One Last Layout And A Decision

At the suggestion of one of my followers I tried one more layout, this time using the Depression Block for Quilterscashe.  Here it is spread out on my floor.

I like it but in the end, I decided on this one.

Of course Molly had to check it out.  After looking at the picture (it’s amazing what a difference a photograph makes) I discovered one block turned the wrong way.  See it up there, third from the top and on the right.  I fixed it before I labeled the rows and picked it up off the floor.

Unfortunately I’m attending a funeral today for a dear friend from guild, Caroline Finley.  Please send prayers for Caroline’s family and best friend Brenda.  They could sure use it at this very sad time.  She was a very warm, caring, loving person and will be missed by everyone that was fortunate enough to have her touch their lives. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–4/29/13

I’m still playing with half-square triangles.  Right now a few of them are on my design wall making a zigzag pattern.

This is only 36 blocks.  I have 120 of them.  I still haven’t decide which layout to use.  Here’s one……….

and this one.

I’m leaning towards the middle one but maybe make it off-center.  What do you think?  Any other layouts I should try?

To see what others are up to, check out Judy’s Blog. 

Enjoy,

Stash Report–Week 18–April 28, 2013

Still moving in the right direction.  I cut up a whole bunch of fabric for my green and pink, half-square triangle quilt and used some additional fabric for binding on my “found” East Meets West quilt. Yea!

Used this Week	7.25
Used year to Date	61.5
Added this Week	0
Added Year to Date	13.25
Net Used for 2013	-48.25

I’m starting to play with the layout of my half-square triangle quilt.  I tried this one yesterday but I really don’t like it very much so I’ll keep playing. 

Enjoy,

Another Ta-Da!

It’s amazing what you find when you start looking for UFO’s and over and under other hidden away projects.  Yesterday while looking for another UFO to quilt, I came across this one.  It was all finished except for the binding.  When I pulled it out I found extra fabric (apparently for the binding) tucked away within the folds.  So I dug around some more and found some fabric that would work for a flange and today I finished it up. 

This one was made using my “East Meets West” pattern.  The only difference is it doesn’t have the outer border on it like the original pattern.  I was making this with a child in mind so decided to make it a little bit smaller than the original, but it’s still plenty big and snuggly.

This will now go into the donate pile.  I’m hopeful it will find it’s way to some young person that will love it. 

Enjoy,

The Great British Sewing Bee

While visiting one of the blogs I follow I came across this.  I just finishing up he latest season of Project Runway last night so I was in the mood to watch more sewing. 

Thank you Leeann for sharing. 

Enjoy,

Playing with Half Square Triangles

Last week I blogged about a bunch of greens and pinks that had been in my stash for a very long time and I was trying to figure out what to do with them.  (If you’re interested you can read about it here.)  As I went through and ironed each of them I realized some of them are down right ugly but I don’t think it matters with this kind of setting. 

I decided to cut them into 8” squares, pair a pink and green together and make half square triangles.  So far, so good.  Here are some of them thrown up on my design wall.  I have more made and still have some waiting to be sewn together but this at least this gives me an idea of what it will look like. 

Back to the sewing machine for a little bit, then my husband and I are head out to see the musical “A Chorus Line”.  I think this is the 5th time we’ve seen it.  It’s one of our very favorites. 

Enjoy,

Another Finish

After getting my sewing machine back from the repair shop I finally got around to finishing a quilt top. 

Here it is all finished including the binding.  I simply quilted in the ditch but instead of using a walking foot I practiced what my friend Frances taught me, I stitched in the ditch using my free motion foot.  It’s surprisingly easy to stitch fairly straight and you don’t have to twist and turn the quilt as you go.  Here’s the back where you can kind of see the quilting.

Lucy decided to check it out and give it her stamp of approval.  Since this is a charity quilt I decided to sew the binding on using the flange technique. 

Can you see the red polka dot flange and the striped binding.  I really like the way it turned out and I’m especially glad it’s finished. 

Enjoy,

Now What’s Going On With My Free Motion Quilting

 

If you read my blog with any regularity you know that I had one heck of a time quilting a charity quilt recently.  I finally finished it and donated it but not without some frustration.  I was having problems with my Brother PQ 1500 and skipped stitches.  I finally switched to my Pfaff and finished the quilt without further problems. 

I love Steve at my local sewing machine repair shop so I headed over there with my machine, skipped stich samples and lots of information about the thread and needles I was using.  I knew since it was an intermittent type problem, it was going to be hard to diagnose and fix.  After a long discussion with Steve I left it in his hands to resolve.  Sure enough a few days later he called and I went and picked it up confident that my problem was resolved. 

Yesterday I finally sat down to give it a try.  I didn’t have any skipped stitches but it was making an awful clunking noise and when I looked at the stitches I could really see the needle holes even though I was using the same thread in the bobbin as on the top.  (Notice the stitching near the bottom of the picture.)

The clunking noise really had me worried.  I was afraid the needle was hitting something.  As I pulled the practice piece out from under the machine, I noticed something sticking out from under the quilt sandwich.  Sure enough, I had a manila folder (with paperwork inside) stuck under the quilt sandwich.  Duh!!!!!! No wonder the machine was clunking away.  But by golly it wasn’t skipping stitches anymore. 

