Enter Christmas

Fort Worth, Texas December 2013
picture by Brian Luenser

Waiting for midnight Christmas eve service. 

 Advent is all about waiting but the time will come soon and Christmas will ENTER with light for the world.  Blessings to all this eve.  Piecing of Quilts give you peace and 

Peace of the Lord be with each of YOU. 

Jean Bag for Holiday Exchange

Old hubby jeans...cut straight just below crotch , sew across the bottom, add straps made from leg of jean, line with cute fabric, add closure (be creative) and get it wrapped up to give away. Love these kind of bags that have lots of pockets from the jean front pockets and the jean back pockets with pockets inside, the special hiding place is when you unzip the zipper and you can put things between the bag and liner, easy to make and fun to do.  The hardest part for me is deciding what cute fabric to use for the lining.  Since these were men's jeans it makes a roomy project bag.

Christmas Table Runner

Visitng my BFF this last week gave us an opportunity to take a class at her local quilt store.   in the Phoenix area.  We really just needed to be together and do something creative. The A Quilter's Oasis  http://www.aquiltersoasis.com/ using a pattern from The Pattern Basket called Slice of Cake Table Runner designed for a "Layer Cake" (10" squares).  I chose a Christmas pack to make for the holiday.  The class turned out to be only the two of us, so we dived into the pattern.  Several set backs slowed us down but not to worry they were all solved...the teacher cut some squares for us and well, she cut all "a" an we needed "b"but luckily had enough fabric to make the correct cuts; then my BFFs sewing machine started making thread nests on the back side we had to give up and go home.  We each got 7 of the 19 squares done but at least all the cutting done.  We went straight to the sewing machine shop and dropped off the machine.  All is well as the machine was back on Thursday (tension part broke) and we got mine completed and her runner well along.  It was an easy sew and we both like the finished runner a lot.

Two Year Socks...DONE and Delivered

These socks got started in Alaska two years ago for my BFF.  The yarn is a Liza Sousa Sock Merino color Bloojay bought 3/2/2011.  These socks have been though a lot...the yarn was very breaky and was also not continuous when I went to ball it so there was more breaks than I like.  Then my BFF spent the summer with us and her four doxies and one that is a puppy, got into the yarn and need I say more. Came in from shopping and she and I just looked at each other and started to moan and laugh all at the same time.  A few days later after unknotting and unwinding all the yarn to rewind it was back to getting on the knitting.  Oh and that unknotting and unwinding meant more breaks where there were chew through in the yarn.  The number of ends that would need to be woven in was about 10 in one sock with all the ends.  The toes on the socks were not done well, long story on why, but hey it is the toes.
Outcome....they are delivered as we share Thanksgiving with  my BFF and she likes them and they fit perfect.  Measurements of the foot at least works when knitting for someone.
All is good, gift delivered and I'm ready to knit more socks. ...now is the time to start a pair for me.

Happy Thanksgiving to all

Modern Quilt Guild BOM Quilt

For the last year my Modern Quilt Guild has been doing a block of the month.  It has been rocky at times as the directions were not well done, or the initial finish to be 12 inch block did not always work out with the ones chosen...but over all being an experienced quilter those hiccups were easily overcome.  The finished quilt will be shown at the December meeting, it has to be quilted.  I'm not sure I will get it done as I am currently on a two month RV trip w/darling husband

 to celebrate my retirement! 

I would have brought it with me and finished the quilting, but thought quality time with my husband more important than the quilt and I'm not sure I will be back for the meeting will play it by ear to see if it can get done.  The trip however is fab!...so is retirement.

Enter: Babylock Tiara

Here's the deal.  My last post said I was getting the Brother PQ1500S High Speed Quilting and Sewing Machine
and the organization I am retiring from was giving me a cash gift to purchase that special retirement gift.  So, Enter husband to go and look and purchase the machine I had told him was on my list. Enter Debbie the salesperson.  Husband tells her he was there to get the machine and wanted to see it.  He sees it and was not sure that was really what he thought I should have.  Enter Babylock Tiara mid arm quilter sitting right next to the Brother....

He asks Debbie, "What is this?"  Debbie explains she had just returned from Babylock Convention and this was the mid arm free motion quilting machine.  Husband indicates this seems more like what he had envisioned, not the other machine..."This Babylock seems like it will take my wife to a new place and the other one is where she already is."  He quickly figures what he would chip in and buys the Tiara...Really?  Yes, really.  So all this time I did not think my husband paid any attention to my hobby, he was very in tune with it.  

Oh my... and Wow, this will be so much fun!  (Four more days till retirement.)  
Lesson: Enter is not always through the door one thinks one will enter...ENTER RETIREMENT

Enter: Retirement

ENTER my word for 2013 and my how 2013 has flown by.  So now I ENTER Retirement on Oct 31...RETIRE reminds me that it's time to put away the old tires and put on new ones that will take me on travels other than work at an office and people needing decisions and work clothes and only weekends for my time....this is a time MENT for entering a new time with new travels, new work, new people, new clothes and weekends anytime.  WOW  So what do I do?  look for a new sewing machine to enter retirement with me.  Now understand I have really great machines now...2 Viking top of the line, Babylock serger top of the line, a featherweight, a treadle, and a couple of other vintage, so need is not so much as a want.  But to my surprise as I went to look at a Babylock  and a Bernina that I thought might be in the running, enter Debbie (salesperson) who says, that's not really what you want, you need a straight stitch heavy duty only machine?  HUH?  then she showed me the

Brother PQ1500S High Speed Quilting and Sewing Machine

Who knew that is exactly what I was missing in my sewing machine arsenal.  Not a $3000 or so machine but a $700 or so machine.  It sews straight, does beautiful free motion (no it does not have a regulator like the Bernina or the magic laser pin like the Babylock) but really I have been doing freemotion for a while and I can live without stitch regulator for now and the magic laser is just another gadget in reality.  This Brother was really designed to be used in a frame to do free motion and is set up with the under side bobbin that if set in a frame would be in the front and the needle threads from side and once again if set in a frame would be front to back.  And the stitch is so beautiful and the machine feels sturdy, firm, smooth and really quiet. 

