A new adventure...

A new JOB!

Tomorrow I will head out for training for a new job!

The past month has been crazy with many interviews and quite a few job offers.

I made a decision two weeks ago and this past week it all came together and

I can now reveal the NEW JOB!

Store Manager, Joann Fabric and Crafts, Holbrook, NY

FIND ME HERE!!!

Training will take me out of town for 2 weeks and then more local for 2 additional weeks.

Personally, I cannot wait to actually get to the store and dig in!

Being a creative person (very crafty) that has participated in many crafts this job is right up my alley.

I have to admit that I have put my all into every job I have had over the years:

Sears Roebuck and Company

Smithtown Library System

Independent Nail Technician

Craft Show Vendor

Calico n Lace - shop owner

Amy's Beauty Salon

Ben Franklin Crafts

Harry and David

Pieceful Quilting

LOVED EVERY ONE OF THEM!!!

And now, I  move on to another job adventure!

Hope to see you at the store if you live in the area.

Keep on sewing...I know that I will!
Colleen

Vacation is over!

Today it's time to head back to work.
Hubby and I had a wonderful 10 days together doing a lot of visiting with relatives.

First we took off to Maryland to visit with the gang down there.
Our granddaughter is now 17 months old and so much fun to be around.
She has a great little personality and lots of love to give.

Most of our time there was spent just hanging around the house watching kiddie shows, movies and
baseball games.  We did watch the US win the World Cup and that was fun.
Since it was US vs. Japan we celebrated by having Japanese for dinner and then a
delicious dessert of Angel Food Cake, Vanilla Ice Cream with Strawberries and Blueberries.
We were all cheering for the US and it paid off!

Then we came home for a quick turn around to Connecticut to visit family there!  Good times!
Lots of sitting around the kitchen table reminiscing about days gone by and planning a future trip
to Okinawa.  Again, a lot of baseball and movies on the TV.

My husband did ALL of the driving and I did my job of keeping him awake at the wheel, controlling the music and stitching!
I worked on the start of a Grandmother's Flower Garden English Paper Pieced project.

At this point I am not certain of what layout I will be using but I am enjoying the hand stitching process very much.  I have quickly become addicted to this.  One of the great things about a project like this is how compact and easy it is to travel with.  I stitched in the car, on the boat, watching TV, at the kitchen table...fun, fun, fun!

I also had a fantastic day of sewing with friends and completed 10 more Log Cabin blocks for my grandson's quilt.  Only 12 more of these large blocks to go and then I need to make 16 of the small 7" blocks.  I didn't think it was possible but I am running out of the original blues I had cut.  Time to hit up the stash again and cut up some more.  This isn't the layout that I have planned (you can see that in a previous post).  

Since I mentioned movies and that we watched a lot of them this week, here's a list of which ones we enjoyed (I must admit that I didn't really enjoy ALL of them because blood and guts is not my favorite, but I persevered):

Fury, 47 Ronin, Kingsman, Mad Max Fury Road, Paul Blart Mall Cop 2, Million Dollar Arm, Jersey Boys, and The Age of Adaline.

Like I said, we watched a lot of movies, from super gory to super funny and everything in between.  

All in all, it was a relaxing and fun-filled vacation!

Now, back to reality and some sewing,

Colleen

 

Making Progress!

Yesterday was a day off from working at Pieceful Quilting so it was the perfect day to continue working on my sewing space!
Like the title of the post states...making progress...with a lot more work to go.

Late last night the new Sashiko machine made it's way out of the box and onto the table in the center.  Now to study the Instruction Manual and see what amazing things can be done with this machine.
Meanwhile, Lady Tiara is the most fun of all!
Hopefully, the table in the left corner will be switched out soon for a desk we have in the guest room downstairs.  It will fit better and provide a little more storage.
I am hoping to hang more of my smaller quilts on the wall above the Lady.
Then I can look at them for inspiration.
This is a very tiny space that's about 10' X 12' so I need to be very creative in here!!!  LOL ~ don't we all!
For the other half of the room...more progress needs to be made on that so stayed tuned.

For now...Happy Stitching,
Colleen

P.S. ~ Just wanted to mention those amazing curtains.  My daughter made them and I just love them!

