Oh my, how time flies...

I cannot believe I have let a whole month slip by!  Well, 'slip' may not be the best way to put it, we've been keeping ourselves busy around here at the Trio Farm.  And I've finally spent a little time in my new sewing studio (emphasis on a little).

I managed to get my fourth Swoon block done.  Eventually they will all go into a queen sized quilt for our master bedroom... eventually.  I'm enjoying taking my time with these-- using them as a break from other projects, or in the case of this one, a way to dip my toes back into sewing after a long break.  

At first I wasn't so sure about the brown for the star, but Mr. Trio liked it from the start, and I find it's growing on me.

As for other things going on around here... 

This little guy (a beautiful Yellow Warbler) flew into our window one morning last week-- poor guy.  I'm thrilled to say there were no lasting injuries, he was just stunned out of his wits.  He hung out on our porch for about 15 minutes while I got to photograph him and enjoy his beauty up-close, and then he took off again.   

While I have been an early riser out of necessity for a few years (and now out of habit), it's only been since moving here to Trio Farm that I have begun to truly love the early morning.  It's a magical time of day here-- dare I say, ethereal.

And now these foggy mornings are turning cool and crisp-- autumn is in the air.  My favorite time of year.  The apples here are turning red and hanging heavy, and a some of the leaves are beginning to turn.

I'm so excited for our first fall back East, and all the colors that go along with it!

And with a new season comes the need for a new table runner.  Right?!?  Yes, I do think so.

W.I.P. Wednesday

I wish I had more to report for WIP Wednesday.  Really, getting our new place in order is my work in progress!  And all in all it's all slowly coming together.  If you missed the news about our move, you can read about it here.

I can show you a peek of a special paper piecing project I began before the move.  I'm sad to say that it will most likely not be completed in time for it's intended purpose.

I have most of the boxes for my sewing & craft room unpacked at this point, but what you can't see in this picture is the HUGE mess behind me!  It may be unpacked, but few things have found their place yet, lol!

And I have no chair, which kind of throws a wrench in things.

Also, my 4 bins of fabric remain in my sisters basement at the moment .

I should have them tonight or tomorrow though, and am anxiously awaiting their arrival!

 As a major plus, I have an amazing view!  I'm looking forward to the inspiration that will come in looking out this window; particularly in watching the seasons change.

Boone is having far too much fun running and playing on the property here at our new home, and has adjusted really well.

I'll leave you with one last piece of quilt-y goodness. 

Mr. Trio and I were lucky enough to recently receive a quilt that was hand made (hand pieced AND hand quilted) by his great aunt Ivy.  I'm amazed at the patience and love that went into this quilt.  Yesterday I worked a little on getting the guest room in order, and on the guest bed is where this quilt has found its new home.

Basting Day!

Today I'm working on basting my Modern Maples quilt.

I haven't been feeling too well, so it's slow going... which is a good thing since I still haven't made up my mind as to how I want it quilted.  I'm open to suggestions!

If you missed seeing the finished quilt top last week, you can see it here.  The photos did little justice for the colors-- something I hope to amend when I take my final pictures.

Modern Maples

Despite having other things I should be working on, this week I have been bitten by the Modern Maple bug.  And I've been having so much fun with these blocks that I'm flying through them!

I'm going for a bright fall look (despite it being summer).  I'm in love with the orange, purple, and pink color combo in particular!  

There is a smorgasbord of fabric lines in here: Hope Valley, Chicopee, Flea Market Fancy, Aviary, Architextures, Madrona Road, Mama Said Sew, Kona Solid... and a few more which I cannot recollect.

I cannot wait to get this one finished!

W.I.P -- More BOM Catch-Up

Playing catch-up still with the Skill Builder BOM.  March's blocks are almost done!

I slightly modified the layout for both blocks.

The "Woven Star" block came out great... I love it when all the points line up perfectly!

The "Woven Chevron" is going to be more of a general weave then a chevron-- I found the chevron layout really busy and confusing.  It's about ready to start being pieced together.  I think I'm really going to like this one too!

              

Packing and Piecing-- and not in that order

I should be packing for my trip to Colorado-- I leave early tomorrow morning.  And I am.  Packing I mean.  Well, sort of.  I've done the laundry at least, and that's a huge step toward getting packed.

And in between loads of laundry I have dipped my toes into the realm of paper piecing for the first time.

Turns out I really like it.  I don't know why I waited so long to give it a whirl.

That's all you get to see for now.  I'll be back on Monday to show you more.

Tomorrow I'm off to go see one of my best friends tie the knot!
Have a wonderful weekend!

Toting along

Well, Chloe's graduation t-shirt quilt is bound, signed, washed, and packaged for delivery.  

I can't wait for her to get it this weekend, and to share it completed with you all next week.

In the mean time I am slowly working on my quilted "Perfect Tote" bag (pattern by Elizabeth Hartman).  And I mean slowly with all those layers!  Things were moving right along yesterday with my panels...

... that is until this happened:

After some cleaning, tweaking, and needle changing things are back on track today.  The top and bottom bands are being quilted on as I watch old movies... today's movie-- Kismet.

If I stay on track I should have my bag done in time for my trip this weekend!

What's with Wednesdays?

There was a time where it seemed I only sat down to write on Fridays, and now it seems to have shifted to Wednesday.  I'm going to have to work on changing things up a bit I suppose!

