Friday 12 March 2010

"Ball of fire"

I have finally got the Make a shape tutorial I promised you in the OWOH post done, and I have even finished a quilt with the sample, “Ball of fire”.
The quilting did not exactly turn out the way I wanted. It was supposed to look like fire, but the red centre is so visually strong that the quilting fades into the background. I also learned a lesson about off centre designs. Make sure it really is off centre even after cleaning up your edges, or it just looks like you have done a mistake. As usually, I have bound the quilt, and will keep it with my other little lessons learned; I like to look at them.


I have also finished 7 of the shopping bags on my to-do-list. I know we are supposed to aim high, but I think I aimed a little too high with these.

Long story short: I bought 3 different fabrics last spring and promised my family I would make them shopping bags. I cut the yardage into rectangles, 28 of them, made some handles from leftover fabric, bought webbing for the rest of them; and was all ready to go. I made one bag and got bored. The last couple of months I have been working on them in between other projects. Sewing a few of them in steps make them tolerable.

They are very simple, but they all have French seams in the sides
and those little ear flaps at the inside
that make square corners on the bottom. Some have fabric handles,
some have webbing handles,
all off them secured with an extra x-seam.
They turned out fine. I gave the grey/pink ones to daughter and will send the blue ones to my parents as soon as I finish some more.

Now I'll pop over and add this to Amylouwho's Sew & Tell.

30 comments:

  1. Nina great ball of fire quilt. I also love the bags. I like the way the top edge is folded over. I need to makea few but I procrastinate so much.

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  2. I see nothing wrong with the ball of fire. That´s life!

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  3. The ball of fire is a ball of coolness--what a great concept. I just love seeing what you will come up with next!

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  4. Great finishes! This is how I work on my doo-doo list too. In between... Great job!
    Blessings,
    KT

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  5. Great job on the ball of fire! And I love the french seams in your shopping bags . . . I really must learn how to do that!

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  6. Wow - stunning ball of fire!!! And I didn't notice it was off centre!

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  7. Outstanding! That ball of fire is "hot". Good job on all the bags too. I like the french seam...I have just serged mine but I think your seam would be much sturdier.

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  8. OMG...the ball of fire looks awesome..perfect patches for the block...i love it.

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  9. Wow! The Ball of Fire is amazing! Great bags, too. I've never made an unlined one, so it's nice to know what finish you used on the seams. Very neat looking!

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  10. I love your red ball! Makes me want to go make one right now!

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  11. You're output is so impressive. I love ball of fire a lot. The shopping bags are so well made, I bet your family could fill them with bottles of milk and make it home without a problem!

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  12. well, I like the bags and the ball of fire. I can see what you mean about the quilting, though I think if you adapted this to yellows/oranges, you'd have a great "sun" for a room and I might do that when I finally get the sewing room I have envisioned in my head. :D

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  13. I love your ball of fire quilt!!! The stitching is gorgeous! Great bags as well. I don't think I would have the patience to do that many ;-) Have a great weekend.

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  14. I like the ball of fire. I thought of the sun when I saw it, which is, of course, a giant ball of fire.

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  15. That Ball of Fire is awesome! I know exactly what you mean about the bags. I made a couple just like those over the summer in a fit of energy, and now the rest of the fabric sits unloved in a corner.

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  16. I love the ball of fire quilt and your stitching is beautiful on those bags. I hate when you get bored with something but you have to finish it. They are really cute, though.

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  17. Now how did I know that was you when I first saw the picture of ball of fire? It is awesome. Love the bag and finishes too. Thanks for sharing.

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  18. I love circular quilting and bit of fabrics. The quilting's a nice accent. It looked like the sun immediately to me.

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  19. The Ball of Fire is amazing! I also love the details of the bags. You are so talented!

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  20. once again you have wow-ed me. the ball of fire is awesome and the shopping bags are great and useful.

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  21. oh my! You have been busy! I LOVE all your bags and your quilting you did! it looks amazing to me!

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  22. I really like your 'Ball of Fire' quilt. I hear you about the bags. I generally never make the same quilt twice. I always want to try soemthing different.

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  23. love the ball of fire piece. and your bags are such a great idea!

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  24. love the quilt!

    That is a lot of bags to make! I'm impressed!

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  25. I love that little fireball! The texture in the center is just great!

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  26. I think the Ball of Fire quilt is awesome! Your bags came out great ... but aren't you glad you're done with them! So many other fun things to make!

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  27. The ball of fire piece is wonderful! I also love how well done and precise you were when making the bags...

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  28. You always inspire me to try new things and think outside the box. Thank you!

    Love the sun quilt.

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  29. Your 'ring of fire' is very inspiring, will look at your tutorial when I hve more time:)
    I bet you feel good getting all those bags out of the way. There is quite a lot of sewing involved especially since you're doing french seams!

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  30. Love the bags. I'm a bag kinda of girl. What is the blue fabric called and do you remember where you got it? I need a new laptop bag.

    carol
    brrmidjidesigns@blogspot.com

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