new project and helpful hint

Well, I decided on my new - or shoud I say old - project. I figured I'd better work on my UFO contract because January will be here before I know it. I took an orphan block that I made about five years ago and decided to make a table topper with it. Since I didn't have scraps that matched two of the fabrics, I decided to try some applique because that is a technique where I am trying to improve my skills. I'll post before and after pictures of that later.

I do want to share a tip that I learned from my good friend and quilting buddy, Pat. I was complaining that my bobbin thread was always dangling and tangling. She suggested using little elastic pony tail holders. They work great....thanks PAT!!! I bought a package of 42 of them for $1.59 at Wal-mart....much cheaper than the fancy things I found in a catalogue.

That is one of the things that I enjoy about sharing quilting with my friends. We learn from each other and get so many ideas. Friends share in your joys and frustrations and seem to make things right!

Scrappy hearts

I'm still in my scrappy phase and just finished a scrappy hearts little quilt. It was inspired by a book that I have had for quite a while and have used a lot. LITTLE QUILTS ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE by Alice Berg, Mary Ellen Von Holt, and Sylvia Johnson. I never follow patterns exactly but they have great ideas for little quilts. The hearts and background were from my scrap pile but I must admit that I did buy the border. I found this fabric one at JoAnne's when my quilting buddies and I went to Dover. It just fit so well that I bought it. I used the freezer paper needle turn applique process and pressed open seams. Both methods worked well. I still want to get a little better on the hand turned ...some of the hearts weren't quite the way I wanted them but the more I made, the easier it got. It is hand quilted.

I just cleaned my quilting room like I do after every project. Hmmm... what should I do next. I have so many ideas in my head - the biggest decision is what to start!

I just got the DVD Eleanor Burn's Christmas at Bear Paw Ranch....she has some great ideas in that! Maybe I should get my Christmas fabric out!!

Little quilts and other fun stuff

I have been busy for the last several days. Lots has been happening. I started to work part-time at a bookstore within walking distance of my home. I always joked that I was going to retire, become a beach bum, and work in a bookstore....my prophecy came true! Actually, I told my husband that I am working to support my addictions...books and fabric!

But that's not all. I have begun to make some little quilts for several reasons. First, I want to try out some new techniques. Second, I want to use up some of my scraps, and third, my guild sells little quilts at the quilt show that is held every two years. I figured I'd better get busy and make some even though the show is still about a year away. Here is my first one. I wanted to try open seams on a small log cabin block. The open seams worked wonderfully!!! I am now making a little quilt using freezer paper for applique - something I've never tried before either. I wasn't really into applique even though I have tried it off and on over the years. So far so good ...will have to upload a picture of that later.

Last night, I had a great time. Several of our guild members really love the work of Pat Sloan and since she was going to be doing a workshop and lecture in Dover which is about 45 minutes from here, one of my good quilting buddies asked me to go along to the lecture with her. Pat Sloan is so personable and creative. She showed many of her own quilts and talked about being free to experiment and not necessarily following the quilt rules! Girl after my own heart. (I have a plaque in my den that says IF YOU OBEY ALL THE RULES YOULL MISS ALL THE FUN). This is my friend and the quilt she made using Pat Sloan ideas.

Still practicing with seams

I did some more cutting into that WHAT WAS I THINKING fabric because I wanted to try some blocks with matching triangle centers. Here are some of my samples. I was playing around with designs but I found that the fabric was trickier than I thought. The repeat was very confusing. The birds might look alike at first but upon closer inspection, there were slight differences so the design I had in mind didn't quite work. The smaller star was made with the technique of folding the triangle in half and sewing a seam across the top, turning the fabric right side out and pressing. I figured I'd use it for an applique. I was pleased with the way the seams came out on the back of the turquoise patch.

finished a thought

I did finish a project with that WHAT WAS I THINKING fabric... I made a table topper for the bistro table in our kitchen. Since it is summer and a fun time, I figured the pattern was appropriate. It was a quickie project and I did some fast handquilting as a test. I did learn a few things about pressing seams open...I like it.

1. It eliminated the worry about am I pressing in the right direction. The rule about pressing to the dark doesn't always work and sometimes you have to press a different direction and don't realize it until you start putting the blocks together.

2. The corners are not so bulky and the top seems to lay flatter. No big bumps

3. The seams are actually easier to match. ..Much like dressmaking

4. Hand quilting was a lot easier, especially when the quilting got near seams.

I have already cut some more of the fabric to try the open seams on some different block designs.

