While all of this has been in the planning stages I didn't feel like I could talk about it much - but now that it is all confirmed I can tell you that I'm so excited that I am getting to go visit in Belgium and the Netherlands. I leave Seattle on Feb. 14th and will be there for 12 days. Karen, from Crazy Exchange, had issued an invitation many months ago, but it was still a long way off. So at last I have my tickets and it's gonna happen! HURRAH! I have been emailing and exchanging with these gals (and guy) over the past 6 months and now I will actually get to meet them in person. I do realize how fortunate I am and am grateful every moment.
Our actual plans and details aren't sorted out as yet. I have traveled to the Netherlands before, so will first go visit some friends in den Bosch, where I have stayed before and who have visited us here. And then will take the train to Antwerp to see Karen. She reports that several of the folks in the group, even from the Netherlands, will come to Antwerp to join us for some fun, chatting, stitching, whatever we want to do time. Isn't that just great? I promise many photos.
We didn't have the drawing last night, but many of the gals from my guild group brought their Christmas string pieced squares. They are just loving how cute they are and how easily they went together. Saturday we have an all-day quilt together day, so we will draw the name for who gets them all. Won't that be fun? And then just to "enjoy" my lesson in humility, at our gathering last night I spent the time (and didn't finish) tearing out tiny background stippling I had done on a quilt. I just didn't like how it looked. Fortunately I had not done the entire top, but nonetheless, it isn't speedy to remove what had gone in. And the tan on the tan top and the green on the green backing just blended beautifully and are almost impossible to see. I had to use a magnifier, right under the light and separate the layers in order to see the stitches to clip. Oh I'm feeling most humble. It was supposed to have been a crazy exchange item, but it's time to move on to Plan B (for now).
I am happy to report that I am making progress with my UFO collection. It's all the new things that are sitting there calling me that are the problem. I have more pieces for White Chocolate to be cut and pieced - Santa even brought me a couple more neutrals for that one. Santa also brought some wonderful pale pink and some rose fabrics - so I'm hunting for the perfect two color quilt pattern. And it's time to start thinking about my nine patches for our Road to Oklahoma quilt that our guild will be making for our major fund raising project for '08. If you are familiar with that pattern, there are 400+ (I think) 3 3/4" finished 9 patches. We are making them from home spun/calico type fabrics, so it will be very, very scrappy and should be cute. We figure if each member makes about 40 9-patches then we can choose the best ones for the quilt.
Life truly is good!
Friday, January 4, 2008
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
New Days ahead
I do love new starts and here we are in 2008. Wow! Not so many photos, but a couple of things going on. First of all, I have to go back to mid December - I forgot to tell about my delightful quilt guild Christmas party. One gal offered to host a potluck supper, (in her house full of Christmas decor). We decided to do an "ugly" fabric exchange. Each person was to bring at least 1/2 yard of fabric, in a plain, brown bag. We put the bags under her tree while we enjoyed dinner and chatting about our favorite quilting "gadget" of the past year. Eventually we were fully sated and decided to start the exchange. We did the typical: draw a number, choose a gift or choose someone else's gift. There was quite a bit of changing back and forth before each fabric found a home. We had a delightful time. Here are a couple of examples:
I plagerized brazenly from Molly's Place blog (http://sewhappy10000.blogspot.com/) before the party and each of us were given a square of muslin and one red strip. We were to take the muslin home and fill it with assorted Christmas fabrics (i.e. string pieced) They aren't all back, as yet, but likely they will be complete by our regular guild gathering on Thursday. We will draw one member's name and that person will get all the squares. With just a bit of sashing, someone will have a Christmas quilt all set to go next year.
This Saturday, Elaine has again offered her home for a quilting day for our guild group. (we had a great time there in September). Next Tuesday we start again with our refugee ladies. Stone Soup is up and running for 2008. Monday we got 10 quilts 'sandwiched' and a couple of backs pieced. I'm getting my "fix" going early in the year! :-)
I have a party suggestion, for anyone interested. Today some friends organized a fondue party for New Year. There were 10 of us. We just had the most fun. We had three different kinds of fondue: 2 different cheese ones, with bread and vegetables and a chicken broth one with chicken, shrimp and scallops. We did find that we had to rotate our places at the table every little while, so each person could be close to the various fondue pots. We had sauces: artichoke, curry, mango salsa, jalapeno pepper. We had lots of laughter around the table. After dinner we played a rousing game of Apples to Apples (a Christmas gift) and then moved on to the chocolate fondue for dessert. For dippers we had pound cake, bananas, strawberries, pineapple and little squares of rice krispie treats. [The Biggest Loser is on TV as I type this - I think there is a message there. So, tomorrow I will enjoy remembering this fun time as I continue my walking regime.]
Happy New Beginnnings to you all.
I plagerized brazenly from Molly's Place blog (http://sewhappy10000.blogspot.com/) before the party and each of us were given a square of muslin and one red strip. We were to take the muslin home and fill it with assorted Christmas fabrics (i.e. string pieced) They aren't all back, as yet, but likely they will be complete by our regular guild gathering on Thursday. We will draw one member's name and that person will get all the squares. With just a bit of sashing, someone will have a Christmas quilt all set to go next year.
This Saturday, Elaine has again offered her home for a quilting day for our guild group. (we had a great time there in September). Next Tuesday we start again with our refugee ladies. Stone Soup is up and running for 2008. Monday we got 10 quilts 'sandwiched' and a couple of backs pieced. I'm getting my "fix" going early in the year! :-)
I have a party suggestion, for anyone interested. Today some friends organized a fondue party for New Year. There were 10 of us. We just had the most fun. We had three different kinds of fondue: 2 different cheese ones, with bread and vegetables and a chicken broth one with chicken, shrimp and scallops. We did find that we had to rotate our places at the table every little while, so each person could be close to the various fondue pots. We had sauces: artichoke, curry, mango salsa, jalapeno pepper. We had lots of laughter around the table. After dinner we played a rousing game of Apples to Apples (a Christmas gift) and then moved on to the chocolate fondue for dessert. For dippers we had pound cake, bananas, strawberries, pineapple and little squares of rice krispie treats. [The Biggest Loser is on TV as I type this - I think there is a message there. So, tomorrow I will enjoy remembering this fun time as I continue my walking regime.]
Happy New Beginnnings to you all.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Happy Holidays and soon New Year's Eve
I hope that you all had a marvelous holiday. We had a delightful two days with my kids and grandkids, my oldest (as in known longest) friend and her daughter, SIL and GD. Mostly I have been paying attention to Christmas, but have done a couple of things, so will show you those first:
Step #4, of Crazy Mom's Quilt-a-long:
And I began tying the Hawaiian block quilt for friend Christian (a longterm UFO)
Oh yeah - I'm trying my hand at cross stitch (again). Some of the girls from Crazy Exchange are starting a stitch-a-long, so I wanted to "play" as well. This is 18 Aida, stitched one over one.
On the holiday front, we started with a beautiful Christmas eve day, and the ferry ride was magnificent:
My dear son and DIL were in town for a week, so joined us:
The little girls enjoyed each other (as much as you can at 13 and 17 months):
And, of course, my cutest three-some:
I am so lucky to have had every one of my special people near for the holidays. Son has returned home, daughter is getting ready to move and life is about back to normal. I have been binding a couple of quilts for Stone Soup - fairly mindless TV-watching activity. Not everything is put away, but I'm getting close. So it goes. No big plans for NYEve, but have a couple of events for New Year's Day.
Good wishes for a marvelous 2008.
Step #4, of Crazy Mom's Quilt-a-long:
And I began tying the Hawaiian block quilt for friend Christian (a longterm UFO)
Oh yeah - I'm trying my hand at cross stitch (again). Some of the girls from Crazy Exchange are starting a stitch-a-long, so I wanted to "play" as well. This is 18 Aida, stitched one over one.
On the holiday front, we started with a beautiful Christmas eve day, and the ferry ride was magnificent:
My dear son and DIL were in town for a week, so joined us:
The little girls enjoyed each other (as much as you can at 13 and 17 months):
And, of course, my cutest three-some:
I am so lucky to have had every one of my special people near for the holidays. Son has returned home, daughter is getting ready to move and life is about back to normal. I have been binding a couple of quilts for Stone Soup - fairly mindless TV-watching activity. Not everything is put away, but I'm getting close. So it goes. No big plans for NYEve, but have a couple of events for New Year's Day.
Good wishes for a marvelous 2008.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Coming Down to the Wire
Isn't that an interesting expression. I assume it comes from the world of horse racing - but what about this one: In this neck of the woods? We were talking about that one the other day and couldn't figure out it's genesis. Hmmmmm.
So, the big holiday celebration is almost here and frankly I'm about done with whatever I'm going to accomplish. I think I have about finished everything that was on the agenda (that would be the realistic agenda, completed in the past couple of weeks - not the outlandish one I thought of in July. :-? )
You've seen two sets of placemats (son and brother). Here is #3, kids of a good friend:
Not exactly 'over the top' but dishtowels and dishcloths have been completed. (Happy hands at home)
Somehow this has proven to be the most difficult sweater I have ever knit. I can and do knit, quite competently, but had to rip out pieces of this, over and over. Crazy making. But now just have to put the buttons on and it's ready to go. My 7 1/2yo GD should be quite pleased. She does know about it, as it was supposed to be done for her May birthday, but Nana got herself a bit behind. [she even asked me about it a couple of weeks ago. I just smiled.]
