Asian Lanterns: One Monthly Goal for March

Watermark636074068445059495So, I was looking for something to help get me motivated to get something done.  I saw previous posts from Susan at Desertskyquilts and decided that joining the “One Monthly Goal”  might be a good motivational way to get things done.  I sort of feel like I have an assignment that I need to complete.  I will have to get my quilting ADD under control and actually try to finish a project.  So I picked a project that really needs done.
My intent is to finish the quilting on this quilt.  This was the quilt I was set to begin 20170222_200649_resized
quilting when my daughter Miranda had her Auto Accident.  So, it laid on my pool table, ready to go.  Then after everything, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.  Finally got it back out and now it just need to get done so I can put it behind me.  I actually like this quilt.  20170222_200641_resizedI am going to do some bamboo quilting that I learned by watching one of Leah Day’s quilting videos.  I did lots of practice drawing the bamboo and then on scraps.  I have to admit, it is a little different once I get it into my frame, but I think I can manage.

I hope to get the entire thing finished, but I will be happy and achieved success if I just get all the quilting done.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Treasure your Family

Mom’s adventure to the Quilt Show (Circa 1993)

I mentioned in a post last week about a trip my Mom and Dad went with me to a quilt show 20170224_184935_resizedmany many years ago.  I talked about the picture Mom painted on fabric, but failed to post a picture of it.  I realized this as I stared at it lying in bed yesterday.   She certainly did not want to go to a quilt show, but found that she really enjoyed herself.  It is a memory I will always cherish.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your Family

An Ancient UFO with some Odd Issues

20170219_142801_resizedAs I go through the many many boxes of miscellaneous quilt boxes (like it’s Christmas for me). I am coming across projects that I started and never finished for whatever reason.

I could guess that this never got finished because, well, I got pregnant and my daughter was born.  I am sure that is why I know that I started this quilt in 2003.  I am not sure I remember why.  The colored part is actually one piece of fabric with all the multi colored batiks.  I sometimes can’t remember what I ate for lunch, but I remember that I bought this not in the quilting fabric area.  It was actually in the clothing fabric area.  Weird the things you remember.  I most likely remember because I thought it was interesting and since it was not in the quilting fabric, it was way less expensive.  I love a bargain.  It is high quality fabric too.

Now to the odd issues.  So, the black in this quilt is defiantly 100% cotton, but the fabric seams weak.  I had a couple of seems that were previously torn out (like 13 years ago)..  When i resewed these seams the fabric just fell apart.  It happened on a couple of pieces.  So, then I took a square to see how easy it would come apart if pulled at both sides.  It was way to easy.  With my rheumatoid arthritis, I would expect me not to be able to pull apart (not tear) a Piece of fabric by holding one edge in each hand and pulling.  So, I have a concern that this quilt is just going to fall apart.  Nearly all of the squares are done, so I feel compelled to complete it.

 

Has anyone ever experienced anything like this?  it does not appear that any bugs or anything got to the fabric, so I am at a loss.  I would appreciate any insight, because it sort of pretty and would be a shame to have to lose it.   Thanks.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your Family

Cute Quick Little Bag form the Crazy Dog Lady…..then why is it made with Cat Fabric?

So, I like to make gifts.  I am not always sure that everyone appreciates handmade gifts, but because a part of me goes with them, I like it.  I know I treasure the things that others have made for me. 20170211_210814_resized_1

Sorry, reminds me of a story.  My mother could crochet and knit beautifully. However, I had to try and do everything crafty.  For as long as I remember I was always doing something.  After I moved from home, my parents came to visit for a weekend.  I wanted to go to a quilt/craft show (Imagine that).  My Dad would go walk around anywhere.  He was easy to please.  Mom, agreed to go, but I knew she was doing it just for me, not because she really wanted to.  We stopped at a booth that was doing a demo of stenciling on fabric.  They asked us to sit down and try.  I am pretty sure my mother wanted to run away, but she did it.  She made the most beautiful tulip painting on fabric.  She was actually quite pleased with herself.  She hung it up in the bathroom at her house.  Every time I went in that bathroom, I smiled when I saw it.  Now that she is not here with me anymore, I still smile when I look at that tulip hanging on the wall of my bedroom. Enough reminiscing and missing Mom.

I especially like to make gifts that help me practice a skill (putting in zippers on this one) and are useful.  This cute little bag could be used for makeup, keeping credit cards/money,20170211_210808_resized_1 receipts.  Whatever you want.  It was fairly easy, considering there was a zipper in it (which initially scared me).  I obviously have friends and family that are cat lovers, even though I live in a “Dog” house (Ha! Pun).  I will put some candy and/or lip gloss and give this to a friend for her birthday.

This pattern is available for free at WWW.Craftsy.com.  Search for “Easy Zipper Pouch”.  The Exact title is “Easy Zipper Pouch … Two Ways”.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your family

 

 

Finally, some time in the sewing room…and some Quilting I don’t hate.

