Well, I got a new iron and was happy as a clam as I finished adding the first border to my Freeze Frame quilts and finished piecing the 128 blocks for a quilt that I started about 3 years ago. I decided to hang the Freeze Frames on the design wall and have Jack and Lynn take a look at it and tell me how great they looked, etc. when it hit me! I had made a HUGE mistake.
Remember the other day when I said I couldn't decide which background should be black or white so I decided to make 2 quilts? Well.....on both quilts there is only one background color - all white or all black! I like the way they look, but they aren't the way they were supposed to be. I've decided to call this a design change instead of take them apart and admit to a mistake, but you do know what this means don't you? Now I have to make 2 more quilts following the original design because I still want to see how it looks with the black and white backgrounds in the same quilt!
I'll post pictures in the next day or so.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Stash, Freeze Frame, Iron and Other Ramblings
So, Judy L. asked people to show her their stash. After thinking about it, I decided that I should do it. I've been working really hard at using my stash and I've been saying for months that I am going to organize it, so maybe having these pictures plastered on the internet will be my catalyst. I do have some fabric on a shelf upstairs in the spare bedroom, but I didn't take a picture of it. I thought this was bad enough. I do have things in bins and what you see on the table is stuff that I have been working on. There are two sides to this table. My husband made it using Judy Martin's set up that she had posted on her website as a guide. He adjusted some things but I love the table! The whole things measures about 60" x 60" and half of it is a pressing table while the other half is set up for cutting. It is WONDERFUL! I took pictures from both sides. I have to be honest here, don't I? The first picture is from the cutting side and there are fabric bins, "works in progress" and other supplies like fusible webbing, stabilizers, etc. here. See, I'm trying to be organized!.JPG)
To the left of the table are bags of clothing that will be used in 4 memory quilts. I moved them to the table recently so I can start cutting th.JPG)
em. I need to get started on that ASAP as they should be done before Christmas. Fortunately they are only going to be twin-size quilts so they shouldn't take too long.
I don't know if you can see the iron on the right side of the table, but that is the iron that gave out this evening as I was getting ready to piece the first border strips for Freeze Frame. If you look closely you can see the mini craft iron that I used to finish pressing the center and after that I decided to wait until I get a new iron to finish this. I've not had much luck with irons lately. The Bernina Steam Generator that I had and loved quit working about 3-4 weeks ago and even though I love it, I can't justify spending close to $200 getting it fixed. It was sent in for repairs a couple of years ago and I'm not very happy that it didn't last longer. I'm going to get a cheap iron tomorrow and start researching "good" irons. Anyone have suggestions or recommendations?
Speaking of Judy L.'s Freeze Frame. I really liked the picture and decided that I just HAD to make this quilt. I new I wanted to make it in brights but I couldn't decided if I wanted to use a white or black background so I decided to do both. I'm sure I'll find a use for two quilts, right? All of the fabric is from my stash except 3 bright fabrics. If you look closely, you will notice that everything is identical except that where there is white in the quilt on the right, it is black on the left quilt, and vice versa. I'm still surprised at how different they look. I can't wait to finish these, but of course, I need an iron first!
This past week I was reminded as to why we should not buy fabric and put it away without looking at it. The fabric below was purchased a very long time ago (probably 4-5 years) with the intention to be used as the backing for a particular quilt. Well, I finally finished the quilt and while I was getting ready to layer it I discovered a flaw that ran the entire width of the fabric, all 108" of it!
Of course it would have shown on the quilt for which it was intended so I had to get new backing and find another use for this fabric. You'll be happy to know that it is now contend as the backing on my Up North quilt (Thimbleberries) that my friend Rachel just finished quilting for me.(Check out her blog on my side bar-Sew Behind-she has finished 2 of my quilts and I love them both!) I really am in the mood to get things done. I sent 4 quilts to Rachel (she put out a plea to help raise money so her dog could have some medical care. How could I not help her, AND get quilts done?), and I have others that I am doing on my own. They are much smaller and they are much easier for me to do in my machine. As a matter of fact, on my stash picture, my Pineapple Blossom (Bonnie Hunter's pattern) is one the table. I'm half done quilting it, but decided to take a break and add the borders to the Freeze Frame. So much for that!
