New quilt top...and Julieta ::: Novo topo de quilt...e a Julieta

Sleeping on a quilt for a cat is like giving it their seal of aproval. If they don't want to go there, I've done something wrong. This one is clearly aproved! :)

Dormir num quilt para um gato é como dar a sua aprovação. Se não querem ir lá para cima, fiz algo de errado. Este está claramente aprovado! :)

Hello Blog, I've missed you!

Hello!
I see here I've posted on the 14th but to me it seemed so much longer than that! I've been über busy lately! Although I work only 4 hours a day and this schedule suits me just fine, there is always so much more to do, I'm still getting quilt comissions, wich I love and it makes me so so happy, but at the same time, something has to give, I suppose. And lately, it's been blogging.

I'm currently working on two quilts for a couple of baby boy twins. The idea was to make two different quilts that complement each other. The only specific request was that I added their names to the quilts.

This is what I've got so far:

This first one is almost complete, all it needs now is to trim the edges and then add a solid frame around it for some balance. To me, a nice solid frame is perfect for making the colors stand out and, let's face it, in a boy quilt, with such cold colors, it needs a little something to make it pop!

For the second one, I still need to sew all the rows together as well as adding the frame, but I think that you get the idea from these pictures.

Hopefully it will work out as nicely as I see it in my head!

The anatomy of a baby quilt, Part II - Driving me CRRAAAAZZZZYYYYY!!!

The only specific request was this satin binding. And let me tell you, it's been driving me crazzyyy!!!!

 This is the preliminary result, but I'm not so sure I won't have to start all over!!

Mushi seems to aprove though... :)

The anatomy of a baby quilt, Part I

 This...

... turns into this...

... which turns into this! :D

catching up

Hello.

This is a much loved project that ended up being cast aside due to all the comissions I had this month. But I never forgot about it and now I'm excited to finish it at last!

I chose a really cute Ikea fabric with some vegetables and fruits, it's really Summer-like.

By the way, I still can't comment on my posts, even though I really wanted to, sorry about that. I'm reading your comments, just can't answer them :(

Current wips: his and hers baby quilts

Under strict supervision as usual :)

And I'm in love once more :) these are too cute!! Also for charity auction :)

WorkS in progress ::: TrabalhoS em progresso

Hello.
Guess I'm multitasking now! I'm making two quilts at the same time, as it is a comission for the same person.



 This one I've shown you before, now it is already quilted. I'm still not sure this is the final version, but if not, I should finish it by tomorrow.

This is the new fabric I bought (IKEA, of course) and it has already inspired me in all sorts of ways. It's a difficult fabric, the little animals are huge and in different shapes and sizes do it's hard to get equal squares. 

This is what I came up with. Already quilted as well. I used a thicker batting, I win some depth and lose some precision, but I think it's worth it!

Almost there! :: Quase lá!

Hello.

Today was the day I got the courage and the time to free motion quilt! I can see definite improvements, the more I quilt the better it looks, but I still struggle with the lack of consistency, it's like I lose my focus all of a sudden and it clearly shows, so I have to start over...

I've also already sewn the binding on, so this is what the quilt is looking like:

Olá.



Hoje foi o dia que ganhei coragem e tempo para quiltar com free motion. Noto melhorias cada vez que uso esta técnica, mas ainda tenho alguns problemas em conseguir manter-me consistente com o que faço. às vezes parece que me distraio e isso nota-se claramente no resultado. Depois tenho que desfazer e começar de novo.

Também já cosi o binding, e aqui têm o resultado:

Right now it's looking a bit to green for the intended goal, but once I finish the binding it will look better as it will be half of what it is right now.

In the meantime, today is turning out to be a big day! I always love this particular day, because of the summer solstice, but today I actually got myself a job! hehehe. While trying to decide what it is to do with my life, I've taken a part-time job at Ikea... at the textile department. How perfect is that??? I think I'm going to love it there, particularly since you already know how big of an Ikea fan I am! I'll just have to control the urge to buy Ikea fabric every day. Should be easy right?

Neste momento parece um bocadinho esverdeada em comparação com o resultado desejado, mas quando acabar de coser o binding vai ficar melhor, visto que ficará com metade da largura actual.

