Sunday, April 03, 2011
"You do the most intriguing things sometimes."
This is what TMOTH said as he walked by this afternoon as I was sewing down yet another half-inch square with a sequin and bead.
Saturday, April 02, 2011
Last weekend's sit-n-sew
No finishes for March :(
I did have a GREAT time at our guild's sit-n-sew, and made some progress on UFOs.
I spent most of my time on this:
Lots of floor space to put down the painters tape to mark off my quilting lines. Close-up here (quilting lines will eventually go the other way to make diamonds):
This started as last year's guild challenge, until it became clear it was getting too big. This was the March UFO. It now has its borders and I've started quilting it - in the ditch, with the quilting lines continuing in the borders.
I also finished the background for a blue/purple/orange channel:
I did have a GREAT time at our guild's sit-n-sew, and made some progress on UFOs.
I spent most of my time on this:
Lots of floor space to put down the painters tape to mark off my quilting lines. Close-up here (quilting lines will eventually go the other way to make diamonds):
This started as last year's guild challenge, until it became clear it was getting too big. This was the March UFO. It now has its borders and I've started quilting it - in the ditch, with the quilting lines continuing in the borders.
I also finished the background for a blue/purple/orange channel:
Bunny art
The other evening TMOTH was trying to get some paperwork printed for one of the kids, and the Small Man was badgering him with questions and trying to impress him with odd facts.
At that point, I rooted around in our junk closet, found an old watercolor set and some brushes, and asked the Small Man to come in the dining room with me, so we could paint! He was perfectly happy with this, and we painted awhile, and then I told him I would teach him how to paint a bunny.
This is what I painted (along with instructions about how I do it - paint the ears first, add the head, then the body, then the feet and tail):
So Small Man painted along with me, then on his own added green eyes, a red mouth, and whiskers, and grass underneath:
We finished up and went up to bed. The Lovely Daughter came down and found the supplies, and painted this:
This from someone who told me recently she doesn't like watercolor because "you can't fix your mistakes."
At that point, I rooted around in our junk closet, found an old watercolor set and some brushes, and asked the Small Man to come in the dining room with me, so we could paint! He was perfectly happy with this, and we painted awhile, and then I told him I would teach him how to paint a bunny.
This is what I painted (along with instructions about how I do it - paint the ears first, add the head, then the body, then the feet and tail):
So Small Man painted along with me, then on his own added green eyes, a red mouth, and whiskers, and grass underneath:
We finished up and went up to bed. The Lovely Daughter came down and found the supplies, and painted this:
This from someone who told me recently she doesn't like watercolor because "you can't fix your mistakes."
Monday, March 28, 2011
Stash Report Week 13
Used this Week: 5.5 yards
Used year to Date: 25.6yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 4.6 yards
Net Used for 2011: 21.0 yards
"USED" this week is the material I pulled to send to someone else. It's a best guess at what is going into the box.
I did get a lot done on a couple of UFOs this weekend at our guild's Sit-n-Sew, but no finishes yet. Hopefully by NEXT weekend.
Used year to Date: 25.6yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 4.6 yards
Net Used for 2011: 21.0 yards
"USED" this week is the material I pulled to send to someone else. It's a best guess at what is going into the box.
I did get a lot done on a couple of UFOs this weekend at our guild's Sit-n-Sew, but no finishes yet. Hopefully by NEXT weekend.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
March Piggy Info
Jill's having a year of the PIGS, and since I didn't answer the first March question (the first half of March was a blur!!) this one's a two-fer.
First, do I have my own sewing space? HAH. Ha, ha, hee, hee, ho, ho, ho. Maybe in another 10 years when the older two are done with college. No. So where do I sew?
1. I share part of the playroom. I have most of my quilting stuff stored in there, along with various other crafty bits. I have my grandmother's Hoosier cabinet in there, and it holds a bunch of stuff; a utility shelf, with bins for fabric; bins stashed behind the couch; bins stuffed under tables - you get the picture. My FashionMate resides in this room, but I don't use it much because the boys don't much like me sewing when they're on the computer or PlayStation or Wii.
