Veteran Quilt Sew-in May

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Jackie

Once a month several women show up to sew lap quilts for the veterans in a local hospice facility. I started this a year ago when a chaplain in the facility asked me if I would make a quilt to donate. I thought sure, but after giving it some thought, I decided to open up my studio to others who may also be willing to help regardless of their sewing skill. More on the organization and our progress can be found on the “We Honor Veterans” page.

Typical of the group some fun statements emerge as we sew and since our quote queen was also present…..

“My mom would be proud to see me use an iron, but don’t tell her I …..”

“It’s a good thing fabric is so “fixable.”

“How did I manage to do that?”

Whoa…. slow down (talking to the sewing machine):

Okay now, stay, stay, please stay flat (pressed seam):

“No hurry on my account, I’m more than happy to have a Hershey Kiss break:

Is this the mushy stuff you put in the middle?:

I think with practice, piecing could be my favorite part:

And more pictures:

And because every classroom has one:

Enjoy the Journey, Jackie

Trading Spaces, Part 1

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Jackie

The start to this journey began over here when I started teaching.

I need start out by telling you I had permission to move into the basement i.e. the future billiard room (man cave) for my husband. Now while I had the go ahead, it wasn’t a priority on his list because of the extensive work involved. It was a “some day” project.

One night, with the help of two friends, (or partners in crime) we ripped out the carpet and tore off the paneling and wallpaper in the basement area while my husband was gone for the night.

Before: (take note of the wood stove opening, transformation later)

Hard at work:

Hard at rest:

Hard at play:

At one point I had to call my husband to ask how small the carpet pieces and paneling pieces needed to be in order for the garbage men to take them. Of course he was suspicious Very suspicious. I reassured him that all was well and there was nothing for him to worry about.

Needless to say he was surprised when he returned home, but then not really, I’ve been known to do things like this in the past.

The walls and floors were ready for patching:

Within the next few weeks my husband patched walls, installed more lighting and we picked out flooring.

While on vacation, those same two friends come over and painted and watched the flooring go in. But more on that later.

Enjoy the Journey, Jackie

Mid May Wip’s

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Jackie

I am quite pleased with the amount of quilting I managed to get done on Saturday evening and a few minutes stolen since then. My May projects can be seen here.

I have managed to work on everything I had listed, but my main focus became the Dresden plate (dilemma here).

I decided I was ready to be done. I didn’t want to make any more blades to make either of the quilt options larger and went for one large quilt. I used a print for the sashing and solid for the cornerstone. I think the sashing width should have been larger, but I am done.

While piecing the Dresden plate quilt I used the sashing pieces to this quilt as leaders and enders so this one is now ready to baste, quilt and bind:

The other major project I worked on was the quilt for my Granddaughter Grace. I found the backing while on vacation and now was as good a time as any to work on it. I just have the binding left to do:

Here is the back:

Side note. Has anyone used this fusible adhesive spray before:

I used it to apply my Dresden plates and centers to the quilt squares. I wasn’t going for a permanent hold but I did have difficulty with the results. Have you used it in the past? Did you like it? Why or why not?

It was amazing how much I was able to get done in a short period of time. I am goal driven for much of my life so I try to not be so much so in my quilting life. It’s a good feeling to have accomplished something but I am sure I will go back to my playing self.

Enjoy the Journey, Jackie

My Teaching Start

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Jackie

I started teaching sewing in my home by accident. One Sunday morning someone noticed a small purse/bag I was using they asked if I would also make one for them. Another young woman also asked if I would also make her one, but I knew she had received a sewing machine for Christmas, so I told her I would show her how to make it.

Front view of two samples I still have:

Inside view:

Back view:

My “studio” at the time was an empty bedroom turned sewing space, that while crowded was heaven to me. To have a space to call my own after years of dining room or corner space sewing was wonderful.

Space was tight and adding an extra person made it even more so, but I found it to be fun and rewarding. My one student encouraged me to consider teaching others. Only problem was space.

Discussions started regarding moving my space to the basement:

More on the process of trading spaces in future posts.

Enjoy the Journey, Jackie

Unexpected Finds

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Jackie

I recently returned from a trip to Chicago to help my daughter and family settle into a new area. The nature of the trip wasn’t going to allow for any quilt shop visits so I went prepared with my own projects.

I brought this bag of goodies for me to work on during down times: Specifics here:Let’s just say there were no down times. I did try to sketch on the trip back, but I couldn’t draw a straight line to save my life in the truck. Imagine that!

I did spend a little time working on this:

I have carpel tunnel so I can only do hand work for a short period of time. I do use both hands when I embroidery and I should have switched to just using my left hand at the start so I could have worked longer.

On the way home Greg suggested I look up quilt shops in the areas we would be traveling through so we could stop. I wasn’t going to ask, we were very tired, had a long ways to go and he had to go to work in the morning. Since he offered…..

I found Sew Much More in Normal, Illinois. It wasn’t very large but I found several things I liked, some of which I left on the shelf. When will I learn to not second guess my purchases. Now I wished a fat quarter bundle had also come home with me.

