More done and more to go

I need 64 more 6 inch squares of strings to make a queen sized top. This is finally coming together.

Over the weekend through the 4th I will be making strings to finish this one up. I still have smaller strings to make for the Disney character quilts for the three girls. I have about half of the string blocks made for the three.

So this is going to mean cutting more fabric up.

In my travels through the piles in my sewing room I should have another string quilt in the works using brown sashing. Will have to locate that so I can make more string. OMGosh...
Chris

Color everywhere

Strings are coming together here. I am finally getting to the assembly part. Trimming as I go so the bias edges are not distored and stitched right away.

I think this will be a Quilt as you go project. It is going to be a huge quilt when finished so wrestling it in the sewing machine would be hard on the shoulders. 

Gloomy and storms on the way. So back to my bright colors. Chris

Revisiting an oldie

In my sorting I found this long term oldie. I found the cranberry and brown prints I used for the connecting pieces. Then on the run to find the tan for the rest of it. I located all of it. 

I ordered some fabric for the outside border. I ordered it from www.quiltingtwins.com They sell fabric and also have free in detail patterns. You should really check them out. They have fabric at reduced prices and $5 shipping on anything. Look in the tabs at the top of the page and do your shopping. The patterns are free for download in PDF form. Most fabric is $3.99 a yard. 

Well I had a saved file on my old computer that crashed with the EPP pieces I used for this POTC quilt top. So I went on a mission this morning and the page I use to go to for shapes is no longe there. So I had to draft my own pieces from the existing pieces I have. I then save a hard copy so I have them when I need more. Lesson learned save hard copies. I do have jump drives with files on them, but which one. LOL

I laid the top as it is on the top of a queen size bed to see what the size is and how much farther I want to take this. I think two more rows and then borders. I don't think this will be a bed sized quilt. 

Suppose to be in the 70's today such a nice change from all the 90 degree weather of last week. Enjoy your day. Chris 

Cutting and stitching

I needed more variety so the cutting was started again. I am short on greens and oranges in my stash so need to address that for the future. This container is 1.5 inch strips which I am using for the string blocks I am making. So they get used fast. 

 This is a gallon bucket and it is overflowing. This is one of many that are cut of 2.5 inch strips. I have two different things going for these. I need a better storage plan. If I am going to cut fabric for addition projects at the same time for the one I am working on I need more storage.

Here is a pile of string blocks all trimmed up. I need to pull papers off. A few here and there add up after about an hour of sewing. Going to get to the store today to see if I can purchase a better method of storage. Chris

Made some strings today

I did a little sewing here and there and made about 15 string blocks today. Some day it will get done. LOL

I have this game I play with myself that I want to stay working at something even if I get bored with it. I would love to start something new, but trying to convince myself to stay current with what I am doing.

I have determined I need some more storage for my strips and squares. I think tomorrow I will be going out to see if I can find what I think I need.

I have been cutting some each day and then sewing up most of it after I get some variety. Strings take quite a few strips to make each one. I think I need something like laundry baskets so when I cut I can get lots stored up.

Someone I read their blog uses clear trash bags. I think it gets so tangled and it would fray the edges. Maybe I just don't get things sewn up quick enough..

I have been reading a couple sewing blogs and the sense is that more people are sewing their own garments again. It had been a craft sewing decade and garments were not even thought of.

I really think I will make some tops for myself, but I haven't found the right fabric. I really would like something with polyester in it for the ease of not having to press everything.

I looked local and I am frustrated. We use to have 6 fabric stores in a 12 mile square area around where I am from. Wal-mart and Joann's is all there is now.

Times will change and things will be more online and no touching fabric.

Off to do more sorting. Chris  

Not a good day

I got up early and decided to work on strings again. I have cut several more pieces of late so it was piling up and I needed more squares made from strings. Two different sized and one going the straight way instead of on the diagonal. 

Well back to the bad day.....
I went to pay a bill. In a small parking lot and I looked both ways and over each shoulder and in my blind spot a car snuck behind me and I backed into it. My car had some scrapes on the bumper. His had both doors hit so it will cost my insurance company  a couple thousand dollars to fix his car. 

No tickets no one hurt. Cars can be repaired. Just frustrated. 

I think I am going to my sewing room and not come out until it is time to start supper. Chris

Back to strings

Making more of these strings to go with the Disney character fabric. I needed to cut more strings to make the variety that I needed. I also need to get some blues and more greens cut.

This is sort of a fun quilt top to make, but I have to make three of them. If one has it the other two will have to have it. At this point I need to see how many more actual center squares with the characters in them I can cut out of this piece of fabric. It was a cut off piece I received in a rummage sale find. So I only have so many. I could stitch this on together, but if I don't have enough I can change gears to make it enough. I already have a plan for it.

The plan is a machine applique of a silhouette of Mickeys head in black in a square the same size as the printed squares.

