String Thing Along

Last week Brenda, of Scraps and Strings, invited quilt bloggers to join her in making string quilts between now and June 30.  I have a big bag of strings taking up space in my sewing room closet, so figured now is as good a time as any to put them to use!  If you also have a few strings taking up space in your sewing room, why not join in the fun?  Click over to the String Thing Along blog and let Brenda know that you want to string along with the rest of us!

Silent Sunday

Finished!

Somehow my design wall has become a space for me to display unfinished quilts rather than a place to design quilts.  A couple of weeks ago, when I was cleaning my sewing room, I decided to take everything off the design wall and complete the pieces that were on it.  This pink and brown selvage wall hanging (circa 2010) is the first to be finished!

I Wasn't Going To Buy Anything...

I never turn down a invitation to go on a shopping trip (especially a shopping trip that involves quilt shops) so when I was invited to go along on a little road trip last week I happily agreed to ride along, even though I didn't need anything.  I fully intended to only buy lunch on this trip and I'm honestly not sure how it happened, but I came home with a bag FULL of goodies.

Silent Sunday

All Day Long

The more I learn about Alzheimer's, the more I learn that very little about the disease makes sense.  The other day I was chatting with my mother-in-law in her room at the nursing home when a nurse stopped in to ask her if she needed anything...her reply was, "All day long."  We weren't quite sure what she meant by her reply and it honestly didn't make much sense, much like most of her answers to questions these days, but it was good inspiration for this little Priority: Alzheimer's Quilt.

This Is Why...

This is why I don't pin baste!  Yes, that is a safety pin and next to it is my sewing machine needle broken into three pieces!  I was sewing a binding on a charity quilt and didn't see that a pin had crept into the path of the needle.  All of a sudden there was a thud and everything stopped...no error display, no power, no nothing!  Thankfully, I found all of the broken needle pieces and none were lodged inside the machine.  I replaced the needle and turned on the power switch. Nothing.  I flipped the switch again.  Nothing.  Unplugged the machine and plugged it back in.  Still nothing.  I could have cried!  Then after a few more stressful moments, it occurred to me to check the reset button on the surge protector.  That was it...the lights all came on and all was good!  Whew!

Blocks For Charity

My quilt guild is collecting 9 1/2" (unfinished) 9-Patch blocks to be put into quilts on Project Linus Make A Blanket Day.  Is there a better way to get out of a quilting funk than to find some fun fabrics and make a few blocks for charity?  I don't think so!

Silent Sunday

Getting Back On Track

This week I cleaned my sewing room, scheduled a quilter's day out with several of my quilty friends, planned a couple of small projects and today Mother Nature has served up some serious quilting weather...I think I'm well on my way to getting back on the quilting track!

Derailed

I'm not sure if it is due to not feeling well for the past few weeks, after holiday letdown or a combination of both of those things, but I feel like my train has derailed and I just can't seem to get back on track!  Maybe I just need to retreat to my sewing room for a few days and see if that helps.  What do you do when your train derails?

Silent Sunday

Just One More

This year I took the time to hand knit a little something for members of my family for Christmas.  What fun it was to watch everyone open their gifts, but the real reward came when my niece tried on the fingerless gloves that I made for her and then sweetly ask if there was anyway that I could make her a hat to match.  Seriously?  A 20 year-old college student really wants her aunt to knit her a hat?  How could I say no?

Vintage Meets Modern

My youngest son was a HUGE Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fan when he was a little boy.  He loved the movies and cartoon series and had all the toys that went along with them. His bedroom was even decorated in a TMNT theme, complete with comforter, sheets and matching curtains!  Not long ago, I came across an old sheet at a local thrift shop in the same pattern that once covered his bed and thought it would be fun to use it as a backing for a quilt for my son.   I used the Disappearing 9-Patch pattern with basic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle solid colors for the top and combined with the sheet (dated 1988!) it makes a very nice vintage meets modern quilt!

Happy New Year

Wishing you and your loved ones peace, good health, happiness and prosperity in the coming New Year.