Sunday, I worked on the A-B-C Challenge back. I finished the top on Saturday and got busy with the back on Sunday. It took forever. Well, it seemed like it took forever.
I think I was just tired. I took last week, mostly, off, but with one thing and another, I did a lot.
Another thought is that I have really high expectations of what I can accomplish in a given number of hours. I don’t usually count requests for my chauffeur service, laundry duties, lunch, etc.
For once, I was very careful about pressing the seams open, though Colleen never says anything about that. I am proud of myself.
I am also pleased that I could use another giant piece of Martha Negley fabric. I love her prints, just like I love Philip Jacobs prints. Putting the large flower on the back of the Flowering Snowball was such a great experience that I wanted to repeat it. This particular print has some odd colors, but they go well with the Empire gold that Pat Bravo loves and includes with her collections. Also the green goes well with that border fabric.
I am trying to use larger pieces and make simpler backs. They take less time. Can you tell how simple this back is compared to the Stepping Stones back? I wonder what I was thinking!
Yesterday I detailed all the BFSI comments you wrote (keep ’em coming!) and the prizes I gave away. I actually did get sewing done, which was great. I don’t feel like I got as much sewing done as I would have liked, but I got enough done. I guess.
As an aside: Is it ever really possible to get enough sewing done? I don’t know what enough sewing is, so I can’t say. I would like to try to figure it out, though.
Enough of that.
I know that there were a number of people who had to work, Kati had problems with her laptop, so could only follow along and others had family obligations, so I feel lucky to have gotten done what I did get done.
I started out the day by getting up a bit on the late side…for me. I got up around 7am and since we had 24 people over to eat the night before, I got the first load of non-china dishes going in the dishwasher while my tea steeped. There were also some things that needed to be soaked, so I put them in hot water as well. I could hear the call of Twitter, though, throughout the chores, so I didn’t stay away for much longer.. My phone has been acting up, so I gave it a good talking to, which encouraged it to work. I was able to use it during the day as well.
I kind of think that I did some #BFSI warm-ups earlier in the week with the cat beds and the donation blocks. Who doesn’t need a good warm up?
I promised to make two pincushions for the BAMQG raffle basket, so I decided to get busy on those. The meeting is next week, after all, so I didn’t have much time.
I used a charm pack from Sandy Gervaise called Objects of Desire and the Petit Gateau pattern from Fig Tree quilts. This is the pattern I used before and I liked it.
In general, I like Sandy Gervaise’s fabric designs. They are fun, generally cheerful or have a bit of humor. She also usually includes dots, which I love. I have found, thoughn that her color choices are usually a bit too beige for me. She often has a really good and fun print on the front of the charm pack, but as I pick through the fabrics (which is one reason charm packs are great!), I find many of the fabrics to be ‘Meh.’ I don’t hate them by any stretch, but they aren’t my favorites.
Pincushions in progress
Why choose ‘meh’ fabrics for pincushions, you ask? In small doses they are a relatively cheerful and a nice combination of fabrics for a pincushion. It took me some time to get them together, but once I made the half square triangles, they went pretty quickly. I sewed a couple of charms together to make the gusset piece. I thought about digging around in my fabric closet, but have plenty of charms, so that worked for me.
I have a lot of charms from the pack left so might make a couple more pincushions as gifts. They are fun and cute.
I have some hand stitching to finish, buttons to attach, but I am pleased with the way they look. They are cheerful and I like the different scales of fabric.
I also worked on the A-B-C Challenge. I know I talked about it before, but in order to get to the stage of FINISHED top, I worked on the border on Saturday as well. I spent most of the time that I worked on this piece on the grey inner border.
Patchwork Wheel #7 & 8
I also always need leaders and enders. That is mostly how I am getting the Patchwork Wheel blocks done. I doubt I will get a quilt top from them finished by the meeting next Saturday, but I can finish it by January.
Sandy talked about her BFSI experience on her blog. Sarah detailed her progress and she had to go to work! Pam did a lot of sewing work, but admitted to finishing the Star Wars quilt during the Black Friday Sew-in. Katie made major progress on her Orca Bay quilt. She was being good and trying to finish it before Easy Street started.
I know I should wait until after the BAMQG meeting to crow, but I can’t! I just finished this top yesterday and am THRILLED with the way it came out. The border is much simpler than I originally thought I would make, but I think it brings out all the piecing in the individual blocks. So far, I am in love.
I am planning to work on the back today. I have a large piece of the Martha Negley Mum Toss print (lower right hand corner of photo, below) to put on the back. The main color is the same as the very outer border of the front. Also, that weird gold is included in the Martha Negley print. I have to do a label and a binding, but I think I can do both tomorrow.