Hot and humid here. Storms on the way this evening. Hopefully it will cool off some. Chris

Simple

I used 9-patches I had made on hand. I bordered them with strips. 

After I had posted a picture from Pinterest I was informed that it was someone elses idea that they were using for a new book. But it didn't list this patternas being someones from Pinterest. No directions were given.

I have been told it is in an up and coming book by Kim Diehl. Sorry if I stepped on toes. I made the size I had on hand. 

So beware of using pictures that are not marked as to who took them or designed them from Pinterest. A framed 9-patch is age old and the idea was what I looked at. Chris

Another quilting job done

All of the decorative stitching is done on these blocks. I need to trim it up check for threads and then do the binding. I stuck with it today so I can move forward. I think off and on sewing it took about 10 days to work on this. But sometimes it was only 45 minutes at a time. 

Here is a closer look at it. These are crumb/crazy blocks I made out of odd shaped pieces leftover from cutting strips and squares. This one had 30 blocks in it. 

I think in my movement through the sewing room I found another 8 which is a start on another one. Using it up feels good instead of just throwing it away. 

You would be proud of me I haven't stitched on anything else. That is a first. Now I need to clean up a little and decide on a back for the next one in line to be finished.There are many sitting there. 

I have one that just needs borders cut and stitched on. Someday they will be done hopefully. Chris

Dreams didn't come true

Sitting here and trying to get motivated. I have been to the store to get done before the 90 degree heat starts in.

As a young adult and some years beyond I had a dream of being a fabric store owner. The reality hit that my cards were not stacked right. The jobs i had worked with fabric, but never enough money to support a business.

I tried to find a means and just wasn't to be. So when given lemons make lemonade???

Well the dream is hard to let go of, but I know it will never happen. It wasn't like I was handed a blank check and It could happen.

I now wish I had not been so heart set on that being my only goal in life. I am a wife and grandma.

If you have goals make them with reality in mind. My reality today is to get some sewing done and hopefully a finish on a quilt. Have a Great Day. Chris

Getting closer to a finish

I have a good attitude over this one I thnk. Well I have to convince myself of it. I have 7 blocks to finish with the deco stitches then I can bind it. Hopefully I can get the stitching done today. I really want a change of pace.  

It is interesting trying to get all the seams covered with different stitches. I have a different brand of machine so thought I would get it out to get more variety. I ave 8 more of these blocks stitched, but not squared up. So I can push to make some more of these fun quilts. 

The Toddlers in the family like them to cover up with. Stay cool this weekend. Chris 

Brown of Black sashing

This is another project started many years ago and not finished because I didn't have sashing and backing. These are mini squares made into 9-patches. I think they were 1.25 inch squares. Then framed . I have 25 of these made up. 

Side by side or sashed. Then black or brown sashing???

Don't remember what I thought I was going to do with them. It would make a good sized couch quilt with the number of blocks I have completed. I kinda like the added effect of the larger star when stitched side by side. Have to think this through a little. My husband likes sashed blocks. Me not so much. 

To me this looks more like a period quilt my Grandmother would have made. /more traditional in appearance. 

Need to water flower beds today. Haven't had much rain as of the last week. Some of the perennials were wilted yesterday. Chris

Still finding things that need finishing

I can see I don't know the date to put on the camera right. I just took this. I started the machine stitching on the crumb/crazy top. I use the deco stitches in my machine for the quilting process. I sandwich the top like any other quilt and wind a ton of bobbins and change stitches for each piece I stitch. It is a slow process, but attractive when complete without all the handwork of the old fashion method of hand stitching. 

While digging I Came across this hand sewn piece. I am not sure I have enough fabric to finish it to bed size. I need to maybe stop and finish it off the size it is now. This is Lucy Boston's Points Of The Cross pattern. I made this to this size when Jeff was real sick a few Winters ago.

Here you can see the block a little closer. I have a ton more to pull out and finish. These are ones that are closer to being complete. 

Have a great day. Chris

Clearing out to make more room.

Found this UFO. Just have to finish the borders and it will be a queen sized top. Lucy Boston Points of the Cross. All hand stitched and appliqued. It is EPP work.

1madr the flower and set it on unbleached muslin and a solid green used in the 40's.

The border is of the elongated hexie downsized. I used them in a spray and got stuck as to what to do with the rest of the border. I have three mre to do. 

I used the hexies for the petals and also the leaves on this. All hand stitched and appliqued. Need to find the energy to finish it. 

Warm out to day and high humidity. Cool in the morning and A/C in the afternoon and evening. Chris  

More of being unorganized

You would think I would learn a lesson one of these days. Well I haven't. Must be a not nautural to me thing.

I am organized in most everything else.
Going to chain myself to the sewing room door and try to find some table tops today.

Hope you have a great day. Chris