It's Done!

I finished sewing the sashing today.  The top is done.

I am a pinner and it took a lot of pinning for me to get things to match up the way I wanted, but it's done.  I'm very happy with the way it turned out.  Most of these fabrics are floral fabrics I collected during the late 80s early 90s.  Nice to get those out of the stash.  Problem is, I still have an over flowing bin of floral fabrics.  I'm on the look out for another pattern!  It will find me when it's time.

Now to piece the backing so I can do the quilting!

First Thoughts

When I woke up this morning, my first thought was that my sashing was 2 inches too small and I need to remeasure it.

So I got a cup of coffee and went up to the sewing room.  Removed the sashing and measured it.  And sure enough, it was two inches too short.  What makes your mind do this?  Was it the fact that I struggled so to pin that sashing to the border?  The fact that I had to carefully measure the middle and quarter points?

Whatever it is, I'm soooo glad I didn't sew that sashing on last night!  Today I finished cutting the sashings to the right size.  (And replaced the one I did wrong.)  Maybe tomorrow I'll get this sewn together and a picture taken.

I Got Nothin'

I got nothin".

It's been a weird day.  I woke up at 5:15 am because the dog was upset over the lightening and thunder.  I couldn't stay awake so at 7:00 am I went back to bed.  Woke up at 9:15 and remembered I had a hair appt at 10:30.

Got my hair cut, went to the grocery store and then read a book all afternoon.   No sewing.

So I got busy and made ONE (1) string block and pinned the first sashing to the border.  Didn't even sew it.

I still feel washed out.  Not sure if I'm coming down with something or if the time change is still doing a number on me or if it's just the heat.  Tomorrow will be better.  I know it.  To quote Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With The Wind", "After all, tomorrow is another day."

Turning Twenty

I sewed all the rows together today and the borders.  All I have left to do is the sashing between each row.  Hope to get that done tomorrow.  I'll take another picture tomorrow with better light when it's done.

Summer Time

Spent the day catching up.  Went out early to the garden before the heat got too bad.  I picked green beans and weeded the row of beans while I picked.  We also put in a new strawberry patch this spring and it needed some weeding, so I got that done.

Came back in to clean up and do some more laundry and then I hit the sewing room!  Finished 10 more string blocks and I have another row of my "Turning Twenty" quilt done.

Made a fresh tomato sauce over pasta for dinner tonight, with the tomatoes, basil and garlic from our garden.  What a great summer meal!

Confession Time

OK, it's confession time; I've been on vacation for 12 days.  My husband and I had planned on going to Alaska for our 25th wedding anniversary 2 years ago.  My mother-in-law was ill with cancer and we decided not to take our trip.  We just wanted to be home for her.

Last summer I had bunion surgery and spent 6 weeks in a "boot" cast, so we didn't go.

Finally this year, we were able to make the trip.  I won't bore you with all the details or pictures, just suffice to say, it was the most wonderful, beautiful trip ever!!!!  I want to go back.  I loved that the sun shined all evening, keeps you from feeling tired.  Had a few rainy days, but for the most part, lots of sunshine.  I know I couldn't live there in the winter as I need sunshine, but this vacation was THE Best.  And I found 3 quilt shops, one in Denali and 2 in Anchorage.  Bought 2 patterns and a little bit of fabric.

We got back home on Saturday morning after flying all night and I didn't do much but sleep the rest of Saturday.  Today I bonded with my machine after being away.  Made a couple of string blocks and worked on my "Turning Twenty" quilt.  I sewed two more rows together just like the one in the picture if you click on the link.

Very satisfying.

Embroidery

I've been working on my embroidered quilt.  I had found some batting to use and have that all basted on.  Still on the first block, I know, really really slow.  But I am enjoying the journey.

Busy Weekend

Sorry about not posting, it has been a busy weekend.

Saturday was Quilt Day.  I spent the time there cutting Christmas fabric into 8 inch squares.  You would have thought that I would have a ton of squares cut, but I spent way too much time talking and visiting with friends that I haven't seen in a while.

Sunday I did very little stitching, only one string block. But it was something.  I'm thinking I need to get back to my little embroidery quilt. It has been so hot and humid that I don't want to go out of the house.  Last night at 10:00 p.m. it was still 84 degrees according to our weather station.

Samples

Starts like this....

.....ends up like this.

I am storing the bin of Christmas fabric at my house for "Quilts From the Bluffs"  quilt ministry, so I've been trying to come up with a pattern to use the fabric. And I want it to be fast and easy.  So I started playing with the disappearing 9 patch.  I used 8 inch blocks and it almost looks like a "Turning Twenty" block when it's done.  I figure 2 blocks across and three blocks down will give a nice size baby quilt.

I have a little tutorial here if you think you'd like to try it out.  I know there are loads of tutorials out on the web too.  It's really easy and fast.

Featherweight

A little more on my Featherweight, a couple of people asked about the age of my machine.  LaDonna at A Sisterly Connection gave me a site so I could check out when my machine was "born".  It was "born" on December 8 1937.  

I sat down to play with it last night and was amazed.  I threaded the machine without looking at the book.  Before sewing, I checked with the book; it was correct!  Amazing how that muscle memory can last beyond my brain memory.

It works great!  Now I have to find a project to do on it.  Hmmm....a project on every machine?  Will I sew any faster?  Will I get more things done?  Doubt it!  LOL

Serendipity

Serendipity: the gift of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.  (To quote the dictionary.)

As you know, I went to the Omaha Quilter's Guild quilt show on June 25th.  While looking at a booth that had Featherweight sewing machines, a lady made the pronouncement that she had a Featherweight at home she was willing to sell for a lot less than what they had.  So I turned to her and told her I was interested and gave her my name and phone number.  When she didn't call, I just took it to mean that it wasn't meant to be and that I wouldn't hear from her.  Well, on Thursday she gave me a call and we met on Saturday and made the exchange. I'm so excited!  I grew up learning to sew on this kind of machine and my sister is the proud owner of that one.  I have thought it would be nice to have one, but wasn't really looking hard for one.  So now I have a light weight machine to take to quilt retreats.  Going to spend some time this week bonding with it.  

Retreat

I'm taking a hint from last year's Quilt Retreat table buddy, Naomi.  She came to the retreat with her projects all cut and ready to sew.  I found a pattern from All People Quilt here that I just love.  Since my thoughts on trying to use up and make do, I went to my stash and found some Halloween fabric to make this up.  I'm in the process of getting it cut so I can take it to the Retreat this Fall.  I'm so ready to sew with friends!