Let's start at the top ... BINDING ... some of you know (my faithful 4 readers) how much I hate hand binding. I always, always machine sew the binding to the back, then flip it and machine stitch the binding on the front. ALWAYS ... nd yes, I have made a number, a big number of quilts. I have an amazing quilter and she's been pumping out many of my quilt tops, so I have binding to put on 5 quilts. I say down, whipped the quilt up onto the table, flipped it to the right side, and proceeded to sew the ENTIRE binding to the front of the quilt. Guess who's handsewing some binding!!!!????!!!! Thank goodness it's for a dear dear friend.
Traveling ... Doug and I went to Lincoln last weekend to see Brandon and Blair. What a great weekend, just wish that drive would shorten up :) While we were there we went to the movie, "Hunger Games" ... well done, well written, many underlying messages, NOT uplifting ... but I am so glad Blair got us tickets for the gamel
Wedding Plans are moving right along ... Blair is very organized, rather laid back, and has a plan. I just nod my head and go with the flow. The "save the dates" should be out anytime now and rooms are filling up fast at The Lodge. I need to get my rear in gear and find something to wear.
It's Palm Sunday this week, then it's Easter, then it's quilting time with some FC friends, then it's time to move Brandon and Blair, then it's Nolan's graduation, then it's it's time to find a new apt. for Nolan ... and move him.
Feel busier than ever ... think I'll say a lil prayer for me :)
Until Soon,
Vickie
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Bed Turning
Bed turning ... not just rearranging furniture in the bedroom!
What a busy week ... spring break is over (yes, sad sad girl), students are back on campus, and the studio is drawing me in more and more. This past Monday, the quilt group I belong to, Top Of Iowa Quilters, did a Guest Night and Bed Turning.
Bed Turning??? Yes, a bed turning. Our quilt group would like our membership to grow some, bring in new blood, new ideas, new members, lots of energy and experience, lots of inquisitiveness and just plain old enthusiasm for a craft and an art that the current members have. But back to "bed turning". A member suggested a guest night, another member said, lets do a trunk show or quilt show. Another said let's serve refreshments. The excitement grew and before you know it we were in full swing for an exciting event.
BED TURNING - I wish I had some pictures for this, but what it is, historically: quilts were stacked on a bed, stacks and stacks of them, when women would have a quilting bee at their home, or just for a fun get together, they'd show off some of their "work" from a long winter of staying indoors. Lifting one quilt at a time, waiting for the oooo's and ahhhhhhh's ... and Monday night was no different. Well, a little different, we didn't have to use the flicker of a candle for light, we weren't in pioneer dresses, and we weren't displaying our fine hand stitching (well some did) ... but we had the quilts layed out on a "bed", we turned or lifted them up one by one and the creater of the quilt would come forward and tell about the project.
What a busy week ... spring break is over (yes, sad sad girl), students are back on campus, and the studio is drawing me in more and more. This past Monday, the quilt group I belong to, Top Of Iowa Quilters, did a Guest Night and Bed Turning.
Bed Turning??? Yes, a bed turning. Our quilt group would like our membership to grow some, bring in new blood, new ideas, new members, lots of energy and experience, lots of inquisitiveness and just plain old enthusiasm for a craft and an art that the current members have. But back to "bed turning". A member suggested a guest night, another member said, lets do a trunk show or quilt show. Another said let's serve refreshments. The excitement grew and before you know it we were in full swing for an exciting event.
BED TURNING - I wish I had some pictures for this, but what it is, historically: quilts were stacked on a bed, stacks and stacks of them, when women would have a quilting bee at their home, or just for a fun get together, they'd show off some of their "work" from a long winter of staying indoors. Lifting one quilt at a time, waiting for the oooo's and ahhhhhhh's ... and Monday night was no different. Well, a little different, we didn't have to use the flicker of a candle for light, we weren't in pioneer dresses, and we weren't displaying our fine hand stitching (well some did) ... but we had the quilts layed out on a "bed", we turned or lifted them up one by one and the creater of the quilt would come forward and tell about the project.
QUILT SHOW - Along with our bed turning we had quilts on display all over the Lake Mills Community School's Media Center. Hanging from bookshelves, draped on computers, and laying on easels, tables and chairs. I am going to attach a few pictures from the event below, it really was a great time.
 |
| Some quilts by me ... hung in a corner for folks to enjoy. |
 |
| Some BIG quilts ... I'm pretty sure one or two of them are by Donna! |
 |
| This little gem was created by Ann ... mind you, those are all selvedge pieces in each little piece of the pie. Ann is so artistic. |
These wallhangings are by Willie ... seasonal and so sweet ... and of course, her own design.
We had a great time entertaining our 30 some gusts ... there were many more quilts shared that evening, lots of thoughts and ideas. And we all made it home in time for Castle (well those of us that thought that was important)!
Until soon,
vic
Friday, March 16, 2012
Need More Spring Break
What a glorious week ... worked a couple of days, cleaned a little bit, went through some stacks of stuff, and quilted and quilted and quilted. More please, I want more!
