A pressing slip cover

     I had a light bulb moment  one afternoon last week.  It involved solving the "ugly" problem in my pressing area.   In 2015, I found pressing space by using the pull out work space on the Hoosier I have in the sewing room.   
   A pressing mat worked for a while, and then I had Sir Old Man make a plywood top to sit over it.  The top was covered with 2 layers of batting and decor weight fabric.  It has served me well for 3 years, but began to have the uglies ---you know from starch over spray and water mists stains --- recently. 

   I ran across the extra decorator fabric and wanted to re-cover it for a fresh face.  Then I realized I would face the same problem in a couple of years. 

  Cue the light bulb!  I made a slip cover to fit over the pressing board.  It can be removed and washed when it gets stained or dirty looking.   I used a few T-pins across the top area to keep it all from slipping. 




 

   And now I am ready to press away.  I finished up a few Chandelier Bead blocks on Saturday while watching Quilt-Cam with Bonnie.   I may have just enough for a throw size quilt. 



   I also worked on the collage......can anyone tell me what I was thinking when I jumped into this?   My memory has really failed because now I remember why I never made more than one block  in this technique.  It's the stitching.....and stitching and stitching.  And you think you are done securing it all and something comes loose.  Stitch some more.  All those small pieces that are wonderful when fused but awful to anchor properly.  Needless to say, my itch to be creative in this manner has been satisfied and put away in its proper place.  On to a new plan.
And make it something that does not involve small pieces in a collage. 
    Happy stitching.

Carolina Hurricane Quilt Project

  I offered to help promote the hurricane quilt  project for Carole at From My Carolina Home.  
  This post gives current details and information along with the address for mailing.  I mailed a finished quilt directly to the Catholic charities for distribution. 
  There's a  button on the right sidebar for a direct link to her project.   There are still many, many families affected by the aftermath of the storms.  So any help is greatly appreciated. 
  Thanks and happy stitching. 

Old tip to store fabric

  I spent a while last week cleaning up the piles and stacks of fabrics scattered all over my sewing space.  At least now I can see the cutting table.    That brought to mind an old post on making mini bolts for larger yardage that I thought I would re-share.

Tip for storing fabric:

  My large collection of floral fabrics are usually folded and stored in bins on  shelves in my stash closet.  Mainly those fabric cuts are small and less than a yard.  But what about the larger yardage cuts for borders and backings especially?   

Mini-bolts!

  About 4 years ago, I began using the mini-bolts for storage.  When I first  began this, I was using a thin plastic insert.  Later I switched  to using  foam core board.  The foam core  can be purchased at the Dollar Store in the 2 foot by 3 foot size usually.  I cut the size-- that works best for me-- 11" to 12" high by 8" wide.    It's easy to cut with a craft knife.  I often end up with smaller sections of the boards and they work great for shorter cuts--- those under a yard. 

Today, I am even more frugal.....I use old  yard campaign signs or yard signs of any kind that I find....like house for sale, or other advertising.  They get knocked down or the wires rust out.  I collect them, wash them up, and cut  to the size I like.    I'm saving the land fill (if they would ever make it there) and keeping my dollars for fabric and thread.  

 Fabric is folded just like it comes off the bolt.  Then one more fold---bringing the folded side over to match the selvedge edge.  Roll it up and pin the end.  

     The mini-bolts make it easy to see what I have to work with.  I am  known to be pretty messy and scattered, so this really helps me neater.   And what fun to shop your own fabric store in your stash closet.

Scraps and collage

     While I really need to straighten up the sewing room,  I did not have the motivation.  I wanted a little play time.  So I made an even bigger mess and did some cutting  and fusing for a collage. 

  This is really just a trial/test piece.  I need to hunt and dig for more interesting fabric for the background.     The actual floral arranging was easy and went together rather quickly.  Better than what I can create in real life. 
  Plus I now have a better idea of the type of prints to use and dig out for the florals.  And I need to add some shading areas around the pitcher vase to create depth.
  Then the next step is to get every edge stitched down.  Time consuming, indeed.  But this will make a nice small wall hanging.





  Sir Old Man made me a handy little gadget for Christmas.    A seam presser!  I saw one the Cheryl shared on her blog Teapots2quilting, and loved it.   She also shared how to make a magnetic pin dish---be sure to check it out. 
  Anyway, I drew off a similar shape pattern and he headed for the workshop.  This seam press is made of  scrap cherry  wood.  It does a great/wonderful/perfect job on the seams for the chandelier blocks:)


 

  My brother gave me new steak knives for Christmas.  But there was no room in the knife drawer for them.  A little shopping on Amazon solved my problem and I ordered a wooden magnetic knife block.  Sir Old Man pulled out the tools and hung it up this afternoon.
   Then......made the comment, "I see how they made this.  No problem.  I can get earth magnets." 
  So sometime in the future I expect another magnetic knife block will appear and hang on the other end cabinet.  Oh, heck, he could get slap happy and make them for Christmas gifts next year.  BTW, all recipients loved their serving trays. 
    Ok, I'm going to put away at least one stack of fabric today.  At this pace, I might get my fabric stored away in a couple of years.  Happy stitching. 

