Category: sewing

I will give it a try….

So, I am going to try and participate in the One Monthly Goal. I have missed two months. I am not sure I am going to be successful in any way. This is the lightning bug block I turned into a baby quilt. Decided that I did not want to make 15 more of these. My goal is to get it quilted. Not sure if I can manage this goal or not, it just depends on what happens. I may need to quilt to keep my mind off of things. I will at least give it shot. I do wonder what color I should use for the quilting. I am thinking maybe a pale yellow, but I am not sure.

Sadly, My sister has taken a turn for the worse. She is currently in a coma and on life

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support. I spent 5 days in Cleveland and returned home yesterday. It was a heart wrenching time, sitting, waiting and thinking. The prognosis is not good. I now, just wait for my phone to ring and panic every time it does.

The picture is the day she got married to her wonderful and caring husband Matt. She is walking with my Dad, who I miss terribly, especially now. They are two of my most favorite people in the world. Dad is smiling and Kellie is so beautiful. I don’t want to lose my best friend, yet it is so hard watching her suffer. I want her to have peace, whatever that means. My sister has 2 children, they are 18 and 21. My heart hurts for them. Her husband, Matt, is so wonderful with her. He does not miss a day or a doctor. He keeps everything straight and knows every detail of what is going on. He has had to make some very hard decisions. He is a wonderful man.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Treasure your Family

My Leaf Block for the Fall Quilt Along

So, I have some experience paper piecing.  For this block, there were 2 versions.  One for beginners and one for someone more advanced.  I set out to do the more advances one, but I could not get it to print correctly, so I ended up doing this one, which I actually like better.

So, I had difficulty with this block.  I struggled with paper piecing such large pieces.  Since I am using scraps (Thank you Nanette), I had to make them fit and found it extremely difficult with the larger pieces of the block.  My seam ripper and I became quite good friends.  I don’t need those type of friends.

I really do like the Fall quilt along, but have notices that my blocks vary quite a bit in size.  I have some that are 13.5 and this one finished at only 12 inches.  This will make it very interesting since I am attempting the Quilt as You go method.  We will be doing some creative trimming.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

It’s a Miracle I have something for the HQAL

I finally have something for the Hand Quilt Along.  It is a miracle.  Only took me about six weeks.  This is another block for my under the sea quilt. Football season is coming, so I will likely have more as I spend more time watching TV.  I am not a big TV watcher, but here in Central Ohio, we do love Ohio State Football.  And, I grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, so I do love the browns even though they have been awful lately.

Sister update:  Ups and downs.  Good one day, not so good the next.  It is a crazy roller coaster.  I did talk with her today and that always makes me feel better, even when she does not sound like herself.  Thanks to everyone for their kind words.

Please make sure that you visit all these wonderful ladies and look at their beautiful hand work.

Kathy,  Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Susan,  Nanette, Sassy , Edith, Sharon, and Karrin

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Quilt as you Go? Hmmmm…

So, I made a baby quilt when I was pregnant using the quilt as you go method.  I did not like it at all.  That was 14+years ago.  I am thinking over time I may have gained skill, knowledge and patience.  Jeez, I hope I gained something.   I belong to a Facebook group for quilt as you go.  I have seen quite a few beautiful quilt as you go pieces, so I thought maybe I should re-investigate this method.

So, since I am participating in the Fall quilt Along, I thought this might be the time to give it a shot.  So, I watched a few videos again on quilt as you go.  I was especially fond of Leah Days videos on this technique.  Gosh she makes it look easy.  So, Since the fall quilt along is blocks, I figured that it would be a good one to do.

So, I took the plunge.  I quilted my hedgehog block.  I don’t hate it yet, but I have not tried to put them together yet either.  That will be the tell-tale sign for me.  Time will tell.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Firefly test block. Thoughts?

