Catching up on news....and stash additions.....

Greetings....we had a great rain storm a few nights ago...2.5 inches...which we needed so badly!  That may be it for the summer, the way the weather has been acting....

I am working on my last (notice, I said LAST!) curtain and have put DH on the alert for need of curtain rods....He is still sandblasting parts of a rusty metal trailer...I will leave it at that, other than....

Attack of the Red-Hooded Sandblaster

I have just decided I am going to make another bag just in case...I could use two bags and surely I can get one finished in a couple of weeks in time for my bus trip.....maybe..... will let you see either the cloth or the result later....

The first of this month I went to my GDs birthday party (1 yr).  We were early and stopped in a garage sale a few houses away...here is some of what I found ..

30 "cheater" blocks (17 x 17), already cut and ready to sew; a vintage sheet, and red,white,blue fabric.

I can make either one  huge, big quilt (85 x102 minimum) or 2 twin size quilts (51 x 85 minimum..maybe some borders) for beds.  Which would you suggest? ...don't know who will get them yet.. may donate them to someone...

Always wanted to try a vintage sheet in my sewing, now I have to find companion fabrics for them...

I also will find a good pattern for the other fabric...obviously a patriotic one (for July 4, 2012, obviously...I can't get it done in time for this year, )...

Back to my sewing...I promised myself to concentrate on curtains before anything else, so must get the last one done before the bag is started.....

Old Plans "Fly Away"....New Plans Replaced

I was up early this morning (6:00am). When I awake early like this, I find I can get a lot done before DH wakes up...So, after putting sheets in to be washed, getting a cup of coffee, browsing the web for a Very Short Time, I plan to prepare a binding for my mat. 

I like to watch DVDs at times, and I just received this in the mail a few days ago.  I have already seen the movie and liked it...

I love to see movies again and again, so I put it on...

and ended up watching a documentary that was included in the Special Feature section of the actual flights of the birds and the history behind the organization....

So instead of concentrating on the binding, which would have taken place mainly at my machine, I did this...

which didn't take long to prepare, is a mindless activity, and kept me glued to my screen..

Now I must get to that binding~!

Just a-Swingin' and a-Sippin' and a-Sewin'...and a-Snappin'

I finished my wall hanging (approx 20" x 20").Got the pictures from a coloring book,  colored it with regular Crayolas and then pressed the excess color away. Even put a sleeve on the back (my first).. It was (and is) a gorgeous day outside, comfortable with a breezy breeze.  So out I went to take a picture..  I took several, as you will see.. but sun was so bright it "burned" out some of the color...anyway, here is the wall hanging in different poses and different backgrounds.....

...on a rock

..another rock

...a trencher

..and our duelly....with stabilizing rocks....

It was so nice outside that I took my sewing mat outside also. 

 I sat in the swing and sewed a few inches on it.  As I was sittin' there, sewin' and sippin' my water, a large hummingbird flew about a foot in front of me, heading, I think, to the bright flowers and colors that were on my lap.  He did that a couple of times until he realized that he could not join me in sippin'. 

I also saw cardinals defending their territory, a couple of dove, a woodpecker, a purple martin, and several mud dobbers (flying insects)... very active yard for the afternoon.....no deer today, although we have seen 3 of them several times come up to the side and back of the house, munching on the new grass....

Love this time of year!!!

  



So, what did you do on Sunday???

My Mother's Day was ideal!  DH stated he would do everything that needed to be done and I was not to lift a finger doing anything I didn't want to do....

First thing in the morning,  we spent about an hour on the front porch watching the biggest crowd of purple martins we have had around our birdhouses (gourds). They can be cranked up and down to clean, etc. You have seen pictures of them in earlier posts lately.  Here is a closeup.

 We put them up late summer 2009, and last year we only saw a few and they were probably young ones learning to flit and explore.  Sunday we couldn't count the number...we guessed there was around a dozen or so.  Without turning this into a bird post, suffice it to say that the birds have been around almost constantly since then, and we think (notice, Think) we have a pair....maybe...

But it was a nice Mother's Day surprise, which both of us enjoyed.  We then came in, ate breakfast (by DH), and I proceeded to closet myself  in my sewing room, which was, honestly, hard to do because of such a pretty day outside!

 I watched DVDs on my computer --- Breakfast at Tiffany's  and the Ice Age trilogy---Yeah, I know... what can I say....my taste of movies is quite varied. 

While doing that,  I played with fabric.  First, I picked out long (and some not so long) striplets (narrow strips) from my "trash stash" and braided several together. 

I'm not going to do anything with them yet...this is a llooonnngggg project I am experimenting with....mats, rugs, dust catchers....who knows...

Next, I decided on a design for my sewing mat,,,and changed my mind in the middle of it.. ended up with this top, which still needs to be sandwiched and quilted...

