Doing and Undoing

Where is time going?! It seems that just a few days ago these fellas were here. They returned home last Sunday.

As you can see, we visited Legoland. The Florida Legoland is the largest of all the Legoland parks. 

The little boys had talked about it for months (every time I visit them, I take them to the Kansas City Legoland). In spite of our long car ride to Winter Haven, and a five year-old's and 62 year-old's meltdowns, we had a good time. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. 

Tay's favorite thing was watching the "fire department," a performance put on by a crew of six young, acrobatic adults. The antics and comedy were slap-stick - perfect for a five year-old boy.

Aesa watched that show attentively, but told me his favorite activity was riding the big Coastersaurous. He barely made it past the height requirement.

While at our house, Aesa also turned out to be a boccé ball enthusiast, an outdoor activity we enjoyed several times.

After the boys left, and it was a tearful parting, I took my heavy-heart to my sewing room. I began by addressing a problem with my Kaffe Fassett quilt. A few months ago, I pin-basted this 61" X 61" quilt, and had started quilting one of the blocks - the pink block in the lower left corner. (No picture of it quilted.)

With a blue wash-out marker, I had marked a few registration marks that I later spritzed with water, to remove the marks. See what happened? The pink petals fabric bled to the quilt back! I sure don't know what I've done to deserve so much heart-ache with recent marks and bleeding on my quilts!

So my "undoing" was to remove all the quilting I'd put in, and un-pinbaste the whole thing. 

Next I'll be washing the quilt top - it's apparent that the fabric in these blocks (won in a giveaway) were not pre-washed, something I always do. Then, I'll give sandwiching another go, including using a new backing fabric. (sigh)

Other Odds and Ends

I finished my bias tape challenge quilt, including making a label.

This quilt, and "Ad Libbing," have both been officially entered into QuiltCon (February, 2015). The quilt show entry deadline is November 30. Whether these will be accepted into the show or not remains to be seen. In any case, full reveals of both quilts are yet to come.

I've begun making a pin cushion for the December 8 swap at our CentralFloridaMQG meeting.

I also made another Christmas stocking, like these made these in late 2012 when our son and his family still lived in Florida. This past January they became a family of four.

Thank goodness I wrote a blog post about making them, as I needed to reference it to make a stocking like the others! Unfortunately, the free download of the stocking template is no longer available, but I was pleased to find my print-out in my big notebook of Miscellaneous saved freebies. Whew.

What I didn't note is the font I'd used to create the names, so I had to go through about 12,000 of them on my MacBook Pro to find the one that matched. It's Tekton Pro font. LJ's stocking fits nicely into the family.

After a thorough Pinterest search of English paper piecing projects, I've selected a couple designs for away-from-home sewing in the months ahead. I always print and cut my own papers, so prep time is a little more involved. But, I'd like to think I'm being frugal, a German trait that comes naturally to me. I'm using my Sew Together bag for carrying and storing everything. 

Have you seen the EPP Millefiore Quilt Along that's coming up in January? The along is based on Katja Marek's new book The New Hexagon. If you love EPP as I do, you'll want to follow her on Instagram to learn more. Linda

Busy Hands, Happy Heart

I've sorta been getting back into a sewing groove, and it feels great. Progress was definitely made this past week, along with a few finishes.

Prioritizing my to-dos, I accomplished the following:

1. hemmed two pairs of slacks for my dear DIL
2. shortened a t-shirt for a neighbor-friend, and unexpectedly received payment... a bottle of wine!
3. knitted two, much-needed kitchen dishcloths
4. made a valance for my Kansas City grandsons' bedroom window
5. trimmed and sewed 21 blocks together to make the center of Snowmen A to Zzz quilt
6. finished making three Christmas stockings for my son, DIL and grandson
7. and finished the wall hanging "Beach Cabanas Among Friends."

It took longer than I expected to trim down the Snowmen A to Zzz blocks. I had quite a pile of scraps when I was finished.

But the blocks sewed together perfectly. Now each seam is supposed to be topped with a hand-embroidered fly stitch made with red floss. I'm going to attempt stitching the seams with a decorative machine stitch using aqua-colored thread since I'm bordering the embroidered blocks with an aqua snowflake print. I'm going with a wintry look, versus a Christmas look.

The stockings were hung... and photographed on a holly bush in front of our house. A holly bush! With real, red berries! This is probably as Christmas-y as it gets in Florida.

Each stocking, front and back, was pieced and machine-quilted before sewing.

My "Beach Cabanas Among Friends" is a very happy finish, and it's already hanging in my sewing room. But before doing that, it just had to be photographed near water. Since the beach wasn't a handy option, I headed to one of the pools at a neighborhood rec center. When I took the morning pictures it was about 55 (12.7C) degrees, so I had the whole pool area to myself.

It's pretty heavily quilted because I tried to get the effect of ripples in the sand.

