I finished some more Dear Jane blocks...I think I'll redo block A-3...hopefully better! I'm having a lot of fun doing these blocks...my applique skills should be much better by the time the quilt top is finished...lol.
3 hours ago
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Dear Jane Blocks
I finished some more Dear Jane blocks...I think I'll redo block A-3...hopefully better! I'm having a lot of fun doing these blocks...my applique skills should be much better by the time the quilt top is finished...lol.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Runner & Dear Jane blocks
I ripped out the first (green) block...TWICE! I guess I can live with it now. Block #2 came out pretty well, if I do say so myself...lol.
The runner is quilted and bound and I appliqued some of the flowers on it. Melissa (DD#2) came today and likes it, so it now has a new home...lol!
The runner is quilted and bound and I appliqued some of the flowers on it. Melissa (DD#2) came today and likes it, so it now has a new home...lol!
Friday, February 22, 2008
I've Been Tagged!
I have never been tagged before! I was tagged by Tracy at Tis the Gift to list 7 weird or random things about me... Here are the rules.
THE RULES:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.
Here we go...
1. Russ is my THIRD husband...and we have been married for 32 years. My friend set us up on a blind date...and I was hooked! He has been a great husband, father and now grandfather...my best friend.
2. Our children (there are 5) live all over. Sandy Lee is married (20 yrs) to a retired Navy Senior Chief and lives in Lakeside CA; Jimmy is married (20 yrs) and lives in Japan (active duty Master Chief (Navy); Melissa is married (14 yrs) to a minister and lives in Tacoma, WA; Doug is newly married (2 yrs) and lives in Seabeck WA; and Jesseca is married (13 yrs) and lives in Middletown OH.
3. Every summer, when I was a child, my Aunts and Uncles would rent several camp sites at Lake Berryessa and we kids would just stay up there most of the summer. We stayed with whoever was there and our parents would come up for the weekends and then their vacations. What a great way to spend the summers!!
4. I was in a car accident in 1981 in Port Hueneme CA. I suffered a fairly severe concussion and it took a couple of years for me to come back completely. I now am disabled because the concussion has now caused me to have stability problems (I fall over) and if I am tired or stressed, I (once again) am partially aphasic and have serious problems thinking straight. Sometimes I cannot, for the life of me, think how to put together a quilt block I have been working on for some time.
5. I used to read a book a week, but now it takes me a couple of months to get through a paperback book.
6. We live in WA State on 2 1/2 acres with our 3 dogs, 2 cats and assorted chickens. Our home is a retirement home for all animals...even the chickens die of old age. LOL! All animals on our property are protected!
7. I am a FABRICOLIC! I love all fabrics and love to collect them for my stash. I have been working on using my stash and have actually been doing pretty well with it.
Now I tag...
Deb..Tazzie..Lynda..Andrea..MsJan..Judy..Mare
THE RULES:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.
Here we go...
1. Russ is my THIRD husband...and we have been married for 32 years. My friend set us up on a blind date...and I was hooked! He has been a great husband, father and now grandfather...my best friend.
2. Our children (there are 5) live all over. Sandy Lee is married (20 yrs) to a retired Navy Senior Chief and lives in Lakeside CA; Jimmy is married (20 yrs) and lives in Japan (active duty Master Chief (Navy); Melissa is married (14 yrs) to a minister and lives in Tacoma, WA; Doug is newly married (2 yrs) and lives in Seabeck WA; and Jesseca is married (13 yrs) and lives in Middletown OH.
3. Every summer, when I was a child, my Aunts and Uncles would rent several camp sites at Lake Berryessa and we kids would just stay up there most of the summer. We stayed with whoever was there and our parents would come up for the weekends and then their vacations. What a great way to spend the summers!!
4. I was in a car accident in 1981 in Port Hueneme CA. I suffered a fairly severe concussion and it took a couple of years for me to come back completely. I now am disabled because the concussion has now caused me to have stability problems (I fall over) and if I am tired or stressed, I (once again) am partially aphasic and have serious problems thinking straight. Sometimes I cannot, for the life of me, think how to put together a quilt block I have been working on for some time.
5. I used to read a book a week, but now it takes me a couple of months to get through a paperback book.
6. We live in WA State on 2 1/2 acres with our 3 dogs, 2 cats and assorted chickens. Our home is a retirement home for all animals...even the chickens die of old age. LOL! All animals on our property are protected!
7. I am a FABRICOLIC! I love all fabrics and love to collect them for my stash. I have been working on using my stash and have actually been doing pretty well with it.
Now I tag...
Deb..Tazzie..Lynda..Andrea..MsJan..Judy..Mare
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Runner & First Dear Jane Block
I made my first Dear Jane Block at 0'Dark-30 this am. Couldn't sleep, so got up and hand pieced this block...A-1. After finishing this one, I cut out A-2 and it is all ready to be pieced. Is anyone else out there handpiecing their Dear Janes?
The blue runner I finished last weekend...and Russ spilled wax on it...but I still like it!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Runner Finished
The top is done...sure was fun to make. Also finished another runner out of blues...but Russ spilled candle wax on it last night...so no picture!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Sunday Stashbusting Report (on Monday)
I made 6 Sewing Machine Thingees this last week...that is 12 fat quarters from stash! Will post a picture later today. Also, yesterday I worked on machine quilting my Sudoko quilt for DD#1. Almost finished it! Made 2 more pot holders (out of leftover strips) to match the little mat pictured below. It was a very productive week!
Friday, February 1, 2008
Sewing Machine Thingee
Sorry it took me so long to get this typed up...this flu has had me down for several days! Enjoy!!
