What's sewing

I have been wanting to take a class from Quilt University for a long time.  I finally took the plunge and signed up for "Jane Was Nuts."  It's a take on the Dear Jane quilt only all the blocks finish to a logical 4" size.  So far, after one lesson, I am in love with the blocks. I've wanted to make small blocks for a long time and this was just the nudge I needed.

Here is my first block. I love the low contrast of the pinwheels.

I followed all the instructions.  Mind you, the lesson was not what I expected (although I don't really know what I expected), but I followed the "draw a line, sew and cut" instructions to the letter! (I realllly don't like making half squares by this method but I was trying to be dutiful).  After finishing the block while admiring my handiwork and bemoaning the fact that there were going to be many more "draw the line" type 1/2 sq.s in my future, I had a DUH moment! I have hundreds, really, hundreds of finished 1 1/2" half square triangles HST's! I've been working on these thing for YEARS !!! I wrote about it here.  That was then....now I have these

And these that are all counted and stacked neatly.  There are leftovers from a friends sew on the line, flip and pitch what's left, method of attaching a triangle to a square.

And these that are 2"

And these that are also leftovers from a sew on the line, flip and pitch what's left, method of attaching a triangle to a square....this time from a quilt I am making.

Sheesh! Just use the ones I have already made! Simplification and viola'! I buzzed through the lesson.

I am totally in love! I have been trying to figure out what to do with all of these cuties and this never occurred to me! I cannot wait for the next lessons... or maybe, now that my brain is turned on, I'll just go with the concept!

Hope over to Juday and see what else is going on in the quilt world!

Paper piecing fun

A few weeks ago I made this adorable paper pieced pin cushion. I needed a good excuse to break out the heat set tool and jewels and this was as good a reason as any! I forgot how much fun paper piecing can be.



I gave it to a friend so she too can be a princess!

Stash Report

I've decided to use this stash report to track my fabric as opposed to feeling guilty for purchasing. I really do not want to buy...often. However, on occasion, it is a necessity...whether physical (need to right shade of fabric) or mental, (need to fondle some new fabric)

I did however clear 13 yards! I made all of these pillowcases from flannel. I had bought it from Joanns the day after Thanksgiving. I wanted to make myself a robe but gosh it is too thin and (so aggrivating) printed off grain! My friend didn't realize what she said when she told me to make a pillowcase! I made a few for me, a few for my fellow roommates at retreat, plus a few from golf fabric for my husband (hey, he supports my quilting habit and deserves something once in a while too!) I made the pillowcases a few inches bigger all the way around to try to compensate if they shrink.




I discovered that it requires a boatload of fabric to make the number of kippot needed for Aviva's wedding. Naturally I don't have enough candy fabric! I bought M&M and Tootsie Roll fabricsthat are so cute!

The tally....

Used this Week: 13
Used year to Date: 13.5
Added this Week: 6
Added Year to Date: 6
Net Used for 2011: 7.5

Scoot on over to Judy's blog and catch up on all the other participating stash busters!

Old projects

I was surprised at how many things I've made for my in-laws. I ran around the house snapping pictures.

These were during my ceramics era.....


This gingerbread man is sooo ugly. My MIL insists on putting it out each year.





I am supposing that I made all of these in 1983

What am I thinking?

I don't know where my brain was when I made this or why I made it! I found it in my huge pile of untrimmed 1/2 square triangles.

You know the ones....they are the itty bitty waste triangles you cannot bear to throw away. ( read a great line in another blog that was something like...I have yards and yards of fabric. WHY am I muddling about with these itty bitty things that could be thrown away!! We all know the answer....we paid for them!!! But I love the sentiment. It's how I feel exactly).

These are 1.5" big. That means they will finish at 1" each. Am I nuts?

Halloween wall hanging

I made this about 4 years ago. As usual I made one for myself, and one for each girl. It' one of my favorites. It comes from a Art to Heart book.

APPLES!

I find this so funny. I have loved these apples since the first time I saw them. I never considered making them until last few years. I looked at them and saw too much potchkying around (it's fiddly work). All of a sudden I was hell-bent on an apple pattern. I finally had one but then that potchkying thing kept me from making them. Two years later.......

A big tower of apples. It took me too long to finish them for the 2009 gift. I put them away for another day. But I can finally say that I made them!

potholders

I was on a serger kick. I just felt like serging and quilting. I learned a few things.

1. My serger doesn't like batting

2. My serger DOESN'T like Insul-bright batting

3. My kicks don't last long. I tired before I finished! LOL! I did finish all I had started. I still have a few strip sets left to quilt but I'm in no hurry.

I used a pattern from Sewing with Nancy called Ready ,Set, Serge. I used it because of the unique method of turning. There is no hand work and no topstitching. I think next time I will modify it and only add one "hand pouch" on the back.

I used up some bits of batting, thread that the long arm doesn't like and a few random strips of fabric. All in all a good experiment a good quilting practice.