Month: July 2017

Practice Quilting makes quilted Minion potholders and One Monthly Goal-A Finish

So, after my June free motion quilting seminar, I have decided to branch out a bit.  I am going to quilt an actual quilt, in the very near future (could be my August One Monthly Goal Project) with something other than meandering or a version of meandering. Big scary move for me. So, my “Zipper Quilt” top, I want to use a flower free motion design.  However, I plan to do it on a smaller baby quilt first.  I already have that top ready to go.  Just need to get up the courage to do it.

Needless to say, I have been practicing (Using my cheap grill liner as a slider).  All the practice got me thinking.  My square sandwiches looked like potholders.  So, I decided to make my final practice pieces into potholders.  I bought a piece of the special thermal batting.  I made all my practice sandwiches and on the last couple,  when I had the hang of it, I made Minion potholders.  I need to bind them, but I have plenty of binding scraps I can use.  I have found that I make better flowers when I work from left to right and I like them best with 5 petals.  Then. as I bind my potholders,  I can also practice my corners.  I don’t like binding corners either.  Jeez, I have so many issues.  But now, I have a few handmade gifts when needed.

The quilting on my Minion potholders is not too bad.  I hope I can do the same on my baby quilt and then off to my “Zipper Quilt”.  It is hard not to smile at a minion.

20170716_122738_resizedMy one monthly Goal for July was to trim and bind my 9 patch.  Yeah. 20170716_122258_resized Completed.  This quilt has a loopy meandering.  It is not too bad.  Pretty sure I have meandering, and multiple variations of it, down packed.  At this time, I have no plans for this quilt, just glad I can consider it finished.

 

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

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I guess I just don’t like anything this week.

Ever have one of those weeks when nothing looks right to you?  I feel like that is where I am right now.  I really loved this mum print fabrics in fall colors.  However, once I crated something with it, I find I don’t like it as much as I did when I was just ogling over the fabric.  I look at them and wonder If I should have used a dark blue solid instead of the green?  But, I like green.  I don’t know.  Maybe it will look better when it is all put together.  I just don’t know.

Maybe I should of just walked away last night when I sewed something completely backwards.  Usually a clear sign to stop what you are doing for a bit.  Unfortunately, I never take my own advice.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Happy Friday

Oma’s Treasures –Well, it certainly is bright.

Trying to decide if it is too obnoxious or loud.  My goal was not to take away from the embroidery.  I am not sure that I did that here.  I don’t mind the happy colors, but when you look at it’s like a slap in the face of color. I still have a couple things in mind to do.  One more one inch green around the outside, I think.  I plan to quilt the outside, but I am not sure how yet.  For where the embroidery is, since it is a such a long piece, I think I will sew tiny glass beads in the centers of some of the flowers to ensure the batting does not shift.  Of course, my binding is a bit crazy.  I have a striped piece of fabric (green/orange/pick/yellow) to add to the craziness of this piece.  Feel free to give me your opinion on my color choices and any suggestions on quilting (kinda stumped with that).  You will not offend me if you think it is awful.  I asked for it. LOL.

On a positive note, some good news, my older daughter, who was in a horrific head on collision nearly a year ago, has moved out.  I would say she is 90% of her old self, which is pretty good considering what I saw the first night in the ICU.  While it was a challenging six months after the accident. The outcome was far better than I anticipated.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

What not to do. Another lesson learned.

OK, I feel like a total idiot.  So, my one monthly goal project was to trim and bind a quilt. Here is the problem.  This was a UFO quilt that had been around for quite some time, so I decided to wash it before I quilted it.  So far, not to dumb, but wait…  At the lat minute, I got the crazy idea to wash the piece of batting that I was going to use also.  So far, not a problem, except for the fact that I washed them together and the pieced top was mostly black. Needless to say my quilt top came out with a ridiculous amount of lint all over it.  OK, so I deserve that for not thinking.  But wait there’s more.  I thought OK, so I will have to spend more than the usual amount of time removing lint and dog hair.  I proceeded to quilt it with all the lint all over it, like an idiot.  Then this morning as I was attempting to de-lint it and most of the lint was quilted into the quilt and would not easily come off with a lint roller.  I worked on if for …way to long and all the lint is still not gone.  I have to brush it with a toothbrush and then use the list roller before it even thinks about coming off.  I am so mad at myself.  It was like a parade of dumb mistakes.  In case it isn’t obvious, the photo are sheets from my lint roller.  Ahhhhh.  Stuff happens.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Not Exactly what I had Envisioned…

So, this is not what I had in my head.  I believe this is referred to as a Zipper Quilt.  I was laying out my colors in a way I thought would complement the design of the “Zipper quilt”.  I mean, it is OK, but somehow I had something else pictured.  Not sure why.  I laid it all out first, but then when it is all together I am surprised.  Usually, I don’t things things on my design board and like them better when they are sewn together.