So, this is my firefly test block.  I am unsure if I like it or not.  I really liked the sample, but am unsure If I like mine.  I am trying very hard not to buy new fabric and use what I have.  My daughter says it looks like a bee.  There is a bee variation for this pattern, but that is not the patch I went down.  I explained to her that I would have a black stripe in the middle of the bee’s body.  “Ahhh No, Mom.  Still looks like a bee.”

So, you should try piecing that antenna section.  Virtually impossible.  I sewed several, all crazily wrong.  I finally resorted to paper piecing, just this section.  Then there was not problem.  This pattern which comes from Pattern drop, calls for 16 of these blocks.  Do I like it enough for sixteen blocks?  What do you think?  Should I change something?  Should I make it a bee and lose the light up part (teal print)? Decisions, Decisions.  Let me know what you think.  My blogging friends give the best advice.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

I Miss my life and sewing and quilting

A totally chaotic July has led to a somewhat rocky start to August, but I think I see the light.

I have had so very little time to sew or do anything I normally do.  I did sit down and put a label on this quilt.  It was done months ago, but sat there waiting for it’s label so I could put it in the cedar chest.  I am silly.  Yes, I make quilts for my grandchildren…..that I don’tWaterMark_2018-08-01-20-12-33 have and better not for some time.  But since I was an “Old” mom, I worry that I won’t meet my grandchildren.  Just in case, I make them quilts.  That way they know that their grandmother loved them whether I am here or not.   If my daughter waits as long as I did, I will have to be here at 80.  LOL.

A couple of weeks ago I had a bit of free time and decided to make a pin cushion.  It did not come out too bad.  I decided to send it to Nanette.  She is always so kind to me.  I think I will make one for myself at some point.  I like large pin cushions.

School will be starting here soon.  Last weekend we took the kids to Kings Island.  It was fun.  I had not dared go to an amusement park in years, however, I did pretty good.  Tried to stay off the crazy rides. The following day was school shopping.  I did suffer a bit at the early start of the week, but I expected it after a day at an amusement park, but I did it.

This weekend does not seem to have any scheduled activities, so I am hoping to get a few things accomplished.  My house is a bit disastrous and I need to spend some time in my room to get my mind right.

Sister Update:  Still not good.  Back in the ICU.  It scares me. When I do have time to do something, I lay on the couch and stare at the ceiling.  Kellie just turned 48, this past Monday.  She is my best friend. My keeper of secrets, my travel buddy on many occasions and my little sister.  I still don’t understand how this can be happening.  Life sucks. I need a Harry Potter Wand.

I am sincerely sorry for not posting for the Hand Quilt Along.  I will get back to myself, at some point.  These lovely ladies, have made great progress though:

Kathy,  Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Susan,  Nanette, Sassy , Edith, and Sharon

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Love the ones you’re with, near and far

I forced myself to Sew…..

As a norm, I do not have to force myself.  Lately, it seems that I do.  Not because I want to, but because I am so drained, removing my big but from the couch is more that I can actually deal with most times.

I did manager to finish my next block for the fall into a Quilt Along.  It was a really simple block, which I guess is good for me with now.  I feel pretty simple these days.  I used my batik scraps.  I have not yet decided what to do with my sunflower.  Roseanne offered to fix it and Nanette found the problem with the block instructions.  You are all wonderful.

I had someone explain to me that there are circles in life and most people can deal with something in 1 circle.  Problems occur when things are happening in more than one circle.

My professional life circle.  OMG. totally on the crazy train here.

My Personal circle – Good God.  Special-K (his nickname) has gout so bad he can not walk.  And no, we will not go to the doctor.  Daughter Haley has been sick for over a week.  On a plus side Summer swim is over.  That makes me happy.

My Family Circle – My sister seems to be improving.  She actually called me and sounded not to bad. For that I am grateful.

My ME circle – I feel crazy.  I need to do more sewing, that always helps me relax and get my head straight.

