Wednesday, June 29, 2011

RRCB

So I have decided that my next project is going to be Bonnie Hunter's RRCB, or Roll Roll Cotton Boll mystery quilt!  The reason I chose this one is because Bonnie is so great at "shopping" her stash and making scrappy quilts.  I'm afraid of my stash of scraps so I figured this may help me get over that fear lol.  My first step is to shop my stash for all of the fabric requirements.  I don't have much in the way of neutrals for the background so I may have to buy yardard for that, but I do have plenty of fat quarters that I have picked up and/or traded over the years for the rest of the quilt.  I will post photos as I progress, starting with my stash and what I pick out.  For now, I need to go help Sydney with the rest of her quilt top.  I have decided to use Mom's embroidery machine with her Quilt Works program to quilt my table runner since my Pfaff is having bobbin tension problems right now O_o.  I'll be back later.

Kerensa

Monday, June 27, 2011

Returning to Morocco

Today is officially the third day of my 10-day vacation.  Saturday I really didn't do much, just lazed around catching up on TV shows.  Yesterday I didn't do much either but we had a really awesome storm, including hail:
View from inside the house

Yep, it's coming up fast

yikes

Two pieces of hail that hit me!  About the size of small marbles. 


The yard was covered in hail bouncing around everywhere.  I was just keeping my fingers crossed that they didn't get bigger and damage the cars.  I can say the temperature dropped about 20 degrees from 102 down to 88 or so.  Felt really great outside after the storm passed.  Unfortunately, the lightening zapped the phone box down the road and half of the area has been without phone and internet service for 2 days now!  I was jonesing really bad for Facebook and my blog LOL  Finally they got it back on around 7 tonight.  


Today Mom and I went to Margie's Quilt Shop to try to find fabrics to make the purses we got the pattern for.  We had so much fun shopping and looking around!  See what we got:

 
Fairy Frost fabric and charm squares to make this bag for mom:


That was the bag that I wanted to make but I couldn't find any charm squares in the batik colors I wanted since I really wanted the bag exactly as it is shown in blues and greens so while I was browsing the fabrics I found...Dragonfly Summer jelly roll, the LAST one!!!! :)  For those who have read my blog the Dragonfly Summer fabric collection by Moda has been on my want list since I first found it online.  So needless to say this is the fabric I chose to get for my bag:



This bag has directions for charm squares, strips, or whole cloth.  Now I have never in my life ever made anything like this before!  I'm very nervous, especially with how much the fabric cost us, so no room for mistakes!  However, mom has made clothing and other things before so she has promised to help me make them :). 

So after we went fabric and then grocery shopping I came home and told my daughter Sydney that today was a mother/daughter craft day.  She was very excited about this so I pulled out a HUGE stack of charm squares that I have collected over the years through swaps and gifts etc along with some old off-white background fabric squares and taught her first how to separate them into light and dark stacks, starch and press the squares, then how to measure and square up all of the blocks to a 5x5 size with the rotary cutter.  She then got on the living room floor and began playing with the block layout.  She is just going to do a simple lap quilt for herself.  Here is her progress so far:

Sydney pressing charm squares

Sydney playing with block layout/design

The Singer machine mom loaned Sydney to learn on and her rows of blocks labeled and ready to sew


And since I'm showing sewing machines, here is my lovely Pfaff:



While I was at Margie's today I found a long-arm quilting machine (I think it was a Bernina, but could have been a Janome) I really, really want to get one one day!  But that will be when I am more experienced.  Margies has quilting classes and I am hoping to take their Beginner Quilting class and also take the SNIPS CATCH-IT & PINCUSHION class with Sydney.  The only problem with this class is it is on Wednesdays and I have to work.  The next one is on July 13th so we shall see if I can afford to take a couple hours off to take her and then go back to work.  Who knows. 

