Reluctant Quilter

First Finish 2012!

2012-01-21T13:30:00.003-05:00

My little wall hanging is part of a calendar series. This one is for January and I finished him this morning

It has raw edge applique and free motion stitching. I probably should have gone a little more vibrant on his scarf but I was determined to use only scraps that I had (or scraps I could snag from my sister). Now that I have completed something new I have to finish something old. Looks like the binding is going on my niece's quilt tonight. She has been waiting for the quilt for 3 years. (I am a crappy aunt and godmother!)

It snowed here last night and into the early morning. I think there is about 4 inches which I believe is going to be topped with some freezing rain. Lovely. I guess I need to get my boots on and shovel the sidewalk before there is a lawsuit...

A little free motion practice

2012-01-20T12:41:00.003-05:00

I am participating in the 2012 Free-Motion Challenge on SewCalGal's blog. This is my version of the first challenge.

The task was to make leaves in a continuous pattern. I used black thread to make the pattern stand out so that I could look at my stitch length. My stitches are consistent but the quality of the leaves are marginal. Had I done the leaves in a pale pink thread, I think they would have looked decent. I free motion frequently but tend to do either a stipple or large meander. I intentionally slowed my speed and concentrated on stitch length. All in all, an "ok" practice.

Just a little something to keep me busy

2012-01-19T12:42:00.001-05:00

I don't like to sew at night. I am usually not terribly alert and a needle through a fingernail is not what I want to jolt me awake! I like to keep my hands busy when I am watching television so I either crochet or knit. (If I am doing some kind of needlework I am not cramming chips or cookies in my mouth.) I have been making these darling crochet ruffle scarves.

The pattern is from Lion Brand and the scarf is made with their Homespun yarn. Here is a link to the pattern. I have made it with different yarns, slight variations in stitches, etc. Every one is very pretty. I have sold several and gave several as gifts at Christmas. The picture makes it look very "lumpy" to wear but not so. It works beautifully if you make a long loop, shove the ends through the loop and then wrestle with it a little to get the loop close to your neck. It provides lots of fabric around your neck and just a small amount of bulk at the top of your coat or jacket. One of the best things is that the scarves make up very quickly (it takes me two nights to make one). If you crochet, try it. Bet you can't make just one!!

Made a decision

2012-01-10T18:38:00.000-05:00

Because I love it so, I am not taking down this tree

...at least not until Valentine's Day. Or maybe I will throw on some hearts and baby's breath keep it up until St. Patrick's Day. Or maybe I will put on some green shamrocks and keep it up until Easter. Or perhaps I will trim it with eggs and spring flowers and keep it up until Memorial Day. Or I could just keep it up until...

Quick trip with my sister

2012-01-07T13:14:00.003-05:00

This morning my sister and I made a very early morning trip to Burkholder's to take advantage of the last few days of their customer appreciation sale. Mr. Martin saw us looking at the Moda fat quarter bundles and surprised us by offering an additional discount if we took 4 bundles. Well, you don't have to tell us twice! Between the two of us we purchased 100 fat quarters. Here are the two bundles of 25 that I chose.

They also had a large number of patterns that were only a dollar a piece. I chose these.

I may wait for a while to make the mitten runner but I really want to make the batik snowflake wall hanging as soon as I can. I picked up the sunflower pattern for Emily as they are her favorite flower. The Quilt Soup pattern will look darling in my daughter in law's kitchen. That may end up being a Christmas gift next year. I could not pass up the small Holy Family penny rug.

Jodi at Pleasant Home is doing a month long series on scrap quilting. It is just the push I need to use up some scraps. The first one I am going to try is Freda's picnic quilt. If you don't already read Jodi's blog, pop over and check it out. Jodi has a beautiful blog and I am certain you will enjoy reading it!

Goals

2012-01-04T05:53:00.000-05:00

Just thought I would mention that it is COLD, y'all! I enjoy a nip in the air but this is a shock to my system. (I am, of course, a delicate flower...)

Now that I have finished complaining about the temperature, I am going to tell you about my list of things I hope to do in 2012. I used to be extremely goal oriented back in the day when I was in sales and worked for a terrific company that rewarded their employees for reaching certain goals. Now, not so much. I enjoy my job but it doesn't have the stress (or rewards) that come with working in sales. At any rate, my goal setting skills have diminished over the years but I do have some things in mind for my sewing studio for 2012.

1. Clean and organize (and keep it that way!) Yes, I do realize that is awfully vague for a goal but it's the best I can do at this point.
2. Photograph groupings of fabrics for my purse/tote/quilt making business
3. Finally finish my sister's quilt and put the binding on my niece's quilt. (The quilt has been finished to that point for 3 years. What is up with me and binding?!)
4. Use up some of the fabric in my ridiculous number of scrap bins and actually make 2 scrap quilts.
5. Make 12 Christmas runners prior to November. They really don't take that long and why I wait to the very last minute is beyond me.
6. Limit "custom" work to only two products per month during the first 10 months of the year AND no more that 10 between November 1st and December 10th. No more Christmas Eve deliveries to customers and making myself and my family crazy!
7. Etsy shop - seriously.
8. For every new project, finish an old WIP. I have so many projects that just need to be quilted...and I actually really enjoy quilting. I need to get them quilted before my sister sells her long arm which she is threatening to do.
9. Paper piece something. I hate the thought of wasting fabric but I would love to make a mariner's compass and the only way that is going to happen is if I learn to paper piece and embrace the process.
10. I took a photo of Mount Rainier about 10 years ago that I want to re-create in a landscape quilt. It is time to stop looking at it on my project board and make that quilt!

I think all of these goals are attainable and that is the idea behind goal setting. Now it needs to be determined if I am a slacker or champion goal setter!

Talented quilter...

2011-12-31T18:04:00.001-05:00

I took Em along last evening and stopped in at a friend's house. My friend is Teresa Fusco. She is an AMAZING quilter and artist. Her quilts are absolutely breathtaking. I was absolutely fascinated with her use of color, stitching and beading. If I had an ounce of her talent I wouldn't be able to stand myself!

If you have a moment, check out her web page and the gallery of her quilts. Here's one to tempt you!

Drunkard's Path found in Google Images

This week...

2011-12-29T07:21:00.001-05:00

It was back to reality (to a degree) on Tuesday. The very best part of my week is that my granddaughter, Emily, is staying with me until I take her home to Virginia on New Year's day. She went to work with me on Tuesday, did all my filing and then hung out with a co-worker's son. They had a Harry Potter movie marathon in our conference room, played cards and generally enjoyed each other's company. Good thing because they are spending the day together at my office again today!

This was Emily's BIG Christmas gift

She has been coveting mine for about 2 years. She loves this machine with all the little bells and whistles. She also received lots of sewing "goodies" and several gift cards for Joann's and a gift card to spend at Burkholder's Fabric. Guess where we are going on Saturday! The machine is out of the box but we have not had time or opportunity to set it up. I don't think Emily ever threaded mine or ran a bobbin. We will be practicing those things so that she will be able to use her machine at home without Grammy standing by.

I always enjoy the 12 days of Christmas and it makes me sad to see so many trees on the curb the day after Christmas. I love this time of calm and reflection. I hope you are enjoying your time as well.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

From my home to yours -

A little show and tell

2011-12-21T10:39:00.003-05:00

I haven't been taking a lot of photos of things I have been making but I adore this diaper bag. This is not a "take it to the daycare" diaper bag. I think of this as an option to take if Momma is going out to dinner, or the doctor's office or church.

Inside there are lots of elastic gathered pockets and a large pocket for diapers. I included a coordinating changing pad and the sweet little binky bag that loops over the handle.

Besides the fact that I like the style of the bag, I love this fabric.

My customer is giving the diaper bag to her sister for Christmas. Think the "mama to be" will like it?

I am weak

2011-12-17T06:44:00.001-05:00

Dinner won out. I will pay the price the rest of the weekend. Wonder how much I can get done today? I have been up since 4am so I think I have a pretty good jump on the day.

Did you know Coupon Commotion starts at Joann's today? Our local store opens at 8am. Guess what I time will get there??!

Just when you thought it was safe...

2011-12-16T15:49:00.000-05:00

I'm back! Good grief!! I cannot believe it has been 3 weeks since I posted last. That isn't exactly true. I can believe it. I have been crazy busy since I returned from my too brief trip to Virginia to see my sons and their families.

This is a small area of my studio

Try to imagine an entire 12 x 17 space that looks like that and you will have some idea of my work (!) process. I have heard of women that create one thing at a time, finish and then put all of their scraps into size and color coded containers. I don't know any of those women personally so I am thinking that might just be a rumor and not fact.

I am going to try to do a big sew-in tonight but may be lured into going out for dinner. I think I just heard a steak and glass of wine call my name...

Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T04:03:00.001-05:00

I think I must have the nicest, most helpful readers in the blogosphere! I received a comment from "SewLindaAnn" directing me to the Quilt in a Day website where they had one (1) yard left of the Zenith fabric I needed for a weekender tote. I snagged that baby (and admit to doing a little other shopping there) and it should be in the mail to me by this evening. Totally made my morning!

I have a lot for which to be thankful (including blog readers!) and hope you also take the time to also reflect on the blessings in your life, large or small, this holiday. Remember that everything in this life is a gift and offering thanksgivings for those gifts is both an honor and praise.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge

2011-11-22T19:18:00.001-05:00

Want to improve your free motion quilting skills? See the button on my sidebar for the 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge? Click on it and see what SewCalGal is suggesting on her blog site. I think it is a great idea designed to improve skills and confidence in using your domestic sewing machine to free motion quilt. I am a decent free motion quilter but there are skills that I want to learn and I think this is a great opportunity. Additionally, there are going to be some pretty cool giveaways from vendors. Check it out. It may be something you want to try, too!

Lots of orders means

2011-11-22T04:52:00.001-05:00

more fabric!! Though the women chose from my stash for their purse/accessory orders, I still needed accent fabrics or additional fabrics to make everything. Yesterday was the last day I could use my coupon at Burkholder's so after I finished work I picked up my sister and we headed over the mountain.

I had the brown fabric in my stash but needed something to match that weird lime green polka dot. I think the dotted fabric I found works beautifully.

I already had the brown floral and picked up the variegated dot fabric to use in a diaper bag order.

I bought the purple floral back when they had the big cotton close out at Fabric Mart about 2 years ago. Naturally, I had nothing in my stash that worked with it. Found these two purples and now have to decide which bag gets which shade of purple.

Now, just because I never met a red tonal 3 Sisters for Moda fabric that I didn't like, I had to buy this

Don't know what I will use it for but use it I will!

Lastly, I need more of this fabric. I know that I saw it somewhere in the past 2 months but it wasn't Burkholder's. It came out back in 2010 so I realize the chance of finding any will be slim. Do you have a piece in your stash?

