Blackberry Creek

Posts

Showing posts from January, 2019

My Next Project

January 31, 2019

“The Dress” by Laura Heine

I saw this pattern online and it spoke to me. It said, “You know you want to make this quilt. Go ahead. Order this pattern. Do it.” So I did.

The pattern itself was outrageously expensive. Then I had to also order some other supplies that the designer, Laura Heine, says are necessary to do her method of collage quilting. All in all, I spent way too much. But I don’t believe I’ll have to buy an fabric. I can use what I have to make my own version of this beauty. And the expense should spur me own to actually start and finish the project.

I realized after I had ordered this pattern that Laura Heine is coming to my guild this spring. She’ll be giving a program at guild meeting and then offering workshops. Wouldn’t it be lovely if I could have my quilt done in time for show and tell. At least the top. Another incentive for working hard on this.

I would like to at least have it done in time for my guild’s quilt show in June. I wonder if that’s possible. I might have to create a working area downstairs since Skipper still objects to me spending time in the sewing room. He’ll tolerate it for about 30 minutes before he starts his ear-splitting barking. And I can tolerate his barking for about another 30 minutes before I have to do as he insists and go downstairs.

That’s exactly what happened yesterday. I was able to cut out about half the four-hundred-and-something background squares to make my Crown of Thorns quilt before I had to give up and quit for the day. I discovered I didn’t have enough of the white-on-white holly leaf fabric to do the entire background and almost panicked. I’ve had that fabric for while and don’t remember where I got it. However a search online produced a site (Fabric.com) that had plenty, so I ordered another couple of yards. I’m just solving problems all over the place.

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/31/2019, Rose Sarra said ...

I've been reading your blog for a number of years. My mom and my aunt made quilts that they hand pieced and then had the quilting done at a local senior center. I have several of them and love them. Recently I went to a quilt shop for the first time. I have to admit I wanted to see what a "fat quarter" looked like. :) I so enjoyed wandering through all those fabrics and seeing completed quilts. They offer classes and I think I might enjoy giving it a try. I'll have to dig out my sewing machine and see if I can make the tension behave. That's always the bane of my existance. Anyway, just wanted you to know, you have inspired me.

On 01/31/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

What a daunting pattern! Hope you can finish the top before the guild program where the pattern's creator will speak. Good goal!

Rose, I suggest you take your sewing machine to a shop for a tune up and cleaning. They'll set the tension for you.

Hugs!

On 02/01/2019, Beverly said ...

Susan, I am in love with this design. I see why you couldn't resist.

I miss you. Now get to work on this quilt. haha♥

On 02/01/2019, Pat said ...

I just looked at this pattern on Amazon because a collage quilter in FB mentioned it. It’s pretty but I can see me getting all the supplies and not doing it. Can’t wait to see yours!

On 02/01/2019, Cynthia L Wehrwein said ...

I can see why this spoke to you. This is just too much. Love It!!

On 02/05/2019, Diane Wingo said ...

I love all of her patterns but I really love this one. You are right they are pricey but this is one that I think I would finish. Keep us posted on your progress.

-----

In a World of Problems...

January 29, 2019

...It’s Nice to Have Solved One

I found a set of instructions online for the 10” Crown of Thorns block that seems to have solved my problem of skimpy-to-nonexistent seams allowance. The only difference in the instructions is the cut size of the squares that make up the half-square triangles. The first instructions I used to make the yellow block had me cut the squares 3”; the instructions for the blue block use 2-7/8” squares. The cutting instructions for the solid squares are the same: 2-1/2”.

By using 3” squares of the first block (the yellow one) the block came out too large and had to be cut down to 10-1/2 inches. But cutting it to size took away almost all the seam allowances. By using the 2-7/8” squares, the block turns out to be the correct 10-1/2” size without having to trim it. And the seam allowances are 1/4” on the money.

Notice the generous seam allowances on the blue block from today’s sewing, while the yellow block (the first one I made) has little to no seam allowances. It looks fine as is, but once it is sewn to another block, the triangle points would disappear.

Thanks to Nancy for her note from Maui suggesting that I use paper foundations to make my half-square triangles. I was going to try that next if these instructions didn’t work. Hurry home from Maui, Nancy. We miss you here. Turns out you almost missed a Birmingham Snowmaggedon. But after everyone collected our milk and bread and hunkered down for the big one, nothing happened. All the schools were closed and the entire state of Alabama was put under a state of emergency. I think some places in Alabama got a dusting; but here at the Yellow House, nada. And nowhere was a state of emergency called for. But better safe than sorry, I say. And it was exciting, waiting for the snow. And there’s still some winter to come. Maybe we’ll get it yet.

