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
{ 4 comments }
Karen, so do you glue baste all layers before you do any applique? I’ve not seen it done that way before and I’m always anxious to learn new techniques.
Mary L’s last blog post..Another Giveaway
I use Roxanne glue baste it with a very tiny dropper for the applicator. Each piece of fabric only has about 2 drops of glue holding it in place. As I get to each section when I do the applique if I need to gently lift off a piece and reposition I can. By doing it all at once everything is in place and I don’t have to keep going back to the pattern to make sure sure placement is right. This is my own method I have not taken any classes and I am self taught.
The block is very pretty and looks quite festive have fun with it.
“A” Ok?
I loved the extra photos posted about your mug stories. Wow, your work on that quilt looks just perfect. I love finishing with a quilt on my lap. I don’t do hand quilting, but just doing the binding by had makes me happy.
The quilt has a European look to it, am I right? Very pretty in any event.
nanci’s last blog post..DEER ME!
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