Managed to get one more block done! I have 72 completed. 97 more blocks to go and then that border! I have a feeling it will very much take the 3 years that it took me to make the first one. I did decide last night what pattern to use for the guild challenge that is due in the middle of May. It will be a wall hanging and I will use several methods of piecing for it — and that is all I will say about it until it is due in May 
I have been told that there are several guild members that look at my blog so I better not say a word as no one is supposed to know what we are making – pattern, or what fabric ect.
I did a little more yard work today and also made up some wonderful biscuits for supper tonight to go with stew. Karen at the Dakota Kitchen has some great recipes. She had a recipe for a sour dough starter for a cinnamon bread which I made and from there I have looked for other sourdough recipes and I have found a great one for waffles which we really loved and then I found a recipe for biscuits. They were delicious! I have a bag of them in the freezer now as it made much more than I realized it would. If anyone is interested in these recipes let me know and I will post them. Go to the other Karen’s site and see what all she has to offer
Yesterday’s question was: Half-square triangle units can be used as “parents” for quarter-square triangle units. The answer was TRUE. Truthfully I guessed at this one! I had not heard the term “parents” for half-square triangle units. Here is a link that shows what it means and explains all about it.
Moving on – next question: Patchwork pieces are traditionally sewn together using which of the following seam allowances?
A- 1/4″
B- 1/2″
C- 5/8″
Well I got done with block #1 out of the 5 needed. I did add some french knots around the center circles of the flowers. I thought it needed just a little more to look complete. 4 more blocks to do – I will have to look at the pattern again and see which I will want to do next. I’m not sure if the extra touch of some embroidery will work on each block, it might be that just some of them will get that treatment. I’m glad I picked out the light gold/beige color for the background though. I really like it better than white would have been or even a cream color.
We had our local quilt guild meeting today and we were issued a challenge to be done by our May meeting. We were each given a fat quarter in a small brown paper bag so no one else could see our fabric. We are to use this fat quarter as our focus piece and other fabric from our stash (or buy). Finish size is no smaller than 22″ x 22″ and no larger than 45″ x 45″. This quilt is to be completely finished (top & quilted) and turned in at our May meeting where there will be judges to look them over and award a prize. No idea what the prize is, and I normally do not do anything to be judged except at the guild for these kind of small projects. Now I will have to get out magazines and books and start looking for something so I can get it done! I might have to mail it to one of the members to hand in, I’m not sure if we will be back from Maryland by then. We are leaving sometime in mid to late April and will be gone for 3 or 4 weeks I think. We are not planning this trip closely yet so have no firm travel time. This fabric is totally not something I would have chosen on my own!! They wanted us to think outside of the box and believe me I will have to do that LOL
After the guild meeting I got together with my friend Julie to work on our Dear Jane’s, our friend Regina couldn’t make it today. I got almost finished with the block I was working on and will finish it tonight and post a photo of it tomorrow.
Yesterday’s question: Quilt borders should be cut or pieced to match the measurements along each outer edge of the quilt. True or False — answer was False. (explanation given was: taking measurements along the edges of a quilt top will probably yield four different lengths. The discrepancy occurs because quilt blocks and other components have typically stretched a bit during assembly. Stretching might have happened during pressing, seam allowances might not all match exactly, simply handling the quilt top can cause stretch — there are many reasons a quilt can be skewed. Adding one or more borders gives you an opportunity to square up the sides of your quilt before you move on to finishing steps, but you should not take measurements along outer edges.
Here is a site that shows you how you should measure for adding your final borders.
Next question: Half-square triangle units can be used as “parents” for quarter-square triangle units.
TRUE or FALSE
Look at what my internet quilting friend Mary Ann sent me from Denmark. Knitted wrist warmers that she made in a wonderful blue color that goes with my blue fleece jacket. I had complemented her wrist warmers that I had seen a photo of and commented that I wish I could knit like that and she offered to make some for me. My knitting accomplishment isn’t much. Two years ago I thought I would try to remember how to knit because I really wanted to make a shawl to wrap myself in when we are camping and I get a little chilly in the evening – well my shawl turned into an afghan! I know you are probably wondering what does someone in Arkansas need wrist warmers for and I will tell you at times in the winter my hands get downright cold
while sitting here at this computer typing!! Also when we start traveling in the motor home again this spring and 
summer depending on where we are and the time of the year it can be pretty chilly. Those mountains that we love in Colorado to Montana and over to Idaho are pretty high in elevation and it gets down right cold — I am going to get a lot of use out of these!! Mary Ann expect a thank you gift arriving – it will go in the mail tomorrow If you visit Mary Ann’s site (click on her name at the top of this post) you will see her basting her Dear Jane quilt that she recently finished!!) Oh and Mary Ann I will get some use out of these in the upcoming week – here today it got close to 70 degrees and the weekend will be in the 40′s daytime and 20′s at night!