20170211_112954_resizedI actually completed something.  The English Paper Piecing Dog Bone Hexie Dresser scarf is complete.  I even went as far so to clean off my dresser and put it in its home.  Three more to go, but they are all smaller pieced.  Two for nightstands and one for the tall Dresser.  Overall, I enjoyed English paper Piecing.  I had never done it before and started it when my Daughter had her accident.  For weeks I was at the hospital and this gave me something to do in the ICU.  It was quite a while until she was able to talk, so it was mostly sitting there listening to machines.  I am really glad for that to be over.  Much easier to deal with when you have something to occupy your mind20170211_113029_resized and hands.  I just about have one of the nightstand scarves done also.  As for the quilting, I don’t hate it (like usual).  As I mentioned in a previous post, I would choose a different marking method (Not the clingy plastic wrap).  The dog bones I quilted actually resemble dog bones.  How about that.  Shocking.   It might lead me to get more adventuresome with my quilting.  Who knows.

I also completed some Uncle Donald blocks.  Since these are scrappy, there are memories that go along with each one.  For me, that makes this more enjoyable to do.  As I piece these, I take a trip down memory lane.

So for my Uncle Donald Blocks, I have “Becky’s Block”(my niece).  This was made from the scraps from her college graduation quilt.  It was a picture quilt with many photo’s of her growing up.  Addison’s Block (Addison is actually Becky’s daughter, my Great-Niece) are scraps from her baby quilt.  It was charm squares and I chose not to use any that had dark colors since I was making a baby quilt.  The Crazy Dog Lady Block is totally mine, since I am the crazy dog lady.  These are scraps from many dog fabric blocks. Then we have Derrick’s block.  Derrick is my later husband whom I miss dearly.  He always wore camo.  Sometimes I had to ask him to wear something else.  He always made me laugh.  Only the good die young.

udHappy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure Your Family

 

More Quilting Money….an idea on how to get some……

money.jpegI am a big skeptic of anything that is essentially, “free money”.  However, since I am always looking for ways to keep up my fabric hoarding without taking money from our “living” budget, I looked into something I saw on the news and was pleasantly surprised.  There are many apps available that say you earn money back by shopping.  This usually involves online shopping.  While I do some of that, I never was that interested.  But, there are a couple of apps that give you money back for grocery shopping which is a necessary evil.   In about 10 days, I have earned about $40.00.  I didn’t buy anything that I would not have normally bought.  It didn’t take a huge amount of time.  Since I was already buying these things, why not let someone give me some money back to buy fabric?  Free money in my opinion.   I believe these companies are really collecting consumer data.  They are interested in what all you buy, not just the things they are offering money back on.   I am not sure I care if they know I have an addiction to Diet Pepsi.  These sites are Ibotta and Checkout51.  Each week, they add to the list of products that they are offering money back on.  Some are brand specific, while others are not.  You can use the same receipt for both sites.  For example, they may offer you money back on a gallon of milk, any brand.  Last week, there was an offer for $10.00 back if you purchased a 12 pack of bud light, a twelve pack of Pepsi and a bag of Tostitos.  I needed all of these items for Super Bowl Sunday.  You have to have at least $20 in your account to get your money.  They offer multiple ways to get your money.  Cash, PayPal and gift cards (Jo Ann was on the gift card list).  There is also cash back options for Jo Ann Fabrics on Ibotta.  Even if you don’t buy fabric there, everyone needs batting thread and other notions.  Just want my quilting friends to have more money for quilt supplies.  In the words of my daughter “Just Sayin”.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your family

Finally, some progress…but what a pain

So, I finally was able to work on a bit of quilting.  However, things did not go as planned.  I never like my quilting.  I wanted something very specific for my Dog Bone Dresser scarf, mainly Dog Bones, duh.  So, I decided to use that sticky saran wrap “Glad Press and Seal”.  There were good things and bad things about it.  So, I don’t exactly hate the quilting.  Dog 20170128_205041bones actually look like dog bones.  However, now that I am done with the quilting, I am pretty sure I have spent more time picking out that “Press and Seal” wrap than I actually spend quilting the entire piece.  The other part was that while doing the quilting, I found that the “press and Seal was not easy to re-position.  Once you start quilting and compress your quilt sandwich, I found that the “Press and Seal: needed adjusted and it was not possible.

I put the entire design on, including sqiggely lines.  I found it difficult to follow.  Most of the time I did my own squigglies until I got to the dog bone.  Then I follow the pattern.  I have three other pieces to make for our bedroom.  I think I will make a dog bone template and use a Frixion Pen.  I don’t need a template for squiggely lines.  That I have under control.  The hands are getting better, so hopefully I can get back into my routine and be less cranky.  If anyone has had luck using “cling Wrap”, I would love for someone to tell me why it was so difficult and if there is an easy way to remove all that plastic.  I am curious how everyone else marks their quilts now that I becoming more adventurous with my quilting.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your family

Fat Girl Falls Down (come on laugh, I am talking about myself)

I though hard about my title.  Didn’t want to offend anyone, but I am talking about myself.  So, this past Saturday, I was taking my daughter to her “Power of the Pen” writing competition.  While they were scoring the essays, they put us all in a theater to watch a movie.  Haley and I went to the back so she could sit near her friends.  At some point I needed to answer my phone, the closest door was about 8 feet away at the back, so I decided to use that door.  Somehow I was now on a 1 and half foot platform in total darkness.  I didn’t step up onto anything when I sat down, but I certainly took a swan dive off this mysterious platform I never stepped up on.  My gut is always to protect my artificial knees, so I fell on…….my hands.  I hit the right one hard enough to bruise it clear to my elbow and open up and bleed.  My only saving grace…..it was so dark no one saw me.   I eventually had to go and have them x-rayed (I put it off as long as possible, but my bruises were scaring people at work).  Fortunately, nothing is broken.  I did compress all the bones in cartilage in my left had (not sure what that really means.  They used a big long medical name).  They put braces on both so they could heal (which I am). Oh, and I found a goose egg on my forehead.  I didn’t even realize I hit my head….Duh.

On a positive note, while Haley did not get a trophy, she is moving on to the semifinals at Wittenberg College.  I will make sure not to sit in dark theaters….or just watch where I am walking.

So, there has been very little quilting/sewing (actually none), which tends to lead to crankiness on my part.  I am thinking that I should be able to get back to it soon.  Ugh.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Treasure your Family

It’s dangerous to walk around in the dark

The holidays totally got the best of me…..

20170107_184745_resizedI had some time off, but I was not off during the entire holiday season like I am used to. I user a lost (most) of my vacation time with Miranda’s Accident.

As always, I have big plans for my quilting/Sewing and it did not happen. My sewing room is a disaster, because we had company for new years. This means that everything got dumped in my room. I look at it right now and it frightens me. Trying to move stuff a bit at a time, but it seems to be daunting task.

I wanted to make a page for all the items I really need to finish this year. Did not that done either. Of Course On December 30th I was at the Immediate Care with Bronchitis. It figures. Company coming and I am sick. I made it through, and had fun. Two of my sister came for the New year, which had never happened before. We had a Chinese gift exchange which involves stealing gifts etc…. I wound up with a toilet light. It was meant to be funny (and it is) but I also find is useful. Makes me not have to turn on lights when I get up at night. Unfortunately, my nephew Alex got the gift I provided. Cottenelle wipes, Toilet Paper and PooPourri. Needless to say He won for worst gift. It was worth a laugh though.

I did manager to work on my English Paper Piecing and finished the one that will go on my dresser. Dog Bones for the crazy Dog Lady. I have now begun work on the nightstands and will eventually get to Kevin’s dresser. I like to work on my English paper piecing while I am watching TV with Kevin or my daughters. Gives me something to do besides snack.
I plan to attempt to quilt dog bones on the dog bone dresser scarf. Will see how that goes.

Happy Quilting
Happy Sewing
Happy 2017
Treasure your Family

The Christmas Village complete with Quilt Shop….of course

Ha20161213_183932ppy Holidays from my house to yours.  We begin our trip through the Christmas village with a stop at the quilt shop (what else?).  This is one of my favorite pieces.  I hunted/waited for while to find it.

So, my village has multiple places that are important in a special way.  SO, I have the log cabin and wild animals, compelte with an outhouse.  This is Derrick’s place (my late husband)/  He was totally an outdoor guy and wanted a log cabin.  In front of that we have our Ohio State House and Fan center, complete with Tailgate party.  THis is for our biggest OSU an and my manfriend, Kevin.

Over on the other side of the village we have Uncle Donald’s place  Complete with Farm House, Barn, silo and tractor. Yep, the same Uncle Donald that made quilts.  Gong to his farm and visiting him and Aunt Helen was one of my favorite thing20161213_183936s to do.

Then of course we have a few of my favorite things.  A dog rescue and a dog training academy.  We have these in honor of my late great Koko, that spurred my deep love and affection for dogs.  We now have 4 dogs and have rescued many other and a few kitties along the way.  I tried to bring home a baby fox that came to my car one day, and Kevin put his foot down..  They were so cute.  I know he was right.  I am sure Momma was not far away.

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I totally love the fountain Kevin got me this year.  It changes colors and actaully has water in it.  It is so pretty.  He knows the things I love.20161213_184012-1

Of course we have
Bethlehem.  It sets up from the village in a
desert.  The whole village is about 15 feet long.  There are so many build
ings.  I even have more that don’t make it on to the table because I am out of room.

20161213_184006

One of the oldest pieces I have is the ice skating ring,  where there is actual ice skating going on.  I am sure I have had this one for nearly 25 years.  And yes that is Santa flying over the ice skating ring.  Christmas Music also plays as Santa flys above the village.  I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season.  My best to all of you and your families.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Happy Holidays

Treasure your family