Hello Blog Friends,
Here is a little show and tell for you. But first, of course, it starts with a story...Denis and I were out rummage sale-ing last summer just south of Green Bay. I happened upon a sale of all quilting stuff! The entire garage was full. It seems the lady who owned it all passed away, and her daughter was trying to liquidate some of it. The lady also worked at a local quilt shop in Green Bay, so there were a lot of kits, some started, some not. I picked up one of those kits, a series of 12 blocks, a BOM project for an entire year.
The project was a study in using special rulers...easy angle, companion angle, and tri-recs. I inherited the easy angle from my mom, and borrowed the rest from my quilting friend, Cathy. Each block was a different pattern, and some seemed to build on lessons learned in previous blocks.
The blocks all used the same background fabric. Instructions for cutting weren't always clear, and I made a couple of mistakes. Because the fabrics included were barely large enough for pieces needed, I had to substitute from my own stash here and there. All in all, I think they turned out OK.
I intend to set these blocks on point in a very unique and fun setting (from a book lent to me by Cathy). The setting uses 11 blocks, which is a good thing. The last block I tried was the most intricate, and developed issues when I tried to sew the sub-units together. I don't know if I cut wrong or sewed wrong, all I know is that the result was wrong. After ripping and re-sewing three times with no success, I gave up, threw it in the trash, cut losses and moved on.
Here are some of the blocks that did work out OK:
I feel bad about not even knowing my benefactor's name. And so, I've named her Mary. And this will henceforth be known as Mary's quilt.
I have my next project on deck...a modern wall-art piece, quite unlike what I usually make. But, I saw the sample in the quilt shop and loved it. We'll see how it turns out. Till next time...
Hello Blog Friends,
Well, my sewing machine is still lonely, but I'm finally caught up around the house enough to get back to it this week. I will definitely have a sewing report for you next post.
What have I been doing, you ask? Well, I've been trying to manage the eBay listings I have online right now. I'm selling various and sundry, odds and ends, old and new. Just downsizing. So far, I'm doing fairly well. It is a time consuming process, however...choose the item, research the item, photograph the item, create the listing, ship it when it sells. Then, there is the paperwork and sales records to maintain. On average I make a trip to the post office once a day or so.
I have been crafting a little, tho. A welcome respite from all the eBay work. We had our regular monthly scrapbooking class. We made pages using Close to My Heart's Little Dreamer paper packet and accessories. Here are the finished pages, ready for photos:
So this couple of hours of crafting has gotten my creative juices flowing again. The eBay listings can now take care of themselves for awhile. Susan needs to get crafting again!!
Til next post...
Hello Blog Friends,
My poor sewing machine is lonely. It has been more than a month since I've visited it, yet it stands ready to work for me! April was a heck of a busy month!
Influenza. Even though I dutifully get a flu shot every fall, I still got the Influenza at the beginning of the month. Which really annoyed the heck out of me! And we all know that sewing and 101 degree fever do not mix.
House Painting. Just as I was recovering from the flu, the inside of our house was painted. That meant moving furniture around, and although my craft room was not painted, it became a storage room for various and sundry furniture pieces. I literally had no access to my poor sewing machine.
Spring Cleaning/Rummage Sale. Our neighborhood rummage sale was just this past weekend, and we all know how much prep work is needed for that! I've also been going through closets and cupboards and doing some major downsizing. Here was our setup for the sale.
Scrapping Retreat. Several weeks ago I was at a nice scrapbooking retreat just outside of Crivitz. Here's my set up there:
I was able to finish the book from our Key West vacation in Dec. 2015, and also get caught up on an ongoing book of the plays and concerts that we see. It was a productive weekend. Here are some of my favorite pages from the KW book:
So, you see, I haven't just been sitting around sipping wine or eating bon-bons all day. I've been busy, busy everyday, so much so that I don't know where the time goes. Thank goodness I'm retired now...I don't have time to work outside the home!!
So, dear sewing machine, my plan is to come back to you beginning this week. I have quilts to make and still have those UFOs to finish up. Hang in there, I'll see you in a day or so!
And, I hope to have sewing news updates for all of you blog readers next post. Till then...
