|
|
Post by choney2 on Feb 17, 2021 12:31:52 GMT
Good morning,
Ha ha ha....Mr Enabler!! Ruth, love your nickname for Dh - but I think its great that he encourages you to be creative. I have seen some of the potholders Jane made and they were so very pretty. (She made them several years ago- when she was not as experienced at quilting). I am sure you can handle making them and will do a beautiful job!! Give that Janome a workout...if you do ever go into Walmart- they are now (have been for awhile) selling precut fat quarters of fabrics, an easy way to get some quilting fabric. What kind of cookie dough did you make? I have never made rye bread (have made tons of irish soda bread, which also calls for caraway seed). Glad it turned out so well for you. Some flours are a bit challenging to get to rise properly. think both Phyl and I were in the conversation about the cotton batting and insul bright. Pretty sure Jane has skipped using Insul bright, but I am sure she used cotton. The cotton batting becomes very important as it holds shape and form when quilted and has less of a tendency to pull through the fabric when the top quilting is done. There are probably a ton of other reasons too....Anyway, welcome to the club. There are tons of lovely smaller projects- so you do not have to take on making a huge quilt to have fun.
CJ- wow! You got a lot accomplished yesterday....the convergence quilt is so dramatic and turned out great!!! A challenge in it is that the size fabric piece changes - its not like the quilt I am working where most of the pieces are cut to the same size. I am going to completely disagree with you - LOVE your fabric selection and how the colors all work together. Its a very good example of how taking one fabric ( the grapes fabric) opens the door to bringing in other fabrics from the colors used in the main fabric. If it were me, I would make a very thin border, or go straight to the binding, and do both in black. Think that would frame the pattern and not distract from the convergence quilt. You did such a nice job.
Started the process of figuring out how I am going to combine the fabrics for the baby quilt into the 4 patch blocks. I did finish cutting the quilt top fabrics.
Regarding my tax refund, I did contact my congressman, whose office responded with only the information that my return was getting special handling because of the passing of my Dh. I contacted my tax preparer who gave me a few phone numbers to call- all of which were dead ends. I will hand this off to my tax preparer when I drop off the paperwork for my 2020 return. Somewhere I had heard that perhaps the IRS might permit me to just take the amount owed me for 2019 as an off the top deduction.
So my sister sent me a package....her heart is in the right place and she meant well. But its just an interesting combination of random stuff that has little meaning to me. Like lavender scented q tips that we had mused over the possibility of one day on the phone. And a random little bag (its a small drawstring bag- not sure if she knew that stuck in the lining was a tiny (1/2â square and super thin) silver charm. And a coupon for some free chocolate- which is regrettably dark chocolate, which I do not like. I will have to message her or call her.....I know this is her way of trying to stay in touch and she thinks its all great stuff and that she did something wonderful. And forgive me for sounding like an ungrateful monster- but its hard to graciously say thank you for what I can make no sense out of.
TIme to get on with my day....gotta go to the store and get supplies- am making dinner for Jane and Craig and taking it over to them - on the loss of his dad.
BBL
G
|
|
|
|
Post by Ruth on Feb 17, 2021 19:53:31 GMT
I was going to suggest black also!! Although I though maybe you didn't have black in your stash but I think you are using some in that other quilt with the dark fabrics, right? Again though, you did a fantastic job CJ and so quickly! I can't believe you got all that done in that short of a time.What are you working on today?
Ginny, sorry to hear of the passing of your friend's dad. I know Jane and Craig will appreciate the dinner.All three of you are so fortunate to have each other as friends.Yes that sounds like and interesting package your sister sent. Lavender scented q tips? I've never seen nor heard of those. I don't use q tips much but when I do it's usually for things like painting small spaces and other things like that so scent wouldn't be of much use there. As you said she had a nice thought.It's funny though because one of the things I made for dgd is a drawstring bag but she collects nice little rocks and can use it for that and I have plans that when we get there I'll go on a hike with her and help her collect some.