So ... you all heard about my "Nightmare" ... well I also put together a little baby quilt ... it turned out very trendy and cute ... If I do say so myself! It's not the traditional pink or blue from days gone by ... nope! The momma's and daddies these days are a bit more trendy, wanting something "fun"! So, here's a little peek at the quilt top.
In case the picture doesn't come out clear, the colors in the quilt are pink, orange, white and gray. Lots and lots of funky dots. Hope the new family will enjoy it. The back will have "minkee" ... so soft and cuddly.
I moved on to bigger and better things ... a quilt my sweet young son asked me to make. It's in purple and gold, a gift for the cook at his fraternity house. He and his 8 or 9 senior fraternity brothers want to give it to her and tell her thank you. What a beautiful idea. I think it's going to be beautiful, even if I don't want LOVE working with purple and gold.
I'll share a little picture of the blocks, I just about have all 16 of them done. Then I need to figure out SAE in Greek letters. Labor of love for 10 sweet True Gentlemen.
 |
| 4 of 16 blocks ... each block is 12 1/2 inches. |
Oh yeah ... and this is all done with my trusty helper, always ready, willing and able. Look below and I'll put 2 or 3 pictures of my helper in action.
 |
| Nice, warm, freshly ironed fabric! |
 |
| Goodness it makes me so tired! |
Until soon,
Vic
Thursday, March 15, 2012
"Nighttrain" turns to "Nightmare"
So ... I quilt with a group of lovely ladies on a special day once a year. This is Super Bowl Quilt Retreat, what makes it so special, is that it's NEVER on Super Bowl Sunday! This year it was March 3rd. We start early, eat way to much great food, accomplish far less than we ought, and most make the same quilt. This little story goes like this:
I arrived at 9 a.m., ironing board, Bernina, fabric (cut to instructions), and all sorts of gear for a wonderful day of quilting. I remembered some tea to share with dear friends, I brought my cordless fancy schmancy iron, and I even remembered my slippers (to move around the room comfie like).
By 10 a.m. I think I had threaded my machine, I might have sewn one seam ... ok, maybe two or three. One lovely lady nearby had cut several things wrong, thank goodness she had extra fabric. I made a note to self, "Cut carefully, read instructions!" I decided to kick it in gear and put my nose to the grindstone. yep ... you guessed it, I did the sewing instructions for #4 and the cutting instruction for #5. YES ... I cut 40 pieces 5 1/2", instead of 80 at 3". So I did a little magic, had a couple extra strips of fabric, and back on track.
But 2ish people are starting to pack things up, so I put all my treasures in my box, pack the car, and head for home. It's all tucked away in the box, organized and tidy. I start my spring break from work on Friday, March 9th. I've got it all planned out ... I'm going to quilt a bunch, starting on Monday.
Pictured at the left is my "Nightrain" which I renamed my, "Nightmare". I'm not sure what it's supposed to look like, but this is what mine looks like.
I arrived at 9 a.m., ironing board, Bernina, fabric (cut to instructions), and all sorts of gear for a wonderful day of quilting. I remembered some tea to share with dear friends, I brought my cordless fancy schmancy iron, and I even remembered my slippers (to move around the room comfie like).
By 10 a.m. I think I had threaded my machine, I might have sewn one seam ... ok, maybe two or three. One lovely lady nearby had cut several things wrong, thank goodness she had extra fabric. I made a note to self, "Cut carefully, read instructions!" I decided to kick it in gear and put my nose to the grindstone. yep ... you guessed it, I did the sewing instructions for #4 and the cutting instruction for #5. YES ... I cut 40 pieces 5 1/2", instead of 80 at 3". So I did a little magic, had a couple extra strips of fabric, and back on track.
But 2ish people are starting to pack things up, so I put all my treasures in my box, pack the car, and head for home. It's all tucked away in the box, organized and tidy. I start my spring break from work on Friday, March 9th. I've got it all planned out ... I'm going to quilt a bunch, starting on Monday.
So ... Sunday, March 11, I pull out "Night Train" ... get all set up, have my pattern right in front of me and I believe that I put the block together wrong! Sewn several skinny pieces to the wrong side of a pudgy piece. Rip, Rip, Rip ... I get this mistake fixed. Monday, I get right to work, and am so proud, I have the entire first row done ... WRONG! At this point I am NOT going to RIP! so I put all the rows together wrong, in the same fashion as I have done the first row.
I layed the quilt out in the living room, on the floor, and my sweet spouse said, I like that! Looks good. I tell you ... I think I've just wrote my first pattern! Goodness! Quilting is SUCH FUN!!!
Pictured at the left is my "Nightrain" which I renamed my, "Nightmare". I'm not sure what it's supposed to look like, but this is what mine looks like.P.S. Oh yeah, forgot to tell you that before this all started, I didn't have enough of the "dark", which is my gray ... so instead of one nice fabric, I got to use two darks. Oh my ... the memories keep flooding back!
Until soon,
Vic
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)