May Finishes and a $100 block

Today is the last day of May.  The Middle Minion had his last day of school yesterday with an ice cream party.  Being the last day of May it is also the day to link up with Carrie at a Passion for Applique' and the Nothing but UFO for 2013 Linky Party.

My goals for May were light.  My parents visited until the 14th and I started working a part time job.

1.  Teach my mother how to do a star block.  Using the Rapid Fire LeMoyne Star

I followed the directions and made the LeMoyne Star.

Not the star she wanted.  So I kept messing around and made this:

Then I showed my mother how to make it and she ended up with this beautiful table runner.

I am so proud of her.  She has quilted for a few years, but she had never made a quilt with a triangle in it let alone a diamond.  It turned out so cute, and then she FMQ it on her own machine.  Gigantic Shout Out to my MOM!

So I did manage to accomplish this goal.

2.  I am going to make a couple of Kanzashi Flowers.  I made 4 to be exact.  Two large, two small.

3.  Sandwich the Ginger Rose-  That will get done today since yesterday I pieced the back.

Update---I finished piecing the batting and pin basted the quilt together.  Now for some FMQ!

For extra measure this month I made this cute little coin purse for my MIL for Mother's Day.

I made a small sewing pouch and pop up thread catcher for my mother, and a thread catcher for my sister too.

And I finished the Hugs and Kisses quilt top from Christa's Quilt A Long.  I had this wild idea for the back and I will show more when I am finished.

Now for the $100 block.  If you see my post Sultry Thursday in May? I had started to make paper pieced letters for the back of the quilt which will be the grand daughter's name.  I had a couple of problems at first, but read, and watched a couple of tutorials and banged out 4 in an afternoon.  (OK no one ever accused me of being fast.)  While working on replacing the hard drive on my computer which meant reinstalling the operating system, all the drivers, anti virus, programs I use all the time I thought I would work on the next letter which was an S.

Lets just say that the computer was up and running before the S was done.  I took it apart so many times and when I got it to this point.  I decided good enough.  I love the little pink and white flower material in it, I just had a little piece of it maybe 10 X 12 inches.  I think it may have been a lawn it was so soft and delicate, so I did not want to scrap it and start again.

With sadness we will bid the month of May 2013 adieu.  The end of the school year is coming up and the boys will be moving to the summer house.

Sultry Thursday in May?

I know the rest of the country has been having abnormal weather, and here in Michigan.  It is hot, and sultry.  I hate to turn on the air conditioner already so I am up early in the morning, open the windows, turn on the ceiling fans trying to get the cool air circulating.  If it is hot and humid in May what is the rest of the summer going to be like?

Because it is hot though I am avoiding the barn to pin baste my quilt obviously because yesterday I finished piecing the backing fabric for the Ginger Rose.

Yet it is sitting on the sunroom couch.  I got distracted when I received my stash enhancement for the back of my hugs and kisses quilt.

The houndstooth will be the back, and the pink grunge will be the binding when I get there.  Then I decided I wanted to add a bit to the back so I started these.

Yes my first real foray into paper piecing.  I received these lovely alphabet (upper and lower case) and signs and numbers from Kristy at Quiet play  when I won a give away a couple of months ago.   The few times I have attempted paper piecing it has been a disaster, but these were relatively simple.  If you would like some of your own, the patterns are called Just My Type and the store on Etsy is QuietPlay.  She has some wonderful patterns. 

OK I have to fix my computer and I have a bunch more letters to finish maybe this evening I will have DH move tables down to the barn floor and work on my quilt instead of being in the loft. 

Happy Thursday and stay cool!

Hugs and Kisses on a Stormy Tuesday

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  I didn't get much sewing but I did get a lot of other stuff done.

Friday night took the MIL to go and pick up a new loveseat and recliner, which meant that we had to remove the old couch, then rearrange her living room several times to get everything to fit.  Guess what came home and has taken up residence in the sun room?

Saturday DH worked on my car and I attempted to help him by mowing the lots, and playscape area.  Zero turn mower and me not a good combination but it has to be done at least once a week if not twice, and 3+ acres is a lot to mow. After my mowing fiasco I weeded one flower bed, and the day was pretty much finished.

Sunday I weeded the front hedge, then DH and I put down a new layer of mulch around the front edge after edging it really well, tilled the orchard, and the berry patch, took up a cement slab, and put down compost, removed buckets of river rock, and I started working on firewood for the winter. 

Monday we dug up all the sod for where the pool will go, then went to the movies to see Iron Man 3.  Then the rain came. It is supposed to be in the mid 80's and rainy and so far it has not disappointed today.  Thank goodness for the rain though.  It means I can work inside and not feel guilty.

I got the borders on my Hugs and Kisses Quilt from Christa's Quilt A Long.

Now I am waiting for my stash enhancement (the backing, and binding fabric which I ordered for this quilt).

