tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279226692024-03-07T14:14:02.124-06:00Pastor's PatchesLauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-89052968148376128622016-03-02T10:27:00.000-06:002016-03-02T10:27:11.703-06:00March State-of-the-Studio ReportI'm always glad to see the first of March. I feel like if nothing else I've accomplished surviving another winter, and that has to count for something. I'm expecting my yard man to show up any day to clear away the winter debris and knock the weeds back. We're supposed to have temperatures in the mid-seventies by the end of the week, and that makes me very happy.<br />
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My studio makes me very happy right now, too, even though I haven't done much in the last couple of days. Some good things happened this month.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51FunP7x0CMgXqtLlEM7n5UHn58rLSHpP-x3XMQAgxr3VOQtmDdMyzshYBmorz4i1TqUxF-MBXKL31QlbqD1Ff6oMAVthTLI_usoseoxv3pUtlXBlOISy2qdUUHJ069L2zRHM9w/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51FunP7x0CMgXqtLlEM7n5UHn58rLSHpP-x3XMQAgxr3VOQtmDdMyzshYBmorz4i1TqUxF-MBXKL31QlbqD1Ff6oMAVthTLI_usoseoxv3pUtlXBlOISy2qdUUHJ069L2zRHM9w/s200/001.JPG" width="150" /></a>First of all, the top of Bennett's quilt is nearly finished. All the pieces have been made and some of it has been "chunked" together. It's a bit wild and crazy, but it's for a toddler, and I hope he has fun looking at all the crazy prints and hunting for elephants that are turned the wrong way. I have high hopes that it will be finished all the way to binding and label by the end of the month. That will make me very happy indeed!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5vO2v75NACdnE9SKZAMBTJbvJC2axmBZGCtxnSmtJ-JOt-ZT2lEHIZdJPYgXXu09egaYnAvZ_2u6eRh4OvCHcWwsWf7NBA-vamacpQkXt3smJ0ck7e1YoHUpb_m0HQQWam5jnA/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5vO2v75NACdnE9SKZAMBTJbvJC2axmBZGCtxnSmtJ-JOt-ZT2lEHIZdJPYgXXu09egaYnAvZ_2u6eRh4OvCHcWwsWf7NBA-vamacpQkXt3smJ0ck7e1YoHUpb_m0HQQWam5jnA/s200/003.JPG" width="200" /></a>The reason I have such high hopes for a finish is that I've been working hard at learning free-motion quilting. Now that Bertie is in residence I was able to set Betsy up for FMQ and leave her that way, and she seems quite content with that. I had bought a Supreme Slider for the bed of the machine, which Leah Day recommends, so that is now installed. I found my gloves with the sticky dots on the fingers and palms and have convinced myself that they are worth wearing, even though I don't like them. I started watching Leah's Craftsy classes. And most importantly, I started practicing. Practicing a lot. That's my pile of practice sandwiches, and they are all filled with stitching. I still have a lot to learn. I'm not good at following a line yet, whether it's travelling back over a line of stitching, or following a line drawn on the fabric. And I can't make a round circle to save my life. But I can't do it with pencil and paper either, so I offer that as an excuse. But my meandering has gotten pretty good, and a couple of the designs from Leah's class look good enough to be seen in public.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoelB70sMXbDJKJvwmtt7eYk7nCaTDEwWZn0lO-vM08w0aHJ5_dLdXf4YjP83xiXzMpoQYzTxFsyNfxCkRibCewPHIFL5SizOCgW6EocRp4a0TILSIu9wN9D4fwU-vnR2xyezOcw/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoelB70sMXbDJKJvwmtt7eYk7nCaTDEwWZn0lO-vM08w0aHJ5_dLdXf4YjP83xiXzMpoQYzTxFsyNfxCkRibCewPHIFL5SizOCgW6EocRp4a0TILSIu9wN9D4fwU-vnR2xyezOcw/s200/002.JPG" width="200" /></a>In fact, I got so enthusiastic about my progress that I got a real quilt out of the "basted and ready to quilt" drawer and started working on it in between practicing on scrap sandwiches. I tried working one block as "stitch in the ditch" and that looked really bad, so I'm in the process of picking that out, and I'm doing a simple sort of flower motif in the pieces blocks. In the rest of the blocks I'm just doing a meander. I'm using black thread in a red and black print, so the stitching can hardly be seen except in the pieced blocks, so there's no point in doing anything fancy. I started by stitching in the ditch between the blocks with my walking foot, so everything is nice and stable. There have been some issues to work out, but I've dealt with them, and I'm satisfied that when I am finished I will have a quilt that I will be willing to send out into the world with my name on it. Since this is the first time I have even tried to FMQ on an actual quilt, this feels like a HUGE accomplishment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4gk0tDSvbFMNAedXAxW79ihjB9JTntlmaRcHpNTkgThhv9sWEtSBji_AZQC1uCLMgYNY5MNt10t0El7JhR-CG2MYLlDeF3VgDQWGjWDf5Zo-o4UI8-01zjamP0l7pWuKPzIeBw/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4gk0tDSvbFMNAedXAxW79ihjB9JTntlmaRcHpNTkgThhv9sWEtSBji_AZQC1uCLMgYNY5MNt10t0El7JhR-CG2MYLlDeF3VgDQWGjWDf5Zo-o4UI8-01zjamP0l7pWuKPzIeBw/s200/004.JPG" width="200" /></a>Other than that, I haven't done a lot. I did clear away the leftovers from Bennett's quilt so I could use the cutting table for other things, and I started cutting Christmas stockings from old jeans. Someone gave me two trash bags full of jeans, and I have hopes of turning them into things that will sell at Christmas Marketplace. But cutting is slow work, especially since my wonky hip limits how long I can stand, so it will be a while before I have anything more than a stack of shapes. I do plan to sew them with the serger, and bought the navy thread so I can do that last week.<br />
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The rest of my accomplishments for February involved yarn. During Lent I work at making blankets out of my leftover scraps, and I already have 3 finished ones in the closet, ready for the next appeal following a natural disaster. I'm also working on things that can be Christmas gifts. And then there are the hats. Lots of hats. Some will go to Arkansas Children's Hospital. Some will be offered for sale at Marketplace. Some are available for donation. I just like making hats. They're small and can be cute or sophisticated, simple or complicated, made from scraps or cashmere. I keep several in a bag that goes with me every time I leave the house. It's what I do.<br />
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<br />Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-76132184918204342832016-02-03T18:28:00.002-06:002016-02-03T18:28:06.139-06:00February State of the Studio ReportI'm happy to say that the studio is looking a lot better than it was a month ago. I can't say I've gotten a lot done, but the room looks more like a working space than a dumping ground, and that's progress. And there's evidence of projects moving forward, and that's good news.<br />
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Let's start with the fact that the rocking chair is empty. It's not piled with things that should be elsewhere but aren't. I put this chair in this room originally with the idea that it would be a comfy place to sit and hand stitch. It's never quite worked out that way, but I have tried to keep it free from clutter. (Let's agree not to talk about the matching love seat, at least not for now.) For most of last year there was a plastic crate of pillowcases on it. Now that has found a new home, and the chair is once again available for seating. This makes me happy.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-8pXL4UwZe4j-wDL3NkRcWDa4lNs3Mqh_MtoJ44itCpWZnpdH9E-ltxfIlOs0wen2Hx9_yUtpIDg9RCX5KHlmhB4J5ocBETET_BGpV6r1cX3Tm_JClv6Mf9ZU0U99IUORCoNjg/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-8pXL4UwZe4j-wDL3NkRcWDa4lNs3Mqh_MtoJ44itCpWZnpdH9E-ltxfIlOs0wen2Hx9_yUtpIDg9RCX5KHlmhB4J5ocBETET_BGpV6r1cX3Tm_JClv6Mf9ZU0U99IUORCoNjg/s200/003.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
The ironing table is free of clutter. This is also a good sign. It means I need the full surface for ironing, which means fabric is being used and projects are being worked on. The cutting table is<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgj7o9fiMHX_NbohcxDKXGVRL8Vyv-krwWKnS3sjuD6UddIHT0Wf6b8vFHKlnAE6_-kWY8leJ_EjKT7yMHj6L7O2cF9tSUSlxCeJrWwxRDLX471T9VGHVG17FqG0FwDa21i7H_w/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgj7o9fiMHX_NbohcxDKXGVRL8Vyv-krwWKnS3sjuD6UddIHT0Wf6b8vFHKlnAE6_-kWY8leJ_EjKT7yMHj6L7O2cF9tSUSlxCeJrWwxRDLX471T9VGHVG17FqG0FwDa21i7H_w/s200/004.JPG" width="200" /></a>also free of clutter; the only fabric on it is stuff I'm using for a current project. Everything else has found a different home, and I actually have room to put the different components that I'm using. It helps that I'm only working on one project right now that involves cutting; that doesn't happen all the time. But I'm liking the amount of space I have to actually work; I may do this more often.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJJP48GE_3hEoKlYV6yJSNZ6_jVgKO9AExW6lZaQk6uxJa1g2x7-aUYpZGk67X0trB1zC5qoxzYTkeGggYv6Oi1aoEQAHVX-TiJ5Hs2OQHUMaheb6qTHnozTSon8-b-KOAYI64w/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJJP48GE_3hEoKlYV6yJSNZ6_jVgKO9AExW6lZaQk6uxJa1g2x7-aUYpZGk67X0trB1zC5qoxzYTkeGggYv6Oi1aoEQAHVX-TiJ5Hs2OQHUMaheb6qTHnozTSon8-b-KOAYI64w/s200/005.JPG" width="200" /></a>The big news of the month of course was the arrival of Bertie. He is proving to be a very capable assistant, and I've been enjoying having him around this past week in particular now that Betsy is set up for free-motion quilting. His "home" still needs a bit of work. I need to find a place that the serger can live when not being used. That will give me more work area to the left of the machine, which is where it's most needed. I also need more light there. For now I'm making the lamp for the sewing table do double duty, which works, but I think I can do better. Moving the dehumidifier out from under the table will also help, as it's right in the place I want to put my feet. Those things will happen with time.<br />
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The design wall has been repaired, and the quilt on it is actually starting to look like a quilt. About half the components have been assembled and pinned up to begin to establish the size and the arrangement. I got the top edge established yesterday, and that made the whole thing feel more like a quilt and less like a hodge-podge of mismatched pieces.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRV_BrRZjh_FeDbvLxe27WyciJ7LwoqJ16kLec-FSagW8Z4BGoioDquGr76WMPizbK7sdepoYXtiONUTtkZLiF_EDOFzPPfkwenIcFkWNmkIbyj58U9ryBhqkHQAW0fdDmU0edCg/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRV_BrRZjh_FeDbvLxe27WyciJ7LwoqJ16kLec-FSagW8Z4BGoioDquGr76WMPizbK7sdepoYXtiONUTtkZLiF_EDOFzPPfkwenIcFkWNmkIbyj58U9ryBhqkHQAW0fdDmU0edCg/s200/006.JPG" width="200" /></a>But the star of this week is Betsy. As I said earlier in the week, I'm determined that I'm going to learn how to do free-motion quilting and get some of the thirty-odd unquilted tops lurking in the drawer under the cutting table turned into quilts and out into the world where they can do some good. I made some adjustments to how I set up the machine and got out some equipment I had bought but never used, and all of a sudden it seems to be working. Even on Monday there were parts that were looking good, and even the parts I wasn't happy with weren't terrible. Yesterday I practiced some more, and was all set up to practice more today when I decided it was time to get out a quilt top and start working on an actual quilt. This sampler is a quilt I had basted last year, so it was all ready to go. Today I put the walking foot on and stitched in the ditch between the blocks, so now everything is well stabilized. Tomorrow I'm going to try free-motion stitching in some of the blocks; nothing fancy, basically more stitch in the ditch but without having to rotate the whole quilt top every two inches. I also have those plain blocks where I can practice something a bit more exotic.<br />
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So February looks quite a bit different than January did. The possibility that I might finish a quilt this month is actually pretty exciting. And I feel like I'm starting to make some progress toward developing a skill that has eluded me for longer than I care to admit. Finishing that sampler will represent a major step forward for me as a quilter. Stay tuned.Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-53026752141296023342016-02-01T17:55:00.000-06:002016-02-01T17:55:04.348-06:00It's February!A new month means new goals. That's both exciting and terrifying. On the other hand, it means I can cross January off the list, and I'm okay with that. It wasn't a wonderful month, and I'm glad to see the last of it.<br />
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As usual, I got more knitting done than anything else, just because I can do it sitting in my big comfy chair with my feet up. I finished a couple of projects that were left over from Christmas, and made progress on a couple others that didn't have a specific time line attached to them. My donation project for the month was white baby blankets for <a href="http://www.thepreemieproject.com/volunteer/urgent_needs">The Preemie Project</a>, and I got two finished and a third started. These are less than 30 inches square, so they go pretty quickly. I also finished a couple of hats that will go toward a couple of different projects, and a prayer shawl. So I worked my way through a good bit of yarn.<br />
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This month my donation focus is on using up scraps and leftovers. My favorite blanket pattern for scraps is the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScjuqfOhtH4">Never Ending Spiral</a>. It works up quickly and you can use every last inch of the yarn. You can change colors whenever you feel like you've got enough of a particular color or you just get bored. Or you can exercise some control and keep at least one of the strands the same from beginning to end. These usually go to <a href="http://www.warmupamerica.org/">Warm Up America</a> but I always keep a couple on hand for emergencies. Right now I've got one going in baby yarn, and as soon as it's finished I have plans to do one that uses up all the grays in my scrap bin.<br />
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Meanwhile, the studio got neglected for a bit, but with a new month, I'm determined to find some sort of focus and move things along. I got out my Craftsy classes on free motion quilting, set up Betsy with all the tools and accessories, and did 15 minutes of practice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfwmZz2rxJjpRI7me2pVFohk6zcUMSIOpGIC3QhJTlOyztNoZdAx5jjX4o3rYvqBaPzqJkGCCmO5X4wdmPkMrKI99iiGa_TAjUpOPv39rqlFSG-DKoDeXeBKDDMUibtFnck2dag/s1600/2016-02-01+15.08.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfwmZz2rxJjpRI7me2pVFohk6zcUMSIOpGIC3QhJTlOyztNoZdAx5jjX4o3rYvqBaPzqJkGCCmO5X4wdmPkMrKI99iiGa_TAjUpOPv39rqlFSG-DKoDeXeBKDDMUibtFnck2dag/s320/2016-02-01+15.08.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Even being rusty, there were portions of my stitching that I would have been quite happy to see on an actual quilt. This was one of the good sections. The lines could have been a bit straighter but I was more focused on getting a nice even stitch length, and this looks pretty good for not having done this for a couple of months. I did add a Super Slider to the machine, and I think that may have made a difference. I also ramped the motor down to one-quarter speed, so I could just put my foot down and still have a speed slow enough that I could keep up with it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNgghDFkAhKkvlrPJNbnxIIuV8LSlGZk2Vpku6tW9kZpawezjKlhC3s1n4ee43R32LwjqbQ6Hnc5kjAmLZd251OPtmdlA9CqKqKoctCEZWLWKyAaMYVPPLxtzGTwfq3M7XmuhDg/s1600/2016-02-01+15.09.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNgghDFkAhKkvlrPJNbnxIIuV8LSlGZk2Vpku6tW9kZpawezjKlhC3s1n4ee43R32LwjqbQ6Hnc5kjAmLZd251OPtmdlA9CqKqKoctCEZWLWKyAaMYVPPLxtzGTwfq3M7XmuhDg/s320/2016-02-01+15.09.28.jpg" width="240" /></a>There were some other sections that weren't quite so pretty, showing that I still need a lot of practice. I also haven't done much with trying to learn specific patterns or designs. But my goal for this month is to practice every day, and maybe even get up enough courage in a week or two to get a quilt out of the drawer and work on it.<br />