I have two other coordinating pieces that I will use in the bag but this border print is only about 18" wide and I need at least 27" for the bag. I can do it if I run the print vertically but the customer would prefer that the floral run horizontally. The fabric is Zenith by Kathy Hall for Andover Fabrics. The item code is 3701. If you have about a yard please let me know. I have a checkbook and I am not afraid to use it!

So...I didn't sew on Friday night

2011-11-21T04:42:00.001-05:00

I really did want to sew for the FNSI but just didn't trust that all the anesthesia was out of my system. Drugs and a rotary cutter sounds like a really bad idea! Thanks for all your well wishes. It was easy surgery and I had very little post op pain. I love my surgeon, anesthesiologist and the nursing staff at Surgical Institute of Reading.

Instead of sewing on Friday night, I washed two canvas drop cloths to make curtains for my living room. I have had sweet white cafe' style curtains since I moved in. I have wanted floor to ceiling drapes for a while but they just were not high enough on my list of priorities. My dear sister picked up the drop cloths at Home Depot for me while I was at the hospital. She also picked up the curtain rings. I already had 4 boxes of Rit Color Remover (in my opinion, a much better solution than bleach) to lighten color of the drop cloths. After they were dry I ironed them and then pressed a fold down the center. I used canvas that was 6' x 9' and I have narrow windows so three feet wide for each panel looked appropriate. I just cut along the fold with a pair of scissors and used 1/4" wide fusible tape along the cut edge. I ironed that on, flipped over the first hem, ironed that down and then ironed over another quarter inch. I sewed that on the machine on Saturday morning. I attached clips on the top (my son put the rods up for me a couple of months ago) and hung them. They are exactly the right length without any hemming...gotta love that! I really like the way they look and think they make the room look larger.

I have a window on either side of the front door. The windows are not centered on the either wall. Seriously, how hard would it have been to create a little symmetry in the front of the house?! Look how closely that rod is placed next to the adjoining wall. (Makes me just a little bit twitchy...)

On Saturday I finished up some sewing for the purse party I was having Sunday. One thing I needed to do was have at least one Christmas table runner finished. I quilted up this one really quickly and then sewed the binding on while I watched TV on Saturday night.

I stitched in the ditch around the pinwheels, meandered the outer border and stippled between the blocks. I love using white against the bright Christmas colors.

The purse party was very successful. I received lots of orders as well as sold several bags "off the rack". I will be displaying bags, accessories and quilts at an open house in early December. I am only taking pre-made items with me and will not be doing any custom work again until after the holidays. I have plenty to keep me busy until then!

As a matter of fact, the studio is calling my name right now!

Friday Night Sew In

2011-11-17T18:21:00.001-05:00

I am having some minor surgery tomorrow but when the anesthesia wears off I will be in front of a sewing machine. I am just hoping that I will be aware enough to KNOW that the anesthesia is out of my system. I think sewing under the influence might be the teeniest bit dangerous!

If you want to sign up, click on the button on my sidebar and it will take you directly to the blog site. Looking forward to seeing what you are doing!

Thanks, Daddy!

2011-11-11T05:48:00.001-05:00

Not just playing with Blogger

2011-11-08T05:38:00.000-05:00

I have been making bags - lots and lots of bags. I have a party on Friday night and I don't have nearly enough inventory. If history repeats, most of the women at the party will end up ordering custom bags but I like having lots of examples.

I have set up shop in my dining room

I have set up shop in my studio

I hope I will have at least 10 more bags finished by Friday morning. As a buffer I am taking off half a day on Friday. Looks like I will need it!!

Y'all prepare yourselves!

2011-11-04T15:27:00.001-04:00

I learned how to do something new and I am like a dog with a pork chop bone. I will not let it rest!! I have changed my blog page header twice now in the last couple of weeks. I keep finding new and better ways to do stuff and I must play. Please be patient with me. I will get over myself soon!

Retreat Update

2011-10-31T09:25:00.000-04:00

Early on Saturday morning

You knew I would have a good time, didn't you?! The company was great, food was fantastic and the innkeepers are lovely people.

The retreat was terrific although I had one sewing nightmare after the other. I worked on a simple braid quilt and if I never see it again it will be too soon! (You would have thought I was performing brain surgery.) I won't even show it to you until the border is on and that may be years from now. I did start on my "Swoon" quilt and though all the pieces are easy and quick to cut, I learned quickly that I needed to read the directions several times before actually sewing anything. I have a quarter (!) of one block done. I worked on a bag and didn't have the right color thread to quilt it so it is designated for the trash can.

Saturday at dusk

I am not going to say much about the snow and let the photos speak for themselves. We had flickering lights many times but never lost power. Sunday morning was the perfect winter day...in October!

View from the car window as I headed towards home

I was one of two "newbies" at the retreat. The executive committee extended a return invitation to both of us and I will be delighted to return...and bring a box of scraps 'cause there are some serious scrap quilters in the group!

Retreat!

2011-10-28T09:20:00.000-04:00

This afternoon I am driving to the White Oak Bed & Breakfast in Lancaster County to retreat with Nancy and 8 other quilters. My clothing is packed, my chair is packed and I have 10 projects packed just in case I get a bad case of "quilters ADD"!

I have never been on a quilt retreat without my sister so I am both excited and a little bit nervous. Sure hope they like me!

FNSI Results!!

2011-10-22T13:16:00.000-04:00

I am pretty pleased with what I accomplished last night. I had an order for a small, cross body purse. I think this will work!

Isn't it cute? It's only about 8 inches high, 2 inches deep and about 7 inches wide.

The bag has two pockets inside and on the back is a large padded pocket. It is perfect for a cell phone, sun glasses, etc.

One down, 29 to go!!

Gonna do the "Friday Night Sew In"?

2011-10-20T12:41:00.002-04:00

It's that time again!

I know that I will be sitting in front of my sewing machine tomorrow night. I am in the mood to do something fun but have not decided what that will be. I have some charm squares and yardage that may turn into a quilt tomorrow night!

Click on the button on my sidebar to go directly to Heidi's site to sign up.

"Summer" quilt

2011-10-17T21:18:00.001-04:00

Months ago, I started a quilt for my mother. She wanted something to throw over her in the living room if she got a little chilly from the air conditioning. (My first suggestion was to turn off the a/c but you should have seen the look I got!) I have had the quilt top done for months but just never got around to quilting it. It was on my list of projects that I wanted to finish before the big bag push. I attached the binding yesterday afternoon and spent the evening hand stitching.

Because I wanted this on and off the long arm pretty quickly, I did a huge meander. This is the first quilt that I have used flannel as the batting material.

The quilt is heavier than I thought it would be but certainly not as heavy as it would be had I used Warm and Natural (my batting of choice). Originally it was going to be bound in the small purple print that I used for the inside border. Unfortunately, I was about 10" short (can you just imagine how annoyed I was?!) which I discovered as I made the last turn attaching the binding. Finding there was not any additional fabric left at Burkholder's, I asked my sister to pick up something so she brought me more of the outside border fabric. I am just happy there was enough to make binding for the ENTIRE quilt!

Would I use flannel again for batting? Absolutely! I did not pre-wash any of the fabric (I am crazy that way) and it washed and dried beautifully. The drape is very soft and the quilt is warm. The flannel I used is the basic quilter's flannel at Joann's and I used a coupon so I think it was roughly $3 a yard. I think flannel would be good choice for batting especially in baby quilts. The downside is having to piece the flannel. I ran the batting seam opposite the backing seam and did not have any difficulty quilting it.

Lots of quilting!

2011-10-15T08:54:00.001-04:00

My sister has been out of town quite a bit over the past month or so. While she was gone I had access to her long arm so I took the opportunity to finish several quilts.

The first is the black and white Delectable Mountains quilt (I posted photos a long time ago!)that I am going to gift as a Christmas present to my brother and his girlfriend. Because the outer border is mostly red, I thought the quilt would look sharp if I quilted in red. The quilt pattern is very linear so I quilted with a large looping meander to contrast.

Several years ago, I made a braid quilt from a pattern found on Moda’s Bake Shop blog. Once again I went to the “well” of my 3 Sisters scraps and all the fabrics I used were from several collections. I quilted this one pretty heavily. I did a large loop in the outer border, smaller loop in the inside border, feathered down the center of each braid and then stippled between the feather rows. It took me about 5 hours to quilt and I went through nearly 3 pre-wound bobbins. I am very happy with the quilting and doing this one really helped build my confidence.

I have one more to quilt to bind and then I think I am going to work mostly on bags and totes for Hazelnut Deux. I am afraid the holidays will be here long before I am ready!

Or is it just me?

2011-10-06T06:29:00.002-04:00

This post has absolutely nothing to do with quilting. It concerns Facebook. Does anyone else think it is a really bad idea to complain about your job, write negative posts about members of your family or argue with someone on Facebook? The only reason I am on Facebook is to know what is going on in the lives of family and friends but some of the negativity I see makes me cringe. Call me crazy but if I need to vent about something of a true personal nature, the last place I am going to do that is on Facebook. Airing dirty laundry for all my friends and family to see would be, at the very least, an incredible embarrassment.

Maybe I am too sensitive. Is it just me?

Sweet baby quilt

2011-10-05T15:06:00.002-04:00

I just finished this quilt for a co-worker. It is a gift for a family that recently adopted a little girl. My friend choose the sweet paisley from my stash and then I went shopping for coordinating fabrics. (I showed them to you a few weeks ago.) I used my trusty copy of "Four on the Floor" for the pattern.

I used pale pink So Fine thread for the top and the bobbin. I quilted the body with a large, very loopy meander and then stippled the block around Gracie's name. I washed and dried the quilt (as I always do) and threw in 3 Color Catchers as a preventative measure. I was nervous about the dark pinks but

none of the colors ran - thank goodness!

My friend is thrilled with the quilt and I am happy to have another finish for October!

Another one bound!

2011-10-04T12:09:00.002-04:00

I have quilted 5 quilts over the past few weeks. This one is a lap throw made completely from scraps of about four different lines of 3 Sisters for Moda fabric.

I was playing around a bit on the long arm and covered the quilt in loops and "wonky" feathers.

I used King Tut in a varigated sage green on the top and Bottom Line thread in the bobbin.

I have never met a Moda red that I didn't like so I bound in a left over piece of Luna Notte.

I think it is delicious and I am so happy to have another one completed!

Guess who I met today?

2011-10-01T20:07:00.000-04:00

A lot of quilters come to our area of Pennsylvania to shop for fabric. Today I met someone whose blog I have been reading for years. I met Irene and her friends, Margaret and Dianne. They were here from Ontario on a fabric hunting adventure and we met at the Hayloft in Morgantown. Irene has the proof on her iPhone. I completely forgot to take my camera with me! Irene is just as sweet and genuine in person as she is in her blog.

Since I drove all the way to Hayloft I had to buy something. I really like "Grace" which is the 3 Sister's holiday collection from Moda this year.

I picked up two charm packs and a half yard cut from each of two coordinating fabrics. I am not exactly sure what I am going to make but I am going to find a pattern in my copy of Schnibbles Times Two from by Carrie Nelson. I can't believe I still haven't schnibbled!

