Ticker Baby - finish

Still trimming - quilt has been washed twice. Once for initial fray trim, and a 2nd time for touch ups

Finished size = 49x49

Quilting Malpractice Confession #563

I only own three bobbins.

Piecing Batting - success!

I've pieced batting together before - the long way. Until I discovered this dynamic stuff:
It's called Heat Press Batting Together. It's basically just a super thin piece of interfacing with glue on one side. Rather than stitching your edges together, just lay this thin ribbon down the seam line and press. Awesome.

Candy Gems

This has been done for awhile, but there has been a furbaby seeking my attention a lot these days.

This is backed in minky dots, which quilts up really well. Fear not the minky people!

I probably wouldn't bind in it again, as it's very thick, but for a little 3 year old, this will be the perfect backing to cuddle with.

I dropped the quilt in the snow...well, rather, the wind blew it off the fence...so there's snow all over.
I quilted just the white parts of this quilt. I kind of like the effect! Click on the images to enlarge for more detail.

This is what is taking up my time. I mean, really he looks so gorgeous and innocent here, but right now he is tormenting the cat and taunting me with every.little.thing that isn't glued to the floor.

I haven't introduced him to my sewing space downstairs yet. I'm afraid.

Jasper Spirit

I complained alot about the work that our previous dog, Mandy was. The shedding, fur, outside cleanup, walks, etc. And it all fell on me. And how I missed it.

Introducing my idea. His name is casually known as Jasper, formally, Jasper Spirit. The whole house is in love. I can't wait to have a foot warmer under my sewing machine table!

Ticker Baby...

Part one of the ticker baby class quilt... inspired by this quilt

We began the first part of our ticker style patchwork quilt today. My son's teacher is going to have a baby any day now, and so we are making a class baby quilt for her. I loved the ticker tape style quilts AmandaJean made, and new that it would be a really neat class project to do with kids. I saw this one done by grade five students. I thought, hey, if grade fives can do it, I can adapt this project for grade ones! ;-)

**If you are interested in my notes and preparation of part one with the class, I have done so at the bottom of this post.

I spread everything out among some small tables and we worked together in groups of four students at a time. The boys and girls were in awe over the pretty colours and patterns of the fabrics.

After giving some very brief instructions, they went to work:

I am always amazed watching children think and plan...some are minimalists and extremely organized:

click on any of the photos to enlarge and see more detail

Some just plunk things down wherever:

Some plunk things down wherever, but they need to fit exactly like a puzzle:

Some want to hoard as much of their favourite fabric as possible and fill up their space with colour:

And some just move me. This boy chose the top right fabric (blue with the curve pattern) and plunked it down first. Then, he actually chose fabrics to match each of the colours in that one piece of fabric. It doesn't look like there was much thought, but he sure had a plan in his head!

The kids used elemer's school glue to dab a dot of glue to secure the fabric to the white square. The glue worked perfectly and was easy for them to use. I wrote their names on the squares where they chose to put their name - one person wanted to do rainbow colours - well, that was it, EVERYONE then wanted a rainbow name or alternating colours! ha!

I layered each finished square with a piece of scrap paper cut to about 8x8" to separate and contain each square.

I am amazed and thrilled with the outcome so far. Grade one students rock, they are totally willing and able, thoughtful and motivated, very capable, cute and huggy!

It was a really fun morning. NO kids farted near me today. *cheering* (if you aren't sure what this is about, I have several blog posts about volunteering in the class and when I was teaching- how kids for some reason seem to fart around me)

If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to ask me!

Part two for me is now to sew each little ticker shape down.....

************************

Information on how to get this all together for a class:

I cut 6.5" white squares - one for each student.

I cut little scraps of squares and rectangles - a variety of small, medium and large.

Fabric scraps in blues and pinks

Iron all scraps so they are easy to lay flat and arrange.

Have a few examples of finished product for students to see.

Purchased a set of coloured 'sharpie' markers, ultra fine tip.

Purchased a set of elmer's school glue

Scrap paper cut to about 8x8" to fit between completed ticker squares.

Containers to hold scraps loosely, to avoid wrinkles.

Container to hold finished squares

Instructions to students:

Show examples.

Choose colours you would like, leave some white spaces.

Leave a white border (what is a border?) or frame (what is a frame?) about the size of your finger around the edge.

Dab a little dab of glue and stick on. (Demonstrate this) You can arrange them like a puzzle, or you can put some on top of each other and 'layer' them. (show examples)

When you are finished, we will put your name on it. (Students will not write their names, as the markers sometimes bleed the colour and can make it illegible)

Self evaluation for students:

Is there a border/frame around the outside edge?

Have I left some white spaces?

Have I used different sizes of fabric scraps?

Have I used glue to make sure the scraps don't fall off?

Where will my name go?

What colour do I wish my name to be printed?

fun stuff

some days, all you need to spend is 1.99 to bring a little fun to your day....

airing out my ticker tape...

still needs binding and the 'line' to be stitched down...

clcik on image for a larger view

I have been playing with ticker tape blocks... little bean's teacher is about to have a baby, and I want to do a class project with the children - each child will create a ticker tape block from the mountain of scraps I bring along. They will dab some glue stick and glue em on. I had my boys practice for me so I knew what I was getting into. Glad we practiced.

