It all started with this...

I belong to a Flickr Bee and the Queen for the month wanted an 'old forgotten block'. I found this one in an Australian Patchwork and Quilting 2003 magazine. I loved my friends so much I'm making sixteen for myself!  I'm really enjoying it. 

So it looks like I have lots of color going on. I wish I had peach fabric but I don't. Can you suggest a color to try?

I have joined The Splendid Sampler QAL!!

I did it. I joined Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson's The Splendid Sampler!!

I'm so excited for a bevy of reasons...

1.  To be a part of an online community. 

2.  To USE MY STASH.

3.  To use my scraps!

4.  To have a long project to get excited about. 

5.  To get some newbie friends on a project with me. 

6.  To stay connected with some friends that have moved from Muscat on this project. 

Ok. That's all I can think of. 

Please go to the link above and scroll to the bottom-ish part of the Home page to start reading what this is about. 

I have decided to dig into my stash and use some scraps. I really do not want to buy any more fabric. As I was looking through my boxes I noticed I do not nor have I ever bought or owned a full fat quarter set???!!!  I shall remedy that...soon!!!  It's on my bucket list!!

So we had a bonus block before this shindig officially starts...

I thought of another reason.

7.  To START BLOGGING AGAIN!!!!

Additional block sewn into the Folded Block Station

 The front of the Block Station

The back with my coveted fabric.  My six inch ruler is inside the pocket.

I chose my little bit of thready fabric and used a scrappy yellow with white stars. It was much smaller than I realized, the block that is. 

Jane deigned a little project to use this bonus block on called The Folding Block Station. You have to go to the site, click on the MENU link on the top left. Scroll down to the bottom and look for:

January 30, 2016, AUDITION YOUR FABRICS - FOLDING BLOCK STATION. It will be a good thing to have for 6" and smaller blocks. 

I then chose a variegated green for the backing. Anyway, at first I had no intention of making this but decided it would be useful for this next year as well as any tiny blocks I might want to make in the future. 

I got turned around and after careful scrutiny of other Folding Block Stations, I see my pocket opening is off. I still need to go back and retread the directions. 

So I look forward to starting on the 14th!  

Scrappy Wonky Star quilt

I have been wanting to make a Wonky Star quilt for a long time. So, during the summer months I started making them and boy was it fun!!  I used a bevy of tutorials out there and used my skills from long ago to turn this quilt into a Quillow!!  All of the fabrics are scraps save the backing and batting. I even hand quilted the pillow using Perle cotton from my Hardanger stash!

One of the first layouts I had.  I had no idea how I wanted the overall look to be.

I kept making more and more blocks.

In the end, I had to buy a new batting and the backing.  I have it in several color ways but it was too much for me.  So, I bought this fabric for this quilt.  I think it works.

I began to make a huge wonky star and hand quilted it.  

I basted this mother four times before I got it right.  First it was the pieced-on-the-selvage backing that was bubbling up on me.  Then I just could not get it from bunching.  Finally I used much better tape and clips and was super duper careful with very desirable results!  FINALLY!

Binding fail on the big table.

I decided to quilt using swirls and really enjoyed it.  I love the final outcome.  This is fresh out of the dryer.

Here is my growing number of quilted pillows.  Love them!!  

Eid al Fitr 2015

Eid Mubarak to all whom follow. Just a little quick post on my journey of making 15 pillows for our new furniture and in time for tomorrow's celebrations.

Here is a play by play of the last two weeks of my life all in preparation of hosting Eid for tomorrow!

I looked all over Muscat and at Ikea and a few other places in Dubai for the pillow size I needed.  No one had them.  I checked at Sultan Center and found some!  I had to buy more pillows and use the square ones we bought at Ikea in Dubai to re stuff them or stuff them MORE!  I ripped them open and spent two days stuffing...

When I was done stuffing; I sewed them shut and boy was that hard!  It took lots of arm muscle!

I sat with the red cotton fabric.  Not quilting grade, mind you, but silky.  It was worrying me because I'm used to working with quilting cotton.  I got on with it.

All done!  I started stuffing the stuffed pillows in the casings!

