Sister's Choice Quilts

More Sewing and Good News

My sewing was a bit hit or miss this past weekend, but I did get the borders on Base Camp. I think this is a fun quick project for a fall table runner. The pattern is called Base Camp and is by Sweetwater. The pattern is for a quilt, but I adapted it for the smaller table runner. The fabric collection is also by Sweetwater and is called Timber.

On Friday my husband drove me to the Bay Area for my eye injection. I got some excellent news when I met with the doctor. I had noticed some improvement in my vision, but he declared the improvement was "significant". Plus, even better, he expects to see continued improvement over the next few months. He didn't say I would go back to normal vision in that eye, but better is better and I'll take it. I'll go back for another injection in four weeks, and then the doctor said I could start coming every six weeks. I was so happy I almost didn't mind the four-hour drive home in Friday afternoon traffic. 


This lovely block is the seventh in the Designer Mystery 2012 sew-along. Gosh, I think those blocks and that fabric are terrific. 

Today I am having an excursion and a lunch out, so no sewing for me. However, I will have a post tomorrow of two new fabric collections I recently purchased. 

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

 

 

A Bit of This and a Bit of That

Today's post is a mish mash of various things I have been fiddling with lately. I did get my Base Camp blocks together for this fun fall table runner. I do think I need to add a narrow border of the background all around to make it look more finished. No problem, if I can only remember what Bella solid I used. I've been trying to write down the backgrounds I use for various projects because sometimes when I need to bind the quilt, or add a border my mind is a blank. Is it off white, or porcelain, or maybe bleached white? Or did I use Kona Snow? Oh dear.

I've finished three more Halloween Memories blocks. These are actually quite fun to put together. I really like how I have done the fiddly work of making half-square triangles, the square in a square center, and the flying geese for each block ahead of time. When it comes time to assemble all those units, the block comes together quickly.

This is a book that I am currently reading and very much enjoying. It is The Mesmerist by Caroline Woods. In 1894 Minneapolis, spiritualism is all the rage, and women are mysteriously dying all over town. There doesn't seem to be a link to the Bethany Home for Unwed Mothers, but when silent Faith arrives, the mysterious powers she is thought to have hints at a connection to the murders. This one is full of dark atmosphere, making it a perfect book for September and October.

Is this title not the perfect choice for the spooky reading season? The Burial Plot by Elizabeth MacNeal. I have to admit, I bought this book simply because the cover appealed to me. I had to order it from Blackwells in the UK because I don't think it is available in the US just yet. It is described as a Gothic thriller set in Victorian England. Crowded cemeteries were an issue in England at that time and this cleverly plotted book touches on that issue. I've heard that this book transports you to 1839 and engrosses you in a dark and absorbing tale. I haven't read it yet, but you can be sure it is coming up soon!

So that's it for now. Today I travel to the Bay Area for my monthly eye injection. I am noticing some improvement in my vision, and I hope my doctor concurs. Have a great weekend everyone!

Sunflowers

I was busy in the sewing room yesterday and have plenty to share, but decided to just stick to one topic for today and not bombard you all with a half a dozen projects that I have in the works.

So, I started a new project. Of course I did. I got up yesterday morning and saw that Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree & Co had posted about a pattern (that you can purchase) and her custom fabric bundle to make it (which is sold out). The pattern is called Sunflowers and is adorable in Fig Tree oranges and greys. Here is a link to her blog post and photos of the fabric and quilt. 

This is one of Joanna's mock-ups of the finished quilt top.

At first, I was bummed that her fabric bundles were all sold out. But then I got to thinking that I must have bought every Halloween collection that Fig Tree has ever produced, so I should have no problem going through my stash to find the right fabrics for the project.

Need Fig Tree fabrics? No problem. Shop at home. I must have had six or eight yards of a white tone-on-tone background fabric from the Fig Tree 2021 Pumpkins and Blossoms line. It is called Pumpkins and Blossoms Vanilla Cinderella Pumpkins 20427-21, and you can still buy it at Fat Quarter Shop. It is the perfect background to go with your Fig Tree fabrics. The design doesn't show up real well in photos, but you can kind of see it in the photo of the block I made. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

I loved the test block I made. The pattern instructions I didn't love quite so much. I just sat down with it and worked out how many pieces and what sizes I needed per block. The block is constructed with a partial seam method, which turned out beautifully. If you haven't done partial seams, don't be afraid, they aren't so bad once you've done one. 


Ok, I can't resist. I have to show you one other thing I am working on. I am getting the binding sewn on my Sewcialites 2 (or is it 3?) quilt. My thumb is protesting, but it isn't too bad. I just love that quilt and would love to have it on my bed. Just look at that quilting!

Hope your week is going well.

 

 

 

Some Sewing, Some Changes

I haven't been completely idle this week. You might not be able to tell, but I did get the top row of my Base Camp table runner sewn together. I plan to wrap this project up today. Love that Timber fabric by Sweetwater.


