Auditioning Fabrics for Crosses Quilt aka 3rd posting

One of the quilts I have been working on for a little bit is this one below that I am calling "Crosses".  I was avoiding working on another project when I spotted a gallon zip top bag stuffed full of scraps, so I just started pulling stuff out and sewing it together to make fabric.  Some of it had already been sewn together so I cut and sewed and cut and sewed having no real purpose, just avoidance.  Then I decided to make enough to cut some squares out of it - about 6 inch or so squares.  So, I kept on sewing, cutting out squares, sewing the leftovers together and sewing until I had 9 squares.   I thought that was enough, but if I wanted more, I would sew more together the next time.  Those squares sat for a few nights when I pulled them back out and (avoidance again) and saw the cream colored fabric over to my left - still out, hadn't put it away from a previous project - and thought I wanted to do a slash and sew.  Hey, I could do crosses.  Do a double slash and sew.  So I did with all 9 blocks.  I put them to the side and worked on something else for a few days.  Then I came back to them and thought I would just sash them and make a wall hanging. What color?  was the next question and I auditioned several fabrics, but kept coming back to this bright red.  My original thought was for a straight 2 1/2" sashing, a little border and done, but this quilt had something else in mind.  I cut out skinny strips - about 1 1/2" and sewed them all around and once again, they went on the pile.  Now what?  I spotted this blue plaid that I had dumped out of a box because I needed that box for another project and I wasn't in love with the project in that box.  So, this fabric, some 5" squares, 12" squares I had made in a class at Ogallala Festival along with the book and other paraphernalia were sitting on the cutting table waiting to be worked on some day.  (not ever if I have my way!)  Since this blue plaid was just the thing, I snitched it from that project so it could now belong with this one.  I cut wide strips - about 3" - sewed them on and then using my 12 1/2" ruler cut them all at wonky angles back and forth.  I put them on the board and looked at them next to each other and thought, nope, they need some sashing.  This bright green batik wouldn't have been my first choice, but it works. Which is why I used it.  This quilt top is about 50 inches square or so and now I want a really wide border.  I have pulled two fabrics from my stash and took pictures for you to see.   This first one is an older fabric that has been in my stash for many, many years.  It is my favorite of the two, but doesn't seem quite right somehow.  (and yet I keep going back to it)

 

 

This second one is also an older fabric from my stash and is a plaid which also looks good, but doesn't have the punch that I think it needs.   Yep, now that I see it here, it just isn't right.  I don't know what I am going to put with this.  I may have to scrounge through a few tubs to see if I can find the right fabric.  You may not have seen the last of that floral one.  It is kind of whimsical.  

What are your thoughts on these fabrics, the quilt.  Maybe I should go with another color altogether.  Notice the stack of green fabrics over to the left of the picture?  All of those were pulled to audition for another project and need to go back in the drawers.  The black and cream were for yet another project and the red/white/pink on top are dish towels that need to find another home in the coming month.  I will pull and audition more fabrics - if I have what this quilt is looking for in my stash.   Once I have it all done, I will post a picture of the finished top. 

New picture and second posting of the day

This is me, wrapped in my Strawberries and Pistachios quilt trying to stay warm.  This room is the coldest room in the house and if I would hook up my Wi-Fi I wouldn't have to freeze to death (also if I would bring back the space heater from my bedroom where I don't need it anymore since I turned the heat on I wouldn't be freezing to death) here in my office.  But, no, I just wrap up in a quilt and type away and play games and stay in here as long as I can stand it until I have to go to another room in the house that the heat reaches.  This room is the most poorly insulated room in my house.  It is hot in the summer and cold in the winter.  You would think that all the fabric would help out with the insulation, but you would be wrong.  This picture is me reflected through my computer screen.  I thought it was pretty cool that it turned out in color since all I could see on the screen was a dark blob.  You can also tell how dirty my screen is.  It doesn't look this bad when I am on it, but when the screen goes totally black, you can see that it needs to be cleaned.  Oh, well, I am about to give up in here - toes are cold - and fix me something for lunch and try to warm up.  I may just make some potato soup.  That sounds delicious.  

 

 

 

BEE Newsletter for December

I hope this helps the members of my group who couldn't see the newsletter I e-mailed out.  Or the parts of it that didn't translate into real words.  I have cut and pasted everything, but have taken out the treasury amounts as it is no bodies business, but ours. 

There were 10 members and 3 guests who attended the November meeting.  Guests:  Margaret Irby and Beth Herron and her son, Peanut. 

The President, Vice-president and Secretary were all absent so treasurer; Gerrie Hollowell presided over the meeting.   No minutes were read and there is approximately (blank)  in the treasury of which (blank), is Girl Scout raffle ticket money. 

 Old Business: 

·         All tickets and raffle money must be turned in by December 6.  The raffle will be held at that time.  Two of the drawing prizes, the wall hanging and pillow were shown at the meeting.

·         Kathy and Nathalie’s retreat has a date change due to a scheduling conflict with the Girl Scout camp to February 6 – 8, 2015 at Mitre Peak.  

·         Food was brought and shared by all and it was delicious.   

New Business:

·         If you have any suggestions for programs for next year you may contact either Judy Brewer or Kathy Hassell. 

·         An updated membership list was requested.  There will be forms to fill out at the December and January meetings to assist with getting a new list together.

·         It would be helpful if we could put together some group guidelines and have them in writing for new and incoming members.

·         The next meeting will be December 6^th and will be a regular work day from 9 – 3 with the meeting being held at noon. Work will be on a project of your choice.

·         Instead of having another pot luck for lunch in December, members are encouraged to bring finger foods or grazing foods, but please try not to all bring desserts.

·         There will be a Christmas block exchange.  Blocks need to be made from Christmas fabric or in Christmas colors and be 12” finished.  Wrap your block up to gift it in the exchange.  *The majority of the raffle items were made from past Christmas block exchanges so you never know how the block you make will end up. Everyone is encouraged to participate.

 

Show and Tell followed the meeting. 

We are in the process of coordinating calendars with the church and hope to have meeting dates for next year at the December meeting. 

DUES!!!

 It’s that time of year again.  Dues are only $15 for an entire year of fun and fellowship and are to be paid by the January meeting.  This covers 12 monthly meetings, Saturday workdays and monthly newsletters.  The quilt-ins are an extra $10 each time (Thursday and Friday) and that money is donated to the church to help cover the cost of electricity.  Quilt-ins are held 4 to 5 times a year. 

The Good and the Bad of Monday.

I really want some wool felt to add to my travel sewing kit for the stocking swap (okay, for when I make the sewing kit or get around to making the sewing kit sometime this week, I would like to have some wool felt on hand to add to the kit for the pins and needles).  So, this afternoon, after watching all those shows I haven't been able to watch due to having to work, I finally (about 3 o'clock) decide to take a shower and get dressed -(okay, here again, let me clarify,  I was dressed, just not in clothes to wear out of the house, or at least out of the drive thru lane and car) - I even put on a little bit of make-up and mascara, big step for a vacation day.  My real pursuit to get out of the house is to get something to eat - see, I could have stayed dressed and in my other clothes if I was just going to go through a drive thru, but I thought I might - just might - stop in either at JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby for that wool felt and oh, yes, some Velcro.  (the list is growing)  Since I didn't go to the grocery store this morning, (vacation day) I don't have anything to throw together for lunch - or anything that sounded appetizing - I could make some scrambled eggs again, but I had that for breakfast at 7 this morning - I know I am on vacation, but the dogs, don't.  I could also eat an apple, but I wanted something more than that since it had been about 8 hours since I had eaten those eggs.  I just don't know what I want.  (this is why I decided to take a shower and get dressed since I wasn't sure where I would end up)  I kennel the dogs, re-set the alarm and head out of the house and toward Jo Ann's.  Traffic is bad. What is new?  Traffic has been bad for a couple of years with this oil boom and not looking to get any better any time soon.  So, I deal with it.  Whoa.  That guy wasn't turning onto my street, he was making a U-turn and I pulled out kind of in front of him.  What an idiot.  (him, not me)  Why is it so bad at 3: 30  oops, it's now 4 in the afternoon?  Where did the time go?  I finally make it over to Chimney Rock shopping area and the parking lots by Jo Ann's is quite full and there is a car on my tail so I have to go around the place again, but thank goodness I did because a spot opened up pretty close to the front of the store.  Whew.  Finally in the store,  I grab a cart and pull and push and pull and it's stuck so I grab a different cart and head through the store.  I know I don't need a cart for some felt and Velcro, but I am not wearing my knee brace and am using the cart for some stability in case my knee decides it is not part of my body and chooses to go it's own way - which is why I wear the brace in the first place.   I have been trying not to wear it for the last 4 or 5 days and it is doing okay, but being out in a store and having to walk a lot more on it, I wanted that cart more for peace of mind than anything else.  I find a very helpful sales clerk who takes me over to the felts and nope, no 100% wool felt here.  So, I ask about just wool fabric and we backtrack (I knock over a small bolt of batting that was behind me and I didn't even see it.  I pick it up and hurry after the sales clerk.  She pulls out a 97% blue wool suiting and I find a 100% wool in camel, but both of them (only the camel would work) are about $35.00 a yard.  That is way too pricey for me - even though I only need a little bit, I don't want to pay that price, so on to plan B.  The sales clerk guides me to the Velcro and I find what I need, thank her for her assistance as she is called up to the front check out station.  Since I am only getting the Velcro I slowly wander up to the register and I am 3rd in line behind the person checking out that my sales clerk was called up to assist and one other person.  I peruse the magazines, don't put any in my basket and it's now my turn.  My sales clerk, hmm, she must be an assistant manager or even the new manager, is reminding her register person that remnants are 75% off.  DING, DING, DING  - SALE!!!  my ears perk up and I verify with the "sales clerk" about the 75% off and turn my cart toward the remnant area.  It's mostly fleece pieces, some satin, some ugg, I am not sure what that fabric was, and "WOOOL".  100% WOOL!!  It's a nice chocolate brown, about 1 yard of it and still $35.00 a yard, but now it's 75% off of that $35.00.  A much easier price to handle.   I add it to my cart along with a nice purplish modern looking piece for a quilt and an orange chevron canvas piece to work into a bag or even in this sewing kit. It's starting to shape up.  This is going to be more money than what I wanted to spend, but at least I have the two items on my list, kind of.  Wool felt (after I felt it) and Velcro.  She rings up the wool and wow!  it's on sale for $10 off the original price plus the 75% .  All the fabrics are off their original prices and then the deep discount.  She rings everything up and tells me my total - major drum roll here - $9.05.  WHAAT>?>????  Did I hear that right?  yep, $9.05.  Less than ten dollars.  I saved $45.82 according to my ticket.  I looked it over and along with the remnants and their major deep discounts, I also got a 20% off the entire transaction which was more than the Velcro  - making it totally free!!  What a great day!!  So, glad I went to all the trouble to shower and get dressed. 