2. I have more bins of material in the bedroom. This is where nearly all of the yarn lives as well. I also have my big cutting mat on the floor of the bedroom.
3. Most actual sewing gets done in the dining room. The Featherweight and little Brother live in there most of the time. I have a small rotating mat I keep in there, and a miniature ironing board and the iron.
4. There are also various sewing machines that need various amounts of work scattered around the rest of the house. Most are serving as end tables or computer tables.
Second, what would help be more creative? Without a doubt, better organization. It's just not something that comes naturally, and I hate spending time on putting stuff away when I could be doing something more fun.
First, do I have my own sewing space? HAH. Ha, ha, hee, hee, ho, ho, ho. Maybe in another 10 years when the older two are done with college. No. So where do I sew?
1. I share part of the playroom. I have most of my quilting stuff stored in there, along with various other crafty bits. I have my grandmother's Hoosier cabinet in there, and it holds a bunch of stuff; a utility shelf, with bins for fabric; bins stashed behind the couch; bins stuffed under tables - you get the picture. My FashionMate resides in this room, but I don't use it much because the boys don't much like me sewing when they're on the computer or PlayStation or Wii.
2. I have more bins of material in the bedroom. This is where nearly all of the yarn lives as well. I also have my big cutting mat on the floor of the bedroom.
3. Most actual sewing gets done in the dining room. The Featherweight and little Brother live in there most of the time. I have a small rotating mat I keep in there, and a miniature ironing board and the iron.
4. There are also various sewing machines that need various amounts of work scattered around the rest of the house. Most are serving as end tables or computer tables.
Second, what would help be more creative? Without a doubt, better organization. It's just not something that comes naturally, and I hate spending time on putting stuff away when I could be doing something more fun.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Stash Report Week 12
Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 20.1 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 4.6 yards
Net Used for 2011: 15.5 yards
Busy, busy week. I replaced the belt on the Featherweight and now it sews painfully slowly. So I ordered two new belts this morning, and think I'll just put the old belt back on and see if it will go again. At least before it was sewing, just slipping to start.
Used year to Date: 20.1 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 4.6 yards
Net Used for 2011: 15.5 yards
Busy, busy week. I replaced the belt on the Featherweight and now it sews painfully slowly. So I ordered two new belts this morning, and think I'll just put the old belt back on and see if it will go again. At least before it was sewing, just slipping to start.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friends' giveaways
I have a couple of quilting buddies who are having some super giveaways:
An internet pal, Marilyn, is giving away some yummy fat quarters.
My fellow guild member, the Quixotic Crafter is having a SUPER giveaway of charm squares. Tell her I sent you!
An internet pal, Marilyn, is giving away some yummy fat quarters.
My fellow guild member, the Quixotic Crafter is having a SUPER giveaway of charm squares. Tell her I sent you!
Spring is HERE!!!
I know it's not official until tomorrow night, but the forsythia is blooming, and we have frogs calling in our "pond" (an abandoned wading pool) and bulbs are popping up all over. And it's not freezing!
Friday, March 18, 2011
My new toy
Who wouldn't love a beautiful faux wood Formica cabinet?
Especially when it's chipped so you can see the fiberboard underneath?
Even more so that this amazing piece only cost me $35.95 plus tax?
NO???
Well, what if you open it up?
There's a hint of what's inside...open it all the way up and pull out the machine, and...
What a beauty! Mint and emerald green, barely a scratch, electric cords in good shape...
Not sure why there are two spool pins. I've found a grainy scan of a manual, and threaded it as best as I can figure out...and it kind of sews. There seems to be an issue with the feed dogs not engaging as fully as they should. I'll fiddle with it a little, and if I can't whip it into shape I'll take it to Jeff the miracle worker.
In actual sewing news, I'm working on a challenge: Blue, purple, and orange.
What? You don't see any orange? Just wait...I have over a week left!
Especially when it's chipped so you can see the fiberboard underneath?
Even more so that this amazing piece only cost me $35.95 plus tax?
NO???
