I am scheduling this to post as I am determined to get some sewing done today (Wednesday) and not goof around half the day thinking about sewing! That was how my Monday went--wasting time!
All the pieced elements of my top secret project are completed but not joined into the wall hanging that it will be when finished. There is some machine applique to do first and for once, I thought I would do it in smaller bites this time and then assemble.
I am also sewing in the morning which I seldom do. Mornings are for the computer, afternoons and evenings for sewing. However, Tuesday afternoon it hit the mid 80's outside and so did my sewing room! UGH! It was not helped by the fact some fusing and standing over an iron was still required. I am so NOT ready for summer like heat and stickiness but when the overnight low was 62 and the desk thermometer read 80 at 5:30 in the morning you know that Wednesday is headed the same way. We have not had blackberry winter yet, that I know of anyway, so surely there is a bit of a cooler snap coming!! I told DJ as soon as I get the heavier quilt off the bed and my summer clothes pulled out for circulation it WILL cool off. Think I should go make that a sure thing??
I had a rocky up and down night---maybe because it was so warm?-- so I may need a little lay down to make up for it. Between the fan noise, Skyler tromping on the bed to get in the window and a particularly loud cricket, not a good night. Of course, he will sleep the day away in DJ's recliner or one of his perches to make up for HIS restless night.
Another reason I could not get back to sleep is I had the "Say It with Flowers" Blog Hop that I have signed up for in mind. Did I have enough of a certain style of fabric on hand to make my plan happen? Because I bailed out of bed early, I was digging in my stash looking coming up with 3 or 4 possible inclusions but then I looked for some bridger pieces online too. While I was digging, I also found some fabrics that will work in my paint chip challenge for guild. Of course that makes more fabric stacks piled up in the sewing room. In the end I did need to order a few pieces for both projects--a few fats and half yards. I needed the very lightest shade on the paint chip for one of the design elements, I thought and needed to run it down via Moda Marble fabric swatch card comparison. Nope, can't tell you what in either case, LOL. Well, I could on the guild challenge but won't till the order arrives. It is doubtful that anyone will duplicate my idea!
SO since these blog hops are such a help in stimulating the creative juices, I hope you will visit the featured fiber artists today.
Apr 18, 2013
Apr 17, 2013
Day 8 April Showers
I keep forgetting to tell you that if you don't have time to go to each stop on the blog hop, you can visit the Pinterest page set up by Mdm. Samm for the overview. You can always backtrack and see past hops or wait for the upcoming ones! Try THIS LINK for the April Showers mug rugs.
BUT here is the list for today----the hop will conclude on Thursday when the last 10 or 12 share their entries.
I'll be appliquing today, I hope, as I near completion of my current project! Catch you later.
BUT here is the list for today----the hop will conclude on Thursday when the last 10 or 12 share their entries.
I'll be appliquing today, I hope, as I near completion of my current project! Catch you later.
Apr 16, 2013
Paint Chip Challenge/Day 7 April Showers Hop
When I was telling you about the Friendship Quilters guild meeting this past Saturday, I spoke about the Michael Miller Challenge that was revealed by those of us who participated using salespeople samples that were belatedly sent for last fall's retreat. What fun those were and I hope to borrow a few of Beth's pictures to post here so you can see them.
What I forgot to tell you is that we will be doing another paint chip challenge. I really enjoyed doing this last year. (I had greens and was able to use the shades in a watermelon Button Up.) Shelia had quite a stack of paint color strips arranged in her hands upside down and fan folded. I pulled Valspar 234A grouping but I found these images from a site called My Perfect Color through a google search, a match to the funky names assigned by Valspar they say. I can't say for sure once it hits the monitor but I will be going to Lowe's to get a few extra paint chips this color to have one with me at all times. Mom already told me that her orange-y tones were lacking, LOL.
