Quilt finish - Irish Chain reloaded

In the spring I was working on the Irish Chain from Melissa's quilt along, and I opted to simplify the quilt she generously offered to do along. But I prepared all the blocks ready, so I wanted to use them for something. In the meantime my sister-in-law and her family moved to a new home and the opportunity arised - a gift for the new bedroom! So I put the quilt together and quilted it. Since the basic blocks were already done it went superquick - only the quilting took some time. But I learnt my lesson from last time - I did less quilting to have a better overall impression  as you can see on the background. I really like how it turned out, even the background looks impressive. 

Irish Chain with a Twist (simplified version 1 )

Summer Knotgarden - to be (ripped) or not to be (ripped)

In the September I made a nice progress on Summer Knotgarden, but did not have time to post any pictures. This is how Summer Knotgarden is now - I do not like the way I did the clouds, the vertical colorchanges are not the best option. I suppose I should take my time to rip them and go for a horizontal one. It is not a happy decision to make, but all the time when I am making compromises I do regret - so the clouds must be gone.But I do like the little Jessicas (the yellow-pink flowers) - they are my favourites.

Chatelaine: Summer Knotgarden

Fonal/Floss: DMC + many silks as suggested in the kit

Anyag/Fabric: Zweigart antique white 32 ct Belfast

Something fishy ready

I have quilted and binded Something fishy, and it is on the wall as a summer quilt. I would need some autumnal one now...The quilting is a very subtle one, only some wavy lines not to make the already colourful quilt too busy. Click on to see better!

Ryan McKenna: Something Fishy

Something fishy almost finished

Last part of Something Fishy is done, I've finished the border as well. Only the batting, binding and quilting photo is missing - actually I did them too, but did not have time to make a picture. The quilting is a simple one: wavy line as the water. I really liked the outcome, it is on our dining room wall. 

Summer moved on

Summer is over, the rains had arrived to us. I made some nice progress on Summer Knotgarden - I really love the lush colors with lots of green. My phone added some orange shades but it just some tech problem - my fabric is antique white without any fancy stripes.

Chatelaine: Summer Knotgarden

Fonal/Floss: DMC + many silks as suggested in the kit

Anyag/Fabric: Zweigart antique white 32 ct Belfast

During stitching I was thinking how fortunate we are to have safe homes, time to play with my son, stitch this beauty. Maybe you have heard that lots of people arrived to Hungary as migrants trying to find a better future because of the war in Syria, Afganistan and such countries. They are without anything but their lifes, bringing their small children in their hands. No warm clothes, no money, nothing. Many of them were walking huge distances. 

This week the traffic between Hungary and Austria partly stopped - trains could not leave the station due to the huge amount of people trying to fit, there are 20-30km long rows at the borders - before that there was no border inspection it took 1 second to cross. Yesterday 1000 migrants decided to leave Budapest on foot to Wien (260km), they entered the highway, so the police closed the roads to give some safety and provided buses to them. There are refugee camps, but they do not want to enter, because they want to move on to Germany. I hope my family will never have to face such terrible fate, losing our homes, leaving our country and going somewhere without knowing anything how to arrive.

Holiday brings in Christmas

We went for a short holiday, and I took my Official Holiday Piece with me: Victoria Sampler here I go! I finished the tableau with baby Jesus and the parents last time in July, and now I managed to put a lacy line and a shepherd with a sheep in. Not much but better than nothing with 2 little ones next to lake Balaton.

Heirloom Nativity Sampler - The Victoria Sampler

Anyag / Fabric : 32 ct Smokey Pearl Zweigart

Fonal / Floss : selyem, a mintaív szerint / silk as in the kit

Fishing in the heat - lots of catch!

I continued the Fishes: I made some turtles, a huge pike with some minnows and some other fish which are really nice but I do not have a clue how they are called. All are ready to be stitched around, which takes quite a while. I use my Bernina program 4 settings 1 / 2 for the big onoes, 0,7 / 1 for the smalls. For the pike's spots I use straight stitch with length 1.

Something fishy

I have started a new kit, called Something Fishy from Ryan McKenna. I have seen a photo of a completed one somewhere and it was so beautiful. I was really envious how can someone create such a beauty - and then I have seen it is actually a kit, I can buy it, and create the same.

