Update on Projects

In between a Victorian Christmas dinner and burning my hand pretty badly, I managed to get some work in on my to do list of projects.  Most of my every day sewing takes place at my dinning room table.  Due to the large Christmas dinner, I had to clean off the table.  This actually allowed me to sort out and prioritize things a bit!

The Month Two Project from Scrap Tamers

Yes, technically month two got done before month one.  Month one is just waiting on hand stitching the binding and it is actually over halfway done. 

The month two project is based on two different nine-patch blocks that are then alternated to create other patterns.  The project can be done in just about any size.

Block one is a fairly simple nine-patch using squares and half square triangles

Block two is more complicated.

I had a piece of bright orange fabric in my stash.  I picked it up at a Mill end and had no idea what do to with it.  It’s metallic – almost – and has a bit of a coating.  I figured that it wouldn’t make a good bed quilt fabric, but a table topper would work.  Since I was already going overboard with bright orange, I matched it with several other bright fabrics and came up with this.

As you can see, Bronx approves.

Mariner’s Compass blocks

I’m moving forward, just showing some pictures.  These were taken quickly, late at night.  The colors are NOT correct.  The blocks are purples and greens, not pinks and brown/tans.

Should be a purple - lavender background.

Grey green background....

Purses, Hardware and My To-Do List

Bear with me… I have some things to discuss, and this is going to be a bit of a long, disjointed blog ramble.

Subject 1 – Purse Hardware

I went to see my son last weekend.  He lives in North Carolina, in the country, and is very much a “redneck”.  He calls himself that, so I can!  He hunts, fishes, works as a welder and drives a beat up pickup truck which is also used to haul home deer and other game.  His house is 1 ½ hour drive from the “big” city that has an airport with FOUR gates.  When he lived at home, he was also the child who showed the second most interest in my sewing/crafting hobbies.  However, his interest was to make useful things rather than decorative.

Anyway, he picked me up in said beat up pickup truck he told me that since he’d driven to town, he’d had to stop at the local Joann’s.  He showed me his purchase and complained about the price.  He is making duck call lanyards. 

I find that to be immensely creative.  Apparently he’s sold quite a few of them and has orders for more.  His initial materials stash was partially gifted to him and partially re-used items.  The cording is from a large spool (hundreds, if not thousands of yards) of Army green cord that is something like parachute cord – it was left over Army supply.  Each lanyard has 3 or 5 loops on it in which you can secure a duck call with a cord lock.  The cord locks he was using were cut from discarded Army clothing.  However, he’d run out and stopped at the Joann’s to buy some.  They were $2.50 for two and he was upset.

I felt his pain.  When I made the professional tote bags, I too had to buy cord locks.  I waited until the last moment to get them and didn’t have much choice.  I bought the same 2 for 2.50 at Joann (black) and spent a similar amount for two white ones at a quilt shop.  I plan on making more bags – both the professional tote and other pieces – that use cord locks.  Since he needed some – and needed them cheaper than $6.75 in materials per lanyard – and since I wanted a stash, I figured that I could find some site on the internet where I could either get them in bulk or use my whole sale tax ID number.

My son is making these lanyards to get a little spending money.  I’m not the type of parent who hands over cash/pays bills for their children.  I really, really like that he’s trying to earn a little extra – especially since he’s encroaching upon my territory and involving thread craft and accessories that I would buy.  I really believe in a hand up, not a hand out.  This was perfect!  I could gift my son with something for Christmas, something that he would use, from a shop that I would also buy something!!  Every artistic mother’s dream fulfilled – crafting/creating alongside one’s child!!!

I found a wonderful site!  Strapworks.com. I spent $50 with shipping and bought hundreds! They have many different colors and many shapes.

The larger barrel cord locks are what he needed.  They are also the kind I used on my two professional totes.  The cost per unit was $0.25 and $0.35 depending upon exact size and shape.  I only have the $0.35 pictured here; the $0.25 ones are more cylindrical versus the bowling pin shape.  The smaller circle ones are only $0.05 apiece but are definitely far lesser quality.  I will be using those for light weight projects where the cord lock does not get much use.  They would be really good on American girl doll clothes and small accessories.  The pretty colored ones pictured here are for me – his are black, Army green (hunting green) and grey.  I got orange, lilac, lavender, fuchsia and mint green!

Another thing that I purchase for purses are D-rings and snap hooks.  The craft stores have many choices – silver and gold.  Quilt shops and other online stores have a few more – brass, old fashioned brass, polished and dull silver.  Yes, I’m being sarcastic.  Strapworks has MANY colors – anodized onto the metal.  I was unsure of sizing; the craft stores and quilt shops basically carry one, maybe two sizes.  Since I wanted to make a quick order to get my son a bunch of what he needed first, I just picked out a couple of the metal accessories in different sizes and colors.  I plan on making another bulk purchase in the next month or so.  Before doing so, I’m going to take their catalogue and my samples to my quilt groups and see if anyone else wants anything.  

Subject 2 – Lollipop Bag

I took another class at Bear Patch.  I can’t remember the teacher’s name.  This bag is a Terry Atkinson pattern.  I’m really beginning to love her patterns.  They are well done, directions are good, and she’s from here!

