Quilting and a Pillow for Technology

You'll have to thank my oldest daughter for this post.  I was working on my quilt and she said that I needed to take pictures and blog it, as well as an iPad pillow I made.

First the quilt...

This is for my room.  I fell in love with this fabric online and was so glad they had it at the quilt shop in town.  It's Moda's 3 Sisters Etchings collection.  The pattern I'm using is Eleanor Burns's make a Quilt in a Day log cabin pattern.

It's really simple once you get started.  At first I was a little confused because I'm not use to following quilt instructions and had to make sure I was putting things in the right order.

Here is the layout for adding the 2nd Dark Fabric.  She just adds the already sewn pieces to the strip as she goes.  I am a pinner so...  

Next step is easy, just sew 1/4 in. seam down the strip.

Last I use my ruler to cut the blocks apart.  

I'm really enjoying this quilt.  I could be a line worker somewhere.  It suits me :). 

Okay Ang, how are my colors?  If you like them I picked them out, if not Greg did!

Pillow for the technilogicly advanced... and not so advanced :D.  

My mother-in-law will be having knee surgery soon and I wanted to give her something for her time of recuperation.  She is not technilogically savy, but my brother-in-law gave her an iPad several months back, so I thought she might play games on it or do some reading the modern way.  I came across this great pattern on Pinterest and loved it.  It was increadably easy to make.  Below are the pics of the one I did.

Tip:

Epsom Salt is a GREAT fabric softener!

No more static cling!

1 Tbls. per load and you'll never use dryer sheets again :)

What's next in weaving?

Something nice and EASY.  I just finished this runner...

... and it was a nightmare!  It started out wider and a mess.  After trying to salvage it, I had to give up and start over.  Reslaying the reed.  But Yay!! It's finished!  

I am going to do a tabby weave next.  It will be soooo much easier. Then I will try a houndstooth!

I actually did a little extra to make a small wallet/clutch.  I am debating about putting it in the shop.  Hmmm.

Hand Lettering and Embroidery

I've recently (that is today :) been studying hand lettering and began to think of embroidery and this post from Mary Corbet (whose work is incredible).

Here is a little sample of when I was messing around with the "Fruit of the Spirit" after viewing her work,

I'm not sure why I never did the embroidery, but I always have a ton of projects.  In fact I was joking with a friend at church about having so many outfits that she has started to sew and I haven't seen one of them.  Her daughter perked up and asked me how many unfinished projects I have.  Well.....

I find it all inspiring.  Below is a little sketch that I want to paint on the window in my sewing room.  I'll play with it some more before I do it.  I don't want it to be too big or obtrusive, but to catch the eye and remind me to ...

       

(This isn't for a cliche' or to make light the things of God, 

but I do these things because they mean something to me. 

 My relationship with the Lord is real and ever present.)

Wooly Sweater

I ment to post this one a while back.  It is a baby sweater that Grace knit for a little girl at church.  Her one mistake was the line going across the front.  At first I thought it was part of the design, but was told it wasn't, lol.  She has since made one (without the "mistake" :) and put it in the shop.

Fingerless Gloves

I have wanted these gloves for a year now.  I thought they'd be great for when I'm embroidering, weaving or had stitching seams closed.  My hands can get pretty cold and all though my finger tips would still be exposed it is more coverage than if I didn't wear any.

And for Christmas Taylor surprised me with them!  I really had no idea, didn't expect it in the least!  And I love them! The gloves and my children :).  They are the greatest bunch a mom could have. The gloves do in fact help my hands and fingers from being as cold.  I'm trying to talk Taylor into gloves that do have finger holes, but not tips for when she's playing the piano.  She said she'd feel like a hobo or something, lol.  Although she did agree to give some with no fingers holes a try.

A finished project...and unfinished :)

I almost (this is me wayyyyy to often) had this done at Christmas. Originally I used a zipper that was to small and a pillow that was to small. After another  trip to Jo Ann's it was finished.

In the picture to your right, you will notice a QR barcode by stkr.it .  My local quilt shop, Find X Designs, sells these things for $3.25.  You just download the app, scan the sticker, apply any digital media you want to that code, iron it on your project and your done!  

When my hubby scanned the code he saw a picture I took in DC of the Mall and a message thanking him for taking us.  I wanted to do a video of the kids playing there instruments and/or singing, but get them to get it all together in time, well... 

Below is a picture of a scarf and wallet that I wove.  I embroidered a flower design that matches the lining I am using for the wallet.  The picture below is my second attempt.  And now I am on my third *sigh* .  The first two colors just didn't stand out enough against the background.  It just looked like a blob of brown thread. 

So, I am trying a yellow this time.  My husband suggested it.  When he did, I thought yellow?  But he is something awesome with color coordination.  Most women dress there husbands, my husband dresses me :/  :).  Okay, I really need faces for this thing, hehe.