I bought it a few months ago, and actually I was still a little bit scared to start it. But yesterday I took the first part, and realised it goes supereasy - it took me only one evening to finish the loudmouth. I decided to skip the fishing part (lure, rod, boots, ticket), I prefer only the waterlife. I have added the original finish as well to see how gorgeous it will be in no time!

Something Fishy - Ryan McKenna kit

Whales for the babies

small baby quilt, 27,5"x41"

small baby quilt, 24"x31"

New baby shower gifts - these ones are for boys, I suppose you can see it. One of my friends asked me to make one nautical for a friend who had a baby boy. I also knew the girl so I happily said yes to the task. I have found a photo on pinterest from Barabooboo on Flicker, and I changed it a little.
We have chosen the motives, but could not agree on the background in advance. I liked the blue, she preferred the whiteish. I stitched up the border and sent out the 2 versions to choose from. Then I saw that the white dotted is a small piece, so I did the one with the blue backgroud. In the meantime she voted for the white one, so I did the white one as well and kept the other for a little boy in our family. And now I cannot judge, I like them both :)

QAL finish

I did not have the chance to show the finish of my QAL piece: here it is in all her glory. Thanks Melissa at happy quilting for the opportunity to participate!

Baby shower gift

My colleague has an adorable little girl, I made this quilt for her. The panels were in my stash and I needed only the white to add. It was a real quick finish, only a few evening worth. But I need to find some solution for the wavy binding...

Back to Winter

Heirloom Nativity Sampler - The Victoria Sampler

Anyag / Fabric : 32 ct Smokey Pearl Zweigart

Fonal / Floss : selyem, a mintaív szerint / silk as in the kit

I have promised some summer sunshine, but before that, I want to show a little snowy landscape. Between Knotgardens I went back to an old WIP, a Heirloom Nativity Sampler started last July during our summer holiday. I will take it as a travelling piece with me for this year holiday, but in the meantime I did some stitching and almost the same amount of frogging: I left 2 rows out of the tree, so all the animals and the shed was picked and restitched when I realised something is amiss.

Summer kicked in

After finishing Frosty I am already into Summer. Somehow I thought Summer is more boring and not as nice as the other Knotgardens, but I realised how wrong I was - maybe this is the most beautiful of the series. I am already well into part 3, but I have only the photo of Part 1 - I will be back with updates soon. Click on to see the exquisite details!

Chatelaine: Summer Knotgarden

Fonal/Floss: DMC + many silks as suggested in the kit

Anyag/Fabric: Zweigart antique white 32 ct Belfast

Stashing up

I have ordered a huge amount of things - I got my yearly bonus and topped up my reserves :)
The list and shipping time for me as a reminder:

from USPS express shipping:
Fabric Peddler turtle&fish quilt
order 12/04/2015 posting 13/04/2015 received 30/04/2015 (1 week customs)

from US standard shipping:
European Cross Stitch beadpack for Winter and Autumn Watergarden
order 30/04/2015 posting 5/21/2015 received 05/06/2015

from UK standard shipping:
SewAndSo floss
order 09/04/2015 posting 09/04/2015 received 16/04/2015

from Australia standard shipping:
Stiches and Spice floss
order 01/05/2015 posting 01/05/2015 received 10/05/2015

from ebay, Hong Kong, standard shipping (DMC):
order 29/04/2015 posting 30/04/2015 received 14/05/2015

from EU standard shipping:
Casa Cenina: floss
order 01/05/2015 posting 04/05/2015 received 08/05/2015
Casa Cenina: floss+fabric (not in stock, waiting list)
order 01/05/2015 posting 19/05/2015 received 18/06/2015 (quite adventurous, returned to sender, resent, almost returned again etc)

Frosty ready

Frosty is ready, I took her to the framer. Unfortunately they do not have tha same frame as they used for Spring and Autumn, so I choose something similar. Hopefully they will blend in. Frosty is really a sparkly one: 1800+beads are stitched on...

Chatelaine: Frosty Knotgarden

Fonal/Floss: DMC + many silks as suggested in the kit

Anyag/Fabric: Zweigart antique white 32 ct Belfast

4 handed beading

Beading goes well but it takes time... I have a little helper which does not speed up the process but it is even more fun for sure. I put the needle into the fabric, he pulls through and puts the bead on and then it is my turn to with the needle to find the right place. The idea with the cd holder and double sided tape is brilliant it keeps all the beads in one place.

