Something New

We just can’t work on one project at a time, now can we?  Although I could be finishing up LOTS of things, I chose to start something new. 

I have a four patch posie (the correct spelling is posy, but I like ie better)  pattern.  You cut 4 exact repeats of fabric, layer them and then cut squares.

This is the fabric I chose:

And here are some of the blocks:

I found fabric in my stash for sashing and posts between the blocks.  See, I am using my stash!

By the way,  Happy Father’s Day to my wonderful husband and sons-in-law.  You have all brought me-and my family- great joy.  I love you guys!!

A Dog’s Life

Starting Over…Again

I have been trying to quilt this:

As I said, I am not pleased with this quilt.  I decided to do an overall stipple and Katie looked at it and said, “You always do the same thing…”

So I picked out three rows of quilting.  I had an idea to do a kind of feather idea but to get the effect I wanted.  Unfortunately, the border was too wide and I picked all that out… 

Difficult to see but imagine LOTS of little threads and holes on the quilt top.

So I am going to meander-but smaller- the borders and put a little design in the blocks.  Sorry Katie, but it is going to look the same.

I am beginning to hate this quilt…

On a brighter note, I got some fabrics for my civil war quilt!

 

Can I tell you that each quarter cost me about $1.50 and the total shipping was $4.50?  I am very pleased!

Look What I Can Do!

Craftgawker

No pictures today but I tried my hardest!

I originally found Craftgawker as an app for my ipad.  It is a free app that shows lots and lots of links to all kinds of projects on the web. I spent mucho time looking at lots of links last night! The I found the website:

http://craftgawker.com/

So even if you don’t have an iphone or ipad, go take a look!

More Blocks

I guess I am slowing down.  I only have three more blocks to show today.  I decided that I need more fabric (!) for the blocks so I am now searching for more.

I am not too sure about the top block.  Any two of the three fabrics are all right together, but all three….I don’t know.  The third block is paper pieced.

I am finding that she uses the 25 patch often (as in the middle block).  I am going to make some templates to use for these blocks to use with my rotary cutter.  I may do that with the 7 x 7 grids also.

It is very hot here; 95 degrees yesterday and about 90 degrees today. Today there is a little breeze and it seems to be less humid. The upstairs is very warm so I have abandoned my sewing room.   Of course tomorrow is the day we are having central air conditioning installed.  Yay!  After 30 years!

My Little Secret

OK-this is a little embarrassing but I have a confession to make.

I am glued to the television watching the Casey Anthony trial.  Today Katie and I had to run out to run some errands and it was very difficult to leave the house.  Thank goodness for Nancy Grace and Dr. Drew!  I can get updates on what I miss.  There are also a couple websites I visit.

Why is it so compelling?  I wish I knew.  Maybe I am trying to understand her psyche; how she could continue to lie even when presented with her inconsistencies.  Yes, I believe she was somehow involved but I doubt we will ever know the real truth.  One reporter/commentator stated that he believes that everyone in the family is lying about something.

So that the time is not completely wasted I have been sewing-in my sewing room until it gets too warm and then in the afternoon I watch while working on this sashiko project I picked up in Baltimore.

The fabric is light blue and I am using white thread.  Of course I looked up directions after I started.  Traditionally, you work in rows, starting at the out side edges.  So I guess that that almost completed flower was done incorrectly.  I also do not have the finger thimble I have seen in several pictures.  Oh well-at least it looks like others I have seen!

Have you tried sashiko yet?

Three More Blocks

I have 3 more Civil War quilt blocks:

So far, they are coming together fairly quickly.  The third block in my pictures is not symmetrical to me but I did follow the directions.  The measurements have included lots of 1/8” increments but they have not been too difficult to do.

On the Frame

I put this quilt on my frame the other day.

I loved the fabric when I bought it.  The background fabric is actually white with mini dots of the same colors in the blocks.

I liked the pattern, too.  It went together very quickly.  It is also big; it fits well on a queen sized bed.

But now I really don’t like the quilt.  I put the piping border on incorrectly (long, boring story) so it is uneven in spots.  I made the borders 10” wide to accommodate the blocks I put in the corners, so I can’t use the quilting pattern I wanted to use won’t work (I only have a 7 1/2” throat on my sewing machine).

So I am going to try to make the best of it.  I am going to try using a pantograph to quilt this quilt.  I have not used pantographs yet; I mostly meander or quilt through tissue paper patterns.  I am a little nervous but I really want to learn to quilt from the “back of my machine” (i.e., using more all over pantographs.

I will keep you posted on my progress!