sew what's new?

I DID DECIDE TO ADD A 3 1/2" BORDER TO MY BOW TIE QUILT.   WITH FIVE ROWS ACROSS AND SIX ROWS DOWN.  JUST THE RIGHT SIZE TO HANG ON MY WALL  OR TO PUT ON MY TABLE.   IT WAS ON THE ADVICE OF MY QUIRKY SIDE TO ADD THE  CHEDDAR BOW TIES. THIS  IS MY BARBRA BRACKMAN BLOCK  # 44 .THIS IS A FREE BLOCK GIVEN  BY BARBRA , WEEKLY ON SATURDAY MORNINGS  FROM HER BLOG ON CIVIL WAR QUILTS.  THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 52 BLOCKS TO BE GIVEN, SO WE ARE ALMOST AT THE END OF OUR TRAIL.  SHE HAS ALSO GIVEN A LAYOUT FOR THE BLOCKS ALSO ;  HOWEVER I THINK I WILL USE MY OWN  LAYOUT . I DON'T WANT A QUILT AS LARGE AS HERS WILL TURN OUT.  I PREFER SMALLER. TODAY HAS BEEN A NICE FALL DAY ,  AS FALL DAYS GO.  JUST A LIGHT JACKET NEEDED.  NO SNOW AS OF YET;UNLIKE THOSE COLD EASTERN  STATES!!  STAY INSIDE AND STITCH! ALL FOR NOW , MARTHA

I START BY CUTTING A FEW FABRICS TO PATTERN SPECIFICATIONS.   AS YOU WILL SEE LATER I END UP NOT USEING THE BLACK  PIECES.    I HAVE TO CUT THEM AGAIN OUT OF THE SAME MATERIAL AS THE TRIANGLES.    I BEGIN BY SEWING A 1 1/2" SQUARE TO A 2 1/2" SQUARE  DIAGONALLY TO ONE CORNER.   I  THEN IRON FABRIC CORNER ,  SO THAT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FABRIC SHOWS.   I THEN TURN IT OVER AND MAKE SURE NONE OF THE FRONT FABRIC SQUARE( 1 1/2") SHOWS FROM THE BACK.   IF  EVERYTHING IS FLUSH ,  I THEN CUT A SEAM ALLOWANCE TO 1/4 " FROM SEWN LINE.  THE SOLID SQUARE IS ALSO 2 1/2".   BY SEWING ONE TOP TO ONE BOTTOM AND PRESSING TO THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE (THIS BEING TO THE SOLID SQUARE).   YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PUT BLOCK TOGETHER AND ALWAYS HAVE SEAMS BUTT. THE LAST SEAM LINE  ,  ON  THE BOW TIE ,  I  VERTICALLY I PRESSED OPEN SO AS NOT TO HAVE TOO MUCH BULK IN QUILT.   ALWAYS PRESS BLOCKS AS YOU GO  ; WHEN QUILTING TIME COMES IT LIES SO MUCH FLATTER AND MAKES IT SO MUC

     I HAVE BEEN BINDING . I FINISHED MY LITTLE YO YO TABLE TOPPER QUILT.           IT WILL BE SHOWN AT NEXT MONTH'S PRAIRIE WOMENS CLUB.   I DID THE RUNNER BELOW IT FOR SPRING FOR MY MOM. AFTER I  FINISHED BINDING THAT ,  I BOUND A LAP QUILT WHICH IS A CHRISTMAS PRESENT.  SO I CAN NOT SHOW YOU THE FRONT JUST YET , HOWEVER I CAN SHOW YOU THE BACK!   THAT COLORFUL TYE DYED FABRIC IS RICKY TIMS FABRIC THAT I GOT ON CLEARANCE LAST YEAR ON SHOP HOP!   IT WAS ONLY A DOLLAR A YARD.  JUST KEEP IN MIND THOSE BACKINGS WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT SALE FABRIC!!  I ENJOY BINDING IT IS SOOTHING FOR ME .   I DO IT IN FRONT OF THE TELEVISION,  ESPECIALLY WHEN MY HUSBAND HAS CONTROL OF THE REMOTE WHICH IS ALMOST ALWAYS.   I HAVE AN OTT LAMP BESIDE  MY CHAIR WHICH ALSO HELPS.   SO TAKE A STITCH AND SOOTHE YOUR SOUL.     MARTHA