Notice the nice even (no skipping) stiches on the back of the folder.  Thank goodness I can replace the paperwork fairly easily so I don’t have to take the stitching out.  I think I’ll keep it as a reminder to check what’s laying around before I start quilting something for real. 

Now back to Steve, he really is a great guy.  He takes the time to listen to you so that he’s able to resolve any issues you might have.  Steve can be reached at:

Singer Sewing Center

11891 Valley View St Garden Grove, CA 92845‎

(714) 899-2739

He shares the space with Sheri at the The Quilt Cupboard quilt store.  If you live in the area, both are worth visiting. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–April 22, 2013

My design wall is absolutely naked this morning.  After I finished up with adding the borders to my hand quilting project I’ve been busy, but so far nothing has made it back up on the wall.  

So instead I thought I’d show you what I bought yesterday at a local outdoor antique show that is held once a month. 

Can you tell?  It’s made from vintage linens.   This is one of those projects that I call “Coulda”.  I could of make it but I didn’t and was happy to have someone else do the sewing.  I first bought a shirt from Kathryn about 15 years ago so I was thrilled to find her again.  Here’s a link to her website California Originals by Kathryn. 

Head on over to Judy’s Patchwork Times to see what others are working on.

Enjoy,

Stash Report–Week 16–April 21, 2013

I managed to get a backing pieced for my Faux Hidden Wells quilt this week, so that used several yards of fabric.  My friend Sue (my long arm quilter) has been out of town but should be back this week so I can take it to her.  I also layered my red and turquoise little Hidden Wells quilt, now it’s waiting to be quilted, by me.   Other than that and getting ready for my hand quilting class it hasn’t been a real productive sewing week.  I’m hoping this coming week will be filled with some “real” sewing. 

Used this Week	6.5
Used year to Date	54.25
Added this Week	0
Added Year to Date	13.25
Net Used for 2013	-41

None of my cats wanted to have their picture featured so I thought I’d show you a quick picture of the red and turquoise quilt waiting to go under the needle.

 

Have a great week and……….

Enjoy,

I'm Hand Quilting

I had a great time at my hand quilting class today. Here's my progress so far.






I know it's suppose to be relaxing, and I know it will be, but so far I'm a little tense.

Enjoy,


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

An Itty Bitty Magical Slice and Dice

I received this in an email the other day.  Isn’t it sooooooo cute!

Hi, Robin~

 

Just a quick note to send you the picture of the finished miniature Magical Slice & Dice.  Thank you so much for such a wonderful and easy pattern!

 

Catherine L.

 

Thank you so much Catherine for sharing. 

Here’s a link to the full size pattern Magical Slice and Dice.

Enjoy,

What Should I Use It For?

I know I have a ton of fabric in my stash but this bunch has come to the surface.  It’s a set of 8” x 22” green and pink fabrics that I bought years ago.  It was suppose to be for a quilt that was in a book (who knows which book) but it’s been sitting on the self for a very long time.  While looking for some fabric to use for another project I came across this and decided to unwrap it and try to figure out what to do with it. 

There are 30 in each fabric group.  I’m thinking about cutting it up into 8” squares, pairing them up and making big half square triangles.  After the half square triangles are made I can play with out to lay them out.  I’m thinking there’s probably a ton of layouts that would work.  Any suggestions?

Enjoy,

Ready For Hand Quilting

Yesterday I finished adding my scrappy border to this little panel.

I wasn’t sure about it at first but now that it’s sewn on, I like it. 

Enjoy,

I Love the Color Red

Today’s post has absolutely nothing to do with quilting and/or sewing but it does reflect what is becoming another love of mine. 

 

I got another Ukulele for my birthday and it’s RED.  Isn’t it cute.  It isn’t exactly a top quality instrument but it’s Red, so it’s perfect.  So far it goes out of tone every few minutes but that’s OK, I’ll just keep tuning it and hopefully it will eventually stay in tune. 

The bottom Ukulele is the one I use and practice with, I love it too (and it’s not even Red).  Uke class tonight so I better practice some more before I go sew for a while.  Live is tough! 

Enjoy,

 

 

P.S.  I’m a much better quilter than I am a Ukulele player, much better. 

Design Wall Monday–April 15, 2013

I’m getting ready for my hand quilting class next Saturday.  I think I’m going to be adding a scrappy piano key border to this cute little panel. 

To see what other quilters are up to, head on over to Judy’s Patchwork Times blog. 

Enjoy,

Stash Report–Week 15–April 14, 2013

Not a big dent in the old stash this week, but at least it’s still heading in the right direction.

Used this Week	1.5
Used year to Date	47.75
Added this Week	0
Added Year to Date	13.25
Net Used for 2013	-34.5

This week Pepper finally makes another appearance.  She is very camera shy and runs whenever she sees me with the camera so this was the best I could do.

Enjoy,

More Microwave Potholder Bowls–Finished

My daughter Shelli should be happy when she comes over tomorrow.  Her Chili bowl microwave potholders are all finished and ready for a test run.

Once again they are just too cute!  Hope you like them Shell.

Enjoy,