March Down wind NewFO

Well today is only the 12th. I live in Florida and the ides of March are in full swing. Got soaked to my skin yesterday on way to doctor. On the way home the sun was out and the temperature hit in the 70's. This morning freezing and windy!!! Trees are bending over like a very bad ballet. So what does this mean....I feel  physically battered, so I am  spending more time in the sewing room. My sanctuary, my sanity. Even if I just touch my fabric, it is medicinal and calming.

I joined the Doll Quilt Swap. My partner is Pat. I was excited to start on her quilt. I went through my parts department and found the perfect blocks to put together and make her quilt. Only took two weekends of sewing. I hope she likes it as much as I do. My husband loved it and was a little sad that I was not keeping it for myself.  I think it is more fun to give things away that you make with love.

Since I am having problems with arm, my hand quilting really has deteriorated over the years. So I do everything I can get away with by machine. A while back I bought a box of those black binder clips in multiple sizes  at Walmart. They were $8.00 for 200 pc. I used those to hold the binding in place while I machine sewed it down. Worked like a dream! No gluing or hand sewing. Woot!

 

I received my quilt from Pat, my partner in the Doll Quilt Swap. Love my quilt!

 

What a beauty.  Spring has sprung!

She also gifted me a eyeglass case and lanyard.

Thanks Pat!

 

Still working on Bento Blocks for my daughters quilt. They now measure 20 inches each! I altered the pattern for this quilt several times instead of doing the Rip-rip two step! As with many of my quilts, I get derailed on occasion. I have to make two alike quilts and the amount of un-sewing was overwhelming. It was improvise time. They look good this way too. Because the blocks keep growing in size I will probably have enough for a matching baby quilt or lap quilt. I can even use them on the back of the quilt. I purchased 100% cotton batting. There will be some shrinking but I love that look on a homemade quilts.

 

Amber's Blocks

 

 

Flimsy

 

My bed is queen size and she has a king. She wants two separate quilts. Each quilts is going to measure 80 x 100 inches. I will not be putting a border on it because they are so big. Hers will have teal binding and his will have red binding. I was going to finish hers first but I figure I may as well do both tops and whatever I have left over, I will use on the backs of the quilts. I have my son-laws blocks all made but not web together as yet. (Note: cards on wall are to teach my grandson the month and what day of the week it is. The other wall has sight words on it. He is 4 years old and reads over 200 words. He loves to be tested on his words! )


Also made a silly thing to hang a Nook in the back seat of my car for granddaughter. Since she is in a toddler seat it faces backwards and she gets fussy. There is a loop in the backseat to secure a car seat when it faces forward. I made this to go there. Her daddy beat me to the bunch and actually put a Velcro strip on the back of his Kindle and weaved the other piece through the loop. His was higher so she couldn't kick it.  He won! LOL

I also cut out another 100 spools for my Spooling around leaders and enders challenge from Bonnie Hunter. I have about 260 sew already as leaders and ends. That was a challenge 2 years ago. Hey, it still counts. I think she is doing Lozenges leaders and enders chalenge now.

 

I found a pile of not so attractive 2 1/2 in squares and am sewing them into 4 patches. Building my parts department for future quilts. Since following Bonnie  and watching her Quilt Cam I think differently when it comes to my scraps. I have made quite a few quilts recently and barely touched my stash. I may use these for Maverick Stars or her latest Wonky wishes but with the tiny 4 patch in the middle. I do have a bunch or 1 1/2 inch squares as well. Which I guess is really Maverick stars. LOL

I purchase a bunch of little bins at the Dollar tree to make it easier for me to trim the little bits that are left over into squares. Bins were 2 for a dollar. How can you go wrong.  Anything small goes in barrel dog biscuit container  for crumbs and I have sorted Zip lock bags for strip piecing  by color. If I hate the fabric I just cut it up. If its still ugly I cut it smaller. LOL!!
No regrets because I am using it up.

BTW -The Dora the Explorer fabric in the background is really a crib sheet I made yesterday that is waiting for me to put the elastic in. This Crib Sheet tutorial was great.

