After work yesterday, I was determined to sit and sew a bit. I wanted to make a star block for Beth at LoveLaughQuilt, start my Zig Zag Quilt Challenge quilt, and maybe make another string block for myself.
But first, I thought, let me finish this book I am reading - Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah. I highly recommend it, folks; it was an entertaining and emotional read, a bit predictable, but so interesting. By the time I was finished, the kids wanted dinner (EVERY DAY they want to EAT! Sheesh! Apparently, parenting is a full time job!), and then it was nearing bedtime and then I got sleepy and well, you know, I never made it to the sewing machine.
I started another book at lunch today, Where The Heart Is by Billie Letts. I know I am late to that party, it was an Oprah's Book Club book years ago and then a movie, but so far, I'm enjoying this as well.
What I'm starving for is some more quilt fiction! I've read everything I can get my hands on. There is a Southern Sewing Circle mystery series by Elizabeth Lynn Casey that isn't quilting, per se, but I have read the first and am waiting on the 2nd to arrive so I can read that, too. In the meantime, I read the Florabama Ladies Auxiliary and Sewing Circle, a silly title but an entertaining read. Got any other suggestions for me?
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Short...in so many ways
Short seems to be my life's theme these days.
Short on time.
I finished hand quilting the pinwheels in the Good Fortune Lil Twister quilt top, along with two stitch in the ditch lines in the borders, but that is it. I was out of time, and it was going to have to be enough. And since I had so little time, I decided to bind the quilt by folding over the backing. I've never done that before, but I knew I had to try, because it was the only way I would finish on time.
I'll probably do it again on select projects, and it turned out very neat and my corners are nicely mitered, but I will continue to bind with a separate fabric(s) on most projects. I'd seen someone bind this way using a decorative stitch (was that Cheryl, perhaps?) so I tried that as well - I like the result.
Short on fabric.
Once I decided to bind with the backing, I started trimming the excess batting off, and squaring up the backing fabric. Once I got to the 4th side of the quilt, I discovered the backing fabric was too short by 1/2" on that one side. I proceeded to go around and trim 1/2" off all sides of the quilt and the backing to make it work. So the quilt is 1 inch smaller in length and width than I had anticipated, but you do what you have to do.
Short on ink.
Since I didn't have a seam on the back to sew my label into, I decided to write my label directly on the front of the quilt. I chose a purple pen. As I was wrting, first I misspelled the baby's last name - yikes! So I transformed the misspelling into a heart. Then the pen ran out of ink halfway through the last line. It looks shabby, especially with my less than pretty handwriting, but I wrote the last two lines in blue. (It turns out, they've picked out the name Maya for the little girl they are expecting, but I don't trust that you always get what the ultrasound technician tells you you will be getting. My cousin calls me "Cuz" all the time, so I wrote "Baby Cuz" on the quilt, just in case.)
Short on sleep.
I finished the quilt at 2 AM. I had to wake up at 7:30 AM to get the kids fed, get the campout stuff out to our campout site, and then get into town with our bikes for the Cub Scout bike rodeo that started at 9 AM. The bike rodeo ended at noon, at which point I handed my kids over to a friend for the day, hopped in the car, and drove the 4 hours to the baby shower. After 4 hours at the shower, I had to leave if I was going to make it back home for any part of the cub scout campout that had started without me. I was so tired, however, that I had to stop twice on the 4 hour drive home for power naps in random parking lots. I made it home at 1 AM, changed clothes, tended to the animals, brushed my teeth, and was at the campout by 1:20 AM. Some of the parents had kept the fire going and waited up for me, worried. Even though I was exhausted, it was so nice to sit and chat, gazing into the fire, that I didn't go to bed until 3 AM. But it is a campout...all the boys, and therefore I, was up by 7 AM. After a fun morning fixing our breakfast over the campfire and doing a scavenger hunt, we were home by 11:30. I got done a couple of tasks around the house, sat in the sun with a book for a while, and then gave in and took a nice long afternoon nap.
Short in stature.
Here is my cousin and his pregnant wife. They are over the moon about this pregnancy. They are both in their 40s, and have been trying to get pregnant for most of the past decade. Those smiles were on their faces all day yesterday. I am so happy for them!
