A LITTLE HELP FROM A FRIEND

You know, sometimes you get overwhelmed with all the sewing, especially the UFO's that have piled up. So I decided to get really serious about this and call in a little help.  What I decided to do was a little unconventional and took some special training but sure gets the job done. Maybe you can do the same, if you have the nerve....are you ready for it.......click HERE

YESTERDAY~~ALMOST FINISHED

We have a trunk--old military issue foot locker--that we use for a coffee table. I've always covered it with a pretty rug I bought some time ago.  When the temperature dropped down to near zero and I had to do dishes because one could no longer see the sink, I found the floor in the kitchen unbearably cold for my toesies. I commandeered the rug from the coffee table.  Of course that meant I had to make a quilt for the coffee table. I've been wanting to try this raw edge-quilt as you go method. I also have quite a bit of checked/gingham fabric that I like but in small doses. Here's how it turned out...

Wouldn't this method make an adorable baby quilt or a Easter/Springtime table runner?  I may do a little free motion quilting on it yet, but not sure.  Some of the pieces are a bit ravelly and I may decide to anchor them down a bit more. On the other hand, since it is staying here at home, I may leave it as is just to test how well it stands up to use. Here's the back. It is a brighter green check than the pic indicates. Yes, you may notice some pins...it's all done but the final hand-stitching down of the pieced-from-leftover-scraps binding.  Don't you love the pattern created by the stitching? I should have smoothed it out before taking the pic, but....

I'll probably finish it up this afternoon while watching GlobeTrekker on PBS.  We're supposed to be getting more snow so I probably will stick it out here at home.  I've sure been using the weather as an excuse to stay home lately. I really like the comfort of my home, the occasional company of my hubby, the playful visits of my cat and the abundance of my sewing and crafting supply.
Happy Sunday, everyone.  Leave a comment...I would love to hear from you.

Uhhhhhhh....

Can you believe I don't have anything to say right now? What's up with that?

REWARD

Since I have joined Stashbusters I am learning to be more disciplined about finishing things. I signed up for the UFO challenge where you list your UFO's and pay a FQ penalty if you get "caught" not keeping up with the challenge.  It is a really fun way to be motivated. I finished 16 UFO's in the 6 monthes that I belonged last year, which I thought was pretty good (to be fair, some were small) but I still have about 30 found UFO's to start 2011. (Could there be some still lurking in totes or drawers yet to be unearthed?)  I find that after I finish a UFO, rewarding myself with a new project is very satisfying. It is like a double blessing...the UFO is finished and I have a new project to work on. Well, glory be, I finished 2 UFO's this week.  Both are raggy quilts that will be donated to my church for their free Clothing Boutique. Made totally from recycle jeans and flannel shirts.  These are fun and go quick but I get bored with them because I have made a few, quite a few.  I wish I had kept track. 

Anyway, these two are finshed and crossed off the challenge list! YAY!!! That means I get a reward of starting something new.  I had already done one heart block with some pretty black and lilac fabric squares left from another project so dug into my scraps for some more lavendar and purple and came up with this.

It is a table runner.  Click on the pic to see it a little better. The purple around the two lighter squares is not as blue as it appears in the pic. I do wish I had done just a tad darker heart in the block on the far right. It just seems a bit unbalanced color wise.  I had wanted to try the twisted border and found I really like it. Very easy treatment to set those blocks off.  I plan to do that treatment  with some dark solid fabrics for the borders on some crumb blocks I have already that is another UFO. But this one was a start to finish job. Whoopee!!! Love it when it is finished before I've moved on to something else.  I did a wrapped backing binding on it creating a wide border all round that matches the back. (Actually, it is part of the back.) I machine stitched it down with a decorative stitch and machine meandered for the quilting. Now what to name this little sweetheart? I thought of Purple Passion, Lavender Love or Topsy Turvy Hearts.  What think ye?

I need to be working on my daughter's T-shirt quilt but unfortunately I have hidden from myself about half of her t-shirts.  I have an idea where they are but if I'm right, it would take the five days to find them. Oh well, cash is always an appropriate birthday gift for that child...five days and my baby will be 30.  Siggggghhhhhh!

