Linky links at Vals

I have looked back through my posts and found 2 that I could link up over at

Vals quilting Studio TUESDAY ARCHIVES

Every week Val has a topic that you can link up to.

This month she is focussing on "E"..

This week it is edgings & English paper piecing

Go over and take a look.

A CATCH UP POST

I have been out and about. Sewing and lunching. So this is a post to catch up on what I have been doing and all the link ups I should have done.

Firstly.... On Wednesday Angela had a link up of the half year mark for for RSC 14 sampler blocks. So here are mine. Take a look at what others are doing HERE at Soscrappy

Then we had FNWF over at Gone Stitchin' with CHERYLL

Well I was very busy finishing off a few things.
I had made a couple of drainage bags for CANCER patients.
The FREE pattern was from CHERYLL here

A jelly roll race cot quilt. With heart/leaves quilting and the label is on too.

Then I finished some square bags that I made from a prize of a charm square pack, HOOPLA, from VAL'S QUILTING STUDIO.

Saturday saw me starting my red scraps over at Angela's at Soscrappy making her sampler blocks.

I also did my BUBBLE TREE blocks

And I went ahead and made my paper pieced block for Kerry for this months swap over at 

PAPER PIECERS SWAP CLUB. I decided on making WILD ZINNIAS block from Quilters Cache, Quilt blocks galore. This is a great site with many blocks and in all different sizes.

Johns face is done

While I was out of the cold wind today and sitting inside with my heater working nicely I worked on my pixelation quilt. I was watching Bonnie Hunters QUILT CAM over at Quiltville.blogspot.com . 

I have glued all the 4500 little 1/2" squares onto the backing of a thin vielene. 

Now Johns face is complete. He shows up so well. 

I am surprised at how much it looks like the photo.

This photo of my son was taken only a few months before he passed away. This is a beautiful way to have him in my lounge with the family all the time now.

I am doing a workshop with my Heathcote group. Liz Allen put the photos into a computer 

programme and then printed off a pattern for us to follow. We had to purchase 16 different colours to get the effect. Then we had to cut them into 1/2" pieces. Yes, all 4500 of them. Now they are glued on  the next step is to raw edge appliqué them. That will be started next Wednesday. I'm not sure how that will go but we are going to give it a try.

(I might try to take another photo of it in better light tomorrow)

The start of the project

The start of glueing

The last Saturday of the month

It's the end of the YELLOWS. Unless Angela sneaks in some more yellow blocks over at SOSCRAPPY I have caught up.

It is Scrap Happy Saturday and I have only a little bit of time this afternoon to sew.

Here are the last 2 blocks I got done.

Then I moved on to finish some mug rugs for Breast Cancer.

My friend needs at least 100 of these for her fundraiser day.

They still need their bows on them.

Glue, glue & more glue

Well, after doing my workshop yesterday and glueing down all those little 1/2" squares my eyes were a bit fuzzy. It took forever and I'm not even half way done. A lot were glued before you could see it taking shape. I am really happy with it so far.

Look HERE for the start.

I have done some more on this and linking up with Kelly 

Needle & Thread Thursday. Will be putting up another photo before the stitching gets started.

My boy is being PIXELATED

I am doing a workshop at my Heathcote group tomorrow. It is held by Liz Allen. I had some preparation cutting to do. I was putting this off as I had to cut 4500 1/2" squares. It was bad enough going out and trying to find 16 colours of fabric that slowly graduated from light to dark.

I gave a photo of my son and I got back a pattern in sepia colours. The picture quilt will measure about 30" * 36". That's a lot of squares. I finally went out and started cutting. It took me 3 hours..

MY FABRIC CHOICE

I'M STARTING TO CUT

ALL DONE AND BAGGED.

WITH THE PHOTO & PATTERN

Click on the links to see the next steps.

The start of glueing

HAPPY 50th to my DEAR FRIEND

Today for SLOW STITCHING SUNDAY I did not do much.

I stayed in bed until 3pm reading. It was so nice to relax. I then got up and sewed a label onto this special quilt I was giving as a gift later on tonight. Then I got ready and off we went.

It was a celebration for my special girlfriend Christine who had just turned 50. She was not too happy about her new age but we made her forget for a little while.

I had made this quilt a few years back and every time Christine saw it she always commented how much she loved it. Well, I put that in the storage bank and saved it for this special time.

And for the backing and label....

She was so thrilled with it and I am so happy I kept it for her.

HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY to my great friend CHRISTINE.xoxox

FNSI & SCRAP HAPPY SATURDAY

Well, Friday night had me drag out my UFO box of Leanne's House and start block no 5..

I have machine pieced the block together ready for Slow stitching Sunday....

No photos yet. They don't look like much without the stitchery drawn on so I will wait to put them up. I also prepared a surprise project. I will be working on that over the next few weeks too. I might put up some sneak peaks at some point.

FNSI over at Sugarlane Quilts  also saw me catch up on my 6" block swap for Lee. She wanted any blocks in Civil War prints. A while ago I bought a fat 1/8th pack. These fabrics were in it. Hope they fit the bill.

The 1st block is called "Granny's favourite" & the other one is "Resolution Square". They are both from the pattern book " The Loyal Union Sampler" from Elm Creek Quilts.

I have all the books and have nearly read them all. It is so good to actually use patterns you have in hand. I really love this series.

SATURDAY

I have been working along with Angela and her RSC 14 Sampler.

This month it is yellow. I don't have very many yellow fabrics so some are actually into the oranges, I think. Anyway, I have caught up with the blocks so far. 7 in all so far....

Angela puts up all the directions to make these 6" blocks....

I have enjoyed my Scrap. Happy Saturday.

These blocks are adding up.

Another job done

Another quilt has been quilted for a friend of mine. She had a go herself but found it too hard on her shoulders and back. So I have done it for her. I did it similar to the last little kids one. 

All over with stars and loops with scattered animals. It has turned out really cute. All she has to do now is stitch on the binding.

The light inside was a bit dark with the gloomy days we have been happy but I was able to get the photo on the line before it rained again.

Bindings complete

I have finally finished the bindings and labels on 2 of my puzzle quilts for the boys 21sts.

I haven't taken a photo of the labels as they are all similar to the one already done HERE

The one on the left was quilted with a free motion foot and the other one was quilted using a walking foot.

I am much happier with the free motion foot. It was quicker and easier and gave a nicer, flatter finish.

Have a look at what others were doing on Slow stitch Sundays HERE