8/3/10

Quilting Thoughts

Just thought I would take a quilting break! I have been going gang busters on a commission quilt...trying to get it finished. There is so much joy for me in getting a quilt finished...also a lot of relief! I am always so happy when I can start removing the basting pins and start making the binding. Piecing and binding are my favorite parts of the whole quilting proces...except for maybe shopping for fabric!! What is your favorite part of the quilting process??

I forgot to mention in yesterday's post about last week's thrift store run. In a previous post, discussing "sewing green", I had listed shopping in thrift stores as a great way to purchase fabric for cheap. Well, last week I found a 100% linen long dress for $4, minus hubby's senior discount of 25% = $3! I am talking about 2 yards of nice linen fabric for $3!!

What is all my excitement about? Linen fabric, even with a discount, costs anywhere from $5/yd to $50/yd. I have several projects which require linen fabric, so this find was like gold to me! So don't forget to check your local thrift stores for great fabric finds, especially for specialty or upscale fabrics that are expensive in the fabric store! For instance, a long women's evening gown made of silk or some other specialty fabric will yield anywhere from 2-5 yds of very nice fabric for a fraction of what it would cost in the fabric store. Most thrift stores offer a senior discount one day a week...don't be shy, just ask for the discount when checking out...you might be pleasantly surprised. Men's shirts, dress, casual or Hawaiian, are excellent to buy at thrift stores....they will generally cost between $2-5 each, but will yield between 1-2 yds of fabric a piece (depending on size...I say get the XL or XXL...same price, more fabric). The fabric can be used in any sewing or quilting project. Save money and sew green! Post your comments about other green sewing tips!

Well, back to the sewing room folks! It's been a nice break!

Happy Sewing and Quilting!

8/2/10

Summer Sewing Projects

Baaaa...just thinking of landscapes!

Hi Everyone and Happy Summer!

I know it's been a while since my last post, but I am hoping to keep up on a more regular basis. Some things that have been happening lately: My Mom had a heart attack and surgery...she is fine now; our granddaughter took her first steps and has 7 teeth now (!!); hubby and I celebrated our 9 year wedding anniversary; and I got my first issue of my subscription to Irish Quilting (http://www.irishquilting.ie/Irish_Quilting/home.html)!! Yep, that about covers it!

What are your summer sewing projects? I finished a quilt top, basted the quilt and actually started quilting! Received orders for 2 more quilts and if I hurry I plan on entering the Keepsake Quilting (www.keepsakequilting.com) challenge that ends this month! The challenge is a landscape challenge, and since I really love doing landscapes I thought this was perfect! I have the fabric and the idea...now for the execution and timely shipment!! (That will be my REAL challenge!)

The really HOT part of the summer is here now...and when I say hot, what I mean is 100+ degrees! Today, for example, is 106 degrees here!!! Short of frying an egg on the sidewalk, there is not much that can be done outdoors in this kind of heat...so, I try to stay indoors and sew or just sit quietly and try not to make myself any hotter! It is tough to think about quilting in this kind of heat, much less actually sit under a quilt and work on it!! But, quilt I must! I have an embroidery project in mind, plus I am still working on the last applique block for the Pirate Quilt!

Recently, I have been going through my old quilt books and magazines and trying to weed out the ones that are either duplicates (yep, I tend to buy the same thing twice sometimes) or ones that I know I will never use. This is quite a tedious process since I have to look through everything and then I get interested in something and forget that I am "weeding out". Does anyone else seem to have the same problem?? How do you deal with all of the magazines and books you have on a certain topic like quilting, embroidery, sewing, etc? I would love to hear your ideas! Post your comments.

We have been keeping our granddaughter some this summer and it is amazing to watch her grow and learn. Our kids are all grown up now, so we had forgotten just how amazing babies are to watch and help them learn...the whole world is new to them and everything is so wonderful. To be able to see the world through a child's eyes again is truly awesome and inspiring. We just love the experience...although, keeping her always reminds me that I am no longer in my 20s and Nana has to rest up after a day or two with GBaby!! Hahahaha...that's why child rearing is for the young, not just the young at heart!!

Well, back downstairs where the A/C is working and it's cooler!!

Happy Sewing & Quilting!

6/26/10

Purple Quilt Photos and More...


