Category: Crafts

I Tried this out over the weekend. The results are good.

OK, so I tried out the freezer paper method for quilting.  The results are good, but there are a few things I would do differently.  So, I ironed on all my circle drawings to the whole piece.  I found this not the best approach.  So, with the all of the freezer paper over the entire quilt, I found it difficult to move the quilt around without crinkling and loosening the designs.  Plus, since I was making a complete circle for each one, I had to totally turn the quilt around on each piece.  That is a lot of turning and manipulating.  So, I took them all off and only put on those for the area I was directly working.  Once I did this, I did not have any more issues here.  So, I think that circles are hard.  I found that I had to go very slow, which is OK.  I also found that I could not quilt a circle with feed dogs down, but rather did a lot of pressure foot lifting.

So, you can see from my photo, that my quilted circle is not too bad.  It is not perfect, but I’ll take it.  The first one I attempted, I took out, but once I figured everything out, I was good to go.

So, I finally successfully used my knee pressure foot lifter (for the most part).  I find it very hard to remember to lift my foot before lifting the pressure foot with my knee.  I did eventually manage to coordinate this, but it took me getting everything in the right spot.  Then, I found it easier to quilt the circles.  I will continue this freezer paper method for this quilt and will likely use it again.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

 

My One Monthly Goal

So, for my one monthly goal, I am going to finish my hugs and kisses wall hanging, in entirety.  Thank you, Red Rooster Quilts, for giving this to me, block by block every two weeks.  I also need to thank them for allowing me to deposit my paycheck at their store every two weeks when I went to get my “free” quilt block.  I would love to see the statistics on their sales and see the benefits of this way to get more money from us quilters.  I don’t blame them, I love the shop.  I would imagine that people may have went more often and bought things they really did not need (not talking about myself, no I am not). I think of the 26 weeks, I only went three times and walked out with nothing, and that was likely due to being short on time.  And yes, should they do this again, I will fall prey to their clever marketing schemes.  Fortunately, or unfortunately, it is about a mile from where I work.  So, when the nerds start getting on my nerves, I must go to a happy place. $$$

So, last week-end, Lynn and I had our own Sew in. She brought this beautiful quilt she had done.  She had such awesome quilting.  I asked how she did.  She told me she traced her design on freezer paper, ironed it on and then follow along.  Sounded like something I needed to try, which is why you see the freezer paper all over my Hugs and Kisses quilt. Hoping it makes my quilting less scary. I had a picture on my phone, but some how bunches of my photo’s keep disappearing.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

One Monthly Goal Finish

Seriously, how can January be over?  As I get older, I do not understand how time passes so quickly.  I feel like the holidays were last week.

I actually completed my One Monthly Goal. Not only did I complete, but I did a “New” (new for me), all over FMQ design.  I guess I can call it the “Linangle” design (lines and Angles).  It is not perfect, but it is not that bad either.  The only major weirdness is the binding.  I did not have enough fabric to do all one color,m so I used what I had.  Looks a little wonky because of it.

Now I am going to have to come up with a new one monthly goal for February.  Likely to be more quilting.  I am working on a secret piecing project.  More on that later.

I don’t have any plans for this quilt yet.  Will likely just store until the right time comes along for me to give it away or donate to charity.

I really enjoy the “One Monthly Goal”.  It is a strong motivator for me to get things done.  I can not say I am going to do something and then not do it.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

My Hand Quilt along Progress and The Mystery Quilt Along

Mystery Quilt Along….AKA the Fluffer Nutter Butter Quilt.

OK, so while I like the Mystery Fabric, I found it weird.  Not a bad weird, but a good weird. WaterMark_2018-01-14-20-41-26When I purchased the fabric, I though it was grey.  However, when I received, it was sort of a light green/grey.  I had one thing in mind and then had to change gears when I actually got the fabric.  So, I went into my stash and decided to use my weird batik.  Not sure why I call these my weird batiks, They just struck me as odd, not in a bad way.  So, Here is what I started with to get to my block.  This block is about 6 1/2 inches square, so I will need quite a few.

