I know that I love to hear them. I am going to shout them from the rooftops tonight. I really don't need to post this, because she already knows, but I'll bet that she loves to hear those three little words too. I am not talking about THOSE three little words. I am talking about these three little words - YOU WERE RIGHT! The thing is, she KNOWS she was right. In fact, she probably thinks she is ALWAYS right. I am talking about Des at Quilt Taffy's Taffy Talk and her tutorial for the Invisible Closing Stitch, also known as the Ladder Stitch. Did you happen to notice the date of that tutorial? Yeah, July 2008. So I'm slow. And stubborn. I didn't want to learn a hand stitch! I hate to hand stitch! I could just fumble along with whatever it was called that I did. I should have listened to Des way back in 2008.
The thing is, I was coming across the Ladder Stitch over and over again. It was kind of like one of those weird recurring dreams. Each time I saw it there were more images. Images and explanations that made it clearer and clearer to me. Like here at Craft Apple. Here at Turning*Turning (although she likes to call it the Invisible Mamma Jamma Stitch :D ). The final straw was when I watched these videos by Sharon Schamber. In the final video she uses the Ladder Stitch as the final step in attaching her binding to her quilt. Okay! I cried "UNCLE!" and decided to give it a try.
I *HEART* THE LADDER STITCH! LOVE IT, I tell you!
Although at least one of the sites mentioned that this was a slower stitch, that did not hold me back. What I found was that it was much faster than the no name stitch that I had used before. The Old Red Barn Quiltalong Quilt had about 9 yards of binding to sew. That is a lot of hand stitching. You know what? I don't think it took me that much longer to do the Ladder Stitch on the ORB quilt than it did to fumble my way around the Neptune Windmill Baby Quilt that I finished up in early June. Seriously!
By the way, I used the Sharon Schamber method, found in the three linked videos, to attach the binding on the ORB quilt. It takes some time to do all of the steps but #1)this was the first time I was able to join the ends of the binding so smoothly (seeing the method rather than looking at photos is what did it for me),#2) there are no pins or clips to deal with while hand stitching and #3)the binding was in place and smooth looking while I did the hand stitching. A bonus - I learned about this method while back to school supplies were on the shelves and Elmer's Washable School Glue was 25-30 cents a bottle! I stocked up. I am going to use this method again and again.
A few other things that I learned from the videos, the third video to be exact,
Needle the thread (instead of thread the needle)- hold the thread tip between your index finger and thumb of your left hand and with the needle in your right hand, slide the eye of the needle over the thread. I seemed to have more control doing it that way and was successful on the first try each time.
To have a slip knot on my thread - GENIUS! I don't know how many times I had to re-thread my needle on previous binding excursions but this time, only when I was starting over with a new length of thread!
How to tie a Quilter's Knot. I had seen this before on Heather Bailey's blog but for some reason it didn't click then. I must have been in the right frame of mind when I watched these videos.
So there you have it. A post with no pictures but lots of links to some pictures, tutorials, videos. Maybe you knew these things already. Just like Des. ;) Maybe you're smart like that too.
Praise - My son has started his fourth week of school and he is staying on task and even asked for some nudging from me. So far he is able to keep up with school and his part time job.
Prayers - College girl is packing up her stuff. Today is her last day of work. Prayers for her to stay on task, get things on her list crossed off and remain calm during it all.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
September TO DO List
September. It seems so strange to type that word. I think it feels like it should still be June. Didn't my son just celebrate his birthday? Didn't college girl just get home? How can it really be September already? It was much cooler today. Fall must be on the way. Fall is my FAVORITE season and I love cooler weather so I'm ready for it but I'm just surprised that summer is almost over.
So here's my list for the;
It is quite the ambitious list too. It is what I HOPE to get accomplished. Some of it I really need to get finished, other things have been on the back burner for way too long. I figure listing them here gives me a push to work on them rather than ignore them altogether.
First up - get the binding on these quilts. The Old Red Barn Quilt Along quilt, pictured on the right, is going to college with college girl in a couple of weeks so that is high priority.September goal - complete binding. The Stacked Coins quilt, on the left, is already an overdue wedding present. My goal for this month is to AT LEAST get the binding sewn to the front of the quilt - it doesn't have to be hand sewn down on the back before the end of this month (although that would be GREAT!).
