. ro·man·tic adj. Given to thoughts or feelings of romance; imaginative but impractical; tan·gle v. To mix together or intertwine; n. A confused, intertwined mass. A jumbled or confused state or condition
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Monday, October 31, 2011
Regrouping
re·group v. To form into a new grouping; To reorganize
Yup, that's what I need to do here! I'm done with deadlines, for the moment at least, and it's time to figure out what I've got in all of these piles next to my sewing machine.
There's Quinn's green quilt....and the alphabet sampler....and the first two blue sheet quilts...the pattern and fabric for Swoon....cheddar bow ties...some 1 1/2" strips I started cutting because I want to make a Lego quilt...Texas Braids...some little tops that need to be quilted...Scrap Vomit, if I can ever figure out what safe place I put my red and black Kona in...the applique mouse with the wedge of cheese...the hobo quilt...North Pacific...By the Lake...
And then there are the things I still want to start, and the possibility that Thanksgiving is coming and maybe I should move most of the fabric out of the corner of the dining room...
I've got a lot to do!
To see more design walls, head over to Patchwork Times.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Apple Core Bats
Halloween is tomorrow?! How did that happen? I'm nowhere near ready for this. But I did get my bats, which I've been planning for months, finished this morning.
Did you realize you can make bats with the AccuQuilt Go! Cutter and the Apple Core die? Want to try some of your own?
In addition to the Apple Core die, you need some black cotton and paper backed fusible web.
For each bat, cut two rectangles of black fabric and one of fusible web. I cut my rectangles 6" x 8". If you're using a different apple core pattern, measure and cut a rectangle slightly larger than the cut shape. Iron the fusible web to the wrong side of one black fabric rectangle, then peel off the paper backing and iron the second black fabric rectangle to the exposed fusible web. You're creating a slightly stiff sandwich of fabric.
Cut out your apple core. The die leaves a little triangular tab in the center of each curve to aid in piecing. Trim those off so that the outline of your bat is smooth.
To give the wings some dimension, sew a straight seam down the center of the piece, using the longest stitch length on your sewing machine. Leave long strings on either end and do not back stitch.
Gently tug on the threads to gather the bat's body. When you've got it how you want it, knot the thread at both ends and trim it.
For the body of your bat, cut two 1 1/2" wide strips of black fabric. This time, you'll add the fusible web to both pieces.
Lay one 1 1/2" strip under the wings and one 1 1/2" strip over them, carefully lining up the edges. I used one of the bigger pieces of paper backing left over from the wing sections to make sure that none of the fusible web got onto my iron. Gently press the pieces together until they're fused. It will flatten your bat's wings a bit.
Trim the ends of the strips to shape the bat's head and tail.
I plan on joining a dozen or so bats at their wing tips to make a bunting.
Did you realize you can make bats with the AccuQuilt Go! Cutter and the Apple Core die? Want to try some of your own?
In addition to the Apple Core die, you need some black cotton and paper backed fusible web.
For each bat, cut two rectangles of black fabric and one of fusible web. I cut my rectangles 6" x 8". If you're using a different apple core pattern, measure and cut a rectangle slightly larger than the cut shape. Iron the fusible web to the wrong side of one black fabric rectangle, then peel off the paper backing and iron the second black fabric rectangle to the exposed fusible web. You're creating a slightly stiff sandwich of fabric.
Cut out your apple core. The die leaves a little triangular tab in the center of each curve to aid in piecing. Trim those off so that the outline of your bat is smooth.
To give the wings some dimension, sew a straight seam down the center of the piece, using the longest stitch length on your sewing machine. Leave long strings on either end and do not back stitch.
Gently tug on the threads to gather the bat's body. When you've got it how you want it, knot the thread at both ends and trim it.
For the body of your bat, cut two 1 1/2" wide strips of black fabric. This time, you'll add the fusible web to both pieces.
Lay one 1 1/2" strip under the wings and one 1 1/2" strip over them, carefully lining up the edges. I used one of the bigger pieces of paper backing left over from the wing sections to make sure that none of the fusible web got onto my iron. Gently press the pieces together until they're fused. It will flatten your bat's wings a bit.
Trim the ends of the strips to shape the bat's head and tail.
I plan on joining a dozen or so bats at their wing tips to make a bunting.
Weekly Stash Report
This is the third or fourth week in a row that I've resisted temptation. I think I'm starting to hit that point where the longer you go without shopping, the easier it gets.
Fabric Used this Week: 1.25 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 56.75 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 1012 yards
Net Added for 2011: 955.25 yards
Yarn Used this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Used year to Date: 6640 yards
Yarn Added this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Added Year to Date: 14075 yards
Net Added for 2011: 7435 yards
Fabric Used this Week: 1.25 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 56.75 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 1012 yards
Net Added for 2011: 955.25 yards
Yarn Used this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Used year to Date: 6640 yards
Yarn Added this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Added Year to Date: 14075 yards
Net Added for 2011: 7435 yards
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Blogger's Quilt Festival - Birds in the Air
It's Blogger's Quilt Festival time again, and because I haven't finished anything big or ambitious in a while, I'm pulling out one of my favorites.
