Reunion Quilt works.

Here is the Sweet Honey with his new plane "body" in our garage. Yep, most people have cars- we have a plane.






But, what this post is really about is what I did different with the Reunion quilt that I have never done before in quilting.
I usually attach binding using the machine. I hate to bind quilts! I think its because I hate the way my bindings used to end up looking- but I have gotten better. On this binding I attached it to the back (like always) but when I flipped it over to set it on the other side, I used a zig-zag stitch. It looks ok and it may very well hold up better in the long run.

I loved the text on the binding. Our riding group does a lot of charity type events including going to the airport and welcoming home troops. This hits my household very close to home- DH's son is currently doing a tour of duty in the Marines. He thinks he is somewhere around Somalia. But, they never really know.
This quilt will be auctioned off during our riding club's reunion this year. Any monies we raise we give to St.Jude's. That is the main charity association that we sponsor. It goes to a wonderful cause. And, as much as I know it will cause strife at our home- I am bringing this quilt back home with me!!
I really want to give it to the DS when he gets home for Christmas.

 On this picture you can see the quilting- its just some simple stars all over, in varigated thread- red, white & blue.
I used navy thread in my bobbin and white on top when I flipped the binding over and attached it. I hoped that it would make the stitching on the back invisible, but it may soften some and not be as noticable once its been washed.

I am rather proud of this quilt, mostly for the charitable aspect of it but really because I think I will get to bring it home with us for Timothy.  I hope he likes it. I am forever looking for ways to make things personal to the people that I am making things for and this one hits the nail on the head.   I am getting off of here, I have lots to do today to get ready for the reunion! And, we get to make a trip to the local Harley shop! Woo Hoo!

        

 

 

Works in Progress

Today is my day. Woo Hoo!
The Sweet Honey (DH) ran off to the airport to enjoy the day- his way. I am staying home to enjoy it my way.
The other day when he took off for Johnson City and came home with a new plane, it was destined to be his "WIP" for the next few years. Most people dont realize that there is a whole class of airplanes known as "experimental." Those airplanes are usually just home-built and most follow guidelines or plans- just like quilter's patterns. They are only called "experimental" because someone actually built them in their hangar or garage and they were not produced by a general aviation manufacturer.



His airplane came home on his big trailer and shall live happily ever after in the hangar and garage until he completes it. Right now it is just a shell and wings.When he left this morning, I bid him farewell and decided that I would get some of my works in progress finished up and do some laundry while I was at it. In my "messy girl" post I showed pictures of my sewing space. It is just a spare bedroom without a bed; serves its purpose wonderfully though. 
This morning I realized that I could better utilize my table if I moved some things around a bit- I did that. All I really did was swap the sewing machine and mat on different ends of the table to create more "resting" space for the things I was sewing on.

So, I moved things around and started thinking about how darn messy everything really was- I had to do an intervention on myself. I got stuff switched over nicely and everything looks so much better. Except for my pressing corner- it looks horrible.  But, I'm working on it- it is a WIP. I added my "bits & pieces" to the design wall just to see what I had. Up at the top of the design wall is my Oakshott quilt project. I hope to make a huge quilt to fit our queen size bed out of my colourbox. I think i'll probably have to order more to finish it but we'll see.  
 
Here is a sampling of the next 4 blocks for the Oakshot project. All I lack I lack on these 4 blocks is sewing a couple of seams. I am really liking them so far and they are SO easy. The hardest part seems to be picking colors to go together. 

 To the left is a couple of hand work projects I have. Some Oakshott rugmugs and a cross-stitch weenie for my wall. Love Love my Weenies!
 Over there on the right is my evening-in-the-bed project. I crochet on it when I am in the bed or on the couch watching the TV. Its very rare- I hardly ever watch the TV.
 
What is amazing to me is that I have all these projects going on! I cannot believe that I have let things get so out of hand. And, this is just a small sampling of the things I have going. I bet I have 10 more that are stored and I didnt want to drag out! Eeek!
This little strippy number is what I call the "girlie quilt." I have been making these strip sets a couple at a time and I am thinking that I need to cut them up  and  set them rail-fence style. I hope to make a full size quilt out of them.
 
 The next project, the one on the right is the small baby quilt or throw for my Etsy shop. ( imakeuglybags: in case you wanted to know.) It is just 4 patches and X-blocks but it is so cute and it was cost efficient to produce. I was gifted the charm pack that the 4 patches were made from and the border, binding and backing were on clearance at my LQS. The other stuff I added from my stash.

Momma's Sunshine (my Orca Bay project) seems to be a forever work in progress. I hope to have it done by the time the next Bonnie mystery comes along but its just very time consuming. I started out loving to make the string blocks but that grew tiresome and then all those little wingy blocks got the better of me! I feel like it will never measure up! I need to just bite the bullet and finish the damn thing it. I am thinking about laying out what I have done and just working on what I have to make it a complete top. Maybe it would end up large throw size. I love the blues and yellows though and it does make me happy when I am working on them.