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/29/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

So glad you found instructions that solved the no good seam allowance problem in the yellow fabric block. Well done in the persistence department!

Sadly, we had to put our sweet, petite grey tabby cat down today after she'd eaten nearly nothing for two weeks and then ate only smidgens of the people tuna we gave her. She lost so much weight and was so weak that yesterday her back end didn't work right so she'd fall over. we couldn't ask her to stay but we miss her so.

Hugs!
-----

I’ve Got Some Bitching to Do

January 26, 2019

But it’ll be short.

Every morning I get up with the firm resolve to have my coffee, do whatever absolutely must be done, then head for the sewing room. But every morning must-dos crop up that I hadn’t budgeted for. Not anything big sometimes. Maybe my sheets need changing, or I need to catch up on laundry or run to the grocery store or vacuum. Hardly ever do I have an entire day of chores to do.

But the little things have become big things. I can perform just one household chore and I’m wiped out for the day, with barely enough spoons left to make dinner if I take a long rest beforehand. Heck, oftentimes even showering and shampooing does me in for the day.

I hate this. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/27/2019, Debbie Price said ...

Sue, if I could be there, I would give you a soft hug, tell you how much I do understand this, sit you down in a comfortable place, make us some tea, and we would have a nice, long bitch session.
I feel the same way. I have so many ideas and half done sewing projects, crocheted blankets that need finishing, cross stitch waiting for that last bit of work, even books that need to be reviewed. We won't even go into my closet situation!
Some days, getting dressed, taking Mojo out on the patio grass and getting my tea seems like a huge chore! Seriously, if I did not live in an apartment, I might be in my pj's all day! I just don't feel proper stepping out on my patio in them.
While I am not OCD, I do like my home to be hoovered, the floors mopped, and there is nothing better than an empty laundry basket. Unfortunately, now it is only one of those things a day that is accomplished.
You would think with my girls living right here in town I would get some help, especially since one of them still lives with me!
Hate it?? You better believe it!! I just try not to let it take away my happiness. Some days, that doesn't work out, but I do try.
Hugs and love for you.

On 01/28/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

Susan and Debbie, I'm right there with you in the little things wipe me out and use up my limited spoon supply all too quickly. Bother and bummer to the max!

I do suggest you leave the sheets for another day or put off an errand and TAKE that time to sew, read a pattern and imagine, cut fabric while lietening to music and enjoy what you accomplish in your sewing room. You deserve to use up your spoons that way at least a few times a week. My quiltie sister in Australia takes 15 minutes/day to "have a bit of a stitch" and you'd be amazed at what she accomplishes that way.

Hugs!
-----

Sunny Day Sewing

January 21, 2019

After many grey and rainy days, the sun is out full force today. But it’s cold. Coldest temps so far this winter, I believe I read.

I did some test-block sewing today. I’m planning a new quilt for my very own bed. I have the fabrics, and I thought I had the quilt block pattern picked out, a traditional Crown of Thorns block. But that might have to change. I made this test block, which looks really pretty. However, after trimming the block to the required 10 1/2” square, I find that some places do not leave enough seam allowance for the points to remain sharp. I’m going to try another test block, maybe looks for another set of instructions for this block, but if it doesn’t work out better, I might choose another pattern entirely.

One other drawback to this quilt that I can see is that it’s unsashed. The last quilt I made by joining blocks with triangle points on the edges (with no sashing between) was a pain in the neck. I had to do a lot of hand sewing.

So although I love this block a lot, it’s not a sure thing yet for this quilt. But the fabric is. I purchased this group a fat quarters a while backing, knowing that I wanted a quilt for my bed made from them. The walls in my room are a buttery yellow. I think these fabrics will look great in there.

The group is called “Meadow Moda Mix” and was curated by The Fat Quarter Shop.

Currently the Skipper and I are cuddled on the couch staying warm. I think we’ll spend the next couple of hours reading until time to start supper.

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/21/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

Lovely fabrics and am sorry the pattern didn't allow enough seam allowance when trimmed.

Do you have "Block Party" by Marsha McCloskey? That book has great instructions for blocks and also has a section that shows how they look side by side and with alternate blocks. That book might give you some ideas.

In 1995, I amde my mother a quilt using Evening Star and King's Crown blocks that alternated. The King's Crown block has the "star points" turned the other way and that's the only difference. I liked the light halo formed areoound the start. That pattern was in the book "All The Blocks are Flying Geese" by Mary Sue Suit. I'll send you a photo of Mom's quilt.

