Heat, UFOs & Strips

Lately I haven’t been in the sewing space very much! In July it was just too blasted hot up there. July was hot and then a heat wave and then just plain hot again.

We have two air conditioning units for this house. The one for upstairs, bedroom level and the sewing space, had been having difficulty before the month long heat set in. We had the A/C repair folks out 6 times before it really got hot, and when it would run nearly all day and still not be able to bring the temps down very much, I just turned the a/c off up there and didn’t spend any time in the upper levels. We have a basement room, that never warms up, so that became the bedroom. We moved a spare bed down there, where it will stay. Is it perfect? no, but it is much better than trying to sleep in a room that just won’t cool!

Temperatures are finally better, but I still haven’t spent much time actually sewing.

Ah, but I do have a project in the works! As I mentioned somewhere before, I am trying to deplete the stack of Un-Finished Projects, that have accumulated for various reasons. So far, I am turning one UFO, into two and have started another….  My idea for completing part 2 of the UFO will require a variety of brightly colored fabrics…. and to not have to buy each fabric… I decided to organize a strip swap! The little time I’ve been in the sewing space, has been dedicated to finding suitable fabrics for strips. The swap is nearly complete, but let me just say…. YUM! I hope to begin playing with those beautiful strips later this week. No pictures yet…. of the project, but they will be coming soon! I have enjoyed this swap so much, I might just have to do another!!!

Wednesday, was a sew-in at the local guild that I joined. It is in lieu of a regular meeting…  I have a baby quilt due sometime in September, so I thought I would work on that. Actually it is the beginning of every baby quilt I make in the future. I have decided to make a variety of 9 patch blocks, and the leftovers will be the beginning of the next baby quilt… Since babies need stimulation, and generally only see black and white early on, I am going to supply the black and white for the babies.

PICTURES!

I am still revisiting the pictures from our visits to Kruger National Park in South Africa. One of the most amazing adventures I have ever had. Above is the Lioness portrait. These ladies, along with some other adult females, young adults and adolescent cubs were just finishing up a breakfast of zebra when we found them. They are looking at lunch, a small herd of Wildebeest (Gnu) in the distance. Lions never pass up the chance for a meal… they did give a half hearted chase of the Wildebeests…. but they were full and it was too much work, so they faded off into the long grasses, for nap I’m sure!

and

Three of the young adults… do you see the onlooker hoping for a scrap? The grass is over 2 feet tall where it hasn’t been crushed. Oh the onlooker is a vulture. There were also quite a few of those hanging about…. waiting for the leftovers. They are not as pretty as the lions… trust me!

More Later- Beth

Recently in the Sewing Room

I cannot believe that we are finished with the first week of July!!! Next thing you know it will be Christmas!

I received a swap block, from the Sparkly Chickens, and I’ve had it for a month now.  It is just the cutest take on a ‘Paisley’ don’t you think!!! It is so cheerful and bright. Jean B. the maker has the most amazing imagination. Everything I have received from her has a simple twist that is truly her own mark!

I also received a postcard from Oregon! Becky (blog is here) took a detour into

fabric postcards this earlier this summer and has made a few. I think she has a new addiction. She sent me one of a Bird, because I feature so many here? I have it on the wall where I can look at it all the time! I love it. I have a plan to reciprocate… and a new series of African Postcards! More on those when I get to them.

I have put the UFO Challenge for July, #2 on the design wall. It was a challenge project from a guild I belonged to back in the early 90’s in Chico CA, called Annie Star.

I don’t know if the guild is still in existence. The chairperson of the “Music Challenge”; who I can still see in my mind but her name escapes me set forth the rules.

About the only thing I can remember is it had to be based on a song and as I think about it… I think that was the only rule.  In looking at what I could do and what it needed… I think “eliminating” is the way to go on this project. Now to the borders.

In the mean time I have finally completed the swap block for June. I had a terrible time with my original idea, which was going to be brightly colored pieced block with a Lemoyne star as the center. I could not get the center to line up at all. I made 3 blocks and they were all off… so I gave up. Then I had difficulty coming up with a better idea. But in the end I did, but alas no picture until the recipient sees it first!!! I like it, so I hope she does too. One of the ‘off’ blocks was turned into a Journal Cover… and I think it is destined to become a gift for Christmas in July. Except for the black and print fabric, it’s all hand dyed fabrics.

A  month ago, (maybe more) I was messing around with a journal cover… and made this one.  Nothing special… just wanted to sew… and this was easy. Laid the strips on in a flip and stitch… so it was layered and quilted at the same time.

 

I spent a few minutes in the sewing room today… but I am sponsoring again, and I had to make ready for them. Food and niceties in the house to say welcome!!!

