Quilt Blocks & Educational Opportunities

The block below is Block #1 for the "Layer Cake Quilt Along."  The layer cake I'm using is Punctuation by American Jane for Moda fabrics.  I thought it would be a fun design and has that vintage feel I like.  This block is an "Alabama Spinner" block designed by Gene Black. 

It was fun to make and only took me a couple hours on Saturday morning to piece together.  The best part is I learn some new things each time I work on something which I figure can only help improve my sewing.  Gene let us decide whether we wanted to applique the circle in the center.  Using the Bernina (which has some really fancy stitches I haven't tried yet) it was so simple.  The machine did a fantastic job!

When I heard the boys wake up I took the block upstairs to show them.  Clark was so excited the first thing he did was start telling me all the shapes that were on it!  Circle, triangle, square, rectangle.  He then started in on naming letters and we had a lesson on punctuation marks!

The boys were so smitten with the block I had a hard time photographing it without little fingers pointing at it :)

I'm excited to see what the next block will be!  I thought this fabric choice would be a perfect one for me to snuggle under while watching evening TV - looks like I may be sharing it with some little boys learning their letters and shapes (and punctuation marks)!

Give Thanks Banner

I am thankful that my Give Thanks Countdown Calendar is finished before Thanksgiving!  This pattern is from Everyday Celebrations by LeAnne.  You can also find lots of her super cute patterns at her Etsy Shop.

This was the first major project I did on grandma's Bernina since getting it back from the shop.  Wow!  The machine is so quiet and runs so smooth.  It treated the felt like it was no problem at all!  I really love this little banner and hope it will become a nice family tradition; maybe even heirloom.

I've considered putting together an Advent Calendar but I think I'll do that project next year.  We have the Fisher Price Little People Nativity Advent Calendar that works well for a 1 and 3 year old.  This year when we visited the Mall of America we stopped by the LEGO store and picked up the 2010 LEGO Advent Calendar too - so, I think we're set for this year.  But, I'm filing all those cute Advent Calendar ideas I'm starting to see on-line for the 2011 season!

Looked up the Iowa State Fair entry list (2010 list) and there is a class for Sewing for the Home - Holiday Decoration.  Unless I put together something I like better this fits the class (and makes #3 for November)!

Works in Progress

This week I have been waking up very early in the morning to get a couple hours sewing/craft work in before the boys wake up at 7:30 am.  I wanted to be farther along but sometimes thats just the way it goes.  So, I apologize for no posts early on in the week but I wanted to actually show some progress.

Let's start with my items for That Girl . . . That Quilt Along:

I know - the photo is pretty bad since I took it tonight (bad lighting).  I just have the rest of the neutral strips to cut.  I was working on that after supper tonight but both of my cutters have bad blades.  You would think after just reorganizing my sewing room I would be able to find my box of new blades (in the scissor/blade drawer would make complete sense) but alas - no.  I'll have to keep searching - it's not like they grew legs and walked away.

Next (and what I have been focused on the past few mornings):

My Thanksgiving Countdown Calendar.  This is a fabulous pattern from Everyday Celebrations - so easy to follow and so lovely!  There is a lot of cutting out of numbers though - especially when you do it twice - blah!  The first time I used a cotton that showed everything through the bottom when it was ironed on.  So, today Grant and I went and found some heavier material - let's hope the new fabric works better!

Best part of this project was everything came from my stash and scraps!  Gotta love that!  The pictures do make my squash colored felt look a bit off - trust me the color really does work in real life!  When it's finished I'll do a nice daytime shot.

I also need to finish all the cards.  Clark helped me cut them out while we were waiting for water to boil for supper.  Need to laminate them and then recut :)- cutting seems to be a theme!

And last, but certainly not least, I am trying to put together something for the Project Compassion craft I'm leading.  Project Compassion is a program at our church where we make a nice crafty item with the youth of the congregation (I think the 6th grade Confirmation Class this time around); pastor puts together a devotion; and a group of volunteers take these items along on a visit to the shut-ins of our congregation.  It really seems to mean a lot to our shut-ins - especially since the youth took the time to think of them and to have a nice visit.  Since I am horrible at visits (my introvertedness gets in the way even though I know it's a great thing) - but this allows me an outlet to help by providing service in a different capacity.

