Pinterest Inspired

 Recently, on Pinterest - my favorite time stealer - someone used an open cabinet as a display for their quilts.  It looked great at the end of their bed.  I remembered that we had a pair of cabinets that were originally used to store videos - back in the big TV days.  DH and I measured, and they would fit perfectly at the ends of the sofa in our family room.  Finally, some quilt display like I've always wanted!  No pic of the other cabinet.  It is identical except it houses computer equipment.  Thanks Pinterest!

Hope everyone had a fun National Quilting Day on Saturday.  I spent nearly the entire day in the sewing room, and read Betsy Chutcheon's dynamite new book.  All three of her books have great reading, and wonderful patterns and photos.  They are books that I've gone to again and again to look at and dream.

I Got Nothin'

Not much sewing progress lately, but I have been looking through books.  I love the simplicity of this quilt.  Jan and I split a bolt of unbleached muslin last fall (which I haven't dipped into yet).  I have 25 yards at home, but none where I'm spending the winter.  My buddy Jan sent me a 1/2 yd so I can get a start.  I'm on vacation next week, so maybe I can make some progress. 

 

Hubby and I were browsing through an antique shop and look what came home with me!  The detailing is in great shape.  I think the machine is from the 1930's.  It's a portable, but heavy.  Only thing that would make it better is if it was in a wooden base - this one has the canvas type fabric.  The machine runs great.  This makes up for the featherweight that got away (and this one was half the price of the featherweight - so win, win).

I went off the grid a couple weeks ago and ran away to the Mt. Dora Antique Extravaganza - what fun and the weather was perfect!  What do you think this contraption was used for?  A fabric pleater.  Heated rods were inserted in the channels, a turn of the crank and, voila, pleats!  Looks like a pasta press.

This row of aprons has to put a smile on your face!

And if the aprons don't make you smile, maybe these crazy orchids will!

Newest Projects

Cheri Payne generously offers great free patterns on her blog.  Recently, she shared her double four patch quilt, and I jumped right in.  Here's my version:

Cheri made another doll quilt for a gift, and a great tablerunner, and, again, here is my version:

The next two are from Temecula, who has a monthly mini quilt kit offering.  The past two months were a sweet, little pinwheel, and a log cabin, perfect for Valentine's Day.                                      

Tomorrow, I have carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand.  The right hand was a breeze, so I am being optimistic about tomorrow.  I was able to get back to sewing fairly soon, and even rotary cutting, with a new, ergonomic cutter.  Blogger is messing with me again - white typeface!  Will try to change it.  

Miscellany

My current project (started in Shipshe) is an Ocean Waves variation from Arkansas Quilts.  There are 49 blocks.  I need 28 hst for each block, so I'm using the method that yields 8 hst from each square (3 of these plus 2 of the normal square that yields two makes the cutting and sewing speedy).  That's alot of hst's to trim!  I sew four sets of four and then add them to the storage container.

 
You need to know the block neighbor when constructing the block - at least the way I'm putting it together.  I'll admit I don't always make block construction easy (just ask Jan).  I'm more than half way there!  I'm anxious to start sewing some blocks together. 



I checked out Oklahoma Heritage Quilts from the library in the town where I'm working.  I think I have this book at home, but I love having quilt books in the hotel to peruse at night.  I found something for the project list.  Trouble is, I need a visual filing cabinet - a saved photo or note gets lost.  So I made a sample block.  The quilt was full-sized, but I'm thinking doll or crib size.  The 9 patch in my sample finishes at 1 1/2" - cute!  I'm happy to find something for the 1" scrap strips.  It's fun digging thru my meager hotel stash to make something work.  How do you keep track of all the ideas?

 

It occurred to me yesterday how lucky that we can spend stolen minutes making progress on a project.  This came home to me when visiting a painter's studio and thinking of all the preparation required to 'make the magic'.  Like Kathie from Inspired by Antique Quilts says - always leave something to sew tomorrow (or in my case, hst's to trim). 

Crib Top Completed & A Little Story

As I mentioned in the last post, I would share the finished top that was started in Shipshewana. I'm quite pleased with it! It is a replication of a full sized top that used a striped piece in the center. It was more fun to use some skinny strings! Now, here is the reason I haven't been more productive in the last few months.

After many years of living with numb, tingly, and, finally painful hands, I had carpal tunnel surgery on Thursday. So far, it's a breeze, and I can only be disappointed with myself for not taking care of it sooner. As I told the surgeon (who is really cute btw!), "You just don't go to the doctor because your hand hurts". He asked when it started bothering me, and I said, "Oh, the late '90's". See, I only have myself to blame! If you are contemplating taking care of your carpal tunnel problem, please don't hesitate. I may have some permanent damage because of letting it go. Feel free to learn from my mistake! Now if I could figure out why the text is white in my posts...I'll work on changing it because I know how hard it is to read.

Luscious Log Cabin

Look at this beautiful antique log cabin waiting for adoption at the antique mall in my hometown.  I didn't have a ruler with me, but I think the logs are 1/4".  It's a top, so the block backing is visible - foundation pieced.  Some of the fabrics are shredding, but what a beauty!  The brights look like silks.  There is an embroidered name on one of the logs (picture at left).  You never know what you'll find.

H A P P Y   N E W   Y E A R

Shipshewana Retreat

Vicki and I spied this block at Rebecca Haarer's shop in Shipshewana this past weekend.  The sales clerk graciously opened the quilt, and put it on the bed for us to explore.

Pretty cool, right?  The quilt hanging behind the bed is great, too.

At Yoder's, this 30's repro placemat caught my eye.  So did the tea cozy design.

We had a wonderful time shopping on Friday, sewing on Saturday and Sunday, and we squeezed in a bit more sewing on Monday morning before heading for home.  I'll share what I worked on in my next post.   It should be finished up by then, in between baking, and wrapping gifts.  I'm still waiting for a present to arrive, and it's a fun one, too.  I called today, and it hasn't even shipped yet!