Sister's Choice Quilts

Under the Deep Blue Sea

I have really switched gears with my Neptune quilt.  I started out with the idea that I would use mostly medium and dark fabrics, and not add in a lot of contrasting lights.  That was ok, but well, sorta dark overall.

Then my fabric guru suggested that maybe the addition of some lights would really add something nice to the mix.  And she kindly sent me a collection of six or seven mini polka dot fabrics to try out with my Nepture fabric.

Once I started playing with the fabrics, I discovered I much preferred the blocks with the lighter contrasting polka dots.  I ended up making many more blocks than the pattern called for, which gives me lots of options as to my layout.

I played around all day and stopped with this-- It isn't final by any means, but you get the idea of what the overall look will be.

One thing I learned is that I really do need a design wall.  I am assigning my husband that task, so we shall see what he comes up with. 

Anyway, I love the predominantly light "backgrounds", but think it is really interesting to mix up the placement of the "lights" and "darks" in the blocks.  Plus, I like the look of tossing in a low contrast darker block (a red/blue or a green/aqua) here and there for some spice.

I am going to pick up all these blocks, which are now spread out on the bed in the guest room, mix them up really well, and start all over again with my layout in a week or so.  Why do I have to wait a week?  Because I ran out of material for the setting triangles and had to order some online!  Blah.  I hate that.   

Speaking of ordering fabric online, and because I am feeling chatty, I want to share a recent experience with you.  If you don't like complaining or ranting of any kind, stop reading now.

I went online searching for some fabric that I had not bought enough of, but wanted to get before it was completely gone from the planet.  The fabric was the French map fabric from one of the Fig Tree groups.  Patisserie, I think.  I found  a shop that claimed they had 5 yards of it.  Sarah's Fabrics in Lawrence, Kansas.  I ordered it and paid with my credit card.  Full price, not on sale.

Then I got an email from the shop owner, saying they only had 2 1/4 yards, did I want that?  Guess they don't update their website all that frequently.  I would hate to think that they advertise that they have more of a certain fabric on purpose, but now I am not so sure.  I said I would take the lesser amount, and to please credit my card.

Oh, no, sorry, said the shop owner.  Can't do that.  Would you like to order something else, since your card has already been charged for 5 yards of fabric?  Um, no, I would not.  After some argument, she said "We will issue you a refund check".  Huh?  If you can take my card for a purchase why can't you take the same card for a refund?

Shop owner emails me back to say fabric has been sent, refund check will follow "shortly".  This was May 30. 

I received the fabric promptly, but it has been 10 days and there is no sign of a refund check.  So I emailed the owner again, who I had been corresponding with.  She said she was "on vacation", and no one else at the shop had the authority to issue a refund check.  Then she proceded to *blame her staff* for not telling me she was on vacation and the check would be delayed.  Excuse me? 

So, I got cranky and emailed her that she was wrong to blame her staff, it was she herself who had been dealing with me, and she herself who indicated the refund would come "shortly", and she herself who made no mention of a delay due to any vacation.  And when the heck could I expect my refund?  And that they had misrepresented themselves with me from the get go.  And that in this economy, I was surprised that customer service was not a higher priority for their small business.  And that with all the fabric purchasing I do online, I have never experienced anything like this.

Guess what?  She emailed me back and said I should phone the shop and her staff will issue a refund to my credit card that I used to make the purchase in the first place.  She had originally stated she would refund a portion of the shipping charge as well, but now was not willing to do that.

Can you believe it?  Have you any argument in defense of this bone headed shop owner?  Please, if you can see her side of things in any way shape or form, explain it to me.

This and That

Gosh, I struck a nerve with my post yesterday.  Nobody likes spending a boatload of money on a quilt that has poorly written and non-tested instructions!  I think Lisa D hit the nail on the head when she said she suspected a lot of shops plan out their patterns on EQuilter and never bother to make a sample or test out the instructions.  I was surprised at how many of you told me that you had similar experiences with your Web Sampler projects.  The one I signed up for was two years ago in 2008.  I know they are still doing them and wonder if things have improved?

Di asked me if I had contacted the shop owner to give him/her my feedback.  I haven't.  Do you think that it is a good idea to do that, even after all that time?  I just figured that that particular shop wouldn't get any more of my business and that I would not be doing another Web Sampler.  Maybe money talks louder than words?

I do want to state emphatically that not all Block of the Month projects are like my Web Sampler experience.  I have participated in several BOMs that were sponsored by The Fatquartershop, and those projects have all been perfect.  Instructions written clearly, color pictures with each block so you don't get mixed up about what fabric to use where, perfect finishing kits.  And once, when I screwed up a block (no fault of the instructions, just me not paying attention) I blogged about my wasting the block fabric, and a Fatquartershop employee read my blog.  And emailed me to say she was sending me the materials to re-do the block.  Talk about service!  Will I do another BOM from Fatquartershop?  You betcha.  Those guys are beyond a doubt the very best at providing the quality fabric, patterns and tools that we all want, and their customer service is unparalleled.  I cannot say enough about how great that shop is!  I have done business with them for years and years and have never had the slightest problem.