As I briefly explained on the label, the quilt is made with fabrics given to me in April by Iowa friends. Thank you Buds!

Ya know, I'm having a tough time getting into the Christmas spirit. When flowers are still blooming like this - at all the major intersections, in medians, and at entrances to villages throughout The Villages - I can't wrap my mind around the fact that it's getting colder up north, snow could fall at any time, and it's December!

I wonder just how long it will take me to get used to living here. Apparently five months isn't long enough.

A special hello to new friends from my Bible study group who might be visiting my blog. Thanks for stopping by! Linda

Stockings at Thanksgiving

Like the rest of you - at least most Americans - I'm scurrying around, preparing for Thanksgiving company. Though it's my hubby who's doing all the cooking (except for the pies I make), my job is to make the house look it's best. My dad who's from Kansas City, has been on Florida's Gulf coast for the past month and is coming to visit us for six days before heading back to Kansas City. He hasn't yet been to our new house. Our Tampa family is coming for a couple nights too, so we'll have a nice family contingent.

Anticipating a "tear-down" of my sewing room so it can be a temporary second guest room, I've been madly sewing. Last January my son asked if I'd sew Christmas stockings for the three of them. Of course, I've put it off. But when a son asks for something homemade by mom (how seldom that happens!) I'm determined to give him my best.

The stocking pattern I'm using is a big one - 18" long X 11-1/2" from toe to heel. You can download it from PrudentBaby, here. I'm adding a cuff.

I picked three different blocks from my go-to block book "Around the Block With Judy Martin." On the left is Double Pinwheel which is Mom's stocking. Flying Birds is for Austin. These two stockings need to be quilted, have a cuff added to the top, and be sewn together.

But the lettering is ready! Dad's Strength in Union block stocking was the test piece.

A short Skype session gave me the chance to show them this stocking and get their approval.

For those who might be wondering, last Thursday's Modern Quilt Guild meeting went very well! How great to have 14 enthusiastic quilters for our first meeting! Several quilters couldn't make it because they were out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday, but we already have 15 quilters registered for the Madrona Road challenge being offered by Michael Miller fabrics. Read and see more about our meeting on our CentralFloridaMQG blog.

Happy Thanksgiving to my American compatriots. We have many reasons to be thankful. Linda

Friday Flaunt - Apron and Stockings

From the title of my post, you might think I'm making clothes for myself! Perhaps I am making clothes if you call a handyman apron clothing. I do expect the apron to prove so useful it will be something I regularly wear. I came across the "Retro Handyman's Apron" pattern on the Olfa website.

Being a bit barmy for palm trees, this print, purchased last year at Rainbow's End quilt shop in Dunedin, Florida, proved perfect for the apron pockets. The blue tone-on-tone fabric is another favorite: "Satinesque" by Patrick Lose. I'm pretty sure I thoroughly own it... in eight colorways! Rick-rack adds a nice touch. As I often do, you'll note I made the striped binding on the diagonal.

I sewed several sizes of pockets on the front, customizing them to suit the tools I want handy: rotary cutters, snips, tape measurer, 1" X 6" ruler, wash-out marker, and Chaco-liner. I'll probably poke a pencil in too.
If you make this pattern my suggestion would be to cut the pocket as a single piece, then fold it wrong sides together. The instructions have you cut two fabric pieces and in the next step sew them back together again making a top seam onto which you top-stitch rick-rack. (Huh?)

As for the stockings part of my post, it's another of the "Season of Grace" BOM by author Emilie Richards and quilter Pat Sloan. September's stocking is "redwork." Stitched words could be anything we choose, so my BOM-swap partner Mary and I agreed on "Peace on earth" (her words), and "Goodwill to all". Instead of redwork, our work is DMC #3799.

I've learned that when you're embroidering small words, the stem stitch doesn't work so well. Yes, I completely stem-stitched "Goodwill" and then unstitched it. Small words such as these are more legible in backstitch. There's always something new to learn, isn't there?

A post script for those of you who may be curious about my "Friday Flaunt." Friday Flaunt is the brainchild of Cinzia White, an Aussie who belongs to the Yahoo chat group, "Quilting Down Under," as I do. Cinzia suggested that QDU bloggers post a weekly flaunt of their quilting projects. Knowing that every Friday other quilters will be looking for one's weekly quilt-y productivity is great motivation!

Find links to all 19 Friday Flaunters here.

Friday Flaunt - Stockings (again!) & Snowflake Medallion

It's the weekly Friday Flaunt! Check Cinzia's blog for a complete list of "Frenzied Flaunters." Don't miss the great stuff everyone is doing. I can honestly say that participation keeps this quilter motivated!

The August "Season of Grace" BOM stockings designed by Pat Sloan are made. Mary and I are each making two identical stockings, then swapping one. These are three-dimensional so when the quilt is hanging, treats and treasures can be put inside the 25 stockings.

