December sewing

Well the year is almost over only 3 more day, my where did the year go.

The family tradition, declared by nephews on Hubby's side of family, is to make them each a pillowcase for Christmas. This year I made 19 of them,  I make them with fabric to go with something they did this passed year or something they like.    here are the pictures of them getting them  Made few extra this year that I normally don't  one for Sister-in-law, oldest niece,and bonus daughter( son-in-law's sister)  these are so fun to look for fabric all year long and then make them and embroidery their names on them.

 in this picture are niece and nephews, grandsons and daughter

in this picture is daughter and granddaughter in front with great grandson on the floor would not hold his up,  in the back is son-in-law, sister-in-law, niece and bonus daughter

My small sew group that meets on 1st and 3rd Monday evening is doing a seasonal block of the month. We got in 2nd meeting in Nov a pumpkin and a tree. I got them done and here is my tree. Going to be fun to make these and display them each month.  I made a bigger border on each to make it look better in the stand I have. 

 I also make memory pillows for sister-in-law, niece and 3 nephews from my brother-in laws shirts.  I put the saying on printer fabric and put it in the pocket instead of sewing it on.   SIL's and niece's(which was from her Dad's shirts) were made leaving the collars on  little more tricky.    They loved them and yes a few tears.    Few more for family members after the new year.

 We had a quiet Christmas week so I got to do some sewing and yes cleaning of sewing room to remove stuff that was put in there out of the way for Christmas.
I had done clue 1 and 2 of Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt before the 20th  so I got 3 and 4 done last two day.  This is the first time ever that I am staying caught up.

Did some cleaning this morning and put living room and dining room back in order. We bring 2 tables up from downstairs to have enough seating for everyone we have 24 for xmas weekend.  washing sheets now and have ham and beans in crock-pot for supper.  we look forward to the ham bone for beans. All other leftovers have been eaten. Now I will have to think of meals again, but only for few days then I am off to retreat for  days...

Have a Happy New Year  and a great year sewing.

Sharon J

Nov sewing

well Nov sure came in with a vengeance, so great sewing weather but I need to get some more mojo.  Getting a few quilts done for customers. Ready to sew on binding and sew it down for one today.  Fixing another quilt redoing the borders so it lays flat.
I am getting some of my pillowcases made for Xmas presents I make all our kids, grand kids, nieces and nephews one with their names on them. They told me it was traditions to get one every year.   So that is about 15 a year, I try to find fabric that goes with something they have done during the year or  a sport they do in school.
When I just want to sew but not think, I have been using scraps to make wonky court house step blocks form Bonnie Hunter's pattern.  I have made 32 and have 8 more started.  Scraps not disappearing very fast  I think I am just fluffy them up.  They are fun and easy to make. I need to find some more neutrals for the project I have plenty of other fabrics to last a life time. I know I have some just finding them is the trick.

I sure love my little iron and wool mat for pressing. 

Our small quilt group is doing a BOM project  which really is 2 seasonal blocks a month.   They are so cute  most of us are going to finish them to put on a stand. 

These are September and October.   Paper pieced blocks from scraps from stash and sharing with friends. Ready for the next 2 blocks next Monday night. 

off to sew binding.

Happy sitching

Sharon J

sept slow progress

Well September has been a slow start, I have not got very much sewing done due to working on getting MIL's house cleaned out and doing estate sale.  I have sewn in the evening just to relax. My evening sewing has been pineapple blocks from 1 1/2 inch strips. I have 21 blocks done. These are fun and easy not much thinking just grab a strip and sew. The pattern calls to cut the strips in certain lengths for each round but I just sew and cut as I go.   The pieces just have to be long enough to be as long as the side sewing it on then use the pineapple ruler tool by Gyleen Fitzgerald to trim.  Did I say this is so fun and uses scraps.

Tuesday went to a friends house to sew, Four of us are working on a Kimberbell Xmas embroidery project together. I started sewing mine together and others were making the blocks. 

I was hoping to get another project to the border stage but that did not happen due to needed to rip it apart and put it back together correctly. I had 2 sections upside down.   It is back together ready for borders now... 

