Tag: quilting

Let Summer Begin!

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Okay, maybe wishful thinking as I sit here in my long jeans and long sleeve tee, but it is Summer. The tomato plants are doing surprisingly well on the porch – we actually have tomatoes! – the kid has gone to her first carnival of the season, and the doors are open most days. It seems I am out more than at the work table some days, which I’m sure is a good thing. There’s still almost 2 weeks of school for the kid, so I am trying to cram some good work time in and look at scheduling what is easier to do when the house gets busy.

I set aside the Criss Cross quilt partly due to a frustrating “how do I…?”, more about that later in this post, and began some other projects. Happens too often. Although I’m much better about going back to finish projects, I am working on just getting them done and not set aside at all. When I would teach classes at church, I would find that I had put so much work into creating and preparing that I felt done with the class when we were only half way through.

I took time to make a couple of can caddies, pattern from SewCanShe.com. I need to stay creative and productive even if it’s not on a current project or during a busy time for life things. It’s something I’ve come to push for in my life. It is what keeps me off the streets and out of trouble. Okay, really, because I can easily get lost in thought and nothingness.

I love organizing tools. Some work, some don’t, but these can covers seem to be helping! The pattern was surprisingly easy and I like the result. I’ve kept some little, often used tools on the table by my chair in the fabric bins I made before, but the can cover let’s me keep more handy and easily accessible and even neater. Guess you can tell which sits on the sewing table. Don’t want much on the table since it serves in so many ways, but we will see if this becomes a help or hindrance. It has lightened the load of what is in the drawers under the machine, since I put the marking tools in it, some sticky notes, the tape measure and such. Love having the extra pin cushion too and it has been helping. – It was make that or develop a new habit of moving the thing when I went from pinning to machine. Such a tiny annoyance, so easily solved.

Only half stuffed at this point but almost ready to use.

Here’s another spur of the moment project that seemed would be helpful….

Odd looking? Yes. The kid is thoroughly enjoying her karate class, but I was not enjoying being her practice dummy. I gave her a choice of three fabrics we had in the house and she picked this one. I think she picked it because it has blue, more colorful than the other choices, but didn’t realize it has plates. I teased her that she is breaking plates when she uses it.

I made a round pillow that has heavy plastic pellets (left over from making a weighted blanket a couple of years ago) and a second with ground walnut shells. Those are in the bottom creating a weight so it isn’t just flying around when she hits or kicks it. We had some medical tubing that I made a circle with to hold some shape in the bottom. I wrapped it three times on itself to give it support yet it isn’t going to hurt – too much – if she comes in contact with it. I put sleeves in the top in case we want the tubing in there too, but after stuffing, it seems stable enough.

I had saved plastic shopping bags that I planned on making into “plarn” to use to crochet shopping totes, but they were perfect for the stuffing in this! They pack enough for her to feel the hits, but still have give! We stuffed it to the top, pulled the drawstrings and hung it up where we had yoga trapeze silks hanging in the basement (good place to swing, or get some physical activity in during the long winter). She has a interlocking play mat under it, almost like her own little gym. Sidenote – the trapeze was great til she maybe fractured her arm and was in a cast a few weeks. I was a bit nervous after that. And, the basement environment here does not improve.

It wasn’t too bad for a while, I set up to work in the large space, but has never seemed warm or dry since the second flood – but we’ve talked before about the problems in this house. Anyway, it gives her a place to practice. I am content to go down with her as I do laundry or go through more stuff to clear out – mostly leftovers from previous occupants. This started another rant on the landlord, and the situation with this house here which I deleted. It’s done, and we have stayed here anyway due to lack of resources. It’s been another lesson. I do much better owning a place I can put energy into and improve, or even an apartment with a decent maintenance crew. Soon.

