Mallard Duck Mini Finish with Free Motion Mavericks

Even without my favourite sewing machine, I was able to sew and quilt with the walking foot, my son's Mallard Duck mini. When I showed it to him, he said that he would find a spot for this one and the other two that I've made for him.

Finishing the Mallard Duck

As you saw in my Making a Mallard Duck Mini post, the foundation paper piecing went well. I always manage to make at least one piece that doesn't have enough selvage but I'm really good at problem solving 😊  I would have loved to go crazy with the free motion quilting (FMQ) but this little guy got off easy.

Finished Mallard Duck mini 

In a previous life I was a planner, but you wouldn't know it based on most of my quilting. I had planned to use my extended-border binding technique where I extend the backing fabric to make the binding, but I wasn't thrilled with the backing fabric as a binding. I ended up trimming the piece but if I had through it through, I would have added at least a half inch to the outside so that my binding would be wide enough to look like a frame. 

Carefully measuring the binding for a ½" frame

So, more problem solving to be done. I cut the binding fabric 2" wide but didn't double it. Instead I very carefully measured the front of the binding so that it would be a ½" wide all around the piece. I should be measuring my binding all the time since I tend to have some wider areas. Accuracy and consistency are not my strengths but that doesn't mean that I can't try!😊

Looking for that perfect button

When it came time to choose the perfect button, I went to my giant jar of buttons. I thought that it was a good idea to have all of my buttons in one jar (and it looks good too!) but having to find one tiny button in that jar might not be the most efficient way of storing them...

Writing the label on fabric backed
with freezer paper

The back of the mini

In case you don't know this trick, the next time you need to write up a label, iron a piece of freezer paper to the back of the fabric. It will stabilize the fabric so that it's easy to write on.

What I learned

• I'm really happy with my finished Mallard Duck mini. I spent a lot of time getting the binding to be the same width so that it looks like a frame.
• Sometimes I make fancy labels but I kept this one simple. Using the freezer paper really helps me write on the fabric.
• I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my button jar. It's not like I need buttons very often, so it may not be worth changing it...again!
• I would have loved to FMQ this little guy - I even found a great picture to follow to make it realistic. Oh well, maybe the next one.

Related links

• Making a Mallard Duck Mini, November 17, 2021
•  Extended-border binding technique
• A loon, a bear and a binding tutorial, November 25, 2018
• Made by Marney website and her patterns on Etsy

Linking parties

I'll be linking up to many fun linking parties. Check them out! November's One Monthly Goal (OMG) Finish,  Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, Patchwork & Quilts, Oh Scrap!, Put Your Foot Down, Off The Wall Friday, 15 Minutes to Stitch 2021, Needle & Thread Thursday, 

Project details

Mallard Duck Mini, pattern by Made By Marney

8¾" X 8¼"

Materials: commercial and batik cotton, button

Techniques: foundation paper piecing and quilting with a walking foot 

Free Motion Mavericks

Welcome to week 358 of the Free Motion Mavericks' linking party. Last time, Donnalee linked up her red birds on an improv background. She FMQ her background with a serpentine design. It looks very effective. If you didn't see her post, check it out here. She also discovered that using safety pins is a good way to keep her quilt sandwich together. What do you use to keep things together (if you're not using a long-arm)?

DonnaleeQ: Red Birds Improv

Now it's your turn.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Labels, Image Transfers and Slow Stitching

Last week in my Art with Fabric Blog Hop - Fall 2017 post, I mentioned that I would write about the use of a photo transfer medium to put the image of the statuette on fabric. So here it is, with a few other things thrown in!

Image Transfers

Mod Podge
Photo Transfer Medium

I've wanted to place images on fabric for a long time but the one attempt by my son to do this didn't end well for either the image or the printer! I'm not bad with technology and will eventually have to buy a new printer - and then I'll do the research required to get the proper printer and transfer paper. However, I'm just not there yet.

So when I heard about a photo transfer medium, I got pretty excited! I did a little bit of research, mostly to see where I might buy this type of product in Canada. Turns out that Micheal's sells a product made by Mod Podge.

I originally wanted to use the photo transfer medium to make a label for my art quilt, Reason & Passion, created for the Art with Fabric Blog Hop - Spring 2017. The idea was to place the image of the original quilt by Joyce Wieland on the label as a tribute to her and her work.

Photo Transfer Medium applied to two images

For this particular image, since it had writing on it, I had to "flip" the image before printing it. Turns out that you can do this in Paint (click the Rotate button and choose flip).

Final two images of the original
Reason Over Passion Quilt by Joyce Wieland

Once I had figured out how to use the photo transfer medium (see "What I learned" below), I was ready to try the product on the image of my Gaïa statuette. I chose to use the black and white image since the original statuette is made of a grayish clay. 

Gently rubbing off the dried photo transfer medium

Final photo transfer image of Gaïa on Kona fabric

It came out great, except for a white spot (see "What I learned"). I would probably have redone the image except that I was able to use a pencil to cover and shade the finished image. If you can draw, I think that it would be easy to draw over and/ or add colour to the image using colouring pencils.