Some more fun on Lady Tiara...

Last night was a good night to play on Lady Tiara.
A facebook friend posted a video using a straight line ruler quilting inside a triangle so I decided to give it a try.
Here are the pics from that little practice session.

First I traced three triangles onto the practice square.

Then stitched at it!

This was fun and fairly easy.  The friend who posted the video stated that this was a very good design to practice ruler work and she was right.  This session really made me focus on holding the ruler, finding your stopping point and speed.

The first triangle was a little too large.  When doing the first couple of 'rounds' (calling them that for lack of a better term for it) the bottom of the fabric that needed to align with the ruler was off the table so I had to fiddle with that.  So the solution was to divide the next triangle into four smaller ones.

I like the look of both.

Now there is a Pyramid Quilt or a quilt with triangles in my future.

Hey, I wonder if there is one in my large pile of quilt tops waiting to be quilted?

Better check that out before starting another one!  LOL!

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful quilting Moms out there!

Happy Stitching,

Colleen

MQX Quilt Festival - East

Last week I hopped in the car with a couple of my quilting besties and we traveled to Manchester, New Hampshire for the MQX Quilt Festival - East!
All I can say is...once again we had a fantastic time; great friends, great classes, great quilts, great vendors, great new quilters to meet!
BTW - it's also great to be home again; missed my husband, missed our kind of water, missed my bed, and so on!

I took a total of 4 hands on classes and one lecture. Two of the classes were for free motion quilting and the other two were piecing classes.

To be honest, I have taken a number of free motion classes and think it is a good idea to learn from a variety of teachers.  Everyone has their own technique and style, you can glean from each hands on or lecture what works for you.  Then you practice, practice, practice.  That IS the one thing every teacher has in common, PRACTICE.  This year I took a class with Andrea Brokenshire and a class with Leah Day.  Both ladies were a delight to spend 4 hours with and they both had a lot to share in the way of free motion quilting.

Yesterday I practiced a design called Paisley.  My personal goal is to practice for 15-30 minutes per day on my new Baby Lock Tiara.  Yup, I am now the proud owner of a Tiara and I am loving it.  I haven't quilted any quilt tops yet on the one at home but I have quilted a number of sample quilts already for the shop on the Tiara floor model.
So happy and thankful to now have one at home.  I am adding a page at the top of this blog to journal my free motion quilting practice and invite you to follow along as I find out what works for me.

The class with the ladies from Sew Kind of Wonderful (http://sewkindofwonderful.com/) was a lot of fun.
We used their Quick Curve Ruler with the Chic Kisses Pattern.  My original plan was to do this with the fabrics in my Civil War Repro stash but since the class was to only make one block I used a few fabrics from my 30's Repro stash.

Cute block!  This is one that I will be doing again and again I think.  The block is fairly large (@23x23) so it will pull together into a large quilt.  This sample will be a table topper for summer after I quilt it.

That brings me to the lecture I went to at the show.  The same ladies gave a lecture on using their QCR Sidekick Longarm Ruler.  This ruler has curves that follow the curves made in your blocks using the QCR.  Lots to learn.  Picked up the ruler set and will need to practice A LOT before quilting this. I will add some of the ruler work photos to my free motion page when I get around to this practice.

Happy Stitching (and practicing),
Colleen

To Steam or Not to Steam...

Yup, that is the question!

Do you steam when you are pressing your quilts?

Some instructors say 'never, never, ever use steam' and others say 'steam as you need to' and yet others say 'steam everything'.

You can see why this is confusing.

This has been asked of me a lot in the past few weeks so I thought I would share what works for me (and might or might not work for you).  I also asked my quilting buddies for their opinions on this issue and in most cases we all treat our pressing task in similar fashion.

The first thing I want to say is...NEVER SAY NEVER!

You really have to do what works for you.

Now, I know the question is actually about 'how do I press when I am piecing?'.

First off, one of the most important parts to this is to actually PRESS not IRON!

Almost everyone is in agreement on this.
I did read and article recently and the author stated that she finds no difference between 'pressing' and 'ironing'.

The only time I iron my fabric is when I am first preparing for cutting.

At this time I tend to STEAM and IRON.

