A blast from the past

Yipeee - it's a FREE day today. I have one thing on the calendar and it's totally my call if I go or not. It's a used book sale - of course, I'm going!

I bailed from the meeting I was supposed to go to last night. After the three classes and all the stuff that went on in the last couple of weeks, I was tired. So I came home, had dinner with DH and then sat and read my book. It was glorious! I even ignored my alarm this morning. Well, after I shut it off, I decided that I didn't need to get up yet so I just lay there for a while and contemplated life.

I'll be editing some pictures later today so I'm ready for the upcoming week. Lots and lots of pictures but that's what keeps us both entertained. Right?

During our show n tell yesterday, one of the participants brought in the most amazing show n tell. I'll share it in just a second. And I received a show n tell from a past participant. It was fun to see both of these projects.

This is Suzi's Dear Jane quilt. It's STUNNING. She hasn't decided how she'll quilt it yet, but the top is completely done! There were a ton of different techniques in this class. Hand piecing, paper piecing, applique, curved piecing and a whole lot more. We did that as an ongoing class in 2012, 2013 and half of 2014. It was a LOT of work. I was thrilled to see the top finished. How would you quilt it? By hand? By machine? And how??

Suzi's Dear Jane quilt top

The second finished quilt top is from Andrea. This is the Dragon Star by Judy Niemeyer. It's paper pieced. We did this class in 2013 so it took her 6 years, but that doesn't matter - it's done!!!!  She's sending it off to be quilted in a couple of weeks.

Andrea's Dragon Star

I just had a peek at the list of classes (our ongoing classes). I started teaching them in 2003!!!!!  We started off with ONE class per year and then went to two and sometimes more. Over the years, there have been 39 different quilts. THIRTY-NINE!!!!!!!  That's just insane and I have to admit that many of my versions are still not done. And they are BIG so that's a huge problem. I'm working on them. I should take a recap of them all and see where I stand. It would be nice to get all of them finished. Thinking about the other ones I taught at a different store (s), I'm thinking there are over FORTY of them.

If you go back to this blog post from 2013, there's a partial list (and pictures of some of the ones that we've done in the past). I'll compile a complete list at some point because it's a superb reference. We quickly forget the year!!!!  But I need help. I cannot for the life of me remember which quilt we did at The Hobby Horse in 2017. I know we did Kaleidoscope as one quilt, but what the heck was the other? I haven't had a chance to check my fabrics and I didn't write that one down.


So the other day when I was walking the girls, I noticed this sign still sitting on a neighbor's lawn. Hmm - the old me would have plucked that thing out of the ground and squirreled it away. Nope - not now. I have way too many. They are neatly stored in the garage and I don't need more. Why do I covet those signs? Because they're made with corrugated plastic and make wonderful bottoms for tote bags that prevent saggy tote bag bottoms. Here's a link to my tip.

Election sign up for grabs

Back to the pillowcase challenge. I thought about it on my way to class yesterday. Are 100 pillowcases even possible in one day? Well - if one person could make three in an hour (this method of making a pillowcase is called the 20-minute pillowcase), then in 6 hours, they could make 18. And if you had 6 people - you would have 108. Yep - we can make a 100 in the day. We're not making the french seam but going to use the serger so that step will make them even faster to make. We'll have time for lunch!

I had a quick peek into the stash room. Oh boy - there's a LOT of fabric that would fit this category. Here's a basket of licensed characters - Barbie, Winnie the Pooh, etc. Perfect for kids pillowcases. There are a few that have metallic on them so they are out, but this basket is going to be severely reduced (I hope).

Basket of licensed children's fabrics

PLUS there are THREE more baskets with bright fabrics that would work. Now some of the pieces are NOT large enough. So the first cull will be to sort out the pieces that are too small and then sort out any metallic. Then I can match up the fabrics to get the main body and a band. And there's also the question of directional prints. You can make the pillowcase with directional prints - you just have to cut it slightly different. I have written instructions for directional prints and once I figure out how to post that, I'll share it with you.

Three more baskets of bright fabrics

Seriously!!!  What the heck am I going to do with these four baskets of fabric? I haven't touched most of that stuff in years but it's all good quality and fun stuff. It's perfect for this charity program. I certainly can't take it with me and I would much rather it be used on a fun day with friends than donated to a guild so they can use it. No way - this is my stuff and I'm determined to make good use of it. It's time to get it used up!!!!!