I’ve been working on the CC quilt again. Part of putting it aside, which I mentioned earlier, was “how do I get this trimmed to the size called for in the pattern?” One of those questions that tend to halt my progress. So when I pushed to get back to work on it, I decided to fold the columns in half and measure the cut from each side from the ironed crease. MUCH easier than worrying if I am cutting too much from one side and making it wonky. Moving along on that one now. So, one top ready to baste and quilt and another almost. Then there are always the three tops that were already here and the one I had pieced several years ago and the panel I have kept in my fabric stash…… And this is why I have dreams of a long arm…. lol.

The table has another job now, too. I decided to get serious with some creative ideas that have been floating around for way too long. I’ve got a graphic tablet I set up and then put the laptop on the mini ironing board. I am learning how to use the tablet along with a graphic program. I used to LOVE creating things in old computer card programs, like printmaster, and it fits with my background training in Commercial Art, which is outdated today. I reminded myself of that when I was caught in the fear of taking on something I perceived as difficult for my computer skills and my age. It was like a mini light bulb that I would simply be adding to what I already know and got out of the negative, down-playing trap. (Think there is a talk or class in there.) We’ll see where this goes! Some times I have to rein in the wonderful ideas and select what I think would actually be helpful or beneficial. But, this is where I am now.

I’ve got to go. My beloved side kick has to go to the vet today. One thing on her list is getting her nails clipped and for her comfort and safety, and ours, she has to be heavily sedated. Then, I get nervous. Oh well. Daughter is going with us, since she is able to hold Moji dog better than me to get her shot, and stays calmer on the medical side of the dog being knocked out and monitoring her.

I hope you have at least one great plan for this summer! Even if it is simply enjoying some time in the sun.

Love you!

Cathy

Mailed It!

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Yeah, I know, the current phrase is “Nailed it”, but for me, getting that package on it’s way was a big deal. For example, I had a popcorn popper ready to return, with labels, in the trunk of the car for a year before I moved it to the stash of giftables we keep tucked away. But then, it wasn’t as important as the stuff I was sending.

I kept track of the box and let my daughter know when it had arrived, since it wasn’t at her actual home address. I had suggested she wait to open it til she was with our aunt since it had something for both of them. She didn’t appreciate that, especially since I told her I hoped her curiosity would get her to Aunt’s sooner. I have not heard anything. Wonder when I will. Lesson learned – get the address of the person and mail direct. I’m sure she doesn’t realize how interested I am to know how it is received, while at the same time, not wanting to be invested in something I told them to feel free to pass on if they don’t want the item. I have not seen this aunt in many years. There was a break in family relationships, and I simply haven’t been in her area, exacerbated by distance in our moves, and tight funds during med school. I tell her happy birthday on facebook, and this year she said she missed me. I miss her, too. A quilt doesn’t make up for the personal, but it is, to me, a very special gift for her. I wanted to wrap her in love.

I have memories of my grandmother working on quilts on a wood frame she would set up in the living room. I have her treadle machine tucked away till we have a place to put it. I remember when the families got together, it was common for quilts to be put on the floor as beds for us. Our “pallets” they called them. A line of cousins on quilts. It was fun to look at a quilt and recognize a piece of an old dress or shirt that had been worn by one of us. Occasionally, she would purchase a special fabric, like in one quilt I ended up with that has a name and the state of Texas. – Think there was a divorce so somehow I got the quilt instead of the person. If you know anyone named “Marilyn” from Texas, I have a quilt they might be interested in.

This week has seemed different. One thing, daughter is finished with clinical rotations. FINISHED!. Now is focus for practice comp test this week. She is studying. She also worked three night shifts this week. And really exciting—- the kid stayed healthy and in school all week! She is in a blossoming stage again. I always thought she would like Karate, even though dance, soccer, and cheer leading… did not work for her. She was younger. She didn’t want to wait her turn with the ball, or stand in line to learn a step. Well, she started a free Karate program a couple of weeks ago and loves it. It goes slow, so I am surprised, but she is excited and engaged, and taking practice punches at me – her favorite part.

