Back to Sewing!

Finally!
After a long break I am sewing on my quilts again!  Thank Goodness!

It seems that life just keeps throwing obstacles on the way to having a great time sewing.

Well I decided it was time to put the string blocks that I have been working on together.  For the past nine months or so, I have been sewing just string blocks, scrappy string blocks that is. They measure 4 1/2 inches square and are a mish mash of all fabrics . . . cotton,  polyester, flannel, and some I can't identify. Now I have two plastic bins full of these little blocks.

Yesterday I started sewing them together. First I sewed a whole bin full of two blocks together; which may sound simple but it's not when you are trying to avoid sewing the same fabrics together.
So it took half the day to get the bin sorted so that like fabrics didn't end up together.

After that, I took a much needed lunch break! Then back to sewing.  This time I took the "two block" blocks and sewed them into a "four block" configuration.  That also took a long time because of the "not matching fabrics" thing.

So next time I have to sew the "four block" blocks together and keep going until I have everything sewn into a full bed quilt.  As you can see by the pictures, I have a long way to go before I am at the full quilt stage.

I decided that it was easier on my eyes and my brain to do it this way instead of rows. Last time I made rows I got the rows mixed up and had to take some rows apart.  That's a lot of ripping out stitches and big headache by the time I was through!

This way I only have to watch a couple of blocks at a time. Much easier on the eyes and the brain, LOL!

Will keep you updated on the progress of this "not matching blocks" quilt.

In the mean time . . . keep on quilting!

Aveli

Beautiful Spring Day!

Unbelievably beautiful spring day today, finally!

We had some rain last night and this a.m.   Really nice to not have snow in the yard.

The neighbor brought his cows into his yard this morning. His yard borders ours so our blue heeler was running back and forth and barking to keep them moving as they walked past our gate.

I am still working on the cover for the new hand crank machine. I made a mistake on one of the seams and had to rip it out. But, I should have it finished today.

Here are the cows. . . Can you see the two babies born this spring?

No Rain!

The rain has finally ceased! Now the state of New Mexico has to pick itself up and clean up and repair before the snow starts! There is so much damage from all the flooding and mud. We were very lucky, we had no damage at all!  One place has the only entry and exit flooded. They can not go out or anyone go in.

The governor has said they will take supplies into the area, but there is no place to land the helicopters. They are going to try backpacking the supplies into the little town!!! I have one question . . . if the residents can't come out or go in, how are the backpackers with supplies going to get in????? Just Wondering!!

I just heard there is no federal help because the amount of damage does not qualify.. . there has to be more damage!  Really??

Other than the flooding, deaths from flooding and mudslides, people losing everything, there's really nothing to write about today.

My news pales in comparison to the current events in the state's news.  I don't even have any exciting news about a football game or soccer game or volleyball game or wrestling competition.

All I did today was sew! I am still sewing the ribbon strips for my daughter's cookie project.  And I also sewed on my blocks for my scrappy string basket weave quilt.  I have almost finished sewing all the blocks I need. Since I am sewing on the strip ribbons for my daughter's project, it is slowing down the finishing of the basket weave quilt.  But that's o.k. I love helping my kids.  I just wish I could sew faster!! LOL!

In the meanwhile . . .everybody keep quilting!

Aveli

Working the string blocks, baby quilt and more!

Every morning as soon as I get up, I work on my string quilt blocks.  I go straight to the coffee pot, make hot water for my tea and while that is brewing, I sew my 4 1/2 inch string blocks. I have a large supply of strips of various size widths, colors and patterns in a drawer next to my sewing machine. I pull out the strips, sew it onto a foundation paper made from my old phone book and keep repeating until I have 10 blocks sewn. I end the chain piecing with a foundation paper sized 2 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches.  It is from these little "feeder" blocks that I made my granddaughter's "baby doll" quilt.

I know that sounds very organized, but trust me its not!  Sometimes I run out of fabric strips and have to run to my scrap box and clean cut the scraps into various sized strips to put in my drawer next to the sewing machine. I have several plastic boxes full of these scraps. I am trying to justify keeping them or "hoarding" them, as my husband calls it. 

These are scraps left from years of cutting butterflies, cats, hexagons, triangles for my customers' orders.  There are all sizes and weird shaped pieces left.  But, if I cut just so, I can get several strips of different widths and many, many triangles of different sizes! I can't even begin to think of throwing all that fabric away! If that makes me a hoarder, so be it!

I have already made enough blocks to put together a quilt top from these scraps that you can see here Click Here   But, it was not big enough to drape over the side of my double bed.  So that's why I am sewing more blocks.  Plus, after I finish this one, I am making 2 more for my other kids. I think then maybe, I will have used all the scraps in the plastic boxes, LOL!!!

In the meantime, remember the "baby doll" quilt?  Well I finally decided, I am going to quilt it on the machine.  Even though I am not very experienced in machine quilting, I think I will manage with this one because it is so small. I will post a picture when I am done, maybe on Monday???

My hexagon quilt progress will be posted tomorrow!

Have a great time quilting!

Aveli