Oh - SHE is so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

While I was visiting with my parents and in light of the work I have done on the family history book, I was also trying to collect stories. In particular, stories about quilting/sewing in our family.

Then my mom shocked me and brought out some quilts that she had made. Seriously???  Yep - so this is what she showed me.

Bow tie quilt. This was a quilt that my Dad's maternal grandmother made for my parents around the time that they got married in 1954!  I knew of the existence of this quilt, but I honestly thought it was a Dresden Plate. Those TWO bow ties are NOT missing - just a very pale fabric was used or they have severely faded. 

Hand quilted (rather nicely) and what does that mean? My great grandmother quilted it?  It looks like someone with experience quilted it, but we have no knowledge that she did anything else. Did she pay someone to quilt it?  We figure it was one person who quilted it. The pattern has NO regard for the bow tie design - it is the same  motif over and over again, except for the border. Ah - that is why we put LABELS on quilts now!!!!

The quilting on the back of the quilt. Like I said - it is fairly well done. 

The backing was brought to the front and machine stitched down for a binding on three sides. On the fourth side, the top was turned to the back. Ooops - made a mistake perhaps????

Speaking of the back - this is the BACK of that same quilt.  Basically it is a two sided quilt and that backing is centered quite nicely!   I am impressed!!!!!!

Then my Mom showed me some quilts that she made..............   (she wrote out the stories so I can record - I haven't gone through them yet)

Dresden Plate

YES - - there are TWO different styles of Dresden Plates in the same quilt. The center fabric is consistent and the fabrics used throughout are the same - just two diferent patterns. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - my mom did NOT know why. 

I guess the left over blocks went into this small quilt which was probably slated for a baby????

The applique is done by machine on both of them. Neither of them is quilted and I brought both of them home with me to finish off.


Then my Mom brought out this one.  Hmmmmmm - Grandmother's Flower Garden. A bit of an unusal setting, but what is even more unusual is the fabric. It is made with what looks like lining fabric???

Grandmother's Flower Garden

Close-up of blocks - LOVE that GOLD (yeah Canada!!!!!!)

Close up of stitching! (and that GOLD fabric)

I believe it is lining material as it frays a LOT!!!!!    The big question - how to quilt this. It is NOT quilted. Should it be done by hand???   Machine????   And will that lining fabric snag??????   Oh boy - that is going to be a tough one.


BUT there was a treasure among those quilts and here it is................

YES - I know it looks like a mish mash of everything and YES - it is a mish mash of stuff that my mom made clothes for us!!!!!!

There are THREE fabrics that I distinctly remember.

The black and white one (just hold that thought), the yellow/brown floral print (wait for it) and that pink/green butterfly fabric. I also remember the orange/brown one. 

First - the pink/green butterfly fabric. I do NOT remember what was made from that fabric, but it is SO FAMILIAR to me. I am not sure whether my mom made herself a blouse - or whether we had matching outfits or whether I made something for myself when I was older, but I so remember that fabric.


OK - so you want to see something cute??????

YEP - that is ME!!!!!!!!!!!!    And do you recognize that fabric??????   YEP - that is the black and white fabric!!!!!    (looks like my mom whacked my bangs off!!!! - I did that once in university - it wasn't pretty!!!!)   (this was taken in June 1962)
I am certain that my mom made a matching one for herself and there is a picture somewhere of the two of us together!!!!

From a different picture (a close up of me in this dress) it appears that it was made from the yellow/brown floral in that picture above. But weren't me and my mom so cute in our matching outfits!!!!    Gosh - I think the drapes were practically made from the same fabric as we practially blend right in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    (this was taken in August 1964)

My mom even had cheater fabric - god knows what she made with that!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Anyway - wasn't that a great trip down memory lane????   Well it was for me!!!!!!!!!!!    So important to keep all these stories!!!!!!!!!!!!     I am putting a book together and I had better make it a priority before everyone dies off!!!!!


Speaking of cute - look at this cutey!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll just lie here and check out what happening down stairs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

On that note - I had a crazy day with the Sit n Sew ladies - more on that tomorrow.


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



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

Fear of getting rid of things

The good news is that the jacket is cut out, and I'm ready to sew it together today. Even better news: both presentations are almost finished, and I really only have to add whatever pictures I get sent by 6 PM tonight. After that, I don't add the pictures. 

I laugh LOUDLY when someone sends me pictures while I'm giving the presentation or just before, expecting them to be in the presentation. I used to run around making that happen. I don't do that anymore. 

I have a personal morning routine and often have multiple classes, so when someone sends me a picture, I could already be on a call or walking the dogs. I try to remind people every month—6 PM the night before —but it takes time to train them! I just ignore the late pictures now. 

As for the weddings? No weddings for years! And then two this year, and BOTH of them wanted the guests to wear a specific color. I am so tempted to just say NO, but I should have said NO months ago, before I even started this jacket. It's kind of late at this point, and I can always use the jacket as a sample, so it won't go to waste. 

Both weddings are family members, and one of the brides is a close family member. There is a color theme. I drew the line when it was suggested that we all buy a dress from the same website (Bridemaid's dresses, no less! I don't think that is going to happen, since I'm not planning to wear a dress. If I were a bridesmaid—I'd be happy to accommodate the bride and wear the color she wants —but as the mother of the bride, or especially a guest, who the heck cares what color I wear? 

Trust me -- I've made it very public that I may end up going in pink bike shorts if the jacket doesn't get done! I think it's absolutely ridiculous and I'm really regretting that I didn't say that sooner. Sigh..............

BUT, on the bright side, I have learned a lot while making that jacket, so I can't totally discount the fact that I'm making it. I was going to make a matching skirt and even bought the fabric. That's when I thought - how cute. That thought has long gone, and I'll be wearing a color NOT normally worn to weddings. That's my protest!!! And if the jacket needs to come off? Guess what? I'll look like I'm going to a funeral, and I don't really care! But we won't tell anyone about my plans! I'm going on a wandering vacation after the wedding, and I don't want to be tied down by luggage. 

Darn—I could have worn a pink scarf—silly me. My brain wasn't thinking. 

I continued to put stuff away yesterday, and this is one of the fabrics I recently purchased. OK—so I did buy a couple of things just because. This was in the half-price sale bin, and while that picture looks very weird, it's because of the neutrality of the print and the color (lime green) that I bought it. 

Lime green fabric

This one was intriguing as it was a fabric made of selvages. I imagine that these are real selvages from over the years. 

Selvage fabric

Can you believe that the repeat was TWO METERS long? OK -- I confess that I bought two meters of it. 

The repeat of the selvage fabric

Then I got some scrappy hourglass blocks sewn, pressed, and trimmed. 

Scrappy hourglass blocks done!

And then they went into the container with all the trimmed ones, as well as some triangles that are waiting to be turned into hourglass blocks. More stuff cleared up in Studio B. 

The container with the scrappy hourglass blocks

This was a table runner (pulled from those bins in the "to be quilted" area) that I quilted for my Facebook Live using the Large Magnetic Hoop. I finished the final hooping of embroidery last week, and it was hanging around, so I trimmed it. 

Trimming the table runner

It's now ready for binding. And I have to tuck the thread ends in, which is a good job to do while on the Virtual Retreat call tomorrow. This was from a class at Ruti's Needlebed back in 2012 or thereabouts. 

The table runner is ready for binding.

I had one more wall hanging that needed to have the binding put on, but it also needed a quilt sleeve. That got made, and I'll attach the binding either later today or tomorrow. It depends on whether I need a break from sewing that jacket. 

The sleeve is on this wall hanging.

We are getting a ton of rain these days. Thankfully, no thunderstorms in the last couple of days, but the rain! 

Guess who got all gussied up yesterday? Miss Murphy, and look how pretty she looks. 

MOM - I HATE going to the groomer

And now you can see her white socks!!! 

Pretty white socks

She did come home very stressed and had leg spasms, which she had never had before. But I lay down with her for a while, and soon she was her own self again. She goes to the groomer every 6 months, but as she gets older, I guess the stress of standing for two hours is becoming too much for her. I will address that with the groomer for next time. Maybe she needs a break. 

She was super excited when she realized that she was going in the car. Ran around like an idiot, and when we got out at the groomer (right beside a vet), the smells were insane. BUT when I opened the door to the groomer? That was another story. She wasn't super excited to go in. They have treats you can buy -- I might have to buy her one once inside to show her this is not a scary place. 

I came across this article about decluttering when I was tidying up the desk. It's easy to believe that getting rid of the stuff isn't really the problem; it's the fear of doing so for various reasons that is the problem.

• What if I need that? 
• I should keep it - just in case!
• Someone gave that to me.
• I'm not sure, so I'll just keep it! 
• What if it's worth something? 

How many of those statements have gone through your mind as you hold something in your hand? It happens to me all the time. But here are a few things that I've learned: 

What if I need that? 

You need to evaluate what you are throwing out. Most information can easily be found on the internet or in your digital files. If it is a physical thing, unless it's something extremely rare, you can always buy it again if you need it. And do you need every scrap of wood or fabric around? You do not! And if you choose to keep it -- then get it organized so it's not clutter. Find a home for it! 

I should keep it - just in case! 

Seriously? Do you really need to be the one to produce every single item that someone (including you) will need for the future? How much room is that taking up in your house? That's like keeping your child's toys so you can pass them along to the grandchildren. It's NOT going to happen. There will be new characters and colors that the grandchildren will want, not the ones from years ago. If someone can use the item now, get rid of it and let someone else use it. Many items become dated, and sadly, our world today doesn't do dated. Now, if that item is special for whatever reason, keep it, but don't keep it just because—make sure you have a specific reason for keeping it. I could never understand the people with massive purses filled with items - just in case!! My shoulders tremble at the thought of carrying that around. 

Someone gave that to me. 

Oh boy—just because some gave you something is no reason to keep it. If you don't like the item, you are finished with it, or it doesn't fit - find a way to exchange it or give it away. There is a very good chance that after one year (or less), they will NOT remember giving you that item. Unless it's something they made or have a family connection to. But a store-bought item? They won't remember. Think back to that memory quilt that I was supposed to make for that woman. When I asked her about it, she didn't even remember it!!! I have a couple of jigsaw puzzles that I was going to keep because of who gave them to me. You know what? When I'm back from my vacation, the current one on the table, which is complete (and related to the vacation), will be packed up and passed along. It's nice, but I will likely never do it again, so there's no reason to keep it. I'll have the memories, and that's all that counts. 

I'm not sure, so I'll just keep it. 

Come on!!! That is NOT an excuse - that is being lazy and not wanting to make the actual decision. Do you want it, need it? If the answer is no -- then just get rid of it!!!

What if it's worth something someday? 

You can easily do some research NOW to see the trend in the value of things. Most old things, especially toys and games, are only worth a lot of money if they are in their original boxes. Which means they were never played with, and therefore don't have memories. Google almost anything, and you can get an idea, but most things? They will not be worth what you think they are. Electronics and other tools? Newer models come out all the time, so if you think you are going to make a ton of money reselling them, think again. I recently sold a Cricut machine. Do you know that you can buy a refurbished one for under $180? So I certainly couldn't sell mine for more than what the market will bear! 

Take each item that you are struggling with and put it in a place of honor in your house - maybe the kitchen counter or the kitchen table. Live with it for a day and visualize what will happen to that item. I think it's easier to get rid of something if you see it every day than if it's hidden in a box, where you can ignore it. Now, it's easy to ask the questions—why am I keeping this, and what will I do with it? 

On that happy note, I'm out of here!! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Here is the link for the Virtual Retreat. Remember—there is ONLY a retreat on SATURDAY. There won't be anything on Sunday, as I scramble to pack my few items for my vacation. 

Saturday, April 18 - Starts at 3 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89610782501?pwd=7dCrhiL5t8Xa4TVwZPvhL6cOymbcjK.1

Meeting ID: 896 1078 2501
Passcode: 148311

Slow and steady wins the race

FREEDOM!!!

OK -- so I'm not entirely off the hook as I have urgent paperwork to do this morning, but I spent most of yesterday just puttering and doing what I wanted, and it felt glorious! 

I am determined to keep things under control - OK - until the next crisis hits, but if I keep myself organized, those deadlines shouldn't be an issue? Perhaps I'm deluding myself. That's OK - I can live in a dream world. 

But the biggest issue for me is keeping the space clear. Why is that so hard? I seem to need a table, which is a total disaster. I aim to work on this table until nothing is left on it. I must NOT add anything to the table unless it's absolutely necessary. 

My goal is to clear this table

I took everything off the sewing tables (there wasn't much) and the other table, where there were a few projects to be cut, and put everything on ONE table. Everything else is clear. Project by project, I must find a home, complete it, or move it along to the "to be quilted" pile. 

I can only imagine how long this will take me—probably months! But I was working on it yesterday and accomplished a few things, so it's all good. 

I decided I needed to get those bindings on the community project quilts. 

I got one binding on. 

Binding number one

Then I got the second binding on. 

Binding number two

And I finished the third binding this morning. 

Binding number three

Yeah -- that feels great because those three quilts took up a lot of room. They will reside near the "to be quilted" pile on this quilt rack. 

Completed community project quilts

When I have ten done, I'll arrange delivery. This morning, I trimmed one more quilt, and I'll put the binding on it later today. 