I was down to the last two rows on the first angles quilt, when I decided to make a dress. Let me tell you, I have often given into the desire to make clothes for me and it has rarely worked out. I am trying to follow a class, but first thing, I didn’t want to make the version of the pattern that they are making. I want the one with sleeves, which I’m sure will be a lesson in some other class. So, anyway, I am running the class in the background for anything I can learn, but I am off on my own tangent. I was a bit more comfortable taking on the challenge now because of the bolts of fabric that were in the basement when we moved in. I’m using a nice weight cotton that I have washed a couple of times,not a color or pattern I would usually select for a simple dress for myself, but I am kind of enjoying this one, since I can see it fitting with my slightly boho, modified cowboy boot, style of the moment. But I am ssslllooowww since it is always such a trial and having to think about it all. Sizing is almost always a problem. I miss my quilt time.

I will get back to it soon. The angles quilt was a bit of experiment too since it became more than it started as (see previous post) and I am using a poly batting for loft, when I normally use cotton. I wanted to try it. This was the perfect quilt for it.

UPDATE: I wrote all that above several days ago…. Since then, the gift quilt has been delivered to my Aunt and she was “thrilled.” Daughter had already opened the box, but didn’t tell me she likes her sweater till she could finish the job with aunt. Then, she went and first visit aunt was asleep, then she was eating. I asked that my daughter hang out and give it to her. In the meantime, I told her about the “love you” hidden in the quilt stitches and she was tickled when she found one. She sent a pic of my aunt with the quilt on her lap, confirmation I guess, and it was a new feeling to see her and to see the gift quilt with someone.

Plus, the dress is done but cannot be worn as is. I will probably try to figure out what to do, since I seem to love a challenge more than shopping. The neck is a Vee and is too low and gaps open too much! I may even cut it to have a skirt and over-shirt/jacket type thing. Or I may decide I have much more interesting projects to move onto. Can’t stand a waste of fabric though, so something will be done with it.

All of the machine parts of the Angles #1 quilt are done! Binding is on and ready for the hand sewing of finishing. Here’s a picture, but again, the Michigan sun is not cooperating.

Speaking of weather, I guess I ought to mention that we went and got some tomato plants, hopefully patio friendly since our sunniest spot is on and next to the front porch. The kid has wanted to have something and we love tomatoes. She had fairy garden thing and we sprouted seeds, but they were not going to survive where they were planted, so we moved those, and some seed balls she made on Earth day, to planters. BUT, the weather turned very cold and rainy again, so, they are inside on the sewing/craft table since it is the closest spot to the window yet, safely away from the dog favorite viewing spot. But I have plans….. I have picked my next quilt adventure on what will fit in what cutting area I have left, since the weather will probably stay this way all week. So much for that planting excitement!

Side story on the tomatoes… I said I had tried before without much success and Indigo started laughing. She remembers when I put them out while we were living on the island. They were trampled by sheep and goats that were hired to “mow” the yard. And by the cows who came to visit. This picture was shortly after we had moved in this place, before the “mowers” visited. The owner would build a little when he had funds, therefore the outline of another building, island style. Pumpkins grew abundantly on it’s foundation. And to the side there, is a star fruit tree and a mango tree.

Since I showed you the backyard, let me share the view from the front porch. That is the lovely Caribbean Sea. This isn’t my most colorful picture, but in many of the beautiful sunset shots, the Sea begins to blend in to the sky.

I miss it. I had considered returning someday, but the school and the community I knew there is gone. In the States, we hear about Hurricane Maria, the category 5 that devastated Puerto Rico, but it hit Dominica first, full on, before it ever got to other islands.

Well, enough writing and reminiscing for now. Looking forward to getting into the fabric that is waiting on the crowded plant/sew table!

Love you! Trust all is well with you.

Cathy

Almost

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Seems I’ve been thinking for a long time that the Hopscotch quilt is almost done. Well, I’m saying it again!

Today, as soon as I finish this, I will be putting the last of the binding on. See!?!