As I may have mentioned, I am posting questions throughout the day that will enable you to be eligible to win prizes during the Black Friday Sew-in. Some of the prizes will be awarded in a random drawing, but if I really like an answer, I might award that person a prize as well. My blog, my rules. If you object, don’t enter.
Task 1 / Question #2: Make a gift bag. I have posted a link on my tutorial page for a few years that shows you how to make holiday gift bags. You do not have to make a Christmas gift bag (kind of silly, if you don’t celebrate Christmas!). You can make a bag to use for birthdays or general gift giving.
Reasons to make and use gift bags:
Festive gift bags save time during gift giving times, because they are quick to use.
Great use of all that festive fabric now that you have decided not to make a Christmas or ___fill in the holiday blank___ quilt.
You are not using paper that will get ripped off and recycled in a month anyway.
No tape.
Easy to open and look in if the gift tag falls off.
Fair warning: You will can only win or be entered in the drawing if you make a gift bag and show a picture of it somewhere.
I will be posting a series of questions that will enable you to win prizes for the Black Friday Sew-in. Some of the prizes will be awarded in a random drawing, but if I really like an answer, I might award that person a prize as well. My blog, my rules. If you object, don’t enter.
Question 1: What do you keep near your sewing machine or on your worktable to provide inspiration? Do you have a tableau? Do you have a shrine? Photos of your beloved?
Write it all out below. Optional bonus for posting a photo to Twitter or a link on Twitter to your blog where you post a photo.
Fair warning: You will not win or be entered in the drawing if you do not answer the question. If you say “please enter me in the drawing,” your manners do count for good karma. I thank you for saying please, but I will not enter you in the drawing. I want words, content and pictures!
11/23/2012 3:55 pm Update: Comments closed. Winner is Becky Greene!
This is a little different than the previous few responses, but in line with some of the earlier ones. I really wanted to draw a threaded needle. I am trying to draw what pops into my head when I think about the word and am ready to draw. Within reason.
The thimble was an afterthought and I can’t tell if the thimble and needle are magically flying through the air or if they look like they are laying on the table.
Repeating the flower and the counter after the previous response seemed to be the right thing to do. My kitchen window is similar to this, but looks out on the wall of my neighbor’s house. I’d love to paint a tromp l’oeil painting on the side, but I don’t know how they would react. I wonder if they would notice?
Definition: A drink, or beverage, is a kind of liquid which is specifically prepared for human consumption. There are many groups for drinks. It can be divided into various groups such as plain water, alcohol, non alcoholic drinks, soft drinks (carbonated drinks), fruit or vegetable juices and hot drinks. In addition to fulfilling a basic need, drinks form part of the culture of human society.
hot drink
soft drink
non-alcoholic drink
Drinkmaster
Eat, drink and be merry
Go out for a drink
How much water should you drink every day?
DrinkAware
Take 5 minutes to do any kind of artistic response: poem, doodle, quilt, pastel, pencil. ANYTHING counts. No rules; just do it!
Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog.
The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to post your responses. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses.
Take 5 minutes to do any kind of artistic response: poem, doodle, quilt, pastel, pencil. ANYTHING counts. No rules; just do it!
Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog.
The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to post your responses. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses.
Whispered Words, a Slash recommendations database.
Beatles Let It Be Lyrics
Songwriters: LENNON, JOHN / MCCARTNEY, PAUL
When i find myself in times of trouble
Mother mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
I was really on the fence about the BAMQG pincushion swap. I wanted to try it, but was concerned I would have trouble making it. I didn’t quite know how to deal with the button and I didn’t want to make myself crazy trying to get it right.
I decided to participate in the Pincushion Swap with BAMQG after I spoke with Joanna Figueroa at PIQF. Once I had the pattern, Petit Gateau from Fig Tree Quilts, and the know-how I picked out the most modern fabrics I could think of and really had a good time making it.
I liked the way the pattern said to make small blocks and put them together. It was kind of amazing the way, after I cut the circle, the top looks like I sewed it into a circle.
I had a little trouble with the filling. I wanted something with weight, but I wanted to be sensitive to people with nut allergies. I went to the store and as I was being directed around the store for different fillings, I came across the pellets they use for Beanie Babies. I bought a package of those, because I thought they would be good for the weight. I thought about the sharpening qualities that those old tomato pincushions have and landed on some wool roving. I bought a bunch of that and the combination ended up working well. The combination was easy to put in the pincushion.
Vintage Modern Pincushion
It really didn’t take very long to make the pincushion and it was fun. I liked making it and kept thinking about who else needed a pincushion. Perhaps I’ll make one for a Black Friday Sew-In prize?