I'm honestly not sure how or why I made this quilt. At the time, I'd never worked with triangles before. I certainly didn't know how to do applique. About the time I was starting this one, my best friend had decided to do an improved nine-patch, complete with curves and templates. Compared to that, maybe this project looked easy!
Many quilts after I'd finished this one, triangles still made me nervous. I remembering stumbling across it at one point and having this weird "Hey, I've done this many triangles before -- what am I so scared of?" moment. It's also proof that I can manage enough blocks for a bed size quilt. I originally wanted to make it smaller, but I didn't want to sacrifice any of the blackbirds and didn't want to crowd them together.
This is my favorite leap-before-you-look quilt, and it proves what you can accomplish if you don't think about it too hard before starting that first block.
I'm honestly not sure how or why I made this quilt. At the time, I'd never worked with triangles before. I certainly didn't know how to do applique. About the time I was starting this one, my best friend had decided to do an improved nine-patch, complete with curves and templates. Compared to that, maybe this project looked easy!
Many quilts after I'd finished this one, triangles still made me nervous. I remembering stumbling across it at one point and having this weird "Hey, I've done this many triangles before -- what am I so scared of?" moment. It's also proof that I can manage enough blocks for a bed size quilt. I originally wanted to make it smaller, but I didn't want to sacrifice any of the blackbirds and didn't want to crowd them together.
This is my favorite leap-before-you-look quilt, and it proves what you can accomplish if you don't think about it too hard before starting that first block.
being afraid
Why is it that so many of us are afraid of our quilting tools? Not the sharp rotary cutters and hot irons -- that's the kind of fear that makes sense. I'm talking about the fear where you're afraid to take your new toy out of the box.
I've got a basting gun I've never tried, and a Cricut I got for Christmas last year that I haven't even touched. And then there's my Featherweight -- I'm beyond scared of breaking that! What if I can't get them to work?
I've been having trouble with the bobbins on my Janome for a couple of years now. They just don't wind properly anymore, even after I've had my machine serviced twice in the past year. I have to turn the speed down and hold my breath and sometimes rewind the same bobbin four times just to get one I can sew with.
This week, I finally broke down and bought a Sidewinder. If it saves me even a fraction of the time I spent fighting with the bobbin winder on the Janome, it'll be an absolute Godsend. But anything to do with bobbins stresses me out lately.
If I didn't need something to blog about this morning, it would probably still be in the box.
It wound my bobbins -- now I guess the question is whether they'll work for free motion quilting. Are they wound evenly enough? I think I've forgotten what a properly wound bobbin looks like.
I've got a basting gun I've never tried, and a Cricut I got for Christmas last year that I haven't even touched. And then there's my Featherweight -- I'm beyond scared of breaking that! What if I can't get them to work?
I've been having trouble with the bobbins on my Janome for a couple of years now. They just don't wind properly anymore, even after I've had my machine serviced twice in the past year. I have to turn the speed down and hold my breath and sometimes rewind the same bobbin four times just to get one I can sew with.
This week, I finally broke down and bought a Sidewinder. If it saves me even a fraction of the time I spent fighting with the bobbin winder on the Janome, it'll be an absolute Godsend. But anything to do with bobbins stresses me out lately.
If I didn't need something to blog about this morning, it would probably still be in the box.
It wound my bobbins -- now I guess the question is whether they'll work for free motion quilting. Are they wound evenly enough? I think I've forgotten what a properly wound bobbin looks like.
Friday, October 28, 2011
getting it done before we go trick or treating
I set the second drab top aside while I worked on baby quilts. Once something in my sewing corner gets set aside to work on something else, it can take me a while to find my way back to it, but Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts is giving me some motivation. So I could get this one photographed this morning, I hand stitched the binding late last night while the kids were at a Halloween party and I was off in a corner with the other moms.
My first drab quilt started as a way to use up some scraps that wouldn't work well in the baby quilts. Then I pulled in some favorite scraps from my darks bin and really started to fall in love with the combinations. And now I want a big version of this quilt for myself!
I'm linking it to the Abundant Thanks linky party over at I gotta Create. I'm very thankful for my abundance of scraps and warm quilts to snuggle under!
I've entered Carving Pumpkins in the Halloween quilt contest over at Quilting Gallery. Voting is open through 11:59pm Sunday night and there are some fantastic Halloween quilts over there to drool over!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
wfmw - just let them enjoy themselves
When we took the kids to the Denver Zoo a couple of months ago, I got a case of the Mommy Guilts. We'd been wandering through the zoo for hours and come to the fish. I don't think anyone in our family was too enthusiastic about the fish -- by that point, we were trying to find the komodo dragons so we could see them and get back to the car.
I saw another mommy who was reading every sign to little ones, making sure that they understood the fish in the tank was the one who kept its babies in its mouth, "like the one in Finding Nemo!" She was so perky and so enthusiastic, puffing out her cheeks and everything.
And it hit me that I hadn't read my kids a single sign in the entire zoo. I'd skimmed a couple myself to answer questions, but I definitely wasn't being a perky tour guide. The kids have watched enough Animal Planet and National Geographic that that probably know most of what's on those signs...but I still felt a bit like I was shirking my mommy duties.
