Goodbye Beautiful May, Hello June

It’s been a great week here in the Salt Lake Valley. I hope you all had a lovely Memorial Day. Ours was quiet, but nice and restful. 

Tuesday was a gorgeous day, sunny and bright. That is, until I changed into my swimsuit and coverup. The clouds came out to threaten, but I walked to the condo pool a block away anyway. The wind came up and all the cotton from the cottonwood trees began falling and swirling like snow. By the time I’d sat and talked with friends at the pool for about 15 minutes, the surface of the pool was entirely covered with cotton! But I wanted to get in anyway, so I did! I just splashed and cleared an area for me to immerse up to my neck and paddle around for a few minutes. Then I called it good, got out and dried off, donned my shorts and coverup and walked home with the friends. Two hours later, the sun was out again and the cottony wind abated. I hope my next pool foray will be more successful, hehe. My friend Karen said it took her two hours to clean/skim the pool when I saw her later that evening as I was out walking. 

On Wednesday, Bruce and I drove up to Ogden to visit my friend Pat and her husband Eddie. I hadn’t seen them for about 8 years, and Bruce had never met them. Pat had a load of fabric to pawn off donate to me and Quilts for Kids, my friends or whomever could use it. The fabric, in a half dozen almost full tubs, came from her twin sister who no longer quilts due to health issues. 

L-R: Bruce, Cathy (me), Pat, Eddie

So, on Thursday, my friend Ruby came over and we spent about four and a half hours sorting through the fabric. My plan was that anything I took for myself would be primarily things that would work as quilt backs for my kids quilts, or small scraps in colors I was getting low on. I also ended up keeping a quilt that just needs to be trimmed and bound (and donated), a set of blocks ready to be sewn together, and green scraps that may potentially match a quilt I’m planning for another friend (story on that to come in a couple weeks). Oh, and fabrics for more potential kennel quilts. But my storage space here is limited. So, for everything I do end up keeping, the plan is to remove from my existing stash (and donate to QFK) an equal or greater amount of fabric. 

Ruby took several in-process quilt tops and block sets that were clearly not intended for kids. She also took some yardage and lots of precut squares in sizes from 2.5” to 10”. I had recently shown her an easy way to make 4 half-square triangles from 2 blocks of equal size, so she wanted to match up some of the squares to try that method out. She’ll take what will work and return the rest so they can be passed on. When her stuff was taken home, I snapped this picture of the remaining fabric. Down to 3 tubs and a few piles! 

Much of the fabric is too dark or too thin or just wrong for kids quilts. That’s what those three tubs in the foreground are. Cousin Kim will go through those on Sunday, then the remaining fabric, probably 2-3 tubs full, will be donated to my friend Bernadette who works with several other quilting charity quilt groups, like Project Linus, guilds who make placemats for Meals on Wheels, retirement homes and the like. No scrap left behind!!

So anyway, I haven’t made a start on my June Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks yet. Angela has called blue for June. We usually divide blue into two months; darks/brights one month and lighter blues another month. But this year Angela wants us to just go for it with all the blues together and I’m up for the challenge! I did get my blue scraps all sorted and made a list of all the blocks I need to sew in June, so I’m ready to jump in with both feet!

I did finish up the last of my pink scraps and made eleven crumb blocks that will finish at 6”.

I also sewed up a column of pink scraps. Here are the five columns I have made so far this year.

I’m going to sew two blue columns this month, and the width of at least one of them will be a couple inches wider for size variety. 

Here’s a recent pic I snapped of the brilliant red of our Japanese maple, the green of the other landscaping and the blue of the sky. 

And one picture taken as I looked up, mesmerized. 

What can I say? I love color. And so do all the quilters who participate in Scrappy Saturday and the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. So why not follow the link and come check it out? Until next week, be safe and be happy!

Storage Solution for Thread

I was reading some blogs last week and happened upon an idea (no idea where - I start following links sometimes and just get lost....).  Some girl had used an printers tray for storing spools of sewing thread.  Light bulbs went off in my head!!  I have a printer tray somewhere....

Well, I never did find the printer’s tray, but I did find an old wall storage unit for rubber stamps. So I hauled it out and cleaned it up, resisting the urge to paint it.  Bruce kindly hung it for me in my studio, and I filled it with my sewing threads......

Thread storage “Before"

“After"

Now I need to find some cute (yet practical) things to put on my Singer Treadle when it’s closed up to sort of soften the look.  

This little shelf was such a simple solution that cost absolutely nothing.  And those old plastic thread bins  will be OUTTA HERE when we have our yard sale next month!

Hugs,

Classes and Goodies from CQ Adventure

I’m rather late posting today because I was watching DGD London all day, and she wore me out!  :-)   Well, that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it....