Monday the Stone Soup ladies had a delightful Christmas lunch, yesterday the refugee women had an extra class to help them finish up a purse they were all making. (extra class, 3 hrs. long, but everyone finished! YEAH!) The 3 Somali women would like to continue with the sewing lessons, but the agency's grants require that they first open the class up to new students. (in a new quarter) If there aren't enough new, then these three can return. I sort of hope they can come back - as we were beginning to make some real strides in their skill development. Today is Hajj for them. Good wishes!
This morning I baked Cranberry strusel bread. There are 13 of them in those very cute little ceramic dishes from Michael's. I'd seen the dishes last year and thought oh, next year, I'm going to do something with those. [I managed to crack one of the original 14 but had just enough dough for the 13 pans. Ah divine providence.]
If I don't get back to the computer before the big day, I hope you all have a marvelous holiday time, however you are able to spend it. Family, friends, relatives, loved ones. Take lots of pictues and share them with us all.
Hugs from Nana.
So, the big holiday celebration is almost here and frankly I'm about done with whatever I'm going to accomplish. I think I have about finished everything that was on the agenda (that would be the realistic agenda, completed in the past couple of weeks - not the outlandish one I thought of in July. :-? )
You've seen two sets of placemats (son and brother). Here is #3, kids of a good friend:
Not exactly 'over the top' but dishtowels and dishcloths have been completed. (Happy hands at home)
Somehow this has proven to be the most difficult sweater I have ever knit. I can and do knit, quite competently, but had to rip out pieces of this, over and over. Crazy making. But now just have to put the buttons on and it's ready to go. My 7 1/2yo GD should be quite pleased. She does know about it, as it was supposed to be done for her May birthday, but Nana got herself a bit behind. [she even asked me about it a couple of weeks ago. I just smiled.]
Monday the Stone Soup ladies had a delightful Christmas lunch, yesterday the refugee women had an extra class to help them finish up a purse they were all making. (extra class, 3 hrs. long, but everyone finished! YEAH!) The 3 Somali women would like to continue with the sewing lessons, but the agency's grants require that they first open the class up to new students. (in a new quarter) If there aren't enough new, then these three can return. I sort of hope they can come back - as we were beginning to make some real strides in their skill development. Today is Hajj for them. Good wishes!
This morning I baked Cranberry strusel bread. There are 13 of them in those very cute little ceramic dishes from Michael's. I'd seen the dishes last year and thought oh, next year, I'm going to do something with those. [I managed to crack one of the original 14 but had just enough dough for the 13 pans. Ah divine providence.]
If I don't get back to the computer before the big day, I hope you all have a marvelous holiday time, however you are able to spend it. Family, friends, relatives, loved ones. Take lots of pictues and share them with us all.
Hugs from Nana.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
In a Green mood, apparently
Seems that much of what I have been working on is green - so here you have it. Happily EVERYTHING is from stash, so I can feel righteous (as well as green):
Green napkins to go with these placemats.
Brown napkins, but the placemats have a lot of green in them.
Last set of Christmas placemats - green, of course! These get white napkins.
Weeks one and two from Quilt-a-long from Crazy Mom Quilts. Cute, fun and not hard. I'm making two blocks each time, just because I may want them. I'm only 3 weeks behind.
Isn't he just so cute? I am a mentor at church for a soon-to-be 13 year old. I asked her mom what I could get for her for Christmas. She reported that since they had a house fire, all the stuffed animals had to be left behind to be treated to remove the smoke odor. So "P" really needed a new stuffed animal and I found this guy. He is so soft and furry. I might really like him myself, but oh well - that's how it is at Christmas!
Life is busy, but as the kids say, it's 'waaaaay' good.
Green napkins to go with these placemats.
Brown napkins, but the placemats have a lot of green in them.
Last set of Christmas placemats - green, of course! These get white napkins.
Weeks one and two from Quilt-a-long from Crazy Mom Quilts. Cute, fun and not hard. I'm making two blocks each time, just because I may want them. I'm only 3 weeks behind.
Isn't he just so cute? I am a mentor at church for a soon-to-be 13 year old. I asked her mom what I could get for her for Christmas. She reported that since they had a house fire, all the stuffed animals had to be left behind to be treated to remove the smoke odor. So "P" really needed a new stuffed animal and I found this guy. He is so soft and furry. I might really like him myself, but oh well - that's how it is at Christmas!
