sew what's new?

IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I HAVE HAD A NEED FOR A BABY QUILT. NEITHER FOR MYSELF NOR GRANDKIDS. YOUNGEST  ARE  9 AND OLDEST IS 20. BEST TO KEEP IN SHAPE THOUGH THE GRANSON  MIGHT BE READY IN FIVE YEARS OR SO.  SO I VOLUNTEERED TO MAKE A BABY QUILT FOR THE STORE ;  AND I REALLY LIKE HOW IT TURNED OUT.  IT IS FROM A PANEL ( IN THE MIDDLE OF QUILT ) AND THE PATTERN I USED IS CALLED SPOTLIGHT BY KARI NICHOLS. THE PANEL IS OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. THIS MORNING  I WAS ROOTING AROUND IN MY SEWING ROOM AND FOUND THE MAKINGS FOR THESE LITTLE NOTEBOOKS.  SO I TOOK SOME TIME WHILE HUBBY WAS ICE FISHING TO MAKE THEM.  I HAVE A COUPLE OF SICK FRIENDS THAT I WANT TO SEND  A LITTLE PACKAGE OF CHEER TO THEM. VARIETY IS SPICE OF LIFE A LITTLE LOOKSEY INSIDE! WELL I AM OFF TO START SUPPER NOW THANKS FOR LISTENING, MARTHA

IT SNOWED AGAIN TODAY; YOU KNOW THAT PESKY OLD MAN WINTER ISN'T GOING AWAY ANY TIME SOON.  YOU COULD ONLY SEE 1/2 A MILE DOWN THE RODE. I WAS GOING TO GO OUT AND TAKE THE GARBAGE CANS BACK UP TO THE HOUSE . GARBAGE DAY YOU KNOW.  WELL MY HUBBY SAYS I FOUND THE ONLY PATCH OF BLACK ICE ON OUR VERY LONG DRIVEWAY AND MANAGED TO FALL NOT ONLY ONCE BUT TWICE.  I WASN'T HURT BUT COULD NOT GET UP FOR THE ICE. HAD TO CRAWL OVER TO SIDE OF DRIVEWAY BOTH TIMES SO THAT I COULD GET A GRIP.  MY THOUGHTS WENT TO LIFE ALERT IMMEDIATELY!  MR. SEW WHAT SLEEPS DURING THE DAY AND NEIGHBORS ARE PRETTY FAR AWAY TO HEAR OR SEE ANYTHING. BUT I SURVIVED. I FINISHED BLOCK #3 AND HAVE BLOCK #4 COLORED IN TO BEGIN STITCHING ON. BLOCK#3 BLOCK#4 MY DAY IS NEVER COMPLETE UNTIL NEEDLE AND THREAD AND FABRIC MEET.  I AM GOING TO GO SOAK IN A TUB, I AM BEGINNING TO ACHE.  ALL FOR TONIGHT MARTHA

 FOR MANY YEARS I DID NOT SEW FOR FUN BUT OF NECESSITY.  NOW IT IS CLEARLY FOR THE PURE JOY OF IT, AT LEAST THESE LAST FEW YEARS.  I HAVE ALWAYS HAD ONE CREATIVE OUTLET OR ANOTHER, AND  NOW IT IS TIME TO PACK UP SOME CRAFTS THAT I DO NOT DO ANYMORE.  SO I HAVE BEEN SAVING UP BOXES TO MOVE SOME IT TO MY DAUGHTER'S HOME.  I HAVE DECIDED THAT THE SHELVING THAT HOUSES THE CARDSTOCK WOULD BE BETTER USED TO STORE FABRIC!  MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIENDS DO SCRAPBOOKING SO THEY WILL HAVE A USE FOR IT.  I TOLD HER SOME OF IT IS STILL IN THE PACKAGE AND THAT IT WOULD NOT BE A SMALL AMOUNT THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.  I DID CARDMAKING FOR 15 YEARS AND JUST HAVEN'T DONE IT  SINCE MOVING TO MINNESOTA. I FEEL THIS IS A NEW BEGINNING FOR ME AND A NEW FIRST STEP. SO STAND BACK AND WATCH THE DUST FLY WHILE I CLEAN UP AND PACK AWAY  THIS HERE SEWING ROOM ,PARTNER! WHOO HA!!! THIS IS MY JANUARY BLOCK FROM THE RASPBERRY RABBIT AND IT IS FINISHED! THIS IS BLOCK NUMBER #3 FOR MY MONTHLY STITCH T