Gaïa image on the finished piece

Attaching the image was simple. I very carefully cut around the fabric, placed her on the quilt and using the silver silk thread that I was using to quilt the piece, sewed around the image. I then FMQ around a few features to better attach it and to give it depth.

The finished image on the fabric is a little rubbery, sort of like the way t-shirts were years ago. Depending on the look you want and the use of the piece (you wouldn't want to use this for items that you would wash a lot), the Mod Podge photo transfer medium works fine.

Quilt Labels

If I have time, I like to be inventive with my quilt labels. At the very least, I try to use fabric from the quilt. For Anna's Black & White wall hanging, I actually cut away a piece just for the label, while I was doing the improvisational piecing. I'm really happy that I was able to find it when it came time to sew on the label! (I think that I've learned a valuable lesson from the still missing Growing Up QAL blocks!)

Improvisational piecing

Label made from the
improvisational piecing of the quilt

For the Neutral lap quilt, I wanted to make a smaller version of the original block used in the quilt.

Label based on block

Original block

 

Growing Up QAL

I have finished block 10 of the Growing Up QAL. I enjoyed making this one, probably because it used one of my favourite techniques, foundation paper piecing. I just love the accuracy of the technique. With minimal effort, I can make pretty accurate blocks - gotta love it!

Block 10 of the Growing Up QAL

Slow Stitching 

With company around and just being tired after finishing the Art with Fabric QAL, I've been spending my evenings embroidering or doing English Paper Piecing (EPP). I do this while being read to since I've downloaded a whole bunch of audio books from our local library.

I started another embroidery piece with the same type of pattern as my previous (unfinished) piece. I've brought it to work a few times to stitch a little during lunch time. This one is also mostly practicing the stem stitch.

Embroidering FMQ motifs

Here is my EPP to date - seven large flowers completed, with 3 or 4 in the works.

Seven large hexie flowers so far

What I learned

• When you buy photo transfer medium, check out the product's instructions for how to use it! Each product is different. It took me many tries to get it right, and it was only after checking out the instructions for using the brand I had bought that I got it right!
• It's important to very gently rub off the dried photo transfer medium. The "Reason Over Passion" image on the left is a little less crisp because I rubbed a little to hard. It's best to remove the medium in several stages than to get it all off at once.
• Turns out it's VERY IMPORTANT to keep your fingers off of the photo transfer medium once it's on the image. The white spot that you seen on the Gaïa statuette (where her heart would be!) is from my finger when I was placing her onto the fabric! I added extra medium but it didn't really help.
• My stem stitch is getting better, but still needs work in tight curves. That's mostly my lack of patience since you need to use very small stitches in tight curves 

Related Links

• Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium tutorial and YouTube links
• Joyce Wieland and Art with Fabric, May 14, 2017
• Anna's Black & White wall hanging, Learning QAL - October Goal Setting Link-up, October 1, 2017
• Neutral Lap Quilt Finished, September 29, 2017
• Embroidery, Progress, June 30, 2017
• English Paper Piecing, Lots of Projects, September 12, 2017

Linking Parties: I will be linking to a number of great linking parties. Check out what others are doing! Growing up QAL - linky month 10, Slow Sunday Stitching, Oh Scrap!, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? Finished or Not Friday, MOP Monday, Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, Design Wall Monday, Off the Wall Fridays, 

March Finishes

Celebrate – Fêtons 150

What a month! It started with the second Celebrate – Fêtons 150 link-up and the draw of the first prize among those who left comments. Three Canada 150 fat quarters were sent to Susan from Quilt Fabrication.

The link-up has been a success!! There were eleven link-ups – and only one of them was my own :-) This month I also had my own celebration – 5 years of blogging and 150 posts! Thank you to everyone who participated in the link-ups, left comments and best wishes for my own anniversary. What an amazing online community.

I had two goals for March, which I accomplished. My One Month Goad (OMG) was to finish the beaver block created by Lorna of Sew Fresh Quilts. Here it is:

Canada 150 - Beaver block designed by Sew Fresh Quilts

Canadian Beaver's Close-up Shot!

Here’s the label made with some of the scraps from the original project.

My second March goal was to make more slab blocks for Canada's Big Quilt Bee. I now have 6 completed blocks. I’m halfway to making a small quilt top.

I’m trying to keep my goals to a minimum but I do have a few deadlines, so here are my April goals:

• Make more slab blocks, and if I’m really productive, finish a small quilt top for Canada's Big Quilt Bee;
• Quilt and embellish the England souvenir from the World Quilting Travel Adventure;
• Work on and hopefully complete my Art with Fabric project. I'll be posting on the first day - May 15th! No pressure :-)
  .

What I learned:

• As I mentioned in my last post, I really enjoyed making the Beaver block. It was easier than I expected, in no small part due to Lorna’s technique and instructions. I’m not sure that I’ll ever commit to a full quilt, but I definitely want to make more blocks. They make great wall hangings.
• I am so happy that the link-ups have been a success. I’ve reached out to many Canadian quilting bloggers (and some non-Canadians too!) who have been very supportive. 
• I’ve research and found many quilting patterns and projects that celebrate Canada’s 150th. Can you believe that I had forgotten to check Pinterest? I found lots of interesting projects that I will share with you on my Celebrate – Fêtons 150 in April post.

