Last day of February!

I've been very busy, just like everyone else in the world, and have not stopped to post to the blog world. So, I thought I'd give it a shot this morning. You know I always have this list of things, the list is in my head, of what needs to accomplished....I probably should write this list down...except it always occurs to me when I am asleep! It wakes me up! This is not good....



sorry so dark, I turned the flash off



I've noticed my eye is back to twitching. I need to go to the doctor about this. It may just be that I'm tired...I'll buy that....I also need to go for an eye exam...but I don't care for that when they blow the air into your eye! and dilate (spelling?). Last time that happened I got an amazing headache! I really need new glasses, it is getting harder to see things that are close up...I'm having to hold things further away...my arms are not that long! LOL



I have to tell you about my newest purchase! I bought the "Nearly Insane" book and "The Farmer's Wife"!! I'm more in love with "The Farmer's Wife"!!

I plan on beginning the little 6" quilt blocks this week.

I have a client's quilt on the longarm machine. This was her first time piecing a seminole border and honestly, that can be hard because of all the bias...and this is a big quilt. There is some fullness...honestly, lots of fullness...so I had to call her to let her know that quilt needs to be repaired before I can continue. I gave her two options and lets pick which ever suits her best. She opted for me to do the repair. I've made one of these quilts before so I know how to deal with the bias pieces....thank goodness this is not a rush job....so I will repair the quilt put it back on the machine and she will have a beautiful quilt. All will be happy in the quilt world.

Also, last Monday I watched Fons and Porter. The assembled a block from a quilt that was published in a 1999 issue of "Love of Quilting". The quilt was named Memories, but that is not the name of the block. The block resembles a Maltese Cross. They gave a few dimensions and walla I figured it out. I've made two blocks...here it is:

Maltese Cross, I love this block!

OH! I almost forgot! I was able to put the border on my Friendship Rings quilt, the blue and green version. Hopefully, Carroll at the Village quilt shop will be able to hang it up in place of the black and tan one. I need to run up to the shop and pick that one up. Still needs more quilting and bound! Which reminds me. I need to piece my Hopkins Square quilt. I'm teaching it next Tuesday.....Got to get busy!

Now I can't forget to post about this! The other night, a little after 10pm, I was in bed watching tv and my husband walks in. He is getting ready for bed and he heard a noise...I did not hear it, but he ran to the window....someone in a HUMMER (H2), was driving too fast down our road and drove into our yard...the roads were icey and snowy...maybe you should slow down hummer or not!  My husband heard their tire blow!! You see, we have small/medium size boulders at the edge of our yard by the road...why you say? so people won't drive into our yard and tear up the lawn. This is the 2nd time this week we have had someone miss the road...hmmm....anyway, they blew their tire because their hummer could not make it over the boulder.....they drove down into our yard and back up on the road...there they stopped....I'm sure they said a few choice words...called a tow truck....and off they went about 2 hours later.  I kind of feel sorry for them, but not totally....oops....oh well, people slow down up here...it is winter and I don't care what you drive .... your vehicle can and will slide on ice...ice does not care what you drive....

Well, I hope I remembered to post everything that I had intended.....I will figure it out later!! LOL....

Happy quilting everyone!

Double Dutch

Good morning world, we have snow on the ground. Last week the snow melted! It was wonderful seeing grass, some people don't understand that concept...seeing grass is great. I stopped to get the mail yesterday, reached out of my truck (no snow at this moment), grabbed the mail, came back into the truck, looked up to begin driving towards home and "Whoa! It is snowing..man is it snowing!" It happened that fast! We have at least 6 inches on the ground. I'm glad I had no where else to go!
Saturday I had my sewing buddies over. I love having them over. Helen was able to attend, we have not seen her in over 8 months! We all worked on our own projects. I was able to work on my double dutch quilt. And yesterday I was able to finish putting the borders on. Now I have to put the ric-rac on 3 other sides and walla she is finished. I truly did not want the quilt to turn out as "pink" as it did. I was going for a more spring green look, but alas I did not have the fabric to create that look. I used what I had.
So, tell me what you think:

Double Dutch



Double Dutch with ric-rac on one side
of border...still need to add to the other 3 sides




Just another view of double dutch

 Before I forget, my bestest buddy came over to help me clean up my sewing room on Friday! That would be Dawn. We had a great time! I will have to remember what she continued to tell me as we were cleaning up my sewing room, "you don't need to go out shopping for fabric, you need to shop in Nancy's Sewing room" That would be my sewing room!! LOL She has a great point! Thanks Dawn for helping me!

