Next Session Quilts

Here's a little peek at the 3 projects that I'm teaching in the next session at The Happy Quilter. All quilted and bound! Yippee!!

Sunday

After the busy weekend I did some sorting/cleaning up/procrastinating in my studio. Here's a future project that I cut strips for.....

and this is almost quilted, but I'm stalling while I figure out what to do in the borders.

This is something I should get to but didn't - this is an old cabinet where I keep my fabric..

and this is what the inside looks like. That's a project for another day!!

Blind Hem Stitch

How many of you have this stitch on your machine and have never used it? Until today, I could say that described me. I've had two pair of pants in the closet for about 6 months now waiting to be hemmed and today, I finally decided to look in the manual and find out how to do this! Why did I wait so long?!?!? Just make the hem look like the one in the diagram in your manual, put the #5 foot on with some matching thread, and it's practically done before you start. I was going to hand stitch another hem down during the Yankee game tonight (keep your fingers crossed - yes, I am a fan) but I think I'm going to run up to the studio and do it before the first pitch!!!

Brownstone Quilters

I just dropped off two quilts for the Brownstone Quilters Guild Show today. It's next Friday and Saturday and you can get all the information and directions to the show here.
It is sure to be a wonderful show - definitely worth getting there to see all the beautiful quilts.

Husdon River

This was the river at breakfast....

and this was after my run this AM. Different boat!

I love to watch how it changes. Now off to get something (sewing-wise) done.

Too Much Fun!

Here is the current view across the river. We are having so much fun watching the colors explode during our first fall here.

This is a cool, new strip ruler....

and here is one of the projects for it that I'll be doing in the next session as a One-Day-Wonder.

And here are two photos of a quilt for the next session. I have been having sooooo much fun doing the quilting on the 820 - and all the other sewing, too! Invisible thread in the top and bobbin and it just hummmmms along.

Catching Up

I have been sewing, just not posting! Here's what been going on here. This first one is a donation quilt and I think it might just be the weirdest quilt I have ever made. It's bound and ready to go. At least it will keep someone warm!

These are parts that will become a class sample using the new Bali Pops. They are gorgeous!

This is on its way to being a large basket. Another way to use up scraps! Can you see the Hudson River in the background? It is a wonderful view. I'm looking forward to the fall colors on the Palisades.

This is for a very beautiful three-year-old who just was just adopted from Ethiopia by some special relatives. It's bound and washed and ready to send off to her.

And this is a sample for an upcoming class at the Happy Quilter.

Labor Day 2009

First a bike ride in Van Cortland Park. Who would think this is in the middle of the Bronx?!? The photo is a little wobbly - that's Frank up ahead - I took it from my bike!

On the way home we stopped at Wave Hill for lunch......

Did a little sewing in the afternoon.......
And in the evening we had a delicious dinner with friends, followed by the annual fireworks in Closter.

A treat of a day. Now back to the real world!!

A Green Go Green Bag

I finally put together a real bag for the cover photo of the pattern. I had made a few bags while I was messing around with ideas and then wrote the pattern for a version I thought would be best. It was a little different than the ones I had made, so I didn't want to put them on the cover. Marcia was nice enough to try out the pattern so her bag went on the cover for a bit, but then I saw this fabric at the shop and decided that I "needed" a green bag for the cover photo. The patterns will be at the shop next week..


Now I am playing with an "It's a Wrap" fabric basket - or maybe it's a tote bag? All I'm sure about is that it's getting bigger and I'm having sooooo much fun. I had some small strips leftover from Eldon and now they have found a use. Photos coming soon.

A Beautiful Sunset

It really looked like this! In the foreground are my morning glories that are winding their way on the terrace fence.

Back to Sewing

Wow! It sure has been awhile! We did go away for a few days but time has been flying by. I've been playing with my 820 in preparation for the demo on 8/20/09 at The Happy Quilter. I decided to see how many of the different features I could use making fabric bowls. It's been a great way to learn more about this machine. Tapering and Tassel stitches included!! This machine has a great stitch, and it's so easy to modify the tension for different threads. I do love making these bowls.

Top is Finished

It's not a very good photo, but the top is pieced. I just quilted and bound the other big one for the fall session, while getting used to the new machine. Did it all in one day! OK, so it wasn't very fancy quilting (and I did all the binding by machine), but I am faster with the bigger space. Next will be a table runner, and then I figure I'll be comfortable enough to tackle this one.

