My current wanderings ....

Currently, the world is awash with a fast traveling coronavirus causing a worldwide pandemic. 

Sadly, it has reached my home town ....  

I've been safely self-quarantining and am hopeful others will do the same soon even thought it is not mandated by any government official... yet. 

Will social distancing and self-quarantining help to successfully flatten the curve experts are concerned with?

I have no idea. 

Time will tell.

While this is a Hawaiian block made of my own design, it is giving me pause .... 

should I try to make a another that resembles covid19? 

I'm just not sure .... what do you think?

Meanwhile my current wanderings have been around my neighborhood and also across the keyboard of my laptop. I am learning new digital skills - how to make and share YouTube videos (perhaps I'll create my own station too?); how to set up and post information into my Toddler classroom on Google Classroom; how to create a private group on WhatsApp for my current toddler class and how to establish an account for ZOOM cloud meetings. In fact, I have three meeting meetings (or is it four?) scheduled for tomorrow?

Busy busy me.

Soon a new normal may set in --  I am hopeful that it will be a new normal that allows solid blocks of time to sew, to create, to daydream and possibly even to nap now and again.

Stay safe everyone!

Keep socially distant ..... 

let's hope this corona virus, covid19, passes by quickly and leaves us for good. 

See you there - in the future when we can hug and be together in gatherings of many sizes.

I hope to have numerous  completed projects to show you then too,

 ... once we are on the other side of this pandemic.

Super Simple Sampler in Blue

My final finish for 2019 is this Super Simple Sampler in Blue quilt.

 

I pieced it in early 2017 when this pattern Simple Sampler by Thangles was brand new.  I can indeed verify that this is a super simple pattern to stitch together, especially since it uses the Thangles method. The pattern and Thangles to make it are available for purchase by clicking here. As you can see by their sample, that I reversed the colors: using white in the blocks and a blue batik for the background. I love it!

While the piecing was fast and easy, it took another year (or year and a half!) to deliver it to a quilter. First I had to decide on a backing fabric, opting to stitch one made of a patchwork back of blues from my fabric collection (P. S. I am a quilter who loves to quilt-by-check any of the large bed size quilt tops that I stitch up).

In summer of 2018, I had this quilt quilted by one of the local long armers whom I frequent. Jenn Saxena did a wonderful job at quilting this top using a doodle flowers pattern.  .... then at long last in December of 2019, I stitched on the binding. Now it is complete!

Oh, wait, I may still need to add a label to it!  Guess it will be officially finished in 2020?

Testing patterns

I love paper piecing and I had no idea that I did .... that is until I volunteered to be a pattern-tester not knowing that the patterns were all paper-pieced ones!

Here are two from recent pattern testing gigs ....

This Geometric USA pattern is due to be released later this month by Quiet Play (aka Kristy Lea in Australia).  Check her many patterns on Craftsy (www.craftsy.com/profile/quiet-play-s-pattern-store ) & Payhip -- or browse thru her awesome posts on Instagram  ....

I finished the USA on July 4th, so added (digitally only right now) the "Happy 4th of July" across the top.  I'm pondering doing a paper pieced red-white&blue USA to put there but haven't decided.


I also tested this amazing lighthouse pattern, also by Quiet Play.

The model sailing ship was hand crafted by my dear Papa Herb (may he rest in peace).  I stitched up the sails for him and the ship is named for his sister Edna (also of blessed memory).  Papa Herb is/was my father-in-law and I still miss the quiet times we shared -- we were the two craftsy people in the family at the time.

The Geometric Lighthouse was released this spring and a bonus pattern to the "Release the Kraken" block of the month that Quiet Play and Gnome Angel are hosting.  These two creative Australians have teamed up as "Quarter Inch of Quirk" for this block of the month (I'm guessing it is the first of more that will come).  Check out hashtag: "release the kraken b-o-m" on IG for more of their joint block-of-the-month quilt (there are mermaids, sea creatures, and much more!).  By the way, the website for Gnome Angel (aka Angie) is www.gnomeangel.com and the website for their joint venture is www.quarterinchofquirk.com/




An important reminder (or lesson, or tip) is to ALWAYS be sure to double check your "printer settings" before printing your paper piece patterns. 

