Busy Busy Busy

I finished up Carol's President block yesterday morning.  I think it came out pretty good.

After I finished it, I decided that I'd start trying to clean my sewing room up a little bit... well, that didn't last long because I started finding strips that could go in a string block - why put in the bag, which is still full, when I could just as easily stitch up the blocks.  I got one block done... pretty boring, so I moved on.
While cleaning, I found the pattern for a cellphone buddy... it holds your cell phone, pen, post it notes, etc.  I had bought the pattern ( printed on fusible interfacing) sometime earlier this year - a quick project that I figured I might as well do while I still have a BUNCH of fabrics laying out waiting to be sorted and stored.  I ended up using a new fat quarter because it was there and it had bumblebees on it ( a reminder of my Grandma Bee).

Nothing fancy, but definitely something that won't easily get misplaced.  I think I'll try and get some more of the fusible interfacing patterns and make some up for Christmas gifts for next year.

Then I found another quick project that I'd been wanting to do... and still not using scraps - had to do a little 'search and rescue' to find fabrics that would match.  This will be sent to my youngest daughter sometime in the next month or so.

I took the pic before I realized that I had forgotten to sew the buttons onto the front of the panties... they're on now.

This morning....

Still in the same box, I found the pattern for the little purse notebooks that I had made for gifts for this past Christmas and so I made myself one.

Using orange threads, I started out in the center by quilting three feathers... but soon realized that I couldn't see my stitching and the feathers were coming out UGLY; so I switched over to simple stipple stitching.  The fabric pattern is so busy that you can't really see the stitching, which is fine with me.

I was up just before 6 am this morning ( after going to sleep shortly after 1 am) so I know that today's plans will include nap time.  Infact, I'm ready for it now.

After the nap, I'm going to play on Mo'e for a few minutes before removing practice fabrics and start loading the backing for the Gingerbread Boy quilt... My plan is to work on it today and hopefully finish it up tomorrow.

The other day, while doing some straightening up around Mo'e, I found another completed practice piece, but couldn't find the remainder of the backing fabric to make binding with.  I found it last night so will cut what I need for binding and get that sewn on in the next day or so.  It might end up going for a charity quilt, but in the meantime, I'll keep it for a reference.

Ok, my couch is calling my name - I REALLY need at least another hour of sleep.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

TTYNY ( if not sooner)

testing 1...2....3

I read the pattern for the block that I wanted to make for the library block that I volunteered to do at guild.  It said it would make an 8" block, but did not say whether it was 8" finished or unfinished so I decided that I'd better grab some scrap fabrics and do a block to test.

.......and it was a good thing that I did.... I need an 8 1/2" UNFINISHED block

then, I also noticed that one of the fabrics I was provided with wasn't big enough for the cuts I would have needed to make.

Got to thinkin' and thinkin' and this is what I decided on....  and I like it!

For the flowers... I cut three out of that fabric, cut one in half because it didn't have complete petals all the way around like the other two did.  Arranged everything onto the block, sticking one of the half flowers in the back of the two complete ones, fused everything down.  Used a tiny straight stitch just inside the edges to stitch down the flower petals with a purply thread that matched the outer centers of the flowers.  I went back in and, using the same green that I used for the stems, I traced the spiral in the center of each flower.

I'm really quite pleased with it.

Now, on to Carol's block...  it's for the outgoing president of our guild.  Again, it's going to take using my imagination... think it will be close to what I just did for the library block; that's been my plan.. I have Christmasy type print for the background block and then I want to applique down a poinsettia onto it.  Of course, I can't settle for simple applique' - I'll have to see what I have in the way of beads for the center of the flower - or find SOMETHING to make it a little different.  We'll see what I come up with.  :)

TTYL

Holidays are pretty much over...

They're over for us since we don't do anything to celebrate the end of the old year and beginning of a new one.  Just getting through Thanksgiving and Christmas - and our wedding anniversary - are enough for this pair of 'old farts'.  All three brought us happiness and a feeling of being blessed.  I'm tickled, too, because there was nothing that had to be returned or regifted - well, except for the gift cards that I sent to the two grandsons in Tx; I bought them cards to use at Speedway for gas, etc.... there are NO Speedways in Tx, although I could have sworn there were.  Daughter is going to mail them back to me and I'll buy other cards ... like Buffalo Wild Wings as replacements.


Even with Christmas, I still continued to do some quilting... well, piecing anyway.  This quilt top is ready to load onto Mo'e.

I found some gingerbread boy prints in my stash that I received from my late cousin, Phyllis and used one print for the borders then took most of what was left of the gingerbread boy prints to make the backing, adding some of the candy cane stripe to even out the pieces.

close up of the bottom... its the directions to make the tree skirt.  