Anyway - I am thinking of little Thanksgiving fabric ornaments that the youth can personalize/decorate.  It was kind of fun playing with fabric markers and stamps today.  It was fabulous to find out that we can stamp onto the fabric!  After playing around with it I think I have come up with a cute little idea.  Sometimes it's just fun to play with fabric and paint.  Plus, good excuse to add these wonderful little stamps to my craft room!

Twenty Five Cents Per Yard

Last Tuesday I decided to go to an auction at the local auction house.  The listing said there would be fabric. I always take this to mean there will be a box or two of very outdated material.  However, sometimes you never know when you'll find a few treasures.  Like some pretty vintage fabric, some 30's prints, some cute 60's retro fabrics amongst all the other stuff in the last women's stash that she held onto thinking she'd use it but it never came pass and slowly passed out of any sense of style.  What?  I say this out of great respect.

Back to Tuesday's auction - it was amazing.  The boxes of fabric held some beautiful finds including lots of lovely solids (which I am was sorely lacking).  I finally found time to wash, fold, and sort all my fabric and add it to my own stash.  Already some of it has been cut for a number of holiday projects.

Here is some of the fun I found:

Check out this pretty stretch knit and black solid stretch knit.  I so badly want to find the time to make a pretty blouse and cami out of these.

Then some pretty pinks.  The one floral piece is about 5 yards and would be perfect to back a quilt made from Moda's Bliss line.

 Here are some of the pretty vintage pieces that were in the mix.

And here are some cute pieces for apron making.

This piece I find pretty - just need the right project (or projects).  This piece topped the yardage chart - a whopping 11 yards of pretty cotton fabric.

I did feel that maybe I had spent more than I should have on a couple of boxes.  However, when all was said and done I ended up with some very useful fabric for only $0.25 per yard - yep, a whole quarter for each yard.  Not bad - doubt I'll ever be that lucky again.

In addition to the fabric; I found a box that in the bottom held lots of cloth for cross stitching AND a whole bunch of nice cross stitch pattern books and a couple of cross stitch kits.  Sweet!  There were also lots of pretty trims in the bottom of a couple of boxes.  The auctioneer kept trying to get me to buy some old sewing machines since I had the fabric - I kept telling him they've come a long way in sewing machine technology (plus, I already own old machines - I don't need to add to that line-up).

I also picked up a box of Christmas ornaments for the boys' Christmas trees - as the boys and I sat and happily sorted through the box we came across a vintage ISU Cyclone ornament with Cy (yeah - for those of you who are not ISU fan's you're going so what).  Trust me - to a Cyclone fan that was worth the whole $5.00 I spent on the ornament box.  The time spent having fun with the boys looking through the box - priceless.

For the hubby (well, Clark has claimed it now) a Star Wars lunch box.  Clark keeps asking me to put sandwiches in it.  I keep saying it would make a great crayon box.  I don't think mommy's going to win this one.

Scraps

Yesterday, during our 10 hour drive home from Indianapolis (while the boys tried to catch up on sleep by napping most of the way) I needed a way to stay awake.  While listening to my favorite Trans Siberian Orchestra CD (which is listened to any time of year I might add) I worked on some sewing ideas.  However, before digging into any new projects I need some fabric organization.  I began thinking about how to organize my fabric.  Of course, anything would be better than what it is now - sitting in big see through tubs sorted by color.  This was not my choice mind you - this is what happened when flood waters seeped into the basement.  

Today I started digging into all my containers and sorting them.  It was somewhat like Christmas finding fabrics I forgot I even had.  My family is probably tired of all the little squeals they heard from the basement today!  

Of course there were also pieces like this:

What was someone thinking?  OK, it might have been something I picked out in the 80's (for some 4H project) or it could be something I inherited stole selvaged absconded with (yeah, that sounds right) from my mom.  I'm pretty sure that piece wasn't one I inherited with my grandma's stash (although there are some funky finds in that stash too).

I first sorted out all the scrap pieces and put them in scrap color bins.  Then I folded all my 1/4, 1/2, and 1+ yard fabrics - these will go in small plastic bins sorted by color and type.  Finally the large pieces and pieces more for clothing and home decor were folded and put back in large tubs but better organized so I can actually see each piece.

All of the plaid was sorted out separately and has its own bin.

