Baby Steps is Done!

I have actually finished this little quilt!!

The last hold up was I couldn't find the binding fabric that came with the kit.  So after a the failed search for the original fabric, I had to search my collections of reds to find a fabric that matched.  

I first rejected the fabric I used as too shinny, it actually has a little shin to it.  But all the others didn't look good.  I even tried a black print but it didn't work either.  

I had no real reproduction fabric to preview either.  

So after consulting my preview with a couple of friends, I went with this red.  It looks great and I wonder what I was stressing over.  Do you do that also stress over a detail too small to really worry about?  No one will tell it isn't the same fabric as in the inner border.  And if they do they are the quilt police and I don't need them looking at my work!

Thanks Jane and Kellie for your input.

Happy Stitching 

Happy New Year!

Quilting is Done

The quilting is done on Baby Steps!!  

I did in the ditch in the center and did some big stitch quilting in the border.  I wanted to go around that vine but the presser foot was scrapping some of the color off of the buttons.  Since I am not a real hand quilting, I just had fun.  

Too bad the quilting doesn't show but it really makes those center rows with the vine and buttons pop.  

Here is a close up of the hand quilting.

I might do the inside of the vine also, just to give it a little more definition.  

You have seen me mention the mini quilts I have been adding sleeves on the back.  Here is one for August I just finished.  I should do September's now also, since this one is so late getting done.  Only four more to complete. 

Yes I had a piece of the backing still available to make the sleeve.  

This is the front I finished it in Aug of 2009. 

Some of my quilting friends are in Show Low at 

Quilting on the Rim, for a quilting retreat.  

I went with them in 2012 but now that I have the girls I can't go.  I wish them fun, relaxation and lots of good sewing.  I know the food will be great and it will be cooler than here in Phoenix. 

Well Happy Stitching!!

Leaves Are Done!

On Wednesday night about 9:30 PM I made the

last leaf on my Baby Steps quilt top. 

 

 

I scanned it and was ready to write a post but I had a little girl who didn't want to go to sleep. So, I was busy helping her to get to sleep. Thursday also turned out to be a busy day. 

So, here it is for your viewing pleasure. 

I have decided not to frame it because I am cheap and don't want to spend the money for a frame.  So I will be just quilting it and hanging it on the wall.  Since I change out quilts frequently this will work well. 

 

Happy Stitching!

What's Happening

At my place.  Well it has been a little bit of everything.

 

All the flower buttons have been sewn on my little Baby Steps. I have add leaves to less than two sides.  I can see a light at the end of the tunnel on this one.  Yeah!  Some of my friends at the quilt shop yesterday thought I should frame it.  I have never framed one of my little quilts.  I am not sure.  I will have to think on it some more.  I would love to see some little quilts framed to see how it looks.

 

 

 

Several months ago when I taught a Twister Tool class I was showing the students the pattern of this quilt and noticed it had a spider on it.  I had to check out my quilt and it did not have a spider.  Well it has now been added!  It looks more complete now.  Every Witch's hat needs a hanging spider.

 

Close up of the spider.

 

 

On July 9th we took the girls on a little trip to Disney California Adventure Park.  We had a great time.  One of them took a picture of my hubby and I while we waited in line for the Race Car ride in Cars Land.  Last year we forgot to take pictures of hubby and me, so I was determined to get a couple. 

The next day we went to the beach.  This is what happens when you let a 10 year old take your picture up close and personal.  I kind of like the picture. Unfortunately, she dropped my camera with the lens cover open right in the sand after taking this picture.

 

The lens cover doesn't open all the way, as you can see by the back shadow on the picture below. I think I fixed as you can see in the last picture.

 

Above is my tin with my Yo-Yos supplies.  I made more Yo-Yos while we drove back and forth from Arizona to California.  I also listened to a book on CD, Sister Queens: The Noble, Tragic Lives of Katherine of Aragon and Juana, Queen of Castile.  A very good story which really makes me glad I live now and I am a regular person and not royalty.  

Above on the left are the new Yo-Yos I made to add to the collection on the right.  I made 40 on our trip.  I don't know how many more I need and I don't want to know.  Once I get tired of making Yo-Yos I will start sewing them on some more blocks.  Right now I want to finish that vine for Baby Steps.

 

Well that's all folks.

Take Care and Happy Doings!

 

The Binding on Mr. B.'s Quilt

The binding is on Mr. B.'s quilt and I am 3/4's done with sewing it down by hand!  It won't be too much longer and this will be done!!

 

 

 

Here is the binding, you can also see the front and the back. 

Yes, my hubby loves Red, White and Blue, this is his second quilt I made for him in these colors.