Hand Quilt Along

WaterMark_2018-01-28-19-05-05So, not tons of progress here…..but some.  The Dog Bone dresser runner is at about 38″.  i think it will never end and since I need it to be 54″, it may not.

THe hexie flowers are coming along.  There are WaterMark_2018-01-28-19-04-46about 24 1/2 half of them completed.  I have no idea how many of the I actually need.  I thought I was going to get a lot done today at the swim meet, but ended up not even finishing one.  Too many distractions.  I really need to get more of both my hand projects done.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

 

 

Need a little Color Advice and I fell off the wagon

So , I am trying to decide what color thread I should use to quilt my “Hugs and Kisses” wall hanging.  If you look closely, you can see my blue chalk lines.  I plan to quilt circles (hugs).  So, I was thinking gray, but I am just not sure.  I really like this piece, so I don’t want to make the wrong decision.  I am also concerned about quilting circles.  I think it will require a lot of accuracy.  Wondering if I should use a walking foot?  Might have to try a test circle on some scraps to see what happens.  If you have thoughts on the color, please let me know.  I always get great advice from all my quilting friends.

20180121_112137_resizedYes, that is my Moka wearing an activity monitor.  Seemed like  a good idea.

It is not really hers.  My daughter got a new one that will monitor her swimming and I thought I should check how lazy Moka was.  Totally lazy was the answer.  I did way more steps than her today.  I was all excited about that and then Kev told me that since she has four legs I had to double her step count.  Not sure I agree with his logic.

So, I don’t really make New Year’s resolutions, but I am on a mission to lose some weight.  Decided that I totally need to give up steroids (not the build muscles kind, the reduce inflammation kind).  They were causing weight gain.  They took away the pain, but I am pretty sure extra pounds cause more stress on joints, so it is a catch 22.  I did good for about a week and half and then fell off the wagon.  Stress did it to me.  It has always been my trigger.  Back on the straight and narrow path again.  Ugh.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Only Little Old Ladies Quilt……REALLY?

So, this was my conversation the other night with my significant other.  The conversation started because I was telling him that Lynn and I were going to do our own “Sew In” in our dining room. One thing led to another and he informed me that only little old ladies quilt.

“So, I am a little old lady?”(me).  His response was, “well if the shoe fits”.  Then he went on to tell me that his Mom did this stuff.  What stuff?(me)  “You know did things with yarn” (him).  “You mean like crochet?”(me)  “Yah, that kind of stuff”(him).

Well, just for your information, not all the people in my quilt guild are old”. (me)  The majority, the average age?(him)  !!%%%&&& (words I should not type).  “Just so you know I have done this my whole life, not just since I have known you” (me).  “Why are you getting so offended?” (Him).  “Well, I think you just called me old, and all my friends.”  I am tempted to give you all his phone number and email address to set him straight, however this little old lady may find alternative methods of showing him the error of his ways. Lynn can punch him when she sees him.

I now have all my blocks for my free quilt top from Red Rooster quilts.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that week 26 was binding.  Gosh I love free stuff, especially quilt stuff.  I hope they do it again.  So now, I need to put it all together.  I already have the backing, so I should be good to go.  I really do like Orange.

I Think my Quilting is actually improving.

So, this is my One Monthly Goal project and I decided to not do my normal boring meandering.  This is an all over pattern, but I was surprised once it was all done that it did not look to bad.

I always get nervous when I try something that is outside my norm on a quilt.  I mean there is the potential of totally screwing up a top that you spent time putting together.  I am certainly becoming less intimidated.  So, I actually had the angled meandering done a quilt before, but I paid for it.  I did not like it all.  They kind of did a crappy job.  Mine is actually better and I did not have a long arm.  Just me and my Bernina free motion quilting. As I was quilting this, I did not think that I would like it.  I thought I may have done to much quilting, but once it was complete, it did not look to bad.

