Finished Needlework Canvas

I finished up my mom's needlepoint project this week.  Now I need to find out how to mount and frame it.  I think she would be pleased.


I decided to add our initials at the bottom in a freeform manner--not perfect, but that's ok.  I was going to put just MD2020 for me, but as I got to the M I realized that MD2020 could be akin to MadDog 2020!  haha!!  Ok, so for this year, I will have make sure to add my middle initial for projects :)



So my news is that I started a new job, which is the reason I wanted to learn to needlepoint.  I am currently working at The Needlepointer in Edmonds, WA... the only needlepoint centric shop in Washington.  There is one other shop in Issaquah, but they also have a cross stitch mix.  I brought home a 13 mesh canvas this week and omgoodness... my eyes.  My mom's canvas is 10 per inch and at times my eyes would flutter, but the the 13 is really hard on them even with glasses on.  So far at the shop I haven't had to give advice, as I focus on mainly internet sales as well as ringing out customers, but I am concerned I can't add my own experience because I am having eye issues.  I know I need to get my eyes checked again and likely new glasses, but I want to know everything about this craft to give the best advice.  BTW, the threads in the shop compared to the ones that my mom used (likely wool blend) are SOOO wonderful and soft!  I am practicing with a silk wool blend and it is heaven.

That said... I have an interview next Friday at a local quilt shop.  I love the people at the needlepoint shop, and the environment.  I am also learning a lot.  We'll see what happens.

I Wonder Why....

...Mom never finished this project?  90% was finished and then it moved out of the living room.  The canvas was printed in 1974, likely started around the same year.  I am glad that I kept it, and now in deciding to learn, I am glad that I have everything I need to practice--and finish it for her.  Knowing my stitches are mixed in with hers is comforting.  BTW, that needle hadn't been moved in over 30 years, it was slightly rusted into place, leaving a mark that I am going to have to figure out how to clean later.





I finished up the violets and have started on the final panel section background.  Why did I suddenly decide to pull this project out the back corner of the pink room (far back corner of a room above the garage that we store things in)?  I'll follow up with that on Wednesday with hopefully some good news.

Cheddarback Month 11

I finished up the latest Chedderback blocks for January, 44-48.  I have hit a roadblock on working on the previous months though.  My goal was to get at least one a day done and be all caught up for February, but I've had a few roadblocks and balls in the air to really focus on sewing.



For block 48, I English paper pieced the block and had a hard time.  I don't know if it was because of the fabric chosen or just me (likely just me), but I could not get the center to line up.  And I am ok with that.  There are some challenging blocks in this quilt, and unless it is an all-out mess, I am currently choosing not to redo.

It's looking like a lot of foundation paper piecing is in store for me in my catch-up plans.  I really do like how blocks turn out using this method, but I prefer typical piecing since it isn't as fussy.  But I will tackle all methods and learn from them.  Month 11 had three foundation paper pieced blocks, one English, and two normal piecing.


I love how it looks together... I need that center section done, time to get to work and catch up.

Final week of December 2019

Have you watched the first episode of Craft in America?  I already said this on Facebook, but the episode was an absolute feast for the eyes!  I encourage anyone who has an interest in quilting, to check it out.  I loved the design creation interviews by the artists especially.  I am not sure what the next episodes will uncover, but I plan to tune in!  The first episode is on youtube as well as the site.

After watching, I decided to go into my quilt room to see if I could catch up on my Cheddarback Quilt BOM.  I thought I was four months behind, it turns out that I hadn't printed off one month, so I was actually five months behind!  But I finished up blocks 26-30, so now I am back to being four months behind... however, the first of January is creeping close so I better get busy :)



I started off with block 27 (the pinwheel-type design) and all I have to say for that one is sashing is a savior!  I chose to do inset seams instead of appliqueing a square over the top of a pinwheel.  I really wonder about blocks of old and how quilters created them.  I have heard that hand piecing can be key for accuracy, perhaps that was how the maker of this quilt did that one well (or maybe sashing was also her savior!).

For the 12" Block 26, can you believe all the background baskets are going in the same direction? 



The quilt has reached the final length.  I would love to have a floor to ceiling design wall, though I wouldn't be able to reach the top without a step stool :)



An update on Dear Daughter:  I am currently handsewing Chapter Six, but here is a quick snap of Chapters 1-5, finished.  I am changing some of the words used so that the quilt feels more likely from me.  In one of the chapters that I have on my table (I have two months worth waiting for me, so not as far behind as I am with Cheddarback), is the section that goes under the "Wander" section.  This project has also outgrown my design wall.

My plan is to continue sewing out of 2019 into 2020.  I have some undecorating to do, but I am hoping that 2020 brings more sewing than previous years.  I would really like to see my stash decrease into new quilts to gift away (mostly as "just because" gifts, though there is one wedding happening in March to think about).  And if you are having a dry spell, go watch the quilting episode of Craft in America, it might just spark an interest again.  Mary, how far away from Lincoln, Nebraska will you be?  I think a trip to the International Quilt Museum should be put on your calendar!