Most every pattern will have a test square that (once printed) will measure to be an accurate 1" square.  Print your patterns at 100% and then be sure to measure your test square.  When you do this, your finished paper-pieced block will end up the size as stated on the pattern (ask me how I know?  and no need to ask how many times I forgot to measure my tester square before piecing the entire block...)

Look carefully above -- my 1" square is SMALLER than the 1" ruler markings -- this is not a good sign.  If they do not match, go back and carefully examine your printer settings ..... 

New list of finishing goals ....

Here is my current top ten (plus 2) list of projects that I aim to finish by the end of September....  All have indeed been started and yet are lingering too long in this unfinished limbo state.

1) bind my first Red-n-White quilt (& label)

2) bind my Oopsie Daisy quilt (& label)

3) finish my cross stitch ABC Words of Wisdom

4) buttons and buttonholes on peach plaid shirt

5) stitch up rayon peach top

6) quilt "Dream" quilttop (or will it be a pillow? or pillow case?)

7) quilt "Geometric USA" then finish into mini quilt or pillow

8) finish assembling 2015 Row-by-Row (water theme)

9) finish piecing, quilting, binding & label the latest Thangles pattern

10) dress and garnish my first spirit doll (maybe more than one)

 11) bonus:  quilt and finish my original Instagram logo mini-quilt (and finish an identical twin for a future swap ...) pattern by Lori Holt (IG: beelori1; her website: www.beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/)

12) might as well go for an even dozen:  finish any old UFO that I re-discover in the next two months .... (hee hee hee - there are many that I've forgotten about!)


This is my official list for the Finish-Along group effort -- teams of fellow finishers are wonderful spirit-boosters!  Check out this link or this one for more information and join (if you act fast .....).

Thank you to all the Finish-Along hostesses and prize donors and participants for inspiring me to get things DONE!

I am happy to report that I am linky number 87 for the 3rd quarter of 2017 Finish-along fun.

Three .... sort of ...

I have been plugging away on my UFOs to try to finish some from my posted list of 10 for the Finish Along group and for my local groups that are also hosting UFO challenges ... as of today, April 1, I've only finished three so far ....

First up:  I finished my Owl pillow repair and it is now living proudly on my couch ... though I have notice another pillow seems to have a damaged (puppy-chewed?) corner now .... finish one UFO only to discover a new one?  Is that fair???

 poor pillow in need of loving repair ....

to begin, must first remove the mangled face ... 

one happy owl-pillow repair is complete! 

For more about this pillow's beginnings click here or to learn details of its repair, click here.

Second, I've finished one of the Silk Tie pillows, and have prepped most of the ties to slice, dice and stitch up into new pillows.

 I love this classic design (one of my own creations!)

Now I must stitch up several more -- but using square and triangular pieces.
Click here for more about this pillow.

Third, and my favorite of all, I've made four more blocks for the original 12-block Drunkard's Wife QAL and have stitche the 16 blocks into a top!  I hope to piece the back and get my favorite long-armer quilting on it soon-ish.

This is pile shows the first six blocks that I pieced.

Ten more blocks were completed, plus embroidery "Oopsie Daisy" was embroidered to the top block.

 A peek at my title block -- "Oopsie Daisy"

and some of the other blocks

and a full view of Oopsie Daisy

This quilt is PINK! and it is for me, me, ME .... (I think).

Here are some links to some of the blocks (how-to's) that are in this funky quilt:  Click here to learn how to use Thangles to make two of the blocks.  Click here, here and here to see more of these blocks.

This very pink quilt that I am making just for me is the #346 linkie of all the finishes that have been posted for this first quarter of the Finish-Along 2016.  Click here for a link to get you to all the linkies that have been shared.

