Archive for the 'Quilting' Category
February 12th, 2010 - Baby Quilts and Other Stuff
How many baby quilts can you make in a month? Just last Saturday, my hubby thought that I should make a few baby quilts to have on hand for those just in case scenarios. I think he jinxed me. I now need 3 baby quilts before March 14th. Can I do it?
This is 2 samples of the blocks for baby quilt #1. The pattern is X’s and O’s by Valerie Krueger from Hearts to Holly in Charlevoix, MI. She is the owner’s daughter and she has a few patterns exclusive to Hearts to Holly. You should check out her patterns, they use a Holly Bunch which is a 12 pack of fat quarters.
This is the finished top. I really like how easy the pattern went together. A few fat quarters and away I went. No matching at all which makes it very easy for someone like me. Nothing to reverse sew because the points don’t match. The pattern originally required a Holly Bunch but I didn’t want to make a baby quilt that big, so Ionly used 6 fqs and it’s just the right size.
This is going to be quilt #2. I’m going to use the same fabric for the blocks and have the blue as sashing around each block. I have all the fabric cut for the blocks and I’m ready to start sewing. Maybe I can get it done this weekend. And it’s all from my stash. And quilt #3 will be in all pinks and it’s all from my stash too!
This is a little quickie baby quilt for my neighbour to give as a shower gift. I love using flannel, it’s so soft and cozy. And it’s really simple to make. I used 4″ squares in 2 colours and alternated them and voila! a quilt is born. I stitched along the sewing lines with that chicken-scratch stitch in white thread. Or is it a feather-stitch? Who knows?
And last but not least. This is the hanging of the month from Patchabilities. The local quilt shop Quilting Confections has this set up as a block of the month. Each month is a different theme with a different hanger. great for gift giving or some last minute gift.
This is also a quilt-a-thon weekend over at Patchwork Times with Judy being the hostess. Check it out and see what everyone is doing. Have a great weekend and happy sewing.
Mary-Kay
February 7th, 2010 - It’s Time
….to start getting rid of some of the crap we’ve accumulated over the years. My laundry room has so much stuff in piles on the floor that there’s barely room to walk. I didn’t even finish putting the Christmas decorations away until today. We even took down the outside lights. Two things accomplished today. But my kids think I’m really crabby because I can’t stand the mess anymore. I think it’s time they started putting all their stuff away or else it’s going in the trash. I wonder how long I can keep getting them to believe me. Hmmm…..
Actually, all this stash busting effort has got me thinking of other areas of my house. Like my kitchen. How long do I keep a coffee maker on the counter before we decide we don’t need it? We usually drink instant coffee and I can’t remember the last time we made a pot of coffee, like maybe a year ago or more. And if I get rid of that and the blender, maybe I can get that stand mixer I secretly want but don’t need. Or maybe get rid of the 4-slice toaster and get a 2-slice one. Smaller is better. We never make more than 2 slices at a time unless we are doing a brunch and that hasn’t happened some time.
Okay enough grousing and time to get back to work. Actually I’m going to do a little bit of sewing. I have to make 3 baby quilts in the next month. I just made that flannel one last week and my DH thought that I should have a few on hand because there always seems to be the need for them. Well yesterday, my SIL called and asked me to make a boy one for a friend who is due in mid March. Then I got invited to a baby shower in mid March. I also have one to make for a frind of my sister’s. I have started that one and am going to make all 3 the same. I’ll post pictures when I have something to show.
That’s all for now. For all you superbowl shoppers, I hope you didn’t get too much stash fabric.
Mary-Kay
January 23rd, 2010 - Picture Thingie
That’s how I describe it. Actually it’s a photo, printed on fabric and adhered to some more fabric with some thread play on it and then framed with a binding and mounted on a canvas frame. Picture thingie!
So this is how it looks before I added anything to it. To me it needs something. I really love the backgroung fabric. When I first bought some of this fabric, I only bought one yard and then went back and bought 2 more yards of it. There’s some fusible batting behind to give it some body. I don’t put anything else behind it and when it’s being stitched, the batting doesn’t get caught in the machine.
And this is the Picture Thingie. All stitched up and mounted on a frame, ready to be hung on a wall, I hope. The only thing I highlighted is the trees. A little free motion thread stitching in 2 tones of gray. I also used a fabric marker and traced the front door. If you enlarge the photo it really stands out but it doesn’t look that prominent for real. I made it for my friend’s aunt and she loved it. So I guess it will be hanging on a wall.
