One Creative Family

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.

 

I started this Illusions quilt a while back and then had to put it aside for many other things happening, so now I am working on it today.  Maybe I will get it finished….17 blocks finished and 31 more to go.

I am happy to be working on this again.  I am enjoying paper piecing.  It is taking a little longer than I thought, but right now I like it.  Ask me again when I have to take all the paper off.  LOL it could be a different story.  Last time I made one of these quilts, I was working in a middle school and had some of my students take the paper off when their work was finished.  Those days my rooms was always quiet.

The days have been hot here, Not as hot as other areas, so I am spending more time indoors. How do you spend your days when it is too hot to be outdoors? What do you consider too hot? For me anything above 95 and no breeze, then no way going outside.

Happy Sunday.

Good morning all.  I have been quilting a lap quilt so I have been quiet the last few days.  I have been working on a lap quilt pattern I tested for a lady and yesterday at 5:30 pm I finished it.  I quilted in every seam and then stitched more in the black.  Now on to the next project.  My guild is making umbrellas for decorations for the next quilt show.  I think I will work on making some of those.  Then I need to quilt 2 quilt tops. What have you been working on?

The Umbrella pattern I have is put together by 2 women at the guild, but the pattern is free is anyone is interested.  They say it is very easy.

Everyone have a great day.

We had our craft fair today and it was great.  It is strange, but the items we had new this year no one looked at, but things we have had for a few years and debated on putting in are all gone.  You never know what someone will want.  This is my oldest Daughter, Alicia and me after we set the booth up. Alicia is making some of the cutest necklaces and she is using washers and nail polish.   

 

Alicia has been talking about video taping some tutorials and posting them.  I have watched my share of them and if I don’t like it I move on.  No biggie.  She suggested we decided what our pet peeves are so we know not to do that.  I DON’T KNOW.  What do you like and dislike about tutorial?  Too much rambling, not enough directions, no music.  Any dos and don’ts  I will be looking forward to hearing from anyone and everyone.  I am just getting used to Blogging……

Happy Saturday.

How on earth does anyone find the time for all the “Need to dos, and want to dos” all done in a day?  We  are working on getting ready for the Craft fair this weekend.  Then I will have the time to quilt my quilt top and hopefully finish the Illusion Quilt I am working on.

I want to learn to make pretty and cute cards.  So many of you have such creative bones in your bodies.  Books and Youtube here I come.

In the mean time I have made casserole carriers for the sale.  I got the pattern here and instead of using velcro I used a button.  http://www.2littlehooligans.com/2010/10/24/casserole-carrier-tutorial/

Here are the pictures of it..

Some days there are so many things you want to do that you are rushing around and time is getting away from you.  When I get to this point I tend to forget to take the time to appreciate some things.  This Blog Community is what I have missed.  I love reading everyone’s blogs. They make me think out of the little box I live in.  Your creativity is so wonderful to see. Thank you for all your critique on my posts.  I so look forward to these.  Just wanted to say thank you for being my su pport. When at quilt guild, I see all these beautiful quilts, and these people who are creating patterns, people winning big awards, etc, I feel very inferior.  These people are wonderful and friendly and want to be helpful, it is me.  With this community(could be because I am not physically in front of you) I don’t feel this way.

Now on to other things.   This week I have played with casserole carrier, tripod carrier, and working on the quilting of my Migrating Geese Gone Green quilt.

Today I am spending time writing this watching a storm pass thru, and listening to the rain tapping on my window.  It is such a calming sound.   I do think I will sit here, work on my Migrating Geese and listen to the rain.

How do you like to spend a rainy day?  I enjoy your input.

 

Yesterday I finished my Son and Daughter In Law’s Memory Quilt for their Fur Baby.  Rocky was their baby so we wanted something special.  I have made several types of memory quilts and they are wonderful for any occasion.   This next one is for a friend with Dementia and it is used to help her remember who members of her family are.

Sometimes if we do things very much we forget others may be just starting something new and may have questions.  I know I do.  So for anyone interested this is how I make my Memory Quilts.

Step 1.  How big of a quilt do you want?  I have made them from Lap to King size.

Step 2. How many photos do you have?  This will determine the size of your blocks and your layout.

Step 3.  I cut out pieces of paper the size my photo’s will be.  Use these to design your finished quilt.

Step 4. I purchased June Taylor’s -In Computer Printer Fabric  and printed my pictures of on this with my HP Printer.  When doing this I print out 1 small picture to see if I need to adjust the brightness or color of the photo.  I darken my photos as much as possible and still get a lot of details. When this is to my liking I print out my photos.