Teal Mini Swap

**I started this post in September, but wanted to wait until my partner received her quilt before publishing.  I received my little quilt in October, and then forgot I started this post!  I found it after writing about my Christmas sewing**

I joined the Teal Mini Swap (https://evapaigequilts.com/pages/teal-mini-swap) again for this year.  It is an ovarian cancer fundraiser that runs in September (Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month).  The fabric is Art Gallery Fabrics Woodblock Splendid-1109.


I decided to buy a little extra of the focus fabric since participants receive so little... I needed room for error.  I still have a little left, but I was able to create three different quilts out of a half yard.



I liked the design and wondered what it would be like in a larger quilt, but honestly I was tired of the fabric.  I think I was needing more "scrappy" teals vs a single teal.  My partner noted that she liked brights, so I thought about sending her the Kaffe magenta, but then I noticed I had a block turned in the final as I was quilting!  My second quilt that matched the original also has a turned block AND a drop of sewing machine oil on it.  I had to take apart my Juki when the knee lift lever wasn't working.  Thankfully these machines are so easy to work on, a screw just needed to be tightened with an allen wrench so the levers would meet.



And then my original blocks had a too-busy background.  So now I have a few orphan blocks and no thoughts on what to do with.  Into the orphan block box they went.  Someday they'll find a quilt needing them!  I made three individual quilts, the two I kept will find a person in the future for a "just because" gift.  Anyone?



Here is the quilt that I mailed off.  I also made a pouch out of one of the blocks:





And here is the beautiful quilt that I received:



It has been a couple of months since receiving, and I am still enjoying it on my design wall. It is a cheerful little quilt.

Christmas Sewing

I wanted to share a few projects that I recently finished up just in time for Christmas.  I have shared these on my Instagram, but I am not super active over there.  HOWEVER.... I do scan a couple of times a week and I came across Larissa Holland, a designer who makes absolutely adorable wool projects.  The one that grabbed me was the Santa and Mrs Claus that are a part of her T'was the Night series that she will be adding to each year.  Santa was this year, Mrs Claus will be written up for next year.  I had to check out her etsy and I found some of the cutest wool ornament patterns.



But then... I happened onto Wee Mouse Tin House.  So cute!  I decided to purchase the pattern and sew up a little mouse for my granddaughter.  I hope she thinks it's as cute as I do.

 I first attempted to make the teddy bear with flannel that I had on hand, but it raveled way too much due to the bear being so small.  There is really not a lot of room for error.  The next day I found some wool and sewed it up.  Oh! And that quilt for the mouse's bed?  A few years ago I made a sheet of 1/2" half square triangles by mistake and set them aside in my spare HST box.  I decided to use them for the quilt and I love how it turned out.



The other projects I finished up after about three years of starting and stopping are Primitive Gatherings Yuletide Ornies.


The red truck with a tree in the back is so classic, and I can understand why so many people love to use this design.  A few years ago I made a wreath using a red truck in the center that I hang on our front door.  Though snowmen will always be my most favorite, I think this could be a close second for me to decorate with.



Santa was the last ornament to finish because I needed a flat head pin to fuse wool to for the top of the tree.  I finally ended up with a pack in one of my Quilty Boxes one month, so I set them aside--and then they were misplaced for a few months!  I know, it would have been easier to simply just buy some at the time, but I was trying to figure out another method first (so Santa was set aside for a long time!).  I love how he turned out, but I do wish I could have found a cute stick for the tree instead of a dowel, but it worked.  It would be easy to change it out if I ever feel more strongly about it down the road.



And the snowman.  He's pretty cute too.

This will likely be it for my big sewing for 2019.  I have started and finished a few other projects, one of which was Bonnie Hunter's Punkin' Patch table runner.  I started it during a weekend away in Spokane during the WSQ quilt show this year.  I love getting together with friends to sew, it stirs the creative juices so much more for me.  I wish I could do a sewing retreat once a month for this reason alone.  I am still working on my Dear Daughter BOM, and perhaps I will blog again with my updated "chapters".  I am collecting clues for Bonnie Hunter's mystery, Frolic, but right now I am not jumping in.  I have so many projects going on at once, that my focus is faltering!  Plus I think I may want to change the colors, so I am waiting to see the finale :)  I have changed colors in past mysteries and really disliked the outcome, so in the meantime I am enjoying see the progress of others.

Happy holidays!

Completed Project, memory quilts

Both measure around 51x77.



It will be three years come November 26th that one of my husband's brothers passed away.  He was only 42 at the time of his passing and completely unexpected.  He left behind a daughter and son--his daughter started her first year of college this month and his son started high school this school year.  They always hold their memories of their dad nearby.  I offered to make memory quilts a couple of months following his passing, but with personal items it is so hard to let go even when they know what it is for and would return.  Grief has no limits.  I did receive boxes with sorted shirts this summer, and this week  I finished the project.



I wish they were perfect, I always have issues with some stretching even though the shirts were interfaced.  There are a few puckers on the back.  These are the times that I wish I had a longarm, but I will just continue to do my best.



I held back to shirts to make into pillows so that they could have that hug or shoulder to rest on.  I hope they like their quilts and pillows, I will be getting them in the mail in the next week.