Last night I went to see Jann Arden (Canadian singing artist and comedian) with 10 other ladies. We had box seats but were a little to the right of the stage. If I was going to a concert at the new WFCU arena, I wouldn’t want to sit in box seats again. I’d rather be down center stage. Jann talks a lot during her show and we couldn’t understand what she was saying. But you could hear the music great, if some of those women I went with would be quiet. The best parts about box seats are the waitress who brings you drinks and the food we had pre-ordered. There’s a small fridge to keep your beer cold,which you had to order it in 3’s and the bathrooms up there are not used a lot so they are nice and clean. Anyway it was a great evening out with my friends
Now to clean up my sewing room and get some stash used up. Have a great day. And Lori, if you read this, it’s supposed to be 38 today and 47 tomorrow. The worst part is it’s supposed to rain tomorrow. Now that part sucks. Why would I want to move unless it was to somewhere where there was never any snow or cold weather. I’d visit but only in the warmer months. I don’t think I’m even going to visit my own sister who lives in Northern Michigan until at least July. By then the snow should be melted.
Mary-Kay
January 17th, 2010 - Stash report Week #3
Not much sewing this weekend or this week for that matter. It was back to work for me and it was rough. Snow which I don’t like walking though and lots of mail. Thank God the snow is almost all melted, so this week should be a lot easier on the body. But I did get a quilt top completed and the backing all sized up and ready to go. All I have to do is quilt it. That would be 3 quilts already this year.
Fabric used this week: 7.305 yds
Fabric used YTD: 38.34 yds
Fabric added this week: 0
Fabric added YTD: 3.75 yds
Net fabric busted: 34.59 yds
I feel I’ve made a good start this year and I hope I can keep up this pace. I forgot this was a quiltathon weekend but I don’t feel that great so it was just as well I forgot. I stayed in bed for most of Saturday but felt well enough to go out for dinner with some friends. But as soon as I got home I went back to bed. So much for doing some sewing or exercise. At least I didn’t overeat and brought home leftovers for dinner today. Now I’ll get off this computer and do some sewing and laundry. Oh and some exercise too!
Have a great day.
Mary-Kay
January 10th, 2010 - Stash Report Week #2
I certainly hope I can keep this pace up all year or be close. I think this is the most fabric I’ve used since I started stash busting. It was all from my stash except 3.25 yards of flannel I needed for a quilt backing. And yes I needed it because I didn’t have something even close to the top colours and I like it to match just a little. Oh, and I went to the LQS and got my Jan BOMs and didn’t buy anything else besides thread. There was this new fabric line from Robert Kaufman and it was beautiful but I’ll get it some other time. Like after I get to the 100 yard mark and even then I’ll have to think about it.
Fabric added this week: 3.75 yds
Fabric added YTD: 3.75 yds
Fabric used this week: 29.785 yds-2 tops and 4 backings, chenille rug, borders for Trees For Sale plus a bunch of little things
Fabric used YTD: 31.035 yds
Net fabric busted: 27.285 yds
I’m hand sewing the binding down on a comfort quilt. I need to make another comfort quilt this week and I’m going to try to match it to the flannel I already have on hand. I’d better get busy and start sewing. And I have to go back to work tomorrow. Uggh!!!!
Mary-Kay
January 8th, 2010 - What I’ve Been Up To
I’ve been very busy this week so far. Yards of fabric used up and a few yards given away.
I made 2 of these quilts for my niece’s friend. My niece and I cut it out last year, maybe in October and she was supposed to sew it together. Well that never happened. She asked me to do, so I did.
I made one with a yellow backing.
And one with orange backing. Her friend picked out the fabric and it was supposed to be one quilt. There was enough fabric to make 2 toddler sized quilts. All Becky has to do is sew done the binding. I think she can manage that.
My next project was Trees For Sale. All that needs to be done is the quilting part. I have the backing sized and the binding joined and pressed, ready to be sewn on. That will be another day.
”The Quilters Three” met up this week to do some sewing. Here’s Betty and Debbie getting set up to do some power sewing.
I made this quilt top up in one day. Debbie had all the big center squares cut out and all I had to do was pick out some cordinating fabric and go to town.
And while I was adding the borders to the floral quilt, I thought we should have been making a quilt for my BIL who was having major surgery this week. I had some fabric in my stash for the top but I couldn’t find any for the backing that went with it. So I had to buy a few yards of fabric but I only got exactly what I needed. Yeah me!
And while I was in the mood, I made 3 scarves out of some wool that was bought last year. My son thought this fabric would make a great scarf. To get the required length, I had to buy 2 yards and I figured I only needed 17″ for one. So I made 2 more out of the rest and told my son to give them to his friends.
Now I’m off to iron the backing fabric for my BIL quilt and get that quilted for him. He had neuro-surgery yesterday and was home today but back in for pain tonight. I think they discharged him too soon.
Have a great evening.
Mary-Kay
December 28th, 2009 - Stash Report Week #52
Hurray! We’re done for the year. And I plan on doing better next year. Right!