 

As Usual, More Later-

Beth

a little of this, some of that…

Well a couple of things to show from the sewing room and a couple of pictures of nature too. I’ll start with a picture.

This plant is considered a weed… I don’t know what to call it… nor can I think of enough words to look it up for identification. I think it is in the succulent family… It makes baby plants, similar to hens and chicks… so they are quite prolific. There are many different plants that produce orange bell like flowers. I think I am going do a study of them next year. I will need something to do!

I have finished my April UFO. I had to wait for more Cranberry/pink variegated thread to arrive.  I was going through my stash for something the other day and ran across a maroon fabric that was much better for a binding. For a closer look at any picture, just click on it…

  

I printed off the label tonight and will attach it tomorrow. Another friend will be coming over for a bit of stitching and she is using my Janome with the Accufeed foot. She is making some African Print placemats. Simple grid quilting, but she is loving the process.

On Sunday I finally decided to make a Jacket. I have been toying with making one for several years. I just can’t decide on 1. the pattern/style and 2. what to make it out of. Just too many choices. But last week I picked up 2 filing cabinets from a family that is leaving. So I put all of my patterns in one of them. While doing so I found a pattern that my mother designed and decided to make it. I used the a silk upholstery fabric very similar to this one (I bought another piece) and lined it with a satin. It will be very warm!!! The pattern is only pieces no directions and very few markings. Sure glad I remembered some of the basics of construction. Went together very well and had it done on Monday afternoon, ok Monday evening, because I hemmed the lining by hand. I think if I make another one I will do some alterations… (& to show the pocket a little coin purse). There is a variation of the same coat, only longer, I am thinking of using one of the fabrics my DH brought me back from Rwanda, see them here.

I am still waiting for my fabric from the US to finish my May UFO… It won’t get here in time… so I am anxiously awaiting the number draw for  June!

And lastly 2 more pictures, these are birds. The first is a Malachite Kingfisher. He was either really tired or felt comfortable, he was about 10 feet over head. These guys are not very big, maybe 6” long.

This guy is called an African Hoopoe. Their color is the most beautiful cinnamon brown, with white and black markings. When they fly the pattern on the underside of the wings is very impressive. He had a partner, and I didn’t know this until the other day, but they make little cheep cheep sounds. A much smaller sound than you would think would be made by adult birds.

As Always I’ll Have More Later!

Beth

Sewing, printing and a flower

DH is still gone!!! I think I have spent more time alone in South Africa than I  have with my husband…. Good thing I stay busy… or I would be really bored by now. He thinks he may be home in 2 weeks… but I’m not holding my breath.
Karen, who blogs here said I must show the results of the Gelatin Printing we did two weeks ago…. so here is what I did. It was an experiment, because none of us had ever done it before… but I think I want to do it again. We used Setacolor inks …. and some fabric paints… (which I think I would thin… next time). The resists were some die cuts from paper.

This one was my favorite of them and of course the last one. You can’t see it, but there is gold ghost images, as the last layer.
Linda, one of the ladies from the American Quilting group that started a project by hand was becoming discouraged by how long it was going to take… so I invited her to come over and use the sewing machine…. Well once it got going there was not stopping her…. and it is done! It is a biscuit quilt, and instead of making a quilt, we made a bed scarf. It turned out great, don’t you think. She calls it

“The Hubbly Bubbly” quilt!

I have been working diligently on my UFO Challenge projects, and alas… again I will not have the number drawn for May completed by the end of the month. As usual, it is for the same reason. Waiting on the mail for additional materials… in this case it is material. I ordered some of the Purple Katmandu… so I could complete the next border.
This is what I started with.
I was totally uninspired. I did not like certain aspects of the additions by some of the Round Robin Group, but I really liked my center! I normally wouldn’t remove another's work, but it is my quilt and I really liked my center!!! So I spent last weekend rearranging and adding parts, and I really think I am beginning to like it. The chalk lines are from when I was trying to figure out how I was going to quilt it… when I decided to take it apart.  I couldn’t see putting all the time into quilting it if I wouldn’t like the quilt when it was done…. I may still quilt it with some straight lines…. but maybe not… we’ll wait and see what it says when I get it all back together… in about 10 days.
I have also been putting the binding on the April UFO and will have pictures soon. I am considering additional quilting… on it too, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Last thing… a picture of the poinsettia tree. It is in the neighbors yard… on the other side of a 10 foot wall, so this odd angled photograph is the best I will ever be able to do.

Oh, and if you were curious. Grand Baby Hunter arrived on Mothers Day, at 6:30 pm, 7 lbs 10 oz,; 20 inches long.