Seeing this picture made me feel really short. It also made me realize that, if I hang out with pregnant women, it will make me feel really petite. I'm filing that away for those days when I feel dumpy...
The quilt seemed to be well received. There were the usual Oooohs and Aaahs, but then someone said, "Wait, is that HANDMADE???" One woman attending the shower hugged me, said she was a cross stitcher and knew how much work must have gone into my quilt and was brought to tears that I would make such a gift for my cousin. I hope they like it. I hope they USE it. I hope the rest of the pregnancy goes smoothly. I can't wait to meet and hold my new little cousin.
Short on time.
I finished hand quilting the pinwheels in the Good Fortune Lil Twister quilt top, along with two stitch in the ditch lines in the borders, but that is it. I was out of time, and it was going to have to be enough. And since I had so little time, I decided to bind the quilt by folding over the backing. I've never done that before, but I knew I had to try, because it was the only way I would finish on time.
Once I decided to bind with the backing, I started trimming the excess batting off, and squaring up the backing fabric. Once I got to the 4th side of the quilt, I discovered the backing fabric was too short by 1/2" on that one side. I proceeded to go around and trim 1/2" off all sides of the quilt and the backing to make it work. So the quilt is 1 inch smaller in length and width than I had anticipated, but you do what you have to do.
Short on ink.
Since I didn't have a seam on the back to sew my label into, I decided to write my label directly on the front of the quilt. I chose a purple pen. As I was wrting, first I misspelled the baby's last name - yikes! So I transformed the misspelling into a heart. Then the pen ran out of ink halfway through the last line. It looks shabby, especially with my less than pretty handwriting, but I wrote the last two lines in blue. (It turns out, they've picked out the name Maya for the little girl they are expecting, but I don't trust that you always get what the ultrasound technician tells you you will be getting. My cousin calls me "Cuz" all the time, so I wrote "Baby Cuz" on the quilt, just in case.)
I finished the quilt at 2 AM. I had to wake up at 7:30 AM to get the kids fed, get the campout stuff out to our campout site, and then get into town with our bikes for the Cub Scout bike rodeo that started at 9 AM. The bike rodeo ended at noon, at which point I handed my kids over to a friend for the day, hopped in the car, and drove the 4 hours to the baby shower. After 4 hours at the shower, I had to leave if I was going to make it back home for any part of the cub scout campout that had started without me. I was so tired, however, that I had to stop twice on the 4 hour drive home for power naps in random parking lots. I made it home at 1 AM, changed clothes, tended to the animals, brushed my teeth, and was at the campout by 1:20 AM. Some of the parents had kept the fire going and waited up for me, worried. Even though I was exhausted, it was so nice to sit and chat, gazing into the fire, that I didn't go to bed until 3 AM. But it is a campout...all the boys, and therefore I, was up by 7 AM. After a fun morning fixing our breakfast over the campfire and doing a scavenger hunt, we were home by 11:30. I got done a couple of tasks around the house, sat in the sun with a book for a while, and then gave in and took a nice long afternoon nap.
 |
| This was my view until I finally came in to take a nap. I love sitting on my porch! |
Short in stature.
Here is my cousin and his pregnant wife. They are over the moon about this pregnancy. They are both in their 40s, and have been trying to get pregnant for most of the past decade. Those smiles were on their faces all day yesterday. I am so happy for them!
The quilt seemed to be well received. There were the usual Oooohs and Aaahs, but then someone said, "Wait, is that HANDMADE???" One woman attending the shower hugged me, said she was a cross stitcher and knew how much work must have gone into my quilt and was brought to tears that I would make such a gift for my cousin. I hope they like it. I hope they USE it. I hope the rest of the pregnancy goes smoothly. I can't wait to meet and hold my new little cousin.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Spreading the word
There's not much new in my world.
My hens left us TWO eggs yesterday, instead of just one. Jason yelled so loudly, I thought something was wrong. He was just excited.
My beans are flowering. (what can I make with eggs and green beans???)
I'm still plodding away at the baby quilt for the shower tomorrow. Yes, I said TOMORROW. I have just 3 pinwheels left to quilt, and then the binding to put on. It isn't much, but I feel safe saying I'll be up late tonight.
