I machine quilted a quilt!

I just can't stop grinning! I did it! I machine quilted a quilt!


I haven't buried the threads yet and the binding isn't on yet, but Donald is upstairs sleeping under his very own quilt tonight. He's thrilled because his brother has had a quilt from me for years and its his turn. I'm thrilled because I slapped on the walking foot and machine quilted the whole thing in two sessions at the sewing machine. How novel to have a quilt quilted in just a few days instead of the couple of months it takes me when I do it by hand! I won't be abandoning hand quilting because I love the process and how it looks, but I'm excited to add this new technique into my repertoire. Granted, I'm not showing you any close-ups because it isn't all that well done, but I'm happy!

I'm also happy because all my hard work is finally coming to fruition - 180 students are arriving tomorrow to spend 3 days on campus to compete for 44 full scholarships. I've been working my tush off, but today, instead of being stressed, I left work on time and without my laptop because I AM READY. Bring 'em on!

The next two days will be long ones, so I pampered myself a bit this weekend...

I'll be pampering myself again next weekend if I can - a pot of tea, a good book, a cozy quilt and the recliner. It's a date!

The Art of Making Do

There's been a lot going on at Casa de Hutchinson! Thanksgiving was fantastic! (Of course! Any holiday with that much food is great in my book!) But since Adam had to work on Friday afternoon, we were back home by 1 PM on Friday. I spent the afternoon putting together a captain's bed that I bought for Donald. Lots and lots and lots of screws, but I did it! He likes it and I like it, so everyone is happy. But in addition to the big box holding the bed parts, there was another box waiting for me - my long-lost string quilt, Calling All Strings (because it was foundation pieced on phone book pages) that I sent to the long-arm quilter's in February.

Granted, the wait time was horrendous, but there were extenuating circumstances, so I'm not mad. And she did a lovely job!

Originally, I had planned to give this to my father-in-law for his birthday last March, but obviously, that couldn't happen. Instead, I think I'm going to give it to my brother for Christmas. He mentioned earlier this year that everyone had a quilt from me except him, and he's right! Well, except for me and Donald.

I'm going to have to wait, but hopefully, Donald's will be ready by Christmas, too! I finished piecing the top this weekend, and here it is on his captain's bed that I put together.

It isn't very wide by design - I didn't want the quilt to get in the way of opening and closing the storage drawers under the bed. I meant for it to be longer, but I ran out of fabric. So much so that I had to cobble stuff together. There are three of these patched together white pieces,

and about 5 of 6 of these cobbled together red and blue blocks (the blocks are supposed to be 5" square, but for some I had to combine two fabrics to make 5").

And, of course, I already mentioned that the inner white border is not the same white as the white in the blocks, because I ran out of that, too. I've already shared before that Roberta Horton's Scrap Quilts: The Art of Making Do was my primary source of inspiration when I first started quilting, so "make do" is what I did. You can't really tell from a distance. Besides, it is not meant to be an heirloom, but rather a utility quilt, made with love.

In fact, all that is left of those 9 fat quarters are these few scraps. There goes my idea of making a matching pillow sham. I'll just cut these down to useable squares and add them to my scrap squares tins.

And you know I couldn't resist cutting into some of my other new fabric, right? I decided to join the ranks of those who are making mug rugs for themselves and others. This one is for ME!
Hand quilted in the ditch.

It is on my desk at work right now, which reminds me, my coffee cup is empty.

But before I dash off to the coffee machine, I just have to brag on my hubby a bit - his team has started the season undefeated, 4-0, their best start to date! On Saturday's game, my brother and his girlfriend came over (the guy waving and the woman next to him), along with her two children (who are also waving) and my two children (who are making faces, OF COURSE!), and my cousin and his wife (in front of my brother). I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!

I love my dog

Really, I do. But last night I had to keep reminding myself of that fact. First of all, I went to bed late, 12:30 AM, because I got some sewing done last night. First I made a bib for a friend who just told me they are expecting. I used one of the Urban Circus fat quarters that I won from Laurie Wisbrun, and I'm excited now about the prospect of making their new baby a quilt from those winnings.


And then, as I vowed I would, I started cutting and piecing the Boys Will Be Boys quilt for Donald. I had no idea how much faster it is to cut out a quilt using just a few coordinating fabrics rather than all scrappy fabrics. I was cruising! And I am loving the look so far:


So, I was in bed at 12:30, but the dog woke me at 2:30 to go outside. I tried to put him off, but he was insistent, and as someone with a weak bladder myself, how could I not let him out. What did he do but promptly get himself sprayed by a skunk. Ugh!

I crawled back in bed with my Blackberry and got online to find out how to "deskunk" him. There were lots of recipes, but they called for ingredients that I didn't have around the house, and since Adam is out of town and both boys were sleeping and we live 20 minutes from the nearest store, I couldn't go shopping. Finally I came across Listerine as a deskunking agent. We buy those ENORMOUS Listerine bottles, and I had just bought one earlier this week, so this became my deskunking agent of choice. I'm happy to report that it works. First a Listerine bath, and then a regular bath, outside in below freezing temperatures at 3:00 AM. I kept chanting under my breath, "I love my dog, I love my dog, I love my dog."

When I got into bed at 3:30, the 6:30 AM alarm seemed entirely too close for comfort. I'm so glad it is Friday and I can sleep in tomorrow! Have a great and RESTFUL weekend, all!

Big plans, little progress

Well, it is decided! I will make small framed wallhangings. Thanks for your feedback everyone! The first wallhanging is currently being quilted; so far, just in the ditch around the print diamonds.

I just finished piecing the second this afternoon.

Now I need to come up with two more 12" blocks for the last two wallhangings. I already ordered custom frames from Angela (well, actually from her husband, Jim) at Country Scrap Quilts. I've bought two quilt block frames from them before and I love them!

This time, I asked that they just be frames, no shelf or knobs.

I didn't get much sewing done today because once we got home, I was interviewed for my high school's alumni newsletter over the phone for nearly an hour. I was so honored to be asked, and I really enjoyed reminiscing about high school and my adult life up until now, my dreams, my hobbies, my family. Then, I helped Donald with his homework and put a ton of fabric in the wash (seriously, a ton - I can't believe how much new fabric I had, both purchases and winnings, that I hadn't washed yet! Inforgivable!), and then it was off to Jason's basketball practice and then a Board Meeting. Lots of possible sewing time taken up with other things, but at least they were all worthwhile pursuits.

So, even though it was in my plan for myself today, I didn't cut into the Boys Will Be Boys fabric yet, but I did find a photo of a quilt that I think I'd like to recreate in these fabrics, and sketched out a plan for myself - block size, cutting instructions, how many of each I need.

This may be the most pre-planning I have ever done for a quilt! Tomorrow, after work and school but before karate and a cub scout meeting, I vow to start cutting. This is yet another project that I'd love to have done before Christmas. We shall see...

Now it is off to bed. One of these days, I'm going to catch up on everyone's blogs, but lately, I've been feeling the need to get a full 7 or 8 hours of sleep every night. If I'm craving sleep, it must mean that I need it. Sweet dreams, blogland!