Quilt drama

2011-09-29T06:16:00.001-04:00

I quilted and bound the “great-grandmother” quilt ( I have now determined that it was pieced by his great-grandmother and not grandmother) and put it in the washer to soak in some Oxyclean. I hand agitated, let it spin out, threw in Wisk and hand agitated, spin, rinse (hand agitated again) and the final spin. I pulled out the quilt and only one block plus part of another is coming apart. It is the same fabric in both.

I am now letting it dry and when I come home tonight I will figure out how to repair.
I used the suggestion to do an overall quilting pattern and I think it worked worked out well. I made an attempt to quilt over the outside points of blocks to help secure them. I also bound in black. It actually looks surprisingly good all things considered. Now – to just get it dry, repaired and in the mail!

Fabric

2011-09-23T05:58:00.000-04:00

I went to Burkholder's after work on Thursday to pick up the backing fabric for the vintage quilt top. I chose this from one of the feed sack collections

The background color is a very dark brown which appears black in my horrible kitchen lighting. I choose something that was about as neutral as I could get since the quilt top is pretty crazy! And speaking of the vintage quilt top, thanks to everyone for their input and quilting suggestions. As I was examining the top yesterday, it appears that some of the blocks on the edge had bleach or something dripped on them. I may end up changing the size and dimension of the top to eliminate the really banged up blocks. If I had been neglectful in my treatment of the top I would feel awful about doing that. However, I didn't abuse it so I am guilt-free. I just want to preserve a bit of Tony's family history so I am going to do the best I can and call it a day.

Since Burkholder's was having a sale and I had a 30% discount coupon in my hot little hand, I bought these

This bundle of gorgeous is Ro Gregg Sophisticate Vintage Rose from Northcott Fabrics. There are 25 fat quarters of the entire collection. The colors range from pink to taupe to grey and black. I totally changed my mind about the colors I wanted to use for the Swoon quilt. I am going on retreat at the end of October and I think this will be my project...if I can just keep my hands off it until then!

I need a little help

2011-09-21T19:42:00.002-04:00

When I lived in Seattle, my significant other was the recipient of several boxes from his great aunt's estate. By the time I moved in most everyone in the family had picked through things but there were a couple of items that caught my eye. One was this quilt top.

I was told by a couple of his family members that it was ugly and no one wanted it. Well, it isn't gorgeous but it was made by his grandmother. That means something and I know that he was very close to his grandmother. Long story short, I took it. I knew that at some point I would find a way to have it made into a quilt.

I have no idea what the fabrics are in the top. They look a bit like rayon and since my assumption is that it was made from scraps from the 40's, that is probably a good guess. The top is had stitched onto foundation fabric of muslin and feed sacks.

I know that I am going to have to do some repairs to the blocks. It looks like a couple of blocks are coming apart.

Obviously, it is a scrap quilt and maybe not the prettiest thing but, as I said before, someone near and dear to him made it.

Here's my plan. Secure the blocks, trim the raggedy edges and then find a nice reproduction feed sack fabric for the backing. I will use cotton batting. Now the plan gets a little shaky. I do not have the time or skill to hand quilt this. If it were a beautiful top, I would do it but this is borderline utilitarian so I don't feel badly about putting it on the long arm. I have no idea what design to quilt. Would a meander look goofy? Should I just straight line it?

I have to quilt it this upcoming Saturday and then ask my sister if I can put it into her front loader washing machine. I know that will be gentle enough to clean it (the fabric is dirty in places) without beating the heck out of it. I have this deadline because I have to get it in the mail for his birthday which is on the 3rd of October. It is one of those significant birthdays (60!) and I think this will be a great gift.

So, tell me your thoughts about my plan and any suggestions about the quilting. I need a little help from my friends!

At last...

2011-09-18T16:00:00.001-04:00

(I cannot type those two words without hearing Etta James in my head!) My Chocolat quilt is finished. Quilted, bound and washed...everything! I have been working on this quilt for more than 3 years. I collected fabric for the longest time. Because I had no idea what pattern I was going to use, I have have so much more fabric than I needed. I have already used some of the yardage for valences in my bedroom and pillow shams. Next up will be pillow cases, a bed skirt and I think I will still have enough to make enough patchwork fabric to cover a vintage spool chair in my room. I think this may still be my all time favorite 3 Sisters collection from Moda...though I adore Portabello Market and Peace on Earth. Ok, I love Vienna Nights, Roman Holiday, Glace', etc. (Pretty much if 3 Sisters designs it, I buy it!)

I just did a big, fat meander on the long arm, nothing jazzy. It took me five hours to blind stitch the binding.

This is the largest quilt I have made - queen size - and I cannot wait to put it on my bed. Unfortunately, I will have to wait just a little longer since I left the darned thing at my sister's house!

Linking up with

FNSI results

2011-09-17T09:32:00.001-04:00

I started my evening ripping out stitches between blocks on my sister's quilt. Someone suggested that I might sash the blocks. That was not my original intent but the bias edges keep stretching and I cannot get the points to all line up so I am going to sash with a nice ivory cotton. Unfortunately, I don't have said cotton so I have to shop. (Damn the bad luck!)

There were several other things I could have done but I had pulled out some scraps last week and decided I needed a table topper for one of the end tables in my living room. Determined to make a dent in the scrap pile, here's what I did

I only got as far as doing some stitch in the ditch to anchor the blocks. Later this afternoon I will get it quilted. This morning I am headed to my sister's to put a quilt on the long arm. I have to cut the fabrics for a baby quilt some time this weekend and also need to make two bags. So much to do and just so little time! It would probably help if I stopped doing projects I want to do and do the ones that I need to do!

Friday Night Sew In!

2011-09-16T18:22:00.001-04:00

How did I forget? I have so much to do!! I have videos stacked up next to the DVD player and I am ready to go. Are you?

The "taking me forever" quilt

2011-09-13T09:40:00.003-04:00

About 3 years ago, I decided to make my sister a quilt using fabrics that are totally in keeping with her decor and not my own. Maybe that is why it is taking me so long to make her quilt. It was supposed to be a Christmas present. Every few months she asks about her quilt. Now whenever I start a new project, she harasses me about the quilt. I really think all the points just got to me and I don't like making the little blocks. Here is where I am to date...sorta

There are another 5 blocks that are made and the only thing I need is one more red star block. I cannot find the "right" red fabric anywhere. It is making me twitchy. I went to my beloved Burkholder's yesterday and could not find what I wanted but ended up just settling with a piece that will have to do. I am determined to get this completed by the weekend.

And just because I love it so much, here is another bag that I finished

I could not love this fabric more! I don't know if it is the subtle Asian influence or the contrast of red, beige and black but I love it. This may just stay with me!

This Labor Day

2011-09-05T08:39:00.000-04:00

I actually labored this morning...at 5am. I woke up very early, made a pot of coffee and then started to put the trash on the curb. As I pulled the plastic bag out of the kitchen trash can, I saw something wet at the bottom of the can...and now leaking onto my kitchen floor. I quickly pulled a fresh bag from under the kitchen sink and placed the leaking bag into it. Now for the nasty mess on the floor. That wasn't too bad...but the kitchen trash can was a different story entirely. Because it was raining, I put the trash can in the bathtub, rinsed, dumped the water in the toilet and then filled then can with hot, soapy water. I scrubbed it and the lid, dried and placed it back in the kitchen. Then I had to scrub the tub and clean the toilet. All before 5:30. That's it...no more laboring today!

Yesterday I went to Burkholder's to search for some fabric to make a baby quilt. This is the focal fabric that my customer choose

I think it has been in my stash for at least a couple of years. The pattern that I am going to use only needs an additional 4 different fat quarters for the body of the quilt, a fairly narrow inner border and an outside border. I know that I am going to use the focal fabric both in the body of the quilt and as the outer border. Because I can't make up my mind about anything right now, I ended up with all this fabric

I had pieces cut for the inner border (4 pieces) and some of those are also fat quarters. I won't use both in the quilt but this just indicates how wishy-washy I was with my fabric choices. I think they all work so I am going to let my customer choose. No additional thinking on my part!

I spent most of Sunday in the studio and worked on a couple more bags. They are on the 3rd floor and I am on the first floor and I am way too lazy to go up and get them for a photo so I will do a "show and tell" next time I post.

I am taking a friend to Joann's today. She is just beginning to sew and is armed with a coupon. I just need to get several yards of fusible interfacing and some black thread. I cannot believe how quickly I go through a big spool of black thread!

Hope you have a day off and the opportunity to do something fun!

We have a winner!

2011-09-02T10:07:00.001-04:00

Random Org generator choose

Congratulations, Marci! I will send you an email for your mailing information. Thanks so much to everyone who entered. I have been blogging since 2007 and have "met" some of the nicest women through blogging. I so appreciate the fact that you take the time to read my little blurbs!

Giveaway drawing on Friday!

2011-09-01T14:21:00.004-04:00

If you didn't leave a comment on my post from the other day and you want to put your name in the "hat", please leave a comment on that post!! Drawing on Friday morning!!

While the winds blew and the rain pounded down

2011-08-31T15:29:00.000-04:00

I didn't lose power except for 4-1/2 hours in wee, wee hours of the morning. I had an entire day up in the studio. By 6pm my back was killing me but I managed to get a lot finished!

This is sort of a "standard" bag for me. See the little leaves on the red band near the bottom?

While I was pressing the seams, my iron gicked up some black crystal looking stuff on the fabricso I did a little raw edge appliqued and then some thread painting. The fabric was already fused to the fleece so there was no way to take it apart!

This one is has a gorgeous chocolate brown background. I love the fabric.

This one is cross body. I think it is very "young" looking.

This is another cross body style just much smaller and with a zip top. It needs "something" so I am thinking about making some sort of 3D leaf embellishment. My mom has a birthday on Saturday and I am pretty sure this one will end up at her house!

I am nearly out of fusible fleece so I am excited that it is half price at Joann's during the Labor Day sale. I also saw some fabric at Burkholder's last weekend that I am pretty sure I will pick up on Saturday. I just received two orders for baby quilts and I need fabric for those as well. Thank goodness for sales...and a three day weekend!

I linked up this post with:

Check out all the crafty folks!

Guessed who missed her blog anniversary?

2011-08-30T15:50:00.000-04:00

I knew it was coming up because I have a counter thing on my sidebar. So, what should I do to celebrate? I know - how about a giveaway?

Here's what I am giving away

It's a flip quilted table runner.. The colors in the picture are true and it is perfect for your fall table setting. It is 19" wide and 30" long.

Just leave a comment on the blog and I will let the computer choose the winner on Friday. For a second chance, post something on your blog and leave another comment letting me know that you have done just that. I am feeling a little giddy so I think I will throw in something else as a surprise for the winner!

I love surprises. Don't you?

I love Burkholder's!

