Border Mania ~ Skinny Vines

And so it begins…. Border # 2 of Friends of Baltimore has begun 2/13/2020.  I have traced the pattern onto the the border fabric using my handy dandy little light box.  I am so thrilled to have discovered this awesome tool.  It simplifies the process unbelievably. I do have to give credit to my great-nephew Preston.  He received a toy light box for Christmas and I happened to see it and thought, “what if” and it worked.  Woohooo.

 

Tracing pattern finished, I started making the circles for the border of the R5 fabric and decided to go ahead and make them for all 3 borders.  I am toying with the idea of just going ahead and finishing all the borders before I get back to the individual blocks.  That thought led me to also making a gazillion skinny bias strips of the G-5 & G-4 used in the borders.  Wow 2 days to make the circles  and another 2 days to make the skinny bias strips.  Done is good.  I’m ready.

As mentioned before I am planning on using black and gray fabrics for all the vases and urns in the borders and corner blocks.  This is my interpretation on the 2nd border urn.  I like it. I’m hoping using blue for the HST framing the blocks these black and gray fabrics will pull the colors together for a pleasing look.   I prep and sew, prep and sew.  After I have sewn these pieces down and will need to make more little circles.  This time purple.  I can say one thing Sue Garman sure liked circles.  Her patterns are full of them.  This is my third Sue Garman pattern to make.  I’m becoming an experienced circle maker.

Have a great day.

Sissy Malone

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Hello…… remember me?

I did not mean to,  but I did.  I took a year off writing on my Blog.  I lost my brother and went into a terrible depressed state with my grief. I  began my first block “Eagle” 12/31/2018.  I sewed thru the evening being so engrossed and excited about starting my bucket list quilt that I  missed midnight.  Totally blew past me.  Went to bed around 1 a.m.   I slept in New Year’s morning and at 6 a.m. my brother passed. Overwhelming sadness engulfed me.

I funneled my grief into my sewing with Friends of Baltimore being my primary project.  To date I have completed 8 blocks and 1 border.   The saying Time heals is accurate, it’s just getting there.  I miss him dearly and I think of him everyday.  He was my little brother after all.  This is the reason for my absence.  I was not able to verbalize my grief so I stitched it into something positive.

 

2019 I was able to revitalize my sewing room.  Now there is not a lot that can be done to a 10×10 room but I have managed to utilize all square footage and I am more than pleased with the end result.  I freshened the paint, I have added new bookcases ( 2 trips to Ikea one in Memphis and one in St Louis)  and donated tons of fabric to get down to a reasonable workable fabric stash.  Let’s face it, even having survived breast cancer, I’m not going to live forever, as I thought in my younger days.  I put my Bucket List (no longer called UFO’s) projects into tubs and have realized I have way too many Bucket List Tubs but I am hopeful of entering retirement next year with the promise of getting started on those tubs.  I am so excited about the finished look  and I absolutely love spending time in my sewing room.  It’s the first time that I have ever done anything specifically for me and I was amazed at how it made me feel.  Then I asked myself….. why did I wait so long?  I still need to make my window treatment.  Have the fabric, just need to get going on it.  I am very pleased with the end result and quite proud of myself for drafting it out on paper and then translating that into actuality.

2019 was mostly focused on Friends of Baltimore Album quilt.  What a learning experience this quilt has become.  I have gained many new wonderful friends in the applique community and I treasure the encouragement, suggestions and input these new friends offer.  I have completed 7 blocks, currently putting the finishing embroidery  on block 8  and 1 full border completed.  Next up is border # 2.  The first border took me 3 months.  Hopefully the next border won’t take me as long. Truthfully, I am enjoying the challenges of making this quilt.  Each time I start a new block my confidence sags a bit, and I worry that it’s too much for me, but I just plug along and as I progress I think, “What was I worried about, I’ve got this”.   Each block surprises me by presenting some challenge  and so far I have met those challenges and have walked away with new skills to add to my growing accomplishments.  Once I finish Border # 2, it will represent the halfway mark.  Big sigh.  I’m really getting this quilt done.  Wow.  I have wanted to make an Album quilt since I first saw a photo of the Gorsuch  Family Quilt.  I believe it was featured in one of the Lady’s magazines back in the late 1960’s.  I was a teenager then.  My amazement of this quilt cannot be described.   That one photo and the teaching of needle art from my Granny Malone as well as countless mentors over the years fueled my interest and love of applique.  I spent many years acquiring skills that would enable me to pursue this dream and  look at me, here I am, dream coming true.

