December 15, 2018

Scrap Happy!!

Today is the 15th of the month and I get to check in with some projects that I have/am using scraps for.  Kate at Tall Tales from Chiconia is hosting this and it’s so much fun!  I have lots and lots of scraps from my projects as well as from my student’s projects.  This month I didn’t get a whole lot of scrappy sewing done so I thought I’d share the different projects and how I store them.  First up are the boxes:img_4885

I love these boxes.  I bought them at Costco.  Each of my students has one for themselves to store their fabric and Wips from week to week.  I use them for some of my projects as well.  These are the scrap projects that I am working on.  Strings:img_4887

I’ve never made one of these before so this a first for me.  I cut the squares 1/2″ larger all the way around than I want the finished square to be and then sew the strips to it.  This is super easy and fun.  I keep all the strips and squares in the box so that I can work on it whenever I wish.  The box that says “1 and a half in strips”:img_4888

You’ve see that one before.  I just sew the strips to each other to make one long strip that is 1 and a half inch wide and then sew it to the body.  Again, I cut scraps as I go and place them in the box.  “yo-yos:img_4889

Same idea, I cut the fabric as I get it and then put it in the box.  I find I am more likely to pick it up and stitch if it’s ready for me.  Makes life so much easier.  “1 X 3 inch pieces”:

You’ve also seen this one as well.  I cut the pieces and put them in the box.  Then I pin them to this piece of fabric and sew when I can.  I actually don’t like sewing this one.  All that turning and fiddling — I just don’t find it that much fun — I’ll complete it, but it will take longer than the others.  And then this:img_4892

I don’t know if this counts.  These are my kids’ old t-shirts that I have made into yarn and am intending to weave into rugs for my kitchen and in front of the doors.  As you can imagine, with 5 kids, I have boxes of old t-shirts!!!img_4893

This is half of my warp.  I have all of the warp measured out and now just have to find time to warp my loom.  2019 here we come!!

December 9, 2018

HQAL Update

I’m having so much fun with this HQAL (Hand Quilt-A-Long).  My chosen project is a Grandmother’s Flower Garden.  I love the simplicity of the pattern and as it is my first EPP project, it’s perfect.  This month I finished two of the flowers.  One of them has pieced hexis:img_4847

I’m actually becoming a little addicted to these.img_4848

They are very fun to do even if they are a little fiddly.  You can see that all of my points do not match exactly.  I am hoping in time and with practice that part will improve.  I also made a flower with non-pieced hexis:img_4850

After working with all those little pieces, this one seemed like a breeze and to almost sew itself!

I’m working my way through The New Hexagon book by Katja Marek.  The link takes you to Amazon but I purchased this book along with a couple of others at a quilt show.  I’m sure I paid more, but it was so much fun to go to the show and talk with the vendors and see all the fun, cool stuff that it was worth it!  This is the second pieced hexi in the book.  It’s called Carol and I found this one to be easier to put together than the first one.  I thought it would be interesting to show the way I’m doing this (maybe there’s an easier way?).  First I copy the pattern and then, since the hexis in the book are 3″ and mine are 1.5″, I make another copy at 50%.  Whew!!  Thank goodness that math is easy!

Then I trace the pattern pieces onto pattern paper with space between them.  After that I use a sharpie and trace on each piece of the hexi through the pattern paper onto the card stock (or old manila folders.  We have boxes of used ones from my father-in-law) the desired number of times.  In this case I needed six hexis so I traced each piece six times and cut them out.  Then I chose my fabrics and away I went!img_4849

Right now I working on another non-pieced flower, but I think the next one will be the third pieced hexi from the book.  They really are so much fun!  If you’d like to join in, the details are below and please take a look at all the other talented hand quilters who are participating.

Hand Quilt Along Links

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Lori, Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Susan,  Nanette, Sassy , Edith, Sharon, Karrin, and Gretchen

I am also linking up with Kathy over at Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitch Sundays and Kate at Life in Pieces for 15 mins a day of stitching.

I have stitched every single day this week – so 7 out of 7 days!!  It’s so funny, not that long ago I was berating myself for not finding the time to stitch.  Now that I have this goal of “only 15 mins per day”, somehow I manage to stitch.  And not just for 15 minutes – I’m getting in about 45 mins to an hour in the morning before anyone gets up and during two shows on TV (my husband likes to watch his shows at night) in the evening.  It’s really been nice!

December 5, 2018

December-One Monthly Goal

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for the December One Month Goal.  I get to choose any project I wish that uses fabric, thread and/or yarn.  I then set a goal and try to meet that goal by the end of the month.  This goal has been previously made (without success of completing) …img_4834

This is the Dubline Cardigan being knit for my oldest daughter.  The goal for December is to finish the sweater and start the hood.  The hood is attached to live stitches at the top of the sweater.  Wish me luck!!