This dress is for college girl and I thought it was going to be a fun summer dress for her. Uhhhhhhh,well she might get to wear it before the last day of summer.Goal for this month - get this dress finished before we take College Girl back to school. Hopefully there will be some warm days once school starts back up and she can wear it at least once before she pulls out the sweaters and jeans. This is the fabric and pattern that I showed in August. Alexander Henry fabric and Simplicity pattern.
Another LONG overdue project. This fabric is for the apron pictured in the center and is for a good friend.She must be a good friend because she still likes me and I was going to make this for her last August! My goal for September - get the fabric pre-shrunk,make the pattern (trace the correct size onto pattern material), cut the apron out.
This one isn't as long overdue as the one above but still overdue. This is for another friend - she knows nothing about this. I saw this fabric on someones blog but could never find it online then one day at JoAnn's there it was!! It is an Alexander Henry print. My friend LOVES lemon desserts. She did pick out the pattern when she was here one time. I have never seen her wear an apron so I'm not so sure about what she will really do with it. September goal - shrink fabrics,make pattern,cut apron out.
Well on this next project I am actually ahead of the game but by the time it is done I will be behind. Yeah, roll yer eyes. I'll understand. This fabric, along with a layer cake is going to be made into the Scruffily Quilt from Rachel Griffiths on The Moda Bakeshop. It is for my hubby's niece that is getting married October 11th. I am going to have to find something to use for backing and also get some batting. I'm hoping that JoAnn's has Warm & White on sale the weekend we take College Girl back to school because I will be near a SUPER JoAnn's that weekend! September Goal for this - get the quilt top sewn, make the binding.
Whew! That is quite the list. I know.I KNOW! Now if I could just limit my time on the computer during the day I could probably make a good dent in this list.
Praise - our friend that was suddenly sick is doing much better! It was determined it was food poisoning.It hit her pretty quick and hard and she was very dehydrated by the time the campus health services got to her. We are so thankful that it was short lived, not the flu and that she is on the road to recovery tonight. Praise the Lord!
Prayers - College girl has been 'shadowing' an elementary teacher for this week before school starts and then next week she gets to be in the classroom when classes begin. I'm praying that she will be a help to the teacher, feel comfortable with the kids and be a great witness to those she is in contact with.
So here's my list for the;
It is quite the ambitious list too. It is what I HOPE to get accomplished. Some of it I really need to get finished, other things have been on the back burner for way too long. I figure listing them here gives me a push to work on them rather than ignore them altogether.
First up - get the binding on these quilts. The Old Red Barn Quilt Along quilt, pictured on the right, is going to college with college girl in a couple of weeks so that is high priority.September goal - complete binding. The Stacked Coins quilt, on the left, is already an overdue wedding present. My goal for this month is to AT LEAST get the binding sewn to the front of the quilt - it doesn't have to be hand sewn down on the back before the end of this month (although that would be GREAT!).
This dress is for college girl and I thought it was going to be a fun summer dress for her. Uhhhhhhh,well she might get to wear it before the last day of summer.Goal for this month - get this dress finished before we take College Girl back to school. Hopefully there will be some warm days once school starts back up and she can wear it at least once before she pulls out the sweaters and jeans. This is the fabric and pattern that I showed in August. Alexander Henry fabric and Simplicity pattern.
Another LONG overdue project. This fabric is for the apron pictured in the center and is for a good friend.She must be a good friend because she still likes me and I was going to make this for her last August! My goal for September - get the fabric pre-shrunk,make the pattern (trace the correct size onto pattern material), cut the apron out.
This one isn't as long overdue as the one above but still overdue. This is for another friend - she knows nothing about this. I saw this fabric on someones blog but could never find it online then one day at JoAnn's there it was!! It is an Alexander Henry print. My friend LOVES lemon desserts. She did pick out the pattern when she was here one time. I have never seen her wear an apron so I'm not so sure about what she will really do with it. September goal - shrink fabrics,make pattern,cut apron out.
