Free-motion and Facing

Last Fall I played with some free-motion stitching. I stitched out the doorway and then attached it to the NYC skyline piece of fabric that was a leftover from a purse project and then free-motion stitched that.

It's been waiting around patiently 'til I had the time and reason for finishing it into something. Well, I've been wanting to try my hand at using a facing for the back of wallhangings and now that I've completed the big 'Re-Organization' the doorway to NYC found it's way to the top of the pile and was perfect for my facing attempt.

For the backing I used a fat quarter Hoffman Challenge sent me, and a cabbage fat quarter for the facing. [Perhaps the cabbage thought they'd land up kraut before I got around to using it.]

I like the way it turned out. Really quick and simple.

Sock Fest

The quartet of sox were knitted on my blue round loom. They are all in the same stage - - ready to close up the toe to the body of the sock.

I didn't like the way the instructions for this particular sox pattern closed the opening, so I unfinished them and found my very old directions on weaving. However, these directions will take some concentration and the past several evenings we've been listening to audiobook mysteries and they've taken my concentration.

The 'weaving' instructions were from a knitting class I took at a Sears store sometime in the sixties. You know it was some time ago when Sears sold fabric and yarn. The lone sock on the circular knitting needle is a project begun right around the same time. It doesn't look like it'll every be one of a pair. Sad, but true.

Renee will be at the Alaska Fiber Festival this Spring. The Festival is to be held in Anchorage. Is this gal going to be wide-traveler by the time she comes home to mid-Missouri.

My drawstring bag purse, Mid-Summer's Bloom, will be on display in Dade City, Florida at the Pioneer Museum this coming weekend. And then off to Tampa to be in the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo toward the end of February. The second weekend of March it'll be in the Atlanta Original Sewing and Quilt Expo.

I just attempted to 'Spell Check' this, however, doesn't appear Google is in the mood. So hope I caught my typos.

Miss Millie's Mystery Quilt

At long last, I can show off the mystery quilt that several of us tested prior to publication. The third and final part was published at the first of the month and this month's Thimbleberries Club was just the place to show it. Several of us brought our test quilts and we had a grand showing.

My first mystery quilt and I truly enjoyed the process as well as the finished project.

I tried to pick contrasting values so as to show off the design. I love the colors and just had to add the raw edge appliqué flowers and leaves. I love this throw and use it all the time. Thought it would be worn out by the time I got to show it.

Organizing

I'm happy to say that the project is just about finished ! ! !

The dining room/sewing area is still presentable - no overwhelming stacks of fabric or notions. Though I've not been doing much sewing, just a tad.

The 'Stash Room' is boxed and labeled. I couldn't think with all the clutter. So with many trips to Staples my stash is now boxed according to color, labeled clearly and placed on shelves in some kind of order. UFO's in one area, Orphans in another, Floral, Novelty, Geometrics and on and on are all neat and tidy. The obvious colors are placed on the shelves in 'color-wheel' order and easy to get to.

I can walk in the Stash Room door and not have to step over or move things to get access to my stash.

I'm a happy gal.

I enjoy hearing from all of you and am inspired to get down to the business of actually doing projects.

Since I will be doing a Doll Making Program at our Thimbleberries Club, I decided a couple of new gals to add to the mix is just the thing for my newest project. Just last night I was given some lovely violet lace [nice skirt for one of the new gals] as well as some interesting semi-vintage blanket binding that will do nicely for a dress or two. Can't wait.

Photos will be posted sometime this week so that you can see all that I've accomplished :)

Thimbleberries, too

This is the last of the four tabletoppers made the Cotton Theory method. At least for now.

This method is a pretty neat way to quilt-as-you-go. Works well for small projects now I'll have to plan a larger project, perhaps a throw, to see how it goes.

Love to explore all the ways of quilt-as-you-go! !

Am continuing to organize my 'stash/pressing' room, can at least walk from one side of the room to the other. The storage boxes have really made the room look organized, not as colorful as having all the fabric out, but at least more co-ordinated looking. Will post a pic before too long [that means just as soon as I work down to the top of my pressing board.

Butterflies and Surface Embellishment

After I free-motion stitched around the butterfiles in the center rectangle and the two border pieces, I turned the pieces over and saw that the yellow with the varigated thread were too stark. So I grated crayons onto each the yellow side of each piece. Then heat-set them by pressing with a hot iron several times. I kept the grated crayons off my pressboard pad by using parchment paper both beneath and atop the quilted pieces.

The tabletopper should be able to be laundered a number of times before there is any sign of fading.

I love the bright colors of this one!

Quilt-As-You-Go Tabletopper

The center of this topper I did free-motion stitching around the flowers then more or less straight stitching on the rectangles.

Cotton Theory Class

This is the tabletopper I made in class.
It's a fun, quick project that can be made from scrap fabric, as well as, scrap batt. Since this pattern uses 3.5" strips of fabric and and 1.5" strips of batt, I was able to use a number of pieces from my pieces stash.

Retro

Look what my wonderful d-i-l sent me for Christmas ! ! ! ! !

Don't you just love it? I've never seen another! It just called out to her on one of her 'antique-ing trips. I'm so lucky that she listened.

Something New

My sister-in-law and I had a nice telephone visit Christmas day. She told me that when she and my brother were under mandatory evacuation from their mountain home this past month due to the wild fires in the Big Bear area there was little enough time to grab the dogs and flee. As they were waiting to hear daily/hourly whether they had a home to return to or not she found that time was on her hands. She went to Jo-Ann's and discovered Round Loom knitting.She went to town keeping her hands busy [and perhaps her mind somewhat occupied] while making one project after another. In fact, she made of number that were given as gifts at Christmas.Well, needless to say, I was intrigued enough to go to the Internet and Google round loom knitting and found a whole 'nother world on the net.Day after Christmas I went to Jo-Ann's and have been busy trying my hand at this new knitting method.Wait, wait, I know - - - - we all know about spool knitting that we did as kids so the method is 'new'. It's just that I'd never heard about this round loom knitting. Also found square and rectangular looms also.Here are my first attempts.

Ted E and his pal waiting to go deer hunting in their new hats ! ! ! Wouldn't want to mistake one of these guys for a deer.

Here's a work in progress from the working side of the loom.

And the reverse of the loom and the 'right side' of the project showing the hem/brim.

Can't wait to wear it ! ! !

Four Autumn Gals

Here they are gathered 'round their cousin Trudi!

Meet Autumn, Autumn Rose, Autumn Dawn and Autumn Joy.

Autumn Rose is stay with her cousin who lives in the Columbia area. She and cousin will have all kinds of catching up to fill their hours.

Busy Time

Gee, we had a bit of an ICE STORM here in mid-Missouri. Trees were overburdened being encased with ice.





Here's one of the reason's we're just a little bit behind

Yep, down they came. Many branches in the neighboring yards were cracking and falling. Luckily only one tree came down to do us damage.

Here you can see it acorss of storage shed - however, the worse news is that it took down all the utility wires/cables to the house.

The neighborhood had been without power since about five a.m. Sunday and the tree came crashing down about ten o'clock or so.

We were lucky to get a motel room Sunday afternoon - hotels were filling up with not only people from Jeff City but with utility workers from afar who would be working here to re-store power.

Ron was able to co-ordinate the electrician [to re-install a pipe on the house to receive power from the utility pole] and the tree trimmers to remove the tree from the storage shed/driveway and downed power lines and ensuring us a place to sleep until power was restored to the neighborhood.

What a time it was!

So, here it is Christmas Eve. Time for Family.

Straightening for the Season

Here it is - - - - our dining room, again.

It's been a long time since we've been able to enjoy it.

Cleared away all traces of sewing, dollmaking, etc., so that we could have a nice Thanksgiving dinner at the dining room table.

We all enjoyed seeing the room as it was intended.

Here's were the real work was done ! ! ! Yes, I did ! ! !

Color Wheel Comments

In response to my Color Theory class post, a 'stash' is the collection of fabric that we quilters seem to accumulate on a regular basis. It is composed of both fat quarters and yardage. {Fat Quarter being an 18" x 22" cut of fabric.}

An interesting use of the color wheel that I learned was using the 'Grey Scale' when selecting colors. The grey scale uses ten steps from pure black to white. One approach is to use colors at least two steps away from each other. As the saying goes: "Color gets the credit while value does the work!".

Color Theory Class

Attended Juanita's class on color theory using the color wheel. While it was a long afternoon, I feel more comfortable in my knowledge of the color wheel and was able, at the end of the day, to bring home a handful of fat quarters that make up the combinations for my chosen color . . . red-violet. That is, the complimentary color, the colors for a split complimentary and for a triad combination.

The group yesterday was composed of six students - two weren't quilters at all, but rather machine embroiders and were interested in color. Two of the gals traveled from the Kirksville area and had a two-hour drive each way. Two of us came from Jeff.

We didn't have the time to use our machines at all we chose to have Juanita answer all our questions and help with our color choices. What a day ! !

Am looking forward to her next class - surface design ! ! ! ! ! Should be a blast of an afternoon.

With my new-found knowledge, I'm thinking of arranging my stash according to the color wheel. At least a good exercise for my brain, if not for the appearance of my stash.

Haven't made too many dolls at all lately and feel the need. So am also in the process of putting together four little dolls. They're gals with an autumn theme.

Grand Yellow Flower

Here's my first art quilt wallhanging since taking Juanita Yeager's Grand Flower workshop last month.

Ron and I hung it in the livingroom where we can gaze upon it often. It really does brighten the room. I love it and am ready to make another.

I've a couple of leaves [rejects from this project] that I can audition for my next Grand Flower.

And, the 'Winter Trees' free-motion quilted project from Juanita's workshop Tuesday is well on it's way to completion. Just have to finish the facing and sleeve. Then, where to hang it - - -

Autumn is Approaching

and our sedum is looking great. The butterflies and bees are attracted to the blossoms and stay throughout the day.

Even the leaves are looking great. Here's one with the quilted background of my next flower wallhanging.

I've signed up for a couple more classes with Juanita Yeager and am eager to get started.

Certainly Applies

It says it all, doesn't it?
The gift from Quiltin' Chicks Social Thursday evening, it's from my Secret Santa Chick.

I must have been very good

Our quilting Social, known as The Quiltin’ Chicks, are doing a Secret Santa gift exchange this year.
Last evening I received two really great gifts.
The ‘Santa’ who gave me a set of bead containers must have been peeking into my Hot Fix Crystal Box to see that I’ve been storing my crystals in Sucrets and Altoid tins.
Today I put my ‘stash’ of crystals into the new tins.

Now I can see my entire collection at a glance.

As you can see my stash is a beginners stash. I can see now that I’ll have to print 40% Off coupons from the Hobby Lobby website every other week so that I can afford to fill a few more tins.
Thanks to the thoughtful ‘Chick’ who gave me these wonderful tins.

It's Do-able

Just saw the Hoffman 2008 Challenge Fabric at this url:

http://www.hoffmanchallenge.com

It's do-able!!! unlike the 2007 Challenge Fabric that was very hard for me to work with.

Now to get my hands on some. Next time I get to Columbia I'll be certain to stop in at Appletree Quilting. Yahoo ! ! !

Still no sign of that traveling gal - Benita
nor, is there sign of this year's non-traveling purses. Patience ! ! !