Two Question Tuesday - 9/27/11

Two Question Tuesday – 9/27/11

Here's the deal - I really liked Mama M.'s Five Question Friday - but that's just too many questions for me.  So I'm going to do my version - and without the linky thingy.

I'll ask two questions and then give you my answers.  If you want to play - you can give me your answers in the comment section.  If you have a blog and would rather answer them there - just leave a link to your blog instead. I don't know how to do the "Linky" thing like Mama M. yet - and to be honest - I would rather sew than find out - so I'll do it this way until I figure it out.
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Two questions for you this Tuesday -

1.  Are you math-challenged?

2.  WARNING - This next question is a math problem - but please keep reading if you want to see/hear Grandson #3's answer.  ;))

If a bat and a ball together cost $1.10 and the bat costs $1.00 more than the ball – how much does the ball cost?

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1.  Are you math-challenged?
Not at all.  I LOVE MATH.  I think that there’s just something magical about numbers and how they work - they fascinate me.

2.  If a bat and a ball together cost $1.10 and the bat costs $1.00 more than the ball – how much does the ball cost?

Just so you know – I got it WRONG -
My brain instantly said – TEN CENTS -
It’s NOT ten cents.
That would make the bat cost $1.10 all by itself - 
and the bat and ball TOGETHER cost $1.10.
So it's NOT ten cents.

Again – just for fun –

I asked Grandsons #1 - #2 - and #3 what they thought the answer was -

#1 and #2 each thought the ball cost ten cents – same as me - 

#3 agreed – then said, “Plus tax!”

I laughed so hard - I damn near fell off my chair! 

As you already know -

#3’s brain doesn’t work quite the same as the rest of us –  ;))

I really can’t wait to see who/what he grows up to be!!

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OK - your turn.



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

P.S.  BOB will tell you the answer - here - if you want to know or even care.

QJ - Floral Applique - Part I-D

Design Wall Monday - 9/26/11

QUILT JOURNAL - Floral Applique - Part I-D

Then came -
Bird’s Nest with Roses – 
Here is the "Bird's Nest" part prepped for hand applique -

Leaves/Berries - 
I got the block cut out and prepped for hand appliqué -

and then I worked on the Irises -

Ellen helped me with the colors and shading of the petals -
The center of the one on the right is slightly padded - 

Close-up of the top left side -

There's another blue "rolled" bud -

The "over/under" part of this block was even more fun
than the Morning Glories - ;))

And the snail - don't forget the snail -

By the time I finished this block -

I had spent EIGHT months - 

Made FOUR blocks - 

And prepped TWO more.

I was TIRED of applique -

The rest of this sucker would have to wait until I retired –

So -

I stopped working on it in September 1997 - 

And I let it sit - 

QJ - Floral Applique - Part I-C

QUILT JOURNAL - Floral Applique - Part I-C

Then came the Daffodils -

Close-Up of the top section - 

The centers of the daffodils are "ruched" -

Close-up of the bottom section -

Close-up of the root section -

Those roots are only 1/8" wide -
(Way smaller than the stems on the Morning Glories) -

Two Question Tuesday - 9/20/11

Two Question Tuesday – 9/20/11

Here's the deal - I really liked Mama M.'s Five Question Friday - but that's just too many questions for me.  So I'm going to do my version - and without the linky thingy.

I'll ask two questions and then give you my answers.  If you want to play - you can give me your answers in the comment section.  If you have a blog and would rather answer them there - just leave a link to your blog instead. I don't know how to do the "Linky" thing like Mama M. yet - and to be honest - I would rather sew than find out - so I'll do it this way until I figure it out.
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Two questions for you this Tuesday -

1.  Do you believe in ghosts?
2.  If you remodeled your sewing room – would you want to mess it up sewing?

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1.  Do you believe in ghosts?
Yes.  Saw one once.  Called him Casper.  He was friendly.  ;))
(Inside joke for the baby boomers out there.)