Then last week my littlest one came running up with a book about fish showing me a picture and telling me, at the top of his enthusiastic little lungs, that it was a glass catfish, just like we saw at "that place we went that time" and he could see right through it.
THAT'S why we took them to the zoo -- so they could have fun and learn about the animals for themselves.
For more Works for me Wendnesday posts, visit We are THAT Family.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Barns and UFOs
Old barns fascinate me. Since we moved to the country five years ago, I'm lucky enough to see them every time I leave my house. Actually, I can see a couple just by looking out the window.
The one is at our favorite nursery. I always find myself wondering what it was like before it was converted to a gift shop...what dusty treasures might be hiding behind those upper windows...
Because there are never enough neat old barns to drool over, check out Barn Charm Tuesday.
I'm getting a little work on my projects done. Now that the 100 Quilts for Kids challenge is over, I pulled out and pin basted drab quilt #2. I'm wavering between really loving this flannel as a backing and just thinking it's good enough. Either way, I'm using it.
And I'm getting ready to cut up this pile of 4" squares that I found in one of the scrap bags. The very darks and very lights will get cut into strips for my next log cabin variation, and the rest will get cut into 2" squares for By the Lake, a long forgotten UFO.
It feels so good to be working on projects again!
This post is linked to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.
The one is at our favorite nursery. I always find myself wondering what it was like before it was converted to a gift shop...what dusty treasures might be hiding behind those upper windows...
Because there are never enough neat old barns to drool over, check out Barn Charm Tuesday.
I'm getting a little work on my projects done. Now that the 100 Quilts for Kids challenge is over, I pulled out and pin basted drab quilt #2. I'm wavering between really loving this flannel as a backing and just thinking it's good enough. Either way, I'm using it.
And I'm getting ready to cut up this pile of 4" squares that I found in one of the scrap bags. The very darks and very lights will get cut into strips for my next log cabin variation, and the rest will get cut into 2" squares for By the Lake, a long forgotten UFO.
It feels so good to be working on projects again!
This post is linked to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Design Wall Monday
Here are the first two of the blue sheet baby quilts.
My little helper insisted on laying out the last two blocks himself, but you get the idea. My older helper walked past and thought it was going to be one quilt with a churn dash border around a nine-patch center. I think I like that idea and will try it later with a different background and scrappier fabrics to make it more of an everything-goes scrap quilt.
One quilt leads to the next, which leads to the next...
To see more design walls, head over to Patchwork Times.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Weekly Stash Report
This is the second straight week that I've managed to avoid temptation. I haven't even looked at Craigslist, have stayed out of the thrift stores, have avoided Joann's... I might've walked quickly through the fabric department at Walmart, but that barely counts. And I did go to Ben Franklin Crafts, but they got rid of their quilting department a while back, so that doesn't count at all. And the yarn prices were too terrifying for me to even be tempted.
That one yard of fabric I'm reporting? It's a yard of Ghastlies Mom picked up for me on a shop hop. I'm counting the days to the Ghastlie Event so I can figure out what I want to do with it.
Fabric Used this Week: 1.5 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 55.5 yards
Added this Week: 1 yards
Added Year to Date: 1012 yards
Net Added for 2011: 956.5 yards
Yarn Used this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Used year to Date: 6640 yards
Yarn Added this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Added Year to Date: 14075 yards
Net Added for 2011: 7435 yards
To see more weekly stash reports, click over to Patchwork Times.
That one yard of fabric I'm reporting? It's a yard of Ghastlies Mom picked up for me on a shop hop. I'm counting the days to the Ghastlie Event so I can figure out what I want to do with it.
Fabric Used this Week: 1.5 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 55.5 yards
Added this Week: 1 yards
Added Year to Date: 1012 yards
Net Added for 2011: 956.5 yards
Yarn Used this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Used year to Date: 6640 yards
Yarn Added this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Added Year to Date: 14075 yards
Net Added for 2011: 7435 yards
To see more weekly stash reports, click over to Patchwork Times.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
130 Mini Quilt Blocks
I've been to the library again, adding to my list of books I'd like to own.
130 Mini Quilt Blocks
A collection of exquisite patchwork blocks using ready-made fabric bundles
by Susan Briscoe
This is a neat little book. The hundred and thirty blocks promised by the title are divided into ten chapters. Many of the blocks are familiar, but there are quite a few that I've never seen before. If I've got one complaint about this book, it's that the blocks aren't all the same finished size, so if you plan on using it to make a sampler quilt, you'll have to pick all of your blocks from the same chapter.
The few necessary templates are all included in the back of the book and are all full size. There's an introductory chapter that briefly covers fabric selection and cutting, different techniques used to assemble the blocks, and quilting. Scattered through the book are suggested uses for the blocks. I found several little quilts that I'd like to make. Those tempting little projects are what sets this book apart from other block collections.
130 Mini Quilt Blocks
A collection of exquisite patchwork blocks using ready-made fabric bundles
by Susan Briscoe
This is a neat little book. The hundred and thirty blocks promised by the title are divided into ten chapters. Many of the blocks are familiar, but there are quite a few that I've never seen before. If I've got one complaint about this book, it's that the blocks aren't all the same finished size, so if you plan on using it to make a sampler quilt, you'll have to pick all of your blocks from the same chapter.
