Oh Geez, it's my BIRTHDAY!

My blog is one year old!!  It really sneaked up on me!  I'm going on a give-away hunt today to find something fun for YOU to celebrate!  Be sure to check out my next post for a chance to win!

I can't believe it has been a whole year.  I still feel as dumb about blogging "how to's" - I'd rather sew than try and figure out more ideas for making my site look nice.  Thank you for visiting me anyway!

I've been working with no rules for a few days...not easy for me.  I'm trying to put a top together from my fabulous "liberated lady" swap blocks, my liberated doggie and tree blocks, and a tub of small to medium scale floral fabrics.  My friend Jonesy made most of us witches, and that is the focus for my quilt.  My daughter loves "The Wizard of Oz" and "Wicked," so I thought I would finish it along that theme.  Here's the mess that is currently hanging on my design wall (mess in a GOOD way)...   :o)

I'm still in the process of adding strips, making liberated tree spacers where needed, and moving ladies around. 

After the center is together, I am going to free-piece words (a la Tonya of Lazy Gal Quilting) that will say "I'll get you my pretties...and your little dogs, too!"

Things can get pretty nutty going from the wall to the sewing machine, so I thought I would share my SECRET LABELING WEAPON with you.  I take leftover scraps of FREEZER PAPER, cut them into squares, and label them with row and block number (or other info), then press them to the block or chunk of pieced mess.  (I temporarily press them to something else, then peel them off when I am really to use them.)

I like this better than pins, clips, or other bulky row markers that are available commercially.  I don't have to move them before pressing or sewing, they add no weight, and when I am finished, I just peel them off and throw them away.  It's the best way I have found to reduce piecing errors.

I also use this method to label swap blocks with my name or other info.

Or better YET, I use this to label pieces of blocks or kits in case I set a project aside and FORGET what fabric goes WHERE!  (which happens to me a lot...)  I used to use painters masking tape or trust my old brain (big mistake these days...) and freezer paper leaves no residue and keeps me from banging my head against my sewing machine as I try and remember things (or use a seam ripper, God forbid!).

So have fun sewing, and try my method using freezer paper...I sure am glad some butcher somewhere came up with this fabulous stuff!!

In stitches,

Teresa  :o)

Momentary slices of handwork - introducing the "magic box..."

Just when I think I'm nuts to work on hand-appliqued projects because someone once said that "handwork takes too long," I find that there are lots of small slices of free time in my life when I can do a few stitches at a time.  My problem seems to be finding bigger chunks of time to sit in front of my sewing machine, with the iron turned on and containers of fabric opened, spread out and ready for action.

At this point in my life, I seem to have more slices than chunks.

When I saw people working on these fun little baskets over the last year in blogland, I knew this kind of project would be perfect for my "magic box."  I spent a few slices of time cutting out freezer paper patterns and some background squares.  Then, in another few slices of time, I ironed the handle and basket patterns to some chunks of fabric and placed them in my magic box, a recycled, paper-covered gift box, along with some scissors (the box belonged to a family member, Betty, who passed away recently...I think of her when I open it to work).

As I went to meetings or while waiting in the car to pick up my daughter, I would open my box and in these stolen moments I would cut out the fabric/patterns.  Upon being at home again, I took the big scissors out of my box and added a small plexiglass ruler, a glue stick, and my stiletto.  Then in other stolen moments away from home, I would glue edges to get ready for applique.  I would peel off the freezer paper and save it to iron on the next set of fabric chunks at another time.  Then I would remove the glue stick, etc. from my magic box, then add the Roxanne's glue baste bottle.  The next time I had a slice of time, it was filled with glue basting little shapes to backgrounds

Then, the tools in the box shifted to thread, a needle, a thimble and small snips.  I think you are getting the picture.  My magic box is always ready to grab and run out of the door with the next step of the process ready when I get a second or two.  I find I can stitch a basket down in 10-15 minutes.  I usually can do one every morning while I drink my tea after my daughter leaves for the schoolbus at 7:00 AM.

I really believe in this concept, and because I also subscribe to the "multiple projects" view of quilting, I have many versions of the magic box.  This little box was "borrowed" (stolen) from my daughter.  It contains my little 3-inch spool project, filled with pieces, thread, needle and snips, ready to walk out the door with me.

This old funky purse of my Mom's contains a stitchery project that I am currently working on.

Choose a magic box, put a project in it, and make a stitch or two every time you have a stolen moment.  Before you know it, stitch by stitch, you will have something very precious.

In stitches,

Teresa  :o)

Liberated doggies...

