Friends, Challenges and a Finish

Posted in Quilting by
First off I’d just like to say I’m so very pleased to have met all the peeps I have in my new blogging-quilty world. Thank you all for being so welcoming and encouraging. We are one giant circle of quilty love.

I finished Red Chevy Crush a couple of weeks ago.

I didn’t blog about it because I really only have time to blog 1x/week. And the last two week’s posts were about my blog’s birthday giveaway and the giveaway winner . 

This post is a little longer because I have some catching up to do.

Ok, so…I’ve been free motion quilting, herein referred to as FMQ. In an effort to get good at it…and I DO want to be good, I started the #dailyfmq challenge on Instagram (it goes through 9/22/14).  It challenges me to practice for at least 10 mins/day. I had previously enrolled in two Craftsy quilting classes (one of which I wrote about here) but I haven’t really done what qualifies as practice until about 2 weeks ago.

As those of us who have done it know, the biggest challenge in FMQ is making sure your (foot) machine speed is not too fast or slow for your hand speed. (Kinda puts me in the mind of learning to drive a stick shift). I’m guessing it’s not something most peeps are good at right off the bat, least of all me.  I’ve tried meandering/stipple several times and have always ended up extremely FRUSTRATED! But w/the challenge I decided to start w/Chrsitina’s woodgrain and I am thrilled!  It’s very forgiving and I really like the idea of no curves.  It’s not the only fmq I’ve been practicing, but it’s my favorite. I’ve also practiced loopy flowers and circuit board, taught in Elizabeth Dackson’s Craftsy class.
Also practicing w/Paint

I’ve been doing my FMQ practice on this Autumn quilt top I finished a few weeks ago. I’m quilting something different on each piece w/in a block.

 I don’t mean to toot my own horn…but toot toot! I already feel and see a difference in my FMQ.

The other challenge I’m participating in is the #ablockadaychallenge on Instagram.  I’ve been making Bento Box blocks for a charity quilt for QA .


I’m not sure if this qualifies as a notion or gadget, but a friend told me about Clearly Perfect Angles and how it works beautifully for sewing HST and mitered binding, so I ordered it. It’s perfect! And speaking of mitered binding, I found and used this sanity-saving tutorial for a mitered join.

Scrappy Fail

 I attempted to make my first pattern tutorial for something scrappy but I don’t like how it turned out at all.  A solid fabric would’ve improved the look, but I’m still not liking the center either.

Maybe pattern tutorials aren’t my thing just yet. In the mean time, I will continue to use other peeps’ patterns and tutorials, like the tons of free lovelies I came across on Quilter’s Cache.   











My grandson was bugging me about sewing so last week I gave him a crash course and helped him make a Tube Pillowcase using this YouTube video tutorial…but I also just found this pdf using a slightly different method.


We went camping over the Labor Day weekend and aside from fear of being mauled by a bear while sleeping, it was fun.

A las, I’m proud and happy to say Ivy is housebroken and using the doggy door like an old pro.

A Thread for Life 

 This life is a journey we walk by faith

And there will always be the mountains in our way
But right here in this moment, may our strength be renewed
As we recall what God has done and how we’ve seen Him move

Sometimes through the darkness, it’s hard to see
So just be brave and follow where He leads
‘Cause greater is the one who’s in us, than he who’s in the world
So child of God remember, the battle is the Lord’s

Even in the valley of the shadow when you feel alone in the unknown
Just say Amen, Just say Amen
Even when the storms are raging, Stand and know you’re not forsaken
Just say Amen, Just say Amen

If there’s anybody here who’s found Him faithful
Anybody here who knows He’s able, Say Amen
And if there’s anybody here who’s seen His power
Anybody here brought through the fire, Say Amen
Anybody here found joy in the middle of sorrow
Just Say AMEN!

Say Amen – Finding Favour

I’m linking up on TGIFF , Whoop Whoop, Free Motion Mavericks, Free Motion by the River AND Let’s Bee Social!

Have I gone overboard w/the Linkys? Is there such a thing? I  hope not.

35 thoughts on “Friends, Challenges and a Finish”

  7. Is it just me or does your scrappy look better turned round so that the stripes in the centres are horizontal instead of vertical? I wouldn't give up on it – it's not far off being great! I admire your discipline in practicing every day – it's definitely paying off.

  9. Hello Zenia,

    Your grandson is beautiful and looks so thrilled with his pillowcase. Who says sewing is just for girls?

    Your FMQ flowers are really neat – the practice is definitely paying off. Would you like to link up with Free Motion Mavericks on my blog? It would be great to see you there.

    Lovely poem too. It was nice coming across it on a Sunday morning.

    Love from England, Muv

  12. Thank you Muv. He is beautiful. I like to think of him as “the cat's meow”. Practice is paying off. Of course I'd like to link up w/FMM on your blog. Thanks for the invite. I'm no poet but I came up w/that rhyme pretty quick when I didn't know what the heck to put in my bio on Instagram. Then I really liked it and added to “About Me” on blogger AND G+

  13. You've got some great stuff going on here! Love the Red Chevy Crush, including the name! And your star string quilt is very cool indeed. Good for you, taking off on the FMQ and doing a fine job of it already!

  14. Oh my you have a lot happening! I love the chevron, I never get tired of seeing them. Your quilting is looking good. Keep practicing! And I just LOVE the picture of your grandson sewing. I enjoyed reading your post, and I'll say “Amen”

  17. Wow Zenia! You had quite an amazing week – beautiful work on your FMQ practice, quilt blocks and a great finish on Chevy Crush! I Love that your grandson wanted to try sewing – he looks so adorable with that big smile, showing off his pillowcase! I love the verses – something good to remember. And congrats on Ivy's housebreaking too. Yep – quite a week!

  25. Just as I read the last word about Ivy using the dog door, I heard a dog at my door. I got up from my chair, opened the door, and there were all three of the bums (Teddy, Georgia and Roo my kitty) waiting for me, their butler, to do their bidding. You definitely got something good going on there! I'm impressed with all of your work! Hope you are practicing in part to use my big monster machine!

  29. Wow, what a jam packed post. Your grandson is adorable! I'm going to do some research on that mitre tool. I'm not sure what Ivy is but she is so cute. I'm with you on the FMQ. Trying to get my skills up to speed. Your samples look great! I hope you get your tutorial kinks smoothed out. So far it looks great to me. Blessing!

  31. It is obvious to me that you are active in this wonderful online quilting community, Zenia. And I am sew glad to have you for a friend! Your FMQ is coming along nicely. I have always been a fan of that wood grain, too! How fun to spend a day sewing with your grandson. Nice pillowcase! He looks so proud. Amen!

  33. Hi Gayle, most of my posts are jammed as I usually only post on Friday. Ivy is an Australian Cattle Dog aka Queensland Heeler aka Blue Heeler. Thank you for visiting and all of the compliments.

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