A Farewell for Wendy

Goodbye Wendy...

Our Tuesday group consists of a small group of women.  We meet at various homes and work on something or inspire each other or just hang out with each other.

Well, the time came for Wendy to be leaving and going back to Scotland.  I just got word that she arrived today, so this took place last Wednesday I think.  Ok, last week sometime.

Two of us were not sure if we could make it; me being one.  I did.  She did.  It was lovely. Thank you to Corinne for hosting this!

When Corinne left Kuwait; the ladies put together a Quilt Jar.  In Kuwait, there are a lot of ladies that are crafty and in the group.  Here in Muscat, our Tuesday group is tiny; so Corinne suggested we each throw in several fat quarters.  I put in five and an embroidered pin cushion.

"Wendy...SURPRISE!"

She met some of the ladies downstairs!  She was under the impression that she was having tea with Corinne! 

Corinne was saying something.  Can't remember!

Here Wendy is perusing the Quilt Jar.

Nice action shot.  Maybe she just realized what it was?  edited to add:  I think she saw the pin cushion!

Here Corinne is cutting us this lovely cake.  Alice is serving herself some tea.  Jo is also.

A lovely cake and tea/coffee.

Wendy looking at my pin cushion that I made her. 

Some different angles of what I did.  I used Bullion Embroidery on Silk.  I used a Kahwa or Arabic Coffee Cup so she could take a little of Oman back with her.  W for her name, Wendy.  A Sunflower, as it is her favorite flower and yellow as it is her favorite color.  I felt it needed something but was more concerned about the 'finishing' around the lip.  So I added a little Ladybug!

And this is the bundle that I put in the jar.

Wendy showing us the first part of her Mystery Quilt.  She will continue with the clues and project overseas.

It was lovely to meet you Wendy and have you in my Tuesday circle even though it was far too short!

All the best in this next chapter of your life!

My first Journal Quilt: Title of a Book - Movie - Song

The Muscat Quilt Guild is doing a year long project of Journal Quilts. I keep meaning to make one since September and finally made one for February.  

The theme had these criterias:

Yellow

Title:  Movie/Book/Song

8.5" x 11"

February, 2013

I wanted to use a song by The Cure  but could not get my thought process around these songs:

Disintegration.

Love Cats.  Well, I had an idea but did not love it.

The Last Day of Summer

Pictures of You

Love Song

Just like Heaven.

Pooh...

So I was cleaning.  Love cleaning.  You find TREASURES!  I found a picture of my house that I had printed onto fabric.  I then used this for the basis of my Journal Quilt and decided to use Phillip Phillips' first single 'Home'.  (He's sooooo cute!  He was my favorite and WON American Idol, 2012)  Oh yes.  I can whip this up.

And whip up I did.  Last night.  I laid my head down at 3:39am.  The alarm woke me at 6:13am.  I had our general Muscat Quilt Guild meeting and had it to show.  I am doing this now and will cook and run to look at a cool sewing machine and frame from a friend whom is leaving and selling.  Then off to pick up my son and then by 4 I can chill.  My body hurts all over.  But enough of my silliness.  Back to the quilt...

I started with taking the cut off borders of my Jelly Roll Race Quilt.  I trimmed where necessary and joined them using a large zigzag.

 

I then used my Sullivan's Basting Spray that I brought over years ago.  YEARS AGO I tell ya.

Love this stuff!  I rarely use it.  Do they still make it?  Anyone know of a homemade recipe for this?

I sprayed the backing; placed the pieced batting on it.  Then sprayed the batting and laid down the top.  I smoothed it all out from the center outward.  Love this.  I think I mentioned that already!

I began quilting it.  I stayed away from the house.  I used my new favorite free motion pattern called Wandering Clovers.  I used it in the border of my Jelly Roll Quilt.  I then wrote HOME across the top center.

I managed to sew in a sleeve using the leftover bit of the binding and tacked it down.  I knew that I would use a huge toothpick or BBQ stick so all it needed was to be tacked down.

After I finished and looked at it I was pleased but it needed and still needs something.  So this morning I put in French knots in the flower beds.  Red and Pink.