`SEWING MACHINE THINGIE (COPYRIGHT)
Pattern by Darla Keller
I give credit for this idea to one of my fellow Quilting Queens, Nancy S. She was making one at a recent in-town mini-retreat and I had to have one. Here's how I made it:
SUPPLIES:
**Two coordinating FQs (great use of conversational fabric you bought and don't know what to do with)
**Left over batting same size as FQ (can piece small leftover pieces together)
**About 85" of 2-1/2" strips from my leftovers to coordinate with FQ (make into binding)
**Thread to match the colors in each FQ
INSTRUCTIONS:
Sandwich the 2 FQs and batting. Decide which will be the back (makes the fold-up flap piece on front). If fabric is directional print, be sure and check that the front and back fold-up piece will look the way you want it to. I prefer to fol up the longer side of the fat quarter for a couple extra inches it gives, but did it both ways. If using directional print fabric, FQ may need to be positioned differently. I didn't do anything to hold the Q sandwich together as it's so small; just smoothed out the fabric on both sides so no creases or pleats. You could iron it so they stick together well, if you are worried about it. I only did it on the first two and then skipped after that.
Quilt as desired. Use thread that matches the back in the bobbin. I did straight line quilting about every 3". Good small piece to practice free motion or a quilt pattern you are thinking about using on a quilt. However, I just wanted them done, so did the easiest thing--channel quilting.
Square up cute little FQ quilt. I just trimmed the edges so all was even; doesn't really matter what size this is once done.
Apply binding (try one of those techniques you thought sounded interesting that have been posted recently). I preferred sewing onto the front with a 1/4" seam; iron binding towards the outside edge. Apply Steam-a-Seam 2 (1/4" role) on back side right along the edge and iron binding down so it is secure. From the right side, I used my stitch-in-the-ditch foot to quilt right in the well of the binding seam. This method sews the back side of the binding down too. If you don't have S-a-S, you could use a fabric glue, to temporarily hold back of binding in place. Or, you could do that dreaded pinning technique.
Turn up about 4" of backing side to front side. Machine stitch right along the binding on both edges. Be sure to back stitch at both top and bottom of the seam. I started my line of stitching right under the binding. Place piece on your rotary mat, lined up with a cutting line. Use a marking tool and mark straight lines wherever you want your pockets to be. I found I liked a 2" channel for my scissors and other miscellaneous tools; a 1" channel about in the middle for a pen; and a 4" channel on the far left side for my quilting gloves. Do whatever works for you...it's your "thingee". And, you're done!!
Lift up your sewing machine and put the "thingee" under it. Fill with your favorite tools. I haven't had to look for my scissors or EZ Bob all day. Yippee!!
You may 'pay it forward' and share this pattern with your friends.
Darla in St Paul, MN
`SEWING MACHINE THINGIE (COPYRIGHT)
Pattern by Darla Keller
I give credit for this idea to one of my fellow Quilting Queens, Nancy S. She was making one at a recent in-town mini-retreat and I had to have one. Here's how I made it:
SUPPLIES:
**Two coordinating FQs (great use of conversational fabric you bought and don't know what to do with)
**Left over batting same size as FQ (can piece small leftover pieces together)
**About 85" of 2-1/2" strips from my leftovers to coordinate with FQ (make into binding)
**Thread to match the colors in each FQ
INSTRUCTIONS:
Sandwich the 2 FQs and batting. Decide which will be the back (makes the fold-up flap piece on front). If fabric is directional print, be sure and check that the front and back fold-up piece will look the way you want it to. I prefer to fol up the longer side of the fat quarter for a couple extra inches it gives, but did it both ways. If using directional print fabric, FQ may need to be positioned differently. I didn't do anything to hold the Q sandwich together as it's so small; just smoothed out the fabric on both sides so no creases or pleats. You could iron it so they stick together well, if you are worried about it. I only did it on the first two and then skipped after that.
Quilt as desired. Use thread that matches the back in the bobbin. I did straight line quilting about every 3". Good small piece to practice free motion or a quilt pattern you are thinking about using on a quilt. However, I just wanted them done, so did the easiest thing--channel quilting.
Square up cute little FQ quilt. I just trimmed the edges so all was even; doesn't really matter what size this is once done.
Apply binding (try one of those techniques you thought sounded interesting that have been posted recently). I preferred sewing onto the front with a 1/4" seam; iron binding towards the outside edge. Apply Steam-a-Seam 2 (1/4" role) on back side right along the edge and iron binding down so it is secure. From the right side, I used my stitch-in-the-ditch foot to quilt right in the well of the binding seam. This method sews the back side of the binding down too. If you don't have S-a-S, you could use a fabric glue, to temporarily hold back of binding in place. Or, you could do that dreaded pinning technique.
Turn up about 4" of backing side to front side. Machine stitch right along the binding on both edges. Be sure to back stitch at both top and bottom of the seam. I started my line of stitching right under the binding. Place piece on your rotary mat, lined up with a cutting line. Use a marking tool and mark straight lines wherever you want your pockets to be. I found I liked a 2" channel for my scissors and other miscellaneous tools; a 1" channel about in the middle for a pen; and a 4" channel on the far left side for my quilting gloves. Do whatever works for you...it's your "thingee". And, you're done!!
Lift up your sewing machine and put the "thingee" under it. Fill with your favorite tools. I haven't had to look for my scissors or EZ Bob all day. Yippee!!
You may 'pay it forward' and share this pattern with your friends.
Darla in St Paul, MN
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