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And since I was already there, I did a bit of piecing on Bennett's quilt. I also did a little bit of house-keeping, like sweeping the floor, but that got old pretty quickly. Mainly I was just getting used to being in that space again, thinking about my projects as something I will enjoy spending time with, rather than as something that should have been finished two years ago. I was remembering that one of the basic lessons of Julia Cameron's <i>The Artist's Way </i>is that you have to put in the time. Sometimes it's exciting and sometimes it's painful, but if the time isn't spent in working, nothing happens. It's so basic, it almost seems ridiculous, but I do have to remind myself of that every once in a while.<br />
Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-64693731218170140972016-01-15T17:24:00.001-06:002016-01-15T17:24:59.951-06:00Getting to Know You This week has been all about Bertie and I learning how to work together. So far it looks as though we're going to have a lovely relationship.<br />
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The one minor disappointment was discovering that, contrary to my belief, he did not come with a 1/4 inch piecing foot. Walking foot, quilting foot, and all sorts of other lovely accessories, yes, but not that piecing foot. So I had to order one. That wasn't Bertie's fault. Nor was the stab wound I received the first time I tried to change the foot and jammed my finger up against the needle. But I have healed from my wound, and the foot has now arrived, so all is well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6JpnJkA7MPMLjuYQMjAChGS7d2k4Y1pirio1o_Lf028_agXdkUg9Ko47gcA42pvLyW1mozWxMC2ok-h8LRAMY0GcHKcI-gjlOoJ-HPqOhyphenhyphenmUOWNt-NSLophkGMYigeIQkF5hag/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-h_5oSGFm7kMSYqVLt4wH1UTLCuYRzQtA-Ofq4sej4h_Jry8QwE2n1potE0A68a-RxNa7_snBzveNf2lhvo85mmuvrKl1T4rFk8IqDs0CPt8rq2Kzib0QqstkNgvY26RB3VQpg/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-h_5oSGFm7kMSYqVLt4wH1UTLCuYRzQtA-Ofq4sej4h_Jry8QwE2n1potE0A68a-RxNa7_snBzveNf2lhvo85mmuvrKl1T4rFk8IqDs0CPt8rq2Kzib0QqstkNgvY26RB3VQpg/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a>I had a bunch of leftover half-finished projects lying around, so the first order of business was to get those finished and out of the way. The easiest to finish was the dog bed. I've started collecting all my leftover pieces, and even some yarn, in a muslin bag, which gets sewn shut when filled and put inside a pretty cover. I then donate it to my local animal shelter to be used for a dog bed. I had a muslin bag full, but hadn't made the new bag or sewn the cover (although it was cut) so that was test #1. It was all straight sewing, but did involve multiple thicknesses of upholstery fabric for the cover. And I went all out and made buttonholes and used the button sewing foot for the closure. The buttonholes weren't perfect, but that could possibly be related to me not reading ALL the directions ALL the way through. Possibly. Anyway, it's a dog bed, and the dog won't care. It's now done, and the new muslin bag is sewn up and hanging in place to catch the next round of scraps.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6kfQSsvkukP-sVym1FWF91V_ksvuw5N4ESVbE8GY6u8rldxJSCnRNRWVyVydr3Az8jnwccwvGoAiuR5ajx7h2CIbIe7xtlgqW7zrgAPhSuKHmy6q-HTiKdOMp_B8gOBEmCmLWw/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6kfQSsvkukP-sVym1FWF91V_ksvuw5N4ESVbE8GY6u8rldxJSCnRNRWVyVydr3Az8jnwccwvGoAiuR5ajx7h2CIbIe7xtlgqW7zrgAPhSuKHmy6q-HTiKdOMp_B8gOBEmCmLWw/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a>The second project was to sew up some gift bags that were already cut, at least mostly. Again, all straight sewing, but I did get to try out the free-arm feature at the end, so there was something new involved. I didn't care what the seam allowances measured as long as they were reasonably consistant, and Bertie did a good job of keeping the layers together and sewing through some fairly substantial interfacing. I did miss the needle-down feature on Betsy a lot in this project, but I'll just have to learn to live without it. I also experimented with very carefully sewing over pins since the little ribbon loop was too small to just hold with my fingers. Again, no problem, although I don't plan to make a habit of doing that. I get away with it on Betsy most of the time, but I know it's not a good thing to do any time, so I'm trying to break myself of that habit. These are now also done, and put away with other holiday things for next year's Christmas marketplace.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBx8dHEGdQ_vljyP_HFR8V8h0TyLICgaSEgAaNCZl2MokFlPwxu0Shkvkj4u7TbDLIl39ktI0fkHF4Nsr0D-ezIc0mCPtl5o8tT0uEwcmlJQj_a5g2cDQXriNx1IROkrfMfkHQQ/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBx8dHEGdQ_vljyP_HFR8V8h0TyLICgaSEgAaNCZl2MokFlPwxu0Shkvkj4u7TbDLIl39ktI0fkHF4Nsr0D-ezIc0mCPtl5o8tT0uEwcmlJQj_a5g2cDQXriNx1IROkrfMfkHQQ/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a>The third project, that is actually still not completely done, didn't involve Bertie at all. I had some fabric left over for making microwave potato bags, so I bought a package of batting specifically labeled for this use and cut six bags. Only one is completely done but the other 5 are layered and pinned and ready to be finished. Betsy was already set up with the cotton thread for these (everything has to be 100% cotton or it melts in the microwave) so I'm making sure she doesn't feel neglected while I put Bertie through his paces. These also will be for next year's Marketplace, so no hurry to finish, just one more thing cluttering up my surfaces. I still have more potato fabric, so will get more batting as I have money to spend on such.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIqdIPLNBGby1nHRRiLsRbPPSz_TQ4lSXjhsyoxvka4jPYRXeIUGfI5CcxgCEy2curSUq9_3-jdAGJY2lwOTPfCdST0iwHmlcmkafkeIqrtvo70vCAVU0IQ6Drmm8vCQibaTKhA/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIqdIPLNBGby1nHRRiLsRbPPSz_TQ4lSXjhsyoxvka4jPYRXeIUGfI5CcxgCEy2curSUq9_3-jdAGJY2lwOTPfCdST0iwHmlcmkafkeIqrtvo70vCAVU0IQ6Drmm8vCQibaTKhA/s320/005.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEE6j0pLNyn2K2EI_kW9JUTQ4wKptTL4VO7qCWYjaLPymBhMVJhn5RGb_fZgw8wEzeB-1aLTPs_YHCek3PSUKxsTd5K7TN4RHC46fb1K369hmdfR9hF-eSUJkYJOyZ7quclEkng/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEE6j0pLNyn2K2EI_kW9JUTQ4wKptTL4VO7qCWYjaLPymBhMVJhn5RGb_fZgw8wEzeB-1aLTPs_YHCek3PSUKxsTd5K7TN4RHC46fb1K369hmdfR9hF-eSUJkYJOyZ7quclEkng/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a>Today, then I finally got to try some quilt piecing with Bertie. The foot I bought has the guide edge on it, and I am really happy that I bought this foot. It projects a little forward of the actual foot, so it's really easy to get the pieces lined up just the way they need to be I only did a couple of seams, but I was really happy with the way they came out. They're the two pieces with the flowers on them here. Nothing fancy, but just good sensible design.<br />
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The other thing I managed to get done today was to get the project plan I worked on New Year's Day out of the suitcase and into the studio. I learned a long time ago that I am not a linear planner; I am a global planner. I was one of those people that wrote the outline for my term papers after I wrote the paper. That means I can't sit down with a paper and make a prioritized list unless I dump everything out in no apparent order first. It's just the way my brain works and I've learned to live with it.<br />
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New Year's Day I had the house to myself, a Post-It note pad the size of the dining room table and a bin full of markers. I started by writing down everything that I knew I wanted to make progress on in the very near future, with some minor efforts at sorting them into categories, then choosing a few of those projects and figuring out what I needed to do to make them happen. It's messy and some would say totally chaotic, but it works for me. And now I can cross things off as they're finished and draw circles around new things as they work their way into the planning stages.<br />
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There's still stuff sitting on surfaces, but the studio is starting to look more like a work space and less like a dumping ground. I got the stuff that needed to go to the thrift shop gone yesterday, so there's only one box of stuff left that needs to be repacked and stored elsewhere. There's still some fabric for non-quilty projects sitting out, but that will get moved soon, along with some other tools that I need to make a home for. And I sewed two quilt blocks today! Yay me!Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-60816884120683899042016-01-07T21:21:00.000-06:002016-01-07T21:21:24.792-06:00There's a New Kid in Town"Begin as you mean to go on." This is a saying I heard for the first time a few years ago, but it has stuck with me, and its truth has born itself out many times in my life. It has particular significance at New Year's, since it could serve as a harbinger of the year. It can be applied to the quality of work put into a project. I'm sure there are other ways it can be interpreted as well.<div>
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For me, it has mostly to do with organizing each day. I have always been an early riser, and I find that I can often get a lot done in the hours before the rest of the world is awake. If I start the day well, and that usually means avoiding the temptation to plop myself in front of the computer or the tv, then most often the rest of the day will be productive as well.</div>
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Through the summer and fall I most often used the early morning to work on projects in my living room and dining room. This is where I do hand quilting and embroidery, and sometimes knitting if it's something that doesn't need helpful cats around. That part of the house has no air conditioning, so in the early morning it was still cool enough to be pleasant there, especially with the morning sun coming in. But now that we're into winter, it's too cold to work in there, since the only heat comes from a space heater that is an energy hog. So now that I'm trying to get into a work rhythm again, I decided I would head to the studio in the early morning.</div>
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I got quite a lot done in a short period of time this morning. A lot of things got put away, and other things got organized so they could be worked on easily. Some dusting happened, and there are actually some clear surfaces now, so projects can start moving forward again.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBXYM7qTQg3I-izIRD9oZ0cwDyAJXOSSxeMIPgVXDsbn9uuIQ4QLCsI7swN5if7RgIGJFb-qLUBoTFuMbESuhBnks3vRX4T37UlGyEkXuSQT3w2sGn9vBP04aFbABiKdcQNhr-w/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBXYM7qTQg3I-izIRD9oZ0cwDyAJXOSSxeMIPgVXDsbn9uuIQ4QLCsI7swN5if7RgIGJFb-qLUBoTFuMbESuhBnks3vRX4T37UlGyEkXuSQT3w2sGn9vBP04aFbABiKdcQNhr-w/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a>And then Bertie arrived. Bertie is the new sewing machine I ordered earlier in the week to give me a second machine, freeing Betsy, my beloved Bernina, to dedicate herself to free motion quilting. </div>
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Bertie is an inexpensive machine that comes with a lot of lovely accessories for quilting. There's no computer to get mucked up and it came with a whole host of rave reviews. I was given some money at Christmas, and decided that, as much as I need things like groceries and house repairs, a gift should be a gift. I had decided a year ago that Betsy needed a helper, and had hoped I would find one that was "free to a good home," but without success. So the Christmas money went to purchase Bertie. And while I haven't put him through all his paces yet, it appears that he will do quite nicely the jobs I mean for him to do.</div>
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I named him for a character that appears in several books by Alexander McCall Smith. In the stories, Bertie is a very clever six year old boy. He takes cello lessons, and is learning Italian, and he has regular sessions with a psychotherapist, but he is only six, and that imposes limitations on him. It seemed an appropriate name for this machine. He can't do everything that Betsy can, but he is quite clever. I hope we have a long and wonderful relationship with each other. </div>
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As I cleaned and sorted today, I lined up a couple of small projects that just need a small amount of time to get them finished and out of the way, mostly things that are leftovers from the Marketplace mayhem of November. Tomorrow I'll let Bertie tackle them. He too, needs to begin as he means to go on.</div>
Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-78420747078355288932016-01-06T21:34:00.000-06:002016-01-06T21:34:22.812-06:00January "State of the Studio" ReportI wish I could say I'm starting the year with a spotlessly clean studio and a clearly defined list of projects to work on. The truth looks a great deal more like this:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBorSeIXUrfu4ByNoEiZxvARiwQ-ivZCiIZSGANaI5S_UpV_r9okUxlYc9nTIWWZwZzMp8PcGMfQ9e0wDY434mOnyZ1ClX6gMZdmwDeY9L-h7NZIPjMsG13vy8yN2Cqd3RFFmfdw/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBorSeIXUrfu4ByNoEiZxvARiwQ-ivZCiIZSGANaI5S_UpV_r9okUxlYc9nTIWWZwZzMp8PcGMfQ9e0wDY434mOnyZ1ClX6gMZdmwDeY9L-h7NZIPjMsG13vy8yN2Cqd3RFFmfdw/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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In November I set up a booth at our Christmas marketplace and did my best to sell some pretty things and make some money. And then I came home, dumped everything in the studio and closed the door while I madly knitted away at Christmas gifts. In other words, there are still remnants of projects I made for Marketplace lying around, and the place is a wreck.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TMDDJsP7EESChmDIJNIfM2LFDr2AJ8yDMxNMzaNAhtP6UtyNzP3y8EZsTD_p0bHTtU0ROPN30ZzKLCSq5LqBW6-6Hm_PB7WixQAhTy4L21lL7HD-2XghFiINaJ2sMqn5Bd0GBQ/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TMDDJsP7EESChmDIJNIfM2LFDr2AJ8yDMxNMzaNAhtP6UtyNzP3y8EZsTD_p0bHTtU0ROPN30ZzKLCSq5LqBW6-6Hm_PB7WixQAhTy4L21lL7HD-2XghFiINaJ2sMqn5Bd0GBQ/s320/002.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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To make it worse, my sweet but not-so-bright cat Gracie got shut up in the studio one day and in her efforts to find a way out she managed to half tear down the design wall: Fortunately, the project that was on it was completely pinned, so no damage was done to it, but it was not a pretty sight. Clearly she has failed Test #1 of meeting the prerequisites for becoming a studio cat; she is no longer under consideration for that post.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhGnP4qxTpWhEEHeJSOYgSe58fhsDDD7aP82jxxZQb7ZXICq0F6cvAYSK4_VxapoWp6dlvvCzuH_xesRHnZjbJzGmxz20lgxHa30MDtAyLbxmW7doYNAOB0asXI4KPcWBlofWJA/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhGnP4qxTpWhEEHeJSOYgSe58fhsDDD7aP82jxxZQb7ZXICq0F6cvAYSK4_VxapoWp6dlvvCzuH_xesRHnZjbJzGmxz20lgxHa30MDtAyLbxmW7doYNAOB0asXI4KPcWBlofWJA/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Then there was the day I loaded up the car with boxes of things to take to the Salvation Army thrift store in Greenville, only to discover that the store has closed and there is no thrift store of any kind there, at least not that I could find. So all those boxes got dumped in the studio for the Christmas holiday. I've tried really hard over the years to keep that sort of stuff out of my work space, but for the short term there was no other alternative. We won't talk about the store room; this is not the place to tell horror stories.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvHNz4cRr3vXJZKcZ9cG7eKqMu6I8dl3dEqOXrYltUfJGPVoloHxMpIoqP21GQH-FwCZ3pn601yrQloOJ5XvwL4UJgguqbvgVo9wkYq0zC7nyB8Zfgi2xpBvO7oxuI6CaVX2GtQ/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvHNz4cRr3vXJZKcZ9cG7eKqMu6I8dl3dEqOXrYltUfJGPVoloHxMpIoqP21GQH-FwCZ3pn601yrQloOJ5XvwL4UJgguqbvgVo9wkYq0zC7nyB8Zfgi2xpBvO7oxuI6CaVX2GtQ/s200/001.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnhX0_yzVEpF04uqn85TFEwo_okOsSDD8KLNOys10HCCPvY4EwUBJZQm6UaaEmIBZfuoQwQ7fmg8GAfOpaL9NWKMF1B0HP3fc50xcy9V68ViO2je2BuDezgsLtoamHbIryFX3xg/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnhX0_yzVEpF04uqn85TFEwo_okOsSDD8KLNOys10HCCPvY4EwUBJZQm6UaaEmIBZfuoQwQ7fmg8GAfOpaL9NWKMF1B0HP3fc50xcy9V68ViO2je2BuDezgsLtoamHbIryFX3xg/s200/004.JPG" width="200" /></a>So, the year is starting with a completely trashed studio. Every surface has something on it that doesn't belong. There are remnants of half a dozen projects lying around: And we won't even think about things like dust and dirt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauHFifvPpii_7aYRUY41JcomA7AoVypMsKPwElCs1yEYZVwlGJrh7VmA06Z-2MWUk-INVHaqzntbYXdWjqQw8OvftY4Fucn06wWyJVCEPtL5uK1MBBNUqtfzIhgL2C7sv0V9aYg/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauHFifvPpii_7aYRUY41JcomA7AoVypMsKPwElCs1yEYZVwlGJrh7VmA06Z-2MWUk-INVHaqzntbYXdWjqQw8OvftY4Fucn06wWyJVCEPtL5uK1MBBNUqtfzIhgL2C7sv0V9aYg/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a>In the interest of starting somewhere, I decided that I would concentrate on two things today. The first was to get the design wall back to functional. That meant some climbing on stepstools and hammering tacks, but otherwise was a fairly simple job. Once the flannel was back in place I smoothed out the quilt pieces that had gotten rumpled, and declared it back in business.<br />