I will remeasure and probably will even put it under my sewing machine and extender to see if it is the size I want. If I want it bigger, I will probably add an outer border of white.  I want it to be big enough to easily be under my sewing machine, but not so big as to get in the way of other things on the table. 

I actually washed these......

...in preparation for some baby blankets for another soon-to-be grandchild.  It's parents don't want to know the gender, being the 6th one, they want some surprise.  But they did find out that it weighs, according to the drs, roughly 5 pounds right now..and it's due mid June..that big, I am guessing a boy, hence I took a chance with the patterns.

That's not much to show for a day of leisurely sewing, but that's okay...I also read, rested, and headed again to the front porch that evening...

Hope your Mother's Day was as nice.....

Progress....and a Stall....

I have finished quilting my tool quilt and am in the process of cutting the strips for the binding.  I am using the left-overs from the quilt so some of them are a little short.  Also, I am not using much blue fabric because that is what is on the border. But I like to use some..it makes  little "openings" for the border to sneak through.

I also have sandwiched my Mystery Quilt.  However, I only handstitch now and don't really know what design to put on it.  So it will be put aside (aht-oohh, or oops!) (how do you spell that, anyway?) for awhile until I can decide.

Something is missing.......

What is missing from this picture?

Yep...My Janome is being serviced, Not as we speak...I took it in yesterday (Friday) afternoon which means that it will be at least Monday before anyone looks at it..Tuesday before they call that it is ready, Wednesday before I can go get it, and Thursday before it can be back with all these and working again.  And that is best case scenario.

But: I have plans to keep myself busy, as described earlier in another post:

I am handquilting the border of the tool belt.  I am lazy, so am using painter's tape to keep my sewing lines approximately the same distance apart.  This roll is 2" wide. I just put it down, sew next to it and continue moving the same piece forward as I sew.  Works for me..

Then I plan to set up a sandwich of this quilt top. 

We bought this black block from Lowe's.  I'm not even sure what it is, I haven't asked DH. It might be something like a water or sewer grate.  At any rate, it is tall enough so that the needle in my basting gun won't hit bottom, and heavy enough not to move easily.  Also, now DH won't have to make me a grid like he was planning. The gun is still on probation...it is a cheaper version of another one I may buy, but want to see if it will really work or not with machine quilting..

This, plus some other tasks I have in mind, should keep me busy.

What's been happening......

There are times when you work really hard and know you are working, but there is nothing really you can show in pictures of how much you are getting done.  So here is a quick rundown on what I have been doing lately.....pictures and words.....

1) I have just been handquilting on this:

I have all the blocks done..just need to work on the borders now.

2) I have been trying to get back to my Valentine table runner..pictures you have seen in the last few posts.... and would like to make another one,,different pattern...similar fabric....

3)  I had a pile of giveaway items on my floor and needed to do some straightening up, so I took pictures, will be composing and scheduling posts, and will put them all in mailing packages, ready to be sealed up, addressed and mailed when the time comes.  Can't show you pictures yet..will spoil the anticipation.  Let's just say that I have at least one or two real good ones, depending on your point of view.. I will say to cat lovers and flower lovers:  be on the lookout in the next couple of months. 

4)  I have also just received this: 

I borrowed my neighbors' and basted my tool quilt with it...seems to hold up okay, so I ordered one..as soon as DH makes me a grid to place under my sandwiched quilts, I will try it out again.  Because of reasons that are unimportant, I would rather not use basting spray.

5) I have also been thinking seriously about machine quilting.  This would cause an even slower slowdown of quilts than I really want, but it might work out better in the long run, even if I only machine quilt baby quilts, or smaller quilts...

6) Also,,,,thanks to this: I have more quilts on my plate now...I will be shooting down my no-buy-unless-absolutely-necessary creed that I adopted about 27 days ago....didn't last long, did it.

I am going to start a 365 day quilt, + offered to help my DD, and two DDILs  with their 52 week/365 days quilts.  (they haven't decided what time frame yet). Have to kinda/sorta decide what layout the quilts will be now.  So those are ongoing projects that will get their start soon.  Hopefully I can do the quilt as you go method. Otherwise a year from now, you won't be hearing from me for at least a month!


7)  Sorta finished a draft for my Sew We Quilt (Stash Manicure) post scheduled for March (right now). 'Nuf said about that...it's way in the future..

8) And finally, next month, will be taking my Janome in for regular maintenance.  So will be machineless for a couple of days at least.  I think I can find things to do while she is gone.

Dilemma - or Decisions, Decisions..

Nothing earthshattering.... I am making a table runner for Valentine's Day.  I have barely started..

It takes me awhile to absorb directions and chose fabric.  This time the fabric was easy...the directions were easy, once I understood them...

I have three colors, pink, red and white...