I'm as tickled as can be to share my progress on this "Snowflake Medallion" quilt designed by Emma at Ballarat Patchwork. My SnoMed is 50" X 50" now. I love the colors! All the fabrics came from quilt shops here in West Des Moines and Clive.

There are 28 teal colored Sawtooth Star blocks.

Then, there are not one, but two rounds of striped borders.

I'm glad I spent the time needed to figure out and sew the mitered corners.

But I confess: there was more than one border unsewn and resewn!

The next medallion rounds are green Flying Geese and applique blocks. Time to applique again.

Friday Flaunt - Stockings & Bub's Quilt Top

These Christmas stockings with yo-yos are the July BOM in the "Season of Grace" project being co-coordinated by author Emilie Richards and quilter Pat Sloan. One of my stockings is to swap with my BOM buddy, Mary.

Pat didn't post the August BOM until yesterday, so I guess that means she's just as busy a quilter as the rest of us!And, I'm working on another baby quilt. I've never needed to make baby quilts for anyone in the family and now we have a family that's blossoming!

This baby quilt is for our grandson - our first birth grandchild. Bub is due in October, to mum and dad who live in New South Wales, Australia. This American Nana is has been suffering from missing out on pregnancy. Thank goodness for Skype and webcams, and digital photos.

I'll meet Bub (his real name is a secret until he's born) for the first time when he's three weeks old.

Mum (our DD) and dad have been particular about colors not to include in Bub's quilt. So, feeling color-constrained, I opted for blues and browns. The fun came when choosing Aussie animals to machine-applique to make this 45" X 50" top.

Naturally, no Aussie animal quilt is complete without koalas.

The critter designs came from several sources: the Internet, an issue of Australia Patchwork and Quilting, and Down Under Di who drew this cutie herself and emailed it to me.

Thank you, Di!

I'll be sandwiching soon, using my favorite Cream Rose batting, by Mountain Mist. Then, some quilting that may include eucalyptus leaves, and Aussie animals' silhouettes.

Visit Cinzia's blog for a complete list of bloggers participating in "Friday Flaunt."

Season of Grace Stockings

I've been playing catch-up on the Season of Grace, BOM (block-of-the-month) being offered by author Emilie Richards and quilter Pat Sloan. The BOM began in February, and has two options.

My friend, blogless Mary, and I are each making the Advent stocking quilt that will finish into a 25-block wall quilt. Our stockings are about 5" X 7", faced with muslin, and blanket-stitched to a background fabric (have yet to do that part). They'll be dimensional so treats and little gifts can be stuffed inside.

Mary and I are each making two identical - or very similar - stockings for every month, then swapping one. Though we agreed on a background fabric, and basic colors, I'm sure we'll end up with 25 very different stockings.

Here are February (Nine-Patch) and March (Crazy Quilt) stockings.

And these are April (applique...ha, we agreed to embroider instead)

and May (Candy Cane Stripe) stockings.

A Season of Grace Christmas stocking BOM

Happily, merrily, joyfully...I spent an entire weekend on a quilting retreat with eight best friends. How blessed we are when we have very special women in our lives! These friends not only enjoy quilting as much as I do, but we can and do share our faith with one another. What a precious gift from God!

With plenty of time for sewing, I made my two identical "A Season of Grace" Christmas stockings from the Emilie Richards/Pat Sloan February block-of-the-month.

My friend, Mary and I have agreed how to make them. Stockings will be:

1. sewn with similar fabrics.

2. sewn onto a background fabric we have both purchased.

3. fully lined with muslin.

4. appliqued with a machine blanket stitch.

5. open at the top so messages and trinkets can be put inside.

Mary will get one of my stockings; I'll get one of hers. This is sure a fun way to share quilting with a wonderful friend!

Like I Need Another Project!

One of my favorite authors, Emilie Richards, has teamed up with quilt designer Pat Sloan to create a free, on-line block-of-the-month (BOM) called "A Season of Grace." The quilt is based on book five, "Sister's Choice," in the Shenandoah Album series. The BOM begins in February 2009, and at the end of 12 months, you'll have enough small Christmas stocking blocks for your choice of an "Advent Quilt" or a "12 Days Quilt."

My quilting buddy, Mary and I have agreed to make the Advent Quilt. It takes 25 stockings, so each month we'll make two identical stockings and then swap one stocking.

Of course our decision to launch into this project required much critical discussion about fabric choices, with requisite visits to more than one quilt shop. You can see we're both engaged and committed to the task at hand!

Mary and I will use the same background fabric and base our stocking fabric choices on colors in one multi-colored focus print. That's so we (mostly me) can use up accumulated Christmas prints. By making a sample stocking (at left), we both had a clearer picture of the block size, and the scale of prints that could be used.

We're both excited to share and work on this project. I'll keep you posted about how we progress.