Well on this next project I am actually ahead of the game but by the time it is done I will be behind. Yeah, roll yer eyes. I'll understand. This fabric, along with a layer cake is going to be made into the Scruffily Quilt from Rachel Griffiths on The Moda Bakeshop. It is for my hubby's niece that is getting married October 11th. I am going to have to find something to use for backing and also get some batting. I'm hoping that JoAnn's has Warm & White on sale the weekend we take College Girl back to school because I will be near a SUPER JoAnn's that weekend! September Goal for this - get the quilt top sewn, make the binding.
Whew! That is quite the list. I know.I KNOW! Now if I could just limit my time on the computer during the day I could probably make a good dent in this list.
Praise - our friend that was suddenly sick is doing much better! It was determined it was food poisoning.It hit her pretty quick and hard and she was very dehydrated by the time the campus health services got to her. We are so thankful that it was short lived, not the flu and that she is on the road to recovery tonight. Praise the Lord!
Prayers - College girl has been 'shadowing' an elementary teacher for this week before school starts and then next week she gets to be in the classroom when classes begin. I'm praying that she will be a help to the teacher, feel comfortable with the kids and be a great witness to those she is in contact with.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Let's try this again
I've tried to post. Really! It was either a problem with Blogger or a problem with me. It could have been a combination of the two. It was frustrating and a waste of time and in the end there were no posts. So I'm trying again.
The only Charming Girls Quilt Club project that I finished completely for August was the skirt for the college girl. It was a lazy month for me.
I did go through my stash and made up two bundles of love to send to Iraq. My hubby had to hold the one box closed so that I could tape it. If these were not being sent priority mail to an APO/FPO the boxes would have cost $26 and $34! The special rate for the flat rate priority for military addresses is $11.95, so much better. There is still time to get a package off if you haven't done so yet. Here is the link for Iraqi Bundles of Love, even if you aren't participating you should go look at what is going on there and see the bundles that have arrived!
I finally got my Stacked Coins quilt stippled. This took awhile because I backed this with white Minky and that required LOTS of pinning. I was advised that spray adhesive would not hold the Minky. I ran out of pins and had to begin the stippling and then use those pins to finish up the quilt. I have to say though that I LOVE having the Minky on the back, it feels so nice. I didn't have any problems stippling it although having to remove pins makes the whole process so much slower.
Then I started to make the pieced binding for the Old Red Barn Quilt Along Quilt and the Stacked Coins quilt. Cutting all my strips down to 10" pieces and then chain stiching them. The ORB quilt needed about 9 yards of finished binding!
Here is one strip of binding all finished. I just love how it looks now and hope I am as happy with it once it is on the quilt.
I had to trim off all of these pieces from where I joined two different prints on the binding. There is NO WAY I would use such teeny pieces but I am sure someone out there would actually use them. The long side of each is approximately 3" and the short sides right about 2". First person in the USA that says they want these scraps can have them. Otherwise I will just toss them. Fabric is Michael Miller/Sandi Henderson's Ginger Blossom - almost all of the prints in the line.
So that's what I did in August. I'll be posting my list for September soon.
Praise - We've almost made it through another summer with no fire danger. That is such a blessing when we live surrounded by forests.
Prayers - I just got word that our friend that is back to school in IL is VERY sick. Prayers that it is NOT the Swine Flu, that she will have a full and swift recovery and that she doesn't get behind on her classes.
The only Charming Girls Quilt Club project that I finished completely for August was the skirt for the college girl. It was a lazy month for me.
I did go through my stash and made up two bundles of love to send to Iraq. My hubby had to hold the one box closed so that I could tape it. If these were not being sent priority mail to an APO/FPO the boxes would have cost $26 and $34! The special rate for the flat rate priority for military addresses is $11.95, so much better. There is still time to get a package off if you haven't done so yet. Here is the link for Iraqi Bundles of Love, even if you aren't participating you should go look at what is going on there and see the bundles that have arrived!
I finally got my Stacked Coins quilt stippled. This took awhile because I backed this with white Minky and that required LOTS of pinning. I was advised that spray adhesive would not hold the Minky. I ran out of pins and had to begin the stippling and then use those pins to finish up the quilt. I have to say though that I LOVE having the Minky on the back, it feels so nice. I didn't have any problems stippling it although having to remove pins makes the whole process so much slower.
Then I started to make the pieced binding for the Old Red Barn Quilt Along Quilt and the Stacked Coins quilt. Cutting all my strips down to 10" pieces and then chain stiching them. The ORB quilt needed about 9 yards of finished binding!
