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Thursday, June 28, 2018

Handwork is fast work!



I'm a fanatic at times. On hyper-drive when I start something that is of great interest. Unable to enjoy the work unless the work is moving forward. Rarely do I sit and appreciate something of my own making. 


However I do stop often and appreciate it for moments. Just moments. But still. Every time I empty my needle, I take a moment. Just a moment. But still.

I look at where I'm going. Appreciate what I've done. Make a few decisions. Thread up and stitch. Fast and furious, off I go again. 

What do you have under your needle?


Edited to add: see my article on AHIQ: Improvisational Utility Quilts. Thanks to Kaja and Ann for putting together this great new blog.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Pin It Weekly #248

The Polka Dot Quilter is a new follower with several quilt boards. I really like her "black & white quilts" board.


Quilt.Ready to Ship  This Black and White Irish Chain Queen size quilt is ready to ship. It is made from 100% cotton and measures 90x90  This listing the last larger border is black. I have another listing in my shop with a white border as the last larger border.  It would lookCraftyblossom: black and white cross quilt.

Black and white log cabin star

Black, white, and blue grey patchwork triangle quilt blanket baby toddler boy woodland animals rustic black and white nursery nest nurseryEasy Quilts Summer 2013; absolutely love the black and white!! TONS of quilt ideas in here-- check it out!

This is such a fantastic "Courthouse Steps" variation by Alexis Deise. I especially like the strips of grey fabric that make an appearance in a few of the blocks.

Rebeccamata is a new pinner who has only a few boards, but she's gaining ground with her "tatting patterns" board.


Interesting tatting shuttle case - though I like to carry one or two shuttles (with balls of extra thread) in a separate fabric zipper pouch that fits into my purse...one of my pet peeves is having a few minutes I could use to tat and my hands have to sit empty and bored. And it's a lot more calming than playing games on my iPhone.


8d77eb47f480c7f05593f7ad35c5f7b5.jpg (400×400)

Josephine Cross

Interlocking Tatting Rings - how to, with a needle

Finally, because she has such pretty curls, here are a few pictures of Milly. 


Have a board you'd like me to feature? Leave the address in a comment and you'll be next. 
Have a great week!

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: CASTLES

Happy inspiration! Here's hoping these castles from my "castle, home" board inspire you. 

It was partially destroyed by a great fire March 13, 1932, just after the baron Robert Lejeune, then owner of the castle, had been installing new central heating. The castle now remains in ruins. Only the chapel behind the castle was spared and still in reasonable condition.

Vorselaar Castle, Belgium

So beautiful and yet so sad, we stopped here after our visit north on our way to Bilboa. If I had money, I would want to fix this place up!!


Englefield House, Berkshire. Miss Havisham’s ‘Satis House’ in "Great Expectations."  Englefield House and gardens are regularly used as a film location and the estate can be seen in The King’s Speech, as well as Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, Poirot, Inspector Morse and Jeeves and Wooster. The gardens can be visited from April to October.

Medieval, Marienburg Castle in Hannover, Germany

Caerphilly Castle ~ is a medieval fortification in Caerphilly, South Wales. Constructed by Gilbert de Clare in the 13th century.

Ruins of Gondars Castle, Ethiopia | Raphael Bick

Conwy Castle, Wales.

Dresden Castle, Dresden, Germany

Coimbra, Portugal. Castle

With over 500 pins on this board, choosing just a few was quite difficult. But we must move on to castle quilts. These are all in my "baby, quilts" board.

Hey, I found this really awesome Etsy listing at http://www.etsy.com/listing/157237599/princess-quilt-reversibe-handmade-baby

Blondie's Castle Quilt - I love the detail! by Talk Is Cheap Quilts

castle quilt block | Oranje Quilters' Guild

Ice Palace by Heidi Pridemore

When You Wish Upon A Star quilt. Disney

I will be making this. It needs a different coloured dragon, though.