Well, what if you open it up?
There's a hint of what's inside...open it all the way up and pull out the machine, and...
What a beauty! Mint and emerald green, barely a scratch, electric cords in good shape...
Not sure why there are two spool pins. I've found a grainy scan of a manual, and threaded it as best as I can figure out...and it kind of sews. There seems to be an issue with the feed dogs not engaging as fully as they should. I'll fiddle with it a little, and if I can't whip it into shape I'll take it to Jeff the miracle worker.
In actual sewing news, I'm working on a challenge: Blue, purple, and orange.
What? You don't see any orange? Just wait...I have over a week left!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Haiku Challenge
This month's challenge word was "Sunshine."
What popped into my head was an image of a sunflower. After taking Elly Sienkiewicz's class on the ruched rose last week, I had an idea of adapting that technique to make the center, so off we went.
This is the center all gathered up. I took a salad plate and drew my circle, then used the 6-pointed template to make the triangular gathering marks all the way around the edge (way more than 6!) and a couple of smaller circles to gather the middle. I LOVE the way this worked!
Different yellows fused to WonderUnder for the petals. I didn't use all of these for the final flower.
A piece of snow-dyed fabric from over a year ago for the background.
A copy of the Territorial seed catalog for inspiration. A glass of wine doesn't hurt, either!
Petals fused and ready to quilt. I did a zig-zag freemotion around all of the petals, then some echo quilting around the entire flower.
The end result. I'm really happy with this - it actually worked pretty much like the vision of it in my head.
The haiku:
Like sunshine distilled
The sunflowers nod their heads
Dancing in the wind
What popped into my head was an image of a sunflower. After taking Elly Sienkiewicz's class on the ruched rose last week, I had an idea of adapting that technique to make the center, so off we went.
This is the center all gathered up. I took a salad plate and drew my circle, then used the 6-pointed template to make the triangular gathering marks all the way around the edge (way more than 6!) and a couple of smaller circles to gather the middle. I LOVE the way this worked!
Different yellows fused to WonderUnder for the petals. I didn't use all of these for the final flower.
A piece of snow-dyed fabric from over a year ago for the background.
A copy of the Territorial seed catalog for inspiration. A glass of wine doesn't hurt, either!
Petals fused and ready to quilt. I did a zig-zag freemotion around all of the petals, then some echo quilting around the entire flower.
The end result. I'm really happy with this - it actually worked pretty much like the vision of it in my head.
The haiku:
Like sunshine distilled
The sunflowers nod their heads
Dancing in the wind
Stash Report Week 11
Used this Week: .3 yards
Used year to Date: 20.1 yards
Added this Week: 1.4 yards
Added Year to Date: 4.6 yards
Net Used for 2011: 15.5 yards
I gave my secret sister the two fat quarters I won in last month's door prize guild drawing, but since I can't see that I added them in when I won them, I can't count them as out the door, either! And a trip to G Street's quilt club meeting netted a bag of scrap strips.
The challenge used, again, 0.3 yards by my estimate.
I'm hoping to work on UFOs later this week, although I have a ton of WORK this week. I also seem to have a math error somewhere along the way :(
Used year to Date: 20.1 yards
Added this Week: 1.4 yards
Added Year to Date: 4.6 yards
Net Used for 2011: 15.5 yards
I gave my secret sister the two fat quarters I won in last month's door prize guild drawing, but since I can't see that I added them in when I won them, I can't count them as out the door, either! And a trip to G Street's quilt club meeting netted a bag of scrap strips.
The challenge used, again, 0.3 yards by my estimate.
I'm hoping to work on UFOs later this week, although I have a ton of WORK this week. I also seem to have a math error somewhere along the way :(
Monday, March 07, 2011
Elly Sienkiewicz workshop
I had a lovely rainy day yesterday sewing with Ellie Sienkiewicz.
I learned how to do reverse applique, and that it's just not for me (in progress for stems):
And also learned a technique for making a ruched rose that I can see adapting to other shapes as well:
Her talk tonight was on the Baltimore Album quilts as a study in social change. Very interesting!!
