This is the best “over all” photo since I was on the same level as all of these booths. All up close photos were taken with permission as this is a show where photos in general are not allowed.
One of the vendors enjoys painting her machines.
Notice the gadget for thread. This winds off the metallic threads in the correct way to keep them from breaking. (Yes, there is now one in my studio.)
This was an interesting demo. See the quilt in the background. She used gridded fusible interfacing onto which she put the pieces – either tee shirt or other fabric. Then she adhered strips between them as well as setting blocks if wished. This keeps the shirts from stretching.
Then she sewed straight lines across and then down to complete the top.
This is a look at the back of the quilt. (With this method, one could make a quilt very quickly)
Cindy Losekamp is demonstrating her paints and special stencils.
These ribbons made their way home with me,
as did these threads from Superior Thread Co.
I also needed a new rotary cutter from Kai scissors, some seam rippers, 2 pair of knitting needles and a pattern. I did NOT buy any fabric or yarn.
I found these darling little knit hearts on Ravelry as a free download. It is too late to have time to knit them for this year, but they would make a small delightful summer project. If you click on the photo, it will take you to the Ravelry site
Here’s another fun idea. U made these a couple years ago and don’t see that they are still available. But you can put the words in your embroidery machine or do it by hand. Just sew around, stuff and close the hole you on the side where you inserted the stuffing.
Here is a fun scrap project, I hope some of you will enjoy. I made a 4 patch from 2.5″ squares and then had another piece of fabric 4.5″ square.
I sewed the pieces together with the pretty sides on the inside, leaving a place to turn, about 1/2 of one side. Turned, pressed and then I filled it will walnut shells.
I happened to have this bag on hand, but if you wanted to do more for gifts, try the lizard section of a pet store for a lesser price. I sewed the opening with a needle and thread.
I have done enough machine work lately that it was time to clean out the bobbin area. Of course, all of you are doing this on a regular basis. Here is a refresher for those who haven’t done it in awhile.
You will need whatever screwdriver your machine takes and possibly your manual. Remove the screws over the plate under your presser foot – and I also removed the foot.
In order not to lose the screws and foot, I put them in the thread cavity. Just be sure they are safe while you are working. Next take a small craft brush and clean the bobbin holder, then take it out and clean underneath. It is amazing how much lint gets in the area.
Check your manual, oil if it specifies and put everything back together. You should be back in business for your next major project.
BANANA update Yeah! all the bananas are either in the freezer or dehydrator. Tomorrow morning I will empty those and be done for a few months – hopefully until after canning is done.
This morning I picked up 4 boxes of bananas to put into the freezer. They aren’t ripe, but in 2-3 days, they will have my full attention. They are just expensive enough, I buy boxes when they have a special of 30% off. I rarely shop Safeway, however, because I signed up with them, periodically they send me “just for you” prices on half a dozen items.
Then it was off to the sewing studio to create more stars.
This Christmas quilt was a 2014 BOM and is completed.
5 of these quilts have been completed and though they are all 40″ wide, they vary in length between 44 and 60′ Today 4 of them were gifted to the church for street mission. I used a heavy batting and since the night temperatures are in the 30s, I’m sure they are welcome.
This was a quick quilt using 4″ squares
“The Grim Ripper” is a 9 x 12″ wall hanging that only needed quilting and binding.
Hedgehog needed the key ring sewn back on (10 year job) and the two little coin purses have gone to a friend who loves blue.
The pot holder is a prototype for some I will do in Seahawk colors with logos. (WE WILL WIN!)
These are the first pair of finished socks this year.
January 28, I planted Endive, Escarole, lettuce, and broccoli in the back containers. Today’ they are peeking. Yesterday. I planted tomatoes and peppers in these cups. They are inside and under lights since we could still have a very cold February.
In addition, the apples and grapes are pruned, a good share of the bark has been laid and the front flower bed is ready for annuals.
It was a beautiful, warm day and the fellow that has been moving all these shavings for me told me that he knew someone who was very good with grapes and all types of berries. I was all ears. Mark, the berry expert, came over at noon and he really does appear to know what to do. He started with a mess of grapes that were desperately trying to hug the ground. He added another wire, then pruned and tied. The first row now looks really good. Tomorrow he will do the other row. I will be so happy to have the grapes doing the right thing. This past year the chickens got all of them because that is the level at which they were growing.
In between supervising, I pulled out a box that had a few of Mother’s things in it. I found this pair of pillowcases started. I can’t just throw them out – they aren’t finished. So I decided I’ll just learn a bit of cross stitching and who knows I may even learn to do the crocheted edge like our mothers and grandmothers used to do. Mary knows how and said after the Seahawks win the Superbowl in 2 weeks, she can help me. I doubt the cross stitching will be done by then.
Did anyone make the new projects posted yesterday? I couldn’t help it, they were so fun. I also repaired this little hedgehog coin purse which has been out of commission for several years. . He needed the key chain put back on. And I was procrastinating.
I had intended to order garden seeds today and to work on the quilt that is on the machine waiting for me, but instead this called me. It was a small pile of 4″ squares cut from fabrics in the scrap box. I also have many 2.5″ squares and I look at this and then at the pile of smaller squares and am guessing there are enough to make this size 4 or 5 times. This is how more ufos are acquired for those of you who don’t have any. However, when finished, someone will love its coziness.
