Stitch By Stitch

I must be crazy!

2011-02-25T23:21:00.000-08:00

I kinda have a resolution this year. If I start a new project i have to finish an old. It's ok if it stops at a top. I call myself a topper! So I started the Block a Palooza, twice in fact, and that means 2 projects need to get completed.

My mini baskets has been on my mind for a while that I started almost a year ago. It called my name today. While looking for it I had found another project I started about the same time. That's what got my attention today. I actually finished it to topper done stage. So why am I crazy? Because it needed more color and a border, and I think I only had scraps left.

Funny how one thing leads to another. So that meant I had to find my mini scrap bin and then go through it to find those scraps. Found both but the scraps were narrow pieces. Here comes the crazy part! They were only 3/4 wide!!! I sewed them together into strata's. I now have multiple strip sections that measure about 3 1/2 by 2 1/2. I then sewed these together. Ok almost twice the length, we'll just cut it into 1 1/4 wide. That should be enough. Just barely! Good thing this is a baby quilt size, newborn babe size. I think it turned out pretty cute. Binding will be done in the turquoise print.

I've called it Spinwheels.

Because of the 10" of snow today, store closed early so no work for me tonight. The baskets will be the next project with the double wedding ring in between. That one is for another post. I have got to learn how to post my pictures from flicker somehow.

See ya soon, Dona

I'm Back!

2011-02-24T21:31:00.000-08:00

Well I bet you have been wondering what happened to me? Lot's! Lost a couple of computers...want to get them repaired because expensive software only works with xp and I'm not buying upgrades. Laptop is hooked up to desktop monitor...finally got it working, how? don't know but it works to get me where I need to.

Ok, now to find my blog...easy right? not! I have been searching for about a month. Couldn't remember password, which email, etc. Finally have it. Hopefully this post works.

More quilty stuff will get posted soon...I just want to know if this works.

Until then.....Dona

Decisions!?

2010-08-30T21:19:00.000-07:00

Do we start from the beginning of the parade or the end? Maybe I'll just pick my favorite and start there. Which is my favorite? Do I pick the favorite pattern or favorite color? Decisions, decisions. Maybe I just won't start with a quilt.

Here is the latest addition to the family. ASHES! I knew right off that was her name. We got her on June 1. She was only 5 weeks old. I know they should be older than that. She came from a farm and we had been waiting for mom to let them make their appearance to the world. She kept them hidden pretty good. Ashes came out and rubbed against the farmer's leg and that was it. We think she was the runt. She has 6 other brothers and sisters (we found out a month later). She was so tiny and loveable. She is the only one who will let anyone pet her. The rest will only come about 6 feet from you and that was just last week. She's still on the small side but we love her just the same. She was meant to be with us. Recently she has taken to staying outside all day hanging out over the railing. Yes, I did say hanging over the railing. Her belly is flat with her legs hanging over each side. What a riot. She won't be doing that when there is 6 inches of snow in her spot.

Oh, and at night she thinks my mouse should hang by it's tail! (My wireless one is a pain to use).

Speaking of that horrible white stuff...here are my tuffets I made for the month of December. Mine are not pincushions...they are hot mats, mug rugs, coasters,...what ever is your favorite title. I put insul-brite in them. The flag tuffet is made like a pillow cover so you could put a pincushion bag in it if you would like. They are the scraps from xmas gifts. The xmas gifts were dresden plates with insul brite in them to use as large hot mats, place mats, or plate chargers as I gave them in sets of 4.

4 plate size chargers, the center piece one was the same just bigger at 20" side to side.

The colors in the charger picture are more accurate. These (dresdens) were a bit challenging in trying to figure out how to finish the edges. I wasn't going to miter all those points. I hade 4 sets of 5 each (4 plate size and 1 gigantic) to finish. The backing of each was a circle with the edges turned under so it that ran just inside of the valley of each peak on the back side.