I also figured out how to fix my Ginger Rose I am going to make some scrappy mountains I think I have more than enough scraps to make strips large enough to go and make the backing large enough. 

 I am also working on getting my computer fixed.  Now I need a new hard drive.  Luckily my computer has an extended warranty.  Unfortunately they sent a new hard drive, but no CD's to download the operating system or anything else.  LOL  So I will be waiting for that now. 

What are you working on this beautiful Tuesday?

Measure Twice Cut Once

When I originally started making the Ginger Rose Quilt the finished size was about the size of a full size bed.  DH wanted it larger. 

So I found some fabric and ordered it and made it larger.  88 X 108

When I first started making this quilt I purchased 7 yards of the fabric line for backing. 

 The backing I originally ordered would have fit the original size of the quilt.  Not anymore.  And to add to it.  I knew I was going to  have to piece it to fit.  Well I am now going to have to piece it even more, and add some kind of scrappy goodness to the back to make it work.  Why?  

I decided that if I took 96 inches I could piece two of those and a portion of another maybe with a bit of scrappy blocks to make it 114 inches long. I measured, and cut, and discovered I cut my fabric into three 72 inch lengths and after I took the selvedges off it is only about 42 inches wide.  I also have 1 more yard left.....If I calculated correctly I need to figure out something which is approximately 8 inches wide and about 100 inches long.  I think I may be able to scavenge enough scraps of the quilt from my stash to do it.

On a more happier note.  My computer is kind of fixed.  Needs a new hard drive, but that means that I am going to have to change out the old one, and lose some things that I really love to have like Microsoft Office more than likely.  Everything else has been backed up on my external drive.  Since I haven't had a computer I did finish getting my Hugs and Kisses quilt pieced together and I am working on the borders now.  Ordered fabric today for the backing, and binding, and I have a special little girl in mind for this one as a gift.  

It is all red, pink, green and brown hearts, polka dots, stripes yumminess.  

So after my faux pas so much for my plan to pin baste the ginger rose this weekend.  Enjoy the holiday weekend and stay safe.

I've Seen Better Days

To quote the group Sublime "I've seen better days."

Started working new part time job.  Not too bad.
Birthday party for the youngest granddaughter this weekend.
Got the garden in.  Thanks to DH we have 20 tomato plants going to make tons of spaghetti sauce, and Tomato Basil soup this year.
My computer died.  I am using DH computer to just make a post but it doesn't have any way to put pictures on or anything else....and it is his computer so while I could use my phone and download them to his computer,  I don't want to add  my stuff.  The tech is supposed to call me and come out and replace my mother board, fan, fan sink, so hopefully by the end of the week I will be up and running, and blogging.

But for now I am doing a lot of sewing.  Happy Monday everyone.  

Frantic Friday

I surrender I am tired and it is only Friday.  My mom decided we had to have mother's day dinner at our house for the whole family which is about 30 were invited.  So yet another trip to the grocery store......I have a bathroom to clean, a dining room to clean, family room, and some major picking up to do.

Anyway I wanted to show my mother's progress with her star blocks.  She made 3 for a table runner, averaging one a day.  The first one she worked so hard on she didn't finish sewing until almost 9 pm our time but she was determined to finish her first star.  She then snapped pictures and promptly sent them on her cell phone to the quilt ladies she meets with once a week to sew. 

What did I do this week?

I made a zippered pouch and matching thread catcher for my mom.

And a coin purse for my MIL she wanted one to match her purse she purchased at the senior center a couple of weeks ago.

I didn't do much else this week.  I did experiment and make a banana cake with whipped cream frosting.  It was a hit.  Today I am making a lemon meringue pie for my dad.

Maybe next week I will get more sewing done. 

Terrible Tuesdays

I have been so busy with my parents visiting, the husband being home for a week of vacation, and the little men life seems like a whirl at times. 

Mom wanted to make this pattern.

She brought a Rapid Fire LeMoyne Star ruler.  Unfortunately it did not make anything bigger.  I kept messing around, found a template, colored it in for my pattern.  Then cut strips and ended up with this when it was all said and done.

This is my finished and squared up block.  I think I may make a pillow out of it, but then I would love to play with it and quilt it a bit too.  I am very excited about the fact that I figured this out, my points are pretty and everything is laying flat.  I think I see a Lonestar quilt in my future.

I have been walking my mom through step by step today, and writing up a tutorial for her including pictures.  This is what she has so far.  I am so proud of her.  Not bad for a woman who has never made a quilt with a triangle in it even.  :)

Pretty nifty. 