When I decided to seriously start quilting, I knew I wanted to send my first quilt to my aunt. I practiced on orphan quilt blocks that I found in the house when we moved in. The dogs have a few very nice pads for their beds and the floor now (that I’ve posted before). Then, I started a beginner class on Bluprint, after I got tired of spending too much time searching out tutorials, for a start to finish Friendship Star quilt. I bought backing, but I think everything else came from my stash. Alas, I got part way through the quilting part and put it away in frustration. I will go back to it. I think I know what to look for now.

There were a couple of other projects I did for practice and to put off doing this quilt. But when I saw this kit on Bluprint it reminded me of my grandma’s quilts. It is not done perfectly. There are many places I would like to pick it out and do it better, but the problem is that I would pretty much be doing the entire quilt! I am going to accept it, and I am going to send it to my aunt as is. She is one of the kindest, most accepting people I have known in my life and I don’t think crooked free motion quilting will change that. Some of the little errors are funny to me, like when I am so focused on keeping steady as I sew and the dog gives out one sharp warning bark to some unknown she sees out the window. There is an eighth to quarter in jump in needle placement when that happens. Messes with my straight, wavy, line of relatively even stitches every time.

Another disclaimer, this time on how long this has taken. I am still learning time frames, and the incredible amounts of thread, it takes to quilt something. And, this is not my only project. This week it is spring break, painting an old chest of drawers to be loved and used again, and the usual other stuff. So many wonderful ideas I want to act on that I have been making notes and checking resources, which leads me to tutorials…. when ends with time passed at the computer, again.

I know I am not a fast hand binder, but I am excited about getting this shipped. It is still cool here so pleasant to have a quilt on my lap in the evenings. Sadly, she will get it in time for summer in Oklahoma, but hey, it’s not a treasure and can be a picnic quilt, table cloth, or on the floor for pets. It’s hers and I hope she feels all the love. I could not think of a better way to honor her, and my grandmother, and wrap this person in love.

Short and sweet today. I want to get this quilt off the table. I’ve got another almost ready to put together that I have been piecing when quilting seemed too big in time, focus and space. There isn’t much I love about the next one, but I got the kit at a great price and wanted the practice. I might even get that chest of drawers moved up today!

Love you. Take care of yourself!

Cathy

2 busy weeks

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When it is heavy on your mind that you haven’t written in two weeks and your browser opens to the “write” page, twice, you know the universe may be sending you a message. So, here I am, glad to be here with you so let’s get started…..

Two weeks. I finished the class that had the free motion quilting blocks. It wasn’t necessary and I had other things I wanted to do, but it is important to me to finish things, to a degree, and I wanted the practice. I like the blocks. They are no where near perfect! Not in the cutting, piecing or quilting, but I picked colors I liked and being at the machine is always good.

I enjoyed this exercise, even though part of me was wanting to move on. It did help me to improve my stitch consistancy, learn how to move around on the machine and play with new patterns. I also got to see how much improvement I can make with cutting and piecing. Not sure yet what I will do with the practice pieces. It won’t be anything fancy unless I go back and clean up some of the work. Nope.

Then I decided to get distracted by my desire/need to have better pincushions. I did some research and got supplies, like crushed walnut shells which I re-bagged and scented with a variety of essential oils. I had also found a cute little bird pattern and decided to make it to go with the hopscotch quilt to give to my aunt. I may be odd, but I don’t like the idea of sticking pins in an animal, but it will complement the gift. It’s almost finished, just the hand sewing to attach parts and close, but I’ll share that when done.

I am quilting the hopscotch quilt!! Over half way through. I gave up for a while – hence the pincushions and birds – because, again, the kid was home or I was waiting to hear I needed to get her. All I can say is that we do not winter well. She missed a lot of school last year too in the dead of winter. What I don’t know is if it is a winter thing, or being in the house thing – there are some issues with where we are living and maybe some underlying problems affecting out health, but did move here after years in hot places. On that note, we said we would stay where she could continue at the same school til my daughter was matched for residency (in March 2020), but not necessarily in the same house. I am practicing all my spiritual principles of prosperity and gave up lack and limiting thinking for Lent, but that’s a whole ‘nother subject!

