I did a fair amount of that this weekend. You know, doing the busy work of a home…some laundry, some dishes, a bit of cooking and so on.
The laundry and dishes are the same for us all. And pretty much so is the cooking, but over the weekend I did some batch cooking so that I’d have a few things for later in the week. There was a huge stockpot of vegetable beef soup that bubbled away for an afternoon. And some Keto snacks for us to have on hand when the urge to nibble makes its appearance. A favorite for the man of the house is Key Lime Cheesecake Tarts, and for me it was Lemon Poppy Seed Scones. Other menu items were Keto Stroganoff, a Chicken Tortilla soup, and Baked Salmon with a Parmesan Basil Crust. Left overs and snacks to get the week started. Can’t get any better than that.
And a bit of this happened.
Buster got this little stuffie from one of my student this past week. I was really proud of him too, because this little green toy stayed stuffed for 3 whole days before losing its fluff. We retrieved the squeaker that’s laying towards the upper right of the picture. But once the fluff was out for all to see, the work was done.He wasn’t shy about owning up to it either. Now, our little green friend is re-stuffed and ready for the next time the oven goes on. Access to the fluff will be a bit easier, as the small hole won’t be sewn shut. A repeat de-stuffing hole is much easier on us both. Besides, I’d had to think that there would just be another hole and another until one day, poor green stuffie would look more like swiss cheese than an anxiety management tool.
You could call it murder on the dining room carpet, but we just call it a de-stuffing. And the culprit sat right there to be caught. Buster doesn’t like the oven, so whenever it gets turned on, he gets wound up and super nervous. We’ve found some “calming treats for dogs”, which only work so-so. But sometimes, the bugger gets a bit more anxious which ends up in a floppy toy on the floor. I just gathered up the stuffing and put it back for the next time he gets antsy.
I did get some sewing time in. This is what my desk looks like when I’m working. Kinda messy…but it’s all part of the work I love.
Love working on all these different projects. It’s a restful place for my thoughts when it’s quiet. But for today, I had my TV on and was streaming the series “White Collar”. I use a Roku, and it works really well in my studio.
I also started laying out the blocks for this quilt. It’s another Moda Bakeshop like what I’ve written about before. This one uses a #5 Recipe card, and the quilt that I’m laying out is called “Ganache”. Only about half of it is on the design wall right now. I’ll lay the other half out tomorrow and then rearrange anything that might need it. This design actually has sashing between the blocks which I’ll add into the construction once I’ve decided on the final placement. It would just be too large for the design wall if I put them in now. But, the jury is still out…I might just go ahead and call this arrangement good and add extra borders to reach the size I want. I dunno…it’s a process.
This is a pretty cool little layout. Reminds me of a Jacobs Ladder, but also has some “X’s” and “O’s” movement to it. Got some pondering to do…
So, that’s pretty much the weekend for me. Kinda restful, kinda busy…..but mostly…. Just puttering. Feels good to go a little slow for a couple of days. Makes the merry-go-round of the regular week that much more fun.
Are you in a bind? Well, I mean…are you binding? I am. Today I am putting on a binding to a sweet quilt that has been hanging as a store sample at Clubb’s Fabric Store in Delta. I retrieved it for a class and then brought it home to put a binding on it.
I simply love this quick and easy pattern. The batiks remind me of the beach, so I’ve named it my Beach Bear Gingerbread quilt. It’s the second time I’ve done this same pattern, and I have a 3rd set of blocks in this pattern made with rich mulberry and green batiks with cream background. Looking forward to seeing how that turns out too!.
This is a Moda Bakeshop, by It’s Sew Emma Patterns. Bakeshop? Well, let me give you a quick run-down on this clever pattern set-up. The “Bakeshop” is built on layer cakes. You have an instruction book called “The Cake Mix Quilt Book, Volume One”, (the “cookbook”, aka the instruction book). All these patterns utilize “layer cake” fabric collections plus some amount of yardage for backgrounds, borders and binding. Genius!
This is such a great pattern book! The instructions are written with clear and concise directions, and has lots of graphics and pictures to help in construction of the project.