I really think that I am Super Klutz.  I almost titled this post “Fat Girl Falls Down Part 3”. Saturday morning, I decide to go out to the hot tub.  Step up get one foot in and the steps slide out and I fall straight down, one foot still in the hot tub.  This time I am straddling the edge.  It hurt so bad, that I could not move.  I actually chose to fall in.  Seemed way better than falling outside the tub, considering it was ten degrees.  I survived.  I have the blackest bruise I have ever seen, somewhere you really don’t want a bruise.  I am starting to think the hot tub is trying to kill me.  It is supposed to be helping me.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

 

Almost There….

Yes, the last row looks a bit silly with one block in it.  Later today, I will pick up my final free blocks from Red Rooster Quilts.  Oddly, there are 26 weeks but only 25 blocks.  Not sure what that is about.  Not sure what will happen with week 26.  I guess I will find out later.

I really love orange in quilts, so I think that I am going to keep this one and hang it in my family room.  I am going to call it Hugs and Kisses.  Already have my quilting in mind.  Need to get it finished first, way ahead of myself, as always.

Thinking about all my potential projects, I m going to try very hard not to start anything new until I make significant headway on those already started.  There are so many of those.  It will help, since I am trying not to buy new fabric.  Right now, only want to buy if I need to finish something.   That is so hard.

Lynn and I went out to dinner and fabric shopping last week.  Jelly rolls were 40% off.  I wanted to buy 1  or 2 or 3.  Had one in my hand several times but managed to control myself.  Only fabric I bought was a ½ yard for an in progress quilt (allowed).  Wondering how long it will take me to fall off the wagon.

I also want to use up as much of my scraps as possible.  I have so much scrap. Have been cutting some for a couple of scrap quilts in the works.  I need to get stuff sorted by color.  I guess that will happen when I get my room better organized.  I will get there.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Hand Quilt Along- Dog Bones and Flowers

I missed the last post for the hand quilt along since I was sick, however some progress was made on hand items since I was just lying around.  There was also movie watching over the holidays.  I have to be doing something or the cookies and chips find their way into my mouth.  So the flowers are my swim team project.  While Haley is at swim practice and meets, I make the flowers.  The dog bones is my TV watching project.

So, for my EPP flowers, I recently learned something.  I purchased a hexie die for my papers (I use cardstock).  SInce I am n longer cutting them by hand and using my accucut, each one is perfect and it certainly makes a difference in how they go together.  I wasn’t having major difficulty, but it certainly made a difference.

So for my dog bone dresser scarf, I need it to be 54 inches.  I am only at about 38.  Ugh.  I will get there.  Since this is dresser scarf #4, I am sort of tired of it. WaterMark_2018-01-06-21-30-40

If you are interested in participating in the hand quilt along, please contact Kathy.

You can check out everyone’ progress at the following links.

Kathy, Lori, Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Deborah,  Susan , Jessisca  ,  Sherry,  Nanette, Sassy and Edith.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

My contrast quilt or the I am mad quilt

Why might this be the I am mad quilt?  Well, when I get mad or upset, this is the quilt I work on.  I think that is because it is simple.  I need a total of eighty blocks, so I either work on finding fabrics or cutting the leaves or just sewing them on.  Plenty to do, nothing complex.  I actually have about 62 blocks together in various states of sewing.  I try to minimize my thread changing, so, I sew all the ones I can with same color I have threaded in the machine.  It is meant to be a play on colors lights and darks.

I think this quilt will be a bear to make sure the blocks are placed correctly.  My daughter put this on my design wall and I noticed the bottom black/red one is incorrect.  Not a problem, since I am not yet sewing it together.  But I am the person that looked at my safari quilt forever and still had three camels right next to each other in the same row.  Knowing myself, I will have several backwards but wont notice until it is quilted and bound.

I made this from scraps but it would be great for layer cakes.  The base is made from 2, 10 inch blocks, cut in half and then sewn back together with the opposite one.

I really don’t get mad that often, but sewing always puts me at ease and when my mind is racing, best to stick with something simple.  I keep this project in my sewing room neatly in my pizza box.

News:  I was one of the winners for the One Monthly Goal Prize.  thank you Elm Street Quilts!

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting