29 August 2011

QUILTS

A couple of years ago I asked my mom to make be something with the letters QUILTS for my craft room and since she is a crafty thing she said OK.  Well as time went on and life got in the way this project was put on the back burner.  A while back mom asked me for an old picket from the fence, since we seem to have to replace them every time we turn around, and to sand it down a little bit.  So of course I jumped right on that, well with a couple of weeks in between. 

Then the end of last week she called and said to stop by she had something for me.  So here it is, my finished project. I just love the imagination and craftiness she has.





Of course the S is my favorite with all of the sewing things on there, the T comes in a close second, love the colors and the buttons, and I love how she used some of my 1.5 inch squares of fabric to make mini FQ type squares.

Thanks mom, I love it.

Michelle

26 August 2011

Quick Work

I finished two samples for the store yesterday afternoon.  I think I will go ahead and quilt the fall looking one.  So, even though I don't have much to show here I am getting things done.  I work today and Saturday and I have to take the dog to the Vet this morning. I don't think I will get much sewing in until Sunday. I am going to try and get the other sample done (Christmas this time) and then work on some more of my stuff.  I did start to Leader and Ender my sister's choice but in doing so I had to take a break from my bow tie blocks for the cheddar challenge.  Oh well, plenty of time.

This one looks wonkier in the picture than it does on the wall..hmmm.



Both of these quilts gave me a bunch of bonus HST blocks to I think I will trim those down and make a couple of blocks out of them to  put on the back of the quilts. Just more things to add to my to do list.

Have a great weekend,

Michelle

25 August 2011

Sister's Choice

I finally took the time out to put my Sister's Choice on the design wall.  This is one of Bonnie Hunter's patterns from one of her books.  I used it as a leader and ender starting last year sometime and it has been sitting in a box waiting. After I put it up I realized I really didn't need to.  I could have just pulled my pieces together as I went and just made sure I didn't have two of the same fabrics next to each other.  It would have saved me from sweating that day since it was really hot.  Oh well...a lesson learned. 



I am now off to sew.  I have 3 samples I need to do for the store...thank goodness they just need the tops done.  Although I am thinking about quilting one of them.

I also have decided that Oct 1 is the day I start learning how to use my frame and my Baileys' Home Quilter.  I figure by then I should be caught up enough with my DJ and everything else I have going on.  Boy, sometimes I need a lot more hours in the day than I have...

Keep sewing,
Michelle

22 August 2011

Loveland Quilt Show

Saturday I drove to Loveland, 2 1/2 hours each way, to spend the day at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Festival.  From what I understand it is the only time the complete Hoffman Challenge is shown. 

I had a blast, the drive was nice and the booths were awesome.

Here are some pictures that I took. It seemed like I took tons of pictures but I guess I didn't.

Enjoy.





















The quilts above were all quilted and then colored pencils were applied. I thought that was really neat.


This sign cracked me up.  Yes it is not much to look at but....the show was in three huge building and there was not another one of these signs to be found.  The only place to see it was in the bathroom stall.  I guess they figure that is the best thing to do while using the powder room.



Michelle

17 August 2011

A Break from the Normal

I decided to take a break from my normal quilty things. I guess I just need a chance to rest from applique and hand piecing but mainly a break from my Dear Jane. So...I pulled out the old crochet.  I had some pink and black I bought and it has been in the back of my mind for months. I originally was going to crochet with a thread of each color together through out but I didn't really like it at all. So I improvised.  I love working with this yarn (Bernat Satin), it is so smooth and soft.  So I put the football games on and sat and crocheted....I am hoping to finish this by the weekend. It is supposed to only need 15 more rows but I think I have way more yarn so I might just keep going and see how it looks a little bigger than what the pattern calls for.

Off to crochet, or clean or sew..mmmmm decisions, decisions...
Sew long,

Michelle

15 August 2011

Chaos Reigns

I really am alive but choas has been reigning in our household. 

My youngest started tackle football so now there is 4 nights of practice a week, and then with school starting this week, my life is taking on a new meaning of busy.  Not counting the fact that I started working at one of the LQS's this week, dream job for sure. It has taken a little bit of getting used to but it is great.



I really think I am going to have a hard time with this.  I love football!!!! I make my husband a football widow, but....having your baby (10 years old) who barely weighs 60lbs playing tackle ......heart attack for sure.  He has his first real game on Sept 3....hope I live through it.



The Quilt Show  does their yearly taping of shows for the following year up in Boulder, CO.  Well my LQS, had some tickets for those who wanted to go. So for a small fee we all rented a bus to drive us up there.  It made for a really early morning, we had to be at the store by 545 AM, we drove up to Boulder and spent the day watching 2 episodes that were taped.  It was a blast.  I can say that if I have a chance to go up next year I will. I would love to take the whole week and go everyday but I think that would be pushing it.

We were able to see the taping of an episode with Debbie Caffrey and Charlotte Angotti, that focused on Mystery Quilts.  They were both polar opposites of each other but it was a hoot. We also received some of the books and a special ruler...tooo cool!

Our other episode we were able to see was thread painting by Nancy Prince.  If you ever get the chance to see her quilts in person do it.  They are just awesome, words can hardly describe the workmanship and the depth that these quilts have.



So now I have a billion more things I want to add to my to do list, like it isn't already long enough as it is.

Michelle



02 August 2011

Buzy Little Bee

I had a really busy weekend.  It felt like I was a worker bee that never stopped.

Saturday it was grocery store, then we took the kiddos to the pool 4 hours later it was pizza, ice cream and trying not to fall asleep in front of the TV.

Sunday it was clean the garage, pull some weeds and my niece's first birthday party, then home and trying not to fall asleep in front of the TV again. I was able to get a hand pieced block finished, don't know if it will be good enough.  It just happens to be the DJ block that is kicking my rump.  I can't seem to get it to go right and I have made it 3 times already.  I think I will set that one aside and come back to it at a later date.

Monday it was errands, cooking dinner (rare occasion) since it was a free night, and some sewing. I was able to finish my Christmas Ribbons, and this morning I put the borders on it.  I would love to get it quilted soon but the way my life is lately it might not be anytime soon.

I forgot to take a picture of it finished with borders so I will do that later, this was on the DW and boy howdy was it hard to see the ribbons unless you stood across the room.



I also have been working on my applique for DJ, trying to applique some of these little suckers is not for the faint of heart. I have to spend some time today getting everything organized for class tomorrow, since I have a tendency to willy nilly things around in the studio while I am working on the blocks.



I put an applique pin next to the template so you could see exactly how small that sucker was. I ended up using the starch and press method and called it good. Not my best work but not the worst and it is good enough for me.

Well off to take the little one (Jar) to the dentist, broke his retainer this weekend. Then I have soccer practice for middle one (Ry) and then football starts tomorrow for Jar.  Looks like I will be at some practice 4 nights a week starting next week.  Guess I will have plenty of time for handwork, crocheting, and reading.

Michelle

29 July 2011

I'm So Upset

Yesterday, I was laying on the bed while my husband put the new AC in the window.  I have this quilt on the bed that I spent months embroidering and fingering out the colors for it and piecing it.  It was the first quilt I ever sent to a long armer and I just love it.  Well, as I was laying there I noticed these blueish dots all over one section of the border. Now it should not have blue anywhere on it because it is all creams and browns and peach's.  At first I thought it was where the long armer marked the quilt and the blue lines were coming back. Upon further scrutiny I noticed it is actually a problem with the fabric.

The pattern of this fabric has gold dots going around the flowers well lo and behold the "gold" is coming off and in its place is this bluish line of dots.  I tried washing it to no avail.  Now mind you I have washed and dried this quilt and it has done nothing but lay on my bed for about 2 years, and it doesn' t get a lot of sun shining on it either.

So now I don't know what to do. I think it is only a matter of time before all of the gold is turned to this crappy blue. There is also other fabric in there that has gold in it as well. I am just sick with disappointment.  I don't remember the manufacturer but I am going to research it and see what I can find. I know there is nothing they can do about it now but I would really like them to know about it for future use. 

This section is really prominent.

This section shows where is is lighter and spreading.

This shows the fabric without the problems.


I will be heading to the LQS pretty soon and see if they can help me figure it out, but I am pretty sure there is nothing that can be done. I guess I will just wait until the whole thing is covered and then transfer it to a "used for love" quilt and make a new one for my bed. 


Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Michelle

28 July 2011

Spool Of Success and Applique

I have been really busy in the sewing room, unfortunately, I have not finished a lot.  I have been working on this one in particular DJ block and it is now become my Achilles heel.  I have tried it 3 times already and have now resorted to hand piecing it and I still don't think it is working out the way I want or need it to.  I will finish it and see if it is good enough if not it is back to the drawing board.  Not good for sure.  It is definitely a good thing I am working months ahead in my class so I don't feel under a lot of pressure....yet!

I did finish a spool of thread. It was on of those 6452 yard cones, unfortunately I don't remember when I started using it. I think it was some time last year...that is a lot of thread.  I did put my new cone on the machine and dated, so we shall see how long it takes to use it up.


I also spent the last two days getting some DJ applique blocks ready to work on when I have a chance.  I bought this really nifty carrying case so now I have it packed with all of the essentials.  Scissors, thread, needles, crochet project, applique projects, thimbles, pins etc. are ready at all times and can be grabbed on the way out the door.







I will be doing some needle turn applique, which I have done before just not in awhile.  I will also be doing some reverse applique which I have never done.  I usually do spray and starch but I figured I would try something different and see if it helps be a little bit.

I am off to get ready for the little ones baseball practice and hubby's softball double header.  Maybe I will be able to get something done...we shall see...

Have a wonderful day.

Michelle

27 July 2011

I didn't buy fabric but....

I didn't buy any fabric but I did have some patterns jump right into my arms.  These are all hand embroidery...like I need to have something else to do. But, I do have tons of DMC floss from when I used to cross stitch so this will be a good way to use it up ...right.....

I did tell myself I had to finish these applique DJ blocks for this month and my Jo's Club (this one might be tough) before I could start on any of them....but it is getting harder by the moment because they look so fun....










I also bought something called the Angler. After marking 288 squares with the diagonal line to sew on I figured this might be something to look into.  It goes on your table (using double stick tape to hold it) and you just follow the lines on their.  Of course my triangles are all done for now so I will have to save it for the next project and see how it works then.

Have a wonderful day everyone,

Michelle