Sometimes those creases can be real hard to get out and you need to work at them.

Steaming and ironing is the only way I have found that it works!

When it comes to pressing after stitching a seam my approach is:

*Set the seam by pressing it for a few seconds

*Gently open the unit and press again for a few seconds

*If I feel I want a sharper looking seam...then I hit it with the steam

* I DO NOT pull and tug on the fabric...especially HST's and anything with a bias edge

Honestly, some fabrics press better than others.  If it looks nice and 'finished' to my eye after a good press I leave it...if not I hit it with the steam.

After I piece all my units and assemble a block I will give it a quick, good press with steam and a spray sizing or starch. 

Once my quilt is pieced and assembled I give it a really good pressing...front and back.

At this point I usually steam press AND use a spray sizing or starch.

This prepares it for quilting.

So that is what I do...you have to find your own solution and see what works for you.

Happy Steaming!
Colleen

Red, White and BRIGHT!

The Hunter Star Red and White quilt needs another border and then it is ready to quilt.

This will be a class I will teach at the LQS in August so that will have to wait.

Last night I cut strips for a red outer border only to discover

under the light of the sewing machine that they

are definitely two different reds.

I will add the last border when I get the time but for now...

...we look like this!

So, that's the red and white...

...now for the BRIGHT.

Here is what is on my cutting board tonight.

This is for a class being taught by my good friend Alice.

The second half of the class is a week from Tuesday

so I have to complete the strip sets and cut the block units.

The quilt is from the book "Bargello with a Twist"

and will be very pretty, and very bright.

A little out of my comfort level as far as colors go but

I am really looking forward to seeing how it looks when it is done.

Happy Stitching,

Colleen

Seeing Red and White...

FINALLY!

That's right...I finally have some progress in the works on a 

Red and White Hunter's Star Wall Hanging

that I have been working on.

Pulled it out yesterday and finished half of the units

for the 16 blocks needed.

All the other piecing is complete...

I just need to assemble the units and put this puppy together!

Here's a look at the design wall so far...

This is my 'nod' to the Red and White show from last year.

I didn't get to attend but was awestruck by the many 

photos of the amazing quilts.

Have you done a Red and White quilt?

Happy Stitching,

Colleen

A Great Quilt Show

As mentioned in a previous post, the ELIQG Show was this past weekend.

The show was wonderful and all the quilts were simply amazing.

I entered my son's wedding quilt into the show.  This was the first time for me entering a quilt.

Here she is hanging in all her glory. (Finally a better picture of this quilt)

I never expected to win a ribbon.  That isn't why I entered the show.

A group of ladies decided last year that we would all enter a quilt this year.

Well, 3 of us did (out of about 12).

All three won ribbons.

My quilt won three ribbons:

Third Place in Large Duet

Judge's Merit for Piecing

A Vendor's Choice

That's kind of neat.  It was also very nice to see your quilt hanging gallery style 

alongside many other amazing quilts.

I really have to thank my friend Debbie (Divine Quilting) for the most amazing quilting 

she did for me on this quilt.

I adore it and so does my son and his wife.

Now that the show is over I can finally let them take this quilt home with them so they can enjoy it.

Will I enter a quilt in a show again?

Probably!

Happy Sewing,

Colleen

I'm Back!

I cannot believe it is June 1st already.  Where does the time fly too anyway?

I have been so out of the loop the past few weeks but I need to get back on track with everything.

My daughter and grandson were here for 9 sleeps...and Pop and Nan need 9 sleeps to recover.

He is a great boy and he is all boy...boy oh boy.

Lots of playing and having fun.

It was great to have them here for so long, longer than originally planned.

A morning at the beach with Pop!  Very cold water...

On Sunday, May 20th my Father-in-law passed away unexpectedly.  This was very sad and my heart broke for my Mother-in-law.  She is such a sweet person and in a nursing home where they take great care of her.

She was so sad and really did not understand.

Because of this my daughter came home on Tuesday instead of the following Saturday.

My sons and daughter-in-law came on Wednesday.

The house was full and somehow this always makes a sad time a little better, especially with a small child.

