What a difference with the 440

While finishing the Inukshuk quiltlet before I had tossed it into a UFO pile that is, can't remember now just why or how that happened, anyways I was able to start quilting on it  freehand with my Bernina 170.  I stopped just about 10 minutes into quilting it and found that I never packed away the thread that I used at the time so with working on this UFO, decided to use the BSR on my new to me Bernina 440. 

I used  the BSR mode 2  and absolutely love the results.  WOW!!! 
What a difference it made on the backside.  Now mind you, the front looked okay IMHO with my own free hand technique and the backs I always considered uh hummmm, cough sputter..................good enough. 
BUT after finishing the quilting with the BSR on the same project that I had started on my other machine, what a difference. 
There are no knots or little lumps of thread where it shows when I hesitated to go in another direction.  The back looks as good as the front.  It's too bad I finished this with the full sleeve on the back to slip it over the acrylic photo frame.   It would be nice to refer to it and show friends the difference.  But I know that  I wouldn't be able to display it like I want, so bury all that evidence I must.    Ahh another UFO bites the dust!  Yippee!!!!!!

Jane

I'll post a photo when I find wherever  I put my camera.

Stash Report Week 5, 2012

Used this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 9 yards

Added this Week: 3 yards

Added Year to Date: 35 yards

Net for 2012: A gain of 26 yards

While I was in Rouses Point this past Thursday to deliver the quilt I finished for my deceased friend Cheryl,  I was able to stop by  my favorite quilt shop for wools, Fibre Junction.    Carole  has many items to choose from and even though I wasn't looking for any cotton or any more patterns, these extra items just happened to jump into my arms! hehehe

I've loved the ghastlies fabric line  yet wouldn't buy any just to have it in for a project for sometime in the future since I have no immediate plans for a Halloween quilt yet. But I did succumb and a 2 yard piece came home wiht me. Was able to find the perfect green wool for a pincushion project I also am working on but will share that with you at a later time. Only the top part is done so far. So want have I been working on?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Tada!  The  Inukshuk quiltlet that is number 5 for Judy Laquidera's UFO challenge. 

Though my sewing space was in total disarray after making another wonky house, I shoved all that aside to get the quilting done on Mr. Inuk.  Check it out.  Was able to even quilt freehand the word Inukshuk onto the side of the piece.  It's not too evident, but it is there.    Now only to fix the back envelope sleeve so I can slip this bad boy onto an acrylic photo frame then get to the binding and embellishments.  Thinking of adding an embellishment of some sort for the piped  area within the binding.  Not sure which one will be used. Either yarn, beads or a sequin trim.... Time will truly tell.  Check back later this week and I'll show ya.

Enjoy your Day!   Jane

PS:  Check out how much better the other participants are behaving over at Judy's blog with moving and using their stash.  At this rate I'll need to have a larger studio built.  Not a bad idea since Judy just had hers completed and looks great.  Ahh more room to move would be grand!

Stash Report , Week 4 of 2012

Used this Week: 7- 1/3 yards

Used year to Date: 9  yards

Added this Week: 32 yards

Added Year to Date: 32 yards

Net  for 2012:   A gain of 24  yards

So far this week I did use 1 2/3  yards of cotton for the wonky house blocks and  the moda dolls.  Also I used another 5 + 2/3 yards of fleece on the two fleece blankets.  The Tow mater tied blanket was shorter than the  2 yard length but it also was 60" wide so I figured 2 yards for each side is now out of my stash.    So a total of  7  and 1/3 yards used.    Feeling so great about this and that they are both done!  Make sure you check out how other quilters are doing on moving their stash over at Judy's blog Patchwork Times.

I also have to report that I purchased this book  "Strip Smart Quilts" by Kathy Brown at Joanns.  Perhaps I should start counting the books in and start using those too.  I do so love books and find myself forever shifting the book shelves to make room for another.  Maybe I could think about letting one book go when I purchase another......  I'll have to think more of this before I could ever wrap my brain around that concept.  Besides the book I also gained 32 yards of Kona Cotton solid fabric this past week that I purchased through Jane's Fabrics Ebay Store when she was having a sale.  When I ordered them at such a great price ($3.00 a yard!), I didn't know she was closing her shop.  I hope the next venture she persues will be as successful as her Fabric shop.  Thanks Jane and Good Luck. 