Happy Quilting

Aileen in Florida

Come join the fun! Do the Linky!!!
Show us what you started this month over at
http://catpatches.blogspot.com/2014/03/march-newfo-challenge-and-linky-party.html

 

Heating Pad

Heating Pad Tutorial

Here my heating pad.  I was half way through when I decided to do a tutorial, so you will see some of the pictures showing a blue one. The blue one is for tech who gave me the idea.

Prewash fabric so it will not run or bleed color on your clothing when heated. Since it is going to be filled with rice, it cannot be washed.

I cooked raw rice in the oven at 200 degrees for 15 minutes, stirred it and then cooked it for another 15 minutes. Let it cool and store in a container. I wanted to be sure that it was dry and had no bacteria etc.

Supplies - Prewashed 100% cotton fabric or muslin. Iron , no starch

     ~WOF x 15 1/2 inches or 2 pcs - 20 1/2 x 15 1/2 inches (can be done in two colors)

Cotton thread                          24 inch ruler                            Raw rice

Small funnel                            sewing machine                       regular sewing foot

zipper foot                               pencil or  marking pen             Freezer Paper 

Scissors

 

 

 

Pattern

Draw your pattern on a 22 x 17 piece of freezer paper without seam allowance. After drawing, trim down paper. Draw lines approximate 1 ½ inches apart. Draw notch marks in the center area of neck. This is your area for inserting the funnel in order to fill with rice.

 

Freezer Paper Pattern size I decided on was 20 ½ in x 14 in.  Round the top corners and in the neck area.  The measurements from top edge to neck area is 7 ¾ inches. Legs are 5 ½ inches wide.  Iron freezer paper to fabric.

Cut fabric 5/8 inch bigger than pattern all the way around.  

Sew all the way around outer edge of freezer paper using small stitch. I used 1.8 stitch on my Janome. I sewed it twice for extra strength.

Sew all the way around inner curve leaving the 1 1/2 inch gap open for filling in center of neck.  Tack it for strength.  Do not sew the legs shut. After sewing, trim the center area leaving 5/8 inch margin of fabric. 

Clip rounded corners, taking care not to get to close to seam line. Set the seam by giving it a quick press, and turn right side out.  Finger press seam as you are turning it inside out. This will make it easier to press flat for the drawing of the lines.  Press seam allowance under on bottom of legs and center of neck area. Iron the Freezer Paper back onto fabric about ¼ inch from the edge. Use your lines as your guide and draw dots on the fabric on each side to use as a guide to draw the straight lines and notched area.

 

Draw your lines with marking pencil, Sharpie, etc. Lines will not show after heating pad is sewn & filled.

Sew directly on the line. Remember to leave notch area open for access to fill with rice.

 

Using a funnel fill one side at a time with rice.  Shake several times after filling. Rice will settle a few times. Leave at least 1 ¼ to 1 1/2 inches empty on every row.  This step is very important for 2 reasons. First, you need the empty space in order to sew the seam shut, with the zipper foot, without running over the rice. Second, it makes it easier to fold heating pad for placing it in the microwave.

Sew slowly, using your zipper foot to sew seams shut. If you have the ability to move your needle position to the left, this will help you with sewing the seam shut more easily. You can use a pin to help keep the rice in place.

 

You have finished the first row! Continue sewing until you get to the leg area.  When doing the very last line in the neck area sew straight across from one end to the other, leaving the notch in the center open. Fill this last tube and sew shut. It should look something like this. 

When you start sewing the legs, leave 1 ¼ to 1 ½ inch opening on the outer edge. Putting the opening on the outer edge makes it easier to fill with rice. Leave at least 1 ¼  inch space without rice.  Same as on the neck area. Use a pin to help keep the rice away from the needle and sew shut using the zipper foot.

 

 

Continue until you get to the last row. On this row you will have to sew the tube shut very close to the edge, leaving the 1 ¼ inch space open for filling. I had to hand sew the last 1 ½ inch by hand. Believe me I tried to do it on the machine because I am not a hand sewer. LOL.