Well, we have had a busy couple of weeks! We have been babysitting our GBaby Lily quite a bit, and she is so entertaining to watch!! She is crawling and pulling up, so I imagine she will be walking before we know it. We had some friends from Austin come stay with us last night and it was really good to see them...they are expecting a baby boy in December...yes, another baby quilt will be forthcoming for that big event!

Ah yes...Purple Quilt Photos...and here they are!! This was a fun quilt to make...love making pinwheels! I have a few extra pinwheel blocks, so I will have to work them into an "odd patch" quilt (you know...a quilt where you just throw in all of your leftover blocks and make it work!)

This past week I got back to applequeing on my Pirate Quilt...which has been sorely neglected these past months. I am on the final block...the Pirate himself...and am getting pretty excited about how he is turning out. Not sure exactly when the quilt itself will be finished...slowly I quilt...stitch by stitch...!!

Working on a commission quilt now, but so hot in the sewing room most days it is difficult to work on due to the "sweat" factor! It is currently getting up to 100 degrees outside and about 90 degrees in my sewing room! I would have to get up at 0-dark-thirty and sew in order to be cool in the sewing room! Oh well...somehow I always manage to get quilts made during the summer months...heat or not!! How many of you quilt during the summer? How many of you switch to other craft or sewing projects during the summer? Just curious.

BTW...I have a 1937 Singer Featherweight 221 that I am putting up for sale on EBay next week...if you have an interest in it, please post a comment and I will send you more photos. The going price is $275 + S&H. (See photo at the top of this post) The machine works great!

Have a great weekend and Happy Quilting and Sewing!! :)

P.S. -- Here is a little something to make you smile!!





6/2/10

Sizzling Summer Quilting!!

Well folks, it looks like spring is over and summer is with us! Temperatures here are supposed to soar to 103 degrees on Saturday...yes, already over 100 degrees! Can't imagine what it is going to feel like come August! Summer is not the best time to quilt because of the heat, but I still manage to quilt! Summer is a great time for making tops and then when winter arrives you will have plenty of quilting to do. If I were a more logical person, that is how I would do it...but I'm not, so I tend to quilt all year. Due to the heat, I am having to switch my time in the sewing room to early morning because our A/C is not working upstairs (yep...you guessed it...where my sewing room is) and by afternoon it is upward of 90 degrees upstairs. I am trying to get enough done to be able to go downstairs later in the day to do whatever handwork needs to be done...in the cool part of the house.

Oh...and by the way...the Purple Quilt is finished! Photos will be forthcoming! So glad to have finally finished this quilt...and I think it looks very nice!! Right now I am working on a quick little quilt for my Grand baby Lily...just a cute one piece top and one piece back...not too big, but a good nap quilt. I found some Bazooples fabric at Hobby Lobby (www.hobbylobby.com) and it was so cute that I knew I had to make a little quilt for Lily! The next lap size quilt that I have lined up for commission will be a rail fence quilt using batiks that my customer likes. I am pretty excited about this quilt, and will try to get it finished quickly.

Tell me what projects you are working on this summer...or do you just hang up your needle for the summer and go outdoors?!!

Until next time...Happy Sewing and Quilting!

5/22/10

Fusi Boo Review

Happy Weekend Everyone!

In this post, I have another great Product Review!! Yeah!! Still working on the Purple Quilt and should finish quilting it today...hopefully, it will be ready for delivery next week! Photos coming soon!

This past week was a really good week for us...rather laid back! We had a fun day with our Grand baby yesterday...she is getting so big so fast!! You forget just how fast they grow!!

Product Review - Fusi Boo

I used Fairfield Fusi Boo fusible batting in the Purple Quilt this week and, as promised, I wanted to let you know how it works! In my opinion, Fusi Boo is a really great product and worked just as the package promised. Lay out your quilt sandwich, set your iron on wool with steam and press for several seconds all around the quilt top, starting in the center and voila...your quilt is basted!! Yes, folks, it really is just that simple! No kidding! I had a lap size quilt basted, start to finish, in just over 30 minutes!!