Entretanto hoje está a ser um dia em grande! Gosto muito deste dia por causa do Solsticio de Verão, mas hoje também consegui um emprego! hehehe. Enquanto decido o que quero fazer da vida, tenho um emprego part-time no Ikea... na secção de texteis. Perfeito, certo? Acho que vou adorar lá estar, até porque já sabem como sou fã do Ikea!! So tenho que conseguir controlar a vontade de comprar tecidos todos os dias. Deve ser fácil, certo?

In the meantime... ::: Entretanto

... I've already started preparations for my next comissioned baby quilt, this time it's for a furry baby, how cute is that? :)

...já comecei a preparar a minha próxima encomenda, desta vez um quilt para um bebé peludo, não é fofinho?

This one is going to be a different version of the Baby Girl Animal Quilt. The feline baby's mom really liked that one and asked for a similar one, so I've spent my evening cutting the fabric for the quilt, which I should start sewing as soon as I finish my current project.

Esta vai ser uma versão nova do Baby Girl Animal Quilt. A mamã deste bebé felino gostou muito dela e pediu-me uma semelhante, por isso passei a minha noite a cortar o tecido para esse quilt, que devo começar a coser assim que terminar o meu projecto actual.

Updating

Hello!

The current baby quilt is ready to be quilted, but since it's going to be free motion quilting, I know I'll have to feel pretty inspired to suceed ;)

Olá!
O quilt de bebé está pronto para o quilting, mas como vai ser free motion, sei que tenho que estar inspirada para obter o resultado que pretendo :)

As you can see, the pink frame was a great idea, the quilt is perfectly balanced now. The frame has a thicker fabric, which I think works great because it create all the different textures I love so much.

Como podem ver, a moldura rosa foi uma óptima ideia, o quilt ficou perfeitamente equilibrado agora. A moldura é de um tecido mais forte e acho que funciona muito bem porque cria as diferentes texturas que eu adoro utilizar.

Also, the baby's name is Leonor and so we decided to add that detail to the quilt. We tried a lot of diferent placement for the L and decided to place it right on the center of the quilt.

I expect to be able to show you the quilted result tomorrow.

O nome da bebé é Leonor e por isso decidimos adicionar esse detalhe ao quilt. Tentámos vários lugares para a letra e decidimos colocá-la mesmo no centro do quilt.

Espero conseguir mostrar-vos o resultado amanhã.

New day, new project! :: Novo dia, novo projecto!

Hello.

I have a new comissioned baby quilt, which I've come to realize, is my favorite thing to make. you get to try out new things and it's much more easy to manage, not like those heavy large quilts I sometimes take on.

This is a girly girl baby quilt. I was asked to use pink pink pink and animals. A great combination, as far as I'm concerned!
This is the center of the quilt, now I'm thinking of adding a small solid frame and then quilt like crazy!

I'm sorry about the bad quality photos, I was in a hurry ;)

Olá!

Tenho uma nova encomenda para um quilt de bebé, de menina. Já cheguei à conclusão que quilts de bebés são os meus projectos favoritos, conseguimos experimentar uma data de coisas e são muito fáceis de manejar, ao contrário daqueles quilts gigantes que às vezes me lembro de fazer.

O que me foi pedido foi usar muito rosa e animais, a minha combinação preferida!
Este é o centro do quilt, estou a pensa adicionar uma pequena moldura de tecido liso e depois venha o quilting!

Peço desculpa pela qualidade da foto, foi um bocadinho à pressa :)

A brand new Baby Girl Quilt

Hello!

I can now show you a bit more of the quilt I'm making to welcome a lovely newborn baby girl into this World. I wanted it to be girly but colorful and, of course, very original.
Overall, it's not really your regular baby quilt, but I think it's very cute and fun! Hopefully her mom will agree!

I've made it a bit bigger than usual, because I like my baby quilts to be able to accompany their owners for as long as possible, without becoming to baby-like.
I've already shown you the center of the quilt, the cute animals in all sorts of colorful backgrounds. This is the finished top:


Olá.
Agora posso mostrar-vos um pouco mais do quilt que estou a fazer para receber uma bebé recém nascida a este Mundo. Queria que fosse muito feminina mas colorida e, claro, muito original.
No geral, não é aquele quilt de bebé tradicional, mas acho que é muito fofinho e divertido! Espero que a mãe dela concorde!

