Hitting it on the Nail

I happened across an article – the title caught my attention:

10 Emotional stages of making a quilt

If you are a quilt maker, you may identify with the stages she lists:

Stage One - This quilt is going to be superb. Probably my best quilt ever.
Stage Two - I love this fabric. It will be absolutely perfect for my superb quilt.
Stage Three - Do I really like this fabric? Do I have enough?
Stage Four - (Preferably when you can't check) - Did I cut that out all wrong? Have I ruined my quilt already?
Stage Five - Why did I chose this pattern, design and quilt. Why? Why?
Stage Six - This is a quilt fail. A huge fail.
Stage Seven - I am a failure. A huge failure.
Stage Eight - Wait, maybe this isn't so horrible. It might be OKAY.
Stage Nine - Hey, I like this quilt. It's turning out just fine.
Stage Ten - This quilt is superb! My best quilt EVER!

I cannot count how many times I’ve gone through these stages! High Five, Kathy, for putting it into words!

When I came to write this blog post, I couldn’t find her link in my laptop’s history. I did the next best thing, a search on Google! After putting in “emotions of quilt” – of course – I found it!

But, another interesting item caught my attention straightaway: the “Mod Mood Quilt Along”!

I never thought about how colors represent my moods! Isn’t this hitting it on the nail? I do believe so!

While reading more of her website, Sherri at Daintytime wrote: 

Making do with what’s at hand is an accomplishment, a state of gratitude, a rhythm of attention, that feeds the spirit and restores the soul.

Although written in 2010, her inspirational writings hold true today. I highly recommend the read!

What’s the difference between a blanket and a quilt? Grab some tissues and read this sweet story….

Emotional Patchwork -- Quilting Your Life Together

Now, with a better understanding of how emotions influence my quilt making… I’m going into the sewing room! A special project is underway… one I’ll reveal once totally done!

Save the Date!

I wanted to give everyone a heads-up! The American Patchwork & Quilting magazine’s

1 Million Pillowcase Challenge

continues!

Save the date!

September 16 – 17
for their 3^rd annual Sewathon 24-hour Marathon!

After doing a search here on my blog for “pillowcase” (because I know I’ve shared how to do the roll-up method before), I also saw that I’ve shared about their challenge since the beginning! Back in 2013, their mission was listed among the Community Sewing organizations I suggested!

The basic pillowcase is sew easy to stitch up! If you want to create some fun and really creative pillowcases, click here for free patterns and ideas!

The thing about this mission, you donate the pillowcases to the charity or cause of your choice! For which charity/cause will you donate the pillowcases? My heart is leaning toward the flood victims in south Louisiana. Bless their hearts. Such tragedy.

As of this writing, APQ’s website reports they have almost 690,000 pillowcases toward their 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge! How fabulous is this?!!?! With our help, this just may be the year they hit the 1 Million mark!

Stay up-to-date with all the going on’s by liking their Facebook page!

And, don’t forget to log your numbers on their site! (Click here to learn how to update the pillowcase counter.) Let’s help them reach their goal this year! Will you gather a group together? Will you make some on your own?

Check out the stories, and see the various small/large groups that have contributed to this mission! Be sure to add your own story!

Sew for the experience of it!

Yes! It’s that time of year again! This year’s focus is going to be a fun one: 

“Sew for the experience of it!”

I love the Sewing & Craft Alliance, in partnership with the American Sewing Guild, selected this theme! For more information about the origin of National Sewing Month, and its past celebrations, check out their website, National Sewing Month!

I haven’t a clue why, but when I saw their theme, my favorite childhood storybook came to mind. I guess because when Momma read it to me (over and over – at my request – until I could read it myself), it would fill me with all kinds of hope with all the possibilities of doing anything I wanted to do, if I worked hard at it!

At one time or another, I hope you’ve had the pleasure of reading the children’s book, The Little Engine That Could, by Watty Piper. It is a treasure!

Anyway, this month I will focus on sharing challenges for us to experience, to get us outside our comfort zone. I’m always looking for new techniques, methods, and projects to do that are different from my usual course of everyday sewing!

Like doing appliqué….

Like paper piecing…

Like working with mixed media…

Like… ???

