Monday, April 18, 2016

KNITTING...over the DUNE!

DUNE yarn is a a beautiful, soft, double strand of yumminess!
A blend of many fibers and the colors ....mmmmmm


I decided to make a "cowl"  -  90 stitches in the round
Sometimes I need to knit something mindless!


All done...and it's gonna be 80 degrees today in Ohio!

Monday, April 11, 2016

I PAID IT...

PAID IT FORWARD...

At the February C-Bus MQG Meeting 
there was a "heart" block challenge
Members who participated...made two heart blocks.
One participating member won half the blocks
The other half were designated for a charity quilt
for Nationwide Children's hospital.

Blocks magically appeared on my design wall.  


and later I received 2 more blocks


I needed to fill in space..how bout a couple solid blocks
The pink didn't speak to me...


Sew I tried white blocks...much better!
and the quilter will have some space for her designs!


 Turned out pretty cute..
and the cutie behind it...well he has my heart!


Meanwhile, over on Instagram, someone tagged me 
to help make "Polaroid" blocks for an "I Spy" quilt 
going to a little tyke being treated for cancer.
A very sad story, but I jumped all over this one.

I had never made the "Polaroid" blocks
but they turned out just fine!


 NOW...my most exciting "pay it forward"
 I have worn pop-bottle thick glasses since I was 5 yrs old.
Recently, I had cataract surgery and 
new refractive lenses inserted!

NO MORE GLASSES!

I donated 4 pairs of glasses to The Lions Club who recycle
them and provide sight for someone less fortunate! 


For me it's the "little things in life" that make me happy
...that, and Ghastlies fabric!

Something Ghastlie This Way Come, 2016

Monday, April 4, 2016

A GHASTLIE BLUSH COMES MY WAY!!


I am gonna step out of character and "toot my own horn"
Because its about the Ghastlies...I gotta go there!

Alexander Henry Fabrics (AFG)
 ....well...likes me!


First AFG started following me on Instagram (IG)

Then they "liked" a bunch of my Ghastlie posts!
I even ranked one "stunning" approval!



Call me silly... but I'm one Giddy Ghastlie Girl!
As if that wasn't enough
AFG left me this comment, sending me over the top!



When my Ghastlie  friend and I were wishing for a 
 Ghastlie "emoticon"  to use in IG posts...
Here is how AFG responded...



I want you to meet the minds behind 
Alexander Henry Fabrics...and all thing Ghastlie


Phillip and Nicole deLeon!




I just got a stockpile of new 2016 Ghastlies' Fabrics!

I have some project ideas running thru my head and
as soon as it stops swelling...I'll start sewing!













Monday, March 28, 2016

SEW KINDA WONDEFULl...MESS!

Welcome to my Sew Kind of Wonderful-mess!

I signed up for a corporate sponsored class with my former
co-workers/guild peeps.  The goal here was to save $7.00
I had issues getting into the class...and getting on-line
to sign up...but that is boring and annoying stuff!

I got the Pattern and Quick Curve Ruler for Christmas
($35 my hubby bought it)
I had been hoarding a Zen Chic "Figures" Jelly Roll ($42)
and bought the rest of my fabric. ($40)
Class Fee $27.00 + $5.00 corporate dues ($32)
I am at $149.00 


I sewed my strip sets before class...I was ready!


In the class...instructor provides a QCR cutting demo 
to help us understand the ruler / cutting lines
She says cut the curve lining up the SOLID LINE 


Cutting and sewing away...then hmmm
  the end pieces of the blocks don't fit...1/2" smaller
I ask the instructor why?  
"Don't worry...sew it on that way and when we 
square up the blocks to 10" and it will be fine"

?
 I finish a 4-block square...Looks OK...
So...I cut some more curved pieces...


Later at home...someone in our group gets her ruler 
and pattern out and discovers we were using 
the WRONG DAMN LINE to cut the curves!

Instead of the LARGE DOTTED LINE - - -
we were told to use the  SOLID LINE ___ 
as the reference line which ends up being 
Exactly 1/2" too big (see next photo)
and why my pieces were not working!


 5 curved strips cut "per strip set" instead of the 7 needed!
 WTF!!!


Fortunately I had a couple strips of "Figures"strips left over.  
I mixed them up with other strip sets and FINALLY 
had enough fabric to make the number of blocks I need!


I had to fuss with my background fabric and 
made a curved template to cut the curves I needed 
out of my scraps to finish the blocks





Lesson Learned...
EVEN if you have an instructor...who is supposed to know
what the hell they are doing...
make sure you understand the technique and ruler
before going to a class!

Many will not have enough fabric and some will
finish it to the best size this mistake will allow...sad story!


The shop has admitted their error, apologized and those
attending will probably receive some small store credit.
Guess its better than nothing...
My hope is that the instructor will
"review her materials" before she teaches any class again!  

 I will name this quilt...
"Some Kinda Wonderful-mess"








Monday, March 21, 2016

LOST.FOUND.SAD.UFO!

This project has a moral of the story to consider...
It is a LOST project, FOUND in my stash for many years.
  It is now a UFO project for the 
All People Quilt Resolution Challenge


I bought this X block book and ruler many years ago...


This cute Halloween fabric had been cut for a very long time, LOST in my stash of many grandious projects.


I started making the blocks...


Put them on the design wall and much to my surprise...
 NOT at all what I must have envisioned so many years ago!


So I tried another layout, that I liked better.
Still not exciting, but will work for a table runner.



 This UFO makes me SAD because I waited so long to make
SAD that I don't really like it.   


I used part of the fabrics to make the backing and will get it quilted before Halloween.  

I will put this finished project in my stack of "pay it forward" projects for swaps !
Every IG Halloween SWAP needs a Swap Angel, right?

Moral of the story...try not to wait years to finish
a  UFO.  If you do you may be SAD and find yourself on the   
"what was I thinking" wagon!

Again I meet my challenges for...