I only found one panel for the Christmas tree skirt and that one panel only makes 1/2 of the skirt... not sure if there's still another panel in the bin or not; I didn't see it if there was.  Just couldn't see going out and buying fabric or using up yardage from my stash to make the backing when I had these pieces that wouldn't get used - made perfect sense to me to use them for the backing.  I told someone in one of the FB groups that I belong to that the back was silly - she thought I was not giving myself the credit I deserved for doing it.  I told her that I wasn't discrediting myself; I was just being honest - I think this backing looks silly and I don't care.

I want to get to work on two or three other projects before I load this quilt onto Mo'e... two are quick projects that won't take long.... Carol's block and then one or two blocks for the library.  The other one will probably not be a quicky... I really need a new 'winter' purse and I've had the fabric and pattern for probably two years - just haven't had the nerve to try it after reading the directions.  Read them again this morning and I'm pretty sure I can do it as long as I just worry about it one step at a time.

Those three projects are my finished by the end of this year goals.  IF I meet these goals, THEN I will reward myself by loading the gingerbread men onto Mo'e.

TTYL

Christmas Eve

sashing and matching borders on.... next to come is either brown or black narrow border.... then the green wider border, but not until probably Monday since tomorrow is Christmas Day, the day after is our wedding anniversary and Sunday I'm meeting up with 12 yr old grandson and his mother for a quick visit.

Service man for Mo'e came bright and early this morning... and Mo'e is ready to get to work - all 'fixed'.

Merry Christmas Everyone... May you receive a bounty of blessings tomorrow :)

TTYL

Two days til Christmas

Shopping is done, gifts are made/purchased, shipped and received.  I'm not cooking this year - other than Christmas morning breakfast for hubby and myself.

Yesterday I spent most of the day finishing up the appliqueing of the  2015 Gingerbread Men BOM from Cindy Rodenmeyer (fatcatpatterns.com)

 these two still had phone book pages on the backs that still needed removing.  I've taken the papers off since the pic was taken.

The bottom two rows now have sashing between the blocks.  - My 'design wall' isn't big enough to hold all of them so the bottom row is laying over to the side. -  I'm still trying to figure out the best way to cut the strips for the sashing between the borders... I have three yards of fabric, so I can cut length wise to get the stripes to match the other sashing, which is what I want - I just don't want to waste fabric so am trying to figure out if there's another way to do it.  Probably not.

sashing fabric

While at Walmart this morning, I happened upon some precuts packages of fabric... 2 yards for less than $7. and it's not flimsy stuff.  Pretty green that will go with the green in the striped sashing.  I bought two which should be more than enough for borders.  I know what people say about Walmart and JoAnn's fabrics - but this is not an heirloom quilt... the gingerbread men and their clothes were all made from 'scraps' and the background was from yardage leftover from another project.  It doesn't require investing Mega Dollars into it when I don't even know what I'll do with it once it's done.  It probably won't go to charity since I did pay quite a bit for the sashing fabric ( something like $10 a yard); one of my kids or gkids will probably end up with it.

I also finished quilting the Super Quilter wall hanging day before yesterday - just haven't taken a pic of it yet.  I ended up loading it onto Mo'e since my domestic machines are not working up to my standards for free motion right now.

 Since I didn't want to lose the Super Quilter pin, I left it on the quilt during the quilting process and also while I was adding the binding.  BUT when I finished, I noticed it was GONE!!... Searched all over the house for it, checked to see if Buddy found it ( innocent for once lol), still couldn't find it.  Finally, the next morning, after checking all over again, I said a couple of prayers and started working on the Gingerbread applique... when - guess what - there was the pin wedged in between the two tables in my sewing room!!  HOORAY!!.  Now, it's complete except for the signature of the woman who made the top for me - she's in Florida for the winter so next Spring, I'll take it to one of our meetings so that she can sign it for me.

Close to dinnertime....
TTYL

Sew in Weekend with the Guild Gals

Ok, now I can reveal what I made for some of my quilting friends in the guild....

Binding kits with matching/coordinating notebooks for their purses.  I also included a pkg of instant hot chocolate in the pocket on the right side of the binding kits.  Everyone seemed to love them.    

I spent today simply cutting out the pieces that I had put fusible ( Heat n Bond) onto and then pressing the shapes onto the background squares for the Gingerbread Boy quilt that I decided I was going to work on this weekend.  Six of the twelve were already done ( applique and all), so I was glad of that.  Then I got to the last block and realized that I was short some eyes and mouths... not a big deal; I'll trace and fuse them tonight so that they'll be ready to fuse onto the block tomorrow... THEN I can start the appliqueing.  :)  YAY!