Today promised to be a wonderful sunny warm day so I skipped the fitness center this morning and went out to the 
near by state park for a nice walk instead. I brought the little digital camera along with 
me – here are some photo’s from the lake — This is Lake Dardanelle State Park. Very nice pretty new visitor center on one end, a very nice walking along the lake paved trail, a swimming area next in line, picnic areas, then the campground. All very well maintained and a wonderful place to walk all year round. As I was walking out on the rocky breakwater I could see a flock of crows lined up on the rocks, I started to snap off pictures as I was walking as I wanted to catch at least one as they would fly off and I was lucky and did – look at it take off — (all photo’s can be 
clicked on to enlarge). We have had a lot of crows in our yard lately also but I don’t think I had ever seen them lined out up at the lake like that before. Because this park is so close to us we have never camped there but we drive out to the park on a regular basis and walk looking at the scenery.
No quilting news to report – I have been working steadily on the one block for the Christmas Baltimore Album Quilt that I had showed you all a photo of a week or two ago. It is nearer completion – I have one more flower to applique down then I will add a few French knots in the center. If it turns out I’ll post a photo!
Yesterday’s question was: “When quilt blocks are set on point, with their corners pointing up and down, they leave open spaces around the perimeter of the quilt. If fabric triangles are used to fill in gaps along the top and sides of the quilt, they are cut with their longest edges on the bias”.
The answer is False — sometimes quilters fill in the gaps with partial blocks, but when fabric triangles are used they are cut with their long sides on the straight grain, crosswise or lengthwise, because they provide the least stretchy edge and help stabilize the quilt’s outer perimeter.
Next question: Quilt borders should be cut or pieced to match the measurements along each outer edge of the quilt?
TRUE or FALSE
Well I started out the day thinking I would do a quick run to Hobby Lobby to get one skein of embroidery thread and then head over to the bookstore to look and see what was new. I came out of Hobby Lobby with my one little skein of embroidery thread to see a flat tire on my car! 
this is the second one in 3 months!! I put in a voice message on my husband’s phone for a rescue but knew it would be awhile because he was exercising and wouldn’t be checking his phone for about an hour. The bookstore was only a 5 minute walk away so I thought well I was heading that way anyhow so left another message for him and told him I would be at the bookstore. –Not me in the photo with the flat tire but I felt it represented me
After looking at some paper work in the car I realized it had been 3 years and 49,940 miles since I got new tires on the car. So after the flat tire was changed we headed over to the tire shop to get new tires. Left the car there for them to work on and went with him to the Lowe’s to get some plywood – rather do that then sit on the hard chairs waiting for my car. He dropped me back off to get the car – and pay the bill — and off for home I went.
I managed to get a little work done on the Baltimore Album Block – it is coming along but I’m not satisfied with the points of the flowers in the center – that is what the embroidery thread is for – I’m going to make some French Knots to go in the center to help it out a little. In other words to cover up areas that should be pointed and aren’t LOL – it will look right in the end!
Thank you everyone for suggestions on how to make labels for the quilts – now that I have the new printer though that problem is solved. I had several people ask me where I get my pre-treated fabric sheets – at this link: C. Jenkins Company if you look through this site you will find some that say they are irregular and they are a little cheaper. All this means is that out of a package of 20 sheets you might have one or two with some mild imperfection like a tiny black spot or little area of thread that is weird looking. I have a package of 20 and used about half of them and had only one so far that had a spot on it and it was usable. I have been using products from them for sometime and have never had a problem with the company.
Another mug from my daughter Melanie — I think she has had a lot of fun adding to the collection – I really think she has gotten me as many as I have gotten myself. She picked this one up at a shop in Little Rock that sold coffee and mugs. The picture wraps itself around the mug repeating it three times. It is a heavy mug and I use it off an on. I will use a mug for several weeks or months then put it back on a shelf and choose another one to use for awhile. That way I get a little use out of some of them other than just looking at them.