What I forgot to tell you is that we will be doing another paint chip challenge. I really enjoyed doing this last year. (I had greens and was able to use the shades in a watermelon Button Up.) Shelia had quite a stack of paint color strips arranged in her hands upside down and fan folded. I pulled Valspar 234A grouping but I found these images from a site called My Perfect Color through a google search, a match to the funky names assigned by Valspar they say. I can't say for sure once it hits the monitor but I will be going to Lowe's to get a few extra paint chips this color to have one with me at all times. Mom already told me that her orange-y tones were lacking, LOL.
Orange Blossom 234A-1
Peach Frost 234A-2
Rich Honey 234A-3
Fresh Melon 234A-4
Desert Mirage 234A-5
Tiger Lily 234A-6
Kind of a Southwest or Fall vibe to me and I am reasonably sure what I will be making with the 2 of the 6 colors I am to include in my piece. Shelia said it does not have to match exactly, you know how they are constantly tweaking color from year to year and that means fabric shades change too. Try to come as close as you can, she said. Should be fun!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay here is the list for Day 7 of the April Shower's Blog Hop---what a talented group of people this round has brought! Today will be no different, I'm sure. I was just looking at the possible pattern choice several days before Shelia threw down the gauntlet, so to speak so I sure it will work, if I can find the fabrics in my stash or through a later shop visit.
Apr 15, 2013
I love spring!
I am not sure if today is supposed to be a repeat of yesterday's drippy damp day or not It is already warmer than it was all day yesterday by about 5 degrees. I shut the furnace off (DJ insisted) and opened a window or two. I thought I would try to get some shots of the blooming things that can be seen out back since there is some cloud cover. Watch where you are stepping though as the fire ants have been busy since it just rained! There are about 5 started mounds around the lilac bush in particular.
There are a few of these out---daffodils, I think??? Or some sort of lily. We do/did have some stargazer lilies planted out in that area but I thought they had the orange centers. Someone straighten me out!
.JPG)
We have three azaleas, this being one that was here when we moved in though in a large pot at that time. The white one is an encore and has never done well and the other appears to be lagging behind. I think I saw some spots of color but didn't linger to look, LOL. I don't "do" outside much especially when the laundry timer was about to go off. Behind this is a gardenia bush but it is way too early for that to be out---June maybe.
.JPG)
.JPG)
The lilac bush from two different angles. They are not indigenous to Alabama but DJ has been babying it along for years. I know he is always thrilled when he sees the blooms come out and reward him. You see that the Rose of Sharon bush right behind it is trying to leaf out.
We lost a bit of the bush in the center so it looks a bit leggy in spots but all in all, doing well.
Okay, back to the laundry detail. Skyler made himself right on home atop the whites so good luck folding undies!
There are a few of these out---daffodils, I think??? Or some sort of lily. We do/did have some stargazer lilies planted out in that area but I thought they had the orange centers. Someone straighten me out!
.JPG)
We have three azaleas, this being one that was here when we moved in though in a large pot at that time. The white one is an encore and has never done well and the other appears to be lagging behind. I think I saw some spots of color but didn't linger to look, LOL. I don't "do" outside much especially when the laundry timer was about to go off. Behind this is a gardenia bush but it is way too early for that to be out---June maybe.
.JPG)
Same bush, different angle
.JPG)
The lilac bush from two different angles. They are not indigenous to Alabama but DJ has been babying it along for years. I know he is always thrilled when he sees the blooms come out and reward him. You see that the Rose of Sharon bush right behind it is trying to leaf out.
We lost a bit of the bush in the center so it looks a bit leggy in spots but all in all, doing well.
Okay, back to the laundry detail. Skyler made himself right on home atop the whites so good luck folding undies!
Back to sewing, back to hopping
I have made a good start on the pieced elements of my current project and will continue to sew on it today. Oh, there are few things that need tending around the house in between seams but we all have laundry and cooking to do, right?
I hope you will pop on over to today's featured bloggers to see how they interpreted the "April Shower" mug rug theme. I know I will!
I hope you will pop on over to today's featured bloggers to see how they interpreted the "April Shower" mug rug theme. I know I will!
