Revenge of the Peanut M&M's

 

Now isn't this a pitiful face? 

Well, don't have too much sympathy because this sweet, darling dog got into my M&M stash (a 30 oz bag!!!) when I stepped out of the room to answer the door. When I returned there wasn't a candy left! I called the vet and the only remedy was to make Dallas vomit by pouring lots of hydrogen peroxide down his throat. So we did. And he did. He was so sweet not running away and just swallowing that stuff. He just trusted me. Wish I was the person my dogs think I am!

On to quilting...My husband's family is coming to Sarasota for a family reunion in June. Of course that makes me look at everything in a different light. "Is it really clean?", "Is it time to retire that item?" etc. I actually had a charity come to pick up an old couch Monday and they rejected it saying it was "too worn". Geez, how embarrassing! It's too worn for charity but was good enough for us last week! 

So I'm doing major spring cleaning, gardening and sewing. Mainly making a new queen quilt for the guest bed. It's this pattern from Moda Bakeshop and Rosyln Mirrington of Bloom

 

Her pattern is for 66.5"x90.5" quilt. I've enlarged it to a 90"x90" queen (it will go down the sides of a deep mattress). I'm making 36 blocks (6x6). It's very easy to make and rewarding. I've made a new friend that has a long arm machine and she's going to teach me how to use it on this quilt. This will be the biggest quilt I've made and I don't want to try stuffing it on my home machine.

I am using "Verna" fabric line by Kate Spain.

I'm also reading Jinny Beyer's book on hand quilting called "Quilting by Hand". It's the best book I've read for hand piecing and quilting. I've also ordered her CD "Quiltmaking by Hand" and I'm eagerly awaiting the UPS man!  

Well, off to replace my candy stash...Have a great day.

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Goodbye Pookey

 

It was with great sorrow we received the news that Mike's (DH) father, whom we all called Pookey, died this morning. He follows his wife Jean who died two years ago.

Pookey was a Marine in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He received the Silver Star for service in Korea.

We will be traveling to Destin where Pookey lived to hold a service and settle his estate. 

Melanie

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If You're Prone to Jealousy, Don't Read Any Further!

Counting the days...

Three weeks from today I'll be in Seattle for Sandra Leichner's two workshops, "Garden Bird" and "Tea with Me" at Block Party Quilters!  I am so very excited I can hardly contain myself!

After much begging sweet-talking,  I convinced my very practical husband to send me there for my early birthday present. (He still doesn't know what hit him).

IMHO, Sandra is the top applique artist around. She is oozing with artistic talent and needle skills to include embroidery. Add machine quilting and the whole package is amazing. I know I'm gushing, but go to her blog and see for yourself and follow her as she generously shares her wisdom. Be sure and check out her archives. She's fun to follow and has a great sense of humor.

Sandra is releasing a much anticipated book this fall. Be sure and look for it!

Melanie

PS  Found a great deal for a beginning applique thread collection. Superior Threads is offering a "Frosted Donut" of MasterPiece thread. It has thirty six bobbins in thirty six colors for...thirty six dollars! Quite a deal.

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Quick Quilt Query

Ok, I know I'm crazy. I just couldn't resist a title with all "Q's". LOL.

Had a little inspiration that I put together quickly today and wanted to share it with you all.  I call it "Adam".

 

I really like it. (Excuse the quilting, I was playing with a pattern from Diane Gaudynski called "Apple Core". I need to practice it more).

Have a nice day!

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Hex's-Cheaper Than Therapy!

I've been a busy girl here in beautiful Florida. I've done some applique...

But mostly I've been consumed by hexagons! I like a tidy work area (well, I try...) so I have the hex materials in a wood drawer insert.

This is how I make fast work of hex's:

1. I have eight different fabric half yards of fabric from Rouenneries by French General.
2. Cut each half yard into 3" strips x WOF
3. Cut these strips into 3x3" squares
4. Using the AccuQuilt "Go" 2" hexagon cutter, place 4-6 squares on template and cut. (If you don't have the AccuQuilt, cut hex's by hand)
5. I used die cut Paper Pieces for the templates. The paper pieces are 1" hexagons (hexagons sizes are determined by measuring the length of one side). I find ordering the paper pieces is better for me. They're cheap and very accurate. Besides, I'd rather be sewing!

Place the paper template on the wrong side of the fabric hex. You don't need to pin, just hold firmly. 

Fold over one side with your right thumb (if you're right handed)

Using your left pointing finger, going counter-clockwise, fold over the next side

You now have a little corner. Using a sturdy thread (it won't show-I use Coats Dual Duty Hand Quilting thread) sew the two corner edges together

Sew them once more

Going counter-clockwise again, fold over sides with thumb and pointy finger and sew twice.

Go all around the hex until you sew the last corner. Go once more to the first corner and sew once

Knot and cut end. I like to press both sides to set in the edges. Makes sewing together easier.

I hope that is clear and helpful. This way you don't sew through the paper pieces so you can reuse them indefinitely. It's also easier on your fingers and needle. The sewing is quite fast, I timed myself and I can do one in 45 seconds.

Next installment, sewing the hex's together.

Have a wonderful day!

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