2.  If you remodeled your sewing room – would you want to mess it up sewing?
Hmmmm.  I don't know.  That’s a tough one.  I would want to sew – but sewing is so messy sometimes.  I would really want to see the new room all “nice and pretty” for a while – and not all messed up.  But then again – the whole reason it was remodeled in the first place would have been to have a wonderful new sewing room -  and it would get messy eventually, right?  And if it got messy - it would still be fun to clean it all up again - I could play with my FABRIC!!  So – I don’t know.  Hmmmm.

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OK - your turn.



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

QJ - Floral Applique - Part I-B

Design Wall Monday - 9/19/11

Here's another part of what's on my wall today - 

The continuing saga of my Floral Applique -

QUILT JOURNAL - Floral Applique - Part I-B

Next - we worked on the Morning Glories - 

Close-up of the left side -
A little embroidery and some french knots in the center of the morning glory -

Close-up of the left/middle
Those bias stems are about 1/4" wide - 

More embroidery and french knots - 
The "over/under" part was fun - ;))

Close-up of the right side - 
Those buds are "rolled" -

There is still more to come -



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Happy Birthday, Blog!!

Happy Birthday, Blog!!


One year ago today I posted my very FIRST post –

WOO HOO!!

So - that makes today my Blog’s First Birthday!!

Some call it a Blogoversary -

So – for them - today is my Blog’s First Blogoversary!!

I just say – “Happy Birthday, Blog!!”

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This first year has been very interesting.

I have met some wonderful people - from all over the world.

Some are left-handed.

Some are right-handed.

THANK YOU ONE AND ALL!!

To the lefties – I say – 

• TIHIDI - This Is How I Do It.
•  I hope this blog has helped you.

To the righties – I say –

• Just reverse the directions. ;))
• It’s not as easy as it sounds.

Right-handers have all the resources in the world available to them.

Left-handers aren’t so lucky.  Our resources are very limited.  We have to use patterns, books, and tools designed for right-handers and are constantly told to
“just reverse the directions.”  It’s NOT that easy!  Some of my right-handed friends have come to realize that when they tried to “reverse” some of my tutorials.

Last year - I tried to reduce the global confusion once and for all by offering hints - tutorials - resources - or whatever else I could think of - to help with quilting challenges.  I wrote some tutorials and tried to explain how I do things and then showed you how I do it.

Last year - I also tried to be perfectly clear that there is always more than one way to do things.  I'm not saying that my way is the easiest or the best.  But maybe, just maybe - it will help you.  I certainly hope so.

Last year - because doing things left-handed really is like speaking a foreign language - I created a new language.  I wrote my instructions in what I like to call - "LEFTISH" - and I got to say - "If you are right-handed - just reverse it."

Last year - I also said that I don't pretend to know everything - and can only tell you how I do it.  I even made up another new word - "TIHIDI" - "This Is How I Do It" - if you say it out loud, it sounds kinda like "Tahiti" - cool!!

This next year – I'm planning to turn my tutorials into books.

Left-Handed Quilting books.

You're going to love them!!



Talk to you later – gotta go – gotta sew –

QJ - Floral Applique - Part I-A

QUILT JOURNAL - Floral Applique - Part I-A


We started with the Butterfly block -
(Eucalyptus with Monarch)

In my post "About This Blog - And Me" - I told you a little of the story -

The first block had a leaf - long and skinny - curved to the left.  She showed us how to start at the bottom of the leaf and sew up the right side on the outside curve of the leaf.  We were to stop at the point on the top so she could show us how to turn it before we sewed down the left side and inside curve.  Great!!  I started my leaf at the bottom - went up the left side and hit the inside curve first.  I showed her my problem and she said, "Oh, you are left-handed!  I cannot help you."  Terrific!  I had been there before.  I told her "Never mind, I'll figure it out myself.  Show me how you do your colors."  I learned everything she could teach me about how she chose her colors - how she shaded her roses - everything except how to sew the block.  Those blocks are at the very top of my UFO pile.  (I did manage to figure out the applique sewing stuff on my own and that is going to be one gorgeous quilt when I get it done!!  Stay tuned.  I'll show you when I get there.)

