Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

 I have been known to say that "closeness only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades".  I'm not playing horseshoes nor with hand grenades, but I am close to completing the 2nd top of the t-shirt quilts.

First, I'll show you the practice piece that came out so well that it can be used in another quilt... which one, I'm not sure.

And here is the actual block in the quilt top, which has been waiting for this before it gets sewn into a 'flimsy'.

I loaded a different quilt top onto Mo'e thinking that I could get it done before the  stenciling supplies arrived but it took me a couple of days to try and figure out HOW I wanted to quilt it.  Once I figured out HOW, I started but didn't last long - darned legs were hurting AGAIN arghhh!  I got one complete row done ( which is actually three rows done at the same time) and 2/3s of the second one done but then had to call it quits. That was the day before yesterday.

After I finish quilting the purple strips with purple thread, I'll go back and use the same quilting design on the white using white thread.  I have six more 'rows' to finish in the purple.

And that's it for now...  MAYBE by Sunday or Monday night, I'll be able to post that this quilt is off from Mo'e and that Molly's quilt top is loaded and ready to quilt.  MAYBE.

take care.....

STAY SAFE....

ttyl..

Two Steps forward then pause

 First, I have to give an update over the tiny red buttons that I need for the Bringing Home the Tree BOM from Shabby Fabrics. 

 I tried and tried to find replacement buttons for the ones I thought were missing - yes, thought... stay with me and I'll explain.  I couldn't find buttons small enough  so I took a chance and called Shabby Fabrics ( on Feb.24th) on the chance that they might have some 'left over' or that were being used on another of their projects.  In talking to the gal, who's name I've forgotten, I was told that the block with the candy canes had precut tiny circles of red for the holly - the buttons were just for the tree in the back of the pick up truck.  OOPS!!  I thought at first that I didn't get the precut circles, but she waited on the phone while I checked my kit leftovers ( Yes, I kept it all - just in case).  Oh yeah, they were there.

  Well, as I told her, the buttons are sewn on, the quilting is done and I'm not about to take those buttons off and replace them with itty bitty circles that would be next to impossible to machine stitch on.  So, she checked and, yes, they had some buttons that were similar.  She didn't tell me how much it would cost - and, at this point, I really didn't care. They arrived today!! $1.50 including postage.

So, the buttons will get added to the tree and I can call the quilt completely done.  Yay!

Now, back to the grandkids' t-shirt quilts....  First, I want to show what I added to the first one, which will go to Steven.

My original plan was to stencil a train locomotive on this block, but changed my mind this afternoon and tore a pocket off a pair of gpa's jeans and then cut one of his bandana handkerchiefs into quarters and folded it until it was like I wanted.  I stitched the bandana to the top of the pocket ( hidden by the bandana hangover) then I machine stitched the pocket to the block and the went back and hand stitched the sides of the bandana down.  the top of the pocket is open and so is the bottom (the pointed part) of the bandana.  It was easier to do than I thought it would be and I'm glad I did it.

The second t-shirt quilt is assembled into rows - well, the top and bottom rows are sewn, but the middle blocks are still in two blocks because I definitely want to do the locomotive on the white bandana block on this quilt - I'm just waiting for some spray stencil adhesive to arrive from Amazon.  I had looked for it over at Walmart, but didn't find exactly what I wanted and  I also had to order stencil paints from Amazon since I haven't used the ones I have in probably at least 10 years -- those are going into the trash.

Here's what I have so far.... this one will go to granddaughter, Molly.

While I'm waiting for the stencil spray to come ( should be Wed. or Thurs), I loaded a backing onto Mo'e and will finish loading batting and the top on tomorrow.  No photos right now - but I'm sure I'll include them in my next post.

Ok, dinner is calling....

take care...

ttyl.......

I DID IT FINALLY!

 I put my 'big girl panties' today and ignored all my excuses for not working on the quilt that's been on Mo'e for the past week.  It was so silly... I put a cd on my player and had the quilting and most of the trimming done before the cd was over.

This was one of my 'excuses' for not working on the quilt.  I've made t-shirt quilts before but I went around whatever the design was that was printed on the shirt(s).  There was no way that I could do that with this one - not and have it secure enough.

I don't know what I was so worried about... my needle went in and back out like it was normal cotton fabric - like 'a hot knife through butter'.

