Saturday, September 28, 2013

Batik Place Mats

As I'm sure you all know there is a Lets Twist to the 60's with Batiks Hop going on right now.  For the life of me I couldn't come up with an idea related to the 60's (even though I was in High School and College at the time) so I didn't sign up.


Last week, a friend called and asked if I could whip up a set of place mats for their house.  Apparently whenever I've made place mats for them in the past they were always themed.  Christmas, Halloween, Summer etc. etc. etc.  This request was specifically for something to use on an everyday basis.


Because I have been viewing wonderful Batik creations on the hop,  I pulled out my Batik bin and came up with these mats.  I love them.  They are quilt as you go.  Couldn't have been easier to do. I think is took me longer to sew down the binding than it did to sew up the place mats themselves.


I found this great fabric for the backing in my stash.  


Pretty much made them reversible.  Do I get credit for making 2 sets ?

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day


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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Crazy About Wool Blog Hop

Welcome to my day on the Crazy About Wool Blog Hop. Thanks Denise for being our hostess for this event.

I have been playing with wool in one way or another for years.

I have tried spinning it


and I have crocheted and knitted, the adventure of learning to make socks
and hats and scarves too numerous to include here



I have enjoyed making sweaters - and with the help of my ever present assistant I have enjoyed photographing them



I have also used wool yardage to make a bag. I found the pattern here                                                                                                http://ayumills.blogspot.com/                          

With a matching  purse, pattern by Madame Samm 
                                       http://www.sewwequilt.com/





My latest wool kick is using the felted version in applique.  I have found that I am not into big projects using this method but I really like small pieces.

Almost everything I have tried in this genre is from patterns by Michelle May over at Raspberry Rabbits    http://theraspberryrabbits.blogspot.com/

I have found that my most favorite thing to do is make her postcards. As soon as she posts a new one I order it and the kit if its available. Here are the cards I have worked up for this hop.

Spring,  this is the second one I made of this pattern.  I actually mailed the first one to a friend. It made it to her mailbox unscathed workmanship wise but got black ink smudges on it from being under a damp shopping flyer in her mailbox.  They make cellophane mailing wrappers which I will probably use in the future.


Love this slice of watermelon, so summer.


And this is the first of 5 of her Halloween cards that I have finished.


And here is the second only 3 to go.  You can easily get one done in an evening.



Each post card measures up at 4 inches by 6 inches.

 
I understand Christmas postcards are on the drawing board.(edit, did you see her posting on Monday, a Christmas Post Card)  Can’t wait.
 
These are wonderful projects, quick and easy to do, leaving you with that great feeling of accomplishment.  Thanks for the fun Shell.


Please stop by and visit the other hoppers for today, so much talent and so many ideas to run with.
Thanks so much for visiting here. 


Wednesday, September 25
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
Maria do Carmo (Pieced Brain will be hosting!)
Selina Quilts  (you are here)
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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

My Sewing Museum


I acquired this machine because I felt sorry for it. It was being put by the curb by the mother of a friend who was downsizing.



I asked where she got it and she told me a neighbor was downsizing and she brought it in from the curb. It had been sitting in her shed for a while.

In my house it is the stand for my printer. At least it's a step up from the shed.


 I tried to get a picture of the name of the machine but light was not good and the name was very scratched up.  It looks like it could say Wheeler and Wilson.
I don't know what the top looks like as it is covered with contact paper.


This is the prettiest of the drawers.  It contained what appears to be a ripped up manual.





 The following pictures are what was in the remaing drawers. Love the price of the zipper and needles.




I  will be downsizing in the next year and I hope to find it a home so I too don't have  to leave it by the curb hoping for the best.


This is my feather weight.  It was my moms and before that we believe it was my aunts, the original owner.


When my step dad tripped over it in the basement several  years ago it was beginning to get moldy and he felt it would be much happier with me.   It currently lives in my kitchen for when I want to sew down stairs.

A couple of years ago I was telling my cousin ( a non sewer) that when she tripped over her moms feather weight, be aware that they have become valuable so not to just toss it and if no one in her family wanted it I'd buy it from her.   She looked at me like I had a couple of heads since she believed that her mom had given it to my mom.  I like that version the best. When I sew on it it's like having a family event.


Beth, over at Love Laugh Quilt had this idea to have a linky party to share our sewing museum pieces.  Stop in and see the amazing pieces of nostalgia.





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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Pin It - Another Creative Blog Hop


The first few pictures capture my previous pin cushion creations.  None of them are original ideas. I am a great tutorial follower and pattern user. Not a creative person by nature. This year I have been trying a bit harder to be creative.



Thanks to Kaaren Johnstonhttp://thepaintedquilt.blogspot.com for the stitchery pattern I used for this pin cushion.   The pattern fully surrounds the shape.  Mine measures in at about 3 x 5 inches. Her pattern and tutorial were spot on.



This one is a modified version of something I saw on the internet. The original had the ribbon sewn into the pin cushion.  After several attempts I settled on a real ribbon, I think it turned out a lot nicer than the original.

Amanda Jean over at   http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2013/06/mini-9-patch-pin-cushion-tutorial.html posted  a tutorial for these adorable little pin cushions.



She did note that they were addicting.


And she was correct.  The finished pin cushion is 3 1/2 inches square.  The 9 patch is 1 1/2 inch square.  Sew easy, sew quick. 

So for this hop I stepped out of my comfort zone and decided on making something out of my head.



 I needed to start somewhere.  Scary isn't it.

After several tries I did come up with a sweet snowman.
Just like people, his vest covers his figure flaws.
  

I really enjoyed making him his matching hat and scarf


I really hated sticking pins in him.   


Pretty sure in the long run he will end up on a shelf with the" pretty" ones.


I have discovered over time that I like a pin cushion with depth.  I have several pin cushions in use currently and I stab myself from the bottom on a regular basis when I pick them up.


 So for this pin cushion I went for the gusto.  It is a 4 inch cube. each side is a different traditional quilt block.
                                                   I'm really gonna love sticking pins in her.




I stuff my pin cushions with fiber fill.  I thought of using the crushed pecans but I've seen Tink attack a stuffed toy and I really don't want to think how far flung crushed pecans can go in a doggie mishap.




Now it's time to Thank the 2 gals that have made this hop happen, Madame Samm and Kristen, our wonderful and devoted cheerleaders. 
Great job ladies.

Also noteworthy are all of the ladies who have taken the time to create pin cushions for your enjoyment.  Here is a listing of all of us. Please stop by and visit and if you have the time leave a note, it makes our day. 

Thank you for stopping by.

September 10
Selina Quilts (you are here)
September 11
September 16

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Sunday, September 1, 2013

Blocks to help Cancer patients



 
 Last week I was visiting Freda's blog over at http://imperamagna.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2013-08-26T01:30:00-04:00&max-results=3  where I saw some  great anvil blocks she had put together for  Victoria Wolfe at http://www.15minutesplay.com/

Victoria collects these blocks and makes quilts for Cancer patients with them.  She collects blocks from anyone who is willing to help.   You can find a tutorial for these blocks on her blog.



Victoria is into making your own fabric from scraps.  I did try the process for 2 of my blocks but it didn't give me the warm and fuzzies.  I will admit that the blocks do look pretty cool, just not my thing.  The second pair of blocks I made was with fun fabric.


 I had never made this particular block before and was quite pleased with the result. These were mailed out yesterday.



These blocks are 12 inch finished.


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