Who knew a machine that does one thing well would be the one.  

Lesson: Enter is not always through the door one thinks one will enter...ENTER RETIREMENT

Halloween Fun Mug Rugs from Quilt Never Finished

I started a mystery quilt many moons ago, many Halloweens ago and stuffed in a bag.  Cleaning out the sewing studio brought the bag into the light from a very dark and not long seen spot.  This mystery gone wrong was just waiting to be "updated" into something....hmmm thought I, what would some of this be?  I started ripping apart the blocks/semi rows and discovered fun mug rugs waiting to be sewn.  I thought each grand would like one and I would find a great Halloween glass/mug to send along.  I did not however want to do binding and that is why I LOVE my Babylock Evolve serger and the beautiful edges it does.  Three thread overlock and wala! no binding needed.

 I like these so much I'm now ripping apart the rest and will make them all up to give to people.  I love when things hiding in the dark jump up and scare up something fun and useful.

Happy Haunting

Tall Tree Quilted

Tall Tree is quilted.  It was fun to quilt with my Viking Diamond machine with decorative snowflake stitch and free motion snowflakes.

finished, I know bad pic..will try to take another soon

decorative snowflake design

measuring to add a line of straight stitch to use as marking for free motion snowflakes

marking line of sewing

free motion snowflakes

Snow continues to fall

snowflake

It is coming to be Christmas too soon and this fun paper pieced Tall Trim the Tree pattern will find a place somewhere to bring in joy.  A paper pieced tree class at Quilter's Dream in Colleyville, Texas with my favorite quilter friends makes the work fun to do.

Finished top ready to sandwich.  All materials from my stash, love to use stash.

Layering with the tri wrapped method

The tri wrapped method is using boards to wrap the backing and top and rolling the batting between.  Unwrapping just enough to baste and smoothing to lay nice and flat .  Love this for small quilts.  Have not tired with a full size, but I am sure it would work just need really long boards.

Quilting of the project will be another post...need to finish the basting first.  Soon quilting will begin.

Bunting Quilt finds its RV Home

I made the Bunting Quilt for the RV and for the negative space challenge quilt for Fort Worth Modern Quilt Guild.  Negative Space Quilt Challenge   This weekend is in Jonestown, Tx for the Swift (a type of bird) and Music Festival.  The quilt/"picnic" cloth is really fun, just what one needs in the RV world.

Ripping Quick to get to Plan B

Sometimes things just don't work out like one plans but with Plan B the ripper comes  out and makes quick work of those long seams.  This green floral backing I thought would not be so directional but when seamed together there is slight directional path in the pattern that is more noticeable than I though it would be.  The need to unsew and flip would solve the problem. This is when another of my favorite tools comes into play:

This is the site where you can order this great tool.  (I don't get any compensation or other consideration on this recommendation...it's just one of my tools that make my sewist life easier.)

Quick Ripper

Low Volume...What?

I really don't get low volume...I don't have anything in my stash that is low volume...I can't see low volume...SO this is my best shot at low volume and I've been told it is not low volume.  I think low volume for me is this but maybe it's just dull.  Whatever it will have to do for now.  This is my low volume and the lowest volume I had in my stash. But I do love the ribbon pattern from the internet.
Merry Go Round Quilt

Planning with what I had in my stash.

This is too bright

This is too plain

This seems just right for me.  I know not really low volume, but for me it is>

Finished top.  I really like this pattern and how like magic it weaves together.  

New Cutter -- Super New 'Toy"

I have found my new favorite "toy" that saved me loads of time, energy and hand trauma when cutting 5" squares for my low volume quilt.  It is like cutting through butter when it cuts so I must say it is the best money spent in a long time on a quilting tool.  It just zipped though 6 layers of fabric...like really zipped.  it is PRESS, SLIDE....CUT!

BOM August

Modern Quilt Guild BOM August...Storm At Sea

Paper pieced 

Negative Space Challenge Quilt

My Modern Quilt Guild has a challenge to create a negative space quilt and my idea was to incorporate a tablecloth that had belonged to my mother in law as the top.  A plain white 37x37 inch tablecloth that she used mainly on a card table to set out desserts.  This cloth had been a cut down from a table cloth she had bought from a hotel sale for less than a dollar in the 50s.  She was one to never waste anything and was always ready to repurpose.  I thought it would honor her legacy of this thriftyness and use a beautiful cloth.  Yea, the cloth has some stains but it has in life been laudered I dare not guess how many times.  It worked beautifully and while it was a very loose weave and quilting had its challenges, I love the quality of that cotton, the light pattern in the material and the memories woven into its cloth.  I "copied" a quilt I saw on blog  http://seasonsgredings.com/2012/07/bunting-tablecloth/.  Just a fun happy pattern.   When my husband saw it he asked if this was the new cloth for the RV that he wanted.  It had not crossed my mind, but it is perfect for that.  So now a new table cloth for fun traveling.