Gathering Pieces Update

Remember when I blogged about my summer hand work project, Gathering Pieces? (click here)

Well this is what I've accomplished over the last month.  Not as much as I expected, 

but I'm still having fun.  I can't believe how different my version looks from the pattern, I think it's the organge, that I still really like and intend to stick with.  Someone on Instagram thought the blue blossom looked like cupcakes, I now agree, and crave Sprinkles Cupcakes every time I look at it.  Luckily for me I am 200 miles from the closest Sprinkles Cupcakery.

After some trial and error I have learned that needles and thread make a huge difference in the ease of connecting the pieces and the look of the connected pieces.  I'm using Superior silk thread and Clover Black Gold Needles #12.  

It's not too late to think about or start what you want to do with your summer sewing time, just make sure it's fun!

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What's going on at my house . . . .

Here's my April quilt of the month,  Lifetime Quilt #140.

 I just got this quilt back from the quilter and was so pleased with it I immediately hung it up.  The fabric is Persimmon by BasicGrey for Moda. The pattern is Metro Lattice by Sew Kind of Wonderful.    I didn't add the lattice, lol.  I don't know if that Persimmon line is a spring fabric but I love it and think it works for April, especially since we've not had much of a spring yet. (click here for more details about LQ#140)  I know some quilters think using a family of fabric is sort of cheating, and I sometimes add a few pieces from my stash when I work with a family of fabric to make it more my own, but this quilt is all Persimmon, and I wouldn't change a thing.  The Fat Quarter Shop still has a few pieces of this fabric left in their inventory.  They also have charm packs and Jolly bars.  For less than $20 you could make something really cool using this fabric and a jolly bar!  This quilt was wonderfully quilted by Connie Lancaster at Quilts Plus in Indianapolis, IN.  

I seem to have a circle theme going here.  My Kaffe Fassett Flowering Snowball is progressing nicely.  The blocks are really easy to piece.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all the pieces line up perfectly when I sew my blocks into rows.

Right now I'm really not paying much attention to my fabric placement, I just don't want two like fabrics touching (that's against the law you know).  For those of you who left comments saying you too were overwhelmed by selecting Kaffe Fassett fabric, look for a bundle like I'm using, it gives you such a great start. I've eliminated two prints from the roll and selected 6 other prints online to add to the mix.  It's wild but I'm still liking it.

And finally, summer is a hectic time of year around our house.  It seems we are on the go more, after hibernating all winter we're usually up for anything going on outside the house for a change of pace.  Since I don't spend as much time in my sewing room I thought maybe a hand project would be a nice way to fill the few extra minutes I do have here and there throughout the day and the time in the car.

I've decided to try this Sue Daley pattern called Gathering Pieces.  It finishes at 54" x 54"

Instead of going with a white background like the pattern, I'm using the orange dot from Happy Go Lucky by Bonnie and Camille for Moda.  I'm also using the navy truffula tree print from Happy Go Lucky for the outer border.  I wanted a project that felt like summer and I think this fits the bill.

Only 216 more orange octagons to go!

Have a great weekend!  

Truffula tree, from the Dr Seuss book The Lorax, don't those look like truffula trees to you?

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