Inspiration

Vintage home and garden fabric from 1979

Inspiration to create something, anything has been coming in spurts.  I realize now that you must take it while you can.  This is my last weekend of work for a month, as my bosses are taking a vacation, so I've been slowly getting my WIPS organized and hoping that some of that inspiration comes when I have time to actually play. 

new sham style covers for the couch. 

 This couch is almost 8 years old and definitely showing it's age.  It has been well worn, loved and jumped on, but  I couldn't stand the stains on the cushions anymore. Unfortunately my budget doesn't allow for a new couch, and I can't stand the ready made slipcovers  that are guaranteed to fit ( yeah right) I whipped these up out of the fabric I had on hand.  The bluebird fabric came from curtains that hung in the window of the house my parents bought.  The selvedge said 1979 and they probably hung in the window that long.  I do plan on redoing the middle cushion as I'm finding not having all three match distracting.

 

This rug is my current obsession Using different mediums , fabric and rope and seeing how they blend together.     Up until now i  have only used the toothbrush technique in making my rugs.  I found a video tutorial on how to crochet  them in half the time it takes me.  I had no idea how to crochet but have wanted to learn for a while now.  My sister recommended the book Simple Crochet by Erica Knight and I have been poring trough it practicing my stitches.  All the fabric is crocheted, and the roping is crocheted and then weaved in toothbrush style.  I'm happy with the results, especially after pulling the rope out and doing it again a few times as the tension was all wrong. This one may be another biggie 5' or 6' feet round. Slow and steady . :)

Take care,
Kendra.

Whew, Still trying to get back.

2 inch  rainbow squares Crib quilt machine stiched and quilted with a crosshatch.

Toothbrush (weave) Basket

Whirlygig Doll blanket in Bright pink.
Machine stitched and hand tied.

Whirlygig Doll Quiilt
Machine stiched and hand tied with Chenille backing

Vintage strawberry shortcake custom curtains for the girl's room.

Custom panel shorts made from old jeans and canvas ticking for the boy.

Custom shorts made from twill pants  for the boy.

Take care,

Hey...

 I have no real reason for neglecting my blog lately.  I'm not going to make excuses and say I was too busy.  I was but could have taken a few minutes to update and show off some pictures.  My lists of to dos just kept getting longer and longer and I was overwhelmed.  My fight or flight response was flight...  oh well, I'm here now and have some finishes.

 I was hoping to join in the fun at i'm a ginger monkey in the "scrap vomit" quilt a long, but the perfectionist in me couldn't wrap my brain about using so many different colors of 2.5 inch squares that may or may not look good together.  I couldn't take so much time working on a quilt only to hate it in the end.  I did still , and still am, using the scraps but in a way that I can deal with the chaos, yet still have some control.  both of the above quilts are quilted and tied.

 I also utilized my scraps in making quilted journal covers for Christmas gifts this year.

 I recently got Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts: and  have most of the supplies listed in this book for various projects, but I really enjoyed the chapter on patchwork quilts.   I especially like the tied quilts as it reminds me of my childhood.  Growing up we had many blankets, some quilts,  and afghans that were made by my dad's mother.  It still amazes me especially now that I'm making them myself, that she did it blind.   I can't imagine how she was able to manuever though and complete some of the smallest details, but she did.  I never paid attention to those things when I was a kid or when she was still alive, I think I could have learned alot from her had it not been for my snotty disposition and my teenage angst.

 We still have few of those blankets, my son has one on his bed and has loved it an and cuddled it and picked at some of the tufts, so I was happy to have a very detailed diagram thanks to Miss Martha, on how to execute  the  perfect  French knot.  In doing so I realized how much I too loved those tied blankets and picked at those same tufts as a kid while I read  in that big  overstuffed chair at the old farm.  I decided to follow the pattern for the basic patchwork quilt on page 66, but using all of those 2.5 inch squares I had cut.  I first arranged them in a basic nine patch and then sewed them together and just kept going.  I have been following my " Use what you got rule"  and have come up with some great variations, forcing myself to think outside of the box.

 More finishes that were gifted:

                              

Paintbox scrappy quilt.

 This quilt was started last March and finally finished.   It measures 49 x 52 inches.  This is a summer weight quilt lined with flannel. 

  I lined the back with primary colors from my scrap stash and used binding that I had made from the backing.  

The quilting was a spiral square within each square.

I'm switching camps.

My good friend's facebook status this morning said "Hi everybody! Do y'all have your slickers and galoshes ready? '"


Ugh... It is rainy and nasty plus I'll need them for the rain and my tears. I finally have finished my Scrappy star quilt I started back in March of this year; one I was hoping to sell. I knew that there was the possibility that the colors may bleed, since it they did on my wedding star pillow for Chanel, and the "Hanna quilt” and researched what to do before washing. I had read that you can add a cup full of vinegar to your cold wash water or there is a product you can buy to set it, but it is extremely messy and time consuming. So I said a prayer and crossed my fingers hoping for the best and added the vinegar. It didn't work. Let's do some math...time on quilt, 120 hours + bleeding dyes in a 12 minute wash cycle = oh f*%k.


The water's gonna be deep today.


I saw some bleeding and instantly felt my heart sink. Brody being the greatest, ran down to the store and got some Oxiclean, thinking I could soak it and get the dye stains out. It soaked for a few hours. All, save one barely noticeable spot, came out. I immediately went and found the culprit in my stash cursing and muttering”I never want to see you again!" as I walked it to the trash. So as the title states, I’m switching camps.

To which camps am I referring? Well the pre-wash fabric vs. no prewashing fabric camps, silly. I had read the opinions of various quilters in blog land and firmly planted myself on the no prewashing fabric side of the fence. I'd spend the time making the quilt, bind it and eagerly wait for it to wash and dry to see the finished product, all the while hoping for the best. After these two rounds of waiting and hoping for the best knowing full well that my soon to be finished "paint box quilt," will likely bleed as well, well...my stomach hurts just thinking about it. I am planting myself firmly on the other side of the fence now and making a declaration today. I will ALWAYS prewash my scraps or fabrics, especially those that are of questionable origin, before going through this again!


Anyway after starting this 8 months ago, it's finished. It measure in at 47 1/2 inches by 32 inches. It was machine pieced, with machine and hand quilting with some decorative double whipped embroidery in the center of each star. I will be listing it on etsy for sale in the next couple days.
Editted to add: This is winter weight, 100% cotton batting.

 

Take care,

Been quiet on the blog....

because...

New (recycled) kitchen towels and washcloths.

Appliqued beach and bath towels.

 much needed ORGANIZATION

planting and repotting.

 pot holder 2 swap.

finishing baby quilt gift.

and ... a whole lot of beach days.

with NO MORE WHEELCHAIR!!!!!!!!

or shoes for that matter.

 

the Easter bunny. Kaiya had no interest again this year.

singing and swinging.

 and Jamie Cullum.  If you don't know who he is, you should.

 I'm still trying to get things finished/ sorted /sent/ freecycled or tossed and found I get more done * suprise*  if the computer/TV isn't turned on. 

Take care,