2019 I was awarded Best of Show and lst place Ribbons at Laclede County Fair for Bed of Roses quilt pattern by Sue Garman.  I also received a lst place Blue Ribbon at the Ozark Empire Fair in Springfield, MO for this quilt.  I was very excited to have been so honored.

2019 I finally got to go back to Paducah for the Spring Quilt Show.  I attended a lecture presented by Sue Nichols who with her sister made the acclaimed Beatles Quilt.  I have been passionately in love with this quilt since I first saw it.  I believe it won Best of Show in 1998 and is on display at the Quilt Museum.  The imagination and creativity to design this quilt is beyond my comprehension.  Such Teamwork two sisters collaborating.   I bet I stood in front of this quilt for at least 30 minutes trying to absorb every detail.  I am not sure what it is about this quilt but I am extremely passionate about it.  Oh, by the way…. there were soooooo many beautiful quilts presented.

So here we are 2020.  My main focus will still be Friends of Baltimore.   I have added 3 machine pieced quilts to the mix.  I am making a Winter Solstice quilt, I am working on the Moda Blockheads 3 sew along and I signed up for my local quilt shop Saturday Sampler again.    I  had sat out of the Saturday Sampler for several years but felt I needed the camaraderie from this wonderful group of ladies and gentlemen again.  Yes, we have men quilters in this group.  They are very talented.  On the home front I also have  DIY projects in the mix.  As I tackle each one I will post the ups and downs of DIY.

My first 2 blocks made for Moda Blockheads 3 not sure how I’m going to put it all together yet.  The year is young yet. Inspiration will eventually hit me.

We also welcomed a new great nephew into the family and I made him this baby quilt.  Welcome to the world Connor Gray.  I even quilted it myself.

I have also been considering purchasing a long arm quilting machine.  I had initially thought I would like the Bernina Q20 sit down machine but have decided I would prefer one where I am standing.  So now I am looking at the Simply Sixteen since it has a 5′ frame.  That will work nicely with my restricted space requirements.   Still at the thinking and trying out stage.  Juggling trip to England vs. quilting machine?  Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.

Well this about wraps up 2019 and hopes for 2020.

See you soon with more updates from my quilting world.

Sissy Malone

Getting Reacquainted With My Sewing Machine

Wow, closing in on the finish line for my Bed of Roses quilt top.  Have blocks 8, 9 and 10 completed this month. Just two more blocks to go and it’s wrap up time.  That goal of January 2019 finished top to the quilter is looking totally doable.

With each project, quilt top, I learn a new method/technique, or am practicing to improve on a technique.  I also learn where I need to focus to improve my skill set and as always learn something about myself. Strengths and weaknesses.  I know I will never be a master quilter. That has never been my goal, but I would like achieve the title of expert quilter in my lifetime.  There’s work to be done to accomplish this.

Applique has always been my primary focus.  It seems from the beginning of my quilt adventure  I have been drawn to the Baltimore Album Quilts and I have a great fondness for Folkart Quilts.    I am now gaining an interest in pictorial quilts. In the near future I would like to take a workshop on that medium.  It seems that will require travel to one of the coasts. I’ve been to Asilomar and studied with Ely. So maybe now it’s time to go east and study with David Taylor at one of his workshops.  Also of interest to me is taking a class with Sandra Leichner and learning her embroidery techniques for embellishing applique. So many options from so many talented artists. Always learning and improving.  That’s my goal.

In the meantime there’s a world outside of my sewing room.  I know, hard to believe isn’t it. Having to get a new set of tires installed this a.m.; do the weekly house cleaning (yuck)  No one will ever say about me in 100 years (she was an excellent housekeeper) but they just might say what a great quilter I was.  Now that’s a goal worth going for. Teehee!!!!