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The second was to clear a space for the new sewing machine that I hope is going to arrive tomorrow. I have been wanting a second machine for at least a year, with the idea that I could then leave Betsy set up for free motion quilting and do other work on the new machine. That has also been accomplished. We won't talk about where the stuff that was on that table went; I can deal with that another day. For now the fact that the table has been cleared off and dusted is good enough. This table is close to my other sewing table, so I can use the rolling chair for longer stints or a folding chair for short projects. I will need to figure out some sort of task lighting there down the road, but I think that will be an easy fix.<br />
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So the year has begun, even if rather slowly. Over the next few days I'll be working at clearing other surfaces and putting things that need to be stored for next year's sale away. I think I can make the trip to the thrift store in Bastrop I like to take things to tomorrow, which will get that pile out of the middle of the floor. And then we'll see what kind of fabric goodness I can make happen before too much more time goes by.Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-89000248212572562712015-09-27T17:44:00.000-05:002015-09-27T17:44:37.644-05:00September Summary<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma6FldKi6xWcPpA4FYMDkoCtECVwmI0QHD5iesRYj0_UnuIIImJG4r34a1Zvn9T4FOYnTK-DLdhPvbHipFMew5up2as8Qc_jcqvktD0Eia4o59uvEB2GD8ZYEvL-XBLh7TFq7yw/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma6FldKi6xWcPpA4FYMDkoCtECVwmI0QHD5iesRYj0_UnuIIImJG4r34a1Zvn9T4FOYnTK-DLdhPvbHipFMew5up2as8Qc_jcqvktD0Eia4o59uvEB2GD8ZYEvL-XBLh7TFq7yw/s200/001.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
I know y'all probably think I've been a slacker the whole month and have done nothing but watch old TV series on Netflix and eat potato chips. That's not true. At least not the potato chips part. The problem has been that I've been working on secret Christmas stuff that I can't show. I can show you the picture of the bags containing the stuff - - -<br />
but that's all you get to see. Tomorrow it all heads by special courier to Canada where it will be picked up by another courier next month and carried on to Paris. The stuff destined for Spain will have to wait there until one of the Spanish comes to visit. It's all very complicated and involves having Christmas deadlines in September, but it saves the cost of international shipping, which is more than the cost of the goods. (I know, Auntie Lauren made them, which means they're priceless; I'm over that.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeLEMILtCh36u8_ko5UIm7Glc6G8YuwKXPUK4YywEKFwkBY_ToyIsUrra714gzKfjLMmAzD2jVM1ttNLm4dYpauIsDHDZZlSWyH0TP7qVX9Nz0GTI1W88TpluWIi-N3fr4c8fcg/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeLEMILtCh36u8_ko5UIm7Glc6G8YuwKXPUK4YywEKFwkBY_ToyIsUrra714gzKfjLMmAzD2jVM1ttNLm4dYpauIsDHDZZlSWyH0TP7qVX9Nz0GTI1W88TpluWIi-N3fr4c8fcg/s200/002.JPG" width="200" /></a>When you prepare gifts to be scrunched into the corners of suitcases, fancy wrappings are out. In fact, TSA doesn't like it when you carry stuff that's gift wrapped and will make you unwrap it if they're having a slow day and need to break in the newest rookie. The solution is fabric gift bags, and I'm getting rather good at making them. This is a new kind I made for the first time yesterday. They look a bit like a lunch sack, but the tie means they'll stay closed. This one is filled a bit full, so the top doesn't fold down quite so neatly as in the pattern, which can be found here: <a href="http://www.bhg.com/wedding/favors/easy-to-sew-reusable-gift-bag/">Fabric Gift Bag</a>. I have an idea I'll be making more of these before the gift-giving season is over. Perfect size for something like a pair of socks or mittens. And of course the size can be changed.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3MV03dmU74fxHgkp7ZU8wdJgp0pCwL7_WHUa3uoEPqkk8HD-2CtWQRdzIYS11ozNt_hqQkzzcJHXGC-KUEtt-do91YoT_eQAaMJOxTMaMrJz2KHR5Qc3BE9nhywOl66SnYOwTw/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3MV03dmU74fxHgkp7ZU8wdJgp0pCwL7_WHUa3uoEPqkk8HD-2CtWQRdzIYS11ozNt_hqQkzzcJHXGC-KUEtt-do91YoT_eQAaMJOxTMaMrJz2KHR5Qc3BE9nhywOl66SnYOwTw/s200/003.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
I did get a new quilt started. This one is for a young man who will be having his first birthday this coming week. I'm using the ideas in Judy Sisneros' book <span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.3;"><i>9-Patch Pizzazz: Fast, Fun & Finished in a Day. </i>The main print has so much white space between the figures that cutting it into small pieces means you only get to see bits and pieces. This allows for using bigger chunks of that fabric, but then breaking it up with nine-patches sewn from companion fabrics. I have no idea what this quilt is going to end up looking like, because the construction is very free-form. I'll just keep adding things in and taking things out until it looks the way I want it. I'm incorporating some scraps from another quilt that happened to be lying out and that turned out to be perfect color companions, so we'll see what turns out. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.3;">Meanwhile the current Christmas crunch is over and October looks fairly clear of deadlines. There are a couple in the middle of the month, but one of those projects is nearly done and the other won't take more than a day or two once I get all the materials together in one place. I'm finishing up a couple of knitting projects that don't have any particular purpose in mind other than giving me something to knit in social settings. I'm starting on the next round of Christmas goodies. And Marketplace is less than two months away, so time to get serious about that. </span>Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-951024803728121112015-09-07T18:37:00.001-05:002015-09-07T18:37:10.036-05:00Lazy Labor Day<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2q53P44-tql-0vuQzizgB3y4l5ssULssP_n-o13VnlzOAPluIVRTHwDRQ6bqTDmqMaa259tZsulGUMxvmviB0a_4oKeRlilzVG_QRRJgHk27_dIBpAzVw6eeOb5QzHXRqgRvpw/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2q53P44-tql-0vuQzizgB3y4l5ssULssP_n-o13VnlzOAPluIVRTHwDRQ6bqTDmqMaa259tZsulGUMxvmviB0a_4oKeRlilzVG_QRRJgHk27_dIBpAzVw6eeOb5QzHXRqgRvpw/s200/005.JPG" width="200" /></a>It may be September, but the temperatures and humidity have been as bad this weekend as they've been all summer. Needless to say, I've not been the most energetic creature on the planet. I've gotten a little bit of knitting done today, and I sewed in a label, but other than fixing food and eating I haven't done a whole lot today. So be it.<br />
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But, all things considered, this has been a productive week. Baby M is finally finished all the way to the label, although the label will need to be edited now that Baby M has made his appearance into the world two weeks early. That's easy enough to fix, and I'll get the quilt in the mail sometime this week.<br />
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Now that it's all finished, I've thought of a way I could have dealt differently with the top's refusal to lie flat. The moral of the story - don't have quilting lines cross each other. I could have quilted independent squares in each block, without crossing any seam lines, and the look of the quilt would have stayed essentially the same. I'm taking this into consideration as I'm planning the quilting in the next vintage top.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduBUgUpWj2jvtp4ttSBzsT0RWzDN4ttuMMiXIofhswCLLDDt6imP2nBF0EckKnWlRM2RPjDqC4hfxiYHCkztmGEvXMDb6cMWA2OnUnPDtIs-okpy42XlPr3m0Fslqh2-fv3B4TA/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduBUgUpWj2jvtp4ttSBzsT0RWzDN4ttuMMiXIofhswCLLDDt6imP2nBF0EckKnWlRM2RPjDqC4hfxiYHCkztmGEvXMDb6cMWA2OnUnPDtIs-okpy42XlPr3m0Fslqh2-fv3B4TA/s200/001.JPG" width="200" /></a>I also finished this small quilt, that I've always called Prison Bars. This one behaved a lot better, surprisingly, although the finished quilt doesn't want to lie quite flat. I suspect a bit of steam will help that happen, but for now it's going into the closet where finished quilts live. It has a label. It's official.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqMgqBh89WkQqLRMqg02LGz7UoKZQDZ2jbBtDFhIKSACR4dhbYO0X9hHailyXOB3JiS3X3JrBs68-FuDZdqLi1y4OIfe9Z6kF9oKZxTDbJjf9VLG4k7N2AIUoH0t53eg5N9aT0g/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqMgqBh89WkQqLRMqg02LGz7UoKZQDZ2jbBtDFhIKSACR4dhbYO0X9hHailyXOB3JiS3X3JrBs68-FuDZdqLi1y4OIfe9Z6kF9oKZxTDbJjf9VLG4k7N2AIUoH0t53eg5N9aT0g/s200/003.JPG" width="200" /></a>I'm not all together happy with the maroon binding, but this was a case of necessity dictating choices. Ideally I would have bound it with the same navy I used in the body of the quilt. But I finished this top 20 years ago, and that fabric is long gone. Since navy is one of those colors that is notoriously difficult to match, I opted to use the same fabric I used for the backing. There are small bits of that color in the print, so it's not a completely random choice. But I think it calls attention to itself a bit too much.<br />
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I do like the quilt, and I'm thinking that I may have to do another one some day. I think it was the first quilt I made where you start with a large square of fabric, cut it into segments, insert a second fabric, then recut in a different direction and square up the resulting block. Rotary cutters were a relatively new invention, and this was an early design, created by Georgia Bonesteel, that took full advantage of its capability. I think it holds up to the test of time, and I'd like to see what would happen with a feature fabric and a set of strips in coordinating solids.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsL5Q26cioCWIFXxjnJzv3HdRICcNcBXcHgUfXbFYhI_rOxouZFIgE_yTMeC3jwHFetFIyiTqwuhs_5vhAyCw1GU1F5x84f9GgMKFdBhWvFUzTluw1_S3xtbldkbIaVmmqx6r3sA/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsL5Q26cioCWIFXxjnJzv3HdRICcNcBXcHgUfXbFYhI_rOxouZFIgE_yTMeC3jwHFetFIyiTqwuhs_5vhAyCw1GU1F5x84f9GgMKFdBhWvFUzTluw1_S3xtbldkbIaVmmqx6r3sA/s200/002.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
The other finish for this week was a set of place mats that are to be a wedding gift. The pattern was one I bought on a trip to Iowa last fall. It uses four fat quarters. Pieces are cut and shuffled, and the result is four place mats with the fabrics in different places. I worked from yardage, so did a double set, two of each color placement. I suspect there will also be napkins before the day of the wedding, but they're just a matter of cutting the fabric and making hems.<br />
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I also spent a little time this week trying to come up with a plan for the next baby quilt, which ideally will be done by the end of the month. I bought fabrics a year ago, but coming up with a plan for using them proved a bit of a challenge. I made a couple of test blocks and wasn't at all happy with them. But now I think I have a workable idea, so before the week is over I'll start working at putting that together.<br />
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Now I'm trying to wrap my head around the idea that I have Christmas gifts that have to be finished by the end of the month. I think I need to knit faster. No - that just makes me crazy and leads to mistakes and frustration. The good news is I've discovered the newest Doctor Who series. 116 episodes suitable for binge watching! One stitch at a time.Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-34066601926968368532015-09-01T18:27:00.001-05:002015-09-01T18:27:30.662-05:00It's September!And that means I have survived another summer in the Delta. I know September will still be very warm, but there's an end in sight. Can you hear me taking a deep breath and breathing a sigh of relief?<br />
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September also means my Yarn Sabbath has come to an end. It felt very strange to sit down after lunch and pick up knitting after a month of not doing that. I welcome yarn back into my life. We're still friends. But I hope I have a slightly less maniacal relationship to it. At one point this afternoon I felt my shoulders tighten up and realized I was going for some sort of land speed record with my needles. I had to stop, put the knitting down, breathe a few times, and then start out again at a deliberately slower pace. Even though I do this thing to produce lovely finished objects, I have to remind myself that it's supposed to be relaxing and meditative, not a competitive race to the finish line.<br />
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The big news of the day is that Baby M is finished. Completely finished, all the way to the labels.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sYwpUJ5Y_iqsTkHcXTx8jCG5KuNpElqH-M36SsqOhC9Z7GxonH67V6MV8HQFfVF0AZm9U_R1VdkhmXEkypdMJCwpaevCaf7lrm5Eh8yYSOtpsPeeo0MIB85l_DpiMsY6scxkKQ/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sYwpUJ5Y_iqsTkHcXTx8jCG5KuNpElqH-M36SsqOhC9Z7GxonH67V6MV8HQFfVF0AZm9U_R1VdkhmXEkypdMJCwpaevCaf7lrm5Eh8yYSOtpsPeeo0MIB85l_DpiMsY6scxkKQ/s200/004.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZTiZd3Xz8cmvsvp8Vxdcv8oi1A-5QlTRPpAU2o6AepHav_fLt1u-6jhaGiBWev5_h_GPKLoIKueLT215p4dos59KLjl2mEuVUGcJxJvT3htmSSv_LM7CShTbudbKMfs2vKEGgQ/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZTiZd3Xz8cmvsvp8Vxdcv8oi1A-5QlTRPpAU2o6AepHav_fLt1u-6jhaGiBWev5_h_GPKLoIKueLT215p4dos59KLjl2mEuVUGcJxJvT3htmSSv_LM7CShTbudbKMfs2vKEGgQ/s200/005.JPG" width="200" /></a>I finished the hand sewing of the binding on Sunday, then gave it a day to rest. Today I went back in, finished sewing down one of the labels, and did the rest of the quilting around the outside, double checked it for anything else that was missing, and plunged it into the washing machine for its first bath. Because of the black, I was a little concerned about color transfer, so I used a Color Catcher, but there don't appear to have been any issues. After 30 minutes in the dryer I spread it out across the living room couch, which is in a cat-free zone, to finish drying. With any luck it will be on its way to its intended recipient before the end of the week. And the baby isn't due for another couple of weeks. I love it when that happens! It's so rare.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaza_vshvCUP_bTMTc2ydavHpnED2i9Xivjzq-KK-fZk8InGn9iLDYNAiLHxRHKm62RwPY-3J1h5jnySIUJ_3f_4SjWd9rw14QedjASZgf1G68jszVxFF5CvScZmRNsvkzFzQLw/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaza_vshvCUP_bTMTc2ydavHpnED2i9Xivjzq-KK-fZk8InGn9iLDYNAiLHxRHKm62RwPY-3J1h5jnySIUJ_3f_4SjWd9rw14QedjASZgf1G68jszVxFF5CvScZmRNsvkzFzQLw/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a>Then I gave the machine a good cleaning and started on the next project on my Fab Four list. I've always called it Prison Bars, although I think its real name is Garden Trellis or something like that. The pattern was in one of Georgia Bonesteel's books from the 90's, and I know I made the top in the summer of '95. I had a huge love affair with that print fabric. It got used as a feature fabric in at least two quilts, and I think I even found a small piece of it to put in Crazy Geese. I basted it sometime last year, and now I'm anxious to see it finished and on display somewhere. It's not very large - about 40 inches square if I remember right.<br />