 

At the AQS show that was here in Phoenix in February I picked up some of these binder clips that a lot of my friends were raving about.  I have to admit they are a lot better than the ones shaped like hair clips. Part of me thinks they shouldn't make a difference.  They lay flatter and so the binding is flatter.  I don't seem to re-align the binding like I did with the other clips.  My favorite part is they work well on the corners. I used to pin them and of course the pin would stick me.  Not any more.   These hold the corners just fine.  Do you need to run out and buy them, no, but if you are treating yourself to a little something go for it.  I only use 5 at a time.

 

Yes, I have added more buttons on the vine to my Baby Steps. 

It is kind of on the back burner until the binding is done.

 

That's about it for now.

 

Happy Stitching, Scraping or just living!

 

 

 

I Have Been a Busy Little Beaver

So what have I been so busy doing? 

 I added borders to the 30's Baby Steps.  As you can see I went with the purple for the border and it will be the binding also.

 I also when on a search for buttons.  I wrote the company I purchased the original set of buttons from for the other Baby Steps and I have never heard back from them.  This did not make me happy.  I found some I really loved from England pastel shades and lots of shapes but it would have cost me $24 for the buttons and shipping, I said no way Jose.

 

 

So these are the buttons and I am getting the from Shelly's Buttons and More.  Not all the shapes I wanted but the colors I want. So I am OK with that.  Maybe I should have asked my second cousin in England to order them and see if it would have been any cheaper?

 

 

I have made some progress on the original Baby Steps.  See the buttons on the top.

 

 

I have even made progress on Mr. B's quilt!  I only have three rows to go and now I think I can tie from the front and I won't have to lean over the back of the frame.  Getting happier about this!

 

And finally I actually have a finish!  Number two for the year!  My Flag Twister Wreath is done.  Here it is hanging on one of my quilt hangers.   Currently it is at the shop as a class sample.  I am teaching this tomorrow, May 2nd.  Fun class and I have four students.

 

Plus I have been playing in EQ7, doing some class preparation for my monthly club meeting.  We are working in the book Quilt Designs and the group wanted to learn about the Hexagon Quilt.  Here is how mine turned out.

 

I don't use a lot of colors when I am designing for class or learning new stuff, that takes away from what I am focusing on.  Playing with colors can take hours. So 90% of my EQ stuff is in blue and yellow. 

 

Well time to fly, I am going out today for lunch with a friend. 

 

Happy Stitching, Scrapping, and Living! 

More Vine Work

I was bored with sewing on buttons so I started embroidering some leaves.  Here is my progress so far. Only three more sides to go! 

 

I scanned this and I have the one edge too close to the edge of the scanner.   That is why that one border seems so narrow. 

 

Look what I started!

 

Ever since I started working on this, I have been thinking this will look so great in 30's fabric.  Look at it, it is so cute in 30's.  I am trying to decide if I like the blue or the purple better for the inside border.  I am leaning towards the purple.  Purple is my second favorite color and blue is my first. 

One of my friends said the blue looks like me

and the purple looks like Easter. 

I really don't want an Easter look. 

 

Leave a comment and tell me which one you like better. 

 

 

My Vine is Growing

Or maybe I should say, my vine is growing some button flowers.

 

 

Here is my progress this week on my Baby Steps. 

 

I have also been playing in EQ7 as I have my monthly club today.  We are working with Patch Draw and learning how to draw a circle quilt from the EQ book Quilt Designs.

 

Plus it was just a plan old busy week. 

 

Have fun!! Quilting, Scraping and Living!!

 

 

Mixed Media

What do I mean by Mixed Media, just that I have been doing a little scrapbooking and a little embroidery. 

Scrapbooking first!

I have been using the Kiwi Lane Design Templates for 11 months and I wanted to try using them a little different.  My first variation was to use them with spray glitter ink. 

 

I placed them on the paper and sprayed around them.  The next time I will cover the holes with tape, not that the little dots look bad.  Worked well.  The spray wiped off the templates with a little bit of spray cleaner and a paper towel.  I am working on some old pictures from the late 60's and early 70's.  I am not spending a lot of time just short journaling and adding pictures.  Here I used paper, I think the next one I will use card stock. 

 

 

My second idea was to punch holes around a shape and then sew it with floss.  The fish is really more noticeable in person.  This was fun. 

 

 

First I decide where did I want that fish.

 

 

Then I made some holes with a tapestry needle.  I first

marked all the points and all the dips to mark where the

template went in case it slipped. 

 

Time for more holes about 1/4" a part, as even as possible, then I did the stitching.   I was going to use a lighter blue but it didn't show at all, so I went with the darker.  Where the paper is three layers deep it was a little hard to punch the holes so I stuck my needle in the back of an eraser to I could push without hurting my fingers.  It worked well. 

 

 

Isn't he cute! So much better in person.

