Batting

I don't know about other quilters but for as long as I can remember I have always saved my left over batting after taking my quilt off the frame.  I had a pile of it and a couple of months ago i came across this product for fusing pieces of batting together.  I believe that I paid about $8/ea.  This stuff is wonderful and so easy to use.  I could not remember where I had purchased it but when I got an email this morning from Quilt in a Day and it is on sale for $4.50/ea I bought 3 rolls.  If you are interested in buying it it is only on sale until April 24th and then will go back up to $7.99/ea



I was very happy to get this email this morning and wanted to share this with others.

Another big benefit this ship by USPS which most people don't use and I only paid $1.70 for shipping.  How cheap is that?  I don't remember that last time I was offered a cheaper way for shipping.

Applique

Back in January I purchased this book.

I originally purchased this book because I loved the pattern on the front cover.  As soon as I got the book home I started going thru it and came across this page.

I fill in love with this project.  I had not done any applique but I had been wanting to learn how to do it.  I totally forgot why I got this book in the first place.  I have watched a lot of youtube videos that others have done on applique and I have to say I have learned a lot over time.  I first start with freezer paper and get everything cut out and pressed.  When I start sewing my pieces down I remove the freezer paper so I can practice turning with my needle with a little help from the pressing I did in the beginning.  I have tried doing just needle turn but that is a true art and hoping with practice I will get it. 

Mine is not looking as good as the one in the book but I know it will be one that I will hang in my sewing room for myself to enjoy.

My stems and flowers on the end of each stem are pinned down.  I am amazed how quickly the hand sewing is going,  It is so relaxing.  I really wish I had this project when we drove from Minnesota to California.  This would have really passed the time.

Dresden Plate

I have been reading blogs for the last year and a lot of quilters were making quilts, wall hangings and table runners out the the Dresden Plate block.  I decided that I was going to make a wall hanging.  I love the color olive green and my living room, hallway and entry way are now olive green.  So this would explain my choice of the center circle of the Dresden Plate.

I know have to get it quilted and then I can hang it.

Finally got the bug

I finally got the bug to quilt.  I didn't think it was going to happen.  Thank God it's back.

My two nieces who are sisters are getting married, one in May and the other in September.  Sarah who is getting married in May is a very conservative young woman.  Her quilt was not a hard one to decide on until I went to the fabric store.  I had it all planned out got to the store gathered all my fabric and headed towards the back of the store to check out the thread and there it was.  At that point everything I had decided on was now the past.  The manager of the store was standing there and gave me her copy of the pattern (which you can download for free) so I could gather all my fabric for the new pattern.  I finished the top yesterday and here it is.

 This was a fun quilt to make but a lot of wasted fabric with the flying geese.  She is really into the blues and browns so I know she is going to love it.

Emily is more of a old hippy even thou she is only 30 years old.  She is a director of a opera place in Boulder CO which is where they are getting married up in the mountains.  I really hope this is a trip I will be able to make it to.  The quilt I have decided on for her is seeing squares which you can find here.



She is going to love this quilt.  I am really looking forward to going and gathering all the fabrics so I can get started on this one.

It's been a long time

 I can't believe that it has been so long since I have blogged or sewn.

Jan 3rd Mike and I flew to Phoenix to hang out with our friends that have chosen to move there to get away from the snow and cold.  I don't understand 2 days ago we ONLY got 17" of snow in a 24 hour period.  Whats wrong with that?  I have to say I really missed Phoenix when we were clearing our driveway yesterday. 

 I remember one time telling my Mom if I was able to retire I would sew every day.  Well I was laid off on November 24 until April 1st and I have not yet spent more than 2 days in a row sewing and that was because Pat was here for a weekend to sew.  This past Sunday while it was snowing I spent time straightening things up and stood down there looking at what I could start next.  I feel very lost and not knowing what to do.  I guess this is what happens when you step away from sewing for 7 weeks.

While in Phoenix my friend, Karen, was having me show her how to do some different quilts and rotary cutting.  She has such a hard time cutting straight but the sewing a straight seam has gotten better.  I bought her this magnet at the fabric store that attaches to her machine and that way she can keep her fabric straight.  She also has a hard time finishing projects so I helped her finish 2 and brought 1 home to quilt.

Her porch has a room that she has all her sewing stuff setup in.  If I could sit outside and sew I sure would be doing it.

This is Patty's house that we stay at when in Phoenix.  She does not heat her pool so when we are there in January and February the water is cold.  I love just sitting out on her deck enjoying the view.