I learned how to do reverse applique, and that it's just not for me (in progress for stems):
And also learned a technique for making a ruched rose that I can see adapting to other shapes as well:
Her talk tonight was on the Baltimore Album quilts as a study in social change. Very interesting!!
Stash Report Week 10
Used this Week: 3 yards
Used year to Date: 19.8 yards
Added this Week: 1.4 yards
Added Year to Date: 3.2 yards
Net Used for 2011: 15.6 yards
I got my kittens UFO sandwiched and pinned, but that's all. A trip to G street resulted in the 1.4 yards added. Tossing some junky old curtain material that I didn't even want to use for backing for string blocks was the 3 yards. (And I think it was likely more than that - but I didn't want to unfold it to measure accurately!)
Used year to Date: 19.8 yards
Added this Week: 1.4 yards
Added Year to Date: 3.2 yards
Net Used for 2011: 15.6 yards
I got my kittens UFO sandwiched and pinned, but that's all. A trip to G street resulted in the 1.4 yards added. Tossing some junky old curtain material that I didn't even want to use for backing for string blocks was the 3 yards. (And I think it was likely more than that - but I didn't want to unfold it to measure accurately!)
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
February UFO
Not finished, but progress:
1. I found the flimsy (major accomplishment there!)
2. Pulled some backing material from stash
3. Actually found leftover fabric from the top (!!!!) and used it along with some cream backing to piece a strip to make the backing big enough
4. Laid out my batting left over from Kim's quilt and it's big enough!
5. Bought a spool of variegated pink thread to quilt with
I still need to:
1. Sew that pieced strip to the bigger piece of backing and press
2. Sandwich and pin/baste
3. Quilt
4. Piece binding, bind, label
Will try to update with a photo later.
1. I found the flimsy (major accomplishment there!)
2. Pulled some backing material from stash
3. Actually found leftover fabric from the top (!!!!) and used it along with some cream backing to piece a strip to make the backing big enough
4. Laid out my batting left over from Kim's quilt and it's big enough!
5. Bought a spool of variegated pink thread to quilt with
I still need to:
1. Sew that pieced strip to the bigger piece of backing and press
2. Sandwich and pin/baste
3. Quilt
4. Piece binding, bind, label
Will try to update with a photo later.
Stash Report Week 9
Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 16.8 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 2.8 yards
Net Used for 2011: 14.0 yards
S-L-O-W week for sewing. At least I didn't add anything!
Used year to Date: 16.8 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 2.8 yards
Net Used for 2011: 14.0 yards
S-L-O-W week for sewing. At least I didn't add anything!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Stash Report Week 8
Two finishes this week bump up the stash usage!!
First, Kim's quilt, which is also a UFO:
My calculations here are 5.3 yards
Then, a potential entry for our guild's AQS challenge, "Picture This":
My quilt's title is "Beach Unbrellas" and I calculate usage at 1.7 yards.
Used this Week: 7 yards
Used year to Date: 16.8 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 2.8 yards
Net Used for 2011: 14.0 yards
First, Kim's quilt, which is also a UFO:
My calculations here are 5.3 yards
Then, a potential entry for our guild's AQS challenge, "Picture This":
My quilt's title is "Beach Unbrellas" and I calculate usage at 1.7 yards.
Used this Week: 7 yards
Used year to Date: 16.8 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 2.8 yards
Net Used for 2011: 14.0 yards
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Stash Report Week 7
Used this Week: .3 yard
Used year to Date: 9.8 yards
Added this Week: 1.4 yards
Added Year to Date: 2.8 yards
Net Used for 2011: 7.0 yards
The quiltlet is about 9 x 12, so I'm counting four 9 x 12 pieces: 1 backing, 1 top, plus two layers of the woven fabric on top. Some trimmings got tossed, plus the heart appliques...I'm calling it a third of a yard.
Went to G Street to get a secret sister gift for the guild meeting, hence the 1.4 yards of scrap added. Still in the black, though!
Closer to finish on the challenge quilt that will have some yardage used, but still not done! Only the little quiltlet.
