My Temper Tantrum

I have been patient.
I have been good.

When I have been to the quilt store recently, I purchased only those fabrics necessary for the quilts I am currently working on. I did fondle the delicious Amy Butler fabrics. And all those stunning strawberry pinks, and chocolatey browns with swirls, and the key lime greens you just want to eat.
But I was good.
I looked, I fondled, I loooonged to buy them. But I was good. I bought none of them, I only admired them from afar.


But tonight...
I found quilts I must have, I must make!

Like this one, or this one at the delightful, whimsical Hambone and Jennicakes...
Or this one at Beth's...


I was inspired! Excited!! Elated!!!
So I decided I was going to go and buy those fabrics.

I was going to fill that need for those amazing fabrics. I was going to feel that simple, guttural, lusty pleasure. The one you get when you know you are naughty and you just don't care.

The store was closed!

How is that fair! Where is the justice?
Why should I have to wait 16 hours?
Why can't I have my fabric!!!
(insert temper tantrum)

...tonight, I find solace in other vices.

Saved!

I have been Saved... Errrr I have been Saving, I should say.

I had one of those lets-stop-by-the-thrift-shop just because moments. And I found SCADS of needles! Just look at all of these- even a nice long hook. :)

Then I stopped by a Tuesday Morning and found bins full of yarn :) All sorts! This super yummy variegated blue is a 100% wool I found for under $4.

I am itchy to go back to and pick up more... there was a whole bunch of choices. Wonder if any of my friends need to supplement...

Now... any ideas for getting the price sticker glue off the needles?

Thread Catcher Bag & Pincushion

Thrifty Gift Maker Week 3
I hope all you chatters are having fun with the start of this group of projects- we have LOADS more ideas. So keep checking each week, and send me any ideas you may have.
And if you don't chat, you should!
http://www.quiltchat.com/
I will be there at 7 pm EST Sunday and 10 am EST Monday.

This week we are making a combo Pincushion with Thread Catcher Bag.

#1
Make a Pincushion
I decided to make one that I found at abyquilt blog- it is a really fun-to-make pincushion that is chock full of inset seams.
You will stuff the bag with fluff like normal, but before you do you need to decide how you will attach the strap that connects the bag to the pincushion. I have seen buttons used, or simply sewing the strap to the bottom. I chose Velcro, so I added that bit of Velcro into the bottom of the pincushion before stuffing.

You will also need to add some weight to the bottom of the pincushion- a rice filled beanbag works just fine.
... Sew two 3 inch squares of fabric together, leaving one side open to pour in the rice. Whipstitch that side together after you add the rice. Put that into the bottom of the pincushion, then stuff with fluff like normal.

#2
Make a strap to attach the 2 sections. The strap should be about 6 or 7 inches when finished. If you use Velcro, add that as you build the strap. Or if you decided on a button, add your buttonhole.

#3
Make two bags
One will nest inside the other so that you can have reversible Thread Catcher Bag. I cut two fabrics at 12 x 5 inches, folded right sides together and sewed along the bottom and one side of each, leaving the top open.
Turn one bag right side out and place the other inside so wrong sides are together.
Stitch a line about 2 inches in from the top. This will connect the two bags, as well as form one edge of a channel to add the next element.

#4
Rigid-Circle-Thing
You want your bag to stay open right? Well, this is the most challenging part (for me at least!) You will need to find something to keep the mouth of your bag open. Some ideas that have been floated: Piping for upholstery, the plastic stuff from Weed Whacker/ Weed Whip, some Zip Ties. I chose gardening wire. But whichever you choose, you will need to put that into that started channel, then sew on the other side of your rigid thing to keep it there.

#5
Binding
Add some sort decorative binding- to cover the raw edge of the top of the bag. I chose fabric in the same color as the strap.
Then add your Strap. Again, you could use a button or velcro. I decided to sew it to the bag.

#6
Put it all together!

And send me a picture of your project!

Have some suggestions to make it better? I would love to see Comments.

Quilts Being Used

Sometimes it is nice to have your work appreciated.