Looking back and ahead

 2018 draws to a close and finds me with few things done and lots of ideas.  So that is a good thing.  I went thru and added to my page under the banner for  2018 Quilts.  So it is up to date with my finishes.....I had more starts than finishes.  A lot of piecing done because it is easier on my joints.

     Looking back, my Garden in a Box is my favorite.    Simple, and unassuming.  Contrasting floral fabrics make up each box and are a good display of my collection of fabrics.    It is my nap quilt right now and has been washed several times to total softness. 


   Distant View ....I love it too.  This design had been on my want to make list for a long time.  The trellis effect always enchants me. 


   The On a Roll quilt was donated to the drive for quilts for the victims of  Hurricane Florence.









  So what is left hanging around, left undone? 
I began the 2018 Leader and Ender challenge, called Jewel Box Star.   It is now sewn into a small top and awaiting a border.  I have an idea for it, but that remains to be done.








 

The oldest UFO/still in progress/ found hidden while cleaning out.....a Scrappy Trips.  This is what I call a "kitchen sink" project.  What ever fabric is long enough, wide enough gets put into it.  That means uglies and all.  Once they are sewn and stitched no one will really notice anyway.  LOL.   I sew a few strips together, press, and wait for a good day to cut apart and restitch the stratas.  So this may last a while longer. 

  The Chandelier Bead block  is still on the design wall.    I add a few more as I get the urge.  Once the stack I have cut are sewn, I will dig thru the stash and find more to add.  I love the simple look.  I think this would be a great donation quilt to get made and have on hand.    Again no rush on it, and I am happy for easy piecing. 

   And under the needle are the Garlic Knot blocks.  I am quilting an all over swirl pattern in the center portion.  I will do something else in the simple border.    I manage some sessions and hope to finish this up in the next week. 


New ideas for this year......
  I have an itch to try a collage type piece.  Not large and not a mass produced pattern.  Probably a floral bouquet to start with.  I know it takes  a certain type of floral print to bring this off.

  A braid quilt.....one of my favorite design patterns.  I am thinking a throw size rather than a wall hanging which I have done.

  And that should hold me for the next few months. 

2018 taught me to appreciate the journey as you never know where the road will take you.  Celebrate your successes.  Let go of the worry.  Expect the unexpected.  Find joy in all you do.  When you get down, look up.  Then get up.
Happy New Year....happy stitching. 

 

Updating that Block!

  Today was just busy and I never got past answering emails to update yesterday's post.      There were so many good comments and ideas/suggestions for the simple block---Chandelier Bead---adapted from an uneven 9 patch.  If you are like me, you never get back to read all the comments and might just miss something good:)

  So I wanted to highlight and share a few.
  From Carole at My Carolina Home came the idea to use these blocks for QOV or Carolina Hurricane Quilt.  Great idea....red, white and blue:)

From Sharon at Vroomans Quilts is the idea to use this block for the RSC19 ---Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  She's the master of using scraps for special quilts.

Gene Black said he tried a mock up in EQ with dark background and it looked good!  See his version here.

Several agreed with the idea of Christmas fabrics would be pretty.  And a really cool idea from Miss Pat was to make a sample block like for the RSC, and attach a note of measurement/sizes for reference.  Then she doesn't have to try and remember where it came from.

So here's hoping you find some inspiration from the ideas and create your own special one.
Happy stitching.

More of those blocks

 

  Don't say that "S" word around this part of the country......I heard the stores sold out of milk, bread,  and eggs in a few hours.  It's a southern thing to panic when you hear the weatherman say that. 
  Luckily we were on the lower edge of it all and got plenty of rain, mist, and then the sleet came.  All night I could her it pinging on the windows.  I am sure there was some heavy snowflakes mixed it, but we ended up with a thick crust of probably 2 1/2''.  Today it has hovered above freezing and a lot of melting has occurred, but the word is the roads are a slushy mess.  We will wait it out tomorrow as there will be a lot of re-freezing tonight.



  I worked on some blocks that had been cut out already.  I talked about these last week.  Strung together on-point and they resemble beads on a chain, or baubles on a chandelier.  Hence, I am referring to them as Chandelier  Bead block like I found on Pinterest. 

  So I am just playing around with these for now using a white or cream background. 
I wonder what light colored squares would look like on a darker background....just a thought.








  And because I know I will get questions......
   My block is from EQ7, the Uneven 9 Patch Block.  I simply removed 2 opposing corner squares, increasing the bottom and top background strip to the correct length. 
  The size I am using will give a 6 1/2'' unfinished block. 

Recipe  for block:
 Cut from color fabric
    Center square is 3 1/2'' by 3 1/2''
    Two corner squares are 2'' by 2''

Background:  Cut from white/cream
   two strips 2'' by 3 1/2''
   two strips 2'' by 5''

  You can easily make these larger, begin with the center square and do the math:)
I think they would be good in Christmas fabrics even. 
Happy stitching.