I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN  SURPRISED , AFTER ALL IT IS THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY.  YESTERDAY WE AWOKE TO AT LEAST  2 INCHES OF THE WHITE STUFF ,FINALLY COVERING UP ALL THAT BROWN.  WE ARE NOW OFFICIALLY  WINTER WHITE! http://theraspberryrabbit.com THIS IS JANUARY'S FREE   BOM FROM THE RASPBERRY RABBIT. I HAVE IT ALL LAID DOWN  AND I HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF STITCHING STARTED.  IT IS SO CUTE I JUST COULDN'T RESIST. SO HOP ON OVER AND TAKE A PEEK.  I AM SO USED TO HAVING TO REVERSE THE PATTERN MYSELF BECAUSE MOST PATTERNS DON'T DO IT FOR YOU. THAT I DIDN'T NOTICE UNTIL IT WAS TO LATE THAT SHE HAS ALREADY DONE THAT FOR YOU. SO DON'T MAKE MY MISTAKE.  I FIGURE HARRINGTON AND HANNAH RABBIT ARE JUST TAKING TURNS SITTING ON OPPOSITE SIDES. GOT MY EIGHTH BLOCK OF HENRIETTA WHISKERS BY ANNE SUTTON DONE.  I DECIDED I DID NOT LIKE WINDOW PANES EMBROIDERED ON. SO I JUST EMBROIDERED THE LEAF VINE IN.  NOW ON TO BLOCK NINE. I MADE THESE TWO SMALL BAGS FROM A PATTERN IN THE NEW

IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A CREATIVE OVERLOAD OR IS THERE JUST TOO MANY FANTASIC  PATTERNS OUT THERE?  WELL I JUST FINISHED MY SECOND BLOCK FOR MY STITCH THERAPY CLUB.  PERHAPS TONIGHT I WILL BE ABLE TO COLOR ANOTHER ONE. I HAVE PLACED THE CIRCLES ON MY SIX FULL DRESDENS , BUT HAVE SEWN ONLY ONE DOWN.  I HAVE MADE CIRCLES FOR MY PARTIAL DRESDEN PLATES AND CUT THEM INTO QUARTERS.  HOW EVER I JUST REALIZED 1/4 OF A DRESDEN ( AT LEAST THIS DRESDEN)    IS FIVE BLADES NOT FOUR ; SO I WILL HAVE TO EITHER SEW SOME MORE BLADES OR RIP SOME APART. I HAVE BEGUN SEWING DOWN MY BLOCK EIGHT OUT OF NINE FOR THE SMALL QUILT  HENRIETTA WHISKERS   BY ANNE SUTTON.  STILL HAVE THE WINDOWS AND LEAVES TO SEW DOWN AND SOME EMBROIDERY TO DO ON THE BLOCK.  AND TODAY I WENT TO THE OTHER CLUB THAT I BELONG TO  " KANSAS TROUBLES "  .  THEY GAVE US A PATTERN FOR A SNOWFLAKE TABLE RUNNER.   HUBBY HAS FOUR DAYS OFF THIS WEEK AND WILL BE HOME.  MAYBE I CAN CONVINCE HIM TO GO ICE FISHING?  I GUESS