Three completed UFOs ... out of ten on my official list of UFOs 

for the first quarter of the 2016 Finish Along.  Click here to see my complete list of UFOs.

Now to ponder which to finish next .... and how many other UFOs I should list on the next quarter!

These are such lofty and important decisions.

Hopefully it will get me blogging more regularly too ... could happen...

Using Thangles

I continue to stitch on my Drunkard's Wife Quilt Along blocks.  Here are two that I made using Thangles.

This first block, block 11 of Felice's Drunkard's Wife QAL - Long Island Iced Tea, is made entirely using 2.5" strips of fabric.  That is the glory of using Thangles to piece half-square triangle blocks -- there is no need to cut odd sizes of fabric strips.

block 11 -  Long Island Iced Tea

This lively block uses 2" Thangles (my favorite size - just sayin').  Like Felice did in her version of this block, I elected to make a scrappy version.  My block uses 5 different pink prints and 3 different background prints (including a dark and a light print from Emma's Garden).  In fact, the fabrics were all leftovers from the other blocks in this quilt-along.

To make the block, gather your scraps and slice them into 2.5" strips.  You need an equal number of light and dark prints (well, actually 11" more of the dark strips).  Cut eight 2.5" squares from the dark prints.  Cut four 2.5" squares from the light.  Set these 12 squares aside and with the remaining strips make 24 half-square triangle blocks using Thangles as follows:

Mix and match your dark and light strips.  Place them right sides together, pin the Thangle paper pattern on top of the light print and stitch on the indicated stitching lines (click here for detailed step-by-step photos).  Each 2" Thangle strip will yield 6 half-square triangle blocks, 2.5" unfinished.  Cut the stitched Thangles papers apart, press the block open, then remove the paper.

TAKE:  two dark 2.5" squares,

      one light 2.5" square and 

six of the half-square triangle blocks...

and 

ARRANGE them to match the nine-patch pattern below. 

one quarter of my Long Island Iced Tea

Mix and match your scrappy fabrics in any order that tickles you.  Make four of these nine-patch quilt squares.  To piece the finished block, I angled three blocks in one direction and the fourth in a different orientation (see the first photo).

This pattern is called the Single T or the T-Quartet in the traditional quilt world.  Here are different sites with images and/or directions in making this block (here and here and here).  Note: none of these versions are as scrappy as mine!  Felice's directions can be found here.


I used Thangles again when piecing this block #9, the Pina Colada block.

block #9 -  Pina Colada

It took me a bit longer to find the intentional mistake in this block, but I did.  It is another easy block to make using Thangles,  although you do need to cut two 4.5" squares of the light-background-print fabric and one 4.5" square of the dark print before cutting the 2.5" strips of both dark and light prints needed for the Thangles (note: you can go scrappy if you wish).

Using the 2.5" strips of fabric, pin one light and one dark strip right sides together with the Thangle paper pattern on top of the light.  Stitch on the indicated stitching lines (click here for detailed step-by-step photos), cut apart, and press the block open before removing the paper.

Do you notice how the seam is automatically pressed to the dark fabric?  Mini-lesson:  Pressing the seams to one side (instead of pressing them open) adds strength to the seam and longevity to your quilt's life.  

Using the three 4.5" squares and 24 half-square triangle blocks, lay out your block, keeping the light 4.5" squares in opposite corners and the dark square in the center.  Remember to add your mistake (wherever it pleases you or use my photo as a guide).  Stitch together and press. 

The traditional version of this block is known as Cut Glass Dish and also as Winged Square.   Click here for another set of directions on how to make this block.  Cut Glass Dish is a free pattern offered by The Quilter's Cache, and is also sold on Craftsy and other sites.  Googling Winged Square reveals this site, Quilting Assistant (click here) with free directions.  Several images of this block used to make full-size quilts are easily found on the internet as well.  The internet is a wonderful tool to refer to when looking for guidance in how to make quilt blocks, and to see images of lovely quilts, and best of all - to share what you make or discover with others!

