Small things

Isn't this pincushion gorgeous ? It is a gift I received from a French friend.

My sister Nina went in France for a few days and I told her to buy me some fabrics.

She bought me these:

Playing with hexies

Just when I told you I am not rational with my work, I found something else to keep me busy. I started playing with hexagons and I can't stop! As you already know, it's addictive !

Some of you know I don't like at all sewing by hand.
The idea of making a Grandmother Flower Garden quilt is the only thing that could convince me to give English paper piecing a try. In fact, I think I can't call myself a quilter if I don't have such a project under my belt. Most of you already made such a project, I am sure.
So here is my first try- 1 inch hexagons.

My friend Teodora told me to cut the fabric in squares instead of hexagons (a small waste of fabric but I gain time). I pressed them a little to help the seam allowances staying in place. Then I adjusted the size of the seam allowances.

And here is my first flower. I think I have to be more careful with whipstitching because the stitches are visible on the front. Or is this normal ?
Do you use a stronger (thicker) thread than the one you use for piecing ?

And here is the back. I think I will not remove those basting stitches, they don't show on front, should I do it anyway ?

I will join these in a small project and I have to make a few hexagons in other colors.

You have to see Steffi's quilts - she is my inspiration! When I saw her quilts I told myself that it is time for me to start stitching by hand. These two quilts below are hers.
This one is a miniature!

And I plan to make a quilt like this one below. I know it would take me forever to finish it so I thought I don't have to make it alone. I will tell you more about this soon! I am very excited!

And "Thank you" if you could share a little tip with a beginner like me in English paper piecing.

Jewel Box Quilt

I finished piecing the top ! The quilt measures 65'' x 80'', the size I need.

I love so much this pattern, it was one of the first ones I saw on Internet when I started quilting, 10 years ago, and I always wanted to make one.
Then later I saw Eleanor Burns in a show using this pattern for making 3 quilts: a king size quilt, a wall hanging and a miniature and I fell in love again. A few weeks ago I saw this show again so here is my first Jewel Box quilt.

I am crazy about the green rows of small squares (well, not so small- 2").
But I don't like too much how I combined the fabrics for those quarter triangle squares. I tried print+print, solid+solid but I did not like those combination either. Someday I would like to make one in solid fabrics.

I always thought that I will make such a quilt in jewel colors, but these are the colors my mother loves so I did not have too many choices.

Now I am thinking that this is not the best time, but I am dying to make a smaller version (my mother needs a small piece too, she really needs it!) and a pieced miniature.

Definitely, these are not the projects I should work now...but I really want to make them!
I am not rational at all ...

Puff quilts

Do you remember the puff quilt I made recently?
I was so excited about it and I wanted to make one for me and my husband. A queen size!
I found a way to make it lightweight, without batting and backing, I chose the fabric and the pattern but then I abandoned the idea. For now...

Because I washed that little quilt(?) (52" square) and it hardly fitted in the washing machine. Definitely, I will not be able to wash a 80" monster in my machine.
I think my only option would be to make it in two (or even three) parts and join them with buttons.

Do you have another idea? I saw many people make large puff quilts but I can't imagine how they can be washed.
Phew, maybe my washing machine is too small! But I can't change this!

Progress on my new quilt

I pieced all the blocks for my mother's quilt.

A little more work but perfect pieces...

I made HST using this method I saw on You Tube - here is the link.
Two squares with the right sides together,

I stitched the pieces around all the edges with 1/4'' seam allowances.

then I cut on both diagonals,

Here are 4 half square triangles. I pressed them then I cut them to the needed size.

This method is very quick but has a disadvantage: all the edges of the HST are cut on bias. So more care is needed with pressing while piecing the blocks. But I didn't press any seam until I finished the entire block.

Here are the blocks nicely pressed.

Now I have to join the blocks and maybe to add borders.
I will make a Jewel Box quilt!

Keeping Memories on Fabric

This article was posted a few days ago on Stash Manicure.

Here is my latest project -a photo album I made for my sister Nicoleta. With photos of Alex, her 5 month old baby boy.

I printed a few photos on fabric (in my inkjet printer), I made a nice cover and I fused them, one for every month of Alex’s life. In the next months I will easily add new pictures.
On his first anniversary, there will be 12 photos.

I know my sister will be happy to see Alex on fabric!

It is easy to print on fabric. I used a piece of white poplin, on its back I fused a heavyweight interfacing (to easily go into the printer). But there are ready-made fabric sheets and you can start printing right away. Electric Quilt Company has such printable fabric sheets.

This wasn’t my first experiment in printing on fabric.

My sister Nina loves so much all the flowers that bloom in her garden! I want she can see those flowers in her house in winter too, so for her birthday, a few years ago, I made this special quilt!
You can see how I made it here.

Then, of course, I couldn’t stop and after a few months I made these quilts for Nicoleta.
The flowers are also from her garden and since she loves pets as much as she loves flowers, I made a quilt with her (and ours) beloved pets too.

These quilts bring back wonderful memories! I can't wait to make the next one!

The winner...

Thank you all for participating in the latest giveaway. Unfortunately, there is just one winner:

Wendy
Congratulations, Wendy ! Please send me your address !

Oops! I went to your blog and I saw you have two daughters !! They will have to share this little tote!

Special Project and a Giveaway

I made something special for Valentine’s Day! I posted about it on Stash Manicure! I give you a little hint: my little nephew Alex! Please visit SM to find out what it is!
Then come back for a giveaway!

I loved so much making these little purses (you can see here the entire "collection"). Not only because I played with such happy fabrics but I really like to work on small size.

Do you have a little girl in your life? Would you like to win one of these little purses? I couldn't decide which one to choose so I closed my eyes and I picked this one below.

I think any little girl will be happy to carry her precious stuff in it, I am happy just looking at this picture!

This is a small purse ( 8''x8.5''x2.25'', 20x21x5.5 cm).

If you would like it to be yours, please live a comment at the end of this post and you will be entered in a drawing.
I will randomly choose the winner on February 17th.

If you want to make yourself such little purses, here are the patterns.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

This giveaway is closed now. Thank you all for participating.

Sweet Little Purses

Here they are ! My collection of 20 little purses made with my Amelie and Belle patterns.
All made in the fabulous "Quite Contrary" fabrics from Riley Blake Designs. I bought a fat quarter bundle and I had to use it all !

I did not make all of these alone, my sister Nina helped me a lot. Could anyone resist working on these beauties?
I spent the most enjoyable time mixing different fabrics.

You can see below their size:

Belle (on the left): 8''x8.5''x2.25'';

Mini - Belle (center): 6''x6.5''x1.5'';
Amelie(on the right): 7''x9''x2.25.
(measurements are approximate).

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SET 1

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SET 2
I could say this is my favorite set- such delicate and simple fabrics, perfectly matched with the small size.

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SET 3

I wanted to use even the smallest scraps so I pieced these beautiful prints.

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SET 4
This set could also be my favorite!
Many details in the fabrics and I did not add yo-yos.

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SET 5
This is my favorite set!

Two-color yo-yo (because I did not have enough fabric but such a great idea).

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SET 6

I love, love, love them !

I sell these little purses. If you would like one, I already listed a few in my Etsy shop.