One Creative Family

Today was a day of good things.  I was able to bring my sewing machine home while waiting for a part.  The zigzag motor is going out or something.  It makes a noise, but I can still use the machine and I am. Upon arriving home after picking the machine up I had a package on my porch.  What was it you ask?   My new cutting mat.  I won the giveaway from Rorabacks.  I love it. It is a self healing cutting mat and is heavier than the one I currently have.  Check her out on Facebook  www.facebook.com/Rorabacks  She is having a daily giveaway.  Great ideas also.

I had to try this out, right?  Couldn’t let it sit and although pretty, but it was sad because it wasn’t being used.  SO…..I decided to take all the picture blocks from the National Parks from our last year trip.  I am putting each set into one larger block then putting the block set together.

Since some of the pictures are different shapes and sizes the bigger block will be different sizes I think as fillers I will use 9 patch.  I have one set almost finished and here it is.

I had to put it away and get dinner.  We had the kids and grandkids over for Dinner tonight as they will be starting school soon.  Katelin leaves for 2nd year of college and the other 3 girls are in High School, then the baby is 2.  So tomorrow will bring more sewing.

Such a WONDERFUL day.

Good morning all.  Today’s post will be a little bit of information.  I have been lucky enough to win a new cutting mat.  Until a very few months did I know that so many people are starting their  own line of quilting products.  This is great.  The cutting mat I won is from a lady I met thru Facebook.  Yes, Facebook does have some good qualities.  Her name is Nancy Roraback.  https://gleam.io/fb/fBLRe   This is such a pretty purple and will brighten my sewing room.  When talking to Nancy about I asked her what made her decide to start designing quilting tools.  She replied, “I love quilting SO SO much…I’m a bookkeeper and tax preparer for my day job and I just really wanted to do something that maybe can take me from behind my desk to behind my sewing machine. Its been a huge challenge! The mats are my third product and I love them. .. the blades are really good but the cutter has flaws so I’m working on redesigning that. Its a competitive market and most days I think I was just crazy to try haha!”

Nancy is such a talented quilter also.  I can’t wait to see what else she comes up with.   Anytime you are on Facebook check out her Facebook Page….Rorabacks   

Have you found people who are working on developing new products?  I am in awe.   Have a wonderful day and get creative.

I haven’t been writing or doing much of anything the past few weeks, but that has changed.  I have decided to not stress over what I can’t change and enjoy things as they come.

I have been trying my hand on hand stitching wool project.  I think I do like this.  Having something on hand to be able to pull it out when I want something to do.  I have gotten so used to the speed and easiness of a sewing machine.  My new Janome has 3 motors in it and one of them was going out so I am waiting for my dealer to get the new motor in.  I have other machines, but this has been great.   I have decided I do enjoy embroidery and applique so I will be doing more of this.

Is there any type of your craft that you have not used in a while?  I challenge you to get it out and relearn it.  It has re-inspired me on some of my quilts.

Who knows maybe more Yo-Yos and English Paper Piecing will be in my future.  Putting the border on my little piece.

 

The last few days I have been working on a wool mini quilt.  It has been fun.  I am somewhat glad the machine is in the shop, because it has given me time to relearn some embroidery stitches that I haven’t used in a long time.  I think I will have to do more of this.   I had to go onto youtube to figure out what I had been doing wrong with this stitch.  Thank you youtube.  I have learned so much from the computer that I would never have learned without it.

Alicia is writing a new pattern for a crocheted hat and we will have a picture to share in a day or so.

I have never tried to make a quilt that is 100% my own design.  I am trying to figure out what that will look like and how I will design it.  Any suggestions on the steps I need to take?

 

Hubby surprised me with a “Road Trip>”  We left Wed, mid morning and went to Batesville, AR. to Marshall’s Dry Goods. It is a large fabric warehouse and is open to the public. I was disappointed when I got there and found out that 1/2 the store in the warehouse is only for business or if you want no less than 3 whole bolts. The prices were about 1/2 the price of Hancock of Paducah. I will go back to Paducah before Batesville, A much larger choice, newer fabrics, and better quality. I did buy a large amount but was picky about what I got. They weren’t the fabrics you would find at your favorite quilt shop. We did stop at a few Quilt shops along the way there and home.(This is how I set my GPS was Quilt shop to Quilt shop). Worked great. Now I don’t need fabric for anything for a while, unless it is a specific fabric to finish something, We visited Sew a Stitch in Rogers, AR, Sew Graceful Quilting, Rogers, AR.,Country House Quilting and Quilt Shop, Pea Ridge, AR, Quilts & Quilts The Fabric Shoppe, Branson, MO, Blue Top Quilt Shop Lamar, MO. Now I am tired and need to put this away. Just had to share. Oh we did go to Wilson Creek Civil War National Park, Pea Ridge Civil War National Park, and George Washington Carver National Park.