I hope you will explore with me, the wonderful world of sewing – just for the experience of it!

...

Priorities

We all have our own set of priorities. Whether it’s in our home life, profession, or hobby, how we set our priorities depends on our inner drummer. You know, the saying:

For some, keeping a spic and span house is a main priority. I knew a lady, each week she would take every glass, plate, bowl ~ everything ~ out of her cabinets and wash, dry, and put back. Needless to say, everything in her house was spotless. God rest her soul, a “spic/span” home was her main priority.

Quite the opposite, I’ve run across a few people that put even the slightest bit of basic housekeeping on the bottom of their list of priorities. That’s okay. That’s their drummer.

I fall somewhere in between.

It’s the same with professions and hobbies. I know the saying...

 applies here as well.

For those obsessed with their professions, however, I do miss the friendships, the both-way conversations we once had.

Because my priorities may differ from someone else’s doesn’t mean they are any better, or less, than theirs. Turnaround is fair play. I find myself guarded, having to protect my priorities from some looking to take advantage.

I’ve learned ~ if it’s important, really important, people will find a way to get it done.

Maybe, a temporary shift in priorities?

It's Half Over!

OH. My. Goodness.

The year is over half over! Do you realize, Christmas Day is 5 months from today! Where has the time gone!?!

It's hot and humid here in the Texas Hill Country (97 expected high today with heat index in triple digits!). But, thinking about Christmas cools me down.... that is, body temperature wise! It gets my blood running quickly, however, wondering what gifts I want to make for family and friends!

Head is spinning...

So much to do...

Stay cool everyone!

Code the Stash

While somewhat organizing my sewing room last week, I wish I had seen this code chart I later discovered on the Quilting Digest’s Facebook page! Oh well. I have it now, for next time! There is always a next time!

Anyway, it’s hard to imagine 2016 is half over already! Where in the world has the time gone? Is it really time to start crafting for Christmas?

If that’s your thing, I would say so!

Have you gathered ideas for your loved ones? During the hot days of summer – well underway here in the Texas Hill Country – is when I turn my focus on what handmade gifts for family I would like to do this year!

But, I must keep in mind what several family members have told me:

“I don’t want or need any more “stuff” as I’m downsizing.”

Or, I’ve learned “handmade” is not their thing…

Easy/peasy – they get a gift card. I may can’t control myself, and create a special gift card holder!

For those who I do create a something special, unique, from the heart gift… what will it be?

Off to search Pinterest! I used the terms: “Christmas” “gifts” “homemade” “sewing” and found BUNCHES of ideas!

Then I did a Google search using the same terms and discovered many more sites to check out! It doesn’t matter how old the article may be!

Sometimes omit “Christmas” in your search and you’ll not see all the ornaments, door wreath, and stocking patterns. Rather, you’ll find a great site like I just did when I stumbled upon “Everything Etsy” and her 101 Simple Sewing Tutorials!

Well, I think I have a pretty good idea what I’m going to sew up for gifts! What about you? What will you create?

Change and Transitions

While watching a recorded re-run of Magnum PI the other day, I heard an interesting perspective. The writers created a powerful statement I copied down for further reflection…

Magnum relayed how his Grandfather Sullivan had taught him about change and transitions…

…Probably the only thing you can count on in life is change…that no matter how much you want things to stay the same, they never do.And the change itself wasn’t bad. It’s just that the transitions are sometimes tricky.… don’t be afraid of transitions – they make you strong. Change… it doesn’t always come at a convenient time.

In fact, it usually happens right when you are in the middle of doing something else, and that it’s important to finish up whatever you’re doing, even if it begins to feel like dull routine.

Because it’s how you make the transitions is as important as making them.

Something Shiny

Even for those of us who are unemployed (outside of the home) and with no children to shuffle here and there, or have studies to focus on, effective time management can be an issue. It is for me anyway! It’s the shiny things that cause my distractions!

But, effective is relative.

I can spend days, even weeks, on a special project ~ like sewing, creating a quilt for one of our veterans or someone in need, or maybe a new bag for my mother’s walker. Or, start/work until finished on a much needed organization and renovation project in our home. During this time, basically everything else ~ like housekeeping or yard work ~ goes on the back burner. The kitchen stays manageable to prepare meals, laundry stays caught up, and the bathroom is half-way presentable. But, that’s about it.

