The Sandwich is Done!

It took what seems like forever to get the Doggie Quilt sandwiched.
I finished pinning it 15 minutes before DH got home from work. Yay!

Rest of the night was spent working on the newsletter for the guild I belong to. It is a lot of work but I do enjoy it.....not in December though.

Yesterday was the board meeting. Then out shopping a box store with a friend. I did very well. I got a 60 mm rotary cutter for 7.99 with the coupons! Woot! I have needed one of these for quite some time.

While I was searching through a folder of quilts I have made, I ran across this mini. I named it Blooming Friendship. It was for an online swap  several years ago. I have always wanted to make one for myself. It was made with all the scraps that were on my cutting table. I may make two of them. One for me and one for the Small Quilt Auction.

Blooming friendship

Time to start quilting.

What are you working on today?

Have a Great Friday!
Happy Quilting

Aileen in Florida

Down Boy!

I started working on piecing the back of the Dog Quilt. Yesterday afternoon I had to make an emergency run to the box store and get more yardage. What was I thinking when I purchased it in the first place. I even added a piece that was suppose to be for the binding. Still at least 8 inches short. I like at least 4 inches of backing fabric all the way around the quilt. Long time ago I made a king size quilt. After quilting 95% of the quilt, it was short 2 inches on one side, I pieced in a strip but was annoyed that I didn't center the quilt correctly. That strip was crooked. Doesn't bother my daughter but it kicks my OCD in the head every time I see that quilt!

Fast forward to this morning. I am determined that this quilt be basted and ready to sew. I have my 2 tables set up in the middle of the living room with not much room to get around. The floor and I are no longer friends when it comes to basting.

1. Finish piecing back -- DONE
2. Piece the batting  -- After sewing it wrong and resewing it - DONE
3. Use Longest ruler to smooth out the back, then batting and
   then the top so sandwich is a smooth as possible.
4. Pin basted quilt before DH gets home from work and crashes into tables and I have to go back to step 3!!
   
   
   
   

Its pinning time!

Happy Quilting

Aileen in Florida

Dog Quilt

Today is a day to kick my sewing into gear. Time is flying by. Holidays are VERY near.

I have to make a backing for my Dog Quilt. This will go into the WPQG quilt show in February. I have to have it done by our meeting this month. Our guild puts a picture of every quilt in our program guide. It is not a big quilt. 45x60. My gal friends at the Wednesday sew convinced me to have it judged. That kind of put the mental breaks on my quilting it. Second guessing myself. I just have to push forward! Sigh...HA HA

It is a pattern by Stacey Iest Hsu called All Wrapped Up. It went together very quickly. I used scraps I had on hand in my Scrap system instead of the listed size. After the show this quilt will go to my grandson for his 1st birthday. If I make this again I may opt to do the scraps as an I Spy.

Happy Quilting

Aileen in Florida

Sleepovers

We had a sleepover with 2 of the grand kids last Friday. My daughter was so exhausted that I took pity on her. All three of her boys had head colds for the past 10 days. Needless to say they ran her ragged.

We watched Boss Baby, had popcorn and a pillow fight. Then some milk and mini cookies to calm them down. When everyone was exhausted, it was time to read in bed. My grandson Louis and I took turns reading. He is in second grade and is a fantastic reader. His little brother who is 2 loved the book "Pete the Cat and his Groovy Buttons". The book is bigger than he is. To cute.  The next morning after a pancake breakfast made by Bampa, we colored some ornaments.  Yup, that is marker on the corner of his mouth. Toddlers have to taste everything. The markers are non toxic.

The ornament is my grandsons version of a Mine Craft Christmas!

Then the boys road around on their noisy car, screaming with joy.

The little guy was getting cranky so I let him vacuum. He takes his vacuuming very seriously!

Everyone had a good time. I took them home afterwards.
I came home and slept for five hours and still went to bed early!

Happy Quilting

Aileen in Florida

31 Day Blog Challenge

Hi Everyone.  Many things went by the waste side this year due to all kinds of reasons. No time, to many appointments, illness. You name it.

The New Year is just around the corner. I have many things I want to accomplish in the New Year. New habits to get me on track to be a more productive Sewist, Quilter, Blogger, Editor. So I will start with this 31 day challenge. I am behind by 2 days but at least I am starting TODAY!!!

Rules are simple:

Post once a day.

Link back to http://muppin.com/wordpress/index.php/the-2017-31-day-blog-writing-challenge/  so we can follow others who are doing this challenge.

If you use social media  use the hashtag #31dayblogchallenge or
#2017blogwritingchallenge



Happy Quilting

Aileen in FL

November Fun

At the end of October I was sewing like a maniac, continuing into November. Christmas is getting very close. Too Close! I did take a break the week of Thanksgiving and now I am having trouble getting my speed back.

What is helping is my Quilters Planner. I purchased one last year. I was slow to write in it. Just like that fabric you pet but don't want to cut! I have been writing in it everyday. I have a project list of ongoing items. It's a good thing. With 5 grandchildren coming and going I have to hide stuff. Since I have CRS quite often, I forget "Where I hid things or If I Really made something!" LOL!!!!

I purchased The Quilter's Planner for 2018. Lots of improvements. Already writing dates I am sure of, such as birthdays, quilt shows etc.

**********************

Just after Halloween I had a special Pizza date with my grand kids. We all had a great time eating pizza and laughing.

Then came Thanksgiving. Aunt Robin put together a saran wrap ball game. Prizes were in the layers of the wrap. The kids had a "BALL"!

My granddaughter requested to come sewing with me during the school break. She was an absolute delight. The ladies loved talking to her. She made a new friend. He invited her to play on the computer with him. He told me he thought she was really cool! LO!

I was able to get a few teacher gifts done this week. Zipper pouches. I made each one a different way so I could see which technique I like best. I hope they like them. I also made a pouch for the Christmas stocking I volunteered to fill for a young girl.

It's almost here. Time to kick it in gear and finish those gifts!

Happy Quilting

Aileen in Florida

Finishes for October

Hi Ladies! Its November and it has actually been a bit cold in Florida. Very refreshing.

Update on my grandsons costume Teen Titan Go's Robin. He loved it. He will probably wear it until it is worn out. Too Cute!

Another finish is the last Charity quilt that I will be making for this year. I think I made 10 but I forgot to take pictures. End result is what matters.

Penguins

Now it is time to work on Holiday gifts. Also have items to make for the Quilt Show Boutique for February 2018. Time is flying by.

I have ideas for gifts just have to spend a weekend cutting out stuff. 

Someone said there are only 6 weeks until Christmas. I almost had a stroke!!!

What are you making for the holidays this year?

Quilt On,

Aileen 

October Oy Vey

It's half way through October. I just can't believe it.  The month was very busy. Filled with the flu, runny noses and doctor appoints for the grand kids and myself. The main problem is this is the final month to turn in our forms for the quilts we want in the quilt show in 2018. We were asked to be good quilters and NOT wait until the last minute. Sigh. Life interferes with good intentions.

I have 2 quilt tops done that i can submit. I have never had a quilt in a show. My youngest daughter had her 1st quilt in a show at age 8.  She used that quilt until it was a rag and then we made it into a dog blanket. The dog loved it so much that after several years of use it became a rage again. I took what was let of it and made a very small quilt for him to sit on by the television. There is nothing like watching a grown Lab nuzzle a freshly washed quilt the size of a square table runner. Ha Ha. Eventually I made him a brand new quilt. What a happy dog. It was a QAYO.

I have tried several times to put quilts in shows but made the mistake of giving the recipient their quilts for Christmas then asking to borrow them. NOPE! Though I was annoyed, it really is a compliment that they are afraid to part with said quilt. "It might get stolen", they say! I just had to laugh.

The problem I face today is that I also have a piece of challenge fabric for the Art Quilt challenge 2018. I have drawn no less that 10 ideas and nothing satisfied me. I have to put something together today if I want it in the show. The deadline is this Thursday, 2 days from now. Talk about procrastination! I can choose to skip it but I feel guilty.

On Sunday I was determined to cut some pieces to put on the background I made for the quilt challenge piece. So much for plans. I was still procrastinating anyway...

My daughter dropped by with 3 kids in tow and a red T-shirt. My grandson wants to be Robin from Teen Titans Go. Okay?? Well a few hours later the shirt is done. I cut up my only green T-shirt to make the sleeves. I still have to squeeze a pair of pants out of the rest of that shirt but will wait till the weekend to tackle it. Good thing he is long and skinny!

Louie striking a pose. Too funny. There is a t-shirt cape sewed to the collar. It was just the collar of another shirt with a triangle shaped piece hanging from it. He doesn't like anything touching his neck. So I sewed the black collar onto the red shirt about an inch below the original one, then cut off the red collar. It was so easy because the t-shirt didn't stretch all over the place. 

Its time for me to put fabric on that background. It doesn't have to be done until February 2018 but requires a picture to show colors used etc.

Heading to the kitchen for another cup of coffee.....

Happy Quilting

Aileen in Florida

Holy Moly has time flown!

Some many thing have happen since grandson # 3 arrived in May.
I just looked up and August is over.

I have sewn a few things but not as many as I hoped too.

Since the last few months have revolved around helping with the 2 year old and the newborn baby, I decided to sign up for a wallet course with Vanessa The Crafty Gemini. Her videos are great!. I have made bags before but for some reason I kept putting off making this simple flip wallet.

I finally bit the bullet and made it. I took me an hour and a half to sew it but my daughter loves it. That made it all worth it. I also made her a small bag to go with her diaper bag and wallet. She tends to carry 50 pounds of stuff in that diaper bag.




Today is a special day. My grandsons cast comes off! He is 2 yrs old and had surgery on his left thumb. It was non functioning. The tiny thumb was removed and index finger was used as a thumb.

