tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59385631452160544042024-03-18T21:38:47.508-07:00alimakesAlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.comBlogger185125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-15885603726812758342017-09-15T00:11:00.000-07:002017-09-15T00:11:12.826-07:00Zombies! (the drink, not the dead guys)Dude... I wrote this post in 2012 and didn't publish it. All I'm going to say is that when I moved into my own place, the only thing I stocked my bar with was the ingredients for this drink. Well..and I'll say "damn" I started this blog THAT long ago, and my goal was to have at least 3 fancy drinks under my belt to pull out at will, and all I still have is this?? SIGH.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VpVl6rGRU3aT9yD1i9iVZ7qxjx_ckV8C2TOnVIPTFlUaC1yS_8wevyPWhXhVpTouNttj2mPzOJj7UmjTB7ylYdF8woqIb0rqLpEGKEn-Bc-xC3IqRMDIsWS7FxLnnjpGzjQ7Molwl-cr/s1600/zombie.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VpVl6rGRU3aT9yD1i9iVZ7qxjx_ckV8C2TOnVIPTFlUaC1yS_8wevyPWhXhVpTouNttj2mPzOJj7UmjTB7ylYdF8woqIb0rqLpEGKEn-Bc-xC3IqRMDIsWS7FxLnnjpGzjQ7Molwl-cr/s400/zombie.jpg" width="270" /></a>I aspire to have a few great mixed drink recipes memorized on the off chance I need to prove myself as a hip bartender someday, but so far I've just got this one.<br />
<br />
Legend says it was created to help a a hung-over customer get through a business meeting. he returned a few days later complaining he had been turned into a zombie for his entire trip.<br />
<br />
Originally it had three
different rums, lime juice, falernum (What the heck? sweet syrup with almond & ginger, &/or cloves, lime, vanilla or allspice) Angostura bitters, Pernod,
grenadine & “Don’s Mix,” a combination of cinnamon syrup and
grapefruit juice.<br />
<br />
This is my variation that doesn't require unusual ingredients on hand. It's <b>very</b> strong - two's pushing it if you don't want to risk feeling like the aforementioned zombie afterwards! It's not tropical drink weather, but when I make one I get to pretend I'm in Cancun and the sky isn't grey.<br />
<br />
<br />
Going by liquid measurements that 1/8 cup - 1 ounce<br />
<br />
16 oz tumbler, filled to the rim with ice <br />
1 oz light rum<br />
1/2 oz spiced rum<br />
1/2 oz triple sec<br />
1/2 oz amaretto (besides french toast it's my only use for it!)<br />
4 oz margarita mix<br />
4 oz orange juice<br />
1/2 oz grenadine (or a cherry syrup such as Torani from the coffee section of the grocery store)<br />
then<br />
1 oz dark rum floated on top<br />
<br />
They can be put in any order, but I like the look of the dark rum floating on top, it makes me feel like a bartender! And yes that IS 3.5 ounces of alcohol, so it's a good drink to drink slowly while chatting with friends while the ice melts. It's also just as nice with only 1/2 ounce of each rum.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-uaMf8OGpLYHIihIMWmv8nh7IUpREBuJvT5X0NI3wv3K5vlikrM7rOJB9iJSDBSoRB6uLKb2vNwaywMXEQ8iO23BguCe_Ciig7NsdmExexCC2Rj9MTdE8zMPtJ73xhA18U0Dfg2umV0d/s1600/cancun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-uaMf8OGpLYHIihIMWmv8nh7IUpREBuJvT5X0NI3wv3K5vlikrM7rOJB9iJSDBSoRB6uLKb2vNwaywMXEQ8iO23BguCe_Ciig7NsdmExexCC2Rj9MTdE8zMPtJ73xhA18U0Dfg2umV0d/s640/cancun.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am pretty sure it was just warm out - DONT drink zombies and fall asleep in the sun!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-7272126370686844122017-09-13T09:41:00.000-07:002017-09-13T09:41:00.185-07:00Ali stops procastinating and finishes an embroidery she's been working on forEVER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMmV6G8RIYoLcnHA98OGt5lFVr9ZGB8qp7jnlHMkpfy-EHMdsAcAUs74oTJwLbE9ylF5ycaQ-dHNtFaWpMQjt2HHPIHkJm-ugSm5DLTzA845nm-LE7w5Jvm8AY570lsK3zm9E6hsfbaO1/s1600/IMG_5621+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1329" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMmV6G8RIYoLcnHA98OGt5lFVr9ZGB8qp7jnlHMkpfy-EHMdsAcAUs74oTJwLbE9ylF5ycaQ-dHNtFaWpMQjt2HHPIHkJm-ugSm5DLTzA845nm-LE7w5Jvm8AY570lsK3zm9E6hsfbaO1/s640/IMG_5621+%25283%2529.JPG" width="530" /></a></div>
<br />
I am not, by my definition, an artist. I'm not saying I am not creative, but I have no talent for drawing, painting, sketching, carving. <br /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcP8B8XFBCWmyxgQ9UQ25jhpA24ibjNn_07Sj9TOAx85raHOYpnNpO1AgA7jjJSz3kT7aNMM3IDRc6kC8j0gvIKVHa-pNb0oEU8-c1dbvAJVXg4ddV5SKXMQS9w7pDCnwjIFZfnGKAJkv/s1600/JulieFilipenko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcP8B8XFBCWmyxgQ9UQ25jhpA24ibjNn_07Sj9TOAx85raHOYpnNpO1AgA7jjJSz3kT7aNMM3IDRc6kC8j0gvIKVHa-pNb0oEU8-c1dbvAJVXg4ddV5SKXMQS9w7pDCnwjIFZfnGKAJkv/s400/JulieFilipenko.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julie Filipenko's "Veggie Friends"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
However there are lots of artists out there who have art that I see and feel FEELS about. I think a lot about the ethics of taking another person's art and turning it into an embroidery. I feel OK with it because I make it to hang on my wall, but I know it's not an untouchy subject.<br /><br />I've bought art from some of them. Some I'll never buy from because they are outside my price range, some don't sell their art even if I want it, or it's old or I find it uncredited and can't find the source. Some I know I like today but won't like next year, and some... well I don't actually love the it in the media it was in originally, and have a twist I want to put on it. <br />
I've embroidered things from most medias - my success at translating isn't always amazing but enough of them turn out that I enjoy it. <br />
<br />
I always try to give credit and link to where the art can be bought if I can find it.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/JulieFilipenko.art.design/">Julie Filipenko</a> is from Israel, and has a charming slightly dark sense of style and a TON of talent and art to see on the internet. I'm actually working on another of her sketches to, that involves a nifty bunny magician. She used to sell on Etsy but the links to her store go to a dead link now - She sells some on <a href="https://www.artsy.net/artist/julie-filipenko">Arsty</a>, and it is very true I will not be affording it. <br />
<br />I made the kitty more happy-go-lucky, and the rabbit pissy as hell. I have this odd feeling I should've sewn actual feathers on the cat's head and I wish I'd been dinking around with watercolors or pastels when I started this, but I'm pleased anyway. I'm going to continue to be mystified at the art being titled "Veggie Friends" though, even if there's some random roots rolling around the original.... <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5RAJoe_ZRKuognoUqnraJHaO0i366Wga5Q_bLAmu808PZIdhXI14LT1PMV7ZvH0QxafO9KUwdtfH7l1f9S1GDCu14iJuWNJH3XWD5ZvqzYhyphenhyphengdCPVhyphenhyphen1-lNz19zBoaqGDXjfoTPFUj3s/s1600/IMG_5622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5RAJoe_ZRKuognoUqnraJHaO0i366Wga5Q_bLAmu808PZIdhXI14LT1PMV7ZvH0QxafO9KUwdtfH7l1f9S1GDCu14iJuWNJH3XWD5ZvqzYhyphenhyphengdCPVhyphenhyphen1-lNz19zBoaqGDXjfoTPFUj3s/s640/IMG_5622.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">glittery eyeball doesn't show up so well on the Iphone!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-30254527287485076062017-09-10T13:13:00.000-07:002017-09-10T13:13:12.316-07:00Paper Pieced Tree Frog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcyYRSIW19Hf9ODNVUy5BEDCOMND4HfxSx2-Y0ziuyiiRg4O4z2Db0_Tg4dMEpXMeiD-w6qOMskqfMspCkg-Lu4TARss5lcqtrt5GZySum2qdDy4t8iHJU_JHrS9_SnshqYk-oZPGdeUr/s1600/IMG_5599+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcyYRSIW19Hf9ODNVUy5BEDCOMND4HfxSx2-Y0ziuyiiRg4O4z2Db0_Tg4dMEpXMeiD-w6qOMskqfMspCkg-Lu4TARss5lcqtrt5GZySum2qdDy4t8iHJU_JHrS9_SnshqYk-oZPGdeUr/s640/IMG_5599+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
I always find it a bit challenging to make a thing I'm not passionate about, I've learned to say no to making things for people when they ask (it tends to be a chore instead of a joy, and I have enough chores) but I do make gifts now and again that might not be exaclty to my tastes.<br /><br />My boyfriend's mother is visiting later this month and I wanted to make her something... I don't know too much about her preferences, but I've been told she likes frogs. I planned on going the ceramics route and throwing a bowl or mug, digging deep for my inner artist and sculpting a frog to it, but moving got in the way, so I defaulted back to sewing.<br />
<br />
Craftsy has lots of affordable patterns, and then there are the free ones, which bring me so much joy! I found a few paper pieced frog patterns online, but I couldn't really beat <a href="https://www.craftsy.com/quilting/patterns/Paper%20Pieced%20Tree%20Frog/162288">this one</a> which is free and adorable. The description mentions how the lady found the art in German, and deconstructed it into a pattern. It says intermediate difficulty, but I think if you have any experience with paper piecing you'd find it pretty doable.<br /><br />I changed the size down to an 8" square, am adding a border, quilting it, and turning it into a box pouch. I haven't done any free motion quilting or made any pouches for over a year so I'm sure I'll have some madcap adventures in seam ripping coming up! I want to put googly eyes on it, but I'm not sure the recipient would find that as amusing as I would. :(<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><br />Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-26385347581559598692017-09-09T08:03:00.000-07:002017-09-09T08:03:01.078-07:00Fabric Panels for WindowsAaahhh the sweet smell of privacy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIfjEAYPK7vpj3KYkXGz9vmzuWV06ZhW13hC_18uTK32D1jJ9dY7JzKrkHPIvXOFlpRZE-gXY4vRWnDX-kQMHDVrAvTXLwHI8PeXRzpoJN217kA_nbiC2-ZMiTxagNnH3-siJ78Qox5am/s1600/IMG_5588+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1600" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIfjEAYPK7vpj3KYkXGz9vmzuWV06ZhW13hC_18uTK32D1jJ9dY7JzKrkHPIvXOFlpRZE-gXY4vRWnDX-kQMHDVrAvTXLwHI8PeXRzpoJN217kA_nbiC2-ZMiTxagNnH3-siJ78Qox5am/s640/IMG_5588+%25283%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Did you know you can give yourself privacy with fabric? I'd forgotten. Several years ago I did research for cheap fixes for the lack of drapes in a rental, and found you can put fabric up, with spray starch. And it's cheap! You can even <a href="https://brendid.com/3-ways-make-non-toxic-spray-starch/">make your own starch </a>if you didn't go a bit bonkers and buy a 3 pack of starch you didn't really need like I did some years ago..