How many years does it take to fix a mistake?

Someone posted a comment that all quilt stores are becoming the same, so what is the point of shopping at one versus the other? While that may be true to some extent, I think the "copying" goes back even further. 

The FABRIC is becoming the same, so shops don't have as much variety as they used to. And SADLY, what fabric companies make reflects what sells the most. We used to have easy access to categories like 30s and Asian, two categories I haven't seen in quite a while. That doesn't mean they are completely gone - I just haven't seen them. 

What we are seeing is so much of the same! I don't want to put a designer name in the blog so it gets flagged when someone searches, but I know of several designers - three of them come to mind immediately, and their collections are the same YEAR AFTER YEAR. The motifs might change somewhat, or the color might shift slightly, but over the designer's lifespan, they are the same! 

I remember back in the day when I bought a ton of fabric from one designer because I loved it (it's still sitting there untouched!), and when I looked into it, each of their 27 collections (at the time) was IDENTICAL in coloring; only the motif had changed. OK -- they may not be identical, but very similar. You could easily substitute one collection for another. 

Even other designers' collections are similar! And let's face it, that is what sells, or manufacturers wouldn't keep printing millions and millions of yards of fabric for each release. Of the MANY fabric companies out there, if each company released, let's say, 15 collections three times a year, that's a whole lot of "new" they have to create! The lookbook for one company I just checked just released NINETEEN new collections. 

Of the 19, many were similar to collections released in past years. Why would they come up with something new when people absolutely go nuts and buy and buy and buy? And if a certain style sells, then why not print more of that kind? It is US, the consumers, that are making the stores the same!! 

As usual, I've generalized a wee bit, but how many blue/teal watercolor collections do we need? At this point, there are probably 20 of them? The company releases a new one three times a year (I think). But the quilting community keeps buying them, so they keep on making them. All they do is change the theme - the look is very similar. 

Some designers are so popular that shops and consumers will buy those collections SIGHT UNSEEN. That is obscene. The only way to force change is to STOP buying, and then designers will have to work hard to find something new. 

Well, Miss Murphy seems to be hopping up onto her bed much more frequently these days. That means her legs are feeling stronger? We still help her on the stairs, and that is becoming routine for all of us, so that is good. 

MOM - I need a bath!!!!

I need to call the groomer and try and figure out a way to get her groomed. She desperately needs a bath. But she won't be able to stand for as long as they need. I'm sure we can arrange something like two appointments? 

Yesterday I gave her a wee taste of freedom. In the forest, we often walk off the path; well, it's a secondary path the city doesn't service. The forest is one huge squirrel convention at this time of year, and I thought I'd let her have a wee bit of fun. Given the condition of her legs, that may or may not have been smart, although she seemed fine all day and this morning. 

I dropped her leash. She went about 10 feet and then looked back at me. "MOM - something is not right." So I picked it up, and she immediately started pulling. So I dropped it again, and this time, she took off. But not super fast as she would have in the past. But she bounded around the forest while I walked on the secondary path. When I came out the other side, she did too, came to me when I called, and we continued our walk. 

She was excited, and I cut the walk short as I knew she would be tired. Silly girl, but she had fun with the squirrels. 

And then there is our lazy Lexi. She insists on lying under the table, a habit DH taught her. She can get pretty obnoxious while she waits for something. He eventually gave her some off the table, and then she ate the rest of her food. I wish he had NOT trained her to do that. Murphy, who loves to eat, never got food at the table, so she is elsewhere. 

MOM - just making myself comfortable while I wait

I had to clean my sewing machine because I ran out of "prewound" bobbins. Since I can't remember when I last cleaned the machine and changed the needle, I use five or six bobbins as an indicator. When the bobbins are gone, it's time to clean the machine and change the needle. It works for me. 

My indicator for changing the needle and cleaning the machine

Then I trimmed those two winter quilts and stitched the binding to the back of the first one. When I made the binding, I wasn't sure I had cut enough strips, and sure enough, I ran out. I need about 18 inches of binding. 

Not enough binding

However, I just made this binding two weeks ago, maybe three, and do you think I can find the fabric? I remember it in my hands, debating what to do if I was short, but where did I put it? I immediately checked the tubs of blue fabric in the stash room, but it's not there. OK -- so I only checked the top, but I can't imagine it got buried. I may have no choice but to go through that tub to try and find it. 

Then I decided if I am going to be serious about getting some of the projects off the Visual To Do list, then I'd better put my money where my mouth is. By the way, those winter quilts are on the list, as is this next project. 

I had prepared some appliqué blocks for Sylvia's Bridal Sampler. I cut out the shapes at the quilt retreat, so all I had to do was place the pieces on the background square, set up the machine for appliqué, and finish one block!!!