I am using one of the pincushions I made as I remove the basting safety pins as I work on the quilt. it was pretty easy to tuck them in the case in the drawer as I went, but I noticed I was struggling with some that weren’t sharp enough, hence the ground walnut shells. I have another I made some time back that has very fine steel wool surrounded by batting, but the humidity here had me questioning how long that would be clean and neat.

The long ones are based on a pattern from the book Pin Pals by Carrie Nelson. The other was from a pattern for three from Craftsy/Bluprint. I think I love them all! I packed that thing pretty tight – oh! and yesterday a video from FatQuarterShop.com was posted with Carrie herself giving guidance on turning, filling, stuffing and finishing! So fun.

I began to wonder how usable this was going to be. There are a lot of overlapping fabrics with tiny patchwork, and then the batting and close quilting and how packed it was for shape. I was pleasantly surprised that the safety pins went in pretty smooth. I may have a new obsession and use for tiny scraps! If only there were people I could share them with – no one close sews. More for me and maybe decoration for the craft room I dream of, which is a consideration for what to do with those practice blocks! The long pincushions are the same fabric as the practice blocks with some pink added to brighten them up. Hmmm.

But for now, it is the quilting on Hopscotch! There have been a couple of places I picked out some messy stitches, but for the most part I am accepting that even though it is to be a gift, I am still learning and it is okay to not be perfect – otherwise, I would not be able to complete anything. I’ve got a quilt top in my stack from maybe 18 years ago waiting for me to be able to do it right – no more. Anyway, want a peek of Hopscotch in progress?

Went with consistent patterns rather than having to make decisions of what to do next with each section, which could have brought me to a halt with overwhelming choices (that I would have to get right). In the meandering swirls are occasional flowers, butterflies and even a few “love you” scrolls.

I had to let my wonderful daughter-in-law know her gift would not be finished in time for her birthday, but sadly, that is almost expected from me. I love that I am getting better at figuring time frames and getting things done and won’t wallow in befores. I also know that when the kid is home for weather, power outages or ill health, that is priority and I can’t be focused on the next stitch, speed of machine, placement of hands, gathering of bulk, AND deal with a bored, not feeling well beloved child. Little projects, like the pincushions, are great to toss in here and there. She’d rather I was making coats for her stuffed animals and has great creative ideas, like someone else I know. Oh – her school had her book parade the other day. The kids are to dress as a character from their favorite book and walk the halls and in front of the bleachers of parents. She stuck with her same thing from last year, the dinosaur tail and mitts to go with her dinosaur facts book. I guess I didn’t post that before so here you go – last years pic….

Not great pictures and the little corner one is there to block out part of the mess of our living/creative area. Almost embarrassed to say, I had everything I needed in my stash. It took ALL the batting I had at the time so I told her it was just holding it til I needed it. She took me seriously and kept the tail hidden from me for a while.

I went to her classroom after the parade to see if she was going to stay for after school play or had had enough. She is still recovering and generally won’t push health wise, especially since the after school care wouldn’t let her call home earlier in the week – and she was visibly ill, as in poor color, swollen throat and so on! In the classroom, the teacher’s assistant, I think she calls her the para, says across the classroom, “Are you her grandma? You are the best grandma ever!” I am an introvert, a hermit. Yes, I was a church minister and in front of and with people a lot, but that was with that grand purpose and many years ago. Now I live very quietly, so it was awkward and pleasing all at once. Then I remembered she is the one that wants a zebra hat! And, of course, Indigo wanting to give her one adds to the “grandma make me….” list. One of the kids asked me if it took months to make that tail. I wish I could make one for every kid there!! I even researched the cost and it’s the stuffing that makes it unfeasible for us right now. Wondering about alternatives that would be light enough if you have any suggestions! This is a very poor area and little things make a difference. The teacher told me that same day, (I felt like a star with all the attention) how much it meant that Indigo had taken a bag of oranges in to share a few weeks back.