<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8jxlyFbSVPTBabMAJZQbpjmouOvFuOq__BedpLfdyVzZO2i5TCwEx06lQZH56tFkB_v1aJdN07xv9GI9hHbMk1akKVGiyLVydgKI89xgkp11irPWyNFzYIqaRitu0JKKVW10mBnWd34h/s1600/IMG_5595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8jxlyFbSVPTBabMAJZQbpjmouOvFuOq__BedpLfdyVzZO2i5TCwEx06lQZH56tFkB_v1aJdN07xv9GI9hHbMk1akKVGiyLVydgKI89xgkp11irPWyNFzYIqaRitu0JKKVW10mBnWd34h/s320/IMG_5595.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tula Pink's Meteor Shower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In that rental, I just cut out sheet pieces to size, I'm a bit more upscale this time. Admittedly I don't love my choices. I mixed and matched Liberty of London bits for my front door, and I'll probably change it soon. I'm not exactly a floral print sort of girl. <br /><br />I just traced the shapes with paper for templates, then cut the fabric out. I sprayed starch on the glass and and the light fabric just stayed right where I put it while I sprayed another heavy mist on top. It's a bit lopsided since it's temporary, but *shrug*.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zU-rGqPwtRZrXn7LNDVz2OKywIUZRov3aVHfkAN69e8RAuB25lckNNA4JcjgSdFSxuV-h__qn-dYdBB-xDofubWjUvFYSmGr9iBoHUKTSt8hlRONAKoyFkPcLXB4LbbJ9LMr2JFWmvL0/s1600/IMG_5597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1334" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zU-rGqPwtRZrXn7LNDVz2OKywIUZRov3aVHfkAN69e8RAuB25lckNNA4JcjgSdFSxuV-h__qn-dYdBB-xDofubWjUvFYSmGr9iBoHUKTSt8hlRONAKoyFkPcLXB4LbbJ9LMr2JFWmvL0/s400/IMG_5597.jpg" width="332" /></a></div>
<br />
I thought I'd do a window in the kitchen while I was at it, after I forgot to close the blinds and found myself being surprised by my neighbor pretty nearby in his yard (I was wearing clothes though, phew!) I chose Tula Pink's Birds & Bees Meteor Shower in Cinnamon, but will probably switch to something less opaque soon once my fabric is all unpacked, since I could use as much light as possible in the room I spend so much time in!<br /><br />Heavier cotton fabric means it's good to spray the window AND douse the fabric with starch before you put it on the glass. <br /><br /> A squeegee can help you work out any air bubbles, and if you're a bit off in your measuring you can carefully use an Exacto knife to trim any excess.Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-60686248383590301982017-09-06T22:33:00.000-07:002017-09-06T22:46:35.254-07:00Living Alone, and Lack of FearI'm going to be honest. I thought it would be very pretty scary to live
alone. I thought once the sun went down I'd be double and triple check every window
and door compulsively, have a baseball bat for self defense, if I hadn't given in and bought a gun (I happen to be a pretty good shot).. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLKb_6R5XMe_CL-JDn9jVdBGkhSI_cPs5rlHTYa4YRnL_LmfDnA1C9Hf04rj21PFx5zLXgNJZK7nyivjClpNFOSNq-mfP3e78UdQSgMrEpEt_TPtOdexwHX7_Bv1Yl_hSoHohp4y-jydk/s1600/Scared-Woman-iStock_000054327210_Medium-1024x682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLKb_6R5XMe_CL-JDn9jVdBGkhSI_cPs5rlHTYa4YRnL_LmfDnA1C9Hf04rj21PFx5zLXgNJZK7nyivjClpNFOSNq-mfP3e78UdQSgMrEpEt_TPtOdexwHX7_Bv1Yl_hSoHohp4y-jydk/s320/Scared-Woman-iStock_000054327210_Medium-1024x682.jpg" width="320" /></a>When I was 20, I moved in with my boyfriend and three of his good friends. It was a great household, full of awesome music and laughs, and we were all damn good professional cooks.<br />
<br />
One roommate started having his cousin and friends over. One day my boyfriend was about to walk with them to the bus stop, but decided making out with me was more important. 15 minutes later there was a drive by in front of our house. One person died and two ended up in the hospital.<br />
<br />
Apparently the roommates cousin was in a gang, and my roommate was having struggles between the path he was on (hanging out with white dudes and listening to punk rock) and wanting to connect with his Hispanic roots, which in this case, meant his cousin's gang. Instead he ended up in the hospital. <br />
<br />
Yay, my boyfriend stayed home and didn't get shot and we got married and had 13 great years and are still good friends because of hormones! But was suggested the cousin's gang was going to do something back to the shooters, which meant since the other gang knew where we lived, and I was a pacifist alternative hippie batcaver who was "WTF??" about the sudden turn my life had taken, decided to pack up our stuff that day and went to go stay with my mom.<br />
<br />
For 25 years after that, I've been a bit anxious to be alone at night. Of the "sleep with a knife by the bed when my partner is out of town" variety. In college I wrote papers on the recidivism rates of sex offenders. In Chiropractic college, I went into school very early one morning to study and a naked man was in the otherwise empty building who was wandering around and stopped and posed, his genitals pointing at me (not the first time a strange dude has done that). I am female and vulnerable, and I hate it.<br />
<br />
I've moved to a place where there are lots of car break ins, vandalism, security systems. I know what registered sex offenders are in my neighborhood. I am on Nextdoor, where every day I get to see my neighbors report the crimes of the last 24 hours (and be aware that maybe 5% of them are on there so things are far worse than that). I subscribe to the newspaper which fills me in on all the horrors of this city, both in print and digitally!<br />
<br />
But... I haven't been scared. I've been pondering that this week, it is unexpected. I want this place to be a fortress - It's not, but for some reason I don't feel terrified once 10pm rolls around. I don't feel terrified at 2 am after 3 horror films. I haven't made it to Goodwill to pick up a baseball bat and it's been almost a month. I'm only peripherally aware of where my pepper spray and metal baton are.<br />
<br />
Now..what I DO hate is people knocking on my door. Although it's like the phone, its for MY convenience. I don't owe the person a response to as they infringe, uninvited on my solitude. I feel obligation to answer in case it's an emergency or my neighbor, and ignoring it makes me feel a bit guilty. But damn...Jehovah's witnesses especially, why do you think two guys knocking on stranger's doors during the day are going to make a lady alone at home want to open the door? <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0QEHbMmYTagRPrEi-JaHS5w4Fprc9Qm9FPUIFy2XOXiVnGtrdzLEwveeMfrx2_sdUPjIDq3_ytA56Zuy4JE8EbQu6-XKK-xioU9JMHMwPr2SmqaK2f2km0VfKV3YHGm1yKlJG636Cj_E/s1600/please-dont-knock-on-my-door-to-talk-about-god-17460300.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0QEHbMmYTagRPrEi-JaHS5w4Fprc9Qm9FPUIFy2XOXiVnGtrdzLEwveeMfrx2_sdUPjIDq3_ytA56Zuy4JE8EbQu6-XKK-xioU9JMHMwPr2SmqaK2f2km0VfKV3YHGm1yKlJG636Cj_E/s1600/please-dont-knock-on-my-door-to-talk-about-god-17460300.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">exactly</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Tonight was a good chance to feel scared. A few strangers have knocked in the few weeks I've lived here when I'm home but it's been while it was light out. This place has a half round window at the top of the front door, which I thought was high enough above the peephole to provide me privacy so I let it be. Tonight I found out at that tall dudes can look right through it, when somebody knocked at the door and naked me (it's in the 80s here dammit) went to go hide in the kitchen until they went away. What I felt though, was mostly irritated at being interrupted. Minding my own business, watching Project Runway All Stars, sorting my fabric...go away.<br />
<br />
This is vaguely making related. I'm going to either have to make a curtain or fabric cut outs to Modge Podge to the panes (I might have enough of some adorable Liberty of London print now that I think of it). <br />
<br />
Maybe I'll make a clay plaque that says "If I'm not expecting you, turn your ass around and don't knock" Maybe I'll use my woodburning tool to carve that in a nice slab of walnut and weld it to my chain link fence. Whatever, I'll find some way to craftily MacGyver the shit out of it.<br />
<br />
I'd wondering if I should examine the reasons too closely I haven't felt the need to be on guard - but I should probably just enjoy the peace of mind while I can.Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-86726336196688997022017-08-29T20:59:00.003-07:002017-08-29T20:59:42.568-07:00A Garden of Sorts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBlP8F-S3somrQx6WkvUVL1v8G9WGBeWJeDt31pUD3eeivXuHoY1i1t9-nMuVCdIncHMHELNa-mFl_wzOJEB-hX5cHfdZbpX9UrTN-qmbuIlGJoFVN_ZQN_ghBuuZiloo1xRl3cbV9LUG/s1600/IMG_5502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBlP8F-S3somrQx6WkvUVL1v8G9WGBeWJeDt31pUD3eeivXuHoY1i1t9-nMuVCdIncHMHELNa-mFl_wzOJEB-hX5cHfdZbpX9UrTN-qmbuIlGJoFVN_ZQN_ghBuuZiloo1xRl3cbV9LUG/s400/IMG_5502.JPG" width="300" /></a>Starting a garden from scratch is hard, especially when you find that your yard is made of rocks and debris! #selfindulgentblogpost (Actually, all my future blog posts are going to be self indulgent journaling.)<br />
<br />
I moved mid August. The sewer line needed to be repaired so it went from a house with dead grass & bare patches, to having dead grass, bare areas & a large section the plumbers managed to make sure was 90% covered with various sizes of rocks when they filled it in...<br />
<br />
Good news though! The plumbers cut through the electrical supply to the garage, so it was re-dug and the electrician did a much better job of making sure some dirt ended up on the surface at the end :) <br /><br />The only real life in the backyard is a lilac, a couple large trees and two sad little landscape trees that I planted my flowers in front of.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The previous occupant was a bachelor who didn't care two whits about a
yard, so I've been scurrying to get some stuff in the ground before
rainy season (and while perennials on are end of season sales). I also
stubbornly carted some plants in pots from my old place, and took
