Trying to get back in the routine...

Yes, I have been away from blogging for a good part of the season.  It has been a weird summer.  It hasn't been horrible but it has had its challenges (Roscoe's Pa extra busy with consulting jobs and me with pneumonia for weeks and weeks with lots of drama due to something abnormal with my x-rays that resulted some further 'investigating'.)  I am fine now and the challenges have left me noticing that the sweetness in my grandkid's faces is a little sweeter, and colors are more vivid, and the breeze is more refreshing...and well, you get the idea.  Anyway, I am getting my life back together.

And, I am finally sewing again!  I finished some UFO's in the past couple of weeks.  I didn't take many photos as I was out of my blogging routine.  Here's a stocking I made for my newest granddaughter to match the family collection I've blogged about in the past. 

 This weekend I began working with my Aboriginal collection that I have shown you off and on earlier in the year.  And I am having lots of fun.  I love this fabric and have four quilts in my head with a possible string quilt somewhere along the way.  I even ordered MORE Aboriginal fabric from Canton Village Quiltworks this morning.  I have started cutting the first pieces to make two quilts for special relatives that I hope don't read my blog!  While the basic concept is the same, I'll be making each quilt unique and learning a few things about color along the way.  I'll post progress and you can see what I mean!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I really appreciate my blog friendships!

:o)

My Scrubbie Story

A friend who worked with my husband sent home a 'scrubbie' for me to try.  Someone made one for her and she loved using it when washing dishes and pans.  I was 'hooked' figuratively and literally.  I thought to myself, 'I could make these.'  And the google search for a pattern began.  Turned out there were lots of patterns being shared out there in cyberspace.  I chose this one.

I begin by cutting nylon net (the coarser the feel of the net, the better) into two inch strips.

I use a rotary cutter and layer the netting to make this go faster.  Here is what five yards each of three colors looks like.

This will make at least 30 scrubbies!

Next I tie the strips together making a simple knot (these knots work easily into the backside of the scrubby) and then roll the strips into balls.

Now you are ready to crochet.  I use an N hook instead of an I hook.  I start out with three chains and slip stitch to form a circle.  The pattern calls for four chains but that doesn't work for me.  As you go, put the knots in your nylon 'yarn' to the back of the scrubbie.  You'll see what I mean once you get started.

I love to make these scrubbies because, yes, they are mindless.  You can do this while watching kids play or while watching TV, etc.  Easy peasy...and these aren't heirloom items so if a stitch doesn't look perfect, well, so what.  They are for SCRUBBING.  I use them for scrubbing dishes and pans, preparing baked potatoes, scrubbing the shower, exfoliating feet, treating stains and spots before laundering...well, you get the idea.  You can wash them in the washing machine or the dishwasher.

And you make friends if you make scrubbies!  LOL!  I have many requests for replacement scrubbies once they are worn out.  My Amish neighbors, who bake all sorts of goodies at Christmas time to share with their neighbors, get scrubbies from me, their non-baking English friend.

:o)

We did it!!

From this--

To this--

Beautiful, Karen!

:o)

Okay.

Ya know how you hope when you wake up, you'll be wowed?  That didn't happen.   So I went back to work and now I am satisfied.  I really wanted an AH-HA moment.  But I've come to the realization that I am not going to get one unless I branch out, try somehting different, and push harder.  I do like this quilt and think it will be comfy, snuggly, and match a decor.  That was my goal.  The soul searching was a bonus.

:o)

Up on the wall

I randomly placed the squares on my design wall keeping in mind the way the colors and values played off of each other.  I have made my first pass at a layout.  I digitally photographed my layout and edited the photo to be grayscale to check for a pleasing contrast throughout the quilt.  Now I am sleeping on it.  I am sure there will be much tweaking tomorrow.

:o|

Pressing, sorting and squaring

After sewing the rectangles together, I pressed open all the squares and began sorting by both color and value.  This will help me when I lay out the squares on the design wall.

I also had to square up the blocks to be sure they were 6" squares.  I usually try to avoid having to do this step by cutting accurately to begin with.  But for this quilt, I had some adjustments to make.  I used a rotary cutter, a six inch square ruler, and my turntable cutting mat.