Many of the charm packs, jelly rolls and layer cakes I have in all need a little something (anyways in my mind they do) to create into a quilt.  So I have been adding some Konas to my stash to have in for sashing blocks units or larger pieces to act as the cement for the whole quilt with having 3, 6 and 9 yard pieces in now.  Not sure where all of these will be used but they will, even in scrappy quilts if need be.  Aren't they gorgeous?

Off to clean up my home, it's amazing how fast it turns into shambles when my attention is elsewhere. 

Enjoy your day, I'm off to play...hehehe

Jane

Got Fleeced!

It's with joy in my heart that I was able to get two more fleece blankets done.  The fleece takes up so much room in my stash that both projects were easy and now are finished and beside sthat a major plus is one tube downstairs is now half empty.   WHOOT- whoot~!

Santa Fleece Blanket with a double crocheted edge, (this is the second one- only about 4 more to go!).   Used Lion Brand Yarn, Vanna's Choice in Color  I 30, Honey for this one.

Tow Mater's Fleece Tied Blanket:

I still have the Mater Strippy Quilt to finish and will be getting to that AFTER I complete the 24 blocks needed for the wonky house block (due date is March 1st), the Inukshuk quiltlet (due date is the end of January), and the Santa Redwork quilt whose number was drawn through my mother's guild to be done by March 13th.  So there are many projects on my list.

This evening, the guild I belong to is having a worshop on "all things Wool" offered by one of our members Kiity S.  She is such a hoot that I know it'll be fun.   A pincushion is what is on the agenda and I figure it's small enough to be completed in a small amount of time.  I can only hope!

Gotta run and get the list of things needed for that now.  I do enjoy your insights and visits, so thanks for stopping by and leaving your comments, I appreciate it.   I hope you enjoy your day.

Jane

Cookin' in the Kitchen with PGS#3

Had to share.  What a cutie!  PGS#3 helping Meme in the kitchen.

What a sweetie.  He helps and won't stuff his little fingers into the bowl until the batter is in the baking dish. TG!

With his other grandfather passing this past Monday, both of the littlest grandchildren have spent many hours here.  After a long health ordeal, their other grandfather David Macomber broke the bonds of earth on January 16, 2012. 

His wake and funeral were out of state, so we have been spending alot of quality time with both him and his sister. 

Under construction

For the Wonky House Swap that is.  I find it unbelievable that after several hours in my sewing room and all I was able to finish was one block.

Started out by drafting an approximate house diagram I thought I'd use to make templates.  That idea quickly went out the window when I fussy cut some fabric for windows.  I had an old sewing machine cover with these mannequin dress forms and thought they would be fantastic to show through the window.  After that  I did some assembly line sewing for the windows and doors to mass produce some house elements.

Not long into this stage of the process I realized that perhaps it would be best to continue making one block at a time.  At that point I played with fabrics until I was satisfied with color placements and textures all the while making sure my block would be the needed 12.5 inches unfinished.

Here's my prototype, aka Block 1 for the WH Swap.  Only 11 more to go.

Jane

PS:  I'm  not totally satisfied with the sizing of this house block, as you can see in my draft to final product, the house grew in size as I was sewing it.  I'll  need to scale it back a bit on the next ones, but Number one is done!  I joined in this to help liberate my quilting.  Not sure if this will work or drive me nuts, seems to be wasting alot of fabric in the wonkiness of it all.