Have fun and stay warm! It's been 27*F here today and tonight's temperature is expected to be 15*F. Brrr!

Hugs!

On 01/22/2019, Sheryl Colle said ...

I do love those colors!! I like the pattern, too, even without sashing, but you don't want something you have to struggle with. Making a new quilt needs to be fun! I'll be anxious to see what you end up choosing.
-----

Rainy Day Sewing

January 19, 2019

I scored some time in my sewing groom this morning to work on my little Pumpkin quilt. It doesn’t have a title yet (maybe “Starry, Starry Pumpkin?”). I just have to add two borders and it’ll be ready for quilting.

I still have the “Spooky" quilt to be quilted, which was supposed to go to Kathryn (Spooky) for Christmas, but that didn’t pan out. Still haven’t decided if I’m going to grit my teeth and try machine quilting these two pieces or take them to Lena. I am not very skilled in machine quilting nor do I enjoy it.

I picked up “Witch Hunt,” beautifully quilted with little spider webs, from Lena last week. Just needs binding, labeling, and a hanging sleeve, and it will be ready for the quilt show.

We have a rainy, stormy day going on here in Alabama. Tornado warnings are popping up to the west of us, but so far just rain and wind here. It’s January, for pete’s sakes. Where’s the snow?

Just as I typed that last paragraph, all heck broke loose outside with heavy heavy rain and loud wind. I have satellite tv which, during heavy rain or snow, doesn’t work. So I couldn’t get weather info. I couldn’t see out the front window, the rain was so heavy. Looked like a scene from Stephen King’s “Mist.” By the time tv came back on, in just a few minutes, the rain had lessened and so had the wind. So I guess maybe we won’t blow away today.

Happy Weekend, everyone.

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/19/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

Starry, starry Pumpkin sounds like the perfect name for this delightful quilt!

I enjoy the limited machine quilting I do by quilting around the designs in the fabrics; also use the wavy stiutch on my Bernina (button 4, stitch 3)

Lena did a wonderful job quilting Witch Hunt!

Stay dry - rain is headed our way, too.

Hugs!
-----

Lightning Bugs and Bottle Lights

January 17, 2019

No lightning bugs were incarcerated in the creation
of these bottles.

When you were a kid, did you used to catch lightning bugs and put them in jars to watch them light up? My sister and I did. Well I’ve found a way to use my blue wine bottles to create the illusion of lightning bug jars, but in a more humane way.

The strings of lights that you can insert into bottles come with their own corks where the batteries are located to turn your bottles into little lamps.

There’s a “cork” at the end of each string of lights. This is where the batteries and the off/on switch are located. The cork fits into the opening of a standard wine bottle.

So if you’d like to turn these (or something similar)...

...into these....

...then cut and paste the link below into your browser window and you can order them. The price is currently $2.99/string. I suppose that can change.

https://www.xz-blue.com/products/hot-selling-50-00-items-bottle-lights-50-off?variant=21880761745526

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/17/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

How cute are those little lights?! Thanks for the heads up about the sale price and I've just ordered 6 sets as I plan to give 3 as a gift!

Hugs!
-----

Saturday Sewing

January 12, 2019

Well, my 2019 hasn’t got off to the big bang that I planned. It seems every day something pops up that has to be done and keep me from the sewing room. But not today. I finally got a little quilt making done, for the first time since before Christmas, I think.

I’m making this little mini quilt as a donation to our quilt show silent auction. At each quilt show, we hold an auction of small quilts, the proceeds of which go to a charity. I don’t know what this year’s charity is. 2017’s proceeds went to alzheimer research.

We had a couple of sunny days, but the rain is back today. I’m hoping for a little snow before winter is over. I love snow--as long as I can stay home and don’t have to drive in it.

But for now, it’s rain. Good weather for a little snuggly on the couch with Skipper and a good book. I’m reading a good one: November Road by Lou Berney. This is the first book by this author that I’ve read, and I’m really enjoying it. The story takes place in 1963, and it’s set against the backdrop of the Kennedy assassination. In this fictional account, the murder is planned and carried out by the New Orleans Mafia. Very exciting.

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/13/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

What a cute Pumpkin pattern and your well on your way to having it ready to finish! Methinks you should make it once or twice more to give as gifts as it's such a delight. You may need to keep one for yourself, too.

