Ocean Waves Quilts

Table runner kick...............

I have been on a kick of making these table runners. It is the simplest pattern. I have been using all different Christmas fabrics. I have experimented with different fancy threads, and practiced some machine quilting. it is easy to try new things on a piece this small.

 Paired with some pretty candles, this is a nice gift. I have also used a table runner as the focus for a Christmas basket, adding some cookies, and hot cocoa mix.  Trying to get some Christmas spirit by just "doing". Put up some decorations, wrap some gifts. I cannot, however, take the Christmas music this early! I am also knitting away on another Nantucket whaler hat. Pics soon! I hope you all are having some time to sew,  If you are making any gifts...please share! Christmas is coming....stay tuned............

Thanksgiving..............

I love Thanksgiving...the holiday is just about "giving thanks". I try to do that all the time, but especially today. I am thankful for health, most of all, because without it, there is nothing else. I am especially thankful for the people in my life. Family...that HAVE to put up with you...and friends. Friends, after all ,are just family that we CHOOSE. Real friends are hard to come by.  My mother always told me I would know who they were at the worst times in my life...was she ever right. She was ALWAYS right...unfortunately,lol.

I am thankful for the roof over my head, and my life. I am respected, cherished, and listened to by the man in my life. I am ever thankful to have a hobby that I love, a hobby that has brought me a bunch of those "real friends". A job that I have been doing for , ahem, 38 years, and I still love what I do. so..theres my "thanks". I hope you all have a wonderful day, giving thanks.

Good gift idea............

We picked up  these cute gift baskets at yankee candle the other day. One is a snowman theme, and one is a Santa. They come with candle holders and candles. I thought it would be "Instant decorating", if I added a hand made table runner. I thought they came out very cute. Simple to do. I made the table runner reversible to a solid red. Do you have any gift ideas to share? I think everyone right now is realizing Christmas is around the corner!  My readers and I would surely appreciate any ideas that you have! I will share any that I come up with. Stay tuned....................

making lemonade..........

I got my mojo back...Here is the block of the month...in the correct size!
Here is the too small block, made into a nice Christmas pillow!

 You know that saying, "When life gives you lemons make lemonade?". Well, as I told you the other day, I had a block of time to make the easy pieced block of the month, using Thangles. I grabbed the wrong size, and made the block 2 inches too small! Par for the course last week. I took the too small block in for show and tell at "Ladies of the Evening" last week. Kathie said "Well that would make a nice Christmas pillow. See? Lemons-lemonade! I have a friend whose birthday is coming up, I think this pillow will make a nice addition to her Christmas decorating!

I hope you all are having a nice weekend, and getting in some time to sew! Christmas is coming fast upon us. Stay tuned.......................
 

A mini quilt show for you!

Here are a few of the quilts in a local show, made by the "crazy Quilters". Is this not the cutest quilt you have ever seen? Our friend Peggy, (Ladies of the Evening). Made this delightful quilt. below is a close-up...can you believe she even put blueberry juice on his hands and mouth! I love it Peggy, great job!
 
This is a beauty, called "African tulips, made by a crazy quilters memeber.
Above a close-up to this gorgeous quilt, made by Mary Rys, a guild member. Just beautiful.


A talented group, I hope to get more pictures to show you.

 I have to show you other quilter's work this week, because I haven't been doing so good in the sewing department. I cut out and sewed the #7 "EASY" block  for the pieced Christmas quilt that I am doing block of the month. Well....using thangles, it is usually quick and easy, instant gratification. I grabbed my thangles, and got it sewn in no time........2 inches too small......................... Wrong size thangles.  Oh well...what can I say? I will sew another block out of similar colors. The too small block will make a pretty Christmas pillow as Kathie pointed out. When I am done with the new one, I will show you both. .I am beginning to think I need a keeper. Kathie suggested I Take a sewing break, probably so I won't hurt myself, lol! Stay tuned....if you dare......................

When you shouldn't pick up a rotary cutter......

