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 fussy 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.