THEY ARE DONE!!!! MARTHA

I HAVE MY FIRST BLOCK FROM MY STITCH THERAPY CLUB DONE AND WORKING ONE THE NEXT ONE. FIRST BLOCK SECOND BLOCK HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF KATHY MUNKELWITZ'S FINISHED QUILT IN WHICH SHE USED ONLY 16 OF THE 20 BLOCKS. THE NEXT PICS ARE CLOSER AND SHOW MORE DETAIL.I WISH I WAS A BETTER PICTURE TAKER FOR YOUR BENEFIT. THIS IS MY BOW TIE QUILT WHICH I HAVE SWITCHED OUT FROM ANOTHER THAT HAS BEEN HANGING DURING THE HOLIDAYS.  OFF TO WORK ON MY JUST TAKES 2 BLOCKS ONLY HAVE FINISHED TWO OF THE FIVE.  HOPE TO HAVE MORE TO SHOW TOMORROW AFTER WORK.  MARTHA

MY DESIGN FOR THE SCRAPPY PLATE CLUB IS TAKING A TURN , I THINK.  I AM MAKING  SOME CHANGES. I AT FIRST WAS GOING FOR BLUE CENTERS, BUT HAVE DECIDED TO MODIFY THAT BY ADDING YELLOW CENTERS.  THAT IS WAX PAPER CIRCLES IRONED ONTO THE BACK OF FABRIC WAITING TO BE CUT OUT WITH 1/4" LEFT AROUND THEM. THESE ARE PARTIAL PLATES WITH ONLY FOUR SEWN TOGETHER TO FORM A PARTIAL FAN OR PLATE. I HAVE ONLY SIX THAT ARE FULL DRESDEN PLATES.  I DO NOT NEED LARGE QUILTS , BUT PREFER SMALLER ONES TO HANG  ON  MY HALL WALL.  SO DOING A BIT OF REDESIGN  FOR MY NEEDS. I HAVE ALSO GOT MY BLOCK READY FOR TOMORROW'S CLASS IN STITCH THERAPY.  IT HAS BEEN COLORED IN WITH CRAYON AND THE VASE IS TEMPORARILY  TACKED DOWN  AND WAITING TO BE SEWN DOWN.  I HAVE DECIDED ALL MY VASES WILL BE OUT OF THE SAME MATERIAL. NEEDLE AND THREAD MEND THE TEARS IN YOUR SPIRIT.  MARTHA

I HAVE FINISHED BLOCK  # 7 AND WILL PROBABLY START BLOCK # 8 TOMORROW. NEXT I NEED TO TELL YOU ABOUT ANOTHER OF ANNE SUTTON'S DESIGNS.  AT    http://bunnyhillblog.com   , SHE HAS A TUTORIAL ON MAKING DRESDEN PLATES.  ALSO EACH MONTH FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS SHE WILL BE DOING SOMETHING WITH DRESDEN PLATES.  SHE HAS STARTED A SCRAPPY PLATE CLUB.  WHY DON'T YOU JOIN HER TOO AND GET RID OF SOME OF THAT STASH.  I FIRST STARTED BY MAKING ONE TO SEE WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE. I THEN PROGRESSED AND BEFORE I KNEW IT I HAD THREE DONE!!! I KEEP MEAT TRAYS AND WASH THEM WELL AND USE THEM AS TRAYS TO KEEP ME PIECES IN SO THAT I DON'T LOSE THEM.  IT KEEPS ME A LITTLE MORE ORGANIZED. THANKS FOR VISITING WITH ME, ENJOY TODAY ,THE HERE AND NOW!  MARTHA

