Today I ... Started A New Quilt Project

Red/White Cats

 

This pattern is by Elizabeth Hartman 

This is another pattern that I have wanted to make for many many years. I have an old thumb drive with all of the digital quilt patterns that I have purchased over the years.

I'm enjoying looking through all of those patterns and deciding which one to make.

Of course, my obsession with red/white quilts continues ...

Although on this red/white quilt project there are two black/white quilt blocks.

A personal shout out to my two furry house beasts

 Jezebel (pictured here) and Booker

Each cat block is 6.5 inches square

I'm going to need lots and lots of blocks!

Today I ... EPP!

English Paper Piecing!

EPP

I'm always looking for a project that I can carry along with me. The reason I learned to knit years ago, was to be able to learn socking knitting so that I would always have a small project to take along with me. I still knit socks but I wanted to try something new.

New to me ... at any rate.

Years ago I realized that there were times when all I was doing was "waiting".

Waiting to be seen by this doctor or dentist. Waiting while the oil was being changed ...

countless times that I was waiting for my children to finish this or that

while I "waited" in the car.

Then there was soccer practice, baseball practice, dance class, dance team, and gymnastics ...

It was then that I decided having a small project to work on was just the ticket.

You would be surprised how much you can accomplish 15 minutes at a time.

I've been admiring English Paper Piecing projects for years and finally decided that it was time for me to consider making an EPP Hexie quilt.

The foundations for English Paper Piecing can be very small but I have chosen

2 inch Hexagon foundations for my project.

I've decided to fuzzy cut faces for my EPP project.

That being said ... it may take years to finish this project! 

YIKES!!!

;)

Today I ... Conquered Chaos ... Sort of ...

How this chaos all started ... 

I have been wanting to make a red/white quilt of red crosses. So I started doing just that but ended up not liking the crosses. I didn't like the size or making the cross block from 

just a solid red. 

So I ended up with more than a few 9.5 inch cross orphan blocks. I already had several

9.5 inch orphan blocks left over from making my Brick Road quilt.

I decided to take all of those cross and brick road orphan blocks and put them together to make a quilt top. Of course there weren't ENOUGH orphan blocks ... so I had to make a few more blocks. I decided to make 9.5 inch blocks from a pattern and tutorial by Jera Brandvig of the blog Quilting in the Rain. You can find that tutorial HERE.

I then ended up with floor to ceiling block chaos!!!!

Once I was able to get the blocks sewn into rows ... I moved them to the living room floor

to work on a layout that was orderly and visually pleasing to me.

My Red/White Chaos quilt top is now complete.

72 x 81 inches

On Sunday ... I Purchase A Little Piece of The Past

I have been wanting a Singer Featherweight sewing machine for about 15 years or so years now.

I've looked at them on blogs I follow, I've looked at them on Etsy and other 

internet shopping sites and flea markets. I've envied them at sewing classes and guild meetings.

I've looked at them and dreamed of having one but could just never

justify spending the money to purchase one.

On Sunday all of that changed! A friend's husband has been selling off a few of the Singer Featherweight machines from his collection

... "swoon"...

So this Singer Featherweight 221-1 from 1951 (in it's original case) 

came home with me. 

It is in mint condition and sews beautifully.

I have already been sewing with it and I love it!

One day this will be a tractor!

I will have chickens and bees too!

Along with a garden and a pantry full of canned goods from my garden!

My dream of my very own Hippie Chick Homesteading life is coming together ... slowly but surly

and I couldn't be happier!

My weekends consist of mowing and sewing! hahaha!

As I whirl around the yard on my mower - I have mentally planned my garden for next year.

It is my plan to begin slowly and to build my homestead 

one growing season at a time.

Since moving into my little Rancher built in 1953, I have added gutters, and re-paved the driveway.

With the help of my sister and brother-in-law I have completed

a few DIY interior home projects and I'm just enjoying the process. 

It feels good building my little homestead, making this little Rancher and plot of dirt into the sustainable home of my dreams.

One project ... one growing season at a time.

Today It Is Back to Work I Go ...

Pondering why weekends go by so quickly ...

Surly I'm not the only one!

HAHAHA!

A few weeks back I finished a quilt top that I will be using as a table topper.

Moda Love Charm Quilt
37 x 37 inches (I added a 3 inch border)

I'm still passionate about the stunning simplicity of Red / White quilts.

I'm well behind the on the "trending" quilt patterns and fabrics these days.

I used to follow more than a few fabric and pattern designers

but found that I was doing more following than I was sewing.

Surly I'm not the only one!

HAHAHA!

This quilt pattern is a free one from Moda fabrics and as far as I can tell "trended" in 2014.