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The big question mark as I started quilting this was whether or not the fusible batting I used was going to perform as it was supposed to. I had pinned around the outer edge of the quilt, just to keep some sort of accident from pulling the layers apart, but the only thing holding the middle together is the fusible adhesive. I have to say it has performed its job. Most of the middle is quilted, and there are only a few places where some minor puckering has happened. But that is more likely the fault of the piecing than anything else. I'm not doing anything fancy with the quilting, just following the outside edge of the navy bands. It's graphic enough without adding another design element to it.<br />
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With any luck I'll finish quilting this tomorrow. Then I'll have to see what the next project to go into the sewing machine will be. I've left Thangles out where I can see it, and I may try to start quilting that this week. I have an idea what I want to do with it, which is always a good place to start. I also have a bunch of pillowcases cut out and ready to sew. This is a donation project that I'm trying to get caught up on. I don't need them finished until December, but I have a bunch of them to sew. And I need to get started on a set of placemats for a wedding present. I looked today at the fabric I had thought I would use for those and realized I don't have enough, so I'll have to develop another plan. I'll study on that while I quilt tomorrow.<br />
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And now I'm going to download the pattern I had picked out last week to cast on today, find the yarn and the needles, and start my first new knitting project in a month. I'm back!Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-60221994185346036892015-08-27T19:04:00.000-05:002015-08-27T19:04:01.696-05:00Ay Carumba!This morning I was thinking about all the projects I've got going this fall and decided I needed a calendar so I could keep track of deadlines and make progress goals for the big stuff like Christmas Marketplace. So I pulled out my favorite blank calendar pages and started filling things in for the rest of the year. Then I had a moment of complete and utter horror.<br />
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Christmas is four months away. Marketplace is three months away. I have to have projects done to send to Canada by the end of September; that's one month away. None of the things I wanted to have done by the end of August are done. That's when I decided the most sensible thing to do right then was take a nap.<br />
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I did that. The calendar didn't change. The list of projects didn't change. Nothing changed except that it was now an hour later and I still hadn't had lunch.<br />
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I know how to eat an elephant. But it's hard to concentrate on taking one bite at a time when the dog is barking and there are mosquitoes buzzing around your ears and the phone is ringing, and there are six new and vitally important things to read on Facebook.<br />
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Of course the sensible thing to do would be to put away the things that don't have deadlines and get to work on the things that do. But I also know if I put away the Calico Cats and the Grandmother's Flower Garden it may be ten years before I pull them out again. And I really would like to see them finished in my lifetime.<br />
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So after lunch I worked on a couple of things for Marketplace. And then I worked for a while on the Baby M quilt. And now I'm about to get out Bennett's Christmas sweater and move that project forward. In the morning the Calico Cats will still be waiting for quilting. And there are still four more days left in August. Stay calm and keep the calendar handy.Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-762630207260328562015-08-24T18:53:00.000-05:002015-08-24T18:53:22.313-05:00Monday Muddling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei6AoEvpvGENuKenXQaaSPD8o-d2yKzWTTWbxX_8SBQehpjC7gGJL0hiDoQuREZOj-Klv38q4r_40jBOggKHlaTdWzr7GhhLFFbKmDS5i7dFumIUMcQNepIzWJgVHfcioLO-Eig/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei6AoEvpvGENuKenXQaaSPD8o-d2yKzWTTWbxX_8SBQehpjC7gGJL0hiDoQuREZOj-Klv38q4r_40jBOggKHlaTdWzr7GhhLFFbKmDS5i7dFumIUMcQNepIzWJgVHfcioLO-Eig/s200/008.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2RW4SFuRGW7Sw5oCVFZYRqfa4RnxDkaCdbRTJezCrPeN-c43MNUZj0xUmYRxT9GrG4eQWQ5zoo8Rb_kBXkmqutIePeIvci0LGmJKBEfdnwFK757sryDgxgR3RgjVU8c7SDO0-w/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2RW4SFuRGW7Sw5oCVFZYRqfa4RnxDkaCdbRTJezCrPeN-c43MNUZj0xUmYRxT9GrG4eQWQ5zoo8Rb_kBXkmqutIePeIvci0LGmJKBEfdnwFK757sryDgxgR3RgjVU8c7SDO0-w/s200/007.JPG" width="200" /></a>Finally! Baby M is behaving! I was really wondering if taking it all apart for the umpteenth time and basting it with thread instead of pins was really going to make a difference, but it did. I've got 4 rows completely stitched, with 2 rows of quilting on either side of the seam. And these 4 rows are going to stay.<br />
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I had to go back and watch the videos to make sure I had the method right, and it turns out I didn't. Here is the link to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwNylePFAA">Sharon Schamber's quilt basting method</a> that I have used in the past and found completely successful. What I had forgotten was that the batting floats between the top and the backing, both of which are rolled onto lengths of board. Once I had that corrected and just relaxed and took my time, all went smoothly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoYEXQU94iouA_5L2uh3A3-jgM_c14ks18HLwkxfXd9vR_6ImuLVJNXBcKbg_gxw68_ov9zLmTmXZCT06NwF6oJdBraOPnv5bvZ0zVZ96Ix4KrB5nfbXCa4XF1zCKGAO_x_PeCw/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoYEXQU94iouA_5L2uh3A3-jgM_c14ks18HLwkxfXd9vR_6ImuLVJNXBcKbg_gxw68_ov9zLmTmXZCT06NwF6oJdBraOPnv5bvZ0zVZ96Ix4KrB5nfbXCa4XF1zCKGAO_x_PeCw/s200/003.JPG" width="150" /></a>I have made a couple of changes from the way she describes the method. I was having a bit of trouble getting the winding onto the boards started; the fabric wasn't winding tightly and evenly enough for me. That was easily corrected with a couple of short pieces of painter's tape. The tape just holds the edge of the layer to the board long enough to get the rolling started; there's no pulling or tension on it, so there's no risk of distorting the fabric. And of course it's easily removed at the end.<br />
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The other change is that she says to remove the basting thread before you quilt into a space, so you never sew over the thread. I usually leave it in place until the quilting is done. It takes a little more time to remove at the end, but I'm certain that nothing is going to shift even a little bit in the process. If I'm going to quilt very densely I will remove the thread once I have enough quilting done to stabilize the piece, and I will remove a knot that's in the line of stitching. But otherwise I leave it in.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBAT1NJMHWDxcOGlb43Tj7U5wChJLQab4xdRDCIR5d6zqXCNFh_495SIGpGDdk8sOEdhszms15AoXPFnZeC5gKC5z5t6eZw2Z3mCY9enuZu9TYeBEvA7XfMLLlWJXmXLfl2rGfw/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBAT1NJMHWDxcOGlb43Tj7U5wChJLQab4xdRDCIR5d6zqXCNFh_495SIGpGDdk8sOEdhszms15AoXPFnZeC5gKC5z5t6eZw2Z3mCY9enuZu9TYeBEvA7XfMLLlWJXmXLfl2rGfw/s200/005.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyRidKztZrYIknzTLw3RyPu88XtSf1Kik2_CCyBQvskZ4HpePsvmUKF5sTjkgwHV_rHlk0pqxxlJ2CNdpfSrzuCyxqYIihVrlDLZZnz2GxJ7tVkIIydLsFM6HLhNPAYc0L0KIIg/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyRidKztZrYIknzTLw3RyPu88XtSf1Kik2_CCyBQvskZ4HpePsvmUKF5sTjkgwHV_rHlk0pqxxlJ2CNdpfSrzuCyxqYIihVrlDLZZnz2GxJ7tVkIIydLsFM6HLhNPAYc0L0KIIg/s200/004.JPG" width="200" /></a>One thing I do to speed up the process is thread several needles onto the spool of thread at once, then pull them off one at a time as I need more thread. I discovered this weekend that I can load several needles onto my needle threader at one time, then slide them off onto the thread all at once. Saves a lot of time hunting for my glasses and getting the light just right to thread the needle. I think at the moment I'm using a heavier thread than Sharon does. She says she prefers tatting cotton. I had a spool of DMC size 30 crochet cotton, so that's what I'm using. I've also used perle cotton in the past.<br />
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I guess I've learned my lesson: take the time to thread baste it and forget about the safety pins. Once I had Baby M in the machine I started basting the Thangles quilt, and it's now about 1/4 basted. When I put that one up on the design wall I discovered that the top has some issues. I made it fairly early in my quilting career, and I think it was my first quilt that has the blocks set on point, with setting squares in between. There is some bubbling in those squares, which means they're a little bit bigger than they ought to be. I won't swear that the borders are going to lie flat either. I'm basting this one a bit more closely than I did Baby M in an effort to localize those issues and I'll deal with them as I do the quilting.<br />
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Other projects are progressing, but there's nothing very exciting to show. I have 3 rows of blocks put together on the Grandmother's Flower Garden; I can't remember how many rows there are, but it's going to be a big quilt. And there are now 3 rows of cats quilted on Calico Cats.<br />
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Next Tuesday my Yarn Sabbath will be over. I thought the other day I should cast on a new project as a way to "break the fast," but of course have no idea what I want to start. I have a week to think about it. I'm sure I'll come up with something.Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-7500171158881758412015-08-19T20:03:00.001-05:002015-08-19T20:03:25.381-05:00Wednesday Already?<br />
And so it goes with good intentions. I turn my back for one minute and the next thing I know a week has gone by without a post. I do, however, have several excuses. The first is that I haven't really finished anything new and so didn't have any pretty pictures. And of course, it's all about the pictures. The second is that I've been fighting off a cold since last Friday and hardly had the energy to lift a needle, let alone the bandwidth to figure out what to do with it once I picked it up. So it's been a week without a lot to show for it. Some quilting on Calico Cats has happened. Some assembly of Grandmother's Flower Garden has happened. Some quilting on the Baby M quilt has happened. And there have been a few experiments, but none that led to anything spectacular.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGIWNjO6qV0MpcVgjAXU5YDavyYy9Ke2Hgm8AsHzgXN1aE06BvilmttlEprnljQzVMunM4qptY2IH-j6BR1rz-YrEo9cHvKgIM5b59tXVyXAChDznTTG_DhCD4o61J4ocQIxs5g/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGIWNjO6qV0MpcVgjAXU5YDavyYy9Ke2Hgm8AsHzgXN1aE06BvilmttlEprnljQzVMunM4qptY2IH-j6BR1rz-YrEo9cHvKgIM5b59tXVyXAChDznTTG_DhCD4o61J4ocQIxs5g/s200/003.JPG" width="150" /></a>One successful experiment was this hat, which I'm calling Lacy Squares because that's what the stitch pattern is called. I found the pattern in a pattern-a-day calendar that I have used for several years, and thought it would make a nice feminine hat for Arkansas Children's Hospital. I had to fiddle with it a little to make it work, and then of course I had to invent a way to decrease stitches at the top as unobtrusively as possible. I think it works. The yarn is Hobby Lobby's equivalent of Caron's Simply Soft, which makes a very soft hat with very little structure. I hope the ribbing holds it snugly enough to the head. I've written up the pattern and sent it off to a friend for a test knit. If she gives it a green light I might even offer this one up on Ravelry. I can't say it's completely original, but what in knitting really is. In the end it's all knits and purls anyway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3XVv-G3dPOAD6T1bVX6j5aW-hzS0OJm_BP55yPlMZNEvY9vgNWIQZ5_Ja3ISrSVQHFdWBYXE1LskEwr460a-wQxSmcVjSP68LXWFCNaWojKbOaSPeB1uDPbTqpHYJ31Fdl7E3Q/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3XVv-G3dPOAD6T1bVX6j5aW-hzS0OJm_BP55yPlMZNEvY9vgNWIQZ5_Ja3ISrSVQHFdWBYXE1LskEwr460a-wQxSmcVjSP68LXWFCNaWojKbOaSPeB1uDPbTqpHYJ31Fdl7E3Q/s200/002.JPG" width="200" /></a>Today I did finish this tatted bookmark. I used some size 8 perle cotton I had lying around, which is a pretty fine thread, but it worked well. Because the thread was so fine I had to add extra repeats to make a usable length; it ended up about 7 inches long. That meant it was a slow project but not a difficult one. And I still have some of the thread, so I'm looking for another project for it. It's a sort of antique gold color, so not a snowflake. Perhaps another bookmark or a cross. I'm trying to create things that will sell at Christmas Marketplace in November, and trying to guess what people will buy always gives me a headache.<br />
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When I logged the Lacy Squares hat into my "yarn used" account book (yes, I am <u>that</u> kind of person) I realized I had only used about 150 grams of yarn this month. This is in contrast to an average monthly usage well over 1000 grams. It has been a successful yarn sabbath. Of course I'm looking at the calendar and realizing Marketplace is coming, and Christmas is coming. But so is September, and I'm not chafing at the bit all that much. I've needed this time to break out of the pattern of needing to finish things and use up my yarn stash and somehow in so doing prove that I am a useful and productive human being. In fact, I'm already working on a plan to do more of this kind of thing for 2016. We'll see what happens.<br />
<br />Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-75492537954678704852015-08-12T18:57:00.002-05:002015-08-12T18:58:13.385-05:00Wednesday Whiffling<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotjWy8FBuRbmBygDPKnT1pW4dCNzO7f794o7unt9n_yTRdLjooAnlYZAACNzzPH1uvM27vXLGVsRElVYF8c_F9wsbpjHvNazvTaQxsi-rE5XNUq1LjwiNXzNfg6Qdrt_l4PM6wQ/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotjWy8FBuRbmBygDPKnT1pW4dCNzO7f794o7unt9n_yTRdLjooAnlYZAACNzzPH1uvM27vXLGVsRElVYF8c_F9wsbpjHvNazvTaQxsi-rE5XNUq1LjwiNXzNfg6Qdrt_l4PM6wQ/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Today was mostly spent doing some necessary household chores and moving a few projects forward. I did finally get a few lines of acceptable quilting into the Baby M quilt. It's not what I had pictured it would be, but it's okay. I think if I had used cotton batting, the whole thing would have been more successful from the beginning, but the polyester will be okay. I decided to start from the middle of the quilt and work toward the edges instead of trying to run one continuous line from edge to edge. It means having to bury thread tails but I would rather do that than rip out stitching every day for another week. There's a lot more stitching to do than shows in the photo, but it's proof that I've made a start, at least.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Wxbzg5N8z-XvTVsBRYNnx66coySUI08hyphenhyphenK7M7ye2mSsG4AX6-zSK_10yF8R7Gn0YzF9YICuKx5YzQY-KG5KFdtEbecI7O-UST7eAmi0XleXItl1M7dcXBXRHicK-qhilpGvcxg/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Wxbzg5N8z-XvTVsBRYNnx66coySUI08hyphenhyphenK7M7ye2mSsG4AX6-zSK_10yF8R7Gn0YzF9YICuKx5YzQY-KG5KFdtEbecI7O-UST7eAmi0XleXItl1M7dcXBXRHicK-qhilpGvcxg/s320/005.JPG" width="240" /></a>Before I left the studio for the day I checked my Fab Four list for this month and pulled out the next top to be basted. I have 20 tops in the drawer waiting to be basted and quilted, and another 6 basted and ready to be quilted. While I have a quilt in the machine being quilted, the cutting table is usually clear, so that's a good time to get another quilt basted. I had chosen this one for the Fab Four list because it's relatively small, and the backing fabric was in the drawer with the top. I know I made this top when I lived in Tallulah, which means sometime between 1998 and 2003. There was a block-of-the-month using a special paper called Thangles to make half-square triangle blocks. It was the first of several quilts I made using shades of black/white/gray for the blocks; I had less fear that I wouldn't like the way the blocks went together when I didn't know what the final quilt would look like. I'm not sure how I'm going to quilt it yet, but I can study on it while I'm doing the basting.<br />
