Paper Piecing Symposium

First I chose a 'pattern' from Carol Doak's book entitled: "Easy Paper Piecing Patterns". Then I traced over the pattern directly from the book: line by line onto the tracing paper. I used the pattern at 100% of it's original size. Then I number my traced pattern with the order of the pieces to be sewn (which is all outlined in the instructions in the book.) After that it's a matter of sewing the fabrics -- right sides together of course, DIRECTLY to the pattern. Follow the numbers, like a paint by number project...... trimming away any excess fabric as you go along and pressing each seam 'open' as you proceed. When you're all done, you've got a wonderfully precise square with amazing angles and points. Have I mentioned that I'm wild about paper piecing??

Two "Down" -- One to Go!!

Here's a look, as the second wall-hanging begins to be 'finished' with it's polka-dot borders. The final picture has both of the friends together, just draped over their IKEA frames. I want to create the third in the triptych, before I do a bit of machine quilting on each. (That requires a bit of ingenuity in switching out the sewing foot.... so I don't want to switch more than necessary.) Then it will be time to rev up the staple gun. My goal is to have them -- all 3, hanging on the wall before we fly out, this Saturday morning.

Optimistic certainly, but a worthy target to aim towards.

One Day Project # 8

Yesterday I went up to our community clubhouse for my initial entrance into the Tues. afternoon quilter's group. I was delighted to find a half-dozen gals all sharing their projects and enthusiasm. They unlocked the cupboards and we had 'show-n-tell' so that I could see the numerous projects that they've created together -- for donation to a variety of charitable organizations. Wow. How do you spell impressive? Lots of seasonal wall-hangings & a number of crib sized creations, too..... some are for donation, other's to be sold with the funds being donated.

The best news is that there is a lovely library with a huge stash of quilting magazines and quite a few quilting books, which are available for loan! Yeeee Ha!!

In our quick dash outta OH I got my sewing machine & fabrics into the car, but neglected to bring any of my books. I borrowed a wonderful book filled with paper-piecing-patterns and came home and immediately got to work. The 'focal diamond' is from a pattern in Paula Doak's book and jiffed together fairly straight-forwardly. (I just had to remember how to follow a pattern. LOL.)

The last picture is of the two major segments, just plopped into their IKEA frame.

Valentine's Day Prom Pics

Here's our Happy Valentine's Day Prom pictures. It was sooooooooooo much fun. Disc jockey. Electric slide. Plenty of fast-swing numbers (tho no Cha-Cha) and even a cake-walk dance -- where everyone ended up being a winner! It got seriously warm with all of the dancin' going on! The first picture is our "table" posing happily...... from left: Dave & Linda (we had Elkhart & Clyde stories to share) then comes Bob & Janet (who made THE most amazing array of chocolates I've ever seen -- including hand-dipped strawberries, manderin oranges & bananas, tho it was her 'turtles' that were works of art..... and yes she'd placed the whole tray right in front of us!) then comes Bob & Jean who were on the committee to get all of the food together for the crowd & went to fetch extension cords to make it all work, smiling us who were happy to get tickets at the last minute, and last-but-not-least Aaron & Diane: transplants from NY.

Already Up on the Wall

With the drill in hand we were able to get the new little smile maker into it's permanent spot before dark! Now it's time to go get cleaned up for tonight's Valentine's Day dance up at the clubhouse. I've got some new pantyhose, so I'm ready to go...... strut our stuff. I wonder if we'll get to cha-cha??

One Day Project #7

Raw ingrediants: one black IKEA photo collage spider-web, 15 brilliantly colored napkin rings from Bed, Bath & Beyond and lots of thread from my mom's house...... oh, and a needle to strap said rings onto those little whirlie circles. This little conversion took more patience than you might have expected. The thread very easily got wound around the whirlie circles, especially at the beginning when getting started with lots of thread. But persistence is my middle name -- With cheering from my extended family the mission was accomplished. The only thing remaining is to affix it to the wall in question. The last photo was taken against the pink nappie-blanket for night time cuddling. Whoooohooooo.

Company at our HOUSE!!

My mom & dad came over to spend the night at our new little place. Mom was so clever & such a good planner that she brought the perfect top to wear in our bedroom. We're thinking about submitting the first photo above to IKEA for use by their PR firm. I think it would make an incredible ad. "Get happy in your IKEA home." Or how about, "Every GREAT-grandmother's idea of GREAT curtains." .......... that sort of thing, feel free to write your own caption.

I'd also like to document that I prepared all three meals of the day. This is the first time in recorded history that I have contributed such a monumental effort -- and quite possibly the last time as well. Let it be known hence-forth, that it happened on Thurs. Feb. 12th of 2009. I have witnesses!