As Always …. More Later-
Beth

Flowers and Sewing

Of course I have to start with a couple of pictures. I keep trying to get a some that say Winter!!! but so far no luck, so I will show you these… that are just nice.

One of the ornamental garden trees is the ‘Bottlebrush’. Also called Callistemon salignus, a member of the Willow family. It is a familiar plant for me because growing up we had a Bottle Brush Shrub in our yard. I really liked the yellow butterfly and the red blossoms on the tree. Aside from the butterfly, bees and birds really like the nectar and the tree usually has lots of company.



Back in September I took a picture of the Coral Tree which is a surprising thing to see. The bright orange flowers cling to bare branches, then the leaves come, but I don’t think they are as interesting as the flowers. But the other day I noticed the seed pods.  You can see a few in this picture…. but nothing but seed pods in the next picture.






The look a little alien… don’t they.

I can reveal the “Happy House” block that I made for the Sparkly Chicken Swap, because Sandy got hers in the mail the other day. I had so much fun putting this together…  I can just picture the happy family that lives in this house… Mom, Dad and a puppy named Mozart… Can’t you?




I have been working diligently on my April Challenge…Judy Laquidaras 2011 UFO Challenge but alas it’s gone as far as I can… so I don’t think it will be done on time. I have once again been thwarted by the inability to run down to the local shop for what I need. It takes me 2 to 3 weeks to receive any items I order. Since I really didn’t know how I was going to quilt it… I didn’t know what thread or how much I was going to need when I started, (you see that I don’t have much left… on the spool). 

So since I will now have some more time (I have ordered a spool)… I may change my mind about the binding.  The picture is showing it much more red than it is… but I think I would really like a pinker maroon to finish it off. I wish I knew what the next number was... I'd get started on that with the extra time I have.









I’ve been doing a few other things… and will of course tell you MUCH more later 

-Beth

Hodge-Podge Post

Last week was sort of hurry up and wait… with the impending and threatened Government shut down. Of course my job is not ‘essential’ so I won’t have to report to work if they don’t come to a resolution.

I have been busy again in the sewing space to kill some time. I have another Swap Block ready to go… so no pictures yet -the recipient has to get it first. However I can show you the last Sparkly Chicken Swap Block, because the recipient has received hers. Her theme was beach, so I did a very typical beach scene.  Does it say beach to you?

I have also been working out the quilting I am going to do on the April UFO, from Judy Laquidaras UFO Challenge. I have a plan and I hope it goes as well as I think… and do what I want it to do. I made the top back in the early 1990’s, when I was a member of the Annie's Star Quilt Guild in Chico, CA. It is the second of two. The first I hand quilted and I don’t want to do THAT again… I have an idea of what I want to do… so now I am working out the details… and then I will begin.  I have changed out the poly batting to a cotton and spray basted. With DH on the road again, I will be able to quilt as needed.

I have, also-- finally gotten caught up on an International FQ Swap I am a member of. I was waiting for some fabric I ordered to arrive. I waited and waited and waited (from a US store that does online as well, I am just about fed up with them… and the backorders), and finally all but one piece is here, but I have time to get that one still. I have received some great pieces of fabric from all over the world since being involved with this group.

On Thursday last week, I had a short massage on my left shoulder and neck. I wanted to try Shiatsu and see if helped. Oh YES!!! I am thinking I may set up a regular massage appointment to see if I can get my neck and shoulder to relax long enough to get past the tension. I was a little reluctant to try massage again, as the Chiropractors massage therapists… did not ever get deep enough to do much good… I have been managing my neck and shoulder issues… without a chiropractor for more than 2 years with very little pain or discomfort, and few headaches.

A little about South Africa- It is fall here. Not that there has been a real noticeable change in the weather, at least not that you could say… it’s fall. A few trees are showing some color change or leaf loss - the poinsettia trees are beginning to get the red bracts that we see on the small shrubs at Christmas (in the US). I keep trying to get a good photograph, but so far no luck. Maybe a trip to the Botanical Gardens is in order, possibly next weekend. But I think the slight chill in the morning and evening air is the biggest change.  Enough that if you were going to be outside for a bit, you might want a sweater. The day time temps are still upper 60’s or lower 70’s so it’s still nice in the sun.

Well the Government did not shut down, so I must go to work.  Until later, and as always… there will be more later!

Beth

UFO Challenge - March Finish!

First of course is a photograph… a flower. A Bird of Paradise or as they are known here, a Crane Flower.

I don’t just have one finish…. I have TWO. Actually I did quite a bit of sewing in March.