Well I am off to see what I can get done in the half hour I have before going to help daughter move. 

keep stitching
Sharon J

continued progress in August

I have trying to sew in the evenings and have done a good job of working on something.  I went as far as I can on the deer Xmas wall hanging while waiting for more fabric. Yes it was a kit and did not have enough background fabric to cut all the pieces. I lacked a 2" strip.   This is why I don't buy very many kits  due to running into shortage of fabric before .then having a hard time finding more.
Neither the shop I bought the kit from had anymore fabric and other local shop did not either, so online I and couple friends went to find it.  Luckily I found it without too much trouble.  It arrived today, I also order 3 of the other three fabrics just in case need them and I like them. I want to make some place mats from the same panel and fabrics.  I will not get back to working on it until Maybe Sunday.
Also took all the paper off the table runner I finished. This is not my favorite part of paper piecing but I so love the perfect points.  Now it is read to be quilted.
The last two evenings I wanted to sew but did not want to think about anything so I have been making crumb blocks.  I have 43 blocks done just using up scraps.   I will put them into a quilt for charity.

also cut up some scraps into usable strip sizes (1.5, 2 and 2.5 inch) plus some more strings.

Last week retreat was great and I got quite a few things to the flimsy stage.  I will take some pictures and post in next message.  Great time, friends and  food.

keep on stitching
Sharon J

August progress so far

well it has been a busy beginning of August here.
 I got some sewing/quilting/embroidery done this last week and half.
on the 1st I went to daughters to watch the grandsons and came home on the 5th. we had a good time. I took my sewing machine to work on couple projects while they were busy with video games and YouTube videos.  Since had my sewing machne there were some repairs need by SIL  needed to resew a belt loop on his work pants  and he brought his pillowcase I made him that he has at work to repair a seam had come out. He is a Paramedic and works 24 hrs at a stretch so sleeps at ambulance barn. I put his Medic number on it instead of his name.  He has had many inquiries about where he got it..  No he is not taking orders wants to be special and he is.
Here is what I worked on while I was there.  I took a class in Nov. I think on crumb stars each block being a color.  I had 1 block made and some parts made.
I finished 8 blocks and I think I am done and it will become a table runner instead of a quilt.

 this is the crumb blocks made to make the stars

 here I am making the star points  and yes they are wonky  just put on and sew and trim great easy fun

Here is a completed block.

I finished the spool of thread that was on the machine and used another one too  yes there were small spools but that is a lot of thread.

On Saturday while there younger grandson and I went shopping. We went to Joann's since I wanted to get shape flex for an embroidery project I was starting and some Xmas fabric for it.  He found Harry Potter fabric to make a pillowcase  and some other goodies from clearance bins. 

We went home and made it.  He was very happy with it.

While we were shopping SIL and older grandson went fishing to catch supper and they DID!  very tasty  has it with sweet potato fries and fresh corn on the cob.

Last Tuesday some of us went to a friends house to work on an embroidery project  4 of us worked on cutting out and organizing all the pieces and 2 worked on other projects.  We got almost all of it done and labeled.  We will meet again to work on it. It is fun to work on projects together.
I could not wait to start it and had Friday to myself so I had fun making some of the blocks.

On Weds. while hubby was gone all day I decided it was a good day to shampoo two rooms of carpet that was over due to be cleaned.  They look so much better.
The sun room has new chairs now. brought them from my mother in laws house.


The yesterday my guild sponsored a Judy Neimeyer paper piecing class by 2 certified instructors. It was a fun day sewing and learning with friend.  Here is what I got done.  4 more to go.  It will be a table runner when it is finished.

Well not sure what I will work on today.   I need to get stuff organized for a retreat starting on the 19th.  Get the little project for everyone to make kitted up and get all my projects ready to go.   I have a sew day with a group on Monday so I will get to sew then  most of the rest of the week will be getting ready and one day of doctor appointments.

Happy stitching
Sharon J

cleaning and sewing continue

Well the cleaning continued yesterday, I can almost see the cutting/pool table downstairs.  What is left is mostly my hubby's bow equipment. He has been not feeling well so hope this weekend he will feel like putting it away. I have left him 2 shelves on the shelf units we bought to clean up my mess. Hopefully when I finish going thru all the stuff I just shoved on the shelves to get it off the floor there may be another shelf for him.  So nice to see the floor in the back room downstairs.
I have 2 piles downstairs that will go out Monday and Tuesday, 1 to my daughter and granddaughter of their stuff I found and the other pile to charity on Tuesday since they are not open on Monday.  This pile sis quite large.  Also have another pile of scrap batting  hopeful will call lady this goes to and she can meet me Thursday night and get it .
I also went thru a box and bag of fabric a quilting customer brought me. Sorted into what I want to keep and have a pile for sewing group to go though on Weds. I cut up a small box and bag of scraps and put them away in my scrap user system. here is the empty  box and bag

 here is the scraps ready to be put away  from 1 1/2 inch to 3 1/2 inch strips excluding 3 inch  and 2, 2 1/2, 5, and 6 inch squares.

after supper I watch a move and made  10 pineapple blocks 4 were already started.   not sure how many more I can make with the fabric I have we will see.
these were started in a class I took at spring Paducah.   Easy way to make pineapple blocks without paper piecing.