One more block done

When I'm machine embroidering, I keep stabilizer bits for embroidery or appliqué. A few small pieces were all I needed for this block. 

Using up stabilizer bits for appliqué

So I kept going and got a second block done as well. 

You can see how scrappy some of the stabilizer is on the backs of the blocks. I don't like the waste. So if I use every piece of stabilizer twice, that makes me feel better. Some larger pieces might get used a third time! 

More scrappy bits

And now two more blocks are complete. YEAH!!!! I thought I had about 20 blocks to finish, but the number might be closer to 30. It doesn't matter; if I can work on at least one per day for the next bit, I can easily finish by the end of the year. My goal is to have the three tops together by the end of the year. I'd better get moving! 

I finished two blocks for Sylvia's Bridal Sampler.

Appliqué can quickly slow people down, so here are a couple of tips. By the way, I'm doing a satin stitch around raw edge fused pieces. 

The first tip: find a good SATIN STITCH, not a zigzag stitch, on your sewing machine. There is a huge difference between the two. And use an open-toe foot so you can see what is going on. If you don't know the difference, let me know, and I'll see if I can find a picture. I don't have time this morning. 

Use an open-toe appliqué foot.

Secondly, know the functions on your sewing machine and use them. This is the function panel on the PFAFF Creative Icon 2. From the left: presser foot up and down; the needle threader (moved to the far right on the Creative Icon 3, which makes sense). Next is the scissors, which I don't really use because I prefer long tails when I'm doing appliqué. Next is the TIE OFF (extremely important for appliqué), as is the STITCH restart, and finally the needle up/down. 

The function panel on the creative icon 2

All of those are game changers for appliqué if you use them correctly. Another thing about this machine (and many others) is the presser foot that pops up slightly when the needle is down, so you can pivot frequently. That was extremely important on all those curves and those points. I've done so much appliqué in my life, I think I could do it in my sleep! I will NOT do appliqué without those tools and functions. 

OH - and here's another tip. When I'm done stitching, I press the block from the back using a wool pressing mat so I don't compress the stitches on the front. This is the only time I use a wool pressing mat. 

Pressing from the back on a wool pressing mat

So that is two more blocks done, and well, I'll take better count later on what is left. 

I'm almost embarrassed to explain what happened to the next block. But there is a Dresden Plate block in this quilt, and I have the pieces cut, and I've attempted to sew it at least TWO TIMES before, but it just didn't work. I couldn't get a circle, and I was frustrated. I've tried Dresden rulers; I've double-checked the pieces multiple times. But I need to finish this block, so let's try it one more time. 

I laid out all the blades on the sewing table so I could tackle it later today. 

The blades for the Dresden Plate block

It looks like it will make a circle - right? WRONG!!!!! 

I have 16 petals in my block, which is common. Then, for whatever reason, I had an epiphany last night and counted the petals in the book's block. OH!!!!

The pattern

Seriously?? Each quarter has FIVE blades, not four. So I am missing four blades!!! No wonder mine never formed a circle. 

The pattern instructions are correct; I just didn't read them right. And this thing has been an issue for how many years? I just shake my head in disbelief. BUT the important thing is that I have figured it out, and now I can cut four more blades and get this thing together. 

Depending on how my sample making goes today, I might be able to piece that. I'm trying to decide whether to turn the rounded end under before sewing the blades together or after. It might be easier to do it before; it will be fiddly as heck with those twenty blades, but then it will be easy to zip around and do some invisible machine appliqué on the turned-under edge. 

I can't believe I made a mistake like that, and that I didn't catch it even though it didn't make a circle!!! Life happens, move on and get the block done!

Here is my Halloween Trick or Treat bag. I embroidered this last year, and I sewed the bag back together because I didn't have access to a free-arm embroidery machine when I made it. 

Sample bag for Halloween

I rinsed out the water-soluble stabilizer, but it still felt stiff. So I threw it in the washing machine, and it is soft and beautiful!!! 

I spotted this saying on a video clip that someone sent me. 

"Be careful collecting things

Be reckless collecting memories"

You can't have too many memories, and you certainly don't want to not do things. As someone mentioned in a comment on the blog, for many events in our lives, "there are no do-overs," meaning the event happens only once! If you don't go, you will never have that memory. 

Think about that! If it's too much trouble, too emotional, too far, too many people, or whatever excuse you come up with, that event will NEVER happen again!! Don't say no to collecting memories, especially with family and friends. 

I need to get moving; it's going to be a busy day (as usual), and I also have a massage today. I'm a bit worried about my back, so I need to warn her about what happened with the physio a while back. Oh my, my legs are a bit sore this morning from my workout, but it's all good!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Ciao!!!