 

 

 

You may ask why I just didn’t fill the tubes from the outer seam? Well on the prototype I did just that. The problem was that the heating pad was very bulky and also very heavy. I could not figure out how to put a binding around the edge to make it looked finished, unless I sewed it completely by hand. Because of the bulk of the rice, it was impossible to clear the needle shaft area without getting stuck. Since it is much bulkier it presents a problem when trying to fold it and place it in the microwave.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. I will be making a washable sleeve to go on my heating pad out of terry cloth. Towels seem to hold the heat of the heating pad in longer.

 

Aileen in FL

Feb NewFO Heating up!

February is almost a memory. Sewing and creating will help keep the blues of winter away.

http://catpatches.blogspot.com/2014/02/february-newfo-challenge-linky-party.html
Click on link to see what everyone has been up to in February. Join the fun!

I continue to work on the Bento Blocks. Trimming and sewing. Need 48 blocks measuring 16 1/2 inches for two identical quilts.  I decided to sash them in black with teal cornerstones on one and red cornerstones on the other. His & Hers.

Lot of body pain this month. Loving my Shoulder Heating pad. What is that, you say? Well it is a nifty little heating pad that sits on your shoulders like a collar and does not roll off or bunch up in the ends.

I had an MRI and the tech came back to release me from the chamber of horror wearing it on her shoulders. She said she has had it for years. I looked it over. Asked if she new the maker but alas she stated she got it a flea market years ago. I kept thinking about it all the way home. I have a rectangular one and a long cylinder shape one that constantly falls off or needs adjusting. So I decided to try and make one. The prototype was really bad but I worked out most of the kinks.

For you and me who suffer from neck and shoulder pain and for those who just want to jump in bed with something warm around the shoulders here is the Heating Pad tutorial.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. I will be making a washable sleeve to go on my heating pad out of terry cloth. Towels seem to hold the heat of the heating pad in longer.

I joined the Doll Swap Quilt Group. Can't wait to get started!
 

Aileen in FL

Freezing in FL

It has been cold in Florida on and off.  My friends up north are so snowed in that I feel bad complaining. One day very cold, then in the 70's in the afternoon. Have not taken so much Airborne in my life. I have skirted many a cold and flu this season. I know it will get me eventually! Hubbie is sick, sick, sick. This man never gets sick. Head and chest at the same time. Needless to say, I am getting him what he needs then high tailing it out of the room to a neutral germ free corner. At least I can dream. Right!

January Resolution was to get organized. With a lot of help from my husband, my sewing area is now 11 x 13 feet. Both sewing machines are in the same room. Extension table for machine quilting on the Janome is attached to the wall. WOOT! No more moving furniture to make the area hold the weight of the quilt! Just need to get better lighting. One bulb is just not going to do it with these old eyes.

I have sorted all my fabric.....well all that I have found. You know somewhere there is an allusive tub of fabric that will show up when I think I have finished. The other sewing room (8 x 10 on a good day) at opposite end of the house, will be used for drawing patterns and crafting. The lighting is better in there. Also will hold 90 percent of my fabric until I can figure out what I can do with 41 years of Christmas ornaments and memories. Ironing station is in my bedroom across the hall. Safer when grandson is around.

I did have a setback. Tried to nail 6 nails into the wall to hang up my rulers. They bit back and my neck and shoulder have been in a great deal of pain. No amount of meds, hotpads or cold packs is relieving it. All I can hope is that it is a sprain and not any damage to my cervical spine plate. Its been 5 days and it hurts just the same as day one.

Not to be defeated by nails, I woke at 1 am and sorted out the strings in color families and a bucket of crumbs was born. Then went back to bed with the hotpad for a few more winks. Tonights adventure will be to empty my 6 little drawers into a box and then actually put what I really need in them. Tomorrow I will cut the small stack of odd fabric for the scrap system. I was in better shape than I thought!

Well on my way to finishing Resolutions #1, 2 and 3.
Next tub is the UFO tub.... a lot of forgotten souls in there. Time to find them a home.

As for Louie's wallhanging.  I finished it last Friday and gave it to him to take home. Told him to find the hearts. He really like it!.

 

Hope where you are is Warm and Cozy. Heading back to my warm Easy Street quilt and dreams of fabric fairies finishing my sewing room

 

Aileen in Florida

Ground Hogs and Super Bowl

Happy February everyone!

