Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Four Seasons

It's time to work on Summer of the Four Seasons designed by 
Laura Paschkis, who is an author of children's books.
She has designed these marvelous center blocks for
each season.

Summer requires a little paper piecing--
sometimes I'd rather do PP instead of
using templates

All the parts and pieces are cut prior to
going to the paper

Well, look at that top one!  Doesn't quite meet the
ending--okay, a do over!

Here is one of the star points for the border of Summer-
really cool looking

Completed! all borders on and ready for the quilter--
along with my Fall and Winter panels

This is the cover of the kit

Now, working on Spring--guess I should have done Spring first

Bear Creek Quilt Company has free instructions for all the
seasons--just add your own fabrics and if you like the
insert panel, you can purchase it.  I bought the kits for
this series--had the coordinating fabric

Here is the winter panel--


Saturday, March 31, 2018

BooTacular and Gnome For The Holidays

Never can have enough BOMs!
and these will be fun to work on..


BooTacular is coming to your
mailbox today--if you go to
Fatcat Patterns and download
the first pattern.  These patterns are free
each month.  You can sign up for a small
fee to receive the pattern in your mailbox
each month.  What a great
Block of the Month to do! 
I love Fat Cat Patterns!

Gnome For the Holidays is another
BOM that is running as well each
month.  It began February 1st. 

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Shhhhhh, Don't Tell Them!

My intention has been to make these soup bowls cozies for
Christmas gifts--didn't get done last year though.  
friend Sandy was sewing several for her family during one expatchers
meeting --and that inspired me to 'just 
do it!'
we have upcoming birthdays--now, that's a perfect
opportunity to get that special fabric under the needle.
Happy Hour Stitches offers a free tutorial

Blond headed daughter has chickens--this
chicken print is great for her soup bowl cozies!
There is even a chicken wire lining!

Brown headed daughter enjoys coffee--
Luckily I had this coffee print in my stash--

All sewn up and ready to turn--now, to find just right
soup bowl!

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Storage...............

There are way more ideas for projects than there is time to create--
If one of those project ideas gets away from me, I could spend
hours down the rabbit hole looking for that one idea that 
escaped--in order to capture those projects, I'll make copies--
doesn't mean I'll make the project in the future,
but at the present time, it looks like a good idea!!

To store those UFO's and project ideas, I use the plastic
storage package that comes with sheets or other large
linen items.  These plastic bags are clear so you can see
at a glance what it is--this one is 2017 Pat Sloan's
Grandma's kitchen--Some day it will be finished!

This bag is collecting Buttermilk Basin's free Block of the Month
Mystery blocks--once again, you must get each month as it comes
along; otherwise, there is a charge.  I'll keep updated--in the
future I might-just might- make these blocks!

Those clear plastic bags have pockets on the inside--
I make notes of the projects in each bag

An empty bag just waiting for that special idea to pop off the
printer---

This bag contains Moda Bakeshop pattern designed by Crazy Mom Quilts
I've had a batik jellyroll for years and this pattern
uses just one jellyroll--now, it resides in  pouch

My quilter/knitter friend,  Colorado Judy shared with me
how she stores her projects--she uses these clear plastic bins--
great idea for a larger project, like the latest Bonnie Hunter
mystery.
It pays to keep some plastic items around--someone can always
find a good use for them!  The only problem--I'm must buy more
sheets--I have more ideas!

Sunday, March 25, 2018

!! Warping....................

Since my latest cotton towels have been woven, cut off the loom, hemmed, washed, tagged and bragged on--it is time for the loom to be warped again.  What will I weave next?  The obvious answer is more towels!  Especially since there is already a warp there--just tie on and weave!
I know it looks like one hot mess!
but it isn't!  I use this method often especially
when the warping pattern is twill set.

I'm tying on in sections--as I warp a few 
threads--these are my handspun cotton--white, brown
some blue/white combination--I'm also spinning
white cotton for the weft--

I keep my cross as I tie onto the warp--
it's a start--I hope to be weaving within the month--
got more spinning to do..............

Friday, March 23, 2018

Back to My Childhood!

Deep down in the stash bin, I found this pattern!
It had been completely forgotten about--oh, so many
years ago did I begin this journey down

As the patterns surfaced to the light of day, the
challenge was on--can I finish these this year?


Oh, yes--how fun this project was when I begun 

I immediately went to the toy closet to search for
Crayons--I so love Crayons--I have several different ones.
Now, the challenge was--which ones should I use on this
crayon quilt project?  You see, I don't like to mess
up my crayons--isn't that stupid!? 

I picked out this tower of crayons to use--many colors to
choose from..........

such a wonder wheel of fun.  I felt like I was back in my
childhood--just coloring away......in the quiet of the night
I'm coloring to my heart's content--no one to tell me to
use such and such color or to color within the lines!


Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Being Speedy--OOPS!

I like to prepare several blocks for projects when I had time
to sit and cut--that way I can sew any spare minute I have
Cut out January block for Clementine SAL
provided by Fat Quarter Shop


I'm using bright colors--thinking this will be great children's
quilt.  This is February block all cut and ready to sew up!

I had just an hour to sew and speedily whipped through
February block--oh, it was going really well!
the block is all together--then I take it to the pressing table
and Crunch Berries.......

There is a mistake!  Doesn't help to be speedy--now, it will take
several minutes to unsew this block and right the half square 
triangle in the correct direction. 
Drats!  thought I was getting some sewing done.



It's Time--

 It’s time to think about greeting cards I’ll send out this year.  Most years, if I’m not feeling pressed, I’ll create my own cards.  One ye...