The pink fabric will be the border fabric.  No problem.  Red swirls on white..no problem.. White swirls on red...bingo!

My dilemma was that the fabric I wanted (red) I do not have enough of.  There is another section on each end composed of red diamonds on white and 2 small (red) hearts to go on the middle white fabric.. All that is cut and ready to go.  What I don't have is enough red to make (2) two-sided big valentines that will be attached to the ends once it is sandwiched and quilted.

At the time I was checking over the directions, I realized the lack of red so decided to use it (not white) in the middle and the white as the valentines.  Great idea!  Except...

when I cut, I accidently reverted back to the original wants...

Now,,, what to do...should I just forget the end valentines and just go with the red ones in the middle?

Or stay with my original idea of white valentines on the ends?

Or should I try and make scrappy white/red valentines on the end?  Or red on top and white underneath?

I'm not sure what the backing of this runner will be yet...

Nuts...I think I'll wait until tomorrow to decide, after we go visit my BIL & SIL and their winery... I'm sure I'll come up with a great solution by the time I get back.....

Finished Tool Top

Yes, I have a brand new UFO.  Just finished the top to the Tool Quilt (52" x 60" ).  I cut a simple panel and simplified its' original pattern.  With the holidays and such, I figure it will lay in its' tool box for awhile.  My side list of things to do before the new year hasn't seen much progress...given the time of year I am not surprised.  

I have also come to the conclusion that grandchildren grow faster than a quilt can be made for them.  I have some darling fabric that is quickly being outdated by their recipients ages.....Wonder if a 12 year old would still be interested in Dr. Seuss??? 

BTW, I have decided what to do with my giveaway on my 100th post...wait and see.....have to take pictures first. I (think) this is my 96th post.

Progress, of a sort.

I promised several things in the last post...well, never promise anything in print.  Things happen.

I did touch on everything, however.

1) I cut my Dr. Seuss story blocks.  Now to arrange them.  As some of you have realized, they are not squares.

 They are 2 sizes of rectangles, which opens up a variety of layouts.  Being rectangles, the width of the quilt will need to be "padded" a little more than the length.  So I decided to take my time on deciding how to arrange these.

2) I did work on my free-motion.  The front looks okay, but I am not sure of the tension in the back yet.  Will need a little more work.  I have  been writing in my journal and keeping tabs, but I still think my tension needs a little more tweeking.

3) I have laid out and am ready to start putting together a (1) row of crazy blocks.
 


  

I only have one machine, so have decided to finish the one row of blocks before I do anything else, other than finishing up Clue #3 on my DaChintzky Code quilt-along, which needs to be done by Wednesday.

Now is the Time to Make Waves!

I sometimes feel as if I am on a work cycle, sort of like waves splashing around reefs or breakwaters....I have been sitting here, thinking and planning in placid waters, waiting for the next big surfing wave that comes on the beach with a roar and is really breathtaking!  I have waited long enough and plan to create my next big wave.  So onto the real deals....

1) I am cutting into my Seuss fabric before ya'll get tired hearing about it...I think I have figured out the top of one..A real simple cut with pretty sashing around each "block" , which happens to be a rectangle.

2) Practicing my free motion,,picture to be taken as proof and shown here in a couple of days.

3) And ....shock of all shockers...I heretowith(?word?) promise to try putting the backing on at least one of my DHs Crazy Quilt blocks.  It may not come out the way I planned, but at least I am learning while I am doing.  Those poor things are really getting old!

This is Tuesday...I WILL get this all done by Friday!!

Toodling along like a Turtle......

OK, I have my construction quilt sandwiched and ready to handquilt...it will go into Never-Never Land where I will quilt it and others at 15-30 minutes at a time.  No big hurry, can "sandwich" those projects within others.

Now, back to the list.  For those who do not want to go back and look, here is a  quick progress and the shortened list, as it stands today:

1) handquilt blue/white quilt - working

2) 3) and 4)  pillowcases and construction top (sandwiched) - DONE

5) and 6) 2 quilt tops to put together - waiting

7) and 8) freemotion and mystery quilts - following

9) crazy quilt - slowly inching its' way up the list.

My next project is to start sewing the blocks together on (5). 

This weekend I hope to continue working on something that is not on my list, and that is cutting my scraps into manageable pieces.  On August 27, 2010, Sarah from Confessions of a Fabric Addict wrote a post on Stash Manicure called Creating Order from Chaos.

I really liked the idea,,,she went a little further than just telling what size and shape to cut your stash.  So I am going to try and follow her example.  She showed how a pile of pieces came together in a nice manageable order in one weekend.  Mine will take longer than a weekend, because I do not intend or ever hope to accomplish that in a marathon cutting and sorting frenzy.  And I am not going to put the task on a list...it would stay there for a year!   