I was traveling so much, and not home during Nov/Dec, that I FORGOT about the class.  Mid day through work, I noticed it on my calendar!!!  Good thing that I synch my work and personal calendars!  (Side note:  I use Google calendar so that my hubby can view from anywhere as well and I “invite” my work email address to classes and things.  That puts the event on my work calendar as well, and synchs any updates I make).  So, instead of planning out what the purse was going to be, etc., etc., I ran home and grabbed up a bunch of larger left over pieces from recent projects.  I made one complete purse at the class and cut out several others.

That action turned out very well.  First, it helped me keep with my determination to “buy little – use stash”.  Second, I used fabrics the coordinated very well with the flowers that I made on vacation (see this post).  The pattern has a flower included in it, but it didn’t impress me.  I really like the look that my pin back orchids have on the purse.

I was not, however, happy with the pattern dictated purse hardware.  I thought that the D ring and snap hook were just too heavy and bulky for a small bag like this.  I made subsequent purses with the D ring only.  However, now that I have discovered strapworks and their many sizes of D rings and snap hooks – I think that I will make more with the small size. 

I made four of the batik purses.  The one with the rounder flowed and the full hardware is the first one made and will be for me.  One with an orchid was given to my daughter in law when I was down seeing my son.  When I was making the three subsequent batik ones, I was at a sewing day at a quilt shop and discovered that I did not have an appropriate topstitching thread for the little triangles on the front.  I could have bought thread there, but I have so much at home.  Instead, I decided to use those decorative stitches – of which I have MANY and I hardly use – to create a unique look on each purse.  

The two brighter ones are made with leftovers from one of my professional totes.  You will notice that I did NOT do the triangles on them.  I felt that the fabric was too busy for something like that.  I also don’t think that flowers are appropriate on them.  When I have a little time this weekend, I’m going to dig through my button boxes.  A few years back, I bought a ton of big, bright buttons from a children’s clothing designer that was going out of business.  I seem to recall that I have some 2 inch or so green and pink buttons in odd shapes.

Subject 2 – I Am Behind on All Projects!!

If I post my to do list here in this blog – I will feel more obligated to catch up!  Right?

From Thanksgiving until now, most quilting has been put aside.  I spent the end of November on vacation, and my December days have been split between work and traveling around the country to see my children.  I’ve only had two non-work days at home since November 20 and my projects have been the item that suffered.  One of those two days was spent at Glad Creations making the purses listed above and getting about halfway caught up on my Twin Cities Quilting block of the month.

It’s now Christmas, and I have a four day weekend this week, a four day weekend next week, and NO PLANS to travel or do anything else.  January will see me taking another one week vacation that involves a plane trip.  However, this time will not be the quilting wasteland that other plane trips have involved.  I don’t take many projects with on vacation because checking bags costs and my carryon just doesn’t have the space.

I gave in.  I got the Delta perks American Express card.  I can check a bag for free and so can my hubby.  We travel light generally, so the extra space can go to some projects.  I won’t be taking a sewing machine, but I will be taking all the cutting, trimming, binding, etc., that I want to catch up on.

So, below is the list.  I WILL get this done by end of January.  Note that I do NOT list laying out, pinning, quilting or binding for most of the pieces.  Due smaller rooms and no carpeting in my house, I save my laying out for quilt retreats.   

Mariner’s Compass quilt

·         Design layout

·         Print all blocks

·         Cut out/prep all pieces for blocks

·         Assemble blocks

·         Cut sashing pieces

·         Assemble quilt

Here’s a rendering of the design for the Mariner’s compass quilt.  If you remember from this post, I will be making different sized blocks.  The squares are the different blocks and the odd sized pieces will be sashing/filler fabric that coordinates. 

Curved Piece quilt

·         Finish cutting blocks

·         Assemble blocks

·         Layout quilt/arrange blocks

Block of the Month – TCQ

·         Frame 8 inch blocks

·         Make current blocks

·         Determine layout

·         Decide on other blocks to complete layout

·         Make additional blocks (I have PLENTY of fabric for that!!)

·         Assemble quilt

Scrap Tamers

If you recall, besides being a mystery for the year, Scrap Tamers is also a Marti Mitchell club and hands out a pattern each month.  I am doing a piece from those patterns each month, and can ONLY use existing, on hand fabrics, thread, backing, batting, etc.  These are small pieces, so I have to quilt and bind too.

·         Month 1 – Bali Runner (can’t remember rest of name)

o   Finish binding

·         Month 1 clue

·         Month 2 – (can’t remember name at all)

o   Finish binding

·         Month 2 clue

·         Month 3 – Seven sisters baby quilt

o   Determine layout

o   Cut out any additional blocks needed (most are already cut)

o   Assemble blocks

o   Assemble quilt

·         Month 3 clue

·         Month four – just got, haven’t looked at

o   Determine project

o   Cut out blocks

o   Assemble blocks

o   Assemble quilt

·         Month 4 clue

Block of the Month – Fat Quarter Quilt shop, paper piecing

Due to the absolute incompetence of this shop and this program (see this post), I have determined that I will not be completing this block of the month program.  I bought the book, paid for the program, completed block one and paid for the kit for block two.  I really like the book – that’s the one saving grace.  However, the blocks and fabrics don’t thrill me.  I think I’ll cut up the fabric from block kit two for my rolls of 1 ½ - 4 inch fabrics (used in scrap quilts) and frame up block one to make a small table topper.  It can go to a church auction or something.

Contest entry

See here for the “test” quilt I made for the contest.  The contest is a challenge; I can use black, white, black and white and a green fabric.

·         Determine color scheme

·         Organize fabrics

·         Cut fabrics

·         Piece blocks

·         Assemble blocks