Clue #5, etc.

I finished Bonnie Hunter's clue #5.

I've already started on Clue #6.  I printed, cut and folded all the papers for paper piecing last night as we watched a movie.  Today pulled out all the fabrics and cut them.  I'll work on it more during another movie tonight.  

I finally started stitching the binding on my niece's wedding quilt this morning.  For the first time ever, I didn't have enough binding to finish stitching the binding on.  I've made another strip, and I'll add it tomorrow.  I'm making faux piping binding on this quilt.  

I've been on a fun Zoom sew-in all day today, with my Treadle On group.  It's always fun to chat with others who also like vintage sewing machines.  

I'm trying to decide if I want to do an end of the year post.  I have no clue how much I got done this year, especially since I was gone so much.  We'll see.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Traditions, Mystery Clues & White 764

I've been working on Bonnie Hunter's Indigo Way Mystery quilt along.  I've finished clue's #1-3, and I just need to tear the papers out of the back of clue #4.  I'm doing all of my blocks in the paper piece method.  Here are photos of clue #3.

clue #3, sets of 4

clue #3 sets of 6

And here are photos of clue #4.  I'll get the papers torn off the back this evening while I watch more movies.

clue #4

clue #4

I know I haven't done one of Bonnie's mysteries before, but I've printed them out.  I don't remember there being this many blocks each week before.  These take a long time to make.  We still haven't used any 'Indigo' fabrics yet.  Maybe when she releases the next clue tomorrow morning.  We'll see.

In my last blog post, I mentioned a mystery vintage sewing machine in the movie A Fabric Christmas.  Well, I've found out what that machine is.  It's a 1960's White 764.  It gets great reviews for the stitches that it does.  It's a pretty machine.

My family has few traditions for Christmas.  Way back when I was in High School, my family, and another family would go out for Chinese food after our church's Silent Christmas Eve service.  After I was married, and we moved away from Texas, my new family would continue this tradition.  Many years we've had other families join us. We've now been in Illinois for 20 years, and we'll be going to Noodles Pho U for Chinese food Christmas Eve night.  We even ate Chinese last year, when we were in Alaska with all the grandkids.  

What are some of your families Christmas traditions?

Mystery Clues, etc.

First, all three packages arrived quickly.  The one to Alaska even arrived a day early.  I'll be mailing with FedEx from now on.  

I've been keeping up with the Bonnie Hunter mystery clues.  I finished Clue #2.

 

Clue #3 is done, except for trimming them, then tearing the papers out.  I'm doing all the clues the paper piecing method.  It makes it easier for me to sit with family and watch Christmas movies in the evening, and still work on the clues.  LOTS of folding, trimming, pinning and tearing papers out.  

I ran some errands this afternoon, and I had a surprise when I got home.  I got Christmas flowers from my best friend.  Thanks Michele!

I've been watching a lot of Christmas movies on YouTube this past week.  One of the is called The Fabric of Christmas.  It has a vintage sewing machine in it, but it only shows it from the back and the side.  I can't identify the model.  The machine shows up at minute 32:16.  The movie is cute, but there is no way a beginner could make the quilt that they show.  At least they do talk about 1/4" seams and even have a trip to a quilt shop in the movie.  I've never seen a Christmas movie about quilting before.

Time to go get supper started so that we can watch another Christmas movie, and I can work on the last of clue #3.

Christmas is in the Mail!

I've been busy.  The Turkey placemats that I made were part of my grandkids early Christmas.  Unfortunately, USPS couldn't get the placemats to Alaska before Thanksgiving (I paid for Priority, but they shipped them ground despite the large difference in cost).  Because of that, and because the lady at the post office said that she couldn't guarantee that ANY package I shipped would arrive before Christmas, I decided to mail my Christmas presents by FedEx.  I mailed 3 packages on Monday, and 2 have already arrived.  The next package to Alaska should arrive on Monday.  

I made pillowcases for everyone this year.  My son is always saying that they need more fun pillowcases for the kids.  I made some for my son and his wife, too.

I also made a Star Wars pillowcase for my older son, but I haven't taken a photo of it.  