On another topic, do any of you subscribe to the Fat Quarter Shop monthly Sew Sampler Boxes? I recently signed up and have thought the first two boxes I have received have been quite nice. Typically you get a collection of fabric (a Jolly Bar, Layer Cake, Jelly Roll etc), a quilting tool (a ruler, marking pen, template etc), and one or more patterns, plus an extra notion or two. My friend Carol says she thinks the box is worth it for the coupons alone. The August box had a 20% off Layer Cakes coupon, and the September box has 15% off Jolly Bars (those terrific 5" x 10" fabric collections). In addition, FYI, if you don't really care for the contents in one of your month's boxes, there is a FaceBook Sew Sampler Box resale site where you can resell it to someone who might want it.

I wanted to give all of you a head's up that there are going to be some changes ahead for my blog. I have used Typepad as my blogging platform since I started Sister's Choice Quilts in 2007. Typepad is becoming obsolete and I am experiencing some serious issues lately. As a matter of fact, they were "down" yesterday and I was not able to even write and post my daily blog. I am afraid that they could go belly up any time now, which would leave me in a real pickle.

My plan is to hire a service to help me "migrate" this blog to a different more up-to-date platform, Wordpress. I hope to accomplish this in the next week or two. I am hoping that all my content will transfer over, but that remains to be seen. Anyway, keep checking here for the latest news on how to reach my new site so you can keep reading this blog. 

For those of you who are worried about not being able to keep following me, I suggest you hit the "subscribe" button just below the top photo where it says Sister's Choice Quilts. If you subscribe to this blog, you will be notified by email each time I create a new post.

That's all for now!

Some Sewing, Very Little Trimming

I spent some time over the weekend trying to find the Olfa Ergonomic Rotary Cutter I bought in 2014, but was completely unable to find it. Where do rotary cutters go to die? At any rate, I had to purchase a new one since my hand is still hurting me.

Here is a tip that may be useful to some of you who might want to purchase one of these RTY-2/DX model Olfa rotary cutters: the prices are all over the place. Olfa lists them for $34.99. Fat Quarter Shop has them for $30.99. Amazon has them for $17.99. You can probably guess which one I opted to buy.

The good news is, it cuts like "buttah" and is very easy to use. The only trimming I did was to trim down the seam allowance on my paper pieced square in a square units. The final trimming I can do when my thumb isn't so sore.


Part of my problem when using the regular cutter was pressing too hard, and the other thing was the repetitive motion of using my thumb over and over to open and close the blade. I am a stickler for closing it each time and that has taken a toll on my thumb muscle. 

I figured that maybe I couldn't trim much, but I could still sew and work on getting these block units done. I worked on the square and square units, and the flying geese units. 


I got through quite a few units and once my hand isn't so sore I will get them trimmed up and made into blocks. For now, I am stashing the components for each block into a little sandwich baggie.


And I have a whole project box full of baggies!


I actually won't have to make all the blocks because the center medallion I made of the little vampire ghost and witch will replace a bunch of them. All in all, I am getting there!


I will be glad to wrap this project up, because I am very tempted to start something new...



You know how that goes!

 

 

 

I'm Ba-ack, But Not In the Saddle

Oh dear. I seem to be suffering from another quilting-related injury. This has happened to me before, and I've been suffering with it for over a week. I am having trouble with that fat pad right under my right thumb. I think it is a soft tissue injury due to all the rotary cutting trimming I've been doing on those Halloween Memories blocks. The half square triangles need to be trimmed up, the square in a square blocks need trimming up, the flying geese need trimming up, the blocks need trimming up...It has taken a toll on my hand. I've had a rest most of the week, but I have to say, it still hurts. Luckily I can still hold my wine glass.


I am trying a new tea. Orange & Spice by Bigelow. It has a nice fall-like vibe and claims to be herbal. I had a couple of cups of it yesterday and it was very nice.


Archie had a bath and a haircut yesterday. The groomer said he was such a good boy. He loves looking good, and when we tell him how handsome he is, he is very proud. He is still recovering from his "vacation", where he was hyper-vigilant about "protecting us" and checking out all the new smells and sights. Actually, when he is checking out a new place, his nose is to the ground 99% of the time. He barely looks up to take in his surroundings. It is all about the smells for him. He must be part bloodhound. 


My Star of Wonder quilt is back from the quilter. She sure got it done fast! This will be so great over the back of a chair, on my dining table, or over my balcony railing during the holidays. It is a free pattern on Fat Quarter Shop. The pattern is in four parts on their website. There are also YouTube tutorials.


I also got the quilt for my brother-in-law Greg back from the quilter. She did a simple wave design and I think it suits this rather geometric-looking quilt great. I can't wait to get the binding on it and present it to him. I know he will really appreciate it.

I hope you all have a great weekend. We are taking five or more days to recover from our three day get-away it seems. I hope to get up into the sewing room!