After all of that I figured I am ready to start piecing some scrap blocks for the Pleasant Home Sew Scraps Along.  However, I ran into an issue.  The scraps I would love to use are some I picked up at an auction awhile back.  I believe these are truly vintage.  

They may have come from a sample board (since many of them have numbers taped to them).  As a purist, I would hate to add new materials to these vintage scraps so I think they will need to wait for another scrappy project.  Any thoughts?

Back to using up some scraps - I find myself with LOADS of blue scraps.  Maybe I should challenge myself to do purely blue scrappy blocks.  I would do blue and yellow for my husband but I have practically zero yellow scraps (dang).  Bah!  Maybe I'll just go work on a couple Christmas ornaments.

Speaking of Christmas - look what was waiting for me in the mail when we arrived home yesterday:

The first of the Ho Ho Holiday Swap items from Becky.  Such cute fabric - I love the Christmas Tree print and the wreath towel is so pretty (and so appropriate for this family who will be turning to wreath making shortly).

Blue & Gold

My little boys in blue (and gold).  And no the below photo is not a fluke.  Grant loved holding Clark's hand and they did this quite frequently - I know, I'm amazed too!

This past week we spent in Indianapolis for the National FFA Convention.  While daddy went to meetings, sessions and workshops the boys and I explored the city (more on that in future posts).  However, our week would not be complete without a visit to the FFA Career Show in the boys' Official Dress.  For those unfamiliar with FFA it is the largest student organization in the country with over 523,000 members.  This year the National FFA was planning on having 60,000 people at the convention.

Now, those little jackets (miniatures of the real members' official dress) were sewn by me.  In fact, the pattern is modeled off a real jacket - a pattern I had to create myself.  In the arena of sewing these are probably my proudest accomplishments.  Maybe because so many people assume they're factory made (and ask us where they can order one).  If anyone else has ever worked with corduroy (which this stuff seems to be extra stiff) you know my pain in creating these little things.  My machine knows the pain too - it takes at least 2 needles per jacket - I always break at least one.  

Number of times we were stopped for photos: ? (can't keep track)

Number of times we were asked where they could purchase one: I lost track of that too

Number of times I was asked if I would sew one for someone: at least 5 - answer no (trademark infringement)

Number of times I referred people to the National FFA to purchase blue corduroy off the bolt: at least 5 (I should work on commission)

In fact, we were stopped so many times for photo ops by members and advisors that Clark now turns his back to the camera automatically (so they can get a picture of the emblem).  The boys are super cute in their jackets and we are in a place where such specific cuteness is VERY appreciated and adored.  It amazes me how many young men ask for photo ops.  It also amazes me at how many people asked permission specifically because they were just little boys and they wanted to make sure the parents were OK with that (much appreciated).

 
On Friday the boys took one very special picture.  The owner of RFD TV recently purchased Roy Roger's horse Trigger.  My boys are related to a singer from one of the groups (The Riders' of the Purple Sage) that sang with and did some movies with Roy Roger (and Trigger).  In fact, we have a photo of their great-grandpa with Roy Roger and Trigger when they put their hand (and hoof) prints in the cement in Hollywood.  (The great-grandpa referred to would be my husband's mother's dad.) So, the above photo is of the boys, daddy, Grandpa Spencer (daddy's dad) and Trigger.  Now I need to remember to go online and see the professional photo they uploaded.

Grant and Clark spent a lot of time in the back of this Dodge truck (while daddy talked to lots of people).  They loved it though and danced and jumped and brought lots of people to see the sight (again - should work on commission).  Kept mommy happy too - they were well contained all I had to watch for was them looking over the side.

 

Friday was a big day - not only was it Career Show day - it was also ZOO Day!  The Indianapolis Zoo is only a short walk from our hotel and it always happens to be ZooBoo Night while we're there.  So, the boys went dressed as FFA Members and loaded up on candy in their buckets.

Grant loved all the animals (he's an animal lover to be sure) but he still goes especially ga ga over the goats with bunnies being a close second.  Clark's favorite was the elephants.

Halloween Quilts!

Last night was so much fun.  I participated in Friday Night Sew In and accomplished a lot in one night.  I wanted to finish my little lap quilts for the boys.  I had them pieced but last night added the border and then started quilting.  I used glow in the dark thread to quilt a spiderweb across the quilts.

