Another Year

It's been two weeks since my birthday. I'm an April Fool baby. I think this is the first year in my many that an April Fool joke was not attempted, nor did I play any pranks. Very unusual indeed, but I was busy nursing my daughter following a successful surgery (recovered now, thankfully). She did bless me with this great pincushion. I love that it also hold thread, or whatever I choose, in the center. I immediately retired my old pincushion (that I've had since I was 16). How many years ago was that? I'm not telling! But I really don't mind the birthdays - as a good friend says, "It's better than the alternative!"

I've also been working on finishing up some projects. One was a word challenge that we did in a small quilt group I am privileged to be a part of. I've been wanting to try this method for some time - it is from Vikki Pignatelli's book, Quilting by Improvisation. I did use one of her patterns. My word - Dance. I love to dance and am sneaking up on my husband and I taking dance lessons. This star just seemed perfect. It was a challenge for me, but I really enjoyed it. I also finally used the BSR on my Bernina (my husband has been nagging me to do that since he gave it to me over a year ago). You can see the flame stitch I did in gold. Certainly not perfect, but not bad for a first try. It was fun too - especially once I got a rhythm going. And it feels soooo good to get something finished! I've two more quilts done - I'll post those later.

Too Much Fun!

A group of us went on a quilt retreat to the Waterfall Retreat Center in Warrensville, NC this past weekend. What a blast! Is is possible to have too much fun? We just might have! There was conversation, eating, sewing, eating, laughing, eating, knitting, eating, sharing, and did I mention eating?

Jean is being so very accurate as she works on a quilt for her spring grandchild. Jean also prepared some amazing meals for the group. If you see her, ask her to do her Utz commercial and jingle!

And Michelle is so proud showing off her little green sewing machine to Grace.

Mary Jo finished her doggie quilt for Sam. Lucky dog!

Marianne has a quiet contemplative moment crocheting.

So much was done - sewing, journal making, doll making, cutting, knitting, crocheting, stamp carving, and sketching!

We definitely created to our heart's desire - well, maybe - we're already planning the next retreat!

More Crazy

Just thought I'd share a little more of my crazies! Technically, the square with the beaded heart is not yet finished - still one more seam to embellish. I find myself running out of ideas, pick up the piece a few days later and know exactly what I'm going to do. Remember I said I didn't like to sew on buttons? There's even a "garden" of buttons! Some of the buttons I've used are very old and very thin - I like to think about what kind of garment they were once sewn on.

Then there is the square with the dragonfly. I love dragonflies and needed to put one on this crazy quilt. I like using French knots and I even found little mirror embellishments for this square.

I am now down to one square to complete. The thought of finishing this part of the project is a little sad. Will it be exciting to put them together? Probably, but they'll be in the line-up with my many other started quilting projects. Just like a good quilter should, I'll probably start something new!

Crazy, Crazy, Crazy

Twelve or so years ago, I decided to do a crazy quilt. It has been a crazy journey! I love that there are no rules. Fabrics can be combined, gaudy embellishments added, everything every which way and crazy! More than 12 squares later (hey - that's better than one a year!) I have just two left to embellish. It has been an interesting and wonderful journey and an inconsistent journey. There was better than a year I didn't even touch the project. I'm now also the proud owner of about 6 crazy quilt books and more embellishments than I ever imagined.

I've never been overly fond of handwork. I've done my share of embroidery and cross stitch over the years, but never had a real passion for it. And now I find myself spending hours on just one square - doing embroidery and beading, and handstitching embellishments. Stitching buttons onto a shirt is a dreaded chore, yet I've stitched many a button onto these quilt squares. Part of the enjoyment of the buttons is that they were Bob's Mom's buttons that we found years ago in her "button bag" stored in her treadle sewing machine.

This leaf was done by stamping with Lumere paint then adding beads.

Every crazy quilt is supposed to have a web and spider stitched into it for luck.

Only 2 square to finish. As my daughter keeps asking me, "When will it be done?" I can only hope before another twelve years go by!

Poor 'Lil Daffodils

My favorite season in my yard is when the daffodils are in bloom. There is an army of daffodils in my front yard and it always brings me such joy. Now here we are with snow in March! Poor 'lil things. Many are covered completely. I just hope the bloom isn't lessened and when the snow melts, they will "spring" back to their glory. The good news - the leaves I sitll haven't cleared are also covered! It's supposed to be 65 degrees by Friday. Hopefully the daffodils will once again take their regal place in the yard, and maybe, just maybe, I'll get out there and clear all those nasty leaves!

Now for the Fabrics

My fat quarters are in drawers, and smaller pieces of fabric are in plastic boxes. But what about yardage? I've never been happy with having it folded and stacked. It stayed messy and it was hard for me to glace at the piles and know what I had. Then I discovered a rectangular vinyl made for story fabrics put out by Polar Notions. Now my yardage is upright on bookshelves and they are grouped. At a glance I can choose yardage without having to pick through piles of fabric. It's also very easy to unroll and cut.

Finally, a solution I am happy with!

Sew Organized

For the last time (yeah, right), I have reorganized my sewing haven. I am fortunate to have a large finished basement of which I have commandered a large area devoted to my sewing. I am even more fortunate to have a husband who is not only supportive of my hobbies, but indulges my whims and wishes with his handy talents. The cutting table is such a joy. It is 4 feet by 4 feet with two 2 foot wide leaves, all laminated. There is also a storage shelf on the underside. I do not usually do really large quilts, so to be able to lay out a quilt at counter height is a real joy.

The area where I actually sew has 2 desks set up in an "L" shape for my 2 sewing machines. Each area has a spot light. I keep the machines covered because we heat with wood and it tends to be rather dusty. Notice the matching machine covers and chair cover? The thread holder came from a retired quilter which makes it much more special than having bought a new one. The large desk was an old used one that my son and husband cut a custom hole in for the machine.

The larger sewing desk also has an extension that Bob added to it for when I sew large pieces. I am amazed at how much easier it makes sewing a large piece.

Then there are the labeled drawers full of templates, patterns, glues, embellishments, paints, and lots and lots of fat quarters. My "design board" is a large piece of batting that I put up using quilter's basting spray. It really holds - even with a quilt mounted to it!

Over each area, mounted in the ceiling, are also large flourescent fixtures - lots of light and no shadows.

For me, because I am pretty much equally left and right brained, this is the perfect set-up. Although things get quite disasterous while I am in the middle of a project, I need a strong organized set-up. Thanks Bob, for the table, the sewing machine tables, putting in the light fixtures and moving them, and for understanding why I needed it all moved more than once!