So anyway, while Sydney was working on her charm squares I finally broke down and made my Return to Morocco table runner and I think it turned out pretty darn good!  In hindsight, I would probably change my "medium" color since it blends a little too well but overall I LOVE LOVE LOVE it and the fabrics match so perfectly with my house decor.  So here we are from start to finish:

Three fabrics to start with and the instructions

All the pieces cut

HST (half square triangles) of light and dark fabrics

HST's added to other pieces

Cut in half ready to make flying geese

Flying geese left and right

Geese combined together

and now for the grand finale (sorry, got carried away and didn't take other pictures lol)
Return to Morocco table runner
pattern by Far-Flung Quilts Carolyn Griffin

Close up

So...what do you think?  I know, it blends in really REALLY well with my wall but I haven't quilted it or put on binding yet, that is for tomorrow. ;)  I'm very proud of myself, it's a great-looking table runner, especially for my first one and it only took me about 3 hours to make from start to finish, including helping Sydney out with hers.

Well, I suppose that is about all for tonight.  Maybe one day I will get some of these patterns and photos put on their own tabs.  Need to learn more about blogging first though lol.  Until next time, happy quilting!

Kerensa






Sunday, June 19, 2011

Electric Quiltin'

I haven't had much energy today to do more than watch movies and play on the laptop while doing so.  Today I watched Burlesque with Cher and Christina Agulera (sp?).  I loved the movie.  Not an actual musical like I thought it would be but really good.  Watched most of Black Swan until the kids got home then turned it off as it was a tad bit racy.  Will have to watch it later on when the kids aren't around.  Hubby and Jamie are currently watching The Green Hornet.  So while I was watching TV all day I played around with my EQ 5 program (Electric Quilt) and designed three quilts as well as did a mystery quilt tutorial from EQ.  Have a peek:


Earthy Bargello


Red and Black


Trip Around the World (with hubby's help)


Electric Quilts' Mystery quilt 'EQuinox"


So, even though I didn't actually 'sew' today, I did do some 'quilting' lol.  I'm more tired than I should be and tomorrow is back to work and training so have to get some rest tonight. Anyway, Mom just called me and she tried her hand at a homemade NY-style cheesecake and wants me to come try it.  Who can turn down cheesecake?  Not me! lol  Until next time, happy quilting!

Kerensa

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Comfort Cake

Today was very draining for me.  Mom and I went to Kohl's where it was 100 degrees inside, at least it felt like it since I was sweating like crazy just strolling around.  Then we ran over to Jo Ann's fabrics and picked up some fusible felt and a cute purse pattern.  The problem is the pattern I like uses charm squares and Jo Ann's didn't really have any that I liked so I am shopping online for them.  I can't decide between the Dragonfly Summer fabric or Tonga Batiks.  Mom wants to make one for her too.  We stopped by the base and I picked up some Tom Collins mix and some Vodka now that Mom has me hooked on Cherry Vodka Collins drinks :)  I don't drink often but when I do it has to be good.  So one of my favorite liqueurs is Southern Comfort (yes, that is where I got the name Suthrn from lol) and today I found this yummy recipe:

Comfort Cake
Cake
18 ¼ oz. Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix
3 ½ oz. Pack Instant Vanilla Pudding
4 Eggs
...½ Cup Cold Water
½ Cup Oil
½ Cup Southern Comfort
1 Cup of Pecans (If wanted)

Glaze
¼ Cup Butter
1/8 Cup Water
½ Cup Sugar
¼ Cup Southern Comfort
Combine Cake ingredients. Beat medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour into greased, floured 10” Bundt Pan. Bake at 325 for 1 hour. Cool and invert on the plate. Prick the top, and brush ½ of the Glaze evenly over the top and sides. Cool the Cake again reheat the glaze and repeat. Before serving sift a little Powdered Sugar over Cake.
Glaze: Melt Butter. Stir in water and sugar. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in Southern Comfort.
I so can't wait to make it!  Tomorrow is Father's Day and my dad has to work tonight so will be sleeping tomorrow.  The kids and I have breakfast planned for the hubby and a couple gifts.  Tomorrow hubby can do whatever he wants (as long as he leaves me alone while I'm sewing lol).  I'm going to head off here and finish watching Lord of the Rings before heading to the room.  G'nite everyone and Happy Fathers' Day to all the dads out there, especially mine! <3

Kerensa

Friday, June 17, 2011

The Weekend Is Here!!