<b>Much like acid wash jeans or zombies, these styles were dead but are back — and when done right, totally amazing.</b>

A paper pieced fairy tale castle to make all your dreams come true! Or a pirate castle from where all great adventures start.


Saturday, June 23, 2018

Embroider more!

I got a new machine--a dedicated embroidery machine! I had no plan to purchase any machine, but then sometimes luck just taps you on the shoulder and has good news to boot!



What happened was that my niece bought this Janome a few years ago thinking she would add embroidery to her small tee shirt business. She changed her mind and, it turns out, she didn't like any part of the machine. She tried a couple of times, but sewing is not in her blood. Poor girl.


So I got a text asking me to help her find someone to buy it--perhaps one of my sewing friends. Oh, what to do, what to do? 

Richard suggested I buy it. I had, after all, talked about buying an embroidery machine but couldn't justify the expense. Besides my Bernina embroiders and I don't have as much interest as I did a few years ago. Hmm, she was asking a fair price...


 Well, you can figure out the rest. The machine came with a box of stabilizers, which were recommended when she bought the machine. Only one roll had been opened.



I decided to open all of the rolls, trim off the cellophane, and wrap the label around the corresponding roll so that I can keep the information with the roll. Otherwise how would I remember which is which? I can remove the tape and tighten the label, which works as a rubber band to keep the fusible from coming off the roll.



Directions for use are printed on a separate sheet, so I tucked it into the center of the roll. 




 And now it's all neatly stored in the shelves near the long-arm with the other fusibles and interfacing. Now to find a minute to read the instruction book and give the machine a run.

Thursday, June 21, 2018

New under my needle

I've missed having a small hand-quilting project. It's been almost a month since I finished the orphan quilt block my mom made. I've had an idea squeaking around in my brain, so I decided today (quite randomly) that I'd do something with it. 

All improv and all fun, it's going quite well. It was meant to be a small wall hanging, so it didn't take a great deal of time to put together. I just cut pieces with my scissors and stitched or raw edge applique things on. I even have a small reverse-applique piece (not shown).


Tonight I brought the top and my little basket of tools in to stitch while we watched a movie. I can see small changes already. This one might be fast. Enjoy the sneak peek!



Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Pin It Weekly #247

Bible Verses About Faith: where there is hope, there is faith where there is faith miracles heppenHello Pinners!
I have some interesting news--apparently there are a couple of people who visit my Pinterest board. Check it out--


284.8k monthly viewers

That's what Pinterest counts, anyway. Well, they don't count it in red, I did little color thingy. But the numbers are all Pinterest bean counters. (I don't think I can count that high. I'd look away for a second and forget what I was doing. Ha)

What are they looking at? Well, that's interesting, too. According to the activity button info, Sunday Quilt Inspiration is having a bigger effect than Blogger seems to think.  

So I don't know what to think. It's confusing and I really don't want to try to figure it out, anyway. Let's just say, I'm happy that someone, somewhere, somehow knows what's going on. Chances are those people are much more interested in numbers that belong to other people. But who knows, right?

I'm just going to do what I like doing: pinning and blogging and maybe even a little posting on Instagram, just for a change now and again. 

Ohio Quilt Barn Backdrop

Fleur de Lis Quilts and Accessories: Pin It Weekly #170

mum likes it but in a bigger version of the pattern:

Tee-shirt blanc bicolore imprimé des lettres
Isn't this funny?

The following pins are from Laura Shiplett's "fabric crafts board. I really like some of the ideas. Look at the little doll sleeping bags!
sleeping bags for bears, dolls, etc.

Patchwork n Play.: W.W.W.W.

Cute Pillow, I want this.

DIY pouch sewing tutorials

Hanging Wall Pocket for a workshop by Rebekah L. Smith rebekahlsmith.blogspot.com

Wow, I have never seen this technique for sewing perfect circles before...can't wait to try! Easy Circle Quilt Blocks - on HGTV http://www.hgtv.com/video/easy-circle-quilt-blocks-video/index.html

Have a great week!