We had snow last night but not enough to cover the grass and today it's been freezing rain. Not my favorite by a long shot. We're staying home!

Hugs!
-----

First Bee of New Year

January 08, 2019

This sweet cushion was in the chair where I sat, just waiting to support my aching back.

We met at Mary U’s beautiful home yesterday for our first bee meeting of 2019. Good food, good friends, talk and laughter. Lots of fun.

This is Cyndi’s Christmas gift from her longtime Japanese quilt pal.

Cyndi made this walker caddy from a pair of cast off jeans.

Mary U. made this beautiful piece to donate to our quilt show boutique in June.

Mary showed us this beautiful top that her friend’s grandmother hand pieced.

Today is the first 2019 meeting of my book club. We’ll be discussing the book Oh My Stars by Lorna Landvik. And I have about 50 more pages to go to finish it, so I have to sign off and start reading. Book club is at 2:00 p.m. at Cracker Barrel. So I think I have time to finish up. Later, Gators.

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/08/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

Love your new snowman pillow and the eye candy photos! What a joyful time it was to meet with fellow quilters!!

Hope your back feels better soon.

id you finish the book in time? Cracker Barrel - yum!

Hugs!

On 01/09/2019, Sheryl Colle said ...

How nice it was to see some familiar faces! It might be that carrot sticking you in the back causing discomfort. Ha Ha Good to see the pretty items all are making. Enjoy your bookclub. Would love to eat at a Cracker Barrel. We don't have them here.
-----

12th Night

January 05, 2019

Only a few more hours left of the holiday season. I hope everyone’s holiday has been great and that this Epiphany finds you well and happy. As always, I’m glad the hustle and bustle is over--even though I didn’t hustle and bustle nearly as much this year as I usually do. It was enough. Now I’m looking forward to a year of sewing days filled with creativity and a lot of great books to read.

Speaking of books, I have one to finish before book club meeting on Tuesday: Oh My Stars by Lorna Ladvik. I’m only half finished, so it’s off to bed with me to do some reading.

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/05/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

I got the Christmas tree ornaments off, packed, and put away just in the nick of time and the Christmas wall quilts swapped for winter ones. Where, oh where, did my energy go? Sigh!

Happy sewing!

Hugs!

On 01/06/2019, Sheryl Colle said ...

Love the 12th Night. I guess you’ll have all year to do them. One a month?? That makes it doable. Have a great year of quilting!!
-----

Day Two of 2019

January 02, 2019

New Year’s Day at the Yellow House was a hit. The day centered around a comfort food lunch of ham, blackeyed peas, collards, macaroni and cheese, slaw, rolls, with brownies and ice cream for dessert. Way too much food for three people--me, Jesse, and Andy--but DE-licious with plenty of leftovers. Andy and I shared the cooking duties, so it was no big hassle for me. I cooked the peas, had the collards already cooked and in the freezer, and served bakery rolls. Andy did the rest.

After lunch, Jesse and Andy finished putting away the Christmas decorations, took down the Christmas tree quilt in the foyer, and hung the snowman quilt. Then Jesse retired to his room to watch football while Andy and I watched “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” After Andy left for home, Skipper, Taco, and I went to bed to do some reading. Bella, as usually, was upstairs with Jesse.

Now remember, the holidays aren’t over until after Twelfth Night (Epiphany). So if you haven’t got your tree and trimmings put away yet, that’s okay. I still have a few things out--the holly basket on the dining table (photo above) and the wreath on the door. But I’ve replaced the Santas with snowmen, which will remain out until at least the end of January. I’m hoping they’ll coax some snow out of the skies for us. I love snow.

Time to pull those leftovers out and heat them up for lunch. I’ve been looking forward to them every since I got up this morning.

Happy 9th Day of Christmas, Everyone.

This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.

On 01/03/2019, Barbara Anne said ...

9 ladies dancing but since I'm a day late finding this, it's now 10 Lords a-leaping, isn't it?

So glad you and your family had a lovely New Year's Day feast and help with the Christmas decor. I'm still slowly taking ornaments off of our tree and hope to finish the tree and get the Christmas wall quilts down tomorrow. You've reminded me to put the usual mugs in the dishwasher so I can put the Christmas dishes away.

Your holly basket and bow are so pretty!

Hugs!

On 01/05/2019, Deb said ...

Happy New Year Susan!
Good to see that whenever I stop by you're still blogging. It seems a lost art in the age of instagram and such. I have to admit that I've fallen behind in my blog for a few months but aim to make amends in 2019!
Wishing you the best!
-----