Last week, everythingI tried to sew, I screwed up. I got this block done...you remember the one, with over 70 pieces in it... I  even got it hand quilted. The I take it down to my mat, and square it .....1/2 inch too SMALL. Did you hear me at your house?? The words were not nice, I promise you. I decided, since it is on the right side, I removed the embroidery on that side. I will put the embroidery further in, or maybe just leave the wording as is. I will have to cut all the blocks on that side a 1/4 inch smaller, or fudge it with the sashing.

 What I really felt like doing at the time is running a nice sharp rotary blade through it until it turned into confetti. You know how it goes, lol.  I restrained myself by admiring the blocks I have done so far...6 down, 6 to go...over the hump.

It's funny, on one of the other blogs I follow, she has been talking about giving handmade things as gifts. I thought of this quilt, and the ungodly amount of work it has been. I plan to hand this down in  my family as a family heirloom. I guess it will be a good thing that I will be dead when that happens, in case someone hates it,lol.  The woman writing the blog wondered... does anyone really appreciate the amount of work in these things we make? Or maybe do they think "Oh no, handmade crap again", lol. The general thread of the blog was that we, as the people who put so many hours work into these things, should either keep them, or give them to other quilters. Well, I have given so many things away. I like to think that maybe if they really don't "get it" now, they will when I am dead and gone.

 In any case, when I make something for someone, I think of them when I am working on the item, and hope they enjoy it. I put a part of myself in everything I make. Truthfully, it would be a lot quicker, easier, and usually cheaper to go to the store and just buy something. 

What are your thoughts on this subject? I always think of  a good friend of mine that knitted a gorgeous afghan . It took her forever to make it, and a lot of love  went into that afghan. Can you imagine how she felt when she saw it in the recipients dog's house???? Any feedback would be appreciated!

At it again....

I first saw this band in the 70"s. They were the "house" band for a place called "The Casino" on Cape Cod. The original place was torn down, they rebuilt it into a very elegant restaurant/night club. They  had this band back for a reunion last July, but Falmouth Heights on July 4th is not a place I want to be! Last night we got a group of friends together, went for a great dinner, and stayed  to dance our butts off! What a talented band..still doing what they love after 30 or more years!

So...I am back to feeling ooold today! My partner in crime was , of course, there, and she didn't even have to bail me out of jail, lol!!!

To keep this sewing related I copied this  from "The Quilters Gallery" newsletter. I have heard of a lot of ways to use up scraps. But, they involve saving small pieces of fabric that probably won't get used, and are just cluttering up our sewing spaces. In fact, Kathie, of "Ladies of the Evening" just mentioned this subject the other night. So, here below is the best idea I have seen to "use them up"!

Take an old pillowcase, line a wastebasket with it. While you are sewing, toss all of your scraps into it. You can also add those that are cluttering up your sewing room. When the pillow case is 2/3 full, sew the pillow case shut, and take it to your local animal shelter. These make great beds for cats and dogs, and fit the cages perfectly. They are 100% washable, and are nice and soft for the animals. Isn't that a great idea? If you have any ideas for "using  up" things in your sewing room, please post them. The scrap quilt in my last post is another great way to use up strips, and older fabrics that you have been saving forever, and don't know what  to do with. I have reduced my stash substantially this year, by shopping in my own sewing room first. It's amazing what you already have to use as backings, bindings, etc.

 I am having sewing withdrawal!  I just haven't had the time to be in my sewing room lately. So, hopefully, I will soon.  I finished the latest applique block from the "Twas the night before Christmas" quilt. I will  photograph that soon.Stay tuned.................

  

When all you can do...is make a quilt.............

This picture shows the borders..the outer border has more color than the pictures show.
Here are a few more squares. It is amazing how many different fabrics there are. We all tried to include fabrics that are Little Doris's favorite things...teddy bears, flowers, and cats. The pattern for this quilt  square is in the book called "scrap quilts" by Quilt in a day publications.