Fiz este quilt um pouco maior do que é costume, porque gosto que os meus quilts acompanhem os seus donos durante o máximo de tempo possível, sem se tornar demasiado infantil.
Já vos tinha mostrado o elemento central do quilt, os animais fofinhos com todo o tipo de fundo colorido. Este é o topo terminado:


The already traditional stained glass-like photo::: A já tradicional foto estilo vitral



Like I said, colorful. I wish the squares could be a bit bigger in order to fit the animals more properly, but I tried it and it just looked too big, the whole quilt would be too big and less cute, in my opinion. So I guess the little animals are peaking through these cute squared windows.

I also thought that with all the colors around the animals they would kind of fade into the background. I don't know if the pictures show it well enough, but with the white frames, the animals actually pop out from the squares, the exact effect I was looking for.

There are some really girly animals and some less girly animals, but as a girl that absolutely loves all animals, I think it balances it out perfectly.

Como já vos tinha dito, muito colorida. Gostaria que os quadados pudessem ser maiores para se ajustarem melhor aos animais, mas tentei e ficavam demasiado grandes, todo o quilt seria enorme e menos fofinho, na minha opinião. Por isso assim parece que os animais estão a espreitar através de umas janelinhas quadradas.

Também receei que com tantas cores à mistura os animais desaparecessem, não sei se as fotos o mostram bem, mas com as molduras brancas, os animais sobressaem bastante dos quadrados, o efeito exacto que eu pretendia.

Temos alguns animais mais femininos e alguns menos femininos, mas enquanto uma rapariga que absolutamente adora todos os animais, acho que fica bem equilibrado.

And this is the backing I've chosen. Ikea fabric, of course, you know I'm a big fan! Also I love the colors and the combination between buterflies and cars. This is the first Ikea fabric I bought, because it reminded me of some sheets my sister and I had when we were little, with cute cars just like these.

How are you liking it so far?

Este é o tecido da parte de trás que eu escolhi. Tecido Ikea, claro, já sabem que sou uma grande fã! Também adoro as cores e a combinação entre as borboletas e os carros. Este é o primeiro tecido Ikea que eu comprei, porque me lembra uns lençois que eu e a minha irmã tinhamos quando eramos pequenas, com carrinhos iguais a estes.

Aprovam até agora?

Current Wips :: Projectos actuais

I haven't been able to finish the quilt I was making, I'm very indecisive regarding the quilting and the backing part.
However, there's been a birth in our mist and a baby quilt is required :) I'm making something with these cute little fellows :)

Ainda não consegui terminar o quilt que estava a fazer. Estou muito indecisa em relação ao quilting e à parte de trás.
Contudo, houve um nascimento e um quilt de bebé é necessário :) estou a fazer algo com estes amiguinhos :)

More on that later!

Mais sobre o assunto mais tarde!

The current status of things :: O estato actual das coisas

Hello.

Just to let you know the status of my current project. I guess you could say this is the same quilt, just updated to fit the decor of my room, which I'm slowly turning into a cloud. That means baby blues and whites :)

Olá.

Só para vos mostrar o status do meu projecto actual. Acho que se pode dizer que é a mesma colcha, apenas numa versão actualizada para se ajustar à decoração do meu quarto, que estou lentamente a transformar numa núvem. Isso significa azul bebé e brancos :)

I love it! Now this is the stage I usually lose momentum. The chosing of the backing and the quilting. Let's see how it goes this time!
Adoro! Agora nesta fase é quando perco o andamento. A escolha do tecido para a parte de trás e o quilting. Vamos ver como corre desta vez!

Going at it again... :) ::: Repetindo a viagem... :)

And now comes the fun part!

E agora vem a parte gira!

Sunday's work ::: O trabalho de Domingo

Hello.
I had decided that I wouldn't work on my quilt today, something about learning how to wait and be less impatient or something like that, can't really remember... :)

I finished basting it and quilted it. Always under strict supervision, of course!

Olá.
Tinha decidido não trabalhar hoje, algo a ver com aprender a esperar e a ser menos impaciente, já não me lembro bem... :)


Acabei de colocar todos os alfinetes e "quiltei-a". Sempre devidamente supervisionada!

That looks tasty! (Isso parece saboroso)

Can I have some? (Posso provar?)

