Saturday, November 29, 2014

A Tiny Post on Tiny Trees


Tiny Holiday Trees 

My little trees I accidentally squished together turned into a sweet wall hanging. I finished it up yesterday as a gift for my friend, Wenda. It was a happy accident, and I was pleased how it turned out.

I used the chance to try out the machine quilting I had in mind for the larger wall hanging, and also the button and pearl embellishments. I think the bling is pretty, but it could easily be made less glammy by using colored buttons on one or all the trees. 

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving


 "Tiny Houses, Tiny Trees" came together at last this afternoon. The week before Thanksgiving brings so much extra work and preparation, so this project feels like it's taken forever. It actually hasn't been a week, though. I think I was so anxious to get the piecing done because I'm really looking forward to the next part. Bring on the bling!

Two books that have been on my shelf for several months are both by Aimee Ray. I haven't done much in the way of embroidery, but I started this project with the intention to embellish it. I think embroidery will enhance this project.


Here are another two loaded with ideas. 



I made this block while working on the project, but the trees wound up too close together. It's okay. I learned how 'not to do it', and now I have a piece to practice some techniques on before starting with the actual project.


The wine is chilled and the turkey defrosted. The cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes were cooked today. Tomorrow after the rest is prepped, and while the turkey bakes, I'll be stitching away. My mom will call to ask how the meal prep is going, and once again tell me I should be watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I'll just smile. 


May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day wherever you land, and be careful in your travels. And remember, be kind to each other.

Doxie Girls, let's head to bed.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Tiny Houses Tiny Trees II




 Tiny Houses Tiny Trees--Work in Progress-WIP

It was a working weekend for me, but I have a lot to show for it this morning. This little project does not show the hours sunk into it. It is a time vampire, but I love how fun it is!

 I had done the remaining tree blocks during the morning. 
Sunday afternoon I started at this point.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Tiny Houses Tiny Trees


I have always had a thing for Teeny Tiny Houses. I always thought it would be So Fun to live with minimal space, and the barest of possessions. One trip to a Disney efficiency room with two girls who were appalled at the lack of privacy changed all that overnight! I'm happy enough now to just look at pictures, Thank You.

This little project started off with the stripey fabric reminding me so much of trees. I thought a little wall hanging with trees would be a nice seasonal touch. 

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Quilted Clutch Bags




Somewhere along the Quilting Road, I never learned what a walking foot was, or did, because I had always sewn on a Pfaff. That wonderful old machine with an integrated walking foot! Mine is on the older side now, over 20 years old, and I'm still just as thrilled with it as I was the first day. The only thing that I can't do is quilt a bigger piece on it with the tiny 6 3/4" throat. For that, I need my new Janome. 

All my quilting is done on the Janome now, but I had never just straight stitched a quilt. Once I learned how much fun it was to do free-motion, I couldn't see why someone would even want to do straight stitching. While I love the creativity of free-motion, Fiona's dog bed required a straight stitch because of the bulk. So last weekend it was finally necessary to learn how to use the Janome's walking foot. I 505'd together two cute scraps, and figured it out. Not tough at all, but now I had seen how it could transform my fabric with just that straight stitching, and I was really impressed with the look. I just had to find something to do with my test piece!


So, this little clutch was born, and the idea continued to be refined, ...

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Holiday Hip Hot Pad



From here until the first of January, it's a social season. There are invitations to gatherings, parties, and the occasional unexpected company shows up at our doors. There are frequently times when we should be showing up with 'something', and my head goes blank when I'm pushed for a last minute idea. I've been racking my brain for homemade hostess gifts I can make and take, and I always think about what I would want to receive myself. There are the typical things like wine or a small plant, etc., but it seems at the holidays that people bring holiday-themed gifts. I would bet that each one of us here has a little different decorating style for our holidays, and I'm trying to find something that all of us can use, and hopefully appreciate.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Favorite Quilt Scraps Powder Puffs



You may not want to hear this, but it's officially 6 weeks before Christmas, and a week and half before Thanksgiving. The calendar turns whether we're in denial or not. Do you have a list of people expecting a gift from you? Are you interested in some quick projects that are fun to do, and will be one-of-a-kind because you make them? I'll share a few of my secrets with you this week. Let's make this Christmas a low-cost, low-volume holiday, and focus on homemade, which allows us to re-purpose or Upcycle.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Poor Freezing Fiona's New Dog Bed


This is one very large, very warm dog bed made for a deserving dog who can't get warm.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Patchwork Cushion



For all you scrap lovers, this post is for you. 