I purchased a pair of children's shorts and wanted to dress them up using a decorative stitch. I had already added a stitch but wasn't happy with it, so I ripped the stitching out and redid it with a matching bobbin thread. 

Decorated child's shorts

This is what it looks like, and I'm much happier. I need to do it right the first time so I don't have to backtrack and redo my work, but I'm so happy to putter that I don't care. Adding decorative stitching to anything is so easy, but I think it's best to use a matching bobbin. I don't know why I didn't in the first place. 

The decorative stitches

We got a notification last week that our power will be out for several hours tomorrow morning. So - no paperwork and no sewing. I'm trying to figure out what to do with no electricity. As if that was a problem. I looked around Studio B and decided that these four bags of crap need to be sorted. 

Four bags of scraps to sort

Many years ago, I had this brilliant idea of collecting scraps and making pet mats. It wasn't enough that I had my own scraps, but I also wanted other people's. I do not know where these "brilliant" ideas came from. I ended up with boxes and bags of scraps that consumed a considerable space in my house. The bags and boxes were initially stored under the long arm, then moved to the cold room under the front steps. But I did deal with them, or should I say I dealt with everything but these four bags. 

I have two of them set aside. I'll bring them up tomorrow, put them in the kitchen, and start sorting. I might have to make more bags to put the scraps in for the pet mats, so I might do that today. It would be nice to get rid of these last bags. And then NOTHING will go in that corner—it'll be empty. 

I also decided that I could trim half-square triangles, and I have a small container of them on the ironing board that needs to be pressed and trimmed. 

HSTs that need to be pressed and trimmed

So I pressed a number of them yesterday, and I can bring those up and trim them as well. Yep - with no lights, it will be hard to work downstairs. 

HSTs waiting to be trimmed

That's plenty to trim in one day, so the rest will wait for later. There's no rush. 

I also prepped another project that requires half-square triangles, and that is all cut. I'll sew the HSTs today so I can trim them tomorrow. Again, with all my scraps sorted by color, it was easy to find what I wanted. There was loads of room on the cutting mat, and once I got what I needed, everything returned to its respective home. 

Cutting

While half of the cutting table has always been clear - more or less, the entire table is now clear, which is exciting. 

Another project is ready to sew

Having that space as clean and tidy as it is is perfect for me. I must say that I'm swiffering, vacuuming, and mopping. What is wrong with me? I've become obsessive!!! 

But I'm OK with that. I know it won't stay as neat and tidy as it is, although I hope to get that table top down to nothing. But part of that mess is trying to clean up more odds and ends, so once that is done, there shouldn't be anything huge that goes on that table. 

I know there will be times when I'm inundated with work on multiple projects at once, but for the moment, I'm going to enjoy the moment and the space and try my best to learn some new habits!!

I see we now have scooters for rent in our neighborhood! I told DH he should take one to the train in the morning, but I doubt that will ever happen.

Scooters for rent

I love checking my calendar and seeing NOTHING on it! How fun is that? However, I have loads to do but no time commitments. I'll be quilting today and trying to make a dent in that pile of stuff on that table. Wish me luck! Getting it done will be a slow and steady slog, but I can do it! I feel very motivated and can't wait for the day when I don't have this stupid backlog of almost-finished projects. I've made giant leaps and bounds in correcting that bad habit, and I figure it will take me a little more discipline to kill it!

I've got an excellent audiobook to listen to and Murphy to entertain me, and I'm good to go!!

So --- let me ask you how you are doing? I know this can be one of the most boring things in the world. We all have loads of stuff to clean up, but it's tedious, lengthy, and overwhelming, especially if you're just starting. But I've learned to jump in and do one small thing daily. Learn to say NO to new things, and learn to say YES to get rid of things, and you'll be amazed at how much easier it gets the more you do!!

OH -- I used to come home from any trade show with tons of crap to deal with. Papers, stickers, patterns, fabric, or whatever. I'm happy to report that I brought barely anything home, and it's all gone! I found a home for it all, even if it meant going in the recycling or the garbage. 

On that happy note, I have most of the day to spend on what I want to do once I get that little bit of urgent paperwork dealt with! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Is this a coincidence?