That was the good part,  I am feeling good, driving slowly through the parking area making sure I let the pedestrians have the right of way and watching out for those drivers when a lady, talking on her phone, doesn't even come to a slow roll before she pulls out in front of me turning to go opposite from me.  She is coming off of a row and I technically have the right of way.  She would have been the one ticketed if they gave tickets on private property - which is rare - I am so glad that I was watching out for idiot drivers and my car is all in one piece.  She never even looked either way and kept on talking on her phone.  If you drive in Odessa, you have to keep watch for all the idiots out there that drive distracted, by either talking on the phone, texting, smoking or whatever else they are doing.   It's a crazy time in this town. 

That was the bad part - I ran through Panda Express for my lunch/dinner meal and ate almost all of it.  (that is not usually the case, but by this time it had been 9 or 10 hours since I had eaten anything and was really hungry.  Since I don't have leftovers, I guess I am getting up early tomorrow and going to the grocery store.  All in all a good first official day of vacation.  Now that it's almost 1 in the morning, I am getting hungry again.  sigh.  I guess I will go to bed before my stomach growls any louder and I can't get to sleep.  LOL 

Stocking Swap Check In

WHEW!!!!  Hopefully the rest of you have been hard at work on your Stocking Swap.  I only have one more item to make - the travel sewing kit - why did I add that one in this year???  Oh, yes, because I desperately need one.  My zip tab bag is just not the correct image for a quilter.  I need something a bit more . . . quilted . . . snazzy . . . edgier. . . (did I spell that one right?  It doesn't look right) . . . less plastic-y.  Yep, that is why I added that into the mix this year.  A travel sewing kit.  Hmmm.  I am going to google (again) for some ideas on what I want to make for this.  Since I am off the entire week of Thanksgiving (YEA ME!!) I plan on getting this item made and everything finalized. 

How about you?  Do you have the majority of the items made?  If you are participating this year, give me a shout out either on here or my e-mail and let me know.  If you shout out here - it will go to my e-mail also.  It's almost time to swap!   I need to know who all is joining in on the fun by December 1st.  I will put all the names in a hopper and draw them out, send you the name of the person you are to send to (and address, etc.) then between December 13 and 15th you need to either mail or deliver your package. 

It's always fun to get this box of goodies - either by mail or in person depending on who and where your swap person lives.    It's fun to see what the other person made and what fabrics they used.   What their favorite book is or what kind of mug - remember that one from back in January?  I made several mug rugs so I need to decide which one I am going to package up and give away.  I can't wait to see what comes my way. 

So, as I write this, I am trying to figure out several things . . . 1.)  Do we (me and you and you and you) want to do something next year?  (I usually only do the Stocking swap in even number years)   If so, 2.) what do we (see above reference) want to do?  Would you be interested in doing a swap of items - just not as long or as intense as the Stocking swap?  Hmm.  Send another shout out!!!