December 2, 2018

SAL Update and Slow Stitch Sunday

It’s that time!  It has been three weeks since our last update on this project…I seem to be having trouble with wordpress – I can’t seem to go back very far in my images to grab a photo to post. I went back to my last post and copied the photo from there.img_4584

This is where I was last time.   I have been more regular on working on this project and this is where I am now.img_4815

I worked a little on the panel on the right because it used the same color as what I was going to use near Santa.  img_4816

I focused most of my effort on Santa’s beard and it is almost done!  This project uses both the half cross stitch and the whole cross stitch.  I find it interesting that I really enjoy the whole cross stitch more.  It somehow feels finished and I like the look much better.

These are the other talented stitchers who are participating in this SAL.  Please take a look at their beautiful work if you have time:

About the SAL in case you’d like to join us

This SAL (Stitch Along) is slightly different to other SALs in that we don’t all stitch the same design at the same rate. We choose ONE unfinished project, or ONE new one, and show progress of its completion over a series of three weekly updates. There are no deadlines and no set amount to stitch. The result is that the space in our drawers full of WIPs (works in progress) is gradually being freed up to store lots of new crafty goodness. It’s surprising how much motivation I’ve gained from being in this SAL. If you’d like to finish a project you’ve left unfinished for a while, or start a new one with us, you can join us by contacting Avis fromSewing Beside the Sea.

I’m also linking up with Kathy at Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitch Sunday.

I am also linking up to Kate’s 15 minutes a day.  I am hoping that this will keep me held accountable to my goal of stitching everyday for at least that amount.
This week:  7/7 days stitched!!!  Both on my cross stitch project and on my EPP project.  Some knitting was thrown in there as well :o)
November 21, 2018

Exercise

I have been keeping up with my exercise routine.  I walk or run everyday and sprinkle in cycling, lifting and swimming.  My favorite places to walk or run are outdoors – either on the Baylands or up at the Dish or at Rancho San Antonio or Arastradero.  I love to get away (or feel like I’m getting away) from the hustle and bustle of everyday life for just a little bit.  It’s also nice to see all the wildlife.

This is from an early morning walk with the husband.  Those are two turkey vultures and they were gorgeous.  We stood there observing them for quite some time.

This was a little later on during the same walk – just look at all those birds!  The Baylands is such a beautiful place to walk especially in the early morning before too many people are out there.

This week I was also at Rancho San Antonio hiking with some friends and we saw that cute little bunny.  It was not really afraid of us and we also saw this gorgeous buck – he also was very tame and let us get quite close to take pictures.  Even though the weather is getting a little more crisp, it is just perfect for getting out in.

November 20, 2018

Fabric Painting!

I found this great fabric on saleimg_4690

And immediately had an idea…img_4676

I wanted to make a quick, easy skirt.  I had to wait a bit to actually cut the fabric.  This was so funny!!  What you can’t see is that as soon as I placed the fabric on the table, Honeybee ran over and lay down on it.  I thought, ok, I have some yarn I need to wind for a student so I’ll just do that while he sleeps on my fabric.  I pulled out the yarn winder and got started.  As soon as I started winding yarn, Honeybee jumped up and started playing with the yarn.  I kept winding slowly to play with him and then left him with the yarn and went back over to my fabric.  As soon as I started marking the fabric, Honeybee came over and lay back down on the fabric.  This picture is actually from the second time he laid down on the fabric!  I did cut the fabric, but waited to do anything with it until Honeybee had his nap.img_4686

My idea is to paint the flowers (not every flower, but maybe 1/3 or 1/2 of them). I started with the centers of a few flowers.  Then I realized that I had not done any testing to see if this would actually work — how would it fare in the wash and the dryer??  I have just had the rose dyeing fail.  I decided to cut out a bit of fabric, paint it, wash it, dry it and iron it…

Can you tell the difference??  I can’t either except I took the pictures.  The one on the left is before washing, drying and ironing – the one on the right is after.  It made it through fabulously!!  I was all set to go

These are the flowers I have done so far:  one purple, one orange and one blue.  It takes awhile, but I am loving it.img_4734

These are the paints I am using.  They are a little stiffer when dry than I thought they would be even after washing and drying for the sample.  I am hoping over time things soften up a little.

November 19, 2018

Worry Pets

My daughter saw these on pinterest a bit ago and I had to make a sample.img_4732

I think I shared this one before.  I had gone to JoAnns and purchased a quarter of a yard of any fun fur that was on sale.  It was still quite expensive, but I just knew that my students would love them!  I was right!img_4721

One of the boys in my class made these.  Isn’t the cat one so cute!  He figured out the ears all by himself!img_4723

This student wanted to make square ones for all her cousins.  So sweet!img_4724

Another square one – the back is pink in case you can’t see.  These whip up in no time – literally about 10 minutes from start to finish – so they are perfect for quick gifts or in the case of the student above, she had just finished a soccer bag for her mom (her mom is the team manager and carries the game balls to all the games) with lining and a zipper.  She only had a few minutes left in class and wanted to do something easy – this was perfect!img_4594

And then of course I had a few orders from here.  The red one is on it’s way to my daughter who is away in college and the other one is for one of the daughters here at home.  The only drawback is that fun fur makes a HUGE mess when it’s being cut.  Bits and pieces of fluff everywhere.  The kids love it and blow the little bits across the table at each other, me…. it’s fun in the moment while they are having fun, but cleaning it up is not so much fun :o)