Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Ballerinas back on scene


Hey Sandra, your cheering up about Ballerinas paid off. They are out of the drawer and I added chimneys!

Some of you might also remember this project. Ballerinas quilt for my girl. It was meant to be for her 7th Bday. She is going to turn 8 in September so I better work on it since I don't have fabrics for another house. The pattern is from Modern Patchwork by Elizabeth Hartman. I made it charm pack friendly and added chimney. I want to add some pinwheels and flowers to create little gardens next to the houses.


Now there is something to smile about. My FMQ. You don't get to see this type of FMQ very often. So very amateur. I know I was suppose to practice, practice and practice on squares and then take it to the quilt but I was so tired of moving around my color wheel I told myself I'll do it no matter what. I started. It was so hard to move. Few second later I realized I left the cutting mat on my table so I couldn't slide on the surface. Geeez! Problem solved. I showed it to my husband and he told me I ruined the whole thing. That couldn't stop me. I showed it to my friend. She told me that it is exactly my style. I agreed, lol.


Should I get the supreme slider? It's not cheap and not easy to get here. I saw a picture of such slider taped to the table for security reasons. That made me think. I taped piece of vinyl on my table to try it out.


I cut the hole for needle just like it is on the slider and taped to the machine. The vinyl actually sticks to the machine and on the table surface as well.


My second attemp ended up looking better.


I'm not up to some patterns yet. I just need to get comfortable with moving the quilt and finding the right speed and all that.


My color wheel is going to be my practice piece. I'm not going to unpick my first attempt. It makes me smile every time I look at it. I'm not giving up and I'm going to loop this away.


Linking up with
WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

21 comments:

  1. OMG! That color wheel! Nice call with the makeshift Supreme Slider. I bought the small one and it does wonders for me. I LOVE your quilting!

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  2. I used a reusable cookie sheet liner as my Super Slider substitute. I cut a hole under the needle, taped it to the top of the extension table and voilà. Cheap and easy, totally replaceable.

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  3. I think your doing great! I totally feel your pain because I am at the same place in FMQ that you are. But we have to proceed forward and it will only get better. Love your color wheel, hope to see the finished product. Your houses and ballerinas are so sweet.

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    1. Thank you for your lovely comment and your encouragement!

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  4. YAY ME! I mean ... YAY YOU!! 8 is as good of an age for ballerinas, as 7 is - she'll love it :)

    Your free-mo project is coming along fine - don't forget that when it's finished, the individual stitches that are mainly what you see as you're working on it, will all blend together into a lovely collage of pretty stitches - it'll be great!

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  5. Those ballerinas are wonderful! Love the houses they are in :)

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  6. I think it looks nice! I need more practice too but I am not scared to go wild it helps get the feel for it.

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  7. Love those little ballerina houses. I have some blocks to FMQ too, but like you I can't find it in myself to make some practice quilt sandwiches. So they are unquilted. you are further on than I am.

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  8. Jsem ráda, že malé baleríny jsou zpět. Máš je krásné. A volné prošívání jsem jednou trénovala a vím, že to není legrace a jde vidět, že se zlepšuješ. Mně hodně pomohly i rukavice za 20 Kč pracovní. :-)

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  9. Your colour wheel is going to be so good when you get all the spokes done, your quilting is good and getting better as you go, so keep it up. The vinyl on the table is brilliant too.

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  10. I love your idea with the vinyl. I have a supreme slider that doesn't stick and gives me shocks. I am not sure what I am doing wrong so I might try your idea. Love the color wheel work ...keep going. The ballerina house quilt is so precious.

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  11. Gorgeous color wheel and your FMQ will only get better with practice! Your ballerinas are cute too!
    Julie @ The Crafty Quilter

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  12. You are making me feel brave enough to attempt FMQ! YOur first time looks pretty amazing. I think it will be really wonderful when you finish! Love your little ballerinas. Great use of summersville.

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  13. You are doing really well, Vera!! Remember you are never going to look at the stitches closely and the whole piece looks wonderful already. Before you know it, you will be a pro. I love the ballerinas. That will make such a cute quilt for your daughter :)

    Have fun,
    Soma :)

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  14. It's great to practice FMQ on a square, but it all changes when you add the weight of a quilt. Great idea to use the vinyl. I have a slider, and love it. The way your quilting the colour wheel is really going to add some impact and movement. It will be sensational. I can't stop smiling at the ballerinas. They make me feel young at heart.

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  15. Oh yes she's unstoppable. Always been that way .)

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  16. LOVE the ballerinas!! and the quilting on the color wheel is going to be awesome when it's done, love how its going so far

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