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Totally Not My Style

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 This week's Project Quilting's theme is "Conquer a Fear".  I struggled with figuring out what to do.  In talking it over with a fellow quilter, she simply pointed out all the new things I've done in the last few months.   I had to agree that the first time I put my grand-niece in her car seat and picked up my 90 yr old mother with her walker for an appointment, I had that feeling.  I had not dealt with a kid in a car seat in over 30 years.  Now it just makes me chuckle.  I never predicted I would be dealing with a walker and a car seat at the same time. My first thought was to simply make a sign.  I have said for years.  I want to go back to the point where you believe you don't have to things you don't want to do when you are an adult.  Eventually, I decided to simply do something my normal reaction is to avoid.  So I did handwork and something that looks like it belongs in a fiber art exhibition and not necessarily a quilt ...
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A Tribute to Harriet Hargrave, Maybe

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 This week's Project Quilting theme was books.  When you learn the person putting out the challenges is a librarian, you wonder that this wasn't a theme already.  I decided to go for a cookbook that literally changed my life, The Gluten Free Gourmet.  The Gluten Free Gourmet was connected with the University of Washington and did research into how to bake with gluten free flours.  Prior to her first cookbook, my experience was you ended up with sand and rocks when baking with gluten free flour.  She determined that xanthan gum can be added to provide the needed moisture.  Xanthan gum is made by Chris Hansen Labs in Milwaukee, WI and is commonly used in thickening salad dressing.  Xanthan gum is a byproduct of some bacteria.   I decided I could use a tote bag here in Florida and this is what I created. Much to my surprise, I put Harriet Hargrave's name on my tote and she is not the Gluten Free Gourmet.  She is a quilter.  The G...
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One Baby Quilt Done

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 This week's  Project Quilting  theme was pink.  I sorted the 4 boxes of fabric I acquired from mom and found I had this incredible fabric from the In The Beginning Fabrics and some pink that I think was bought  to go with it.  Unfortunately, there is no credit given to a designer.  I would of loved to see what other designs this person has had printed.   When I got the top done, I determined that I didn't own anything I could use as backing.  This is will be a gift for my nephew and his wife who are expecting another girl in February.  As we all seem to know, quilt stores come and go.  Mr. Google informed me that there is a store less than 1/2 mile from mom.  I stopped in and picked up fabric for a backing.  I found out they are relatively new as the long time Boca Raton, FL quilt store has closed. The machine I picked up from mom is a Bernina.  I don't normally sew on a Bernina.  I have had my moments of y...
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Project Quilting 2023 is Here

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Project Quilting is a yearly challenge run by Kim Lapacek at Persimon Dreams .  The theme for this week's challenge was "one" or "first" as the challenge started on January 1 this year.  I made One Duck and accomplished a bunch of firsts.  I recently bought a condo in Florida near family and Dec. 31rst, my brother helped me move my mother's sewing machine and paraphernalia to the condo.  So this is the first piece I have made in the new condo.    #projectquilting
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Update On My Sewing Room

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Cleaning my sewing room means something different to me than it does to you.  I try to get my room in a shape that I can dust all of the baseboards once a year.  That is one meaning of “cleaning my sewing room”.  For the most part “cleaning my sewing room” means I have to put things away.  When I do that, I find the things that seem to multiply on their own.  For me they are: Scraps Orphan blocks Unfinished projects Things given to me or picked up at rummage sales   Scraps Scraps are out of control for me.  I recently started an improv quilt when I couldn’t get the blue scrap drawer to close.    The major problem with blue/green is that I have often used some form of blue as a backing and have numerous pieces that are 6-9 inches the length of a quilt.  They fill up the drawer fast.    I know everyone's definition of what is a scrap is different.  If it is less than 1/4 yard, it generally ends up in my sc...
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Another Challenge

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 Kim Lapacek put out another challenge.  This one is to clean up your crafting space.  I hadn't even noticed it until a friend asked me if I was going to do that challenge too.   Was she trying to tell me something???  I readily recognize that these challenges motivate me to actually finish something.  I am really good at making progress, but not always getting to the finish line.  So sure why not.   So this week's activity is to take before pictures and link to the challenge.   Someone in my guild very famously quipped that she didn't need to go to a sewing retreat, she could make a mess all over a 1700 sq ft house.  I remember that comment when I have things on the dining room table, partly done things on the guest room bed, hand sewing in the living room and something left in the kitchen from some activity.  I am very fortunate.  I have a spare bedroom with great natural light that I use for my sewing room. He...
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A Quick Pillow

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  Project Quilting’s theme this week is Rhythm and Repetition.   I made a pillow.   Quilting is full of repetition of shapes.   I wanted to do something a little different.   I machine appliqued circles to 4 1/2 inch squares.   One advantage for sewing for decades is you have lots of scraps to choose from.
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