:o)

Another UFO

I started a quilt a few months ago and had to put it away for more pressing deadlines.  It is being made to match a specific decor.  The Migration line from Moda was perfect.

 I thought I still had some cutting to do but was pleasantly surprised to discover, when I reopened the project, the cutting part was finished! 

I randomly sewed 240 rectangles together to make 120 roughly six inch squares.  I have made this pattern many times before but never used a layer cake for the fabric.  To optimize the number of rectangles I could cut from a 10" square, I  had to slightly alter my usual block size.  More about this later...

This quilt is a gift and I am purposely not revealing too much about the quilt.  I don't think the recipient reads my blog, but ya never know...

It's so great to be sewing again!!  I am currently living under this motto:

:o)

And finally the binding!

:o)

Progress report

I am happy to say that the quilting is going fine.  I am always unsatisfied with the quilting when I go to bed at night.  The next morning it always looks way better.  Thank goodness!!

Check out the awesome new LED light!!

:o)

Starting again

I can hardly believe I haven't written a blog post for a whole month.  Life has definitely gotten in the way of my sewing this past month.  I feel sort of rusty about writing but here goes.

I am back to working on my daughter's quilt and I am very grateful to have some sewing time.  Here is the backing taped to the floor in my living room. 

I have a big living room and this backing just fit on the floor.  So this is the maximum sized quilt I ever intend to work with.  And next time I take on something this big, I will definitely consider sending the quilt out for quilting.  I am happy to try to quilt this one though.  It's a family effort!

Now I am in the process of pin basting. 

I have used up all my curved pins and now am hoping I have enough regular pins to finish this part of the process.  This is taking way longer than I planned...lots of sighing and resting of knees.  LOL!  I have enjoyed some good chick flicks on TV while pinning.

Stay tuned for progress.  I am determined to get this puppy done!

:o)

Back to the sewing room!

I had to get back in the sewing room after such a long break.   I decided to work on some finishes instead of beginning something new.  I am currently working on the quilt my daughter handed off to me to finish.  See the story here.  The first task was to put the four big pieces (which are different sizes) together to complete the pattern.  It took me a couple of days to figure out, but now I've got it.  I really think she designed a pretty quilt.

Here is evidence of two of my least favorite tasks when it come to quilt making.  These tasks were more dreaded than usual as this quilt is 104 inches by 104 inches.  First is trimming all the crazy threads on the back of the quilt.

And the other least favorite task is pressing the back of the quilt top so the seams lay flat in the direction they are meant to be.  The seams on this quilt seem to go on forever!

What's your least favorite part about making a quilt?

:o)

Blogger's Quilt Festival--Spring 2011

I am happy to participate for my third time in the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  It is a lot of fun looking at all the quilts and making new blog friends, as well.  It is so nice of Amy at Amy's Creative Side  to continue the tradition for everyone in blogland!  Thanks Amy!

This spring I am entering the baby quilt I made for my third granddaughter.  Since she is child #4 in a family with three older brothers, her quilt had to be PINK!  I found the daisy fabric first (Spring Fling by David Walker)

and built from there with Moda Marbles and fabrics from Simply Baby by Windham.  The binding is white Frosted Dots from Lakehouse.

  

Baby's mom loves daisies and she loves simple lines.  So I kept the quilt to two colors, pink and yellow with white.  (They happen to be my wedding colors 41 years ago!)  I used Quilter's Dream Cotton batting in the Deluxe weight and machine quilted in straight lines with the serpentine stitch.

We were all pleased with how the quilt turned out!  Thanks for stopping by to take a look.  Hope you have time to drink a pot of tea (or a can or two of Diet Coke) and enjoy the Festival!  Please come back and visit again!

:o)

A Busy Month

I haven't been blogging or quilting or getting my household chores done even.  Life is good but really busy right now.  Tuesday night I made the pants part of a costume for my grandson who is a lion in his 2nd grade play...Circus, Circus.  He has lines and gets to sing a little solo.  Can't wait for the performance day!  I have no pictures of the costume as I was working on it past midnight and the pants were delivered early the next morning.  Sleep trumped a photo session!  It was fun to be finally sewing something!