Well.  I have been feeling better this week (Hallelujah!) and have gotten into my sewing room to make some assessments of the UFO situation.  I am uncovering a gold mine of hidden unfinished projects.  Look at this one!   Tip of the iceberg...

It is a summery April Cornell fabric from a year or so ago, and an adorable Schnibble called Four Corners!  I have most of the blocks made and could finish this up in an afternoon.  If I had one.  Anyway, how cute is that going to be as a summer picnic cloth?  Hey A Quilting Life and Pink Pincushion!  How about picking this pattern for one of your monthly A Year of Schnibbles so I can say I got one done?  lol

Just wait until tomorrow when I show you a another quilt project I started and put away!!  I actually made all the blocks, cute as can be, and never put the top together.  A color combination that is atypical of Nicole, but simply wonderful.  Very Parisienne, tres tres chic.

Hanging Head in Shame

My son discovered this quilt top in my sewing room and asked me why I hadn't had it quilted.  "Too many quilt tops, too little money" was my answer.  He said he would pay to have it quilted if he could give it to someone special in his life.  How could I say no to that?  I had made the quilt top about a year and a half ago, the summer I was unemployed and finishing up a quilt every Friday.  Check out my album of Friday Finishes on the right side bar.  That was a productive summer!  However, haste makes waste, as you will see.

I have been going to a certain quilt shop for my quilting for several years now.  They do a great job and I love getting in there to talk to the gals and do a bit of shopping.  However, due to my current work schedule, I have a hard time getting to my favorite quilt shop, which is closed on Sundays, my only free day to get up there to it.  It is also a long way from where I live.  So, this quilt has been sitting around for weeks waiting for me to buy backing and take it in for quilting.  Today was the day.  I took a half day off work and drove the 70 miles to the shop.  We laid the quilt out on the cutting table to measure it, and the lady who was helping me said, "Uh oh".  What?  What?  What's wrong?  Did my darn dogs chew a hole in it?

She then pointed out how my border was totally ripply.  Much too much fabric for the length of the sides and top/bottom of the quilt.  When quilted, it would be a rumpled mess of folded fabric and uneven stitching.   How did I do that?  What a bonehead, novice sort of thing to do.  And I was so embarrassed.  Here I am, supposedly an experienced quilter, and how in the heck did I manage to mess up such an elemental thing?  I have a reputation to uphold for goodness' sake. 

I was so humiliated I just folded up the quilt and said I would take it back home with me and remove the borders and sew them back on so they were flat and even.  My face was as red as this quilt as I drove home with the faulty quilt top.  I just cringe when I think about it.  Why hadn't I checked it first?  How did I miss that?

Well, I can fix it.  This has moved up to the top of my priority list.  And I will be darned if I made that mistake again. 

Look at the cute backing fabric I found--at least the 140 mile round trip wasn't a complete waste.

New Dress Code

These are my favorite summer shoes.  They are espadrilles made by Andre Assous, and have conformed themselves to my unique feet.  If I took them off, you can see the little depressions my toes have made in the bed of the shoes.  I love these little shoes.  They have adorable rope soles with just enough of a heel lift to look stylish, but still feel heavenly.  I can stand on my feet for 10 hours and my feet do not complain because they are snuggled gently within the pillowy wonderfulness of these shoes. 

I have always had Problem Feet.  About 15 years ago I had surgery to correct six hammer toes, which had made my life miserable since I was about 12 years old.  I had big gnarly knuckles on my very long toes, which rubbed on all my shoes and caused blisters, callouses and all sorts of other painful and unsightly foot issues.  My feet were quite unattractive and caused me a lot of discomfort.  The process of correcting the hammer toes involved taking the middle joint out of those poor six toes and fusing them together into straight little sausages.  Now those toes have a slightly pudgy and out of whack looking shape, but no more problems with the aforementioned afflictions.  I will never have beautiful feet, but what an improvement.  Six of my toes now have a faint scar, and do not bend anymore, but oh my goodness, what a blessing not to have pain in my toes from the misshapen mess my toes used to be.

Now I can wear cute shoes without incident.  I am even happy enough with my feet to show my toes, which in the past, I never would have done.  I can wear just about any style of shoe, and you all know how much I love my shoes. 

Working at retail means I have to be on my feet for extended periods of time.  Plus, since I am in Fashion Retail, I have to look Cute.  No clogs or clodhoppers for me.  These little black espadrilles have been my best friend this summer.  Until this weekend.

Talbots is changing its sales associate dress code.  We all gotta dress up more, doncha know?   As of September 1, no more sandals, no more open toed shoes.  No more cute comfortable espadrilles.  Oh no.

I don't actually have to wear heels, but I do need to wear attractive, stylish, closed toe shoes.  Ack.  My toes want to be Free.

Sophie update:  She is fine.  A little darker than usual, but fine.  We ended up not taking her to the groomer to have her fur shaved off.  The last bath seemed to have done the trick and she is not leaving oily tracks anymore.  A bit of oil must have gotten into one of her eyes, which was irritated for a day or so, but that has resoved itself too.  Did you read Susan's post today?  What is it about these fierce little dogs named Sophie?