 Today is Hubsters 60th birthday. Happy Birthday Steve! My favorite Ground Hog!

Awesome Win by Sea Hawks!!

Family came over to celebrate! Was terrific seeing the kids . Baby Raina took her first solo steps the other day and has been trying them out while here. She is very curious about everything. I spent 2 hours cleaning carpets and floors so she could cruise at will. Child proofing once again. Loved walking her from place to place. She is very independent. My daughter is going to have her hands full for sure!

Check out what everyone started in January! You're not alone!!!!
http://catpatches.blogspot.com/2014/01/january-newfo-linky-party-and-giveaway.html


I did get a few things accomplished in January!


January was Louie's 4th  birthday. He is Angry Bird CRAZY!!! He comes to visit with a large plastic shopping bag filled to the brim with his Angry Birds, Bad Piggies and just for good measure a few mini monster trucks. He received angry bird everything.  I made him a pillow case and 2 pairs of Pajama pants. He loved them and used them right away.

After Christmas we hit Joann's. They were having 50 % off a lot of fabric. Louie tells me he see Angry bird fabric. I don't see anything. He insists it is right there.  I turn the corner and he points half way across the store to the far wall up on to the top shelf. There on top is Fleece fabric with Angry Birds and Helmet Pig.  I get my number and have associate check for me. I still don't see any pigs on it all. She gets it down and he tells me he wants enough to cover him on the couch and bed. 40 % off for something I know he will use, sure why not! Got home and hemmed it for him. We also found a 12 inch Red Bird for 3.00 at Kmart. He was in Angry bird heaven . Now that s one happy kid!

These are very late. I wanted to get them done for Christmas. Too much on my plate so I tackled them after New years.

My daughter needs a new quilt for her bed. I made them one  almost 11 years ago. I intended to make them one for their 10 anniversary and then pushed it to Christmas. Then pushed it again.
She is short and he is tall. As many couples do, they have blanket wars. I decided to make  two blankets that are alike, This way they can make the bed and it looks like one blanket.  I wanted fast and Big Blocks. They came out to 16 1/2 inches These are some of the blocks. There are forty 48 blocks. All were suppose to be cut like Bento blocks but she likes them 1/2 and 1/2 . This now requires trimming down 24 blocks to the size of the Bento blocks. Because they both love Skulls, there are many skull fabrics in there. Even a zombie fabric.  Many of the ladies at the Forum donated skull fabric to my cause. Originally the skull fabric were going to be 4 patch cornerstones. I received so many pieces that the Bento blocks would be a better way to show the fabrics,

 

After getting a uniform size, I will be adding a black boarder to all the blocks.  Just hoping this is done by there 11th Anniversary in May or is it June??????

Working on Valentines wall hanging for Louie, I made him a Birthday cake one last year. He informed me the other day that it is not right. I asked why. He says not my birthday anymore. He's way of saying get on the ball grandma and do something! So I started these.

Hope everyone is safe and warm.
Happy February!

Sew and make someone happy, even if it is just YOU!

Aileen in Florida

January Resolutions

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It is only January 3 but I thought I would give myself a kick start and write down all the things I would like to accomplish this year in quilting.


1: Re-organize my fabric. Its here, its there, its under this......I don't even know what I have anymore.

2: Wall hangings. One for each month of the year .
     A: One for me and each daughter. This will take years.
     B: Plus any other ones I would like to give as gifts.

 This will feed my creative juices. I love the feeling I get when I create something from my soul. No pattern, just scissors, heat bond and my imagination. I miss making the mini quilts for AAQI.

3: Get organized again with my scrap lover system.
     ~Neglected it for last 6 months and have a mountain to cut and trim. Last year I made most of my stuff with scraps and only went into my stash for backings and a few pieces to  make things pop. Thank you Bonnie K. Hunter of Quiltville. I would have throw all that out.

As a matter of fact, my daughter  got a tiny Teacup dear head Chihuahua  puppy last week and I made her a bed in ten minutes. I just grabbed a small print fabric from my novelty bin, a bag of crumbs that has been sitting in a corner for 2 years. Free pillow! I was surprise that it is a very heavy pillow. Dorito loves it!