Well off to do some more cleaning and some laundry.
Happy Stitching
Sharon J

back from vacation

well we are back home from taking the grandsons for a week to St Louis to see the sites. It was a great week with no rain.  Most days were not too hot.  Met their Dad yesterday in Morton IL to return them to their parents.  House is quiet.
Now it is time to get the house back together and get sewing.
Last evening I just had to sew so I got the rest of the  blue blocks sewn together for Bonnie Hunter's Good fortune mystery,  I had about 10 blocks done  and now there are 25 blocks.   11 of the stars  go one way and the rest go the other way oh well that is what happens when you don't do them all at once or pay attention to what you are doing, but it will be just fine  new design element in the quilt.
Note: the green unit is what got sewn both ways.

Now it will be time to put up on design wall and sew together.

this will be a top before the next one starts 

well off to get cleaning would rather be sewing but it needs to be done first.

Happy stitching
Sharon J

This week so Far

Well I got one customer quilt quilted between Monday and Tuesday. It was a custom quilting job so I made the quilting pattern from the cross stitch blocks in the quilt and rest from a picture customer brought me.  Now it needs to have the paper taken off and threads trimmed then it is getting a prairie point edge on it instead of a binding.   The second one goes in the machine today to do similar quilting on it and edge.  I will post a picture of they have been delivered.

Both evenings I have been working on making 6 inch finished log cabin blocks from 1 1/4 inch strips for a project that I took from Kaye England in Paducah this year.  I have gotten the 24 blocks done that were in neutral and pinks. I have 8 blocks to make of all neutrals.   Getting all the parts done so that I can put it together.
here is the pile of strips that I \ used.  I had to cut a few more strips to get the variety I wanted.

here is the blocks that I made. 

well I am off to mark and put the other quilt in the machine for quilting today..

Happy stitching
Sharon J

Storm at sea table runner

well at my daughter's since Thursday. She had surgery so staying with her so son-in-law could work and go camping today and tomorrow with my husband and grandsons..
I brought sewing projects to work on while she was resting.  I got the storm at sea table runner done. It is paper pieced  for  class in July.  Took awhile to take all the paper out this morning. 

 now onto the next project.  I have many parts and pieces to make a storm  at sea quilt

Or I can work on a diamond painting project  or stitch on my needlepoint bell pull projec . That is me oldest UFO of about 30 years. Just wish it was done but do not like to work on it. But it is getting close to being done. My mom bought it for  me  so feel like I need to finish it. 

Well off to work on something

Happy stitching 

Sharon j

Kevin the quilter classes

On Thursday a friend Mary Ann and I traveled to the Naperville, Il area to attend a lecture and 2 quilt classes by Kevin Huffman (Kevin the quilter). His quilts were amazing at the trunk show  did not think to take any pictures. His class on Friday was sponsored by the Pride of the Prairie quilt guild in Naperville  it was crumb stars. We took small pieces of fabric called crumbs and made fabric for our start blocks.
  here is picture of the fabric being made

 here is picture of our blocks made with instructor Kevin

 here is the class picture   so much fun.

The guild provided lunch for the first day class in price of class.  Thanks lunch was great.

Then we went to Cheryl Parker's house  for the evening and dinner. Kevin was staying with her so we got to spend some downtime with him.  Great meal lasagna, Italian green beans, and salad.   Cheryl's son made brownies for dessert  can not beat brownies. 

Then on Sat the class was hosted by Wego Quilting quilt guild in Oswego, Il.

Kevin taught his string star class. 

He started the class with a picture of the Huffman Hotties in the class. Cheryl brought tiaras for those that did not bring their own.   Someone started this group but not sure when and why  so google it and find out for your self.

This is Kevin's string star quilt.

Kevin is a hands on show me kind of instructor.  He showed each step then we went and did and then he proceeded to show us the next step and emphasized to us that this is how he works  so if doesn't work for us  do it our way.    But always great to try the teachers way to see if works better for you. 

There were many different color ways the everyone was doing.  Most of us used a single piece of fabric for the background but Kevin's was pieced in similar fabrics.  Then we used steam a seam on the back of our star to attach it to our background (not on the whole star just some strips in the middle and on star pont.   Then Kevin just layered it and quilted it with straight lines close together on the whole quilt. This made the star raw edge applique with out the applique..  

