FO: Star 1934

Last July, I started this project with great momentum.

But you know how it goes. I finished the english paper piecing, and then set it aside until I figured out my background fabric.

Fast forward to February, and I picked the background/appliqued my piecing.

I'm embarrassed by how quickly I finished the piece; I should have done it ages ago.

It was supposed to be a birthday gift for my mom. She loved it, late or not, and I guess that's what matters.

Details:

pattern: Modified Star Blossom from Rachel's handstitched class.
Fabric: Circa 1934 on a Kona Nightfall background, bound in Kona Ochre
Size: I forgot to measure, but we'll go with approximately 15" x 21".

I straight-line quilted after applique (partially to secure any poorly attached seams, since I am still new to the applique game) at a slight angle. I wanted to keep it, but I know my mom will give it a nice place to live in her new home.

You know what I love?

Ara Jane and her amazing style. And the fact that this is how she starts each blog post. Telling you something she loves. How positive is that?

I met Ara Jane earlier this summer at our retreat and got lucky enough to have her draw my name in our recent swap as part of the do.Good Stitches Love circle.

Ara Jane professed in her card that she might have gone a little overboard, and she did, in the best way! Not only did she send me some of her delicious granola (we had this on the retreat and I have yet to try the recipe for myself) and some Theo chocolate bars (oh, the hazelnut one is my favorite so far!), but she also sent me some lovely green yarn.

And of course, there are handmades:

There's this embroidered hoop featuring the ever-awesome Treat Yo Self phrase (Monica's blog post has the video if you need a Parks & Rec fix). Ara Jane's embroidery is beautiful, and I actually have no hoops adorning my walls. So, yay for that!!

And the pillow.
Oh, the pillow.

I love the geese.
I love the colors.
I love the fabrics (this is my first dose of in-real-life Chicopee, and I must get that black voltage dot!).
I love her hand-stitching.

I love that Ara Jane's personality really shines through in these gifts.

Thank you again, Ara Jane!

How did I do?

Back in April, I joined Rhonda's Finish-A-Long. Although I didn't get everything on the list completed, I had several projects to submit in her link party. Here is the list I made.

I didn't finish Swoon (but the top is complete, so maybe it will be a July finish), I didn't make the Iris shorts, and I didn't participate in Kelly's My Precious QAL. Other than that, success!

Also, I finally started the embroidery on my Modern Medallion quilt. I'm a little behind, but I'm hoping to get most of this section done in the next few days.

Handstitched things

I'm feeling a little behind on sharing over here, and today, I want to show you some fun handstitched projects. First up, Amanda made me an amazing wedding gift.

She even included CJ, even though he isn't presently living with us. How fun! I absolutely love it, and am trying to decide where to hang it so I can enjoy it daily. I love that she used a, Anna Maria Horner Good Folks print for the matting, too! She used a custom pattern by wee little stitches.

I also completed a little cross-stitch on the retreat. Nicke bought me this pattern for my birthday (ahem, half a year ago), and I finally stitched it up. It took no time at all, and I just love it!

It's from Shaun of the Dead and you can get the pattern here. Kaelin is pretty crazy about it, so I'm going to mail this one off to her, and stitch it up a second time for me.

There's one more handstitched project to share today.

I finished my reverse applique needlebook in Rachel's class! I love how it turned out.

Rachel supplied the felt as part of the optional class kit, and I used this Amy Butler Lark print. I mimicked the print in my applique cutouts. It was fun and quick. I may make a second needlebook!

I haven't made any progress on my Modern Medallion. I hope to work on that sometime this week!

Try, try again

I don't think I've mentioned that I signed up for Rachel's Handstitched class. I hemmed and hawed about it, partially because I have so many things to finish (and to start), and I wasn't sure if I "needed" a class like this. I talked to E about it, and he encouraged me to do it.
I realized there are many topics covered in the course that I have little or no experience with, and knew this would be a focused way to acquire those skills.
I knew I would learn these skills SOMEDAY, but Rachel's class will help me learn them NOW.
Signing up has already given me new tools and confidence when approaching a hand sewing project. I'm so glad I joined.
Not to mention, the Modern Medallion quilt. Ooh, such a beauty! Yes, out of all of the projects Rachel shared sneak peeks of, THIS project pushed me over the edge.
Fabrics have been selected for my MM version: I completed my center block this week, but I was not satisfied with my work. With little applique experience, I dove in, completing the block in one evening. Since this will be the centerpiece of the quilt, I decided that I would take the things I learned from the first to make an improved second block.

Block attempt #1

I used too much starch on the edges, my stitches are not very even, my inner corners are messy, there are puckers (I bet partially due to too much starch) and to top it off, I trimmed the block too much.

I'm not this picky about small mistakes typically, but as I said, this will be the centerpiece, and I knew I could make a better block based on the experience. I've already started it, and I'm much happier with it so far. There was not another large piece of that lovely HTF Amy Butler Coriander in the stash, so I'm using an Anna Maria Horner's Garden Party for the replacement.

Don't worry about the fate of this block; I see a pillow or mini in my future!

I plan to share other projects from Rachel's class throughout the summer.

In other quilting news, I'll have a fun finish to share very, very soon!