Here's how the day will work. The date booked to make pillowcases for Ryan's Case for Smiles project is Tuesday, December 3. You do NOT need to bring a sewing machine. I'll have three sergers set up and three sewing machines. We're going to make a sweatshop. Someone can do the pressing, someone can sew the first seam on the sewing machine, others can do the serging and others can finish off the seam ends. Someone can be cutting although would be nice to have everything cut BEFORE the day starts. If you can only come for an hour, then you come just for one hour. If you can stay longer, great. It's going to be loads of fun!!!! 

Keep in mind, this is NOT a race. We want good quality work on our pillowcases.  If you have some time on that day to spare or some fabric to donate, e-mail me so I can get everything coordinated. I'm going to start sorting those baskets later today.

Things to remember if you want to help. Check this link to see what kind of fabrics are acceptable and what are not. This is EXTREMELY important. There's no sense in making a pillowcase if they won't accept it. We're going to be very strict about this. Although it's easy. No flannel, no metallic. And make them bright and cheery. Yes - winter-themed or even Christmas will work as there are children who will spend Christmas in the hospital.

Go to this link to get the instructions for cutting and sewing. If you want to make some on your own and add to our stack, then do so. I see a photo op for blog posts, quilt magazines, the local newspaper. Let's make this BIG.

The more places that I find to use up stuff that I have acquired the more excited I get. This is why I accumulated a huge stash over the years. Now I can actually use it!!!! I didn't buy it to give it away as I've seen many people do. What's the point of that? I might as well stand at the door and hand out money to people who walk by. This way, we get to have FUN days as we use up our stashes.

On that note, I'm out of here.

Have a great day!!!!


Ciao!!!!

Dragon Star - The Final reveal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The other night we had our FINAL class for Dragon Star.

Remember that heavily paper pieced quilt designed by Quiltworx.

Here is what the students in the class accomplished. Now keep in mind that many of them are NOT quilters. They are garment sewers. Many had never paper pieced or had just learned. They did an OUTSTANDING job. I am very proud of all of them.

Sheila - beautiful colour combination - reminds me of the Arctic!

Lynn moves into the desert with her brown/beiges. Beautiful!!!!!

Judy did a southwestern colour scheme. Not quite done, but making a great effort!!!!   Can't wait to see that one done. 

Angela is going to quilt hers in sections. So she has the four quarters done - and will have fun this summer!!!!!  

Atty is NOT putting that outside border on hers. She is going to have a wavy edge table cloth!  

This belongs to Joyce. (I quilted it for her). Love those RED points on the star!!!!

Did you notice how the placement of different colours and values COMPLETELY changed the look and feel of the quilt?????   In some cases, you lose the traditional eight pointed star, but all the quilts were constructed in the SAME way.   I love seeing these results - same pattern - same paper pieced pattern and yet ALL the quilts are VERY VERY different.


Great job everyone. And yes there were a few who did not get the quilt done, but you have come a LONG WAY - don't let it become a UFO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Details of Joyce's quilt

More details

The back - I changed both top and bobbin thread for all SIX colours I used on top!!!!

And there you have it. A GREAT project. We had a lot of fun - it was a great group of ladies. They all learned lots and I learned from them. That makes the class a total success. Now for those of you not done - a gentle nudge to try and get the top completed over the summer. Then when we get back together for the fall and our NEW PROJECT - you will have some wonderful show n tell for us.



So that leaves me with three quilts to quilt and two to baste. I'm doing OK - just no time to waste, but this morning I have some shopping to do. Going to check out the camp cots and the camp chairs (to see all the other models that MEC has in stock - going to a different MEC. Already called ahead and had the items set aside for me to test!!!!)


It is The Ride to Conquer Cancer this weekend. I will likely NOT have a chance to blog on Saturday or Sunday (you never know - I do have a couple of posts half done!),  but I will be updating Facebook if you are my friend.   Let's hope for decent weather!!!!!



Have a good day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dragon Star - April reveal

Yesterday was a very deceptive day. the sun was out and the temperature was above zero. You had the impression it was a warm day, BUT the wind was biting cold and it was nippy.  I'm ready for those warm days anytime!!!!!!!!!!!

Last night was our Dragon Star class. Some of the ladies slipped a bit with the homework, but this quilt is a LOT of sewing. Don't let it become a UFO!!!!!    A little bit every day and it will get completed.

Here is what we saw last night..............  (and it might be a bit hard to tell from the photos since the quilts are lying flat, but everyone pretty much changed the values that went in the big star and the quilts are all going to be so different!!!!!!!!)  I can't wait to see the finished products!!!!

Angela

Lynn

Atty

Andrea

Joyce

A photo of Joyce's quilt so far

Sheila

Louise

Marnie

Marnie's flying geese

Teresa

Isn't that impressive!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awesome work ladies!  Keep it up. So close to the end!!

