More Mystery Quilt

One more post to end off the year...2017 is peeking around the corner! 

I've been hard at work and Clue 5 of my Mystery Quilt is Complete! Bonnie's Essential Triangle Tool is da bomb! I've tried triangle pieces on my own before with so-so results. It's all those "special" measurements one has to figure out that throw me off! This thing makes it SUPER EASY! 

I got to work right away on Clue 6! This one also uses the Essential Triangle Tool.

I made this looooong chain of triangles.

These were ironed open and since they were fed through the machine in order I just cut the chain between every pair and left the chain of pairs together so they wouldn't get mixed up. I only had to snip between the pairs and nest the seams and soon I had them all finished!

Bear in mind...I have not made these last two units before this. I was scared to do these! And yet, I have completed both of them in record time. Bonnie is such a good teacher!

Do you like my pink cutting mat? It was a Christmas gift from Dash. Along with the large Olfa rotating mat you see in the photos above. So handy!

My leader/ender pieces are adding up! I only get a few when I'm doing lots of chain piecing like this but look how full that box is! One day I'll have to move on to piecing these as four patches between my regular sewing. Bonnie is the genius behind leaders/enders too.

Ok, my studio is still trashed. I have piles of papers, fabric, tools, Christmas gifts, and every bit of junk imaginable still lying around everywhere. Now, I must be firm with myself and go clean it up!

See you in 2017!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Last ORT report for 2016

We've made it another year! Today marks the last New Moon and our last Totally Useless Stitch A Long post for 2016! It has been an off year for me and I'm cheering on 2017 in hopes of a grand upturn. 

I have been busy with the Mystery Quilt and my wooden bowl is overflowing. I was getting worried I would need a dumping between New Moons and that's just not done here.

The studio is trashed with all the Mystery Quilt goings-on and then the Christmas hullabaloo. I just plopped my ORT bowl into the middle of all the junk. I also have some photos from during creation but I'm afraid I get so caught up in sewing I forget to document!

You saw the first clue, neutral four patches, in last month's ORT photo the pieces above are for the second clue. These are triangle-in-a-square blocks. They only look hard!

They make fun bits when you get to trim dog-ears!

The third clue was purple and lavender four patches. You sew these units in the proper direction and all the seams spin the correct way. See they are all laid out so I don't mess up?

Neutral and purple triangle-in-a-squares were the fourth clue. I actually finished this clue by the weekend's end (the clue is revealed on Fridays) and was quite pleased with my abilities. Then...

Last Friday we were directed to sew purple and neutral half square triangles. Easy...but I didn't have the proper tool yet. It was coming in the mail! So I got behind a few days! It came in the mail on Tuesday. Alas! I have to work so I have only gotten to play with it a teeny bit, enough to complete one block.

A new clue comes out in the morning but I must get the 5th clue finished first. I am going to sew all weekend!!!

Here are all the clues I've completed so far. I am getting excited to see what the pattern will be!

There. ORT report dutifully posted. If I survive the severe case of stitch-ass I plan to acquire this weekend I will return to show you my completed clues 5 & 6!

 =^..^=

Now it is YOUR turn...we want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your December TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox 

November ORT Report

A rough week at work so my Totally Useless Stitch A Long is posted waaaay late! I've got lots of trimmings from the teal quilt I was working on and from starting Bonnie Hunter's 2016 Mystery Quilt, "En Provence!" This is so much fun!

I have been working on the first clue, sewing neutral four patches. This clue calls for lots of them! The second clue was posted yesterday but I'm so far behind on the first I haven't started even cutting for the second! I hope to get some of the 2nd clue cut and at least a few sewn so I know what I'm about. These are triangle units and I am very inexperienced with them! I will catch up with everything when I end up having to wait for one of the rulers I need to arrive.

If you think you might want to do the En Provence! quilt...there is still time to start! Plus, you could always save Bonnie's PDFs to your computer to do at your leisure. Be sure to save them, they disappear from Bonnie's blog after a while and then you'd need to purchase the pattern.

I was so far behind on the first clue because I made myself finish the Folkloric Stars quilt top. Terrible photo! I still need to get the backing for this sewn and then have it quilted. The top turned out very nice although it is most certainly more teal than I really prefer!

 =^..^=

Now it is YOUR turn...we want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your November TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox 

Getting Better All The Time

I wasn't feeling "up to snuff" when the New Moon rolled around last Sunday so our Totally Useless Stitch A Long did not get posted on time. I meant to make time during the week to get it done but work ended up a bear so I just rolled with it. I'd probably break the internet if I posted on time anyway!

My wooden leaf bowl got absolutely stuffed to the brim.

That is a pile of ORTs! Remember that pile of pretty fabrics I showed you awhile back?

Lots of corner cutting going on around here.

It was a chain-piecing marathon!

How do they all stay on the table?

I have the base of the quilt in three or four panels. Once I get them sewn together and pressed I can start creating borders. This is a truly fun pattern to sew. It is so repetitive I can just zone out and get soothed by the peacefulness of creating. Ahhhh!

=^..^=

Now it is YOUR turn...we want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your Second October TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox 

Lineman Quilt Finish

I never showed off my t-shirt quilt when I finished it! I was in a bit of a hurry at the end because Dash's sister and brother-in-law were going to be traveling near us and I wanted to be able to give it to them in person. I guess in all the rush and excitement I forgot about posting! 

Chris, my sister-in-law, requested this quilt for her husband, Tommy. I'd never made a t-shirt quilt but was willing to give it a try. Chris gathered up a whole bunch of Tommy's old lineman shirts and I got busy.

Each shirt's design got measured to find the largest design and I used that one for the size of my squares, 16.5 inches. I put iron-on interfacing on the back of each design and used a 16.5 inch square ruler to cut. A couple of the shirts were a little small or off-centered enough to need a little fudging...one of the pink shirts has a bit of the sleeve seam left in and the yellow shirt needed a strip sewn to one side to make it wide enough...but you cannot see these fixes on the finished quilt.

I bordered each shirt block with 2.5 inch strips of black and added blaze orange cornerstones, OG&E's trademark colors. 

There wasn't enough of the camo fabric I wanted to use on the back so I just added black along both sides. 

Tommy and Chris came to the city for the Lineman's Rodeo and we brought them the quilt. The hotel had this very convenient brick planter for the guys to stand on so I could get photos of the entire quilt. 

It was so big (king size) and so heavy, I had it long arm quilted at a nearby quilt shop. You can't really see in the photos but the thread is blaze orange.

You can see the large stipple design better on the black. I did the binding myself, since that's my favorite part. I love binding!

This was a really fun quilt to sew. Chris and Tommy were thrilled and I had a "Summer Project" to keep me busy creating. 

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

I Got A Whole Bunch of Nothing

Today is the New Moon! I hope you have more to show than I have. My ORTs are sparse.

I realised too late that I dumped this bowl without getting a snap...it was overflowing. Since then, I've only changed the sewing machine needle, rethreaded and squared the end of a length of fabric. But in the dumped ORTs were bits from making...

...a checkerboard, checkers and a bag to hold them. I actually made three of these, one the same as this and one a size smaller. I just need to make the checkers and bags.

Then I made some insulated handle holders. These slip over the handle of an iron skillet, protecting your hands. My dad requested these...as he caught the one he had on fire! I'm going to mention (politely) one isn't supposed to leave the handle holder on whilst cooking.

Then I've bought some fabrics and pressed and folded them ready for cutting. No, I do not prewash fabrics. I admit I tried prewashing when I first began this hobby but I found it to be a tangled mess of a pointless job. If I was ever worried about the colorfastness of a fabric I could test a sample first.

=^..^=

Now it is YOUR turn...we want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your first October TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox 

Happy Pumpkin Day

Miss you, Cathey.

Almost On Time

The original title of this post was "Right On Time." I was quite chuffed! Unfortunately, when I looked at the calendar with more focus I realized it hadn't been turned to September. That means I am late with the Totally Useless Stitch A Long.

Again.

This is becoming a long running joke!