I hope you are enjoying this intentional oops series of quilt block patterns as much as I enjoy stitching the blocks together.

My lil owlie pillow

I spent the evening repairing this little pillow.

Lil Owlie - after the attack

As you can see,  my lil owlie has suffered a vicious mauling by our puppy when he (the puppy) was still new to the family (he's a little older and wiser now).  I've tucked the damaged pillow away for over a year or maybe closer to two years.  I loved it too much to toss it and yet hadn't decided how to repair it (especially the lower right corner - can you see that the corner is missing?).

I made this pillow using an owl from my toddler class bulletin board (in 2011-12, my co-teacher and I decorated our classroom with these owls).  I made two owl pillows, trading one in Another Little Quilt Swap (in the 7th swap) and keeping the other one (the one shown above) for my home. I especially love the background of this as my friend Liz B painted, over-dyed lightly, and enhanced it.  Click  here for more information on this pillow.


Meanwhile, on Instagram, The Cloth Pocket is hosting a WIP contest tonight.  I immediately grabbed this damaged owl and determined to fix it ....

Lil Owlie in need of new eyes and a beak

First step:  Carefully remove the damaged, half-eaten eyes and beak.
Next:  Stitch two black yo-yos, attach to white circles and stitch in place on the owlie's face.
Next:  Make the new beak and stitch it in place too.
Last of all:  Mend the dog-chewed-and-eaten corner ....

Lil Owlie ready to party again!

Ta-dah!
I've finished!

This marks my second finish in the 2016 Finish Along for the first quarter.  Do you like my creative patch to mend the lower right corner?  This little sleeping owl is appliqued in place and matches the fabric on the pillow back.  Click here for my original list of UFOs to finish for this quarter.

My lil owlie pillow is #345 of the official Q1 finishes for this first quarter.  Click here to see it and other amazing finishes.


Thank you to @TheClothPocket and also to the many hostesses of @FinishAlong  #2016FAL; #finishalong2016  #theclothpocketwipcontest #wipcontest

Oops, my progress report...

Ive been stitching away and posting photos on Instagram, but need to catch my blog readers up on where I am with my Drunkard's Wife QAL.

block #4 - Mint Julep

Here is block #4 Mint Julep of the quilt-along.  This is an "oops" of the classic Ohio Star.  My block looks to me as if it is standing up on its tippy toes.  The center pink daisies are from Patty's line "Emma's Garden" with Michael Miller fabrics.com.  Click here for the directions to make this block from the Generations Quilt Patterns website.  They have directions for several quilt blocks, so it's a great site to know about and have bookmarked.

block #6 - Mai Tai

This is the sixth block in the "Drunkard's Wife QAL", nicknamed Mai Tai.  It is a spoof or oops of the traditioal Mosaic or Connecticut block.  Or perhaps you know another name for the traditional version of this block (if so, please tell me too what it is).  I used 3" Thangles to make this block. Emma's Garden 'Happy Go Luck' Pink Daisies make a large part of this block.  This print brings back memories of my younger days, and the simple joys of plucking petals from a daisy "he loves me, he loves me not....".  Daisies also remind me of the sweet little saying "oopsie daisy" or is it "whoopsie daisy"?  (I think I have just named my quilt!).

block #10 -- Sake Bomb

The tenth block is called Sake Bomb.  This one is also a fun goof (or oops), and I am not positive what the name of the traditional version is called.  Could it be Rolling Stone or Wheel or Single Wedding Ring or is it possibly named something different.  I was pleasantly surprised at how simple it was to piece too.  Click here for Felice's directions.  Directions for all of the blocks of this funky quilt-along are on Felice's website, click here for the full set (Drunkard's Wife QAL label).  Felice has posts other tutorials and insights and great stuff as well as this fun quilt along.  Her website is Sew Scattered.  Stay tuned as I continue to stitch up more of my blocks for this quilt along.

Progress report on my Drunkard's Wife

I have three more blocks pieced and ready to share.  

