Hey have you heard….you can update wordpress ny email….complete with pictures.
Very easy report today….no sewing this week buttttt quilt pick up and deliveries took place this week so I slid backwards as there was a 
new pattern that I fell in love with and some fabric just had to come home with me for the new pattern cause I just don’t have the right stuff in this stash of mine……
ok it was a kit with fabrics already selected and the shop owner has such good taste in fabric . And plus she’s good for a few dollars to my quilting business so…she greases my palm, I grease hers….that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Fabric in this week: 6.75 yards
Fabric Purchases YTD 6.75 yards
Fabric used this week: none
Fabric used YTD 12.75 yards
net fabric used for 2010 6.0 yards
This week I will get up close and personal with my sewing machine….I hope..
later……..Mrs. Wants to bust stash.
This week was a good week…..kept on track with quilting client quilts……even did one of my own that is going to be donated in Feb…finished binding the wholecloth……This week I’m going to set up the photo stand in my DD’s bedroom and take some long overdue pictures.
Used this week 4.75 yards for a backing
Used YTD 18.50 yards.
Do you take stashbusing serious???? I do….last year was my first year actually keeping track of what I was using and purchasing……its amazing how all those pesky little 2 yard purchases soon add up to a major amount….Now I’m not going to say that I won’t ever buy fabric but now in my second year, I’ve gotten used to shopping the stash first. Now I just have to find some ways to get creative with backings as I’m down to 2 large pieces left…so either I have to get creative or go shopping……since I live in MN and we all know how cold and miserable shopping can be in Jan and Feb, I guess I’ll have to get creative with my backings.
I’ve been thinking about offering tutorials on getting creative with backings…..and of course some stuff in how to figure how much fabric you need for that back. This will be an ongoing project and the backings will be created as I need them. Anyone up for burning that stash with Creative Backings???
My Son the Photographer
Last night I was playing around with my camera……the camera I got from my daughter when she wanted a new one…..anyway, I’m been taking pictures of my flower that is blooming…..last night I tried to get some decent pictures and I just couldn’t get the camera to cooperate no matter what setting I chose, the pictures all turned out the same…..so while I was sitting around whinning about this camera that won’t do what I want it to do…my son walks up, turns it on and snaps a picture…..
this is what I was trying to do and he just comes
up takes the picture and says look mom what I did…….don’t you just hate it when they do that.
Part of my bucket list for this year is to get a good camera …..I’ve been saving for a year, I gave up food and water……no I actually gave up manicures, pedicures and hair coloring and have saved the $$ I need to buy a decent camera and I might even spring for Photoshop to boot. I won’t be taking any self portraits now that I look a mess but I might good some good flower shots.
later……….Mrs. I’m all out of big pieces of fabric.
Its still alive…….it still surprises me that I’ve managed to keep it alive this long.
later…….
I don’t have a green thumb……I’ve never ben able to keep plants alive in my home……maybe something about needing basic care….like water…..to survive. Before Christmas I bought an Amaryllis… and I got it planted….and much to my surprise, I’ve kept it alive………and now……its ready to bloom.
I just can’t believe it……fresh flowers that I grew!
I’ll keep you posted as soon as it opens.
later……….Mrs. I can grow plants
I did get to participate in the quiltathon that Judy is hosting this weekend. Yesterday I didn’t get much accomplished, only because I also did corporate tax work, laundry and a few other little projects that needed my attention. I pulled a project that has been sitting here way to long. This was a BOM from Starr Fabrics…I just love working with there handdyes…..so so yummy. I decided this needs to be a long term project as I’m just not the fan of paper-piecing that I was when I started this…..although I do have a technique for doing it that makes it way easier to remove the paper.
So here’s what I’ve accomplished so far. 
The block on the left is how all the blocks will look when the top is ready to assemble. My goal is one of the paper pieced block per week, so based on what I have left they should be done about end of Feb and then finishing them should go easier for me.
On the stash used front….nothing was purchased or counted this week. I’m going to return to my normal way of counting which is, when the top is completed then the yardage gets added to the report.
I’m going to start another project today….another kit from Starr Fabrics…this one mostly pieced with applique on the outer border. Most of this is striped pieced so it should go faster for me.
As you can see, I need a new camera…..anybody got any suggestions???
later……..Mrs. I’m going to bust these old projects and get that design wall covered with flannel
After about 4 and 1/2 intense days….the wholecloth is done…..today the binding went on and I have the hand sewing left….and it will need to be blocked…..hopefully by the weekend I’ll be able to get pictures……..I want it done before I post pictures. This was a very labor intense….sometimes almost blinding…..I don’t think my eyesight will ever be the same again.
Stay tuned for pictures.
later….Mrs Wholecloth quilter
Sometimes I wonder what makes me tick……of all the quilt tops waiting for me to finish them I chose a whole cloth with a bunch of straightline work…..and of course I thought why do all that work with a ruler…..I’ll just do some continuous curve and get this baby done faster without all that ruler work………boy was I wrong…..this background is taking forever and is making my eyes hurt!!!!
Actually, I’ve had this preprinted wholecloth here for about 5 years…….it’s called Welsh beauty…..hopefully this week I’ll have it done. I was going to do this during Christmas break, but family matters won out…….again……so I figured I better take some time for me so I don’t drive myself nuts…..but what was I thinking…….a wholecloth……when its done I’ll need another vacation.
Stash report
Used this week 12.5 yards (the whole cloth is huge)
YTD used 13.75 yards
Purchased None
Net used for 2010 13.75 yards.
later……Mrs. Why didn’t I pick something easy to quilt!!!
Thank you for coming…I enjoy having you for a visit.
Today we are making Folded Tree Napkins for your holiday table. These are fast, fun and will provide several years of holiday use. You will need basic sewing skills to accomplish these.
Supplies needed:
1.25 yards each of two fabrics….I like to have these contrasting with one of them being green and another color like a red or gold. I suggest 100% cotton as this is soft and absorbent. A Polyester blend can be used as long as it is more that 50% cotton. This will make 9 full circle napkins.
Matching thread plus a contrasting thread if you want to do any decorative work.
Sewing machine, scissors or rotary cutting tools.
1) These are done in the round and are two sided. I make mine out of a full circle but if you want to use a half circle finished that’s fine also. I prefer the full circle as I use these as the napkin and I’m a slob when I eat (ok I clean up after my kids with my napkin and they are more of a slob than I am). So now we need to make a circle. Go looking in the kitchen for something round….about 14 inches…..14 inches was chosen because you can get three across the width of the 45” fabric. Look for mixing bowls, lids of pots, platters. If you would happen to have a circle maker you can use that.
2) Take the lighter of the fabrics, working from the wrong side, lay your bowl or whatever on the fabric and with a pencil draw the circle on the fabric…..move the bowl around drawing circles until all the fabric is used. Leave about 3/4” between the circles. The marking line is the sewing line so we have to allow for seam allowances.
3) After all circles are marked, take the fabrics and match them right sides of the fabric together. Using pins, put 4 or so pins thru both layers inside the circles close to the marked line. Now you can do a rough cut cutting out the circles….remember the marked line will be the sewing line. Now we are ready to sew.
4) Now at the sewing machine, sew around the circle just inside the drawn line, we want to leave an opening for turning, and we want to backtack at each end to secure the seams. Leave the opening about 3 inches or so.
5) We want to trim the seam allowance (remember we did rough cut first) to about 1/4 inch or so, any more will add bulk we don’t want. take and turn the napkin right sides out and give it a good press…you want to have the seam be right on the edge of where the two fabrics meet. On the opening we left, press so the raw edges are pressed to the inside, slip stitch this closed.
6) Now at the machine again, topstitch close (1/8 inch) to the edge. If you wanted you could use a decorative stitch on your machine with a decorative thread for an added embellishment. Your done!!
7) Now onto the folding into the tree. Think in thirds here. 
If you did the napkin round fold the napkin not quite in half.
Pick a spot that is about 2/3’s of the way across the folded edge mark with a pin……fold right side to the left up to the pin,
fold back onto it self from the left side to the right fold..
now take the left side and fold that under matching both folded edges…..refer to the pictures this is way easier to do than to explain.
And now your done. Each one will take about 5 minutes or so…..Its tougher to explain than it is to do.
This is a first doing design wall Monday for me….usually Mondays don’t work for me. I posted this picture last week…..even though in the original pattern this was all there was to the quilt…I thought it just looks like its asking for more.
So yesterday I added a couple more rows to complete the squares around the outside….I think it looks much better. I couldn’t get a picture of the whole thing as I was to lazy to hang it up again. So what do you think I should add for more borders???? What I’m thinking is another cream narrow border and something else….I’m just not sure what.
later…Mrs. going to finish this quilt.