2011-08-27T12:45:00.002-04:00

I hit Burkholder's Fabrics early this morning. Mostly I picked up fabrics that I will use for bags. They are all rich and pretty and I love them.

I also picked up the fabric for the borders of the red and white quilt.

The color is not right in the photo but I cannot get Picnik to adjust the color correctly. It is a deep cherry red. I was going to use a red tonal but fell in love with this piece. I found a true white to use for the outer border. Unfortunately, this quilt has to move to the back burner. I received some unexpected bag orders and I need to get cracking on them.

Thankfully Hurricane Irene has been downgraded and lost a lot of energy. We have had a very wet August in Southeast Pennsylvania and there is still a lot of concern that trees will fall during this storm. I guess that means I need to sew as much as I can before the electricity (possibly) goes out. I have to sew. Darn the bad luck!!

Hope you are safe and dry wherever you are...

Curious...

2011-08-23T08:25:00.002-04:00

I have one of those tracking thingies on my blog. It gives me general information about the location of my readers. Someone who reads my blog regularly is from the Port Angeles area of Washington. I have gone through my followers list and cannot figure this out. I would love to know who you are! I am very familiar with the area and spent many, many weekends there when I lived in Washington.

Quilting update - all the rows are sewn together on the zig zag quilt. All those point were hard to smash down when I pressed but I used my Mary Ellen's Best Press and ironed them into submission! I don't have any fabric for the back. I am giving serious thought to just getting some bleached muslin and using that for the back. Thoughts?

What's red and white all over?

2011-08-21T11:21:00.004-04:00

Here's what I am working on this weekend

I am trying to use as many of the red & white squares that I received in the swap. All of the rows are sewn so now it is time to put the rows together. Once the borders are on it, the quilt will be about the size of a twin. I think this quilt will spend the winter thrown over the sofa in the living room. I am going to quilt this on my big Janome using the walking foot. I will stitch in the ditch and then sew a line of supplemental stitching mid-way through the zig-zag. I will have to purchase additional fabric for the borders and binding. Someone suggested that I do an inner border in black. Though I think it would be striking, I really want to keep this bi-colored. My plan is to use a red tonal for the inner border, white for the outer border and then bind in the red. I am definitely going to have to throw a "Color Catcher" into the washer when I launder this one!

Recovering nicely

2011-08-13T17:28:00.000-04:00

Thanks to everyone for their well wishes. I am walking like a normal person now and the pain is mostly in my upper shoulder and neck area. It strangely feels as though my head is too big for my neck to support. Isn't that weird?! I spent yesterday lying about with a heating pad and a gel pack. This morning I woke up feeling good enough to venture into the studio to sew so I whipped up this bag

This afternoon quilty sister Julie picked me up in her hot rod truck and took me for lunch and up over the mountain to Burkholder's Fabrics. We had those terrific 30% off coupons. I had to go. My intention was to purchase a jelly roll but I decided that I really don't have time to make something else for me right now. I have bags that need to be made for the open house and I already have several partially finished holiday gifts that I need to complete. So...I used the 20% discount coupon and bought fabrics for to make bags.

I used my 30% coupon to purchase a bottle of Mary Ellen's Best Press. I got the Citrus Grove scent and it smells delish. I also picked up a few 99 cent remnant pieces. Any day that involves eating out and shopping for fabric is a good day!

Tomorrow will be an all day sew if my body is up to it. I know the spirit is willing even if the flesh is a little weak!

Ouch!

2011-08-12T06:37:00.000-04:00

I was backing out of a doorway yesterday at the office and caught the heel of my shoe on one of the carpets that a cleaning supply service provides for our tiled floors. There was no way to stop my fall so I toppled over backwards. Thankfully, my bum hit the floor first before the rest of me went over so I barely hit my head. Someone heard me yelp as I was falling and helped me back to my desk. I had to fill out an accident report for OSHA and then off to the doctor's office. Diagnosis? I broke my bum...or at least I badly bruised my coccyx. I also jarred every muscle up my back and shoulders. I feel like I was in a car wreck as my neck is really aching. I will be sitting on a pillow for a while and am taking the day off today because I need a heating pad. I am taking an anti-inflammatory for the pain and swelling and at night I am taking a lovely muscle relaxer. I have to say that in this instance I am happy I don't weigh what I did when I moved to Berks County. Those extra pounds on my backside helped protect the rest of me!

I think my base camp today will be in the studio. I have everything I need up here (except a potty) and when I get tired of laying around I can sit and sew for a bit. My sister found this for me in a remnant bin and it will be a weekender tote.

I already have the exterior and interior cut and quilted. I am changing my design just a little bit on this. I like to do a tie closure just because you can easily stuff these bags and it really puts a strain on a button. I am now adding a flap of fabric that will go over everything in the bag and then it can be tied. This will make it much nicer as a carry-on bag when flying. No worries about unmentionables falling out in the overhead bin!

A couple of finishes

2011-08-11T09:56:00.000-04:00

I have been busy in the studio since Emily left. I finished two commissioned bags (and totally forgot to take photos) and then made a quilt for a co-worker (and also didn't take a photo of that!) I made these two since the weekend.

The large bag is a variation of my "Bella" bag.

The smaller bag was for a co-worker. She wanted something to take her lotions and goggles when she goes to tan.

Everyone is happy with their bag and that makes ME happy! This weekend I am going to stitch more of my red & white blocks and may actually be ready to assemble the quilt. Burkholder's has 30% off jelly rolls right now (in store only with a coupon) and I am so tempted to go pick up 3 Sister's "Grace". They also have a sale online so if you are looking for some fabric at great prices check them out!

The weekend

2011-08-08T06:21:00.002-04:00

I was in the mountains of Pennsylvania this weekend. I went up to my sister's farm so that we could complete the quilt top for our nephew's wedding quilt. He got married a little over a year ago but we like to make sure the wedding is going to "take" before we give the quilt! I took my camera but left the memory card stuck in the side of my laptop. I do that so often you would think I would have a method for remembering to put the card back in the camera as soon as I finish downloading pictures. Obviously, I do not!

So - I was here

and I did some of this

and went to a quilt shop and bought this.

It was a lovely relaxing weekend spent with two of my favorite people.

This week it is back to reality - the office and sewing in the "hot box". I have 48 red and white blocks finished and I am anxious to get them all completed so that I can start making rows. Because the reds are not all the same I think I need to lay them all out in order to place them so that the red hues run through out the quilt. It will be a challenge but I think I am up for it!

One happy gal

2011-07-28T10:00:00.000-04:00

A few months ago my mother found some fabric in a grab bag for her church's yard sale. She bought the bag for me and in it were several yards of cotton, tone on tone white fabric. I washed and ironed it and put it away...and then forgot about it until I was digging around the studio for some white kona cotton for my red & white quilt. I cut it up this morning and had enough to match up with the red blocks.

Here's my first run of HSTs

I don't know why I am so excited about this quilt but I am!

Already missed my first deadline

2011-07-27T14:20:00.002-04:00

I signed up to do "Make a gift on the 25th" on Sew Many Ways. Well, the 25th of July has come and gone with not a lick of work being done by me. I am going to work on something this weekend. I think I am going to make an infinity scarf like Karen did. Sadly, I am not above playing "copy cat"!

I'm seeing red

2011-07-26T06:36:00.000-04:00

and white!

I participated in a 5" red and white fabric swap. My squares arrived over the weekend. After seeing some of the red and white quilts that were on display a few months ago in New York, I was really excited about this swap.

I am thinking about a zig zag quilt. Some of the squares won't make it into my quilt. Some are just too orange and some have other colors mixed in. Most everyone understood the idea of red & white, some didn't. I now have to cull, count all the squares and figure out how big the quilt will be.

There are not many duplicates and that is really nice. There are some that are whimsical, some that are very graphic and some are simply gorgeous.

Now I have to decide if I am going to be REALLY lazy and just buy packs of Moda Bella White charm packs or cut all the white squares. I don't like cutting but I am also not sure if any local shops carry the solid charm packs. I really want to get started on this quilt!

Well, somebody has been sewing...

2011-07-16T21:33:00.003-04:00

I have not been able to sit at my sewing machine much in the past 10 days. Someone else has been using it!

My granddaughter, Emily, has been making Christmas gifts for friends and family. It has been so hot that we brought the machine down to the first floor and she has been sewing in the dining room. Em loves my Brother sewing machine and has been trying to convince me that I need to send it home with her! I have been told not to "hover" when she is sewing. She really needs very little advice or supervision at this point. I am finding it difficult to stay back but I am doing my best to only approach when asked.

So far Emily has made 5 pillow covers and has plans to make a few more. She just finished free motion quilting one and did a beautiful job. I would show you except that is for someone special and she doesn't want to take the chance that he might see it on my blog!

Here are some that she has finished. I think she is doing a fantastic job picking out fabrics and putting these together.

My sister was kind enough to allow Emily to do some machine embroidery. Now it looks like I will have to buy a machine that has that feature!

I hope to have the opportunity to sew tomorrow. I have a couple of commissioned pieces that have to be completed and I have a quilt project of my own that I want to start. Now if I can just get the kid away from my machine...!

This morning

2011-07-02T14:54:00.000-04:00

I have been neglecting my blog...again. I honestly have not been sewing much. I made a beach bag for a customer and have orders for a few more. I also made curtains for a co-worker. I hope I don't lose my mind and do anything like that again!

This morning I decided to sit out on the patio with a cup of coffee and start hand quilting the front of a pillow cover.

I have not hand quilted in a very long time and thought I would like to try using perle cotton. It is a much more forgiving method of quilting. Living in this area, good quilters strive for a minimum of 8 stitches per inch when hand quilting. I am NOT a good hand quilter. I think I will enjoy this process and I know I am enjoying the new patio!

FNSI recap

2011-06-19T22:06:00.000-04:00

Finally had the opportunity to take photos of my mom's summer quilt. I finished the borders on Friday night.

I took this at my sister's house since I was going over there for dinner tonight. As you can see, her wash lines need to be tightened up! I love the quilt and when I showed the quilt top to my mother this evening she was very happy. Quilty sister, Julie, said it has an "old fashioned vibe" and looks like an old lady's quilt - exactly what I was going for!

This afternoon I decided to try out my other new pattern so I pieced this one

It is supposed to be twice this size, however, I had a cheezy "jelly roll" from Joann's and there are only 22 strips in a roll - half the number that you would get with a real jelly roll from Moda. The pattern I used was from Thimble Blossoms called "Jelly Filled". This is another easy, quick quilt and I really enjoyed making it. As a matter of fact, Camille has a new quilt pattern called "Swoon". (Check it out and tell me what you think!) I am purchasing the pattern next week. I am over the moon about it and have the perfect scraps to make it. The quilt has a very traditional feel to it and I love all the neutral space. I am really excited about making the quilt. I think I am going to work my way through all the Thimble Blossoms patterns. They are very well written and easy to follow.

Have you made any quilts from Thimble Blossom patterns?

So annoyed with Blogger!!