My Dulcinea was made with April Cornel's Sunshine collection (almost 12 schnibbles to make this queen quilt). I had bought the fabric a couple of years ago and set it aside for a strip quilt thinking I had a 1/2 yard bundle. I needed to make a wedding gift and when I bought this pattern I knew those fabrics would work. Turns out they were FQ's. I knew they would all play together. Why wouldn't they, they're all from the same collection.

You have to understand I do not do well with scrappy quilts. That is one of the reasons that I decided to do this. I saw it as a challenge to myself to "work out of my box". I also saw them as a way to use up some of the humgust stash and maybe be able to complete them. NOT. I haven't seen a dent in the stash; but alot of organizing has happened. Although the top pile is a bit bigger, it's easier to quilt one of these than to push and wrestle with one as big a Dulcinea. No wonder I'm mostly a topper!

Remember your quilt WILL get finished ...Stitch by Stitch

My Very Own Parade !!

2010-08-26T20:22:00.000-07:00

Well out of the 12 months that we have been doing these I think I may finally be included into the montly parade. Truly I have had the tops made on time but didn't get pictures in time or computer was acting up. Because I want to show that I have infact been doing something I'm having my own parade. Most of them are from my stash that hasn't gone down much; a few were either turnovers or charm packs. I will explain over the next few posts hopefully along with other projects and the newest member to our family as promised. Enjoy!!

I'm sorry for the layout....still learning...and very slowly at that.

September 2009 Winter White

October 2009 Cindy Lou Who

November 2009 Picnic

December 2009 Tuffet's and Sweet Liberty Tuffets

January 2010 Madeline

Februrary 2010 Sunday Best

March 2010 Roundabout

April 2010 Tag a long

May 2010 was MyChoice

Dulcinea as a wedding gift

The happy couple

Hot Cross

Mini Reveille or Monica's (Happy Zombie) Swanky

June 2010 State Fair

July 2010 Joy Luck

August 2010 Plan C

Short Story

I can't wait to start another year with these. I'm addicted!

Until later acomplish what you can Stitch By Stitch...

Life gets in the way!

2010-08-21T22:29:00.000-07:00

It sure has been a while! I haven't really been on the computer much...just long enought to check for each months schnibble pattern and directions for the BOM's I've been following. I keep missing each months schnibble parade...each month's top is completed and even some have made it to being finished and in their new homes.

I will be posting again soon with my own parade of the year plus a few extras (depending on sunshine for pictures). Also a new family member that has been taking up quite a bit of time. Her name is Ashes and she is the sweetest. She loves trying to stop the needle on my machine so I've learned how to sew one handed (the other is cupped around the needle).

Halloween projects have been started and keep getting set aside. Hocus Pocus being one of these..will it get done this year? We will have to see...not happy with the fabrics I keep picking for the center...maybe a scnibbles is what it needs.

Until next time...happy sewing

2009-12-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

Hello!

It's been a bit since posting, so sorry. I've been busy this month.

I work retail and survived working the whole Thanksgiving weekend. It was fun and things went much smoother this year. The birthday went under most people's radar. True friends don't know how much the tinyest gesture is appreciated but it really is by me, especially this year.

I have been doing a lot of hand and frog stitching. I didn't get my "Picnic" Schnibble done, that's what needed frog stitching. Decmber's is "Tuffets". These are mini pin cushions. I have to order my pattern because the quilt shops around here don't carry Miss Rosie's Quilt patterns.

I was wondering if the Christmas spirit would come this year. It's late but it has arrived. Mini houses have been purchased in hopes that the village will go up this year. There just isn't enough room to display my larger one. I have thoughts of how to decorate little nooks and crannies. Will they get dressed up? We will have to see.

Below is the hand stitching project. It's a new twist that I found last year on All Sorts blog for an advent calendar. It took me longer than usual because it was to be a complete surprise for Cassie. I just realized this year that one of "her" traditions is advent calendars. It all came about when she told me she needed some chalk. What for I asked? She's outgrown the chalkboard. I hadn't realized that I started this tradition and it was so important to her. There has always been one type or another each year for her. It started as cottonballs for Santa's beard on the placemat, a mouse that was tucked in each night, the usual cardboard window, a mini chalkboard with the countdown. So it was time for a new one.

