Quilting Design for Duvet

This is the pattern that I chose for the quilting on my colorwash Irish Chain. It is hibiscus if you can't tell. I had the top stitched to a sheet, and I'm going to use this for the top of my duvet cover. I've made a couple over the years. The first one was a roman stripes top. That lasted a long time, but finallly the top edge started coming apart (I'm guessing about 10 years). Then, while I was in Germany I made a simple cover from two sheets. That's the one we're still using--so it's been about 5 years. It's still fine, but its boring.

This one (I'll get a whole picture soon and post it) goes well with the colors we used in the bedroom. I love the sky blue in the bedroom and the blues in this one match, or at least harmonize with the color of the ceilling in the bedroom. I have to come up with a headboard cover too. Right now it's black, and that just won't do with this top. I made the headboard and covered it with a solid black fabric because the fabric I covered it with was Amish colors, so black underneath made sense. Now I have to come up with something different. I still have some of the fabrics I used in the top above, so maybe I can use that to make the new headboard cover.

I avoided quilting the baby quilt last night after work. Let's see if I actually get it done for the Spring finish.

I have been sewing...I have!

Here is proof...well actually, this isn't sewing is it? Huh, well I will be quilting soon. I'm going to try to get this one quilted before the end of April so I can add it to my Spring finishes.

I made two more pillowcase totes, too.


I do have a reason for not posting. I was working at a conference school put on from Wednesday afternoon till Saturday evening. I'm just not a peppy as I once was, and I was TIRED when I got home, so, no sewing/pinning/planning/quilting got done till Sunday. That's when I made the totes.

On a totally different note, we woke up to 4 more inches of snow this morning, all melted already, but I got some cool pictures before the sun went down. Ahhh, spring in the Rockies!

Here's one I like! Enjoy

The Border Choice

Thank you all for your opinions...it was unanimous. The first border (the swirly batik) was the choice of all. I have to agree with you all too.

I also just got my order from Connecting Threads today (well, it probably actually arrived on Friday or Saturday, but we were stuck in the house because of the snow). I'll see about using the thread tonight to apply the border and I'll let you know what I think. I bought 4 cones of 5000 feet of neutrals to piece with, and a set of brights. Ten spools of thread 1200 yards each. I will use those for quilting or whatever strikes my fancy. Oh, I almost forgot, I also picked up my 1/4" foot from the Bernina store. I has a guide so that the seam should almost sew itself. I have a pretty consistent 1/4" seam, but thought this might make piecing an accurate seam even easier--I'll use that too and report back.

Wow, I have a lot of homework. I better get to work.

Which Border?

Here is one that I just finished. Many of the blocks were already finished, so I just had to finish two or three more, and then sew the blocks together. What do you think, does it need a border? The size of the top is 46 x 70 (or as it is shown above 70 x 46). When I started this, it was going to be a pattern called "Slash a Stash". This baby quilt was made using that method. When I finished the blocks this morning, I decided it would be too busy, so chose to just sew the blocks together and call it good.

I was thinking (if I do add a border) that I should use a dark batik. I don't have any of the colors in the quilt left...at least not enough for a border, but I do have two other batiks that might work.
The one above is a muti-colored batik, with black swirling kinds of designs. The one below is a batik that I can cut so that the diamond shapes can be placed in the middle of the border, or the black fabric can be made to be diamonds in the cetner and the blue on each side.
Do you think either of these will work?

Book Inventory

This is what the book inventory looks like. I'm not sure why I had the need to do this. Partly, I think, because I often know I saw something somewhere, but just can't quite recall where. This way, I have the cover of the book and the title. The other information I figured I might as well include, so that if there ever is a fire, or...well, that's pretty much the only natural disaster that might take place here--we're too high for a flood. There was a small tornado a couple of years ago, so I guess there is that possibility. No mountain nearby for an avalanche...hmm, what else. Oh, earthquake very unlikely, so I guess I did this inventory because I occasionally have attacks of organization overzealousness.

Snow Day!

I know most of you are probably enjoying a day other than mine. Outside it's snowing, and we are predicted to have between 1 to 2 feet in the next couple of days. So, I've decided to take this chance to organize my sewing room a bit. I need to clean up the edges. I still have more stuff than will fit (at least in the current configuration) so I'm finding new places besides under the sewing machine, or the ironing board, or piled on top of the books.... well, you get the idea.

I'm going to start with the books.


I don't have a gazillion, but I have plenty. So I'm going to list them all in my computer, with a bit of information for each--that way, when I want to do something other than browse, I might be able to find the one thing I found before, but have no idea where I saw it.

Spring...to finish I

I have finished two of the items I had on my list to finish...one of the shirts (finished it this morning) and the Oriental Tiles quilt. Sewing with the machine bed even with the table isn't so very different, but quilting--wow, what a difference.