cuttings from a few things in the interest of being thrifty. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx3Wuy8nycwgxGLYqt7fn65N8tRHlBnnbK2fJbAuiONPxm_684LnxozzgvSan_aSqRv1A52OvqqlWziZFrr1S1r2Cwh7fAnJV68YHx_YnTn7JKlsb5WBRCt60HgNx_AAWQyS9_3N9Wv5G/s1600/IMG_5349.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><br /><br /><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="1600" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx3Wuy8nycwgxGLYqt7fn65N8tRHlBnnbK2fJbAuiONPxm_684LnxozzgvSan_aSqRv1A52OvqqlWziZFrr1S1r2Cwh7fAnJV68YHx_YnTn7JKlsb5WBRCt60HgNx_AAWQyS9_3N9Wv5G/s640/IMG_5349.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">panorama! the left used to be all dead grass, now it's also bare!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Side note - did you know you can <a href="https://threepsandq.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/projects-plants-rooting-cuttings-with-honey/">use honey</a> for some cuttings??? I used to have all the supplies for the proper propagation of plants but this time I was winging it. I only got a chance to try it on sage. Maybe sage is amazingly hardy no matter what, but this method had the cuttings sprouting new leaves within a couple of weeks, before I even had a chance to move and put it in my new garden.<br /><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7CZ_mNlWRkZ_n3UlqIHw9jDFh0J73CT_XZBrZAbL5hD9YYcD-4T007k2sjBPXpoK6uV35n6SGdR1zfY8OvbK-_15Wgmnnl_RiROzuqQjmumeFPq1JH424Nw1kOOjXu-vR5RQ6Y_86b0t/s1600/IMG_5485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7CZ_mNlWRkZ_n3UlqIHw9jDFh0J73CT_XZBrZAbL5hD9YYcD-4T007k2sjBPXpoK6uV35n6SGdR1zfY8OvbK-_15Wgmnnl_RiROzuqQjmumeFPq1JH424Nw1kOOjXu-vR5RQ6Y_86b0t/s320/IMG_5485.JPG" width="320" /></a>I'm OK with my beginning herb garden, which has catnip, cat mint, chives, marjoram, <a href="http://dtlherbsltd.blogspot.com/2011/02/herb-of-week-cuban-oregano.html">cuban oregano</a> (a new to me herb), oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme a not-pleased-to -be-transplanted anise hyssop - with some ginger mint tucked safely in a pot.<br />
<br />
The new perennial garden is another matter. The holes I dug were basically shovels full of rocks & chunks of metal, glass, plastic... my favorite finds so far have been a rusted pair of scissors and a kid's plastic shovel. Update: today I found Barbie's left leg and a rusty utility knife blade.<br />
<br />
I have seeded the ground with grass seed and it's growing in as best as it can, considering I keep walking on it. I'm feel pretty determined to spend at least 15 minutes outside enjoying the yard instead of doing yardwork before rainy season arrives!Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-79178139674689116042017-08-26T12:09:00.000-07:002017-08-26T12:09:07.749-07:00Spiced Blueberry and Plum Jam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpc7xS8IhGlO3WTQJ2LCDWds5w4sC3k37ubkS65AJOwvYqwcs0A6F9YY4F49vosqwI0rsdtoskU12ih5MraeTXrv9FBgiqaDIvdbdBJN2rYgo4o2zMZV970f7MbMU4_-QbcngwzRvcelc/s1600/IMG_5413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpc7xS8IhGlO3WTQJ2LCDWds5w4sC3k37ubkS65AJOwvYqwcs0A6F9YY4F49vosqwI0rsdtoskU12ih5MraeTXrv9FBgiqaDIvdbdBJN2rYgo4o2zMZV970f7MbMU4_-QbcngwzRvcelc/s640/IMG_5413.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />I moved to Tacoma, WA this month, and found there's an amazing place near me called <a href="https://www.metroparkstacoma.org/charlottes-blueberry-park/">Charlotte's Blueberry Park</a>. It's land that was donated to the city, and has volunteer cared for fields full of five types of blueberries, free to pick. I went with my sister, then briefly again with my boyfriend, and ended up with about a kilogram of berries, most of which I tossed in the freezer. <br /><br />My boyfriend seemed to really get a kick out of loopy me picking berries on 4 hours of sleep (moving always = plumbing and electric emergencies for me, and this time was no exception). My only blueberry picking experiences have been with puny bushes no higher than my waist, so these giant fields have been fun to explore. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmc0tputqU5gCbgy2tAd79-hmw8X-gY7JJnjqQPGhyHRZbFA7BSwhdodGtD1TE_d7NaqbmvestFBpGN80DZlnILMjJwdwO75kJ4UTrPPtfaVGXOHWMoXw-WXWvlNjUjsB_9DIC5udrKle/s1600/20994029_10156537680427589_8636472690708017686_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmc0tputqU5gCbgy2tAd79-hmw8X-gY7JJnjqQPGhyHRZbFA7BSwhdodGtD1TE_d7NaqbmvestFBpGN80DZlnILMjJwdwO75kJ4UTrPPtfaVGXOHWMoXw-WXWvlNjUjsB_9DIC5udrKle/s320/20994029_10156537680427589_8636472690708017686_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">courtesy of the boyfriend</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />I was all excited to make blueberry lemon scones with the fresh berries! And then I figured out my post move pantry is missing baking soda, baking powder, and salt. <br /><br />I'd finally bought my first plums of the season, 5 whole plums that I shoved directly into the fridge, along with strawberries and raspberries I bought to also shove in the fridge, expecting them to probably sit there and die a painful death of neglect before putting out into yard waste...<br /><br />BUT WAIT! JAM? <br />I had already googled plum and ginger jam, but found I scarcely had a pound of plums, so found a myriad of plum/berry jam recipes. Although I'm nervous to improvise too much as a beginner...just kidding. I double checked what other herbs/spices went with my ingredients and added rosemary. (Cause I managed to build and stock a raised herb bed before I'd lived in my new place two weeks, you gotta have priorities!)<br /><br /><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXcZ6uHIt4YvVXKH4QsHhNNxXZY8Azrthj2YpfIQp_Qqjkv4XyZv_-l6pw5minizMpqhUq4IN7SGR1IqwYBblrCXLHBGr0GBKNzhqcoQfs5TFOYRK-IROOOtNcfBFpWP2NJfMp6ZDpHKV/s1600/IMG_5410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1377" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXcZ6uHIt4YvVXKH4QsHhNNxXZY8Azrthj2YpfIQp_Qqjkv4XyZv_-l6pw5minizMpqhUq4IN7SGR1IqwYBblrCXLHBGr0GBKNzhqcoQfs5TFOYRK-IROOOtNcfBFpWP2NJfMp6ZDpHKV/s200/IMG_5410.JPG" width="171" /></a>18 oz blueberries<br />14 oz red plums<br />
1.75 cups sugar<br />
1.5 tablespoons lime juice<br />
1 tsp fresh grated ginger<br />Sprig of fresh rosemary<br />Plum seed kernels<br /><br />
I chopped up the plums & macerated the fruit for two hours ( didn't have the patience to wait overnight!) cooked, then water bath canned the jam.<br /><br />SO... I'd never heard of using the kernels in stone fruit, but one of the recipes I saw involved smashing the pits open to get them, so<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/yes-or-noyaux-using-stone-fruit-kernels-in-the-kitchen-192153"> I looked into it a bit</a>, and added some to each jar. I use a big metal meat tenderizer which crushed them a lot and scared a cat in the process, so hopefully they actually do impart a lovely almond scent/flavor to the jam.<br />
<br />The recipe made <strike>not nearly enough</strike> 2 pints. The kitchen smelled delicious while it was cooking too.Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-28590623222908540742017-08-25T17:33:00.001-07:002017-08-25T17:33:23.092-07:00Canning Fever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0i_h33ITPiucnAHKxZmnRlvrOx6FMKZS7wlDIp8Vhgb0E1uTsyI4jbnq7U8t1jy45A5-L09SWcWoFkCgXn8ag83WwKMdqpTS9K40id1KWTcGtiP6pwVj-AHmS6VEyzzdo_fsQxMUcDA3/s1600/tomato+jam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1289" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0i_h33ITPiucnAHKxZmnRlvrOx6FMKZS7wlDIp8Vhgb0E1uTsyI4jbnq7U8t1jy45A5-L09SWcWoFkCgXn8ag83WwKMdqpTS9K40id1KWTcGtiP6pwVj-AHmS6VEyzzdo_fsQxMUcDA3/s640/tomato+jam.jpg" width="513" /></a></div>
<br />I canned once.... Five years ago I tried making peach jam. It didn't gel and left me with 4 pints of peach ice cream topping.... Last month I still had the jar I didn't give away and while I swear I packed it for my move earlier this month, now that I'm unpacked it's nowhere to be found.<br /><br />After asking my boyfriend to make pickles in my presence for the third year in a row so I watch pressure canning occur, another year/season is quickly going by while he MAKES THEM WITHOUT ME. *cough* I decided I should just dip my toes in with water bath canning. My tomato plants are producing more tomatoes than I can eat, so I browsed around and decided to make Thomas Keller's <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/dining/201mrex.html">tomato jam recipe</a> and water bath canned it. <br /><br />I admit it, it wasn't too scary. Next time I make tomato based things though, I'm going to use some of <a href="http://homejoys.blogspot.com/2010/08/tomato-sauce-tips.html">these tips</a> so I don't have to cook all that water out. I halved the sugar - reviews are right that it's too sweet, it was still too sweet when cooked down so I threw in a can of organic diced tomatoes and therefore more lime. I also ignored the amounts for spices and did what I wanted - the cook in
me rebels at following recipes, but I'm going to have to make sure I
don't let that lead to altering the pH of any recipes.<br /><br />So now I have 4 pert little jars of spicy tomato jam sitting on my counter. And since it made sense to make half pints instead of pints and only have pint jars on hand.. it meant I had to go buy half pint jars, and while I was at it 24 more pint jars, and 12 quart jars.. ahh overkill!<br /><br />Now I was about to plunge into onion marmalade but after reading article after article about it, the safe route for that is pressure canning. This means I'm negotiating with my boyfriend to show me how to use his pressure cooker tomorrow night, because I do better on new things with a lesson from somebody who knows what they're doing.<br /><br />While I wait I got antsy, so I'm about to delve into some fruit jam. This is mainly a self motivational post - I've taken up several new hobbies in the last few years and have been busy, but I want a way to keep track of my experiments and it's a good reason to start blogging again. Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-40525007209776277662014-09-13T01:34:00.000-07:002014-09-13T01:34:00.422-07:00Night Sky Quilt Top by Jaybird Quilts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSApKaMmq7rL2dxXgz-Zom1yUBRh96VrvYbvzW2slt7f81wrrsY15jgTSkhsVVi5Isn7E6LF7ChtKMN1ZfOjnHy6mKpNpB-jxq-7w878S5u1U9rOikyWUnNIl-dgSalFGHIS57SK692Jm/s1600/night+sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSApKaMmq7rL2dxXgz-Zom1yUBRh96VrvYbvzW2slt7f81wrrsY15jgTSkhsVVi5Isn7E6LF7ChtKMN1ZfOjnHy6mKpNpB-jxq-7w878S5u1U9rOikyWUnNIl-dgSalFGHIS57SK692Jm/s1600/night+sky.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFBqdTG0P3OPEhVg-3Dg0uX796FO85YUOsst4qsl502o7uudyBR0DQko1tJ21gLJFTdGWOj5XmAoE-ZCtctdZMBFFEGNAu9SiCm4a-LS7Q3QaZGxJUtxEdxMWR6Ol6QXTO9YTzdwuXNbd/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFBqdTG0P3OPEhVg-3Dg0uX796FO85YUOsst4qsl502o7uudyBR0DQko1tJ21gLJFTdGWOj5XmAoE-ZCtctdZMBFFEGNAu9SiCm4a-LS7Q3QaZGxJUtxEdxMWR6Ol6QXTO9YTzdwuXNbd/s1600/043.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a>Phew, you'd think I'm not getting any sewing done, but I am. Maybe even too much sewing! Branching out to clothes again though - trying to implement some skills I've learned from craft sewing into garments<br /><br />A few days ago I finished a <a href="http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/2013/10/night-sky-quilt.html">Night Sky quilt </a>top. I made it for someone I love, so that's always harder than making something for myself. Like.. higher standards, and working with desires I may not agree with! <br />
