Lately

This summer has been an easy one, and I've had fun with a few new projects.  Since fall has been declared, its best we recap on my end of summer sewing.

I started my first Cross Stitch pattern.  Here is my boy enjoying one of the many hot days we've had since July.

 After a two week vacation in Montana, here is it's present state:

Unfortunately my right hand now suffers a bit of an ache in it.  Needlework is a little more strenuois than I anticipated.  I must be doing something wrong.  Since I'm using a self taught method and a book, I'm sure I'm missing some good tips from a few pro Cross Stitchers out there.  Is the back supposed to be one big mess of threads?  The messy back made it very hard to get a needle through on the quilts.  

I'm not sure when I'll pick this up again.  I'm gonna stick with the machine work for a while and give my hand a rest.  It even hurts to use my computer mouse.  Ok, enough complaining, already!

On a funner note,  I also started my Churn Dash Quilt.  

These reproduction prints in purple and orange are so much fun to work with.

My blocks are all pieced, pressed, and stacked awaiting my attention.   However, they will have to wait.  They have been added to a growing pile of WIPs (works in progress).   The good news is,  this quilt is on hold for a good reason, because...well,  I've just recieved my first custom quilt order...EEEK!

I know!!!  I've been so excited...This is one of the best feelings.  When you get to do what you love and someone will pay you for it.  Remember this quilt I made for my sister?  Well I've got a customer asking for something very similar.  So all is on hold until I finish it up.  I'll share more as I work on it.  

Lindsay

Charming Chevron :: A Finished Quilt

Hi!!!  I'm back.  Well, actually I've been sewing away here, just haven't joined in blog land in a while.  Its been a nice break, but its time for some sharing...  

Here is the Charming Chevron quilt all finished up.

Its been finished for a while, but I waited to share it because I didn't want my niece to see it before I gave it to her.  Sunday was her golden birthday.  Have you ever heard of that?  Its when you turn the same age as the number of your birth-date.  In her case, she turned 23 on the 23rd.   

This quilt is just a small throw and I used 6" charms to complete it.  For the backing and binding I used the a turquoise flat sheet I had on hand and never used.  I think using flat sheets is a great way to back large quilts.  No piecing and it all one piece of cloth.  Sooo much easier.  

I created a tutorial to make this block.  You can see my tutorial here.  I opted to make all the blocks point the same direction rather than alternating them each row.  I like how it turned out.  And the recipient was in love with it.  So glad she was too!  

More sewing updates coming soon!

Lindsay

Charm-ing Chevron Tutorial

Zig Zags are so HOT right now, are they not?  I think I could go dizzy walking the aisles of Target with how much I see them.  Still, they are so fun and timeless.  Everyone needs a touch of Chevron in their home.  Even me!

Back in January I posted about going to my first Quilt Show, here.  And I picked up this lovely 6" Charm Pack of Reproduction prints with out a hint of what I would do with them.  99 prints = scrap quilt I guess, but what kind of pattern?   Then I saw the quilt pattern 40s Chevron by McCall's.  

40s Chevron by McCall's

 

I contemplated for months how to cut up the charms since they were only 6".  I knew I'd have to break a few rules.

Since I didn't have the same size fabric available for the pattern I ended up coming up with a plan of my own using what I had to make the half squared triangles.   I thoughtfully paired prints that would both compliment and contrast each other.  Its possible too much thought went into this step;-)  Running out of options, left me with a couple blocks I don't particularly like, but thats fine, its a scrap quilt, right!?!

Anyway, taking the first two blocks I layered them right sides together.  You can do this two ways.  Sew along all four outside edges, then cut from corner to corner.  And then corner to corner again.  I know this isn't the best technique in quilting.  But, again its a scrap quilt, so I said to myself, "what the hey!"  Not every block turned out super square, but I just tried to not let that bother me this time around.

Option two is to cut corner to corner first then sew your 1/4" seam along the longest edge of each triangle sandwich.  Either way you get the same result.

Next press seams open trying not to stretch the material.  Trim your dog ears, and square up the half square triangles as best you can. 

Next lay your chevron out the way you want it to appear.  Sew the top two HST together first, then the bottom two.  Press seams open for the least amount of bulk. 

Now sew the top and bottom rows together.  I pinned in this step, using the center as my guide to align the top and bottom rows.  Press seam open.  Be sure to square up, trimming off any irregularity. 

Here is my first finished block.  

Honestly, I wasn't loving the scrappy randomness of these prints at first.  The prints were a little busy for my taste, so I grabbed a few 30s Kona solids (lapis, bubblegum, canary, black, red, and turquoise) to give the eyes a bit of a rest.  It'd be too busy if not for the solids.  You'll see...

Up next I'll have my quilt top to share with you.

hugs,

lindsay

Garden + New Stuff

Oh I'm so excited to share a few fun things with you.  Today Mr. Postman brought me some things that have been on my 'want' list for a while.  This Fiesta pitcher for one:

Got it on eBay for like $30 and I love it.  Its not quite the aqua vintage color, but I can't find one under $60.  So Turquoise it is.  Isn't it pretty?

I've been looking for some craft to put on my sewing corner walls.  Not really knowing what to look for, I stumbled across this cross stitch pattern called Home of a Quilter by Told in the Garden.  And...its Amish!  Bonus, I know!  

I just got home from the craft store and got all the DMC threads and cloth.  Now I just have to learn to cross stitch.  Any tips out there? 

Next I scored on Jeni's Destash shop on Etsy and found this fabric:

I was just thinking someone should reproduce the Amish Pyrex bowl print on fabric.  Thank you Henry Alexander!  Its called Harvest Town.  I have no idea when it came out, but I'm so happy to own one whole yard of it!  The colors are super fun too!

Okay, bare with me.  I've got a few more photos to share.  

This lovely stack of fabric was graciously given to me by my very good designer friend.  It's called Vintage Butterflies by Christine Adolph. 

Aren't these pastels and brights pretty?  There are two panel prints too.  This will make a precious little girl a pretty quilt.  I think I love the butterflies and script prints the most.

Okay time for a garden update.  Today we had a small harvest:

 Red Beets

 Tomatoes are ripening

 Cauliflower doesn't seem to love my late planting, but there is one little head forming.

Corn!  Jack is especially excited about the corn.  What kid doesn't like corn?

Sadly, I caught a opossum eating 2 of the 4 apricots on my tree.  Little rascal!  He better not come back...or else!  

We thats all for this week.  I do have a quilt top finished, by haven't taken the time to snap any shots of it.  Have a great weekend my friends!

Linds

Week Away :: Completed

I've just returned from a wonderful trip to Baja California.  It was very relaxing as I read a few Amish romance short stories. I know silly, but I haven't read anything good since Hunger Games.  The Amish romance novels are actually quite good.  I've been enjoying the Jacob's Daughter series by Samantha Jillian Bayarr on Amazon.  The kinde edition is only $1.99 each.  Can't wait till the next one is released.  Anyway, I also took a few hand sewing projects with me on my trip.  

I received a crochet edged flannel blanket when I had Jack and have thought about it for three years.  Then I stumbled across a pin on Pintrest for a cute pillowcase crochet edge tutorial by You Go Girl.  Needless to say I ran to Joann's bought the flannel and the yarn from Michael's.  I am so not impressed with the flannel selection at Joann's but I didn't have time to order any.  This was truly the only print I liked.  Then when I went to pick out the Crochet yarn they only had white and off white in size 3.  Weird.  So I went to Michael's Craft store and they had several colors to choose from.  Thankfully, I had a baby in mind who was actually born yesterday.  It's already on its way to wrap around her.  

Also got a few more Hexagons done.  19 to be exact.  Finally get to update that little Hexagon counter in my side bar.  Paper piecing truly is a good traveling sewing project.  When I can't take the machine with me that is.

  

Now I have 69 hexagons completed and a few flowers are being arranged.  Aren't they fun?

Ooo, and I could hardly wait to get home and open this Vintage Amish Children embroidery transfer pattern.  I bought it on Ebay just before we left for Baja and now I can't wait to try out the hand embroidery stitches. I was practicing on my vacation as well.  Sorry too boring of a picture to show you my practice stitches.  But I do promise to share as I work on these in the future.  I didn't know about Aunt Martha's patterns until recently and I think I'm gonna love doing them.  Any of you ever tried these patterns?  I looked on Flickr and didn't find a group, so I've started one.  Join in if you'd like.  Patterns are under $2 at JoAnns.

Weekend Garden

Just  a quick update on my garden:

 

We've had a bunch of growth!  I'm so proud to say my garden has made it this far.  I haven't killed anything yet.  My corn, in the back, already has one ear on it.  The carrots are hiding in this picture, but I picked a few today.  I think I may have planted the cauliflower a bit late, although they are my biggest, there is no sign of veggies.  The beats should have been harvested already, but they are the size of marbles.  So, I've thinned them out and fertilized the garden in hopes for bigger beats and carrots.  The Spinach has been my strongest yet!  Ironic, right?  Pop-eye says spinach makes you strong, probably because its pretty hearty itself.  We are able to make at least one salad for 4 each week.  It just keeps growing back.  I love it.

Lots of green tomatoes on the vines, so in a few more weeks we'll be enjoying them too.

 

Here is my sweet little Sheriff Jack.  He is strutting his new cowboy hat and badge along with a stick horse I pulled from the attic.  It was mine when I was a little girl.  My Aunt made each of my sisters and I one.  Love the calico print on it.  I love sharing my childhood toys with my son, especially the handmade ones.  I don't like however that things from my childhood are now considered vintage.  That used to be what I called my mom's things.

We are headed to Baja for a week, and I've packed a few hand sewing projects to keep me somewhat productive on vacation.  I'm looking forward to listening to the waves in the morning when I wake and taking naps in the hammocks. 

FYI: my shop will be on vacation mode until, Tuesday, July 10. 

Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!

Lindsay

Short Hours :: A Finished Quilt

We had a wonderful Father's Day.  Here is my hubby and son sharing the special day together.

I've finished up the Short Hours quilt too. This is a traditional quilt pattern called hour glass and I just loved making it with my scraps from my Swooning Picnic Quilt.  The array of colors makes this a really fun little girl's doll quilt or baby girl bassinet quilt.

Again I quilted using simple straight lines through each little block.  I love my walking foot, it never gives me trouble and always does a nice job.  

 I grabbed the left over yardage for the backing and some binding.  I hand stitched the binding closed this time.  Thought it'd be a fun hand project and it was.  *Little tip, use hand quilting thread, not the regular cotton thread used for the machine.  Hand quilting thread is stiffer and doesn't tangle or knot as easily.  I finished it in no time at all.  I like the way it appears seamless on the back.  Maybe this will become a new habit...maybe.

My supply of this fabric collection is very slim now.  But thats okay, I've now got room for new prints to stash (I'll share when they arrive). 

Short Hours Quilt Stats

27" x 24.5"

Fabrics: Picnic & Fairgrounds by DS Quilts, Farmdale by Henry Alexander, and Kona Cotton in Snow by Robert Kauffman, oh yah, and one square of Pezzy in Red by American Jane

Scraps of Warm & Natural pieced together for the batting

This quilt is listed in my here in my Simply Mae Etsy Shop.  I just couldn't wait to share it with you.

love,

Lindsay

Other posts about this quilt: Projects