewing years" remains in a closet, my Unfinished Symphony. Someday ... But if I ever I could get started on such a project again, I think this could be the way! One square at a time! I'll definitely be coming back here regularly for inspiration; maybe you can help me awaken my unused crafty gene (from my mother)!
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Jean, My sewing genes where dormant for many years, too. It took retirement and blogging to bring them back. Thank you for visiting :)
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