Related Links

• Celebrate – Fêtons 150 in March (March 1, 2017)
• Quilt Fabrication
• Five Years - 150 Posts (March 6, 2017)
• OMG March Goal Setting Link-up
• Beaver block pattern from Sew Fresh Quilts
• Canada's Big Quilt Bee and Sew Fresh Quilt Bee
• England souvenir from the World Quilting Travel Adventure
• Schedule for the 2017 Art with Fabric blog hop

Project Details

Canada 150
16" x 26"
Canadian Beaver quilt block pattern by Sew Fresh Quilts
Materials: cotton
Techniques: piecing, free motion quilting



Great news -this little guy was featured on Main Crush Monday. Thanks Beth!

Linking Parties: I'll be linking this post to the OMG March Finish Link Up, as well as many more. Please check them out! Can I get a Whoop Whoop?, Free Motion Mavericks, Midweek Makers, Needle & Thread Thursday, Off the Wall Friday, Finished or Not Friday, Let's Bee Social, Moving it Forward, Main Crush Monday.

Fibre Fling 6

Fibre Fling 6 Show & Sale

Fibre Fling 6, the annual show and sale of the Out of the Box Artists, will be April 7 & 8 at the Kitchissippi United Church in Ottawa.

This will be my second show. I'm really looking forward to helping to set up the show. There's so much to learn when displaying the art....and of course, seeing all of the wonderful art pieces is a real treat.

Incredibly, I've submitted all of my pieces and finished making and attaching labels on all of them last week. This is the first time that I'm not panicking before a deadline for an art or quilt show. It helps that I only chose pieces that were already finished.

Since I've been making art quilts for a while, I had a few that had never been exhibited. You may have seen them on my blog, but not in any shows.

Here are the fibre art pieces that will be in the show as well as the labels that I made for each of them. All of the labels were foundation paper pieced except for the hexies.

Escape 1: Warmer Climates

Escape 1: Warmer Climates

Label for Escape 1: Warmer Climates

Escape 2: English Garden

Escape 2: English Garden

Label for Escape 2:
English Garden

Sweet Memories - Northern Lights

Label for Sweet Memories:
Northern Lights

Sweet Memories: Northern Lights

Light at the End of the Tunnel (from Art with Fabric, Spring 2016)

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Label for Light at the End of the Tunnel

What I learned:

• Getting ready for a show when you have all of the pieces ready is so much easier (and less stressful) than trying to finish things for a deadline.
• It's amazing how many pieces I've created, "just cause I felt like it", that could go into the show. Looks like I may have found my niche!
• I asked my daughter what I should do with all of these finished pieces. She pointed out that most of the house (except for the living room and my own room) doesn't have any of my finished pieces. I guess maybe it's time to start spreading out :-)

Featured Links:

Escape 1 - Warmer Climates

• Working in a Series (February 3, 2017)
• Catching up on World Quilting Travel Adventure (January 12, 2017)

Escape 2 - English Garden

• Second in the Series (February 19, 2017)
• Working in a Series (February 3, 2017)

Northern Lights posts:

• Five Years - 150 Posts (March 6, 2017)
• Working in a Series (February 3, 2017)
• Catching up on World Quilting Travel Adventure (January 12, 2017)

Light at the End of the Tunnel

• Art with Fabric - Light at the End of the Tunnel (May 8, 2017)
• More deadlines (April 24, 2016)

Linking Parties: I've linked this post to a number of link-ups. Check out what everyone is up to! MOP Monday, Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, Moving It Forward Monday, Oh Scraps!, Finished or Not Friday, Let's Bee Social, Linky Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Needle & Thread Thursday, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?,    

Cute Paper Pieced Quilt Labels

As you may know, I'm totally addicted to paper piecing. In one of the new ebooks I bought from Martingale, Showstopping Quilts to Foundation Piece By Judy Pollard and Tricia Lund, I learned to make lovely paper pieced labels for my quilts.

I used the lovely three inch patterns that came with Carol Doak's Mastering Foundation Paper Piecing on Craftsy. These are easy and perfect to add a border to, as well as a space for writing on the label.

Tree label

Winter Vacancy

This first label is for Winter Vacancy. This is actually the second paper pieced tree I made. I had high hopes for the first one but it really didn't come out well. I used the same fabrics for the tree but used the blue of the border of Winter Vacancy for the triangles above the tree.  It should have looked awesome but it didn't! Both sets of fabrics were the same value - so they sort of merged together. I guess I proved the usefulness of that design element - contrast!

Wreath wall hanging

Star label

This next label is stunning, if I may say so! That contrast principle does work! The contrast between the star and the blue fabric is really great and makes the star pop.

This label will be attached to the Wreath Wall Hanging. I'm just waiting to pick up a Pigma pen - it does a great job for writing on fabric.

What I learned:

• Contrast is important!
• Labels are important, almost as much as planning your project :-) I guess that's why I usually forget them! I used to do the same thing when I wrote essays for school - I just dove in and ignored the introduction and conclusion!