Used year to Date: 9.8 yards
Added this Week: 1.4 yards
Added Year to Date: 2.8 yards
Net Used for 2011: 7.0 yards
The quiltlet is about 9 x 12, so I'm counting four 9 x 12 pieces: 1 backing, 1 top, plus two layers of the woven fabric on top. Some trimmings got tossed, plus the heart appliques...I'm calling it a third of a yard.
Went to G Street to get a secret sister gift for the guild meeting, hence the 1.4 yards of scrap added. Still in the black, though!
Closer to finish on the challenge quilt that will have some yardage used, but still not done! Only the little quiltlet.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
A quiltlet for my grandmothers
This was a challenge for our online Haiku art group- more about technique there.
When I thought about the theme of love, I thought about romantic love, then the love of a dog, then about other types of unconditional love, which led me to my grandmothers, Grandma Dunaway (Goldie) and Memaw (Opal). My grandmothers were the fountainhead of my love for crafts in general and fiber in particular. They were generous with their scrap bins and button tins, my love for which continues to this day.
The two hearts are my two grandmothers - the commercial gold for Goldie (Grandma) and some snow dyed fabric for Opal (Memaw). The embroidery floss I used to blanket stitch the hearts came from Memaw's stash, as did at least one of the buttons.
Monday, February 07, 2011
Stash Report Week 6
Used this Week: 0 yard
Used year to Date: 9.5 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 1.4 yards
Net Used for 2011: 8.1 yards
Next week should have some change - Im hoping to finish a challenge quilt that will have some yardage used.
Used year to Date: 9.5 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 1.4 yards
Net Used for 2011: 8.1 yards
Next week should have some change - Im hoping to finish a challenge quilt that will have some yardage used.
Friday, February 04, 2011
Why oh WHY - PIGS and UFOs
This week, Jill asked why we have PIGS and UFOs. I'm guessing some of our reasons are the same, some are different.
1. I get bored. Satin stitching (by hand) around 24 chess pieces gets old fast.
2. I get stymied. My daughter's quilt needs borders of some sort, and we haven't come to a decision yet.
3. Until recently, I didn't have a machine that quilted very well. It's still not GREAT, but I can make it work.
4. I inherited/absorbed my grandmother's need to "adopt" other people's UFOs. I have a couple that came home with me from quilt show sales.
5. I'm terribly disorganized. This month's UFO number from Judy L.? I can't FIND that dang quilt - it's not where I thought it was. And there's a LOT of stuff I'd have to look through to find it :(
EDIT - I FOUND it!! It was in a tub of stuff buried under a pile of DH's clothes. I have a piece of material pulled and ready to wash for backing, along with some cream muslin to piece in strips of the pink to make it wide enough. Photos later, duckies.
ANOTHER EDIT: I deliberately did NOT include "lack of time" as a reason for not finishing. I don't know now how much I could do if I just got off the computer and on the sewing machine.
I'm sure there are more - I'll add them if I think of them.
1. I get bored. Satin stitching (by hand) around 24 chess pieces gets old fast.
2. I get stymied. My daughter's quilt needs borders of some sort, and we haven't come to a decision yet.
3. Until recently, I didn't have a machine that quilted very well. It's still not GREAT, but I can make it work.
4. I inherited/absorbed my grandmother's need to "adopt" other people's UFOs. I have a couple that came home with me from quilt show sales.
5. I'm terribly disorganized. This month's UFO number from Judy L.? I can't FIND that dang quilt - it's not where I thought it was. And there's a LOT of stuff I'd have to look through to find it :(
EDIT - I FOUND it!! It was in a tub of stuff buried under a pile of DH's clothes. I have a piece of material pulled and ready to wash for backing, along with some cream muslin to piece in strips of the pink to make it wide enough. Photos later, duckies.
ANOTHER EDIT: I deliberately did NOT include "lack of time" as a reason for not finishing. I don't know now how much I could do if I just got off the computer and on the sewing machine.
I'm sure there are more - I'll add them if I think of them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)