1st Finish of May

I finished another Vintage Miniature Sewing Machine block yesterday.  This is the 4th block in the series of 12.

block #4

I've already started the next block.  Some people have asked me if I'm doing these blocks on a machine (machine embroidery).  No, I don't own an embroidery machine.  These are all by hand.  Here is the block I started yesterday, showing my needle and embroidery hoop.

block #5

I've stitched a lot on this block, since I took the photo.

Colette, over at What about Rheema showed her cup holder attached to her ironing board, holding her spray bottle.  Well, I've had a cup holder similar to hers for several years now, just attached to a bookshelf.  I decided to attach mine to the end of my ironing board, like she did.

screw on cup holder, holding my spray bottle

Do you see my misting spray bottle in the cup holder?  I love it!  I got it over at IHAN (I Have a Notion) from Beth.  Beth also has a blog.  Beth will be coming to my large quilt guild (Pride of the Prairie) in August, and will be teaching a thread painting class. 

Kevin the Quilter will be at BOTH of my quilt guilds in May (2 weeks from now).  Info here.   I can't wait!  There are still a few spaces available in both of Kevin's classes. 

First Week of October

My family reunion in Arkansas was the 2nd week of October, so, I was rushing to finish some project bags for the silent auction.  Six project bags were put in the auction. 

fronts of Star Wars and Harry Potter project bags

back of Star Wars and Harry Potter project bags

Unicorn and Mermaid project bags

Foxes and Sewing Themed project bags

I also had hubby make me something that I've wanted for a while.  All he had to do was grab a scrap of lumber and shape it and drill a hole (I think it was already this shape).  I added the seam ripper.

As you can see, I've already used it.  This will save me from having to cut each string pieced thing apart.  Thanks hubby!

Speaking of hubby, his job was eliminated after exactly 16 years with the company, on Friday, Oct 5th.  We were totally unprepared for this, and have no clue what our future holds for us.  We know God has a plan, but, we have no clue what his plan is. 

Belated Birthday Presents!

I ordered something for my birthday, way back in February (Birthday money from my brother).  Since it was on back order, I didn't get it until late last month.  I didn't have a chance to try it out until today.

Sew Easy Ruler Cutter

Sew Easy Ruler cutter

This is the Sew Easy Ruler Cutter.  I got mine at The Quilt Place out of Florida.  They let me know very quickly that this item was out of stock, and that they were waiting for it to come in.  They shipped this as soon as they got it.  Since it is from an Australian company (and made in China), I'm sure that is the reason for the delay.  I had tried to order the version that Fiskars made, but, Fiskars informed me that they were not making them at the moment, but, were hoping to start making them available again before the end of this year.  I didn't want to wait a year for my Birthday present. 

Here are some of the details about this ruler.

4.5" x 27.5"

sorry for the glare

last of the info

Ok, now to try this ruler cutter out.  I needed to make the binding for a quilt (secret project, you'll see it soon), so... 

1st, to square up my edge on my fabric.

squaring up the edge

2nd, to cut my 2.5" binding strips.

2.5" strip lined up, ready to cut

This is the blade, retracted.

blade retracted

This is the blade, pushed down for cutting.

blade pushed down for cutting

As you can tell, the blade doesn't stick down enough to damage your cutting surface, just enough to cut your fabric.  Since I wasn't familiar with this, and didn't want to do any damage, I didn't push quite hard enough on the first cutting pass.  Once I realized that the blade only goes so far down, I pushed hard enough on the second pass. 

my three strips for binding

This ruler didn't slip at all, unlike my regular rulers tend to do.  The nice metal rail keeps my fingers out of the way, too.  I can use any of my 45mm blades with this ruler.  I can even use it on paper (12 sheets) or 6 thicknesses of fabric.  Woohoo!  I give this ruler an 'A'.  Thanks brother and sweet sister-in-law!  I see this ruler getting lots of use in the future. 

I received another lovely, belated Birthday gift, as well.  The lovely Leona, from Leona's Quilting Adventure, sent me a lovey package last week.  I just LOVE getting surprise packages in the mail.  Sew much nicer than those BILLS I usually receive in the mail. 

goodies from Leona

goodies from Leona

Cute tags, a great flower piece (will probably be used as a label on a quilt) lots of yellow buttons, and a lovely polka dotted fat quarter.  The card with the quilt size chart will sit by my sewing machine for quick reference.  I'm always trying to remember basic sizes for quilts.  Go check out her blog. 

I'm off to finish binding a quilt.  Tomorrow, a few quilting friends and I will be going to a brand new quilt store in the area.  I'll try to take a few pictures for you.  We'll also be visiting IKEA for lunch and shopping.  2 of my friends have never been to IKEA before.  Do you think I can be good in both stores?????   We'll see ; )

Thrift store and garage sale finds

The past month or so has been busy for me, but, I have found some time to stop in at some thrift stores between events.  Hubby even wanted to go check out the garage sales today.  Lots of garage sales, but, not much stuff we were interested in.  We did find a great sign to a street that we didn't know was near us.

gee, I wonder why I'd be interested in this sign?