Stolen Meme

I have been popping off all round the internet and laughing as I read some of the Stolen Memes, like at H&B.
Funny Stuff!
So I eventually wandered off to Wikipedia and read up and said... Why Not?

How to do a Stolen Meme-
Go to Wikipedia
Type in your birthday Month and Day (no year)
Read and read and read.
Then post...
3 birthdays
2 events
1 holiday

3 BIRTHDAYS


1972... Sarah Grimke
American abolitionsist and feminist- one of the first American women to speak in front of mixed crowds of both women AND men (what a thought!)


1922... Charles M Schulz
SNOOPY!


1939... Tina Turner
I love sharing her birthday, who wouldn't!


2 EVENTS


43 BC - The Second Triumvirate alliance of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus ("Octavian", later "Caesar Augustus"), Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, and Mark Antony is formed.


1922 - Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon become the first people to enter the tomb of Egyptian King Tutankhamun in over 3000 years.




1 HOLIDAY


I had a really hard time finding something in Wiki for this date, so I branched out a bit and looked at some other things.

But the one I found most interesting was
1789 - A national Thanksgiving Day was set aside by President George Washington to observe the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.


Don't want to wait until November? Here is a Holiday for this week then!

PIF Exchange- Are you It?

OK....I read about the "Pay-It-Forward Exchange" first on Welsh Quilter's Blog and then I rambled all around the blogosphere, over and under and sent out some emails and chatted on Quiltchat.com and learned from one chat friend that another chatterfriend, Beth, had joined in.
And now I am part of it!

Here's how it works:
I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. (Whoever and Wherever!)
I don't know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week... LOL... but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise!
The only thing you have to do in return is Pay It Forward by making the same promise on your blog.

I really do plan on getting things out a lot earlier than July of '08... but I think I will keep it a surprise until you receive it!

Anyone else want to join in on the fun and satisfaction?

What Gets In The Way

Swooze posed the question, "What gets in the way of my quilty progress?"

I thought I would be all clever and say things like "I work sooo many hours a day". Or "I progress just as much as I want". Or something equally untrue. Then I thought about being honest and talking about how I get distracted by butterflies and like to chat online in #QuiltChat and that I value my sitting around relaxing time as much as many other things in my life. And that my dog needs a walk, and my husband likes to see me.

But then I thought about what got in-the-way of my quilty progress the past 24 hours, and I realized, it is Adventure!

Life is an adventure to me. I am always turning over new rocks, poking my nose into new ideas, haring off to see something I have not yet seen, driving hundreds of miles just because I haven't been there yet.

Life is an adventure. And it can be exhausting.

Exhausting... when I do things like I did yesterday. I drove 8 hours (from Olympia WA to Northport WA) to start on a new path that the Universe (and Chrys) has offered. Then I drove home!

But! I am now a proud possessor of a Floor Loom!

For weaving!

This is an Allen-made 42 inch counterbalance loom, which I just unstrapped from the top of a friend's car. (Two hours of sleep, but who is counting?) (And that is my clawmonster Louis Cat.)
Now... I just have to figure out how it works!

See, adventure!

Gifts from the Non-Quilter

So... I think my absurd sense of humor if backfiring on me...

Just look at what a non-quilty friend thought was important to save from someone's burn pile!

Note the delicious velvety and double knit quality. What to do?

Cat Cushions!

I just happen to have some shiny poly type fabric (another 'save' by a non-quilter) and have backed them in that.

Thrifty Gift Week #1: Orphan Block Hot Pad

Thanks for joining me for the first week of #QuiltChat's Thrift Gift Maker hour.

Gift Maker chat is scheduled for Sunday 7 pm EST and Monday 10 am EST.

The first week is nice and easy and everyone should be able to make one. Next week we have Show & Tell! (Just email me a picture of what you have made and I will add it to the picture album.)

Step #1 Grab an Orphan Quilt Block-
I know you have a shoebox full!

You will also need some backing fabric (thick cotton is preferred), some binding, some batting or hotpad Insulation.

#2 Cut pieces of backing and batt equal to the size of the the block. Sandwich the layers together and baste- pins should be adequate.

