{Post #868} Belated Christmas Quilt

Pop on over to my secret blog to see progress on a belated Christmas gift quilt.

{Post #867} Feels Like Fall

That is the name of the new block I'm working on as a leader/ender with the goslings.  Here is the first block...

I am going to start on one of the alternate blocks.  The blocks are 10-1/2" square.  The alternate blocks are one big pumpkin.  I'll probably have a picture up by tomorrow some time.

In other progress, I finished another complete row of an I Spy quilt I'm starting for way down the road, so I got that off the design wall.  I also took down my Red Zinger selvage blocks and stacked them in a drawer.  The design wall is practically empty.

~Joan

{Post #866} Sewing Room Happenings

Once Susie twisted my arm and dragged me into the sewing room (ahem), I started on some pillow shams to match this quilt that is currently on my bed.  I had this boxful of leftover pieces...

So I started sewing and sewing.  I had 4 strips going, two of each direction.  I sewed from the time Maria arrived at the mansion until they escaped from the Germans (wasn't the wedding beautiful).  The hills are alive, with the sound of sewing.

But I digress.  I also was moving forward on another quilt I'm piecing via leaders/enders.  Here is a picture of many of them, grouped by tens and held together with safety pins.  They finish at 1" x 2".  Project picture to come later.

I was just a rollin' along on my Texas Braid strips.  Here is one finished on the cutting table, ready to be trimmed down.

Then a few chops later, I haphazardly put these on the already overburdened design wall.

Do you even SEE them?  I have the well-developed ability to tune things out, but it takes regular upkeep and plenty of practice, Practice, PRACTICE!  After I cut up the 4 strips, I needed two more pieces, one of each direction!  Ack!!  That does mean more tiny flying geese (I might call them goslings, they are so small) to come!  I had to dig these out of the trash can (one for each direction) to have a starter for my next sewing session.

I don't have a pattern for the shams.  But I always have a plan.  I am making shams for standard sized pillow forms.  I am going to make them with 5 Texas Braid strips across, which = 30".  Then I'm adding the red of the center squares in a 4" border and quilting those.  Then I'm going to make backings that are two pieces that over lap and are Velcroed in the middle (that way they can be easily removed for washing).  I will run a seam along the edge of the red so the pillow doesn't slip around, but will have a nice edge.  That's my plan and I'm stickin' with it (unless I need to change it!).

The not-so-surprising part is that my box is still so full of pieces for this quilt!  I may have to crank out a baby quilt to use them up.  I can't stand having a project just hang around like a piece of gum on the bottom of a shoe!

Going to read a while then hit the hay!

~Joan

{Post #865} My Other Girl

Susie asked me if I would sew with her this afternoon and evening.  I said, "No.  I hate to sew.  I don't have anything to sew.  We won't be watching a movie will we?  Will you force me to eat chocolate?"  Ha ha--then I snapped out of it and said, "Of course!  What will YOU be working on?"  She said she had a lot of alterations to do.  We all know how boring and monotonous that can be...but not when one sews with a friend.  Did you think I meant ME?  That *I* was her friend?  That is too normal for my Susie-Q.  She was sewing with her duct tape double.  Here they are...

Do NOT be alarmed.  That is not Susie's usual facial expression.  She was hamming it up for the camera.  If you look closely at the neckline of the double, you see it is made out of duct tape.  Basically, one dons an old shirt and has someone (in this case a sister) completely cover their torso with duct tape...tightly wrapped.  Steve made her a sword out of duct tape to complete the outfit.  I don't think they cut the form with the sword, however deceiving the picture may be. 

You cut up the back of the tape and shirt underneath, then tape it back up after removing and stuff it.  Voila!  You have a duct tape double.  Here is Emily (who appears legless, as does the Susie form) stuffing the form with wrapping paper that we had just emptied moments before.  So it's a green and gray craft! 

Susie says it really comes in handy when doing fitted alterations.  I can only imagine how difficult it would be to pin pleats on my own back while wearing a garment.  I'll tell you, that girl is one creative genius!

~Joan

{Post #864} My Girl

Meet Elisabeth.  Poor girl.  I have NEVER put a picture of her on my blog.  So she says anyway!  Here she is with her hair straightened.  I almost don't recognize her myself.

Well, that's done.  Two more posts to come.

~Joan

{Post #863} Earbud Holder

Saw this on Pinterest and made one tonight.  I had all the materials on hand.  It seriously took about 15 minutes total.  If I had to make another, it would be even faster because I would not have to read the directions.  I am going to make a few to keep on hand for gifts.

Fabric choice?  A reminder to "just keep swimmin', just keep swimmin'..."

~Joan

{Post #862} Look Who's Smilin'...

Finally got a smile on this guy's face.  I used an old tole painting technique that I highly recommend if you are painting an item you aren't going to be washing much.  Do a practice piece first.  Dip the back of a small paintbrush handle into the paint, then dot it on the fabric.  Makes a perfectly round dot if you hold it perpendicular to the fabric.  I like it. 

Look Who else is lookin' at you...

Now for a plea (I've become more bold since the Seeds of Kindness quilt).  I want to make this one (ahead even!) for February.  I can swing all the fabrics except the blues.  My non-Thimbleberries stash is not very varied.  Is there someone who could send me 2 light blue pieces and 2 dark blue pieces that all coordinate for the birds?  I will send YOU something in return.  Email me for sizes.  Something in the light to medium blue range would be good.  The picture is fuzzy, but there are 4 different blues here.

UPDATE:  This request has been fulfilled!  Thanks to my e-friends who responded!

TTFN,
Joan

{Post #861} New Ornaments and Angels

Above are some applesauce/cinnamon star ornaments I made this year.  This was easy and quick to do.  Makes me wonder why I never made them when my children were small.  I plan on painting a white outline and some dots on them before we put them away for the year.  They smell fabulous.  I cut them with an antique cookie cutter from my Grandma Varshine.  Good memories.  Google cinnamon applesauce ornaments for the recipe.  I baked them for an hour at 250 then turned them on a cooling rack for the rest of the day.



The above picture is four clothespin angels I am mailing my sister tomorrow.  I have made them for all of my children and my husband and I.  Finally, this year, I have caught up with my sister's ten children!!  At last.  These are so cute on a Christmas tree.  You just slide the clothespin "legs" on a branch.  Mine are all red with white trim.  Her children all have different colors...there might be a repeat or two. 

Hope you are enjoying a great holiday.

~Joan