Saturday!

I haven't posted in a couple days because I was having trouble getting the binding done on the green chenille baby blanket and finally went to JoAnn's and got some extra material to cut a new binding. I had been trying to use the packaged prepared binding but it just didn't work out. I finished it up last night and washed it. It turned out okay I had to trim a few of the strips and I washed it again and now I think it looks pretty good.

Today, I started working on the blue chenille baby blanket. I am showing it here in the sewing machine. I stitched rows on half of it tonight and hoping to get the other half sewn tomorrow and maybe get to cut the rows. It is going much faster this time around, I have overcome the learning curve.

Jack went to the prom tonight, he looked so handsome in his suit. His date's name is Shauna. I loaned him my car to drive tonight, hopefully it comes back in with out any new scratches or dents. They went to a fancy place for dinner and he texted me to say it cost $75! After the prom the have an after prom at one of the churches and I think they will change clothes before they go. I think he said they have carnival rides there. Too bad it turned off cold today. It will be cold night to be on the rides.

I knew it would turn out yucky for the weekend. The weather was beautiful all week and turned out cold and rainy today. We even had to turn the heater back on. I went and had reflexology done today. I've been going about every two weeks. It is so relaxing and feels so good. Other than that I have been working on the blue quilt and cleaning my room up. My friend Melissa will be coming over tomorrow to work on her quilt. She comes on Sundays sometimes when her little ones go down for their naps. Gives her a little time away and time to actually get some work done.

Jack just came in to change his clothes and he is headed to the after prom. He said they had a really good time.

I'll post some more pictures of my progress tomorrow.

Rounded Corners

The only thing I have done tonight is round the corners off. I did prep the binding but when I started to pin it on, I did not like it. I am going to have to go by JoAnn's tomorrow and pick up some different binding. I was using a satin blanket binding similar to what was used in the tutorial but I really didn't like the color or the look of it.

So, for rounding the corners, I did as she did in the tutorial and used a plate to round the corners and then used the first corner to round the other three so they would all be the same. I like the look of the rounded corners but I am thinking the binding is going to be difficult to sew on, it will have to be eased in. Since I can't do the binding tonight I will go ahead and get the material cut and layered for the second quilt. It will be blue. I didn't want to make matchy-matchy twin blankets.

We have been having really nice weather lately. I was stuck inside all day at a class but got out a little early so enjoyed some warmth and sunshine. I am sure by the time the weekend rolls around it will be rainy!

Jack has prom this weekend. He picks up his tuxedo tomorrow and he got his haircut today. I am not sure if they are going to eat or any other details because he is not always forthcoming with that information. I guess that is the way it is with boys! LOL. He has a very nice looking girlfriend but I have not met her yet.

Well, hopefully I will have more to update tomorrow night. I will pick up that binding and hopefully have a complete green blanket to show tomorrow night! Here is a picture of the puppies, waiting for Daddy.

Squaring Up

I only worked on the blanket a little tonight. I had hoped to get farther but I didn't get home until later because I had massage therapy and chiropractor.

Tonight I cut off the excess edges. Everything was straight when I started sewing but as you can see things moved around. The tutorial I read on making the quilt said this would happen so it is not a bad thing. After I cut off the excess from all four sides, I folded the quilt in half and as you can see it was not square. So, I cut off that portion and ended with a squared blanket! I hope you can make out the steps in the pictures, I am never sure exactly what order the website is going to load them in.

Next step is to round the corners and then I can put the binding on and wash it. I will hopefully have it finished tomorrow night.

I am including a photo of the quilt that is in the tutorial on how to make them. It has really pretty bright colors.

Chenille Quilt

I have been working on the chenille baby quilt tonight. I finally finished sewing all the rows last night! It took forever. So, tonight I started cutting all the layers. The backing is the block print. On the top there are four layers, all the material is flannel. The rows are cut on the bias so the material will fray when it is washed. I am only cutting through the first three layers the fourth layer will peek through and it has a print. So the first picture shows all of the sewn rows, then in the second picture I am cutting the rows using the special chenille cutter. Next picture I am showing you all the layers cut and the print peeking through. Lastly showing all the rows cut. My next step, which I hope to get done tomorrow night, will be straightening all the edges, rounding the corners, and sewing on the binding. After I do all of that it will be time to wash it and see the final results, I am really excited to see the finished project!

April 15th

Well, here I am again. The beginning of 2012 has not been the best but I am trying to get through it all. It's going to be hard when Mother's Day comes around.

I've been trying to keep myself busy with work and quilts. I am actually in varying degrees of progress on 4 projects right now. I keep going out and buying more material for more projects. I am going to have to stop that and get down to getting things done. I have a quilt retreat coming up next month about mid-month. I am really excited about it and I need to start getting projects lined up to take with me.

I have finished a couple things that I have photos of. For Christmas I made Jessica a quilt with Japanese material and she really liked it. I am glad I made it for her because she moved into the college dorms in January and she has a nice quilt to use on her bed.

