My first attempt at Free Motion Quilting

So....I made a little quilt sandwich, dropped the feed-dogs, and gave it a try. My machine did great work! However,  it appears that I can't seem to "meander" and just get loopy. 

So....I am using the walking foot on the table runner. LOL

Thinking about Easy Street....

 

So....I am thinking about doing the Easy Street Mystery Quilt from Bonnie Hunter. I went to my stash and found that I have a TON of blues and some purples. However, I need to go to the store and buy the rest of the fabric that is asked for in the directions. I think I need to go a little lighter with my blues, also. What do you think?

 

Working on the second side....

I have been working hard, but every once and while.....I turn on the sewing machine and sew a few pieces. Those stolen moments relieve a lot of stress. Check out the work that I have done on the second side of the table runner....

 

Here are two of the blocks. The white on white is used to sash all the way around the block.

I am a little nervous about making sure that my sashing lines up, because the pattern calls for "keystone" pieces. I just really hope that I can keep my points straight and clean.

Ok....back to work....
K

Rant....

For me...life tends to come in fits and starts. I am not sure about you, but my ability to be creative and to do things for myself is limited by the needs of the various others in my life. I am the one who puts her needs last, so that I can care for the ones that I love.

And I am good with that...for the most part.

I went months without quilting because we were moving and the kids needed my help. And I was cool with that because there just weren't enough days in the week for me to quilt.

I gave up the podcast when I just couldn't find the time and I couldn't find a way to actually DO the recording. I recorded 4 episodes and couldn't get them off the recording device, so that I could upload them. *sigh*

But.....this weekend....the hubbie tells me that I need to go on a retreat. I need to go on a quilting adventure and get away from the kids.

And what is the first thing that I do? Give 30 different reasons why this is impossible. LOL. Instead of saying...I completely agree. Obviously, I have a problem. Hehehe.

Then, I get the email for the Lancaster Quilt Show. I get excited. I forward the email over to the hubbie. I say...I WANT TO GO HERE!

The phone rings.

"Hello Honey. You can't go to this. You have to be home to get the kids on the bus for school. You have to work. I don't want you to use vacation time! I want you to save it for later. I know I SAID that you should do a quilt retreat...but you just can't do this one. Maybe sometime in the future."

POP. There goes my happy joy joy bubble.

I want my creative side to have an outlet...and at this point, that means that I am home....listening to podcasts and daydreaming about being able to take a class at a quilt shop...while I teach myself to quilt. *sigh*

Thanks for listening to the rant!
K

The first side of my table runner!

Here is the first side of my table runner. Finally complete!

 

 

Banana has Bronchitis

My little bear is sick.
Which means between her and work...I am stalled again.
I am READY to finish the first side of my two-sided table topper. Everything is pinned. I am looking at my sewing machine....but I have to finish my work....and it is hard to sew when you are holding a 3 year old.

I plan to be available for the Google hangout....but I might be just caring for the baby banana bear.

Onward and Upward!
Kate

Getting it done...

My first attempt at using a pattern...

I started using the pattern and it felt strange. I have never followed directions before when quilting. It has always been a "free-flowing-I-have-no-idea-what-I-am-doing" process for me. Here are my candy corn triagles....from the back. They look pretty good. 

Here are my borders. I am almost ready to sew them on. Of course...I measured and it looks like I only have 6 and a quarter inch instead of 6 and a half inches...on ONE of the sides of the borders. So...I can't seem to make straight cuts.

So....my baby banana girl has Bronchitis. So, I was up until 3am with her. Gave me plenty of time to sew. I am hoping to have this finished soon, so that I can try free motion quilting.

 

I am going to practice first. But I will give this a try. I am giving it to a "muggle" as Frances says on her Podcast. She isn't going to know that I have no idea what I am doing! :)

Thank you for the ideas, Nonnie! I am thinking about what you recommended. It scares me....so I am thinking I might try the stencil. Or....not. I haven't actually bought it yet.

Addiction....to fabric shopping

So....I am supposed to be working. However, one of the downsides of working online at home is that the temptation to fabric shop is overwhelming! I am browsing Amazon for quilting books. Slipping over to online fabric stores to check out the latest fabrics...sigh.

And I found a stencil for free-motion quilting on Amazon.


I am going to venture into the world of free-motion quilting.

How do the mylar stencils work? Are they any good?

Up until now I have been happy with my walking foot and a straight lines.....so....gulp. I can do this!

Ok...back to work!

I did it!

Cutting!

 This pattern asked for SO much cutting. I fretted. I planned. I hemmed. And then, I just did it.

This is just HALF of what I needed to cut! I made some mistakes...but it was fine!

Nothing that I can't fix!

 

I am a little worried because of the number of triangles I am going to be working with. And there are some seriously strange directions. My little Pumpkin LOVES the pumpkin fabric.

 

And here is my beginning to the candy corn block! Loving the colors together!

