celebrate handmade

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

January projects





















The block below is the first in an applique BOM series. I know: my applique skills leave a lot to be desired, but hey! this is my first attempt. I expect to get better as I get more practice. The top blocks are from a workshop I did with Sandy Bonsib (maybe?) several years ago. The little rail fence is the January project from Jo's Little Women. Love it! It's now ready for binding. Next is a Buggy Barn pattern, "Flag Day", all ready for quilting. Then the little paper pieced stars mini. That's it so far, with the exception of the 7 whole cloth mini's I finished hand quilting & binding, & the 2 little table mats I quilted & bound, & the retreat friendship one that needs binding. Yep, I think that's it for now. Whew! Good start to the new year.
















Sunday, January 27, 2008

Rainy Days & Sundays

Ah, SoCal winter! It's such a treat to wear winter clothes, but when the daytime low is only about 55, I do feel kind of wimpy. Last night it poured rain -- a great lullaby at bedtime, although Wylie (old dog) does hate rain & is frightened of the sound on the skylight. He had to sleep on Gracie's bed last night, so she was on the floor. That's OK. She only sleeps on her bed for an hour or so, then moves to the floor anyway.

It rained enough so that our week's total precip is now more than all of last year's! woo hoo! We're going to have a real spring this year. So nice, since the last 2 springs have been pretty sad. The sun is shining right now, but it's windy & there are big dark clouds blowing in from the SE: more rain on the way. The house feels so cozy when it's raining. No complaints from here.

So, I'll crank up the floor heater & finish a 4-Patch chenille quilt I started about 2 years ago. I'm adding chenille-by-the-inch to the seams of the 4-patches, which is pretty tedious. then I'll be able to put the rows together & get the top finished. I don't know whether I should wash it before or wait until after the quilting is done. I'll have to ask around. Throwing the "F" word around (Finished, that is!) is pretty darn satisfying, I must say.

Happy day.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Applique BOM

Here's the photo of the whole year's BOM. It finishes at 18"x23"! Pretty small, eh? So far, so good. Keep your fingers crossed that I don't get freaked out during the year & quit. That would be too bad, since I really like the way it looks & the technique isn't intimidating at all. . . . . so far!

No more "A" word!

It's true! I seem to have overcome the cursed "A" word, having taken an introductory applique class yesterday & survived it!! Woo hoo! It's a block of the month, with 6.5" applique blocks designed by Lori Smith & taught by Sheryl Johnson at Temecula Quilt Co. I did most of the work in class: tracing the design on freezer paper, making it thicker with another layer of freezer paper. Cutting out the motifs & pressing them onto the wrong side of the fabric, then cutting them out with a scant 1/4" seam allowance. Next was using spray starch brushed onto the seam allowances & folding them over the freezer paper, then drying the starch with the mini iron. Voila! "Needle-turned" motifs before any needle shows up. I finished all the starching-and-pressing after I got home, glue-basted the motifs to the background & after letting it dry overnight, I'm ready to do the actual stitching. I'll post a picture when that part is done. I'm so encouraged!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Here's the link

Forgot to add the darned link. I'll get used to this stuff, & then you'll quickly tire of me, I'm sure. Watch out!

Important Link!

Please visit the Alzheimers Art Quilt Initiative website. This is a grass-roots effort to increase awareness and fund research into this terrible blight. There's a monthly auction of little quilts donated by people to help in the effort, and there's also a link to a webstore where you can buy AAQI clothing. Quilter Ami (that's "aaah-me") Simms is the driving force behind this effort -- if you don't know who she is, go to AmiSimms.com to meet her. You'll love her, as I do. I've won 3 little quilt gems in previous auctions, and bid on many, many more. Go ahead -- take a look. You will be caught up in the wonder and maybe you'll want to donate one (or more!) little quilts yourself.