After making this little sample, I'm still not sure whether to go the route like the sample above (except 21 little ticker blocks, and several lines ) or if I should go with the safe, predictable, fastened route of a checkerboard style quilt. Checkerboard would be more durable and washable, right?

I had a lot of fun machine quilting this yesterday. It was fun, because I wasn't pressured to be perfect. So, I quilted a design I used to doodle in my journal pages. (I used to doodle while chatting on the phone for hours to my peeps in my young and dangerous days.)

Aurifil thread still is my top favourite - I used 3 other brands on this sample, and my machine just loved the Aurifil still the best. Juki just purrs. Or is it the new attitude with her decals?

Winner!

I tried to get the random.org widget to post here - and it did, but it wouldn't put a permanent generated number on there... oh well. You've got to just trust me is all. :-) One day, I will spend my hours figuring out html code. blech.

Winner is #17 Kit Lang - I've fired off an email to you - please send me your mailing address!

Thanks for playing along everyone!

Machine Makeover Madness - Giveaway!!

Pimp my stitch...

Ink my machine..

Tattoo my Juki...

I may or may not have considered taking my pimped up Juki outdoors for a photo shoot for better lighting. She is just gorgeous.It was too windy, however and my neighbours are already perplexed by my quilt hanging outdoors in odd places. So, sorry for the photos not having professional quality lighting.....

When I saw these decals at Quiltastick I knew I had to get them. I have always thought machines were a little bland looking. I mean, this is coming from ME, the bland neutral decor person. If you go to the website you can see that I had a huge variety of styles and colours to choose from. That was the most difficult for me. There are 24 custom colours available too, check it out!

The decals are very strong, stronger than a normal sticker - they are removable if you change your mind later - and there is an instructions page for that (you need a little goo gone or adhesive remover if there is residue left over) You can use a minimal amount of decals on your machine - or jazz it up with lots, like I did....

The decals are on a 12 x 12" sheet and have assorted designs on them - they are easy to remove from the sheet and easy to reapply if you make a mistake. You can cut around objects or cut the stickers to fit the space you are covering. I did that in several spaces such as where my needle up/down button is. Very easy!

I used one set on my machine. I could have used more, but I thought it may turn into one of those tattoo jobs gone wrong.... you've seen them. You know. Kind of like a car with a bumper sticker problem...

I may or may not have thought about dressing up my washer and dryer with these decals.

Isn't it fun!!??

If you go to the Quiltastick website, there is a gallery where you can see some stickers used on those industrial looking long arms:

Shipping was free and quick (even to Canada), and customer service/communication was excellent!

Giveaway:

I contacted Quiltastick if they would send me an additional sheet for a giveaway, and they kindly did.

I am giving away a 12 x 12 sticker sheet in the same pattern I have used - in orange!

Leave a comment below if you would like to win. For an additional entry - just blog about this giveaway, and leave a comment that you did.

What do you think? Is it a makeup job gone wrong? Fun and Funky? Drag queen machine?

I'll leave this giveaway open until Sunday January 29, 7pm MST and draw a name then!

Thanks....And an upcoming giveaway!

Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts about Mandy. It was a really difficult time, but we have gotten over the deep hurt and emptiness that initially set in. Life moves forward...she won't be forgotten, but we are moving on. :-)

Also, thanks for the feedback on my quilt blocks. I have pieced the top together in a random pattern, and am getting it ready for quilting....

I recently purchased something uber cool for my drab looking machine....that's one thing I think could be improved on- the looks of our machines. I mean, we pay a ton of cash for our dream machine. Shouldn't we be able to customize it somewhat? Especially those industrial looking long arms? I found something to inspire me and the look of my machine...make it more cool and funky looking. And guess what? I'll show you in my next post what it looks like! AAAANNNDDD there will be a giveaway too!

Stay tuned.....have a fantastic day!

Which one do your eyes prefer?

When I thought up these simple blocks, I was playing with positive and negative space.

Here are two arrangements, with just some of the block colours showing-

Randomly placed:

Arranged with its colour mate:

Of course, I still need to play with arrangement of colour, but which do you prefer - the positive and negative spaces arranged randomly, or matching side by side with its colour mate? I think I know what I would do, but curious what you think?

*******

Monday evening was the hardest ever. I put on my brave face and went in with Mandy. It was quiet, calm and quick, and I held her and kissed her as she passed. I don't think I've ever felt my heart really ache until that night. Mandy was my amazing dog - she was a protector, a friend, playmate, a teddy bear, and an incredibly smart smart dog. This house is so quiet and empty without her. Rest in peace, my sweet girlie girl....

Colour Therapy

I pulled a bunch of my favourite brights out of my stash and started sewing. I have been tinkering with positive/negative spaces as well as reading a lot about MCEscher and tesselations. My love of graphic simple lines always shines through. The quilt done should be done fairly quickly.