And you have “Cake Mix Recipe” cards like this.
This is so clever. The mixing bowl shows the number of the recipe card. And the black and white pictures on the covers show the variations of how to set the block that each of the recipe cards can make. You can make them all the same, or a combination of any shown.
These “recipe cards”, (printed like a tablet that you can tear off, one page at a time), are numbered 1 thru 8. In the “Cookbook” each recipe card has two different quilts from which to choose. For instance, the quilt I’m working on is from Recipe Card #1. I made this quilt, named the Gingerbread Quilt, but I could have chosen to set the same recipe card into a different quilt named the Sherbet Quilt. Totally cool!
I have used these Bakeshop patterns several times, and love them as a quick gift or easy “take-along” project where I know I’ll be talking a lot or have lots of interruptions. It’s a perfect retreat project. It’s also a terrific introduction to paper piecing. And it would be an excellent project for a younger aged 4-H youth project.
Then, because I had nothing else to do with my time, and because I can’t stand to throw away fabric that I think can be used for something else, I took my scraps from a couple different Bake Shop quilts and threw these blocks together. I know, just a tad OCD, but definitely cute. I’m sure that I’ll be doing something clever with them before too much longer….stay tuned.
These little gems were done in a weaving method…much like kids do with paper strips. I used fabric glue to keep things together, nothing is sewn yet. They vary slightly in size and the tapered ends still need to be trimmed, but I think there will be more coming. It won’t take many more to create something else to add to the “tops to be quilted” pile hanging out in the long arm pile.
But let me get back to the task at hand…binding.
I don’t know about you, but binding can be a pickle. Some quilters love it, some don’t. Some even avoid it at all costs. But let me tell you about a method I found while I was surfing around Facebook one day. Or rather, it surfaced in my Facebook feed as a “suggested for you” type of item. Usually, I don’t follow those bunny trails, but for this one I did. And boy howdy am I glad I did.
This is the link to Karens Quilts, Crows and Cardinals of the Redbird Quilt Company. This has been my saving grace for peaceful bindings! (Pardon my pun). https://karensquiltscrowscardinals.blogspot.com
If you follow this link you will go to her home page. You’ll want to click on the “My Tutorials” tab and scroll down until you see this topic.
The flange binding that is in the title of the blogpost is what caught my eye. After reading her post, I saved it and was determined to give it a try. Fast forward a few months and bingo…I had a quilt I wanted to try it on. It turned out wonderfully well!! And I’d love to show it to you, but of course the quilt was gifted away with no pictures taken before it’s departure.
But even more than the flange binding, I want to tell you about her method for joining the beginning and ending of the binding. THIS is THE –best—method—ever! I kid you not! Before I read this blog, it would take me a huge…HUGE…amount of time to do this one step. Binding prep, attachment and finishing are all a breeze to me. But the sewing of these two ends always eluded me. I wrote myself directions, drew pictures, cussed, cried, and cringed…always wanting to master that elusive mitered seam ending. (Totally not cool when I can do sooo many other, and much more technical sewing tricks.) Then the stars aligned, the angels sang as the clouds opened to rays of sunshine and I followed a bunny trail to this beautiful blog about binding. (Yes, it’s a bit overly dramatic, but when the lightbulb finally goes on, it’s a glorious thing.)
Putting all silliness away, I want to share with you this method. It is most definitely not my idea. She gets all the credit and the kudos for putting together a fantastic tutorial. Throughout her blog tutorial there are lots, I mean LOTS, of pictures of every step as well as excellent instructions showing you exactly how to make a flange binding AND how to join the two end together.
I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve saved using this tutorials’ instructions. And with all the projects that I have ready to bind, and those waiting for the long arm, I’ll be using this binding method even more. If you follow no other links that I share in my blog…go to this one and at take a look. I’m telling’ ya…it’s so worth your time. And while you’re there, take a peek at the rest of her blog. Gobs of interesting things are waiting there as bountiful treasures!!
So, without further ado, I’m off to finish up this binding. Hope you enjoy the tutes!