Here is a picture of a quilt top I found in 1986 in my grandmother's closet after she had passed away.  I am not sure if she made it or where it came from or when it might have been made.  She was mainly a knitter although I think she sewed a little when she was younger.  There are several pretty appliqued tulip blocks.  Most of the quilt top is in good shape and I am thinking of taking the blocks apart and resetting them somehow.  The plan is not really worked out in my head yet.  (Hey, it's only been in my possession 25 years!  Don't rush me!)

But here is some fabric I found recently that might work with the blocks in some fashion.

Pretty good match, huh?

:o)

Keeping Some Balance

It has been so long since I have been in front of my sewing machine.  I have missed it and I have missed blogging too.  Life keeps getting in the way...in a good way...grandchildren...friends...busy times.  But my head is always swirling with ideas and things I want to sew.  To keep some balance while I am away from my machine, I have been hitting some internet fabric sales.  The first collection that I have been eyeing for a while is Moda's Lollipop.  I saw it on sale at Burgundy Buttons.  I really didn't need to buy fabric, but a girl has to do what a girl has to do, right? 

 

I really like the greens in this collection.  I have since discovered a couple more prints to add and am awaiting their arrival.  I am probably going to make a kid quilt for my grandchildren to snuggle under when they visit.  I know it is really 'matchy-matchy' but I like it.

Then I saw the Max and Whiskers collection on sale, as well.  Yes, I felt a purchase was necessary for my mental balance (i.e. I caved) and  so I bought these lovelies too.

They will also more than likely become another 'matchy-matchy' kid quilt for the grandkids too. Now if someone would only have a sale on 'sewing time', I'd be all set.

:o)

No sewing except in my head...and a WIN!

No sewing this week due to babysitting...cleaning...company coming..  I did do some quilt dreaming and I ordered some fabric online.  Had to stay sane somehow, didn't I?   But the BIG NEWS is I won a Lil' Twister Template Tool from a giveaway Jackie sponsored over at the Canton Village Quilt Works blog.  It hasn't arrived yet (maybe tomorrow)  but I can't wait to try it.  Jackie has made some beautiful things with the template shown here!

Because I should have a picture in my post, I'll show you something my daughter made to take to college 10 years ago.  (Seriously?  It's been 10 years?)  I believe this is her first quilt.  (The photo was taken with an old camera under flourescent lighting.  Bleh.)  I love it that she sews!

:o)

Another shopping trip...

I am trying to beat the rain blues here in the Seattle area.  Here is another fabric store I visited...Pacific Fabrics & Crafts...the Bellevue, Washington store.

It is sort of like a chain store, but a local chain of a local quilt and fabric store.  They stock many local quilt shop brands you would see at a LQS in Ohio.  But the atmosphere felt more like a small Joann Fabric store. 

I found some fat quarters of Moda's Max and Whiskers fabric to take home to preview for a possible kid's quilt for Grandma's house.

 I found some interesting pre-printed fabric to make tea towels, an apron and a 54" X 60" table cloth.  My SIL loves anything strawberry and most things vintage.  The quality of this fabric was really nice and very substantial.  It is a very similar weight as some vintage table linens I have that were my mom's.  I think my SIL will love the finished products when she receives them in our Christmas exchange.  (No, she doesn't  know I have a blog.)

There is a huge selection of notions at this store.  I do love to look for new notions!  I found this tape measure which I think will be very useful in measuring fabric for quilt backs and curtains.  Roscoe's Pa cautioned me to check the tape for accuracy when I get home.  I'll probably use an Omnigrid yard stick to be sure this tape is right on.

 And since I am often the family 'go to' person when it comes to shortening jeans and making repairs, I thought this thread would be nice to have on hand.  The terrible lighting in this picture prevents you from seeing the thread is lightly variegated in color the way many jeans are.  I already have a spool of jeans thread in the orange/yellow color that a lot of jeans companies use for trim.  I had never seen the blue before.