Then… you find out company is coming!

When that bell rings, it is then I start seeing all sorts of stuff that I should do to make our home more presentable. It now rather than later, like…

Clear out dust bunnies in all the corners.

Vacuum the pieces of lint and unidentifiable objects off rugs and floors.

Clean windows/glass doors.

Mop floors.

Pack up Works in Progress (WIP) in sewing room (because it’s also the guest bedroom!)

Etc

Etc

Etc

Lists. Daily lists!

I hand write it out, what I need to do, everything! Even if the “need” is right there in my face, I write it down!

I don’t have a fancy phone (no cell service here), so I don’t have an “app” and I don’t want to put one on my laptop because when I get near my computer I find too many distractions, like emails, Facebook, Twitter, or Jigsaw Planet! And, I don’t spend time estimating how long it will take me to do this or that. That’s a waste of time!

To-Do lists are a life saver for me. It keeps me focused, and on task. When I do see something shiny and go off in another direction (something else I needed to do, but it wasn’t on the list), I will eventually come back to the to-do list and find my focus once again.

I love seeing strikethroughs down my list! I feel such a sense of accomplishment when I have to get a new piece of paper! Yes, no fancy “apps” here, I just use scratch paper!

When company comes, I don’t do anything I shouldn’t do anyway. It’s always so nice to have a clean-for-me house three or four times a year!

Once I’m back on my own, because I took the time to organize the current WIP as I worked through the to-do list, I will feel more relaxed, and focused, and ready to finish the work I want to do!

Have you made a to-do list today?

Introducing the Wings Quilt Block!

Have you ever created a quilt block and didn’t like the way it looked? Maybe the color scheme used or the size of individual pieces within the block just didn’t look like the way you envisioned? This happened to me last week!

I started playing around with the ruler, rotary cutter, and swapping pieces around, then stitching back together. The result, the “Wings Quilt Block”!

I’m excited about this block because it is so versatile! The most difficult thing about it is, deciding on which direction you will want to put your blocks together! Just wait! You'll see!

It is when I put together this one single block up on my design board...

I realized the manufacturer printed the red print off kilter. On one side, the design is square to the selvage, but on the other side ~ the design it is off! There is absolutely NO WAY to “fix” this because it happened during the printing of the fabric. I HATE WHEN THIS HAPPENS! Anyway…

The final design is not blah. It is bold. It makes a statement.

Each individual "Wings" block will/should measure 8.5 before stitching together.

For my quilt, I created 24 blocks (four blocks across, six rows down = 24), then added 2 borders to get the width/length I needed.  Without borders, based on 24 blocks, using simple math the quilt measures 32" x 48" which is a nice size for a toddler!

Be gentle! This is my first time to write "formal" instructions! I created a .pdf file with the instructions here for you to download, for easy printing!

Or, you can follow along...

Wings Quilt Block

Designed by Lanetta J. Sprott

of Lanetta’s Creations

I highly recommend: Read through the complete instructions before starting!

PART ONE

Cutting instructions:

White with star print – 6.5” x 3.5”

Blue stripe – 9.5” x 3.5”

Red/white print – 6.5” x 6.5”

Sewing instructions (see TIP):

1)  Stitch (right sides together) the white and red. Press toward the red.

2)  Stitch (right sides together) the blue stripe to the white/red unit (see NOTE). Press toward the stripe.

TIP: When making more than one block, I cut all the white, red, and blue stripe fabric out at once. I quickly stitched the white to the red (it doesn’t matter which side of the white is stitched to the red).

I then made 2 stacks (one of the white/red and the other the blue stripe):

NOTE: Before stitching #1 and #2 together, the white fabric is at the top of the red/white unit and the blue stripe is on the right side of the unit. Be consistent! Each time you make this block, keep the top of the unit the same (in size and color) and the 9.5” piece on the right for Each block! This is critical!

Once you’ve stitched all 3 pieces together, give it one more press with a hot iron (no water/steam at all during the entire block construction). Now is a good thing/time to spritz a bit of spray starch to make it nice and flat, and to help keep down any stretching!

Individual blocks should measure 9.5” square. Trim now if necessary!

And, now on for the second/final part!

PART TWO

Place one basic block at a time on your cutting mat (right side up), white up, and stripe on the right side (see NOTE).

Cut diagonally – both ways – without moving any fabric until both cuts are done!

NOTE: Be consistent in positioning the block each time you put it on the cutting mat!

Swap the top and bottom pieces. Leave the sides alone. It should now look like this:

Pin ~ right sides together ~ matching seams… (see NOTE)

top and left section

bottom and right section

NOTE: As I note in the photo, don’t fret if the edge doesn’t match up. Your only concern (at this point) is that the seams match. Because we pressed in opposite directions, the seams should nestle together nicely.

Stitch units together.

TIP: whenever possible begin stitching at the 90 degree angle rather than the pointy end.

• Press to set the stitches,
• then place the unopened triangle back on your cutting mat. 
• Place your grid ruler along the stitched side (the bottom) and 
• line up the 6.5” grid mark at the left point. (I just love pictures!)
• Trim off the right side.

Press seam open.

Repeat this process with the 2^nd unopened triangle.

With right sides together, stitch the two sections together. Be careful NOT TO STRETCH the fabric!

The block should now measure 8.5” square! Trim if necessary and cut off the dog-ears!

 Ta Da! You now have created the Wings Quilt Block!

When arranging the 24 blocks on my design wall, I started with the center and worked out until I liked the design within the design! Add border, or more blocks, to create the size you desire!

How will you put yours together?

© Copyright 2016. This pattern is for personal use only. It cannot be used for commercial purposes. It cannot be copied or distributed in any format. It cannot be used with distribution of any product, including kits or made into a pattern for re-sale without the written permission from the designer, Lanetta J. Sprott.

Begging for the Beggar!

In my last post, we hadn’t yet finished installing the living room floor or the baseboards, or painted the walls! Great news! It’s all done! Not absolutely everything is put back in its place, but it will come… at least, it’s not in the front bedroom any longer!

So…

I now have my sewing room back!

Since I couldn’t really sew a major project, or use the quilting machine, for well over a month (we also went on a much needed, long overdue, holiday to North Padre for a few days), I’m making up for lost time! I have managed to keep up with the BOM’s I’ve been doing!

And…

• Two Veteran quilts finally totally finished!
• Three Veteran quilts quilted for a couple of friends (they will bind and label and wash)!
• Two labels applied on Veteran quilts I received back after the binding application.
•             (All seven quilts delivered for covering our local Veterans!)
• A very beautiful embroidered blocks Tea Quilt, quilted and returned for finishing!

Now I’m working on creating ONE block for the Texas Department of Agriculture, the GoTexan Quilt Collection Competition (deadline to them: June 10^th). The winners will have their blocks combined and a quilt created and on display during the 2016 State Fair of Texas. Thereafter, it will travel for display at various locations around Texas. For those of us who do not win, others will incorporate into quilts for Project Linus.

Bottom line, it is a win-win.

But, Yes. I am speaking negatively because I don’t appliqué. After viewing the previous years completed quilts, all the winning blocks are appliquéd. Mine is embroidery and piecing. I failed to check the prior quilts before requesting/paying for the kit. At least, it will be put to good use.

Oh, my! I don’t believe I’ve mentioned anything about the Beggar Quilt (aka Charm Quilt) project for the 2017 Dallas Quilt Show! Their theme next year is: “It’s a Charmed Life!”

This is what they wrote about it…

Charm Quilts have been around for over 150 years. They are referred to by many names: One Patch, indicating a single shape; Beggar, indicating that the quilter begged for fabric; and Odd-Feller, indicating no repeats in fabrics. Some very recognizable patterns include 1000 Pyramids, Grandmother's Flower Garden, Apple Core and Postage Stamp.

Of course, I want to do this! What a cool Veteran’s Quilt this will be!

I’ve been collecting fabric pieces from family and friends, then cutting them into 2” square pieces! After re-reading their rules this morning ~ although it’s okay with them ~ I’m trying very hard not to duplicate/repeat any fabrics. At least, if I miss a few, I won’t fret over taking out & replacing!

First row ~ almost done!

Would you help with sending me some fabric swatches out of your stash?