What’s under your needle today? Are you piecing, or planning? Laying out blocks to complete a top? Are you quilting or binding? I’m so curious as to what’s under your needle!
Today, after my morning chores, a few phone calls and emails and a couple hours of standing at my long arm, I’m piecing. Paper piecing to be more exact. It’s what I love to do…in fact I crave my time at the machine, working on several different patterns at a time.
I’m sure there are many people who think I’ve got a screw loose, and they probably aren’t far from the truth. But my passion for creating quilts is super focused on paper piecing. And Quiltworx patterns by Judy Niemeyer are the highlight of my quilting world. I find my mind and my heart breathe a sigh of contentment when I sit down at my sewing desk to work on the current projects. It is definitely my happy place.
Becoming a Certified Instructor for Quiltworx is something I’ve been working towards since my first trip to Montana in April of 2018. It’s January 2021, and I’ll be finishing up this adventure a year from now. It’s a huge time commitment. And in every way, in my humble opinion, equal to a Bachelor’s degree from a college. Each of the patterns that I complete is easily equal to the cost of a college class and it’s required books. Especially if I only buy the newest fabrics for each of my projects.
Don’t get me wrong…I love, LOVE all the gorgeous and newest fabrics, but I’m also quite budget conscience. I’m especially proud of the fact that I have been able make several of my portfolio patterns directly out of my stash. Out of my STASH!!! I’m over the moon about that. Here are a few that I’ve been able to do that with.
Here is my version of Lincoln Log Cabin. It’s 31″ square and a super fun and fast project to make.
I love my Twinkle Star! It was sooo much fun to make. And at only 38″ square, it’s a great size for gift giving too!
Next is a summer color way of My Two Baby Sisters placemat. Another quick project with endless color options.
This is Star Baby…waiting for her turn on the long arm. I LOVED putting this together! Another sweet little wall hanging.
And here are Tea Time Placemats, also waiting to be quilted. This pattern is awesome! And comes with enough papers to do a set of 4 for your table. Can’t wait to make some in autumn colors too!
Golly! There are more than I thought that came from my stash. Actually, there are even a few more, but I’ll save those for another time. Using from my stash is something I’m pleased with . And it’s also something I think will be a helpful to encourage my students to do. Of course…when my students are shopping for fabric I’m only a phone call away to ask a question, if I’m not already there helping, guiding and suggesting options to add to their selection process. Who doesn’t like to shop for fabric??
So, leaving the bunny trail that took me away from my original question…What’s under your needle? This is what’s been under mine for the past several days. I’m working on just a few patterns all at once. It’s a skill set that I’m honing and finding it to be quite productive. It can be a bit confusing at first, but it only takes a little while before it becomes second nature. I love working on my projects this way.
I have two 4 foot tables that I use for my pattern staging. Here’s the first one. On the right is my version of Clockworks, which is a Quiltworx Cut Loose Press pattern. And on the left is Color Spectrum I have nearly all of these blocks completed…next will come setting the blocks to make the top.Here is the second 4 foot table. I’m working on my Dinner Plate Dahlia here. Granny Sassy Designs put this kit together for me, and she does an AMAZING job! I’ve loved this color way since the first time I saw it. I’m over the moon about this beauty!!This is how I stack my projects as I work on them. Each time I go through the stack I do the same step to everything regardless of the project. For example, each layer will get ironed all the way through the stack, then on to trimming and placing the next piece, then sewing them together, repeat.Here is what the stack looks like exploded out layer by layer. I know what each of these belongs to, and where they are in the process by just looking at the top layer. Oh! And there’s an Impatiens placemat in there too. That’s 5 patterns across these 8 layers. Not everyone wants to work in this way, and that’s the beauty of it all…we all get to enjoy our own process with no judgements.
For me, it breaks things up enough to keep me from being bored if there is a lot of repetition (as in a large quantity of the same thing). It also lets me make significant progress on a project if I employ the same method on a single pattern. Yep…there must be a screw loose in there somewhere. But boy to I have a good time with it! Yippeee!!
I hope you are having a stitch filled day with lots and lots of enjoyable moments and a sense of accomplishment in being able to put needle to fabric.