I figure working a little each day or so, 15-20 minutes, or 2 or 3 fabrics a day, will start to whittle down the mounds of fabric laying all around. Here is the before picture of what I will be working with (I have more!).   

 Maybe I'll award myself extra time cutting when I finish something or reach a goal.

So, What is Next?

I finished my pillowcase a couple of days ago and they are mailed, along with the other two.

  Now I need to choose what I will tackle next on my list.  I have several on-going projects so those are a given. 

I will choose this:

I hope ya'll aren't getting tired of the same pictures here, but that is why I decided to go ahead and sandwich this one in preparation for hand-quilting.  Even though I am trying to keep up with the free motion quilt along, I am definitely not ready to try machine quilting on this one yet. 

I have no time frame on this, except to say that I plan to start it today...even if it is just to find the batting and the backing for it.  I know I am already handquilting another one, but it always helps to have a variety of things to do.

Borders done, top completed,

I finished my construction quilt top.  I decided to add only one more border to each of the sides.  The blue stands out so I was afraid that two borders of blue would be too much.  So it now waits until I can baste it.......whenever that can be.

Changing my Mind in Midstream....

I started this simple panel quilt earlier this month so that I could be finished with it quickly....it was supposed to be one of those "quick and easy" ones that we sometimes squeeze between two WIPs that are a little more mind-intensive...

 After I was done I thought, Ooops, too narrow (35") for the planned "giftee".  So I was in the market for another side border , which, of course, was not in my stash.  Last week, my DH and I went to the Big Town and I was able to drop by my LQS.  I found a good color, but it acted like a border-wrecker and insisted on being squeezed between the two borders on the sides instead of just being satisfied laying on the outside.

So, being the whuzz that I am, I complied with the fabric, ripped apart the side borders, and will be adding the blue where it wants to be....once I get it cut.

Now I am playing with the idea of adding an outside border of blue (not as wide) so that each original border will have it's partner. (I'm a sucker for happy endings).  That decision will be made after I see how this turns out , and if I have enough fabric....

Blue/White Top courtesy of Quilters Cache

I used all the thread on my volunteer bobbins to finish my top last night . It measures 54" x 54". I found the Sawtooth pattern at Quilter's Cache and needed some practice with HSTs. I got the practice, all right.

I learned to cut the original blocks a little bigger than called for and then cut them down to size when finished. I found my 1/4" pressure foot, which I didn't even realize I had, and have been using it faithfully.

Now to continue on track with the binding and label of the almost finished caterpillar quilt.

Detours in the Round

Here I was with my label and binding ready to go on my caterpiller quilt....the finish line in my sight......my adrenalin was flowing.

Then I noticed my bobbin......it would run out before I finished my binding...and I hate to stop and rewind bobbins on a long binding seam. Looking around for a full bobbin that I just knew I had, I found two more nearly empty ones. I couldn't make myself fill another white bobbin........ not with 3 just sitting there, calling to me that they are ready and willing to serve!

So what could I do? I sighed and started putting the blocks together for my other quilt. After these brave volunteers have done their duty, then I will refill and continue on with my original goal.

Blue/White Quilt - WIP

I finally finished the last block for my blue/white quilt. The top two rows are put together, as well as most of the half squares. That may have been a mistake, because some of them run into two rows. Hopefully I can finish the rows without goofing up.

I got the block and quilt pattern from Quilters Cache, look for Sawtooth Square (12").

Anyway, here it is covering almost all of my wall, waiting to be sewn. As it stands now, it should measure about 54" x 54" (9" blocks). I don't know if I am going to put a border on it or not....I don't have enough of the blue and am hesitant adding another color/fabric to it at the end. Of course, I have to figure out the binding color also.

Well, I'll put it together and wait for inspiration.

WIPs

I have the glorious number of 3 quilts that I am in various stages of handquilting. I didn't just stay with one project,,,,oh, no,.... Sometimes I need to relax my hands from flannel quilting and so I work on my caterpillar quilt. Then I had an opportunity (?) to quilt while waiting in the car, drs. office, etc, and so took my smaller red/white/blue quilt I am working on.

I am having to quilt my caterpillar quilt from the back side as I cannot see the thread very well from the front. The hoops are there just for the picture, I take them out unless I am working on that project.

I am slowly making blocks for the blue/white top on the left. I would love to start another quilt, as it has been almost a month since I worked on other things than these 4, that being the baby quilt shown in one of the earlier quilts. But I feel that I need to work on these until I finish at least one!

Simple burp cloths for DIL

I am making my DIL some burp cloths out of some diaper cloth I had. After sewing a sample one using soft flannel, I decided to modify the shape of the free pattern I downloaded. That was easily done by deleting the curve on one side of the pattern. No problem.

My DIL is into ladybugs and I found several nice cotton fabrics with which I hope to edge the burp cloths. Hopefully later today or tomorrow I'll have them completed to show you.