  One of the only classes that we got the project ready to quilt. Can you believe it we didn't. 

  So here is the pictures of the class projects.

Here is a close up picture of mine. With Mary Ann, Kevin, me, and Cheryl.

This class had a potluck lunch.  Wow what great food and variety.  Thanks so much    And donuts for breakfast snack plus other things...

Kevin thanks for such a wonderful time and Cheryl thanks for inviting us to join your guilds for these classes.   The most important thing I learned from these classes is sort your scraps into color families.   This is going to make so much difference. Yes is will take some time to get my scraps this way  but it will be worth it.  I guess could be TV watching time project.

april 2019 update

I have been busy this month sorry for not blogging. I made a customer T-shirt quilt queen size.  Finished it before Easter. Quilted two other small quilts for someone. I quilted my great grandson's birthday quilt, he is going into a big bed soon.  Even got it done for his party...

I did not get time to make his pillow case and reading pillow to go with it .

Went to AQS show in Paducah, Ky this last week with 2 great friends had a . wonderful time . We arrive late afternoon on Monday went to Hobby Lobby to get a few things for our classes and look around.  My daughter got me into doing diamond painting if don't know what this is google it  so fun and relaxing. So I got a table top easel to use with doing this. Tuesday morning we went to the Rotary club to see quilts and shop the vendors we were disappointed 2 of our favorite vendors were not there  but others were great.  Then went to Benton, Ky to visit Odds n Ends quilt shop and owner Zella  great time visiting and bought few things. Ate a late lunch at the 4 little piggy's restaurant great BBQ.  Then back to Paducah and shopped downtown and then back to hotel to prepare for next day class and hang out.

We took two classes, one on Weds with Gyleen Fitzgerald with her ruler and book Trash to Treasures. It was a pineapple quilt block made with what she called trash which were 1 1/2" strips.  This was a great and she was fun, there will be more of these quilts.  I had the book and ruler for awhile so was great to learn how to use it and she has a second book out now.  Ruler you will not be sitting on the sidelines any more...

I got these three blocks done plus 4 more ready to trim.  

The other day was Friday and it was a class with Kaye England and her Summer Garden quilt.  It is a medallion quilt. We got the center basket done and started on other parts. I got the 9 patches done. Now to make the tiny log cabins blocks.

Kaye is always a great teacher and full of information. 

Thursday we went to the pavilion and shopped the vendors Luckily started and stopped raining while we were in there   Then went to the convention center to see quilts and shop.   Also shopped the show during lunch both days of our classes.

Friday night was the last night of our trip and we always go to the Ricky Tims concert after having a nice dinner downtown this year two other friends joined us. He is always very entertaining  this year was the 35th year of the AQS show so Alex Anderson joined him in remembering the previous show winners and what was going on in the world that year.  His special treat this year was bringing his pipe organ and playing it for us and 3 new arranged songs for us.

It was wonderful.  

Saturday we checked out of hotel and went back to a couple vendors in the pavilion that we decided we wanted to purchase something then headed home.

Yesterday I unpacked suitcase and sewing bags. I did very well on not over buying this year.  Got some things I was looking for and a few I wasn't but not a lot.  Few patterns and embroidery designs. 

Then I went to the embroidery machine to try making a bag.  First one is always the hardest. It turned out ok,  I will use different stabilizer next time. I bought some cork at the show  to use in some bags glad did not try it with first bag.  Then put daughter's name on her pillowcase from Xmas she brought it back for her name. 

 Made great grandson his pillow case.  Need to put his name on it today.

 then cut up the small pieces of fabric left from his quilt ready for scrap quilts. 

3 1/2"   2 1/2" 2" and 1 1/2" strips  string strips and selvage pieces for a friend plus some left over border strips from his quilts for something not sure what yet. 

Well off to make something else today.  Might get the borders on my embroidery quilt. Also start making another t-shirt quilt for a customer due in couple weeks. 

Happy quilting

Sharon J

cutting up scraps

well I went to a friends house for a few days to get help with new embroidery machine.  I have a quilt to finish that had 2 big blocks left to do and they needed to be re hooped. So the new machine has bigger hoops, but still needed to re hoop them due to the design being made to re hoop.   I got them done. Well as things will have it I ran out of the green thread I was using so we went to one store but they quit carrying that brand.  so nest morning went to another great shop and they had it, but bad news is that the thread cost me 100.00  since I had to buy some great sale fabrics!!!   then since we were close to the other great show had to go there too and another hundred dollars late left . I had been seeing special fabric on internet  that I wanted and they had it so just bought it to make a special quilt.   Went back to her house and finished the blocks.  I just need to make the border for these to blocks and add them to the quilt will post a picture when top is done.