Down below is my "Stadium Horrible Stripes Quilt." All it is, is 9 fat quarters. All horrible stripes. It is actually layered and basted. I plan on trying my hand at free-motion quilting, using it. I started it to use when me and the SH (DH) go to football games or outings that require a sturdy blankie. That would be, really, any outing for me- I get chilled easily.

 



I have some holiday WIP too. But the only 1 I had handy was my stockings-in-the-makings pile and you really cant see all the work on anything.

 It just looks like a jumbled mess.
On the right is my Perkimon Daydreams Bonnie quilt. I used her ideas and thoughts to make this for my friend Tina. I am doing a zig-zag layout instead of the original layout but I am super happy with it. I just need to work on it. I need to work on lots of things.

I am sorry this was a wordy and picture heavy post. But, I felt like I needed to chronicle some of this stuff as incentive to get it completed!

Everyone have a great Sunday. I know I am. I am actually ahead of schedule and considering taking a sweet siesta! for just a few minutes! The afternoon sleepies have it me hard!!! although, it could be the wine-tasting as I was switching things over from secondary to third fermentators before bottling! Woohoo! always another WIP!
Bye, Ya'll!
jess

 

Im linking up at freshlypieced. 



The Plane, Boss, The Plane!

Over the course of Yesterday, I started and finished a "Jane Market Bag!" Woo Hoo! It was easy and will be perfect for its intended recipient- Momma.
I haven't worked on her quilts like I thought I would, but I do have half the binding on the reunion quilt. As far as the reunion quilt goes it is the "bargin basement" pattern of Bonnie Hunter's. I love it because it was so easily customized. I want to do one that is totally scrappy, not just Red, White & Blue. The more I work on it- the more I want it- not for myself but for my step-son. He is currently on his last tour of duty in the Marines- somewhere in the middle of the ocean.
My Honey (DH), will be acting as the auctioneer for the SCRC state reunion; it promises to be very interesting. Especially interesting since I WILL be bidding on my own quilt in an effort to get it back and get it to Tim. The Honey might kill me before all is said and done, so- ya'll will know what happened to me if I stop showing up.

I know I should have been taking pictures along the way of the bag but I was just so amazed at how quick it was and how much I liked the way it was turning out- I never stopped! I hope Momma likes it.

 I used decor weight cotton
 and some canvas and am really pleased with the structure of it. I doubt she uses it as a market or shopping bag but probably a work bag.
I am showing front and back of the bag in the photos.
It won't stand up on its own but thats ok, I think when I make myself some I might try one with quilter cotton and interface it- just to see how that structure is.


Next up on WIP Wednesday is my "Perkimon Daydream" quilt for my friend Tina. I have actually been working on it for over a year. But, it is a grump! I didn't use 1.5 in. strips like the original pattern calls for- I used 2 in.(for some reason my sets stay straighter that way) and I am not doing the original pattern layout or size. What I have so far:

Right now it just barely covers the top of my queen-sized guest bed. I have sewn about 3 rows together and I imagine that I will have to make myself add at least 2 more rows. But after 2 more rows and borders I think it will make a very nice sized snuggly. My friend, Tina, is very dear to me. Even, if we dont talk regularly at all- actually, I probably haven't talked to her in 10 months. Shameful. Its extra shameful too cause if she read my blog she would see all the spelling and gramatical errors and stroke. She is an English teacher!
Ok, so, the Sweet Honey is headed home from Rusty Nail farm- him and his buddy John went to Johnson City, TX today to aquire another freaking, a damn, another plane. We have 3 now. All I can say is- He better have got me some wine!!! or Cheese and whine is all I am serving for dinner!! Yeah, and ya'll just thought quilting was expensive! Sheesh!
Have a great evening, Ya'll!

Scrappy Selvage Box

This morning I worked vigorously on that little scrappy selvage box I started on Sunday. I finished it! Woo Hoo!
It turned out a lot cuter than I imagined but it was a lot more difficult to get it to crisp-up and than originally thought it would be.
I am being a procrastinator too. I have to finish the reunion quilt tomorrow, but binding seems to be the part about quilting that I hate to do. I must admit that when I started quilting it was because my bindings looked crappy that I hated it- but now it just seems so tedious a finish for something so relaxing! My bindings have definitely gotten better through the years.
On to the pictures!!!
 


bottom slab quilting
 



SidesSlab ready to cut

 
 


 


Shell completed



sides quilting; almost finished

 
 


Reading for lining

   Construction of the box.




 
     Next step was getting the lining ready and cut. The ugly  pink fabric was 30 cents!!! I bought it at : Walmart. I couldnt help myself; a whole 1/2 yard!

Yellow is my favorite color EVER. So, I almost have to have it somewhere on all of my projects. Its like my good luck color. or something.

Sweet Face!!! Muah!

                     Did I mention that I was missing this sweet face? I am. So much. 
Next up is a little mating of the lining and the shell. Sweet!!! That means I am almost done. D.O.N.E.





 DONE. I love a good finish. I had to really roll the seams to get them to crisp-up and I think I will still add another top stitch around the outside edge. I did one
at the 1/4 in seam but I think Ill try a really tight topstitch too.

 I would love to have one of these in each color of the rainbow. But. (always is a But) I think the next one I make will have the selvages going the other direction. And, I think I will continue to use up that uuuugly! pink fabric as the lining. I think it adds character. I already set my piles aside for yellow (Duh.) and for green. Surprisingly, I had more green than I expected and not as much Blue. Weird.

I am going to make a leap of faith in myself and make my list for tomorrow. Tomorrow is my only day off this week and it happens to be another very important day to get stuff done.

• finish reunion quilt. (all you lack is the damn binding! you can do it!)
• make 2 more selvage boxes: YELLOW & green.
• Finish quilt for Etsy Shop.
• Clean out the cat box.
• Finish laundry. (you will have a ton more!)
• Work on Momma's quilts!

Ok, Ya'll, I bid you goodnight!

A finish... and a start!



resting on bed.
 

On Friday I worked like a banshee to finish the Cheetah Quilt for my little friend- I gave it to her last night but it was too late to get good pictures. She's only 8- she's in love with the Quilt. It is THE Quilt to her.
It was a huge beast to bind. I did it all on the machine :(


finishing binding!



     
 

Airdrying
 

I am on the "super countdown" till my Russell comes home. It really sucks when he is gone. And, this time he is home we have lots of things going on- I am already feeling stingy with my time!

I started a new small project yesterday morning before work. I decided I needed a box/basket/something to put spools of ribbon/pre-made binding/ric-rack inside. I have a hug plastic tub that is really too large for those things and I needed it for something else. Really, I need better storage for what I already have.
Anyway, so I decided to make one  of the scrap boxes from Sunday-Morning-Quilts but with selvages instead of just patchwork scraps! I love it and I am not even started really good yet! I do know that I WILL have to have a rainbow of these puppies!
 

I have saved and saved my selvages for a few years but they have just been sitting in a baggy waiting for something- I was afraid to try anything with them and ruin them- but Oh well. I just decided to go for it. I may have enough of each color to make a box from each color of selvages, with some scraps mixed in too!

 

Just a stinkin' cute cute selvage!
 

I have 2 quilts that I just need to put together. I have all the blocks constructed and even the borders but I am scared! They are on-point! Eeek! I am going to try and finish those in the next couple of days. And, make a few more bags for my etsy shop.

Ya'll have a great day!

I am a messy messy girl.
I am creative in my messy messy room.
I have a view of the boat. I love to fish.
Tonight I decided that I would take ya'll on a tour of my sewing room. It's messy.
First up, what you get if you look to the left when you walk in...

Painted sack from Pandora's Box

The floor under the sack... my stack of almost completes! and phone books for strings!
 

 

This is where we turn to next.. it is my main sewing and cutting table. I move things around as I see fit and need.

 

What a mess.

This is my wonderful window view of the boat. Really-its ok with me. I cant see it when I am sitting/sewing.

This is the latest project getting binding!This is the next view... ironing station included!Eek. I wish I had more storage but I just cant decide what I want! 

 

Close up of some projects in the works. Somewhere in these is a floor!

 

I hope ya'll dont run screaming enjoyed the scenery! Tomorrow I hope to have completed a few more projects and have figured out more of this whole blogger thing!

Just some info: you can find me on Etsy at: imakeUglyBags
I would love to hear from ya'll!

Work Report for the Weekend:

• Pieced all the blocks and part of the border for quilt to go in Etsy Shop (when I finally open it.)
• Made semi-homeade lotion. I love it! (I have mostly a bathtub full.)
• House is clean. Most of laundry complete.
• Scooter loved on; lots.
• 

Supported my friend Katie & her 73rd line Rangerette daughter.

• I also missed my super-sweet, super-hero Husband.
• I actually lack the binding on the quilt that will be donated for our SCRS 12th annual state reunion that benefits St.Jude. (No pictures yet.)
• And, have another special quilt being long-armed I should finish before next weekend.

I had a pretty productive weekend. But, I'm still missing my man. He'll be here before I know it- I keep telling myself that!

I'm making a list for next week:

• finish Oakshott RugMugs.
• make 2 smallish bags.
• make 1 large bad with a snap.
• work on the "girlie" quilt.

and my maybe get to it: work on my Momma's quilt. Maybe she'll get it for Christmas!

Have a good week Ya'll!
jess