Sunday, November 25, 2012

Spools & Such

You know.........I get a lot of comments from freinds & family. Mostly comments like "what'yre working on?", "what's up in the quilting world?", "still quilting?"

Yes, I am! You're seeing some chaotic photos of a project of mine that I have been working on since ...oh...about....January 2012 (maybe a little earlier...not sure really)..they are SPOOL blocks. NOT Bow-Ties!! Spools people. Spools. They look like spools to me, not so much to other folks.

In this first shot you're seeing SEVERAL projects in progress - but for the purpose of this post - the finished spool blocks, after ironing, are laid out on my sewing table. This "bunch" represents the last of the spool blocks. 270 +/- of them. I already have something like 436, but I still had a bunch of the end rectangles cut out after finishing the 436 & decided I didn't know how long those stacks of rectangles would have to AGE in my stash before I would (if ever?) use them. So I decided I would just sew them up into more spools!

My, sort of, organized sewing aproach.

I am using my janome 6500 for this project because I can do an accurate 1/4" seam allowance. This machine allows me the lusxury of using a 1/4" foot AND moving the needle left/right to get the accuracy I want & need to make these little blocks perfectly square.

this is all I have left of the rectangles. I had cut up 39 fat quarters to get 7 blocks each. And I still had all these left. I think there MIGHT be a dozen sets. So once I complete a quilt, if I need more for a 2nd quilt, I sitll have a few rectangles left. I'm not jumping on using them up - becasue I know for CERTAIN that 709 blocks is totally more than I need for ONE quilt, but likely not enough for 2. Well not two BED-sized quilts. The one I keep will be bedsized though!

And...My ever-faithful companion, Bourbon! (no...not the liquid form people.....for the record, I don't drink) Bourbon is the D-O-G. He lays were he can see me, see the stairs, and see anyone that might come near me.  See the brown ruffled pant-set hanging from my cabinet? that's something I need to embroider on for my neice , Kendall, in Alabama. It's chocolate brown & I'm gonna put something bright pink on it! 

No promises, becasue I'm pretty sure it won't happen, but my SPOOLS quilt, once the blocks are complete...will likely NOT get completed before Christmas. I was just feeling terrible about not really getting anything DONE, and I have been working on these spools for 2 consectutive guild meetings. I sure would LIKE to take a completed quilt to guild in December, but I'm not fooling myself. That's NOT going to happen. I have many, many (did I say MANY???) projects lined up to get done for Christmas. Some are sewing, some are not. Some are embroidery, most are not. NONE are quilting! I am not making/giving anyone a quilt for Christmas this year. Poor planning on my part. I had only planned on ONE person getting a quilt anyway, and next year is not too late either.

Talk to y'all later. I hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving. We did. Went to my sister's house in Shelbyville (TN) and ate ourselves sick. I made desserts. Apple Dip, Elvis Cheescake, and a Chocolate Chip cake bar thing.. Never before made the last 2. They were both VERY popular!

Sam


Sunday, November 11, 2012

Quilt Guild Door Prizes - NQR?

Monday is our guild meeting & I am signed up to bring door prizes. THESE are what I came up with.

The baskets are from JoAnn's Fabrics & they have the little removable stays on all 4 sides. I frog-stitched the stay pocket of one of the larger sides & put the embroidery on it.





Folded up.

I hope they go over well!

Sam

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Settee For Me

We have this little bay area in the masterbedroom. It's a waste of space. Can't do anything with it. I had a glider rocker in there, but it stuck out too far. I bought this little settee at an estate sale in Brentwood. It has a down cushion. I seriously hope that it does not become our cat's favorite place.
I fell in LOVE with these legs!
This is seeing it from the bedside.

View from the door entering the room. As you can see....it's not near as big as you think.

From the bathroom door. It fits in the space perfectly. I am SO glad I bought it.

As you can see...I have only mini-blinds. I have lived in my beautiful house for 4 years and can not decide what I want on those windows. They face west & get a LOT of light. And now that the room is painted yellow & not pea-green like it used to be...It is really lit up with light. Exactly like I wanted, but really rotten for naps. Yah, I like naps. One of the more important parts of my weekends!

This little settee will get a grand re-do sometime next year. I don't think you are getting the full effect of the burgundy upholstery with gold seals....It didn't even match the living room in the house that I bought it from. I am certain it's a reproductions as it SAYS it is on the tag!! From Fogle Furniture. Iplan on re-upholstering it & then also making a WHITE slipcover.
Not sure if I'll use for real French Linen as THAT is probably out of my price range....I like stuff to look good, but I don't want to be without my right arm either.

Yah, I know, it's not quilting. Oh well.

Sam


To Keep Me Honest

#2 ! In Progress.