So what do I have left--from the list I posted; another shirt, and two more quilt tops (or maybe 3). I'm going to start on another quilting project. I'm going to take one of the many tops I have waiting and pick one out. I have a very cool piece--from one of the Ricky Tims books. I had some hand dyed fabric I bought (I didn't realize I bought so much...5 yards) when he came to our guild for a class. This one I made while I was in Germany. I loved watching it come together. It was so easy to make. I don't know what I am going to do with it exaclty. I love looking at it just the way it is, so I don't want to cover it up with applique.

Let me think....

Sewing Table

This is what I did today (so far). I have been having pain in my right shoulder from sewing--partly because I am reaching up to guide the fabric. My machine has been sitting on a piece of 3/4" plywood that is screwed to an old kitchen table. About 2 feet of the plywood hangs over the end of the table, so I decided to cut a hole in the top and move the machine down so it is level with the table top. It's not fine carpentry, but it does the job. I haven't sewn on it yet, but I'll let you know if it works. The cutting mat I cut is about 8 years old, so I wasn't concerned about ruining it. The blue in the last picture is painter's tape. I have been using it to hold the table on my Bernina for a number of years (the pins broke off). I decided I would use it to hold down the cutting mat so it is exactly level with the bed of the machine.

I just used plumbers tape (it's metal) to hold the stand of the machine. Like I said, not exactly fine woodworking. If I find that it is too jiggly, I can attach the piece of plywood that holds the machine in place with actual wood and L brackets.














First iteration, not so good--blue painter's tape has too much texture so the fabric doesn't move smoothly.

Second iteration was with the plastic you can buy on a roll at fabric stores to put over tablecloths--better--a bit more slippery but not flat enough.
Final iteration (for the moment anyway) I used template plastic and cut a hole for the needle and feed dogs. I'll try it again and see if I need to change it one more time.

Thread

Not much sewing this week--more this weekend. I decided to buy some thread. Last time I went out to get a spool of thread it cost about $6.00, and was only 274 yards. I read Leah's blog and sometime ago she mentioned that she uses Essential Thread and loves it. I am trying to be frugal, and the thread is pretty inexpensive ($7.99 for 5000 yards) that I'm taking a chance. I ordered 4 cones of neutral to piece with and a color set for quilting--or just to have because they're pretty! They're already in the mail, once I sew with them, I'll let you know what I think.

Spring...to finish

I visited Tallgrass Prarie Studio and saw that she is going to work on finishing some WIP before the end of April. I certainly have some to finish--so I put the button on my blog. I have (lookingn around the room):

• the oriental tiles quilt that needs binding and some more flowers quilted
• the second aloha shirt for my hubby
• the spin cycle quilt top I just finished needs to be quilted
• the hydrangea 4-path top I just finished needs to be quilted
• the other aloha shirt that's been waiting since before Christmas
• pillowcase bags

Of those, I am going to finish the oriental tiles, the shirts and the pillowcase bags. I'm going to try to sandwich and pin either the spin cycle or the hydrangea 4-patch. If I get those things done I will be a happy camper

Storm at Sea mock-up

How about a storm at sea, with a black background. I was thinking white, but I already own black, so I wouldn't have to buy anything.

Not exactly this layout, but these colors--I've set aside the delectable mountains for the moment.

Aloha!...shirt

My hubby LOVES bright shirts. He works as a youth minister and wearing shirts like this is his trademark. We bought this fabric probably 10 years ago when we went to Hawaii the first time. I just finished this shirt yesterday, and he is very happy with it.

I'm going to try to get the binding done on the Oriental Tiles quilt today, and maybe quilt the Hydrangea 4-patch. I haven't heard anything back from my SIL about my niece's color preferences and the spin cycle I just finished. I'll have to try again. Maybe I sent the email to my brother instead, so she probably didn't see it.

Buddy the Cat

Sorry about nothing going on. We had a scare last night. Buddy (the cat) was limping a lot, he's 13 and we thought maybe some joint pain. Later in the evening he sort of flopped over and wouldn't move. If he did try, he yowled when he walked on his left hind leg. I was convinced he was not long for this world, so was a mess. He wouldn't get up, even to eat and that's SERIOUS. We've had him for all of his life, he's gone with us to Germany--lived in a friend's basement with us, and just been an all around great cat.

We took him to the vet today (I was expecting I wouldn't bring him home) and he got an exam and x-rays. The doc thinks it is an acute bout of arthritis in his left hip. Whew! He still isn't walking , but he got a shot and I hope will be able to walk without the acute pain he had last night. He still isn't getting up to eat, but ate when I brought him food. I may just have to baby him for a couple of days.

Buddy is MUCH better. He is walking without a limp, jumping up and down from the bed, eating and drinking! Yay!

4 patch Hydrangea with Border

Here is what I ended up with. The border is 1 1/4" wide, and it is a periwinkle. I like it. The binding will be the same color. I don't know about the backing yet.

Marilyn suggested a bright yellow binding--I might have to try that--how fun would that be. I'm going to use the periwinkle and the sashing fabric (pieced together) for the backing.