Then we played with the machine making a in the hoop bag with a zipper, it turned out great. I am going to make some more hopefully for Easter.  Also made some bunny lip balm holders they are so cute.

I took a over-sized bag and  another plastic bag of scraps and I cut them all into 2 1/2 inch squares with her accuquilt go baby.  this was fun and fast also they are perfect.  Now I need to start my next leader and ender making 9 patches.l 

Well back home and back to working on customer quilts this week. 

Happy quilting,
Sharon J

Not much sewng

I have not done much sewing this last week due to having the grand boys for spring break. I sorted scraps and did some cutting of scraps too.

I also tried something new today . The grand boys were doing diamond painting and showed me how to do it. When met their mom  so they could go home she had one for me. I worked on it a little today so much fun and easy. It is all I did today except look through some quilt  magazines but I feel better this evening.

Hi,
I got a project started on my new embroidery machine this last week. This is so fun being able to do bigger projects.  I have the blocks made for a table runner hope to get it sewn together today. 
Snowing here so not going out.   headed to sew when finished posting this.
Yesterday went with hubby to his United Bow Hunters anual meeting and banquet in Springfield Il.  A another friend came with her hubby too.  We went shopping  We hit the hobby shops.  Went to Tuesday Morning and found some rolls of 2 1/2 inch strips  some were Benertex and other had no name on them.  I got 2 xmas ones and another one with browns plus a bundle of fat quarters.  Friend got some too.   Good deals.   rolls were $7.99 each with 20 strips  and the Benertex roll of 40 strips was $22.00

then we went to Joann's  and found 5 inch square packs for $8.99 but had buy 1 get 1 free.   so I bought 2 packs and got 2   of off white. great background   also went to Micheal's but did not find anything.   had a great lunch at Panera's  soup and salad.  

Then met back up with husbands for the evening meal  great food and speakers and auction.  Mine won an auction item and we each won a silent auction time. Mine was Cubs steak knives and his was fishing flies.   Mine will be a gift and he will use his when weather gets warmer.

Got home about midnight and a few snowflakes were starting so did good. 

OK off to sew

Happy quilting until next time

Sharon J

progress report for last week

I have been busy sewing and quilting this past week thanks to the weather being so cold and ice and snow.. I just stayed in and got many things done or moved farther along.
I quilted 2 charity quilts  they need binding but found out that we needed couple more boy quilts and these were definitely girl quilts so they can wait for binding.   will show pictures when they are done and ready to go to new home.

I finished the top of my grandson's quilt  now to find or make a back and get it quilted.I have the binding so will pin it to the top so it does not get lost or used for something else.

Then I quilted a table runner that I have had done for awhile. I was going to teach english paper piecing to a group so made this as the sample but that did not happen so it just got set aside.  Put is in the long arm and meandered all around the flowers then used a circle ruler to do the designs in the flowers.  I had the binding clipped together setting on my cutting table for same length of time and kept wondering what it was for  good thing I did not use it for anything else.

sorry picture is before binding. It is done.
I made and quilted  a t-shirt quilt for a customer and it was picked up over the weekend.  The side pieces were from the sleeves of the shirts.

 Then decided not to put a border on the diamond tile block quilt from Bonnie Hunter's block and just quilt it and bind it.   It is going to a special medical assistance in our doctor's office baby boy, she was so good and caring to my mother-in-law and to us. Baby is here and hope to take it to her next week and see the little guy.

In end of December I received a box in the mail and got a nice surprise. I opened the priority bos and found it stuffed full of scraps.  One of the ladies that was on the quilting cruise the year before remembered I did small scrappy projects and sent it to me.  It was great timing for a love box of fabric .Need to use some in my pineapple crazy blocks.

  talking about them I made 2 blocks tonight while watching Bonnie Hunter on quilt cam.  I just take a handful of neutral and handful of color fabric scraps on start making the blocks   each block has 45 pieces  using small pieces about 3/4 to inch wide little bigger for the corners.  These are so fun I have about 30-35 of them done. I don't think mine will be a big quilt like Bonnie's  but hope to get it to throw size by next winter for me to snuggle under.

Well I better close for the night and go to bed.  Another sewing day tomorrow. Hope to get a customer quilt sewn together and make decided on for grandson's quilt. If I get more than that done it will be a bonus.

good night  and happy quilting
Sharon J.