My 'Katie Jump Rope'

This is my interpretation of the Katie Jump Rope pattern. When I first starting back into quilting a year ago, I saw this pattern on the FreeSpirit website, and loved the pattern done with the depression era prints. Most of the fabrics were unavailable then, and I wasn't fully vested in quilting yet. I searched through what stash I had on hand, and filled it out with inexpensive fat quarters from the local fabric and craft store. I bought an acrylic tumbler template from Missouri Quilt Co., and this top came together in just an afternoon. It was close enough to make me very excited.

It's a Couch Day and Finish Up

                                                        Today feels like a couch day. 

There are days when I find motivating myself a tough thing, too. Not today, though. The Doxie Girls may be snoozing away the morning, but I've been finishing up a UFO from last winter. I started yesterday late in the afternoon, and kept at it through dinnertime. Back at the sewing machine by 6 a.m., and I'm down to 2 more rows. I'll have something fun to show you in the morning.

This Is the Barn that Jack Built

From left: Misha the llama, Fitz the alpaca, Evie the horse, and Armand an alpaca

Fall is well upon us here in Ohio. The trees are showing color, brilliant to travel under in the sunlight. That wistful feeling of it all being so temporary is in the air, and I find myself thinking of "The Ants and the Grasshopper". Last year was fierce with deep snow and negative temperatures, and this year's forecast is supposed to be much worse. Can that even be possible?

Improvements and Refinements: Daydream

One of the most valuable tools I've been introduced to so far has been a design wall. It's a novel perspective, (and just really exciting!), to see a work progress from across the room, or to have the luxury of leaving it up, and then popping into the room later to see if I 'm still happy with things. The Daydream quilt has been up since Monday, and I was sure enough of the arrangement that I sewed together the border blocks one morning. Then I worked on something else, and even slept on it. When I'd pop in to peek at it, something just didn't feel right. I dreaded ripping out those 1.5 mm seams.

I'm In the Dog House & Daydream

While it doesn't look like loads of progress, a lot of things happened here yesterday. All the missing blocks were finished. I arranged and re-arranged. Border design was thought through, and fabrics picked from stash.

The Process: From Chaos into Order

We were home just long enough to unpack our few things Sunday afternoon, and I hit the ground running. The end of the week was gearing up to be a busy one, and I saw my window of opportunity to sew. Oh,... it felt good to be back in my space! I had my assortment of what my friend called 'my bits', and still no perfectly clear plan of what I was doing with them. That's where the design wall did its job. 

Sweet Sunday Daydream

I'd say this large block is very Florida-ish. 
Wouldn't you?

The zig-zag is actually a fussy cut chevron, and while I didn't try to match the lines themselves, I did try to balance them opposite each other. It only takes one time of not doing this to see how wonky your block can look--or maybe that's what you're after. Either way, look closely at your patterned fabrics to see if there's an interesting 'fussy cut' hiding inside.

Saturday Daydream

Today let me introduce two large blocks with bold color--one rectangular, the other square.  Both have simple designs, but they play well with others.

Paper Stars-Making Your Own Templates

Come on. 

Look closely at this with me. 

If we look critically at this first star of mine, we'll find a few points that aren't "just so". The horizontal lines in the fabric are all a few degrees off being horizontal. Hmmmm....What-ever! Those little things will not deter me from being pleased as pie with it!

I drew this star out on paper with a pencil compass and ruler, and made a pattern from it.

Thursday's Plan & Daydream

This is Away for a few days. 

We walked to the beach this morning, and it 
was nearly empty at 8 a.m.