We have an Ornament Exchange at my church every year in the Ladies ministry.  It is always well attended.  This is the ornament that I got.  I was the 2nd 'steal', so it was 'retired' and came home with me ; )  Louise made this ornament.  She also made the ornament I got last year.

At the Ornament Exchange, we revealed ourselves to our Secret Sisters that we've had for the past year. This is some of the fun goodies my Secret Sister gave me for Christmas.

My good friend and great quilting buddy, Marilyn died in August.  As I was going thru her sewing room, I came upon a Hanukkah embroidered panel that she had picked up at a quilt show.  I knew I needed to make something with that panel, so I grabbed some of her Hanukkah fabrics, and started figuring out how to make a wall quilt for her husband.  I found a Dreidel pattern online (isn't Google great), and went to download it.  The link didn't work, so I contacted Debby Kratovil, who's blog it was shown on. Debbie graciously sent me the pattern (she now sells it as part of a gift bag pattern).  This is what I made. I delivered it this morning, just in time for Hanukkah.

center embroidered panel

Dreidel pattern from Debbie Kratovil

Thank you Debbie for the Dreidel pattern.  I have Debbie's perpetual quilt block calendar.  I use it every day in my kitchen.  It's great for inspiration.

Our niece is getting married in January.  I had some quilt blocks made that had been put aside.  I pulled them out and finished them.  I didn't have a pattern, just a video of how to make the border on Missouri Star's YouTube channel.  I used charm packs that I bought many years ago from MSQS.  Ann quilted it for me super quick.  I still need to make the binding for this.  I only have photos from before it was quilted.  I'll get better photos after the binding is done.  This quilt is queen size.

up close of the border

Monday was my little quilt guild's Holiday party.  We had a tote bag exchange, using orphan blocks.  Well, I made several Drunkard's Path blocks last month, when I taught curved piecing to this same guild.  I used those orphan blocks to make a tote bag.

This is the tote bag I received.  No orphan blocks in this one.

There were some cute goodies at our places for the party.  We have some talented ladies who were on the planning committee.

napkin

For the first time, I'm joining in on Bonnie Hunter's Mystery quilt along.  My clue #1 blocks have been made. I used the Triangulation method to make these blocks.  I waited till last night to tear the papers off these Half Square Triangles (while I was watching the Dancing With the Stars final).

I usually don't do Bonnie's Mysteries because of the colors she chooses (way too much pink for me).  She is using Red/White/Blues this time.  I did change out her solid red for a patterned red.  I'm not a fan of solids.  This is how far I've gotten on Clue #2.  I'll be doing more after I finish this blog post.

I do have several other things I'm working on.  At least Christmas presents are finished and mailed.  Now to decorate the house.  So far, I've only hung several mini Christmas quilts.  I don't think we'll have a tree this year.  Just too much trouble, especially since I'm the one that has to unpack and pack up all the ornaments.  Unless the grandkids come for Christmas, we just don't do much anymore.  How much decorating do YOU do for Christmas?

Catching Up, Stitching and Vintage Sewing Machines

I've been busy, even though I haven't been blogging.  I'll play quick catch-up for you.

My son loves to give out the candy on Halloween.  He always dresses up.  We even dress up the dogs for the kids to see.  Despite the snow, we had lots of kids come by.

my son and the dogs on Halloween

I taught Curved Piecing at my little quilt guild last Monday.  I demonstrated on Radiant Sun blocks and Drunkard's Path blocks.  I even taught faux curved piecing (applique a circle onto a square, then cut the square into 4 pieces).

16 Drunkard's Path blocks

I've been stitching those orphan Drunkard Path blocks into something.  I'll show you soon.

Between stitching those things, I've been working on a wedding quilt for my niece.  I'll show pictures of it soon.  It's almost a quilt top.