We left Phoenix on January 15th and boy was it cold when we got home.  We got in about midnight and it was 13 below zero.  What a shock that was and we didn't have coats of course.


On January 27 we got in my boss's car with his 2 dogs and drove to Santa Monica.  It has been a few years since our dog died so I'm not use to getting up in the morning and taking a dog out the first thing in the morning. 

It took us 3-1/2 days to get there and boy was that long drive but worth every mile.  We stayed with Stevie a whole week and right off his deck you can see the Santa Monica Pier.  I could get so use to that.  To wake up and sit outside and hear the ocean is an experience that I think everyone should get to have once in a life time.

Stevie took us to the old downtown L.A. and boy is there a lot of history.  We also went to the train station which is something we don't have in Minnesota.  The tile work and wood work was so unbelievable.  Reminded me a lot of quilt blocks.

While down on the 3rd Street Promenade we came across this store and this is what the outside walls of the store looked like.  Some of the pictures are hard to see but I hope you get the idea of what it looked like.  My Mom has a treadle machine that has been converted to electric, we are talking about trying to put it back to a treadle machine.

This machine was inside the store.  One of the salesman came up and asked me not take any pictures.  He thought I was taking pictures of the cloths and I had to explain to him my love for the different sewing machines.  He said go for it.

This weekend is hopefully when I get those creative juices flowing again.

Another Year

I am so thankful that Raychel made it thru this year as well as she did.  Raychel is the on on the far left and this picture was taken on May, 2009.  At this point we were just living day by day with her and not knowing what the next day was going to hand us.  Mel is the one in the middle and on this day she brought Raychel a protein drink made by Bolthouse and it was at that point that Raychel started living again.  She had been living with a feeding tube that was not working and once she started drinking the protein shakes she started putting on weight, her hair started growing back and her skin was becoming not so thin.

This picture was taken on Saturday, December 25, 2010.  Raychel is the one in the black and white checked shirt.  I believe in miracles!

Raychel came over on Friday morning and stayed with Mike and I until yesterday afternoon.  Now Mike and I have gotten very accustomed to just it being us and we enjoy the quiet in the evening.  Well Raychel is not a quite person and we were so happy to drop her off at home yesterday but then I reminded Mike that we are very thankful that she can be loud and annoying at times. 
I am very excited to see what  2011 brings.

Retired?

 

I’m not sure about this being home on unemployment.  I am laid off until April 1st and not sure what people do all day long.  I understand Mom or Dad’s that stay home with their kids but Mike and I don’t’ have kids at home anymore.  Mike’s work is seasonal but in the winter he does work off and on so we are together all day.  He is working for Donny and Marie Osmond for a few days the end of this month so I will have a few days alone.  I love my husband dearly but not sure if I could live the retired life right now, I think I am a little young to be sitting home.

 

I have been sewing.  I had 4 quilts that needed to be quilted.

            

This quilt I am doing for myself.  I always wonder how many quilters keep their quilts for themselves or give them away.  I usually give them away but seems like I have given so many away that I don’t know who to give anymore to.

 

   

I had all these flannel hst left from another quilt (I always cut way to many) and when I got laid off I made a commitment to myself that I would use what I have.  I put this quilt together for Taylor and did not have any flannel for the backing but did have some bright green polar fleece.  It turned out perfect and is so soft.  She loves blankets/quilts of any kind so I know she will love it.

 

    

This is my sister in law, Pat, who just had surgery for ovarian cancer.  She came in last week for 4 days and we had such a great time.  She does a quilt for each of her nephews and nieces that graduate from high school.  Her Mom use to do it but since her Mom’s arthritis has gotten so bad Pat does them now.  Her Mom buys the fabric and the pattern and Pat buys the batting and backing and does the piecing.  Sometimes the fabric her Mom buys is not the best quality and will stretch when you don’t want it to but she makes it work.  We could not find a backing for this quilt in cotton and then we came across this flannel and it was perfect. 

We made it thru all 3 days and on the 4th day she said something about the doctor saying she had 1 to 3 years and I lost it.  I know I am getting older and so are my friends and family but it does not matter how old you or your loved ones it still is not fair.  Her oncologist seems to be more optimistic so I’m going with his opinion.

Huge day tomorrow, Pat is coming into town for a 2 day sewathon.  This is where we pretty much stay in our pj's and Mike makes us dinner and cleans up after us.  I can't wait.  I got 3 quilts quilted last week so I will get the binding sewn on and then will do the hand sewing.  I am so excited.