Gift for Julie!

"Burn the candles, use your nice sheets, wear your fancy lingerie.....Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special."  Life Lessons According to Regina

Remember the French Braid that we were squaring up for Expatchers?

We are finished!  This will be a gift for our dear friend, Julie, who is fighting a tough battle with cancer.  Julie, who lives in California, lived, worked, laughed. sewed with us while we were in Venezuela.  She was always one with a bright smile and a happy thought!

  The gals worked on the top with their own stash fabrics.  I'm sorry I wasn't there for most of the creating and sewing. 

Sandy did the embroidery--signing what we felt for Julie--Peace!

--Love!

And most of all our hearts!

I was there to help stitch down the binding and appreciate the beauty of friendship.

 

For the label, Judy M penned each of the givers' names in the loops of the heart.

Lovely piece of art for our dear friend Julie...............................we want for her comfort and this  token of our prayers to surround her.

 

 

 

FeatherWeight--

"No one is in charge of your happiness but you"  Life Lessons According to Regina

 

 

I read blog posts from Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville and she is in heaven with her sewing machines.  She is always writing about her search for Featherweight machines. 

One day it finally hit me!! I have a featherweight machine!  It was my Grandmother's and it's in the closet!  Of course, all sundry of boxes are parked on top of it, so over time I've just become used to not "Seeing" it!  If you know what I mean..............  But there is the case

and I open it up to see these goodies from my Granny. See that light blue folded paper on top?  That's the bill of sale! 

It looks in pretty good shape--haven't sewn with it yet.  I do remember that right after my Granny died, my mother gave me the machine--that has been over 30 years ago.  I really need to see if it still works.  There are plenty of places where you can get service these days.

Granny paid a total of $138 for this machine.

And she bought it in 1948--$138 was a lot of money in those days!  I'm so happy I remembered about this 'forgotten' machine!  and I'm thankful mother thought to give it to me! 

Another Set from QAL

"When it comes to going after what you love in life.....don't take no for an answer"  Life Lessons According to Regina

Okay, we have been working in our spare (!) time to build these quilt blocks!  The pattern calls for squares cut 3 7/8" and then cut across diagonal.  I always hate cutting anything at 7/8", so usually go up to the full inch, sew and then trim.

For these, the HSTs will finish at 3.5" so I found my paper HSTs to sew and away we go!

6.5" square; easy to square up

Here are my flying geese--3.5"x 6.5" rectangles.  We are through steps 3, 4 & 5.  The finish is near--just need to find more SPARE time to sew!

Am I Blue??!!

"Be eccentric now...Don't wait for old age to wear purple"  Life Lessons According to Regina

Am I Blue?!  Of course, NOT!

But, I'm seeing blue when at our last spinners gathering, Penny brought her lovely basket of yarns that she had recently dyed with indigo.

Can I say--I really really love these yarns!  Especially that one in the front with the variations!

Penny even dyed her t-shirt with indigo.  Go visit Penny at Sky Loom Weavers  She can dye you a indigo blue yarn or -t-shirt if you so desire!!

Eco-Dyeing

." Over prepare, then go with the flow"  Life Lessons According to Regina

Have you been following this 'new' trend in dyeing cloth?  Of course, there is nothing new when it comes to dyeing.  Eco-dyeing has been around for hundreds of years.  Take a look at these pins--Linda Mathews on Eco Dyeing

Rosemary had a good time doing her eco dyeing samples on wool felt.  She used a variety of plant materials

She is thinking of a jacket made from her squares.  Try your hand at this easy method of dyeing with natural materials.  Check out this Eco Dyeing Workshop

Downton Abbey QAL

"It's never too late to have a happy childhood.....But the second one is up to you and no one else"  Life Lessons According to Regina

Here is block 2 of Downton Abbey QAL--there are three or four choices but I choose medley so I have a sample of each block for the quilt. 

Here are two more blocks.

Points Do Matter................

"Get rid of anything that isn't useful , beautiful or joyful" Life Lessons According to Regina

 

 

 

Our Expatchers group is working on a French Braid Quilt as a gift.  It is a joint project with the members and sewing has been intense!  One section of the braid has been completed so it is time to trim off the points.

 

Brenda is lining up the ruler 1/4" away from the section--

She makes sure the ruler is lined up all long the length before she cuts

She has trimmed up the section

Now, to make sure it is 1/4" away from the main section--good trimming Brenda.  Points do matter.

The big reveal will come later.