2011-06-17T10:25:00.000-04:00

Is it just me? I cannot leave comments on any blogs right now. When I try the screen comes up for me to log in and then it just keeps slapping "Anonymous" on my comment posts and STILL won't let me post the comment.

And how the heck do you get someone with Google to respond to something like this?!

FNSI this week...

2011-06-15T10:40:00.000-04:00

And I am psyched (or psychotic - one or the other)! I have all of the blocks for my mom's quilt sewn together and the borders are cut. I am leaving work early today to supervise the painting of my porch railings and posts. I will get the borders sewn and then spray baste the quilt. Friday night will be quilting time! I may be able to knock out the whole quilt by Saturday and give it to my momma on Sunday. I also have a jelly roll and another new pattern I want to try so I may just end up piecing on Friday night. Regardless, I will be sewing and that makes me happy.

If you haven't done so already, click on the button on my sidebar and sign up to sew tomorrow night. For some strange reason, if I make an appointment to sew I do actually sew. (Unless a bottle of wine is in the mix and then all bets are off...!)

Lookee!

2011-06-13T05:59:00.000-04:00

I sewed and sewed and sewed some more and here's what I finished up last night!

Notice the one missing block in the upper right? This pattern uses every one of the 42 charm squares in a pack. One of the squares is a very neutral and looked silly combined with the bone Kona cotton. I am going to cut up a square of the fabric that I am using for the inside border, make a block and then hide somewhere in the middle of the quilt so that it doesn't butt up against the border.

As the squares are on the floor of my living room and I have to walk behind the coffee table to get across the room, I will be sewing blocks together tonight. Maybe I will get borders on early tomorrow morning and actually have the quilt top finished by Wednesday. I am going to quilt this on my Janome. I really would like to have it for my mom by the weekend. Wish me luck!

2011-06-11T21:00:00.000-04:00

I left the house early this morning and made a quick run for some fabric because I don't have any. (Believe that?!) My mom had some knee surgery a couple of weeks ago and last weekend mentioned that she wanted some sort of throw for the living room just to put across her legs if the air conditioning chilled her. She was looking at fleecy looking things and that didn't make any sense to me. I said that I would throw together a quick quilt for her with just a layer of flannel as the batting. When I looked through my stash, I realized I didn't have anything that would work with her color scheme. Just a few days ago, I bought a couple of patterns from Thimble Blossoms. This is the one that I choose to make Mom's quilt

What a fun quilt to make! The design looks a bit tricky but it could not be easier. You just have to pay attention when sewing the blocks.

There was a sale at Burkholder's so I picked up 2 packs of French General Pom Pom de Paris charm squares and yardage for the borders and binding. There is just a hint of lavender in the collection. My mother uses lavender and sage green in her living room so I wanted to bring just a bit more of the purple into the quilt. I found a pretty piece of Lilac Hill (Brannock and Patek for Moda) with a small floral design. I am really happy with the fabric choices and may actually have a completed quilt top to show in just a few days.

It was too warm to sew in the studio (thank goodness my son is coming to visit and can drag up the a/c unit!) so I brought everything downstairs. This is what the dining room table looks like at the moment.

I hope to return to some semblance of order later tonight!

Memorial Day 2011

2011-05-30T08:37:00.000-04:00

To all that have served and continue to serve, thank you. To the families of these men and women, thank you.

Just a little something I threw together

2011-05-29T08:26:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday a few members of the Society of Sexy Sewing Sisters got together at Quilty Pam's house to work on our individual interpretation of a quilt shown on Fons & Porter. QP has the DVD so I don't know how long ago this particular episode was filmed so I can't give real credit to F&P. The quilt is based on an Ohio Star with a 6" center block and then doubling the size of the block on each successive piecing. Each quilter created something entirely different in color, type of fabric, etc. A couple of years ago when Fabric Mart bought out a quilt shop in Europe, I purchased crazy amounts of Moda fabric at $2 and then $1 a yard. I picked up a toile, small print and large graphic print from a black and white collection by Sentimental Studios. I had no idea what I was going to do with the fabric. When I saw the big star quilt that QP made, I thought it would be perfect in those fabrics. Others in our group were not as enthusiastic about using the prints with a red for my "neutral" but I bravely soldiered on. This is the result

This is "use what ya got" photography...I threw the quilt top over the fence and just hoped it would not slide down before I took the photo! Sure would have looked better if I had ironed it first and done a better job of draping on bottom!

Here's the center block

I fussy cut the center square but the points we just cut willy nilly.

I also cut the toile in the second round particularly and lined up my blocks so the there is a definite top and bottom to the quilt. I wanted there to be some continuity in the toile so that you could see the pattern.

I love the red tonal. It is from Bella Notte by Three Sisters for Moda. I am a picky about points and I was really pleased that the points on this one are really very nice. I was also amazed that it remained square in each round. I have no idea how I am going to quilt it but do know it will be on the long arm. It is a bit larger than I like to quilt on my Janome. This was a very fast, very "no brainer" kind of quilt top. It is one of those quilts you can throw together in a group and still manage to talk, eat and catch up on each other's lives. Because my heart and soul are not sewn into this quilt top, it will be a Christmas gift. If it turns out the recipient is not "quilt worthy" it won't hurt my feelings too badly!

Quilty sister, Julie, and I went back to Burkholder's yesterday. I picked up the rest of the red tonal bolt because I love the color and also found some fabric to make a purse that all the women in our group are going to make. I chose fabric that is very retro - think "1969 Haight-Ashbury hippie dippy love child". I love the fabric. It may lead to an entire upheaval of my wardrobe. Next thing you know I will stop shaving my legs, make 10 or 12 maxi dresses, throw on a pair of flip flops and bake a batch of brownies...

FNSI results!

2011-05-21T15:37:00.000-04:00

Not one darn thing! I didn't touch my machine and didn't even make it into the studio. I stopped over at quilty Pam's house, had a glass of wine (or two) and didn't make it home until just after nine.

This morning I was up very early and started running as soon as my feet hit the ground. I had an oil change at 7:30, stopped over at my parent's to help my mom with a couple of things (she had knee surgery on Thursday), went to pick up mulch, zipped over to the dreaded Walmart and then headed home. When I arrived I sat down at the laptop just to see what I had missed this morning blog-wise. I read Nancy's post and she wrote that she was on her way to Burkholder's Fabric with some of her quilty friends. When I read that I knew where I had to go next. I mean - a chance to meet Nancy up close and personal? I had to do it!

When I got to Burkholder's I saw a car in the parking lot that I just had a feeling was Nancy's. In the store I wandered around thinking that I would recognize her as soon as I saw her. I didn't so I approached a group of women and asked if any of them was named "Nancy". The ladies told me they were with Nancy and took me to meet her. I felt like a groupie! I was so excited and Nancy was as gracious as I knew she would be. I met Honna, Judy No Blog and Helen No Blog (though she really does have one but it has nothing to do with quilting!) Everyone was just so sweet and I was delighted to meet all of them. Judy took a photo which may or may not appear on Nancy's blog in a few days. You could not have slapped the grin off my face!

So...while I was at Burkholder's I had to shop. 25% discount on everything that wasn't already on special or sale. Seriously, what would you have done?! I bought this to make dresses for my great-nieces. They have birthdays this month.

I am participating Karen's fabric swap so I picked up this beautiful red and white fabric

I saw this collection from PB Textiles and had to buy it. I know it will make a couple of really beautiful bags.

Because precuts were also on sale, I decided that I need to make another big bag. I purchased a charm pack and a couple yards of one of the coordinates.

When I got back from fabric shopping I started moving the mulch from the back of the car to the garden using my new yard cart. I dumped out each of the bags and decided to wait until the sun goes around to the front of the house before I spread the mulch. The sun is so nice to see but it sure got warm in a big hurry!

Later this afternoon I will actually sit down at a sewing machine...or at least cut something out. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

What? Friday Night Sew In??!!

2011-05-20T15:30:00.000-04:00

How can it be time for the Friday Night Sew In again?! I have been absolutely useless in the studio for weeks. I have been in one of my "poor, poor, pitiful Suzan" moods. Time to snap out of it! I am going to sew tonight. I may not get a lot accomplished but, by golly, I will be up in the studio plugging away. I owe Nancy, Near Philadelphia a cow block. I owe my aunt a purse. I still need to finish the runner and placemats for my mother. I need to get off my fanny and do something!

If you want to join in, click on the button on my sidebar and sign up!

Wondering

2011-04-28T06:20:00.000-04:00

where I went? I was so busy the week before Easter finishing quilts and getting ready for my trip to Virginia I just didn't have time to post. I did, however, take a little time just for me and made this

I appliquéd! Yes, it is raw edge which may be "cheating" for some but I like it. I found the pattern for the floral design on the internet (but don't remember where). I thought about adding stitches for dimension but decided against it. I outline quilted the design with two rounds of stitching and then I stippled (small meander) the pillow top to make the design "pop" a bit. The appliqué is secured with a blanket stitch. So far, two pillows from scraps and I still have bags of pastel scraps to make more!

While I was in Virginia for Easter I spent a lot of time with these people

and an inordinate amount of time with this guy

Returning home was difficult and I miss my grandchildren (and their parents!) more than they will ever know. I think I will console myself with some studio therapy this weekend. I have some pretties on my cutting table!!

Damage report

2011-04-17T13:42:00.001-04:00

As I mentioned yesterday, my sister and I went shopping - in just about the nastiest, wet weather I have ever encountered. It was a good day to be a duck and that is just about it! We went to Joann's, a couple of thrift stores and my favorite quilt shop. I couldn't find any white ironstone at the thrift stores and I am being very selective about what I drag into the house so that was a bust. We did, however, score big at Joann's and were there for hours. Everything I purchased was at least 50% off so the "hunt" was fun and the sales transaction didn't make me clutch my chest.

See the pattern on the far right? I am going to make my great-nieces dresses for their birthdays in May. I found lots of clearance items for Hazelnut Deux and found some colored needles which will, I hope, mean I don't loose them as easily.

I picked up a few pieces that I needed at Burkholder's. It always seems that I don't have the fabric I need in my stash. (That is my story and I am sticking to it!) The two pieces on top are to finish the Mother's Day gift I started for my mom. The back piece is a beautiful piece of Moda that is sort of eggplant/dark plum. I have no idea when or where I am going to use it but it was on clearance and it called my name.

Today I am pulling together more scraps and old pieces of fabric to make more pillow covers for my living room. I decided to raw edge appliqué one of them so as soon as I have it all stitched together I will share photos. This may take a while because I am appliqué challenged!

Results from FNSI

2011-04-16T07:48:00.000-04:00

I got home from work a little later than I anticipated (it's time consuming looking for the perfect bottle of wine!) and then a friend started sending texts and that took more time away from the studio. Finally I got upstairs about 7:30. This is what I nearly finished

The only thing I have left to do is quilt the outside borders and bind it.