After making the first 7; I decided to be a little daring and try my hand at piping.  I knew it would make a world of difference and it sure did!  Here I am making said piping.

The hardest part indeed for me was the joining of the beginning and the end.  I finally 'got it' at the 7th or 14th pillow!

I was pulling all the loose threads after turning the pillows right side out.

Here I am making the 15th pillow.  I had 'Eid Mubarak' written out in Arabic by my daughter.  I fused it and zig zagged all around.  That was time consuming.

The right side of the living room.

The left side of the living room.

…and…Uki!!!

Lastly, my pillow!

Eid Mubarak!

Corrected Hardanger Tutorial for Picots!

One day I opened my emails and a woman made a comment on my YouTube video that I uploaded two years ago saying that I had made a mistake on my Hardanger Tutorial.  I called what was a tutorial on how to make Picots, well I called them Eyelets.  How I did this I do not know!  *insert blushing embarrassed face*.

Well, five days ago we moved to a new house.  There is a lot of work being done such as changing out the flooring throughout the house and custom built cabinets and a table for my SEWING ROOM!!  Gee, I am a lucky girl!  We are having some very strong men dig out a pool in our backyard right now.  Right now we have to move everything to God knows where as the men arrived to lay the flooring downstairs.  So….

I'll try to finish up here by posting the video.  It has a little bit more personality to it.

Thanks for stopping by.  Ok.  I can't upload the video.  It is too long.  So, I'll post a link if you are so inclined to watch it.  I'm just really proud of myself because with a little bit of uninterrupted time and silence I was able to sit down and give it my all to learn how to edit a video.

Hardanger Tutorial:  Picots

https://youtu.be/_FEIq6cZy5I

I finished my Hardanger piece and have the book!

Hi!  It's been so very long!  I have so much to share but have been so busy and also just uninterested!  I seem to get the 'instant' gratification through my IG account!  If you would like to follow me, check me out at @alia666.

For the 11 ladies that commented on this, I hope you see this!  

I finally finished my Hardanger Bargello table topper!! 

I've bought a table for it.

 I'm about to move into my new home and 

my college bound daughter claimed it as hers.

 That's ok!  I'll just borrow it until she settles into her own home!!

Now for the pictures!

Can you see the piece in the top center?  I followed the instructions exactly.  I used the same color threads and fabric and I stitched the same size.  No one in our Hardanger group made it smaller; but many of the ladies made theirs larger.  They are still stunning!

Thanks for stopping by.  Off to cook dinner…Shrimp Scampi

My new long desired TV tray ironing board!

Hi all!  I got to do a little crafting today with the help of...no not Uki but my husband!  I've been to the States and back and brought back a TV tray with me. I also brought back a cold that I'm just feeling better from!!

I chose my fabrics and batting and got busy cutting to a bevy of tutorials out there!

I used two pieces of batting and one piece of InsulBright all 1.5" larger than my table. 

The Strawberry Riley Blake fabric was supposed to have been cut 3" larger but gee, I screwed up there. 

It was tough to get the fabric turned over but we managed.

I ended up using my pinking shears to cut the edges to keep the fabric from unraveling. 

Then, the man walks in and starts playing with my gun. He realizes it's not working. After taking it apart...

It turns out I loaded the staples incorrectly. Insert big smile here. 

My husband's first shot!  On my project!!

My turn!  You know, that was the most beautiful stapled item I've ever done!

Until he deemed it was not good and took it out. Insert frowny face!

Once I got the hang of it, he continued on and I was tickled at his excitement. We women rock. We carry a bean for 9 months. We let it hang on us for up to two years. We live for that child always and we can handle excited hubby's with our new toy that will help us strike something off our bucket list!  Don't forget these TV trays are not sold in Oman.  I had to break it down and squeeze it in my suitcase and drag it home. Just reminding you. 

I also brought a woman's tool kit in pink and black!  He was granted permission to hammer the staples in!  He approves and is charmed that I brought that too from the US of A!

Ta-da!!!  My strawberry TV tray ironing board with my brand new matching iron!!

Thanks for stopping by.