Life just seems to be full of coincidences.  Yesterday, I tried to put a book on hold at the library. Only to find out that the only version the library has is an e-book. Drat - I don't do e-books. Well no choice, so I'll download it. Of course, my tablet wasn't working. Charge it up - still not working.  So there I am with an iPad (don't ask) and my cell phone trying to reboot the tablet and then to change the password!  BUT the good news is that I was able to download Overdrive which allows one to download the books and then in an instant, I was able to download the book. And VOILA - I can read.  I will confess that this was SUPER SIMPLE compared to the process required to get an audio book onto my iPod.  That damn Apple and its proprietary-ness.  It's a pain.

Seconds after I downloaded my book, I looked at my cell phone which has been languishing in my purse all day and I see a text from Ronda telling me, I better think about a different option than waiting for my book (a different one) to come from the library since they are going on strike!  Seriously???  I just downloaded an e-book. I'm good!  But talk about coincidence!!!!

Then I went to get another app (on my phone) for the gym.  They upgraded the app months ago and in order to proceed, you needed to scan your membership card which is never in my hand when I went into the app. But a quick trip upstairs and I'm good to go. And now you can use your app instead of your card when you go to the gym, except that at the new location, you need your card in order to use the locks. Sigh!!!!

On the PLUS side, I'm having a pretty good technology day!   I got everything figured out that I wanted!

So what got done the other day when my guest was here?  Well the guest was Ronda and she is a slave driver.  I got loads done. It was pedal to the metal for sure.  She's the reason I got those damn eight pointed star blocks fussy cut from that striped fabric. I can't let her get ahead of me!!!

I think I mentioned that I found these little items when I was cleaning up.  They were given to me by someone.

Two little items - but what to do with them

 One of them had the binding sewn on, but just on the front.  I have to say that it wasn't the best binding job I've ever seen and then it hit me - I can use these two little items as practice for putting binding on by machine.

Not a huge seam allowance for 2 1/2" binding strips

And so OFF with the binding. There was enough extra fabric to cut new binding and now there is just enough to bind the two items.  Hmm - what kind of stitch should I use?  Going to do a bit of research first.

Just waiting for the binding to be put on by machine

That was a bonus item that was not on my list of things to do before the retreat - it was just there.

Then I had a button to sew on.  This darn button has been hanging out on the cutting table FOREVER.  I finally decided it was time.  I pulled down the piece that it belonged to and OH DEAR - there are two buttons missing.  Who knows where the other button is - I only had one.

Two missing buttons - but only one got sewn on

This was one of the "dress" series that I made years ago.  All the fabric and items (except the buttons) were donated by friends. That wasn't on the list either, but one more thing cleaned up!

And now onto stuff on the list.  I got the binding made for this quilt. The backing was already prepped. So this one goes into the "to be quilted" pile.

Binding, top and backing - DONE

 Next up was to get the backing and binding done for another quilt.  I swear that Ronda must have asked me three times if this was on my list!  OK - let's face it, the top is BRIGHT!  I'll share the details with you tomorrow, but I don't think Ronda liked the quilt and wait - there's a surprise!  Bottom line - one more goes into the "to be quilted" pile.

Binding, top and backing - DONE

See what making a list does?  It makes you do things that you have been putting off for a LONG LONG time.  I pulled out this project next.  It's was also on the list.  I started this ironing caddy years ago.  The only thing left to do was to put on the handles and sew on the buttons. I didn't think it was going to look nice and that the handles/buttons would interfere with the caddy so there it sat. The girls at Monday have all made one and I'll be taking an iron to the retreat so what better time than NOW to get it done.

Handles and buttons are now on

And from the inside - it looks pretty darn good!

Time to get the iron out of the box.

The box

The iron

The iron in the iron caddy!!!

And there is one more UFO - DONE and one more item checked off the list!  I'm on a roll!!!!!


Next in line was to start working on this top - Tonga Rhapsody. I think I did post  that I had all five columns sewn together. That happened last week.  I was dreading sewing those columns together because of all the matching (bias and diagonal) seams.  I got two of the four seams done and I have to say that the matching went pretty well.  I had to fix TWO spots per seams which is pretty darn good.  I didn't take pictures, but I will so you can see.

Half the top is DONE!

Then Ronda had to go home!  But that's when I went to the quilting machine and got a customer quilt done!

It has already been decided that Ronda and I are sitting in the dining room at the retreat.  ACK - I'm scared already!  She's going to crack the whip and I'll be chained to the sewing machine!  Actually with all the stuff 100% prepped, I'm expecting big things from this retreat.  Most of all, I expect to relax and have fun!  (sewing is fun and relaxing), but so is sitting out on the deck, going for walks, having a beer or two and well just general fun!  I can hardly wait!!!!

On that note, I'm out of here.

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!