Here is the label, that I made. I took the picture of most of the group, and transferred it to fabric. I also added the names of those who were not present.

We have a long-time member of Ladies of the Evening, "Little" Doris. She was suddenly taken to assisted  living, a long way from all of us. We felt terrible that we didn't even get to say goodbye to her. Well, what do quilters do, when there is nothing  you can do? You make a quilt.

Each member that sews made a scrappy block. Some of us made an extra block for those that couldn't sew.  We chose pastel colors, everyone used their own leftover fabrics. In the center, we either signed our names, or wrote a memory to Doris. We wanted this to be a project that was quick, so we could send it off to her.  After the blocks were done, I put the top together, and got the borders on. It's kind of hard to see in the pictures, but I put a skinny border of white to break it up, then added a mottled pastel border. We bought some soft pastel pink fleece for the back.

Next, I brought it in to the weekly meeting of the "Ladies of the evening". Everyone tied it with different colored pastel floss. Then, Jackie took it home,  put on the binding, and hand sewed it. It is now on its way to Doris. We hope everytime she wraps up in it, she feels the warmth of our long time friendship. Stay tuned...

Best thing since sliced bread!

I am working away on my "Twas the night before Christmas" block. I look at the pile of backing fabric already cut for each square, and the joining strips, all nicely cut and pressed. Then I think...what the??? I never allowed for backing fabric for the borders!

As you know, I am doing this as a "quilt as you go" method. So having the backing is a necessity, to hide all of the joining. I especially picked it , as they suggested it be very "busy". Soooooo I call a local fabric store...that had it two weeks ago, because I saw it there. You guessed it....gone! Ok, so now I am thinking, I know what it looks like, but I have no idea of the manufacturer or the line.

I knew I had heard about a missing fabric site...I found it. www.missingfabric.com. This site is unbelievable!!! You take a digital picture, send it to them, they post on their website, and within hours you have an e mail telling you where the fabric can be bought! It may not work as quickly for older fabrics, but it is possible, as people read this board, and may have some of that fabric you are searching for. They scramble your e mail, so no spam robots can take it. The site is free, you can make a donation if you want to. I may have spent the next 6 months looking for a fabric if I hadn't found them! The fabric is on it's way to me...and on sale! It doesn't get any better than that! Stay tuned................

Sewing away.................

I told you all I had working "behind the scenes". I made the quilt above. It is a generous "throw sized" quilt.It has a lot of my favorite fabric line in it, "Lakehouse Fabrics". I made this quilt, and had some of the fabrics left over. I added other fabrics, and made this quilt below! they are both machine quilted by me.

 I hope  you didn't hear the swearing as I was doing it. I must say, it gets a little easier each time, as I learn a few more tricks. I think the biggest help has been a big enough sewing table, so That the left side of the quilt is supported. I didn't realize that ANY pulling on that quilt will distort the stitches.

 I have been avidly reading blogs to get different ideas as to what makes machine quilting easier for people. One thing I could not machine quilt without is June Tailor fusible quilt batting". It holds both surfaces down so that there are NO puckers. I also do not roll my quilt. I have found that "puddling" it where I am working, works best for me. I also do  (gasp of horror here) my binding BEFORE I quilt. I read this tip many years ago...and truthfully thought the quilter was nuts. But, her theory is that the outside edge is now stabilized. I cant tell you how many quilts and wallhangings I have machine quilted this way with great results! Oh...and with using the fusible batting, you dont have to start in the middle. You can start and quilt wherever you are the most comfortable!

I think you a lso have to find what "works" with YOUR particular sewing machine. Mine  balks if I dont have the same thread in the top and the bottom. I also get skipped stitches  if I use a normal needle, and forget to change it to a quilting or topstitch needle. Each machine has it's own quirks I guess.

I have always done hand  quilting, but, the older I get, I realize I won't get too many done that way. Also, you don't want to put the labor of hand quilting into a lot of projects. So...I persevere, stay tuned...................