Below are some things I about this batting that I learned and wanted to share with you:
  1. Once you have pressed the quilt top to the batting, flip your quilt sandwich over and press from the back too. This gives you the opportunity to press out any puckers or "bubble" spots, and helps the batting to adhere better.
  2. Do NOT get the fusible stuff on your iron (and I am speaking from experience!) It isn't too difficult to get off your iron, but the best scenario is to not get it on your iron in the first place.
  3. You can, and might want to, double this batting up. It is a little thinner batting than I expected, and while I typically use 100% cotton thinner batting (such as Hobbs) it was even thinner.
  4. When pulling this batting out of the package and unrolling it, it does tend to stick to itself...so use your muscle!
  5. The package recommends washing the quilt once it is finished to remove the fusible stuff. I agree with the manufacturer on this 100%! Definitely wash your quilt to get the fusible stuff out, otherwise the quilt tends to be a little on the stiff side.
So run out and get some Fairfield Fusi Boo and baste your quilt quickly!! If you have a bad back (like I do) and can't bend over for a long period of time to pin baste, then Fusi Boo is definitely your product of choice!!

Well, back to working on the Purple Quilt. Hope you enjoyed my Product Review!! If you have a product you would like reviewed, just post a comment and I will run out and get the product for review.

Happy Sewing and Quilting!!

5/13/10

Ah Springtime...


Yes, it's definitely springtime...the birds are singing...flowers are blooming...and the storms and tornadoes are in full swing! Last weekend, hubby and I went camping in Oklahoma and got back on Sunday night, just a day before the tornadoes hit there!! Whew!

It really was gorgeous when we were camping...temps were very nice! We went on a nature hike and saw this 100 year old pine tree...12 1/2 feet in diameter and 72 feet tall!! (see photo above) It was truly spectacular! A lot of flowers were in bloom (see photo above), and we saw cardinals and bluejays too! Lots of butterflies and some dragonflies were out catching some sun. The nights were chilly though!

Still working on Purple Quilt!! The top is finished and I have a back almost ready to go...just a bit of ironing and then on to the basting (not my fav part!). I am always happy to get a quilt basted and then on to the quilting part. For Purple Quilt I have bought some Fairfield Fusi Boo batting...just apply a hot iron to it and voila...quilt is basted! (okay...it may not be quite that easy...but almost!).  This batting is cotton and bamboo...and as you all know, bamboo batting is a "green" product because it is sustainable. I have used fusible battings in the past, and like them very much, but this will be the first time for Fusi Boo, so a product review will be forthcoming!!

Before hubby and I went camping, I did manage to finish my "Camping" quilt. It is a patchwork quilt with large patches, an old sheet for the back and minimal quilting. I did not bind this quilt, just used the sew and flip method to make it fast and easy. It was very comfy and fit the pop up bunk perfectly!! (photos will be forthcoming)

This week I have had little time to quilt, but plan to work on Purple Quilt today and hopefully get that finished...um...this month!! As I have two more commission quilts waiting for me to start, I had better get a move on!!

That's it for today! Let me know what you are working on! For next time, I would like to know how many of you embroider??!! I have some embroidery projects and will discuss embroidery soon.

Happy Sewing and Quilting!!

4/29/10

Ren Fair Photos & Other Musings


Well, hubby and I had great fun at the Ren Fair last weekend! See hubby's costume in the photo above (check out the hat and shirt!!). We drank mead, ate, and saw some shows...definitely got some exercise in! We may be going again, because now our daughters want to go!! Don't think I will have time to make them costumes, but we will see.

There is a nice cool breeze blowing today, so I am sitting here with the windows open letting the house air out. Don't you just love to air out your house?! I love having the fresh air come in and the stale air go out. It just makes the house feel so much better...less stuffy. Now, mind you, on really hot days the A/C goes on and stays on, but I think that the air gets pretty stale just recirculating like that.

Still working on the Purple Quilt...nearly done making all of the pinwheels. Once I am done making the pinwheels, the process should go a lot faster. I love making half squares to make pinwheels! What is your favorite block to make? I am chain piecing the pinwheels to save thread (sewing green!). How do you sew green?

I am getting in the "sewing mood" to sew some summer clothes...not just for my granddaughter...but for myself too! I told you about the 75% off sale at a fabric store near me...well, I went there again last Friday with hubby and bought more fabric! They just had some really nice fabric and at 75% off, I just couldn't resist going back!! So, now I am wanting to make some summer clothes with this beautiful fabric. Sew many projects...sew little time!! :)

Well...it's off to the sewing room for me!!

Happy Sewing and Quilting!!