To the left of the table are bags of clothing that will be used in 4 memory quilts. I moved them to the table recently so I can start cutting th.JPG)
em. I need to get started on that ASAP as they should be done before Christmas. Fortunately they are only going to be twin-size quilts so they shouldn't take too long.I don't know if you can see the iron on the right side of the table, but that is the iron that gave out this evening as I was getting ready to piece the first border strips for Freeze Frame. If you look closely you can see the mini craft iron that I used to finish pressing the center and after that I decided to wait until I get a new iron to finish this. I've not had much luck with irons lately. The Bernina Steam Generator that I had and loved quit working about 3-4 weeks ago and even though I love it, I can't justify spending close to $200 getting it fixed. It was sent in for repairs a couple of years ago and I'm not very happy that it didn't last longer. I'm going to get a cheap iron tomorrow and start researching "good" irons. Anyone have suggestions or recommendations?
Speaking of Judy L.'s Freeze Frame. I really liked the picture and decided that I just HAD to make this quilt. I new I wanted to make it in brights but I couldn't decided if I wanted to use a white or black background so I decided to do both. I'm sure I'll find a use for two quilts, right? All of the fabric is from my stash except 3 bright fabrics. If you look closely, you will notice that everything is identical except that where there is white in the quilt on the right, it is black on the left quilt, and vice versa. I'm still surprised at how different they look. I can't wait to finish these, but of course, I need an iron first!
This past week I was reminded as to why we should not buy fabric and put it away without looking at it. The fabric below was purchased a very long time ago (probably 4-5 years) with the intention to be used as the backing for a particular quilt. Well, I finally finished the quilt and while I was getting ready to layer it I discovered a flaw that ran the entire width of the fabric, all 108" of it! Of course it would have shown on the quilt for which it was intended so I had to get new backing and find another use for this fabric. You'll be happy to know that it is now contend as the backing on my Up North quilt (Thimbleberries) that my friend Rachel just finished quilting for me.(Check out her blog on my side bar-Sew Behind-she has finished 2 of my quilts and I love them both!) I really am in the mood to get things done. I sent 4 quilts to Rachel (she put out a plea to help raise money so her dog could have some medical care. How could I not help her, AND get quilts done?), and I have others that I am doing on my own. They are much smaller and they are much easier for me to do in my machine. As a matter of fact, on my stash picture, my Pineapple Blossom (Bonnie Hunter's pattern) is one the table. I'm half done quilting it, but decided to take a break and add the borders to the Freeze Frame. So much for that!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Something is Finally Done!
Well, I know it's been over a month but I haven't been doing much quilt-related stuff and I didn't want to post anything without a quilt project! Below is the completed raffle quilt top for my sister Paula's school. The proceeds from this quilt will benefit my Breast Cancer 3-Day fund. I decided last year that since so many students bought tickets they needed their own quilt. I sure hope that winner likes it. I know I really do!
Ok, what have I been doing if not quilting? Besides fighting the desire to sleep so much (medicine-related) I've been working quite a bit (I'm still working in all three clubs), trying to train for the walk in Dallas, freezing and canning (corn, beets, salsa, etc.) and filling embroidery orders as they come up. I have been piecing a little bit, but not as much as I would like. Hopefully, finishing this quilt will get me going strong again and I'll soon be posting LOTS of finished projects.
Nikki, Zach and Quinn arrived Saturday evening and as usual, it has been wonderful having them here. I am always amazed at how much Quinn changes from visit to visit. Here she is picking out a book to read. She does love her books!
Nikki's aunt gave her a potty chair for Quinn and it looks like there won't be any problems getting her to sit on it - as long as she has a book! I'm not sure when Nikki plans on starting to train Quinn, but since she's 17 months old, I'm guessing it won't be too long. I'm glad it's her and not me! Actually, I think Quinn is just thrilled to have a chair that's her size, and the fact that she can sit on hit with a bare butt just make it great!
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