I'm Sold!

A few weeks ago I put a spool of Aurifil thread on my machine to try and see if I could see what everyone was raving about.  After all thread is thread, right?  The answer to that is WRONG.  All thread is not created equal and it didn't take me long to figure out that Aurifil is much better than some of the other brands I have been using.  The most noticeable difference is that it is a much finer thread, so more thread fits on the bobbin. (I only had to change the bobbin once while piecing this whole quilt!)  A finer thread also means that seams are more accurate.  Both good enough reasons to convert me...I'm sold on Aurifil. 

Silent Sunday

10 Minutes A Day

I've accepted Pat Sloan's challenge and have been making time to sew for at least 10 minutes a day on my Shoo-fly blocks.  One of Pat's suggestions for finding extra sewing time was to sew while dinner was cooking.  The first day I got 5 blocks made, because 10 minutes turned into half an hour, and then I had to spend 45 minutes scrubbing burned pork BBQ off of the bottom of one of my good stainless steel pots, while waiting for the pizza delivery guy.  Lessons learned...set the timer or just skip cooking and order out, but sewing at least 10 minutes a day does make a difference in the "to make" list! 

Another Finish

This quilt is so old that I had the top put together and tucked neatly away at the bottom of the to quilt pile before I even started my blog...and that was in 2008!  Back in 2005 I was part of a group that was offering quilting classes to kids and I put these blocks together as class samples.  I believe that all of the kids actually finished their quilts at the time and now, 9 years later, I can say that my quilt is finished too!

Scrap Happy Sew Along

I needed another project like I need a hole in the head, but something about Pat Sloan's Scrap Happy Sew Along called to me.  Maybe it was the way she promised that it would be an easy and fun quilt that would use up scraps.  A quilt that could be sewn together in just 10 minutes a day for a month.  Lord knows that I have plenty of scraps and I do like quick, easy and fun, so why not?  The photo shows my shoo-fly blocks using polka-dot scraps all cut out and ready to sew. 

Silent Sunday

Squaring Things

Last Saturday a friend and I got together at our favorite lake house retreat to celebrate National Quilting Day.  I was working on half-square triangles, but forgot to bring a square ruler for squaring up the blocks, so I borrowed one that had been left at the house for all to use.  I have never used a Creative Grids ruler before, but quickly decided that I liked the no slip grips and the easy to see markings...especially the diagonal line!  In fact, I liked it so much that I took it with me, so I could finish squaring my blocks at home. Of course, I had every intention of returning it on our next regular sewing day.  Apparently this is one popular ruler because it was listed as MIA first thing on sewing day before I could even get it put back with the other rulers!  I confessed to the thievery and thankfully no charges were filed!  I guess I'm going to have to break down and buy myself a set of Creative Grid rulers!

How Many Is Too Many?

As you know, I've been quilting my way through a mountain of quilt tops lately, but now I find myself with an even bigger mountain of finished quilts!  Now I'm wondering how many quilts does a quilter need?  I like to have a few on hand for quick gifts and I do give a lot of my quilts to charity, but there are some that I don't want to give away.  With all of these finished quilts am I going to end up on a special quilter's edition of Hoarders?  What do you do with your finished quilts? 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I don't think it has anything to do with St. Patrick's Day or with being of Irish descent, but one thing is for sure...I love the color green and my latest fiber purchases prove it! 

Silent Sunday

Happy National Quilting Day!

Happy National Quilting Day!  

I hope you're celebrating by doing something quilty today!

The Winter That Won't End

Even though spring is trying to make an appearance, winter just won't let up its grip this year.  Just when the snow is starting to melt and we are seeing the first signs of spring, we find ourselves buried in snow again and the temperatures are dropping back below zero!  Needless to say, Miss Five is going to need some larger socks again and today is the perfect day to sit by the fire and knit!  Wee Socks for Wee Feet is a great ribbed sock pattern that has a lot of stretch and will hopefully grow with our baby grandgirl and get her through winter's last hurrah!

Silent Sunday

Spring?

My Anita's Arrowhead quilt is quilted, bound and finished just as our snow is starting to melt!  This quilt really speaks to me...it says SPRING!

Are You Thread Brand Loyal?

I've never cared much about thread brand.  I'm usually happy to use whatever brand my local quilt shops carry as long as I can get the color that I need.  I've heard a lot of good things about Aurifil thread, but it's not easy to find in our neck of the woods, so I've stuck with what is available.  Last weekend I was at a quilt show and one of the vendors was running a show special on Aurifil (2 spools for $20) so I picked up a couple of spools to try.  I haven't sewn with it enough yet to give a full review, so I'll let you know what I think of it after I've done some serious stitching.  I'm curious though...are you loyal to a thread brand?  If so, what brand and why?

Straight To The Frame

I'm determined not to add any more quilts to my "to quilt" pile, so after I got the borders sewn on, my Anita's Arrowhead top went straight from the ironing board to the frame!  Now to make the time to get it quilted!

Silent Sunday