Here's the story of a family heirloom that no one wanted to sit on. It was too hard.


Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Feather the Nest-3-Recovering Chair Cushions


Let's start with an After shot to the left, and a Before on the Right. I'm feeling lucky you can't see how stained and dirty that cushion fabric is, but rest assured, it needed replaced.

This is a close-up of the finished seat cushion. What an improvement in both design... 

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Project "Feather the Nest"-2


Today is Veteran's Day. Take the opportunity to thank those men and women who gave a great deal to us with their time and devotion to our country. Young and old, they all remember the sacrifices, and are grateful and honored when they know the rest of us remember, too. A simple, "Thank you for your service", is appreciated.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Project "Feather the Nest": Dog Beds



Today is the first of a string of a few stellar autumn days. Sun and mild temperatures for this time of November are fully enjoyable, if not untypical. Here, we've had a keen eye on the weather during our barn project, and every spare moment on dear husband's part has been spent there in both sun and rain. I hope that the remaining material come in an are installed this week. We're all ready for the barn to be done. The Arctic cold front hits us Tuesday night, and I fear for the harsh winter they're predicting to be near on it's heels. Brrr.

Friday, November 7, 2014

I Survived the Zombie (Quilt)




This is Friday, and I'm doing the Happy Dance.
The Zombie quilt is done, done, done. 
Woohoo!



Thursday, November 6, 2014

Patch, Donate, Rebuild

Do you have some fabric that you really love? You know, you take it out and look at it, pet it, and decide not to cut into it. It's your favorite, or one of. I have several I've been loving, and not ready to part with in a quilt. This is one, and I needed just a little patch on my jeans where I snagged the knee at the barn. Torn jeans just don't cut it for me, so I parted with a few inches, and made a cute patch. It's raggedy like the boyfriend jeans, functional, and I can enjoy the print. Because my tear had straight edges, I did my best to zigzag them together. Then with your quilt fabric, cut a rectangle, make a tube right sides out, iron it flat with the seam in back, blanket stitch the edges, and hand sew on. The original patchwork. Come spring, I may change it out for something brighter.


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Promise Kept and People Met



Yesterday was a Super Sewing Day! I packed it in from morning to night, but it was both productive and fun. 


First Meet-Up at Jo-Ann's

I think this deserves a shout out. We had a ball! Most who came didn't know each other. The company was diverse in age and interest, but everyone came to sew or stitch. No meeting. No agenda. The teenagers took off to walk in the mall together, but came back to observe what we were doing. We create a little hook or picture in their brain, and that is how it all starts for them. That was how most of us started. We watched, and then decided we could do that. About a dozen adults sewed, we laughed, we laughed some more, and kept on sewing. We showed off our work, asked each other how to do things--and someone there always knew how to help. It was actually nice that the room was fairly small. We became well acquainted with whatever our neighbor was working on. The cookie-brownies were a little burned, my own fault, but no one complained. We simply enjoyed the time we shared. 

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Get Out of Your Quilting Room and Vote!



            Susan B. Anthony                           Elizabeth Cady Stanton                       Lucy Burns


It's November 4th, and here in the U.S. it's Election Day. Be part of the Process, and get out to Vote! If you're female, and I imagine most of you are, keep in mind the strong women who gave years of their life to the suffrage movement so all women then and after had the right to vote. Can you imagine our world if we didn't? We all have a voice, and our voices count. Make yours heard today. Pay tribute to their legacy. Go vote!

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Quilts and Barns





WIP: Zombies back and front