Yesterday’s question was: When did Bernina introduce its knee-activated presser foot lifter? The answer was 1963
Next question: When quilt blocks are set on point, with their corners pointing up and down, they leave open spaces around the perimeter of the quilt. If Fabric triangles are used to fill in gaps along the top and sides of the quilt, they are cut with their longest edges on the bias. TRUE or FALSE
Well I did it, after exercising today we went shopping for a cheap (shall I say inexpensive?) printer that would print out labels on fabric. I found an HP printer for a penny under $50 it had the two print cartridges included in the box and a free DVD program for American Greeting Cards. We got home and set it up and I printed my labels. I followed the instructions to the letter as I always do and the ink did not bleed and did not fade. I guess the trick to printing on fabric other than using pre-treating fabric as I always have is to use a cheap printer! I should have done this quite some time ago as soon as I realized our nice printer was not going to work for fabric, but as usually I didn’t want to spend the money I have no trouble spending money on quilting supplies so I don’t’ know why I didn’t think that I could look on it as a quilting expense but I didn’t.
I have gotten the label for the Scrappy Irish Chain sewn on and I need to sew on two more labels. One to put on the quilt that my Aunt gave me last fall that my grandmother had made and I also made a label for the Mariner’s Compass that I had finished at the end of last year. I was behind on labels because of the fiasco with the printer situation. I just do not like to hand write labels, I never get them neat enough to suit me.
I haven’t posted a photo of a mug for awhile so I thought I would post two of them this evening. This one on the right has a handle that is made from two pieces of clay twisted together to form a rope hand. It is small holding about 8 to 10 ounces. I didn’t buy it anywhere special I believe it was at a local craft show. The handle caught my eye and I bought it. I usually use this mug for a small cup of 
apple cider or green tea. This one on the left is from Mexico. My younger daughter and her husband went o Mexico once when they took a vacation in the gulf area of Texas, just a day trip across the border and picked up this mug for me in a little tourist town. This 
photo is of the front of the mug – it is very rounded so hard to get it all in one photo so I took a side view also. They bought it for me about 10 years ago. It is a large mug and hold about 18 ounces of liquid. I use it everyday — but not for coffee — I keep my make up in it that’s right, it holds mascara, eye shadow, eye liner ect. I use it every day and remember who gave it to me!
Yesterday’s question was which sewing needles are helpful for hand applique?
The answer was A & C — sharps and milliners (sometimes called straw needles) I disagree with this answer as I use the same needles that I hand quilt with – betweens size 11 – it is a tiny needle but I am comfortable with it. I do not like the long straw needles I am constantly stabbing at one finger or another when I use it and end up having to put a band aide on to keep from bleeding on fabric!
Next question: When did Bernina introduce its knee-activated presser foot lifter?
A- 1938
B- 1945
C- 1963
D- 1968
by Karen on February 15, 2009
in quilts
Is finished!! one down and I won’t even say how many more to go! I’m just glad to 
have one more quilt top finished completely. I got the binding finished on it yesterday, all that is left to do is add a label on the back. Click on photo’s to enlarged if you want. I used King Tut cotton variegated thread, this color was called Patriotic. It is of course in red/blue/& instead of white it is more of a tan. I used a tan swirl backing fabric and I always use Quilters Dream 100% cotton batting in the request loft (the lightest). When washed it shrinks up just a little bit giving it an antique look to the finish. This quilt finishes out at about 56 inches x 70 inches. I made the top at the end of 2007 and had it put away waiting around to be quilted and finally did it in January and February of this month.
So I have a question for all of you quilters out there. How do you make your label for the back of your quilt with all the information that you want remembered? I have always used pre-treated fabric sheets and would feed them through the printer and have wonderful colorful labels with pertinent information and a pretty picture. All I would have to do when done printing is let them dry and the next day I would swish in cold soapy water – dry and then heat set and they were ready to go. THEN – and that is a big then, we got a new printer as the old one wasn’t doing so well and we got a nice new one that has something like 6 print cartridges in it, the machine is a fax machine, scanner, printer, copier — and I can no longer print nice pretty labels off of it as the ink runs when wet and also fades a lot. I have tried every trick given to me and although the last trick – soaking in a cold water-salt solution has helped the most I can still see the ink bleed and the color fades to almost half of what it started at. I think tomorrow after exercise I am going to investigate other printers and see how much a cheap plain printer that takes a different kind of ink is and possibly get one. The one we have now is a HP Photosmart C6180 All-in-one anyone else have this printer and the same kind of problems!!
Yesterday’s question: which is the needle of choice for hand quilting? Answer is: betweens
New question: When did Singer introduce the Featherweight Sewing Machine?