These are my first 3 attempts at some liberated pooches to go with my liberated ladies.  This is my hot dog.  I also tried a tan dog with pointy ears, from behind.   DH thinks it looks like a giant version of Weaseley, our wonder cat.  Whatever.

DH and daughter were more supportive of my Toto dog...

Since one of my liberated ladies was a witch (thank you, Jonesy!!) and my daughter loves "The Wizard of Oz" and the musical "Wicked," I've come up with a plan. 

I have ended up with extra liberated ladies, so I need several more doggie companions for my plan to work.   After more dogs, I will finish some Tonya words/phrase for the border.  Here is my original portion of swapped ladies.  I now have over twice this many (oh, the generous nature of quilting friends!).

Stay tuned!

In stitches,

Teresa  :o)

The "dark and skeery woods"...

Despite too much working in the yard this week spreading mulch, moving rock, trimming tree limbs, and weeding, here is block #5 of "All Around the Town."  It is the bottom right corner of the quilt, so I will show it in two different orientations.

These houses were smaller and quicker (almost look like outhouses or Grandpa's "hut" from "Chitty-Chitty, Bang-Bang").  Now on with block #5 - the "Good as Gold" house.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day!

In stitches,

Teresa  :o)

Whale watching, anyone?

My mojo may have found it's way back home.  It's been hard to focus on a project (or really projects...I have quilt A.D.D.) since finishing the "bride."  I've been going through withdrawal, or something like that.  I have finally finished the first 3 blocks of "All Around the Block," an older BOM by Sue Garmon that I purchased online from Quakertown Quilts.

Block #1 above features a whale weathervaneon the roof, which is a little bizarre, but right up my alley for those who know me...the quirkier the better!  The pattern didn't give the whale an eye, but he looks a little blind and lost to me...may need a French knot.  All the blocks are hand appliqued, and the little green "hills/yards" will overlap the blocks on either side when they are assembled.  Here comes block #2 (it looks a little weird on the left side without the adjacent block's overlapping hill).  I had some pirate fabric, so I had to add a Jolly Roger flag to the "Eulean" - get it?  "You lean?"  Good name for a sailboat!  It's a corner block - it looks a little strange by itself...like a big, grassy wave is about to crash over the stern!



Block #3 was just a housing project.  Eventually, there are cars, etc. appliqued after the blocks are joined.  I may add some other things in the front yards as well...lawn art (how about a garden gnome?), quilts airing on a line, a dog, flowers, etc.  It definitely needs a little something.

They would definitely look better not photographed on my cutting mat.  My design wall is full of liberated ladies, my first free-pieced words, and a growing number of liberated pooches (I'll share these later!).

Here's a picture of the original pattern - the three blocks I have finished will make up the top right-hand corner.

In stitches,
Teresa   :o)

True confessions of a quilt-a-holic...

"Hi.  My name is Teresa, and I'm a quilt-a-holic." (this is where you would say, "Hi Teresa - welcome!").

If there was a 12-step program for quilters, I would need to be at every meeting - and I would probably take a little hand-sewing with me.  I know people don't take alcohol to AA meetings or Chinese take-out food to Overeaters Anonymous meetings, but I'm so used to taking a little something to keep my fingers engaged when I go to a church, community, school, or other meeting.  (I actually was at an OA meeting once where someone tried to deliver a pizza, as a mistake or a prank...that was WEIRD!)

Maybe there could be a quilter's "Serenity Prayer" - God, grant me the serenity to finish the project I am currently working on, the courage to start a new project, and the wisdom to know the difference.

I love everything about quilting...the fabric, the books, the tools, the patterns, the magazines, the blogs, the bees, the shows, the guilds, the shops, and the quilting friends I've made.  And I love every step of the process of making a quilt.  When I'm not quilting, I'm thinking about a project...when I am quilting, I am thinking about my next project.

When I started many years ago, I learned the process for very unselfish reasons...my grandmother quilted and I wanted to continue the family tradition.  There are still unselfish reasons for doing it, but now I confess that I do it because I've got to!  It feeds my soul and allows me a place where I feel like I can let my inner child run crazy!

So I know I'm not alone...can I get an "Amen!" or an "I hear ya, sister!!" I have to believe this addiction is OK.  It is so soothing and has gotten me through both good and bad times.  I love the idea of making and giving such a warm, loving, creative, and comforting, yet practical gift.  And I love quilts surrounding my family in my house...on walls, on beds, on ladders, actually everywhere.

There.  I feel better.  Confession is good for the soul.  Now to go do some actual sewing!