THE YO YO TABLE TOPPER IS ANOTHER PATTERN FROM  PAM BUDA  AND THE PRAIRIE WOMEN'S SEWING CIRCLE.  I FINALLY HAVE MINE LAYERED AND QUILTED , BUT NOW IT NEEDS TO BE BOUND.   SINCE IT IS GOING TO HAVE A SCALLOPY EDGE  I TAPED TWO PIECES OF COPY PAPER TOGETHER AND CUT OUT MY SCALLOP AND USED CHALK TO MARK ON MY DARK FABRIC.  I  THEN SEWED ON THE LINE TO HAVE A MORE PERMANENT LINE TO GO BY  AFTER I FINISH QUILTING IT.  I  DID THIS BEFORE LAYERING AND QUILTING IT. MAKING YO YO'S IS A GOOD TAKE -A-LONG  PROJECT TO DO IN A WAITING ROOM OR IN THE BLEACHERS  , OR EVEN IN THE CAR ON A ROAD TRIP!  TAKE CARE , STITCH AWAY! MARTHA     

     I WENT TO MY CIVIL WAR CLUB MEETING AT COLORZ  FOR QUILTS   ;THEY CALL IT  PRAIRIE WOMEN  AND IS WRITTEN BY PAM BUDA.   SHE ALSO WRITES A BLOG CALLED HEARTSPUN QUILTS ,WHICH I ALSO ENJOY IMMENSELY.     THERE WERE  MANY LOVELY AND GRACIOUS LADIES THERE WHO BROUGHT MANY QUILTS TO SHARE. MANY OF THE QUILTS WERE FROM PATTERNS FROM THE PROGRAM BY PAM BUDA AND SOME WERE QUILTS OF THEIR OWN DESIGN. THIS IS MY TOP ,  FROM ONE OF THE PROGRAM PATTERNS. I MADE IT MY OWN BY CHANGING COLOR PLACEMENT AND TURNING ONE OF THE PIECES A DIFFERENT WAY .  BUT STILL CUTE IN ITS OWN WAY.  I HAVE NOT QUILTED IT YET BUT HOPE TO HAND QUILT IT ; AND AS I AM JUST STARTING HAND QUILTING , I LIKE TO PICK SMALL THINGS.  IT IS APPROXIMATELY 25"  X  31".                                                            I ENJOY GETTING TOGETHER WITH OTHER QUILTER'S  , TO NOT ONLY SHARE BUT ALSO TO INSPIRE OTHERS AND YOURSELF!  IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH SOMETIMES TO LIFT ANOTHER UP.  MY SPIRIT LIFTS UP A

     I HAVE A NEW FRIEND TO TAKE TO SEWING CLASSES.   SHE WON'T BE SO HARD TO HAUL AROUND AND WON'T MAKE ME GRUNT  ;   LIKE I AM WEIGHT LIFTING WHEN I PICK HER UP.   I TESTED HER OUT AND SEWS JUST FINE.   I JUST HAVE TO REMEMBER TO PUT THE BOBBIN IN THE OPPOSITE WAY I AM USED TO.   MRS. BERNINA MAY GET A BIT JEALOUS!   I ALSO PURCHASED A WALKING MADE ESPECIALLY  FOR HER AND HAD TO TRY THAT OUT ALSO. IT WORKED JUST GREAT! OF COURSE I ALSO PURCHASED MORE BOBBINS AND THE BEST FOOT EVER, THE 1/4" FOOT.   I DID A TEST PIECE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS EXACTLY A 1/4".   IT WAS! I AM THRILLED! NOW I DO NOT DREAD GOING TO A CLASS AND LUGGING AROUND FORTY TO FIFTY POUNDS OF METAL. NOW TOMORROW I HAVE MY PRAIRIE WOMEN CLASS TO GO TO . I WILL GIVE YOU A SNEAK PEAK AT WHAT I AM WORKING ON. THIS IS BARBRA BRACKMEN CIVIL WAR BLOCK # 43.    ARE YOU KEEPING UP? ALL FOR NOW , TAKE CARE,SOOTHE YOU SOUL AND TAKE A FEW STITCHES. MARTHA