Rosabelle has had the Hershey Squirts two nights running, so I took her and Biscuit to the vet today for checkups. She has some kind of infection or something. Oh joy! I get to feed her antibiotics for a week. As long as I am not scrubbing floors all week...
Blah, nothing exciting to share. Let me share the news of others!
First of all, Bonnie Hunter is taking pre-orders for her next book, String Fling: Scrappy, Happy and Loving It. Yeah, I already ordered it!
And there is a 12-year-old with a quilt in the weekly quilt contest at the Quilting Gallery this week - she made the quilt when she was 9 years old. I had to vote for her - I think young quilters need all the support they can get! I don't know who she is, but I hope she wins. At the time of my writing, she is just 8 votes outside of the lead. C'mon guys, let's make her a winner! Her quilt is called Garden of Posies.
My hens left us TWO eggs yesterday, instead of just one. Jason yelled so loudly, I thought something was wrong. He was just excited.
My beans are flowering. (what can I make with eggs and green beans???)
I'm still plodding away at the baby quilt for the shower tomorrow. Yes, I said TOMORROW. I have just 3 pinwheels left to quilt, and then the binding to put on. It isn't much, but I feel safe saying I'll be up late tonight.
Rosabelle has had the Hershey Squirts two nights running, so I took her and Biscuit to the vet today for checkups. She has some kind of infection or something. Oh joy! I get to feed her antibiotics for a week. As long as I am not scrubbing floors all week...
Blah, nothing exciting to share. Let me share the news of others!
First of all, Bonnie Hunter is taking pre-orders for her next book, String Fling: Scrappy, Happy and Loving It. Yeah, I already ordered it!
And there is a 12-year-old with a quilt in the weekly quilt contest at the Quilting Gallery this week - she made the quilt when she was 9 years old. I had to vote for her - I think young quilters need all the support they can get! I don't know who she is, but I hope she wins. At the time of my writing, she is just 8 votes outside of the lead. C'mon guys, let's make her a winner! Her quilt is called Garden of Posies.
That's all for me. Enjoy the weekend, y'all!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Simple, yet satisfying
Some friends are stopping by my job tomorrow with their 9-month-old baby girl on their way from Boston to Idaho. (through Virginia!?! Whatever.) I didn't, of course, have time to make the baby a quilt, but I had to make her SOMETHING. A bib it is! Simple, yet satisfying!
Making things for babies is so gratifying!
And if I'm making one bib, why not make two? This one will be for my cousin's baby, due in July, for whom I am making the Good Fortune Lil Twister quilt.
Both bibs are flannel, and backed with bright jewel-toned pink flannel, with velcro closures at the neck.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Quilting with clay and paper
Yesterday I attended a high school graduation party for my neighbor. On a table filled with pictures of the beautiful graduate, there was also this:
Isn't it wonderful? She made it out of clay in 5th grade, and won first prize in an art contest with it. If I were the judge, I guarantee I'd have voted for it, and I haven't even seen the other 5th graders' work! I love it!
But that wasn't all the quilty goodness to be had at that party! For her graduation present, her mom made a signature quilt for her.
I've never seen this paper-pieced block before, but isn't it neat? Does anyone else see little spread-eagle people standing head to head and foot to foot when they see this? (granted, the people SHARE a head...)
And her piecing is so PRECISE! I know that is the whole point of paper piecing, but when I do it, my seams still never really line up. The top left corner features her kindergarten (or is it first grade?) photo, and the bottom right hand corner features her senior picture. It is signed by all her classmates (there were only 14 of them) AND by every teacher she's ever had. What a keepsake!
What talented neighbors I have!
But that wasn't all the quilty goodness to be had at that party! For her graduation present, her mom made a signature quilt for her.
What talented neighbors I have!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
'Cause I'm stubborn like that
While visiting some Sew Mama Sew giveaways today, I came across a quilt pattern that I just loved, Summer Breeze by Melissa Corry. Isn't it lovely?
"I can make that," I said to myself. So when I got home, instead of hand quilting my Good Fortune Lil Twister (which needs to be done by June 2 for the baby shower, mind you), I pulled out some fabrics and set about making one for myself. And quickly discovered why people buy patterns where the designer has already done the math. I couldn't get one part of the blocks to line up for the life of me!
I ripped out seam after seam, and still couldn't get things to line up.