Everything turned out well. Thumb is healed. Now he will need therapy to help with movement.

Quilt on,
Aileen in FL

Baby Baby

Hi Everyone!

My newest grandson Liam arrived May 12. What a beautiful, healthy, little bundle of joy.
His brothers are in love with him. We are so blessed. Mommy is doing very well.

After the marathon sewing of the diaper bag, I took a little break. Cleaned up my sewing room and found missing things. Ha Ha. I have several items started that just got put aside.

Today, I am worked on a small box pouch for the diaper bag.  Using up oddball scraps. I did say making bags is addictive...

One UFO done, A Bazillion to go! LOL!

Happy Quilting

Aileen Kline

May is for Mommies

This year it is a very special Mother's Day. My daughter will be welcoming a new baby boy.
We can't wait!



I made her a special diaper bag, which was an upgrade from her sisters diaper bag I made in 2012. Many more pockets, which she loves.  In the mean time I was thinking my Mother may like a bag. So I made her a Little Pouch Purse.

It came out smaller than I thought. I laughed when I was done. It is so very cute. Shipped it out on Monday. She should have it before Mother's Day.

Pouch was received today. She loves it. Theses bags are getting addictive.

I am off to clean my house and sewing room. The boys are sleeping over tonight so mommy can go calmly to the hospital in the wee hours, Their brother will be born tomorrow. Grandma is very excited!

Have a good day!!!!

Aileen in Florida

Diaper Bag and stuff

Its getting closer and closer to the arrival of my 5th grandchild. Sewing up a storm and getting nowhere. That ever happen to you?

I have been working on a diaper bag. I was following a basic pattern as a guide, but had to change many things to make it functional for my daughters needs. She has a toddler that will be 2 years old about 2 weeks after his brother arrives. This bag has to function for both kids.

I think I watched about 50 hours of videos on bag construction so I could get familiar with different aspects, then pick and choose what I needed for this bag. Construction took about 45 hours over a three week period.

I want to thank Vicki Lee Bags by Lynne for the exceptional videos that helped me make this diaper bag a success!

The original bag has 2 flat pockets on either side of the front. I needed a zipper pocket and slip pocket on one side.  Also the original had no side pockets for water bottles. Since this would add an additional 4 layers to the side seams, I had to lower the side pocket so the piping did not hit on the same spot as the front pocket but still be deep enough to accommodate the height of the water bottle. Also had to figure out how to make the side pockets bellow out a bit without putting that seam on the bottom edge of the bag. I put 2 pleats on the bottom of side pockets but sewed it shut  5/8 above the bottom seam. This kept the 12 layers of the pleat out of the bottom seam. (No broken needle!). (Total outside compartments, 5 pockets and one zipper

On the inside divider I added a flat pocket divided into 2 small and 1 large pocket. Nothing on the other side of divider. On back inside wall I put a  14 inch zipper pocket and below that the 3 elastic pockets. On the opposite wall I put another flat pocket with 3 divisions. On the inside sides I installed 1 dimensional pocket on each end. One is for the removable bag straps and the other for diaper cream etc. (Total inside compartments, 11 pockets and 1 zipper)

The bag has a cross body removable adjustable padded strap and regular bag straps, which are removable as well. Then to top it off. I added top flap double zipper to close the bag and keep little people out of it. 

My only regret is the flap pocket zipper could have been about 6 inches longer. If I had used a single zipper instead of the double zipper, I would have gotten those extra  inches. The size of the bag is 20 inches  long by 15 inches tall by 7 inches deep.

My grandson tried to sit in it. He opted for playing with all the pockets. LOL!

My daughter loved it so much she ran around the house looking for a good place to hang it so she could photograph it and put it on Instagram, etc. LOL.

Happy Quilting,

Grandma needs a nap!

Aileen in Florida

Sew Happy Stuff

March is over. Where did it go?

In March I was more active with the quilt guild. I attended several sewing sessions. Have one top mostly done, another just blocks. There is a third pile of blocks that just didn't look good together. These will be cut into different pattern hoping to improve the outcome. The sewing group is trying to make more boy friendly patterns.

I am the newsletter editor for the quilters guild. Took me forever to do the first 2 months. The April addition came together much easier. I revamped several sections. So far good responses for the members.

I decided that I needed to put some stuff away in my sewing room. When you have to put up two tables in the living room so you can sandwich a quilt...its time! To my horror I found 6 charity quilts in different stages of assembly.  To add to this, my retreat quilt that is 98 percent pieced and the quilt pieces from the class I took in mid February, which is at a dead stop.

I also have a diaper bag to make for my daughter who is due May 12, Her birthday is in ten days. I don't know if I will have it finished by then. She said she got a little jealous of the bags I made her sister and niece for their birthdays. The pressure is on!!!

Amber's Purse

Raina's Purse

I also made Raina a pillowcase, shorts and a top. She wore the outfit the next day. Fit pretty considering I didn't have a pattern.

All Smiles!!!

Happy Quilting

Aileen in Florida