Sister's Choice Quilts

Miles of Binding to Sew

These are five of eight quilts that are patiently waiting for me to sew down their bindings. I am one of those people who hates sewing bindings, so I put it off as long as I can. One of my problems is that I don't want to sit around and waste time during the day doing it. I would much rather do this type of hand sewing in the evening in front of the TV. Except I can't see to do it. 

Over the past few years, as my cataracts have developed, I have found that I need more and more light to see things properly. My table lamps just don't put out enough light for me. When I do any sort of hand sewing, I like to go outside if possible and sew in bright daylight. This works fine for me for nine months out of the year, but right now it isn't very nice for sitting outside.

So, look at this cool neck light I purchased from Amazon. I heard it recommended for reading on a book podcast I was listening to. The wheels started turning and I thought "Ah-ha. I could use this for hand sewing". I think it will also be great for reading a physical book in my bed, as well as for knitting. It is supposed to be delivered this week, and I will be sure to let you know how it works.

I guess I can put off doing those bindings for a few more days?

Spools Sew Along Friday Update and a Small Rant

Well, I haven't made much progress on my Spools projects since my post on Wednesday, but I did get a picture from Stephani, who is sewing along with us.  This is what she shared:

Cute little guys, aren't they?  Sorry, I couldn't seem to enlarge the photo, but aren't her colors fresh?

The reason I haven't been getting much done the past couple of days is because my husband, in his infinite wisdom, made the decision to cancel Grandpa's morning caregiver.  He has had one caregiver come in the morning, who got him up and breakfasted, made his lunch, and tidied up the cottage.  She also did things like make sure the air conditioner is turned to "cool" so it doesn't get to be 90 degrees in his cottage during our hot days.  But she is just a memory now.  I am the new "morning girl" it seems.  We still have the woman who comes in the evening (my savior), who cooks his dinner, gets him showered and does some light housekeeping for him.  I say a prayer for her every night.  Stay healthy, be happy, keep coming.

We will give this new system a try, but I tell you, it isn't easy to get his morning chores done with Baby E on my hip.  Talk about a handicap.  "Oh, you don't have to do that", my husband tells me.  Right.  Honestly.  He is 150 miles away all week.  He has NO idea what goes on here.   Between feeding baby her breakfast and her morning nap, we bomb over to Grandpa's and get the job done there.  Yesterday while I washed his kitchen floors, made his lunch and filled his hummingbird feeder, Evangeline pulled all his dvds out of his bookcase and all the cushions off his sofa.  It was 10:30 in the morning.  And when I had the lunch all made, Grandpa said, "But I already ate".  What?  You ate your lunch before 10:30 AM?  Grandpa, are you losing your marbles? Ack.  But don't feel sorry for me.  (Yes.  Do.  I am having a "who's in charge here" moment).

They don't call my generation "the sandwich generation" for nothing.  We've got the grandbabies and we've got the aged parents, and sometimes we have to dig deep for those inner resources to keep on going.

Honestly, I didn't mean to go all on a rant.  But that's my life right now.  I shouldn't get personal in my blog I suppose, but now you all know me just a little bit more.  And besides, I have a couple of vacations planned this month and next, and will they ever appreciate me when I am gone.  (Evil laugh, heh heh heh).

Here is something fun I worked on this week in my spare moments--

 Eyeglass cases!

Zippy cosmetics bags!

And a zippy lap top bag that is going to Ireland!

 

 

 

 

New Fabric from Illinois and Wisconsin

Of course I did a bit of shopping while on the trip to Illinois!  I will be starting up some new projects over the next few months, some in conjunction with Thelma and Lisa.  We ended up buying the same kits!

I am so excited about my new fabrics.  I seem to have focused on the Civil War reproductions that we don't see a lot of in our shops here in California.  When I got home, I was inspired to reorganize my stash closet in my sewing room, in order to place the newly acquired things front and center.  Before I did that though, I forced myself out into the garage where I keep my bins of excess fabric stored.  Glory be, if I didn't have an entire tub marked Civil War Fabrics.  I tell you, I felt like I had discovered buried treasure.  Shop at home Friends.  You just never know what you might already have on hand.

Look at all these rusts, golds, greens and browns! I think they are left overs from my Birdseye quilt.

And Holy Moly, check out the pinks and greens.  I know I had a project in mind for these once upon a time, but I guess I will have to go back to the drawing board.

I spent two entire days ironing, folding and organizing these fabrics.

Now for the new stuff!  Just an aside regarding the fabric we bought.  You know we all worship anything by Moda, but I think it is very important to keep in mind that there are scads of fabulous fabrics coming out by designers who work for other companies.  Marcus Brothers, Andover, Windham, Free Spirit, and Henry Glass, just to name a few.  So, don't have such a narrow focus that all these other lovely lines pass under your radar.

Lisa, Thelma and I all bought the fabrics on the left.  Be on the lookout for a blue, cream and brown quilt from each of us in the not so distant future!  I must have felt that blues and browns were under represented in my stash, because the stack on the right found its way home with me.  See the pattern on the left?  That is my plan for those fabrics.  The pattern on the right is just one I had on hand that seems to fit right in with all these great fabrics.

