Sewing with Others

I often forget how much fun it is to spend time with the people who share the same interesting hobby that I do.
I belong to a local quilt guild where I get to see people who gather together to promote and learn this interesting thing called quilting, but to actually sit down and sew, whether your own or a classroom project with other human beings is a very invigorating and motivating experience -- and a bit humbling too.

I guess like many people who have been around on this world for longer than a half century we think we know it all... I truly and surprised and also very happy when a young person teaches me something new. I do think that some people resent being the student rather than the teacher, but to me learning almost anything new is a wonderment and I will gladly accept the gift that is offered to me.

Well, friday evening was a Quilt til you Wilt at one of the local quilt stores, no real class was offered, just the space and inspiration you could gather from those around you. I think I spent as much time talking to my fellow quilters about their projects as I did actually sewing on my own! Some applique, some beginner star blocks, a huge disappearing nine patch for a beloved daughter and the finishing touches on a patchwork jacket - (I thought that was an 90's thing) but I guess they are still doing them...

It is so facinating to see what each other person was in the process of creating, that I forgot to take even one picture...

Reject

What a terrible word...
but oh well, at least it was not a rejection of a quilt from a juried show - not that even that could break my heart. I just tend to go on - I am far to even tempered, but then I do have just a touch of vengefulness in me...

So where did the rejection come from?
Looks like I was bounced out of the Artful Quilters Web Ring -- no notice, no email to say I am being removed, no reason, no consideration. I don't even know when it was done.

Aw well, now as I write this, I am removing their little logo from my side bar. And I am sure whoever runs that show will not even notice... HO HUM.

Now, onto the next thing.

I made Jamie Oliver's Basic Risotto this morning -- I just felt like doing some cooking and since risotto is a very foreign to me -- I'm a mashed potatoes type of girl -- I thought I would try it out. I think it came out pretty good. My son stopped in on his way to work (he works 1pm to 9pm) so I gave him some for lunch... He said "mmmmmm..." I think thats good, then away he went to earn his living. Now that he has tried it, perhaps I will too. But since I don't recall ever having risotto cooked for me, and this is the first time I have done it, I have nothing to compare it to. So, it really can't be a failure can it, as long as it is tasty, it will be the best I ever had. I like that idea.

A Keeping Bag and Bits from the Garbage Can

A few days ago I put together a little "accordian" type of bag. I saw one on a webblog somewhere on the internet and read through the posted tutorial for it. I was a very pretty little bag, but I thought that the construction was a bit more convoluted than it needed to be, so I made some adjustments in my version. I made three separate lined flat bags - the kind I have been making for years using the method where you sew the top, then the sides, turn rightside out and with a few hand stitches sew the opening closed, which makes "envelopes" with no seams showing. Then I sewed the three little flat bags together by sewing a 3 sided rectangle between two 'bags' and in so doing created a smaller pocket in between the sewn flat bags. Then I made a fourth piece cut the same width, sewing right sides together and a layer of poly batting, leaving an opening, turned, stitched closed the opening and attached it to one of the already attached "flat bags", the extra fold over formed the 'cover' or envelope closure, add a button hole and finally a button and, it was done. I am now working on a second one with some weird dinosaur fabric, that was in my stash for far too long...

I made a mistake, an error, a boo boo...
I am working on creating my own block design so the error can be excused because it did take some experimentation with the strips of fabric to cut, both the width and the length. Well I cut quite a few strips of fabric 3 1/2 inches wide, but after playing around, I discovered that the optimal width for the block that I am wanting should be 2 1/2 inches wide, so, as you see in the photo below I have a PILE of 1 inch wide strips of fabric. My first inclination was to throw them out, which I did.

Awh... But the next morning, way to early, I was up and in the sewing room. I saw those 1 inch wide strips sitting in my garbage can and still on my ironing board was a piece of cotton quilt batting left over from my last quilt that was about 20 inches wide and about 40-50 inches long. Well, it just seemed natural to pully all those narrow strips out of the garbage and start sewing them to the batting... I guess at 4:30 in the morning, I am just unable to leave things in the garbage can. Now I have a piece of 'material' with batting attached that is rather interested, but what to do with it? Well, sometime in the next few days perhaps an idea will come to me and I will create something useful or maybe not even useful, but it will be something.

Neglectful

Six Weeks! Six Weeks already? I know I have not put anything new on my blog for quite awhile. I keep meaning to. There is so much going on right now, well actually for the last few weeks, finding time to sit and write has been a challenge.

I have been sewing most everyday, though. Finishing up the Guitar Quilt, I am very happy with it. Making a few organizer type bags. And thinking, cutting fabrics for a quilt that is somewhat like BENTO BOX QUILT PATTERN BY TRACEY BROOKSHIRE but is a book called Triangle Free Quilts by JUDY HOPKINS. The difference being that the size of the centre squares are small - quite small actually, maybe too small for what I want, perhaps I will slightly change that pattern, but ultimately the effect will be the same, whether called Bento Box or Arctic Nights. I am working in REDS, from deep dark purple through bright reds to pale pretty pinks. Still in the cutting stage though, so no pictures to post about it yet.

My husband and I talked ourselves into debt - we bought a brand new car - we have never bought a car that was newer than 4 years old before, and have not had a car payment for many years because we generally pay cash for a car purchase. This time, a fairly good deal on a new Pontiac seemed worth digging ourselves a hole for the next 5 years. The deal hinged on zero percent interest... So, as we save money in the bank and EARN interest we pay off a loan with no interest. It means a few dollars saved and earned whilst looking like we can actually afford a new car...

Not that that has anything to do with quilting, except now, we have a 10 year old Chevy sitting in the parking spot that I am sorely tempted to take a paint brush to. I have always wanted to paint Quilt Blocks on an old car. Of course it would render it unsaleable to anyone else if I did that. I shall contemplate it though with the old chev... It is a dark green background, so would look interesting with pink and white Star blocks painted onto it... Do I dare?

I will try to post a few pictures and more entertaining writing in the next few days...

Birthday Booties

My grand nieces will be two years old in a couple of weeks -- so trying to be a good auntie, I am making them some fleece socks...

And between pairs of socks (I think I need some for myself too) I added a dimension flower with greenery to a simple little evening bag --I am still debating whether or not it needs more. Hmmm...

The leaves are simply folded circles and the centre flower is made by twisting and sewing in place a length of rick rack.

It stands out quite nicely on that black doesn't it? Seems that simplicity in this case is quite impressive, either that or it needs an abundance and variety of embellishment added all over...