Life is busy, but as the kids say, it's 'waaaaay' good.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
How to make placemats
I don't know how to do the tutorials I see some using - theirs are very professional and this one isn't. Hopefully, however, this shows you how to do this.
Take 4 fat quarters, or comparable fabric pieces. Choose fabrics that you think go well together. I cut mine to approx. 17" x 21".
Stack them up and make 2 horizontal cuts (in the whole stack) and 2 vertical cuts. It is more interesting if they are not parallel.
Shuffle the stacks so that each of the 4 different fabrics are represented in what will become a completed placemat. Try not to put the same fabric next to each other - in other words you have 9 pieces among the 4 fabrics.
Now reassemble the whole thing. Because you are taking out 1/4" seams, it will not perfectly line up. Don't worry! This one really 'bad' one is about 1/4" off (horizontally) but you don't have to worry. This next one is quite close to aligning.
When the 9 pieces have been reassembled into a whole, press like mad. Press the back and from the front. Place the reassembled whole on top of a piece of batting. Along each seam line, stitch through the top and the batting. You can use decorative stitches or here I used just a plain zig-zag. I would suggest you avoid stitches that are really thread heavy - open, airy stitches seem to work well. A wavy line is very attractive.
Your eyes will follow the line of the stitching and will not see those places where the seams do not align.
Make the back by laying a piece of fabric right side down on top of the stitched top. Stitch around, leaving an opening to turn it right side out. Trim seams, cut your corners, turn it right side out. Slip stitch the opening closed - I do this by hand. Press, press, press. Top stitch approx. 1/2" from the edges.
Do let me know if you have questions or if I have not been clear. Good luck. These are fun and easy to do. You can be most creative - copy the colors of someone's dinnerware or the colors of their dining room, maybe reflect their hobbies or interests. Go for it!
Take 4 fat quarters, or comparable fabric pieces. Choose fabrics that you think go well together. I cut mine to approx. 17" x 21".
Stack them up and make 2 horizontal cuts (in the whole stack) and 2 vertical cuts. It is more interesting if they are not parallel.
Shuffle the stacks so that each of the 4 different fabrics are represented in what will become a completed placemat. Try not to put the same fabric next to each other - in other words you have 9 pieces among the 4 fabrics.
Now reassemble the whole thing. Because you are taking out 1/4" seams, it will not perfectly line up. Don't worry! This one really 'bad' one is about 1/4" off (horizontally) but you don't have to worry. This next one is quite close to aligning.
When the 9 pieces have been reassembled into a whole, press like mad. Press the back and from the front. Place the reassembled whole on top of a piece of batting. Along each seam line, stitch through the top and the batting. You can use decorative stitches or here I used just a plain zig-zag. I would suggest you avoid stitches that are really thread heavy - open, airy stitches seem to work well. A wavy line is very attractive.
Your eyes will follow the line of the stitching and will not see those places where the seams do not align. 
Make the back by laying a piece of fabric right side down on top of the stitched top. Stitch around, leaving an opening to turn it right side out. Trim seams, cut your corners, turn it right side out. Slip stitch the opening closed - I do this by hand. Press, press, press. Top stitch approx. 1/2" from the edges.
Do let me know if you have questions or if I have not been clear. Good luck. These are fun and easy to do. You can be most creative - copy the colors of someone's dinnerware or the colors of their dining room, maybe reflect their hobbies or interests. Go for it!
Monday, December 3, 2007
In the winter we talk weather
Amazing to behold, snow in Seattle. Despite what many think, we do not get much (if any) snow here in the winter. And that is a very good thing because we are a city built on 7 hills and havoc rains (so to speak) when it snows. People don't know how to drive in it and there are hideous traffic snarls. This came mid-day Saturday and was about gone by Sunday morning. Phew!
Sewing projects in process, despite inclement weather include HST's for my White Chocolate quilt. I have completed 106 out of 194.
And I have tried my hand at a needlepoint scissors case, likely to be a Christmas gift for a friend. For a first effort this isn't too bad. I used to do lots of cross stitch and still have floss and books on that. Perhaps one of these days I'll clean them all out.
Barb at *We* Quilt asked about the placemats. I would be happy to show you how to do them - they are quite simple really. However, I need a couple of days to get the fabric ready and photos taken - it's boring just to read words. So give me a few days to get organized and I will show you what to do. You will be really pleased at how quickly they come together. Thanks for asking, Barb.
Stay warm, stay dry. Life is good!
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