So this is the block I was talking about - 
See that leaf on the top on the right side - 
That's the leaf I was trying to sew - 

Here's a close up of the left side -

And the middle - 
The yellow flowers are mine - 
The orange one was made by Ellen Heck - 
She let me KEEP it!! - So I USED it!!

The butterfly is "reverse" applique and embroidery

Not bad for a first try - 

Not bad for a lefty - huh?

Two Question Tuesday - 9/13/11

Two Question Tuesday – 9/13/11

Here's the deal - I really liked Mama M.'s Five Question Friday - but that's just too many questions for me.  So I'm going to do my version - and without the linky thingy.

I'll ask two questions and then give you my answers.  If you want to play - you can give me your answers in the comment section.  If you have a blog and would rather answer them there - just leave a link to your blog instead. I don't know how to do the "Linky" thing like Mama M. yet - and to be honest - I would rather sew than find out - so I'll do it this way until I figure it out.
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Two questions for you this Tuesday -

1.  Are you a control freak?
2.  What was the date (MM/DD/YY) of the first day of this new century?

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1.  Are you a control freak?
Yup.  I'm bossy, too.  ;))

2.  What was the date (MM/DD/YY) of the first day of this new century?
01/01/01

I asked this question on Saturday – 09/10/11.
It is one of my favorite questions.
I am always amazed that people get the answer wrong.
And that others think that it is a “trick” question or a "brain teaser".
To me – the answer is simple and obvious.
01/01/01
What else would it be?
And having to explain it is like having to explain why 2 + 2 = 4.
But BOB will try to explain.
Go check her out.

==========

OK - your turn.



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Design Wall Monday - 9/12/11

DESIGN WALL MONDAY – 9/12/11


OK – now I can FINALLY show you the rest of  this one -

I made it as a surprise for "My Other Half” aka “Dad” aka “Grandpa” -

So I could only work on it when he was OUT OF THE HOUSE–

I couldn’t very well do it while he was HOME –

Who knows when he would stroll down the hall to see what I was doing –

No- he had to be GONE!!

OUT OF THE HOUSE - GONE!!

The sound of the garage door going up was my signal that he was back HOME –

and that gave me JUST enough time to stash “stuff” before he walked in the door –

One time, though - the sound startled me and I jumped –

Boy – I tell ya - you have NEVER seen me move that FAST!!  ;))

Anyway – it’s done now –

Kinda –

It was going to be a Christmas present –

But I gave it to him early –

Just the quilt top – (44 x 56) -

So that he could decide if he wants it larger –

If so - I can always add a border or two –

If I had “finished” it – It would have been too late to change it –

See!! – UFO’s ARE good for something!!

But – he likes it the way it is –

So – I just need to finish up the rest -

Which should be MUCH easier now ‘cuz I can work on it any time I want - 

and don’t have to HIDE what I’m doing!!

Besides - now I can show you guys, too!!


Talk to you later – gotta go – gotta sew –

NINE - TEN - ELEVEN

NINE – TEN – ELEVEN


What a TOTALLY COOL DATE!!

I LOVE NUMBERS  –

Even more than I LOVE FABRIC!!

The beginning of any new century always has some really cool dates -

01/01/01
02/02/02
03/03/03
04/04/04
05/05/05
06/06/06
07/07/07
08/08/08
09/09/09
10/10/10 – Monk’s favorite, I’m sure  ;))
11/11/11
12/12/12

and then there’s -

01/02/03
02/03/04
03/04/05
04/05/06
05/06/07
06/07/08
07/08/09
08/09/10
09/10/11 – TODAY!!
10/11/12
11/12/13
12/13/14

And – quick question –

What was the date (MM/DD/YY) of the first day of this new century?

It’s probably not what you think –

Most people get the answer wrong –

So I’m curious to see what you say -

Leave me a comment –

And BOB will tell you the answer next this week –

(Don’t want you cheating – now do we??)



Talk to you later – gotta go – gotta sew -

QJ - Floral Applique - Part I

QUILT JOURNAL – FLORAL APPLIQUE – Part I


This quilt has been a UFO for 14 years –

It has a very long and wonderful story.