The few necessary templates are all included in the back of the book and are all full size. There's an introductory chapter that briefly covers fabric selection and cutting, different techniques used to assemble the blocks, and quilting. Scattered through the book are suggested uses for the blocks. I found several little quilts that I'd like to make. Those tempting little projects are what sets this book apart from other block collections.
Friday, October 21, 2011
the accidental purple quilt
The accidental purple quilt is quilted and bound. I was planning to go back and make the quilt I thought I was making once this was done, but now I'm thoroughly distracted by that blue sheet and my plans for it.
I'm glad I dragged my feet a bit once the top was done. The fabric I planned to use as a backing, just to get it used up and out of my stash, will be much better for the blue sheet quilts.
This post is linked to Finish it up Friday over at Crazy Mom Quilts and Can I Get a WHOOP WHOOP? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
our coconut puzzle
Hubby bought a coconut at the grocery store. I'm not sure what his ultimate plans for it are -- guess that's the first part of the puzzle!
After he'd baked it in the oven and split it open and somehow got the meat separate from the shell, he left the pieces out. That's when the fun started.
This has got to be the BEST wooden puzzle ever!
All day, my little guys were putting the pieces back together and karate chopping them apart. They made it into a little building like the African huts we saw at the zoo a couple of months back. They did not lose a single piece. Not until I decided that I wanted a picture of it.
As wonderful as I think they are, I gave up on wooden puzzles a long time ago because as hard as I try, we cannot keep them intact. But my sons will take care of a coconut. And, really, it is neater than the puzzles were. I'm betting they'll find that missing chunk by the end of the day.
Should I mention that this thing is not that easy to reassemble? I'll stick to wondering how many baby quilts I can get out of that one blue sheet. I'm guessing at least three...but now I've got five ideas I want to try.
After he'd baked it in the oven and split it open and somehow got the meat separate from the shell, he left the pieces out. That's when the fun started.
This has got to be the BEST wooden puzzle ever!
All day, my little guys were putting the pieces back together and karate chopping them apart. They made it into a little building like the African huts we saw at the zoo a couple of months back. They did not lose a single piece. Not until I decided that I wanted a picture of it.
As wonderful as I think they are, I gave up on wooden puzzles a long time ago because as hard as I try, we cannot keep them intact. But my sons will take care of a coconut. And, really, it is neater than the puzzles were. I'm betting they'll find that missing chunk by the end of the day.
Should I mention that this thing is not that easy to reassemble? I'll stick to wondering how many baby quilts I can get out of that one blue sheet. I'm guessing at least three...but now I've got five ideas I want to try.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
I needed a new project...
I've been wanting to experiment with some big Churn Dash blocks since I started dreaming up the extra scrappy pinwheels. When I put it together, this will be a 12" block. I'm thinking that nine of them with some sashing will make a good baby quilt.
I do not remember buying this blue sheet. I know I bought one when the thrift store was closing, but I'd have sworn it was a totally different color. Usually when fabric and yarn changes color while I'm not looking, it's changing away from the color I want. This blue is going to be a perfect background, and I've got a print for the backing that I think will go well with it...assuming it's wide enough. I really should go measure that stuff!
I do not remember buying this blue sheet. I know I bought one when the thrift store was closing, but I'd have sworn it was a totally different color. Usually when fabric and yarn changes color while I'm not looking, it's changing away from the color I want. This blue is going to be a perfect background, and I've got a print for the backing that I think will go well with it...assuming it's wide enough. I really should go measure that stuff!
Monday, October 17, 2011
WFMW -- Itty Bitty Apples
My little guys love to eat apples, but only if they're whole apples. Cutting them into slices ruins them -- at least that's what they tell me. They want whole apples, but they rarely eat more than a few bites.
That's why I'm loving these itty bitty apples that I found at Wal Mart. They were about the same price per pound as the regular apples and my little guys will eat almost the whole thing before deciding that they're done. More apples in my kids, less apples in the garbage or the chicken coop... definitely works for me!
For more Works for Me Wednesday posts, click over to We are THAT Family
It's all in my head
I've got all of these ideas for things that would be on my desgin wall today...if I'd had time last week to work on them. This week is going to be different! Giving up my quilting time and going to bed early didn't leave me any less tired than staying up and quiting does (twice the sleep, and I'm more exhausted -- I blame the increased dose of blood thinners) so I think I'll stay up and quilt.
These little tops need to be finished --
And I've got a bunch of other projects I want to start!
These little tops need to be finished --
And I've got a bunch of other projects I want to start!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
resisting temptation
No new fabric or yarn or anything to report this week. I did order a new die for my Go! Cutter, but I used Swagbucks gift certificates, and it isn't fabric or yarn, so that doesn't count. (If you're wondering what Swagbucks is, I've blogged about it before here. Basically, it's a search engine that rewards you with random points you can use to earn Amazon gift certificates. I've bought quite a few dies that way.)
No fabric used this week, but I did deliver three baby quilts to the pregnancy center and get the pattern for the pumpkin quilt done.