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Nothing else worth showing pictures of. I've done some thread crochet snowflakes, but they look like a rumpled mess until they're stiffened and pinned into shape, so you won't see those for a while. I started another tatted cross, hoping to empty the shuttles so I can rewind with a different thread. I did some more on the Calico Cats this morning, but that's going to be a long time in the finishing. I've done a little knitting in the evenings, but usually by the time I sit down with that, I'm too tired to work for long.<br />
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Time to bring Molly in for her supper. The cats have already eaten. Then I'll pick out a movie and settle into the Big Easy.Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-87690375986105842302015-08-11T19:30:00.000-05:002015-08-11T19:30:33.530-05:00Tuesday Twiddling<br />
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No new pictures of the Baby M quilt, because I have nothing new to show. I have several more failed attempts at quilting that I could talk about, but I'd rather not. I will say that at the moment there is nothing that needs to be picked out. That's because earlier this afternoon I ripped out my latest attempts, pulled out all the pins, repressed all the layers, then put the whole thing back together again. I couldn't bear to leave it for the night yet again with a trip to the frog pond scheduled for the morning, so I just left it on the cutting table in all its unsullied glory. Tomorrow I'll give it another go.<br />
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I did satisfy myself today that the problem is not in the machine or the way it is set up. I unthreaded everything, cleaned out what lint I could see, rethreaded everything, and put the walking foot back on. Then I took a practice sandwich and stitched a few lines to see what happened. It sewed beautifully. So that's not the issue. I really hope I have good news to report tomorrow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiingd2pQnMvSLertNwKQCYC6c7L1u4NJEnltDeE5WnSFmKBUniDSslhNbLRevGm1w3lRSHTWUPFbmuDRNagk99dhyphenhyphenYklXhlcmFx8aojzAMx91uMUbx8PkUlxdQi75tf7eShnFScg/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiingd2pQnMvSLertNwKQCYC6c7L1u4NJEnltDeE5WnSFmKBUniDSslhNbLRevGm1w3lRSHTWUPFbmuDRNagk99dhyphenhyphenYklXhlcmFx8aojzAMx91uMUbx8PkUlxdQi75tf7eShnFScg/s200/001.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
In the mean time I decided to see if I could move forward with some form of quilting and got out Calico Cats, a hand-quilting project that's been in progress for some time. It's too hot to quilt in my lap, so I've got it set up on the dining room table. The only glitch with that is I've turned off the AC in that part of the house since I can close it off, and only open it up at night after the cats have been put outside and Molly is asleep in her crate. In the early morning - like before sunrise early - I can work for an hour or so before it starts to get too warm. I'm out of practice and I had to hunt up the tools, and my callouses will need time to develop, but I have managed to quilt 2 of the cats so far this week.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXS3Zu22ZtHaYfZUaQo1PPa1l83uX_5nKsrZiTvZG_PBwJHKDD0HTubP-r15-5FRzWHFTmrT9RrMMLlEDJATs8nUMcORqkT2Xlwqw1hXllo3w6I3fUH5gasmsX311fMz0eGsLhg/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXS3Zu22ZtHaYfZUaQo1PPa1l83uX_5nKsrZiTvZG_PBwJHKDD0HTubP-r15-5FRzWHFTmrT9RrMMLlEDJATs8nUMcORqkT2Xlwqw1hXllo3w6I3fUH5gasmsX311fMz0eGsLhg/s200/002.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
I've been keeping my tatting handy for when I want to sit with my feet up in the afternoons. This is my newest creation, and includes a technique that is new to me, called the Josephine knot. It's the small circles between the larger rings around the outside. A bit fiddly, but I always like learning something new.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV930ZpM42oU06Sekl8WhPKZrjDm8arFwA7PzPht_AJ5mRICJQ1DE5oOCnDrx08TBtBvMiXllcyhwXXG7OFNoMxSYn4CE4bYZJpnIHYdRUcjQIQHJiIJO535d1e_mgGhYjw5PkpA/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV930ZpM42oU06Sekl8WhPKZrjDm8arFwA7PzPht_AJ5mRICJQ1DE5oOCnDrx08TBtBvMiXllcyhwXXG7OFNoMxSYn4CE4bYZJpnIHYdRUcjQIQHJiIJO535d1e_mgGhYjw5PkpA/s200/006.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
Molly wanted to be in the pictures today, so I finally managed to get one that was worth publishing. Between the fact that she's nearly monochromatic, and she doesn't stay still unless she's asleep, she's next to impossible to get a good picture of. But giving her a toy helped. She has always loved soft toys that are nearly as big as she is. (She also loves pulling the stuffing out of them, so they don't last very long; I usually buy them at the thrift store.)<br />
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The weatherman has promised us a break from the 100+ heat tomorrow, and I hope he keeps that promise. I can handle 90 a whole lot better than I handle 100.Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-31908453434586318752015-08-09T20:01:00.001-05:002015-08-09T20:01:16.599-05:00Sweltering Sunday The temperature has been over 100 every afternoon for about a week. I didn't get home until about 3:00 this afternoon, which means I was out in the worst of it. Even in an air-conditioned car, I got home feeling half baked. The fact that I slept for about an hour and a half is testimony to how much this kind of heat drains me.<br />
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I didn't post yesterday because I didn't really have anything new to say, except that the Baby M quilt continues to kick my butt. I took all the basting pins out, repressed the backing, relayered and repinned the whole thing. I found a box of basting pins I had forgotten about so was able to put in all the pins I wanted. But when I stitched the first line I still ended up with things shifting. So I stopped and picked out what I had just sewn, and put the project on hold until I can think more about the problem and what's causing it. I have some ideas, but I'll tackle it another day.<br />
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While I was in the studio I got out the box for the Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt and pulled out a piece of the green pindot that frames all the blocks. I then hunted up the book that had the directions, and made a new template for cutting blocks. I pressed the fabric and left it on the ironing table. Again, I will come back to that another day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-lvTQQ5TOY2GXTIEruMPFIzyQC7WXJMal1aYtDzBWjfmQKpYKoK6_lsY6130X890orMpSbgbrjeDnbmeH2Jw9VpEg18kxT6Ud6ADNSw7Pp5qN5ykfQc7eCieIZCSF0hf7JNf7Q/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-lvTQQ5TOY2GXTIEruMPFIzyQC7WXJMal1aYtDzBWjfmQKpYKoK6_lsY6130X890orMpSbgbrjeDnbmeH2Jw9VpEg18kxT6Ud6ADNSw7Pp5qN5ykfQc7eCieIZCSF0hf7JNf7Q/s200/003.JPG" width="200" /></a>By the end of the day yesterday my fingers were very sore. The combination of tatting, hand stitching, and pulling out machine stitches made the tips sore and the joints achy. So I was happy to come to the end of the day and sit with my knitting. I finished another hat yesterday, so decided to take pictures of the two I have for this month. These are part of an ongoing project for the patients at Arkansas Children's Hospital. These two were made from my alarmingly large stash of novelty yarn, and are just basic top-down beanies knitted until I get to the end of the skein.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7k8NKy08ERFC1waCOG_riYE8dB4kgeNO-qeMhpH7FNEzIDqFFQ7z_b84dbfYF72wLhbtgScrQt_z7btdCWVl7QyZ79v4xShR3dPSD8XrK2eTxsmMigmuG2O5tSrvtN-WrwXzboQ/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7k8NKy08ERFC1waCOG_riYE8dB4kgeNO-qeMhpH7FNEzIDqFFQ7z_b84dbfYF72wLhbtgScrQt_z7btdCWVl7QyZ79v4xShR3dPSD8XrK2eTxsmMigmuG2O5tSrvtN-WrwXzboQ/s200/002.JPG" width="200" /></a>Once I woke up this afternoon I decided to start by finishing the tatted cross I had started a day or so ago. This was a pretty simple pattern once I got into the rhythm of it, and I'm quite pleased with the finished result. The little snowflake next to it is one I finished a couple days ago. They look yellow in the photo because of the light, but are actually snow white. Eventually they will be stiffened and pinned out to give them more precise shape. But even unblocked they look pretty good. I think I have enough thread on the shuttle for one more snowflake, so I'll probably do one of those next.<br />
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Now I'm ready to relax with some knitting. I'm working on a hat that uses a new-to-me stitch, and the ribbing is now finished, so I'll start with that and see how complicated it is. Then I'll try to get a few rows of baby sweater done before I call it a day.<br />
Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-89785675888308331082015-08-07T19:09:00.001-05:002015-08-07T19:09:34.169-05:00Friday at the Frog PondAs ye sew, so shall ye rip. Ugh!<br />
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I remember my research adviser asking me one time, "why is it that you don't have time to do it right the first time, but you have time to do it wrong, then do it over?" Apparently I haven't learned that lesson in the last 40 years (along with a few others, I'm sure.)<br />
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It started with thinking "this is just a crib quilt, I don't need to do a ton of basting on it." This was reinforced by the recognition that I don't have a lot of basting pins available at the moment because they're all holding other quilts together. So I spread out the layers, threw a few pins in, and started to quilt.<br />
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Two lines of stitching later I realized I already had a pleat in the back and it was only going to get worse. So I pulled the quilt out of the machine, unpicked those 2 lines of stitching, and went back to the cutting table to throw in more pins. They didn't help. When I did one and a half lines of stitching I realized the extra pins just masked the problem but didn't make it go away. So once again I pulled the quilt out of the machine and started unpicking the stitches. Then the podcast I was listening to ended, and I realized it was already suppertime, and I decided the smart thing to do was quit for the day.<br />
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So tomorrow I will begin by continuing the frogging process, then pull out all the pins, and relayer the quilt, paying more attention to doing it right rather than doing it quickly.<br />
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I had some things I had to do today that weren't fiber related, so I didn't have a ton of time. But I did get the problem fixed on the Grandmother's Flower Garden, and tomorrow I can start adding the third column of blocks. I'm going to have to cut more green hexies, because there are placed that need to be filled in, which probably means cutting another template. I can't remember the last time I cut quilt pieces by marking them with a template and cutting them with scissors.<br />
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And now it's after supper, so I can relax with some knitting. I have a hat on the needles that is nearly finished, so I think I will finish that, then reload the needles. I keep those in the car for when I have waiting time at appointments or construction zones. I hope to also make some progress on the baby sweater that's part of Christmas knitting.<br />
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<br />Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-23554868004106228772015-08-06T19:21:00.001-05:002015-08-06T19:21:07.686-05:00SluggishThe heat and humidity got to me today. At least that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. The only thing I did in the studio today was drop off the quilt batts I made a quick trip to get early in the morning so I could work with them later in the day.<br />
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I did finish sewing together the top of Baby M's quilt yesterday, and found a piece of extra wide backing that was long enough. I got that cut down to size and pressed, then realized I didn't have any batting smaller than queen size, so decided to let that project rest until I could get a smaller one. All I need now is enough energy to pin the layers together and then made decisions about what thread to use for the quilting.<br />
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I putzed along at other projects, but can't say I accomplished much. I did get a tatted snowflake finished and started another cross. I figured out what I have to do to fix the Grandmother's Flower Garden; I didn't start the second row of blocks in the right place, so now the rows don't line up properly. Resewing the top block will fix that, and I may get to that tomorrow. A little bit of cross stitch happened,<br />
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I'm just glad supper is over and I can head to the Big Easy, pick up the baby sweater and knit. I think I can handle that. Maybe.Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-37436693474339585642015-08-04T18:13:00.000-05:002015-08-04T18:13:07.363-05:00Tuesday<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP2r6DAIsx9sahbsvd9xtrDjKTaTIS6zHnYpehc0mmJEu52Wtyq0P_aEYsxGxTSu5zlNJUKhY-5UxDJAR35JbKQkCjd80sabmhmh4nNt1gm6Ln_aGZLO5kJSeUwmEvvk9aAl9Qw/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP2r6DAIsx9sahbsvd9xtrDjKTaTIS6zHnYpehc0mmJEu52Wtyq0P_aEYsxGxTSu5zlNJUKhY-5UxDJAR35JbKQkCjd80sabmhmh4nNt1gm6Ln_aGZLO5kJSeUwmEvvk9aAl9Qw/s200/003.JPG" width="150" /></a>Today I did something I used to do quite often, but haven't done as much lately, and that was spend the whole day sewing. I had a few errands and some household chores on the list, but as the day went on and I got "in the zone," I decided they weren't anything that couldn't be put off a day so I just kept on with what I was doing. The end result was that the top to what is being called "Baby M's Quilt" is well along in it's construction. The blocks are together in groups of 4, so finishing the top tomorrow is entirely possible. This is a very simple quilt, with no borders, and just straight line quilting next to the seams, so I expect to be able to count it as a finish in a few days.<br />
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When I needed a break from standing and cutting and climbing up and down the stepstool I have to use to reach high enough on the design wall, I went up to the house and stretched out in my favorite chair, which I call "The Big Easy." I got another block set in the Grandmother's Flower Garden and did a little bit of cross stitch. The kit I'm working has a lot of beads, and I know I'm supposed to do all the cross stitch first, but it's hard to see how the design all works just now.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3PpwSysw2k57byQo3XSpX-SAOQyAVO_qKnr-lhqShoebUIvb64A7DvclUOgrVyV_1_2nYZJBJrgKKKx5RhjbdGoqOnCWz4gF4Gyxl9v5c_v3k18BDC9-Rpp8xguT7Z5odL96Dg/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3PpwSysw2k57byQo3XSpX-SAOQyAVO_qKnr-lhqShoebUIvb64A7DvclUOgrVyV_1_2nYZJBJrgKKKx5RhjbdGoqOnCWz4gF4Gyxl9v5c_v3k18BDC9-Rpp8xguT7Z5odL96Dg/s200/002.JPG" width="150" /></a>And I finished this tatted cross. I found a small goober after I had the ends sewn in, so it's not perfect, but it's the first one I've done in a while, so I can live with it. It finished about 5 inches long and 4 inches wide. I thought I was working with size 10 cotton, and it turned out I had size 20, which is smaller, but I think the finished size is good, so I may stick with the smaller thread. This afternoon I printed out a snowflake pattern that uses 2 shuttles, and I'll give that a go later this evening.<br />