<br />
It came together in fits and starts, I put it away for awhile, not loving how I was choosing the colors (or maybe not liking the colors in the first place) but winter is going to be here any minute and er... although one quilt doesn't make that much of a difference when it's cold out, it cant hurt!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3v4F2RZ8hCWcgJHGPi9Ch7ZkF5Fxu3R58zqpAJEHMQQ34n-2Qnnfur_5NMDllX4cumvcIqvO0RDhLEISGERaDhcCIyfp4FNoYzHXsggUlwtsehe_ZopdTDa9auFdwKrNnPLHFBr8qP5u/s1600/night+sky2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3v4F2RZ8hCWcgJHGPi9Ch7ZkF5Fxu3R58zqpAJEHMQQ34n-2Qnnfur_5NMDllX4cumvcIqvO0RDhLEISGERaDhcCIyfp4FNoYzHXsggUlwtsehe_ZopdTDa9auFdwKrNnPLHFBr8qP5u/s1600/night+sky2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wasabi supervising</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I hadn't had a strong desire to make this, but took a trip with my husband last spring to the Washington peninsula. We stopped at a quilt shop along the way that we came upon (unexpectedly I swear!!!) as we had lunch on the drive over. Luckily it had some great stuff in it, and I got the Night Sky pattern and the sidekick ruler to go along with it. (I already have her Hex N More ruler, as she's local and all :)<br />
<br />
Bad news is when I started cutting this pattern out, I um.. didn't read any directions and just started cutting pieces out with the ruler. That means my stars ended up larger than they were meant to be. Good news is that meant less stars, so the quilt top only took like uh.. 30+ hours to finish compared to how long more stars would have. I imagine it would've been a lot worse if I'd made smaller stars, but maybe a lot better if I planned knew what I needed and cut everything out at once.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCjbX78yrAhfr9Hx6NaPzCPJKT_vTCUcTD0kNxnDf-0i6xsPFRyEjwNiXq-StGMNIShat-_EQKeuMcKPhk1d9CQN9BIhHm_uDT7nqOcqrwFaK8Wd4roqfGRYcTyxU651hKNGL4UzBMmX2/s1600/Y+seams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCjbX78yrAhfr9Hx6NaPzCPJKT_vTCUcTD0kNxnDf-0i6xsPFRyEjwNiXq-StGMNIShat-_EQKeuMcKPhk1d9CQN9BIhHm_uDT7nqOcqrwFaK8Wd4roqfGRYcTyxU651hKNGL4UzBMmX2/s1600/Y+seams.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">good vs evil</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Err, as I didn't read any directions I sewed the whole stars together instead of half stars. Don't do that if you want ease in sewing together, unless you are awesome at y seams.<br />
<br />
I'm not and although some of mine came together beautifully, others were.. well... let's just say I hope everybody who sees this in person is drunk and not paying attention!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I would've liked to make this with a lighter background. I also went a bit crazy on the brights with last years moda's bundle of new colors... they had some day glow choices, that's for sure!I don't know that I'll make this
again, but I'm sure going to play around with the sidekick ruler more.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYy3H4qJbYhtpbT8WycyWA9UBR5AF4VfZl0Ic6IGxxCkhdOeT8jfYvc_NPDlAOErjag3EzPWtVATLfgsFiFdwM0gIH7VDsmvgAmrdf-cD5U-vm6LNp7i22L5cNhKMfQtRPVcGsyuEbW-j/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYy3H4qJbYhtpbT8WycyWA9UBR5AF4VfZl0Ic6IGxxCkhdOeT8jfYvc_NPDlAOErjag3EzPWtVATLfgsFiFdwM0gIH7VDsmvgAmrdf-cD5U-vm6LNp7i22L5cNhKMfQtRPVcGsyuEbW-j/s1600/033.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-20804268998312393882014-09-11T00:58:00.000-07:002014-09-11T00:58:12.290-07:00Sew Together Bag - Take One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vrEmVAb13IB82W3H8qGBzvn_dR7Qe45oG5r59-FCe1m_1edw9KxiYnwyXTVn5MXZddSv7NnfShSEckyUImayCyobCEkU7X2VkdV_CzoDNNqbuQqEUCD1hFwNBN2HWWq095wi-AdXesAj/s1600/outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vrEmVAb13IB82W3H8qGBzvn_dR7Qe45oG5r59-FCe1m_1edw9KxiYnwyXTVn5MXZddSv7NnfShSEckyUImayCyobCEkU7X2VkdV_CzoDNNqbuQqEUCD1hFwNBN2HWWq095wi-AdXesAj/s1600/outside.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpROvAJaqfKPxUq7Wz_sQaEgeMXrZxP9v4cqR5kd6Tg88aUVF6vDvagRRGO7CQgZiUdv2SxurN_hQLyP0q6gsaCf3XJX6tcCXuzJ4rhR3zLjGCeF5qw_6YG9L2Om16qLO-rJ3-TPH01uD2/s1600/insides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpROvAJaqfKPxUq7Wz_sQaEgeMXrZxP9v4cqR5kd6Tg88aUVF6vDvagRRGO7CQgZiUdv2SxurN_hQLyP0q6gsaCf3XJX6tcCXuzJ4rhR3zLjGCeF5qw_6YG9L2Om16qLO-rJ3-TPH01uD2/s1600/insides.jpg" height="320" width="275" /></a><br />
I thought this <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/accessory/sew-together-bag/36309">sew together bag</a> was an awesome looking pattern, and saw a lot of pretty versions of it. I read lots of reviews and tips and it seemed like making two at once was the way to go, to learn, so I had fabrics set aside and partially cut out for when I got around to it. When I had time to sit down and start it and realized I was making them for *peoplewhoarenotme* so I decided to nix those and make one out of fabric I love.<br />
<br />
Lo and behold, I had a lot of trouble with doing this. I couldn't chose single fabric to base this on. That sure says something about my stash, huh? I settled on a color scheme - orange and blue. I don't even know how I feel about those colors together, but I have a surprising amount of orange and blue fabrics so... why not?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqoLS6YM30yYTFEJlV53ewDaL2rbrfxfpfJIw3LAEXk88UK_oB-TxjOGGpkbNnwWDi-RSN8_fgGprfi9i8s0E7TmcIRtvsXfcLB1l0W4IOcphtaDHLOfqm27cGPAeOm_OMh0VlyJ9Hxys/s1600/bag+insides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqoLS6YM30yYTFEJlV53ewDaL2rbrfxfpfJIw3LAEXk88UK_oB-TxjOGGpkbNnwWDi-RSN8_fgGprfi9i8s0E7TmcIRtvsXfcLB1l0W4IOcphtaDHLOfqm27cGPAeOm_OMh0VlyJ9Hxys/s1600/bag+insides.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a>I followed the <a href="http://quiltbarn.blogspot.com/2014/03/sew-long.html">sewalong tutorial</a> which was helpful - especially how it was broken down into five days so you weren't overwhelmed.<br />I'd read reviews that made it seem stressful, but besides one area where it was a bit unclear what you were supposed to do, this helped a ton. I'll say the directions themselves were minimal IMO, and would've benefited greatly from picture or drawings about what the hell you were supposed to do. This is why I always try to read a few reviews of a pattern before buying it - or waiting for a sew along.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Xbk1_WRafwzUjMDGbYguPoBkel9MeTFFGubn57mBknTNWI3xcmtakU2bacGdPyqPY8_iUWqVwkfRg6P-I_k7_Rbu0vRdYKNaOYnUu0xWaXc5foE14MhAtIdIdXKn9JBfuaWnV-mydSno/s1600/inside+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Xbk1_WRafwzUjMDGbYguPoBkel9MeTFFGubn57mBknTNWI3xcmtakU2bacGdPyqPY8_iUWqVwkfRg6P-I_k7_Rbu0vRdYKNaOYnUu0xWaXc5foE14MhAtIdIdXKn9JBfuaWnV-mydSno/s1600/inside+bag.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Note: I also found <a href="http://www.cassandramadge.com/2014/07/23/sew-together-bag-hints-tips/">this website</a> to be a great tutorial for sewing the bag together, Cassandra has a great set of photos to walk you through making it. I read a HELL of a lot of walk throughs before I settled on switching between this and the sewalong.<br />
<br />
Surprisingly, I admit, this was kind of fun to make. I liked watching it come together and comparing it to other people's as they put it together. I put a pincushion on one side, and a felt piece for needles the other. Directions on the pattern are nonexistent for this so yay for the internet!<br />
<br />
<br />
Here is the bad thing.. I have NO need for this bag. My travel crafts are embroidery and hand sewing, and I already have more useful bags for this, including ones that fit a hoop or two. That said, I should be able to jigger it so it has less pouches but is taller, with a bit of *math* I happen to suck at math, but I love the idea of having a couple zippered pouches for various projects instead of fishing floss bobbins out from a tangle. I'll figure out that damn math sooner or later!Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-22363082401124568792014-08-14T07:30:00.000-07:002014-08-14T07:30:00.365-07:00Making the Cold Process Soap!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4E8VvzCcx2zE4l0uQuyZmu2FEYXBz2L6-z28p1c17ob9MsBYBLXf8D0T45j3nNKsoVwYfRpSfhxkDzTBx3m05qGN-Vjpj5bpyLeA7AZukHm-7GXCvwi3HRQDXVdvWsyv8kCrpHeV8MDe/s1600/orange+poppyseed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4E8VvzCcx2zE4l0uQuyZmu2FEYXBz2L6-z28p1c17ob9MsBYBLXf8D0T45j3nNKsoVwYfRpSfhxkDzTBx3m05qGN-Vjpj5bpyLeA7AZukHm-7GXCvwi3HRQDXVdvWsyv8kCrpHeV8MDe/s1600/orange+poppyseed.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I've wanted to make soap for 20 years, I mean the using lye and making sure you don't go blind sorta soap. I had books about it over the years, but whenever I had strong desire I usually lived in a place it wasn't practical to do it in. Recently I had some motivation in the form of needing to entertain my sister by making things with her when shes over next weekend, and *boom* plans were made.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGr8cvfbQnq1E2cs6cmWxvvOi-jnnMh2KCq9RNhz0Ab3phTmOvdm6i1L9UkbmUPsAX0VNktIfwnDRWZriCJMtBtECSMPhjJUrKDdx5Z2HqGa4lS833tjgT0OJBdd0IXJ1vOfh3G8SHboG/s1600/fresh+poured.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGr8cvfbQnq1E2cs6cmWxvvOi-jnnMh2KCq9RNhz0Ab3phTmOvdm6i1L9UkbmUPsAX0VNktIfwnDRWZriCJMtBtECSMPhjJUrKDdx5Z2HqGa4lS833tjgT0OJBdd0IXJ1vOfh3G8SHboG/s1600/fresh+poured.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">freshly poured soap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I wont mention the book I own to reference, it's a first edition of a book that says to put the water in the lye instead of the other way around, which can cause a volcano of fumes and splashing. I don't think much of an error that can result in chemical burns, so luckily the internet saved me, there are some amazing resources out there.<br />
<br />