Apr 13, 2013
meeting day
Today was the Friendship Quilters guild meeting day AKA Girlfriend Day. A lot going on around the room with a raffle table, log cabin blocks to pass on to our Quilt Show Chairperson, Row of the Months and Show and Tell items to be hung on the quilt rack system around the room. Today was also the reveal day for our Michael Miller fabric sample challenge. The sew-in is coming up the first weekend in May. Dixye our president keeps us moving so we could get to the program-----extended show and tell with the challenge pieces. My favorite part! I know the historian was busier than usual snapping pictures!
I know I showed you my 3 items back in a PRIOR POST though they were not quite done at that time. A couple of the gals wanted to know how to make those thread catcher jars so I said I would email them the links. Not that I am expert or anything. I think some of the Belles might want to try it too.
I didn't win a door prize or anything from the raffle table but I feel like I "won" anyway! The monies raised from there are used to purchase the food for the 3 day sew-in's so we always say "the more you spend, the better we eat!" What I was referring to are these patterns below-------Susan Garman's Bunny Block Sampler----with the fabric included for the applique elements!!
.JPG)
My friend Shelia asked if I like to applique---and I do though years ago I was one who considered applique the "A" word. I said I like to do fusible or freezer prep. She handed the packet to me and said she had found them at a thrift store (or yard sale??) but January was missing. Another gal who was talking to us said she had done this very quilt and she could let me use her January one to make the quilt. THX Judy! She is going to bring her quilt to the next meeting so I can see how it looks made up too.
Here is a look at the fabric included in the packets---themed and of course a good bit of it is folded up but you can still see that these are bright and fun!
.JPG)
I did a little googling and these are offered at Quakertown Quilts but the best picture I found was on a blog called Quilt Inspiration, a bunny themed post http://quiltinspiration.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-bevy-of-bunny-quilts-for-easter.html The maker was going for a Paris vibe so the fabrics are not the same.
The quilt pictured is Bunnies on the Champs-Elysees by Jan Soules
Then she shows some of the monthly blocks done up----adorable! Apparently the patterns are still available but I don't know if they just sell a single one. If Shelia sees this she may want the stuff back, LOL!!
No, I don't really think so or she would not have given it to me. THX Shelia!
Since I last posted, I have been doing a good bit of cutting---a wool project is ready to go hopefully as a entry in the "Say It With Flowers" blog hop late next month. Yesterday I was prepping applique elements of an entry I would like to do for the "It's for the Birds" blog hop early next month. That one has some pieced elements as well. I feel like I have been hand cutting for two straight days, LOL. I may drag out the Viking and work on the button hole finishing but I have a feeling it will wait till tomorrow instead. Last weekend I had drawn up the pieced elements in EQ to foundation piece them so it is a toss up which I will do first, LOL.
I may just do a little embroidery and call it "good" for today. OR type up the show and tell list so Beth can post the pictures for the guild albums with the labeling I provide as the secretary.
Either way---I hope you have had great day. It was a lovely day here for a drive. The trees are really leafing out the past two or three days so everything looks so green! On the day of the expected storms fortunately we did not have any wind to speak of, I only heard of couple of trees down though an area in the western Alabama was not so fortunate. We had about 2.5 inches of rain but no flooding or hail.
Time to think about supper---leftover turkey meal though I think DJ did full meal deal for lunch instead of just a turkey sandwich, LOL. Jane, Aline and I stopped at Chick-Fil-A in Pell City before we came home and ran into about 8 of the gals from guild. I can eat chicken and turkey in the same day, easy!
I know I showed you my 3 items back in a PRIOR POST though they were not quite done at that time. A couple of the gals wanted to know how to make those thread catcher jars so I said I would email them the links. Not that I am expert or anything. I think some of the Belles might want to try it too.
I didn't win a door prize or anything from the raffle table but I feel like I "won" anyway! The monies raised from there are used to purchase the food for the 3 day sew-in's so we always say "the more you spend, the better we eat!" What I was referring to are these patterns below-------Susan Garman's Bunny Block Sampler----with the fabric included for the applique elements!!