Spring, oh Spring...where are you?

OH when is spring going to get here? This past weekend I really had a hard time getting warm! I was cold to the bone!!
Last night was guild meeting night. I love seeing everyone's work! Makes me want to come home and sew, then I step out of the meeting to the outside air and just want to run back inside the building! I am not dealing well with this winter. We had our "garage sale" night. I purchased a Jim Shore quilting angel. I collect them. I placed her on one of my antique sewing machine tables. She fits perfectly there. I will have to take a picture of her tomorrow when I have more time.
I'm working on my double pinwheel project but I'm going to name it something else...can't remember what I named it either...I wrote it out on a pad of paper in my sewing room....which of course is not with me. oh well.
Today is our homeschool co-op day. It is more work than I am willing to put into it. For some reason I just don't want to do this any more. But I am committed to next year...I hope my attitude changes....Steve will graduate next school year and then John is only 3 years after him. Wow, that really isn't long...
Time to go...just a little post, hopefully I will have my project pictures up soon.
Take care and happy quilting.

Just figured out 2 things today!!

Today I figured out how to use my kodak camera. I take pictures often of my quilting (piecing and machine quilting). Often though I will not post my pictures, or at least close ups, because the quality of the picture is poor. My fault for not reading the instructional manual.
Second thing I figured out was how to make a double pinwheel using my Easy Angle ruler. This quilt block was inspired by a clients quilt on the longarm machine. I put the quilt on the machine last night. I just stood there and thought, I'm gonna figure this one out. Why did I not just go buy the book? I looked for the Double Pinwheel (Quilt in a day book by Eleanor Burns) at JoAnn's...not there....not a the local quilt shops either. I've asked a few friends about it, they did not own it either. I really did not have the $$'s to order the book...this was our mortgage paycheck (not much left after the mortgage is paid)...and most of  you would agree that out of a need comes a necessity...one to figure things out for myself! LOL
So here is what I did. Basically, I'm giving anyone that would like the  instructions on how to make this block. If you don't have the Easy Angle ruler, you can purchase one at your local fabric store or online. Or maybe you use what you have at home!! The angle is a 45degree.
Cut 1- 2 1/2" x wof each of a light and dark fabric. Sew these two strips together down the width of fabric to make your first strip set. Each strip set makes 2 double pinwheel blocks.


1)Begin with two color strip set



2) Fold strip set onto itself, remove selvege edge



4) Use Easy Angle Ruler, line up at 4 1/2" line and cut on angle




3) flip ruler, notice black tip of ruler is resting on bottom of strip, cut on straight side of ruler...flip and cut...continue this down the strip of fabric



5) Open up your first set of triangles.  You want to place your fabrics like I have in picture. Same colors should not touch.





6) Here is one block with all 8 units



7) Fold right side of unit onto left side of unit and sew on the angle



8) This is where I learned how to use my camera!!
LOL I'm chain piecing here



9) This is my chain piece separater. I have my seam ripper held in place by a square of fabric. I hold the chains in my hands, placing the thread that joins the units on to the seam ripper and giving a slight tug down the thread gets cut..continue down the chain



10) Here you join the units to make the
top half and bottom half.
press the seams open



11) almost done!!! Sew these together, press open



12) Look! You are done!! Block 1 complete.

Remember, each strip set makes 2 complete blocks. I hope you like the double pinwheel block! I think I'm gonna make some more.
I don't know if there is another name for this block, I can't find one in my book of blocks. My block size is 8 1/2inches....
By the way: I was teaching at the lqs this past Saturday and someone stole my "quilter" front license plate off my truck. I'm slightly ticked about this!! Why oh why would someone steal this?
Happy quilting!

Friendship Rings is finally ready!!

I finally finished writing my first pattern!! But not without the help of my quilting buddy, Dawn!! Thank you Dawn!
Today I'm teaching at the Village Quilt Shoppe in Lake Orion...and I'm teaching my quilt!! WOOHOO!!


Friendship Rings 2011

I've changed the cover for the pattern(only to resemble the correct name of the quilt), this is the one that is in "my pictures" file. Soon I hope to have everything up for ordering. That will be later, presently, I have to go get all my things ready for teaching today. The pattern is for a lapsize quilt, but I've made in two other sizes: king and twin. The king was a doozy!! I will have the larger sizes available....I believe the king you need around 95 blocks! phew that is a big'en!
Happy Quilting everyone!!