I run out of the 3865floss which matches the background perfectly. And actually I run out of 51 bead but I was extremely lucky because I have found some remaining from some other project so I am saved. Now I have to wait for the new dmc from casa cenina. It is already on the way should arrive tomorrow or the day after latest.

Height chart on the wall

Country Companions: Height Chart

Fonal/Floss: Anchor & DMC

Anyag/Fabric: Zweigart white 28 ct Lugana

I have finally finished the height chart and put it on the wall. The happy owner already checked how much does he need to be bigger than the reading mouse - some month but not that much!

Ready for the bling!

Chatelaine: Frosty Knotgarden

Fonal/Floss: DMC + many silks as suggested in the kit

Anyag/Fabric: Zweigart antique white 32 ct Belfast

I have finished the stitching part, now comes the bling: all the beads, sparklies are ready to be sewn on! It was quite a speedy one: I started the last quarter 16 days ago, and now I am ready. The other 3 quarter took more than 2 years to finish...

Progess on Frosty Knotgarden

Chatelaine: Frosty Knotgarden

Fonal/Floss: DMC + many silks as suggested in the kit

Anyag/Fabric: Zweigart antique white 32 ct Belfast

I made some nice progess on Frosty Knotgarden. The motivation is there, I kitted Summer and in the weekend I ordered the special threads for Autumn and Winter Watergarden. It will take some time to use them: I just checked my history: I ordered the kit for Frosty in 2011, started in 2013, and will finish it this year. Hopefully Watergardens will not be alone for 4 years :)

Chatelaine: Frosty Knotgarden

Fonal/Floss: DMC + many silks as suggested in the kit

Anyag/Fabric: Zweigart antique white 32 ct Belfast

These tiny flowers are real nice (click to see them better!) but I simply hate to do the ice on them. One is still remains in the corner to be iced, but I will do that with the clouds. The clouds are quite big, takes quite long to stitch them, but I like to do them a lot. When they are ready only the beads will remain. I target end of May - we will see...

Back to Frosty

Chatelaine: Frosty Knotgarden

Fonal/Floss: DMC + many silks as suggested in the kit

Anyag/Fabric: Zweigart antique white 32 ct Belfast

I restarted Frosty Knotgarden, I am eager to start another Chatelaine (Summer Knotgarden) but I want to finish some of the remaining part prior. And some more are already on my list: Winter and Autumn Watergarden, Pomarium, and perhaps Herbularius and Tinctorium will appear somewhen on my walls as well...

Height Chart ready to be washed

Country Companions: Height Chart

Fonal/Floss: Anchor & DMC

Anyag/Fabric: Zweigart white 28 ct Lugana

The happy owner behind the chart - right side cm, left side his actual hight at each anniversary. I must wash, iron and bind it, after we will find a perfect place in his room!

Height chart last hedgehog

Country Companions: Height Chart

Fonal/Floss: Anchor & DMC

Anyag/Fabric: Zweigart white 28 ct Lugana

I have finished the last hedgehog in the height chart, only the numbers are missing, and the happy owner actual height. I will do that soon!

Irish Chain simplified

I decided to go with the simplified version and pieced it together. After preparing the top I was so quick that I did the batting as well, and forgot to take a picture prior. Hopefully I still qualify for the last round of Melissa's quilt along! I will finish the other part as well, but I need some creme coloured fabric because I used all of the existing ones for this quilt. As a backing I chose a white material from IKEA, it is a little heavier that the standard quilting fabric, but gives some extra stability to the quilt and the quilting will show up real nice.

Irish Chain with a Twist (simplified version)

Big dilemma

I have finished the applique petals and I really liked the result, and also the variety of possible applique methods Melissa listed in her blog.

I put together the whole top and now I am facing a big dilemma: despite the fact that I really liked the design I choose too many colours and the quilt is much too busy for my taste. I started to play around with the blocks and I see 2 queen size quilts in my mother's future :)  But I will think it over till next week...

 

I also wonder which lined one is better, but I think I will chose the left setup with the right petals added, namely I will put a dark outline to the middle instead of the light one.