Fancy Work!

Last weekend, my EGA Chapter hosted a class with Jane Timmers of Fancy Work.  The class taken was Shakespeare's Garden Sweet Bag.  It's a delightful bag.  I'd love to show you my project, however, I worked on practice linen during class.  That was a smart move as I learned several techniques and stitches that I haven't used before and really needed to practice the stitches.

Our class was 2 days, the first was focused on the speciality stitches and the stitching of the bag.  The second day was focused on finishing techniques.  I was delighted to learn we would be making tassels!  I'd made cording before so that part of the class was a needed refresher.  We won't discuss the Christmas ornament I've had sitting for 3 years just waiting for cording .  It might now also get a tassel!   Here is my tassel in progress.  It looks a hot mess but it all worked out.

Here are my two finished tassels that are connected to cording!   Isn't that cool?!  I was very enthusiastic about learning this technique.  Thankfully one person in class, Carol, shared my excitement.  We were both tickled pink!  My husband also showed proper interest and respect in this new skill of mine.  He thought it was amazingly awesome (well, he didn't exactly use those words but I know he meant to).   You can read more about the class and see some of Jane's exceedingly beautiful designs at our EGA blog which can be found here.   Lots of pictures over there!  Jane was a fantastic teacher and I love the project.  Win all around!

After coming home, I felt this urge.  This urge to work on the needle book from Ellen Chester's A Lady's Work Boxe.  I've stitched on it all week long.  Every day - which is very unusual for me since I work and many nights just don't have the mental capacity.  I've made good progress for me.  I actually didn't mind the over 1 stitching - let me just say, that shocked me.  I think I might even like it a bit!  And this is 36 count!

I'm absolutely thrilled to be stitching and sewing again.  It feels good and it doesn't feel forced.  Next week is going to be busy as we have family coming in at the end of the week from out west and still need to do some prep work for that visit.  I'll be sure to have the needle in hand a couple of nights though.  I'm looking forward to it!

Spending Time with My Needles!

Things are actually moving along in the world of the needle!  A couple of weeks ago Greg and I went on vacation and I finished another block on Shores of Hawk Run Hollow.  I was happy about that! 

No ironing - otherwise this post would not have happened!

I've also been sewing!  I took out this old WIP (I refuse to call something a UFO for some reason) and have been working on it.  As I previously talked about, I'm making this one work with what I have on hand.  Since I started this early in my quilting "career", it's less than perfect.  I've made some adjustments and it's now smaller at 9 blocks vs. the 12 originally intended.  Would I put these fabrics together today?  Probably not. There are some 30's fabrics in there along with some Kaffe and a Tula Pink plus some other odd fabrics.   The quilt is from Egg Money Quilts by Eleanor Burns.  Excellent step by step instructions.  Some say you don't even need to read the words to understand what to do.

I'm going to try quilting this one myself.  I have some vague ideas of what I'm going to do on most of the blocks but need to figure out the sashing and cornerstones (not shown).  I'm not going to get better if I don't start doing it and I thought this would be a good quilt to start on!

It feels good to spend time with my needles again!  

A Finish Finish!

I'd like to share with you my completely finished 2010 $5 Quilt.  I originally shared with you when the top was completed but now it is quilted and bound!  I'm happy to have another finish of a large(ish) quilt this year.   My husband was the only one at home and at 6'2", he wasn't quite tall enough to get a great shot of the full quilt.  You can see a picture of the flimsy here that is a bit better.

Nancy Wines quilted this for me.  She is a local longarm quilter and this is the first time I've used her.    I didn't give her any information other than requesting how the applique blocks were quilted and asking for the borders to be quilted differently.  Since this is a sampler quilt, each pieced block was quilted differently.  

The color is more accurate here but it's a little bit more difficult to see the quilting on this block.

Nancy quilted feathers in the outer border and a geometric pattern in in the inner (burgandy) border.  I think this picture shows both pretty well though the outer border color is off.  I bound this quilt in the same fabric as the outer border.  I didn't want any additional contrast as I like lattice look.

All of the applique was echo quilted.  I really like this!  You can also see the flower like pattern Nancy used in the cornerstones pretty well here.

I've really started thinking more about improving my own quilting techniques to hopefully get to the point where I can do some of my own quilting.   I think echo quilting would be something that would be forgiving.  I need to move from the thinking stage to the action stage!  I do have a project I'm working on that might be a good one to begin with.  It has sashing strips I could do something with and the rest could be echo quilted easily.  More to come!  

Thank you all for your visits and comments and for standing by while I work myself out of my funk.  I appreciate you all and am inspired by you!  Thank you!

Dipping My Toe Back In!

As I mentioned in my prior post, I've spent some time in my sewing room!  Trying to get over the sewing dry spell.  I haven't completed a Farmers Wife block in a while and I found myself reaching for the book and working on this block.   It was enjoyable!

These next two blocks are from the 2nd or 3rd quilt that I started and are also from a quilting class I took (2009).  It was a beginners class but there are y seams and other higher skilled piecing in this class.  So in hindsight, I had no business being in that class.  I've gone back and fixed/improved/repaired as many of them as I can.  They were awful.  Two are beyond redemption. The remaining blocks are still not great but they are better.  One thing I know for sure is that my skills HAVE improved since I took this class.  Today I would work harder to get it right vs. getting it done.  This project is also one of my 19 WIPs that I'm trying to whittle down.  I've decided to not make the quilt as big as originally intended because I didn't want to make any more blocks.  Considering I've not been sewing one would think this would be the last project I'd reach for to work on.   Oddly enough, it was really satisfying!

I've since appliqued the arcs down and replaced the corner triangles on this one. 

Please excuse the poor lighting and scorched pressing mat.

For now, this one is put away for a bit.  I got a quilt back that I put in to be quilted earlier in the year and I'll be working on the binding!  The quilting is amazing and I'm hopeful that I'll be sharing it with you soon!  In the meantime - happy stitches to you all!

I'm Still Here!

Where did the summer go?  School has started back up and I see posts of fall on blogs.  Thanksgiving is just 3 months away!  I'm looking forward to fall and winter and the cooler temperatures, I actually don't like the heat and humidity.  It is still a bit sad to see summer come to a close.  We'll have the heat here for a long time but I'm sure you know what I mean!

I've been in a complete slump this summer - for even longer if I'm honest.  Not much time being taken with the needle.   I finished this AotH block - the October one - in May and just haven't posted it.  Color wise, it's not my favorite but it was a fun stitch.  I still need to map out my plan for personalizations so there are spots left for that.  I have ideas for the personalization but they need work.

My two nieces visited this summer without their parents!  We had a blast!  It was a busy week, long days, lots of fun.  When we were home, the girls tended to be sure they always had one of the dogs or the cat in their arms.  It's a good thing we have 3 so one could rest from time to time!  My boys who are 24 and 33 were with us every day as well and the girls LOVED that they were. Rock climbing, movies, pedicures, zoo, making Rice Krispie Treats...the list of fun goes on.  I still need to go through the photos but here's one to share with you.  Love these 2!

I've been trying to get myself back into the sewing room.  I've thought about it.  I've missed it.  But actually putting something into action just wasn't happening.  This weekend found me spending some time in there and it was effortless and fun - had a good chat with a friend and I think that helped.   It was a relief to talk about it.   

If you get a chance, do visit our EGA Chapter blog.  We had a wool workshop and a exhibit.  The exhibit post is 2 or 3 posts down - it was a really lovely collection from our very talented members.  

Thank you for sticking with me!  I appreciate your visits, your comments, and your blogs.  You inspire me.  I hope all your stitches are happy ones!