A Break from Sewing...

I haven't been doing much sewing this week.   I finished my little churn dash quilt last Sunday...and I don't like it.  Not.  At.  All.  I am so disappointed in myself.  I made two choices that were not (read NOT) the right ones for this quilt...the binding and the quilting.  It bothers me that I dislike it.  It bothers me that I made those choices.  So.  I have mostly stayed out of my sewing room.  And, that's that.  Better luck next time, I guess.  {sigh}

So, to take a break from sewing, I've been knitting.  I can easily do that while watching tv in the evening.  Did I tell you?  My LYS (local yarn shop) has a discounted area...one is able to bring in new & in original packaging skeins of yarn and receive either store credit or cash...and those skeins of yarn are available to customers for a discounted price!  This week, I bought 4 skeins of yarn for $10.00, saving just over $15.00!! 

I was inspired by these at Purl Bee.  I made mine to measure about 7"...I think they are just so fun!  The perfect size for washing one's face!  The cotton I used is thicker than what they are on Purl Bee...I wanted them to be a tightly-knit cloth.  I will definitely be doing more of these...with different colors and different cotton yarns!  

It's a rainy dreary day.  I think I'll make lunch and read.  Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.  

Oh, and just so you don't worry...my week long break from sewing is over...cannot keep me from it for long.  I will be starting a new quilt project - a big one! - this weekend.  Stay tuned!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

What Inspires Me...

I see a lot of things I like...and that I would like to make, but not all of them truly inspire me.  This, on the other hand...definitely does.  This quilt is made up of churn dash and monkey wrench blocks...

as well as plenty of half-square triangles.  Isn't it fabulous?  (I apologize...I never noted where I saw the photo so am unable to give credit to the person who made it.)  What I love about this quilt is that there is a method to its madness, yet it looks so random.  It so inspired me that when I belonged to the Bee Addicted 3 block swap two years ago, churn dash and monkey wrench blocks were what I asked for.  Alas, those blocks are still waiting to be worked with.  I think at the time it seemed like such a huge project.  Perhaps I'll get to it this year.

Take a look at these churn dash quilts made by Erin of Why Not Sew?.  She stitched one by hand and one by machine...

Be sure to click on the photo to enlarge it.  I love her use of fabrics...these small quilts look so old and soft and already loved.  Don't you think?

You may remember that our first block in the hand-pieced quiltalong, with Erin of Why Not Sew?  was the churn dash block.  Here's mine...

Last but not least, my latest inspiration...this small quilt I saw at Purl Bee.

They call it Masking Tape Quilt...because of the way the little square blocks of fabric look.  I think it is dang cute.

Wondering where all of this is leading?  Why, to this little churn dash quilt I am working on.  All the blocks are pieced...and this is about as random as I get.  And, yet, there is some kind of order to it.  The top is finished...I would love to have it completely done before Sunday night comes.

What inspires you?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Direction...

Not direction like north, east, west or south, but
direction meaning line of planned action.

Here's what I mean...
sometimes I have an idea 
firmly fixed in my head.

But, then it's time to begin and
that's when I begin to rethink...
and go in a different direction.

 

Here's an example...

I've been picturing this small quilt with

the fabrics I showed yesterday.

(shown again right here for your convenience)

I was excited to begin working on it.

But, when it came time to start cutting
into the fabric, I changed direction

and decided to use different fabrics.

I'm using the Whitewash fabric collection

(received from Sharon...thank you!!).

I am very happy with how they are turning out.

These blocks measure 5.5 inches...

aren't they cute?

 

Another example.

I started following Cheri's quiltalong

for the apple brown betty small quilt,

 but this is what I came up with, instead.

I am very pleased with how it turned out,

in spite of the fact that I changed direction

and went my own way.

So.

Do you do that?

Is it a good thing?

Or not?

I like to think it's my creativity.

Well, really...what else could it be?

{grin} 

I know some of you are wondering,

so here are the details on the small quilt...

I used Luna Notte fabrics

and Kona solid in Bone.

It measures about 11.5 x 20.5 inches.

I quilted in the ditch in the center portion,

then quilted with rows of straight stitching

around the outside border.

 

Here's a view of the back
where you can see the quilting.

Today's agenda:

Watching this movie

while eating pizza.

Sewing more churn dash blocks.

Finishing my hand-pieced quilt top. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A little story about Tag E. Butt.

He doesn't let much of anything

stop him from getting

what he wants.

Oh, don't get me wrong...

he is very obedient...

when I decide that he needs to be.

Some say he is spoiled.

I say he is special.  

{grin}

Anyway.  The story.

Tag does not let a little thing like a 

plastic container sitting smack dab

in the middle of my big easy chair

deter him from laying there.

He is a smart dog and knows 

that this is, of course, 

the most comfortable place to lay.

And, he knows that he can make this work.

So, he got up behind the container,

pushed the towel out of his way

to make his bed and laid down.

By the way,

the towel is there because there is a

hole in the fabric of the seat cushion

and I have yet to mend it.

Putting the towel over it prevents further tearing.

In theory.

When the brown boy moves the towel

and situates himself,

he is also bothering with the tear.

{sigh} 

But, gosh...doesn't he look comfy?

