Scrappy Wonky Star quilt

I have been wanting to make a Wonky Star quilt for a long time. So, during the summer months I started making them and boy was it fun!!  I used a bevy of tutorials out there and used my skills from long ago to turn this quilt into a Quillow!!  All of the fabrics are scraps save the backing and batting. I even hand quilted the pillow using Perle cotton from my Hardanger stash!

One of the first layouts I had.  I had no idea how I wanted the overall look to be.

I kept making more and more blocks.

In the end, I had to buy a new batting and the backing.  I have it in several color ways but it was too much for me.  So, I bought this fabric for this quilt.  I think it works.

I began to make a huge wonky star and hand quilted it.  

I basted this mother four times before I got it right.  First it was the pieced-on-the-selvage backing that was bubbling up on me.  Then I just could not get it from bunching.  Finally I used much better tape and clips and was super duper careful with very desirable results!  FINALLY!

Binding fail on the big table.

I decided to quilt using swirls and really enjoyed it.  I love the final outcome.  This is fresh out of the dryer.

Here is my growing number of quilted pillows.  Love them!!  

Eid al Fitr 2015

Eid Mubarak to all whom follow. Just a little quick post on my journey of making 15 pillows for our new furniture and in time for tomorrow's celebrations.

Here is a play by play of the last two weeks of my life all in preparation of hosting Eid for tomorrow!

I looked all over Muscat and at Ikea and a few other places in Dubai for the pillow size I needed.  No one had them.  I checked at Sultan Center and found some!  I had to buy more pillows and use the square ones we bought at Ikea in Dubai to re stuff them or stuff them MORE!  I ripped them open and spent two days stuffing...

When I was done stuffing; I sewed them shut and boy was that hard!  It took lots of arm muscle!

I sat with the red cotton fabric.  Not quilting grade, mind you, but silky.  It was worrying me because I'm used to working with quilting cotton.  I got on with it.

All done!  I started stuffing the stuffed pillows in the casings!

After making the first 7; I decided to be a little daring and try my hand at piping.  I knew it would make a world of difference and it sure did!  Here I am making said piping.

The hardest part indeed for me was the joining of the beginning and the end.  I finally 'got it' at the 7th or 14th pillow!

I was pulling all the loose threads after turning the pillows right side out.

Here I am making the 15th pillow.  I had 'Eid Mubarak' written out in Arabic by my daughter.  I fused it and zig zagged all around.  That was time consuming.

The right side of the living room.

The left side of the living room.

…and…Uki!!!

Lastly, my pillow!

Eid Mubarak!

Corrected Hardanger Tutorial for Picots!

One day I opened my emails and a woman made a comment on my YouTube video that I uploaded two years ago saying that I had made a mistake on my Hardanger Tutorial.  I called what was a tutorial on how to make Picots, well I called them Eyelets.  How I did this I do not know!  *insert blushing embarrassed face*.

Well, five days ago we moved to a new house.  There is a lot of work being done such as changing out the flooring throughout the house and custom built cabinets and a table for my SEWING ROOM!!  Gee, I am a lucky girl!  We are having some very strong men dig out a pool in our backyard right now.  Right now we have to move everything to God knows where as the men arrived to lay the flooring downstairs.  So….

I'll try to finish up here by posting the video.  It has a little bit more personality to it.

Thanks for stopping by.  Ok.  I can't upload the video.  It is too long.  So, I'll post a link if you are so inclined to watch it.  I'm just really proud of myself because with a little bit of uninterrupted time and silence I was able to sit down and give it my all to learn how to edit a video.

Hardanger Tutorial:  Picots

https://youtu.be/_FEIq6cZy5I

I finished my Hardanger piece and have the book!

Hi!  It's been so very long!  I have so much to share but have been so busy and also just uninterested!  I seem to get the 'instant' gratification through my IG account!  If you would like to follow me, check me out at @alia666.

For the 11 ladies that commented on this, I hope you see this!  

I finally finished my Hardanger Bargello table topper!! 

I've bought a table for it.

 I'm about to move into my new home and 

my college bound daughter claimed it as hers.

 That's ok!  I'll just borrow it until she settles into her own home!!

Now for the pictures!

Can you see the piece in the top center?  I followed the instructions exactly.  I used the same color threads and fabric and I stitched the same size.  No one in our Hardanger group made it smaller; but many of the ladies made theirs larger.  They are still stunning!

Thanks for stopping by.  Off to cook dinner…Shrimp Scampi