Yesterday when we dropped my daughter at the airport my husband said it was such a rough two weeks but he was glad to have then here for so long.  I told him to think of their long visit as a final gift from his Dad.

And a special gift it was.  We really enjoyed it.

Now that it is June 1st I have made a realization.  Last year (2011) I made a promise to sew everyday and I did.  This year I have not done that.  So, starting today, June 1, 2012, I once again promise myself to sew everyday.  You really get a lot accomplished that way.

Here's what I finished today.

This is a shop sample and so quick and easy.  Kits are available for this.

Saturday and Sunday is the local guild quilt show...very excited for this.

I entered a quilt in the show.  Not expecting to win a ribbon or anything.  I reached my goal which was to actually enter a quilt in a show for the first time...check that off the bucket list.

This is the quilt I entered.

My son's wedding quilt.

I wish I could take a better photo.  It should be hanging nicely at the show so I will take a photo at that time and then post a nicer pic.

Have a great weekend and enjoy some sewing...

Colleen

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful Moms out there!

I know that I have been neglecting to post lately.

I have been working and sewing a lot and busy getting ready for my daughter and grandson's visit the end of this month...most important and most exciting right now!

I'll be back soon with some pics of what I have been working on.

Today I will be sewing with friends...my favorite pastime on my special day I guess!  Shouldn't every Mom do what she wants to do today?

Have a great day and do something you enjoy!

Colleen

I just had to make one of these...

And there will be more to follow!
Being a huge fan of boxes and homespun (I have a ton of both) this project really seemed to come together on it's own.

This is a wonderful project if you are tired and really don't want to sit at the sewing machine or spend time figuring out a pattern and cutting a lot of intricate pieces.

I started with an old paper mache` box and covered it.

Years ago (the 80's) this was something I did all the time.

When I had my shop we made fabric covered 'hat boxes'.

Here's the result.  This one has been 'stained' with coffee.  Maybe it needs to have a little more aging before it is finished?  Yes!

So, this is not done yet...but will be one day soon...after I decide how to finish it.

There are many, MANY more boxes hanging around the house just waiting for some great fabrics to enhance their beauty.  Maybe they won't all be covered but I will try to make an entire set someday.

Happy Sewing (or crafting)!
Colleen

Finished it!

My friend's secret scrap quilt is completed and on it's way to her...it's a surprise so don't tell.

Here is a photo of the lap quilt I made.

Very colorful for me, wouldn't you say? 

I used an assortment of Batik strips cut from my (growing) stash of Batiks.

I too was amazed at just how many different fabrics I have collected.

What I started to do was to purchase 1/3 yard of some Batiks I thought were pretty and that I liked.

The 1/3 yard cut (for me) works better than a FQ or a 1/4 yard.  I have found that with collecting certain fabric lines getting that size offers me a good amount of fabric to work with in quilts or toppers that I want to make.

This quilt was quilted using a variegated Sulky #12wt. thread.  The thread colors were a perfect compliment to the fabrics.  I simple quilted through every other strip in a straight line.  Easy as can be!

Made with 1 1/2" strips.  Finished size 41" X 50".

The other thing I did was to put a label on the back.  Yes, I know that we should always do this but I must confess that this is the first time I have done this!  Shock throughout the nation!

Usually I simple stitch my initials and the date on a corner in the back but this time I actually made and attached a simple label.

When I started to stitch down the fourth side of this label a strong feeling of pride and accomplishment came over me.  I cannot explain it and it wasn't a sappy kind of a feeling...just felt good.

This isn't a prize winning quilt or anything. It is really cute and very cheery.  The label thing was about the label.  So perhaps there is more to adding a label to a quilt than just identifying the maker and date and some other things like perhaps the recipient and the occasion for which the quilt was made.

I don't know what it was - it just felt good!
So now, I will need to label my quilts from this point on.

I think my friend will like this little quilt!

Happy Spring!  Take time to watch the flowers grow!
Take time to sit and sew!
Colleen

Uh Oh...look what I found...

So, remember the last post with the fabric that I am going to use this month (even if it kills me - which it won't).

Well, when I was 'shopping' through my stash for fabric for a project I came across another piece of the green.

Now I have two 3/4 yard pieces.  I will add this to my March obligation and see what becomes of it.  How in the world do I have two pieces of this fabric I will never know!

In between sewing some projects (no pics yet) I did a little more organizing.  My Civil War fabric shelf was in need of a clean-up since I have been using a lot of this fabric in projects lately.

Here she is...

The blue box holds all my small scraps of Civil War and the little book has a snippet of each piece I own so I can take it along on shopping trips and not duplicate.  It doesn't always work!

I keep my Civil War FQ's in a plastic box along with some CW panels and a piece I don't want to cut up because I am saving it for a backing.

Maybe if I organize and clean a little section of my sewing room every day I will reach the point of having a wonderfully user friendly sewing room!  Just maybe!  All I know is that you will not see the before pictures!  LOL

Off to work on some samples for classes!

Colleen

Finally ~ a goal for 2012...

Well, a goal that relates to sewing that is!

Last year I had planned to "mash my stash".  I did use a lot of my stash fabrics but I also realized that if I made a purchase say last week and used it this week I called it using my stash.  LOL!
All I can say is...my game ~ my rules!

Upon giving this deep some thought I decided that this year I would choose three (or so) fabrics from my stash each month, take a photo of them and try to use each of them in a project by month's end.

Again...my game ~ my rules!  

My Rules

1.  I can use some or all of the fabric

2.  They can all be used in the same project or they can be used individually

3.  I can use them in any project any way I want

4.  If I don't use them that month I will put them into a 'special box' and if they haven't been used by the end of the year I should donate or give them away (maybe ~ remember, these are my rules for me!)

5.  I will try really hard do my best to use a wide range of the fabrics in my stash; from ugly fabrics to my most coveted favorites

6.  This does not mean that I cannot buy more fabric for my stash

Now that the rules are in place (and subject to change) here is a photo of the fabrics I have picked for March.

Pink fabric = 1 yard

Green fabric = 3/4 yard

Large floral fabric = 1 yard

Stay tuned to see where any one of these may show up!

On another note, today I did a little Spring decorating.  My 'secret sister' sent me this wonderful runner and I just had to put it out with my bunnies and chicks!

And then, I organized a drawer in the office for my ribbons.

That felt good!

Tonight I have some hand sewing to do and some paperwork to finish for my husband's business...it's Tax Season madness I tell you!

Happy Sewing!
Colleen

Leap Day Post

I feel like I really needed to post today because I won't be able to post on February 29th for another 4 years!

I have two small quilts basted and ready to quilt tomorrow.

Here is one...the February Small Quilt Challenge with Kathleen Tracy.

I missed the finish for February but at least I have it almost complete.

I decided on the floral border.  It really is so cute.

The other one basted and ready is the 12 Days of Christmas from the Temecula Quilt Co.  No photo of that one but will post after I quilt it.

Tomorrow is the first day of March and spring is fast approaching.

The other day I realized that I hadn't set any goals for this year.

Last year the personal goal was to sew everyday...AND I DID!

I had other typical goals; use the stash, don't buy more...and so on...that never works.

Quilters just have to have more...you see it...you want it...you buy it!
Goes without saying, the stash grows quickly!

I have a goal in mind and am sort of excited about it.

Tune in tomorrow when I share it!

Have a great 'extra' day!

Colleen

Somethin' Scrappy...

We have a challenge in one of my groups for Something Scrappy...an exchange.

The rules are to make something...anything...for your Secret Sister out of scraps!
I hope I have enough?  I certainly do!

I started with this pile...

And now I have this done...just a peek...because it's a secret...

I have a little bit more work on this and cannot show any more pics...because it's a secret!
I am not a huge fan of batiks so I couldn't believe that I actually have so many pieces in my stash of scraps.

In addition, I sort of like this combination of really pretty colors (shh!  don't tell my friend Debbie)!

The strips for this part of the scrap project finish at 1".

I will show the rest of the photos when I know the secret is out!

Have a great day and remember to sew...I will!

Colleen

Another UFO...

So this was suppose to be a Valentine's gift for my daughter.  Now it's just another UFO.

That's right, other projects got in the way and this one did not find it's way to completion.

I like the pattern it came from and had this charm pack laying around the sewing room for a few years.