Thelma and I flipped over these Renee Nannemann fabrics from the Home to Roost collection for Andover.  We got to see the quilt in person too!  The greens show up better in the picture below.  Just the right amount of applique to keep things interesting, don't you think?  The book is a companion to the fabric collection and is called Home to Roost by Renee Nannemann.

Thelma and I agreed that it just isn't possible to have too many reds on hand.  We found ourselves picking out fabulous reds and then searching for fabrics to go with them.

 

I will be at home sewing for the foreseeable future.

Purple

I am so in the mood to make a purple quilt.  I think every five to ten years a person needs to explore the purple side of their personality.  I have made several purple quilts in my life, and I love them all dearly.  If you haven't embraced purple, you surely must consider it.  Here is one of my purple quilts.

So, this is what I am thinking of doing.  I have a pattern by Miss Rosie's Quilt Company called Ashcombe.

So, here are two questions--Assuming that I go with doing an all purple quilt, which version is best?  The larger squares that show off the individual fabrics, or the pieced block version?  Would the blocks with more piecing be interesting, or distracting from the fabric?

The Girls Had Fun

My daughter Sara is going on vacation to Hawaii in a few weeks.  The purpose of the trip is for her and her husband to attend the wedding of some very dear friends, but if anyone I know needs a vacation, it is Sara.  I won't go into all the details, but suffice to say, a relaxing trip to a tropical destination is just the Rx that girl should be prescribed.

The challenge is, she needs vacation clothes, and is on a budget.  I still had some Talbots bucks leftover from my stint there, and went shopping for some fun basic bottoms for her---black capris, white capris, roll up cuff jeans, a denim skirt.  Then we shopped my closet, which often leads to interesting finds--a cute blouse, a couple of light weight cardigans, a perfect little black and white cotton jacket.  I am so good at basics.

Sara arrived Saturday night, and we had a mini shopping spree/try on in my bedroom.  Everything I had purchased worked!  However, the pizzazz factor was missing.  The next day, Sunday, we headed off to the mall in Monterey for pops of color to make these basic pieces come alive.  All the young, fun pieces a girl her age needs.

The top shown below goes with the black or the white capris, can be topped with a black or aqua cardigan, and worn with either the black or silver flats.  Love it.  Basics give you options girls.  Add in a fun trendy piece to your basics and you are good to go.

 

We had SO much fun shopping.  She got a few tops and a couple of pairs of flats, and now has her vacation/Spring/Summer wardrobe.  She will be starting a new job next week and since the environment is casual, she will be all set for work as well.  I missed my calling.  I want to be a personal shopping consultant.

My schedule is back to normal this week, so I should be able to venture into my messy sewing room and show you a few things I have been working on.  Hope you all had a great weekend!

A Bit of Sewing, A Bit of Shopping

It was a perfect weekend, with time for sewing, time for shopping, and time socializing with the family.  I worked on the blocks for the quilt I am making out of the Patisserie jelly roll.  I would have finished them I think, but I made a discovery that bummed me out, so I quit.  Remember me saying that when I was cutting out the fabric it was after work and after half a glass of chardonnay?  And how I cut all my 2 1/2 inch squares instead of leaving them in strips so I could strip piece them?  I discovered that I also cut some of my green block surrounds a quarter inch too short.  I had to order fat quarters of the three that I had ruined so I would have enough green in the quilt top.  Honestly.

Remember in high school in Drivers Ed how they would show movies of people who had had just a teensy bit of alcohol and how it affected their driving?  They would give these poor schmucks one beer and see how they did on an obstacle course.  Even with a minimum of alcohol their coordination and judgment was impaired and they all knocked down the obstacle course cones.  So you think you are just fine after a tiny bit of beer or wine?  Hah. 

It is the same with sewing friends, don't drink and drive your Bernina.  Or even worse, don't drink and use your rotary cutter.  That is a disaster waiting to happen.  I didn't cut myself, but I sure did make a lot more mistakes that I normally do when I am cutting out fabric.  Lesson learned.

I ordered a bit of something from Fatquartershop.com a week ago.  I just couldn't resist these green batiks.  They are the prettiest sagey color with darker brown contrast.  No clue what to do with them, but they are getting a lot of petting while I mull it over.

Hope you will check in tomorrow for my third Tuesday Sale.  I will post at 8:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time.  There might be something there for you!

Now, That's What I'm Talkin' About

 

Packaging is everything. 

I ordered this piece of fabric from an online shop I had never heard of, Z & S Fabrics, in Denver, Pennsylvania.  My selection criteria was pretty basic.  I wanted this particular fabric and they were the first shop I found online who had it.  Simple as that.

Here is where things started getting personal.  My order was placed on Monday, was mailed on Monday (USPS Priority), was received by me on Wednesday, and was packaged as you see above.

Will I remember Z & S Fabrics the next time I want to make an online order?  Definitely.  You betcha.

Check them out.  They offer outstanding service, have a good inventory and seem like real nice people!