Saturday, January 30, 2016

THIS QUILT MAKES ME A HAPPY CAMPER SO FAR

I am a happy camper today so far....the quilt with the little square in square blocks and the bricks has gone together wonderfully...it was like they were planned to be together...i did have to make more brick blocks (6 in block) as i had been using them as leaders and enders so didn't have the 80 i needed so had to make 50 more...to the left are string strips but the brick blocks are similar that alternate rows with the square in square blocks so you can get the picture....
What made me a happy camper was the fact that i had 14 sns blocks left so i could add another 6 inches to the length which it needed...

Then after i added those i went to the big yardage bin to look for a blender for the border...i found the perfect one for that too so now to wash it up and iron  i can add the border...its almost scary that things are going so well...lol....more later....

Thursday, January 21, 2016

BACK TO SEWING NOW....MAYBE

A couple days ago I had an echocardiogram at the hospital which I hope is the last test I will have for the winter....so far all the tests I have had revealed nothing...At least its telling me I don't have the big C or a lot of other diseases or problems...for that I am thankful.... All these tests are telling me I might be right that my food is going through my body too fast to get absorbed like it should hence I am not making blood as fast as I am using it over a period of years....there is more to story but I wont bore you...anyway I hope my family doc recognizes that this could be the problem...my gastro doc hasn't ruled it out....

Anyway---its been so cold here when I had to get out to go for this test that I actually dragged out my winter coat...ya know its cold when I do that lol...as I hate coats especially heavy ones but at least I was very warm against the zero weather...

A little sewing is being done but  mostly working on the border of my daughters flower garden quilt...I am almost ready for the last side....then only have one more quilt to add a border to...I have been having a lot of pain in my arm that I hand sew with...I think all the repetition sewing is wearing on it...so I have been babying it somewhat...

I have gotten a couple fabric orders in the last 2 weeks so have to get them washed and ironed (another aggravation for my arm) ...I am waiting to use one of the pieces for the back of a childs oversized quilt for a family member...will need to hand quilt that one....

So all in all lots of sewing to get going on...if winter sticks around I am sure I will be in the sewing room a lot more lol....maybe pics next time.....more later....

Monday, January 18, 2016

COMMITING THE CARDINAL SIN OF FABRIC AND BLOCKS!

Ok, i admit it....i think i am going to commit the cardinal sin of fabric!....let me explain....

Years ago i bought this stripe fabric on sale with the idea to cut it up and create a new fabric....this fabric is a little heavier than normal cotton so the seams are a little bulkier...but i went ahead anyway...i cut squares then cut those into triangles then cut them again for triangles then cut 2 more triangles out of each of those...a lot of cutting and seams ..then sewing the  2 3/4 inch triangle blocks together into a 9 patch...i must have gotten bored or didn't like it cause i put it away for years.....

I got it back out 2 days ago and started working on it more...but as i was working on it and trying to get a good press on the blocks it wasn't working...and i really didn't want to cut up more fabric and go through all that again...i have 30 -9 patch blocks of these and no matter what i think  could make out of them they are just too bulky and probably would break needles trying to quilt them soooo I am going to commit the cardinal sin of fabric...and throw them out!!!!....I am sure the fabric police will come and get me and throw me in fabric jail for this but rather than spend more time messing  with them I think its best i get on with something else....

The fabric and the blocks have been in my basket of blocks for over 3o years and i think its time to deal with it....i must be losing patience cause really dont want to spend any more time of these....more later....

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

MORE SCRAP TURNED INTO SOMETHING

The other day when i was tinkering around in the sewing room i found a fat quarter and some leftover triangles sitting on the table...they kinda looked like they should go together so i scrounged around in the cabinet for a co-ordinating piece to make sashes out of....this is what i came up with.....

I think it will be a nice addition for someone next fall...and more important ..some more things off my table....i swear the table content multiplies over night.....

I also noticed that there are solid colors accumulating on the table....i am thinking i should cut some strips maybe 2 1/2 inches wide of lots of different colors to make a irish chain quilt....i love that pattern...its so simple but it looks so clean and striking with lots of room for nice quilting...this idea has been roaming around in my head for awhile....sooner or later i will make another one lol

Gotta get out today and see if i can get the garage door open so i can get out and get groceries....i am sure its stuck with the 'watery' snow we got last week and now cold weather...today it has moderated so maybe if i can get the snow away from the door it might open....Hope So!....more later....

