When All Else Fails Sew It!

A few weeks ago I made the pirate ship for Pirate Camp at the preschool where I work.  But two sections had come unglued. I suspect I used different types of hot glue sticks and some worked better than others.  I did not want to repair it with hot glue and have the same problem and have it come loose during camp next week.

So after having the ship moored in my living room for the last week and me laying awake nights I finally hit upon the solution - sew it.  So bright and early this morning I got out the thickest yarn I had and the biggest, longest, sharpest needle and got the job done.  It worked fine.  I had to use a spoon to help push the needle through some of the thicker spots - 3 layers of cardboard - but over all it was a good solution.  I even went around a few extra places just because since I liked the way it looked.

I was almost out the door after dropping it off at school and getting the last camp details taken care of when I remembered I still had not cut a door for the kids to get in and out! 

It's a finish and it involved sewing, so I am claiming it for a Friday Finish!

Linking up finishes with   confessions of a fabric addict  and  Crazy Mom Quilts and richard and tanya quilts.
 

Stash Report 071314 - Hands 2 Help Giveaway!!

My stash report took a hit this week, but for a good cause!

My name was chosen for a giveaway for participating in the Hands 2 Help Challenge.  If you didn't participate this year I highly recommend it for next.  It was low key, low pressure - just trying to get quilts in the hands of people who need them. I finished a quilt that Little S had started when she was bored and wanted to do something.  It was simple and cheerful.  The hardest part for me was remembering to take a picture before I sent it off.

We were out of town - and incommunicado - when the notice came that my name had been chosen for one of the many giveaways!  Thankfully, I wasn't too late to claim it - a $25 gift certificate from Intrepid Thread.  Another out of town trip kept me from looking over the site and making a decision as to what I wanted.   I had in the back of mind to look for a backing for the Green Cow Quilt, but then I easily found fabric for that in my stash.

Ever since we went to Quilt Fest in Jacksonville, FL last year, Little S has been wanting to make a quilt to enter in the kids category this year.  We have been working on her sewing skills - especially seam allowance.  The Green Cow Quilt backing was her most recent practice piece and she did a great job.  I think she is ready.

Isn't that a cute package?

So finally, Little S and I sat down together and she actually ended up choosing.  She choose from the Fun & Games line by      We ordered on July 3 and she anxiously checked the mail everyday for her "squishy."  On July 7 it was here!!  I was amazed considering it was a long holiday weekend.

Gears, Maze and Spinners!

Thank you so much to Sarah over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict for hosting such a worthwhile challenge and to Intrepid Thread for a great giveaway.   

We will keep you posted on the progress of the Fun & Games quilt.


Fabric Used This Week:  0 yards  :(

Total Used 2014:  53.43 yards
Fabric In This Week: 3 yards from Hands 2 Help & Intrepid Threads Giveaway !!!

Total Bought/Received in 2014: 16.08 yards
Net Used 2014: 37.35 yards

Head on over to Patchwork Times to see how others are doing with their stash.

Little S has a Finish

Little S received a super cute farm print quilt top from her Mama Cristy in Guatemala.  We went through the stash here at home to come up with a backing and this is what we got.  I cut and she sewed.  She did a great job.

Today she went with me to the guild meeting.  She showed off her backing and got lots of oohs and aahs.  The talk was about strip piecing and there were lots of great ideas.  So we came home with a bag of strips and Little S will try her hand at a rail fence.

Linking up with   confessions of a fabric addict  and  Crazy Mom Quilts and richard and tanya quilts
  to show off finishes.

Stash Report 070614 - Cow Quilt Backing

Little S did it!  She needed a few reminders to stick with it, but she did it.  She sewed the squares together to make the backing for her Cow Quilt from her Mama Cristy in Guatemala.  She did it by webbing and that really helped it to go faster and with no mistakes in the order of the squares.

Now the ball is in my court to get the batting ready and get it quilted.  But I have to work this week, so it is on the back burner - but up off the floor so I am content.

Since that is an entire part of the process done I get to count it as used.  Yippee!

Fabric Used This Week:  1.85 yds backing for cow quilt

Total Used 2014:  53.43 yards
Fabric In This Week: 0 yds

Total Bought/Received in 2014: 13.08 yards
Net Used 2014: 40.35 yards

Head on over to Patchwork Times to see how others are doing with their stash.

Another Guatemala finish

When I posted about my daughter's Quinceanos Quilt here and here  and  here I mentioned that this was tradition in our family. Well, I found out while we were there that my niece, who is a year older than Middle E, did not get a quilt. Not sure why no one made one for her.

Since I had taken some fabric down with us and we had access to the "Treasure Box of Mystery Fabric" I decided to remedy the situation.  My MIL was in on the surprise.  Everyone else thought it was just a test design we were working on together.  Since my niece was around a lot during the sewing we had to have an excuse!  

D's Chevron Quinceanos Quilt

For a long time I had wanted to try a chevron quilt made with rectangles. It seemed like something that would be relatively quick but distinctive.  Of the fabric that I had to work with there were quite a few large pieces that could be cut in long lengths for strip piecing. I did try one section with scraps and it came out fine but was much more time consuming. 

The scrappy zig!

The tricky part was laying it out.  There was no flat surface available - I had it covered with the machine and fabric!  So I used the clothesline. I just pinned sections to the existing body of the quilt and took it down and sewed when it got to be too much. 

I had to add a piece on the top & bottom so the tips didn't get lost.  Considering I did not use a pattern this was a simple fix.

One evening when the whole family was together we presented it to my niece. She loved it. She started right away to get the family signatures on the white rows   My MIL will finish it off with a dark blue border and quilt it when it is all signed. 

I would definitely make this quilt again even though I know that next time I will not have uninterrupted sewing time like I did for this - that was a real treat!  It was a tricky layout and I had to unsew a few times on the sides, but overall it was fast.   Little S has already asked for one!

Linking up finishes with   confessions of a fabric addict
and  Crazy Mom Quilts and richard and tanya quilts
  to show off finishes.

Design Wall 070114

I'm a little late for Design Wall Monday, but I'll take whatever progress I can get.

Little S received this cute quilt top from her grandmother in Guatemala. I convinced my MIL to let us do the backing and quilting once we got home. Less bulk to pack, less work for her in the very short time we had there and a good summer project for Little S and I. 

Late last night we picked some fabrics that would work while anxiously awaiting Middle E's arrival back home from a week long trip. Keeping with the plan of "using it up" we just picked from the stash and I think we did well - greens, reds and yellows with plenty of sunflowers.   Good matches for the farm themed front.

This morning while everyone was still asleep from a long day and late night I of course could not fall back to sleep so I got up and started cutting the squares for the backing.   Now when Little S needs something to do she can work on sewing it together.   

Linking up with Judy over at Patchwork Times