I think I will do some embellishing around the picture to frame it.  I have enough decorative stitches on my machine to try something creative!  I thought of free motion quilting a pattern on the building.  We'll see!

So, I'm dragging if I haven't mentioned it already.  Still have lots to do so will sign off for now!  Thanks for stopping by.  

I've been working on a T-shirt quilt lately too.  I'll post that soon!

JELLY ROLL RACE QUILT - DONE - !!!!!

I am DONE, DONE, DONE!!  I'm so happy!  It took me less than a week to quilt this.  I wanted to try something different with the long strips.  I'm glad I did!

Uki is ALWAYS with me!  Here she is laying on the quilt as I'm about to start quilting.

I was trying to decide which thread to use.  Uki helped me choose.  She was batting them all over the top.  

I remembered that I bought this no slip matt in Dubai and wanted to use it.  I am taking it out here.

I

I did not know what to do.  It did not fit my table.  It was too big.  I did not want to cut it down so I got my big bad table.

Ok.  Here it is.  Sew Slip II.  Get one!

I found this rather cumbersome to quilt.  Whereas I used a decorative stitch to achieve the wavy lines; I found that turning the quilt was hard on my upper back and shoulders.  But I did it!

Again showing the cool wavy line.  Sometimes the pins would get stuck on the table and I would feel a slight tug.  This gave me long stitches.  It's all about the practice and forgiving yourself for not being perfect.  I did my best and the stitches are different sizes but I'm happy with it and know where I went wrong and what I can do to correct that.

 A wider view of my workspace.  I ended up removing the blue catch-all as I thought maybe the quilt was catching on that.

Gee, more of the wavy lines.

I had to get out my driving gloves without the three fingers covered.  They snap at the wrist and work just fine for me.  They fit without being too tight.  They allow maximum grip and control and the three cut out fingers let my hand breathe so I don't get too hot.  They were CHEAP!

Excuse me!!!  Uki!!!

There was something wrong with the bobbin I thought at this point.

A closer look.

Uki inspecting something!

Back on the other table, Peachy, PEACHY came and settled in!  She hardly ever hangs out with me!

Uki must have been thinking, "no, hold up now, this is MY domain" and joined in on sitting on the quilt.

Uh oh, it's bath time!

Before I started with the borders I checked the machine as lint was coming out on the threads.  Eeewwww!   COOOOLLLL!

I used a whole bobbin!  It was a thrilling experience!

The shops were closed as they close for several hours in the afternoon and I couldn't wait.  I just had a little left.  So I found the closest color.

I was inspired by Penny at sewsimplelife that I found on Instagram.  Lovely girl and I loved this little picture and the Wandering Clover design for the quilting.  I wanted to try it and I did!!

Here we go!  On the orange border I just did loops.

After a while I had to go cook.

I think this is the orange border.  Hey, whats going on here!  The pictures uploaded in the wrong order!!

Is this the cutest thing ever!  I couldn't have tried to get Uki to make this face!  They are both looking up at me.  I guess they were checking in and asking for something!

Here you can see my wandering clover design.  It was so much fun!  I threw in a four leaf clover for luck!

Then I decided to try my name and a label was born.  I have my name and the year.  Can you see it???!!!

I picked this trick up on Instagram too.  I will try to find the gal and give her credit.  IT WORKS!!  I did not have to fight with the binding and it glided on just fine!  Great tip!!!!

Here I have the quilt on my table and am sewing on the binding and Uki made herself at home.  She really likes this stuff!

Here it is!  I LOVE it!  I love the effect of the wavy lines.  I love the effect of the fabric all crinkly because I did not wash the fabrics first.  Love it!

Folded up.

I like the orange part.  This bad boy measures a decent 58" x 70".

Now, so far, Uki has been sleeping on it.  I went out to meet a friend that moved from Oman years ago and was in town.  I'll cuddle up under it tonight!

Thanks for stopping by!

FABRIC GIVEAWAY OVER AT MAUREEN'S SITE!

This is a lovely fabric giveaway over at the MAUREEN CRACKNELL HANDMADE site.  Please go and join in.  Good luck!  I want to get my hands on these beautiful fabrics from The Intrepid Thread!

These are so very pretty!  Good luck!