It's just made from felt. Hand blanket stitched together after you sew the button in place. It's a mini enevelope where the flap goes over the cord (white & red rick rack twisted together 2 1/2 yds) and the string wrapped around the button to shut it. I filled each one with Peppermint Bark from Ghirardelli. I hung it yesterday and boy was she surprised. It took so long because she is always around and I don't always feel like stitching when I get home from work.

Because that one took a while I experimented with the sewing machine and this it what happened.

I fused the numbers onto the flaps. I ended up gluing mini velcro buttons to close them. This one is filled with mini Hershey bars. It didn't take as long to do. Next time I will sew on a button and make a button hole before top stitching them into the envelope. I also thought that they could be attatched to something in the shape of a tree. Both of them span my double window. They will take at least 2 yards of cording strung out depending on the amount of drape you want.

Tracey's baby shower was mid November. It's so nice to sew for a baby again. I guess I'm showing my age

with burp cloth's. I had to show her what they were. I made 2 cloths to match the receiving blanket. I made them larger than most you purchase now. I made 2 sets using different fabrics.

I also made this little crib quilt. I love how the colors (30's prints) go together. For some reason these prints always say baby to me.

I have to get back to sewing her quilts for xmas. Remember I was making identical ones for her bunk beds. Oh yeah, just remebered I still have to replace some zippers for a good friend who works outside and it's just now starting to get cold enough to need them. We haven't had snow yet which is unusual this time of year. It was spitting little balls of styrofoam last night when I got out of work but not enough to cover the ground.

I'll be back again, Soon I promise.

Dona

2009-11-06T11:21:00.001-08:00

My third Schnibbles pattern arrived yesterday. I've picked out my fabrics and started sewing. Not sure I like the way they play together but will finish it. Sometimes it looks better when all done.

I haven't worked on my Hocuspocus at all lately... it's still on the wall. I did manage to get 2 tops made for the Quilts for Kids and quilted the doll quilt. I just have to sew the binding on after I decide what to use.

Washed the flannel and diapers for the receiving blankets and burp cloths for my neice's baby shower in a couple of weeks. Looking forward to seeing everyone. It's been a long time. It's also exciting to have a baby to sew for again. Cass was the last baby and she's almost 14. This little girl is a first grandbaby for Rod's sister.

Cass went to school today. Her temp was going down and mine was going up. Don't seem to have the normal energy today. Mystery quilt class is tomorrow, hope it's not flying geese blocks; mine never seem to come out just right. I can make them, they're just "bowed" a bit. That's what these mysteries are all about. She uses different units several times in each of her quilts. Generally the blocks are set on point and the quilts are beautiful.

Speaking of mysteries, Bonnie of Quiltville is going to be starting another mystery mid November. Bonnie does scrappy quilts and Lord knows I have a lot of scraps. She makes it look so easy. I have trouble not with colors but with hues. I do learn new things from her each time I make one of her quilts. I'm an organized scrappy, just can't throw fabrics together. I've even tried the paper bag trick. Not for me. I'm getting better at it little by little. What would life be if we didn't have challenges?

Maybe next time I'll have some more pictures.

Dona

2009-11-02T07:25:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since my last post. To many projects that I have been wanting to do and trying to finish. Then I couldn't get the batteries to work in my camera.

I had to rescue a sick child from school this morning. 102 temp! She was fine but just a bit tired yesterday. Guess Dorothy had to much fun trick or treating. She was upset that the dance was cancelled because to many kids were sick. The nurse was counting sick students when I arrived and 71 children are out today. The total just keeps climbing daily.

Speaking of Dorothy; she clicked her heels together quicker than I could get a picture. I make her costume every year. It did turn out pretty good! I had to laugh at her ruby slippers. She covered an old pair of crocks with duck tape and we painted on the glue and generously dusted with red glitter. It served the purpose. The forecast was for rain and we almost had it. The sky just opened up and dumped it's bucket for 5 minutes before dark. Then it stopped long enough to do the hour tour. It started sprinkling on the way home. We had fun seeing all the little ones.