I am actually ok giving this pincushion in for the swap. I hope I get one back that is as nice.
a class or function designed to receive incoming events from another object or function.
wash basin
Definition: A sink (also sinker, hand basin and wash basin) is a bowl-shaped plumbing fixture used for washing hands, for dishwashing or other purposes. Sinks generally have taps (faucets) that supply hot and cold water and may include a spray feature to be used for faster rinsing. They also include a drain to remove used water; this drain may itself include a strainer and/or shut-off device and an overflow-prevention device. Sinks may also have an integrated soap dispenser.
A carbon sink is a natural or artificial reservoir that accumulates and stores some carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period. The process by which carbon sinks remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere is known as carbon sequestration. Public awareness of the significance of CO2 sinks has grown since passage of the Kyoto Protocol, which promotes their use as a form of carbon offset.
Take 5 minutes (5 minutes only!!!) to do any kind of artistic response: poem, doodle, quilt, sing, dance, pastel, pencil. ANYTHING counts. No rules; just do it!
Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog.
The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to post your responses. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses.
Definition: In Euclidean geometry, a convexquadrilateral with at least one pair of parallel sides (see definition below) is referred to as a trapezoid in American English and as a trapezium in English outside North America. The parallel sides are called the bases of the trapezoid and the other two sides are called the legs or the lateral sides. A scalene trapezoid is a trapezoid with no equal sides or angles, in contrast to the special cases below. A trapezoid with vertices ABCD is denotedABCD.
Take 5 minutes to do any kind of artistic response: poem, doodle, quilt, pastel, pencil. ANYTHING counts. No rules; just do it!
Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog.
The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to post your responses. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses.
I know what you are all going to draw, paint or sing and what I am going to draw, so I am going to stop trying to find non-math Trapezoid things.
I decided to try out the 3rd quarter blocks (though I thought they were for the 4th quarter. I am behind – whatever), Patchwork Wheel, for the Charity Girls at BAMQG. The kits I picked up made 2 blocks each and they are quite…exciting? Loud? Wild? blocks. I don’t know which. I kind of like their exhuberance, though.
The square parts were already cut, but I had to make the HSTs. No problem. They included the fabric cut the parts and I drew a line down the middle and sewed. Worked like a charm.
I have to say that I did start putting these together stupidly. Instead of waiting to finish the HSTs and then put the blocks together in 4 patch segments, I sewed allt he squares together and had to put them together in rows. Yes, I could have unsewed, but I didn’t.
Patchwork Wheels Finished
They came out well. There is nothing hideous about them.
When I saw the four of them together, i decided I wanted to make an entire top from such blocks just to see how it would turn out. Jennifer is saving some kits for me, so I can make more blocks and sew them together in a quilt.
Yes, the fabrics are wild and crazy, but I think they will be perfect for some kid with a wild streak in her. It hought of making some HSTs for the the project using my Triangle Technique but I am not sure if that would be helpful. Each pair of squares makes 8 HSTs and I think the blocks look better scrappy. I’ll have to see.
Donation blocks 1-4/Yellow & Pink
I wanted to finish another top before the next meeting , as a result, I have been making yellow and pink checkerboards.
These blocks are really cheerful and I am enjoying making them.
I am doing something a little different with these blocks. After the mosaic result of the pink and green blocks, I decided to be a little more choosy about the pinks and yellows I chose. The pink with the gold rings (upper left block, lower left corner, last row, 2d patch) is about the darkest pink I am using. All of the yellows are light and cheerful. I weeded out some of the Pat Bravo yellows-tending-towards browns for this particular project. There are a couple of pinks that are a bit too light and some different pinks that blend a bit with one of the Pat Bravo yellows, but all-in-all I am happier with how this project is turning out.
Donation blocks 5-8/Yellow & Pink
At the moment I am out of yellow and need to cut some more before I can make more blocks. I do have some that I sewed together randomly to white, black on white, etc. I could rip those out, but I don’t know if I am that ambitious. We’ll see.
I want to clear off my sewing table of 2.5″ squares and pink and yellow were what I had left. Good thing they go together. I might give away the rest of the squares and move on to something else. We will see.
Pink & Green Donation Quilt back
Finally, I took a photo of the back for the Pink and green donation quilt. These colors are a little darker than the fabrics on the front of the quilt, but they are first quality fabrics that I was not going to use in my own work. I really liked some of them, but the pattern or the colors prevented me from putting them into a quilt. I hope someone will enjoy this back.
Jennifer told me today that the group has made 93 finished quilts for charity this year. I think the one I put the binding on might be 94. I would love to believe that is some kind of record for a guild. Probably not, but I like to think this program was a success. Jennifer and Deborah are rock stars.