Here is a picture I took last night of how to sew those curved seams.

Start by removing the paper from the paper pieced unit. Then find the center of the corner flying geese unit and the pie shaped piece. Match the centers and pin. Then match up the end pieces and pin with two pins. Then match the other two ends (or edges of the blocks). Then sew that curved seam. Don't forget the stiletto will make quick work of that seam.  And sew with the RUFFLED piece on top!!!

I went back into my blog to see how I sewed the last part of my Dragon Star quilt together. I was at the retreat house in Bracebridge. The blog date is July 10, 2012 (if you want to check that out). I started at 10 AM on Sunday morning and this is what the quilt looked like.  I hadn't even finished paper piecing the flying geese or the border.

This is what the quilt looked like twenty four hours later. I did not sew all night, but just kept myself focused and the more I got done, the more I wanted to finish the quilt.   Hmmmmm - I wonder if it too late to change the colour of those flying geese units that touch the star tips.  Or maybe I change the star tips!!!!!!!!!!!!   I will have to look closely at it, but I might be able to slip in a piece of the green background (I have LOADS left) in between the four back geese and the point. It will shorten the geese slightly, but no one will know. I won't tell if you don't!!!!   Yes - I think that is what I will do. Shouldn't be that hard??????

The layout of the curves and while they look nice here

When you go to sew them together - it doesn't look so nice

So - make sure you use those registration marks. 

Good luck to those making Dragon Star. STOP - if you have any issues.



On that note - I am back to the long arm - making progress, but not quite as quick as I would like.


Have a great day


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Update on Scrabble - those dreaded designers at EA GAMES decided to upgrade the online Scrabble interface. After removing the app from my iPad, and reinstalling it, I am finally able to play Scrabble once again on my iPad. HOWEVER, I can only play with random opponents. I cannot access Facebook. I can play Scrabble on my Android phone, BUT - as soon as I touch the link to one of my friends - it creates a brand new game with that person and then goes into the rest of my games. At this rate - I will have HUNDREDS of games on the go. And I don't like playing on my phone as it drains the battery rather quickly. And after MUCH digging on the support page which isn't very helpful, I managed to find a reference that EA GAMES knows that many people cannot access their Facebook friends through the iPad app. Hopefully they will get it fixed soon - I MISS my Scrabble games.



Catch you later.

And Sammy makes THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh dear - I forgot about poor little Sammy yesterday. The weather was beautiful  - warm and the dogs want to be outside. Then they want to be inside. Then outside, then inside - well you get the picture.

Normally when I leave the house, I line up the dogs and they each get a treat. OK - I feel guilty leaving them behind!!!   I had to run out yesterday and didn't have time for the treat. That was at 2:30 PM. When M got home at 5:00 PM - guess what????  Little Sammy was outside!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   And had been for hours!!!!   Oh dear - I completely forgot that she was outside. Thank god it wasn't a kid!!!!   But it was a nice day and no harm done - she was fine. She does like to be outside.

One, two, three dogs - can't forget anyone, but I did!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And for some reason - they LOVE sitting, playing on the hot tub. Silly girls!!!!!

On the walk this morning, I swear that Sammy and Sparky and I did about 1 KM, Kaylee must have done TEN. She checked out every corner of the woods and came back to report, then was off in another direction. But she is very good and always comes back when called. Good Kaylee, but she has NO CLUE what to do with the carrots that the girls get as their morning treat. What is this orange thing????? ICK!!!!


Another busy day yesterday and I got two small customer quilts done.

Customer quilt Number one

Detail of quilting

Customer quilt number two - DONE

Detail of quilting

Now these were not that big, but they still take time to load, set up and quilt and then take off and trim. I have THREE more small ones to do - hopefully today. I am not sure what I am going to quilt today. Trying to get through the backlog. Well it isn't a backlog, but a number have to be done for upcoming quilt shows and a couple more of mine need to be done. Doesn't matter - I am having fun with it and that is all that counts!!!!!!!!!!!


Now where was I going in such a hurry that I left little Sammy outside????   I was off to the gym to get a facial. They have a spa at the gym - a HUGE spa and it seems to be pretty busy. Like all spas, they are expensive so I tend to NOT go often. However I had a discount coupon and I wanted to make use of it, so a facial it was!!!

Now you go into a quiet room with soft music. The lights are dimmed a bit, you take off your clothes and lie on a HEATED bed, under some nice warm blankets. Someone rubs creams and lotions all over your face and neck (and I got a hand and foot massage with the facial). The the esthetician asked about the mask - would you like the powerful one or the gentle one. Oh - might as well go for the powerful one which is made with PAPRIKA. OUCH - that burned - didn't burn the skin, but I felt it!!!!!    Then the HOT towels and OH MY GOD - I'm dozing off here. Stay focused on relaxing. Then I hear CLICK and the esthetician walks out of the room. Hmmmmmmm - am I done??????   Well I still have something on my face  and shoulders (cloths???) something on my eyes, and my head is still wrapped in a towel.

