WIP #8

I participated in my first mini swap this week. Making something for a stranger that I have never met or know only thru his comments and photos on flickr.com. It was the placemat quilt swap sponsored by Krommama. It was fun to see what everybody made. That link takes you to the Flickr pool. I have been toying with this idea for a while, setting things off in rows that are also offset. It was nice to focus it on a small project to see how it worked. I used my super soft Organic Cotton, it is a bit drapey and so I haven't used it on big quilts.
I also experimented with using a fill I call "ball of yarn" as an all over. I don't know how I feel about it. But I think it's going to wash up real good.
Notice the edge treatment? Binding and a mini border? I like it. I think Iam going to do this on a larger project soon. nice little splash of blue around the edge.

This the orientation of the quilt as it's meant to sit on the table. Longways. I made it a bit wider as my husband likes to put up his arms and elbows when he sits at our island. He has had me make him several wide placemats. I am hoping it looks manly and fresh. Does it say "Man"?

In other news I am over my cold/flu but am still feeling tired. My husband and I both had it for 2 weeks and are slow to recover. Starting to feel like a shut-in, in our self imposed exile. Things are starting to get back to normal finally.
Our neighborhood (development) has a July Fourth Party every year. All the neighbors BBQ and play games. We have a bounce house for the kids, when it gets close to dark we all light off fireworks. One of my neighbors is related to Valorie Wells in an in-law sort of way which is how this relates to quilting. Since we don't eat pork, high fructose corn syrup, ground meat in any form or franken foods, we won't be attending the potluck portion. Partly, so my mother won't feel the need to lecture everyone on their food choices and partly because frankly I don't like the heat. Plant a tree people! We will put in an appearance before it gets too dark to say "how dee do"and "my, look how the kids have grown" and then watch the fireworks.
My husband is getting a new Natural Gas Grill, so he is preparing for a meat filled weekend of grilled goodness. He is eating at home.

I hope your holiday is grand! Have a good one.


Here is a little detail of the quilting and the binding.


Quilters' Rock!

WIP WEDNESDAY #7

well, I am sick as a dog with a cold and flu. Am I sick as a a pig? I hope not.

We are watching the Iran situation very close. We love politics and world news in our house.
I found this tid bit online:

The man who leaked the real election results from the Interior Ministry - the ones showing Ahmadinejad coming third - was killed in a suspicious car accident, according to unconfirmed reports, writes Saeed Kamali Dehghan in Tehran.

Mohammad Asgari, who was responsible for the security of the IT network in Iran's interior ministry, was killed yesterday in Tehran.

Asgari had reportedly leaked results that showed the elections were rigged by government use of new software to alter the votes from the provinces.

Asgari was said to have leaked information that showed Mousavi had won almost 19 million votes, and should therefore be president.

If you want to see what I am up to check my flickr ... im lazy and sick .

W(not)IP Wednesday #7

Sucked in by the flickr Pool Designer Fabric Stash Swappy Poo I have yet to resurface and get anything done. Seriously, too much dang fun.
This is the board where I put my daily 9 patches... empty.

When I am just goofing off I "work" on these circles ... Ha .. .I am loathe to cut the fabric so I do a lot of petting and ironing and anything but cutting so sewing is so slow... then I put it away till I am between projects again.

What am I supposed to be working on? When I am not driving to the post office to drop off swaps.... I'm quilting. Trying to quilt? Avoiding quilting... what ever...

Tomorrow I go to the Mandatory Hotel to volunteer. Hopefully I will get on task here pretty soon.

Quilters Rock!

WIP WEDNESDAY #5 - the highlights

I joined crazy moms daily 9 patch but I am about a week behind. I think I will be adding my blocks on WIP Wednesday to her pool and my blog. Ta Da...
I am using scraps out of my scrap drawer. After I cut out my 5/4 squares I put them in another drawer ready to go. That way I can just pick a combination, sew it up and be done for the day.
Every few days I can cut some more sets of either 5 or 4 pieces. I hope it will help me stay more on track.

Here is a little ball I am making. Right now it's 2 inches I started with just a wee bit of fabric rolled up. What happens is this; I am always cutting a thin little strip to square up my yardage when I make a cut. Now I am saving them and wrapping them into a ball. When I worked in a cube I had a 4 inch ball of rubber bands. I think I might mod podge them to seal them. I think they might be great home dec items, Christmas ornaments or something. I have plenty of time to decide if I will do anything at all.

My paid project that I am testing and making is going well. I have all my blocks made and am putting the rows together.

My flame project, stills need binding and is due tomorrow, so I have to stop working and finish it. I am machine binding it so it should take maybe 2 hours. Maybe. If I goof off.

WIP Wednesday with Words

Yeah finally!
I need to get on the quilt for Project Improv. I have been thinking about it all week.
I decided to quilt the squares and not the sashing. Jacquie told me she liked the "swirly quilting" in my spare change quilt.

I didn't think that was the way I wanted to go. The sashing and border are dark brown and I would have to switch threads and then it could show on the light back, so I needed to be careful.
I decided to not quilt the border and sashing , just the light blocks, using the swirly pattern Jacquie likes.
I finally got it on the quilter.

I'm on my last row of blocks. I have made my binding. I'm almost done!
On a lighter note:
Today is Tax Day in America. Some folks who are upset with how things are going and who won the election are out today publicly teabagging. It's too dang funny for words. When I see photos of some guy holding a sign that says "tea bag obama" - I start the giggling!
The other thing I LOVE about the photos of these protests; It's like a "Where's Waldo". The folks ALL white! I like to try and find the "person of color". It's fun.
So here is me "teabagging" on Tax Day.
If you don't know why I think this is funny, or why your kids and grandkids love to use "tea bag" as a verb.... see this link and stop writing anti-semtic comments that I have to delete and even you are so ashamed of , you can't sign your name. Happy Teabagging!


Quilters Rock!

WIP WEDNESDAY #1

I just joined WIP Wednesday to give me structure and maybe I will get 2 posts a week more often.
Big Picture I am working on growing my business. To that end I have started taking more quilting jobs, and trying to make every minute count.
I have some jobs in the works- there is a QUE on the sidebar - and this is my first internet job.
My friend Kim gave me a job to do but she had it delivered via another girlfriend that lives close. I sent pictures of backing and thread choices, cost estimates, etc., and she made every choice over the email. I'm pretty excited. It worked out really well.

I decided I would practice her quilting choice on a top I recently finished for Etsy.

I thought it looked unfinished and needed a border. ...
So I added a border, pressed it, and spent a wee bit of time marveling at my points & the pressing of said points.
Nicely spiraled centers make me very happy.

I believe quilting should be fun and I usually take seam rippers away from people.
When I worked at a big Corp. they used to say " do the right things right". (Yes, I can still remember, the brainwashing was complete. ) Meaning that you'll spend less time and effort if you do it right both in "execution" and "skills" the first time. Without fussing over trying to fix it later.
I try to cut it right, sew it straight, press it nice, etc...because it goes together better at the block stage. But if it isn't "perfect" I keep moving, my seams are close, my points are good(not great) I did the right things right, I'm not ashamed. So... It's a minor miracle that the points came out so good on this block, and a wee bit thrilling.

Here's the quilting my friend picked...... freehand feathers ...



See? I think with the borders it is "contained" and gives it some structure.
the back is black and white polka dots so I may bind in red or blue..
I want a strong color.

That's what going on in the studio.