Friday, March 16, 2012

A Little Inspiration

My favorite thing this week is a video.  Thanks to Shay for hosting FTF so that I can share it.  My life-long friend in California sent this to me.  Now she is not a quilter, but was so taken by this woman's determination she just had to share.  Interestingly enough, she just found out she has some serious health problems so I'm hoping this inspired her as well.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Something for "Show and Tell"

I've revamped my blogging schedule.  When I started, I had this aim to blog about my quilting/sewing at least once a week.  Not too hard to do when making smaller projects (like for the holidays).  But since I've started the king-sized Wings and a Prayer quilt, there isn't always that much new to post about.  Therefore, I've been absent for a while. 

However, I now have some things to share.  First I completed the crocheted baby afghan I had been working on, and just in time.  It seems that my nephew and his wife's little girl is coming sooner than originally thought.  I had asked for pattern ideas for a ruffle for this shell stitch little afghan, and P was so kind to send me a beautiful pattern.  However, I could not make it work with the body I had already done.  I'll save that lovely idea for the next little one to come into this family. 




I was able to finish all four sides for the zigzag border that surrounds the medallion for the W&P quilt (instead of just bragging about doing it.)


As the piece will sit "on-point" corner blocks were made.



Then log cabin triangles are added.  This is where I learned another new technique (for me anyway) from making this quilt.






A diagonal line is drawn on the backside so that the piece is can be cut into a triangle.  Then a thin strip of fusible interfacing was ironed over the line with most of the strip on the block side.


Then using a quarter inch ruler, a line was drawn 1/4" below the original line and the log cabin ends cut off.  This quarter inch is the seam allowance.  The fusible interfacing strip will prevent stretching when assembling the corners on the quilt.  Boy, I could have used this tip 2 years ago when working with large triangles!  I'll have to see how it actually feels when I quilt this monster.

The triangles are attached to either side of the corner blocks.  The triangles are mirror images of one another.



Then these "corners" will be added to make the medallion square for the quilt top.  I just had to lay it out to see what it would look like.  I about died when I first laid it out and this corner section was too small.  But it pays to read the directions.  There are small squares in the corners of the medallion that have to be cut into triangles.  When this is done, the corners fit perfectly.  I mean, "Duh,"  READ THE DIRECTIONS!!!!









Still have to attach these corner sections and then I'm into adding borders.  Many many borders!  The first one is made with flying geese so I guess I'm back in the goose business for this next week.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Incredible Ideas

As I was trying to think of what to write about for Shay's Favorite Things Friday, it came to me that great ideas for gadgets, crafts, cooking and the like really get me going.  For many years, I've been thrilled every time I take my wine opener out of the utensil drawer.  I'm old enough to remember what a struggle it was to open a bottle of wine with a corkscrew.  And so unlady like, with it clamped between my legs, pulling and yanking.  Let alone the occasional spillage of the cork coming loose when you least expect it.

                                                     Oops!  A little wine stain in the picture

A much newer gadget is the Quick Quarter Ruler.  In making this last quilt, with all the half squares and flying geese, I can't imagine how I ever did without it.



And then there are all the terrific ideas I receive from all you fellow quilt and craft bloggers.  This week I made Kirsten's Lime and Coconut Chicken.  Like her, when I was making the marinade, using ingredients I was unfamiliar with (coriander and coconut milk), I thought, "Boy, I don't know about this.  It smells really different."  But the result was superb.  I sent some in my daughter's lunch, complete with fresh lime slices and cilantro.  She raved about this chicken and said her co-worker's were rather impressed that she had fancy garnishes for her delicious lunch. One fellow teacher requested the recipe so I printed it off for further enjoyment.



I've been crocheting a baby afghan and have finally gotten the body completed.  But since the new baby is to be a girl, I wanted a ruffled edge.  All I had to do was ask and Paulette sent a pattern lickety-split.   Maybe in a week or so I'll have added the ruffle and can show you the afghan.

And then there is the bird applique pattern that Angie sent me after I saw her post about it.  I have yet to use it, but have plans for a spring wall hanging once my king-sized quilt is completed.  Yes, I know.  I could work on two projects at once, but I hate UFOs.


Of course, there are many, many more great ideas I get from viewing FTF.  There are just too many to list.

 As an addendum to last week's Red Glass post, my dear cousin's husband (the landscape artist) was antiquing and came home with this lovely red cruet for me.  It is hard to see in the picture, but the top is a strawberry.
Now how sweet is that!