 

 

4: UFO's

     Though I did make a dent in these last year by donating some and finishing some, I still have plenty.

 

     A: AJ sampler quilt!. This is for my MIL. I love her dearly but never made her a quilt. I have crochet her an Afghan but that was 15+ years ago.

     B: Stack and Whack from retreat 2008?

     C: Halloween quilt 2004

     D: Sunbonnet Sue swap blocks. 2010

     E: Hand appliqued wall hanging from 2000. This is the ONLY hand sewn thing I have!  

     F: Spool quilt (leaders and enders) 2013

 



5: Update my quilt book list and make a pattern list for pattern binders.

 

6: Binder or box my original designs. These are everywhere in the sewing room. On paper, napkins, envelopes you name it. When I want to look at them I end up drawing something else.

 

So once I get organized ????

 

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

 FREE MOTION QUILTING!!!!!!!!! 

 

CURRENT PROJECTS -

     ~Finish quilt in progress for daughter and SIL.

    ~ Continue Spools Leaders and enders

 

 

BUCKET LIST 
     Now here is the problem. I have a massive bucket list! I don't have it written down but will write the highlights here. So much eye candy, so little time.

First off I know this is doable if I follow the Leaders and Enders method. I just have to get better organized (see #3)

1: Rainbow quilt. They just blow me away
2: Storm at sea. I like the illusion of curves (maybe Celtic Solstice will do)
3: NY Beauty
4: Diamond quilt
5: Owl quilt
6: Leaders and Ender building blocks. Parts department such as 4 patches, HST, QST in usable sizes.
7: AND many, many more.

Best Wishes for the New Year

Aileen in FL

Shuffle off the Seattle

Seattle, Fabric Shopping & December NewFO

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!!! I've been Goggled!

So Funny to See my name on the Google Screen! Anywhere for that matter! LOL! That was December 17th, 2013!

Hi Everyone. I am visiting my daughter Shara in Seattle. Boy, it is a different world here.
It is cold and foggy right now but still a beautiful place. Reminds me of a cross between NYC, New Baltimore Maryland, the Catskill Mts, Staten Island and Woodstock. What a melting pot. The community in this area is very artistic and environmentally conscious.

 

 

 

The view from her apartment faces Lake Union Harbor. Many of the streets across the lake are very steep much like they are in San Francisco and the Bronx! It's been quite some time since I drove down a hill at that kind of angle. Fun ride down memory lane but I would not like to drive it in the snow. We drove around picking up supplies at Fred Meyers. Then stopped at Azteca Mexican Restaurant for dinner. Very Yummy. I even had a beer!

Saturday we went to Bellevue. Such a techie town. Many skyscrapers. Home of Microsoft. Took in the sights and stopped at Garlic Crush for Mediterranean kebab with crushed garlic and really good hummus. What a treat. Would love to go shopping. So many mom and pop shops. The town was decorated with lights. Even the giant construction cranes are decked out with lights that can be seen for miles. My grandson would have loved this! The Seattle Space Needle was wearing a tree made from white lights. So pretty.

 

 

Even though the weather was rainy and foggy I did manage to see a few great sites. Odd ones too.
My favorite is that there is art everywhere. Seattle has alot of art colleges and engineering schools. Often while driving we would pass art on the street corner, very pretty graffiti and unusual sites. The Troll on the Bridge was  really fun to see and the Bus stop people was just great! AND Yes that is a real Volkswagon in his hand on the right of the picture. The hubcap is in his eye!

Sunday stayed in. Super foggy. We popped a Pot Roast into Shara's new Crockpot. It came out Fantastic! I played with sewing machine while listening to some Christmas music and other fun tunes. I finished a Christmas stocking that has been in my UFO's for years. It's purple. Don't remember why I made it that color but still cute. Hope to make some Christmas ornaments before I head home.

Monday the sun came out so we headed east to the mountains to take pictures. As we climbed up the fog started to descend on us. We decided to head back down the mountain and stop at a local quilt shop in the town of Issaquah called Gossypium Quilt Shop. What a great shop. Gossypium means cotton plant. The owners Norton and Lynette Smallwood are very sweet and helpful. Debbie was terrific too! She helped my daughter find all the owl fabric in the store. The selection of fabric was "FANTASTIC". So many fabrics that I have never seen anywhere else.  My wallet had a big dent in it when I left. Oh the sewing I will be doing with those fabrics! They do take orders over the internet! Since I didn't purchase enough Moustachio fabric by Timeless Treasures, I will be placing and order this week!