The focus fabric has the appearance of appliqué and I chose colors from that for my polka dot (LOVE) pieced blocks. A friend at my office ordered this one for a baby shower she is attending the first of May. The parents decided not to find out the sex of their baby so they have requested neutral colors. I think this fabric works for boy or girl.

My quilty sister has been out of town for a week so we are spending the day together. We will be driving all over Lebanon and Lancaster Counties today. On the list are thrift stores, 2 quilt shops, Joann's, (maybe) Hobby Lobby, AC Moore and Michaels. That's a lot of shopping so I had better go get dressed!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Another use for scraps!

2011-04-12T06:22:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I was reading Bonnie Hunter's blog and saw a tea wallet that someone had made for her. I thought to myself, "Hmmm - how hard would that be to make?" This morning at 0 dark 30 I got out of bed and made this

Bonnie's folds up differently but this is kind of like a credit card holder I make so I just changed the dimensions a little. Cute, fast and easy. I fused some batting to the outer cover and did a little stipple quilting just to give it some texture and weight. I put the button on with a six ply piece of embroidery floss. It is an easy method to put on a decorative button and holds up great. The best thing is that I was stumped as to what to make for my middle sister's birthday. I dug through my decaf tea bags and filled this one so her "made" gift is finished. (Now I just have to find the "buy" gift!)

I took this photo in my dining room at 6am this morning. My "backdrop" is part of my tea pot collection. I have these three for Easter. (Just showing you my pretties!)

Time for a shower and getting ready for work. It is raining like crazy right now and I really would like to spend the day at home. I am so tempted....

It's that time again!!

2011-04-11T14:54:00.000-04:00

Time for the Friday Night Sew In! I have 2 things I need to do and 2 things I want to do. Guess which one will win out? (Y'll know I have absolutely no discipline!) I just ordered some fabric that should arrive by Thursday. I saw a quilt I want to try to make - no directions, just cut and hope for the best. You may want to check back here on Saturday just to see what I am making.

Click on the button and sign up. You can sew in your jammies (with or without an adult beverage) and it is fun to see everyone's projects.

No more teasing!

2011-04-05T05:52:00.000-04:00

In my post the other day, I mentioned that I had been distracted the prior week. My son, Chad, had been in San Diego for the national convention of AAHPERD (Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance). Chad is on a couple of committees and was a presenter so he was there for the entire week. On Wednesday the final portion of the NASPE (National Association for Sport and Physical Education) selection process for teachers of the year was taking place. Chad was the Southern Region teacher of the year so he was in competition with teachers in 4 other regions of the country. Lesson plans, videos of him teaching and all the recommendations were submitted. It came down to the interview. Chad didn't sleep and I didn't sleep. We talked on Wednesday morning, Wednesday afternoon just before the interview and then again on Wednesday evening. He felt it had gone pretty well and was confident that he answered their questions to the best of his ability. Then the waiting began. The awards (teachers of the year for elementary (Chad), middle school and high school) were being announced at the final dinner. Since there was a 3 hour time delay, I told him to call regardless of the hour just to let me know one way or the other. Just before midnight, I received a text from Amy, Chad's wife. "He did it!" (I think I will keep that text for a very long time.)

I bet you would have been distracted, too!

Weekend catch up

2011-04-03T09:59:00.001-04:00

I have spent most of the last week away from the sewing machine so I felt like I needed to get some sewing done yesterday. I finished quilting and binding this one

and then I did a quick project and made this pillow cover.

It looks like it isn't square in the photo but I swear it is!

The center is free motion quilted with a meandering daisy design and the rest is just outline quilted and then over stitched with a large meander.

I am on a mission to start using up scraps and reduce the number of scrap bins I have stacked up in the studio. I have pieced two quick table runners and hope to get those quilted before the end of the week. My project for today is putting the binding an a commissioned baby quilt, getting it washed, dried and prepared for presentation.

Last week I was also a little distracted from sewing for another reason - a really good one but I am not going to share that until I have some photos. (I am such a tease!)

I hope you had a productive weekend!

Weekend in the studio

2011-03-30T06:29:00.000-04:00

All work and no play makes Suzie cranky so I did bust out of the house this weekend. I went fabric shopping and thrifting with my quilty sister on Saturday. On Sunday our sewing circle, S4, gathered together at a members house for sharing, sewing and eating. Emphasis with our group is always sharing first closely followed by eating!

I still had plenty of time to work in the studio. I decided to use up some left over charm squares and made these

I figured out something that all of you probably already know. I made the pattern for burp cloths using freezer paper. For the longest time, I just pinned it to the fabric and cut. This time I ironed it on and then simply cut around the fabric. Hello? How easy is that?! I also used to cut out the backing fabric as a separate pattern piece. No more. I cut a rectangle of the backing about 1/2 an inch larger than the cover fabric, placed the fabric right side down on the backing, sewed a 1/4" seam on the "good" fabric and THEN cut away the balance of the backing fabric. Worked like a charm and so much easier!

I also worked on quilting this baby quilt using my walking foot.

Free motion is so much faster than line quilting but I wanted the quilting to highlight the graphics. I still have to do the border and that will be a simple meandering loop. About another 2 hours to finish quilting and binding and I can add this to my "finished!" pile.

I have a Fiskars cutting board that I have been using for a long time. One side is pink and the other side is sort of a florescent green. I have banged up the pink side pretty well so I recently flipped over to the green side. After using it for about a week, I noticed this

The cuts from my rotary cutter are cutting away the laminated color finish on the board revealing the standard Fiskar grey cutting mat below. I don't care about the color. What I care about is the fact that this is peeling apart! It did not do that on the other side. Looks like I will be going back to using an Olfa cutting mat. I hate it when my mother is right - you get what you paid for!

Finally - I found a camera WITH a card!

2011-03-21T12:11:00.000-04:00

Actually, I found 2 cameras with cards but not until this morning. What really kills me is that the one camera was in the coat closet, hanging up exactly where it should have been. I just didn't look there!

So here's what I made on Friday night...

First up is a holder for the CDs in my car. I am probably one of the last people left in America that does not own any kind of MP3 player so I still drag around CDs. I used some left over fabrics and a pattern that I found at Puking Pastilles.

Then I loaded up a bobbin with black elastic thread and had a big time! I love making scarves!

I rummaged through the remnants at Joann's a week or so ago and found fabrics I thought would be pretty in scarves. The black and white is a piece of silky polyester and the blue print is voile.

The fushia is poly silk and very long. I love it. All fabrics were slippery so the walking foot was a necessity. I will be making more especially since there are a bunch of birthdays in my family that are coming up soon and I think these will make really sweet gifts.

OK, that's it for my Friday night. I worked on a couple of other projects on Saturday and Sunday but didn't finish anything. Saturday I mostly did laundry and housecleaning stuff. Sunday I cooked and watched basketball. (I love the ACC and was so happy to see UNC and Duke advance.)

I may live in Pennsylvania but I do believe I am a North Carolina girl in my heart!

Quick post - more later

2011-03-19T07:47:00.000-04:00

I spent last night sewing and made a couple of things. I would love to show them to you except I cannot find a camera. I have 3 - you think I would find at least one! I know I left one at the office yesterday. I have two here at home somewhere. Well, that isn't accurate - I do know where one is and it is charging at the moment. It is an antique from about 5 years ago. Now...if I can just find a memory card that will work in it!

Friday Night Sew In AGAIN!!

2011-03-18T13:26:00.000-04:00

I nearly forgot that the Friday Night Sew In is tonight! If you want to join in, click on the button on my sidebar and follow the directions to participate. Think of it as a virtual pajama party with sewing machines!

What?

2011-03-16T06:06:00.000-04:00

I went fabric shopping on Saturday and came home with these

They are for one project. Any guesses? I am stepping WAY outside my comfort zone. I am using fabric markers. I am doing applique'. Still guessing?

OK - here is my inspiration fabric

Bet you figured it out now!

Thank you!!

2011-03-11T06:23:00.000-05:00

Just a quick "thank you" for everyone's sweet and supportive comments yesterday on my rainwater dilemma. When I got home yesterday evening I grabbed 4 bricks and a black trash bag (oh, why didn't I do that yesterday morning?!), opened up the window in the guest room, leaned out and secured the trash bag to the roof just below the window. At first there wasn't any change downstairs and then I wiped the wall and only one little bead of water returned and within just about 35 minutes, no more water dropping. The water had to finish coming out of the stud because it had to have been thoroughly soaked but after that no additional water was running in.

What this means is that I know for sure that the window is not the problem and that I have narrowed down the location of the problem to within a 36" x 12" area. I will be on the roof on Saturday. Please don't be fearful for me. I have someone coming over to watch me (just in case) and I really have been out there twice before so I am very, very cautious.

Now, back to the sewing/quilting portion of this blog! Last night I added the chocolate and white polka dot border to this baby quilt top

I have been dragging this thing around forever trying to find the perfect border fabric. I think the big polka dots are fabulous on this!

This weekend (other than roofing excitement) I am going shopping for fabric to make another baby quilt gift. One of my favorite women in the world became a grandmother last night. The baby's room is decorated with a fish motif. I think fabric shopping for this one is going to be great fun!

What do you have planned for the weekend?

Crying in the rain

2011-03-10T06:19:00.000-05:00

It started raining last night and has been coming down fairly hard since then. I woke up at 5 this morning and went down to make coffee. As I was coming down the stairs I could smell wet wood. I looked up and there is water dripping from the top of the "pass through" from the kitchen to the dining room.

The leak is in the upper left side of the opening

Bad photography but you can see the little beads of rain water

I discovered this problem last year, spent time on the roof with black roofing cement stuff and the there was no more leaking. I don't know if this was caused by ice and snow over the past few months but all I could do was stand in my kitchen and cry. The kitchen was added to the back of the house 50 or more years ago. When you go from the dining room into the kitchen, the doorway is about 10" thick and trimmed out. The pass through window is the same. Both of the roofs on the house are new. There isn't any rain coming from the peak of the vaulted ceiling in the kitchen, it is just leaking out of the joints at the top of the pass through. It is as if the water from the second story is somehow leaking down inside where the walls join, maybe running along an inside stud or something until it gets to the top of the pass through. There is a window on the second floor directly above the pass through but there is no dampness in the wall upstairs. Nothing makes sense about the leak.

I have absolutely no idea what to do now. Crying isn't helping the situation but it is just a little overwhelming right now. Whatever the problem, I can't fix it while it raining and it is supposed to rain for another 2 days. Maybe it wouldn't be as bad if the wind wasn't blowing from that direction! As I sit upstairs in the studio, I can hear the rain pouring on the roof and can only imagine what I will find two days from now.

It is times like these when it is the most difficult being single. It would be so nice to have a man here and I could say "Honey, what do you think? Please go fix it!" I think I will have a pity party for another couple of minutes, wait for daylight and then try to assess the situation to the best of my ability. I am thinking duct tape and a big blue tarp are going to the be the order of the day...

Hoping you have a better day than mine!

