The good, the bad and the ugly
Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 1:57PM The good… while I’m still hibernating, (it’s fall, and as usual, I’m desperately home/farmsick), I did finally do a bit of sewing. I’ve been ignoring my sewing machines along with the computer!
;)
First… the pink and green toddler quilt I started a couple of months ago, made two blocks, and quit. I woke up at three o’clock this morning and decided to finish piecing it.
Excuse the wet spots, my iron decided to spit up all over it. Maybe I’ll even quilt the darn thing next week!
Last week, I went to my guild retreat. It was two days of intensive sewing… I had to go to the chiropractor the next day! Carol Ann Wilbourn came and taught us her “Quilt by the Mile” method, she was amazing! However, I have to warn you, if you take one of her workshops, be prepared sew until your fingers bleed! LOL
Carol Ann is an incredible fiber artist, you have to check out her blog for some of her work. This is waaaaaayyy outside my box, I tend to favor traditional quilts in traditional colors, but this was so intriguing I had to give it a whirl.
I have yet to starch and press my fabric and all 9 gazillion little seams open, but you get the general idea.;)
I believe there is roughly one hundred different fabrics here, all batiks, cut into teensy, weensy, like OMG it took forever to sew them all together tiny) little pieces.
The point was to created a new piece of yardage. I intend to use this as a background fabric for a wild life applique… either a giraffe or a lion, I haven’t decided which yet.
;)
A close up of the newly created fabric.
Okay that was the good.
I forgot what the bad was… must not have been too awful.
The ugly?
While at the retreat, when I went to lift my Bernina 630 out of the suitcase system, the handle came loose on one side. I didn’t drop it, but I lost control of lifting it enough that it rocked back into the suitcase, breaking off the spool holder entirely. I think I’ll see if my dealer will just send me the part and I’ll let Jim fix it… this is a terrible time of year to be without a sewing machine!
Well of course I have the 830 too, but I freak out at the thought of being down one machine. A girl really needs three machines doesn’t she?
Okay, I’m back to hibernating. I’ll post again if I accomplish anything. Don’t hold your breath.
Reader Comments (10)
I really like that quilt, but my fingers are fatter than those seams. I don't think I could manuever such tiny seams. I like the watercolor effect. You were so lucky the machine didn't fall and break..You still have your trusty Singer to sew on. You loved that machine when you first bought it. Do you ever sew on it now? I so love my 830. I really struggled about spending so much money, but it's been so worth it. I love quilting on it. Have fun doing nothing for awhile. You are usually in a frenzy getting so much accomplished. You need to relax and enjoy just being. The weather has been so fabulous. Hilary
glad to see you came out of hibernation for a post :) I would not have enjoyed that retreat I think - I can't stand to sit at the sewing machine all day much less more than an hour at a time. I would have had to lay out on the floor to stretch out my back every hour or so. Sometimes at retreats the instructor or a leader of the group I have heard will lead the group through a series of 5 minutes of stretches and then everyone sits back down to their machines - too bad it didn't happen here - I heard you all really needed it.
Glad your machine didn't break and hope you can fix it yourself -- enjoy the fall - it will get cold tonight!!
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
You have a great piece of fabric to use. I love it, but I do believe I would have gotten tired of piecing it. Sounds like a good project to work on for 20 or 30 minutes each night.
Glad to hear from you. I think the weather is getting to be your "cup of tea".
I really appreciate my chiropractor and I have decided it is him or not quilting on my machine. I think I'll just see him once a month and keep quilting. lol
Have a great hibernation.
Yikes, CJ! I hope your 630 will be okay! I can't imagine how scary that must have been when the handle came off that way. :(
Holy Smoke, Batman! I would have freaked out if you'd dropped that machine! WHEW! I HATE it when I'm down a machine! Your baby quilt is even cuter out of fabric than on paper! Nice job! But the BIG thang is that itsybitsyteentiny pieced quilt! UNREAL! I LOVE it! What will you do with it...want my address?????
CJ...A while back you wrote that you had the Studio mix and match dies 8", 10", and 12"? (I think you said you had all 3 sizes). Are you happy with all three sizes? If you had it to do over again, would you?
I have all the strip cutting sizes (picked up @ 25% off). Loving those. Any other cutting dies I should purchase (on sale, of course!)?
Was good to read your post again. Thank you. Pam
WOW! That's a lot of thread. Probably almost more thread than fabric. But it is spectacular. Miss your daily updates about everything, but know that it takes away a lot of your sewing time. Happy sewing! Diane in CT
Oh my goodness! That fabric piecing is something!! I don't think I would have lasted! You amaze me!!! And Oh my goodness again, re your 630!! I'm going to check my handles for certain. I would have compounded the problem by falling down after losing my balance when the handle broke. So glad that didn't happen to you--a broken thread holder is better than a broken you!
I totally agree with the fall thing. I'm a homebody anyway, but come fall, all I want to do is be home and cook and bake and read and sew. I'm not much of a twenty-first century woman. :-)
Good to hear from you! Have a wonderful time at the farm! Or did you already go?
Hey, CJ - so glad you broke with your abstainance. Thanks for posting about the class. Hope you have recovered. When you get around to starching and pressing your "QBTM", please don't take the time to open the seams. Just press them all in the same direction. You'll roast your fingers trying to press them open.
Happy Quilting, Fall, Baking!
Bea didn't get finished and Shirley sent me an e-mail before the week end was over with a photo of hers. Everyone else finished! Yea!!