RSC19 & Other Finishes

I decided to finish my pink RSC19 blocks on my Featherweight.  The block I'm making each month is called Cut Glass.

pink RSC19 blocks

I also turned the 4 pineapple blocks into pin cushions.  One of these is for the Treadle On pin cushion exchange. 

4 pin cushions

Yesterday I finished block #11 of the Vintage Sewing Machine blocks. I only have one more block to finish.  I was really hoping to find the other Ella & Skysie sewing machine design called 'Antique Sewing Machines', but I'm not having any luck.  These patterns are out of print.

Vintage Miniature Sewing Machines block #11

The block above is of a Singer 20 chain stitch machine.  I have one in my collection.

1950's Singer 20

I also finished another LOTR/Hobbit set of blocks, Lord of the Eagles.

Lord of the Eagles block

both blocks together

I only have 2 of these LOTR/Hobbit blocks left to make. 


PS:  For those of you who have been praying for us, hubby started his new job Monday.  It's been a long 9.5 months, but God has provided all along the way.  

Busy! Busy! Busy!

I don't have many pictures to show it, but, I've been busy. 

I received 2 pin cushions from the pin cushion exchange.  This one came from Janna in Norway.

pin cushion from Janne in Norway

I've been using this pin cushion for a special project this past week.  Sorry, I haven't taken any pictures of my special project yet. 

This is the pin cushion that I sent to Janna in Norway.  She has received it, so, I can show a picture.  Janna likes purple.

pin cushion I made for Janna in Norway

Then, on Friday, this lovely purse pin cushion arrived from Bea, the hostess of the pin cushion exchange.

pin cushion from Bea

This past weekend, I had quilt camp in Ottawa, with the Camp Tuckabatchee quilters.  I totally forgot to take any pictures, sorry.  There were 9 of us this time.  We had lots of fun, but, it was HOT, and the camp doesn't have air conditioning.  I'd stopped at a garage sale, along the way, and they had a fan for sale.  I'm so glad I bought that fan! 

While at quilt camp, I cut out Clue #2 for Kevin's Mystery Quilt Along.  I'm not making just one of these quilts, but, I'm making 2 of the scrappy version, and another one, using just 7 different fabrics, instead of the scrappy look.  That means that I have to cut out 3 different sets of clues.  That's fine when I'm not distracted, but, I've had so much going on lately, that my concentration is pretty much nil.  When you can't concentrate, then you make cutting mistakes.  Boy did I make cutting mistakes!  Several of them.  I kept cutting twice as many pieces of the 7 fabric colors, when I should have been cutting lots and lots of scrappy pieces.  I've now used up all the light blue that I had for the 7 fabric version, and will have to piece some of the strings, to get this clue done.  I sure hope that I won't need more of the light blue fabric, since this was an older fabric.  We'll see.  I did the same thing with the red fabric, but, I still have LOTS of that red left, thank goodness.  After messing up TWICE, I decided NOT to cut Clue #3 or the Surprise Clue this weekend.  Hopefully I'll get those cut this week or next week. 

Everyone wanted to know how the Chair Wheelies worked.  I took them to quilt camp, and they worked GREAT!  So great that, there are 2 more sets waiting for hubby to glue the tennis balls to the wheels.  I'll be using these again this weekend.

set of Wheelies

wheelies on a chair

My last 2 weeks have been interrupted several times, with emergency dentist appointments.  A couple of days before Labor Day, my tooth started getting tender.  I stopped by the dentists office, to make an appt, but, they were closed on Friday, and didn't open again until Tuesday morning.  By the time I got in, on Wednesday, the tooth was abscessed.  I'd had a root canal done on this tooth about 31 years ago, so, the dentist sent me to a specialist, to have a 2nd root canal done, to try to save the tooth.  On this last Tuesday, after antibiotics, the tooth was still abscessed, and, the specialist took more X-rays, and found that the tooth was cracked, and couldn't be saved.  No, he didn't pull it, he only does root canals.  Back to the first dentist, who found another specialist, to extract the tooth.  The tooth was pulled on Thursday.  I left for quilt camp on Friday, still eating soft foods, and no straws allowed.  It is finally healing, but still tender in that area.  I have another week before we try to figure out what to do now.  I don't want an implant (very expensive and takes months and months).  I'm not even sure what my options are.  Oh well. 

I have been stitching.  I've been getting some bindings done on placemats for Meals on Wheels, and, I've been stitching down the new binding on this lovely quilt that I got at a garage sale this summer.  I still have at least one whole side to stitch down.  I found some fabric that is the same color as the background, for the new binding. 

garage sale quilt with yucky binding

I was hoping to get this finished so that I could hang it at the Lyon's Farm Fall Festival this weekend.  I will have a booth at the Festival, to display some of my vintage sewing machines.  I've done this several times in the past.  I'm getting a late start, trying to figure out what machines to display and sew on, this year. 

a few of the machines I'll be taking

So far, I have 14 different vintage sewing machines picked out, to take to Lyon's Farm.  Most of them have not been on display before.  I have a mixture of treadles (one), hand cranks, and vintage electrics to show.  If you are near Yorkville, Illinois this weekend I hope that you will come to the festival, and visit with me. 