The smart thing to do was to make a sample batch so I know what I'm doing and can make it look easy when my sister makes soap with me. <br />
<br />
Let's just say it was a good idea, since it didn't run as smoothly as I wanted. I made it outside due to the lye fumes and three kitties running around, and kept forgetting things inside. This sample batch is citrus scented with loofah and poppyseed for exfoliation, and tumeric for color.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRC8XjUN6vjJf_tZE2gCPtjix_KFx-lyTa83efBOVhSmMnOOLIiq_5ajwAicsu1LP_WOMYXsM-FJmd1WO7wGDwRJhJkc7qgr7wOts88v7VgJG1Ag6_2583BAlp0l3LOX5zOQ1Mrbmzjnm/s1600/bramble+berry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRC8XjUN6vjJf_tZE2gCPtjix_KFx-lyTa83efBOVhSmMnOOLIiq_5ajwAicsu1LP_WOMYXsM-FJmd1WO7wGDwRJhJkc7qgr7wOts88v7VgJG1Ag6_2583BAlp0l3LOX5zOQ1Mrbmzjnm/s1600/bramble+berry.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
Supplies: Mostly bought online at <a href="http://www.brambleberry.com/">Bramble Berry,</a> which is a few hours north in Bellingham, WA. Their prices were comparable to a number of places I looked at (I'd say the only area lacking is a variety of soap molds). They also have a soap blog with lots of recipes and techniques called<a href="http://www.soapqueen.com/"> Soap Queen.</a> I really appreciate the well written articles and information on the site. <br />
<br />
I wont use the soap until it's cured for at least 4 weeks, so I can't give a review on how it turned out yet, but I learned a lot and will apply it for the future, hopefully resulting in better looking bars. I haven't done a price breakdown so I'm not sure if this is efficient or just a fun hobby. My recipe after the break.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
Resources: There are a lot but this <a href="http://www.soapmakingforum.com/forum.php">soap making forum</a> is great, and was enough to convince me I could make my own wood mold really easily and save money<br />
I used <a href="http://www.maplesprings.com/soapcalc.html">this lye calculator</a> to get the amount of lye, fragrance, and add ins like color<br />
<br />
1ST BATCH - CITRUS<br />
12 oz coconut oil<br />
20 oz olive oil (10 pomace, 10 pure - pure from Costco, which has a good rep for soap making)<br />
14 oz palm oil<br />
1 oz castor oil<br />
2 oz cocoa butter, tempered
<br />
<hr />
49 oz oil<br />
<br />
The recipe makes a 5% superfat soap (which if anybody reading this is curious about the different % and what they do/mean, Google!)<br />
<br />
6.92 oz lye <br />
18.2 oz H2O (using 12.2 oz filtered/distilled orange spice tea, 6 oz aloe vera juice)<br />
<br />
2.3 oz essential oils (neroli, sweet orange, lemon, lemongrass)<br />
<br />
0.8 oz oxide/pigments<br />
a combination of tumeric infused into 1 oz of the pure olive oil from above<br />
lemon/orange peel<br />
poppy seeds<br />
shredded loofah <br />
<br /><br />
<br />Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-12813334959936181352014-08-11T18:47:00.005-07:002014-08-12T00:31:07.317-07:00Ahhh..fabricking and soapingMy<a href="http://www.alimakes.blogspot.com/2014/07/random-fabric-id-post-soap.html"> mysterious fabric </a>for my sisters quilt was found, it was PURE - STOF of Denmark - Burst Stripe in Purple and Grey. It was found because Julie of <a href="http://www.intrepidthread.com/">The Intrepid Thread </a>is awesome and when she couldn't ID it she put up a post about it, where it was recognized, and some total stranger named Anita in California happened to have some that she just up and mailed to me because *sniffle* people who sew are awesome.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbnQDlgPbJ7n_1ThJF46CrkGhSO_D7uA_pM4epWOszTsc2bdihMOhxlhj7j7YM6zGWNF0UN4poH7dC09PImGaF9HjPwdGwFeyAyAcC_NX-GJkfRPw_K-b4pIjbVTUzc2FwzTr4gtAxsQu/s1600/indelible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbnQDlgPbJ7n_1ThJF46CrkGhSO_D7uA_pM4epWOszTsc2bdihMOhxlhj7j7YM6zGWNF0UN4poH7dC09PImGaF9HjPwdGwFeyAyAcC_NX-GJkfRPw_K-b4pIjbVTUzc2FwzTr4gtAxsQu/s1600/indelible.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRC8XjUN6vjJf_tZE2gCPtjix_KFx-lyTa83efBOVhSmMnOOLIiq_5ajwAicsu1LP_WOMYXsM-FJmd1WO7wGDwRJhJkc7qgr7wOts88v7VgJG1Ag6_2583BAlp0l3LOX5zOQ1Mrbmzjnm/s1600/bramble+berry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
This is where I tell anybody who ever wanders across this post that my ongoing review of her store is like.. BUY FROM HER. Anita sent a total stranger some fabric because she thinks Julie is awesome and is also presumably really nice. Julie is giving Anita some fabric because Anita was nice to me. I am going to win the lottery so I can buy more fabric, and hopefully come up with something nice to do back for Anita.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmV9F7FfXqiWBbyG_0DqeqJZkG0qJGdo5IDAgYblEJZ91Kpm9DCOzKU8DA9ErWnYtRxVOY7_Rogpmzjs6gMAR-yiXDjOtyCUlc2lgwPIQDKggcVEsK4-_WXsgVp6hr41xc_XZKka2GWeQC/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmV9F7FfXqiWBbyG_0DqeqJZkG0qJGdo5IDAgYblEJZ91Kpm9DCOzKU8DA9ErWnYtRxVOY7_Rogpmzjs6gMAR-yiXDjOtyCUlc2lgwPIQDKggcVEsK4-_WXsgVp6hr41xc_XZKka2GWeQC/s1600/051.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
This gave me an excuse to buy more fabric from her, and I have been excited about <a href="http://www.intrepidthread.com/shop/Fabrics-by-Collection/Indelible-by-Katarina-Roccella.htm">Indelible</a> and I'm always short on green and low volume so there ya go. As always shipping was fast, customer service was excellent, and FYI, they enclose a couple charm squares with each order, usually fabrics I haven't considered, and I love adding them to my stack of charm squares and pulling them out as needed for patchwork. <br />
<br />
I also started making soap this last weekend because I really do want to learn a new skill or two a year. This is getting wordy enough that I'll put most of it in a new post. I just realized this might be hereditary from my mother. I remember her making macrame, embroidery, sewing clothes and quilts, making candles, canning, making jewelry... <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-19290247108446535762014-07-30T00:41:00.001-07:002014-07-30T08:49:12.493-07:00Random Fabric ID Post & Soap<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdci2SAKbHjnLx7Zi_JuOfAaFQJa9iJGotB7lz7aDyjN_GtALcqo2iRg5gz_mnGUJLYw199EeN82JV6SD-uTh3YgFTYm0IS99WF5zMu7HtyjLZzLn0q1SFVp1VhcXBMGke7a9C4hkRyrt/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdci2SAKbHjnLx7Zi_JuOfAaFQJa9iJGotB7lz7aDyjN_GtALcqo2iRg5gz_mnGUJLYw199EeN82JV6SD-uTh3YgFTYm0IS99WF5zMu7HtyjLZzLn0q1SFVp1VhcXBMGke7a9C4hkRyrt/s1600/009.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MYSTERIOUS?!?!?!?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm 89% done with my sister's <a href="http://carolynfriedlander.com/products/patterns/tangelo-quilt-pattern/">Tangelo</a> quilt top (pattern by Carolyn Friedlander). Ran out of a print that was from my stash, need a bit more cause ya know, I don't math so good apparently! OK, I ran out of two fabrics, but at least I know one is Kona in Cactus. It's horrible to need less than 1/4 yard and be clueless about what I need to get, or face starting a row all over. It is a couple of years old, and probably in stock nowhere once I figure this out..<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0220/7330/products/Ranka-Sarsparilla-1_1024x1024.jpg?v=1383515370" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0220/7330/products/Ranka-Sarsparilla-1_1024x1024.jpg?v=1383515370" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lotta Jansdotter, half the print size of mystery fabric</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But what *it* is, I don't know. I thought it was Lotta Jansdotter but it doesn't seem to be (or exhaustive searches tell me this) let me know its similar to some other fabric that I got at about the same time. I reverse image searched from my photo, and nothing. Posting so I can upload picture ;)<br />
<br />
On a side note related to my sister, I'm about to delve into soap making. It's actually something I've wanted to do for almost 20 years, with my ex-husband we always lived in places small enough I didn't want to attempt it with our three cats. In the interim between then and now I had other things keeping me busy, but now my sister is bored and needs a new hobby and there's plenty of outdoor space to explode lye, so I got busy planning.<br />
<br />
I love a new hobby - I have wood soap molds to make, oils ordered from a Bellingham store that I'll get to go visit in person next time I drive north. I have winged my own recipes with the help of a lye calculator and a lot of web research, and have my safety goggles ready so I can make a test run before working on a batch with my sister. I'd really love the quilt top done before she comes over so we can work on that and the soap!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDVS7zuJbe6MBIMrRgAuwXSxwXf-2oUjhX247Wgg6cVz3JIzVlbPr_kV27jy5Ly8LgOOk1APkqMa_4XLi__0VN2mWuLLbGw0Kkp6YZZQIrfLaCL0ABekE3-Yp45s-WVcT11GB89kzQlQE/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDVS7zuJbe6MBIMrRgAuwXSxwXf-2oUjhX247Wgg6cVz3JIzVlbPr_kV27jy5Ly8LgOOk1APkqMa_4XLi__0VN2mWuLLbGw0Kkp6YZZQIrfLaCL0ABekE3-Yp45s-WVcT11GB89kzQlQE/s1600/008.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-88829775840729743632014-07-29T23:24:00.000-07:002014-07-30T09:55:43.760-07:00Westwood Acres Liberty Subscription<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTL_6cxeXKFKx_HNI8_0wrb55w3gvHf85g_-aU9pkNLpRqUTLY5j9CInkVcykskk_nfV1mmPqsBOGOBQTRuW0tHTS8Yj6-tftAy75piDLJTLloMTlU0dYlYba9WU8iRCDzuAm69_3mdpMQ/s1600/114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTL_6cxeXKFKx_HNI8_0wrb55w3gvHf85g_-aU9pkNLpRqUTLY5j9CInkVcykskk_nfV1mmPqsBOGOBQTRuW0tHTS8Yj6-tftAy75piDLJTLloMTlU0dYlYba9WU8iRCDzuAm69_3mdpMQ/s1600/114.jpg" height="342" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7abQqJV64NBC5SY6ZMPeNjhKOknn3etIUc0rd_3P8l4eXhTrZXXk7TF3wikwV1J4zmC2eIsYNVgByhEZrykFvv67gB8_Lo4vZ3C27eTGagca8IMJFWYs_17HqWboN4aMRY3XqxMxQk7j/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7abQqJV64NBC5SY6ZMPeNjhKOknn3etIUc0rd_3P8l4eXhTrZXXk7TF3wikwV1J4zmC2eIsYNVgByhEZrykFvv67gB8_Lo4vZ3C27eTGagca8IMJFWYs_17HqWboN4aMRY3XqxMxQk7j/s1600/042.JPG" height="320" width="203" /></a></div>
At the end of last year I joined <a href="http://www.westwoodacresfabric.com/pages/liberty-tana-lawn-bundle-of-the-month-club">Westwood Fabrics liberty tana lawn bundle of the month club.</a> They charge your credit card monthly and ship you a bundle of 10 fat sixteenth/eighth/quarters. It was $26.30 a month with shipping for the 1/16ths, which was as much as I was willing to spend on such a luxury indulgence with the inclusion of randomness mixed in. <br />