Another finish

2011-03-08T15:44:00.000-05:00

I cannot say enough good things about this pattern. I made this as a gift for the son and daughter in law of a dear friend in Seattle. I purchased two charm packs of Tula Pink's Flutterby. I have actually used this same fabric before in another baby quilt. I love the bug motifs in the fabric. I pulled the more masculine colors for this baby boy quilt and the other charm squares are going to be made into a quilt for a baby girl. I used wool batting (which I love) and did a modern, straight line quilting. This quilt was also spray basted as y'all know I hate safety pinning!

I have noticed lately that a lot of quilters are taking their quilts outside to photograph them. The photo above was taken with the quilt thrown over the holly bushes outside my office. They were the "most green" I could find outside. I desperately need some spring and soon!

The downside of organizing my studio

2011-03-05T11:33:00.000-05:00

I decided a little studio clean up was in order. I started with trying to organize my scraps. In doing that, I started opening project boxes and digging around in a couple of large Rubbermaid storage tubs that I use for all sorts of fabric odds and ends. Inside one of the Rubbermaid containers I found black and white fabric squares. Remember my black and white quilt, "Desolation"? I found enough pre-cut blocks that if combined with the others, I would have a queen size quilt top. Why I had two ziplock bags of the same blocks in two different locations I will never know. Now what? Any suggestions?

I may never clean up again...

It's about time

2011-03-01T05:44:00.000-05:00

I am finally writing a blog post! Last week was a crazy one for me. I had two quilts to get ready for my trip to Virginia. I was having trouble sleeping so I was finding it difficult to fit sewing into my schedule. I think my body is trying to tell me that getting up at 3am to sew before getting ready for work is a bad idea!

The first quilt was for the daughter of dear friends. Her little boy was born in October around the time of my "Christmas rush" so this was the first opportunity I had to make a quilt for her son, Jackson. I used fabrics that I had used to make a commissioned quilt last month. I think the fabric choice was perfect - especially for a Christening gift.

I also had to finish the quilt for Andrew's birthday. I may never quilt with flannel again! I washed all the flannel at least once and washed the red three times to get rid of extra dye. I had pre-washed all my chenille months ago when I washed as I bought about 5 yards and have been using it in different projects. (I love it on the back of burp cloths!) This time I decided to use it as the focal fabric and used "Four on the Floor" for the quilting pattern. Because the flannel seemed to stretch (and goodness knows it frays like crazy) I finished every single seam of every block, of every row. It added hours to the construction but I know this quilt is not going to fray and come apart with repeated washing! Originally I was going to mount it on the long arm and use a minkee-type fabric for the backing. When I finished assembling the quilt top, I discovered that I was over zealous in sizing and did not have enough minkee for the backing. I ran to Joann's and picked up a couple of yards of their Soft and Cuddly line of fabric that was half price. I brought that home and washed it though I was pretty sure that because of the poly in the fabric it wasn't going to shrink.

I love the chenille squares against the flannel pieced squares!

I totally chickened out on quilting it. I quilted the top with a layer of really inexpensive cotton batting using a piece of (pre-washed) muslin for the backing. I used the walking foot for everything except the outside border where I free-motioned a large meander. With all the quilting completed, I sewed the quilt right sides together to the fluffy fabric, flipped it right side out and sewed the small opening closed.

I turned the back up so you could see the backing. There is a diamond shaped pattern across fabric which gives it some nice additional texture.

I made the mistake of then trying to top stitch around the edge and about midway through I realized I didn't like it so I ripped out the top stitching. The finished quilt is soft, cuddly and has lots of body. Drew likes it (and I received several requests for something similar for grown ups)!

Drew shares a room with his big brother, Alex. Alex is crazy about trains so their room is decorated with a train theme. The quilt ended up big enough to move from the crib to a youth bed when the time comes. The most important thing I learned in making this particular quilt is that sometimes you just have to change your plans and go with the flow! I also learned that if you are going to work with minkee or something similar, you will need your walking foot.

Basically, making two baby quilts was my ENTIRE sewing for last week. This week I am making a table runner for a hostess gift (no way I could get to it last week) that I need to send to Virginia. Since I have a little over a yard of the minkee fabric I was originally planning to use for Drew's quilt, I think I may make a small baby quilt to add to my "for sale" pile. I don't know what I am going to piece for the quilt top but I am pretty sure it won't be flannel!

I had good intentions for the FNSI

2011-02-19T10:57:00.000-05:00

I really did. I was going to make a cover for my ugly, ancient heating pad and work on a snowball quilt. All I managed was to choose fabrics from my scraps and make the heating pad cover.

I could not bring myself to show you the heating pad with it's original cover. I actually took the wrong one when I left Seattle. I took the old one and left him the nice one with the extra pad that you can dampen for moist heat. (I am nice like that.)

This is a close up of the quilting which is pretty ordinary but I do like the thread choice. I also like big, loopy meandering when I am in a hurry to quilt something...especially something utilitarian.

Today I am going to finish one baby quilt and start a second. The second will have Minkee on the back and I am totally freaked about working with that fabric. I will not have the opportunity to get it on the long arm until next Thursday and then I am taking it to Virginia on Friday. Hopefully I will have some quiet time to finish the binding before Drew's birthday party on Saturday afternoon.

When Andrew's brother, Alex, was born I made the christening outfit. Alex was baptized at 6 months and looked adorable in his outfit. They tried it on Drew and he will also be able to wear it for his baptism next Sunday...minus the hat. He apparently hates the hat. I am ok with that mostly because at a year he would probably look goofy with the hat. I am just thrilled that he will be able to wear the romper and jacket. I will have photos of that next weekend because the outfit is just too cute!

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Friday night

2011-02-17T05:20:00.000-05:00

You know tomorrow night is the FNSI (Friday Night Sew In)? Once again I have way too many things to work on but I am narrowing it down to a snowball quilt/shower curtain/whatever that I started when I moved in the house and I just saw the CUTEST heating pad cover over on Jodi's blog so I must make that. I have a DVD ready to watch and my favorite wine is on sale. If you want to join in the fun, click on this and it will take you right to the sign up page.

Seriously - is life good or what?!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T05:59:00.000-05:00

Guess who was up at 4:30 this morning channeling her "inner Martha"?

I made these for my co-workers. I am nice like that.

Hope you have a wonderful day and that someone does something nice for you!!

One of my very favorite blogs

2011-02-13T08:38:00.000-05:00

Y'all know I make bags and stuff. Lori makes GORGEOUS bags - out of recycled leather and fabric and wool.

She also makes jewelry. And her blog is beautiful. And I want to be her. Seriously.

Go check out her blog, Studio Waterstone. You won't be disappointed.

Guess who learned how to curve piece?

2011-02-05T05:36:00.000-05:00

Or is it "piece curves"? Either way, I did it!

I just saw the snippet of fabric on the left side of the quilt. Please ignore!

Again with the snippet!

These are all cut free form (pretty obvious, huh?) I based the quilt top on one that I saw on Moda Bake Shop called "I Dance in Circles". I knew I would love it in batiks so I pulled these out on Friday. I have to pick up more batiks to make the quilt about 60" square. I am really liking it so far. No, not my style or anything that could go in my house but it will be perfect as a gift for some dear friends.

As for the piecing, I watched the YouTube video suggested in the tutorial for "I Dance..." and it was really easy and fun. I concentrated on only watching the edges of the fabric and the edge of my quarter inch foot. If you position your hands as demonstrated in the video, it works perfectly.

Snow or wintery mix or something heading this way for the weekend. I have a couple of baby quilts I am going to quilt and I have to start cutting the fabrics for my grandson's birthday quilt. I have several movies lined up to watch on Netflix so I am ready for some serious sewing time in the studio.

Speaking of my grandson...those of you who have been following me for a while know about our very premature baby boy who arrived last February. I thought you might like to see a recent photo of him. This is a photo taken at Christmas.

Chronologically he was 10 months old (gestational age is 7 months). In just two weeks he will be a year old. He is the happiest baby imaginable with absolutely no problems related to his early birth. I absolutely adore that smile and those chubby cheeks!

Off to fill up the coffee pot. I am writing this at 5:30am and I am going to NEED some coffee! Hope you have a great weekend.

It's true

2011-01-28T04:27:00.000-05:00

I occasionally watch "What Not to Wear". Staci and Clinton are always yammering about finding the perfect pair of jeans, how painful it is and how many pairs you have to try before you find the perfect jean. Well, it's true. You do have to try on a lot of jeans and look at yourself in those horrid dressing room mirrors. You may shed a few tears. For me, never again! I have found the perfect jeans.

Photo from the Lee website

They are made by Lee and called Slender Secret Graham Straight Leg. There is a touch of Lycra in the denim that is amazing. I did have to hem them because to find the perfect jean I had to go with a long length in the leg. Hemming a pair of pants that make you look good and feel good is no hardship! I wore them to work yesterday (because we can wear jeans on snow days) and someone told me my jeans looked great on me AND how much thinner I was getting. OK, gotta be honest - I have lost a few pounds but it was the jeans, people! I bought the dark wash (I think it is called Onyx but they are not black - just a really, really dark blue) and they refer to them as a "modern" fit - the waistband is below the waist but not half way down my tush! I am fortunate to live very near (what I believe to be) the original Vanity Fair outlet in Reading, Pennsylvania so I could try on lots of different pairs of jeans. I also bought at outlet pricing so they didn't cost an arm and a leg. On the Lee site right now they are on sale for $32.99 with an MSRP of $42. I bought mine just before Christmas on special. I paid less than $20 for them.

There you have it. Real woman's body, jeans that fit.

What do you think now?

2011-01-23T09:18:00.000-05:00

Ta da! Here is "Desolation" with a red border.

Isn't my "design bunk bed" elegant?

I have to say that I like it so much better now! The red fabric has a couple of shades of red mixed with the black and I think it compliments the "mountains" pretty well. I knew I would find the perfect fabric at Burkholder's and I did. Someone suggested that I donate it if I didn't like it but it is a weird size. I am going to hang on to it for a while and then come up with a plan.

So this is what else has been happening in the studio.

This is a laptop bag for my cousin. She picked the initial fabric and then told me to do whatever I wanted with the balance of the fabrics. In the interior there is a flap pocket that opens for file folders and on the other side is a full row of pockets in different sizes.

The bag is only 3" deep so it fits most laptops fairly snugly. My Dell fits perfectly and I really like this bag. I may have to make one for myself!

Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday!

FNSI project

2011-01-22T06:43:00.000-05:00

Here it is

Photo disclaimer: The whites in the quilt are all white and not the variations that they appear to be in the photo. The background is the beige carpet of my "design floor". And, yes, the values are a train wreck.

The question is: What am I going to do with it now?! I know I took a picture of the "inspiration" quilt, however, I cannot find it anywhere in my files. I just remember there was a red border. If I can convince my quilty sister to pick me up in her 4-wheel drive vehicle, I would like to go to Burkholder's (with coupon in hand) and find a piece of red. I really don't like it. I am going to call it "Desolation". (This may very well end up being a dog bed quilt...but only if I really don't like the dog!)

