My Quilting Buddy

This post is dedicated to my quilting companion. She's furry, she weighs about 11 pounds, and you might know her by the name Zoe.

She's always there to keep me company

Or to cuddle with me on the couch

Or to help with my ironing

She sticks around even with all the silly things we put her through

Her special place is curled up on a pillow under my sewing table, out of the way but not out of mind.

I love my little pup.

Quilting Class Update

This is the last week for learning new blocks, the remaining six I am on my own for. I really like that the instructor has taught us new techniques for piecing each week. This week we learned paper piecing and crazy patchwork.

Although I enjoyed the precision and crispness of the paper pieced blocks, but it was definitely time consuming! Sometimes being a perfectionist has its price. But the block came out beautifully.

 The crazy quilting was interesting and kind of fun, but I don't know if I will do much of it. I tend to like symmetry and order too much. A crazy quilt block is typically pieced on a piece of muslin or newspaper to give support to the fabric since it's most often off grain due to its scrappy nature. Well.... I sort of forgot that part when I started piecing. I just ended up sewing pieces of fabric together then trimmed it to a 12 1/2" square.

I hope to embroider something in the yellow center piece.
Finishing my blocks and putting together the quilt top this week. I can't wait!

Marshmallow treats

Rice Krispies Treats have been a favorite in my house for a while now. No, I don't have any kids, it's just M and I (and Zoe of course), but I think they bring out our inner child.

Pam saves lives... er hours of dishes.

Probably too much butter...

 

This time around we were out of Rice Krispies, so I used Cinnamon Toast Crunch instead. Talk about sugar overload!

Yummm

 They were tasty, but very sweet so small portions for me.

Quilting Class Update

I've had these blocks finished for a week now, but I guess as the saying goes, better late then never.
This weeks blocks were a circle applique:

and the choice between log cabin and courthouse steps block. Well, I have had my share of log cabin blocks for a while, so courthouse steps it was.

 

In the applique block we used a coffee filter to turn the edges under, I wish I would've taken pictures of the process, but as usual I forgot. I also haven't been able to get that wrinkle out of the green strip, any ideas on how I could do that? The steam from the iron just doesn't cut it.

Fabric Binge

As part of my quilting class every student is given a one time 10% off all fabric purchased at Marden's. Today, I decided to take advantage of that. 

yummy fabric goodness

All of this totaling over 16 yards for under $40!! For those of you who don't know, Marden's is a surplus and salvage store with locations in Maine that has an excellent fabric selection; so, 10% off already highly discounted prices made me a very happy camper.

I got mostly quilting cotton, but the bottom three are vinyl coated flannel I'm planning to use on a new project very soon. I will share the details of that later, but for now off to wash all of my brand new fabric :)

Quilting Class Update

Ohio Star

 

Carrie Nation

 

I'm loving these bright colors, and my piecing is getting much better. I can't wait to put all the blocks together; I have a special plan for this quilt.

We also learned how to make a Cathedral Window by machine, I'm hoping to try that out soon, but in the meantime I'm working on my blue log cabin quilt. Making enough blocks for a queen size quilt is certainly taking some time!

Halloween goodies

So I know Halloween was a few days ago, but I still wanted to share what I did. Of course I waited until last minute to carve my pumpkin; it may not have happened at all except the M and I wanted the seeds really badly!

Pumpkin seeds, pumpkin, yummy applesauce I made earlier in the day

I found the most effective was for cleaning the seeds was to put them in  a strainer and  powerwash them with the sink sprayer. I admit it was kind of fun too.

After the seeds were clean, I patted them dry with a paper towel. To toast them I tossed them in a little olive oil, spread them out on a baking sheet, sprinkled them with salt and let the oven do the rest. After about 15 (very long) minutes, I pulled them out, and voila! Yummy, crunchy, salty, toasty pumpkin seeds.

 

Then came the carving. M did his freehand, while I opted for a pattern. They both came out great! Of course M and Zoe had to be in one of the pictures...

But I got him to turn out the lights for this one so you could get the full effect.

The view from the road on Halloween, M's pumpkin on the left, and mine on the right.

 Here's an up close picture of M's pumpkin. Pretty scary, right!?

And here's the up close of mine, I like the way it came out. A little less scary, maybe a bit more eerie.

I hope everybody had a fun and safe Halloween!

I just started taking...

A quilting class! :)

I used this as incentive to prewash all the fabric I've acquired through the years (I've never prewashed my fabric before, shhh  don't tell the quilting police).

 

I  made sure to use a couple color catchers since I was unsure about the origin of much of my fabric. Looks like it was a good idea too. v v v 

  

I figured I might as well iron and sort it all as well so it would be easy to find and ready to use in the future. It took a loooooong time.

 

I think one of my major problems was all the frayed threads getting tangled up, especially in my fat quarters. Do any of you have that problem when you prewash?

Sorry about the dirty ironing board, I really need a new cover

The next day I managed to get my first block for the class finished, I'm very happy with how it came out :)

I can't wait to show you all my other blocks, I'm really enjoying the class and it's a great way to get to know new people in the community (even though I'm the youngest in the class by at least 15 years).