Stash Report Week 3 of 2012

Used this Week:  2/3 yards

Used year to Date: 2 - 1/3 yards

Added this Week: 0 yards

Added Year to Date: 0 yards

Net Used for 2012: 0 yards

I was able to use another 2/3 of a yard this past week while finishing Cheryl's nephew Chris' quilt.   It was a PIG (project in a grocery sack) that she had wanted to make for her nephew.  The big C won and she left the bonds of earth too soon to see that realized. So a group of us took the pigs and are processing them at our own pace.  I had mixed feelings while completing that quilt, glad I was on the homestretch while sewing on the binding yet melancholy and missing my friend Cheryl.  It was with love for her that I was able to get this done and I hope Chris will feel her love when he snuggles underneath it.

 

Snow days at school mean that DH and I have some extra hands around the house on those days.   This past Friday was a Snow Day so we had the two youngest grandchildren here all day.  Can you say TIRED!  We kept busy but I found myself by mid day having my own little meltdown so I put myself in my own little time out to try to keep my composure.  A little sewing time by myself and I was feeling more my old self.  Amazing that it can reset me so quickly.  8-)    

 

So, I  started little Miss PGD#1 with her own project.    First learning the rudiments of the Singer featherweight by stitching on a piece of paper which she learned quickly.  Then I happened to have a panel of Moda dolls for her to sew.  I won't count that fabric out until the dolls are done and would you believe, I didn't have any polyester fiberfill!  Perhaps we'll get to it Monday.  They are both back since daycare is closed and School's on holiday for Martin Luther King's Day. 

 

Stay Warm,

 

Jane

 

PS: It's 12 degrees below zero right now.  Brrrr!

Hey Mom, does this look familiar?

Looks like a mini me....... years ago that is......  LOL

Jane

Learning

Lil' Miss climbed her first tree and she was having a BALL!

Look at that Smile!

Stash Report, Week 2 of 2012

Used this Week: 1 - 2/3  yards

Used year to Date: 1 - 2/3  yards

Added this Week: 0 yards

Added Year to Date: 0 yards

Net Used for 2012: 0 yards

Did get a crocheted edge onto a fleece panel from Keepsake Quilting that I purchased 6 of many years ago. 

I used  two double crochets(dc)  in each hole that the skip stitch blade made, carefully selecting the best hole in each corner before turning around the blanket to stitch the next side.  I actually did 5 dc in each corner to fill the stitches and not have too much fleece showing there.   For this I used Bernat Satin Yarn  color 04110 Admiral.   While dealing with my back problems, I actually gave the fleece blankets to a couple of the grandchildren already.  I plan on retrieving them individually and doing the crochet edge trim to finish them.  The first one is done. 

 Next- Cheryl's Chris' quilt.  I want that done by Wednesday.    Oh and I did totally finish the Key West Sunset quilt since my last post. 
Doing my own little happy dance and feeling so smug!  I hope this feeling and progress continues. 

Enjoy your Day,
Jane

Yearly Organizing

Birthday calendar for printing out two months at a time are on Eighten25.bs 

Menu systems  at PocketMeal Planning

A Good Start

2012 is off to a great start. 

I was able to finish another knitted dish rag  ends sewn in and all blocked.  The 2 youngest grand children were here since day care had a Holiday today.  After the cloth dried I recruited them to pull off the pins from the blocking board. They do enjoy these little chores.  After wards the Little one loves to wind cords so I gave him the snippet ball of yarn left over.  He played with that for at least an hour if not more.  Here are PGD#1 and PGS#3 ages 6 and 3.  She lost two teeth during Christmas Vacation.  They both spent the night at Meme and Popi's too.  Reaffirms why women should have children when they are younger.  Boy were we pooped getting up several times through out the night.

As for getting to the drawn #5 UFO, not yet.  I actually finally did put a label on  a quilt that was in the show back in October.  Label and bury the quilting threads on the backing of it has been on my list that still needed to be finished. 

Label ~ CHECK, did last night

Bury threads ~ NEXT!

The Label was made in that software program QUILT ALBUM.  That was the first reason I delayed in finishing the quilt.  Found some time to play around just before the Holidays and made a label with the pertinent data I wanted and printed it out on a prepared purchased fabric.   Boy that stuff was slippery when I started sewing borders around it.  Seemed like every edge was a bias one and thank goodness it was only for the back of the quilt. 