It's Ready to Go

Isn't that a pretty sight?! I'm having a blast on this machine. The Dual Feed function is wonderful. I've been putting the rows together on this quilt, and my other machine was pushing the bulky points off so that it was a real challenge to get them to match. The 820 with the dual feed just breezes over these seams and tonight I finished putting the rows together. Now for borders and quilting.

My son says that the 820 makes my other 150 Bernina looks like a little Easy Bake Oven!

Coming Along

This is just another peak at this quilt. There are/will be 16 stars when it's all done. Hope to finish piecing the top in the next few days. Then I'll be able to quilt it on my new 820! It's all set up in it's cabinet and ready to go...

I'm getting there...

Here is one completed top.

And this one is coming along - this was a few days ago and it's a lot bigger than this but the rest of it is going to have to be a surprise!

July 4th

First the daytime view from our little patio with Rulie.

Then a beautiful sunset.

Lights on the bridge.

Then the fireworks! Ok they are kind of far away, but I didn't have to fight the crowds.

A Sneak Peek

Not getting a lot of work done around here, but I am enjoying some time off! Here's a peek of what is going on when I can steal some time to sew. The first three stars (only need 13 more) are from a new pattern we found at market that is planned for a fall class and the last photo is of the other fall project that I'm using as Leaders and Enders while I sew the stars. It's all fun!!!

Moving again....

My son has come home from college and we're shuffling around the two apartments for the summer. He is unpacking - you can imagine what the place looks like! I took a look and did what any sane person would do - escape to another place. I'm moving my "piecing" machine (my Bernina 150) into the guest bedroom in the apartment and will put the 820 up in the studio for quilting. This way I won't have to share the space with him so much during the summer and this will work out better for both of us!
I've been working on a few projects in the meantime. The first is a sneak peak at a quilt for the fall class schedule....
and this bag is a real treat!! It's called the Two-Hour Tulip Bag and we found it at market. It can be make in four sizes (this is the smallest) and it really does go together quickly and easily. This is a sample for the shop (we do have the pattern ;-) and I might just have to make a few more just for fun.

I did it!

I placed my order for the Bernina 820! I've been waiting for this machine, and it's just as amazing as I hoped it would be. I've been playing with it on the quilting frame up at the shop and it is a treat to quilt with it! I should have it by the end of May and I can't wait!!! Meanwhile I play with the one at the shop. Go up and try it on the frame with the BSR if you have a chance. It's a fun time.
I'm off to quilt market for the weekend. There are a few new purses that I have almost finished - a new pattern - and I'm hoping that early next week I can post a photo or two.

Happy Mother's Day

Look what came in the mail yesterday from my son up at MIT. A beautiful treat! Enjoy your Mother's Day. I'm looking forward to getting some time in on my machine - nothing exciting yet but I'm cleaning out the scrap tops and quilting them so I can donate them and get them out of the house. Five are done, and one to go!
Also, we received the Bernina 820 up at the shop and I'm thinking this is the machine for me!! I'll keep you posted.......

Cleaning Up

I've been trying to do a little clean out - inspired as well by Bonnie Hunter's talk at Brownstone Quilters Guild this past week. Someone gave me some unfinished scrap blocks a long time ago and that started this one. Pieced the back.Then I had these blocks laying around so this got borders. Then I pieced the back and the batting, and then quilted it. Yippee!!

No Handles Yet

The moral of this story is - check to see if you have the right color handles BEFORE you make the bag. I'll just have to get out to Connie's and pick up the right color. I have lots of handles waiting for bags - just not the one I need. This is my Gold Handbag pattern. I haven't made it in awhile and I forgot how much I like the shape of it. This is going to match nicely with the jacket I made when it's done.

Quiltville at Brownstone

You have heard me talk about Bonnie Hunter and her Quiltville site. Well... she is the guest at the Brownstone Quilters Guild meeting on Friday, April 17th!!! She'll be talking about her scrapsavers system.There is more information at the Brownstone website. You don't have to be a member to attend this meeting; Guests are welcome to attend - there is a $5.00 guest fee for attendance. The meetings are at noon and at 7:30PM. Directions are on the website. Don't miss this opportunity to meet her!! I'm aiming for the noon meeting. See you there!!!

Two Bags Finished

I finished up two of the bags - one of them after playing with the circular embroidery attachment. I figured out a new handle as well. I really like this one!

Jacket's Done

I really like it and the technique is fun to do. Sorry the photos aren't the best - it's hard to take a good photo in the mirror, especially of the back ;-)