I made a few adjustments to fit what I had on hand and it really is cute for Valentine's Day.

All it needs is to be layered and quilted (I plan to do the decorative applique stitching as quilting for this).

Anyway, Happy Valentine's Day to my darling daughter (who really doesn't read this blog)...maybe you'll get this for next year.

From Kim Schaefer's Calendar Quilts pattern 

On another note, you really need to visit my friend Debbie's blog today.  

Her post is about how she quilted my son's wedding quilt.  Go see it here.

The quilting on this is so wonderful, it made the quilt so much better than it was.

The newlyweds love it too.

Now for a funny Valentine's story.  When my husband (gotta love this guy) and I were out to dinner the other night I told him not to get me flowers this year for Valentine's Day.  They are too expensive and I would prefer 12 cans of my favorite soup.  That's right people, I said soup.

I won't go into the reasons why I want the soup except (aside from the obvious) for the most important one which is that it is the only flavor that NEVER goes on sale like the others.  

His response was "why should I get you anything when all you do for me is make me a card, you don't even bother to go buy one.  You just give me some home made job".

Like I said before ~ gotta love this guy.  This year he is getting a store bought card.  Which means I have more time to sew.  Yup, gotta love a guy that allows you more time to sew.

And, Happy Valentine's Day to all my blogger friends.

Have a wonderful day full and make time to sew...not make cards.

Colleen

Is winter here?

It's chilly outside and there some rain/snow showers...so is winter here?
NOT.

This isn't going to be a big snowstorm today.

Just a little mix with perhaps an inch or so with slippery roads this evening.

That's what the weatherman is saying.

This week I didn't do a lot of sewing, I did sew everyday but not marathon sewing.  Minor small stuff.

I have an awful stiff neck, which now I am realizing is a really stiff shoulder that is causing a lot of pain.

Cannot imaging what I did to aggravate it.  So annoying.

I am participating in the February Small Quilt Challenge with Kathleen Tracy again this month.

Another quilt from her book Prairie Children and their Quilts.

On schedule so far.  Last night while waiting for the husband to bring home pizza I pieced all the squares and after pizza put the rows together.

In the book it is the Broken Dishes Quilt but she encourages you to expand and offered an alternative red and white option with an embroidered heart in the center.  I didn't want to do the heart because I will keep this out all year long.  Loving the red and white.

I hit up my stash of 30's prints and added some shirting scraps and a red/white star scrap for this.

My challenge now is to decide on the borders.

The red inner border is a go but I am thinking of a few others from my stash for the outer.

Decisions...decisions...what's a girl to do?

Top/bottom/left/right?  Not sure.

Or perhaps this other choice...

I think I have narrowed it down to the bottom and the "other choice" seen above...

What do you think?

Have a great Saturday.  I am off to work and then a night in with my sewing machine.

Remember, take time to sew...I do.

Colleen

It's Saturday and the sun is shining bright!

I can honestly say that we have been very fortunate with the weather this winter.

This time last year we already had over 3 feet of snow on the ground and were wondering where to put it after we shoveled it.  Not that I miss the snow but I do realize this is winter and we have at minimum 6-8 weeks to go and could see some white stuff at anytime...but according to the weatherman...not in the next 10 days at the very least.  YIPPEE!

I have had a very productive week of sewing.

Finished this top for a class sample.

It measures about 58" x 74" and is a quick one.

The colors are just wonderful and very cheery.

During piecing the strips I saved the little snippets and now I have a bunch of batik HST's for a swap in March.  They just need to be squared up and set aside for the balance of the scraps that will go into this scrap swap project!

Also started cutting and piecing the blocks for this class sample.

This uses a special ruler and a pattern that coordinates with the ruler...more on that at a later date.

So far I have 48 blocks complete but I need 80 total...more sewing tonight.

I also had a lot of 30's snippets from this project and stitched them together into this little lovely.

Still thinking about where this one is headed as a finished table topper perhaps.  It might need a solid blue inner border before the muslin border.  For sure there will be a muslin border, I like the way muslin looks with the 30's retro prints.  There also might be some yo-yo's needed here.  I plan to have some fun with this one.

Have a delightful day and remember to make time to sew...

Colleen