READ INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PACKAGE OF COMPUTER PRINTER FABRIC I get this at JoAnn’s and use my coupons.

I press the crud out of printed fabrics to heat set the photos.  In fact I press even more than I normally would.

This was my test photo.  I saw the detail of Rocky’s face on the computer, but when printed onto the fabric all was lost.  Even darkening it as much as I could, some of him were lost.

Step 5. Now I Know my border sizes for the photos and cut these out, and attach these.

Step 6. After all borders are on the photo’s lay out your blocks and see what you want.  With the Rocky quilt we wanted him to be the star. For this reason Snoopy(his favorite toy) was my filler fabric.  You may have different size blocks unless all your photo’s are the same size and print orientation.  You can add fabric, or your favorite block.

Step 7. Now let’s put it together.  I start in the middle row.  For me this is my focal row and then build around it.  I continue auditioning my photos with each completed row.  Sometimes the photos “talk” to me and want to be in a different area.

AFTER EACH STEP I PRESS WITH A HOT DRY IRON to make sure the photos are heat set.

 

I sincerely hope these make sense to you and not confuse you.  I have reread this post and it read ok, but I know what I am posting.

Time really flies by doesn’t it?  I have been working a memory quilt for our Son and Daughter In Law.  A few weeks ago they had to put their dog down; it was real hard for them as anyone with pets know about that.  Here is a photo of the quilt top for them.  Now I need to square it up and quilt it.  

Now to decide on what to make next.  OH I KNOW.  Casserole Carries.  I just need to decide on which pattern to use.   Will make some good Christmas Gifts.  Do you like to make some of your gifts for different occasions?  We do.  They are something from the heart.

This weekend is going to be in the 70’s or low 80’s so I will be spending as much of it as I can outside.  That means sewing will have to wait for a little while.  But that is ok it will give me more time to decide on the next big project.  Enjoy your weekend.

Went to the KC Regional Quilt Festival and saw so many quilts.  So many ideas, SO MUCH TALENT, and so many vendors.  Took us 4 hours of no stop walking (Hubby was in so much back pain by time we stopped).  But it was wonderful.  Hopefully next year I can manage to take some of the classes.  I know I will buy tickets for 2 days.

So many wonderful things to see.  Where does all this creativity come from?  I am in awe when I am among these quilts.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I love hearing from everyone.

 

Where to start…..We have been honored by Jessica at Unmeasured Journeys for a blogging award.

Thank you,unmeasuredjourneys.com , for including my blog among the 11 you chose! That’s so sweet.  This is a great get to know each other.
Guidelines:

• Acknowledge the blog that nominated you and display the award.
• Answer the 11 questions the blogger gives you.
• Give 11 random facts about yourself.
• Nominate 11 blogs.
• Notify those blogs of the nomination.
• Give them 11 questions to answer.

Jessica’s questions

1. Light or dark chocolate?
2. Sunrise or sunset?
3. City streets or country roads?
4. Homemade casserole or 5 course meal?
5. A dozen roses or an armful of wildflowers?
6. Favorite color?
7. Most loved season?
8. Cream pie or fruit pie?
9. Favorite song?
10. Swim in a creek or swim in a pool?
11. What’s one kind thing someone has done for you?

My answers:

• Dark chocolate, especially the ones that melt in your mouth
• Sunrise, what better way to start a day
• Country Roads, You see so much more than a city street
• Homemade casserole.
• Wildflowers.
• Cobalt blue
• Fall.  The trees are so beautiful showing off their bright colors
• Fruit pie
• Dancing With My Darling
• A creek.
• Hubby went to Quilt Festival with me and walked for 4 hours encouraging me to buy whatever I wanted.  Was so patient waiting even though he was in lots of back pain.

I nominate:

1. Prairie Moon Quilts
2. Katzenwold
3. Roth Poetry
4. Treadlemusic
5. From My Carolina Home
6. My OBT
7. tiemeycreates
8. Tu-Na Quilts
9. Farmhouse Quilts Blog
10. Gray Barn Quilts
11. Desert Sky Quilting

My questions:

1. Favorite book
2. Favorite foods
3. Rather be outdoors or indoors
4. If you could travel anyplace in the world where would that be
5. Why did you start blogging
6. How many pets
7. How do you relax
8. Rather eat sweets or salty
9. What is your favorite family activity
10. What type of movies do you enjoy watching
11. How do you relax after a stressful day