This pattern comes in 3 sizes - one size is made with a layer cake 72 x 72 inches, one with a charm pack 32 x 32 inches, and one with a mini charm pack 12 x 12 inches.

I have made the Moda Love Charm Quilt pictured here, I added a 3 inch border finishing the top 

at 37 x 37 inches.

I used the Riley Blake, "So Ruby" charm pack designed by Carina Gardner.

I have also purchased the "So Ruby" layer cake pack to make this quilt in the larger layer cake size

of 72 x 72 inches.

You can find the Moda Love quilt pattern in all three sizes HERE

I loved making this one, the pattern is very easy to read and follow. The quilt comes together quickly, using the pre-cut charm pack means less cutting, although you can easily use 

your favorite fabrics by cutting the squares needed.

Today I ... Am Just Living My Dreams

Today I'm living my dreams ...

I have a home that I love so much ...

This DIY home improvement was completed last weekend.

A couple of months ago, my Brother-in-Law helped me mount the floating self hardware for this beautiful functional addition to my living room.

On Saturday of last week I found the small red cabinet that completed this look.

It's perfect and I love it!!!

I also managed to hang the antique mirror gifted to me from a sweet friend

and this beautiful sunny face for my kitchen,

gifted to me by my sweet sister.

I'm sitting here this morning in my beautiful peaceful home, feeling very 

grateful and very thankful.

Living my dreams.

I am so blessed.

Today I ... Lived A Memory

When I was in Elementary and Middle School I spent time in the summers at CAMP!

Specifically Cedar Lake Camp and 4-H Camp

There were Arts and Crafts activities at both camps, and that is where I learned

to weave Potholders on a small loom.

Recently, I purchased a loom and I have been happily weaving Potholders 

every since ...

This set I made for my daughter, for her kitchen, in her

band new home.

And, I have been enjoying every minute of it. I enjoy weaving the Potholders 

and remembering sweet times and summer fun

when I was growing up.

Today I ... Am Glad I Am a Maker

Even though it is the middle of May, it is still a bit chilly. We have had a lot of rain 

this year. Which is one of the reasons why I don't have very good pictures 

recently. Most days are cloudy and overcast even if it isn't raining but, mostly 

it is raining. 

I have finished the quilt top that I posted about HERE. It is my version of the Anna Maria Horner, Feather Bed pattern. My version finishes at 72 x 72 inches square.

Today I am glad that I am a quilt maker because when it is rainy outside, I'm usually happily sewing inside. And, when it is chilly I have plenty of quilts to keep me warm.

Today I ... Reflect

Today I am reflecting on family.

Our Family has grown 

In 2003, my sister and I made Family Signature quilts with the help of our Grandma Dorothy and our Aunt Joyce

Since that time I have had the honor, pleasure, and blessing to add many new blocks (representing new family members) to my Family Signature Quilt

In February of this year ... this little fellow turned 1 year old

My Great-Nephew

And, the adoption of this beautiful girl was finalized

My Nephew, his beautiful bride, and my Great-Niece

This past weekend we celebrated our family and it was wonderful

My Brother, my Great-Nephew, my Sister, and me

Quilts are a very big part of our lives, especially mine. I love quilts and making quilts. I especially love making quilts for my family

Did I mention that my sister is a Maker too?

She crocheted this beautiful afghan for our Great-Niece

#wearefamily

Today I ... Wonder Why

Wondering why I can't sleep ...

I slept very little last night. Only managing to dose on and off. I don't have any thing on my mind.

I'm not hungry. I don't need to potty. I didn't have a bad dream.

I'm not ill ...

It was just one of those nights where sleep was elusive, so here I sit at 4:30 

in the morning wondering why.

Around 3:00 this morning I considered getting up and putting the binding on the quilt in this picture.

The only thing stopping me is that my daughter is sound asleep and the whirl of my sewing machine at 3:00 a.m. would definitely wake her up.

Just because I can't sleep doesn't mean I have to wake everyone else in the house up to join me.

So here I sit ...

WIDE AWAKE!

Today I ... Am SO Pleased!!!

Potholder #1

I am so pleased with my potholders!

It has been potholder weaving mania here since I received the Potholder Loom and Loops I ordered from Harrisville Designs, Inc.

I can't get enough of it ...

Potholder #2

Potholder #3

The kit I ordered comes with a pattern booklet, so I wove this potholder per one of their pattern designs. 

Potholder #4

Making these potholders has been so much fun. And, it has brought back many great memories of arts and crafts of my childhood.

I just ordered more loops ... Yeah!!!!

**please excuse the horrible pictures - it has been gloomy and rainy