Deep breath.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Sewing-Quilting and other nonsense…(some nonsense, some not)

July 3rd was the fifth anniversary of my Husband Derrick’s death.  That same day, I find fb_img_1503081791295.jpgthat my little sister Kellie has blood clots in her lungs and is in ICU. Two of my absolute favorite people.  Damn it.  Derrick was the love of my life.  I think about him every day. Not a day goes by where I don’t think of him, laugh, smile, shed a tear.  My little sister, my best friend, keeper of all my secrets.  Come on.

I went to Cleveland.  Things were bad.  They got worse.  I wondered at one point if we would lose her.  I could not bear the thought.  How could someone else I love be taken from me?  The list is quite lengthy for someone my age. I stayed for five days.  She got better, then worse, then better.  She got to leave the ICU the same evening I went home.  Here in the next couple of days she will go to a rehab hospital.  She does not want it, but knows she needs it.  Besides the blood clots, she had pneumonia and was septic.  Lots of things to recover from.  The picture was from Las Vegas. Derrick was playing in a pool tournament and Kellie and I needed an excuse to go to Las Vegas.  It was fun.  The best time with two of my favorite people.

This is my fall quilt along block.  I was done before I left for Cleveland, but never got to post it.  I had issues.  It does not look right.  I don’t know where I went wrong, but I am convinced the instructions did not match the example.   If you look at the top row and then the bottom example, they do not match (or I am crazy.  Either is possible) .  The one time I attempt to actually follow instruction and look what happens.  It is going to stay ugly for the time being.

One of my sewing machines is down.  Of course, it is the one in the cabinet that I quilt with.  I will try to drop it off this weekend.  Broke a needle and it kept making a weird noise.  I guess a piece could be stuck somewhere.  It needed cleaned anyway.  No quilting for me for now.  I will just have to work on piecing.

With all my personal craziness, I did not enter anything into the One Monthly Goal.  ☹.  Next month, maybe things will get back to normal.  A girl can hope.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Treasure your Family

Fainéant, yes I am..My Hand Quilt Along and One Monthly Goal

Fainéant, means slacker in French.  Yes, I am one.  I totally meant to do my Hand Quilt Along post before and schedule it, but no, that did not happen.  It has just been an insane week at my house.  Kids and sports, spent the weekend with my sister, just non stop.  So I apologize to all my fellow hand quilters for being a Fainéant.  I felt I used the word Slacker to much, so I figured I needed a new term.  I am adding one more block to my underWaterMark_2018-06-03-20-09-20 the sea collection.  This month we have a whale.  I do have to tell you, my last months post brought some criticism form some Facebook followers (my sister mostly).  She insisted that my seahorses were farting.  I tried to explain that it was meant to be swirls of water, but no, according to her it was pretty clear.  Farting Seahorses.  Now I WaterMark_2018-06-16-21-26-44look at my seahorses in a little different light.  Darn it.

Please visit all the lovely ladies in the hand quilt along that are not Fainéants.

Kathy, Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Susan,  Nanette, Sassy , Edith, Sharon and Bella.

 

So, for June my One Monthly goal was to complete the Star Wars  Quilt Top.  Mission Accomplished.  It needs some ironing, it kind looks all rumpled.  I think this will be a donation quilt.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

 

 

 

Fall into a QAL Block #3

So, I enjoyed block #3 of the Fall Into a Quilt Along.  A little bit of everything, piecing and applique.  It is very cute.  I managed to keep background fabric in this block.  I am hoping I can manage to do this throughout the Quilt Along.

Today was my lucky weekend.  I can home from work on Friday and had a package from Nanette at Chopin-A Passionate Quilter.  She sent me a “Quilters care Package”.  In it she20180615_195721_resized sent me some wonderful batik scraps.  I used some to make the applique on this block.  I had mentioned that I was going to be using batik scraps with my background fabric.  She sent me some other lovely items, that I will show later as I complete them.  She is one of the kindest people I know and it certainly brought a smile to my face.  It has already proven to be a very valuable resource.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

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