<br />
You see, I bought two yards of Liberty three years ago when fabric.com had it on
sale for $32 a yard *gulp* finding the whole notion romantic and all. I put in in the wash and the medium
blue ran and redeposited on the fabric in light blotches.<br />
<br />
It sits in my garment stash unused until I can find the right pattern, so you can
understand why I have mixed feelings on Liberty, and consider going into
therapy anytime I wade through my garment fabric stash and see it :o<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHjYU1NgR5I3RD-jGySqaEq6NsesuMCxKk2XglFifWt6k3d8ZTPG0jTDtdmyrqjrHaNGU3a93ng_burwz1nLeFdlbDpo2P7UsGVhx2jfVXEn8Vea7hVRzAO3Lm1Nf_E0V6tOnrUu4pvu3/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjxQrhwGscXuFkLm-_tQvvF-lER0tB5vjZKmMbr0TWe-B48HIgP8uMBVwXO2W5HgdCcxFeY_Vlqw3YtpDQKYAQmDuG7gTXIKmqeCd_SrnMMX3PIyBZvHEITJRU8e4WqiyYYRIIV2JGuim/s1600/IMG_6401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjxQrhwGscXuFkLm-_tQvvF-lER0tB5vjZKmMbr0TWe-B48HIgP8uMBVwXO2W5HgdCcxFeY_Vlqw3YtpDQKYAQmDuG7gTXIKmqeCd_SrnMMX3PIyBZvHEITJRU8e4WqiyYYRIIV2JGuim/s1600/IMG_6401.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Liberty</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My sister in law, who as far as I knew, had no idea I'm a bit of a Liberty junkie, sent me a little bundle of it she found somewhere (for the life of me I cant find this shop online) for a Christmas present so it was like..a sign from above that I made the right choice to sign up. Or I'll take any excuse I can to do what I feel like doing.<br />
<br />
I hadn't seen reviews for this fabric club last time I searched, so I thought I'd throw up some pictures of what I've received in case anybody is wondering what some of the adorable shipments going out in it look like.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Pros - I have a lovely little stash of Liberty, and I really like some of the prints. They lend themselves well to paper piecing and little projects. I get to act like I know what's up in the world.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3PtGgaKSR-h8yZn6t9tX-5sTlu35pWlV70zP1ypUr2lOz5WVC05b8jrpgVG4rGA0-0eR4M7ub7YU_U1U4CcNcm88-9CkpRd9kpK94ODwbV9w7uxuEV8eIcONdVy7BK-ByjC8_pCTLckK/s1600/libertystash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3PtGgaKSR-h8yZn6t9tX-5sTlu35pWlV70zP1ypUr2lOz5WVC05b8jrpgVG4rGA0-0eR4M7ub7YU_U1U4CcNcm88-9CkpRd9kpK94ODwbV9w7uxuEV8eIcONdVy7BK-ByjC8_pCTLckK/s1600/libertystash.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
Cons - different colors of the same print are sent on different months, so if you dont like something, you can pretty much assume you are going to have multiple colors of a print that you don't like. Also, there was one of randomly sized zoo animals and I'm not really sure what to do with that. ;) <br />
I also spent a lot of money and yardage wise, I still only have 1/3 of a small shoebox filled with it.<br />
<br />
Verdict: if you have the money and you don't need to love every print of a club, this is fun. I cancelled it a couple of months ago because I couldn't justify the expense any more, but I think it's a great way to try out the options if you're in the US.<br />
Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-5655514185766451092014-07-25T22:08:00.002-07:002014-07-25T22:08:52.366-07:00Marcelle Medallion Quilt<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEh0ENW5Y8yPFbfZddYOVJFfyIdjQuqT8cL2eLTa6xlZn-vcFPthWJ57m2ZOEHAB1Wv_wsclW59N99cobjM4vQEg9j8L3odeiBm5N0kPbFU0p3jYdzA3r7he8bDdsfkhqu2DDf_l1W4Jb5/s1600/Center+Medallion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEh0ENW5Y8yPFbfZddYOVJFfyIdjQuqT8cL2eLTa6xlZn-vcFPthWJ57m2ZOEHAB1Wv_wsclW59N99cobjM4vQEg9j8L3odeiBm5N0kPbFU0p3jYdzA3r7he8bDdsfkhqu2DDf_l1W4Jb5/s1600/Center+Medallion.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a>Well well well. I have finished the Marcelle Medallion Quilt finally, the one I started last <a href="http://alimakes.blogspot.com/2013/09/marcelle-medallion-cause-everybody-is.html">September</a>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFfoR0Yhomf1bJbO3V1Z77CW8otV7iXlohlv6283co5bwkrBOho6vdBBGcKhyiX27NCFoSXhA3FKw58-V8cBXywjuIyo2MiSZv24hlenq42v7ET0rys0dsQbgGbbkeh5DQtSt0Hbw3z-x/s1600/mm+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFfoR0Yhomf1bJbO3V1Z77CW8otV7iXlohlv6283co5bwkrBOho6vdBBGcKhyiX27NCFoSXhA3FKw58-V8cBXywjuIyo2MiSZv24hlenq42v7ET0rys0dsQbgGbbkeh5DQtSt0Hbw3z-x/s1600/mm+back.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">back of Marcelle</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One thing I just realized today about medallion quilts is they looks odd being off center on the bed if you don't pull them all the way up over the pillows. TRAUMA!<br />
<br />
So, it's done. It's king sized in case I ever have a king bed again. The bedroom in our rental house is blue so it matches, what more could one want?. It only took this long to finish due to the green border. One of my cats (yes, my fat one) had ripped a few holes in it while trying to jump up on the bed when I was testing it for size a long way back, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to quilt it without doing some major work.<br />
<br />
I chose a random kelp like design that involved a lot of bubbles over the rips. I think I patched them pretty securely! We will see though. I'm a little sad this will soon be covered with cat hair, but we make sacrifices for our children.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_q2gMkCkKxf7vWp5Xszmr7ppH8q3QyTBixV9hhbOrHK_cHm0Ps39L45ZyorZDtPwjmn4SF1PC3MXqarSB7rNAQNIkN00hjscGNk6YFt0Hn7WXDu-8cdw1RT9EcAdojqxgu5r59wZhpJe/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_q2gMkCkKxf7vWp5Xszmr7ppH8q3QyTBixV9hhbOrHK_cHm0Ps39L45ZyorZDtPwjmn4SF1PC3MXqarSB7rNAQNIkN00hjscGNk6YFt0Hn7WXDu-8cdw1RT9EcAdojqxgu5r59wZhpJe/s1600/059.JPG" height="219" width="640" /></a></div>
I'm actually on a quilting roll this month. I've made good progress on a few quilts, made some Noodlehead 241 totes that have made me happy to play with, made a lot of clothes.. strike that.. started a lot of clothes and haven't managed to finish any of them... <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNN5-yJ8kP7N9rtRLaoKgD2vZkQIusTK9XpgYmbqry4Y8x-wVULKatNYSyDQ8yT8MQaQGL6-VG5ajMz7JUUGxLTNKWrqpy_iuJO_afr8gbefDo9qnJgHNFpHiVfOBCX069bjczkzVB8tN/s1600/Marcelle+Medallion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNN5-yJ8kP7N9rtRLaoKgD2vZkQIusTK9XpgYmbqry4Y8x-wVULKatNYSyDQ8yT8MQaQGL6-VG5ajMz7JUUGxLTNKWrqpy_iuJO_afr8gbefDo9qnJgHNFpHiVfOBCX069bjczkzVB8tN/s1600/Marcelle+Medallion.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
This was a fun quilt to make, and although I'm starting another medallion quilt, I have a feeling I will be revisiting <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Love-Projects-Featuring-Fabrics/dp/1607056267">this pattern</a> at some point in the future. If you randomly stumbled onto this post and are suddenly struck dumb by the need to make one too, there's a great <a href="https://www.flickr.com/groups/mmqal/">flickr group </a>with tons of inspiration, and wonderful QAL instructionS and advice at the <a href="http://pennypoppleton.com/mmqal/">Penny Poppleton</a> blog.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuP9ng2zH-slGVZcd2pz6dtGJIZ48u6RSoWLeMYJMpfb8pr91zwr_4jDB9DJs2xJxHWsG3EgGSinCnmM5WuoTgZo2I7UfhVK4azJjBFTzgCN3Jw6hfVWqK_wD8zUEwY1_C-x5vBT8Qf3Wi/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-66933815131215326112014-06-06T01:51:00.000-07:002014-06-06T01:51:00.482-07:00DEAR JANE<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim211T-xyO2cz1nvYaRfOLJc0r7qWlAuB0kDRFVAfLxmdToSCfYpWxu5FpSAvx5ecgj-h235pOjTbmXIRbPOeuB9OAkO6iqsYbzmxvjlIsaI9CbljM4YDG31-PdxDKMB_XTQtXsUFVA3Sh/s1600/2ab6f0e546f11db269830ca19ded177b.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim211T-xyO2cz1nvYaRfOLJc0r7qWlAuB0kDRFVAfLxmdToSCfYpWxu5FpSAvx5ecgj-h235pOjTbmXIRbPOeuB9OAkO6iqsYbzmxvjlIsaI9CbljM4YDG31-PdxDKMB_XTQtXsUFVA3Sh/s1600/2ab6f0e546f11db269830ca19ded177b.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a>This is not a "I am not breaking up with you" letter. I am not a big traditional fan, and I'm big on modern quilting but something about all <a href="http://www.dearjane.com/">these small blocks</a> seems meditative. <br />
<br />
I had a vague plan of something, and then I came up with this to be my color scheme. It's a Photoshopped picture - supposedly of the Farie pools of the Island of Skye, which was sort of um.. ganked from a photo in New Zealand from what I can tell via my pal Google. But I'm working my way through my color scheme pins on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/gibbylet/quilt-color-combinations/">Pinterest</a>, and it seemed time for this one! Just to be clear, I fell in love with <a href="http://www.greenfairyquiltsblog.com/2011/03/dear-jane.html">this version</a> of the quilt two years ago and am finally starting it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenrnfnTwlXTUyqxUr-aARwTX7KB1KO2ju2IJfwRlIXlaeLSlBcsmlcEL1r0dWXRuupusV1hY_na0cjCobu0YnDKavWbOH4Jz2N9ko076FzycIV3Ww4XmhL7Kluk5T_ZX5KC8iyEWJTcUF/s1600/DJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6i85yhalJ1Rl86Z8Oct78Amredu8wThV4g9eZVO59jEwOYITq23l4ydLqS5g9VcBMh_xGL2mKsAE1gLxeaOFwGuKluMbe2pFnwJ-K49Sk6XHq79KmQC335ZfswXKFAa8xwclx8NrLaGn/s1600/dear+jane.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6i85yhalJ1Rl86Z8Oct78Amredu8wThV4g9eZVO59jEwOYITq23l4ydLqS5g9VcBMh_xGL2mKsAE1gLxeaOFwGuKluMbe2pFnwJ-K49Sk6XHq79KmQC335ZfswXKFAa8xwclx8NrLaGn/s1600/dear+jane.jpg" height="628" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9W4xLX-gDBvbyJVFv-wVUWcgcqyPPzsKiS19JEwAxgJFmkMNuaGh1Ujv969Id1uLofWZmsYCkv3oId_Z-03fLBHforH5f-oxx6OHuI5aDtuuAm295v_osfsDaMjuOscQQ7yUau7YVWMN0/s1600/DJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9W4xLX-gDBvbyJVFv-wVUWcgcqyPPzsKiS19JEwAxgJFmkMNuaGh1Ujv969Id1uLofWZmsYCkv3oId_Z-03fLBHforH5f-oxx6OHuI5aDtuuAm295v_osfsDaMjuOscQQ7yUau7YVWMN0/s1600/DJ.jpg" height="320" width="175" /></a>Then
I suddenly went with dark navy blues instead of turquoise water and now
I'm randomly going along. Admission - I hit save on the above color scheme,
and save as, in my $50 EQ Dear Jane program, and it said "screw you" and didn't
save anything. I just got lucky and pasted this one into
Paint so I had a copy of it and I'm going with it. Seriously, I hate you EQ. I am smart and computer savvy. I
have done things you haven't even imagined in your mind, but
nevertheless I am rendered idiotic at your stupid quilt program. Boo.