I just finished a rag quilt for a lady at work. I actually got it done before the baby arrived! She really liked it, she had a jungle type theme for her nursery so I had some great material to use for that. I also had fun using my die cutter to make the rag quilt. I am trying to challenge myself to learn new techniques.

I made Rachel a bag for Christmas but I forgot to take a picture of it. It had quilted panels and a draw string type closure made by inserting grommets.

I am currently working on a quilt for Dave's sister Doris. I am hoping to get it done for her birthday in July. It is called a Couch Quilt. I like the blue with the flowers. I would have had it done last weekend but I did not like the squares I cut to go around the edge so I had to go get some more of the material and now I need to cut those squares and the top will be done.

For my son Mark, I am making a Japanese inspired quilt. It has two panels with dragons and then red/black panels with Japanese writing or symbols. I am really happy with the design so far but that is as far as I've gotten with it. It may be going to the retreat with me to get finished up. I want to have it for him for his birthday in June.

I am currently (today) working on a set of quilts for a pair of twins that one of our Captains at work just had. I am trying a new technique for these quilts and it is taking me quite a bit of time just getting one of them done. It is called the faux chenille technique. What you do is have a backing piece and then layer 3 or for pieces on top sew on the diagonal and then take a special cutter and cut the top layers then wash and dry and the material frays giving it a look of chenille. I am currently making a green version, the second one will be same material but blue with the same backing material.

So, that's what I am up to as far as crafts go. I just moved to a new position in the same organization and I am much happier. I am working some of the training issues in the squadron, it is more the type of job I thought I was going to have when I went back to the organization. I am also applying for jobs in Oregon. I have been referred for one in Ashland and I have not qualified for one in Portland and Crater Lake. I will just keep applying, I am sure something will come along soon.

Jack is graduating June 2nd. Mark and Beryl are flying out for the ceremony. I will be happy to see Mark again, haven't seen him since last summer when we went to Lompoc for the reunion.

Well, I am going to wrap up for now. I am really going to try to keep this blog up and post more of my projects.

Have a great Sunday afternoon!

December Already?

Hello!

It was such a short Fall! I have been so busy with work that I don't feel like working on my crafts when I get home. I am now in a mad dash trying to get Christmas things done. I am only going to get two things made this year! I definitely have to start earlier next year, January would probably be a good idea.

David and I had a great anniversary this year. He bought me a really pretty ring and we went to Louisville, Kentucky for the weekend. We visited a couple historic homes and staid at a very nice B&B. On Saturday night we drove threw the Mega Caverns to see Christmas lights, it was quite fun.

I am busy finishing up a knitting project as someone's gift and need to put the binding on the quilt for Jessica. I have lot's of material piling up from my several shop hops over the past few months. I am hoping to make some strip quilts from the jelly rolls and flannel material I bought. Once I get the Christmas stuff done I have to spend a little time finishing up getting this room organized and then get my other room put together. I also have to get all my donations for Goodwill gathered up and turned in so I can get my tax credits for this year. Can't believe it will be time to do taxes again, hopefully we won't be paying this year!

I will post pictures later, having a problem getting them uploaded right now.

Fall Pictures

Hello!

We are moving towards winter here. It has been cold and rainy all week and we had frost this morning. David and I went to the lake a few weekends ago to get our annual fall pictures. The fall colors were much nicer this year than last, we had more rain this year so the leaves didn't just dry out and fall off. We also went to the Renaissance Festival, we hadn't been there in years. It was okay but I had a hard time walking on the uneven ground. David got a turkey leg so he was happy.

Last weekend I went to the quilt retreat up North in Maria Stein, OH. I got a lot more done this time than last because I had two good hands this time. In May I had just had my thumb surgery so didn't get a whole lot done. I am working on three projects and got to different points on each of them. I am doing a Japanese lap quilt for Jessica using about 30 different Japanese prints. I am also making a purple quilt for Beryl, I think she probably won't get it until her birthday in January, it is going to be hard to get all of my Christmas projects done. The third one is in autumn colors and not sure who is getting it. We did a lot of shopping on the trip, I got a ton of fat quarters at the Ben's in Coldwater. It was an old Ben Franklin's but they dropped the Franklin's so they wouldn't have to pay the corporation for the use of the name. It is a cute little store in the middle of nowhere, they had great fabrics. We also went to the Blackberry Patch in Piqua which is one of my favorite shops and we also went to one that was going out of business that was near Celina, OH. I came home with lots more ideas for quilts and wished I had more time to work on them.

This week David gave up his computer room upstairs and I it over. I am in the process of moving all the yarn and knitting things over there as well as any extra materials and furniture. My current room is going to be a sitting room and work room for current projects. We went to Big Lots today and bought one of the stand alone fireplaces, Dave has to put it together and I can't wait to get the sitting area all done. I am looking for a small sofa to put up here and I think I found the one I like at the BX, it has a lounger on the right hand side. I will take a picture when I have it all done.

Well, I am going to go work on the Japanese quilt. I will post a picture of that when I get the top all together. I am posting pictures now of the Fall Colors!