The very first block, the Happy Hour Star, is an oops version based on the traditional pattern known as the Sawtooth Star.  It is currently lacking the embroidery in the center square at the moment, which will personalize the block and the entire quilt.  

block #1 -  Happy Hour Star

I love the two fabrics in this block.  One is a lovely background of a line-drawn floral from Emma's Garden by Patty Sloniger (with Michael Miller Fabrics).  The other is a hand-dyed pink by my friend Laurel Cull.  Click here for directions to make an 8" finished version the Sawtooth Star or click here for Felice's directions for the 12" Happy Hour Star block.  Or use your own method, like I did.  I used 3" Thangles to piece the eight half-square triangle blocks which make the star points.

block #5 -  Mimosa

Since I am racing to catch up, I am not stitching the blocks in the order that Felice released them.  I stitched this one, Mimosa, next as it has a similar format to the first block.  Both blocks are a basic a four-patch made with 6" square units.  The dark burgundy print is from the Emma's Garden line, the pink is a recent calico print while the light background fabric is a more ancient calico print that has been aging in my stash for many years, possibly since the last century.  You will see more of it in this quilt, as I am working hard to Sew My Stash during 2016.  Click here for Felice's directions to make this 12" block.  While I almost opted out of her method thinking to use my trusty Thangles again, I decided to try this new fabric-saving method to piece the Flying Geese units 'discovered' by Patti R. Anderson of Patch Pieces.  Click here for directions on this original "No Waste Method for Making Flying Geese".  I do enjoy trying out new techniques such as this one.

block #8 -  Amaretto Sour

This is Amaretto Sour, the eighth block in the series and another four-patch. It is one of my favorites.  It uses the same Emma's Garden light print as seen in the first block above and a remnant from Brother Sister Design Studio that I found in my bag of pink scraps.  Click here for Felice's directions, use your own method, or try using 3" Thangles (which is what I did).

Three more blocks are complete. 

Stay tuned for more ....

Whiskey Sour

This is the second block in the Drunkard's Wife Quilt-Along, but in actuality, it is the first block that I made in this series.

block #2 -  Whiskey Sour

This Whiskey Sour block is a Twisted Oops on the traditional Churn Dash block which is a variation of a traditional 9-patch quilt block.  The center butterfly is from Emma's Garden, then more of Laurel's hand-dyed pink fabric, with an oldie of mine featuring tiny hearts dangling from strings (but the stripes are sideways here -- so that the butterfly can fly up). Click here for Felice's directions.

I can hardly wait to share it with my traditional quilt bee .... what will they think of making a quilt which has an error, a deliberate mistake, in every single block?

I love this block both in the correct layout and also in this oopsie version.  The error is quite noticeable (even to the non-quilters among us), and yet it is pleasing as well (at least to me).  This block makes me smile.

Maple Leaf left-overs

Left over blocks -- and such cute ones too ....

What shall I do with these ... I Must Make Something, of course!

but what ... a table runner?  a totebag?  a quilt?  several coasters/mug rugs?  what do you suggest?

my July goal - ALYoF

Can you tell?  After a few months of stitching, I am nearing the end of my cross-stitch verse for Torah Stitch by Stitch!  It took months for my assigned kit to arrive at my doorstep and while I started on it immediately, I am surprised at how long it has taken to reach this point ...

For information about this international project led by Canadian fiber artist Temma Gentles refer to my earlier post here.  A quick description is that "Torah Stitch by Stitch" is an impressive art installation of the Torah depicted entirely in cross-stitch.  Participants from around the world are currently cross-stitching individual portions of the Torah to be a part of this exhibit.  The TSBS website states: "Torah Stitch By Stitch honours the Five Books of Moses (Pentateuch) through the timeless medium of cross-stitch, a basic textile tradition in many cultures.  Participants from numerous national, linguistic and spiritual backgrounds - regardless of gender or craft skill - are joining hands and hearts to stitch 1463 individual panels of the Torah in Hebrew, 4 verses at a time."  The project's website is   http://torahstitchbystitch.temmagentles.com/

My portion for this project is Genesis, Chapter 50, Verses 14-17: the story of Joseph's return to Egypt after having traveled to bury his father in the land of Canaan and also his brothers' reaction to their father's death.