What was I thinking????

Did you ever look at a piece of fabric in your stash and wonder: WHAT WAS I THINKING WHEN I BOUGHT THAT! Well, that's what I did when I pulled out this piece - the selvage says "Alexander Henry Collection" and I am guessing I bought it around the year 2000...I probably had a plan but I'm not sure what. Maybe I was in the same condition that the birds seem to be! Anyway, I pulled it out to do some experimenting with techniques. I am trying to do the open seam thing and it seems to be working...the triangle points are coming out great. I'll have to upload the finished project later but wanted to share the fabric now!

Many things going on

It's been over a week since I posted and my how the time has flown. It has been a busy but good time. My older son and his family spent about a week with us. It is such a joy to have them and the grandkids here....but it pooped me out! We went to the beach and pool and just had some fun. I gave my granddaughter her wizard quilt. I am attaching some pictures of her and her brother with the quilt.

While they were here, my son and I scanned over 900 family pictures. Since I am the oldest living on my dad's side of the family, I became the "family historian" and have old Bibles, etc. I have been working on a family genealogy for about 10 years and have boxes and folders piled high. We were so afraid that something might happen to the "stuff" that we figured we should make copies. (I can't help but think of George Carlin's comedy routine about STUFF.) So of course all of those boxes came out from closets and underbeds and are now piled in my office. I don't think I'll put them away for a while because I need to get them organized...

Yesterday, I went to a tea for the new and old officers of our quilt guild since I am going to be the new secretary. It was great fun to visit with others in an intimate setting. Since our guild is rather large, I hadn't met one of the people at our table before. I enjoyed hearing her stories about coming to the US from Norway and the wonderful trips she has taken. One of the women at my table told me about a tea shop in another nearby town that I didn't know about...they serve afternoon tea and have a wonderful little gift shop. There is a place in Rehoboth Beach where some friends from out of town and I ususally go when they visit. It is a lovely Victorian style restaurante where you can have afternoon tea and watch the ocean. I'll have to try out this new place before they visit again and maybe I'll take them there.

My husband and I visited an antique shop in the afternoon...he really wanted to go to a nearby town to visit a hobby shop and the antique shop just happened to be next door so I rode with him. I definitely will need to go back because there were three floors just filled with wonderful things and I just couldn't see everything. There were some dishes that matched some that I already have...I am a sucker for dishes - carnival glass especially.

Pressing issues

The company is off to the beach so I decided to take a little blog time. Some of us quilters have been having a discussion about the issue of pressing seams. Some feel that the "quilt police" enforce the press to one side rule. Others say that the press to one side rule comes from old times when most quilts were hand made and pressing to one side made the seam stronger. Yet, recently I have been finding many places that say that the rule isn't necessary because machine stitching already makes a stronger seam. They suggest that pressing the seams open makes the seams less bulky for joining and for quilting. Several websites have mentioned this. Hmmmm, what is right?

I am really into traditional quilting and have many quilting books that were my grandmothers' - grandmothers on both sides were quilters. I was just looking through a book that belonged to Grandmother McCune published in 1934. I am attaching an image of the page. See what it says!

The title of the book is : Quilting - Leisure League Little Book Number 8 by Elizabeth King (New York: Leisure League) 1934.

Off to shop

Today my friend, Pat, and I are off to the new quilt shop. I just love going to quilt shops but will try to restrain my spending because next month we are going to a quilt show and I want to have plenty of cash!! I'm sure I won't be restrained.

I am also going to drop off my fall wallhanging at the quilters. It did turn out pretty well if I do say so myself. It will be about 60x72 when finished. Can't wait because the quilting always makes the project look so much better!

Later today, the grandkids are coming for a week so I had to put away much of my quilting things!

Triangles

I always shied away from doing set in triangles because I hated doing the figuring about measurements. I know it should have been easy since I used to teach math, but I just didn't like taking the time to do it...a little of my ADD sneaking in. Anyway, in June our guild had an auction "Treasures" where members could donate unused or unwanted sewing related items and others could bid on them. The proceeds went to the guild for expenses. I bought some templates for set-in triangles. I used them for the first time this last week and I absolutely love them. It made cutting the triangles a "no brainer."

I am making a fall wallhanging and wanted to share my triangle success. The wallhanging is done except for the borders which I hope to finish today or tomorrow as I am getting company on Wednesday for a week and probably won't get to do much quilting.

Well, off to the guild meeting! I'm on the set up crew for today.