Maybe if I tell you the story - you will understand why this quilt is still not finished.

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It all started in January 1996 -
when we went to the Ojai Valley Quilt Show -

I saw the most GORGEOUS quilt I had ever seen!!

I literally stopped in my tracks!!  Her color shading and workmanship were incredible!!
 
It was Nature’s Splendor - Ellen Heck of Somis, CA - 75 X 75

It had just won Best of Show, large quilts, at the
Quilts: A World of Beauty exhibit at the fall
1995 International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX

A close-up of the Grapes block in the top left corner -

Then in April 1996 -
It was featured in Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine - April 1996/NO. 281 - PHOTO FINISH

February 1997 - June 1997
A local quilt shop offered a “Block a Month” series of 5 classes –
Taught by ELLEN HECK –
I signed up immediately!!

I still have the blurb from the newsletter –

Botanical Album Series ***

An extraordinary “Block a Month” series with award winner & Master Quilter ELLEN HECK teaching hand appliqué to achieve realistic floral pieces of her NEW & original designs! In class you will explore the use of fabric to create a realistic look, to make it more exciting with colors that give the “Ellen Heck Inner Glow”. Techniques include the use of freezer paper, narrow stems, delicate leaves, dimensional petals & buds, stamens, and exquisite details.

She provided her original designs/patterns and taught hand appliqué techniques for several blocks – 

Not a “quilt” per se – so we were free to design the quilt any way we wanted –

Fall 1997 – Nature's Splendor was featured in
American Quilter - Fall 1997, Vol. XIII, No. 3
It had won Wall Quilt Hand Workmanship Award at the
AQS 13th Annual Quilt Show & Contest

July/August 2002 - Quilter's Newsletter Magazine showed a photo of another quilt -
Nature’s Symphony - Ellen Heck - 65 x 73
It had won Best of Show at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival

We didn’t know it at the time –
But the blocks in Nature's Symphony were the ones she had taught us in class -

So – all of the patterns are hers –
Patterns – Ellen Heck © 1997 –

The stitching is mine – left-handed -

We started with the Butterfly block -

Two Question Tuesday - 9/6/11

Two Question Tuesday – 9/6/11

Here's the deal - I really liked Mama M.'s Five Question Friday - but that's just too many questions for me.  So I'm going to do my version - and without the linky thingy.

I'll ask two questions and then give you my answers.  If you want to play - you can give me your answers in the comment section.  If you have a blog and would rather answer them there - just leave a link to your blog instead. I don't know how to do the "Linky" thing like Mama M. yet - and to be honest - I would rather sew than find out - so I'll do it this way until I figure it out.
==========

Two questions for you this Tuesday -

1.  Would you rather be beautiful or smart?
2.  Do you have "STARTITIS"?

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1.  Would you rather be beautiful or smart?
Smart.  Both would be nice – but that is pretty rare – so I would vote for “smart”.
Of course, if I was “rich”, too – I could probably buy some “beautiful”, huh?

2.  Do you have "STARTITIS"?
ABSOLUTELY!! A SEVERE case of it, too - good thing it's not FATAL!! ;))

Last Thursday – Chris (Shared Creativity) was talking about “STARTITIS” -

I left a comment and added my two cents -

I have it too! Although not fatal - it is very contagious and has some serious side-effects. Countless UFOs - orphan blocks - fabric stashed all over the house - patterns and books and ideas galore - and scraps - scraps - and more scraps!! I have the "secondary progressive" type - the second I start one project - I'm thinking about another one!! ;))
^..^

I forgot to add –

Symptoms include starting numerous projects - pre-washing fabrics - pressing - folding - cutting – sewing – and LOTS of GUILT for not “FINISHING” said projects.

The only known cure – “FINISHITIS” - involves quilting and binding –
and usually comes in monthly doses known as “UFO Challenges.”

Oh - and by the way -

If I remember correctly –
My UFO list at the beginning of the year totaled 64.

At last count –
I had finished 8 -
Added 4 –
And now have 60.

After Judy picked #11 for September –
I realized that I had TWELVE more to add to my list –
Stage 11.  Prepped - Pre-washed - Pressed - Ready to Cut - etc.

That makes a new total of 72 –

SEVENTY-TWO

WOO – HOO!!

Wanna bet I can make it an even 100 by the end of the year??

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OK - your turn.



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Design Wall Monday - 9/5/11

DESIGN WALL MONDAY - 9/5/11

Remember when I said I took a hand-applique class way back when??

The one where the little German lady said to me –

“Oh, you are left-handed!  I cannot help you.”

That one??

Well – that UFO was/is at Stage 7 – Floral Applique -

And I should have worked on it last month –

But I didn’t.

I got side-tracked by who knows what – good intentions and all that - doesn’t matter now.

Anyway - when Judy picked #11 for this month –

I got to thinking – (Yeah – there I go again – headache time! ;))

Because my Stage 11 stuff is -
Stage 11. Prepped - Pre-washed - Pressed - Ready to Cut - etc.

And Stage 10 is –
Stage 10. Cut and Needs to be Pieced - Not Started Yet - etc.

All I really have to do this month is CUT SOMETHING to get it up to Stage 10!!

I can do THAT!!

And then – I can work on the other one – right??

It’s partially done –

It’s BEEN partially done since 1997 –

I’ve been kinda working on it – on and off – mostly off – for FOURTEEN years –

Maybe it’s TIME!!

What do you think?

Of course – I could leave it for another six years to make it an even twenty.  ;))
(Inside joke for those of you who have been following BOB lately.)

Anyway –
I haven’t worked on it much since I showed you this rose last month –

But – here’s the bird’s nest -
I really like the fabric I found for the speckled eggs - 

This a REALLY BIG project for me –

LOTS of hand-work -  

LOTS of little fiddly pieces –

VERY time-consuming -

But I can’t let it overwhelm me –

I just have to bust it down and do one part at a time –

After I decide which part - ;))



Talk to you later – gotta go – gotta sew –

August UFO Update

August UFO Update - 

Hey - I managed to get TWO of my UFOs out of Stage 7 - YAY!!

Judy picked #7 for August - 

So I had my choice of these FOURTEEN UFOs - 

 Stage 7.  Need Block Construction - Partially Done - etc.

• Floral Applique
• Kuuipo
• Kimono Girl
• Blended Quilt
• Watercolor Vase
• Batik Dimes
• B/W/R - Red Stripe
• B/W/R - Black Cosmo
• B/W/R - Multi
• Woodland Lei - pillowtop - peach on rust batik
• Pineapple - pillowtop - green on muslin
• WSong - to Stage 6 - 8/20/11
  
• Scrappy Star Block
• Scrappy Tripping - to Stage 6 - 8/4/11

I got WSong up to Stage 6 - Need Top Construction - Layout - Borders - etc.
I got the top together - and the inner border is on - but I still have to add the outer border before I can move it up to Stage 5.  Need Back - Sleeve - Binding - Label - etc.

I can't show you photos because it's a surprise and the surprisee reads my blog - I think - but maybe not - but - JUST IN CASE - I can't show you until I give it to her/him. (Note - BOB is a baby boomer.  She doesn't "gift" things - she "gives" them away. ;))

AND - 

I got Scrappy Tripping up to Stage 5 -

I showed you already -
but I'm going to show you again -
'cuz this post needs at least one photo - ;))

Now - for September - Judy has chosen #11 - 

Let's see - that means Stage 11 - 

I have my choice of these FOURTEEN UFO's - 

Stage 11.  Prepped - Pre-washed - Pressed - Ready to Cut - etc.

• Ties
• Salt Water Taffy
• Taxi
• Willow
• Fairy Frost Confetti
• SSCQ
• Suzanne
• Mama's Garden Quilt Kit
• Fudge Brownie - Wall Hanging Kit (2)
• Spring Blue & Yellow
• Double Peony Table Topper
• Hearth & Home Wall Hanging
• Summer Lotus

Again - FOURTEEN choices - 

OH, GOODY!!

Eenie - meenie - miney - moe - 

Hmmm - .

Decisions - decisions -   ;))



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -