Showing posts with label Postcard From Hawaii quilt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Postcard From Hawaii quilt. Show all posts

Friday, August 17, 2012

cutting snow ~

 
 
While cutting the 20 continuous strips of 'Snow' I was wondering if I would have enough after trimming the selvedge and sewing the strips together. Well I am here to report that I was 3" short of having strip #9 and am now in the process of piecing together more strips to have #10 as well. 

I went to a meeting of the San Diego Modern Quilt guild a couple of weeks ago and they are having a 'Sewing Day' at a local fabric shop. Great group of ladies with amazing talent. I do not categorize myself as a modern quilter, as I am always drawn to antiques and the older patterns in quilting, so maybe they will rub off on me and I will have some more 'squirrel' moments. One of the quilters in the group gave a demo on paper piecing and it seems especially useful when you are designing your own quilt with lots of pieces and curves.

I will be bringing my 'Postcards' quilt and see how much I can get done ~ so Maybe Monday indeed, then I am off fabric restriction.

Happy Friday

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

oodles of fabric

 
I have been piecing together strip after strip of Kona cotton 'snow' for the sashing strips. They are ironed and draped nicely over some sort of hanger thingy. Now to make the cuts, stitch them to the postcards and finish the quilt top. Hopefully I have made the correct measurements ~ we will see

Maybe Monday?

Friday, August 10, 2012

Finishing Friday ~


Two more strips to go. I brought my darling husband into the room and showed him my progress. I stated, 'almost done with the top', he laughed and said I have alot more work. I have the sashing strips and the borders to cut and sew. But I can already see the quilt. You see, to explain, I have been put on restriction from purchasing fabric till the top is completed. It does give me a great incentive and it is all said in fun! He is hoping that the quilt will be completed for this coming winter. Which gives me extra time because the winter does not come around here till December or January.

I have some bread to bake this morning. First is a delicious white bread. I plan to bake one and freeze the dough for the other for a later time.  I forgot to read through all the directions and mixed ingredients a step or two before they were supposed to be blended together. It has been some time since I had made this recipe. 
 
This is the sponge and biga for Mr Reinharts transitional whole wheat bread. I noticed on 'Craftsy' that he is offering a class on bread making. That might be a great way to learn homemaking skills. The internet is so great. It is how I got started on quilting and garment sewing.


And last but not least, the Ferris Wheel quilt. I am tracing and cutting one shape a day. Hopefully this quilt will be for a little girl for Christmas.

 The scraps are from another quilt that has yet to be stitched up. It is a big project that will have to wait till after Christmas. All I can say now, is that it will be for certain somebodies as a graduation gift.
This is our first weekend that is not jam packed with 'places to go and things to do'. Just a little quilting and puttering.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Words ~

progress~
organizing ~
Anthropologie & Renaissance Ribbons
 new trim for a new hat ~
small pieces for Ferris Wheel quilt ~
a cake for the last of the celebrations ~
Red Velvet with cream cheese frosting ~


 Wednesday's are wordless on many blogs so I thought I would break the unwritten rules  ~
A few thoughts on how I get things done. I do have chores like the house, the animals both furry and two-legged and meals to prepare. So I make a plan and route, everyday, to save on gas and to maximize my time for the things I want to do. Then if I am a good girl.... I sew, stitch or knit then I go and get a few things done then back to the stitching, ironing and assembling...and so forth. A little reward system tailored for me.  I find that this prevents burn out and makes projects like cleaning the house or making a quilt more manageable and doable. If I like what I am doing I have joy and the 'thing' that I am spending time doing is much more enjoyable too. Yes, even housework.

By way of an apology...My dear mother-in-law once told me that 'you should not begin the next meal without cleaning up after the first'. I probably had dishes in the sink from the previous day. She had shared this little helpful tip that her mother or grandmother once told her. But it came at a time that I was overwhelmed, still trying to find my way as a mother, wife and human. I had 5 children ages 5 and under and I was a little annoyed for her sharing this with me. I could barely have a thought to myself or shower each day. But now, as time has passed and the children are older I do see the wisdom. So many apologies for all the mean thoughts I had at the time and I give everyone permission, to be kind to yourself. We can only do so much each day.

Recently our dish washer broke and not wanting to spend the money to fix it we have gone retro and are now hand washing everything. At first it was a chore, now we all congregate in our narrow kitchen, there are many hands washing, drying or putting away and a whole lot of talking & sharing. The other day I was washing the dishes and having some quiet time and no kidding, one of my teenage daughters came into the kitchen, started telling me about her day and helped with the cleaning. I do not know why I like that so much. It's the small things really!

So today I will take a daughter to school, come home and clean a room, sew, iron and hang pieces of the quilt, wipe down the counters in the kitchen, cut small pieces of the Ferris Wheel quilt, go grocery shopping, pick up daughter and make a fabulous meal. Well that is the plan for now until something else comes up that needs my attention.

A little bit each day

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

More quilts ~

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3-d
 
More quilts from the Long Beach International Quilt Festival.  When possible I took a picture of the description. Such talent and inspiration!


I began cutting fabric for a larger 'Postcards from Hawaii' quilt from the stash I brought back from Kauai. A little bit everyday, eleven different fabrics with 23 to go. So in total I will be cutting 121 postcards, 110 sash posts and then sashing strips. Hopefully this quilt will fit our bed.