Random Pictures

This is Buddy’s newest trick.  Now that the front door is closed this is the only pace he can look out the window. (The deck door would be too easy, I guess!)

 

Sorry I cut off your head Dave!

Tuesday’s Tip: November 9, 2010

Have you seen this tip yet?

Did you know that you can use the Glad Press n’ Seal to mark your quilting patterns?

I traced on to the Glad Wrap with a fine point Sharpy, stuck it on to my fabric and then stitched through it.

(My machine was not set up for free motion quilting so I did a zig-zag through the Glad Wrap.)

  It peels away fairly easily.  You might need a pin to get into some tight places but I really had no problem.

I am thinking that you might be able to cut simple shapes from your fabric also.

Let me know if you try it! 

Tuesday’s Tip: November 2, 2010

OK.  This tip is for me more than anyone else.

This is a picture from a picture from a few days ago.  I usually drape my my quilts over my frame for taking pictures.

What you DON’T see is the quilt that is on the frame and ready to go.  It has been on there since JULY.

This year I have started and not finished 2 large quilts, a table runner and several assorted “mid-sized”  quilts.  A couple need borders; all need to be quilted.

So my tip is: finish at least one WIP before the end of the year.  I plan to devote November to getting these quilts quilted.  I have no excuse for not finishing-except that I keep starting new things! Since I am all caught up with my obligations at the shop, I can concentrate on my own projects.

I will keep you posted on my progress.

Now, get to work!

Happy Halloween!

Something Different

We had this fabric at the shop and I knew that we could do something different with it.  The original fabric was a repro from the Marie Webster Collection (I think Georgia Bonesteel designed it).  There were 12 hankies/panel. 

So I fooled around with them and did this:

 

I fussy cut the petals and then appliqued them (machine of course!) onto 6 1/2” blocks.

And this is the little quilt I made.

Tuesday’s Tip October 26, 2010

I am back with Tuesday’s tip.

Now I know that everyone has a favorite way of doing flying geese.  I tend to use the technique that the pattern calls for, especially if I am using a pre–packaged kit. That way I am sure I have enough fabric.

Yesterday I made my flying geese the old fashioned way.  That is to say, I placed a smaller square in the corner of the larger rectangle and sewed along the diagonal of the square.

After sewing, the directions call for you to cut off the two triangles in the back and then ironing the front triangle back, creating the flying geese block.

I do it a little bit differently.  I only cut the back half of my attached square, leaving the rectangle intact.

I do this for a couple of reasons. The rectangle is the true measurement of the the flying geese block if I have not been perfect in my sewing.   And since I usually always machine quilt, the bulk of two layers is negligible.

As you can see here, my sewing was not perfect:

And here is the result of yesterday’s sewing:     

As you can see, I had a helper who want HIS picture taken!

 

PS:  The center is not pieced; that is the fabric.  This is a Thimbleberries pattern and kit that I picked up at the shop.

Friends Swap

Khris from Sew Prim Khris is having a Friends Swap.  You are matched with a partner and you send each other goodies for each letter in the word Friends.

I was partnered with Cyndy.  Her blog is Crafty Stitchers and she promptly sent my package last week.  I finished her package this week and sent it out today.

Let’s just say that I wasn’t disappointed when I opened my package today:

Fall Decorations (the kitty is a pin!)

Reading Material

A note book for Inspiration

Edibles (Chocolate-Yum!!)

A New Pattern

 

Christmas Decorating

And finally, a beautiful Penny Rug Sewn by Cyndy!

Cyndy, thank you so much for being such a great partner!  I love everything and I hope you enjoy your package from me!

Where’s Duke?

Where is Duke? 

There he is!

Duke is Buddy’s friend.  He is a neighborhood dog who is allowed to occasionally wander (I always worry when he is out-I usually bring him home but…)

Anyways he has a wonderful temperament and loves to play with Buddy.  They are almost twins-except Duke is a lot bigger than Buddy. They look like father and son when they play together.

We should all have such good friends!

I Did It!

Well, after months of going back and forth, I finally decided to buy this:

I played with one at the shop but I have not yet tried it here at home.  Michael and I looked it over though and I circled the dies I wanted from the brochure for later gift purchases.  The cutter is my early birthday present.

I will let you know how I do!

Go Yankees!

New York, New York

Pictures from our bus trip to NYC.

Lauren and Linda at 6:00 a.m.  (Linda is shy!)

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Toys R Us-The Ferris Wheel is inside the building!

Parking in New York!

Wall Street

           

This little baby was $24,500. There are diamonds in between the pearls. We figured we could buy it together and share it. Wouldn’t it be perfect for those quick trips to the bottle return?

Atop the Empire State Building.  Oh-we walked the last 6 flights to the top.  They said it would be quicker!

Our visit also included the American Girl Shop, Macy’s,  Rockefeller Center, The Metropolitan Museum Store, the M&M’s store and the Hershey’s store.

Bleeh!

This is exactly how I have been feeling lately.

Usually I love the change to the fall season-the cooler weather, putting up decorations, cooking comfort foods.  But not so this year. I have been grumpy; I am always tired and I don’t feel like doing anything.

Enough is enough.  I decided that my sewing room needs to be cleaned so I sorted through and rearranged some of my collection.  I got rid of some school stuff that I had been hanging onto “just in case”.  Tomorrow I will have my husband help me get out and put up my fall stuff.  I will not feel sorry for myself anymore!

In the midst of all this, Lauren, Linda (Lauren’s boyfriend’s mom) and I went to NYC for the day.  We did have a good time.  I will post pictures soon.  And Tuesday’s Tip will return!

Tuesday’s Tip September 7, 2010

Yikes! It’s Tuesday! I woke up thinking it was Friday.  Wishful thinking, I guess.

I did not get pictures yet for my original tip but here is a great tip that I read on the Keepsake Quilting website:

A quilter suggested that each time you finish a binding, save and attach the leftover to your other leftover binding strips.  Then when you finish a scrap quilt, you will have a binding ready to go-or at least started. Brilliant!  I may even start making my bindings a little longer (when I haven’t miscalculated the length) so that I can keep ahead.  Note to self: check my scrap basket for all those binding strips I have thrown in there.

Also, if you have a tip you would like to share, send it along to me.  If I post your tip, I will link back to you and send you a fat quarter (my choice) to you for your time

Hope to hear from you soon!.