Today I've finished up quilting the t-shirt quilt for my niece.  In the long run I opted to machine quilt (using Aurifil Thread 50 wt. #Light Grey)  instead of hand tie it.  It's a diamond grid with a 6 inch spread.  Honestly, it was the most difficult time quilting I have ever had-- despite all the shirts being interfaced, there was still a lot of stretch to deal with.  If I had to do it again, I would hand tie.

The binding fabric was delivered today and is in the wash.  As soon as it's dry I will start getting the binding made.  Typically I do not prewash my fabrics, but since all the shirts were washed to start out with, I chose to wash the backing and binding fabrics as well.

Chloe graduates  in a week and a half, and will be given her finished quilt then!  I can't wait for her to have it!  I will do a full post of the finished quilt after she has received it, and will try to give some pointers for anyone looking to make a t-shirt quilt in the future.

While I wait for the binding fabric to finish up I am working on that tote bag I told you about last week-- the one for my trip in a week.  And soaking in the spring time air by taking a few outdoor breaks as well!

I hope you are all getting some time outdoors these days, enjoying the beautiful weather (depending on where you live)!

W.I.P. Wednesday

Not a whole lot to report on this week.  I haven't been feeling so great, and haven't managed to get much done.  Also, I'm still not able to reply to any of my comments here on the blog-- so hang tight.  

I did managed to get the t-shirt quilt basted... and am working on slowly getting the quilting lines marked with a Clover Hera Marker.

I'm not sure how anyone can get through basting a quilt without the help of a Kwik Klip Safety Pin Fastener Tool.  If you don't already have one it is something I HIGHLY suggest purchasing-- it's well worth it, and under $10!

Lastly I'm going to attempt to whip up a new tote for myself before an upcoming trip.  I'm toying with the fabric combo above, and using Elizabeth Hartman's Perfect Quilted Tote pattern.  It's got some tweaking left to do... but I think I'm on the right track.

A first, a finish, and a W.I.P

Let me start with a little house keeping...

for some reason I am unable to reply to, or make, comments on my blog at the moment.  I apologize to everyone who's comments have gone unanswered.  Please keep the comments coming, I'm not trying to be standoff-ish, I swear!  I've sent an e-mail requesting help with the issue, and still have yet to receive an answer.  Any one else ever have that problem with their blogspot?  Any thoughts on how to fix it?

Wombat Quilts, if you're tuning back in-- the binding fabric you were curious about is Joel Dewberry; the Herringbone print from his Modern Meadow line.

The "first" that I made mention of is an art walk.  The Art Council of Greene New York, along with local businesses, held an Art Walk.  I have never participated in a craft show or art walk of any kind.  It was a lot of fun, and I met a lot of wonderful people and artists!  The Greene office of McKinney Real Estate was kind enough to host myself and three other artists.  A special thanks to them for hosting us; it was no small task!

My set up at the Greene Art Walk at the McKinney Real Estate Office

And I have finally been able to stock my Etsy store with some items that were left after last night.  You should stop by and check things out!

To follow up with the promise of sharing the finished table runners with you all I have a few better pictures of them (not including them in the photo above!).

Both runners are for sale on A Trio Beautiful's Etsy store.  

And lastly for the day... the backing fabric for my nieces t-shirt quilt has arrived.  If you're just tuning in, you can see the quilt here.  The fabric is all washed up now, and ready for ironing.  Next step-- basting the quilt!

** Edit ** I've only just now realized its Thursday.  Day late, dollar short! Lol!

W.I.P. Wednesday

I'm busy whipping up some smaller projects for the May 1st Greene Art Walk in which I will be displaying some of my items.

In the works today is another table runner.  The binding is made and ready to go!

I never shared completed photos of last weeks W.I.P. table runner... 

hopefully tomorrow or Friday I will get some completed photos up of both!

I'm heading outside for the hand sewing of this binding-- it's too nice today to be indoors any longer!

W.I.P. Wednesday

Well we did it.  We made it to New York.  Moving cross country is chaotic-- even more so when the sum of your belongings temporarily reside in a storage unit!  But despite all that, things are beginning to normalize a bit.  My sister and brother-in-law have been kind enough to share their home with us while we look for our own place... which is incredibly generous of them, and we are eternally grateful.

We've been in New York for just shy of two weeks now, and a routine is being established.  Mr. Trio is learning and loving the ropes of his new job, Boone is adjusting well to the upheaval, and me-- I'm enjoying my temporary unemployment and sewing up a storm (despite half my sewing stuff being in storage)!

So, let me share a few W.I.P.'s!  I've been asked to display some of my things at an art walk on May 1st, so I'm attempting to get a few items quickly whipped up for the occasion.  This block was so much fun to put together, and came together rather quickly.  I ADORE the way it came out!

Finished block is 15 x 15. Designed by Tara Rebman of tinkerfrog. Kit purchased at Mama Said Sew in Ft. Collins, CO.

I'm trying to decide that I want to do with it now... I'm thinking a throw pillow maybe?
Next up is a Spring/Summer table runner (pardon the terrible floor photo).  I'm really stumped as to how I want to finish this up.

I find that sketching doesn't help me unless I have my color pencils... which are in storage of course!
Should I make the runner squared off instead of diamonds?  I'm leaning toward keeping it diamonds and taking the approach similar to the bottom sketch.

Last but not least, these puppies here got whipped into a slew of HST (half square triangles) for a project which is now complete!  Before I can share the finished photos though, I first have to give the gift to the recipient!  I should be able to share with you all on Monday.

And Boone-- good ole' Boone dog.  Aside from a few adjustment issues the first three days, he really is doing quite well.