I JUST FINISHED THE TOP FOR MY SMALL QUILT GROUPS MONTHLY CHALLENGE. IT IS A WALL HANGING SIZE "MOURNING QUILT"  . AT LEAST MY VERSION.  WE WERE TO USE KATHY TRACY'S PATTERN FROM ONE OF HER BOOKS WHICH I DID NOT HAVE SO I DRAFTED MY OWN VERSION. IT HAS NOT BEEN SANDWICHED TOGETHER NOR QUILTED YET.  I HAVE ALSO FINISHED THE FIRST BLOCK IN THE AURIFIL CHALLENGE.  NONE OF THE STORES WITHIN A HUNDRED MILES CARRIES THE  12WT. AURIFIL ONLY THE 50 WT.  SO I USED COSMOS EMBROIDERY FLOSS INSTEAD. MONDAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF MY CLUB STITCH THERAPY . IT IS FOR EMBROIDERY AND / HAND APPLIQUE. WE ARE DOING A QUILT FROM  "MY STARS II".  I HAVE NEVER JOINED THIS GROUP BEFORE AND HOPE TO ENJOY THE COMPANY.  ALL FOR NOW, SEW A LITTLE , ENJOY WHAT YOU DO!! MARTHA

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GET TO THE SAME PLACE. THERE ARE ALSO MANY WAYS TO DO APPLIQUE . THERE IS HAND AND MACHING DONE . EACH MAY BE DONE A VARIETY OF WAYS.  PICK WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.  I USE A FREEZER PAPER METHOD WITH LIQUID STARCH WATERED DOWN  THREE TO ONE .  WHICH I HAVE PUT IN A SPRAY BOTTLE AND NEEDS TO BE SHAKEN BEFORE SPRAYED INTO A SMALLER BOWL OR EMPTY CAP. TAKE YOUR PATTERN AND COPY EACH PIECE INDIVIDUALLY  MAKING SURE TO FLIP EACH PIECE THAT IS DIRECTIONAL  (I FORGET THIS A LOT )  IN MY NEXT BLOCK THE ONLY THING THAT IS NOT DIRECTIONAL IS THE ACORN HOUSE AND THE ACORN.  YOU ARE COPYING THIS PATTERN ON THE NON-WAXY SIDE OF THE FREEZER PAPER. YOU CAN DO THIS WITH A LIGHT BOX OR A WINDOW IN THE DAYLIGHT.  NEXT PICK OUT YOUR FABRICS. IRON THE WAXY SIDE TO THE CORRECT FABRIC PLACING WRONG SIDE TO THE WAXY SIDE TO THE  OF THE FABRIC.   THEN CUT OUT LEAVING BETWEEN 1/8 AND 1/4" OUTSIDE OF THE FREEZER PAPER. SHAKE YOUR MIXTURE OF WATER AND STARCH ,ESPECIALLY IF IT HAS BEEN S

WELL I HAVE SIX BLOCKS SEWN TOGETHER AND HAVE THREE LEFT TO FINISH.  I STARTED THIS LAST YEAR SO I WOULD LIKE TO FINISH IT.  THIS IS AN OVER ALL PICTURE OF THE TOP SO FAR. ANN SUTTON DESIGNED  THIS PATTERN (FROM BUNNY HILL ) . THANKS FOR STOPPING BY. NEEDLE AND THREAD FEED MY SOUL AND CHOCOLATE FEEDS MY BODY! HA!  MARTHA

SO THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS HAS ENDED.  THIS SMALL QUILT BY TEMECULA QUILT CO. HAS BEEN JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED ,  GOOD FOR BOTH THE QUILTIN AND SEWING SOUL.  I FINISHED TWO TOPS  ,  ONE FOR ME AND ONE FOR MY DAUGHTER.  I ALSO HAVE TO FINISH SEWING MY STAR  ON BLOCK SIX OF MY HENRIETTA WHISKERS QUILT BY ANNE SUTTON.  THEN DO THE EYES FOR THE SQUIRREL. MY SQUIRRELS ARE JUMPING THE WRONG WAY BUT THAT'S ALRIGHT.  DON'T TELL ANYONE.  SO HERE ARE THREE BLOCKS AND I WILL SHOW YOU REST TOMORROW.  ENJOY THE DAY IT ONLY COMES ONCE!!