#3 Choose thread to match and quilt your block.

#4 Square up the little quilt and trim.

#5 Apply the binding.

#6 Finished!

This will work with any shape of block you have hanging around, and can even be used to make the glove shaped hotpads.

What can you make?

Shop Hopped Out

I did it!


I visited the requisite 16 shops, collected my stamps and turned in the Passport at the final shop of the day! I am now entered in to win the lovely prizes. :) I also bought a few raffle tickets from various guilds.
And I must say WE did it. Thank you to my wonderful-darling-patient Husband for going with me. He was a great sport and we had a fun time discussing esoterica, arguing plants and making inappropriate jokes. He earned major brownie points for going along (and I think he had some fun too).
Of course, I collected more than just stamps (a sore butt from driving the 250 miles and 8 hours.)






I now have 16 block patterns to work on while deciding on the next project(s). Many shops included all the pieces required for finishing the blocks. And I bought the finishing kits from the shops that didn't.
I did some stash enhancements along the way. Mostly I collected 1/2 yard cuts, some random fat quarters (and some nice coupons inviting me back). I kept saying I was on the lookout for white-on-white and cream-on-cream. But I only ended up buying ONE of those LOL

I found two fabrics with Dragons- one is black with gold dragons, the other is black with multi-colored dragons.
My favorite purchase has to be the Australian designed fabric (bottom right hand fabric in photo below). I will be collecting a few more yardages of that line. Stunning. (I picked this one up at the Shibori Dragon in Lakewood.)





I also learned where some great shops are. And I know how to get to them, in case I am ever in that area... Which is not unlikely, considering all 16 of the shops I visited were within a one hour drive of my home. Here is a map of the places we visited.

Today's stops (pink pins):

#1 Rochester, The Quilting Cottage. (My first visit- really well stocked!)
#2 Centralia, Quilter's Junction. (Moving to a nearby space soon, all on 1 level.)
#3 Chehalis, Sister's Fabric Shop. (Bursting at the seams like usual.)
#4 Morton, Sugar & Spice. (My First visit here, NOT my Last. Very friendly, SUPER prices. Really Good Prices!)
#5 Eatonville, The Country Mouse. (Fun dimensional pieced block- Three Blind Mice.)
#6 Graham, Creative Quilter. (Very friendly and helpful. Nice selection of panels too.)
#7 Orting, The Wild Rose. (Beatiful shop, great location. It is for Sale. They are having an inventory reduction sale soon too. Watch the site for details.)
#8 Puyallup, The Quilt Barn . (Another shop that is moving to a bigger location soon.) (Yay for success!)
#9 Tacoma, Train Fabrics Etc. (They offer bananas for the weary hopper. And a selection of non-quilty things.)
#10 Tacoma, Evergreen Quilting. (Has done very well since opening. Has expanded already! Check them out.)
#11 Lakewood, The Shibori Dragon. (Always interesting finds. Specializing in asian fabrics and imports. Just expanded yarn section too.)

Previous days (blue pins):

Olympia, Bayside Quilting. (The machine quilting part, with 5 HQ16's available for rent for $15 an hour.)
Olympia, Bayside Quilting 2. (The fabric section. Always amazing. I am so spoiled to be so close to this amazing shop, full of amazing people. Amazing.)
Tumwater, Quilter's Quarters. (Yes, a third shop within minutes of my home. Spoiled.)
Shelton, Sue's Stitch In Time. (Great selection of wide width fabrics!)
Belfair, Dancing Needle. (I really liked their kits and applique patterns.)


And there are 2 more shops pretty close by, that I didn't make it to, but should mention, as I will probably try to go to them tomorrow (Don't tell my husband!)

Yelm, GeeGee's. (GeeGee's has more fabric than you can imagine. Fabrics from years ago that you have been trying to find more of.)
Tacoma, Parkland Parish Quilt Co. (Just a nice shop. Nice folks, nice selection.)

Yes, I had a great time. I am excited to start playing with the fabrics I picked up. I may actually make the blocks I collected (dare I think of last year's blocks?).

But first, I think I will take a nap.