In stitches,
Teresa  :o)

Have you seen my mojo?

My mojo has gone missing.  It was here in spades while I was zipping through finishing The Civil War Bride quilt last month, but it is DEFINITELY missing now.   I think I broke my creativity bone (usually found right next to the funny bone, in case you are singing through that "the-(this)-bone's-connected-to-the-(that)-bone" song from my childhood). 

I made the ugliest block EVER last night...so hidiously awful that I am not even going to take a picture of it...it would probably melt my camera.  My buddy Ola and I have been dying to start a Sue Garman quilt called "All Around the Town" that we ordered from Quakertown Quilts some time ago.  I was dying to start it while working on the bride, but was a "good girl" and resisted.  Ola knocked out a couple of blocks, so I knew it was time for me to wade in.

This is the quilt pictured on the pattern...

It is cute, cute, cute, but last night's effort was mucho stinko.  Maybe deep down, I know I want to change it just a little (don't I ALWAYS??)  I am going to start over with different fabrics, a different method, and hopefully a different attitude.

I spent a few days getting some scrap piles tamed and fabrics "re-shelved" in their proper bins.  That usually cures the post-project blues, but not this time.  I perused favorite blogs seeking inspiration (there was LOTS there!) and hung out with some quilting ladies, fondled show-and-tells, petted (and purchased!) some fabrics, and fluffed my pattern files.  Still blue. 

Then, one of my quilting book shelves "exploded,' sending collapsed boards and books flying.  That prompted a trip to IKEA for some better, stronger storage.  The IKEA person said that the weight limit per shelf on my old shelving unit was 29 pounds...heck, that can be only 3 good-sized books (especially if one is Barbara Brackman's block encyclopedia and the others have lots and lots of sticky notes sticking out to mark pages with favorite quilts!).  I'm surprised, shocked, and embarrassed that it lasted this long!  Maybe I need to stop buying quilt books...

So, if you see my mojo hanging out near you...thumbing through your quilt library, lurking near your sewing tool drawer, or stuffing your fabric scraps in its pockets, just give it a shove to send it back this way...I miss it!

In stitches,
Teresa  :o)

Finally, too small to keep...

Finally, these little snippets are ready for the garbage.  My friends laugh at me because I save every teensie-tiny, microscopic scrap of fabric...often picking strips and bits of other peoples' discarded fabric out of the garbage at sewing retreats and gleefully accepting others' baggies of scraps (thanks Jonesy - I LOVE 'em!!).

I made these little snippets today while going through some strippy scraps cutting strips and pieces for several future scrappy projects, all at one time.  Raw, strippy scraps go into containers like this...

 

...and I then trim them down to 1.25 in strips, 1.5 in strips, strings, and other little bits of on-going projects...

I cut out some more spool pieces...

...and some background squares for my little basket project, from Blackbird Design's "When the Cold Wind Blows" (I'm finally jumping on the little scrappy basket band wagon - better late than never).

And these little cuties are my portion from our Friday morning group's "Liberated Lady" swap.  I've been cooking up a plan for them involving scrappy strips, "The Wizard of Oz," and some of Tonya's (Lazy Gal Quilting) free-pieced letters and words...stay tuned for THIS one!

You are probably thinking, "man...she's out of control!"  And you would be RIGHT!  I am going through a major funk now that my Civil War Bride is finished.  I was so focused on that project for seven months, and now I am like a rock skipping on the water.  There are so many things I want to be doing.  I've always worked on multiple projects, until the bride.  It has always been useful doing a few things in tandem...especially cutting out scrappy stuff.

Sooo, after getting caught up on scrap maintenance, I am going to piece like crazy!!!  My spools will be my "baggie, on the go" project, the "Liberated Ladies" will be my crazy/creative project, and the baskets will be a little applique project until I pick the next BIG applique project.

In stitches,

Teresa   :o)

The last (I think) of my 2010 Sauder Village pictures...

In stitches,

Teresa  :o)

Baggie project...I'm wading in (better late than never!)...

Well, I'm finally jumping on the spool band wagon...did I spell it right??  I KNOW I pronounced it wrong.  I drafted a pattern tonight and dug right in.  Mine will finish to 3 inches and have a slightly fatter center than the first post I saw about these.  I LOVE to have little pieces in a baggie or little box...since my daughter came off a cranky horse a little over a week ago and badly sprained an ankle, I have been stuck waiting places for her with no tiny project.  I've got a few cut out from scraps so I'm ready for action.  I've got a lot to do to catch up with the rest of you!

In stitches,

Teresa   :o)