Quilt Sandwich Day

What??  Move again!!

Today was quilt sandwiching day at the Bailey Girl household.  Normally it's a little challenging with the assistant testing everything out and having to be moved constantly, but today it went much smoother.  In fact, it was almost delightful! 

 A while ago Cheryl at Naptime Quilter did a post about a little quilting tool called a kwik klip.  It shuts the safety pins when you're basting and totally saves your fingertips, and more importantly, your nails.  I saw it at Joann's Friday and since I had tons of coupons I ended up getting it for three dollars!   I usually have sore fingers for a couple days after all that pinning and unpinning but no more.  Thanks Cheryl!


Now on to the part I'm terrified of ... the machine quilting.  I've been so careful with this quilt and even re-ironed the top and bottom before I stretched and smoothed and basted.  I just hope it goes ok with no puckering or machine jamming or crazy giant missed stitches and  then too tight stitches.  Before I start I'm totally taking apart the machine and cleaning out fuzz and then putting in a nice new needle.  I hope I appease the Quilting Gods with all that careful preparation. 

Wish me luck people.  I'm scared!! 

One last shot of it all pretty before I totally screw it up

Quilting as you go

I'm going to get involved in a new quilt-a-long where you quilt each square one at a time before you sew it together.  Since quilting big quilts on my machine has been a challenge for me I'm really interested to see how this turns out.  I admire the beautiful, intricate quilting on so many quilts but just can't manage it on my own.  The best part is you are just supposed to use scraps!  I've been throwing scraps in a bin since I started and other than letting my niece dig through them and take some I've done nothing with them.  This could be a win, win quilting situation for me!

Friday Night Sew In!

 Last night was my monthly sew in party with the girls!  I definitely needed a dedicated night to my sewing because with all the nice weather here and the longer days there has been waaaay too much outside time and not enough sewing time!  My assistant has been badgering me to go out and explore all our old walking haunts so she can catch up on a whole winterful of smells and sticks.

I've been working on the quilt square for my Hope Valley pinwheel quilt, as I call it, and last night I picked apart the last of the wonky points and resewed and then trimmed up all my squares.   I've got them laid out on the floor and am rearranging them.  It reminds me of one of those handheld children's puzzles where you slid one piece down, then another one over, then move one back, etc.  I decided to use a pink and orange blade in each block with solid kona charcoal.   That seemed like a good idea at the time but trying to lay it out so it looks random is a lot of work!  Way too many points to check on now.  Live and learn ....

Also, last night I got to see our local middle school's production of Seussical.  All I can say is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.  I just can't believe how the theater department at that school can put together such a huge undertaking with tweenagers and have it come off like a Broadway production.   My niece was in like 100 major dance scenes and never missed a beat.

 She insisted I add this picture so you can see what she's been up to this week.

Exciting Mail Day

Look what I won!!  Greta at Because I Sew So had an awesome giveaway and I won a fat quarter of flea market fancy!  My first and only flea market fancy so far!!  I've heard tell of this wonderful fabric for quite a while and now I feel like I'm really a part of the quilting community because I now own some.  My mind is just reeling with ideas.  Greta also included two fat quarters of some beautiful pink fabrics that just make me feel like spring and summer is a coming!  Thanks Greta, I feel so special!

I broke down and ordered a kona cotton color card and that came today too.  Luckily I had it to make a nice backdrop for my winnings because I was having trouble finding a clean area in the house to take a picture.  Finally I just set up the color card to hide some clutter. 




This is my pile of pinned squares all ready to be turned into half square triangles for the pinwheel quilt.  You know, the one I'm sewing sloooowly and carefully.  I can't wait to get sewing these squares.  Maybe tonight.  **sigh**  Probably tomorrow by the time I get the sewing table cleared off.

Granny Granny

My very first granny square!  It's blobby and lopsided , but I'd definitely say that it somewhat resembled a granny square!!  (You can tell...can't you??)  I didn't learn how to end it when I was done so I have to leave the hook in place for now.  Baby steps ... baby steps. 

I had three unsatisfying lessons and I've watched a ton of youtube videos so I'm at the point that if I could sit with an actual crocheting person and do a few I'd have it!  Anybody want to come over?

On an unrelated note:  I read a news article today that the inventor of the Easy Bake Oven died today.  Brought back a lot of wonderful memories of my childhood and my absolute favorite "toy."  I hate to say toy because I was really baking man!!

So ... here's to you Ronald Howes Sr.  Thanks for making some great memories and some delicious cakes baked with a light bulb.