There are 2 small items I can’t show you yet. One is a Sparkly Chickens Group ‘Receivers Choice’ swap block, and until the receiver receives… I can’t show it. The other is a surprise for the recipient and well showing it would ruin the surprise. I also messed around with creating a new luggage tag. I made a couple for DH… before he went to Rwanda, which is when I realized ours were all out of date… In the states I would just print new ones up and laminate… but I left the laminator in storage… (wish I had brought the thing with us). I made 2 prototypes, then the 2 for DH and yesterday I was messing with it again… and am half way through making 2 more. Of course you learn each time you make something… and this time I wanted to use button holes instead of eyelets (since I am almost out of large eyelets). I have only made them once on the Janome… and couldn’t remember the start/stop… on the automatic ones… every machine makes them differently!!! but I think I am liking these luggage tags. I still need to figure out how I am going to attach to the luggage…

The number drawn for March was Number 1; a hand appliqued hand quilted baby quilt, begun for my sisters oldest daughter, sometime in 1988.

It’s been a long time getting to this point. Lots of reasons for it -Like my life changed direction several times… The center wreath was taken from a Judy Martin book/ pattern. Once it

was done I thought it needed more and not just borders, so I created the corner vines. The stumbling block was the hand quilting and the cross hatching. It’s crooked, something I learned- mark cross hatching before you start… the top will stretch and shift and the lines won’t be in the right place on the other side. Finally worked it out… but well I would do it differently now. The other stumbling block was I had marked one corner of the border with a cable…. and in one of my ‘life direction changes’ I disposed of the stencil… that was used. I found another and thought it was the same… but it wasn’t… anyway done is done and I am hoping Christie will still enjoy it as something to look at rather than sleep under it. Of course getting it to her… is another matter all together. I cannot ship it from here… So it will have to wait a little longer. I may add some more line quilting in the corners 2” cross hatching… and the label well need to be done, but since I still have some cogitating time… I will think on the added quilting and make a label and add a hanging sleeve.

***One other thing I want to share about this quilt. The quilt was marked with a blue washout marker, way back in the late 80’s, and it stayed there until sometime in 2009, when I worked out the fix. It was re-marked with a blue washout marker… As you can see none of it remains. I will tell you also that it was pressed in some place with the blue marker still in… and it also washed out! I have never had a problem getting blue maker out… of a piece. Of course items marked were not exposed to long periods of light or heat, and stored well over the decades.

Remember the February project that was stopped before it started with the need for a design wall? Well it has gone from this:

To this!

So February UFO is done as well. I really wasn’t keen on using the brown stripe used as the posts as the border, but I didn’t have another brown to use (that I liked)… so this is it. I am thinking about adding some additional chicken things in the border… a fox, or a foundation pieced barn, or maybe some chicks, or eggs…

Well the list as usual could go on and on and on. But I am happy to report I got some things done, or at least as I stated when I started the UFO challenge to the next step!

As always…. MOre LAter!

Beth

My List of UFOs, WIPs & PHDs for the 2011 Challenge

I had planned to participate in Judy Laquidaras UFO Challenge .... in 2011. So in preparation I procrastinated until today to make my list. I have several small projects that I might be able to complete...

Here is my 12 for this .... next year, but my real (personal) goal is to get them to the next step, IF I finish one or more, that will be a bonus.

1. Christies Quilt (1988) - hand quilt*1/2 quilted
(edit 3/28/2011- drawn for March-completed except for the label)

2. Music-Proud Mary (1989) - complete top and add borders
(edit 7-3-11 drawn for July)

3. Presidents Quilt (1990) blocks -arranged and set (enough for 2 quilts?)

4. Sights in the Sky (1990) -machine quilt
(edit 4/29/2011 -Drawn  for April. 1/2 machine quilted ran out of thread. More ordered but not in time to complete in April. Binding is also cut and ready)

5. Japanese Ladies Quilt (2004)- machine quilt

6. Red/Black Japanese Quilt (2004)-machine quilt
(edit Drawn for January. Complete.)

7. Endo (2005)-machine quilt

8. GI Progressive "Coots N Cranes" (2007)- complete top
(edit 7-3-11 top complete)

9. PR Round Robin (2008)- machine quilt
(edit 7-3-11 top complete)

10. Sparkly Chickens- Chicken Blocks (2009) - arrange & set blocks

(edit, Drawn for February. Not complete for Feb. but top assembled in March)

11. Sparkly Chickens- Fall (2009) set blocks

 12.Cupcakes x2 (2010)- machine quilt

I didn't think I had that many... projects underway, (I actually have 17) I have left the ones that need to be hand quilted off, but as you can see some have been waiting a LONG time.

More later-

Beth