     DURING THE SUMMERS OUR LOCAL QUILT STORE CHARGES $1.00 A WEEK FOR MATERIAL AND PATTERN FOR A BLOCK FOR A QUILT. THIS GOES ON FOR TWELVE WEEKS.  ALSO THEY GIVE YOU SEVERAL VARIATIONS ON HOW TO PUT  IT  TOGETHER.  I BELIEVE THERE WERE FOUR WAYS GIVEN THIS YEAR.  SORRY  ABOUT THE PIC BEING SIDE WAYS. THIS WAS THE SETTING I CHOOSE.  THE FABRIC FOR THE ADDITIONAL BLOCKS ARE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PURCHASE.  I REALLY ENJOYED DOING THIS ONE.  THIS IS SUCH A BARGAIN! I LOVE STRIPED BINDING ,  HOWEVER FOR SOME REASON I RARELY DO IT!  THIS TIME I REMEMBERED!  ALWAYS REMEMBER TO PUT A LABEL ON THE BACK.  IF NOT FOR YOU , FOR YOUR KIDS! TAKE A FEW STITCHES EVERY DAY FOR YOUR SPIRIT AND SOUL!   ALL FOR NOW,  TAKE CARE. MARTHA     

   I FINISHED MY BLOCK # 40 AND # 41 ,SO I AM NOW CAUGHT UP IN MY BLOCKS; FROM THE BARBARA BRACKMAN CIVIL WAR SERIES.  NEW BLOCK NEXT SATURDAY. SO THEN I MADE BETTY CROCKERS PUMPKIN COOKIES  (FROM A PACKAGE)  AND HOMEMADE  CREAM CHEESE  FROSTING.  MY GOOD FRIEND MARY ANN  SERVED MY HUSBAND AND I ,  THESE ON OUR RECENT VISIT. I HAVE STARTED BINDING ONE OF MY QUILTS AND PERHAPS WILL BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU TOMORROW!!   ALL FOR NOW TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES. MARTHA     

     I NEED TO FINISH TALKING ABOUT MY HEXIES.  AFTER PUTTING  THE FREEZER PAPER ON FABRIC AND CUTTING THEM OUT AND LEAVING A 1/4 " SEAM ALLOWANCE ON THEM , I THEN TACK EACH CORNER WITH TWO OR THREE STITCHES TO HOLD IN PLACE THE CORNERS.  USUALLY THESE ARE SEWN TOGETHER BY HAND;  I CHOOSE TO SEW THEM TOGETHER WITH A SEWING MACHINE  AND A SMALL ZIG ZAG STITCH (1.5 WIDETH AND LENGTH ).  ON TOP I USED A SMOKE Y  MONFILAMENT  ;  SO THAT THE STITCHES WERE HARDER TO SEE. AFTER THEY ARE ALL PUT TOGETHER THEN I TAKE OUT THE FREEZER PAPER  AND PUT THEM ON A LARGE PIECE OF FELT AND SEW THEM DOWN.  CUT AWAY EXCESS FELT (I LEFT A 1/4") AND YOU ARE FINISHED! BRENDA AT COUNTRY FABRICS  SUGGESTED TO DO THIS SO THERE IS NO BINDING OR TURNING INVOLVED.  IT IS NOT GOING TO GET WASHED MUCH ,IF AT ALL. LOOKS AND FEELS SO MUCH LIKE FALL BOTH INSIDE AND OUT AT MY HOUSE.  WE HAD A CHANCE OF FLURRIES TODAY ; IT DID NOT HAPPEN THOUGH. I THINK I CAN WAIT A WHILE FOR THAT!  HERE ARE SOME FALL THI