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I will also get out some yarn this evening and get started on a baby sweater that's on the Christmas list. I wanted to finish it last month, but it turned out that the 2 skeins of yarn I wanted to use were of very different dye lots, and I just couldn't make it work to my satisfaction. So I bought new yarn and will start over.<br />
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It is Day 4 of the Yarn Sabbath, and I have to say I've not missed it as much as I thought I would. Having several projects sitting out ready to just pick up and stitch has helped a lot. But besides that, I was just ready for a change of pace. It feels good to be working on crafts I haven't done much of lately.Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-88123014625864801792015-08-03T18:02:00.000-05:002015-08-03T18:02:30.626-05:00Monday MuddlingToday started with errands and appointments, so there wasn't a lot of studio time. Still, I managed to accomplish a few things and keep the forward momentum going.<br />
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First, I finished my UFO inventory. I ended up with an even 60. These are projects which, with two exceptions, have pieces cut and at least some piecing done on them. The two that are just piles of fabrics are baby quilts that need to be finished this fall, so they went on the list. A couple aren't really even on the radar for ever finishing, but I liked the idea of ending with a nice round number, so I included them. The total number was about what I expected it to be, although I was hoping it would turn out to be less.<br />
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Now I will pick what one of my online groups calls "The Fab Four." These are four projects that will get the majority of my attention until they are finished or I get to the end of the month, whichever comes first. At the beginning of September I will choose four more - maybe some of the same ones - and keep the process going. I like to pick projects that are in different stages of completion, so that I can rotate from machine piecing to basting to quilting. Sometimes that isn't possible, and I have to be fairly monogamous when I have a project in the machine. Each project has it's own needs for how the machine is set up, and changing the settings to work on more than one at a time isn't worth the time wasted.<br />
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Right now I have the baby quilt going through the machine. I finished a couple sets of blocks today and should be able to start assembling the top by the end of the week. I'm hand piecing the Grandmother's Flower Garden, and that's a good project to work on in the early morning while I'm having my coffee. Then there is a quilt that is getting hand quilting. I haven't pulled that out this week yet, but I will figure out some way to work on it without having the whole thing in my lap in 100-degree weather.<br />
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I was trying to find some other form of needlework that I could work on while sitting in the easy chair with my feet up. Hand piecing works, and so does tatting, but I needed something else. So I went hunting for counted cross-stitch. I knew I had a partially completed angel that I started back in the 90's, and I found it as well as the directions and the box of floss, so that has now come up to the den. In the process I found a couple of kits for cross stitch and beads on perforated paper; I will work those up first and figure out something clever to do with them.<br />
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While I was pondering and thinking about embroidery, I suddenly had a vision of a piece of crazy quilting, with all the embroidery along the seam lines. I remembered that I had started some crazy pieced squares using necktie silk remnants that I bought in New Orleans. I haven't dug those out yet, but I'm inspired. Something will happen along those lines before the month is over.Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-41645001968558645982015-08-02T18:54:00.000-05:002015-08-02T18:54:31.191-05:00Evening and Morning, the Second Day<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwF1WmDC54BHSdasoPKWdkrwaqjujSoWphY6g-QIiO6WHUWqkve8eVnxEzLTir39ZAhi_mFiCmIyI8_1ZSmSO0gD1VIYexlhujmctiRRNnYeeBFhVoH4u-1oE6tIfDZD4uusjlEQ/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwF1WmDC54BHSdasoPKWdkrwaqjujSoWphY6g-QIiO6WHUWqkve8eVnxEzLTir39ZAhi_mFiCmIyI8_1ZSmSO0gD1VIYexlhujmctiRRNnYeeBFhVoH4u-1oE6tIfDZD4uusjlEQ/s200/001.JPG" width="200" /></a>Sunday is a work day for me, and I'm usually pretty tired by the time I get home. I have to drive about an hour to get to my church, so it's usually around 2:00 by the time I have lunch with the folks and drive home. That means not a lot gets done that involves getting out of the easy chair. But I did go down to the studio late in the afternoon and get a little bit done.<br />
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Since this quilt was on the cutting table, I decided it was the easiest to move forward - and it has a deadline since the baby is due the end of this month. It's a very simple quilt - just half-square triangles, but keeping the colors straight means I have to use a couple of brain cells once in a while. I had some blocks sewn but not squared up, so I started with that, and that helped remind me what my notes meant. Then I cut some pieces and got another set of blocks into the machine. Since it had been a while since I had used the machine, that meant winding bobbins, cleaning out lint, and all that good maintenance stuff. By the time the blocks were sewn I was tired, so I quit before I did damage with the rotary cutter.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39HnWAil_GweXCikw_J3tDShwb2cQaDMpoaLd0-5kx-d9XFi8i9GFVg7vNM5Q8LmewhRF_B2fHOv02waZEIyDcusiFhYQeU6o2pQ1vl-qwqRg_LfivIhq-xWEk5SAgyrU9H6xLQ/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39HnWAil_GweXCikw_J3tDShwb2cQaDMpoaLd0-5kx-d9XFi8i9GFVg7vNM5Q8LmewhRF_B2fHOv02waZEIyDcusiFhYQeU6o2pQ1vl-qwqRg_LfivIhq-xWEk5SAgyrU9H6xLQ/s200/002.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
This morning I got out this Grandmother's Flower Garden that has been languishing for the past 20 years, waiting for me to get inspired to sew the blocks together. For years this was a travel project because it was easy to hand piece in the car. But once the blocks were done, and a layout established, it got put away until my life settled down a little. Then I rediscovered knitting and hand-piecing no longer had a place in my life. But now I need hand projects that don't involve yarn, so out it came. By the time I went to the studio this afternoon I had the whole first column put together. From here it will take more time to add each block, because there is more sewing to attach them to each other and to the first column. But I may actually finish this puppy some day. Hand-quilted, of course. So maybe in the 2020's.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1e7Ro_v165-bdeZgSDuaecQxC6Tvs8If_C6na_UHnWDMXbIrFwyLZfa_hwV1pgZ6l4uiborlxomG6WF1HRlmbwxRtEzVWDscDMzAAZaQ3MDG_OYzV9-iL28mGQNHBw5Wsnp8dw/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1e7Ro_v165-bdeZgSDuaecQxC6Tvs8If_C6na_UHnWDMXbIrFwyLZfa_hwV1pgZ6l4uiborlxomG6WF1HRlmbwxRtEzVWDscDMzAAZaQ3MDG_OYzV9-iL28mGQNHBw5Wsnp8dw/s200/003.JPG" width="200" /></a>The other hand work that I can do from the easy chair is tatting. The last time I had a booth at Christmas Marketplace I sold every tatted cross I had, so I'm starting with those. White seems to be the preferred color, since that's what everyone's grandmother used, but I have a lot of white tatting cotton, so that was an easy choice. It's slow going right now because I'm remembering how it works, and my fingers have to get toughened up where I wrap the thread around my hand, but it will get better. And it's a great craft for summer when it's too hot to sit under a big heavy project.<br />
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I feel the need to add one more kind of project. Something a little more artistic, but still not involving yarn. I think embroidery of some sort, but I don't know what yet. I'll have to explore that over the next few days. I know I have unfinished counted cross-stitch somewhere; maybe that will fill the gap. And maybe I'll just invent something new. Who knows.Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-90544771355799922072015-08-01T17:46:00.000-05:002015-08-01T17:49:04.965-05:00State of the Studio Report<br />
I can't believe it's been a year since I've posted to this blog. Definitely way past time for an update.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73d7n8Q26m_Tx_E0xF0tFjQRtAaFvDOyEpTEwhJKu26MqRm3sbzNItT_7A3HSTDvKZbF_s036S2zAqcK0Di4whta0Zhenh1hcW_22-KTq4eXqa1kPSKGNA1ch2P0OttiwYShl_A/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73d7n8Q26m_Tx_E0xF0tFjQRtAaFvDOyEpTEwhJKu26MqRm3sbzNItT_7A3HSTDvKZbF_s036S2zAqcK0Di4whta0Zhenh1hcW_22-KTq4eXqa1kPSKGNA1ch2P0OttiwYShl_A/s200/003.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vYa1RcGBFVOSAadJozIOTcxNEeVxiHgRGOI7f_z5SJHNr8HbdP3JRy-cQS1Bm9I7eM8YfhJFF8uqI2LjfLbCU9Hvqzgf6OI2OAcXqlRXVSJv-zdS_Om-XqiiX30SlqthR11asg/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vYa1RcGBFVOSAadJozIOTcxNEeVxiHgRGOI7f_z5SJHNr8HbdP3JRy-cQS1Bm9I7eM8YfhJFF8uqI2LjfLbCU9Hvqzgf6OI2OAcXqlRXVSJv-zdS_Om-XqiiX30SlqthR11asg/s200/005.JPG" width="200" /></a>The pictures show that nothing much has changed. Surfaces are still piled high, There's clutter everywhere. I can't remember the last time I dusted or swept the floor. It's the same story - mostly.<br />
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But that's about to change. I realized at one point last spring that I'd gotten more than a little obsessive about knitting, crocheting and yarn in general. I was starting the day with a stash-busting project, then working my way through a cycle of projects, with and without deadlines, through the day. Quilting and sewing had pretty much gotten shoved to the side.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWao_L2A2Wte5w-Adl3hbS3VL2GPtis1pE_HJIrNntfCycihpuKDI1hmBpyBP4vltypLHbbiGIeX3t_naNbfVGaLBez7PSTvMkLNIJRXEPfFTwaHeEOXSo9dPxy_RewRLyh-7Hg/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWao_L2A2Wte5w-Adl3hbS3VL2GPtis1pE_HJIrNntfCycihpuKDI1hmBpyBP4vltypLHbbiGIeX3t_naNbfVGaLBez7PSTvMkLNIJRXEPfFTwaHeEOXSo9dPxy_RewRLyh-7Hg/s200/002.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSueaJTlftl1uLguCKEjsS7rFRyBpoSoAPcfZ0BTF6Jxbuh79Rkbc8slyF4U48QgZmMYQ_7LsiMTQdfsxS-3CxTZxaLuRfUjcfC6ciyRWwReRVP4Oq3z2qvOdME1bwxm344Hn9w/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSueaJTlftl1uLguCKEjsS7rFRyBpoSoAPcfZ0BTF6Jxbuh79Rkbc8slyF4U48QgZmMYQ_7LsiMTQdfsxS-3CxTZxaLuRfUjcfC6ciyRWwReRVP4Oq3z2qvOdME1bwxm344Hn9w/s200/004.JPG" width="200" /></a>So I decided it was time for a yarn sabbath. A month of working on crafts that didn't involve yarn, at least not knitting or crocheting. I thought I would do it in June, but I got involved in a stash-busting marathon, and then I went on vacation, so it got deferred until I got home. Now it's August, and it's time. So the needles and hooks have been put away, the various projects have been stashed, and I've pulled out sewing needles and tatting shuttles, and there may even be some cross stitch before the month is over.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNVbdbXjKkJZVfvxYAHWAjIn4DvEfsy923pD84beNbv1xu6jVmuxS6gvgdjfFNoSYPC0yoMycbTUNVOjKDHHgYxcP3J4WQxTbcO8t3VlF4ROn7QEdYPT4U9OiLNFU2fy-Mv2EFQ/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNVbdbXjKkJZVfvxYAHWAjIn4DvEfsy923pD84beNbv1xu6jVmuxS6gvgdjfFNoSYPC0yoMycbTUNVOjKDHHgYxcP3J4WQxTbcO8t3VlF4ROn7QEdYPT4U9OiLNFU2fy-Mv2EFQ/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNVbdbXjKkJZVfvxYAHWAjIn4DvEfsy923pD84beNbv1xu6jVmuxS6gvgdjfFNoSYPC0yoMycbTUNVOjKDHHgYxcP3J4WQxTbcO8t3VlF4ROn7QEdYPT4U9OiLNFU2fy-Mv2EFQ/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My first project of the day was a baby blanket that I had started doing blanket stitch on. It's been a while since I've done this kind of embroidery and my stitches show it. But it will get better, and the end result will be a crib blanket for donation. I worked a couple of thread lengths, then my fingers started to get sore from pulling six strands of floss through fleece. It will be my early morning project for a few days at least.</span><br />
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After lunch I went down to the studio and started working on my first big project of the month - an inventory of all the UFO projects. Step 4 of the AA 12-step program says "Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves." I won't say it's a fearless process. Coming to grips with how many projects are in various stages of completion requires a great deal of courage. I started a spread sheet to track progress on the list. So far there are 36 entries in the spreadsheet and I haven't started into the project boxes on the shelves. But it needs to be done. So bit by bit I'll work on it.<br />
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Once I have a list, the plan is to choose 4 projects at a time to move forward at least one step. And there is also the option of saying that I'm done with that project and it needs to leave my house as is, either to the thrift shop, to Ebay, or to the animal shelter as a cat bed. </div>
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When I turned 60 I looked at the shelves of project boxes and told myself I did not want to be looking at those same projects when I turned 70. Well, I turn 65 next week, and I'm not half way there. So it's time to get serious and start moving things out. Inventory is the first step.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOCc_BFR-dhIDeDdfg4cwnkQwLB_D512PYhbXc5t-vxdQSB27owfAGEiJxNfx6GXNauGLFfoeuVd2Z2k-SwEXm2r1A5YVD7PTGL2RY9tpAA2MkzhLUHQWdi4ySi9TzHy0X3QcIA/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOCc_BFR-dhIDeDdfg4cwnkQwLB_D512PYhbXc5t-vxdQSB27owfAGEiJxNfx6GXNauGLFfoeuVd2Z2k-SwEXm2r1A5YVD7PTGL2RY9tpAA2MkzhLUHQWdi4ySi9TzHy0X3QcIA/s320/001.JPG" width="240" /></a>This quilt, called Crazy Geese, is the one currently decorating my design wall. I finished the top about a month ago, but there hasn't been anything in progress to replace it, so it's been allowed to stay. It was a long-term UFO - started some time in the late 90's I think - so moving it to the finished top stage was a major event. Quilting will have to wait a bit, though, even though the unquilted top drawer is full to overflowing, because there are other projects that have to take priority. A friend is expecting a new grandbaby by the end of August, the two honorary grandbabies born last year should have quilts for their first birthday, and wedding quilts are due and overdue. </div>
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My plan at the moment is to post new entries every day this month. I hope I can follow through with that. I'm a bit excited to see what I can accomplish in a month where sewing and quilting are the focus. I did decide last week that some knitting can happen at the end of the day, since I am working on Christmas projects, and I'm not sure I want to be working on something where my skills are rusty when I'm tired. We'll see what happens.</div>
