Sunday, July 22, 2012

I survived the Titanic and became a seamstress....

You're thinking...what? has she lost her mind!?!

Well it is a little stretch of the imagination, but today my family and I went to the Titanic Exhibition at the Henry Ford Museum ... http://www.thehenryford.org/events/titanic.aspx

Upon entering, we were handed a boarding pass of a real person who was on the Titanic and you wouldn't know until the end  of the tour whether you survived or not.  



Well, I was Emily Goldsmith and I did survive and ended up settling in Detroit (I live in the suburbs of Detroit) and I would become a seamstress (which I guess you could call me that especially since I just finished making my youngest daughter her kitchen valance)



Here's a shot of the valance with a peek at the hemmed lining.  It's a simple valance, but I designed it with a hemmed lining and it is going to gather onto her rod.....hopefully.  The bad thing about this particular job was that she bought fabric that was outdoor fabric and it was like working with cardboard.  So, I am hoping it fits, but I am telling her no more outdoor fabric or I am not doing it. 

Anyways, I just thought it was so apropos with the  coincidences of Emily Goldsmith and me.  

If this exhibit comes to your area, I would highly suggest it.  It was really good and to see some of the artifacts just made it seem so real and tangible.  

Ok...back to my quilting, yeah!  

Friday, July 20, 2012

Swoon is a flimsy.....

Don't know why, but this one gave me some trouble, but finally it is a quilt top.

.

I had ideas of grandeur that this one was going to get all done while at retreat last month, but no way.  I did more ripping out on this quilt than any that I can remember.  

Maybe it is because I have been in applique mode for so many months and not piecing anything, or maybe at retreat I was just talking and laughing too much.  But now I can say that this one is done and is going on the "to be quilted" pile for a little while.  



I have thought of buying one of the wovens  for the backing, but I did that for my Beyond the Cherry Trees and my quilter said it was very stretchy and took a lot of time to continually smooth it out, so...I am going to have to see what the French General line has to offer. Maybe something from the new line that is coming out will work  

Well, I feel good.  Now I have promised myself to get to the houndstooth baby quilt and get that top done next....but my daughter has asked for a valance for her kitchen, so maybe that will have to be first. That should be easy enough and then I can get back to my things again.  

Happy quilting!!!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Progressing.....

I had hoped to be further along, but life gets in the way sometimes, but at least I have the rows together on the Swoon quilt. 


All the other sashes are cut and ready to go.  I just need to do some measuring before cutting and it will  be a complete quilt top in no time.  

Also, added a little applique to the one Swoon block that just wasn't cutting it for me, but rather than throw it away, I thought I would add this little heart and stitch it up as an NICU quilt.



I think this block can stand on its own now.  It just didn't work in the quilt with the group. 

NICU quilts usually have to be around 22 inches.  This one measures 24 right now, but by the time I quilt is and wash it, it may be closer to the 22 inches in the end.  Either way, I am happy it has been repurposed.  

Placed an order with the Fat Quarter Shop on-line for my binding for the Cherry Tree quilt.  I didn't have enough scraps in my stash to do a respectable binding, so I have ordered just one more French General fabric so that I can finish that quilt.  

Hope to have more to report very soon.  Keep cool wherever you are.  It was only 101 degrees here today!   




Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Cherry Tree and Swoon


In 100 degree weather I talked my husband and one of my sons-in-law to hold up my quilt.  It doesn't have it's binding on yet, but this is to give you a good look at the whole thing quilted.  I'll think about binding it  when it's not so sweltering. 


Here's a closer look at the quilting. 

Also, today, I finished up my last block for Swoon.


....and here are all nine laid out.


They still need sashing, but at least all the blocks are done now.  

Happy Fourth of July!!!



Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Cherry Tree quilt is back from the quilter....

It's late and dark, the quilt weighs a ton and I don't have help to hold it up, so I will just post a couple pictures that the quilter sent to me in my e-mail earlier today. 




This one is the backing which shows of the quilting very nicely.


Tomorrow when I can get some help holding this quilt up and there is some sunshine so that I can take a really good picture, I will post again.  

Right now, I am happy to have this one back in my own hands.  I was actually having separation anxiety  after working on this for 2 1/2 years and then having to send it off to the quilter for just one month.  

Stay tuned.  

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Swoon block 6,7,8 and 9





Swoon only requires nine blocks, so you would think I was done, but no....I absolutely hate one of the blocks that I made, so I have cut out another one to replace it.  Ran out of time today, so hopefully I can put it together tomorrow night or the next day. 

The block that I don't like didn't have enough contrast from the star and the background. 


So my thought is I am going to applique a red heart in the center of the star and sew this up as a NICU quilt and donate it.  I think that might just work.  

I will update you on the replacement block and then it shouldn't be long before I have a completed top. 

Feels good!!!

Michigan quilters, take note

  Come see us at our first Quilter's to Quilter's sale.   Don't know what that is?  Well, it will be 28 quilters/vendors selling...