It’s the third Tuesday of October, where does the time go? Keeping busy this past ten days or so, I think helps it to go even faster. Sitting here thinking about what to write down, hmm, I think I have done a bit of work and had some fun too.

Last Friday I attended the 2023 PIQF show. I was supposed to go with a non-quilty friend, but she had a prior engagement and had to forgo the show. I was on the fence about going alone, as when I go with someone else it curbs my urge to spend dollars. I ended up going and bringing a small reusable shopping bag, thinking that I can only fill this bag. After all that self discipline, and restraint, I bought one thing, a spool of thread. Two things that preempted my usual shopping spree, (besides the small bag) were that I have been going through my stash a lot lately and that there weren’t the usual amount of vendors. There seemed to be about a third less of the convention center being used. There were plenty of beautiful quilts, in fact more floor space was dedicated to the displays than to the vendors. There was a huge Bernina shop, and the two local machine shops had multiple booths too. There just weren’t many fabric shops, only 70 vendors listed. Some of the regulars, like Cherrywood and rainbow resources were there, but many were not. Is it possible to be sad and relieved at the same time? I really enjoyed the exhibits of some of Caryl Bryer Fallert Gentry quilts. There were forty quilts in her distinctive style. I was able to get up close to see her beautiful colors and stitching. Also saw a new to me quilt artist, Uzoma Samuel Anyanwu a Nigerian quilt artist. He is a master at improv fabric selection and collage and the quilted pieces are large and you can’t help but to be drawn in by them. Wonderful expressions on the faces and the clothing was so colorful. There was movement and joy emanating from these quilts.

In the sewing room, work on the two baby quilts continues. These came about from the purchase of four small panels and the leftovers from a fat quarter pack.

I am trying to decide whether to quilt these two next or bite the bullet and put “A Ribbon Runs Through it” on the frame. I finished the Liberty Star (Whimsy pattern) and there was enough backing left to quilt up a panel I had bought a few months ago.

I probably would have got the bindings on those two, if I didn’t get side tracked by a Halloween Tuxedo cat. I was looking through my stitchery basket O’fun, when I came across this all kitted up and ready to go. It’s from Teresa Kogut, and I may have it done before the end of the month.

I have been getting more done on Consider the Lillies too, not really sure I like the ‘A’ in my initials, I may change it to better match the ‘C’.

I want to end with a beautiful quilt that Velda Newman made, called Iris II. It was spectacular.

Be Kind.

Cruising right along, making stuff, finishing stuff and planning stuff. I even used some stuffing too.

First up, I finished the two smalls from Luminous Fiber Arts, Gathering Stitches and Gathering Snowflakes. I stuffed them with fiber fill and a handful of crushed walnut shells. This is the first time I’ve used the shells and I like the weight they add to the pillow. I am trying to decide if I want to add some trim to the edges, I don’t have anything suitable though. I am trying not to buy any more, maybe if I see the perfect one, but I’m not really looking. I am almost finished with the Hocus Pocus halloween small too. It is a quick stitch, I may make it into a pillow, or maybe frame it if I can find a black molding with a little character.

I finished and delivered the Vintage Sampler quilt to my client. She really liked it, and has another vintage one she’d like me to finish for her. It’s a Christmas sampler, in pieces, about 25 years in UFO stage. I consider it a challenge and a rescue operation. It’s rewarding to see how happy a person is when you finish something they didn’t think would ever be done. I find it almost as satisfying as finishing something of my own that has been languishing. Although, my motivation to re-start one of my ufo’s isn’t quite as keen. I did acquire another rescue project. This one is somewhat of a mess. It is a king sized Hawaiian appliqué quilt that was started with hand quilting, in the center (ugh) and part of a border. It is faded, water marked, frayed on the edges and probably not very square. The only saving grace is that it is basted. I am going to have to think on it for a bit, just getting it on the frame will be challenging.

Speaking of UFOs, I finished the two Cambridge bags that I had cut and ready to sew. I used waxed canvas for the outer parts and cotton fabric for the inner. I bought the hardware and pattern as a kit from Hammerstitch, which worked out really well. Lots of rivets and the leather is nice and soft. I may make another bag from them, I have a bit of left over canvas.

I finished up the four baby quilts, that I quilted on one backing piece. All are bound and waiting for their photo shoot. I got adventurous and bound one in some scraps of minky fleece I had. It went on pretty easily, luckily I remembered to cut it on the straight of grain. A trip to the post office finished the last of the Nocturnal quilts. I finished up the Noel quilt top too, and pulled out a bunch of other fabric collections which need to be made into tops. I got the Liberty fabric star quilt on the frame yesterday and I am quilting a dogwood panto on it. The pink thread shows up nicely, it’s a relatively dense pattern but it breaks up the white patches nicely. Then I had the urge to start a Bonnie Hunter designed quilt. It’s called Morning Glories, all paper foundation pieced, and very scrappy. There are over 750 – 2″x 4″ pieces of green needed. I printed out enough papers for eight blocks, I”m trying out some newsprint paper for this. It went through the printer well, and is a bit less expensive than regular paper, and much less that the specialty papers from Carol Doack.

After much self debating, I traded in my 790+ for the 790pro. I am really pleased with it, although it looks almost the same, it sews and computes a step up from the plus. I really like the laser at the needle point, it shows exactly where the needle will pierce the fabric. Very much like the add-on laser I have on my longarm machine. The touch screen is a bit bigger and the processor seems a little faster. It’s got WiFi too, so you can monitor it on your phone, while in another room. I don’t know if I would ever trust a machine to embroider while unattended. I’ve had too many messes to fix when I have “stepped away”, maybe it’ll work for bathroom breaks lol. I have to try out the embroidery unit soon, I just don’t have anything to stitch out.

All in all a productive first week in October. PIQF is coming up next week I may go on Friday, if I go alone, I’l shop the market, but if I drag along a non-quilty friend, I won’t be tempted.

Be Kind.

I have been getting better these past few days. Yesterday I didn’t have to nap, but I only did one strenuous (getting the trash ready for pick up, lol) activity. I spent a few hours watching the long arm do its thing, I only have one and a half more rows to finish that quilt. I would really like to have it packed up and out of here on Monday. I took a look at the commissioned quilt, the vintage appliqué quilt. I need to do some hand work, to fix the wave-y border, and figure out how to make a tuck in the backing look okay. The borders were not too wavy, but I ended up with about an inch or too extra in length on the long sides. Much steaming and manipulating of the fabric was done to alleviate it, but I still need to do a bit of fold and sew at the seam line. The backing was a bit wonky too, the maker had started to hand quilt the center of this top. It was basted to the backing, however the backing wasn’t square, causing a little difficulty in getting it to be on the frame straight/true. I had a few hours of struggle there, but I think I am going to have to leave the tuck.

I got another motif done on the Consider the Lillies piece. I won’t be finished with the page by tomorrow though. Page two is going to bleed into three, no biggie. I worked a bit on the “gathering Snowflakes” small. I am thinking if I finish this one, I’ll start on a halloween one, the “Hocus Pocus” one I kitted up last year. I was remembering that I have a few Halloween things to make, last year I was intent on finishing the All Hallows Fig Tree sampler quilt. I have it hung up and on display already.

I was looking for something to start in the sewing room, and came across a kit I bought a few years ago. It’s a wall hanging, but it is made from two panels and some yardage of the same fabric line. I opened it up and got started. I realized that it wasn’t a full kit for this project. There are a few half yards of fabric, and the two panels, but not the variety that is called for in the pattern. Good thing I have a stash of Christmas prints, I was able to augment the kit and get a similar look to the mix of fabrics in the picture. I got the N done and will finish up on the O today.

I may venture out to the Sewing Machine store. I have to pick up a foot I ordered for my serger, its for making curved seams. I want to talk to them about trading in my 790 plus for the 790 pro. They have a promotion going on, that will give 25% off with a trade in. I am hoping to get to trade in the plus, it’s worth a bit more than that though. Maybe see about 0% financing and such. Although I don’t “need” a new machine, there are quite a few features that would make sewing more enjoyable.

Be Kind.

We returned from our vacation last Sunday. I was ready to start and finish some things I needed to do. I even made a list while sitting on the plane. All the things I wanted to do while I was doing vacationing things. I got home and set about doing laundry, catching up on all the mail/bills, restocking the fridge, getting back to life/reality. Then Monday night, I crashed, figured it was the nine hour time difference catching up. Next morning I was still lagging, I started thinking “what if one of the thousands of people I had been exposed to…” . Yeah, lucky me, I caught the covid virus during the last few days of vacation. I’m pretty sure it was when we were in Naples, we took a street food tour, and were walking through crowds of people. All I was hoping for was a pizza, which I didn’t get 😦

Nine days later, I’m getting started on that list again. I got two rows of quilting done on the last Nocturnal quilt. I chose the stars pattern because it stitches out fairly quickly, no back tracking.

I am working on the little winter birds cross stitch. I took this along on vacation, but didn’t get to stitch much. I worked on it more last week in between naps.

I put a few hours in at the Consider the Lillies piece. I finished the first page, and am starting the second page to the right. I really wanted to stitch the horse, but it is on the page below the first, which I don’t have printed yet.

I finished off the two floral animals quilt tops I started before I left. These are from the Mia Charro line I have a bunch of fabric from. I also started two more tops with the dog and cat versions of this line. The cats are interspaced with Kona solids, the dogs, I found this denim looking print in the stash. I have not decided if I want to use some more color or the complimentary red print.

Once I get this posted, I’ll try to get another two rows quilted and maybe square up the commission quilt I need to finish. That involves a bit of crawling around on the floor, which may or may not be to strenuous for me today. Sorry to admit that.

Be Kind.

In a few short weeks we will be vacationing in Italy. My first time there, and I’m excited to see the lands and eat the foods, maybe meet some of the peoples. I have been trying to get as much done on projects with deadlines as I can. While also getting my house in shape for a live-in caretaker while we are away. Cleaning or crafting, hmm, which do I want to do more?

The last Nocturnal quilt top is complete, and I pieced the backing yesterday, so it is all ready to go on to the frame once I finish the vintage appliqué quilt. That quilt it going along pretty well, so far. I started the computerized designs in the borders yesterday. I got the left long border done and most of the inner sashes are done too. Today I want to work on the blocks, so more free hand and ruler work.

On the cross stitch front, I am making progress on the Consider the Lillies piece. Although, the past two nights I have been trying to finish the small I started in April, Gathering Stitches. It’s a one color piece on Aida 18 ct (I think). I was working on the second bird last night, I think I must have ripped out 25% of the stitches I made and re-did them. In future I will try not to stitch with two threads, especially on smaller count fabrics. I am thinking of starting the Blue Flower design I have kitted up, called Huckleberry Farm. It is sort of a medium sized piece, 14 x 13 inches, in between the giant CtheL and the smalls.

Things I want to start or work on once I’m back:

1. Swordfish Quilt – Judy Neimeyer paper pieced giant quilt
2. Huckleberry Farm
3. Message in a bottle BOM
4. Quilting on Reunion
5. Quilting on a Ribbon runs through
6. Idea for handkerchief quilt

Be Kind.