The positive about this quilt, is that the blocks sew together really fast.  I chain pieced them, but in a sort of odd way.  I had 2 charm packs that I cut in half.  Then I cut 2.5 inch strips and sewed each of my 2.5 by 5.5 charm pieces to each 2.5 inch strip.  I had a 42″ strip with a bunch of my charms sewed to it and then just cut it apart.  Can’t remember how many strips I used, maybe 5.  Then it was just a matter of arranging and sewing them all together.

I do plan on quilting this in the near future.  May get brave and do something new (at least for me).  I will have to do some practicing first though.

 

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

An Interesting Quilting Hack

In my challenge to get better at the actual quilting, I am constantly reading advice etc, on how to do it better.  The truth is, practice makes you better.  However, I am always looking for products that might help me get better.  So, quilting gloves helped a bit, but it was only a $10 investment.  One of the things that I had been looking at was a Supreme Slider.  This is supposed to make the quilt slide more easily as you quilt along.  I had asked people and got mixed reviews as to whether it was a help or not, but I was still curious, however, not willing to spend $60.00 to see if it worked.

I had purchased 2 grill liners for the grilling season for $4.99 each.  After one use, I found it to be the pain in the but and the unopened grill liner sat on the counter, til today.  As I was making dinner a light bulb went off in my head.  The grill liner was silicone and super slippery.  So, after dinner I took it downstairs and cut a tiny hole in where the 20170709_181527_resizedneedle came down.  I took some masking tape and taped it down to my machine table (the original one sticks on it’s own).  Well, it worked like a charm.  It did make things slide easier and cost less20170709_182135_resized than $5.00.  I know we don’t all have an unlimited money supply, so every little bit helps.  If you don’t have a supreme slider, give it a try.

 

20170530_194122_resizedWe also had a sad weekend.  We had to say goodbye to our beautiful Clover Puppy.  Clover was a dog we were supposed to be fostering.  I knew the minute she walked into our house, she would never leave.  That was more than 10 years ago.  She was the kindest, sweetest dog that did not have a mean bone in her body.  She never let the fact that she was missing a front leg slow her down.  I know now that she is pain free and running with My Koko on all four legs.  We will as miss her dearly.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Treasure Your Family, including the furry ones

Rescue, whenever possible

Interesting Surprise Quilt…

What is a Surprise Quilt?  Well, I would say it was a mystery quilt, but that is already taken.  I found these blocks in a box I was going through.   I was going to lay them all out and see what it looked like, however, they were all numbered, so I decided what the heck.  I had already laid them out at one point in time.  So, just sew them and see what happens.  The colors in the photo are not nearly as pretty as they are in person.

I have a vague recollection that these were left over jelly row strips from another baby quilt I made.  I just don’t remember laying them out and numbering them.  It was also extremely neatly written, which is very odd for me.  I am starting to think I have multiple personalities and one of them is the neat Quilter that lays thing out and meticulously numbers them.  Not sure if I like this person or I am scared of her.

Anyway, I will put a back on this and I will have a baby quilt to donate or give away, which ever opportunity presents itself first.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Treasure Your Family

Better Quilting but tired of Dog Bones and One Monthly Goal

So I finished the piece that goes on my nightstand.  This is my third dog bones piece (only one more to go).  I am about tired of dog bones, but I think I will tough it out.  Last one is20170702_212547_resized for Kevin’s dresser.  Besides once I am done with this sit on the couch project I will have to come up with a new one (not involving dog bones this time).

So, my free motion quilting is getting better.  I know for sure that practice makes you better, but far from perfect.20170625_180455_resized

I don’t hate the quilting here and my dog bones have improved by the third one.

So, my One Monthly goal for July is to trim and border the black and tan quilt I just finished quilting.  I know, boring…..but it has to get done and The One monthly Goal is a good motivator.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Treasure Your Family