Here is one strip of binding all finished. I just love how it looks now and hope I am as happy with it once it is on the quilt.
I had to trim off all of these pieces from where I joined two different prints on the binding. There is NO WAY I would use such teeny pieces but I am sure someone out there would actually use them. The long side of each is approximately 3" and the short sides right about 2". First person in the USA that says they want these scraps can have them. Otherwise I will just toss them. Fabric is Michael Miller/Sandi Henderson's Ginger Blossom - almost all of the prints in the line.
So that's what I did in August. I'll be posting my list for September soon.
Praise - We've almost made it through another summer with no fire danger. That is such a blessing when we live surrounded by forests.
Prayers - I just got word that our friend that is back to school in IL is VERY sick. Prayers that it is NOT the Swine Flu, that she will have a full and swift recovery and that she doesn't get behind on her classes.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Have you heard??
Maybe you've already heard and maybe you've already done something about it, if so - YEAH YOU!!! If not then read on. I came across a blog that talked about Iraqi Bundles of Love in passing. There was just a mention of the name so I did a BING search to see what it was all about. In a nutshell, a Major stationed in Iraq happens to be the husband of a quilter (also son of and brother of one too!) and his time in Iraq is coming to an end. He came up with Iraqi Bundles of Love as a way to leave something behind with the Iraqi people. Something that they can use, something that they might possibly need. Basically what you do - if in the USA you can get a USPS Flat Rate priority box from the post office, fill it with sewing, quilting or knitting supplies, bundle it up (he tells you just how to pack it!) and send it off. Since it is going to an APO address, if you are in the USA you only need to pay $11.95 for shipping no matter how heavy your box is. You can participate if you are not a resident of the USA, just check his site for more information. Here is a link to his intro page. Once there you will find links for a FAQ page, a BUILD A BUNDLE page, what to send and what not to send and other information. There are pictures of the first 6 bundles that they just received too! The boxes MUST be postmarked by Sept 7th to get there in time for distribution. To get the address either post a comment at his site or ask me for it in a comment here and I can pass it along via email (there was some reason that he doesn't just post the address but I don't remember what it was). There are Iraqi Bundles of Love blog buttons as well but I could not get either one of them to work.
Let me know if you are taking part in this. I have been going through my things tonight and have quite the collection so far - fabrics,trims,threads,scissors. I might have to get two boxes from the post office!
EDITED to ADD - I am going to challenge all the CHARMING GIRLS QUILT CLUB members to build a bundle and ship it off! I know you gals have some fabric lying around. ;)
Praise - That U.S. military personnel would take the time and make the effort to go above & beyond their required duties to help the people of Iraq.
Prayers - that the quilting/crafting online community will rally together to share their bounty with the people of Iraq and that these bundles would be sent & received with love.
Let me know if you are taking part in this. I have been going through my things tonight and have quite the collection so far - fabrics,trims,threads,scissors. I might have to get two boxes from the post office!
EDITED to ADD - I am going to challenge all the CHARMING GIRLS QUILT CLUB members to build a bundle and ship it off! I know you gals have some fabric lying around. ;)
Praise - That U.S. military personnel would take the time and make the effort to go above & beyond their required duties to help the people of Iraq.
Prayers - that the quilting/crafting online community will rally together to share their bounty with the people of Iraq and that these bundles would be sent & received with love.
Monday, August 17, 2009
First August finish
The month is more than halfway gone.I started this skirt on the first, worked on it on the second and then lost steam. Ugh. Well it has been finished for a few days now but I needed to get college girl to model it for me so that I could get a picture. Every time she puts it on she twirls around.
Now if I could just quit procrastinating on my other projects that I set as goals for the Charming Girls Quilt Club...
Praise - one of the girls that is returning to college was going to have to drive back to Illinois alone but God has provided someone to make the trip with her!
Prayers - for the safety of my hubby while he is working alone on an addition to his shop.
Now if I could just quit procrastinating on my other projects that I set as goals for the Charming Girls Quilt Club...
Praise - one of the girls that is returning to college was going to have to drive back to Illinois alone but God has provided someone to make the trip with her!