The great part about the spiderweb design was it didn't matter how accurate or perfect it was.  Just free-styled the design using painter's tape.

Here's how the backs ended up looking.  I just used orange thread for the back.  I also just placed the pieced work on top of fleece.  I thought the fleece back would make a nice soft snuggle blanket.

Here is how it looked last night when I called it an evening.  After I turned off all the lights I watched the spiderweb glow - it was so awesome!

This morning I got the binding on the first quilt.  Then the power went out.  But late afternoon it came back on and I was able to finish the binding on the second quilt.

One quilt . . .

Two quilts . . .

Now to finish hand sewing the binding and they'll be ready for little hands!

The Old Girl's Back Home!

She's back home!  Just in time for sewing projects tonight too!  Grant and I picked up grandma's Bernina from the shop yesterday morning while Clark was at preschool.  It will run through all the stitches now.  They showed me the tension spring which was pretty much no more (that spring had SPRUNG) and they replaced a belt.  I was told as long as I am gentle with her she's still got some good stitches left in her!  I also have to mention that when it rains it pours - my aunt recently e-mailed me to see if I had found a serger yet.  I actually  had stopped looking for the moment.  She has graciously offered me her serger to use - I am so excited!  What a fabulous surprise and so very much appreciated!

I also picked up a cute little gift courtesy of my sister:

I have seen this cute little book in blogland so thanks to a Borders card I received as a birthday gift from sis I decided it would make a cute addition to my craft books.  I have had a chance to glance through it but am looking forward to some quiet time to give it a good read.  And since this will probably come up - I realize I have a house full of boys; however, sometimes you just need some girly stuff around.

Last night while watching some TV with hubby I finished off this cute little squirrel:

Once this little guy is finished off, this piece will go in as one of my project finishes for the state fair challenge (at least until I finish something in the same size category that I like better).  It was a pretty simple stitch but I think he is adorable.  He was Clark's pick for the next pumpkin piece to stitch up.  This was actually the first time I have tried stitching on linen.  I was a little hesitant at first but love the finished piece.  The suggestion is to make this into a scissorfob - not sure if that's what he'll become or not.

Brittercup Designs - Autumn is in the air (scissorfob pull out from the larger design).  Stitched on 32 count linen - oyster, using suggested DMC threads.

The following are just a couple random shots from yesterday:

This month I am serving on the church's Altar and Chancel Guild.  On Thursday mornings while Clark's at school Grant and I go and do some prep and cleaning.  Grant found the little broom and was cleaning away.

And just because:

 Happy Friday!

Can't Wait for Friday Night!

Why?  I decided to sign up for this month's Friday Night Sew In - you can also link from the button on the right sidebar. I had wanted to do this in September but I was out of town the night it was held.

It sounds like a lot of fun.  Basically you set aside the listed Friday night and work on sewing projects you have sitting around.  I have yet to decide what I'll be working on.  I really want to finish the boys' Halloween quilts but my my grandma's machine (I may now possess it but it will always be grandma's machine) is in the shop.  Drat and sniff.  It is the only machine I have that will do pretty stitches including the satin stitch I was going to use to add some glow in the dark bats and pumpkins to the quilt tops.

No fears - plenty of projects sitting around here.

If you want to set aside some time for a sewing project (any type of sewing/stitching) join in!

Happy Birthday Party!

 Sunday the family celebrated my niece's birthday (1 year old)!  Now, on this side of the family she is the ONLY girl.  This means Aunt Andrea HAS to sew cute things.  Right?  Right!

Long before the Iowa State Fair Callie's mom asked me to make one of those cute tutu dresses that seem to be everywhere.  Hollie and I went to the fabric store and she picked out all the lovely materials.  All I had to do was take it home and figure out how to make it.  The skirt is amazingly easy (lots of skirt tutorials on-line - I kinda combined the instructions of the ones I liked); however, if I ever do one with the bodice (had to make that up myself) again I will make some changes.  Still - awfully cute:

I saw this fabric and just couldn't resist.  Made it into a little hoodie jacket.  I just hope it fits!

This morning as I was scrolling through blogs I read I saw a little reversible dress made out of the same fabric.  It's cute too - you can see it here.

We also looked at the family tree mom had printed out for a family reunion she went to last weekend - very interesting!

And of course lots of kid play time!