After lunch, I went over to both of the LQSs to see if either had some Gingerbread boy print fabrics that I could use for the borders for this quilt... neither one had any.  I decided that I'll just wait until the top is ready and then I'll take it with me to see what I want for the borders.  Margaret did mention that she has a couple of yards of a gingerbread man/boy print and will bring it to the sew in tomorrow - maybe that's what I can use; we'll see.

'

Ok, dinner's almost ready....

TTYL

DONE DONE DONE!!! Part 2

The Christmas gifts are ALL DONE!!  YAY!!  Now all I have to do is finish wrapping so that hubby can have the dining room table back to start his next jigsaw puzzle.
Here's the pillow I made for the neighbor girl.  It went together pretty quick last night.  Looking at the pic now, I can't get over how the bone in his mouth looks.... almost like it was added onto the pic when I made the pillow but it wasn't.  I quilted the back of the pillow using poly batting to make it extra poofy... so cuddly.  Accidentally sewed the back onto the front with the print upside down, but I don't think anyone will notice if I don't point it out.  :)

 Now, while getting projects ready for the guild sew in this weekend, I'll be starting to clean up my sewing room, cutting 2 1/2" squares from scraps to use on the Goodnight Irene scrappy quilt that we started this past Oct. with Toni Ivy.  I'd like to get the quilt done before Toni returns for another 'class' in April, but it has to stay a 'sideline' for right now; I have other quilts that I need to get to first.

I'm thinking I really need to make up a list of all that I want to get done in the next month or two... the Quilt of Valor for Tonya in Mississippi, the Scooby Doo quilt for John in Scotland, plus at least 5 tops that are still waiting to be quilted.  My plan for the sew in is to finish appliqueing the gingerbread people quilt blocks; I think I have six of the twelve to do yet.  I ordered some pretty candy stripe fabric for sashing and inner borders for it... not sure what I'm going to use for the outer border yet.  Need to find backing fabric, too.

Today, it's running errands day... have to drive into Lansing to get gift card for hubby's daughter in law then off to Walmart to get groceries, along with paying bills either online, via check in mail or at the bank.

Hubby's up... I'm off to put the morning drops in his eyes ( required after cataract surgery).

MERRY CHRISTMAS

TTYL

Deadlines are looming

Actually, I've met most of mine... working on one final gift for a family member; then I have a pillow to make for our little neighbor, Bella, who just LOVES our Buddy.
Here's what I made yesterday...

chef's hat and reversible apron for a little girl who LOVES Minnie Mouse.  She is the youngest sister of one of our grandsons; not my granddaughter by blood, but still part of my extended family.

The one I'm working on right now is one of those doll beds made from a plastic 'shoe' box.  I made one last year without any problems... of course, I have a problem the second time around - never fails.  I've glued the fabric ( sheet) onto the lid getting it as tight as I can... apparently not quite tight enough because there are some wrinkles around the curves, but that's not the problem.  The problem is that the lid won't snap onto the box - and it should!!

It snaps on on one end, but not the other.  

Of course, I've already burned one finger with my nemesis....

It never fails anymore... if I'm using the glue gun, I'm going to get burned.  :(  I really need to check into getting one of those Cool Glue guns.

Here's the quilt that will go with the bed once I get it done...

I've tried the top on a couple of other boxes... still only snaps on one end.... guess it's time to start over with a new piece of fabric and a new lid - good thing I bought four boxes with lids.

Will let you know how it goes.... wish me luck ( LOTS OF IT)

TTYL

Well, I'm back.... I figured out what the problem was with the first attempt.... it's kind of hard to see in the pic, but I wanted to include it for future reference ( because I'll probably do more of these in the future).  All I needed to do was NOT cover the tabs on the ends of the lid/mattress.  Simple once I figured it out.

Ok, here's the completed bed....

and a pic with the doll that's going with the bed, quilt and pillow ( and can be stored inside the box/bed.

Now, I have to go over to Walmart to find some fabric that I can use for the neighbor girl's pillow.

I just might be back later  lol.... most probably not until tomorrow, though. 

TTYL --  Oh, and MERRY CHRISTMAS

VERY SHORT POST

Here's my entry for the guild's Christmas Song Challenge.  It's SUPPOSED to be "Jingle Bells/ Dashing Through the snow" but guild member, Bill, called it "Santa running through the snow in his skivvies"  LOL.

Here's a pic of my son's quilt from a different angle -and, yes, that's me holding it up.  I am so happy at the way it turned out.

