WIP

I had no intention of not checking in here this week, but I've actually been busy sewing and being reunited with my missing sewjo felt so good I just kept working!

BUT...it is Wednesday so I'm checking in with my WIPs.  What have I been up to this week?  What do I have in progress?

While I usually only work on one major project at a time because it's all I can focus on and get done, I'm working on multiple projects right now, focusing on two.

I'm steadily making progress on Oren's Star quilt.  I've got 7 1/2 blocks done.  Since last checking in, I've finished three blocks and have one halfway finished.  Want to see??

First up--that Starry Path block that although easy enough threw me under the bus and left me to die before the half marathon.  I don't know why I had so much trouble concentrating on it before, because I slapped it together in about 20 minutes this past week.

 Next was a block I'm calling Novel Star because I used Oren's specially-chosen space novelty fabric for.  I'm not big on novelty fabrics because people's "it thing" changes so often.  I'd rather go with a timeless palette that can grow with Oren.  But, what can I say--I love the kid so I used some.  It was a lucky stroke that Saturn ended up like that in the middle square.  I do like it after all, but I'm not planning on using too much of the novelties.

And my other finish is this star from the Summer Sampler Series put on by Faith, Lee, and Katie.  This star is from Faith (tutorial here).  Easy peasy and so stunning.  My kind of block.

Now I'm on Starburst, which coincidentally is Megan's first offering in the Fresh Mini Quilt Club and just happened to be similar to something I had in mind.  Megan's way of doing it was better than mine, so I just shrunk her measurements down to fit my block size.  I do plan on making the 18" square-sized mini quilt that she's designed once I get through my in-progress projects.  I've just got some half-square triangles left to sew up.

I realized in looking at this picture that one gray and one black section are facing the wrong way--it is fixed now!

And here's my design wall to date including leftovers triangles from the blocks making a lovely border.  :)

I'm also finishing up Amy's Something New Sampler quilt-along that she graciously organized and had guest bloggers help out with.  I've got 7 blocks done, one almost finished and one left to complete.  The quilt tops have to be done and in the flickr pool by next week, so I'm doing okay I think with this one.  It's been interesting to try some new  techniques that I may or may not visit again...

Here was my go at Trapunto.  I haven't done the quilting yet obviously, but it's all set for it.  This is an easy and breathtaking technique and I will def come back to this one.

And this--improv curves.  I have an on-again/off-again love with improv, but this was easy enough.  Great tutorial and not bad results.  I just went for this one without thinking too much and from start to finish--this block took me maybe 15 minutes.

Right now, I'm finishing up my applique block.  I HATE this block.  I've done applique plenty, but usually prefer raw-edge because I'm lazy and in a hurry it's my style, but I followed the tutorial and did needle-turn.  Now, it's not the tutorial at all.  It's the fact that I didn't cut my seam allowance/foldover section big enough.  My pieces don't want to stay folded on top, they're not laying flat, I didn't use invisible thread and I'm blah on the showing thread...this block is just a fail.  I'm going to be okay with that and finish it and move on because we can't love them all, but...

So, there you have it.  I've got Izzy's quilt ready to baste and quilt and some bee blocks coming up next.  I promise to TRY to get on here more often, but I am better about updating my instagram feed (usually...) so follow me there if you're just dying to know what I'm up to.  :)

I'll be linking up with Lee so head over and see what she and everyone else is up to this week!