 

It was traffic hour when we started back down the mountain. We stopped at a mall in Bellevue and went over to Half Price books and short hop into JoAnns for velcro. No I didn't even want to look at the fabrics. The trunk of the car was already steamy warm with the wonderous purchases I made at Gossypium Quilt Shop! There was a live band playing in the food court. We stopped and had a bit of Russian pastry while resting from the days adventure.

Today is my last day in Seattle. It is rainy and cloudy once more. There is still a great view of the sea planes taking off and landing in the bay. We are heading out to see The Hunger Games II for my birthday.

Hunger Games II was great!. Cliffhanger of course, but since I read the books I did not yell at the screen! Had a snack at the theater and a bite to eat after. One of those two meals gave me food poisoning and I had to reschedule my flight. Since in is the week before Christmas the airline wanted an arm and a leg to rebook. Ended up staying 5 more days. My daughter was happy to have me around. She put up her Christmas tree while I made her a simple fabric tree skirt.

Needless to say, the sewing that was waiting for me at home did not get done.

NewFO for Decemeber

I came home on December 23, slept and then wrap gifts for 5 hours on December 24. I didn't start wrapping until 11 pm, so it was a long night. Everyone loved their gifts. No handmade stuff this go around.

On December 26 I started sewing again on my blocks. I am making bantu blocks so I still have to cut them in quarters and re-sew them. Needless to say, this person is getting something else for their birthday on January 5th!!!!

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Aileen in Florida

Lost in Transition

October is flying by like a witch on a broom...........
November...........I don't know where November disappeared to.

Many changes these last 2 month. Finally put down area rug over the tile in the living room. Once my toes started to get numb there was no point in waiting any more. My granddaughter, who is now 8 months is also starting to sit up and crawl and stand. So having a tile floor can be scary. Many tumbles while learning to find her way around in this new world.

I managed to quilt Scrappy Trip and Bricks and Stepping Stones. I also did some of the M word. Mend. Don't you just hate it when you decide to sew something and humans carrying clothing come by and drop them where you're working.! UGH!  Several pants and missing button.

On Thanksgiving my youngest daughter and grandson moved to a new home. Just down the street. Very exciting but made for a very weird Thanksgiving. In between cooking there was furniture flying out the door.

I got my floor space back after several years of daughters moving in and out. Every square inch in the house had something on it or in it.  I don't feel swallowed up by my space anymore. I cleaned the living room and started moving stuff into the new sewing area. Woot Woot! It is bright and cheerful in there. I purchased folding tables so I have a place to baste my quilts and I moved my Featherweight into that room. I even ordered an ironing station from JoAnn. That's the good news.

The bad news is my grandson is having trouble adjusting to Grandma's house. He is quite comfortable in his new home, but grandmas house is "Not Right". This made for a very unhappy grandma as well. I was so stressed that I could not sew anything. All my projects are just sitting there staring at me. Christmas is coming fast and I can't concentrate enough to sew.

After several days of struggling with an unhappy kid, yesterday we spend a good amount of time in my tiny sewing room. It is the only room that I did not change.  He played quietly without complaining or whining. So now I will just have to move one thing at a time. I will let him help me decorate the new sewing area. I just may keep both areas. I had so  many tubs of fabric, batting and crafts stuffed in closets nooks and crannies, I didn't know what I really have.

 

Sewing At Last!! 2 pillowcases for daughter in Seattle who loves owls!
AND
One wall hanging for Grandson

 

I can't wait to get started this weekend on Bonnie Hunters Mystery. I have the fabric, now I just have to CUT CUT CUT and SEW SEW SEW!

Aileen in FL

My Project list

Start 2 sewing quilts for daughter
Start Celtic Solstice
Finish UFO sampler quilt.
Make a small wall hanging for Louie's room
Reorganize my fabric.
Sort and cut scraps up. (Have a box of these again)!