Most of the sales today just had baby stuff.  With our youngest now engaged, and no grandkids, we don't need baby stuff.  Well......I have been looking for a stroller for the dog.  Katie has bad knees.  The vet says we can't take her for walks anymore.  Katie LOVES to go for walks, even when we have to carry her.  At 20 pounds, we are NOT going to carry her.  I've been trying to find a stroller for a cheap price, so that Katie can still go on walks with us.  Look what we found at the end of a driveway, next to another garage sale.  Check out the price tag.

Katie in her new stroller

Katie sat still while I pushed her all over the downstairs.  We'll see how well she does later, in a 'real' walk outside.  Don't worry, she'll be strapped in so she can't jump out.  Hubby is working on that part now.

The best sale of the day netted me several sewing notions. 

freezer paper, embroidery stabilizer, transfer paper, and...

brand new project travel case

working lamp (Ott type), and new kit with silks, etc

3 rulers and 2 cutting mats

Total of above items was $23.  SCORE!!!!!!  The lamp, rulers and mats are used, but, the rest are all brand new.  I'll pass the embroidery stabilizer on to friends who have embroidery machines. 

I've also found a few treasures at thrift stores in the past few weeks. 

floor style (Ott style) lamp

I've now found 3 different Ott style lamps this month.  My oldest son claimed the first one, since he'd already sent me out to find him a lamp for his desk.  It was a 'real' Ott brand lamp. 

wall hanging

lap quilt

lap quilt is tied, can't see how it is quilted from the front

The most fun find was a telephone.  Last fall, I was with my mother when she found a great telephone. 

mom's Pluto telephone.

Well... after the Quilts of Valor sew-in last Tuesday,  I decided to stop in at the Goodwill store a few blocks away.  I seldom stop there, since it isn't close to my house.  I was about to leave, when I decided to check out one of the bins that hadn't been unloaded onto the shelves yet.  This is what I found.

Mickey Mouse phone $3.99

For $3.99, I wasn't really worried if the phone worked or not.  I just grabbed it and ran to the checkout stand.  When I got home, I plugged it in, and.... it WORKS!  Mickey now sits next to my bed, on the nightstand. 

I have been stitching, but, I'm working on a secret project, and I can't show it until late next week.  It has something to do with these.

basted hexies

Have a great weekend!

Ottawa Quilt Show & goodies!

Hubby and I took a drive in the country on Sunday afternoon to another quilt show.  This was the 'Illinois Valley Quilter's Guild' show.  I've been wanting to attend this show for many years, but, it's over Spring Break, and I'm usually traveling to Texas and miss the show.  I stayed home this year, and finally got to attend the show.  Yipee!  I love quilt shows.

Handkerchief butterfly quilt

close up of the handkerchief butterflies

I love string quilts

another string quilt

another handkerchief quilt

more handkerchiefs

great tool quilt

more strings

'Sunbonnet Sue, What Happened to You? quilt.  Lots of ways you've never seen Sunbonnet Sue before

quilted dress, looks better up close

Carpenters Star

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary quilt

ugly fabric challenge quilt

another ugly fabric challenge quilt

La Salle County quilt

The quilt show had vendors booths and also a 'garage sale' booth.  Woohoo!  Did you know that they mark things down the last day, then keep marking them down during the last hours of the show?  They do!  Woohoo!  Here are just a few of the things I came home with...

Greist Buttonholer (including the book) for 50 cents

New Home attachments for 50 cents

 I have a vintage New Home A that I've turned into a hand crank.  I'll have to see how many of these attachments will fit. 

Necchi needle threader, slant shank Big Foot & Paducah pin

I think that this needle threader is for sewing machines.  I'll have to try it out.  The 'Big Foot' is for a slant shank machine.  I don't own a slant shank machine (yet), so, I'll keep it with the other slant shank attachments I've collected. 

bobbins, pin cushions, quilters tape and pattern with triangle paper

I love pin cushions.  What fun!  The 'new' bobbins are for Singer 15's and Singer 66's.  I have machines that use these bobbins.  The old bobbins are mostly 66 bobbins.  You can never have too many bobbins.  I almost bought a new package of the quilters 1/4" tape at the sewing expo on Saturday.  Glad I waited. 

Multi miter tool

This package had not one, but two multi miter tools in it.  I love mitered borders on my quilts.  I'm hoping that these will make it just a bit easier.

Triangle paper & pattern

This pattern came complete with the unused triangle paper.  I think fat quarters will work well for this.  If I add borders, this will make a great Quilts of Valor quilt.

table runner and pin cushions

quilted bag

I also found some treasures in the quilters boutique.  These were also half off.  They were already priced really low.  I found several things (not pictured) that I will use as gifts for Christmas.  The bag is for ME!

jewelry holder

Melinda, over at Tilda's Twisted Life made one of these jewelry rolls as a gift.  They look like they would be great for holding sewing things and a small project.  I found this one at the boutique for $1.  Now to load it full of sewing stuff and a project.

Velcro trays

They also had these cute trays that the corners velcro together to make trays.  These will be great to have beside the sewing machines to hold scissors, etc.  They were only 50 cents each.  I can't make them for that cheap.

Most of the sewing notions and rulers came in large ziplock bags of items. I only showed a few of the items from the 3 bags I purchased.  I'll pass the other items on to ladies in my guilds that can use them. 

I hope that you all have a wonderful week!