I'm back

Hi everyone!

Our mountain experience is (sadly) over, and we're back home. Our stay in Tirol has always been wonderful, but this year it was so more than that! The hotel was gorgeous, the people were so nice and everything was fantastic... well, except for the weather, which was really variable.

gloomy weather 

sunny / cloudy weather

Not so long nor hard hikes, but plenty of family time!

Smurfette#1 and Hubs - #31 wanderweg in Ehrwald

me, Smurfette#1 and #2 and the goat - Bichlbach alpen zoo

Hubs and Smurfettes - Schwangau

me and Smurfettes (and people) - Ohenschwangau castle

Smurfettes, watching a video on iPhone

summer vacation - part 1

Next week I'll be relaxing in Tirol (Austria) with my family, so no posts will be delivered.

I won't be sewing, but I won't be inactive either, so stay tuned for updates when I come back home.

Have a nice week!

Chrysalis Sudoku Quilt - top pieced

Last week the mailman dropped my Chrysalis Charm Packs, so today I decided to piece the top following my project direction.

Things went well, with some minor seams ripping.

I made the 3x3 blocks and then I sewed them together. I admit I did have a little helper: Smurfette#1 has recently fallen in love with fabric...

work table: note that my tools also include the tv remote and my iPhone... 

Smurfette#1 removing pins (she likes pins with colored head)

secret project - completed

My secret project has no more reason to be so, 'cause it's going to be handed over very soon to its future owner (who happens to be my sister-in-law).

So now I can proudly show you what I've been up to these last days.

Ta-da!

the front 

the back

the quilting

the binding

This beauty (although I should not say so myself, but then again... I like it! can't help it!) was some sort of personal challenge: Sister-in-law asked me to make her something that should include the funny little ants my (fantastic) sewing machine can embroid all by herself (yes, I did name my sewing machine... I'm that crazy). So... what about a picnic quilt with little black ants? 

the ants path

And Picnic with ants was created, cut, pieced, batted, basted, quilted, labelled and binded. It's not difficult, only very long because of the horizontal quilting, which if it's a light task on a baby quilt size, on a square lap quilt size (150cmx150cm) is quite loooooooong and tricky.

the label

 I am very pleased with the outcome of this project. I'm learning to be a REAL quilter and I'm also defining my personal style... which should be good, shouldn't it?

I'll post soon a 'technical sheet' for this quilt, in which I'll explain the process behind the project. I'm not sure I'll be able to write a pattern for you, but you should still get the idea.

hints on secret project

Yes, I'm still alive, and working full time on my secret project.

That's also the reason why I can't properly fulfill the 'process pledge'. When I'm finished, you'll have plenty of details, maybe a pattern too (since the project is entirely a concept of mine).

This is a little hint. As you can see, I'm on the quilting phase.

Why it's a secret? Because it's a gift and I don't want to spoil the surprise in case the person I'll give it to is reading my blog.

I really like this quilt!

quilt finished

A few days ago I engaged in this project. Well, I finished the quilt.

the front

the back

the binding

This training quilt surely has been a great school for me. I'm a self-learner quilter, so I don't know much about tradition nor tips and tricks some of you are well packed with... whish I was too... but, as I always say, I live on the wrong side of this planet, and quilting here is not usual. I must learn everything trying it out on my crafts.

Things about this quilt:

• the sudoku scheme came out wrong (unintentional squares swapping): next time I'll mark every bit of fabric with number, position and direction;
• when working with squares, unless they are pre-cut in a nice charm pack or something similar, accuracy in cutting is the key; or, alternatively, you must draw seam lines on your fabric and then trim everything;
• pressing open the seams results in less bulking and more 'discipline' and precision for your walking foot;

wonky but pretty back

• planning a back is as fun as planning a top, when you try to imagine something you could use also on that side; 
• I'm not so fond of "full" tops: in fact, in this case, I like the back better... could be 'cause I love the sparse look? (which, by the way, for me is "modernish"...)

• pins and safety pins are pure bliss in basting a quilt, especially if layers tend to slide around (duh!);

• yes, safety pins probably get in the way when quilting... guess I must learn how to place them out;

• binding can be sometime difficult, but a good stitched binding surely makes the quilt look great.

I decided on a simple quilting with straight lines running 1/4 from the ditches, and I opted for a light brown thread to match the mood both on the top and on the back. I love how it came out.

All in all, I'm quite satisfied with this project. It's not the best I can do, obviously, but I'm learning and I hope next project will shine with the things I learned with this one.

mommy...?

... what's all this sewing about?