Fabric Used this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 54 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 1011 yards
Net Added for 2011: 957 yards
Yarn Used this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Used year to Date: 6640 yards
Yarn Added this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Added Year to Date: 14075 yards
Net Added for 2011: 7435 yards
To see what everyone else is up to, click over to Patchwork Times.
No fabric used this week, but I did deliver three baby quilts to the pregnancy center and get the pattern for the pumpkin quilt done.
Fabric Used this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 54 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 1011 yards
Net Added for 2011: 957 yards
Yarn Used this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Used year to Date: 6640 yards
Yarn Added this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Added Year to Date: 14075 yards
Net Added for 2011: 7435 yards
To see what everyone else is up to, click over to Patchwork Times.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
my Nutella didn't swirl
I'm not sure what the proper technique for swirling Nutella into pumpkin bread batter is, but that's okay. This whole project was mainly an excuse to eat pumpkin anyway. And there was just enough Nutella in my piece to convince me that it would be fantastic if I could figure out how to get it through the whole loaf. Without it, it was darn yummy.
I used this recipe and made big loaves instead of muffins.
It was supposed to be dessert after we finished the pot roast, but my husband dind't know what I was up to and brought home ice cream. So the kids had blackberry ice cream and pumpkin bread. Except for one, who had leftover pot roast with her ice cream. I can't decide which is the weirder combination.
I used this recipe and made big loaves instead of muffins.
It was supposed to be dessert after we finished the pot roast, but my husband dind't know what I was up to and brought home ice cream. So the kids had blackberry ice cream and pumpkin bread. Except for one, who had leftover pot roast with her ice cream. I can't decide which is the weirder combination.
Friday, October 14, 2011
having a nice morning
It's kinda chilly outside, damp but not really raining. I've got a pot roast and lots veggies to put on the stove later. The activity we were supposed to attend (and I was guiltily planning to skip) was cancelled at the last minute.
This is nice. I like staying home.
Maybe I'll try baking something yummy for us to nibble on while the roast is bubbling away. These look good.
We all know I don't have the time or patience to make a bowl full of felt pine cones, but that's not going to stop me from wanting to. I have some felt, but there's definitely not a Styrofoam ball to be had anywhere in this house. Because Styrofoam is just too irresistibly crumbly (remember, I've got little boys) and wouldn't last a second if it did find its way in here.
I absolutely want to tape vintage pie tins to my kitchen wall. And I know I could find some at the estate sales around here.
And I kinda want to make a Capri Sun Bag Tutorial like this one at Me and My Boys.
Go to Lilly's Lace and look at all of those old wedding pictures. I'm swooning over some of those bouquets.
Meridian Road has reminded me that I've got a really neat paper cutter of my own. We adopted it, I think, from my grandparents' estate sale. Or when the appliance store closed. Either way, it's been in the family since it was new. I couldn't let the kids know that it even existed so it lived in a pantry cupboard. Until I forgot it existed.
Have you seen the Pop Bottle Curtain over at sewtakeahike? I have got to learn paper piecing. I sorta get how it's done, but I'm nowhere near as good as I'd need to be to tackle the projects I keep falling in love with.
What are you all up to today?
This is nice. I like staying home.
Maybe I'll try baking something yummy for us to nibble on while the roast is bubbling away. These look good.
We all know I don't have the time or patience to make a bowl full of felt pine cones, but that's not going to stop me from wanting to. I have some felt, but there's definitely not a Styrofoam ball to be had anywhere in this house. Because Styrofoam is just too irresistibly crumbly (remember, I've got little boys) and wouldn't last a second if it did find its way in here.
I absolutely want to tape vintage pie tins to my kitchen wall. And I know I could find some at the estate sales around here.
And I kinda want to make a Capri Sun Bag Tutorial like this one at Me and My Boys.
Go to Lilly's Lace and look at all of those old wedding pictures. I'm swooning over some of those bouquets.
Meridian Road has reminded me that I've got a really neat paper cutter of my own. We adopted it, I think, from my grandparents' estate sale. Or when the appliance store closed. Either way, it's been in the family since it was new. I couldn't let the kids know that it even existed so it lived in a pantry cupboard. Until I forgot it existed.
Have you seen the Pop Bottle Curtain over at sewtakeahike? I have got to learn paper piecing. I sorta get how it's done, but I'm nowhere near as good as I'd need to be to tackle the projects I keep falling in love with.
What are you all up to today?
Thursday, October 13, 2011
100 Quilts for Kids - the second batch
I planned on making a bunch of new baby quilts for 100 Quilts for Kids. That didn't happen, so I raided my quilt ladder and the only baby quilts I found still hanging on it are on their way to the pregnancy center.
Now I've got to get the lap quilts to the nursing home. I was waiting for nice weather, then I was waiting for my knee to heal enough to make the drive, now I'm waiting for a free afternoon.
Now I've got to get the lap quilts to the nursing home. I was waiting for nice weather, then I was waiting for my knee to heal enough to make the drive, now I'm waiting for a free afternoon.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Pumpkin Carving!
Every year, I talk about making a Halloween quilt. And every year, I spend the fall months working on anything and everything but a Halloween project. This year, I've got a quilt done and hanging on the wall with a few weeks to spare.
Want to make your own little pumpkin wall quilt? It's easy!