 

Here is the progress I made on my little Baby Step Quilt, both sashings done, and the main vine of the border is completed. 

Maybe tonight I can start adding buttons. 

Now it is time to clean up my creative mess. 

 

Happy Stitching, Scraping and Life.

 

Look What I Have Done

All the borders are on my Twisted Flag Wreath.  I am liking how it looks but I might go get some more fabric so my flags will all go the right way.  I made sure all those little flag blocks where going in the right direction. 

 

 

So do you think I should get more fabric and make the flags all go one way?

 

 

I did some more work on Baby Steps.  There are more buttons on both sashings.  The leaves are all done on the left side.  I didn't get a lot done as it was Spring Break and kids where home from school.  We did some fun things.  Plus I am still coughing.  I had a chest X-Ray and I am now taking antibiotics.  I am sure a day home with no running around would do a world of good.  I wonder what that is like? 

 

Have a wonderful day and have fun stitching, scrapbooking or just enjoying life.

 

 

 

In Addition...

In addition to my accomplishments in the last post I have been doing some teaching.  It feels good to have full classes

and excited students.  My Twister class went very well.  I

learned a few things that will make the next class go smoother. 

My next class I will do the same wreath pattern but with flag fabric.  I saw one done on Pinterest but the pattern was a little different.  I didn't realize that until mine was almost done.  No matter, I am going to make it work. 

 

 

Here it is with a border preview.  I am going with the flag fabric.  I am also thinking of doing the waste border before this final border but I need to finish constructing the center and than make the waste border before I decide.  The tan border does nothing for the center.  I saw the same wreath pattern done in Halloween fabric but I think for a fall class I will do the Witch's Hat I did a couple of years ago.  The wreath pattern is a nice size because the center is done when class is done.  The teacher needs some variety.  

You can see that Witch's hat here.

 

My other class that was full was a Beginner's EQ7 Class.  Another bunch of excited ladies but they were on brain overload by the time I finished with the 3 hour class.  They are so excited about learning more about EQ7 they want my Beyond the Basics Class in May. 

I teach at a LQS, A Quilter's Oasis.

 

On February 7th I went to the AQS Quilt Show that was in Phoenix.  I went with my lovely friend Lorene, we meet through our blogs and when we realized we were both local we meet and became friends.  We had a lovely time.  It was a nice show but I get a little overwhelmed with the masterful art quilt and the fancy quilting.  The truth is I will never be that kind of quilter.  I just wished in shows they had another category for professional quilters but not the super professional quilters if you know what I mean. 

 

There were some fun vendors and I picked up a few new tools.  I have plenty of fabric and I am trying to buy for projects only and I don't need any more books or patterns.  Well I did buy one pattern. 

 

The first tool is called The Strip Stick.  It helps press those seams that are close together.  I used it on my new pattern and I was very pleased with it.  Short narrow strips, 1" wide.  Here it is in action.

 

 

Here I pressed the seams open but you can do them closed also.  Here is the back of the project I used it on.  It worked very well for this.  I used it on a bigger project, the center of the flag twister but I wasn't as comfortable with it in that size project.  I am sure I need a little practice with it.  This product is reasonably priced compared to others I have seen.  I purchased the middle size.

 

 

 I also purchased their Seams Sew Fast - Quilt Strip Piecing Guide.  It didn't work well with the 4" x 1" strips I was working with but I will try it when I do wider strips.  I like the concept.  The other tool I haven't used yet but I will review it when I use it. 

 

So the pattern kit I purchased is called Baby Steps from

The Red Button Company.  They have some really cute patterns, and many are kits.  There was a generous amount of fabric, I have left over sashing and squares. And the tiny buttons are just so cute!

 

So here it is.  I have started the embroidery. 

Those squares are 1/2" square.  I haven't worked with anything this small in a while.  I did the mini Square strips about a week after the show.  This week I constructed the rest and started the embroidery.  I had to brush up on my embroidery stitches.  I am only doing the chain stitch and a daisy stitch.  It is so cute.  I can see this done in 30's fabric.  I have enjoyed doing the handwork at night while watching TV with Mr. B. 

 

Well I think that makes up to date. I hope all is well with you and yours. 

 

Yesterday the 13th we celebrated our 22nd Wedding Anniversary! 

Here is a post I wrote on our 17th Anniversary part 1 and part 2.

And let me tell you the adventure continues.  There will be

some big news later this year but I will keep it under raps

for a little longer. We had a quite celebration of left overs and balloons and flowers.

 

 

I love the Maxine balloon.

CHOCOLATE

is a woman's reward for putting up with men.

Mr. B. knows I love my chocolate. 

 

Sweet and Simple!

 

Happy Stitching, Scrapbooking and just plan old living!