I finished the table topper with the yo yo's and embroidery as you can see.  I quilted it and put on same binding as the fabric on the back of it.      I have now started making hexes or english paper piecing .  I need to make 19 hexes.      I first cut out 19 hexes from freezer paper.      I then picked out different fabrics and I ironed the hexes onto the back of the fabrics.  That is the shiny side down on the back of the fabric.  I then roughly cut the fabric 1/4 " from the freezer paper.  There is always something new in sewing and quilting.  I have never tried hexes before, but so far I do like it.  Hope to finish this candle mat tonight,so that I may show it to you tomorrow along with a picture of my white featherweight ,that i just purchased.  All for now, I must get busy with these hexes!! martha     

     I HAVE FINISHED PUTTING THE YO YO'S ON MY TABLE TOPPER AND NOW NEED TO LAYER AND QUILT IT.   THOUGHT I WOULD SHOW YOU A PICTURE EVEN THOUGH NOT TOTALLY FINISHED.      I LIKE IT SO FAR,JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF EMBROIDERY AND LICK UM STICK, UM APPLIQUE.   WITH BLANKET STITCH DONE ON SEWING MACHINE.  YO YO'S SEW DONE BY HAND AND BUTTONS SEWN ON TOP.      SOMETIMES LOOKING AT OTHER PEOPLE'S WORK INSPIRES ME !   SOMETIMES JUST LISTENING TO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING HELPS GET ME INSPIRED AND MY CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING.  THE INTERNET ALSO CAN GIVE YOU A CREATIVE JUMP! SO MANY QUILT GROUPS ON THE WEB AND SOME GREAT BLOGS TO SUBSCRIBE TO! BUT I STILL FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT FORGET TO GET OUT AND SEE FRIENDS AND JOIN THOSE QUILT GROUPS IN PERSON!      WHAT INSPIRES YOU? WHAT NURTURES YOU SOUL AND CHARGES YOUR BATTERIES?      ALL FOR NOW,   TAKE CARE,  AND MAY GOD BLESS.                    MARTHA

     MANY OF US WHEN WE ARE BORN , IMMEDIATELY HAVE A FAMILY , A HISTORY  OR HERITAGE.  SOME HAVE TO SEARCH FOR THAT FAMILY HISTORY LATER . THE FAMILY WE ARE BORN WITH WILL ALWAYS BE OURS, GOOD OR BAD;  BIG OR SMALL, RICH OR POOR,CUTE OR NOT SO CUTE WILL ALWAYS BE OURS.  THIS IS THE FAMILY THAT I MARRIED INTO AND I WAS BLESSED WITH.       THIS IS HERSHEY WHO IS PART OF THE FAMILY I CHOSE!      THERE ARE A FEW MORE I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO VISIT (NOT DOGS); PEOPLE CHOSEN TO BE FAMILY OF WHICH I CONSIDER VERY PRECIOUS AND SPECIAL  I WISH TO THANK THEM FOR HAVING ME AND MY HUSBAND IN THEIR HOMES;  AND I ALREADY MISS THEM. WHILE VISITING I BROUGHT MY MARY,MARY QUITE CONTRARY! QUILT TO SHOW THEM; IT IS AND EMBROIDERED AND COLORED WITH CRAYONS,THEN HEAT SET AND THERE ARE A FEW BLOCKS THAT ARE PIECED.  WHILE I WAS DOING ALL THIS VISITING MY QUILTER FINISHED TWO MORE OF MY QUILTS ,SO AS SOON AS I GET THEM BOUND I WILL SHOW THEM TO YOU ALSO. ONE OF MY HUSBAND'S COUSINS GAVE TWO BAGS OF TEE S

Went home to Illinois to see family and friends, and go to a family re-union. Got a big surprize when grandson showed up from University of Kentucky and stayed a few days. That is him with his sister! Then we had two grand-daughters in an year end cheer -leading competion with seven other towns. They took second  place! Yeah! Of course i had time to go shopping with my quilting buddy ; while i was there I bought  some scrumpious civil war fabric and a large sampling of Little Gatherings from Primitive Gatherings. WhileI was hooping it up in Illinois , the  quilt I made for Karla Overland our now past president(of our quilt  guild) was given to her! Can't give everything away in one day , I have more to tell tomorrow, it has been a long day. Take care all! Martha