One of the things I was really looking forward to - and I was not disappointed - was taking classes from Sharon Boggon, Allie Aller, and Betty Pillsbury.  I’ve had the pleasure of taking classes years ago from Betty, including a week at the John Campbell School in 2001.  So, I knew I was in for a treat again.  But it was a triple treat! All three teachers were excellent. Each had their own unique style and sense of humor. They were all very clear and patient with their lessons and explanations, guiding us along as we learned new techniques.  I kept a journal for Sharon’s 3-day stitch workshop (so many new stitches and motifs!), but ended up relying on my camera and examples from Betty’s and Allie’s classes.

Day 1  - Sharon Boggon.  I didn’t take pictures in this one-day class; instead, I concentrated on learning new and reviewing other stitches we learned in the 3-day workshop earlier in the week (see pictures from previous post here).

In the evening, Betty Pillsbury gave a great talk on crazy quilts.  Renee and I were her helpers (or “slaves” as Betty so lovingly put it, LOL).  We held up the quilts and other stitched pieces and took them around for everyone else to see and photograph.  Following are 4 pictures of some of the antique pieces Betty showed, which I snapped later on when they were out on display.

Day 2 - Betty Pillsbury’s class.  Another fun day!  We painted on velvet, making paddle-fans.  Below is my effort (sans the handle, which we are to finish outside of class).

Although I did my satin flower with the satin fabric I brought, the satin was too heavy and it didn’t drape well.  I threw it away (yes, another flower in the garbage. Some readers will recognize a pattern in that behavior). Betty was a riot, and did a great job of explaining basic stitches in ergonomic, muscle- and tendon-friendly ways.

And then, when I asked to snap a class picture, Ruth-Ellen decided to give Betty bunny-backs.  I wonder WHO put her up to it ?!?   :-)

In the evening, Shirlee Fassell gave a really interesting and funny talk about her creative journey with cross stitch, crazy quilting and using the tambour hook.   Here is one of her masterpieces.

Our hilarious Mistress of Ceremonies, Susan Elliott (in pink) coaxed Maureen up to the front and presented her with flowers and other tokens of affection from the group.

Check out some of Shirlee Fassell’s framed work on the left.   Then check out Susan being silly on the right. 

Day Three:  Allie’s class.  What a joyous, fun day!  It was like being kids again, stitching, cutting, painting and having a blast....  I wish I could say that the below two pictures were my work, (well, I could say it, but it wouldn’t be true).... but they are Allie’s work.

   

You can see more of Allie’s gorgeous floral celebrations on her blog.  In fact, while you’re there, check out her pictures from the Adventure if you haven’t already!

This is my sad little piece (below).  But you must admit, I’m pretty darn brave to post it, LOL!  It should make you other ladies who were creating gorgeous bloom after gorgeous bloom feel so smug!  No, it is not arranged as a composition yet.  They’re just gathered up to show you some of the things I was working on. Most need to be finished in one way or another, and leaves and stems added.  It was such fun, I want to make lots more flowers to add to it.  It will eventually be a floral sampler to hang in my studio.

I was sitting between Diane Matheson and Gerry Krueger.  Hopefully they will both post pictures of their flower creations because they were just gorgeous!

Here are the motifs I received in the Motif Swap.  Thank you to all you lovely ladies who so generously shared your talents!   (The motifs I created can be seen here).

Thank you to all the ladies who were so generous with your gifties and trades.  I know I didn’t get everything in the picture, but every one of you dear friends is deeply appreciated!

And dear Freda not only gave me the silver owl, but also this amazing vintage child’s apron for my granddaughter London!  I was absolutely blown away!  Thank you, Freda!

The teachers were generous, too.  Sharon provided us with a lot of threads, some sequin waste and a beading tray. And a couple other things, too.   This “booty” is both from the 3-day workshop and the one-day Adventure class.

And then Maureen gifted us with precious treasures at every turn.  Every day of the workshop and every day of class, she had some little packet prepared for everyone.  Silk, lace, vintage images, needles, gimp (see center front).  And do you see the felt flower with chenille sticking out? (lower left quadrant). That’s a needlecase that Reen made herself.  One for every lady who attended!  She started those in January to get them prepared in time!  Unbelievable!  Thank you for all your kindnesses, Reen!!

OK, if you’re still with me (I know this is a long post), I just wanted to show you the goodies I purchased at the vendor boutique.

Actually, I won the set of pastel silk velvet (below) in the door prize giveaway.  I had already bought the bright velvets, above.  The vintage laces and threads were purchased from Maureen.  She has amazing things.  Check out her shop, Maureen’s Vintage Acquisitions.

Tomorrow I’ll blog about our Girls Day Out in New York City.  See you then!

Hugs, 

Tea Time Progress - Top is Done!