Surely she would have said "have a nice day???"   But I was dozing and just heard her close the door when she left. Shoot - how long should one lie here before you think - OK - time to get up?????   Is it over all ready?????  Oh - she comes. I am not done. Ahhhhhhh - now I can relax again and I think I fell asleep. And then she took off all the stuff, unwrapped my head, gave me some samples and I was done!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah - wouldn't it be nice to be able to afford one of those every week?????   I would look BEAUTIFUL!!!!  But no worry - I FEEL beautiful and that is all that counts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Last night was our class for Dragon Star. These ladies are AMAZING. Wow - they are plowing through the homework like a hot knife through butter. And the quilts all look AWESOME. I cannot wait to see them completed!!!!


And the neat thing is that everyone did something different with those big diamonds

Joyce

Sheila

Angela

Liz

Lynn

Marnie

Teresa (a tad behind), but she is still working on the project

Andrea

Atty

And I managed to get a few more blocks completed on Intertwined...............

Intertwined

And there you have it. Time to get busy today and see what I can accomplish.


I found this company at the bicycle show. They sell women's active wear - check out the video for this dress. I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!   The stuff isn't cheap, but very cute.   (it is the first video or the Marie dress)


Dress video



Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes - I sucked those BAD befuddled thoughts out of my head. Picked a couple of projects and focused.

Customer quilt DONE!!!!!   I really MUST be more careful when bringing in the quilts. This one had barely enough backing to load on the machine. Now while I CAN quilt it, there is NO guarantee how neat some of the edges are going to be. I shall speak with the owner today about this for future quilts. 

Here is detail of the quilting. 

I MUST also talk to EVERYONE about the importance of putting borders by MEASURING them. MEASURE MEASURE MEASURE - I think I shall just have to start telling everyone whether they want to know or not!!!!!!    I HATE quilting a quilt that has at least ONE INCH difference between the center and the edge.


Then I got myself in gear and thought I would load another quilt. It was a day of experimentation as this quilt was already BASTED. Normally I would take it apart - well normally, I DO NOT get pre basted quilts. But this was for the community projects at one of my guilds. Since it was flannel and WELL basted with spray, I though I would present myself a challenge and quilt it as it was basted. Plus the fact that it was not a big quilt.

So I changed the thread, re positioned the SAME pattern, loaded the BACKING only and quilted away.

Community project quilt

Detail of quilting

Have fun doing those and got lots more lined up to get quilted.

My girls like to spend time outside especially if their PEEPS are not home (I do not count as a peep unless I have food or treats or a leash in my hand). They want to be outside to greet their peeps when they come home. They are just silly girls. Well several times, I looked out and could not see Sammy. She is becoming less of a velcro dog these days. Couldn't find her. Well she seems to have developed a passion for the pond and often just sitts there. See how she blends in...............

A new pond ornament!!!!!!!!!!

I took THREE pictures and in all three - I couldn't get her to look at the camera or her eyes were shut!!!!  I guess I need that new Blackberry which has the ability to fix this!!!!!


Then out last night to teach Dragon Star. I have to say that that class is AMAZING. No matter what I throw at them for homework - they are back with all the work done and ANXIOUS for more. There was also some talk about going home and doing it IMMEDIATELY or pretty close!!!!!


Have a look at their homework...............    (they had to make the pieces that are shown in the first two photos, but I only took the picture of the square block for the others since the colouring of the two sections are the same). They had to make FOUR SQUARES and FOUR of the curvy pieces. Notice the colouring - they all choose something different in the number of fabrics they put in the spikes.

Sheila  (I never noticed last night, but that background is a bit directional, but it really works in this quilt and gives a lot of movement to the background)

Sheila

Joyce

Lynn

Judy

|Andrea

Atty

Liz

Marnie

Shoot - I missed taking a picture of Angela's blocks - but they were DONE. And Teresa is working to catch up. You CAN DO IT!!!!!


And I have to STOP taking books out of the library!!!!!   First - I can't STOP reading the darn things. I get caught up in a thriller (Jefferson Bass is also an EXCELLENT author - forensic anthropology). And now I have reached my limit of 50 books from the library (hey - some are for DH and some are for M  - yes I manage their books for them!!!!!)

On that note - another wild and wacky day and I had better get started.


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!