Rainy Day Activities

I am really not a very disciplined blogger.  It is easier to read other people’s blogs and I sure spend a lot of time at doing just that, than to write a post for my own.  I have been doing some sewing especially on the rainy days, but just not blogged about it much.  The scrappy trip around the world block has been so much fun and I have used it in several ways lately.  I made this baby blanket which I am still sewing the binding on.  I made the center block with Ann Suttons block from the recent Moda Designers blocks.  You can’t tell really but, I also tried my hand at trapunto on those bunny rabbits.  It doesn’t show much but, they sure feel fluffy.  I added a layer of batting and sewed it around each bunny before I made my quilt sandwich, then I cut the excess batting away from the stitching so the bunnies have an extra layer of batting after the quilt is sandwiched.  It was easier than I thought it would be and something I will definitely be using again.

I also recovered my old chair cushions using strips from an old collection of coffee fabrics I had.  I quilted them and sewed them to fit the cushions.  Now they are washable!  The quilting made the cushions just a bit more cushy, loving that part!

Another big project I tackled on a rainy day was to finally paint the ceiling after almost 4 years of living here and already painting the walls several years ago.  I know I should have done it first, but I thought it would be a bigger project than it was.  We have a very open floor plan so the ceiling had to painted all through the house except the bedrooms and bathrooms.  Well, it took me 2 days and 2 gallons of paint, but it is done!  Now I can move on to the next task…putting in new flooring in the bathrooms.

Wait till you see what I did on the sunny days!

Ferne

Mystery Cat Quilt

My latest piecing project was picked out by my cat.  It really was.  I was cleaning up files on my computer and printed out a few of the patterns I had downloaded at sometime or other and deleted things I couldn’t figure out why I had saved.  Now there is room for lots more!  I printed this pattern out and laid it on my quilting table among others and my cat kept laying on it.  It was a mystery quilt so the finished picture was on the last page, just so you know my cat didn’t know what he was picking out.  I wanted a small project to work on after spending a lot of time trying to decide on a pattern to use for making a quilt for my queen size bed which is a big project.  So I decided to give my brain a break and quilt this one up.  I got some really great fabric advice from the guy in the house and had a lot of fun putting this together.  I am thinking it will be lots of fun to quilt as well.  It measures 36”X36” so it is a really nice manageable size.  Originally I was going to put it in the cat bed, but I think I will hang it on the wall and ask my cat to pick which pattern I should use for my bed quilt…he obviously has good quilt sense!

I decided that I need some new gardening aprons with spring just around the corner and thinking this little paper pieced project will be a pocket on my next one.  I use these a lot at work and home because I have to carry a walkie talkie and a phone all the time so the pockets work great.  I posted a little tutorial for this apron on this blog and refer to it all the time.  I have accumulated lots of cute garden fabrics and I line them with cheap flannel which gives them just the right weight and makes them a little absorbent which is helpful with all the watering I do in the spring and summer.  The best part is that they wash up really nice, and you know I am bound to get a little dirty!  I work in a nursery and then garden a lot at home so there is always dirt in my fingernails and on my knees.  Speaking of which the sun is shining finally and the temps are raising a little, all that and a day off work is making me ready to go out and play in the dirt or the compost or the greenhouse or all of the above.  So not much sewing going on today.

Enjoy the sun when you can!

Ferne

&

Makya

the quilt connoisseur

Seeing Hearts

 

Windy stormy weather has been keeping me home and indoors.  Thank goodness my Christmas shopping and get togethers are all done.  I missed one party due to weather issues, but made it to see all my family and that’s what was most important.

While I was stuck indoors and actually had electricity I pulled out a cute pattern to make a runner for Valentines Day by Cherilyn of Farm Wife blog.  She called it Candy Heart so I made mine chocolate and cinnamon.  It went together so easily that I might actually have it quilted before New Years.  Next project?

Ferne

Catching up on my Rows

 

I finished Rows 5 and 6 yesterday except for the edges at the top and bottom, they are cut and will just take a few minutes to add on.  Since I was almost out of bobbin thread I decided this was a good place to stop for the day  I can’t believe I made that many little flying geese!  Lori’s method really worked there was very little trimming to do and they were mostly perfect.  I can’t say they were all perfect but, definitely close enough to work.  I made an extra mug without knowing it and I put the handle on the wrong side of one so I am holding on to it for a future mug rug.  These all went so fast, I actually sewed together the geese in the morning, they were already made and trimmed the day before, then I went on a shopping trip to Walmart which was surprisingly empty, came home and planted about 100 bulbs, cut and sewed all the mugs and it wasn’t even 9:00 yet.  Since I live in outer Mongolia a trip to Walmart is no short jaunt and sometimes turns into an all day trip so I was surprised it wasn’t dark yet and that I still had time for planting bulbs when we got home…all thanks to the short lines at Walmart.

The next row is a row of leaves which seems so appropriate since this is the view from my cutting table right now.  I am trying not to think about the work that comes when they all fall, though I did discover that the blower we have in the garage is not as noisy as most and I might just find it quite useful and it vacuums too so that might make cleaning up those leaves a whole lot easier!   

I just remembered that I need to make a Christmas runner for my buffet and finish quilting my Christmas table topper…guess those leaves will have to wait!

Keep sewing along!

Ferne

Row Along Progress

The weather outside is frightful here with wind whipping and cold rain falling so I got sent home from work yesterday.  I took advantage of the time though and stopped at the grocery store to get what I wanted for our little Thanksgiving dinner and whipped up some homemade rolls and squash soup, then I added 2 rows to my Bee in My Bonnet Row Along project.  I love this project but, had only gotten 2 rows done and was really wanting to get to the apples.  I was well disciplined though and did the wavy row first and got it added then I played with the apples.  I was having so much fun I almost forgot to eat my soup which turned out delicious and the aroma of homemade bread was in the air reminding me to eat, thank goodness.  My apple row is not attached yet, but that might be a project for tonight after work.  The next row is all flying geese and Lori has a new method for us to try that will make it quick and easy then I can move on to the current row of mugs that look like lots of fun and I will be caught up!  My favorite block in butterfly row and the apple row are both red…I have been told that there is red in every quilt I make…I had no idea I had a thing for red…   I am pulling fabrics from a box of 5” squares that has been hanging around for a while now, it feels good to put them to such good use.

 I love this project and am thankful that designers like Lori Holt share their talents with us!

Enjoy your Holidays!

Ferne

Update:  She is now on Row 7 so I am 3 rows behind…guess I will be doing a little catching up this week!