Just so you know,

as soon as I walk away from this computer, 

I will make him move out of my chair.  

My wish to sit there overrides his cuteness.

Hope you're having a good day!

It's back to work tomorrow.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Day Off...

I have today off.

I love 3 day weekends, don't you?

What am I doing?

Reading, relaxing, sewing.

Cuddling with Tag in my big easy chair.

In no particular order.

I've been working on two small quilts today...

am definitely making progress.

It should come as no surprise

to you to hear (read)

that I am thinking ahead

to my next small project.

I plan to make this quilt.

Here are the fabrics I'll be starting with...

 

  I may need to add in more white backgrounds.

I may make the blocks a bit larger.

 I think this will be quite striking!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Jeremiah 29:11

Not Quite Finished...

Here are a few things I have been working on.  

My 'swoon' quilt...the top, anyway.  I was going to make 9 blocks (remember, each block measures 24.5 inches), but decided that I didn't really need (or want) to make a quilt that was 84 inches square (with sashing & borders).  So, I took 4 of my fave blocks and made this nice lap-sized quilt top.  Right now, it measures 57 inches square.  I think I'll probably use the other 3 blocks for large pillows...or I could add borders and make a few nice baby quilts.  OR, I could make one more block and have 4 of them for another lap-sized quilt!  A plethora of ideas!  {grin}  At any rate...I am loving this orange and aqua color combo.     

This is the small quilt I started with Cheri Payne's quiltalong.  But then I veered off in another direction.  No special reason.  Just cuz.  I am ready to quilt it, but have yet to decide how I want to do that.  Ohman, the decisions I am having to make!  {grin}

I finished knitting both heelless (tube?) socks...am now learning how to sew them together.  It'll be a bit before I finish that.  Mostly because I am not concentrating on finishing them.  I do love these summer colors. 

Been working with my hand-pieced quilt...putting the sashing and cornerstones on.  I should be ready to start hand-quilting on this very soon.  Once I decide how I want to do it, that is!  (I told you, didn't I?...decisions!!!)

American Idol is on tonight!

I'm okay with DWTS's elimination last night...how about you?



 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   Jeremiah 29:11

Easter...

A Glorious Easter to you all!

 
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."    Jeremiah 29:11

Not So Much...

I haven't been around, lately.  Not so much going on.  I am having a bit of a problem...don't worry...everything is okay.  Just overwhelmed with trying to stay caught up at work (one person new/training and one person who only does half of what she should be doing...and then there is me...trying to do my job plus the overflow in 30 hours weekly.  Yeah.)  I am finding that when I am stressed, my tinnitus increases in volume and makes me very anxious...it then interferes with my sleep.  Not good.  At all.  But, it will get better.  Count on it.

In addition to not blogging much, I haven't accomplished (read finished) much, either.  

I did manage to do this block for my hand-pieced quiltalong.  Erin asked for a suggestion...I love pinwheels, so this is what we got to piece this week!  YAY!

 

Here are my blocks all together.  This pinwheel block was Block 11, but I opted out of two blocks...I think I am going to go with just these 9.  Unsure at this time whether or not I'll add sashing. 

I wanted desperately needed a no-stress weekend, so I took a break from my list.  You know the one...with a bazillion things to do on it.  Yeah.  No list weekend!  

So, today I've been knitting...just to try out this pattern.  Easy Mistake Stitch Scarf.  It's a basic knit2, purl2, but there are an odd number of stitches, so that makes it work out differently than if there were an even number of stitches.  The yarn I used is an acrylic that was sent by me Mum and Aunt/Godmother.  Practice yarn.  As the pattern says, 'Mistake Stitch creates a very deep and lofty rib'.  It is truly scrumptious.  

Mowed the dog yard.

Watched a movie..."Tower Heist".  It was okay and had some good comedy in it.

 

Now for some more relaxing. 

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday.  Nothing happening here.  What do you have going on?


 
 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   Jeremiah 29:11

Can You Say Frustrated?

I have been sewing clothes and following patterns for 45 years.  Yeah.  A very long time.  So, why is it that I am running into snags with my current sewing project?  Is it because the pattern is poorly written?  (Nope.)  Is it because the instructions are incorrect?  (That's what I thought it must be for a long time.)  Or, is it because I think I know everything and don't read the instructions thoroughly?  AH-HA!  That would be it.  The first snag was because I did not take the time to read the pattern instructions thoroughly...which resulted in me redoing most of what was done.  Another snag was hit when I asked someone for a measurement and was given a number that I should have known was not correct.  I am trying to finish up what should have been a very simple sewing project for me.  I still have a few hours left.  I am more than a bit frustrated.  I just hope that - in the end - it's worth it.  That the article fits properly and that it is loved by the recipient.

Here's a sneak peek...

Though I didn't get as much done this past week as I had hoped, I did manage to finish a block for my hand-pieced quiltalong!  YAY for me!

For those of you who are wondering how my knitting is going (I know there is at least one of you out there!), I am on the second heel-less sock and it's going great!

This weekend is all but over...another work week ahead.  Hope this one is easier...last week wore me out!

Have a good week!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."    Jeremiah 29:11