May The Mask Be With You

Just when you thought it was safe to put all the mask-making paraphernalia away .....  the daughter asks for more.

It does look like masks will be a must have accessory in our wardrobe for a long time to come.  Ana wanted a variety.  And, truth be told, I could use a variety, myself...and the Babes, should they ever go back to school.

I decided to try a new pattern, and I must say I really like it.

Daisy Multifacetica on YouTube.  Click Here for the YouTube tutorial 

and click Here for her website to download the free patterns. 

Her patterns come in various sizes from child small to adult XL.

I like her choice of fabric, too....

This style seems roomier than the pleat-style masks I've made.  It is easier to breath when doing my power walking in the morning with Miss Kate.

Pleat-style masks

The little adjusters on the ear loops can be purchased on Amazon.  It does take an engineer's degree to figure out exactly how to get the little tabs on the elastic .... just sayin, the directions are not that clear.  Click HERE for the link to Amazon.

If you are still making masks, here are more styles to consider:

Special Occasion

For the Bride

Even Moda has printed a mask panel.   I'm tempted.

This panel makes a combination of adult and children size masks.

One place to get it is the Fat Quarter Shop.  Click HERE.

Everyone, stay safe out there.

Keep your head down and your mask on.

Oregon Duck Update

As you know, the Oregon Duck lap quilt for Number One G-Son is underway.  And as you also know by now, it is very challenging.  The directions are, shall we say, different.

Well, I reached out to the author, Lisa Muilenburg at Countedquilts.com at the suggestion of sister Needler, Miss Kate.

Lisa was very gracious and sent a link to instructional videos on YouTube.  I thought I'd pass the link along.

Click HERE

I learned a couple of lessons.

1) Don't be afraid to contact the pattern author with questions, concerns or conundrums.  

AND

2) Aren't quilt folk just the nicest people?  

Maybe the answer to all the current unrest around the country is to get everyone quilting!  Think about it!  It would fix the lagging economy spending all those quilt dollars, put smiles on everyone's face (unless you are having a date with Jack) and this winter no one will be cold!  Win, Win, Win.

Until We Meet Again.....

Tuesday night is Needler's night.  The "on-property" three met last night...obeying the rules.

Miss Kate brought a show-n-tell, her current project,

Running With Scissors by Annie.com

These are not her fabrics.

Running with Scissors

This is going to be such a cute tool case.  For more pictures of this case, click HERE

Miss Nancy is not moving forward on her project.  Man, it's hard to get un-stuck....

I know first hand.  We just keep encouraging her.  She does "show up" and that is half the battle.  She keeps the scrap bucket empty. (We make cat beds with fabric scraps for Cat Adoption Team in Sherwood, OR.)

I am making progress on the Oregon Duck Lap Quilt for my g-son.  The instructions are screwy, that is all I can say.

I've labeled and pinned all the pieces to the design wall.  I'm short white fabric....shucky-darn!  A bunch of fabric left over, but not much white, only scraps...isn't that always the case?!  I might have enough white scraps to piece it...and, after all, the whole thing is pieced so what would it matter, eh?

12 Steps

There's a reason they are called "Step Programs...."  

What do you do when you're stuck?  You don't want to sew.  You don't want to clean.  You don't want to do anything! 
I've had my ups-and-downs the past few months with the "safer-at-home" guidelines and all, believing that light at the end of the tunnel wasn't an oncoming train but an actual END.

BUT NOW!  Well....not so much.  As of yesterday new guidelines....businesses closing again, no indoor gatherings, no church, no school in September for the g-sons ...  no nothing!!

I just want to sleep until it's all over!

This is how I sleep....crown, makeup and all.

The first step to getting unstuck is to get the shovel and start digging ... just start....somewhere ...  anywhere....

The Needlers have been meeting, (the three of us who live on property)....trying our best to obey the social distancing rules.  There really is something about contact with other humans.  We are social creatures, we need each other.  We met last night. 

Step One...out the door and down the hall to the studio.

Do you know this song?  Louisiana Saturday Night

Step Two....don't just sit there gossiping and complaining...DO something.

New lyrics

So I started with cutting the strips for the Oregon Ducks lap quilt.  Got the strips all cut according to directions.  

I have to say this is the most-strange pattern I have ever done.  

The instructions are just plain weird!

Strips all cut and labeled .... I had a lot of fabric left over ?????

Every time the Quilting Auntie complained about challenging quilt instructions but she persevered and cussed her way through them, she always ended up with a ribbon-winning quilt.  Let's hope I'm as lucky.

Step Three:  Sew the strips together according to a PICTURE!  No instructions, just a "map."  

That is what the author calls the instructions....a "map."

Football Duck by Counted Quilts*

I am directional-ly challenged.  I cannot follow a map.  I can get lost in an elevator.. I'm not joking!

But, well, nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh?  Tonight I'll start assembling.

I'll keep you posted.

*Football Duck by Counted Quilts

You Deserve a Break Today

Back in the 70's McDonalds had a slogan "You Deserve a Break Today."  I think it was aimed at parents who cooked....

back then, that's what we did ... every night...even if we worked all day ... even if we were pooped.

So, occasionally we'd take a break and bring home take out. 

Rabbit trail:  One advantage to this "safer-at-home" time, most of us are returning to our roots and cooking more.....even me.

Rabbit trail #2:  The very first McDonalds was on "E" Street in San Bernardino, California.

I'm not sure if taking a break from the sewing studio is a blessing or a curse but I've had a break for about a week

(although I have not been to McDonalds in......a long time.) 

Yesterday the babes came over with their mama and we took a swim break:

I could not help but look at this picture and reminisce. 

When I moved here from another state to be near them the little one HATED the pool....

then he ventured to the pool steps ...

then he would dunk his head ...

then came the day when he jumped RIGHT INTO DEEP WATER!

Ahhhh....sweet memories.

Can you see the family resemblance?
Something about the eyes....

Too soon the day is done and everyone returned to their respective worlds....

G-ma took a nap!

Can you spot the Hummer?

Practicing What I Preach

A few years ago a friend of mine mentioned an article she's read about passing along family treasures to our children and grandchildren (she has a collection of yard gnomes she is certain her daughters would cherish as much as she does.)
The bottom line of the article, they don't want our stuff.  When I was a young bride I welcomed hand-me-down furniture and home-making stuff from my mom and G-G-ma, Ma-Moo.  That is not so much the case any more.  And, that includes our treasured fabric, unless you are lucky enough to have birthed a quilter or sewist (I'm green.)

A picture is worth a thousand words...

Keeping that in mind, I've been on a quest the past couple of years to de-stash, de-clutter, de-accumulate... and that includes sewing, crafting and quilting stuff...sew up what I have.  When I graduate to that big sewing room in the sky guess what my son will do with most of my stuff ?

(I do have a couple things my daughter wants....
nothing quilting-related.)



Piecemakers Country Store is having a big sale today;  40% off everything, store wide.  Miss Kate and I have plans to go.
I have two Christmas quilts that need backing so I measured and calculated how much backing I'd need figuring 40% off was a pretty good deal if I can find something I like.  (And, the scissors sharpening guy will be there....)  But, as I was measuring and calculating this morning I thought....wait a minute!  Shouldn't I check my stash?   By cracky, I believe I already have some pretty good matches!  (I will get a second opinion from Miss Kate.)

  Most of my stash is smaller pieces, but I did have a few pieces of yardage.

Auditioning fabrics

 

 

I can save some money AND make some room in the closet.

 

WIN - WIN!

Happy Independence Day To All

Let Freedom Ring

We're coming up on our Country's day of independence.  Although in these tumultuous times and the "safer-at-home" rules still in place I'm not feeling very independent these days.  (And dare I even say it out loud?  Am I getting used to this?  Maybe even preferring this staying home?)  Well, I'll ponder that another day.

Today I want to show off my new door hanging.

Just in time for the 4th.

Calendar Quilts - July

It is from a set of calendar patterns by Kim Schaefer "Calendar Quilts."

I've had this pattern for a number of years and have made a a couple others.

February

 

April

 August is next on my list.  I like the watermelon.

Picture plucked off Pinterest

Whatever your holiday plans I hope it includes 

a little thankfulness, 

a little food and fun and 

a little time in the sewing studio.

*P.S.  July 1 is Canada Day... effective date of the Constitution Act, 1867.  Two Holidays for the price of one this week.