The yarn I ordered is Lion Brand Heartland which I love but don;t have much of it left. With their sale and the extra !5% off, it was a great price. It's funny how these yarn companies work. There's one color I used to make youngest dgd's pocket shawl and a couple other things because it's a shade of pink and she loves pink. They don't have it anymore evidentally because it was not in the color choices. They have one similar called zion where the other was called Denali.I didn't order any of that though because I have enough pinkish hued yarn to use.
|
|
|
|
Post by cj59 on Feb 17, 2021 20:49:58 GMT
Hello Everyone  Ruth - I'm glad you'll be joining us quilters now that you have some batting. I hope you'll enjoy that project. I'm happy you got a good price on that yarn you ordered. Ginny - Thanks for explaining the tax issue, I hope the IRS will work out the 2019 refund into your 2020 taxes. I also hope you were able to match up some fabrics to start working on the baby quilt. Those are going to be a solid block and then a 4 patch, right? I can understand that you'll have to lay those out so it all goes together without any clashing. Thanks for the recommendations on a border for my Convergence quilt. I found that I did have enough of the four fabrics that I could add a 2 inch border around the quilt. It didn't turn out exactly as I'd planned, but I'm happy with it. I had hoped to have each separate fabric go around the 4 corners, but I accidentally sewed on one of the side borders incorrectly and I was too lazy to rip it all out and just comprised with what I ended up with  It's sunny and cold here today and we're supposed to get snow/sleet/ice/rain tonight and into tomorrow. I'm fine with anything but the ice, so I hope that misses us. Take care everyone  |
|
|
|
Post by choney2 on Feb 17, 2021 20:55:47 GMT
I think black is the perfect border for CJâs quilt....but also figured that black is also perfect as its easy to find or order online if she needed to. But seriously- if it were my quilt, I would use black. That would just frame the quilt beautifully and not distract from the pattern.
Ruth, I checked out that heartland yarn, and its so pretty. I like how its subtle variations in color throughout....stunning. Too bad you are unable to find the color you want, the quick look I did on Joanns web site indicated that many colors were out of stock.
Ok, I did the gracious and nice thing and messaged my sister thanking her for the âinteresting collection of items. I know she meant well. Now time to forget about it all and move on.
|
|
|
|
Post by choney2 on Feb 17, 2021 21:09:31 GMT
CJ- we were posting at the same time!Its cute!!!!!! Your quilt that is, and of course the fabrics are a perfect match, because they are the perfect fabrics. I like it- are you going to quilt this quilt top?
|
|
|
|
Post by gramma14 on Feb 17, 2021 23:13:01 GMT
CJ, that is amazing!! I was thinking that you couold use all the colors but I didn't know how you would be able to go about that. You did it though and did it perfectly.
That was very kind of you, Ginny, to thank your sister for her thoughfulness even though the items she sent were "interesting". A friend from the old WW board recently sent me a box of items but, unlike the ones your sister sent you, the ones my friend sent were all things that I really loved and could use. I envy her ability to pick out the perfect things.I'm terrible at picking gifts.
The weather here was nice earlier but then it started to snow and was really coming down for awhile but has slowed down now.I don't think much is going to stick.
|
|
|
|
Post by choney2 on Feb 18, 2021 0:10:32 GMT
I was taught to do the right thing even when it does not feel right- so being thankful is something I have to do. I do know (or can surmise) that my sisters stability is fragile at times- and I know she feels left out (she is the one who moved away, however). So if if makes her feel better, then, I guess it is not all bad. In messaging her, I found out that it is a charm and she got one and put it on the end of her scissors (guess there is a fob ring). She says that the design on the tiny charm is of a quilt block. I really do not see it, well I guess I see it but its a stretch. anyway I thanked her- the only down side of that is it encourages her to search for and locate odd items that she seems to think are appropriate. Through the years she did that with my kids and gifts for their birthdays...sometimes finding really strange stuff, and on rare occasions finding something that my kids would actually appreciate.. I well remember when Dd got married that my sister mentioned that she wanted to send a gift card for a chain of stores that sells unique and one of a kind overstocks at tremendous discount - but this store is over an hour away. It took me a LONG time on the phone to convince her that perhaps just to purchase from the registry was the best option. (Dd carefully picked out items on her registry to fit all budgets). My sister just could not see how that made any sense.
