Something new

Yesterday just wasn't my day for crafting. I set aside the bookmark. I haven't given up on it yet, but I also haven't figured out where I went wrong.

I tried piecing a pinwheel block from memory, and it did not turn out. I was able to salvage it and find the correct way to put it together. 

I tried a second time. It went together easily, but I wasn't happy with either block. The seams pucker and the centers don't lie flat. I'm pretty sure that the problem is with the printed fabrics. They were very inexpensive, from Temu, and they are coarser and stiffer than the solid fabric.

Feeling like a crafting failure, I decided to sit and read for a while. Then, daughter Joanne called and we started talking about rag quilts. I know that rag quilts have been around for a long time. They just never appealed to me. However, Joanne's daughters decided they wanted to try making rag quilts. 

I ordered pre-cut kits for both girls and for myself. Since they live so far away, I need to work on the same project so that I can answer questions over the phone. The kits won't arrive until next week. In the meantime, I've been watching lots of YouTube videos on rag quilting. Everyone has "the best way" to make a rag quilt, and each person seems to have their own spin on the process.

Since nothing else seemed to be going my way, I decided to shift to trying rag quilting.

Using pre-cut fabrics, I put the fabric from Temu on the top and flannel blocks on the back. I don't think it matters that the colorful fabric isn't quite 10" square. Putting the fabric back to back, I simply sewed a big X. I have a total of 30 blocks, so this will be 5 blocks by 6 blocks, lap throw size. I was able to sew all of the blocks in about an hour and a half, and that included pressing each piece of fabric to get the wrinkles out. Before dinner, I spent about ten minutes figuring out the layout for the quilt. They were all stacked in order for sewing in no time.

After dinner, Dave went outside to take care of the chickens and cats. I decided to see how much I could accomplish while he did chores and cleaned up. Using 1" seams, I had all of the blocks sewn into rows in less than half an hour. 

I also managed to clip the rows together in pairs. I'm ready to sew today!

Giving up?

 

I have been working on this bookmark for over a week. I have made so many mistakes, I have lost count of them. This is at least my third time of doing something wrong at the end, and I'm seriously thinking of giving up and starting over.

There is nothing wrong with the pattern. It's "Criss Cross" from Four Dozen Tatted Bookmarks by Robin Perfetti. With each mistake I've been able to see what I've done wrong, but I keep making mistakes! I'll look at what I've done one more time before giving up, but I think this one may be snipped and thrown away!

To relieve my stress, I've been making beaded pens. These are a no brainer, perfect for when I'm frazzled.

I have enough made to pass out to staff members and high school students at the beginning of school, which starts Monday, August 24. We're getting a late start this year because of HVAC work being done at the elementary school. Some of our breaks will be shorter this year, but I think we will survive.

Daughter Carol inherited this boudoir chair from the 1940s. It needs some TLC, so she has been actively researching so that she can bring it back to its former beauty.

She found this beautiful fabric from the 1930s on Etsy. Even though the shipping from Italy was extremely expensive, the total cost was less than new fabric available in the U.S. Plus, the newer fabrics did not have either the pattern or the color scheme Carol was looking for.

She used AI to see what the chair might look like when it's finished. We took it to the upholsterer yesterday, and it could be ready as soon as three weeks. It will look perfect in her bedroom!

Trimmed and stacked

 

Mom and I went shopping and out to lunch with daughter Carol. It was a great day, and I even managed to trim all of my quilt blocks and put them in order for binding and joining.

I have a specialty machine foot coming in a few days that is supposed to make the binding process a breeze. I think I'll wait for that foot to arrive before doing any more work on this project. I'm sure there will be a learning curve, but I'm excited to learn a different way of attaching the binding!

Quilted!

 

The blocks for my next quilt have all been quilted. Next up, trim them to size. 

I'm going to approach this quilt a little differently. I have been binding all the blocks, and then choosing the layout. This time, I'm going to choose the layout first, and then bind them. That way I can join blocks in the evening while watching t.v. Leaving all the joining until the end is a little tiring on my hands!

Joanne's quilt

 

It took me all day, but I finished Joanne's patriotic pot holder quilt today!  I'm so pleased with the way it turned out.

I foolishly thought that I had a chance of finishing this when Joanne was still here. It took my seven weeks, with a start date of June 15. Joanne and family headed home July 7. It took a little bit longer than anticipated!

Dave asked what I'll work on next. I guess he hasn't noticed that I've already started another quilt!

Quilt blocks and beads

 

I spent quite a bit of time working on quilt blocks today, and I managed to finish eight.

Since daughter Joanne and granddaughters Sophia and Kara are also working on quilt blocks, I took pictures of both the front and back of each block so that they could get some ideas for their blocks.

I have an idea for using fairy wands, so I put some more together this afternoon. Once my supplies arrive, I'll share what I've thought of doing... if my idea works!

Happy birthday!

Today is daughter Carol's 45th birthday. Happy birthday, Carol! To celebrate, we went to a new Italian restaurant in the next town south of us. The food was delicious, and the company was even better.

Before leaving for the restaurant, I finished up the last of what I've been thinking of as my beige blocks. Each block has a different quilting pattern, all straight line quilting.

When we returned home, I started working on my red blocks. I only finished four, but my total for the day was nine... pretty good!

Joanne sent me a picture of granddaughter Kara practicing her sewing. Joanne and the girls went shopping for practice fabric this morning. The girls are doing a great job!