This weekend I finished up the stitching on the Tea Time wallhanging that I’ll be donating to Crazy Quilting International.  We will be listing several wallhangings and quilts to auction off on Ebay.  Proceeds will go to the scholarship fund of the newly-formed ICQA, International Crazy Quilt Association.

This is the finished TOP.  I still have to back and bind it, and quilt it in some fashion.  Haven’t been thinking about that too hard up until today...   Right now it measures 20” across and 17” high.  That will change, of course, with a border/binding.

In the upper right, I added some freshwater pearls to the crocheted motif and bead flowers to complete the seam treatment.  I also beaded around the teapot  with blue seed beads.

The big teapot got some organza steam, the seams were stitched, and the meandering ribbon got spiffed up a bit.

This was the crocheted rose motif I added last month.... “before"

This is the “after”.  I stitched along its border, secured the ribbon, gave it a pearl center and added some neighboring embellishment.

A silk ribbon flower cluster in the lower left

Gold trim and ribbon roses for the teacup

The blue floral motifs were added to cover up some of the busy print.

A mother-of-pearl button serves as a plate in the place setting

As part of my commitment this year to reduce, reuse, recycle (de-clutter, use up, make do, upcycle, etc. etc), I did not go out and buy the perfect fabric to back and bind it.  Instead I will use some burgundy moire that I have, and it will be fine.  Maybe not THE BOMB, but certainly adequate.

And speaking of making do, I planned a trip to JoAnn’s yesterday.  I ran out of white thread, and it was the last day of their 50% off thread sale.  I really didn’t want to go because of all the temptations to buy stuff I really don’t need.  But I went, and when I checked out, the only things I had in my shopping bag, besides 4 rolls of white thread, was a red polka-dot cotton remnant (half yard for $1.25).  It was not a planned purchase, but is a great blender fabric for some cute red farm animal fabric I have to make London an outfit out of this year.  Plus it could go in Valentine things, too.  Yes, I am justifying it (LOL), but it was only ONE thing!  I passed up at least a half dozen fabrics that the old Cathy would have bought, not to mention some yarn (also on sale).  Must finish the afghan I am working on first.  

And the clean-out of our library begins next week.  I told DH we need to empty the big bookcase, because it is coming down to my studio to replace the smallish, tilt-y one my fabrics are on now.  This will give me room to place more stuff - like the fabrics in that rolling bin I want to get rid of.  What doesn’t fit into existing studio storage goes into the pile for the next Stash Dash at the CQI Retreat in September.

So many projects, so little time!

Goodies and Prizes and Sales ... Oh My!

Oh, where to start?!?  I may end up dividing up this post, LOL.  So much to talk about....

First of all, let your fingers do the RUNNING over to Gerry K (Olderrose)’s Etsy Shop, where she is selling her remaining pincushions for 50% off.   This is unbelievable to me, because I know she has waaay more time and $$ invested in them.  And once they’re gone, that’s it.  I own one that Gerry made for me a couple years ago, and I am ALWAYS getting compliments on it.  It is the centerpiece of my pin cushion collection (OK, I heard that.... you’re mumbling “she collects pincushions TOO?”).    Here is my favorite one in her shop.... at least for the moment, LOL!

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When the mailman arrived on Saturday, he brought me a surprise package.  Apparently my friend Freda Butler   was sneaky and sent me a totally unexpected gift!  She knows I collect vintage hankies and hankie holders, and she found this beauty from the 1950’s:

This lucite hankie box is triangular shaped to accommodate folding one’s hankies in that manner.  My daughter, who studied ballet for 12 years, was totally enamored with it (as was I, of course, LOL!)

Bruce and I got a chuckle out of the pink men’s hankies that Freda sent along.  As Freda pointed out, it probably got mixed up with some red laundry to come out pink!  But I see possibilities for that black crown motif with a pink background!  Thank you, Dear Freda!!!

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And if all that good stuff wasn’t enough, Kathy Shaw (shawkl) had a giveaway on her blog.  To enter, she asked us to write her a little birthday rhyme.  Well, the random number generated selected me (for my number, not for the poem, LOL).  If you have ready Kathy’s blog for any length of time, you KNOW how generous she is.  Well, she really outdid herself this time:

Wow, I sooooo needed an infusion of Good Stuff in the way of silk ribbons, threads and laces as I am participating in FOUR round robins this winter.  I can’t wait to dig in.  Let me tell you, Kathy has a great shop that you can browse here.   I know some of us get $$ to spend on ourselves at Christmastime, and if you’re like me, you begin shopping in January.  You may just want to bookmark her site.  Some of her goodies include laces (including some designs I haven’t seen elsewhere), scissor fobs, beaded hat pins, needles, charms and PET COLLARS!!

Thanks, Kathy!!!

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Here are some more vintage images for you (it appears my theme today is aqua!)

Hugs,