I really don't have much to talk about today.  I have been very busy at work all week training my replacement and just exhausted when I get home.  I start my new position on Monday but have to be trained the first two days so will go in 7-4 Monday & Tuesday then on Wednesday I start the 8-5 shift. I'm excited and a tad bit nervous lol.  I want to sew this weekend but will be taking Mom to town tomorrow morning so maybe tomorrow afternoon and Sunday I can get some sewing in. Maybe I will finally work on that table runner I got or possibly put a top together from my UFO blocks. Who knows. I'll make sure I upload some pics no matter what I do.  Anyway, I just wanted to post a bit since it's been a few days.  I'm off to watch something with the family.  :) Toodles

Currently Reading: Blood Canticle by Anne Rice on my Kindle

Kerensa

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Clay's Choice

I just could not wait until July for the next BAB BOM lesson so I went to Quilt.com and made the June 1997 block of the month "Clay's Choice".  It turned out pretty good but I was a bit off on either the 1/4" seams or when I pinned the blocks to meet up with the blue squares I was off, but it still looks good to me. :)  I'll just have to keep practicing.

When I saved the photo of the block I also found one more photo of one of my WIPs/UFOs:


I can't remember when I made it but I do know it was a mystery quilt and I really had a lot of fun making it.  As you can see it has been stored away in a box for quite a few years now so is very wrinkly lol.  I'm trying to decide on borders since I can't find the fabric anymore (purchased at Wal-Mart) and what I do have left over is not really enough to do much with. 

I'm having so much fun getting back into the habit of sewing again! :D  I just hope I keep up with it.  This weekend I want to start making my table runner and go through fabric to make my TATW quilt.  Well, I need to go clean up the "sewing room" and get ready for bed.  Morning comes early ya know? lol
Kerensa

Monday, June 6, 2011

MLQS and the BAB BOM'ers

So tonight I was going through my emails, mainly my Yahoo group emails since that are the majority of what I get lol, and the BAB group has decided to start the monthly BOMs again!  I'm so excited!  This was just what the doctor ordered as I immediately grabbed my laptop and ran to the "sewing room" (okay so it's my dining room lol) and began looking for fabrics.  The group is also in the process of putting together a Military Love Quilt so are looking for block 'volunteers'.  So what did I do?  I grabbed some red, white, and blue fabric and pressed them, cut them, and sewed them all together into a gorgeous Arrowhead block:

I so enjoyed getting in there and sewing again!  Thank you so much to Barb for the offer of the monthly patterns/tutorials and suggestions in the first place!  :)  I will make the majority of the blocks in RWB fabs for the MLQS but may also do them in my own fabrics as well.  Christmas is coming upon us quickly ya know?

It is off to the bedroom for me now.  Another day at work tomorrow and possibly another BOM tomorrow evening since I have TONS and TONS of BOM patterns in a huge 5" binder LOL.  Until next time...keep sailing along...
Kerensa

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Shop Hoppin' Away

Well, I have done nothing quilty at all this weekend as I had hoped other than browse 160 online fabric shops while doing the Fabshophop for the month of June.  I have found SO many beautiful fabrics and patterns. :)

Yesterday I took my son to Kohl's to get him some new clothing as he just started his first job and needed something a little more professional.  My daughter went with us and I got her some new shorts and tanks for summer.  The three of us had a blast while the hubby stayed home and enjoyed the quiet (lucky him) lol.  All the running around yesterday wore me out so I have been recouping ever since.  I really miss being young and able to function on 2 hours of sleep!