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Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-52185795543522764452014-08-02T13:26:00.001-05:002014-08-02T13:26:22.142-05:00August State of the Studio ReportWell, sometimes we start out with the best intentions, and then life throws a monkey wrench in the works and we have to fall back and punt. I was all set to take a set of pictures for a July State of the Studio report when I ended up in the hospital with pulmonary emboli and DVT. Being able to breathe seemed more important than taking pictures. But getting into the studio has been good therapy. When I first came home I could sew for maybe 15 minutes at a time, and now I'm good for at least an hour so long as I don't do too much standing all at one time. And I've managed to finish a couple of projects, so the word for the year is still "forward."<br />
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Some things haven't changed. Robby's quilt is still in its bag and still in the chair. Theresa's quilt is still draped over the back of the chair. And there's still a pile of books and magazines on the floor because there's no room for them on the shelves. That is going to change this month. I have a plan.<br />
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The first project I finished was Anita's Arrowhead. This project seemed determined to bite me in the backside as often and as painfully as possible. The fact that I was working with a set of 10" squares didn't help because I had no extra fabrics unless I made the quilt smaller. So cutting a piece wrong was catastrophic. I managed to find a blue and white print that blended in pretty well, and I moved on. Then I started sewing the blocks together wrong. And I had the wrong number of blue blocks in relation to the number of yellow blocks. And some of the blocks didn't get squared up quite the way they needed to be. But in the end I got it all worked out and got everything sewed together, and the top is finished.<br />
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Someday I want to make another of these. I want to learn from my mistakes and do it better. I think this would make a stunning 2-color quilt - maybe red and white. While it's not a particularly difficult quilt to make, it's not a fast quilt. You start with big pieces and sew and recut and resew and square up. If you do it right, everything should fit together perfectly.<br />
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The second project was designed to use up some of the leftover strippy fabric from the kaleidoscope quilt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7U06SiqyyaJ9mfAnNioMQi33vYQZKKT7dYOc1GnBDSwtITEALOXXErkDjO9XLkrIGmfuKCudYlbS_f9vudAGiaAzDrfleosj6GnLo6Voc1Y7eM4qwmbr8ykNSmFv1lGz4vH1Jgw/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7U06SiqyyaJ9mfAnNioMQi33vYQZKKT7dYOc1GnBDSwtITEALOXXErkDjO9XLkrIGmfuKCudYlbS_f9vudAGiaAzDrfleosj6GnLo6Voc1Y7eM4qwmbr8ykNSmFv1lGz4vH1Jgw/s1600/001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I used a set of kitty panels that have been sitting in my stash for a long time. and just used the strippy stuff for sashing. The orange border was just there to throw something extra into the mix. This one took only a few days to put together, and it has now joined Anita's Arrowhead in the drawer of tops waiting to be quilted.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-o6ov9SKMutQD6NZJAojhYRWGI0TaHWwBRsh-pP52CFGuV04iFRPl1EwVAMZw4z3IhzMLOL8e21TFtwKQ-CgZg5qxNQT46u8zjLkl0m9xuzqXsm_zbMC22RX1hW1FnZohM4ER-Q/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-o6ov9SKMutQD6NZJAojhYRWGI0TaHWwBRsh-pP52CFGuV04iFRPl1EwVAMZw4z3IhzMLOL8e21TFtwKQ-CgZg5qxNQT46u8zjLkl0m9xuzqXsm_zbMC22RX1hW1FnZohM4ER-Q/s1600/002.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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As always, the surfaces are piled high with things that haven't found a home yet, or that are sitting out for some purpose. On the left side of the ironing table is a stack of fabrics that are destined to become baby quilts for the newest members of the family. I'm not sure when I'm going to actually start those; I know it won't be until after at least one of them has been born. On the right side is a piece of knitting that needs buttons sewn on. It came down here to get blocked and has yet to find its way back to the house. Perhaps having eyes will help with that.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Sq3KhRqVb7gFc98y-YSK2y5l2gjU8uw7ERUirwQcxNpbRHHJy1juorTlfzHCtE2vNVXDGv4rEerP9KkfKWjOCuW4WorrlhYtirJv2bj8u4168rGBXuLDq2jDHQSyvA-wiZubxw/s1600/State+of+the+Studio+-+August,+2014+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Sq3KhRqVb7gFc98y-YSK2y5l2gjU8uw7ERUirwQcxNpbRHHJy1juorTlfzHCtE2vNVXDGv4rEerP9KkfKWjOCuW4WorrlhYtirJv2bj8u4168rGBXuLDq2jDHQSyvA-wiZubxw/s1600/State+of+the+Studio+-+August,+2014+003.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikO-bZDdOMTiePK4IsEaP9bE3eoM7ULzj2MYon8KKluTSWqKknphjk8THAbSs20RVag03gDW5v86FN0O-FIh9JdnqXujQxwAqCkzLhr5C105zRqiM3REB7UGwzX-wIm-nPpVGhLw/s1600/State+of+the+Studio+-+August,+2014+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikO-bZDdOMTiePK4IsEaP9bE3eoM7ULzj2MYon8KKluTSWqKknphjk8THAbSs20RVag03gDW5v86FN0O-FIh9JdnqXujQxwAqCkzLhr5C105zRqiM3REB7UGwzX-wIm-nPpVGhLw/s1600/State+of+the+Studio+-+August,+2014+004.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>The card table seems to have become a permanent part of the floor plan of the studio, although that was certainly not my intent when I set it up. It has become the dumping ground for everything that's in the way somewhere else. And now something new has been added to the wire cubes on the side closest to the cutting table:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiw1nR_gfrrEoIdBPFaY3frRBxrJ_rav7TZOtvAe7TfQ6PJJNatB91nb8evzq82okIcuy7P3769aZMxe6VsltfdFYLAtJszqoAsFRmXCdIMcf1MdwWBGXy86HwEgAtiZ8WrcOjGA/s1600/State+of+the+Studio+-+August,+2014+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiw1nR_gfrrEoIdBPFaY3frRBxrJ_rav7TZOtvAe7TfQ6PJJNatB91nb8evzq82okIcuy7P3769aZMxe6VsltfdFYLAtJszqoAsFRmXCdIMcf1MdwWBGXy86HwEgAtiZ8WrcOjGA/s1600/State+of+the+Studio+-+August,+2014+005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>a large muslin "pillowcase" for holding fabric and batting scraps. The idea is to fill it moderately full, then sew the end closed and make a washable cover for it and call it a dog bed. I guess if I can crochet kitty cozies out of leftover yarn, I can use scraps to make a dog bed. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCIQLZJyEPEYm3sMT4UNGOiSx9ynvT0sdzcQD9EnQ72pyPhPrkbxP7OzmXu-wN0KOnihnfiI5wm96UXG_AiIPwZbHtCZYzAIW3M5jBMKFtryOjbRZ6FoM5fb5P17NaY4jVzfxSQ/s1600/State+of+the+Studio+-+August,+2014+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCIQLZJyEPEYm3sMT4UNGOiSx9ynvT0sdzcQD9EnQ72pyPhPrkbxP7OzmXu-wN0KOnihnfiI5wm96UXG_AiIPwZbHtCZYzAIW3M5jBMKFtryOjbRZ6FoM5fb5P17NaY4jVzfxSQ/s1600/State+of+the+Studio+-+August,+2014+007.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>The sewing table is pretty much filled up with my current project, which is putting together a bunch of quilt-as-you-go squares I made back in the spring. I'm working from the back side so I don't end up with all the lime green backing squares in one corner. I have made one significant change in this one compared to others like this that I have done, and that is I have widened the sashing. I didn't like the look of the narrow sashing, and it was difficult to sew together, so I did the math to figure out how wide to cut the strips to end up with a 1" sashing and that's what I'm using. The seam is a 1/2" seam which works perfectly with my walking foot, and the whole thing is going together quite easily. Right now most of it is on the sewing table; the rest is on the design wall. </div>
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If I don't screw things up and if my foot and leg cooperate, I may have this one finished by the end of the weekend. Since that will be my first complete finish since March, I'm pretty excited about it.</div>
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There is one surface in the studio that's looking pretty good, and that's the cutting table. Sitting proudly in the middle of it is the next quilt I plan to baste and get ready for the machine. I have one already basted that I will start stitching on next, but in the meantime I can be getting this one ready to go. I made the top when I was in seminary - I think in summer of 1995 - so it's time for it to come out of the drawer and see the world.</div>
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I leave for my summer trip to Canada in less than three weeks. I plan to spend that time getting tops quilted and more or less get my mojo back. Then when I get home in September I'll be ready physically and mentally to tackle Robby's quilt. </div>
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Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-57128519075023635552014-06-11T19:10:00.000-05:002014-06-11T19:10:17.139-05:00June State of the Studio Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a while. I was going great guns for a while, and then I got caught up in the Ravellenic games and some yarn stash-busting and sewing just sort of hasn't happened for a while. But in the last week or so I've begun to switch gears and get more into summertime mode, which means less working on big lap projects and more time spent on things that don't trap extra heat. So it's time for a State of the Studio report.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBRlklhk3ZNCSrMj-fnjbvHYK7HOgiPuiprQaFkOCwruzmbGHBP8SmWEzsnWTMX6YKH8FW0paNpjvjJn0qb9K3tupzBs40DJqwiYlrAMLML86_kB-WQOqoE9DIP3IRvQMk_eSXg/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBRlklhk3ZNCSrMj-fnjbvHYK7HOgiPuiprQaFkOCwruzmbGHBP8SmWEzsnWTMX6YKH8FW0paNpjvjJn0qb9K3tupzBs40DJqwiYlrAMLML86_kB-WQOqoE9DIP3IRvQMk_eSXg/s1600/001.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a>First, a couple of projects did get finished. The Kaleidoscope top is finished. I decided to let it be crib-sized, mainly because I got tired of cutting triangles. For now it's hanging out in the drawer with other unquilted tops; someday I'll get it out and quilt it.<br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6i_C_LwIqOpffqRcXOLoOgYng3NvV5c8muYem7TmQPjqDQ6Y4xqOd0KzjCnaKzwYPY58W6_vG9IZLluyIl7Yg3rcPsRtX1uRi6lUWO_r6YRr8xh7Ol4Cq4mWs3QWNNn1NlOhLTg/s1600/Tilted+Stars+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6i_C_LwIqOpffqRcXOLoOgYng3NvV5c8muYem7TmQPjqDQ6Y4xqOd0KzjCnaKzwYPY58W6_vG9IZLluyIl7Yg3rcPsRtX1uRi6lUWO_r6YRr8xh7Ol4Cq4mWs3QWNNn1NlOhLTg/s1600/Tilted+Stars+002.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
The Tilted Stars did finally get completely finished. The new packaged binding doesn't match the old exactly, but I wasn't about to take the whole thing off and start over, so it is what it is. I seriously doubt the kid that sleeps under it will care.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjst2oBhdJdVSS-7FNok62iMgWtgO3BzfWMHQiRdP9hOh8JFswgEXvTKMd430wbteoL4zuvp8lpXvJSf8wJpsKWCy5c8qN_EEglfOx3qlPwXbzsNA4B8Q0ntveU3sggQvZCeuLalA/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjst2oBhdJdVSS-7FNok62iMgWtgO3BzfWMHQiRdP9hOh8JFswgEXvTKMd430wbteoL4zuvp8lpXvJSf8wJpsKWCy5c8qN_EEglfOx3qlPwXbzsNA4B8Q0ntveU3sggQvZCeuLalA/s1600/003.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a>I ended up with a good bit of strippy fabric left over from the Kaleidoscope, so I got out a set of cat panels that I've been saving (hoarding) for a while and decided to put them together with strippy sashing. There are 30 panels all together, so this will be another crib quilt. It's hanging here because the design wall is currently occupied by another project.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9x2Ext0t3CtxPpxe8nqjElvRCBfWdBl24u-TlnO5-iSTOu4dzJ8VAeKvKzehdWLMIlBtekPgt_fJE2zVKc22JYzv7x2mfIFVPRjUwr2naUlPMZ2aKJAha9ti5IoopKH5bhK6GoQ/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9x2Ext0t3CtxPpxe8nqjElvRCBfWdBl24u-TlnO5-iSTOu4dzJ8VAeKvKzehdWLMIlBtekPgt_fJE2zVKc22JYzv7x2mfIFVPRjUwr2naUlPMZ2aKJAha9ti5IoopKH5bhK6GoQ/s1600/001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>This block is known as Anita's Arrowhead, and, like the strippy quilts, it's coming into existence because of a Craftsy class taught by Anita Grossman Solomon. The construction is interesting. You start with 2 squares, sew 2 seams, then cut the squares apart and reassemble the pieces. I had seen this technique years ago when Anita wrote it up for a quilt magazine but the class was the incentive to actually create a quilt using it. I had a set of 10" squares I had acquired on a buying expedition and some dark blue tone-on-tone that seemed like a good companion. I'm going to end up with 42 blocks that are 10" square, so it's going to be a generous twin-sized quilt. I've finished more blocks since I took this picture, so I'm nearly half done with the piecing. I'll work on color placement when I get the first 21 blocks done; there are 2 of each fabric so the 2nd half will mirror the first half in some way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCD_s5Xw49TTlbqhzMmNiG9klV9nhfhpH4raUDCZYvEnKJFTe7FWcO8VNlwMt8986wqpY0wYQ26cImu51sTjNlkUDfJ2wGhLPRZVvnok8p7CdZKmn8N6eEWakpVvPdGYlEk8p8vw/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCD_s5Xw49TTlbqhzMmNiG9klV9nhfhpH4raUDCZYvEnKJFTe7FWcO8VNlwMt8986wqpY0wYQ26cImu51sTjNlkUDfJ2wGhLPRZVvnok8p7CdZKmn8N6eEWakpVvPdGYlEk8p8vw/s1600/006.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>Because you sew, then cut, then resew, this quilt has taken up nearly every surface in the studio. You can see some pieces of it on the sewing table next to the machine, along with the bag containing the spoils of my last trip to Vicksburg. There are also bits of it on the cutting table and the ironing table.<br />
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As for Robby's quilt, here it is, still in the bag I brought it home from the long-armer's in. I haven't gotten up the courage to work on it yet. The new projects are meant to be a kind of warm-up exercise, getting my quilting brain and muscles talking to each other again. You can also see the pieces of Theresa's quilt on the back of the chair. The good news is that's all that's in the chair except for a couple of stray tools.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nmjHewLEysro5FpmhlJKxe8PBHOVPWViDF9RbzDR4V5GEEOzElC5Ei3iK1jyWBYjrAJu8aiXI7Z_Tj22UZkfMujJ05tiBatg72xOyqHGnHqlftzYF3p3r6CGcaQZRCpNKK_aDw/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nmjHewLEysro5FpmhlJKxe8PBHOVPWViDF9RbzDR4V5GEEOzElC5Ei3iK1jyWBYjrAJu8aiXI7Z_Tj22UZkfMujJ05tiBatg72xOyqHGnHqlftzYF3p3r6CGcaQZRCpNKK_aDw/s1600/007.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>All the rest of the junk is piled here, as always. I'm more interested in sewing than in tidying right now. Some day I'll work on this.<br />
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So this is the state of the studio in mid-June. I hope there will be progress to show by the beginning of July.</div>
Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-27415299551822621362014-03-02T20:18:00.000-06:002014-03-02T20:18:04.254-06:00End of February State of the Studio Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I wish I could say the studio shows as much progress at the end of February as it did the end of January, but it just isn't so. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzsQMNJa6DYxw2xKsUnT6fehvt50T1R7LLa1zxHy5MPVhDWOIycu2oo_2xsNReuY6riBmhdPD2PezoxSYV_0OLl3Eph_rthtfqf2rtTABBosmyUGCqNoxKDQo38DZdEKuU90JjQ/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzsQMNJa6DYxw2xKsUnT6fehvt50T1R7LLa1zxHy5MPVhDWOIycu2oo_2xsNReuY6riBmhdPD2PezoxSYV_0OLl3Eph_rthtfqf2rtTABBosmyUGCqNoxKDQo38DZdEKuU90JjQ/s1600/003.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurQ4wm3G9zf1bSbhyphenhyphen9lmzTjcdCzDcLzzEErCLYi64TpCB1_i0xBHcPudQEvBl9Sp-U8k2cnv3oOTXqNoOPoHAExNKzVZCpVhKAwkoiZuGPHhkKFIfpnuJ1CclDqT4srMbMfAxkw/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurQ4wm3G9zf1bSbhyphenhyphen9lmzTjcdCzDcLzzEErCLYi64TpCB1_i0xBHcPudQEvBl9Sp-U8k2cnv3oOTXqNoOPoHAExNKzVZCpVhKAwkoiZuGPHhkKFIfpnuJ1CclDqT4srMbMfAxkw/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurQ4wm3G9zf1bSbhyphenhyphen9lmzTjcdCzDcLzzEErCLYi64TpCB1_i0xBHcPudQEvBl9Sp-U8k2cnv3oOTXqNoOPoHAExNKzVZCpVhKAwkoiZuGPHhkKFIfpnuJ1CclDqT4srMbMfAxkw/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBe78WA4RP0M1BBmao6OwRC2ntAsCaB6aXImzaRnXwXii37Qni9FvnF56T5eC3-dGFFz5T08-nLo7XD9fmoVNZIBfSog98Xp5HBBnhH1ni4nIRvB_FDm74U1fGaDkFt2ZslQlAhg/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: right;">Tilted Stars is still in the rocker, although if you look closely you can see that a package of quilt binding has been thrown on top of it. I've got what I need to finish it, but I haven't gotten to it y</span><span style="text-align: right;">et. Hexagons are still on the design wall, although I have made progress on that top in the last couple of days. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnNFnjG-CjWRHPG6YOYnK9b-AiSknndDqbAqUzmQfCLMkyNStw3jFJkmdIKqUjLSIjEZjktnigMNJSLudppdxw3x2FGTxsoj_tmzzkCizdXekk4pTWKEtJ-9VOmN6qKHsWg1nZQ/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnNFnjG-CjWRHPG6YOYnK9b-AiSknndDqbAqUzmQfCLMkyNStw3jFJkmdIKqUjLSIjEZjktnigMNJSLudppdxw3x2FGTxsoj_tmzzkCizdXekk4pTWKEtJ-9VOmN6qKHsWg1nZQ/s1600/002.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Otherwise, there hasn't been a lot of quilty activity going on this past month. </div>