My dog is not doing well, and we've had some really hard decisions to make. There's kidney disease, tumors large and small, enlarged liver, and very low red blood cell count. We've got one last 'thing' to try but the longevity and outcome will be inevitable in our near future. With that news and the decision making, the sewing once again reminds me how tremendously therapeutic it can be. I lose myself in my thoughts while sewing, and it is almost soothing to hear the purr of the machine (or the screech of the tires when I do long races of strip sewing). It is totally a place for me to calm down, reflect, and even heal somewhat. The past few days I have paced, chewed my lips, nails and cuticles to bits, eaten many bad things, watched mindless tv, cried my eyes out....and then I sit down to sew and it all lifts away after awhile.

I don't know how to explain it.

My cat knows something is up. The dog is at the vet hospital for two days, and prior to that, he has been laying very near the dog....today the cat is meowing loudly all over the house looking for the dog. sigh.

Colours, texture, pattern

This sand art painting was behind glass....it was just stunning. I want to use these colours, pattern and movement as inspiration for a new design. I see curves in my technical future and improvisation in my creative future.

What techniques are you getting ready to try?

Millions of thoughts...

A wishing tree....at our local science centre called Telus Spark. It had hundreds of wishes hung from it. Mine is in there too, somewhere. It looked so beautiful - so grand. The simplicity of the white lights, the light branches, and the red papers hanging from the tree. I took this first picture, and then spent about 20 minutes in the tree, just reading all the wishes.

Some wishes I giggled at....
Some wishes I nodded at....
Some I sighed at....
...and some made me well up in tears....
My wishes for 2012 are for the usual health and happiness. 2011 was quite stormy with ups and downs...and the last 1/2 of 2012 it mellowed out and settled down again. (phew!)

My personal goals wish - become a runner, take better care of myself, spend more time on myself and be kinder to myself.

My wishing tree wish? It was quilt related and more the far fetched type wish - totally attainable, but still, a wish.

Have you ever seen a wishing tree? It really moved me.

What would your Quilting Wishing Tree have on it?

Let's Get Real.

You're getting all excited to see the photos of all my projects now, right?

I procrastinate in every way possible when it comes to Christmas readiness. Actually, yesterday I came to the realization that my parents are to blame. Yes you read that right. I'm blaming them.

I'm forced into a society where Christmas begins in late November. This is impossible. You see, growing up, it was unthinkable to get the decorations up before December 15... We didn't get a tree up till usually around the 15-20th. Therefore, Christmas spirit has been indoctrinated to not appear until past mid December.

I was getting worried people, very worried. Every time I heard Bing in the shops, the tears would well up. Where did my spirit go? I think it's arriving, finally, albeit late according to society. I realized this yesterday, when I finally had some kind of wee bit of spirit developing inside - I even wrote Christmas cards.

So here is my list from last post, December 6. I'm keeping it real -

pillows - finished one, see below...other one needs a back. I still have 7 days.

ipad pouches - found them at Winners (like TJMaxx) for 5.99! Keeping it real folks.

zipper pouches - do I really need them? nah. I still have 7 days.

kleenex pouches - kleenex already comes in sanitary plastic pouches. Why waste fabric? I still have 7 days.

coasters - cut out , but on a recent dollarama trip, found some great croco ones for $1.50 - good for now, why stress to get them done for Christmas? I still have 7 days.

pyjamas - Walmart had all pj's on for $9. Really? Do I need to explain?

quilts - ideas ready. backing ready. I still have 7 days. backup gift already sent.

zipper coin pouch - ready to sew. Still have 7 days.

table runner - I still have 7 days left, right?

tree skirt - presents are under the tree right now. Nobody will see the skirt?!

couching experiment - Ideas ready, however, need scraps of cool yarn. May delete this project until I collect cool yarn scraps.

Hopeless.

What have I done with myself for the last 11 days you ask? Well, normal tasks aside...there have been field trips to help with, stomach flu, crafts at school, winter concerts, a birthday party to plan and execute, drapes and hardware to shop for, purchase, mount and steam/iron. Blinds to shop for and mount.

And in between my lady of leisure life, I catch up on Days of Our Lives. ;-)

Pillow - Red is an accent colour throughout my house - I wanted to make red for sure. I almost bought a set of red cushions at the big W - for cheaper than making them. But I didn't want to totally cop out of my list.

I also found this gorgeous wool blend that had clear sequins attached throughout in a very random pattern. The fabric just glistened, without being gittery. I knew this was the accent I wanted for my pillow. After seeing THIS cushion at Urban Barn I was inspired. My other pillow will follow a slightly different design...same concept though.

Super easy to make - I cut out 2.5" squares of fabric, folded them on the diagonal, and sewed them in a straight line down the background fabric.

I took a few photos to try and show the sparkle that the triangles have - but it doesn't show up as nice as in person. One day, I'll be a great photographer!

Making my list....

Things I want to accomplish in the next 19 days.

pillows

ipad pouches

zipper pouches

kleenex pouches

coasters

pyjamas

quilts

zipper coin pouch

table runner

tree skirt

couching experiment

Doable right?