Tag: quilting

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

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

 

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

Struggling Snowflakes

20161124_124600_resizedI made this table runner for my own table.  I usually don’t make much for myself, but it seems odd to be a quilter and not have quilted stuff all over your house.  It is an interesting batik and I was not appalled at my quilting this time.   When I did the quilting, I was sort of thinking/going for snow drifts.  It came out all right.

The snowflakes are not struggling.  I am guilty of that.  Basically I have been feeling like crap and am sick of it.  I have two conditions that are currently competing with each other in my body.  For years I have had something called Dopa Responsive Dystonia.  For me, it basically means that I have the worst Charlie horses all over my body.  Medication had solved about 90% of it until the Rheumatoid arthritis reared its ugly head.  So the drugs for that cause the dystonia to be a zillion times worse.  Like I actually have cramps in my jaw (awful) and my tongue (imagine how that looks and sounds when talking).  I spend a lot of my free time at work, hoping no one notices that occasionally my arm shoots across the table without warning and begins contorting, which often causes tears to run down my face.  They attempt to solve this with powerful anti-seizure drugs that I don’t want to take because they can be very addictive and when you have to take them around the clock.  It makes a person wonder.  Then there are the two doctors, the rheumatologist and the neurologist, who don’t really want to talk to each other, they just want to prescribe more drugs.   Yesterday I was at the neurologist and pretty much begged him to talk to the Rheumatologist.  Just got a dumbfounded look and an offer to write him a letter.  Really?

Actually discussed with Kevin last night if I should just stop taking everything, because I am not sure much is helping.  If you want the Rheumatoid to be better you have to screw with the dystonia drugs.  It is a no win.  My only saving grace is the inexpensive hot tub Kevin put in the garage for me.  It is really the only thing that helps. I find myself in it 2-3 times a day.

I know I should just stop feeling sorry for myself.  I just don’t want to always feel like crap.  On a positive note, my daughter Miranda is doing well after the accident.  Working on therapy.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Treasure your Family

So Many Things to be Thankful for…especially Monnie and the Wool Coat Quilt

I often forget how lucky I am.  Sometimes, getting caught up in the day to day img_03301activities of life makes you forget a few very important things.

I am still here.  For this I am grateful.  I have a beautiful, healthy and smart twelve year old daughter.  I still have Miranda, which at one point in time not too long ago, I did not think I would.  She hobbles around the house today.  For this I am grateful, even when she gets on my last nerve.

I have Kevin, who in his very own way is a very kind man, who looks out for all of us.  He was most certainly my rock during Miranda’s accident.  Lately he takes care of me when I don’t feel so well.  Currently I struggle with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Dystonia.  They don’t go well together.  But, it will get sorted out, eventually.  Kevin son’s Bryce, who is cute as can be and such a helpful sweet boy.  I miss him when he is not with us, but grateful when he is.  I can’t imagine what it feels like not to have access to your child at all times.

I am grateful for my three sisters, even though we sometimes we get off track.  I am hoping to see them all at New Year’s this year, so we can work on getting things back to the way they used to be, or as close as we possibly can.

These photos are of a quilt that my sister Anke has.  It belonged to my Grandmotherimg_03321 Monnie (Uncle Donald’s sister).  She was one of my most favorite people and the reason I sew today.  This quilt is made of old wool coats.  Imagine how warm it is…  The history.  I wonder who wore all those old wool coats?

A big thank you to my sister for sending me the pictures.  I remembered seeing it, but it had been a long time and brings back the fondest memories of Monnie and reminds me of who I am.

At 52, I have already said goodbye to two husbands, both my parents and a couple of dear friends.  It is a lot.  Sometimes I think it is too much for me.  But then am I reminded of all those that are still in my life.  For this I am grateful.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your Family

Something for the Fur Babies

20161112_162030_resized_1My dogs usually tear off bandannas.  I think they are cute, but for whatever reason they come untied and I find them in the yard.  So, I decided to make some that slipped over their collar.  Super cute and easy.

My First model is Moka.  She was not happy about wearing the bandanna. Not sure why, It complemented her Ohio State collar and dog tags.  She wasn’t happy last Christmas when I put her in a holiday sweater either.  She rolled around on the floor for hours til she wiggled out of it.  She eventually found a way to get it in her mouth and I had to remove it before is got Mokaed (destroyed).

My second model is Snibble.  She liked her bandana.  Especially since it made our resident20161112_154733_resized_1 OSU fan happy (Kevin).  Snibble has been madly in love with him since she met him.  We are all OSU fans, but I have to say, Kevin is the only one that arranges the shirts in his drawer by: OSU Football, OSU Basketball, anything related to New York (that is where he is from) and misc.  Heaven forbid I put something in the wrong pile. LOL.

 

The lucky bandannas must have worked, because OSU won in a smashing victory and some of their top opponents fell also, which should make them rise in the polls.  Which makes everyone at my house happy.

 

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your Family

Mystery Quilt – What will it be???

20161101_204316Well, I got everything cut as instructed.  I had most of this fabric in my stash, likely for years….  Had to buy a couple of accent pieces, that’s it.  I like lime green and teal together.  Hoping it turns out to be something awesome!  We shall see.

I managed to get all the sewing stuff packed, now just need my personal items.  Hope to get that done later, but the 7th game of the World Series is on, and I am from the Cleveland area.  Hoping Mom is watching from above.  She was a big Indians fan.  My sister Kellie better have that gold Wahoo that mom always wore, on tonight.

Next Post from the retreat.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Treasure your Family

Mystery quilt and packing….

So, I am trying to get back to my normal life.  My daughter is home from the hospital, which is great.  But, you do sort of trade one set of circumstances for another.  Glad not to be running to the hospital, but there is a lot to do having her home also.  This weekend is the Quilt Retreat.  It has been a while since I have been to one.  Part of me feels like I should be staying home and part of me can’t wait to go.  Kevin tells me I am going…… I have been gathering my things together in my new wheeled “I am going to a retreat” case.

Since this is a mystery quilt retreat, I have been spending 10 minutes here and there cutting out the pieces that I need.  I am done, need to label them and get them into bags all sorted.  I have never done a mystery quilt, so this is a new experience for me.  I used some fabrics that I had purchased previously and then purchased a couple other coordinating fabrics.  I will post photos as we go.

Now for the what to pack?….  Wine (check), Diet Pepsi (Check).  I am guessing I should consider a sewing machine and other supplies.  We will be leaving at 6am Friday morning, so I really need to be ready by Thursday night.  That should be a challenge.

We are staying at the Berlin Hotel and resort.  Since it has been so warm here, the trees are just starting to change, so it will be very beautiful.  Fall in Ohio tends to be very picturesque.  Can’t wait to go to one of my favorite shops , Millers Dry Goods and there is a shop hop going on.  WooHoo!