 

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Okay, I meant to get the aforementioned posted but did not get around to taking any photos while I was working away on the Bed of Roses Blocks.  As time kept getting away from me to get those photos, I have now completed all the blocks, corners and set in blocks. Happy Dance! 

I get up early in the morning, usually around 5 a.m. ,  to spend quality time in my sewing room because when I get home at night, many times my eyes are tired from looking at a computer screen all day and am not comfortable trying to do handwork.  So this morning I read the instructions like 3 times on how to trim the set in blocks and the corner triangles for Bed of Roses. It is so slick. I just love how she thought of doing it this way. It really takes out all problems with the bias losing its shape.  Love, Love, Love this technique and will definitely use it again. So I have all the set in triangles ready, the corner triangles ready, I have cut the sashing strips and tiny connecting squares. I have only gotten 1 block trimmed to 15 ½”. I am hoping to get the rest done maybe tonight after supper.  Depends on how tired my eyes are. Then it’s construction time and I am ahead of schedule. I am beyond excited to see this top sewn together. It has been in pieces for 1 ½ years now. Another quilt to check off my UFO/Bucket List. Oh, what a feeling.

Getting reacquainted with my sewing machine after spending months doing hand work.   Note to self.. Oil machine..  I can’t remember when I last oiled it.  I usually oil it after 2 bobbin refills.  Can’t remember if I’m on lst or 2nd bobbin.   I’ve been doing handwork for so long, poor baby feels neglected.

Why is it when I am closing in on the finish line of a project,  I start planning the next project and those ideas are rattling around in my head.  Of course it has to be a Sue Garman pattern . I have such a girl crush on her! So very talented.

Sue’s Technique:

Cut freezer paper 15” square. ( My applique blocks are 15”)  Cut this in half diagonally. Center on top of appliqued block halves.  Sew ⅛” from edge of freezer paper on bias side. Then trim cutting ¼” from edge of freezer paper.  Voila! Perfect inset triangle! Repeat for corner triangles except cut in ½ diagonally in both directions.

You can use this technique for any size set in triangle.  Just cut the freezer paper the size of the finished blocks that will be on point.  Awesome technique!

Just a thought….. Why is my stash not getting any smaller?   I am finishing projects but my shelves are still full of fabric.  I think it multiplies while I am sleeping.

 

Happy Stitches.

Sissy Malone

A Very Productive September

September rolled through quickly or did I just imagine it.  Fast paced but still a productive month. I started off focusing on Sue Garman’s Bed of Roses of which I got quite a bit accomplished. Pat on the back.   Blocks 7 and 8 are appliqued, one border strip appliqued and one set-in block appliqued. All have been hand washed, pressed and hanging waiting to be put together in a quilt.   Whew, are my fingers tired and sore. The quilt is coming together nicely. The goal is getting her to the quilter January 2019.

I had a staycation in September.   My routine consisted of sewing room time from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and then outside to tackle procrastinated tasks that were starting to haunt me.  I worked on clearing out the garage. It’s really a 24 x 32 building that’s more of a shop that I have used as storage. (The building’s not mine, I wish it was.  I would have procrastinated longer.) I had a bonfire 4 nights running. I live in the country and am able to have those nice soothing evening bonfires to relax those tired muscles from lifting and going through boxes that had not been opened in 10 years.  Those boxes were the last vestiges of my former married life and the only thing going through my mind as I was sorting through everything was, “What in the world was I thinking, why did I hang onto that?” So onto the bonfire it went. Very cathartic.

I also got my she-shed storage building organized. What a job that turned out to be.  More lifting and using those muscles again. The shed has a loft, great for storage. My sister gave me a set of metal shelves and we put them together.  I was so sure there was no way they would fit through the doorway once we had assembled them, but, I was wrong and it went right through. Those shelves hold tubs.  Yea!!!! I also put away the deck furniture for the season. Brought in the plants that will spend the winter in the spare bedroom and spare bathroom. The process of bringing in the plants, organizing them, and repotting some of them burned up a good 6 hours.