Note to self....if you ever do a photo collage quilt,  print one picture then test the results before you print every thing out.  Removing the paper was a chore and not as easy as I thought it would be.   

Well thanks for stopping by .  I do appreciate all the suggestions and comments.  May you 2012 be all that you desire.

JANE

Learning

Changed a couple of my settings to see if this was possible. 

I'm Liking it!

I always wondered how people did this. 
Now I Know.

Sweet.

JANE

We're OFF!

Judy pulled the first UFO challenge Number. Drumroll Mistro: rat a tat tat, etc........


NUMBER 5, the Inukshuk quiltlet.
It's not a large one so I should be able to get this one done quickly.


I also joined in the Wonky House Swap that Jane is hosting, she owns Jane's Fabrics. No connection here, just an internet friend and now I am so happy I got in on this one. This is another first for me. I've been wanting to stretch out my creativity with some liberating so this will be just the kick I need hopefully! I'll provide a link for you in a bit. With this swap I have to make 12 wonky house blocks and 12 signature blocks which need to arrive at Jane's on March 1st. I'm going to be a very busy girl.


Jane

Stash Report – Week 1 of 2012

I'm liking that this first report falls on the New Year with a brand new slate. Last year with all that we had happened, I stopped and lost track of reporting with the developments our lives took.
This year I am optomistic and looking forward to more productivity, healthier life style in self management and my living spaces besides finding time to allow more joy to nourish me through friends, family, faith and creativity. Ooops.. and a bit more adventures with traveling when possible. May the fun begin.

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Used for 2012: 0 yards

Enjoy your day. Today all the Christmas decorations will be coming down and the snowmen will be invading.

Happy Day!

Jane

MATH FACTS

This simple table is what I use to figure out the size squares needed for an "ON-POINT SETTING" set in triangles.  Figured I could use my blog to reference this handy table which then I'll be able to search for it quickly.  I know that if I stored it correctly in my studio would be a great idea BUT, sometimes my room is in such disarray that this mode becomes necessary.  

For the Corner triangles, cut out two squares then cut each square once on the diagonal to get your four corner squares.

**The set in triangles are squares that are cut twice diagonally in each direction.  Figure out how many triangles are needed for your quilt and then divide that number by four.    That will be how many squares are needed.  See chart below for sizes based on block size.



Size of                    Corner Triangles                        Set in Triangle SQUARES
BLOCKS                Squares- CUT 2                         **See note above

 4"                                  4"                                        7"
 5"                                  4.5"                                     8.5"
 6"                                  5.5"                                     10"
 7"                                  6"                                        11.25"
 7.5"                               6.5"                                     12"    
 8"                                  7"                                        12.75"
 8.5"                               7"                                        13.5"               
 9"                                  7.5"                                     14""
10"                                 8"                                        15.5"
12"                                 9.5"                                     18.25"
14"                                 11"                                      21"
15"                                 11.5"                                   22.5" 
16"                                 12.5"                                   24" 
18"                                 14"                                      27"
24"                                 18"                                      35.25"


After your quilt top is assembled, you may need to trim the edges.  remember to leave a 1/4 inch seam allowance when trimming.  I always add borders there after.    There, easy peasy.

Jane




 

SIZES

I am posting this as a handy reference for myself  with the common sizes of mattresses, quilts and bedspreads.

MATTRESS SIZES:

CRIB:                  26"  x  48"

TWIN:                 39"  x  75"
 
DOUBLE:            54"  x  75"

QUEEN:              60"  x  80"

KING:                 78"  x  80"

CAL.  KING         72"  x  84"    

QUILT SIZES:

 

CRIB:                 50"  x  53"

 

TWIN:                65"  x  88"

 

DOUBLE:          80"  x  88"

 

QUEEN:            86"  x  93"

 

KING:              104"  x  93"

 

 

BEDSPREAD SIZES:

 

TWIN:          81"  x  107"

 

DOUBLE:    96"  x  107"

 

QUEEN:     102"  x  112"

 

KING:         120"  x  112"

 

 

 

Happy New Year!

I welcome you.