You'll need 1/4 yard of orange for the pumpkins (add a little extra if you're using a different die or pumpkin pattern), 1/8 yard of yellow to light up their faces, 3/4 yard black or dark grey print for the blocks and binding, and a yard of tan for the background and blocks.
You'll need to make nine pumpkin blocks as shown in the video (place your pumpkins on point on 6 1/2" background squares.) The sixteen nine-patch blocks are strip pieced from 2 1/2" strips -- or assembled from individually cut 2 1/2" squares, whichever technique you prefer.
For the twelve side setting triangles, cut three 9 3/4" squares twice on the diagonal as shown -
For the four corner setting triangles, cut two 5 1/8" triangles in half as shown -
Lay out the quilt blocks as shown in the photo and assemble in diagonal rows -
Be sure to check out my other free Halloween Tutorials -- Halloween Parlor Quilt , Haunted House Potholder, Potion Bottle Mug Rug, Pumpkin Carving Wall Quilt. To be notified when new tutorials are added, follow my blog or like Michelle's Romantic Tangle on Facebook.
Want to make your own little pumpkin wall quilt? It's easy!
You'll need 1/4 yard of orange for the pumpkins (add a little extra if you're using a different die or pumpkin pattern), 1/8 yard of yellow to light up their faces, 3/4 yard black or dark grey print for the blocks and binding, and a yard of tan for the background and blocks.
You'll need to make nine pumpkin blocks as shown in the video (place your pumpkins on point on 6 1/2" background squares.) The sixteen nine-patch blocks are strip pieced from 2 1/2" strips -- or assembled from individually cut 2 1/2" squares, whichever technique you prefer.
For the twelve side setting triangles, cut three 9 3/4" squares twice on the diagonal as shown -
For the four corner setting triangles, cut two 5 1/8" triangles in half as shown -
Lay out the quilt blocks as shown in the photo and assemble in diagonal rows -
Be sure to check out my other free Halloween Tutorials -- Halloween Parlor Quilt , Haunted House Potholder, Potion Bottle Mug Rug, Pumpkin Carving Wall Quilt. To be notified when new tutorials are added, follow my blog or like Michelle's Romantic Tangle on Facebook.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
wfmw - reserving library books
With two little boys who still can't visit the children's section without an adult, picking out library books for myself can be a bit of a challenge. Don't get me wrong -- I totally agree that little kids shouldn't be wandering the huge library building alone!
Browsing the new fiction section with a five year old and a six year old is a bit challenging. The last time I tried it, I wound up hissing at another woman's little boy to stop bounding up and down and touching the ugly stained glass. I honestly thought he was one of mine, and I immediately apologized to her, and I still feel bad about it.
It's better for everyone if I can just spirit my youngest upstairs to the children's section where everyone is okay with bouncing and there's no tempting art to manhandle. That's where the online card catalog comes in. I can browse books from home, reserve the titles I want, and bribe my teenager to get them off the shelf for me.
The descriptions on the library's website are vague, if not non-existent. That's where Goodreads comes in. It's got all the descriptions and reviews I could ever want, and it lets me keep a list of books I want to read. I haven't had the best luck with the new recommendations feature - maybe because it's basing its suggestions on books I read a long time ago and not what I'm reading now. It works better for me to pick a book I just read and loved, go to Amazon, and look at the "customers who bought this item also bought" lists.
I decide what I want to read, add it to my list of books to read at Goodreads and pick a couple of titles whenever I'm running low on things to read.
Works for me! To see what works for others, click over to We are THAT family.
Browsing the new fiction section with a five year old and a six year old is a bit challenging. The last time I tried it, I wound up hissing at another woman's little boy to stop bounding up and down and touching the ugly stained glass. I honestly thought he was one of mine, and I immediately apologized to her, and I still feel bad about it.
It's better for everyone if I can just spirit my youngest upstairs to the children's section where everyone is okay with bouncing and there's no tempting art to manhandle. That's where the online card catalog comes in. I can browse books from home, reserve the titles I want, and bribe my teenager to get them off the shelf for me.
The descriptions on the library's website are vague, if not non-existent. That's where Goodreads comes in. It's got all the descriptions and reviews I could ever want, and it lets me keep a list of books I want to read. I haven't had the best luck with the new recommendations feature - maybe because it's basing its suggestions on books I read a long time ago and not what I'm reading now. It works better for me to pick a book I just read and loved, go to Amazon, and look at the "customers who bought this item also bought" lists.
I decide what I want to read, add it to my list of books to read at Goodreads and pick a couple of titles whenever I'm running low on things to read.
Works for me! To see what works for others, click over to We are THAT family.
Best of Fons & Porter Scrap Quilts
I've been reading a lot more fiction lately, so it's been quite a while since I remembered to check the library for new quilt books. But this week, I remembered and came home with Best of Fons & Porter Scrap Quilts.
I own a lot of books of scrap quilt patterns and I've borrowed and flipped through a lot more. This just might be my newest favorite (along with Bonnie Hunter's books and Scrap Basket Surprises.) The only thing that's stopping me from ordering my own copy right now is that "best of" in the title. I've got a lot of issues of Fons & Porter and might own most of these patterns already.