But, no dinosaur tails today. Today’s agenda is finishing laundry so we are ready to start a new week, putting a second coat of paint an old chest of drawers (yes, there are projects that don’t involve a sewing machine) and QUILTING! Listening to prosperity classes as I sew has been great. It’s the weekend, the kid is home today, but so is mom and she is awake since she didn’t work last night. I know other things will pop up today like, oops, groceries, but hey, I got my time with you! Yay!

Love you – take care of yourself and I’ll be back next week.

Cathy

A Blessing and a Challenge

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When we moved to Michigan, we heard from other student sources, about a house that was coming available. The Landlord said he wasn’t sure he could have it ready by the time we needed it, but, basically, he would do his best. I’m not sure how ready it was, but the price was good and we were worn out, so we took it, and all the stuff that had been left in it.

The house had been pilfered many times. Evidence of back door break in and windows  cracked from trying to open them, many with broken locks. One of the neighbors caught people a couple of times and we know much of the “good” stuff was taken due to them asking if I had found this decoration or that thing. Many homes in the Detroit area, and particularly in Pontiac, have been walked away from, as the financial collapse settled in. But in this case, a woman in her 60’s owned the home and her daughter lived with her. The daughter died of an overdose in the spring and by Thanksgiving, the mother did too. The landlord did not share that before we moved in, which in many states is illegal and another indication of the character of our landlord.

For a crafter, it was a bit of a treasure trove, although having to go through stuff eventually got to me. I kept going, setting up a little work area.  I sorted through decades of magazines (some back to 1981) instead of tossing them. I think it was two months before I realized there was another storage room under the stairs! Basically, I found it after the basement flooded, which the landlord tried to blame us for, when it was pipes that had not been tended to in the almost two years the house had been vacant.

For me, some of the best treasures were bolts of fabric, four quilt tops, one already basted in a sandwich, and the abundance of scraps, 3 charm packs, you get the idea. There is a large PVC pipe quilting frame, for hand quilting. A very large stash of cross stitch supplies, that I still haven’t sorted through due to lack of interest, and skeins of yarn. It’s been interesting. I made a personal commitment to use up what I can before we leave so that I am not hauling a craft store with me, again. And when I see a beautiful yarn at the store, I remember the stash at home.

Then the second flood came when we got record rains. I think it washed in every ant from the entire yard and maybe more. The neighbors told me it should not have happened because of the deep French drains that were placed along with the sump pump. But the sump pump was persnickety. It only worked when the landlord kicked it just right, and not at all when my daughter or I did. The landlord replaced it.  But the basement has not been the same to me. It has not seemed to fully dry out. Last summer, when we moved in, I used a fan down there. This year, when we run the air conditioner, it gets too cold for comfort. Don’t know how that fits with the other issues we’ve had but it’s true. I’ve covered every vent I can find down there, but the ducts themselves keep VERY cool. I must be missing something. Maybe it’s colder this year because it doesn’t seem to dry out.

So, I moved my very large work table to the dining room and have taken over the space for sewing, and maybe some painting, definitely some lettering. For now, it is sewing. While still in the basement, I made Indigo a dress from material (yards and yards) I’d purchased before we moved here. She loved it a and it became the dress for the last two special events of kindergarten. I crocheted a special cowl that covers her shoulders for her fancier event. I also tried to make a summer purse from a Craftsy class. I know where I messed up and will eventually fix it. The good part is, it was made from fabric already here, I only purchased hardware and stabilizer. Early summer was when I made a couple of large stuffed dinosaurs for her – she’s not into dolls, but she dresses up those dinos.

And that brings me to the current blessing. I love quilts. But I don’t buy them. I have two my Grandmother made long ago. I have another that is whole cloth quilted (not pieced) that I bought when I worked at Dillard’s for a short time. I prefer not to use my grandmother’s, although I do from time to time and my granddaughter has taken over the store bought one. So we are off on a new journey.