I did get some of my leaders & enders blocks made.  I've made another 50  9 patch blocks.  Only 350 more to make ; )

50 more tiny 9 patch blocks made

On Friday, I drove to Rockford, IL to meet up with Anne & Bob.  They are helping with taking vintage sewing machines to new owners (Pony Express).  I handed over 3 machines to them.  One is headed to Florida, another to Texas and the last one to New Mexico.  (sorry, I didn't get a photo of the one headed to Florida).  All three of these machines were given to me in the last few months to find new homes for them.

heading to Texas

heading to New Mexico

Yipee!  I can now see my fireplace again!  Now to clean up and re-home some of my own machines.

Of course, we met up at a quilt store to exchange the sewing machines.  We stopped at Quilter's General Store in Rockford.  I've been there many times, but it was a new shop for Anne.  I didn't know that they had a basement, and I found a few things down there.  Then we toured the first and 2nd floors and we both found some fabrics.  I found a pattern for an upcoming Round Robin, but they only had a kit, and I just wanted the pattern (I found it online and ordered it).  When I got near home, I stopped at Sewing, Etc. in Yorkville, IL, and found more fabrics for pillowcases.  Kelly, the owner is a friend of mine.  I found even more fabric at the Caring Hands Thrift Store in Yorkville.  A fun, fabric and sewing machine day!  That evening, my son and I attended a book signing event for Christopher Paolini, for his newest book, Murtagh.  We've been to every book signing for Christopher Paolini at the Anderson's Book Shop except his first (discovered him after his first book).  If you click on his link, you will see the exact event we attended.  We were way up front, on the far right side, just out of the photo.

Meanwhile, I finished hand stitching the binding down on 12 of the 16 Turkey placemats.  I'll pack up the 12 later today and get them in the mail to Alaska, for my grandkids.  Hopefully they will arrive before Thanksgiving.  The other 4 are for me, so I'm not worried about finishing the binding on them yet.  If I'd thought about it (before I'd cut the binding strips) I'd have made faux piping binding and stitched them on the machine on both sides.  Oh well...

Turkey placemats

Now to get back to stitching.....

Trunk or Treat and Some Stitching

I have been stitching.  I guess I finally got some sewing Mojo back.  

Last February, when I was in Anchorage, my granddaughter was given some fabric at a local quilt store.  I promised my granddaughter that I'd make something with her fabric.  

Gwendolynn's fabric

Well, I'd bought a used Accuquilt Studio in January, and I'd seen a cute pattern on their website.  I ordered the Go! Dresden Plate die.  

I finally started pulling fabrics to go with Gwendolynn's fabric.

Cutting most of it out on the Accuquilt was quick and fun.  Stitching the Dresden plate pieces was quick.

Dresden plate parts

That is enough parts for 16 placemats.  I'm making 12 placemats for my son's family (they already have 5 kids, so they need more than 8 placemats) and 4 placemats for us.

I made the bases of the placemats first, then quilted them.  I stitched the binding onto the front of the placemats before I started adding the 'turkey' parts.  I added the turkey tail feathers, and stitched them down.

Then I added the turkey legs and stitched them down.  That was harder to do, since they are such skinny legs.  It's hard to see under the walking foot.  Stitching the turkey's tummy down was pretty fast.

I stitched the turkey's nose and eyes to the head before I fused it down and then stitched around the head.  Now I'm stitching the binding down on the back of the placemats.  I've only finished the binding on 2 so far.  

Saturday, our church had Trunk or Treat again.  We had about 100 children attend (not counting parents, etc.).  It was a good turnout.  We decided to do a covered wagon this year.  I got to wear my pioneer dress and bonnet that Thelma (Missouri TOGA) made me.  

hubby & I in our costumes (well, I'm in costume, his are his regular clothes)

our covered wagon

Here are some of the other decorated cars.

Gru & Minions

Jurassic Park/Trunk

inside Jurassic Park

Cousin It (Addam's Family) and Waldo

scarecrow & 1950's poodle skirt

carnival

Candyland

Christmas, they had ornaments that could be decorated

Super Mario 

Cookie Monster

I'm glad the weather on Saturday was nice.  We're expecting snow on Halloween and windy conditions (Brrr!).  Poor kids.  I hope we still have lots of Trick or Treaters, since I still have tons of candy (I don't want to keep it around, or I'll eat all the candy).

Happy Halloween!