• Dates: September 23 and 24, 2017
  • Petting Zoo and Pony Rides – September 23
  • Classic Car Show – September 24
  • 20 to 25 Crafters Showing
• Times: 10:00am to 4:00pm 
• 7935 Route 71, Yorkville, IL 60560

 This will be my 5th year to be a part of this festival.  If you want to see some of the other years, click on the links.  2016,   2014,   2012.

Exchanges, Stitching, Etc.

Now that they have been received, I can show some of the exchanges I've participated in recently.  There are still a few that have not been received, or finished, so, there will be more to come, in the future.

First, I'm in a pin cushion exchange at Beaquilter.  It's one pin cushion each month, for 3 months.  This is the one I made for Bea, for August.  You can see it again, on her post here, along with about 97 other pin cushions that she has. 

front

back, using same fabric as I used for her spool of thread on the front

I haven't received my pin cushion for August, since it is coming from Norway.  Yes, I'll get 2 different pin cushions, from 2 different people in Norway, in this exchange.  How cool is that!?!?!

I was in a paired, mug rug exchange, with my Quilt Along group.  This is an 'offshoot' group from Treadle On.  We did NOT have to use our hand cranks or treadles for this exchange, but, I still did, at least on the mug rugs.  I had to cheat on the project bag, since I just don't have enough hands (or control) with the binding.  Sally was my partner in this exchange.  This is what I sent to Sally.

2 mug rugs (fronts)

backs of mug rugs

I also sent Sally a project bag.

Sally's new project bag (don't you love those treadles!)

Here are the great things that I received from Sally.  The teapots, at the top of the picture, are mine.  Isn't it great that they match what Sally sent!

mug rugs and napkins

I forgot to take pictures of the backs of the mug rugs.  One was in Christmas prints, and the other was a Valentine print.

Sally also sent me some other goodies. 

great matching apron

fun teapot fabric

Sorry for the blurry pictures. 


I was also in another paired mug rug exchange, with Treadle On.  These weren't due till Oct 1st, but, we both had them done, so, we exchanged early.  These were all made on either a treadle or hand crank machine (with cheating on the project bag).  This is what I made for Denise.

front of mug rug

thimble backing fabric

Denise's project bag

Can you tell that Denise loves RED?  It's also my favorite color! (check out all the great RED things in this post, that I received). 

Here is what I got from Denise.

2 great mug rugs

check out the great tea party fabric on the backs

Denise also included a spool pin doily.  I had a great machine, just waiting for a spool pin doily.

up close of the spool pin doily

the machine the spool pin doily belongs to now

I've been doing some stitching, but, not as much.  Now that hubby is back, safe and sound, I took a few days off.  I did go to Quilts of Valor on Tuesday, but, I didn't take any pictures.

I'm stitching on the 2nd Wendy block.  This one is applique. 

Pattern by Alida

I didn't want to do fusible applique, so, I tried using another method, with plain interfacing on the other side of the fabric, then turning it inside out.  It worked on the larger pieces, but, when I got to the arms and legs, it wasn't working well.  Not sure how I will do the shoes, sash, or hair bow.  I'll just draw the lips on, instead of attempting them.  See how tiny it all is, in the pictures below (with the ruler for size).

blues are shoes, hair bow and dress sash

the lips are the tiny orange dot, by the dress

I finished this much on Monday.  I've started on the hair, but, didn't take a picture. (poor, bald Wendy).

Wendy, waiting for her hair

Wendy will be another 10 inch block.


Bonnie Hunter showed a lady with chair wheelies, on her blog last month. The lady's chair wheelies came from Camp Lebanon, a church camp, but, according to their website, they don't ship these, you have to pick them up in Minnesota.  Well, that's not going to work for me.

I decided to see if I could make some myself.  I found the furniture casters at Menards.  They had the best price (almost half the cost of anywhere else).  I also got a set of dog tennis balls at Menards.  I had to wait till hubby got home from his trip, since I didn't have a clue what glue to use.  Hubby used epoxy, and, glued them for me.  Hubby also cut X's in the tennis balls (after gluing) so that the chair legs would go in.

from the top (uncut)

so you can see the wheels

on the chair legs

whole chair with wheelies

I'll be testing these out this month, and see if the glue holds or not.  Hubby thought we might add screws & washers, but, we aren't sure there is enough clearance or not.  I'll let you know how these work out.  I can't roll on carpet, but, at my demo's (where I'll use them) I'm on hard surfaces. 

I have 3 more sew-in's this week (2 overlap on Saturday), but, I don't know what I'll be working on yet.  I need to finish Wendy before I start on anything else.  I also have another exchange due by the end of this month, that I haven't started on.  Maybe I'll get started on that.  It's a Harry Potter Frog Card exchange.  Tiny, 3" pentagon's.  Hmmmm.......I'm getting tired of tiny.  I want something BIG!
 