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

GOOD PRODUCTION DAY

Yesterday was a good day...at least in the sewing room....outside its cold and frozen snow...i say it like that cause of the water content and the single digit temps make it hard as ice....

Back to sewing....I made these 53  blocks that are pretty little..3 inches square...i am going to make blocks till the background light color runs out....I dont think it will be very big by itself so i am up for ideas on what to use with them to make it at least lap size....i didn't do a very good plan with this one...its been laying in my clothes basket of blocks for at least 2 years so i would like to see it done...

I may go in the sewing room today and scratch around...i really should put fabric away...i have stacks around in there that need put away...i would have more room wouldn't i??...I always get sidetracked when i go in with a purpose but i will try to stay focused today....lol...

Right now on my sewing table i have 3 partly done tops being worked on at a time....no chance for boredom here lol...who knows maybe i will get one of them finished this week and it can hang in the closet with the rest of them....yes i am being a little sarcastic at myself....but i hope to change that this year....work more on finishing the WHOLE quilt not just the top.....ok time to get dressed and get at it.....more later....

Friday, January 8, 2016

MADE THE BLOCK FROM A PICTURE FOR FUTURE QUILT

Instead of working on things i should have been this afternoon i made this block....i saw a quilt on line while i was 'roaming' around and i was fascinated with it...of course i dont have a pattern so i was winging it....i used some scrap and 2 inch stuff...well it worked out all except i should have had 2 1/2 inch pieces then it would work square...its a keeper though it will be one i will make in the future...

We had our quilt group meeting yesterday...lots of gabbing and exchanging thoughts about sewing etc....it was a good day weather wise considering its the middle of winter and we usually have at least some snow to put up with...now next month might be a different story lol....

I am working on one of these right now putting a border on it in light blue...these were the first that i made and my girls saw the others with the borders and now they want theirs to have one so here we go lol....the other one will have a medium green border on it which is next...i wonder if i will ever be done with the Grandmothers Flower Garden quilts lol....I do know that everyone will be tired of me talking about them lol....

It dont look like much on tv tonight so i just might go in and sew till bedtime....but then plans change dont they??...whatever i do will be a suprise i think....more later....

Sunday, January 3, 2016

SCRAP SEWING TODAY

I decided that i needed to work with strings today after looking in my scrap basket that i keep on the sewing table...it was overflowing with scrap....i really didn't want to do much as i was tired for some reason...I could have dumped it into the bigger tote but i didn't want that either as it can get out of hand very fast....

This is the result of my efforts....not sure i will work on more but i do have to go in and put things away if i dont...after my back rests for awhile i will see if i can do more....i really need to....

I had to take a break from working on the flower garden quilts today...I have been working on them steady for over a month and I am tired of them at the present lol....oh i will keep at it but not like i have been...well i gotta go lay down for a bit...got muscle spasms in my back and they need to quit....more later....

Saturday, January 2, 2016

GETTING A GOOD START TO THE NEW YEAR

Today seemed like Sunday....so much so that i tried to find TV programs that i watch on Sunday today....Finally figured out that it was Saturday....I just hate when i get my days mixed up...

It was a busy day though...I always work on the flower garden quilts in the morning and today was no different...got a lot done too...ready to turn the corner on the border and had to get out one of the others so i could get it set up they way it should be....Those corners are very tricky...

Then later in the afternoon i quilted a table runner i just made...it was a fall pattern FQ and some triangles floating around on my sewing table forever...i had enough triangles to make 7 square in square blocks...i put them in rows of 2 using 6 and had one leftover for a potholder....i have the runner yet to sew the binding down but my fingers are getting sore tonight so will wait till another time....

I even got my bills cleaned up ready to mail... and the bar almost cleaned off....the dining table is almost cleaned off too...i have been working on that job for about a week...i want to lay out a quilt to sew or take to quilter...not decided which...

I just know i am tired and my back feels like a truck ran over it with all the sitting at themachine i did the last couple days...so i suppose i better turn in early with a tylenol chaser tonight....more later.....