These little treat bags (I made 10) went together so easily. I forget if they were on the Moda Bake Shop or Happy Zombie blog. I frequent both sites and have a long list of want to makes.

As promised here is my 4th Hocuspocus house. I just can't decide how I want the center to work. I like the homespuns, they give it that "old fashioned, eery look" but am not sure that this is what I will use. What do you all think? (My current design wall is a quilt that's hanging, that's why you see some red, white, and blue sneeking out.) I have another that I might use. Maybe I'll audition a few and post them at a later date. My goal of finishing this quilt by Halloween isn't happening this year. I'm still stitching this though.

Now that Halloween is over and it's time for xmas ideas. I started on identical quilts for her bunkbeds. They are going to be about queen size when done to be used as bed spreads. I'll post pictures of these at a later date also. As far as any other gifts; at the moment there aren't any. All of the kids are in high school and would rather money, but that's so impersonal to me. We'll see.

I went to my mystery quilt class last week. I love to look at all the samples in the classroom and have participated in many of them. This little Bloomin' 9 Patch caught my eye. Was it because it was little or because it was fall leaves print. Came home and had to make one. I will make another one but use different accent fabrics to make them stand out more. Maybe I'll even raid my fall foliage stash. That story is another post.

One of the gals at work had purchased a doll cradle but didn't like the blanket that came with it. It was too big and "boring". I like to make quilts and she likes to make garments. We swapped, she made Dorothy's shirt and I made this.

I showed her the top, she just about fell over. It was way more than what she had expected. I have always wanted to do an Irish Chain quilt, just didn't think my first would be a mini. Those squares measure about 5/8". I just love making these!!!

I appreciate all the comments. One lady isn't but maybe an hour away from me. I'm in the Burlington area and may take a road trip to find the shop in Rouses Point. As a child I remember going there for 4th of July.

I have to work on my Quilts For Kids kit and a couple out of my stash to send back, November Schnibbles (Picnic) has been ordered, catch up on mystery quilt class, and life. Till next time

Dona

2009-10-16T08:19:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

I'm going to try and post some pictures of my tops that I mentioned in my last post.

Here are my Scnibbles tops for October. The first is all pumpkin prints. The background fabric is to busy I feel.

The second was fussy cut and modified from the pattern leaving out the star point on the inner diamond, it still needs it's borders.

Both are completely from my stash.

I haven't worked on my Hocuspocusville for a few days. Here are the 3 of 12 houses that are done. The fourth one is almost done and I'll try to post that when it is.

I didn't mention in my earlier post that I just fell in love with Any Witch Way in Quilt Maker. I love taking a regular sized pattern and making a mini from it. It's not a true mini, just much smaller. The second picture are 2 smaller sizes on top of the normal size, they still need borders. the mini measures 9 1/2" square before borders.

I'm learning how to post pictures and using this blog. Sorry for the awkward layout, but hopefully you can see what I've been up to!

2009-10-14T08:13:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful Golden day. Yellow is a main color in the foliage in my area this year. Everything has a golden touch.

On the quilting front, I finished my "Cindy Lou Who" top for the "Year in Schnibbles" group. I am currently working on a second one with a Thanksgiving theme. Last month was "Winter White", I finished that top too on time. Now I only have to find the time to layer and quilt them. It seems I have become a topper. I joined this group hoping to use my stash stitch by stitch. Maybe I will finally finish some because they are smaller.

I'm also working on "Hocuspocus" by Crabapple Hill. I'm almost finished stitching my fourth house. I was hoping to have it at least embroidered by Halloween. I had better get my butt in gear. Material Mary pushed me off the fence on this one. She was posting her progress on hers and then I found a perfect fabric for the border and just had to make on for me. Halloween is my favorite time of year.

I'm starting this blog to keep track of my progress and have a link to the wide world. I hope to learn how to post pictures of interesting items to me. Maybe they will be to you also. I read so many other blogs and am inspired by so many. Thank you all.