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There were two reasons for that. The first was that I was in our local community theater's production of <i>Les Miserables.</i> It was a fabulous production, and I loved almost all of it, but it was a huge drain on both time and energy. And there were costumes to be sewn. Which is why my cutting table looked like this earlier this week. All that has now been cleared away, but for a few days at least, all of that was on every flat surface in the studio. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOMmDo_2rSi-LSf_6hUcwA_3rEM9HvSv3slNQ85jHIDtU9rbKmeMLo7MGoaqP-_-Ziu2m3gBsCWruPRKf8dmlWOcRPKNWLgRFHOHujWBqAQiYWK7qroMPPVmqEOpHXJYabT328A/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOMmDo_2rSi-LSf_6hUcwA_3rEM9HvSv3slNQ85jHIDtU9rbKmeMLo7MGoaqP-_-Ziu2m3gBsCWruPRKf8dmlWOcRPKNWLgRFHOHujWBqAQiYWK7qroMPPVmqEOpHXJYabT328A/s1600/001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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And then there were the Ravellenic Games, a fiber event that occurs simultaneously with the Olympic Games. I decided my challenge for this year would be to finish an afghan that had been taking up space in a corner of the yarn room for years - 5 or 6 at least. So while I watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, I got out what came to be known as The Beast. At the beginning of the games it looked like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6d3r7YRWL95k1mvNp7Hdv295kn2wwa-1HSM-XeFpwL3KMHaoDO2yjuwOPKG-xvJdApwma_FviKaK-2JqRgRtHb3onfzfddmzcRB_5qnVC_Wj4jIWQOC2BTlvWDwUkCXRSat6kw/s1600/Ravellenic+Games+2014+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6d3r7YRWL95k1mvNp7Hdv295kn2wwa-1HSM-XeFpwL3KMHaoDO2yjuwOPKG-xvJdApwma_FviKaK-2JqRgRtHb3onfzfddmzcRB_5qnVC_Wj4jIWQOC2BTlvWDwUkCXRSat6kw/s1600/Ravellenic+Games+2014+001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
and smelled quite strongly of cat pee. At the end of the Games, it looked like this, and smelled of fabric softener:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlmwRvd8I_53PpZSNqliFIvfLkcAagk9L5AktKxgVeMWnwwRfDEhK_FNZpG-AcyXv0qq5c6xDGCZhb5GZxGQurSEd5yPfAuJvO9vu-pVw7ZqsKOLXSCawhIvCHbQqmzPgQjeGJw/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlmwRvd8I_53PpZSNqliFIvfLkcAagk9L5AktKxgVeMWnwwRfDEhK_FNZpG-AcyXv0qq5c6xDGCZhb5GZxGQurSEd5yPfAuJvO9vu-pVw7ZqsKOLXSCawhIvCHbQqmzPgQjeGJw/s1600/006.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Needless to say, it was two weeks worth of rather monogamous knitting that got The Beast finished and cleaned up good enough for company. There was no time for quilting (or much else) if I was going to get my gold medal.<br />
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But now that's done, and the musical is done, so it's time to get back to sewing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KVpyPRPZGkPbqbA3kAcVl5sgQuuoUY6OITC-MT5qQ_CpiDNcXUhIGwqTGovDUMtRbKz_1BDavplrp9ga5GyzlYMjF6cC5An5bSZeSsBwqxGx-SDJXBEg_A5Urtm3tO4TSAF_WA/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KVpyPRPZGkPbqbA3kAcVl5sgQuuoUY6OITC-MT5qQ_CpiDNcXUhIGwqTGovDUMtRbKz_1BDavplrp9ga5GyzlYMjF6cC5An5bSZeSsBwqxGx-SDJXBEg_A5Urtm3tO4TSAF_WA/s1600/004.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliTkkVkZ5e1rK6AM0okLpFoBh9AB5sFbmtChRxqmT6WEttrDrHA3bX8WW3t3H4hNL20Qh9TAojV2E2CtOlsg_M32maXACGLwkQR3Gctin9RJAsaD1t4LtAxZMI21tqNd9sHvCQA/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliTkkVkZ5e1rK6AM0okLpFoBh9AB5sFbmtChRxqmT6WEttrDrHA3bX8WW3t3H4hNL20Qh9TAojV2E2CtOlsg_M32maXACGLwkQR3Gctin9RJAsaD1t4LtAxZMI21tqNd9sHvCQA/s1600/005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This morning I was able to spend a little time with the hexagon quilt, and when I left for the theater, I had the top ready for its final assembly. All the green triangles are attached to a hexagon, so now there are just a few seams to assemble the rows, then sew the rows together. A couple of simple borders, and it will be a top.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNh43nvpdh6EjgC90V_EYSklV40DvMwp2oDPymXP88uDdUY86G-cIisYvS-jprMQh5SncmOusP_PBe-ojJXrrc-Jkno5sZf29sYozN8N8_nTjX0mApQHK0GUpliIjhYmdOKL1uQ/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNh43nvpdh6EjgC90V_EYSklV40DvMwp2oDPymXP88uDdUY86G-cIisYvS-jprMQh5SncmOusP_PBe-ojJXrrc-Jkno5sZf29sYozN8N8_nTjX0mApQHK0GUpliIjhYmdOKL1uQ/s1600/006.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Once that is done, I can finish the binding on Tilted Stars, so it can be sent on its way to its new owner. By then it will be high time to get going on Spring Meadow, which is back from being basted and ready to be quilted.<br />
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Now excuse me while I get back to sock knitting. I still have 10 pairs to finish by the end of June.<br />
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Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27922669.post-8710316569300304962014-01-31T14:55:00.002-06:002014-01-31T14:55:53.415-06:00End of January "State of the Studio" Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm very happy to report that the studio is looking much better than it did on January 12th. To begin with, the design wall is showing a different quilt:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7kkewihDOjV6qsfgGRze0VCtCYtKMer0TzU9CUavMmgbynpRVLRYBgs4SLMWf1MYVleDzgRHeE6qeuego0HwDa239OD_xsGAsNLD-32y9RYF3xsz1IM7tqBLp4DgT4QcinLXZw/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7kkewihDOjV6qsfgGRze0VCtCYtKMer0TzU9CUavMmgbynpRVLRYBgs4SLMWf1MYVleDzgRHeE6qeuego0HwDa239OD_xsGAsNLD-32y9RYF3xsz1IM7tqBLp4DgT4QcinLXZw/s1600/001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the kaleidoscope quilt that was cluttering up my cutting table at the beginning of the month. It's still cluttering up the cutting table: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlBx_kLPXR8FOl4gLgDo4GlTbkuEIv73V7_aW_hdNU6EIbGAv1i3Uyt46H_JCxLmvhSmU0Cm3hPQ68EJga-9_z2JBcbxvxXs9uvrVFsvfJwPxMtazs_zcjQPMZHqoQs6-mcRKJA/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlBx_kLPXR8FOl4gLgDo4GlTbkuEIv73V7_aW_hdNU6EIbGAv1i3Uyt46H_JCxLmvhSmU0Cm3hPQ68EJga-9_z2JBcbxvxXs9uvrVFsvfJwPxMtazs_zcjQPMZHqoQs6-mcRKJA/s1600/005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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but other projects have moved along to where I can now work on it again. It's a project from the Craftsy class "Mining your Stash." The basic idea was to create new "fabric" from strips of other fabric, then cut that "fabric" apart into pieces for your quilt. I have enough triangles cut to make the quilt shown in the instructions, but I'm not sure that's a finished size I want. So I'm going to put those pieces together, then see how much more I want to add. </div>
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The quilt that was taking up the whole design wall and more has moved on to the next stage in its life. The top of Spring Meadow is finished, and I've sent it out to the longarmer to be basted. Since it measures 110" by 110" I need all the help I can get to bring the quilting down to a manageable task. But I think it's looking good:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwa_yNdBy3rZmqtS8uxiWmGE3qAIRkrw9__Nr7nzUbBDMNbZNCgpU773uhaVe6IiOqK4MLtyQxPSiWOgbB-xBHnoMnXK4eX10ODZBbBbylvVJld0QI237uucur_unrRvL6z2U8A/s1600/Spring+Meadow+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwa_yNdBy3rZmqtS8uxiWmGE3qAIRkrw9__Nr7nzUbBDMNbZNCgpU773uhaVe6IiOqK4MLtyQxPSiWOgbB-xBHnoMnXK4eX10ODZBbBbylvVJld0QI237uucur_unrRvL6z2U8A/s1600/Spring+Meadow+001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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and I expect to have it back in a week or so. Then the quilting will begin. It's a big quilt. It's going to be a big job. I just hope the end result looks good.</div>
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The rocking chair looks different as well. Theresa and Devan's quilt is still lurking in a corner there, but most of it is taken up with this quilt:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ccaiV4x6oRw9mMQNzeuDPrtbGXsTti2lARn9dxGoijUAss6yYZmM6LN9jaeFEkXVB9VbfbbWbnY2ZtIzImVaJJeYIGJIe40VklvD1twOKtp-R53D094VN5fg_Ka1Uz-ZF9j8Kg/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ccaiV4x6oRw9mMQNzeuDPrtbGXsTti2lARn9dxGoijUAss6yYZmM6LN9jaeFEkXVB9VbfbbWbnY2ZtIzImVaJJeYIGJIe40VklvD1twOKtp-R53D094VN5fg_Ka1Uz-ZF9j8Kg/s1600/002.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the Tilted Stars quilt I pulled out of the drawer in hopes that I would have it completely quilted and bound by the end of the month and I would have a finished quilt to show off. Alas, that plan fell a bit short. When I pulled out the project box to see what I had in there that might serve as binding, hoping at least to find some of the border fabric, I found 2 packages of navy blue quilt binding. I rarely use this because I think it's too expensive for what it is, and doesn't come in very many colors, but there it was, so I sewed the ends of the 2 pieces together and started attaching it to the quilt. That's when I discovered that 2 packages weren't enough to go all the way around. So it's going to sit in the chair and wait patiently until I can get to Hancock's and get another package of binding. So very close, but not quite there. </div>
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The other quilt that was in the rocking chair on January 12th was Ms. Zula's quilt. I am happy to report that that top is now finished and has now taken up residence in the drawer for unbasted quilt tops. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEmQ6N8reAjAM4JfDTdmqISpADHu2PeFkK75nKV1XdgKyVt9adqV7FQoBX6Gf9nYsfGhNqdKjWh0fsny0Vkyd61fJPDpf-32oJ6w3wSpl6uMw2HI-b1aI3mZXrUnpt6-WK6bbyg/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEmQ6N8reAjAM4JfDTdmqISpADHu2PeFkK75nKV1XdgKyVt9adqV7FQoBX6Gf9nYsfGhNqdKjWh0fsny0Vkyd61fJPDpf-32oJ6w3wSpl6uMw2HI-b1aI3mZXrUnpt6-WK6bbyg/s1600/001.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I will do a separate post about this quilt, because it is rather special, even though it's quite humble in appearance. My goal for the month was to get the top completed, because it also needed design wall time, and that's been done. That makes me happy. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVDoWQJw21HXyQZXFeA6FJLvlggAarK_baE1CwHVn2l_lbK-XpEawred2HrZApAKXcRJ-UfOJ1YnO_v3tW2UKW8tkoSFjgqeMRBqmHu-vZKFvmvo4G2f_-3WIoKk8J-hf2kvrYw/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVDoWQJw21HXyQZXFeA6FJLvlggAarK_baE1CwHVn2l_lbK-XpEawred2HrZApAKXcRJ-UfOJ1YnO_v3tW2UKW8tkoSFjgqeMRBqmHu-vZKFvmvo4G2f_-3WIoKk8J-hf2kvrYw/s1600/003.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>Other surfaces are showing improvement. The ironing table is completely clear except for irons and ironing gear:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8EVoHSWWZ0AKrLpn605UKMzKq_nOXp3XK5PCd8juFT23lWJUh6mmo9v6DnQu7Bb70Nl68S1tDmixBJgFzHvouD0GR5hZXzBbf_0YVDdeVOhmeO6EyzemisNxBY9WIHLKhDpP0g/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8EVoHSWWZ0AKrLpn605UKMzKq_nOXp3XK5PCd8juFT23lWJUh6mmo9v6DnQu7Bb70Nl68S1tDmixBJgFzHvouD0GR5hZXzBbf_0YVDdeVOhmeO6EyzemisNxBY9WIHLKhDpP0g/s1600/004.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
The card table is still here, but it has a lot less stuff on it. The pile of cat fabric is still there, but in putting away other things on the table I found a pattern book that I may have thought of using with these fabrics. I'm still not sure about that, but now they're stacked together and I can think about the possibilities.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclv9IDjwbWcQ2UaJLaTb8quo_LPvuPhPonAlHMt9TJkd3L7VHZYd29k-BC14kTu2oenUP0VJ_WIjiqES0a-j2n_BoTgZOMEbgC6STz2t-aaFv37DKhGJh4qZnN3sseCUfZLSgUQ/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclv9IDjwbWcQ2UaJLaTb8quo_LPvuPhPonAlHMt9TJkd3L7VHZYd29k-BC14kTu2oenUP0VJ_WIjiqES0a-j2n_BoTgZOMEbgC6STz2t-aaFv37DKhGJh4qZnN3sseCUfZLSgUQ/s1600/007.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
The little cabinet behind the sewing table has been tidied.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgob_WVKZCXj4TOJSJBcBTSKr-5c-A9qlmiAa9TdFJc8lgPVz4K6qx5wC8Xnpg31TsbXdS0om2rtqpKA1-e5nCyH0PiVuvdlGR6Pv2X-WJzhXlKNyBo64M8TVFB8rb1UzC6LddFg/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgob_WVKZCXj4TOJSJBcBTSKr-5c-A9qlmiAa9TdFJc8lgPVz4K6qx5wC8Xnpg31TsbXdS0om2rtqpKA1-e5nCyH0PiVuvdlGR6Pv2X-WJzhXlKNyBo64M8TVFB8rb1UzC6LddFg/s1600/008.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80ln6iyYbYPove6MYOfG66WeuPDOXWSFVfvN-vcrvKhIeS_Vkqt_Ib_DGBgUjf_Zb4aUMe_y1oI0p9u-vKCbEQnk_QL1q0I5f8oSwIx_1iT0Dco4pGtsWxMINbEo23mKpIR6lkA/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>The serger table still needs help. There's the stack of fabrics left over from the Spring Meadow quilt, at least one piece of which is destined to become binding. I'm thinking about ideas for using the rest of it, since it is a lovely coordinated group of fabrics, but that's not a priority at the moment. The fabric is there because there are no empty project boxes at the moment. There is also the bowl of pieces for the strip-piecing project. It usually lurks somewhere near the sewing machine. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsoQGIeaRfhB2XIYJOXE9aGWRgfOvKdPGvBEcq68XDW0ydP8JMydh0Iq_PwoKsHu0Q_EYD55zOVyeGD4fUcJ-RPL3mfW5R-YzJIEooaSF5T_sER9iXBRWRTZ9vbnPHbT1jXfVBQ/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsoQGIeaRfhB2XIYJOXE9aGWRgfOvKdPGvBEcq68XDW0ydP8JMydh0Iq_PwoKsHu0Q_EYD55zOVyeGD4fUcJ-RPL3mfW5R-YzJIEooaSF5T_sER9iXBRWRTZ9vbnPHbT1jXfVBQ/s1600/009.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
And the sewing table itself is empty except for a few tools. I've been working on big pieces in the past week, so all loose items had to find new homes or end up on the floor.<br />
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The one new project I've pulled out is this small top that is waiting patiently for the cutting table to be clear enough for it to get basted. It's a wall hanging that I pieced when I was in seminary nearly 20 years ago. When I pulled it out I realized I still like it a lot, so it's time it got quilted so it can show itself off.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80ln6iyYbYPove6MYOfG66WeuPDOXWSFVfvN-vcrvKhIeS_Vkqt_Ib_DGBgUjf_Zb4aUMe_y1oI0p9u-vKCbEQnk_QL1q0I5f8oSwIx_1iT0Dco4pGtsWxMINbEo23mKpIR6lkA/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80ln6iyYbYPove6MYOfG66WeuPDOXWSFVfvN-vcrvKhIeS_Vkqt_Ib_DGBgUjf_Zb4aUMe_y1oI0p9u-vKCbEQnk_QL1q0I5f8oSwIx_1iT0Dco4pGtsWxMINbEo23mKpIR6lkA/s1600/006.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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And I didn't take a picture and my camera's memory card is now full, but I also have a stack of 36 quilt-as-you-go blocks ready to be made into a donation quilt. I just have to decide what I want to use for sashing. I did a sort of sew-in to mark Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, with the focus being on doing good for someone else. The sew-in ended up lasting almost a week; I decided to keep going until I ran out of something already prepared, which ended up being batting squares. </div>
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So on to February. In February the Olympics will be going on, and that means the Ravellenic Games will be running concurrently. That's an occasion to work on yarn-related projects, so there might not be as much quilty stuff going on for those two weeks. For now I'm going to go play with triangles. </div>
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<br />Lauren.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17915227168458744014noreply@blogger.com0