Tuesday, October 31, 2017

EEEEKKKKK NOT SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS

I just finished up by Blue Dahlia quilt handwork on the binding and  discovered a mishap.  
Yes, that is damage!  The quilting was done around the appliqués, but somehow there was a slip up and some stitching went onto this appliqué and the fabric was damaged when the stitches were removed.  I hemmed and hawed about wether to remove it and finally decided I could not live with it.  Fortunately the appliqué could be removed and I had just enough fabric left to do a new one.  I had originally appliquéd them on with invisible thread using a hem stitch.  So I can do that or hand appliqué the new one on with invisible thread.  

So there is where I pulled it off.  It will be pretty easy to remember where it goes for sure and exactly the placement.  It took me a little time to find the pattern, thank goodness I kept that magazine.  Frankly I even considered making this quilt crisis a design element, but I guess it is off to fix this EEEEEKKKKK! 
It is a finish, but not a very happy one at the moment.

STAR DONE AND A NEW RUNNER IN PROGRESS

I finally finished my Amish Star and it is up on the wall for the fall holiday season. 
 I decided to hang it in my kitchen area.  The original plan was for the from door, but I didn't want the weather to damage it.  Now it is on to a new spring runner either for myself or as a gift. 
 I love this new Mode fabric line by Annie Brady called Big Sky.  I ended up buying two charm packs of it and only a half yard of the lattice and binding.  I have a new idea for quilting it so I'm anxious to try that out this week.  

Friday, October 27, 2017

AMISH STAR AND A NEW FALL WALL HANGING

We have been involved in the project of pulling carpet out of our master bedroom and having laminate flooring installed, as well as new floors in two bathrooms.  It has really cut into my sewing time.  However, for the most part the project is complete and I can get back to doing some serious time in my sewing studio.  
We took this photo while on our trip to the East Coast in Amish country.  Too big to get in a suitcase or carry on a plane.  So hubby said he would make me one.  
We purchased some wood at a local lumber outlet cut the pieces 18 inches long and I brushed some white paint on it and some stain on top of that.  
We laid it out in the proper design.  We did try hot glue, which really did not hold well.
A staple gun applied to the back worked really well.  Hubby has a tool stash that easily out does my fabric stash.  Not to mention he is very handy around the house with all sorts of projects.  It still needs its bow and other decor but should be on the front door by the end of this weekend.  
Amongst all this home remodel painting, floors, and putting the house back to straights I did take a few moments to regain my sanity by pulling some batiks for a new project.  There is nothing like a new project to calm frazzled nerves.  
Row one helped put things back into prospective, made me feel like soon things might get back to normal.  
Adding a second row did really finally have me deciding that life will return to normal and in the next week or so several more rows will follow.  Nothing is finished around here, including the Amish Star or my new fall wall hanging, but Finish It Up Friday is here and so am I.  

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

OCTOBER QUILT ALONG AND MUG RUGS

After returning from a ten day trip to the East Coast I came home to  the continued remodeling of our master bedroom and bathroom.  Needless to say the studio time was severely cut short.  I finally was able to take a couple hours last Friday and Sunday to get away from it all and spend some quality time sewing.
This little helper missed me and painting and work crews make her a nervous wreak.  I had her pretty much attached to my side for the last week.  If she can't lay on my projects then she is on my lap while I sew.  
I finally was able to get her to exit the area and get a photo of my October Fat Quarter Quilt Along blocks.  Only two more months to go. 
While also doing some clean up after the Spicy Spiral runner I found a few left overs and decided to make a couple new mug rugs for our living room end tables.  These 12 by 12 inch mug rugs are a little bigger than the normal size, but they are so nice.  I made some  earlier last month to coordinate with our new bed quilt.  We liked them so much better than the smaller size that the living room got a bit of a mini face lift too.

Friday, October 20, 2017

AMISH COUNTRY

On our trip to the Eastern Coast we stopped in Lancaster, PA.  I was hoping to see Amish quilts.  The country is lovely, wonderful Amish farms.  However we found so many of the established areas there were very commercialized.  We stopped into two posted Amish quilt stores while there.  
These quilts were for sale and lovely, and also beautifully constructed.  Not what one would believe to be Amish style.  However the one small wall hanging on the right was more of what one might think of as their style.  




The quilt on the bed was lovely.  These were obviously made to be extra income for Amish families.  Prices ranged from $850 to well into the high $2000's and even $3,000's.  Reminds all of us quilters that our workmanship is worth more than we realize.  
Now this little star item really caught my eye.  I wanted one to take home.  However, it would not fit into a suitcase, and I am fairly sure the airlines would not appreciate my getting on with it and storing it in the crowded overheads.  We took a picture of it.  My very handy husband says he will make me one any size I want.  He says he has some old scrap lumber pieces stored on the side of the house and the cloth bow and twigs are an easy stash item and JoAnn's has the twigs.  I just know it will look great on my front door.  
   

Sunday, October 15, 2017

HOME WITH A FEW QUILT IDEAS

I have been off for almost two weeks to the east coast on a Revolutionary and Civil War tour.  Along the way I found some quilts, of course.  
The baby quilt was photographed in the Smithsonian Museum of American History.  A reproduction of the original.  I spied several pretty close reproductions of fabrics I have had in my stash too.  




In a shop in Charlottesville, Virginia we saw several really nice quilts on display. 

Plus many really nice quilts for sale.  Next we will be off to Amish country.  With some additional pictures of quilts we saw there.  

Friday, October 6, 2017

TAKING A TWO WEEK BREAK

I will be taking a break for the next two weeks.  Hubby and I are doing some traveling to Washington DC, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.  Hopefully being able to take in some Amish quilt shops along with other historical sites.  We expect to be back by the 14th of this month. 
These guys aren't very happy about this.  As you can see there seems to be some shock and concern on their part.  However, their favorite dog and house sitters are coming to stay with them and spoil them rotten, and bring with them their favorite doggie pal to play with.  I am sure I will be able to share some great photos when we return and maybe even a few Amish quilt photos or goodies.  

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

SPICY SPIRAL

I took a class on Saturday the 30th of September for a table runner called Spicy Spiral, put out by School House Quilts.  It was a lot of fun, particularly as this is a very interesting pattern and different from the average table runner.  
Yes it looks pretty complicated, however, it really wasn't.  There is some good accurate and organized cutting and stacking of pieces one has to do, but after that it goes together really easily.  
I still have to round off the sides and either pillow case it or bind it, which I have not decided on as of yet.  The pattern calls for pillow casing it, but I also think a nice bias binding would work well too.  I plan to quilt it down each color way with a serpentine quilting stitch.  The finished size is 42 by 25, and will look fabulous on my dining room table.