A- 1928
B- 1933
C- 1936
D- 1939
About 3 weeks ago I told you about our ice storm and of course many of you heard
about the severity of the ice storm damage to parts of Arkansas and Kentucky on the tv news. The other day a quilt guild member at Thursday’s workshop told us how she had been without power for 17 days and of all the tree damage traveling north to her house – she lives about 40 or more miles from where we meet. Today my husband and I decided to go see what kind of damage there was to this heavily forested area to 
the north of us here in Arkansas. We were surprised to see that we missed the bad ice storm (we only had minor amounts) by only 16 miles. Sixteen miles north of us we came upon the first of the damage and traveling a little further on there was one tree down after 
another – tops of trees laying on the ground, branches broken off, I am not exergerating we judged that if you looked at 10 trees at least 7 of those trees had damage. They were piled on the sides of the roads where the road crews had to cut trees to get them off of the roads. We pulled into the entrance of a small campground and had enough room 
to back out and turn around but entry to the park was not available. It was covered with downed trees. We traveled 50 miles from our house and it was like that from 16 miles north of us. We have no idea how far the damage like it goes but one lady that I correspond with lives in the area of Harrison, Arkansas 80 miles to the north of where I live told me that out of 8 
acres of heavily forrested land that they own half of their trees are damaged. We took pictures and I’m posting just some of them, click on them to enlarge. It really and truly in places looked like a tornado had gone through the area. Part of the Ozark Highland Trail goes through this area and I hate to even think what it looks like – I have a feeling hiking this year on the trail might be dangerous because of all the branches hanging in trees waiting to fall.
Most people that I know of from the news reports in Arkansas have their power back on but it will be a long time before this area gets back to normal looking. Luckly Arkansas trees grow fast due to long summers and short winters.
I have the binding on the Scrappy Irish chain quilt and in the process of the hand stitching. I’ll take a photo of it after 
it gets finished and washed – have to get all those chalk marks out you know!
I haven’t put any photos from my mug collection on here in awhile so here is one more, my daughter Melanie gave me this mug about 10 years ago I guess. I have no idea where she got it, my memory is not working it is tall and skinny, holds about 14 oz. I like to use it for fresh cut flowers instead of drinking from it. She gets on here and reads my blog at times so maybe she remembers where she got it and can fill us in.
The last question I posted was a terribly easy question I thought! the answer was all of the above. One can make templates from just about anything!
Another question: What is the needle of choice for hand quilting?
A- milliners
B - sharps
C- betweens
D- crewel
WOW!! I can not believe I started this quilt just about 4 years ago and finally now will be starting to quilt it soon. I took photos as I was loading it onto the frame so you can see the process. (all of these photo’s can be clicked on to take you to a larger size) The backing is a blue swirl. I had already rolled the quilt 
top on to the back rail when I remembered I was going to take photo’s. The backing is then pinned to the middle rail, then you roll it up and pin to the front rail. I always roll it back and forth a couple times to make sure all wrinkles are out and that the fabric is resting smoothly. Next you lay the batting over the backing and smooth it all out trying to 
get it to rest evenly. Pin the top of the backing to the middle roller. Carefully roll the middle roller and the bottom roller at the same time until you have all of the backing rolled on to the middle roller. When you have rolled the batting all the way up on the middle roller, release the middle roller so that you have enough slack and gently pull the batting into place to be pinned onto the bottom roller. By doing this you now have the backing and batting on the same two rollers and it
is pinned in place evenly. Sometimes if the two are not resting evenly with no wrinkles I will roll it back and forth a couple times going from having it all on the front roller to the middle roller and then back again to the middle row where it will stay and I gently smooth it out to get it right. When you know you have the backing and batting ready you release the tension on the back roller and pull your quilt top down over the two layers and pin the quilt top to the front roller on top of the backing and batting. I have two pieces of fabric one on each side that I pin the sides of the 3 
layers together. This makes sure that the tension is right and it is all pulled gently together to make it smooth with no wrinkles on the back. If you notice as you are quilting that you do have wrinkles on the underside you can gently pull and push them to the side and adjust the cloth strips. I told you all that this quilt will have scallop edges here is a photo of that too. I added a 3 inch border to all sides – this is the only part of this quilt that is sewed by machine. Because of the tension of the ends of the quilt I wanted to make sure it was a little stronger while working on so I thought I would machine stitch that one part. I drew the scallops on with pencil and then when all the quilting is done I will lay it out and cut on those lines before I put the binding on.
I think I mentioned that I will not start to quilt this quilt until February 23. The reason for this is that it will be the 4th anniversary since I started this quilt – so maybe kind of silly but I wanted to start quilting it on that anniversary. The quilting sure will go a lot faster than the hand piecing did!! This is also my older daughter’s birthday and she has shown so much interest in this quilt that it will eventually be her quilt. I will need to enjoy it for a time though before I give it to her
That is about 10 days away so maybe I can make some progress on the two smaller quilts that I am using the smaller hoop on. It sure will be nice to finish up a couple of these other projects. Between quilting on this quilt and applique work on the Christmas Baltimore Album blocks and hand piecing my second Dear Jane I should be able to stay busy! Especially with spring in the air and coming in fast now. There will be so much yard work to do and then we will start traveling a little again also.