How long till we finish? I want to take my nap. (Quanto tempo falta para acabar? quero fazer a minha sesta.)

As usual I kept the quilting really simple, I quilted around each of the outer squares and then quilted a rectangle around the 6 squares in the center of the quilt. When I choose this sort of quilting, I'm mainly looking to acent the diferent parts of the quilt, but always trying to keep the main focus on the lovely fabrics. Also, of course, to bind the quilt and make it last longer, of course :)

Como sempre, mantive o quilting bastante simples. contornei todos os quadrados de fora e depois criei um rectangulo em volta dos 6 quadrados do meio do quilt. Quando escolho este tipo de quilting, tento sobretudo acentuar as diferentes partes do quilt, mas fazendo tudo para manter a atenção nos tecidos. E claro, para unir o quilt e garantir que dura mais :)

you can see here the quilting on the outer squares (podemos ver aqui o quilting dos quadrados exteriores)

 As for the backing, I must say I've decided to do my boldest backing ever! I love these fabrics, as you know, and in fact, the top of the quilt is divided into blue and green squares and red, pink and orange squares. These two Ikea fabrics actually have all o these colors. Also, they are as summer-y as it gets! I worry that you can see the backing through the top, but so far I haven't noticed it yet.

Now, to decide the right binding for this slightly schizofrenic color scheme I've picked :)

Em relação à parte de trás, devo dizer que é a parte de trás mais aventureira que alguma vez escolhi! Adoro estes tecidos, como sabem, e na realidade, o quilt está dividido em azuis e verdes e encarnados rosas e laranjas. Estes dois tecidos do Ikea têm todas estas cores. Além disso, lembram-me tanto o Verão! Preocupa-me que se consiga ver a parte de trás através do topo,mas até agora ainda não dei por isso.


Agora resta-me decidir o que escolher para o binding para esta palete de cores ligeiramente esquizofrénica que eu escolhi :)

the backing (a parte de trás)

P.S. - No pets were harmed during the photographing of this post :) Nor after!

P.S. - Nenhum animal foi magoado durante a sessão fotográfica para este post :) Nem a seguir!

Completely over the Top!!

It's been, as predicted, a very productive afternoon.
The real project is so much lovelier than the photos show, I wish you could see it! :)

This is the main focus of the quilt, but it was too short for what I needed. However I felt that if I added more squares it would just look too busy, and as you know, I'm in a lighter, whiter, summer-y mood lately :) So I added a larger white frame and thus concluded the top of my quilt:

Voilá!
I just know I'll end up picking a very colorfull binding, so I'm happy with the bigger frame.  I also have no idea how to quilt this, but I'm loving the experience. I wish I could do this quilt in every possible combination! :)

I hope you like it too! Have a great weekend!

Moving fast and steady!

Hello.

One more completed step. The first strips have been sewn and it is looking something like this:

Yes, I know this "hanger" has a different purpose, but untill I finish this quilt, this is the most action this treadmill is getting from me! :)

This is the stage I start going to bed thinking about waking up early to sew and get to the next step, so I should get all the centre of the quilt together in a couple of hours! I'm so excited, I'm loving this quilt! So far my second favorite quilt ever but such a small margin! :)

Next Step.

Hello.

I must admit that when I saw the first recatangles I had done for this quilt, I liked them so much part of me considered to just leave it like that and change the project.
However, another part of me, a slightly bolder and maybe less inteligent part, decided to keep going.

I already have all the squares and they look great, it's been such a fun quilt to make! I tried to photograph them to the best of my abilities, but, as some of you know, I have really anoying cats (still love them to death though), who seem to be able to sense or smell when fabric is being lined up, or sometimes when fabric so much as touches the floor... Also, I somehow managed to misplace my camera, so mobile had to do. This was the result of my photographic documentation of this step...

She kept guard for about two hours before I decided to give up..

Now to unite the blocks into one big happy colorfull family! I promise better pictures of the final result :)

Step by step...

Hello.

Here's an update on my current project.

I've already shown you stage one:

Stage two: sewn stripes.

I'm still in love with my fabrics :)

I had to be really quick and stealth while taking these pictures because THIS ALWAYS happens when there's fabric on the floor:

Stage 3, cutting the fabric all over again! 144 to be precise :)

The hot colors

The cold pallet

Ready for the next stage and a new day :)