If you are interested in learning more about this amazing undertaking click here or send an email to:  torahstitchbystitch@gmail.com.

I am pushing hard to finish my section of the Torah for TSBS and have decided to make it my project in this month's A Lovely Year of Finishes challenge.  Click here to see who else has set a goal in this month's challenge.  You can find me at linky #20.

I believe it is the perfect goal for this month of A Lovely Year of Finishes.  Stitching away .... see you again at the end of the month!

finishing another

I have missed posting on my blog this spring -- guess I was just too busy playing-err-working-&-teaching my Toddler class.  It was an awesome group of a dozen little ones with an amazing co-teacher!  Such a fun time spent every MWF with them this year .... and meanwhile, at home, I've still been stitching and sewing and creating.

So this is my official jump back into the blogging world. 

This quilt has been waiting for a binding to be stitched on to officially complete it for many years.  I do not understand why I struggle so with finishing projects (such as this one), but here it is -- the binding is being handstitched into place and I may stitch it once more by machine, just to add to the security of it staying stitched down, as I plan to gift this to a dear friend later this summer.  More on that in another post ....

Can you see the peekaboo of one furry critter who likes to be nearby when I am sewing?

I've missed the linky at the beginning of the month (as well as last month and perhaps the one before that ...) but this is for the final linky for May in "A Lovely Year of Finishes" even though I did not post my goal at the beginning of the month ... sigh.  However, it's never too late to finish something!

Join this monthly challenge group "A Lovely Year of Quilt Finishes" at any time.  In the first few days of the month, you post your goal for the month, then in the closing days of that same month, you post your successful completion.  It's that simple.  To keep it fun, there are prizes awarded randomly - woo-hoo!  I am linky #14 on the completion posts (almost got the prime number #13... but missed by seconds....sigh).

an idea begins ...

Sharing the beginnings of a new series ....

First, the germ of an idea is flushed out with the help of construction paper.

I am using the hamsa as the focal shape of this new series of quilts, small quilts (quiltlets) that will be given to three pairs of friends who have recently been married.  They are all faculty of the religious school where I teach Kindergarten.  Our theme this year is "Peace, Love and Music", hence the three shapes in yellow.  Question:  which way do the fingers of the hamsa point?  or does it matter?

          This is what I learned when looking for this answer:
The hamsa, meaning five fingers (or digits) of the hand, symbolizes luck and prosperity. The hamsa is sometimes referred to as the Hand of God and is also known as Hand of Fatima, or the Hand of Miriam.  One source stated that the hamsa hand conveys a message to the devil, so upwardly hamsa is good against the 'evil eye' and a downward hamsa is an auspicious sign of prosperity and success. However the hamsa is displayed in either direction.... I may have to look into this further.  

For my project, I have decided to place the fingers downward.  Next step is to select the backgrounds and the hamsa fabrics for three different quiltlets.

 

 

After appliqueing the hamsas onto each background, my next step was to use reverse applique to attach the Peace sign, the heart and the musical notes.

Stay tuned for further developments ....

Heart to Hand

 These are some lovely woolies that I purchased at Quilt Festival in 2013 or possibly even 2012.

So my question for you is ... does it count as a "Work-In-Progress" (a w.i.p.) if all I've done is collected the wool pieces?

Here is a photo of their booth that year.  Perhaps you recognize some of their patterns?

So, as I pause to reflect on goals for the new year, resolutions that I might make ... I came across these photos waiting to be posted ... waiting for me to add something before I finished the post.  Then today I realized that I will make this one of my goals for this year!  To make something out of my wonderful wools! 


wool, patterns, etc ...

Click:     heart to hand website  to visit their website and order your own wonderful wool pieces to play with, maybe even add a pattern and yarn too ....  Join me on my wooly adventure ....