The next group of photos are my purchases. Now I am trying to find a place for all this.  Such a great time.

I finished the quilt top and now trying to decide on the borders.  Original idea was green, but the shades of green are taking over so I am thinking of a Wine color with a light purple(not lavender).  What do you think would be good?The blue gets lost, and I do like the wine.  Suggestions?

All that is left are the borders and binding….AND TEARING THE PAPER OFF.  I think I will see how much fun tearing with a 2 yr old can be.  A day of “Bubble Guppies” and tearing paper.  Then picking up paper pieces.

While I was sewing hubby was busy making a “ZOO” for the granddaughter’s stuffed animals.  SI wonder how full the zoo will get and how long will it stay full?  How long before she realizes the bungie stretches and she can go in and the animals back on the floor.

Enjoy the last Tuesday of July.

I have been working on my Illusions Quilt, yard work, and family things, totally forgetting to keep up our blog.

I have 3 rows of the Illusions Quilt together and hopefully tonight I will be able to finish piecing.  I can already see the different circles in it.  

5 blocks left to piece.  I enjoy paper piecing, but hate ripping the paper off.  Something fun to do while watching tv at night.

This pattern is one I found in the Fons & Porter “Love of Quilting” March/April 2008 Magazine,  It is called the Kaleidoscope Quilt.  As I worked in a Middle School I had all kinds of Optical Illusions thru out my room.  I worked as a Behavior Interventionist” and it was a great way for kids to calm down and then start conversations.  I have made 3 other types of Illusion Quilts.

I think the next one I came upon in the 90’s or early 2000’s, was in red and white, looking like it moves.  That will be the next one.  Now I am ready to start it and put this away for a while.  I need to stay focused.  Anyone struggle with this?  How do you handle with this?  I would love to know.

Actually I don’t have the date for this flyer, but if you notice the price for quilting you will have some sort of idea. I got this in a bunch of things at an auction.  Was fun to see the items in Pizza boxes.  Sorry, no Pizza’s.

Any suggestions of the dates of this? My thoughts are 50’s or 60’s.  I also got of goodies from my Daughter in Law.   She had decided not do any jewelry making at this point so I have been looking the box of goodies.Now to see all this wonderful stuff  Now to check things out.

Blocks B-E are finished and Block A is almost finished.  Maybe tonight I will have those finished.  Then put the rows together.  These are the blocks and then the layout for these.  I want to get these ready for the quilting by the weekend.  Let’s just hope my plans work out.  Seldom do they, but the nice thing is there is always tomorrow.

I sit looking out my window just a few minutes ago and got lost in watching the squirrels running around playing chase.  The birds enjoying the birdbath among the Hostas and Bachelor Buttons.  As I sit here typing and enjoying a summer evening from my air conditioned house I am treated to a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal.  She is walking around the yard and he is watching over her from my Moonflower plant( I have an old branch from the oak tree for the vines to wind on). I got lost in my watching outside instead of typing or sewing.  It is so relaxing.

I am going to close my curtain and finish up these blocks so I don’t get side tracked any more tonight.  Tomorrow is an early morning and then hopefully a few hours in the yard before it gets too hot. Then back to sewing and enjoying my quiet little part of the wold.  Here is hoping your little part of the world is a quiet and happy place.

 

I can’t believe that July is almost over.  I need to remember how hot the days have been with temps at 90 and up, but the humidity 10 degrees higher, this winter when it is 0 or below.  The last 2 weeks have been busy but now it is slowing down and I can spend time finishing up my WIPs. 3 quilts that need to be quilted, 2 wall hangings and a few pillows.  When I write this down I think “Oh NO I need to get myself in gear and finish them.”  Then I think Oh I will do this in a while and stuff them in a corner.  Think I need to just finish them and be done with it.  What do you think?

This morning I will be re arranging the living room.  I need to find a way to put Granddaughter’s away without it looking cluttered mess in a corner.  I have an end table that has some of my quilt books in so I will move them to the sewing room and then use the end table to put her “Cooking stuff” in.  I will wait and have her help me do it.  She likes to help me do things.

I was given a box of fabric and in it is a quilt top.  It looks like it started to be twin size that took a life of it’s own.  Too narrow and too long.  I understand why she got frustrated and said “forget it”.  While writing this I think I will cut it in half and then do some applique hearts on them and make 2 quilts out of it.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have pieced hearts and other shapes appliqued in the pink squares?  Now I think I will press it and get started.  Well the more I think of it the more I think I will do this.  Anyone have some ideas on what to put in the squares?   Let me know.  I will post what I have done when I get it going.  In the mean time only 18 more blocks on the illusion quilt to go.

Enjoy your day and until tomorrow.