Fabric added this week: 0 yds
Fabric added YTD: 285.72 yds
Fabric used this week: 3 yds
Fabric used YTD: 248.54 yds
Net fabric busted: -37.18 yds
I would have like to use 100 yards for the year. If only I never bought any fabric. But then I may not have made so many things either. Next year I plan on trying a little harder. Try to make do or go without. I’m sure I’ll slip a little but I’m only human and it wouldn’t be as much fun.
Have a great day and a wonderful, productive New Year.
Mary-Kay
December 22nd, 2009 - Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree…
You are so ugly!
![P1050528 [640x480]](http://mk.luckydot.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/P1050528-640x480.JPG "P1050528 [640x480]")
Doesn’t my tree look pathetic? I had to shape the branches and while I was doing that , one of the branches came off. It’s only 2 years old and we didn’t even put it up last year. I loved my old tree but it was getting all ratty looking and the wire branches were coming off. Next year I’m looking for a really nice tree right after Halloween.
![P1050547 [640x480]](http://mk.luckydot.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/P1050547-640x480.JPG "P1050547 [640x480]")
Now my tree looks like this. It’s amazing what some lights and decorations can do to an ugly tree. And they always look pretty all lit up in a darkened room.
![P1050535 [640x480]](http://mk.luckydot.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/P1050535-640x480.JPG "P1050535 [640x480]")
I tried to take a few photos ala Sue Hecker and spent most of my time deleting them. I found out that I got the best results with the round bulbs.
![P1050533 [640x480]](http://mk.luckydot.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/P1050533-640x480.JPG "P1050533 [640x480]")
My friend, Peg, painted this bulb. She makes the most beautiful painted things.
![P1050552 [640x480]](http://mk.luckydot.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/P1050552-640x480.JPG "P1050552 [640x480]")
And Peg painted this one too. They are so pretty and delicate looking. I usually hang them fairly high up on the tree just in case some little fingers try to grab them.
I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas!
Mary-Kay
December 20th, 2009 - Stash Report Week # 51
One more week to go. Can we all do it? Well I know for certain that I won’t be meeting my goals. I’m not going to stress out about it but I’ll be making some changes for next year. Like not buying fabric. Ha, ha, ha! I was thinking that’s the only change I could make to reach my goal but I guess I could just sew more too.
Fabric added this week: .25 yds which was a BOM
Fabric added YTD: 285.72 yds
Fabric used this week: 2.78 yds
Fabric used YTD: 245.54 yds
Net fabric busted: -40.18 yds
If I sew like a crazy person and don’t do anything else , maybe I can get in the positives. I don’t think I’ll be going there.
Have a great day. Enjoy the holidays.
Mary-Kay
December 14th, 2009 - Cookies
Boy, I sure got some good cookies! And they are really tasty. One of my friends even made a dozen cookies for my son who has nut allergies. Too bad the other son has so many allergies that he can’t have just one cookie at all. He’s only had chocolate twice in his 24 yrs of life. His first birthday before we knew he had allergies and one other time when he got in the fridge and ate some chocolate cake. Boy was he sick after that!
![P1050522 [640x480]](http://mk.luckydot.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/P1050522-640x480.JPG "P1050522 [640x480]")
Lori, look at this plate of cookies. Twelve dozen. That snowflake one is delicious. My friend called me up when we were done work and asked if I tasted it. I ate one after I left the depot to go deliver mail. Yummy!!! And I have to put them in the freezer and not outside. It’s 40 degrees out and it’s only going down to 30 tonight.
![P1050523 [640x480]](http://mk.luckydot.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/P1050523-640x480.JPG "P1050523 [640x480]")
And one of the girls made fudge. Everyone in the cookies exchange received a whole tin of it. It’s sooo good but I’m not going to eat any until after Christmas. And I’ll know if anyone in this house eats any too. I’m not slicing it up until Christmas Day when we go to Brett’s parents house for dinner. I’ll bring a whole plate of goodies. Nice and easy.
![P1050524 [640x480]](http://mk.luckydot.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/P1050524-640x480.JPG "P1050524 [640x480]")
This is one of the fabrics I got while I was in Charlevoix. It’s great for bindings on Christmas stuff. Not that I have any Christmas stuff ready to bind. Yet!
![P1050525 [640x480]](http://mk.luckydot.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/P1050525-640x480.JPG "P1050525 [640x480]")
I also picked up this solid blue fabric. It’s not navy blue but close to it. I want to use it for sashing on some scrap blocks that were leftovers from 2 other quilts.
![P1050526 [640x480]](http://mk.luckydot.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/P1050526-640x480.JPG "P1050526 [640x480]")
And last but not least, here’s the Christmas quilt, backing and all. It really matches my living room unlike the other Christmas quilt. I’ll be giving that one to my mom for Christmas. The pattern is “Trees for Sale” by Sandy Gervais. It looks pretty easy to put together. I know that it will not be done this year but I’ll finish it after Christmas when I’m on vacation.
That’s all for now. Happy stitching.
Mary-Kay