In addition to the cover quilt, I really want to make this one:
And this one:
And most of the other quilts in the book.
There's such a variety of quilts and techniques here, stuff I already know how to do as well as things I've been wanting to try but haven't tackled yet. Curves and applique and embroidery and set in seams...and there seems to be just enough instruction that I wouldn't need to go online or drag out anothr book to research techniques.
I own a lot of books of scrap quilt patterns and I've borrowed and flipped through a lot more. This just might be my newest favorite (along with Bonnie Hunter's books and Scrap Basket Surprises.) The only thing that's stopping me from ordering my own copy right now is that "best of" in the title. I've got a lot of issues of Fons & Porter and might own most of these patterns already.
In addition to the cover quilt, I really want to make this one:
And this one:
And most of the other quilts in the book.
There's such a variety of quilts and techniques here, stuff I already know how to do as well as things I've been wanting to try but haven't tackled yet. Curves and applique and embroidery and set in seams...and there seems to be just enough instruction that I wouldn't need to go online or drag out anothr book to research techniques.
Monday, October 10, 2011
still the green strips
These are ready to be pressed -- when they're cut up and sewn back together, that makes (I think) twelve of the thirty six blocks I need for Quinn's quilt. Which was originally going to have twenty-four blocks. It's growing on me.
I know I've got enough different greens, but now I'm starting to feel that creeping fear that if I finish it now I'll leave a good one out. When I was first cutting the strips, I had two bags of green prints and I'm not sure I made it all the way through the second one.
So this week I'm either going to find that bag and see what I left out, or I'm going to decide that I can live without whatever was in it and get these blocks together.
If I had an unlimited budget, I'd definitely want this anteater fabric from Spoonflower for the backing. It's even green!
For more design walls, head over to Patchwork Times.
Sunday, October 09, 2011
how'd I do that?
I wanted a top to go with this pretty flower and stripe pattern, and I had a hunk of solid lavender, so I cut some squares and got to work. I've done this snowball/nine-patch combination quite a few times. Which doesn't explain how I got the placement of prints and background in the nine patches backwards and didn't make the design I thought I was making!
You'd think I would've noticed when I laid out the first few blocks for my design wall Monday post, but nope. I didn't figure it out until I put the top together. I've got a different lavender solid and plenty of the backing, so maybe I'll go ahead and make the version I meant to make.
No fabric to report as used up this week, but I did finish two little quilt tops that'll be part of next week's total if I can keep from getting sick again.
Fabric Used this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 54 yards
Added this Week: 30 yards
Added Year to Date: 1011 yards
Net Added for 2011: 957 yards
Yarn Used this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Used year to Date: 6640 yards
Yarn Added this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Added Year to Date: 14075 yards
Net Added for 2011: 7435 yards
There are still a couple of days to enter my vintage sheet giveaway.
You'd think I would've noticed when I laid out the first few blocks for my design wall Monday post, but nope. I didn't figure it out until I put the top together. I've got a different lavender solid and plenty of the backing, so maybe I'll go ahead and make the version I meant to make.
No fabric to report as used up this week, but I did finish two little quilt tops that'll be part of next week's total if I can keep from getting sick again.
Fabric Used this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 54 yards
Added this Week: 30 yards
Added Year to Date: 1011 yards
Net Added for 2011: 957 yards
Yarn Used this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Used year to Date: 6640 yards
Yarn Added this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Added Year to Date: 14075 yards
Net Added for 2011: 7435 yards
There are still a couple of days to enter my vintage sheet giveaway.
Friday, October 07, 2011
my kids use the strangest logic...
"Mom, Dad's going up on the roof and he's using your ladder!"
I couldn't even begin to figure out why my youngest would decide that the big metal ladder belonged to me. The tools belong to Daddy. I don't mess with ladders.But quilts hang on ladders so that makes all of the ladders mine.
There's an old wooden one that I might want to claim, but the functional metal ones are all his!
I got my sewing time in Thursday afternoon putting together green strips for Trip Around the World blocks. This is definitely going to be a "work on it when the mood strikes" project. I enjoy piecing the blocks, but all of the long seams and all of the green could easily get boring!
I couldn't even begin to figure out why my youngest would decide that the big metal ladder belonged to me. The tools belong to Daddy. I don't mess with ladders.But quilts hang on ladders so that makes all of the ladders mine.
There's an old wooden one that I might want to claim, but the functional metal ones are all his!
I got my sewing time in Thursday afternoon putting together green strips for Trip Around the World blocks. This is definitely going to be a "work on it when the mood strikes" project. I enjoy piecing the blocks, but all of the long seams and all of the green could easily get boring!
Thursday, October 06, 2011
the mouse again
One of my goals is to make the best quilts I can make with the fabric I've got. When I pulled this blue mouse print out of the sewing room, my first thought was that there was enough to do a quilt top and backing, something like the princess strippie or the moon strippie. But unlike those two projects, I didn't have coordinating fabrics staring me in the face. And I wanted to try something a little bit different.
I think this one's heavily influenced by mamacjt's ladies. I've been drooling over them for weeks now, especially the quilting on the white backgrounds. Not that I think I could duplicate that, but it gave me a starting point.
