Project Quilting 11-4

Birds in Flight

Last week, I had stumbled across a video about making snap bags. 

snap bag tutorial

I thought it would make a good project for Project Quilting but, when the theme was announced, I wasn't so sure. 

I don't tend to do patchwork quilts so I wasn't very excited about the old patchwork pattern by the same name. I DO like birds, however and I have enjoyed seeing so many birds at my feeder this winter. I also knew I wanted to force a print in each one , because I'm often literal in my fabric choices.  

 I drew up patterns for many birds on Sunday night. Finches, Cardinals, Robins, Chickadees, Blue Jays and Black Birds. I thought about making a bigger piece with a feeder and all of these birds coming in for a taste, but time started getting away from me.

 Quilt Guild meeting and workshop pretty much took Monday. Eye Exam and lunch with a dear friend took Tuesday. Tuesday evening had me ask, "Why not make a bigger travel bag using the snap bag idea after all?" 

I appliqued the birds onto the background fabric. I added Puns on each side, having to do with birds and travel, using my cricut and iron on vinyl. Then I basically followed all the directions in the tutorial but clipped the bottom corners So it can sit up when filled. 

One side features a cardinal and the saying" On the Fly".

The other side features a Robin and the saying, "Just Wing it".

Sitting inside this Bag for the Photo is two full sized hairspray cans, which fits easily in this bag that is roughly 12" square. (Not that I use Hairspray, they were just handy and left here by my daughter) 

What I will use it for is some bigger items I do need to travel with (like my hairbrush) that doesn't fit in other travel bags I own. 

While the snap bag does work on this larger format, I imagine it would be tighter and snappier on a smaller bag. 

 So all in all, a good project to try for PQ and Something I would try again. Maybe try iron on Vinyl for the lining. Maybe try a beautiful Print combo. I still have all the other Bird Patterns I worked up so eventually, I could have a bird Quilt in the future. 

project quilting 11-3

Hearts!!!

It's February, Valentine's Day is coming, and the theme is Hearts. 

Sunday was when the Challenge dropped and it was Super Bowl Sunday. 

I'm not a fan (see the prior challenge) but I think the entire State of MISSOURI (not Kansas, although I'm sure they were excited too) practically HAD to watch the game. (Kansas City Chiefs were playing.)  

 I watched some while I was cooking/ eating and then left the room, although my house is small enough that I could still hear it. 

 Hey, did you see the Facebook commercial about the groups that ROCK? The first group they featured was Tablerock Lake Group- my LAKE! Just remember the lake is in MISSOURI, not Kansas! 

Super Bowl Sunday morning

Since I've been off work, I've been cleaning and sorting and finding stuff I've had for years. So, I found a pile of squares of vintage fabrics. Then I looked at all my Valentine fabrics, Which might be considered vintage, but I see them as older, probably late 90's. 

 Hearts

 approx 40"x40"

This is a generally good size for a baby quilt (in my experience)
It works great for naps, tucking into strollers, tucking around a car seat, not too big for them to drag around themselves later, still use for naps, still use for dolls, stuffed animals and real pets. My kids wore theirs out people!

Close-up view of some of the smaller vintage squares. 

This is not that creative, but it's a solid utilitarian baby quilt and I'm very excited to have found a home for these vintage and old fabrics. 

 I also got more experience using a walking foot for the basic quilting. I used a pretty lofty batting, something I rarely use, (I don't even know how I got this, honestly.) SO, I did not quilt it heavily, so it could be very soft and fluffy after it's washed.