Old Dog--New Tricks

 Ever have one of those projects or part of a project that every time you see it it grates against your nerves? 
That is how I felt about the binding on my cute, little, Spring wall hanging.

After posting about the Spring wall hanging on March 20 my quilting buddie, Dawn White, suggested I use a single-fold binding on wall hangings.  And, shortly after this suggestion Dawn posted a tutorial about Single-Fold Binding on her blog, First Light Designs. 

I've never done a single-fold binding before but I decided to have a session with Jack-the-Ripper and remove the original binding to try out the single-fold binding.

Dawn was right....much nicer!

It lays smoother and I like it so much better.  Thank you, Dawn!

Detours

Sometimes a girl's just gotta sew ... something fun and quick!  

What is the next-best thing to precuts* ? Pre-Cut AND fusible backing applied! Enter small applique kits with all the pieces laser cut and treated with fusible on the back!  All the hard work is done!

The Nest Builder from QuiltWoman.com.  

The whole thing came together in just a couple of hours.  A cute, fast Spring door hanging.

The instructions did not have quilting and binding as part of the assembly process.  The instructions have you sew the front and back like a pillow case, with a seam, but I thought it would look better with binding. Also, there was no quilting.  The instructions say ...little or no sewing..."  Quilting can take a ho-hum project or super simple project and make it sing, so that is what I did.  Joining the binding on such a small piece was a bit cumbersome. I didn't fuss with it too much--after all it was supposed to be "fast and fun".... it is a bit messy.

Next up, Happy Camper from FlexiFuse.  LOOK at what you get in the package!  

Talk about FAST AND fun!  After such a busy work-week, this was just what the doctor ordered.  I LOVE the completed product.  I did this on a Friday night...after work...when I'm normally a vegetable sitting on my bum on the sofa!!!

Finishing with quilting and binding will have to wait until I return from my business trip next week. 

The  FlexiFuse project was a bit more expensive than the Quilt Woman project, but the quality (and quantity)  is better, in my opinion.  FlexiFuse did not supply the background fabric, batting, backing or binding fabrics.  I'd guess we all have plenty of fabrics in our stash for finishing, am I right?

I have a soft spot for vintage trailers.  Did I ever mention traveling with Sisters on the Fly in retirement?  Even though I don't fly fish (but, who knows what the future holds??? ) I love the idea of a sisterhood and the idea of vintage trailers....and besides there is always Miss Ellie to keep me company while the Sisters are fishing.

In a Hotel in Vancouver, BC (prior Covid)

 

P.S.  It is Worldwide Quilting Day, better get into that studio!

It is also Worldwide Happiness day!
Coincidence that it is the same day as National Quilting day? 
I think not!

 

 Happy Sewing!

*Precuts:  Jellyrolls, Layer Cakes, Charm Squares.  For a very wide variety of pre-cut fabric and lots of ideas on how to use them see Missouri Star Quilt Company.

Natural Attraction

 There are some things in this world that naturally attract.

Magnets

Cats and fresh laundry.

Quilters and new projects.

A sleeping Charlotte and a hungry mosquito.

Is this NOT the truth?!

It is one of the laws of the universe.

 

Tea Time is done, binding and label and all.  Long Time Gone is progressing and Jagged X piecing is nearly finished. 
So doesn't it make sense to add another project to the mix?  Can I get a hardy "YES!" quilting buddies?

Enter Kari Schell of On Point Quilter.  If you are an EQ8* user, this FREE, mystery project is for you!  Spring Fever Mystery.  

There is a link to sign up on Kari's main page and it is NOT too late to join.

I needed to brush up on my EQ8 skills....at my age I forget so much, so I signed up. Kari has also created a Facebook page so we can share (check it out and maybe I'll see you there!)

Hummmm, will she or won't she actually make the blocks?  It makes a cute Spring wall hanging so I am following along and printing the sheets--they are foundation piecing (AKA paper piecing), which I really like.  And, just in case I get an urge, I've pulled some spring-color fabrics..... we'll have to wait and see.

 

 Happy Sewing!

Update:  March 16, 2021 

I jumped in the pool last night and made these three blocks....took more than THREE HOURS!  I'm not sure I have the stamina to finish these...but we'll give it the good 'ol college try.

I did make one mistake.....by the time I discovered it, it was too late to fix....

*Electric Quilt 8.  If you re new to EQ, Kari has a series of classes that are excellent.  Not only can you save and re-watch the videos, but if you ask a question, she actually answers!  I would never have been able to use EQ without these classes.

Sad Day in the Neighborhood

 People can be so vexatious...maybe it comes from being locked down so long ???

 Someone took our Needlers sign.   

This is what greeted me when I went to the studio last evening.

I was so surprised! I thought maybe management took it down, but there was no note or anything in the room saying management took it down...???

Really, people?  Miss Wanda made that sign!

(Management is replacing the signs on the doors and walls so I had already taken the other decorations down to make it easier for them.)

 

 

Ya know, I just can't let sleeping dogs lie so I put up a new sign.

What's Under YOUR Needle?

 

I am making progress on all my projects.

Tea Time:  My sister's birthday lap quilt is back from the LAQ and I have the binding and label all ready to go.  

I'm rather proud of myself that I finished this for the VERY birthday I planned to give it - instead of 5 years later.  

 

I want to send it to her NOW, but her birthday is in April.

 

Jagged X:  It is about a fourth assembled.

I hope to have the top completed this week and ready for borders.  A trip to the fabric store will be required to buy fabric for the borders.  I'm thinking orange.  

You cannot see from this picture, but some of the blue fabric "X's" have small dots and one of the colors is orange.  I'd like to pull that out.

Long Time Gone:   

 Block 1 (Bow Tie)  & Block 2 (Square in a Square) are done.

 

  On to Block 3, Crosses of the UK.

 

Plucked from the Internet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the process of cutting the fabric for Block 3-- TWO startling discoveries! 
Not only are these pieces small, but I need to make six teeny Crosses blocks! Oops! Back to the cutting board.

Truth be known, though, I'm kind of anxious to get to them....hummmm...wonder if I should call in sick.....

Happy Sewing!

Long Time Gone being assembled on Miss Ellie.

March Came In Like a Lion...

... a whippin up the water in the bay.....

Middle School....I learned to sew and I learned to sing.  A song I seem to remember every March ...
June is Bustin Out All Over.  Why?  Got me!  It's just one of those useless things floating around in my head.

But, March is my birthday month ... and TODAY is my birthday!

March is also National Quilting Month.

 

The March flower is the daffodil (my favorite.)

My yard in Oregon....I had hundreds of daffodils.

March 6 is also Oreo Cookie Day!  You're Welcome!

Today I will sew, play my ukulele and eat Oreo Cookies!  Happy B-day to me!!!

You Cannot Stop Creativity

I may have THREE quilts in the works right this moment, but the brain just  keeps chunking away.

 My Dad recently celebrated his 90th birthday!

We all gathered together with a Zoom party.
(Dad is in the upper left with my baby sister, Joy.)

 

I say "we all" but it wasn't ALL of us...I have 8 siblings and we all have children.....who now have children!
This is but a sampling.

In keeping with Birthday Quilts, I decided to make a quilt for my dad's 91st birthday (should have thought about this a year ago.) A quilt that represents the WHOLE family. 

While vegging-out on the sofa last night in my warm jammies, I fired up Electric Quilt 8.  Here is what I've come up with so far.

 

Our respective family homes and the various states where we all live. 
So far, this quilt is still in my head...who knows if I'll ever, actually create it.
It's the thought that counts, right?

But, happy birthday, anyway, Dad.