AN INCONVENIENCE

There isn't much I can say about this...I think you should just watch it...Just an Inconvenience.

CLEAR AND CLEAN IS GOOD

You'll be glad to know I showered yesterday and got dressed. Two pajama days in a row would not be healthy! I cleared a tote full of selvages by flinging them

 to another quilter and freed the tote so I could use it for the plaid strings I'm finding to start my JulieK quilt. I had thought I would do something with those selvages cause the things they make with them are adorable but I just have to narrow up some of my things both in supplies and in focus.  These were some really nice selvages and they should be put to use not sitting in a tote that I have to move off my cutting table every day. They are on their way now to their destiny.  I also planned a couple of strip quilts as I was sorting more fabric and some of them just comboed (is that a word?) up like lovesick teenagers. I also found a few larger pieces that can be used for backings...that is a really good thing. I often get stalled on a quilt at the backing stage.

I am reading Susan Boyle's autobiography "The Woman I Was Born to Be"  It's a pretty good read so far.  She has a wit and humor about her that I wasn't expecting. I'm also reading former Attorney General John Ashcroft's book "Never Again" It is really good...inside details about 9/11 and the follow up. Two books at a time is not my norm. I started the Ashcroft book which is my husband's personal copy, when the library notified me Ms Boyle's book was available. Since it is on request status, one only has a limitted time to read it so I set aside the Attorney General's book. I'm sure he will understand the legality of it and forgive me.

I need to run the vacuum. Hunter green carpet is lovely when swept but really not a good choice for one who sews.  Have a great weekend y'all...

JUST DOING MY THING

Yesterday was a pajama day...I didn't get dressed,  I didn't answer the phone...I spent the whole day working on scrap busting and organizing the sewing room.  I am making such good progress in there. I need one more shelf to put my mini fabric bolts on. Someone in one of my groups mentioned she stores her FQs on a CD rack. I happen to have a wooden one in the yard sale pile.  I think if I remove a couple of the shelves to give me height between them, it will work great for my mini bolts.  I love the look of these little bolts standing together so I can see my fabric prints and colors. As I am organizing, I am seeing fabrics coming together for future quilts. 


I washed 3 loads of fabric that a friend had given me from her mother's estate and got it all organized. The coolest thing was there was fabric there from the late 70's that matches a UFO quilt that I need to replace a stained  block in...just toooo cool that it matches and I'll be able to finally finish this quilt!  It has lots of memory fabrics in it and I think my oldest daughter will appreciate it.


I also cut a few strings for a plaid quilt I want to do. Here's a pic over at Julie K's of her luscious rendition.  Doesn't that just make you want to snuggle up in it? 


My RRCB mystery center is complete and the final clue was posted this morning. You can see Bonnie Hunter's here .  Mine will have to wait for the border treatments a bit though, as I have a Birthday Quilt that has to be done in the next couple of weeks. I can probaly work on the pieced border for RRCB as leaders and enders for this quilt, though. I'm looking forward to it as it will be my first T-shirt quilt and should be a real surprise for my youngest daughter.  I'm sure she has no idea that I have kept all her shirts.


I better check my messages. A friend made some tamales and has a half dozen ready for me. Yummy!


Later......

2011 Handmade Pay It Forward

2011 Handmade Pay It Forward


Here is how it works:

I promise to send something handmade to the FIRST 5 people who leave a comment here.

However, to be eligible, you must repost this message, offering something handmade to 5 other people.

The rules are that it must be handmade by you, and it must be sent to your 5 giftees sometime in 2011.
Isn't this a great way to share with others.  So leave me a comment, repost the Pay It Forward and commit to gifting your first 5 commenters.
Here we go!

THANKS 2010, HELLO 2011

In 2010 I learned to relax. I learned that 90% of what I was doing didn't amount to a hill of beans. I learned that most of what I worried about was ill concieved imaginings.  I learned I didn't have to answer the telephone or the door! I learned that man - (as in humankind) - pleasing is a waste of time. I learned relationship is more profitable than religion and I learned that Hope and Truth is all there really is...the rest is a distracting lie.  2011 is going to be AWESOME and INCREDIBLE!


HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE !!!