Prayers - for the safety of my hubby while he is working alone on an addition to his shop.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Tagged Again
As part of our participation in the Charming Girls Quilt Club, Kelly tags us each month and if we want an extra entry for her drawing then we answer the questions. Easy enough right? Bonus - it got me back to my blog!!!
1. Share your favorite quilting or sewing tip - if you didn't use the fabric and pattern for that cute outfit you planned for your own toddlers, save it - someday you might have grandchildren and more time to sew.
2. Share your best tip for managing time more effectively (what works best for you)! Ohhhhh, if I only had a good answer for this - my quilts would be sewn, my college girl's dresses and skirts would be finished, all purses and totes would be sewn and I wouldn't have much fabric left in my stash. Best tip - limit time on the computer. If need be, make your computer time a reward after you have done the things you want or need to do.
3. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Newfoundland. I have been to all the other provinces (well I think they added one somewhere along the line but I am not counting that) and have ALMOST been to Newfoundland twice.
Praise - the weather has cooled off the last couple of days. There seems to be more hot temperatures for us this August but this little cool down is much appreciated.
Prayers - a couple girls from our church will be returning to college this week. Prayers for their safe travels and for the school year ahead of them.
1. Share your favorite quilting or sewing tip - if you didn't use the fabric and pattern for that cute outfit you planned for your own toddlers, save it - someday you might have grandchildren and more time to sew.
2. Share your best tip for managing time more effectively (what works best for you)! Ohhhhh, if I only had a good answer for this - my quilts would be sewn, my college girl's dresses and skirts would be finished, all purses and totes would be sewn and I wouldn't have much fabric left in my stash. Best tip - limit time on the computer. If need be, make your computer time a reward after you have done the things you want or need to do.
3. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Newfoundland. I have been to all the other provinces (well I think they added one somewhere along the line but I am not counting that) and have ALMOST been to Newfoundland twice.
Praise - the weather has cooled off the last couple of days. There seems to be more hot temperatures for us this August but this little cool down is much appreciated.
Prayers - a couple girls from our church will be returning to college this week. Prayers for their safe travels and for the school year ahead of them.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
August TO DO LIST
I really liked being pushed to get some things done in July by the Charming Girls Quilt Club. I didn't finish everything I set out to though.
Part of that was not my fault - if there is no Warm & White to be found what's a girl to do?
So once again on my list (and I am already working on it!), this pattern
to be made up in this Rebel Roses fabric by Henry Glass;
Warm & White has been obtained so back on the list is this quilt - top is done so now I need to make the quilt sandwich, stipple and bind. This is made with my leftovers from the Old Red Barn Quilt-Along Quilt.
Which brings me to the Old Red Barn Quilt-Along Quilt; needs the edges trimmed and binding made and attached. I was waiting for the above quilt to be at the point where I could measure and then make the binding for both quilts at the same time.
Adding to the list is a dress,for college girl, made out of this fabric, Pink Pareo by Alexander Henry. I am using Simplicity 2616, view A, but shorter than that.
I can't wait to see what everyone else is going to be working on this month!
Praise - I have been HOME ALONE! basically since the 31st. All is going well so far.
Prayers - That everything on the home front would continue to go well but more importantly that the rest of my family and our friends would be safe on their river rafting trip.
Part of that was not my fault - if there is no Warm & White to be found what's a girl to do?
So once again on my list (and I am already working on it!), this pattern
to be made up in this Rebel Roses fabric by Henry Glass;
Warm & White has been obtained so back on the list is this quilt - top is done so now I need to make the quilt sandwich, stipple and bind. This is made with my leftovers from the Old Red Barn Quilt-Along Quilt.
Which brings me to the Old Red Barn Quilt-Along Quilt; needs the edges trimmed and binding made and attached. I was waiting for the above quilt to be at the point where I could measure and then make the binding for both quilts at the same time.
Adding to the list is a dress,for college girl, made out of this fabric, Pink Pareo by Alexander Henry. I am using Simplicity 2616, view A, but shorter than that.
I can't wait to see what everyone else is going to be working on this month!
Praise - I have been HOME ALONE! basically since the 31st. All is going well so far.
Prayers - That everything on the home front would continue to go well but more importantly that the rest of my family and our friends would be safe on their river rafting trip.
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