Tag: Applique

I Wish You a Merry Quilt Along Block #8

Well, I managed to get something done after my “Hot Tub Incident“.  I didn’t exactly follow the instructions for this block.  I guess I had something else on my mind.  I think it goes well with all my other blocks and I got to use more of my snowflake fabric.

Thank you to everyone for their well wishes.  It was truly appreciated.  A special thank you to Nanette Chopin Cook for calling to check on me.  It really made my day.  Quilters really are the nicest people.

Today was my quilt guilds “Quilt Wars”.  We drew cards to determine what group we were in and were given a bag of fabric.  Then we had to work together to create a top.  It was quite enjoyable.  They will all be quilted and given to charity.  I was so busy I neglected to get any pictures.  I am sure they will bring them to the next meeting.  Glad I felt well enough to attend.  It is good to get out and be with like-minded people.

So, for my One monthly goal, I finally got to work on the test dog block.  I got everything cut out and even started sewing it.

My mind is always wandering to other projects, but I have so many already started, not to mention the holidays are right around the corner.  Must get to work

WaterMark_2017-10-21-20-01-11Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

I wish you a Merry Quilt Along

Fat Girl Falls Down Again

I feel I am allowed to make fun of myself.  So, what dumb thing did I manage to do this time?  As I was getting out of my lovely new hot tub, the steps slipped and I went with them.  Falling about 3 and half feet to the concrete.  Let’s see I had a baseball on the back of my head, the underneath part of my arm is black and blue, about a soccer ball sized bruise on my left side rib cage and and equally sized one on my backside.  Also sprained

a wrist and black and blue right kneecap (not sure how that one happened everything else was left side).  Needless to say, everything hurts.  Thank god it was dark out.  I imagine it was quite a site.  Of course my cell phone went flying so I had to crawl to it to call Kev for some help. He spent the rest of the night checking on me to make sure I did not have a concussion. Well, I am pretty sure this will take a bit of time to recover.  Thank God I did not break my arm or wrist. It would have seriously impacted my projects.  Whew.

So, when I am not falling down, I seem to be wandering form project to project, not doing what I really should be doing.  These baby bibs have been laying on my sewing cabinet unfinished for months, so I picked them up and finished them.  I will put them in the cedar chest for my one-day grandchild.  They are up-cycled from my jeans.  I need to be working on my one monthly goal and my quarterly goals, but of course I am doing something else.

This weekend I am supposed to be attending Quilt Wars with my Quilt Guild, however, given my current condition, I am not sure I am going to make it.  I am uncomfortable sitting, laying basically anything.  The only place I am not uncomfortable is in the hot tub and that is what started the whole mess in the first place.  Ugh.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

In Honor of I wish you a Merry Quilt Along

So, Long term, I have been figuring out how I am going to put together this quilt at the end.  I need to keep with my snowflake themed fabric, so I am putting these snowflakes in all the corners of my sashing.  I think all my sashing will be this dark red.  I have done 20170910_144145_resized-e1505246987713.jpgreverse applique on these.  Interesting way to do things.  I think it lets me see more of the snowflake.  I like it.  We will see as I go along.  I think I figured that I will need 20 of these.  They are 5.5 inches square.  better get busy.  Not to mention Block #5, which came out today.    Super cute snowman.  If you need to download the instructions, they are here.  Block #5 was designed by Sherri Shish of Powered by Quilting.  Stay tuned for my Block #5.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Block#4- I wish You a Merry Quilt Along

I finally found a reason to use all my metallic threads.  I have been hanging on to them for quite some time.  My late husband and I owned a commercial embroidery busisness manny moond ago and I am thinking that this is why I have a bunch of metallic thread.  Came out not so bad.  When I put my blocks all together, I do like it.  I am designing my 20170901_204923_resizedsashing, which will involve some snowflakes, somehow.  Must keep with my theme.   Looking forward to the next block.

So, I have been doing a lot of sewing these last couple of days.  I find when I have a lot on my mind, or something bothers me, that I find it soothing an/or comforting to just sit and sew.  The kind of sewing that does not require a lot of thinking.  I have a quilt that I am making that has 72 appliqued blocks.  It is farly simple applique, so I found myslef sitting at the machine for quite some time working on the blocks, trying to group by colors since it is scrappy, and rethreading the machine the least amount of times is best for my eyes.

Haapy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Houston Strong

 

I Sometimes wonder how I manage to Tie my own shoes

So, last night, I wanted to work on yet another project.  It had some detailed applique.  I was finding it very frustrating, as I had my head about three inches from the machine needle so I could see what I was doing.  I was getting frustrated because some of it was just hard to see (bifocals not helping).

So I suddenly had a thought.  Last week, when I was cleaning out the drawers of my cabinet I came across a few small Bernina Boxes.  I remembered where they came from.  My late husband liked to say I am sorry with “stuff”.  Since “stuff” was not what I wanted from him at the time, I tucked them away in a drawer.

Well, it turns out that one of these little boxes was magnifying glasses.  WooHoo, jackpot.  Maybe I can see what I am doing.  So, I get out the instructions, which is odd for me.  I usually shy away from instructions.  I follow along with what to do.  Open up the head and install this little bar so that you can hook the magnifying glasses to it.  OK, seems simple enough.  But, why does my machine not look like the one in the picture?  Well, after about 20 minutes of staring blankly at it, insisting that I was going to find a way to make it work even though it did not look like it should, I suddenly realized that yes, I have 2 Bernina machines and Holy Cow I bet these were for that “other” machine.  Darn it.  I wanted to use this one.  Then after another 20 minutes of being disappointed I looked at the front of the machine and it already had this bar for magnifying glasses installed.  OMG, could I be any dumber?  40 minutes into this and I should just slap myself.

 

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Block #2 – I wish you a Merry Quilt Along and a bit more

So, when I saw this pattern, I was intitially not very excited.  Could not figure out how to keep with my snowflake fabric theme.  However, I found that I really enjoyed watching it come together.  I did manage to use my green snowflake fabric.  I found some pretty decent Christmas scraps for the trees.  I thought it would be difficult, but it wasn’t.  A bit tedious maybe, but not too hard.  I am excited to see what Block #3 will look like for the I wish you a Merry Quilt Along.

I also did a bit of work on my Table topper design.  Sewed down all the leaves.  I am starting to like it.   I got it pin basted and selected my thread.  THe thread is perfect, it has all the colors of the homespun in it.  I love the varigated threadds.  I also bought them on clearance for 50 cents each, which I also love.  I think I know how I am going to quilt it, bit need to stare at it a bit longer.  Also considering putting some vein in the leaves.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Venturing outside of my box again……

I am always very envious of people that come up with their own designs.  While I sometimes create beautiful things (not so recently though) they are not usually something I came up with. This sort of bugs me.  I want it all to be me.  Likely why I can’t send a quilt off to be quilted by someone else.

I am usually getting my inspiration for things (mostly quilty stuff) by looking at other people’s work, magazines and books.  I am sure we all do.  Sometimes in my mind I am skill building, which is not always bad.  But I always have in the back of my mind that I want it to be all mine from design to finish.

So, last week I finished my “One Monthly Goal” (have not posted yet, this picture is just20170622_182605 the embroidery).  As I hung it up in my dining room, I took a step back and realized this is a one of a kind piece of work.  No one else will have anything like it.  The only part I did not design was the embroidery.  It was a kit my Oma gave me when I was a teen.  But the rest, all me (with all my blog friends advice).  So, why did I think that I could not do my own designs?  Honestly, when I did that piece, I was not thinking about designing a one of a kind piece.  But, that is what happened.

Well, maybe I can.  I will start with something small.  Maybe I do it more than I realize.  Not really sure.  So, I am always practicing on Table Toppers and small pieces.  So, Figured I would try my hand at my own small piece.

I took a piece of homespun fabric that I didn’t like.  Funny because, it was in the local guild quilting garage sale and no one bought or traded for it.  I wanted to not waste something that I liked, fabric wise.  So, I went to my “What were you thinking when you bought that fabric box?”  Then I went to my scraps for the leaves.  I have to admit, they are some of my favorite fabric scraps.  Hand Dyed, which I actually dyed.

I no longer hate the homespun.  Funny how that works.  Still need to finish it, which I will.  Not exactly sure on my curvy base, but I may still work on that.  Is it too busy? Would love your thoughts, all of you give great advice.  Thanks!

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

I wish you a Merry Quilt Along and One Monthly Goal for August

I Have decided to participate in the I wish you a Merry Quilt Along.  One block every two weeks.  I think I can manage that.  So far so good.  I have quite a collection of snowflake fabric, and I finally have a purpose for it.  It will be interesting to see what the next block will look like.  It wasn’t hard.  Took me about an hour total and this included hunting for the snowflake fabrics in my boxes of fabric.

I also have my one Monthly Goal project.  I am going to completely finish Oma’s 20170731_194705_resizedtreasure.  As you can see from the photo, I have already partially taken some of this apart.  When I posted my original picture I got a lot of good advice on what to do.  Now I just need to do it.  So, yes, I will sew on the beads, quilt and bind this for My One Monthly Goal for August.  This is of course after I fix what I started tearing out.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

A Day Off

So, today I did not go to the hospital (Check Miranda’s Journey page for the latest updates). Last night I fell asleep after dinner (before 6pm) and did not wake up until 8:30 today.  Guess I needed it.  So, I did some laundry and made dinner.  I also got  little sewing time in.  Decided that I needed to see something finished.

20160925_175920I actually made these bibs for my future grandchildren (just in case I don’t get to meet them).  They are made from recycled jeans.  Jeans that belonged to me and my late husband Derrick.  I am hoping that will someday mean something to Haley and/or Miranda.  No to bad on the applique portion.  Over time I will make more to give away.  But, sometimes you just need to see 20160925_175930something finished.

I am still working on my Hospital Hexies.  I should have an update on that soon.

Thanks to all my quilting and blogging friends for caring about Miranda and my family.  It truly does mean a lot.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your Family