 

By Friday, I said ENOUGH and proclaimed the rest of my staycation was going to be anything I wanted except anything that might involve physical labor.   I was actually thankful to go back to work. I’m not used to all the physical labor and my body was starting to rebel.

 

September was also the month for the Ozark Piecemakers Quilt Guild Show in Springfield, MO.  I entered my A Boy and A Girl pattern quilt by Kim McClean. I did not ribbon, but I got some very good constructive criticism which I will take to heart.  I also got to meet several people who share my same interests. Isn’t it awesome that total strangers can have a comfortable dialog just because of one shared interest? Now that the show season for me has come to a close, it is time to get back into the sewing room.  

First off I do have to state that it is unseasonably warm and does not really feel like October should feel like.  It’s supposed to be cool and rainy. It’s upper 80’s and into 90’s and sunshine. Summer still in full swing here. Will it never end?  Wining done. So, October goals : Month 2 of Afternoon Delight, Block 9 and Block 10 of Bed of Roses are at the top of the list. That should keep me pretty busy.  If time allows I will be doing a quilt along of Angela’s from Quilting is My Therapy. I need to practice some more and with each practice session, I am getting more and more comfortable machine quilting.    When I become complacent about tackling my own quilting jobs, I have to remind myself that is why I bought my Bernina so I could learn to short-arm quilt. It’s awfully easy to just deliver them to Vickie.  I mean she does a wonderful job and it frees my time for applique and machine piecing tops.

I think it might be time for me to spend some time piecing a quilt top.  I am hearing the siren call of instant gratification. I have been doing so much handwork these last couple of years that I feel the tug to sit at the sewing machine again.   I did put a list together of 20 quilts (I know just 20) that need to be completed. My lists keep me going. I just love’m.

My motto for October, no new home projects til next year!!  Only sewing room quality time. Would someone tell my sister for me, no new projects.  🙂

 

Happy Stitches.

Sissy Malone

Another UFO down

one more UFO done.  🙂  Lists work!  If it’s on the list, it gets done.  I know I’m a geek but it works for me.

This was a BOM that I purchased around 2001/2002.  It’s a Marti Mitchell design.  This photo is terrible.  It is mostly yellow and green with a little blue and dark magenta thrown in for balance.  The kit did not include the binding.    I will be taking a swatch of the outside border with me to the quilt shop to see if I can find something to match it and look for considerations for backings.   There was no room for error in this BOM.   You got exactly the amount of fabric that you needed, no more, no less.   Personally, I need that fudge factor.  I am an early morning sewing room person and sometimes my coffee has not finished filling my veins with go juice when (silly me) attempts cutting.   So, I admit, I do from time to time make colossal cutting mistakes.   After I had completed the first month I noticed right away there was NO extra fabric.  Sometimes that jinxes me.  But I made it through this one only by being very careful with my cutting.   Now the search is on for backing fabric and binding fabric.  Then off to Vicky  it goes for quilting.   Can’t decide who is going to be getting this one.  

I have now chosen the next UFO to tackle.   It is called Cat Nap and it is a pattern that was published in Quiltmaker Magazine May/June ’02 issue.  It’s a baby quilt and hopefully won’t take too long to finish.  This one I will quilt myself.

Now that my September list is all caught up I am ready to start on one of the borders for my A Boy and A Girl Quilt.  I think I will work on the right hand side. I have given myself 2 weeks to get it prepped.  Woohooo.  No pressure.

I have been staying on top of Jen Kingwell’s Long Time Gone and have completed all 7 months of that BOM.  Anxiously awaiting # 8.

I have prepped months 1 & 2 of Sue Garman’s Bed of Roses.  I work on the hand applique on my lunch time so maybe this one will be completed in a year.   It is nicely portable.  Just one block already prepped and matching thread doesn’t take up much room in the tote.

I have discovered 60 weight cotton embroidery thread.  It is as nice as silk thread to work with and slides through the fabric like butter.  And to top it off it blends in beautifully and becomes invisible.  Now it doesn’t get any better than that.

I have just received Month 3 but it is not on the calendar to prep until October.   Besides, I am still doing the handwork on Month 1.  Wouldn’t dream of getting ahead of myself.

Happy Stitches Everyone

Sissy Malone

9696

 

In a Snap….. Not So Much.

UFO work continues.  Believe it or not I am still working on January’s to do list.  Arghhhh.  I just can’t seem to put a realistic time from  on my hand applique work.  I always seem to underestimate just how long it will take.   That in its self is a work in progress.  So to see what I did get accomplished I did finish piecing the 2016 Saturday Sampler quilt top and got it delivered to Vickie for quilting.   Big round of applause and I take my bow.  That also took more time than I had anticipated.  Those pesky log cabin blocks were a challenge and approached differently than I had previously made them.  P.S.  I like my way better.  But at least I tried something new and different.   

The cute woodland baby quilt got finished and I delivered it.

I finished block 6 of the Boy  & Girl quilt

I am now no longer procrastinating on the yellow and green quilt.  I am actually working on month 5.  I thought once I got the set in y seam sections added it would be a breeze.  Not so much.  I forgot I had to make the bias strips for the corner ribbons and make like 50 stars and applique them all on.  that is what I am working on now.

Then there is Block 7 of a Boy and a Girl quilt to prep and applique which will complete January’s to do list.  Not bad considering today is March 5th.  I’m on it though.

Went to Saturday Sampler yesterday saw more beautiful fabrics and quilts to inspire me.  I truly believe I need to be in fabrics anonymous because I see beautiful fabric and greed takes over and I just want it.   It doesn’t matter that I have a room full of beautiful fabric it seems I just want more.  Feed the beast!  Anyway, I controlled my self and didn’t buy any new fabric just touched it a bit.  I didn’t even drool on it.    Although I have to admit, reluctantly, I did purchase 2 yards Friday and the quilt shop in Rolla when I was there working.  They were pieces that would work well in the Friends of Baltimore quilt that is on my list for next year.  I’m currently collecting fabrics for that project.

I have a muse.  I drive by this adorable barn everyday on my way to work and I fantasize about converting this into living quarters with a quilting studio on top.  I know it crazy, but it’s fun to think about.  Isn’t it wonderful.  I know, I’m crazy.

Happy March everyone.  I’m heading back into my sewing room to work on ribbons and stars.

Sissy

 

 

Winter Weather Advisory :(

Here we go again.  Winter Weather Advisory for 1/4 to 1/2″ ice storm.  The experts are already comparing this storm to the 2007 ice storm in this area.

I did not have power for 8 days.  Yikes what a nightmare that was.  I remember standing in the front yard and listening to trees crash in the woods.  Devastation was everywhere.  I also remember being able to see for miles due to tree tops no longer there.   This is just crazy because last Saturday it was – 2 degrees here when I went to Saturday Sampler.  Yesterday it was 73 degrees.  What a yo-yo.  Scary.  The good news is I had already planned on taking Friday and Monday off work for vacation days.  I had planned on spending that time in my sewing room.  Now I am concerned I won’t have electricity.  I have got to get my hand work ready to go or cutting the strips for 2016 Saturday Sampler.  I would have thought I would have been better prepared but it seems not so much.  Isn’t it amazing how much we rely on our conveniences, like electricity. 🙂  I certainly take them for granted.

So much for grousing about the weather.  This is what is under my needle right now…..

I finished hand appliqueing the 7 Sisters block, the last block for the 2016 Saturday Sampler.  I can now start setting that quilt top together so it does not become a UFO.  

I have a baby quilt for a friend to make this month.  The panels I ordered have arrived.  They are quite larger than I had anticipated so I am rethinking how I had planned on putting them together.  The back ground fabric I ordered did not disappoint.  It was exactly what I wanted.  Hopefully I will keep electricity and can blissfully sew while the weather is doing its thing.

Lastly,  there was an awesome full moon last night.  My camera is a good one but I do not know how to take nighttime photos, so here is the best I can do.  That little  white dot is the full moon that was beautiful.  The broken limb on the oak tree is a remnant of the ice storm from 2007.

Unfortunately, I have not gotten the next 2 blocks of A Boy and A Girl prepped.  Can’t get to that until 2016 Sat Sampler is completed and Baby Quilt completed.  Let’s pray that this predicted storm is not so severe.

Be safe everyone and happy stitches.

Sissy

P.S.  I have been saddened this week with the passing of Sue Garman.  I so admired her work and the quilt patterns she designed.  I did finish one of her patterns Autumn Joy and plan on beginning my journey into the Baltimore Album realm in January 2018 with her pattern Friends of Baltimore.  Rest in peace we will miss you dearly.

 

 

 

Reviewed – Satisfied- Looking Forward

I have reviewed my work for 2016.  I admit to straying from my list of goals with profound satisfaction.  No regrets!  I got started on my A Boy and A Girl BOM and am thoroughly enjoying  myself in each step of the process  of each block.

I am satisfied with the projects I completed this year.  I have learned to set realistic goals.  No more pie in the sky.  I ask myself, is this doable, if not, scale back expectations.

Now, I am looking forward to 2017 with my eye on finishing more old UFO’s and my beloved A Boy and A Girl BOM.

My year in photos:

 

And also a round of applause for my helpers.  They kept urging me on when I stumbled.

Happy New Year everyone.  My wish is that everyone’s hopes and dreams come true in 2017.

I am finishing up 2016 by cleaning and organizing my sewing room so I can start the new year in an inspiring place.  Fingers crossed I get it completed today.  Sadly, there is much work to be done.  🙂 But what a wonderful day to be able to spend it in my happy place.

Happy Stitches.

Sissy

 

 

High Hopes

I’m on a roll.  I finished prepping Block # 4.

I belong to a Hand Applique Group on Facebook and posted a photo of WIP of this block.  I had a question asked how I placed my pieces so I decided to illustrate in photos a step by step.

The squares for this pattern are cut 24″ and will later be trimmed to 20.5″.  I place my ruler along one side and mark 12″ from the edge with a water soluable pen.  I then rotate the block 90 degrees and do the same.  I then take it to my sewing machine and using a 4.0 stitch length stitch the lines.  This creates a center placement guide

I tape my pattern to my light box  Right Side Up.

Then using my stiching lines I match them to the pattern centering lines and tape my background fabric to my light box.

I then trace the pattern to my block background using a blue water soluable pen.

I generally reverse the pattern on the light box and trace my patterns on my freezer paper with the dull side up on the freezer paper.  Some people just leave the pattern Right Side Up and trace their pattern with the shiny side of the freezer paper up.  Either way works just fine.  I typically iron a second layer of freezer paper to my traced patterns for more stability.

Then the fun begins…. cutting out all those patterns.

And then I find out I had a senior moment while tracing.  I have 2 number 40’s and no number 22.  Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Progress so far..

I have to put away my play things right now and get ready to head to Branson, MO to see the theatrical production of Moses.  I have been so looking forward to seeing this.

Happy Stitches Everyone

Sissy

Is it Really September 24th?

Where has the year gone?  We are almost 3/4ths thru the year and I am miserably behind on my UFO list.  The good news is I keep plugging away and eventually something gets removed from the list.  Just not as quickly as I had hoped this year but progress non the less.

I have been concentrating on A Boy and A Girl by Kim McLean.  I am still hand appliqueing the blocks.  Lots of thread changing.  Beautifully printed fabrics require me to change the thread in my needle often as seen below.  But the end result is very satisfying.

Not sure how much I’ll get done today I still have yard work to finish but I’m hoping to wrap up Block # 2 by the end of the month so I can start # 3 for October.  I really like working on this quilt.

I did get my Saturday Sampler Block finished and am good to go for our meeting October 1st.   The UFO Basket quilt has been relegated to the back burner as I am frustrated with it. I have gotten 6 blocks completed so I am not going to beat myself up over shoving it aside.  The blocks are still hanging on the design wall a constant reminder of “Hey, I’m still here, patiently waiting to be completed”.  I’ll get there just not today.

Happy stitches everyone!

Sissy