Monthly Archives: January 2019
Sometimes, one just needs to play, so today, I did a bit of basket play. I cut out pieces of fabric 5″ square and make a tiny basket. I made the seams 1″ on each side. This one measures finished nearly 3″ across without finishing off the inside seams and about 2.5″ high.
Then I cut off the sides I had sewn and enclosed them in a seam. This then measures only 2″ across and is still 2.5″ high. I pinned the sides down so you could see how it would look with a button. But It is kind of cute with the sides up. I will be making various sizes of these throughout the year to use for gift giving. I can imagine one with home made spa ingredients, one with a recipe and ingredients. These will be fun to think up and give.Fabric basket
Today I made a fabric basket using Connie’s tutorial (blog: Free motion by the River) which is here. I have also added my own photos so you can see a different look. Above is my finished basket.
I started with two 17″ pieces of fabric, right sides together and a piece of batting on the bottom. I sewed a 1/4″ seam around them, leaving about 3″ to turn them right sides out.
I used a chopstick to poke the corners out and then just sewed across the opening, before quilting the piece.
After quilting I put right sides together (the inside of the basket is what you see). Then on the diagonal I marked 3″ from each side and sewed this line.
I refolded the basket so those two seams are together, marked the other two and sewed them.
With all 4 seams sewn, I turned the basket right sides down and using a button stitch, stitched the flaps out. The buttons are just decoration and have no weight on them. The measurement for this basket is 7 x 7 x 4.3″
I will be making more of these for gifts in various sizes. They are so handy and easy to make.
Churn dash blocks
This morning, I stopped to have some fun with those half triangle I was making yesterday. They make the best Churn Dash blocks. Playing gave me the energy to go clean the barn.
Did you see the moon turn red last night? Here are some photos in case you missed it. The first is one I took, but my Iphone would not capture the red color, so I borrowed a photo from the news. It was amazing!
Sewing triangles
I tried a new to me way to cut half square triangles. First I stiffened my fabric, because somehow drawing on fabric tends to distort it. So on the stiffened fabric, I drew corner to corner both way. Then a scant 1/4″ on either side of that line, I drew a sewing line. I sewed the 4 sewing lines, then drew another line across the middle of the block each way. I cut on those lines as well as the diagonal lines
Then after pressing these squares open, I trimmed them to size. I loved the fact that they didn’t stretch and I got 8 squares out of each larger square. 
These half squares can then be used in any pattern using half square triangles.
AND THE LIVESTOCK
The sheep know that when I have done the cleaning for the day, food mysteriously appears in their feeders. As soon as I have unloaded the last tractor load, they are on their feet waiting to eat.
Chickens don’t herd like sheep, but that doesn’t keep Bracken from trying.
I’m for more sewing time this week, though it will be slow while I’m still working on taxes. I hope you are taking time for fun.
Tractor was stuck
I requested this be done several times over the last few months and it seems it wasn’t important enough to get to the top of my handyman’s list. I was so tired of the mud, I thought I’d give it a try myself, even though I’m still learning how to operate a tractor. Well, I had 4 spinning wheels, the tractor was stuck and I decided to leave it where it was.
Today, my neighbor came over and showed me the proper way to move mud. I will need to practice this technique and will probably get it stuck again before I get good at it, but I love what a tractor can do.
I did get this little wash cloth knitted, which helped me relax.
Lamb baby quilt
It’s finished and even has the satin binding that babies love to hold next to their skin. I will put this away for the right baby to come along.
Other than that, today, we changed a few sheep coats and did chores. We seem to have filled our day.
Best laid plans
Oh, yes, I had the best laid plans. I was going to finish the lamb quilt and start the quilting on the machine. However, without warning, we had a major windstorm 
. Really major and we were without power for 2 days. I spent much of the last two days tending the fire, cooking here, and sitting in front of it. We were so thankful when power returned. We were technically okay and could have survived longer, just too spoiled to want to camp in the middle of winter. But now we have POWER and are very thankful, having just relearned how wonderful it is.
So today, I finished the front of this quilt which is now waiting for quilting, backing and binding. It was done on the embroidery machine, which is a technique useful for someone who doesn’t really know how to quilt, but I found it more cumbersome.
When I make this quilt again, I will embroider the pieces flat and put them together and then quilt it. I think it makes a cute baby quilt. It measures 38 x 42″.
Embroidering little lambs
These little blocks measure 4.5″ plus the seam allowance, when trimmed, which is 1/2″ These blocks are taking about 1/2 hour each because one first lays the sky down, embroiders, then trims, then the grass, then embroiders that in place. The the lamb is done, and finally batting and backing go on each piece. But aren’t they turning out cute?
I now have these three rows done and another 2 embroidered, but not put together. I may not get it all finished in a week, but I’ll come close. I linking up with Patty over at Elm street quilts
The chickens know a good perch when they see it and the sheep don’t seem to even notice. The girls in this pasture got their mite medicine dripped on their backs today. it beats having shots or oral meds.
Lamb Crib Quilt
I was given this pattern for an embroidery machine Lamb Crib quilt by Heart n Sole. I have been given a week to get it done. I think I can do it, but it will be close. It will make a nice quilt for my next grandchild – if and when.
It is made of little 4.5″ finished quilted squares and then put together. Then a backing is used across the back to cover all the seams and the original was then tied in the corners. Today I made 30 of these little squares. That gives me another 80 to go. Since they are small, and the quilting is minimal, they go fast.