Here is the only problem I encountered... thread broke while I was trying to stitch and end at the corner.  (It's right over the i in Twins if you can't see it).

 

And, here it is completely done... this is our front porch/deck which was just enough room to lay it out for it's photo op.

And here's the label I printed out....

I'm in the process of cutting 5 1/2" cotton squares for two more t-shirt quilts (different pattern) - I need 81 for each - sigh.  Most probably I'll work on another t-shirt quilt top and cut more squares in between steps.  I think the next one I'll do will be with a BQ pattern.

Guess that's it for now...tomorrow, I have to pre-register for the new specialist I'm going to see on Tuesday afternoon.  I also have to find a pair of shorts to wear during the ultra sound and whatever other tests they want to do.  Wouldn't you know I threw out three pair of cutoff shorts just a week or so ago... isn't that the way it goes?!!?  I THINK I might have some in a donation box that hasn't been donated yet.  That's where I'll check first - if none there, I'll have to clear quilts out of the closet so that I can get to the summer clothes bin and hope there will still be a pair in there.

anywayyyyyyy....

take care....

ttyl....

Stalling

 I think that's what I'm doing anyway.  I finished the first t-shirt quilt top

It's not a very good photo... it's Feb in Michigan... not much chance of laying it on the grass and taking an overhead photo like I usually do... and I don't have my quilt holder (hubby) to hold them up inside for me.  Sooo, it is what it is.   

The top has been finished since the 7th and I have the backing and batting, so why haven't I loaded everything on to Mo'e and quilted it!??!  Well, for one thing, I don't know HOW I want to quilt it.  And, for another thing, I can't find ( imagine that!) the roll of fabric that I use to print photos/labels on, so ordered a new roll today but it won't be here until next week.  Let's see, what other excuse can I come up with?  Well, I can't do it today because I went and got groceries yesterday when there wasn't an 'amigo' available so I used a 'normal' cart and between doing that, unloading the groceries into the car and then onto our deck and then into the house - and my back and legs have been moaning and groaning ever since.  I couldn't even walk Buddy in the afternoon.  This morning wasn't quite so bad, but I'm still not up to standing to load Mo'e.

AND, I finally figured out what to do with the really blank spaces on some of the t-shirts... like the block in the middle that says Grandpa Rocks.  I found a train locomotive stencil on ebay that I can use in those spaces.  He LOVED trains, especially the older steam engine ones.  I already have stencil paints and brushes.  While I'm waiting for the stencil to arrive, I can practice on some of the tshirt scraps and one of the stencils I already have.

I finally broke down and ordered some doll buttons from Amazon so that I can finish up that Christmas time quilt that I was working on before I started the t-shirt quilts.  The reds in the assortment are not the same shade as the ones provided with the quilt kit, but I can mix them in and they should be fine.  All that's left is the Christmas tree so I can use three of  original buttons and three of the replacements... it should work out.

I also received a replacement for one of my Janomes.. I felt my sewing chair not gliding like it should one day last week, but couldn't see anything.  I found it the next morning... I had run over and cracked the plastic on the foot.  I did use some glue to join it back on and it looks ok, but I thought I'd better get a new one - just in case. It's the satin stitch foot and I use it a LOT, not just for satin stitching but also for blanket stitching.   I couldn't find a model # ( never thought to look on the BACK of the machine DUH).. just knew that it was a Quilter's Companion/Marie Osmand edition, so I kind of guessed and placed my order.  The one on top is the one they sent me.

It came within just a very few days ( from Tennessee) and that's when I realized it was the WRONG one.. wider than mine, so I called them and they were very nice and helped me find the model # and said they would send me the correct one - I got it today ( I think I called Tuesday)- and the wrong one was sent back for a refund yesterday.

And I have been doing a little sorting and moving things from my old sewing room... not a lot, but I'm not in a rush and a little at a time is working so far.  I'm still trying to get things better organized out here in the new sewing room - not as easy a task as one would think it would be.

Sooo, I guess I'd better quit stalling and get to working on SOMETHING.  My friend, Marnie, says "work on something even if it's the wrong thing" - lol.

take care....

Stay safe....

ttyl......

T-shirt quilts

 I don't know if I posted before about making the t-shirt quilts from my late husband's t-shirts (99! of them), but that's what I'm doing with the intention that there will be one each for several of our grandkids.  Not ALL of the grandkids will get one, mainly because they weren't all that close to him. I'm planning on making eight at this point; I may be able to make more depending on how many shirts I use for each quilt.