That being said, I would do the pattern again. It is fun and easy. I think doing this totally scrappy would be very pretty. I love Kim's in batiks with a theme.

I am off in search of some coffee and a couple of chocolate chip cookies to console myself.

More of the same...

2011-01-20T06:14:00.000-05:00

weather! Snow is coming tonight so I am working from home again on Friday. Life is good!!

I saw over on Kim's blog that she is working on a quilt for her son. (Click over because it is beautiful and you need to see it!) The pattern she is using is from Bonnie Hunter's "Scrappy Mountain Majesties". Four or five years ago, I made all the half square triangle sets, attempted Bonnie's instructions and made a mess of two blocks. (I don't know if it was because I was tired or if I wasn't motivated but at that point in time, I was befuddled!) I pulled out the blocks yesterday and started cutting and sewing little mountains. They are adorable!

I originally had the idea for the quilt based on one I saw at a quilt shop in Wellsboro, PA while trekking north to our retreat destination. I am working on the blocks sporadically now as I am trying to finish up two commission pieces but I think the mountain blocks will be my project for

Are you going to sew on Friday night?

Icky weather!

2011-01-18T07:51:00.002-05:00

First it snowed last night. Then there was sleet. Now it is freezing rain. It is just plain nasty outside. I attempted to look out the window in my studio and I cannot. There is a coating of ice on the window so all I can see are shapes. Thankfully, I am working from home and I am nice and cozy in my big, fat fleece robe that I got for Christmas!

Now for the technical portion of this post...

Do you use LiveWriter? I used to use it and then suddenly it stopped working for me. I type the title and then about 2 sentences into the post the whole thing disappears and LiveWriter shuts down. Weird, huh? I have done a "re-install" twice. It is very strange because I used the program for months without any problems. I do like it so much better than writing in Blogger. So, if you have had any issues and have resolved them, I would love to know what you did!

Back to work. (I am thinking cookies will be made today!)

Busy weekend

2011-01-17T05:25:00.000-05:00

I started and completed a new purse design. I cut out two additional bags and started piecing them. I also did laundry, put ALL of my Christmas decor away (which meant more than 20 trips to and from the basement), cleaned, baked cookies, made a mean pot of chili, reorganized the linen closet and crocheted a scarf. I worked so hard this weekend I need to go back to work to get some rest!

I was also doing some "experimenting" with my Canon p&s camera. (I swear I am going to learn how to use that darn thing!) The lighting in my studio is less than optimal - especially for taking photos. I prefer to use natural light when I can and really don't like the glare that always seems to appear when I am using a flash. I thought I would try something. Here are two photos of the new drawstring tote. The first is taken with flash and the ISO set at 800.

The second is taken with flash, ISO 800 but this time I taped a piece of wax paper over the flash.

I didn't edit them except for the addition of the watermark. I really like the second one with the "diffused" flash. With the full flash the whites really seem too bright. I think I will mess around with the second one in Piknic and when I am happy with it I will post on Hazelnut Deux.

Speaking of editing, I use Picasa and especially like the addition of Piknic to the software. I did the trial with Photoshop Elements but honestly did not have the time to really take advantage of all the features. If I were a serious blogger and had the time, I think Photoshop is an incredible program. I use Picasa because it is easy to learn, has really nice features and is free.

I like free and easy!

Snow day!

2011-01-12T14:25:00.000-05:00

The snow started last night on my way home from work. Early this morning I awoke to 4.5" on the ground. No, that is nothing compared to what the New England states have gotten but it was enough to keep me at home. Have I mentioned before how much I enjoy working from home? I love working in my jammies!

When I finally got some clothing on, I went out to clean off the car. I took a few photos.

In the garden

Trees just down the alley

Brick barn just around the corner

Stone barn next door

As you can see, it is still overcast and a little gloomy. We had a few fast moving snow showers but now it appears that our snow "event" has ended.

Last night I started this baby quilt

Note the bottle of Mountain Dew...my drug of choice

I have been working on it off and on. Since I am supposed to be working from home, I am also doing a lot of this

I am a dedicated employee!!

I am going to finish up the baby quilt this afternoon and maybe even get it quilted. Tomorrow it is back to the office and reality!

What a weekend!

2011-01-09T22:27:00.000-05:00

I worked in the studio all day on Saturday and I can see the floor!! I dusted, vacuumed, organized and sorted. Here's what it looked like after I started cutting again.

Today I finished a UFO - a baby quilt that I started 3 years ago.

I also started AND finished a table runner that someone had ordered. The "leaf" fabric is the backing. I sure hope she likes it!

Because I worked inside all weekend, I have not done anything about cleaning snow off or from around my car. I think I am going to get a lot of exercise tomorrow morning!

First UFO finished in 2011!

2011-01-07T04:44:00.000-05:00

I said I would and I did! I finally put the binding on the wall quilt I made for my son and his wife...wait for it...2 years ago!! Ta da!

It's looking a little washed out here in the sunlight. It has all the colors of their living room and the border also has aubergine in it which ties in with the color of one of the walls in the dining room. My DIL was thrilled with it. The pattern is Snapshots from Terry Atkinson's "Happy Hour".

Next up is binding my niece's quilt. That one is from her freshman year in college. She graduated in May and is now employed and living in Tampa, Florida. Think it's about time I gave her the quilt?

Organization

2011-01-06T06:05:00.000-05:00

Like nearly every other quilter, New Year translates into "organize your sewing space". Many quilters are finding all their PIGS and UFOs and are making plans to finish projects. At this point, I would really like to be able to FIND my unfinished projects! Behold - my studio:

Why (you may ask) is there a hole punch on the ironing board? I DON'T KNOW!

Yes - that is a multi-function printer on the corner of my sewing table. Why is it sitting there? I DON'T KNOW!

I am only showing you 2 corners of the room. You really don't want to see the other two corners. My plan is to attack this a bit at a time over the next few days so that I can actually sew again over the weekend. Usually when I take on a project like this there are lots of things I "think" I need to purchase to help with the organization. Not this time. I have all the containers I could possibly need. I just need to actually put something into the containers!

There are rumors of snow coming this weekend. With snow I would be forced to stay indoors and do something constructive...rather than take my 40% off coupon to Burkholders to buy jelly rolls and charm packs! (Though I do have a container for them...)

2011

2011-01-01T07:05:00.000-05:00

So, what's new for 2011? Well, I cut my hair. Seriously cut my hair. My mother declared me "too old for long hair". (Love her but she makes me crazy!) I actually had been thinking along those same lines but I let her believe it was her idea. Next week will be the color change. I have been talking about it for YEARS and I am finally ready. Be gone strawberry blondish hair! I am going to ease into my natural hair color. I think it is mousy brown with a whole lot of white. The transition will be interesting.

I am going to finally open a little Etsy shop and start advertising on some blogs. I am doing the Dave Ramsey thing and 2011 is the year to reduce debt. I really want to be able to create full time and work part time (mostly for insurance benefits). This is a long term goal and I am a long way from being able to declare myself financially independent but this is the year to begin.

2011 will also be the year of the real vacation. I am not sure where I am going or what I am going to do but I will vacation this year. I do love Holden Beach, North Carolina but Seattle keeps calling my name!

2011 is the year of finishing my stack of UFOs! I have so many quilt tops that just need quilting. I have way too many quilts that just need binding! I have all ready made blocks that just need to be assembled. I am not going to lose my mind over this. I am going to be methodical and practical (neither are my strong suit!). First thing is the binding on a quilt I made for my son and daughter in law. I am binding it this weekend and checking that one off my list. (I love checking things off lists!)

How about you? Any plans for 2011? Do tell!!

I did it!

2010-12-29T09:55:00.000-05:00

Remember me complaining about a camo diaper bag I had to make? Well, I finished it and it looks great. I made it like a messenger bag as that appears to be more "manly" than my standard diaper bag. (My son wholeheartedly agreed!) The front flap is secured with hidden magnetic snaps.

There is a large pocket on the back (not pictured) and I made elasticized pockets on one side (interior) for bottles and such and the opposite side has a pocket for diapers.

It really looks more like an ammo bag or one of those bags that hunters put birds in after they shoot them. (I know - gross!) The important thing is that the customer loved it. She now wants a messenger bag to use at school so it all worked out pretty well in the end.

Granddaughter Emily is with me this week so I am not doing a lot of sewing though I just received a new quilting book from my sister and there are several fat quarter friendly quilts that are calling my name. I also have a bug in my ear and am giving some serious thought to making a "modern" quilt with lots of open spaces for quilting. I am still waking up at 3am so I will be cutting something tomorrow morning. It will be a surprise to all of us!

Wrap it up

2010-12-23T06:01:00.000-05:00

Like everyone else, I have been busy for the past several weeks and most especially this week. I did sew on Friday night, made a beautiful overnight tote and didn't take one picture! In the past week I also made two quilted table runners, another black & white bag (with fabric flower) and finished another check book/sun glass case set. I am exhausted and feel like I haven't slept in days.

Our office Christmas party is today. We do a crazy gift auction in the morning and then everyone starts eating and that lasts all day. My contribution this year is a huge casserole of macaroni and cheese that I made last night. Because the refrigerator is so full, it spent the night on the front porch!

Tonight I am going into reflective mode. My youngest son and his family arrive late this afternoon. I assembled the lasagna last night so all I need to do tonight is pop it in the oven. My Christmas tree still isn't up but I am OK with that because my family is going to help decorate it tonight. I have the stereo loaded with my favorite Christmas music and I am ready to just take a long, deep breath. The most important thing right now is to be with family and celebrate the birth of our Savior.

I know my postings have been sporadic (at best) and there may not be another one for a while. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

Blessings and peace,

This time - really!

2010-12-15T13:14:00.000-05:00

OK - I am signing up again for the Friday Night Sew-In. I am going to do it. No hanging out with my friends. No wine drinking. (Well, maybe just a little!) The balance of my Hazelnut Deux orders are due to be delivered by the 19th and I have 4 more big bags to do...and some Christmas gifts that I need to make...and a crib quilt. My mom is coming over on Saturday to sew. If I have the quilting done, she can start putting pieces together for me and that will be a huge help. I am so thankful that my mama is such a good seamstress and taught me how to sew!

I have a whole lot of nothing!

2010-12-11T06:48:00.000-05:00

I had such good intentions. I was going to sew all night for the "Friday Night Sew-In". Instead, I went out for dinner at Boca di Beppo, had two of these

Photo credit

and you can guess the rest. I would feel badly about it except that the food was terrific, the conversation was outstanding and the wine was...well, the wine was pretty darned tasty!

It is 6:45am in my little corner of the world. I already have the sewing machine turned on, the iron is heating up and there are lots of strips of fabric on my cutting board. I just made a pot of coffee and put a load of laundry in the washer and one in the dryer. There are no other distractions. I am ready to sew!!

I hope you have a wonderful and productive day!