As for a terrible Tuesday, the middle grandson was told he was going to get a new swing set a couple of weeks.  The play fort started out at this house for DH daughters, went to his sisters for the nieces, came back here, went to the Bestie's house for his grandson, and then to the Bestie's neighbor for his daughters.  We were asked to pick it up as soon as the weather got a bit better for our grand kids.  In the meantime this killer corkscrew slide has made an appearance, which really upped the ante to the grandsons.  We went to check the play structure out and unfortunately the Bestie's neighbor when taking it down broke it so there are only a few pieces which are salvageable, the rest is going to be firewood.  Which meant that we were going to have to build a whole new structure.  The Middle grandson went to school today and was thoroughly discouraged when he came home to discover it was not done yet.  His day progressed to get worse when he tried to open the storm door and ripped it off the house.  Oh well, DH and my dad fixed the screen, and tomorrow the guys will be back to work at the play structure.  Can't wait until it is done.  So far, elevated lookout fort, and sandbox are done.  Now to put the railings, and go and retrieve the teeter totter, and swings, and yet another slide.  So in the mind of a 4 year old a terrible Tuesday.  In the mind of a 40 something year old, I thought we had a pretty good day. 

Seis De Mayo

It is May 6 already and it has been busy.

I made a couple of Kanzashi flowers from the flower makers which turned out pretty cute.  I have made 3 so far I want to make a couple more.

This weekend was the community garage sale, and the Historical Society's Flea Market.  Saturday my mom and I snuck away and went to St Andrews Piecemaker's 10th annual Quilt show in Dexter, Michigan.  Unfortunately this is their last year for the show, too much work anymore.

These are just a few of the 80+ quilts which were on display.  They were all either made by the piecemakers or part of their collections. Unfortunately all of the quilts were draped over the pews so they were difficult to see at times and get a good idea of  how good the quilting was. 

After the quilt show we went to my favorite "local" quilt shop, The Quilt Patch in Tecumseh, Michigan and made a few purchases.

 

Sunday was the big sale day, it is the one day the Flea Market is running, and the Flat Rock Speedway is set up with vendors on the track, the midfield, and the pit areas with everything imaginable.  I saw a couple of Featherweights with cases $225, and $275.  I didn't want them that bad.  I did find something I did want a puzzle box.

This little box came with the original singer treadles and held all the different attachments, feet, and other accoutrements.

Yes there is a mess inside, but someday I will sit down and straighten it all out.

Then DH spotted this little beauty.

This is a Singer 128 Blackside.  See the crinkly black finish, the faceplate is black, the throat plate is black, and she should be a knee operated machine, the little hole in the front of the box would be where her kneebar fit.  Unfortunately the seller had misplaced the kneebar.  From what I understand just being a blackside makes her valuable to collectors.  I am sure I will find a kneebar in my wanderings soon so I am not too concerned.

This is the other beauty we found.

She is a Franklin which if I understand correctly was made by White.  I think at one time she may have been either a motorized, or hand crank.  She has beautiful decals though.  She needs some cleaning definitely.

My other acquisition was a big gallon bag stuffed full of fabric.  They appear to be many vintage fabrics and scraps.  Not bad for $6.00. These will be fun to use in my Farmer's Wife, and Quilty Barn Along.

Well I am going to go work out how to make the star my mother wants.  Happy Monday everyone!

Merry, Merry Month of May

It has been a whirlwind around here.  What is going on?
The weather had been nice so lawn mowing, weed pulling, and garden planning. 
My parents are visiting for 2 weeks.
We went to the 37th Annual Quilt Show at Sauder Village and saw some eye candy.  Sorry I am not a picture taker but use the link to see some of the winners.
This weekend is the big yard sale, and Flat Rock Historical Society Rummage sale.  As usual we will have a booth to get rid of some of our accumulated junk that we can now live without. 

I also finally got a job.  Waiting for a schedule and it is only part time so I am going to pare back my goals.

1.  Teach my mother how to do a star block.  Using the Rapid Fire LeMoyne Star

She wants to do this block. 

Unfortunately her ruler will not do this.

This is my first attempt at learning to do the block with the Rapid Fire LeMoyne Star Ruler.

I am going to say that if you are making LeMoyne Stars that the ruler works really well.  I had pretty points and all, and no Y seams.

2.  I am going to make a couple of Kanzashi Flowers.   My mother said she was at a sale and they were welling them for $25 each!  I just wanted to make a couple to see if I can do it.  I think they would be cute for my grand daughters since my daughter puts those headbands with the huge flowers on my grand daughters Addy, and Emma all the time.  (Shhhh don't tell we call them brain squeezers!)

3.  Sandwich and start quilting my Ginger Rose Quilt.  When I start quilting I seem to hum along quite fast especially if I have a quilting idea. 

I would like to work on my jewel box blocks, country charmer, and farmer's wife blocks, mystery quilt, and the old flying geese wings to finish trimming but I am not going to be overly hard on myself at this time.  I have my Christmas Stocking cuffs to cross stitch.  I do need to choose the next UFO in my pile to finish.  Maybe an old BOM from Ben Franklin Crafts which is about 20 years old? 

The good weather in Michigan seems to be so short that when it is nice, time to be outside. 

I am going to link up with the nothing but UFO for 2013 at A Passion for Applique'.