And Ruth, you do a fine job picking out gifts. (We âhearâ all the thought that you put into what you will make or pick up for a grandchild or great grand. Donât be hard on yourself.
Think I am going to fill a few bobbins to get ready for sewing tomorrow.
G
|
|
|
|
Post by gramma14 on Feb 18, 2021 21:37:46 GMT
Yes my parents taught me the same thing. Thank people for anything they give you. I get very few gifts but the ones I do get are always perfect for me. Some people just have a knack for picking exactly the right gift. Yes I do put a lot of thought into the things I make and it's usually too much thought. I was standing in my craft room this morning looking at all the yarn and trying to decide what to make with certain of the yarns. Most people find something they want to make then get the yarn for it. I get the yarn and later try to decide what to do with it.I was also looking for the remainer of my Heartland yarn and wish I had done it before I ordered because I have one that's really nice but only one skein. I would have ordered more...if they even still offer that color. Joann's was out of some but the one I used for youngest dgd is not even being offered anymore. I finished ddil's cowl last evening and this morning decided to "just do it" and sew the pockets on the two pocket shawls. Well in pinning them on the first shawl I found that the shawl is wider at one end than the other  . it's acrylic yarn so probably won't block into being wider but I've pinned it in place and steamed it and am hoping that it will. In the meantime I'm going to go ahead and start another one.I need two more anyway. I did pick out the yarn I want to use for one of the baby blankets for my new great grandson.There are so many great patterns and of course I have some baby blankets that I've started and not finished including the one that you gave us the pattern for, Ginny. The one I'm planning on making soon is going to be a c2c...at least that's the plan now....because it will be lighter for the summer months. I hope you are all having a good day and are doing things that you enjoy. |
|
|
|
Post by cj59 on Feb 18, 2021 21:54:21 GMT
Hello Everyone Ginny - I meant to respond to your post about the gifts from your sister. Over the years I've also received many gifts like this, just a hodgepodge of things in a box. Sadly most of them just got thrown out, but I appreciated the thought behind the gift and just thanked them each time I received another box I was taught to be thankful like you were and I hope that the person putting the box together for us was happy while they were doing it and that they enjoyed sending us a gift. I know there have been lots of gifts that I've given over the years that I could tell the person didn't like them. It's made me happy that now I can just give money or gift cards, because it does hurt a little bit to know that our efforts weren't appreciated. Ruth - You were posting when I was. I'm glad you are making progress on your projects. Hope your weather is better today. We had some snow and then sleet overnight and through midday. They say there is more coming, but I guess we'll see. I'm not going to clear my walks and steps until tomorrow to make sure it's all over. I've been working on machine quilting my quilts. I think I had mentioned that I was starting with the smallest ones first, so these are all wall hanging/tablerunner size. I finished 4 of them today and still have 4 that I want to finish this month. There is one that I'm not sure about machine quilting though - it has 2 of the 8 point stars and I'm not sure how I can machine quilt straight or even wavy lines over it. So I may have to think about that one. I'm thinking that I might need to add more quilting to the one with the snowman fabric. I just went on either side of the pinwheel blocks so it's not even through the middle. I decided not to quilt the opposite direction through the middle, so I might decide to add more long lines to even the middle up. Hope you can understand what I mean, if so, I'd like your thoughts on adding a few more lines of machine quilting. Here are a few pictures of some I did. One of them I did today I'm not very proud of, so you don't get to see it I made it a long time ago in the years when I first started quilting, so at least it's nice to see that my piecing skills have improved.     |
|
|
|
Post by cj59 on Feb 18, 2021 21:56:42 GMT
The more I look at the snowman wall hanging, the more I think I need to go ahead and and fill in that fabric in the middle. And just so you know, these pieces are mostly just me fooling around and playing with fabric, so I don't care if they are perfect, I'm just glad I'm getting them done |
|
|
|
Post by gramma14 on Feb 19, 2021 1:11:39 GMT
well in my opinion I think the quilting on the snowman one is great. Before you said you needed to add to it I was thinking how nice it is that you made your quilting lines the way you did. I'd leave it like that. However, since I'm not a quilter maybe there is a need to put more lines in? And I would love to see the one that you said you aren't proud of. I bet it's much better than you think.We all, hopefully anyway, improve as we go along but some people are just naturals in their craft and I do thijnk you may be one of those. I really love that lighthouse quilt. How do you keep the lines so straight? Do you mark them with that erasabe marker?