Yesterday, I got a quilt done for one of the doll beds I'm making... no pic yet, but I'll have one once I get the bed(s) made.

Short but kinda sweet

Not much to say... I put the 3rd and last Strings for Siren quilt onto Mo'e yesterday and got about half of it done... finished the rest today and it's DONE!  I tried a new ( for me) stitching pattern... Leah Day calls it "Zippling"... a version of stippling where you do points instead of curves.  I think I'd like it better if I used it as a filler instead of edge to edge like I did on this quilt.

I don't have a pic of the entire quilt... hope to post one Friday after pics are taken at the guild's meeting.  Here is what I do have.

on the frame

still on the frame but after some of the quilting is done.

This was my last full size quilt for this year.  I still have a couple of doll quilts that I want to make for gifts, but will do those on one of my domestic machines.

Christmas is two weeks and three days away; time to get things finished up... Christmas cards, wrapping gifts... oh, and I should 'bite the bullet' and snip the fabric where needed on our Christmas Tree so that I can insert the lights; right now, they are pinned to the front of the tree - I'll take a pic after I do and you'll understand what I'm talking about.

Ok, off to fix dinner...  TTFN ( ta ta for now)

DONE DONE DONE!!!

I finished the quilting yesterday... binding and label went on today and then into the washer & dryer it went - there was WAYYY too much dog & cat hair on it; it HAD to be washed.  I certainly didn't expect it to come out as 'wrinkled' as it did.  I thought that by washing all the fabrics before cutting and piecing, it wouldn't 'wrinkle' like this - the only thing I didn't wash was the batting --  should I have done that too?  Something I'll have to check into.

And here are the matching pillowcases that I just finished.  These took a little longer than necessary because I was determined to do them on my serger, but it wouldn't co-operate... first, I had to change from the white threads to black ones... then, of course, the threads didn't want to stay threaded... so it took over an hour when it shouldn't have taken but an hour at the most from start to finish.

Tomorrow, hubby is supposed to have what I think is to be his final post-op check up after his cataract surgery.  I say supposed because earlier today, I received a text from the eye dr's office 'reminding' me of his appointment on WEDNESDAY... arghhh.  I'll have to call them early in the morning tomorrow to find out WHICH appointment is the real one.

Still not done with Christmas gifts yet... now I have an apron and chef's hat along with Barbie doll type beds to make from plastic 'shoe boxes' ( something I learned from another guild member last year).  And I'm thinking I should make two aprons since one of the girls I planned on making a Barbie bed for just turned 11 - maybe too old for playing with dolls - and she & youngest sister fight for what is apparently the only apron in the house :).

I still have the last Strings for Siren quilt to finish this week, too... I want to have it ready to present Thurs. night...won't take long to do the actual quilting - hopefully Tuesday; if so, I can bind it on Thurs afternoon if I can't get to it before then.

Guess that's all folks - I'm off to enjoy a Christmas movie and just relax.
TTYL

I thought I could

I thought I could finish my son's quilt today.... thought wrong!  I started out at 9 a.m. by turning the tv onto the music channel so that I'd have Christmas music in the background.  That went well, but then things just seemed to go downhill from there... Mo'e just didn't want to work right this morning... threads broke - because there was some tiny 'rats nests' on the cone and I didn't notice because I was checking everything else.  Ran out of bobbin thread and had to wind another one.. then when I went to re-thread Mo'e, apparently I didn't get the thread between the tension wheels like I was supposed to so I ended up with this underneath....

 and this on top.....

Somewhere in the process of trying to get problems worked out, Mo'e scratched my hand.
I decided not to take a pic of my hand... it's on my right hand and I'd have to try and use the camera with my left hand - I'm not ambidextrous

And, of course, I had to keep stopping every 4 hrs to give hubby his eye drops ( which are due again in about 5 minutes).

I'm on the last row of blocks and maybe 1/3 of. it's done.  Have one long dark brown piece that I haven't decided what to do on... certainly not feathers since the border is at least 60% feathers.

I've picked out stitches and restitched them, but there are more that I should have taken out and redone, but since I'm trying to get it done this week, it's not going to happen.  I'm really wishing that I had started this quilt months ago so that I would have been able to take more time in the quilting.  There are some parts that I really like and probably just as many parts that I really don't like.
I told hubby that I would go run errands in the morning, so I probably won't get the quilt completely done in time to take it to the meeting tomorrow night... oh well, I'll just take it next week.


OH!  Almost forgot... I finished up the grandkids ornaments last night... all except for signing the backs of them with the gkid's name and the year.

TTYL