Catching up--a little!

Wow, it's been a long time since I posted!

My darling little baby (and terror) has grown into a big darling, who loves to pull up and eat my hostas and tulips if I dare turn my back.  She also eats every scrap of fabric (and some cut pieces), threads, batting, Kleenexes and one pin, stolen from my table, has been found in her mouth. So not much sewing has been done.  This is her typical pose.  She also sleeps in this ladylike position.

Despite my puppy challenge, I have managed to start a couple of projects.   First, I began a couple of baby quilts, for much wanted babies 2B, only to be told that the parents did not want any quilts.  "Other people are making us quilts."   And yes, the father is MY son.  How did this happen?  I still wonder how I failed him.

I'm sure you all can imagine how I felt about not making a quilt for my FIRST grandbabies--twin girls due this summer.  Severe depression and many tears does not begin to describe it.  To compensate for the depression, I felt it was appropriate to start something new.  Several somethings new, actually.  But this is one I can share. 

 It is from the 1718 Coverlet book by Susan Briscoe.  There is a group on Facebook which is doing it as a quiltalong.  It is a closed group, so you have to join to look at the many quilts--and they are in a wide variety of fabrics. 

I am doing my way as a "quilt-very-far-behind".  It has a lot of applique and I am painfully slow and now have a hurt thumb, so this may become another UFO.  I am using Chicopee, by Denyse Schmidt, and 25+ year old fabric that coordinates nicely with it.  A perfect reason to buy fabric all the time--colors come and go, and a girl must have a stash to meet those needs.

I also finished two more blocks from Just Takes Two.  At this rate, it might be another two decades before I am finished.

I also managed to sew some baby outfits.  Not wonderful, but they are done.  The shower is tomorrow.  I just have to wrap them.  I have lost part of the present that needs to go in the package., so have been hoping it will turn up.  Guess I need to clean house.

 

Unfortunately, AFTER I bought the fabric and started sewing, I learned that the mom2B doesn't like baby pink.  Sigh.  It's been one of those times.  I went with something conservative, instead of Kaffe types in an effort not to be too quilty.  The moral is:  Just be yourself and use the fabric that inspires you.  Let the chips fall where they may.

 

 

 

The photo is confusing, but they are reversible.  The one on the left is the front of the pants, the one on the right is the back of the reverse.  The pants are Quick Change Trousers from a book by Anna Marie Horner,  Handmade Beginnings: 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby.    The pants stitched together easily (although with two of them, seems like forever,compared to one)  The hats are from another book I borrowed from my library, and since they did not go together well, I won't recommend it. 

 

And, for those of you with excellent memories, I did finally manage to finish piecing my pink and green pyramids.  (It will need to rest a bit before I can figure out a back for it--I have to get the pink and green triangles out of my brain).  I'd show you a photo, but I folded it up and tucked it away as soon as I was done.  Maybe I can stand to look at it again in a couple of months.

 

 My design wall is now covered with the 1718 pieces and a bunch of threads.  It's a wonderful change!  I'm also contemplating doing an I Spy economy block quilt for the twins for when they are bigger, but I'm not sure I'm up to two of them. Happy Quilting! 

So Long Summer

It looks like I haven't accomplished anything since May.  Can that be right?  Where has the summer gone? 

I was looking through my summer clothes today in anticipation of a couple little trips, and realized I have one pair of capris I haven't even worn this summer.  What am I saving them for?   It's so unlikely that they'll even fit next year!  (Bet you can guess in which way)

It's just like I save those "special" fabrics, that I love too much to cut.  Does that means I make all my quilts with second rate fabrics?  Definitely food for thought.  I'm trying to use more of my favorite fabrics instead of just storing them to show up in my estate sale someday.  Even if they are just used on a back, it's better to have a pretty back than a pretty fabric in the closet.  So my current goal is to cut and use the prettiest fabrics.  I can always buy more fabric--and another pair of capris.

Ok, so back to the summer.  In no particular order, we spent a week on the Oregon coast, and had a wonderful time with both kids for part of the time.  I love the time we spend there--a definite recharge!

The beach is always wonderful, and the flowers were spectacular.

Look at all the caterpillars on the yellow flowers.

 

I did do some quilting too!  I finished a quilt I call Reach for the Stars, for my new great-nephew, born just last week, and it's packed up and ready to mail tomorrow.  It was put together using the same method as the Sparkle Punch Quilt Along.



It has the most luscious minkie backing.  I would love a cuddle quilt of minkie (just in case you'd like to make me one!)  Wouldn't that be the most luxurious thing?  Has anyone tried a bed size minkie quilt?

I also finished 3 more tops and backs that are ready for the quilter.  Two are baby sized, and packed up to go, and the one below is more of a  large toddler size.  It just got away from me--was having so much fun playing with the fabrics.  It is a scaled down version of the Turn by Turn quilt I made earlier this year.  In looking for a photo of it, I guess it rained so much this spring I never took a finished one.  Maybe I can do them both together when this one is done.  I do love putting Kaffe's together.  May as well put Kaffe quilts together too.

 

All I can show you of the other two is the binding which is ready and waiting.  Hopefully there will be enough for both of them--they're virtually identical--maybe for twins? :)  I just happened to have enough leftovers to make it work.

And, lest you think I completely avoided it, I did begin to work on the Pyramid quilt again...mostly putting the pieces that had fallen (been knocked off by someone careless--me) back up on the design wall.  Not much sewing, but hey, it's a start.  I had thought about doing something different in one section, but I finally decided to save that for the back, so can move forward now.  Decision points always seem to stop me until I resolve the issue--sometimes it takes years to get back to it.  Lately, it is easier because I tend to forget what the problem was!

Hope you've had a nice summer.  Happy stitching!

When it rains...

When it snows, it's only right to make snowmen.  What do you sew when it is grey and drab and rains (pours) all the time?  Well plaid blocks, of course.

I've spent much of the last week making a few more blocks from the Just Takes Two BOM from a year or two ago.  My method is to look through the remaining undone blocks and pick the easiest ones--which isn't a good method as they get harder and harder.  I still have quite a few more to go. 

I'm also trying to use up pre-cut squares I have left from earlier plaid projects.  Definitely forces the blocks to be a bit mixed up, which I like, and blends well with my lack of precision when putting the blocks together, as a couple didn't end up being the right size. 

 

I think there may have been a correction done after I printed out the instructions that I didn't pay attention to (and I apparently can't read), so I've created slightly new blocks.  I figure they will fit together (or not) when I get them all done, and if not, I'll just use a few fill strips or blocks. 

 

 

The basket block is one example--I just sized it up to the next size and will trim off the extra when the time comes.  And the block to its lower right is another example.  They were supposed to be 3 of the little blocks, but since each ended up exactly 1/2 inch too small, I made a 4th and stitched them all together. I may eventually just create a few more blocks of my own.   And note to self:  Measure, READ, and check the math before you cut and sew them.  Duh.  

 

After a week of plaid, though, I'm ready to move on to some sunshine (yes, I'm trying to be hopeful).  And, no, I still haven't done anything about those bothersome pyramids...  Maybe it's their turn this week?  Doubtful.  I've something new I'd like to start.  ;)   

  Hope you are staying warm--Happy Stitching & Happy President's Day!