The Feather Quilt (part 2)

I have more pictures that I need to get uploaded so you can check out the progress in more detail.  Yes, there is progress, but it feels painful.

This quilt pattern is truly giving me fits.  I plan on writing the editors of Quilty again to inquire if anyone made this quilt prior to publishing it (other than the designer).  It's a really cool pattern, no doubt, but the templates, measurements and complexity of it make it more of an intermediate quilt, not a beginner.

There's actually alot of skill and patience needed to even get thru the feather piecing parts.  It's challenging me and I've been piecing quilts for over 10 years now.

I think for each of the 28 feathers I've sewn so far, every single one of them as had at least 2 of its seams ripped out at least twice, some of them have been ripped out and sewn 3 separate times!  Yes, I am being a little picky trying to get everything lined up properly, but it's a finicky pattern with its angled pieces.  I thought I could get away with a few "off" seams, but in the end I realized the mistake would only amplify the bigger the block became.  That means that it's taking a very long time to piece the blocks and I'm only half way done.

Ripping out all those seams also makes me realize I should invest in a larger, more comfy seam ripper.

It's worth noting all of my seams on the "feather" portion of the block have been pressed OPEN to help it lay crisp and flat when I was cutting out all the feather sections.  I believe it's important to press seams open when you'll be using a template to cut your actual pieces.

Starting on the Task at Hand

The last batch of dog ornaments I'll ever do with this pattern. I just started cutting on the order for GRREAT of 60 ornaments....so much felt.  I try not to think about the enormity of this task.  I have, in the past, done 122 ornaments before during my Holiday rush, and over a shorter amount of time.While I do have till August to complete them all I am still in the middle of completing a few other projects, namely The Feather Quilt.  That too is also due in August, but I need to have it entirely pieced and the backing sewn together so I can send it out to be quilted.  That just means that my quilt actually needs to be done by June 1st.

As long as I do a little bit each day I'll steadily chip away at both of these projects.

I've set a goal for this week to cut 10 full dog ornaments out each day.  If I can stick to that I'll have all 60 dogs cut out by Sunday night, that's 120 pieces of felt all cut by hand.  So far I have the first set of 20 done, 40 more to go!

p.s.

I am no longer selling these ornaments in my Etsy shop.  GRREAT is a Golden Retriever rescue organization who contacted me almost 6 months ago to do this final order for them.

1008 Pages of Awesomeness

I finally finished Words of Radiance in the middle of the night late last week.

It seems fitting that most great and interesting books compel us to read well past a 'normal persons' bedtime and since most of my free time is only in the evenings these days it goes without saying that this will inevitably happen.

I really can't say anything bad about this second book.  It was just as good as the first, if not even better.  There was never a dull moment and it just kept pushing forward at a ridiculous frenzy.  It really felt like the world was going to end or beloved characters were going to die because there was just NO possible way they could survive a Highstorm.  It was drama and even the beginning of a love story all tied up in one neatly packaged gemstone.  I will say it will be helpful to read the Stormlight Wiki and even the notes in the back of each book to keep things straight and fill in some gaps.  I sense a division coming between the Knights Radiant who wield true Shardblades and those fight with Honorblades.

I don't know how Sanderson is going to keep this story moving forward so smoothly.  I mean ten books is a tall order, even if you can write exceptionally well there is bound to be one so-so book.  I hope to eat those words once this series is finished, but till then, well played Mr. Sanderson, well played.

If you're keen on starting this series the first book is called The Way of Kings and you can keep tabs on what he's up to via his website.

 

Spring Bunnies Tutorials

My Spring Bunnies Tutorials are now both up and live over on Lupin's blog!

 Part 1 Making Spring Felt Bunnies

Part 2 Adding the Spring Felt Bunnies to a Yarn Wreath

Check them out and make a few up for a Happy Spring and a Happy Easter!

Ideas and Buddha

“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”- Buddha

I have a sketch book, scraps of paper, post-it notes by my nightstand filled with ideas and drawings of things I'd like to make or attempt to make.  But they often languish on their pages for months and sometimes years before I even manage to find the time to bring them into being.

Sometimes because I've waited so long before trying my idea the whole passion for it has faded into the background and it takes alot of effort to bring it back out and recall all the specifics about what I wanted to do with said idea.  Then my self-doubt will creep in and I'll start thinking, what if I waited too long and there's no longer a need or a market for this? What if I "missed the boat" already?  What if people hate it or find it lame?  Why didn't I just sit down and do it?

Don't wait.

If you have a great idea, get it out there.

Use your note pad and jot it down, but get crackin' and get it made up.  Breathe life into it.

The world deserves to see and experience your idea and your awesomeness.

Spring Bunnies are here!

I'll be sharing this free tutorial over on Lupin's blog very soon!

It will be broken up into two tutorials so if you want to make just the bunnies you can :)

Part 1 will include all the instructions to make an adorable set of 5 Spring Bunnies.

Part 2 will include instructions for adding the Spring Bunnies to a yarn wrapped wreath.

 

Links will be provided here and of course over on Lupin's blog!

Happy Spring, finally!