I have been plugging away at Finery of Nature. Slowly, I might add. Currently, I am working on the flowers and the border to the right of the dragonfly. The black fabric is getting easier (I'm making friends with it) and the more I do the more excited I get about the design. There is something about these jewel colors on the black fabric that enchants.

=^..^=

Now it is YOUR turn...we want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your September TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox 

Six Days Late

Another late Totally Useless Stitch A Long post. You're used to that by now I'm sure. I don't feel as though I've done enough crafting lately. I want to be immersed in creativity ~ not dipping toes in every once in awhile! The New Moon has come and gone...did you post your ORTs?

I worked a bit on Finery of Nature. I had found a miscount from years ago and had to frog quite a bit but I think I'm back on track now. I've been using my OTT light laid on its side so I can see on the dark fabric. The lightbox is too huge and bulky and must be moved every time I need to use the desktop. I need an app on my Ipad so it shines like a light box...

I worked on the backing and binding to the T-shirt quilt. That's the camo and blaze orange ORTs in my leaf bowl. I've finished the quilt now...I'll save that for another post.

My new wastebasket, just for trimming scraps. 

These are the supplies for a new project I'm starting today. Some is bit of sewing...some a bit of crafting, it's going to be such fun! 

=^..^=

Now it is YOUR turn...we want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your August TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox 

Piggy Bank Challenge

My new blog friend Val from Val's Quilting Studio has an annual challenge to save money for stash. Every year you can sign up, save your piggy bank money and the next year you count the cash you saved and post about it. Guilt free stash money! Here is what I am going to save my money in:

This little "paint can" coin bank came home with Dash from work with cookies in. A little redecorating with colored paper and voila!

I will spend my "hard earned" dollars on more fabric as my newbie quilter status stash is pretty sad!

If you'd like to join in go to Val's linky post click here to sign up. If the sign-up is already passed (August 1st...hurry!) when you get there, feel free to comment here to join in as a passive participant.

How much can we save? What will you you buy?

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox 

July ORTs

I had to work on July 4th...a holiday here in the US. Not only did I have to work but I was training a new employee and it was Monday. I was simply too darn tired to post my Totally Useless Stitch A Long report!

It's New Moon time! Where are your ORTs?

Mine are nice, lots of scraps from sewing and a big pile from squaring fabric and cutting strips.

I tried my hand at a pineapple block and it came out excellent. Pictured here on my new design wall (I slapped it up there, unpinned, on Sunday and it's still clinging tight today!)

This was made with total scrap fabric...just whatever caught my eye as I got to that round. I must say, the Creative Grids Pineapple Trim Tool made this block very easy. I would never have been able to cut or sew as accurate a block as I did. It would take a while before I could do it without referring to the instruction sheet though!

Speaking of instructions...I had bought a pattern for a pineapple quilt and I had the instruction sheet that came with the ruler. I know I put them both together. I put them up in such a safe place as now I can't find them...losing things is so very rare for me. If you happen to run across them ~ give me a holler!  I ended up having to download the instruction sheet off the website, lol. 

=^..^=

Now it is YOUR turn...we want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your July TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox 

Sunday Sewing

I am enjoying a quiet Sunday morning in my sewing room. While watching quilting shows that were recorded on the DVR I made some key fobs. I already have some finishes and it isn't even midmorning...

It is amazing to me how much I've learned over the past couple years. All the little simple tricks to make things look nicer that experienced sewists take for granted leave me agape when I learn. Like this little trick to join the strap ends leaves you with a loop...you just can't forget to put your clasp on first!

Look close...the fabric reminds you to stitch!

I wish every day could be so carefree.

Four of them finished...two short and two long. They make it so easy to find your keys in your purse! Another trick I learned to save my fingers and nails is using a staple remover to pinch key rings open.

Let's have a giveaway! If you would like a chance to win a "Stitch!" key fob leave me a comment below. Tell me, have you learned any new tricks lately? 

This giveaway closes at the end of July 2, 2016...so be sure to comment by Saturday at midnight! I will draw a couple of names and contact the winners by email. NOTE: I will need your email address if your name is drawn as a winner. If I cannot find a way to contact you another person will be chosen. Good Luck!

This giveaway has closed and the winners will be contacted shortly!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

I'm A Winner!

I'm terribly late sharing my good fortune to win this fabulous prize from Moda Fabrics! Way back in April I entered this giveaway and was flabbergasted to win it.

The book is Betsy Chutchian's newest, Classic & Heirloom Quilts. I haven't opened the little fabric bundles but I believe they are called "Layer Cake Bundles" ~ layer cake squares, 10 x 10 inches. Reproduction fabrics and quilts are my absolute favorite so this is the perfect giveaway for me to win! I still cannot believe I won this!

Included in this prize is a $50 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop. I have been too busy with the craft room remodel to figure out what I want to buy. Should I mention the fact I will not be able to stop at a mere $50 so I need to save up my spending cash?

Big thanks to Moda Fabrics for their generosity...and their wonderful, exquisite fabrics.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Wanted: photogenic balcony, must be affordable

In late March I finished the top to my t-shirt quilt. It still sits waiting to be quilted. I cannot decide if I want to straight line quilt it myself or send it out to be long arm quilted. It's rather large to be doing it myself... ugh, decisions! Regardless, it needs a backing, which I still haven't pieced. I tore the craft room all to pieces right after I finished this top and lost my momentum on the project.

But the top is done!

I either need to make smaller quilts or buy a bigger bed. 

Maybe I could buy a balcony...

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Tiny Blue Box

Again, I am behind my time. I have all these posts photographed, written out in my head and even planned when they need to be posted. Do they get blogged? NO! This must stop!

The sweetest package arrived a couple weeks ago. I wasn't expecting anything and Dash was looking like, "What did you buy now?" but it turned out to be a RAK for me! Kim, of Wisdom with Needle & Thread is sending off RAKs at the speed of light! Look what I got...

Isn't that beautiful? Kim paints on porcelain, such tiny, delicate flowers! Wow, look at that gold paint. If you look carefully you can tell it's painted by hand. That is one steady hand! Kim also beaded this chatelaine for my scissors. The beads are heavy and so smooth they don't pull my hair. Isn't this the nicest gift?

Look how teeny Kim can paint. The inside of the box has a little flower too.

Thank you so much Kim, I love this RAK!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Pinch Me!

I mentioned to Dash how I wished I had more room for my quilting. 

The next thing I knew we were moving the home office into a small desk in the guest bedroom and the entire room was all mine. 

The room is only 10 foot by 10 foot with an extra cubby area that used to be the closet.

First up was the light. I asked Dash to get a florescent one with four bulbs. Dash said he picked out this one because it looked like quilt blocks. I love that man. No, you can't...he is mine.

On the door-way wall I built a design wall. It is six by six foot. I followed this tutorial to build the wall, click here. For my friends that don't quilt, a design wall is a place to hang blocks to see how they look, it's made with flannel so the cotton blocks kind of "stick" to it or can be pinned in place.

In front of the design wall is my pressing station. It is indescribable how awesome this thing is. The top is 62 by 24 inches. See all that storage? It rolls very easily, even on the carpet. I can't take any credit for the genius of this idea...click here to see how it's made.

I learned how to make elastic casing sewing the ironing board cover. I nearly made it too tight to put on! This is the tutorial I followed, click here.

This view shows how much of my design wall is still usable when the ironing station is in front of it. My cutting mat, rulers and a four foot folding table are leaning against the wall at the end of the unit. I haven't decided if I want to put up a pegboard to hang stuff on or what so there it sits until then.

To the left is the doorway.

I learned to sew lined curtains to match the pressing station. Curtains are surprisingly easy to create! I used this tutorial, click here. The fabric is a Kansas Troubles print called Clara's Garden.

I added a second bookcase for more storage. I'm sure things will change over and over until I work out the most convenient place for everything. 

You've seen my computer cubby before. The sewing desk is right behind so I just turn the chair around for each task. Lots of storage above the desk too. 

Every time I look in my craft room I think I'm dreaming. I think I'm way too excited about having it! It seemed to take forever to get everything together, made and put in place and now that it's done I don't know what to do. What to create next? I bet it doesn't take too long to come up with something! 

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox