Stash Sale Findings

Yesterday my quilt peeps, Jan of Quilting Revolution and Sandy of Quilting for the Rest of Us and I went to a stash sale.  I found some great stuff.  Some embellishments.

 Some magazines, like Stitch and Fons and Porter Quilts...

 And of course some really pretty fabric.

I even found some quilted material for a good price, considering the stuff in the store is 20 dollars+.  I simply won't buy that stuff for the full cost.

Here is a shot of the room where we bought our stuff that my friend Jan of Quilting Revolution took.

Among the highlights, Sandy found 15 yards of PFD silk for 30 bucks!  Wowzer!  And Jan got a free bag- lucky duck.  I so need to copy the bag pattern!  A Lands End bag for free! Dang!

Bobbins, Bobbins, Bobbins

And hanging threads.  Oooh, I can not stand hanging threads.  The hair things help to hold those strings in but then you can not see the color of thread that is on the bobbin.  I heard about this idea... somewhere.... can't remember where I heard about it.  A great idea, really.

I bought 3/8ths size tubing in the plumbing section of Lowe's.  Cut it about as wide as the opening for the bobbin.  Opened it up and fit it around the bobbin.  Now, I can see the color of my thread and the thread stays neat and tidy. 

String Quilt

I saw this string quilt block on Molly Flanders blog a long time ago.  Made me jump out of my chair and start the same project.  It is a great way to use up scraps.  If you dont know anything about string quilting.  Go to the library or go to a book store and find a book on it.  Heck, just look online.  So much to see out there.There are lots of different patterns. If you like this one go here at Molly Flanders for a tut.

Carol Doak Piecing

My quilt guild is doing Carol Doak, Paper Piecing, for our block of the month.  I have done a little paper piecing.  I am happy to be doing this book to gain some experience.  Where was this knowledge when I did my pine tree quilt?  These trees were so much easier. 

The Things I Put Up With

Focus and Finish

While my internet has been down, I have been busily finishing off projects.  I think one of the major things that "Easy Street" taught me was to focus and finish.  That is my mantra for the month of February.  I started organizing my stuff and realized just how many UFO's I had laying around.  I have been picking up oine at a time and when I feel the urge to get distracted I remind myself that I need to finish and then I can move on to the next project.  Its really hard not to get distracted and start yet another project.  But I have been doing pretty well.

So far....

I made a cushion for my window seat.  I had painted the room where I sew and then had a new rug put in last year.  I found if I layed this wood shelving that i have on its side, it fit perfectly under my window.  I made some Roman shades last year as well.  The window seat has been naked since.  And bugging me.  Unfisnished business. I can happily say, its now done.

Then, eh hem, I bought some fabric eight year ago. I bought it to redo the curtains.  In my defense I bought when my daughter was a wee baby and we had just moved into a new house.  Not a lot of time for sewing.  But alas I have pulled it out.  I have been working on the curtains, doing some problem solving.  But I did find a use for some of the fabric...

Pillows.  I made one, I have two more to make.

I bought some iron board padding some time ago... Three years ago to be exact.  Finally, have made something with it.  Something I could really use.  A portable ironing pad that doubles as a bag for an iron.  I had enough left over to make a little board for near my sewing area.  The one I currently have is just too narrow.

And the one at the top? Well, that's on my list to do...

Sketch of the Week: flourish

I have not had internet for almost a week.  It feels like an eternity.  It is amazing how hooked I am on the internet.  My connection to so many people.  Reading blogs is so validating, knowing I am not alone.  Facebook to see how family and friends are doing.  Emails, often vital links to people.  Goodness, how dependent I have become.

I am behind in posting my sketches.  This is flourish.  A beautiful word.  We had fun sketching this out.  This may be the start of a beautiful artistic tradition with my children! My youngest joined us this time.  She wanted her plants to flourish with some water.  It all started because I accidentally spilled something on her paper.  She was a little upset at first.  But then I said artists always change mistakes into part of the picture.  (well, maybe not always).  And she quickly turned her thinking around, got up and poured herself a glass of water and sprinkled it over her paper.

 This one is my oldest daughters who decided to go with a poem and drawing.

 Here is the water sprinkly one by my youngest daughter.

This one my oldest daughter did.  Not so much about flourish but rather about our dog.  I just wanted to save it in a picture because I liked her angle.  As a child I don't think I would have thought of aerial views, nor do I think I could do one.  I have to say that Bella's art teacher has a lot to do with her abilities.  She has done a great job teaching my kids about art.  We couldn't ask for a finer teacher.