I am in love with this fabric and I plan to make a tote for work with it:

As we were headed back to the highway, we stopped for lunch just down the street and wouldn’t you know it, there was another quilt/fabric shop. So what is a quilter to do?

So in the Sewing Studio, I discovered these finds:

The yardage was on sale for 1/2 price and the brown and pink will be a perfect backing for this quilt:

Now to get working on my May projects before I head back to work on Monday.

Enjoy the Journey, Jackie

Dresden Plate Dilemma

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Jackie

I need help.

Is this one, or two quilts? The start of this is over here.

Let’s just say I still don’t know what direction I am headed.

Here is a set with all 30′s prints:

Here is a set with coordinating solids for every other one:

Here they are combined into one set:

Do I make one with alternating blocks or two?

I like all 3 options for different reasons.

What is your preference and why?

Enjoy the Journey, Jackie

May Projects

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Jackie

I am running behind this month…

This is a list of some of the projects I hope to make progress on. There are other things in my head that may take over.

Hexagons:

Planning a Black/White/Red Quilt:

Dresden plate:

DSCN3982 (800x499)_wm

I am using this:

To rip out good stitching in a bad color:

To fix this:

Starting Winter Wonderland:

I plan to use blue/white fabrics instead of the red/white on this quilt.

Ready to back and quilt:

My goal is to make progress. I know there will be other projects I will start and/or finish. This list doesn’t include the Quilt it Challenge block, donation quilt, a purse and wallet I want to make…. you get the picture.

What are your goals for the month?

Enjoy the Journey, Jackie

Getting Road Ready

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Jackie

Road trip coming up in the future and in this case that means 8+ hours on the road.

I can only hand sew in small spurts, but I’ll take what I can get to pass the time and enjoy my passion as well.

In order to get ready, I used left over fabrics from this project (still in the making):

To cut 2 inch squares using the June Taylor Shape Cut ruler:

The ruler has open groves every 1/2 inch for your rotary cutter to slide into to cut. You can layer to cut many at once, my fabrics are 4 deep.

The result is quick and easy squares/strips the desired size:

The above cuts along with this:

Will get packed into here:

This has 5 pockets, 3 of them zippered and is a great little tote for small projects.

I will also be bringing this in case (when) my ADD kicks in:

And when I need to divert my attention elsewhere, I have this and a Craftsy class on tatting to watch:

and this to work on Creative Prompts (I’m a little behind) or quilt doodling:

Do you have portable projects?

My daughter and family just moved, and we are going to help them settle in. She said I wouldn’t need my sewing machine.

Now what do you think? Should I bring it?

Enjoy the Journey, Jackie

Hosting a Sew-in Part Two

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Jackie

Over here, I gave a brief overview of the Veteran Quilt Sew-in’s.

Details regarding the We Honor Veteran’s organization and our monthly progress is here.

It started as a one-time event. With that in mind, I planned a full day of sewing. I thought with easy patterns and a full day even non-sewers could get a lap quilt finished.

I cut most of the fabric into 2 1/2 inch strips.

They would be good for a rail fence quilt:

as sashing:

and binding:

The 8 1/2 inch blocks, paired with the 2 1/2 inch strips for sashing for this look:

Kim quilt 2 (638x800)

And the 5 inch blocks were used this way:

Final option was just to quilt a cheater cloth:

From left over rail fence pieces, I cut 2 1/2 inch pieced strips or squares and made these:

Now we quilt one evening or Saturday afternoon a month. Attendance varies based on everyone’s schedule. Progress is slower, but skills are improving. Sometimes everyone is focused and we accomplish quite a bit. Other times, chatting seems to the be the order of the day…… Always we do plenty of snacking….

How do you share your quilting love?

Enjoy the Journey, Jackie

Jealous

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Jackie

Okay, not really but don’t you just love these fabrics:

They aren’t mine. My photographer friend, Kathy, decided she needed to order fabric when the Fat Quarter Shop had their Stonehenge fabric on sale. She kept looking, I didn’t.

Her purchases:

I just love the blues in this Stonehenge:

I am wondering (other than I have plenty of fabric) why I didn’t order this for myself:

Kathy said she kept trying to talk me into it. (I don’t remember). While she did have fun taking pictures of the fabric, she does intend to make a quilt with it.

She doesn’t know what, but she said when she sees the pattern she will know.
Sounds like a quilter’s phrase doesn’t it.
I think she may have caught the quilting bug… I warned her.

Have you spread the quilting bug to anyone lately?

Enjoy the Journey, Jackie

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
« Apr
			1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30	31

Sew Excited Quilts (& More)

Life’s journey through a quilter’s eye

Veteran Quilt Sew-in May

Trading Spaces, Part 1

Mid May Wip’s

My Teaching Start

Unexpected Finds

Dresden Plate Dilemma

May Projects

Getting Road Ready

Hosting a Sew-in Part Two

Jealous

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: