10.30.14

I'm finding myself following more quilting blogs.  One recent discovery is s.o.t.a.k.handmade where she is featuring a Bloggers Quilt Festival.  If I can figure out how to do this right I will be entering 2 of my quilts. Head on over to Amy's Creative Side, to see the home machine quilted category and for the scrappy quilts category take a look here.  Voting begins on November 11th.

Here is quilt entered into The Scrappy Quilts Category.

I've made several kaleidoscope projects from nap quilts, pillow covers, candle mats and table runners. All from scraps left over from previous quilt projects, clothing projects, thrifted textiles, etc. The back of this quilt and every quilt I make is pieced with larger blocks of fabric, again in a random pattern.  Binding is made from pieced fabrics to continue the randomness of this quilt. The quilting design is a free motion pattern done on my home sewing machine.

This one was entered into The Home Machine Quilted Category.

I call this design "framed square".  I have made I believe 6 of these quilts and find this is one of my favorite designs because I use mainly plaids, homespuns and mini prints in a random pattern while the sashing is a muslin/onasburg.  Yet when photographed this quilt looks very clean and modern. The backside is pieced with larger blocks of fabrics laid out in a random design, binding is also pieced. The quilting design is a free motion pattern done on my home sewing machine.

I think I got these entered correctly, voting begins November 11th. Be sure to look at all the quilts and vote.

10.28.14

the adventure continues...

My Gammill long arm quilter set up was finished yesterday evening and I had my first lesson on a baby sized quilt sample. I did free motion quilting on this test piece since that type of quilting is my most preferred design. Thanks to Mike, who will now be referred to as the "quilt man", for setting up my machine and showing me how to use it.  His calm demeanor, great teaching skills and reassurance that I will pick this up quickly was just what I needed. I'm not going for fancy quilting patterns, just yet, so there was no need for extensive training.  With many years of sewing experience much of what I know already came in handy during my lesson.  

The reason I picked a cute, vintage like, floral print for the top instead of plain muslin was to finish this off with binding and give the quilt to my great niece, Isa, for her baby dolls. 

I used a varigated thread and it looked great on the print side, not distracting from the floral print. The muslin backside really shows off the quilting which I kind of like.

Wouldn't you know, my bobbin ran out of thread last evening just before finishing the quilting and I was too tired to try rethreading the machine once I took the spool off to refill a bobbin. So I turned off the machine and left the project sit unfinished. Early this morning I remembered how I avoid rethreading my sergers by leaving thread in the machine and cutting it near the spool/cone. Once the bobbin was filled I put the cone of thread back on the spindle and tie that to the thread still in the machine and slowly pulling the knotted threads thru all the tension guides; I ended up just having to thread the needle. 

Viola.....it worked on the quilter. 

Shortcuts are fun. 

You can see the quilting in the photo above. Not bad for my very first attempt on a long arm quilter.  I've thought of making several baby size whole cloth quilts to fine tune my long arm quilting skills before I tackle larger quilts.  Who knows, if they turn out to my satisfaction I may even put some in the shop.

My Simple Dreams are coming true. When I bought my home many years ago, when my children were little, I envisioned having the 2 extra bedrooms (once my 3 children grew up and left home) put to good use as a sewing room/studio and the other room as a quilting room. I even replaced the carpet several years ago with wood floors as a step in that direction. Progress.

I have lived in the same town as the Gammill headquarters for over 17 years and have only been in the showroom two times.  The first time was several years ago, to drool over the machines.  The second time was yesterday to purchase needles and bobbins.  They have a nice selection of threads as well.  How convenient to be so close. I'm sure I will be shopping there more often for quilting supplies.

10.25.14

progress...

Life has been an adventure the past 2 months.  My "day job" was eliminated back in August so to survive that stress and the stress of looking for work. I have been sewing.  Then I had another knee surgery. During this time my wood stove was delivered and sat in the front of the living room for some time. A Gammill long arm quilter has been sitting in parts in my dining room since the beginning of September. Still sewing for "therapy".  The wood stove finally got moved, still waiting for the chimney to be attached. That left room in the living room for the quilter to be set up. That project got started this past Friday and should be finished next week.  Here are photos of what my living room now looks like with the behemoth set up. Mind you this is an 8 ft. frame.  They come as long as 14 ft.; but for now I am happy with the 8 ft. frame. 

I do have room for this machine to stay in the living room, at least during the winter.  I may in time move it and convert the dining room into a quilting room and move the dining room furniture to the front of the living room. The frame has casters to move it easily from living to dining room when I am ready. No rush to move it yet. I am eager to learn how to use this machine and make quilting my quilts easier and hopefully take less time.  

I will be sure to take photos of projects on the machine and document my learning process. Just wanted to share the progress around here. 

10.20.14

new day

new project

in the shop.

...wished the mustard color back would

show better, that color is hard

to photograph.

...I like how the stars are muted on the  front patched side 

yet pop on the back side.

10.17.14.

This beautiful sunny day in the Ozarks 

allowed for good photos of the quilt.

Ready to ship.

linked to "finish up Friday" at
crazy mom quilts.

10.16.14

I must say the quilted pillow cover from the previous post, 

has sold.

So has one of the kaleidoscope/star table runner.

I have been working on and finished a framed square nap quilt that will be photographed and listed in the shop hopefully tomorrow.  Be sure to take a look. Once that was washed and dried I started on a tumbling block table runner out of homespun fabrics.  May have that done and in the shop as well tomorrow.  While looking for work I am sewing up a storm to keep my mind from becoming overwhelmed with........life.

The wood burning stove has yet to be set.  The slate tile floor is just about done.  The pieces that needed to be cut were done this evening and they will be set tomorrow.  Then we can install the wood stove. I am really liking how they look like one large stone area since I decided not to grout between the tile.  When the stove is set I'm sure I will be posting photos and showing detail.  So glad we are having warmer temps again.  

Then on to the next project.  The Gammill quilter will be set up and training will be scheduled.  I am looking forward to learning how to use this machine that is still sitting in pieces in my dining room. 

Again, one project at a time.  

10.6.14

kaleidoscope

reversible, 20" x 20" pillow cover

Fall colors

made from

...scraps from pumpkins, 

my daughters Fall wedding decor, 

my ever growing fabric scraps...

 

Today is gloomy and this pillow cover 

did not photograph as well as it should have.

Looks good in my rocking chair.
 Can be found here. 
~ ~ ~

You would never know from this photo
 that my house is in turmoil.

We have removed the inefficient fireplace and

are in the process of installing a

475 lb. wood burning stove.

That behemoth is sitting within inches of 

this rocker. 

Today I taped and mudded the drywall in the corner 
where the wood stove will eventually sit, 
even before going into my sewing room 
to quilt this pillow cover.

My dining room is currently housing a Gammill quilting machine 

waiting to be put together and set up.

To get thru all the mess in my house I rely on 
sewing as my therapy. 
As you can see by recent posts 
I am having lots of "therapy".

10.4.14

kaleidoscope table runners

now in the shop.

10.2.14

FALL SALE - 15% off thru the end of the month.  

Be sure to key in FALLSALE in the coupon code during checkout.
NOTE:: does not apply to shipping.

Pumpkin harvest is winding down for the season...

these are great for decorating the office with a seasonal look; 

beautiful as centerpieces for a Fall wedding; 

great hostess gifts as you visit family and friends; 

bright pumpkins add a touch of whimsy to a nursery or childs room. 

Be sure to check out the final harvest

in the shop