 

 

Archie on Vacation

Greetings from Lake Tahoe. We are staying at an ok AirBnB. It is decently equipped, but I have to say the lighting is abysmal.  When I go on vacation my main leisure time activity is reading, and when the only lighting is ceiling recessed flood lamps, that is not ideal. It is a choice of being in the dark or having every overhead light in the house on. Not great for reading at all. Thank goodness for Kindles, where you can adjust things to suit you.

Archie's behavior has been stellar. He has been the absolute best little canine traveler ever. We brought his kennel along, in case he needed to be confined, but we haven't had to use it at all. He sits on top of it to look out the window or lies on top of it, but he hasn't been in it even once.

We have had some great walks along the lake at Sugar Pine Park, but yesterday my husband and I were tuckered out so we pretty much sat around and read our books all day. We hope to get out more today, but my goodness the weather has had a major turn. It only got up to 52 on Monday!

In our rental, Archie spends most of his time looking out the windows. I think he's loved being included on our family trip but will be glad when we go home where he knows what will happen next. I think he is enjoying the experience, but as you can see from his body language, he is reserved in his approval. He is a cautious fellow and is restrained in his enthusiasm for new things. He would accompany us anywhere, but would he rather be at home? Probably.

 

 

Cabins in the Woods

I've been having fun this week making these easy house and tree blocks. This project is enjoyable and fast and I can't wait to get the blocks together for a seasonal table runner for late summer and early fall. I have a hall table that will be the perfect spot for this directional runner. The pattern is Base Camp by Sweetwater and the fabric is Timber, also by Sweetwater.

I did bring out a tool I don't often use to make these blocks. That is the Mini Simple Folded Corners Ruler by Doug Leko. It was just what I needed to make the roof units for the house blocks.

Working on this table runner has definitely put me in the mood for my short getaway to Lake Tahoe. We leave Sunday for a few days and I can't wait for the cooler temperatures, the fresh air, and most of all, the Lake!

Here is an update on my Halloween Memories project. Each day I try to make one or two more of these blocks, and as you can see it is coming along.

That's all I have for now. Time to get ready for my little getaway to the mountains. Hope you all haave a great weekend. I will try to post some photos of Archie on his very first vacation with his family!

 

 

New Project with Sweetwater Fabric

I mentioned a few posts ago that I was planning a new project. It is a small one, just a table runner, but I am in love with the fabric collection and the pattern. 

The fabric is a line called Timber by Sweetwater, with lovely golds, greens and blacks in a national park/camping theme. The pattern is also by Sweetwater, and is called Base Camp. The pattern features trees and cabins. Super simple construction, that a beginner could do easily. I love the way the cabins look like they are nestled in the woods. I can imagine myself in one of the cabins on the lake, slipping my coffee at dawn, looking out at my boat at the dock, imagining a day of fishing. Or more like it, floating in the boat reading a book.

I did get a few blocks made. I won't be making too many more, because I envision this runner on my hall table, which is not super long. I will probably do two rows as shown at the bottom of the quilt on the pattern cover. Eight houses, six trees.


I can't wait to send this out for quilting. It will be wonderful on my table next October and November.

Hope your week is going well. We have plans for a little getaway for part of next week, which will be nice. Lake Tahoe is calling to us and we found an Air B&B that is pet-friendly, so Archie will get to come with us!

New Ironing Board Cover

Another thing I did last weekend was to recover my ironing board table surface. The previous fabric I chose was not working out at all. It was a beige toile print that showed every dribble, stain, and goo that came out of my iron. It really looked awful and was frankly depressing to look at. I got the new piece of fabric all cut out to the right size and my husband wielded the staple gun, which is always a challenge for me. I am thrilled with how it turned out.

If you are curious about the ironing table, it is a metal shelf unit we got at Lowe's. My husband cut it down to ironing table height for me. We got a piece of particle board (also from Lowe's) and I covered it with batting and fabric which we stapled down all around. I am now on my second board (the one underneath warped, but I still kept it under the new board). There must be six or seven layers of fabric covering the two boards. 

The fabric is what is called a "Cheater" fabric. It looks like a patchwork quilt, but those nine patches are just printed onto the fabric. It would make a great backing. The fabric is part of the Denim and Daisies collection that Fig Tree recently released for Moda Fabrics. One nice thing about it is that at 60" it is wider than the average 45" fabric we typically get. Which makes it ideal for backing a smaller quilt. I ordered my yardage from the Fat Quarter Shop. 

Did you buy any of this collection? I just loved it and couldn't resist getting the whole bundle. I love those blues and oranges. I have no idea what I'll do with it, but it could be a great choice for a sampler sew-along. For now, I will just hoard it, and pet it from time to time. 

If you go to Instagram and check out Susan Vaughan at The Felted Pear, she is using this fabric group to make the Halloween Memories quilt. Her blocks are just stunning. 

If you invested in this fabric bundle as I did, what is your plan for it?