I can't decide if I like the wide border or not.
I think this one's heavily influenced by mamacjt's ladies. I've been drooling over them for weeks now, especially the quilting on the white backgrounds. Not that I think I could duplicate that, but it gave me a starting point.
I can't decide if I like the wide border or not.
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
WFMW - old sheets as quilt backings
I think I'm one of the world's biggest fans of old sheets as quilt backing. They're a whole lot cheaper than yardage. They're (mostly) big enough to do a back without seams. And some of them are really pretty. If you're patient, you're bound to find a perfect backing for whatever you're working on. I keep my eye out for colors I know I'm likely to use for an upcoming project.
I've read cautions against using sheets as quilt backings, but after washing and abusing these quilts for the past couple of years, I haven't had any trouble that can be blamed on the sheets. I've quilted them on my Janome and on my mother's longarm. I don't hand quilt, not yet at least, so I can't offer any opinions there.
(Yes, that is Duct Tape on the top quilt. No, I don't know why it's there -- ask my sons. If you know how to get the residue off, please let me know!)
If you're buying old sheets at the thrift store, make sure to unfold them and check them for damage -- fading...rips...cigarette burns (ugh!) The centers of some sheets can be worn thin, so watch for that, too.
Figure out how much it would cost to back you quilt with the cheapest yardage you're likely to buy. Then compare that amount to the price of the sheet you're considering. What at first seemed like way too much can actually be a decent deal if you consider what you'd be spending otherwise. Especially if it's the perfect color or pattern.
I'm not suggesting that you back a top pieced from expensive quilt shop fabric with an old sheet. But for scrappy quilts, they can be the perfect option. Often, I've got more invested in the sheet I use for the backing than the top of the quilt! It can be a great solution for tops that started out as an experiment, that I don't want to sink much more money into.
Want to win a set of vintage sheets? Go to my last post to enter. For more Works for me Wednesday posts, visit We are THAT family.
I've read cautions against using sheets as quilt backings, but after washing and abusing these quilts for the past couple of years, I haven't had any trouble that can be blamed on the sheets. I've quilted them on my Janome and on my mother's longarm. I don't hand quilt, not yet at least, so I can't offer any opinions there.
(Yes, that is Duct Tape on the top quilt. No, I don't know why it's there -- ask my sons. If you know how to get the residue off, please let me know!)
If you're buying old sheets at the thrift store, make sure to unfold them and check them for damage -- fading...rips...cigarette burns (ugh!) The centers of some sheets can be worn thin, so watch for that, too.
Figure out how much it would cost to back you quilt with the cheapest yardage you're likely to buy. Then compare that amount to the price of the sheet you're considering. What at first seemed like way too much can actually be a decent deal if you consider what you'd be spending otherwise. Especially if it's the perfect color or pattern.
I'm not suggesting that you back a top pieced from expensive quilt shop fabric with an old sheet. But for scrappy quilts, they can be the perfect option. Often, I've got more invested in the sheet I use for the backing than the top of the quilt! It can be a great solution for tops that started out as an experiment, that I don't want to sink much more money into.
Want to win a set of vintage sheets? Go to my last post to enter. For more Works for me Wednesday posts, visit We are THAT family.
Vintage Sheets!
I'm a guest-blogger over at The Vintage Sheets Blog today.
While I was digging through my sewing room to find the sheets for the picture, I came to a conclusion. I've got a lot of sheets. I never did find the blue ones or the green ones. And, while I'm not in any hurry to use them all up, I should get them more organized.
While I was going over the white sheet, looking for a tag I thought I'd seen earlier, I was startled by this:
Now I'm trying to decide if it was embroidered by my Aunt Molly, or by a total stranger who just happened to share her name and habit of labeling every bit of linen. And if it did come from my Molly, if I'm obligated to keep the sheet intact.
And, because I love any excuse for a giveaway, I'm sharing some of my sheet collection:
It's a matched set of twin sheets, one flat and one fitted (no pillowcases.) They're clean and in reasonably good condition -- no tears or stains that I can find, but there's wear and fading in the center of the fitted sheet.
To enter, just become a follower (or let me know if you're one already) and leave a comment letting me know what you'd do with them. I'll pick a winner from comments left before 11:59PM October 10 and get them sent off.
While I was digging through my sewing room to find the sheets for the picture, I came to a conclusion. I've got a lot of sheets. I never did find the blue ones or the green ones. And, while I'm not in any hurry to use them all up, I should get them more organized.
While I was going over the white sheet, looking for a tag I thought I'd seen earlier, I was startled by this:
Now I'm trying to decide if it was embroidered by my Aunt Molly, or by a total stranger who just happened to share her name and habit of labeling every bit of linen. And if it did come from my Molly, if I'm obligated to keep the sheet intact.
And, because I love any excuse for a giveaway, I'm sharing some of my sheet collection:
It's a matched set of twin sheets, one flat and one fitted (no pillowcases.) They're clean and in reasonably good condition -- no tears or stains that I can find, but there's wear and fading in the center of the fitted sheet.
To enter, just become a follower (or let me know if you're one already) and leave a comment letting me know what you'd do with them. I'll pick a winner from comments left before 11:59PM October 10 and get them sent off.