I gave the answer to the day before yesterdays question earlier so here is a new question:
Quiltmaking templates can be made from:
A- cardboard
B- plastic
C- freezer paper
D- vellum
E- all of the above
I didn’t get a post done yesterday as I was very busy quilting on the scrappy Irish Chain quilt. I am working on the final border and only have about an hour or two of quilting left to do on it. I hope to finish it today. Also I was cutting the backing and batting the correct size for “Insanity” and getting the final border on that quilt. I also drew the scallop edges on that quilt. The quilt will hopefully be put on the frame this weekend. I’m not actually cutting the scallop though until I take it off of the quilt frame. I will post a photo after I get it on the quilt so you can see what I am talking about. This will make for easier quilting on the frame.
It was a busy day – working on those two quilts plus I attended a workshop for the quilting guild that I am in and participated in the work day on the raffle quilt that the guild is making! Whew what a busy day. Today will be busy also. I have to get to the fitness center for a workout. I don’t go for loosing weight or weight management or whatever you want to call it. I like to keep toned and fit as much as possible for my age group (I’m 56).
The answer to the last question: Which of the following sewing machine needles are the thickest?
The answer was C 18/110
I will try to post later this evening and maybe the quilt will be on the frame — and then again maybe not – if it is I will post a photo of it.
Today has been a busy day with fabric and quilts for me. I started the day off by taking the scrappy Irish chain quilt off of the quilting frame – I still have more quilting to do on it but it is the final border and I can do that with the hoop – this quilt is smaller than a twin size so no problem. I wanted to get it off of the frame so that this week I could start getting the “Insanity” quilt (Dear Jane) on the frame. Also I got the “Insanity” quilt out of the storage bag it was in and have it draped over the big quilting frame so some of the wrinkles will start to fall out. I took the big fabric backing out of the bag also and have that pressed and ready to cut down to size – I always order more than needed. The batting is waiting also. I’ve been prepared for this quilt for awhile now. I’m sure I will get it on the frame this weekend. Tomorrow will be a busy day at the guild workshop that I need to go to or I would get started – as is I might get started on it by evening. Even if I get it on the quilting frame though I am not going to take my first quilting stitch until February 23rd. Silly I know but on that date it will be 4 years since I started the quilt so it has significant meaning to me to start it then – it is also my daughter’s birthday that day and as she will eventually get the quilt it has double significance to start quilting it that day
I got the applique glue basted complete for the Baltimore Album Christmas square – I will applique this one and then move on to another block. I don’t like the glue to set too long and possible stain the fabric. That did happen on one quilt. The glue left a couple tiny dots in the fabric after it was washed twice. Since then I try to soak out the glue as soon as possible and have not had a problem. When I get done with the sewing I soak it in cold water several times until the water comes out clear and lay flat to dry. I like to do this to get the glue out. If you click on the photo it will take you to a larger size. I have had several people mention how my points are so pointed – sorry to disappoint but the applique is not done – this is just glue basted all the sewing needs to be done and it will be needle turn applique. All my points will not be pointed enough I’m sure but I don’t care if the “quilt police” notice or not – I quilt for my enjoyment only and never enter into shows or contests – I did enter into several things a awhile back and decided it was not for me. On the enlarged picture you can see white chalk lines = I trace around my freezer paper templates with a white chalk pencil and that is my sewing line.
I haven’t posted a photo of any of my mugs for a couple days and Nanci over at Quilting at the Cottage wanted to see
more. I thought I only had about 5 or 6 left but I think it might be closer to 10 after taking a quick look around. Here is one that I bought at Glacier National Park. I know I posted a different mug last week or so that I also got from there. We love the national parks and go back if we can. We have been to Glacier twice, once when our girls were with us and once after they were grown. I don’t get a mug every time we go someplace any more but I use to This mug has mountain goats that you can see at times in the mountains of this park. In fact we have been walking on a trail a time or two when we had to share the trail with them — they would just come out of nowhere it would seem and we would move aside and stand still and they would just walk right on by! I decided to pull some photo’s out of an old photo album to share with 
you of us
sharing the trails of Glacier with the mountain goats. These photo’s are from around 1989 in the middle of summer believe it not with all this snow shown. If you click on any of these pictures you will see it larger. Aren’t they magnificent animals!
Yesterday’s question: During free motion quilting, the sewing machine feed dogs are – UP or DOWN the answer is down.
Next question: Which of the following sewing machine needles are the thickest?
A- 14/90
B- 11/75
C- 18/110