So it's back to work tomorrow.  I have 2 weeks left in my current position and then I will be moving to a new department and supervising a new team.  I am really excited about the change and am looking forward to learning more about the business.  My hours will change from 7-4 (actually 6:30-4) to 8-5 so will have to get used to hanging around the house an extra hour and a half lol.  Maybe I can use that time to get some simple strip sewing in as I plan on beginning my TATW quilt.  Although, I fell in love with Moda Fabrics' Dragonfly Summer by Holly Taylor, so may have to buy enough to make the TATW quilt with it.
Kerensa

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Going back in time

So I had to sew a pair of my son's jeans today where he ripped out the seam and afterward, I was cleaning up and found my old quilt journal.  I took a couple photos from that journal to show some of the quilts I no longer have. I miss being able to quilt every day...
This is the first quilt I made.  The pattern is the 2004 Summer Mystery from the Beginners and Beyond quilt group on Yahoo groups.  I made A LOT of mistakes (just look closely at my "border/binding in one" lol) 


close up 

Yikes, I forgot how bad it really was LOL.


This next one was another Beginners and Beyond (BAB)quilt, the 2004 NYE Mystery quilt.  I decided to get brave and made a King size and named it Big Red, did all the piecing myself, and a wonderful friend, Jean Madan, graciously quilted it on her long arm and put the binding on for me.  I love it and still use it to this day, which you can tell if you look close enough you see where the seams are coming out...

 
close up


This quilt pattern was from an online quilt group and I can't remember which one (sorry) in 2004 or 2005.  It was VERY easy to make and the fabrics went so well together.  I do not know where this wall hanging ended up.  I called it... Rose's Rails


I so enjoyed making this next wall hanging.  It was my first time using paper piecing.  This was a quilt challenge done in the SFQ (Smoker Friendly Quilters) Yahoo group (which I seriously miss since I withdrew from it when I became too busy to quilt and now can't find it anymore).  I think I offered the wall hanging to the winner of the contest but I really can't remember since this was back in 2005.  This wallhanging was called Geese in the Iris Patch...wish the photo was better to show the bright lime green and purple with lime green polka dots (you can see my black and bold blocks behind it on the wall lol)

This quilt coming up was a group project.  The SFQ group got together and we made string blocks and then shipped them out and got back more from those in the group participating so that we had a wide array of fabrics.  I put the top together and shipped it off to Kim D. who quilted it for me, although I think she hated (not literally) me for a bit because of the flannel fabric for the backing, plus the thick foundation blocks, I wanted her to use and it kept breaking her needles lol.  She did an awesome job and I gave it to my son who still uses it to this day...

This final quilt is one I made from another mystery for my daughter.  We picked out the fabric together.  I called it Demented Starfish.  The red fabric has sparkles in it lol.  Although it is a twin size she likes it hanging on the wall so I could only get 1/2 of it in the picture.

And now...for my WIP's or UFO's...In the SFQ group, we did a lot of block swaps where we would make blocks and would then swap them out with each other.  I so enjoyed doing this. I just don't have the time now. :(

These are the black and bold blocks that I am still trying to figure out what kind of sashing to use.

These are my orange and black blocks, again trying to figure out sashing so I can make it twin-sized...If I remember correctly (and it has been a long time for this old brain lol) I think these were the birthday blocks we did.

And my purple and green blocks... 

The last project was an applique wall hanging that my mom made on her embroidery machine and I did the quilting and binding...Halloween style

front
and back

I really need to learn to do binding the right way.  It always looks great on the front but looks more like a 1/2" border on the back.  Anyone wanna teach me? *VBG*  I also really, really want to learn to hand quilt but trying to teach myself with tutorials online just doesn't work for me.  I need someone there to show me and tell me as I do it myself.

Well, that is all the photos I have for today.  I have many more WIPs but too tired to pull them out, take photos, upload them, and put them in here.  lol, I'll leave it for when I complete them. :)  Until next time...Happy quilting.
Kerensa