.JPG)
My friend Shelia asked if I like to applique---and I do though years ago I was one who considered applique the "A" word. I said I like to do fusible or freezer prep. She handed the packet to me and said she had found them at a thrift store (or yard sale??) but January was missing. Another gal who was talking to us said she had done this very quilt and she could let me use her January one to make the quilt. THX Judy! She is going to bring her quilt to the next meeting so I can see how it looks made up too.
Here is a look at the fabric included in the packets---themed and of course a good bit of it is folded up but you can still see that these are bright and fun!
.JPG)
I did a little googling and these are offered at Quakertown Quilts but the best picture I found was on a blog called Quilt Inspiration, a bunny themed post http://quiltinspiration.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-bevy-of-bunny-quilts-for-easter.html The maker was going for a Paris vibe so the fabrics are not the same.
The quilt pictured is Bunnies on the Champs-Elysees by Jan Soules
This adorable quilt by Jan Soules, which was exhibited at the 2012 River City Quilters' Guild show, features a bunny dressed for every month of the year. The pattern is the Bunny Block Sampler by Sue Garman at Quakertown Quilts. Jan Soules cleverly used a Paris map fabric as the background, hence: "Bunnies on the Champs-Elysees." The machine quilting was done by Debbie Lopez.
Then she shows some of the monthly blocks done up----adorable! Apparently the patterns are still available but I don't know if they just sell a single one. If Shelia sees this she may want the stuff back, LOL!!
No, I don't really think so or she would not have given it to me. THX Shelia!
Since I last posted, I have been doing a good bit of cutting---a wool project is ready to go hopefully as a entry in the "Say It With Flowers" blog hop late next month. Yesterday I was prepping applique elements of an entry I would like to do for the "It's for the Birds" blog hop early next month. That one has some pieced elements as well. I feel like I have been hand cutting for two straight days, LOL. I may drag out the Viking and work on the button hole finishing but I have a feeling it will wait till tomorrow instead. Last weekend I had drawn up the pieced elements in EQ to foundation piece them so it is a toss up which I will do first, LOL.
I may just do a little embroidery and call it "good" for today. OR type up the show and tell list so Beth can post the pictures for the guild albums with the labeling I provide as the secretary.
Either way---I hope you have had great day. It was a lovely day here for a drive. The trees are really leafing out the past two or three days so everything looks so green! On the day of the expected storms fortunately we did not have any wind to speak of, I only heard of couple of trees down though an area in the western Alabama was not so fortunate. We had about 2.5 inches of rain but no flooding or hail.
Time to think about supper---leftover turkey meal though I think DJ did full meal deal for lunch instead of just a turkey sandwich, LOL. Jane, Aline and I stopped at Chick-Fil-A in Pell City before we came home and ran into about 8 of the gals from guild. I can eat chicken and turkey in the same day, easy!
Apr 12, 2013
A start!---April Showers blog hop schedule
.JPG)
Well, here is the stack of fabric for my next "It's for the Birds" blog hop entree. Shop the stash first, right? Or use someone else's, LOL. Actually I think that I have my mom and my dear departed friend Theramae to thank for a good bit of this. The beiges, tone on tones were mine and have been used on quite a few projects over the years. Other stuff, who remembers? Some I recall, some I do not but I think it will all combine to produce the look I am going for. I plan on cutting today and starting up the sewing machine. I have guild on Saturday morning so I may not get back to it till Sunday afternoon.
So the hop has been, as usual, inspirational. Such talented quilters out there. The other day someone showed a flower made from two different hexagons, smaller one atop a larger one on the slant as the flower center and then a free form cut leaf. My eyes perked up there! There is a piece I have wanted to do but am not so nuts about the flower shape on it so this idea may just work. You never know what little gem might spark your interest! Well here is the LINK---scroll down! If I do manage to use this at some point, I am linking back to her again.
Here are today's featured bloggers---again, no hopping on the weekends but they will be back at it come Monday!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)