I cussed and nearly cried, but the seams still wouldn't line up.
I grit my teeth and vowed to figure this out - but so far, no luck.
If I know me, I will try again tomorrow, and possibly the next day, too. And eventually I'll have a whole quilt worth of imperfect blocks.
But even if I do figure it out, I'm going to buy the pattern from Ms. Corry - she is a better woman than I am figuring out how to make this lovely quilt.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
No longer outnumbered!
Friday was the big day - I picked up the four newest members of our family on my way home from work, four molting 2-year-old laying hens. Allow me to introduce...
(side note: those of you who are my Facebook friends know that I had to explain to my 6-year-old son why it was not a good idea to name one of them "Pecker" - she's now just "Peck" and I'm pretty sure we narrowly missed some awkward conversations with unwitting strangers...)
Jason is completely enamored with the hens. Since they are molting, they aren't in full egg laying mode right now, but we did get three eggs this weekend. The first egg made it to just inside the door before the boys dropped it. Ick! The second one made it safely to the house in our basket dedicated to egg collection. Jason ate it for breakfast and said it tasted "better and healthier" than the ones we get from the store. He spent much of the weekend waiting for egg number 3. Poor hens - I told Jason he is going to give them performance anxiety if he keeps waiting around for them every time they head up into the nesting boxes!
My mother-in-law did make it to our house this weekend. I dragged her to the birthday party we were to go to on Saturday afternoon, and then Saturday night we sat up late around a campfire roasting marshmallows while she strummed guitar and we sang Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's "Our House" - I love that song!
Today was my 12th wedding anniversary - in 2 days it will be 19 years since I first met my husband. Do you know that Brad Paisley song, "Then"? That's how I feel about my husband, Adam. I can't believe how I love him more and more every year. Anyway, Jason and my mother-in-law shooed us back into bed when we got up so they could serve us breakfast in bed. I then spent the rest of the morning hand quilting on the porch with my MIL - can you say "PERFECT DAY?"
After she left, I showered, whipped up a potluck dish and a going away gift for some friends (a matching crayon roll and travel tissue case for a mom of 3 boys age 6 and under), and we hopped in the car to go to their going away party. If there are any of you who have never visited the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, I encourage you to put it on the list of places to visit. Even just driving down the highway is gorgeous, but the back road route from our remote dirt road home to their remote dirt road home was just breathtaking. I need to remember to appreciate the blessings I have, including living in such a beautiful place, and not take it for granted just because I see it every day.
(By the way, if you are wondering about the title of my post, a year ago, I was so outnumbered - the only female with a husband, two boys, two male cats and a male dog. Now, the numbers are even. Granted, my fellow females are a neurotic rescue hound and 4 molting hens, but I'll take what I can get!)
Scratch, Peck, Beakless and Tailfeathers!
(side note: those of you who are my Facebook friends know that I had to explain to my 6-year-old son why it was not a good idea to name one of them "Pecker" - she's now just "Peck" and I'm pretty sure we narrowly missed some awkward conversations with unwitting strangers...)
Jason is completely enamored with the hens. Since they are molting, they aren't in full egg laying mode right now, but we did get three eggs this weekend. The first egg made it to just inside the door before the boys dropped it. Ick! The second one made it safely to the house in our basket dedicated to egg collection. Jason ate it for breakfast and said it tasted "better and healthier" than the ones we get from the store. He spent much of the weekend waiting for egg number 3. Poor hens - I told Jason he is going to give them performance anxiety if he keeps waiting around for them every time they head up into the nesting boxes!
Today was my 12th wedding anniversary - in 2 days it will be 19 years since I first met my husband. Do you know that Brad Paisley song, "Then"? That's how I feel about my husband, Adam. I can't believe how I love him more and more every year. Anyway, Jason and my mother-in-law shooed us back into bed when we got up so they could serve us breakfast in bed. I then spent the rest of the morning hand quilting on the porch with my MIL - can you say "PERFECT DAY?"
(By the way, if you are wondering about the title of my post, a year ago, I was so outnumbered - the only female with a husband, two boys, two male cats and a male dog. Now, the numbers are even. Granted, my fellow females are a neurotic rescue hound and 4 molting hens, but I'll take what I can get!)
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