 

 

I have ironed my different candy corn pieces in half, so that I have line them up. I have them ready to chain piece. (Sorry about my silly pajama pants in the picture.)

 

Now....back to the sewing! More pictures to come when I have completed a bit more!

Fear....

So....I am staring at the fabric for the table runner.

Just staring. I read the directions to cut it...and I just stare some more.

I will overcome my fear of making a mistake. Why do I assume that I am going to cute it wrong? Who is going to care of I do cut it wrong?

Where does this fear come from?
Strange!
Kate

In the works....in my mind....

I am planning on making a Jacob's Ladder quilt. I was inspired by the following tutorial. I have 5 yards of dark purple solid and 5 yards of white fabric. I just need to figure out the sizes and how much to cut. Math....sigh.

Slowly getting back in the game....

Since I am pretty sure that my sister doesn't actually read my blog, I am going to talk about the gift I will be giving her. That is....if I get it done by then.

I am making her a table runner. It is one of those free patterns that came in one of my magazines. The table runner is for Halloween and Christmas. One side has cute candy corn. The other side has Christmas trees.

I decided that I was going to...gulp....buy yardage. I kept hearing Nonnie in my head telling me how much less expensive it is to use yardage. So....I am stepping away from my precuts and embracing cutting my own material. Nervous...but it is just fabric. I can always buy more if I need it.

I spent my Sunday night ironing all of my fabric. Now...it is ready for me to cut.  Okay....hoping for time to actually piece and put this together soon.

Podcast....I am researching a way to record the podcast on my iPhone that will actually work. I have actually recording 3 episodes that were eaten by my phone. Sigh. Once I get a good mic....I will get started recording again.

coming back.....I hope...

Hello!
I really want to come back and start podcasting again. I just need more time. I haven't even had time to quilt at all in the last few weeks. I do have a project planned as a gift for my sister. I am hoping that will help me to jump back into quilting.

Have you ever just been involved in caring for others, that you don't have any time for yourself? I have found that it makes me a BEAR to live with...when I don't get any Me time. The hubbie is letting me know....I have to take time. It is now something he is going to require. Heheheh. I guess that means that I have been a bit too mean.

I am on my low carb diet again. It is helping me quite a bit. I have already lost 32 pounds and it has been one month. The fat just melts off when I am in the first stage of the diet. Honestly....I had a diet that involved cookies, cake, and chocolate - so the low carb, no sugar diet was VERY much needed.

I miss all my quilty friends. I hope that you are enjoying fall.

Fall in New Jersey is becoming quite fabulous. The trees are just starting to change color. Lovely.

Sending you happy thoughts!
I am HOPING that this is the me coming back!
Kate

Finally....we moved...

So, the family and I have finally started to settle down.

In the last few months, we have moved from the Seattle area to southern New Jersey. This has been an amazing....scary....exciting...fabulous ride for the last few months.

In the last few months, I have:
1. Done all of the paperwork to buy a house....
2. Packed and unpacked my entire house
3. Bought a house 3000 miles away without seeing it...
4. Driven across the country in 9 days with three little kids
While working full time
AND....I finished a quilt 3 days before the move.

WHEW!

Now, I am just working full time....unpacking....and taking care of three little ones. LOL.
Oh....and getting everything ready for school.

OH....I desperately want to get back my podcast. Currently, researching a way to record that will work...

Gifts and a total lack of time....

My daughter, Banana, holding the wedding shower gift that I made from my best friend. Six placemats and a table runner. Also, a utensil holder with wooden salad utensils.
Proof that I have SOOOOO Much to learn about sewing.

Not much happening on the sewing front. I made this gift for my best friend. My other stuff is sitting there...mocking me with its incompleteness. *Sigh*

If only there were 36 hours in a day...

My world....

My front porch in our snow storm. So lovely!

So....
I haven't been able to sew. Between Working...caring for the three bears....making sure that the hubbie is happy with the state of the house ....working some more....and planning for our move....I haven't had time to sew.

For the first time...I have UFO's.

I have been LONGING to podcast. But I just don't have the time.

So....a bit of progress....

60 pinwheels are done!
1 row of my Owl quilt is together
2/3 of my Banana's snuggly quilt is done - a rag quilt using minkie charms and a random charm pack.

However....nothing else is getting done.

I need to find some time!! I miss my podcast...and my blog!

Hope everyone is doing wonderful sewing!
Kate

Words

Wow.

So I just read my podcast reviews in iTunes. Apparently, I used a word that offended someone. I used the word retarded. In the Listener comments.

Honestly, I am a product of where I grew up and the way that people talked. I know that it is not politically correct to use that term. However, I generally use it when referring to myself. And...I don't generally think of the word in the sense of handicapped individuals.

It is more an idiom of my childhood. So...I can see how that could upset individuals.

I definitely didn't mean to offend.

I apologize.

Kate