WEll I started another pocket shawl and realized that the pattern made no sense. She had a video so I went to that and yes, she obviously is not good at pattern designing and not only that but she was doing a crossed stitch and doing it entirely wrong. It wasn't just me that thought that either. There were a lot of comments mentioning that, although the pattern was beautiful, the pattern itself was confusing and contained many errors. And in her video she didn't record enough of each row that you could see what she was actually doing which would have helped everyone in getting what she was trying to say. So I picked a different one. and hope to get a bit of it done this evening.
|
|
|
|
Post by choney2 on Feb 19, 2021 13:27:39 GMT
I went to bed last night and took a look at my phone....and then realized that I had not stopped in at all yesterday. Sorry about that- guess with the snow, my day got ahead of me.
CJ- as always you have been so busy with your machine! Think both pieces are lovely and you did a nice job piecing and quilting both. The snowman- IMO its a personal decision what you decide to do. Think only someone told to scrutinize that quilt would really look to see that as it is there is a pattern to the quilted lines, that it is not evenly quilted throughout. Its really prett! If you chose to add the additional lines, I wonder if I would start the additional lines centered on the pinwheel blocks but not running through them. (I did that when quilting the Christmas panels. That way you are not running curved lines through the straight lined pinwheel block. And even if you do, I am sure it will turn out great. The straight line quilting is great, I always thought it was just so simple and pretty when straight line quilting criss crossed over a quilt top.. And I do get it....Ruth is so sweet and kind asking to see the quilt top you are less proud of. Knowing how beautifully you quilt, I am confident that it looks great and only someone with a trained eye would notice or care. I see tons of posts from quilting groups on FB of people who made a mistake, and then finished the quilt top and are asking if the mistake should be removed. Most of the time I would not have seen the âmistakeâ until its been pointed out for me to look at and most of the random quilters who check in to look at these posted quilts say to let the mistake remain....But I do understand- remember I will not keep my original FMQ test blocks (keeping them now just so I can see some progress) and have thrown out early work for that same reason. Looking forward to seeing what you are up to today. And the tan striped panel (a table runner?) is stunning in its simplicity. Jane has made table runners as gifts using a similar look - and like hers, what you have done is simple and elegant. Hope the snow skirts your area. Stay safe.
Ruth- think the shrug I am making was originally intended to be made from Heartland yarn. Its so pretty....wonder if you would ever consider making a temperature afghan- then you can design the color use based upon what yarn you have to use up. But really, just like a quilter buying fabric for an unspecified project is the same as how you buy yarn sometimes. And you do a great job of taking on smaller projects which will use up smaller quantities of yarn. Guess we can all agree that the yarn companies have to come up with a basic line of yarn and not constantly change out their color variations. I have had the same thing happen to me- and its frustrating. Think SS and perhaps POL are about the only yarn lines that seem to keep a consistent color assortment. You do work hard to find nice, useful and appropriate gifts for family members. (Makes you wonder if anyone is putting that much thought into any gifts they give to you). That is a shame about the pocket shawl- hopefullly with blocking and steaming it will be eased into the same size. And again- is it that noticeable? Can it be given as is? Not sure what CJ uses to mark her quilts, but there is a fadeaway marker, and also a marker that once heated goes away. Or of course just dressmakers chalk. You have good success with those c2c afghans- what color are you planning on making for the baby afghan??
Got to the vet yesterday to pick up more food for the cat, and investigate why the new snowblower wonât start. (Think its got dirt in the gas line). I am learning....and thankfully its a light snow yesterday and today, so I can shovel myself.
Got halfway through making the 4 patch blocks- they are in pairs now, have to decide how to put those pairs into blocks. Will get to that today.
G
|
|
|
|
Post by phyl on Feb 19, 2021 14:16:53 GMT
GOOD MORNING, I am doing ok, still not crafting ,hoping my chiro gets me into shape so I can get To my sewing again.
This am is my second vaccine and this afternoon is my chiro.
there is university theater group giving away free cotton fabric.not Sure I will have to bring our own boxes and bags. have to take the whole bolt.what would I do with a whole bolt?I HAVE SO MUCH FABRIC NOW
Now if CJ was going She would have all kinds of idea what to do with a
bolt.
CJ sometimes it helps to walk away from a project (snowman) and come back in a day or two and look at it. sometimes we will see it is not as bad as we thought.
could you echo around the stars .lots of you tube videos on that. PHYL
|
|
|
|
Post by cj59 on Feb 19, 2021 18:18:02 GMT
Hello Everyone Thanks everyone for your comments and thoughts on my quilts, they are all appreciated Phyl - I hope your second shot goes well and also your appointment with the chiro. If you did pick up a bolt of fabric you could use some of it for quilt backing, so it might be worth it for that. I agree with you that I need to walk away from the snowman piece and then decide later if I want to add more quilting. Ruth - I'm sorry that you keep finding video and patterns with mistakes or unclear directions, I know that is frustrating. Hope you were able to start on another pattern. When I mark my quilts with those diagonal straight lines I start with a ruler through the middle and then put a strip of blue painter's tape next to it. Then I move the ruler over however many inches I want (usually 2-3 inches) and add another strip of painter's take and keep doing that from side to side in one direction. Then once I've quilted that, I move the tape and measure and replace in the opposite direction. The diagonal quilting is really my favorite and I use it whenever I can. Ginny - I'm glad you were just able to shovel your snow and hope you can figure out what is wrong with the snow blower. We got mostly sleet here with a little snow flurries this morning. Those small cream and reproduction fabric piece was made from leftover pieces from a bigger quilt. I just loved the fabrics and wanted to put them in another quilt. I agree with you that if I add more quilting to the snowman piece to just quilt in the center of the piece. The thing with me is that I'm lazy and I'm looking for the easiest way to quilt some of these things and I don't like to put a lot of effort into it, so I try to pick designs that I can start stitching off the quilt top in the batting and sew into the quilt and then finish the stitching off the quilt in the batting at the other side. I really don't enjoy machine quilting, it's like a job to be done. My favorite part of quilting is buying fabric and looking at quilt patterns and pictures of quilts I did finish another table topper this morning, this one was from leftover pieces from another larger quilt. Here's a picture of that and also of the one I did yesterday that I said I wouldn't show. This small piece was done when I was in a quilt guild around 2002-2003. It was a challenge project. They gave us a small piece of the floral fabric and the challenge was to make a small quilt using that fabric, so this is what I came up with. A lot of my seams are uneven and I can't believe I tried a square in a square so early in my quilting time, I don't even like to do them now I think it's kind of a coincidence that the colors are almost the same as the Convergence quilt I just did! Take care everyone and have a good day!   |
|
|
|
Post by choney2 on Feb 19, 2021 19:30:52 GMT
Phyl, hope your second shot goes well....wait 24 hours before you assess how your react to it. Hoping that your reaction is minimal. Like CJ I see a whole bolt of fabric as being great for a border or backing for quilt. Cannot hurt to look, right/
CJ- that table topper is so pretty!!! Nice and spring colored...soft and welcoming fabrics. Will you keep that for your use? And how ironic that your guild challenge quilt is the same color scheme as the convergence quilt. Looks good to me, and I am not one to look for flaws. I like the diagonal quilting which really directs your vision away from mistakes it there are any there. Donât be so hard on yourself!!!
Called my friends at the IRS- my tax return has FINALLY been processed and I will be getting my refund. Again due to Dhâs passing the check cannot be direct deposited, but must be manually issued. NO idea how long that could take. How insane.
BBL
G
|
|
. it's acrylic yarn so probably won't block into being wider but I've pinned it in place and steamed it and am hoping that it will. In the meantime I'm going to go ahead and start another one.I need two more anyway. I did pick out the yarn I want to use for one of the baby blankets for my new great grandson.There are so many great patterns and of course I have some baby blankets that I've started and not finished including the one that you gave us the pattern for, Ginny. The one I'm planning on making soon is going to be a c2c...at least that's the plan now....because it will be lighter for the summer months.