I'm making them to be approximately 60" x 60" and this first one will be made up of nine 19" blocks - 3 x 3.  I'm debating on making the ninth/center block from something other than a t-shirt front; I've been considering several possibilities such as printing a photo of Grandpa or maybe just his name onto a cotton square and then adding strips around the block until it's the size I need.  Or, I could use one of his bandana handkerchiefs... or even work something out around one of his white handkerchiefs that has his initial on it.... Decisions, decisions.

Ok, anyway, here's some photos of yesterday's work.... I was trying to make 'shadow' blocks from memory..

Obviously, my memory wasn't working all that great.  I know there was a quilt I saw where the squares looked like they were floating and the piecer joined the two strips end to end like in the first photo, but I couldn't find it when I went looking for the photo.. so on to attempt #2... Nope, still not quite right....

Finally, got it... found a photo of a string quilt that I made for charity where I had a 'shadow' for each block and realized what I needed to do.

The next two went a lot easier and faster....

The gray that I'm using is a light medium shade ( which means it's darker than it shows in the pic).  I knew that since most of his shirts are either black or dark/navy blue, using black for the shadow wasn't going to work.

The weather here is predicted to be bitter cold over the next few days so I went and got groceries last night so that I can hunker down and just sew ( as long as we have power- KNOCK ON WOOD).  My only reason to go outside is to walk Buddy and I have a feeling he's not going to want to be out any longer than absolutely necessary - and I completely understand.

take care....

STAY WARM/SAFE...

ttyl......

Second this year

 I just finished quilting my second (of this year) UFO/WTBQ (waiting to be quilted) on Mo'e yesterday; even got the binding and label on.  It still needed buttons sewn on when I quit last night.  It was a block of the month from Shabby Fabrics that I'll keep for myself - at least for awhile.

This is the back... I had no idea what I would do with this fabric when I bought it and I'm still not sure it's the 'perfect' backing, but it is what it is.

When sewing on the binding....I lost in the 'race' with the bobbin, but won with the spool :).

I stitched on most of the remaining buttons and all of the beads this afternoon while watching a Booth Brothers concert live on youtube.  I say most of the remaining buttons because it appears that I'm one or two short.  I don't know what happened... I counted once and they came out one short.  I counted again and had exactly what I needed... counted again and I was two short.  I thought maybe the missing one(s) had got caught in the quilt or just got knocked either into my lap or onto the floor, but I've looked and looked and can't find them.  My next thought was to find my little container of tiny buttons to see if I could use a couple of them - of course, I can't find it.  Found lots of other button containers, just not the one I need.  <sigh> so the finish will have to wait awhile until it 'magically' appears.

Now, to clear my workspace so that I can start on the first of the t-shirt quilts.  And I might grab another finished top and load it onto Mo'e... we'll see.

take care....

ttyl........

Productive weekend

And did it ever feel good!  I did two quilts on one of my domestic machines... both gnome themed.

This table runner...

and then what was supposed to be my Christmas tree for last month... well, it's done now, so I'll have it ready to hang next Christmas.  Not a good pic, sorry :(.

Then it was on to working on the quilt that has been hanging around on Mo'e for at least a couple of weeks.  I just couldn't decide on how to quilt it... then my friend, Katie, suggested wonky stars and I remembered the mariner's compass star pattern that I've used (and liked) in the past.  It took me a little bit of thinking and hunting to find the path pattern that I had for it, then I decided that wonky could be done just by not hitting the designated spots except in the corners...

 

And here it is with quilting, binding and label all done.  I tried indoor pics last night... but they were blah, so I decided that a quick photo outside wouldn't hurt.

I started and completed the quilt top itself in 2018...it's been hanging around on the rack waiting it's turn ever since.

I grabbed another quilt from the rack - not as old as the previous one, but one that's been waiting for probably at least a year ( the last couple of years were kind of hit and miss as far as quilting went).  This, too, is a Christmas themed quilt top and I found some great backing fabric for it in my stash.

I also plan on starting to turn hubby's t-shirts into quilts for some of the grandkids later this week.  I think I can alternate between sit down and stand up work and it'll be ok.... we'll  see.

take care...

ttyl.....