Goodies and an Exchange

Sorry ladies (and gents) but, I have the best Daughter in law.  Want proof?  Well, on Thursday, a box arrived on my doorstep.  Inside (besides one of the sweetest notes) were some great things.

When I was in Anchorage last August, my DIL took me to 5 different quilt stores (twice EACH), but, she visited one of the quilt stores that we didn't get to, and found some patterns for me.

3 patterns

My DIL didn't know that I follow Barbara Brackman's blog (middle pattern) she just saw it and thought of me. 

Next in the package was something else that she just knew I needed.  Hmmm.... RED and with sewing notions on it.  DUH!  Check out this great wallet she found.

front

back

Lastly, on the very bottom of the box, was a tiny little box.  Inside, it had a necklace (silver, even though it looks gold in the picture).

says 'Grandma'

See, I told you I had the best daughter in law! 


In yesterday's mail, I got a pin cushion from a pin cushion exchange I'm participating in.  This pin cushion came all the way from Norway.

Front, see the bee?

fun print on the back

Thanks Turiid! 

This is the pin cushion I sent to Turid.

pin cushion made for Turid in Norway

You can find the pattern for the Ladybug Pincushion here.  Since I'm doing 5 pin cushion exchanges, I made doubles of some of them, so, you'll be seeing another Ladybug pincushion in the next few weeks.  Yes, it was made on a hand crank sewing machine. 

While paper piecing the Wendy blocks, and sewing the last seam, my machine didn't want to go thru all of the layers.  That was strange, since it usually has no problems with all those layers.  When I finished that seam, and turned it over, I found out the reason it didn't want to sew ( but did sew, with help).  I'd sewn thru the flower head pin, several times.

see the thread still in the pin head?

I had to cut the pin out, then restitch that seam.  Not sure most machines could have sewn thru this, but, that lovely, 92 year old machine did.  Hmmm....... after that, I think maybe I should change the needle on that machine.

Hubby is back home, safe and sound.  I took yesterday off from sewing.  Now to start a new block. 

Goodies!

Some goodies arrived in the mail this week, and some at the thrift store.

Kathy at Sparkles, Sprinkles and Everyday Crap had a giveaway for one of her hand made Birthday cards.  Guess who won?!?!  I got to choose a card, with a Birthday number on it.  I chose one for my mother, who will be 79 in November.  My mother loves elephants, so, Kathy incorporated an elephant into the card.  Isn't it cute!

79th Birthday card

Kathy also included a little something extra.  I love my new, personalized mug rug!  Thanks Kathy!

mug rug

I also won some great blocks from Julie, at Julie K Quilts.  Julie's picture of the blocks is much better than mine, especially since I missed putting one of the blocks on the design wall.  Oops!

Oops!  I missed a block

 My daughter in law loves orange, so, these may turn into a baby quilt (my first grandbaby will need LOTS of baby quilts, I'm sure). 

Julie also included some 'extra's' in her package.  I got a lovely card, and a magnetic pin cushion.

card and pin cushion from Julie

Last week, at the thrift shop, I discovered this, on the wrong shelf.  It had fallen behind all the craft items, onto a lower shelf with glasses.  Boy was I glad when I decided to see what it was.

bag with 4 wool pin cushions in it

 I've been wanting to make a wool pin cushion.  Now I have 4 wool pin cushions to choose from, all for $1.99. 

4 pin cushion kits in the package

picture of the completed pin cushions in the package

Everything is there, including the directions, so, I just need to get started on these. I still have 2 more pin cushions to make, for the 4 exchanges I signed up for.

Speaking of pin cushion exchanges, my partner received her pin cushion, so, I can now show it off.  This is the pin cushion I sent to Norway.

pin cushion I made

I also have a finish to show.  I finally got around to putting the binding on the watermelon table topper. 

on my table

up close

with the watermelon dish I found

I finished another table runner, and just have part of the binding left on another one, but, I don't have pictures.  You'll see those later this week. 

I have been stitching up a storm around here.  I cut out the rest of the 14 project bags, and, they are all stitched together, EXCEPT the handles and the binding.  The backs were quilted on a treadle.  They were pieced on a hand crank.  Unfortunately, because the binding is difficult to work with (I need 2 hands to work with it) these will have to be finished on my Featherweight.  For 2 of these, that are part of 2 different Treadle On exchanges, that is cheating, but, I'll include a note, to let them know.  They just won't look very good if I don't have both hands to finish the binding on them.  Darn!

stack of 14 Project Bags, almost done

I'll finish 3 of these, then the rest will just have to wait a while to get finished.  Not only do I have some 'deadline' projects to finish (all for exchanges, so, I can't show pictures yet), but, some of the great designers at Fandom in Stitches have been busy, making new Peter Pan themed paper pieced blocks for me, so, I'll be busy testing them out.  Kristi and Alida have each made patterns for me.  I have 2 different Tiger Lily's and 2 different Wendy's to test for them.  I spend yesterday prepping one of the Tiger Lily patterns.  There are 140 pieces in that pattern alone.  These will NOT be quick patterns.  I can't wait to get them done, so that I can show them to you.