Boo.<br />
<br />
So navy blue for the innards, printed out the rest of the first half or so of the rows patterns, I have to get my double wedding ring further along so there is room for this stuff to go up on my quilt wall, and to resist starting anything new for awhile...<br />
<br />
3 blocks left on the blues, some of them have taken 2.5 hours, and I'm getting practice in applique. Daytime pictures to follow!Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-29095595221232157652014-05-31T08:00:00.000-07:002014-05-31T08:00:00.566-07:00It's my new machine!I'm posting about my new machine. I named her Molly. I might change her
name. Regardless I will probably forget whatever I named her, like I
forgot what I named my Mustang. I don't forget much, but made up names
for inanimate objects seems to be my Bermuda triangle of information.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfNpPRcpSC__WAc8QNt3WLXWLg6EKTIgMT_ZQfb8f1Nm_JIZU0waVam6ZRWGLMu-otGxTyP_ui6zLMB33W3UjF3Gz3TYzGjmLYgSPPCvzHmrBta4xSk3j9LCoFMvRkkBBJnjeRDG41yyG/s1600/Molly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfNpPRcpSC__WAc8QNt3WLXWLg6EKTIgMT_ZQfb8f1Nm_JIZU0waVam6ZRWGLMu-otGxTyP_ui6zLMB33W3UjF3Gz3TYzGjmLYgSPPCvzHmrBta4xSk3j9LCoFMvRkkBBJnjeRDG41yyG/s1600/Molly.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
You see, it's my birthday this month. I get weird about my birthday. Presents make me nervous but I want to give myself a present cause I like me, so 4 weeks before my birthday when life was going BADLY I sorta caved. I'd wanted a non-lowest tier machine for a long time. I had a couple Juki's in my amazon list but couldn't justify the price . During a sobby phone call to my husband about the stress of getting through the day while my garment sewing machine made me tug my double wedding ring blocks over the feed dogs inch by agonizing inch I expressed an early birthday present would make my life not suck, because despite myself I still love sewing and want it to be pleasure, not pain.<br />
<br />
He told me to go for it, and even though I don't do spontaneous... I did.. I'd found this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brother-PQ1500S-Quilting-Sewing-Machine/dp/B003C29EL4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top">Brother PQ1500S</a> on Amazon that I hadn't even registered before. I read one details blog review on it. The review listed it's pros and cons. Even though one con was difficulty to replace the bobbin/can't see the bobbin without a clear screen, and thats important shit...I hit buy (did you guys take advantage of Turbotax offering an extra 10% on your tax return if you got it through amazon? I did, so you know, it seems like it's free right?) and a few days later it was here. I read the reviews after...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIZdExbtbU62C8EEkafMbC69XurDK1tjB7efSJAwIaCr1NI__fxXa3ROHQyAyDZH8xGKBZ9ClWZyQhKC_WydhCelGVCcWMc5O1ls_mdfOb8ZQaHo-jNmhIx5Rx7mncysapG1v1NT1CtF4/s1600/139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIZdExbtbU62C8EEkafMbC69XurDK1tjB7efSJAwIaCr1NI__fxXa3ROHQyAyDZH8xGKBZ9ClWZyQhKC_WydhCelGVCcWMc5O1ls_mdfOb8ZQaHo-jNmhIx5Rx7mncysapG1v1NT1CtF4/s1600/139.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blurry lights off cell phone picture</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Things I am dinking with - it seems set up for cones and short spools. I have half a straw on the machine because when I used the thread cutter it was sending Auriful spools bouncing off of the thread holder. There's this nifty apparatus for holding spools on but Aurifil is too tall for it? Tinkering with the thread cutter, when the tension is right it leaves enough length, when its not I have to rethread a lot (trust me, it is probably user error.) Even with the same thread above and in the bobbin, it's tricky getting the tension right until I figure out where I'm going wrong.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTx_kILSbgfA4_HR-85YuUNu1NG1qTsCaKLhEVtxV35BY8QWhvKA8PYms9mrujqwturb2qV2G3k59YxHqhDqwnTKZIXGIzVLjp7BCXKwN9R5TAkOo9OESMh4JOGfGy_QsMFwptK-6lWZPL/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTx_kILSbgfA4_HR-85YuUNu1NG1qTsCaKLhEVtxV35BY8QWhvKA8PYms9mrujqwturb2qV2G3k59YxHqhDqwnTKZIXGIzVLjp7BCXKwN9R5TAkOo9OESMh4JOGfGy_QsMFwptK-6lWZPL/s1600/037.JPG" height="200" width="181" /></a>Sews like BUTTER, I was able to easily do straight quilting, it doesn't turn my seam allowances the wrong way I'm saving 50%+ as I sew together my double wedding ring quilt sections. It has 1/4" marking that seem to be accurate.. It has a great harp space and I doodled a bit to check out the FMQ and I didn't pull out my own hair while doing it! Bobbins hold a lot of thread, even if it's hard to get to it (ps, I think it's a benefit to be left handed due to the bobbin set up) It has a super sexy knee lift - I did not know I could feel like *that* for a machine, but yeah, it's my favorite feature so far.Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-21062666314146023542014-05-28T02:13:00.001-07:002014-05-28T02:13:16.102-07:00Finishes & Spontaneous Starts.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dLemif69TTOuTkk0xMZiEPMq158u84El-gw8MnkzPZrzLvjOtgd_eyeTj353YO3O26B-9IMEYYvm9uxqA0RZyeKb8gyLyfALuE2QW_-e8LfXf9OySnSCSi1cLX_y6htzl_YZNcID83FJ/s1600/finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dLemif69TTOuTkk0xMZiEPMq158u84El-gw8MnkzPZrzLvjOtgd_eyeTj353YO3O26B-9IMEYYvm9uxqA0RZyeKb8gyLyfALuE2QW_-e8LfXf9OySnSCSi1cLX_y6htzl_YZNcID83FJ/s1600/finished.jpg" height="468" width="640" /></a></div>
So many in progress things (and so many finishes that weren't needing a blog post - I seem to get a kick out of making certain things repeatedly, go figure!).<br />
<br />
I finished my <a href="http://alimakes.blogspot.com/2013/04/king-sized-triangle-quilt.html">king triangle quilt</a>, one I started April 2013... the damn thing should be longer but eh.... Just in time, as the warm weather has made my husband eschew thick cozy comforters - We are using two quilts, I'm using one of my lap quilts too. How the fuck did people used to get by on just quilts? Maybe I read Little house on the Prairie wrong. Maybe they used a goose down comforter they got at land's end under their quilts. I have the series on my birthday wishlist, so maybe I can reread it and it will tell me how they didn't freeze to death each winter.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDgvHSIcfmPafc-WhnIwzi_Ol3vSS7OLa_QenuZuor5bXT92YZH2_qu74gnmPSF7Aax_IXPvPevp9wSamBO3LhXypqAr7iEJw4H82aIwV2qv6lEGVV3rAqgjTgjCcvL5vAHTl7dJzYJDo/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDgvHSIcfmPafc-WhnIwzi_Ol3vSS7OLa_QenuZuor5bXT92YZH2_qu74gnmPSF7Aax_IXPvPevp9wSamBO3LhXypqAr7iEJw4H82aIwV2qv6lEGVV3rAqgjTgjCcvL5vAHTl7dJzYJDo/s1600/025.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
Er..OK, so I've decided to regain my voice, regardless of any of my mothers or mothers-in-law reading it or not! I do like to swear, tis true. I also like taking crappy pictures and not worrying about it as much as I'd like, so this seems like a great decision.<br /><br />I'm also working an a double wedding ring quilt which was on my quilt bucket list. I think it's going to be twin sized. I have a boyfriend who's mother got him one and seeing it reinvigorated my interest. I wish I had gotten my new awesome sewing machine before I started this. 1/4" seam allowance was just a vague marking on the old one.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDjxdJVZrTqeI06cF31kEmqy6IQqa5DScS40gAKtDHDl1GEUKlI1GKA7sKn_85WXmLyKYqvk86i9Ck9blnGI1n7EpyfO_SBbSXh0PD0OeGmimQMsDRMkxwLJGI53TapVqgmXY6oYMJNxk/s1600/DJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDjxdJVZrTqeI06cF31kEmqy6IQqa5DScS40gAKtDHDl1GEUKlI1GKA7sKn_85WXmLyKYqvk86i9Ck9blnGI1n7EpyfO_SBbSXh0PD0OeGmimQMsDRMkxwLJGI53TapVqgmXY6oYMJNxk/s1600/DJ.jpg" height="200" width="176" /></a>I started a new bucket list project too, cause finishing things that are taking up room would be anathema to me. It's a Dear Jane. I don't know why. Well I do, its because I saw <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/175499716698944197/">this here</a>, loved the quilting loved the version of this quilt, it was one of my first 5 pins on Pinterest.<br /><br />GO DEAR JANE! I'm excited about it, so far of the dozen blocks I've made I've had 20 minute blocks and 90 minute blocks. 5.5" with sashing Gah, 220 some blocks. It hurts. Nevertheless I don't have a day job so sometimes I can geek out on sewing for hours at a time. <br />
<br />
<br />Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-52695557771881800722014-04-26T11:50:00.000-07:002014-04-26T11:50:00.052-07:00Lush Uptown, a Pillow For a Hunter.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIBMg0uQgQIprYzyAY7dgpzj2XJyZ6jZEXIijf-4xuUejB9vdHrLGSkD_OMHDs1KfeNLoIL1aySaZ6bWlNLlvb6A3bb7-YysfOXkQ7nYk7a3JOpM6dOyyGHcxgXaABw72wvmCzrbvf9vY/s1600/lush+uptown+pillow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIBMg0uQgQIprYzyAY7dgpzj2XJyZ6jZEXIijf-4xuUejB9vdHrLGSkD_OMHDs1KfeNLoIL1aySaZ6bWlNLlvb6A3bb7-YysfOXkQ7nYk7a3JOpM6dOyyGHcxgXaABw72wvmCzrbvf9vY/s1600/lush+uptown+pillow.jpg" height="592" width="640" /></a> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOUIRsyZlHXIDARGALV9ylOJ0jw1Boie2qhL09aToDM7iXe8wsquL6A9C3hajFg73lh0_5Dnzx7FCr_SqWulK7lHov6xtQVwyMOt9BFb0PKxgh41wO9LX3rarTzvKbG-UPHhijpZp_RYs/s1600/lush+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOUIRsyZlHXIDARGALV9ylOJ0jw1Boie2qhL09aToDM7iXe8wsquL6A9C3hajFg73lh0_5Dnzx7FCr_SqWulK7lHov6xtQVwyMOt9BFb0PKxgh41wO9LX3rarTzvKbG-UPHhijpZp_RYs/s1600/lush+closeup.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
This is just a pillow I made for my favorite Bambi murderer, I mean person who is OK with the fact that meat doesn't come from a grocery store if you really think about it. As soon as I saw this print from <a href="http://www.trueup.net/2008/uncategorized/erin-michael-lush/">Lush Uptown </a>which seems to be a re-release from 2008, knew I had to make him something from it since he wasn't making it out for hunting :(<br />
<br />
I thought it would be easy and fun to embroider around all the different paint by number colors with a backstitch.<br />
<br />
DONT DO THIS.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I can't<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6Bw2U5mbS4FOPqqkRKscIYIZMcsGwucnEBaA7mYLTw-1xeHFRVrJgD5re35RDjnyclUjWWT_TrhthzdioEHAbP1LKgL5I-eST0AlyoPK0DVHZpaEBkN2G39JzG4IsWi6JtCZrlQG_fyj/s1600/lush+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6Bw2U5mbS4FOPqqkRKscIYIZMcsGwucnEBaA7mYLTw-1xeHFRVrJgD5re35RDjnyclUjWWT_TrhthzdioEHAbP1LKgL5I-eST0AlyoPK0DVHZpaEBkN2G39JzG4IsWi6JtCZrlQG_fyj/s1600/lush+back.jpg" height="315" width="320" /></a> say how many hours I spent just doing the bits that I did. It's a hassle, all those little curves made my head and fingers ache. I ended up FMQ more of it than I embroidered because life is short and I didn't want to die while still working on this.<br />
<br />
The back is a paper pieced thing I put together, I won't admit how many problems I had with it, but uh... yay it's done! I don't hate it overall, and screw it, maybe nobody ever made him a pillow before and he'll appreciate it ;) <br />
<br />
On the brighter side it gave me a chance to order a FQ of all the painter's palette prints which I'm a big fan of!Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-30292830839361088262014-04-22T09:12:00.000-07:002014-04-22T09:12:00.051-07:00Embroidery of the MonthI've been working on SO many embroideries, and finally finished a few of them recently. I am not sharing all of them cause there seem to be a lot of topless ladies in them and/or they are neat but not impressive in my opinion, but I wanted to share this one.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ERrcKtBKDMQmrp-_hS4XR63mmBTMZ458WhW3Vb1i_RlMyNujR0W0jQJQoi6mF_PgaeWXBeJSrgx-aYS-hyouJEilMTTrouww8FqID-5_0N3kH0Q-joGeyafWGPT_72F2AEvF8SVkMUPz/s1600/bambi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ERrcKtBKDMQmrp-_hS4XR63mmBTMZ458WhW3Vb1i_RlMyNujR0W0jQJQoi6mF_PgaeWXBeJSrgx-aYS-hyouJEilMTTrouww8FqID-5_0N3kH0Q-joGeyafWGPT_72F2AEvF8SVkMUPz/s1600/bambi.jpg" height="554" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This is from an art piece by <a href="http://magicomora.deviantart.com/art/inocent-Bomb-67550673">Magicomora</a> at deviant art. He's a Spanish artist who has a lot of cool stuff, if you like that sort of thing, which I sure as hell do. It's titled "Innocent Bomb". I plan on doing a second one with pencils and oil pastels for a lot of the coloring to save some hours. A young lady of my acquaintance requested one without a bomb in it. I think that's just asking for Bambi, but I'm not going to argue semantics!<br />
<br />
<br />Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-49950711894300848312014-04-20T20:35:00.000-07:002014-04-20T20:59:06.727-07:00Birch Bay Spring Quilt<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-iusMYn_Up27GZNR2iuR_9nlS4ckpyiRz99U25DAmykdFyL9UTKTbg-mZHeRI1EkeUpY3ooIgTWVYfsQEnjyb3knyqK360ur1uQVo0bgVlD9YtedtrtaJOnyLNNixGAhBMn-Rkttkzow/s1600/birch+bay+folded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-iusMYn_Up27GZNR2iuR_9nlS4ckpyiRz99U25DAmykdFyL9UTKTbg-mZHeRI1EkeUpY3ooIgTWVYfsQEnjyb3knyqK360ur1uQVo0bgVlD9YtedtrtaJOnyLNNixGAhBMn-Rkttkzow/s1600/birch+bay+folded.jpg" height="640" width="538" /></a></div>
<br />
I've been starting and making lots of things, as well as finishing
plenty of small things, but I finally put together and finished my Birch
Bay lap quilt from this <a href="http://alimakes.blogspot.com/2013/10/marcelle-medallion-and-uh-huh-shopping.html">shopping trip fabric buy.</a> And felt like writing about it, so here I am!<br />
<br />
Not too much to say, it's prettier in person, one of my cats made it
into a bed within minutes of the finish and me putting it down on the
coffee table so I know it's a winner.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BvMGdDh2RW1L4oJrQPoxIJg4NnqGycWq2l3UBdMAzZkDso8SAYvFSSYhyphenhyphenqs_IrglOVmHmF0frQNU9VYJP904NLY-CdyThW1rimnopOdFpjlRV1c3bYDRdc0Vyk6fT6rl45WOmm50I5Eo/s1600/Blaine+Quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BvMGdDh2RW1L4oJrQPoxIJg4NnqGycWq2l3UBdMAzZkDso8SAYvFSSYhyphenhyphenqs_IrglOVmHmF0frQNU9VYJP904NLY-CdyThW1rimnopOdFpjlRV1c3bYDRdc0Vyk6fT6rl45WOmm50I5Eo/s1600/Blaine+Quilt.jpg" height="640" width="524" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Here is the truth. I had to take it off my quilt wall mid assembly to take photos of something else and I didn't keep track of what went where so the rows did not go together in the way they were supposed to. Whatever, I don't care, it's bright and cheerful and I have it wrapped around me this very moment.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPI729WM5ABI0gg1XcXEUZmICKYzP76xCI-LwFimrhiGgaAR2DxKQ8Ri8LHv7W-fiITHqoqOvnrjUEWoQHtYoDzyguQfVadXnL71gY3-evU1aVmBAhBdoV-qcMzsV-su0-oDSVrG2b2WhY/s1600/birch+bay+binding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPI729WM5ABI0gg1XcXEUZmICKYzP76xCI-LwFimrhiGgaAR2DxKQ8Ri8LHv7W-fiITHqoqOvnrjUEWoQHtYoDzyguQfVadXnL71gY3-evU1aVmBAhBdoV-qcMzsV-su0-oDSVrG2b2WhY/s1600/birch+bay+binding.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I put most of my Heather Ross' Mendocino scraps in it since it matched the colors I was using which makes me happy, no more hoarding them in a drawer, I get to look at the mermaids and seahorses and octopi every day.<br />
<br />
Backed with remants from the front & a vintage sheet. The binding is Rashida Coleman-Hale's Koi in plusses. I admit it, I love this print more than almost anything, already made a shirt out of it, want to by more yards so I can hoard it for no good reason except sometime the world might end and I'd be proud to leave a super awesome stash behind.<br />
<br />
Main fabrics -<br />
Alison Glass Bike Path in Chartreuse<br />
Lizzy House Pearl Bracelet in Meyer Lemon<br />
Kaufman Interweave Chambray in Sorbet<br />
Denyse Schmidt's Chicopee Ladder Dot in Fuschia<br />
Lizzy House Pearl Bracelet in Chat Noir<br />
Moda's Comma in Black and Chalk<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8A-R8TGfopTDnKvyKMMfjtVCtYrZRmDrx-KXLidZJo6TK4VJyhJfbFzIbiRpDnHyoaSQxh_-NudYuBMSMxl4AXv5_4QHJmaqwsBSYL_WFLCIZIeTipbqRypVexQ0Wyw5g_8h3h33JonSn/s1600/IMG_6526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8A-R8TGfopTDnKvyKMMfjtVCtYrZRmDrx-KXLidZJo6TK4VJyhJfbFzIbiRpDnHyoaSQxh_-NudYuBMSMxl4AXv5_4QHJmaqwsBSYL_WFLCIZIeTipbqRypVexQ0Wyw5g_8h3h33JonSn/s1600/IMG_6526.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-58714965031627070602014-03-14T11:47:00.000-07:002014-03-15T10:38:52.520-07:00The Ellie Bag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DDGkLVq4Z8oLSYEwVHpBqXX0AnksPG1Qu0s63Zy1YM3124NYpdjAHTXXwG4Vw7mir8fMsRTnG2fULB-k9amnrjKk-8LU46RL1dMNp96wHBi7U0QNU9Te6jXjwpA4H5zYFyLfyoM1t7eh/s1600/ellie+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DDGkLVq4Z8oLSYEwVHpBqXX0AnksPG1Qu0s63Zy1YM3124NYpdjAHTXXwG4Vw7mir8fMsRTnG2fULB-k9amnrjKk-8LU46RL1dMNp96wHBi7U0QNU9Te6jXjwpA4H5zYFyLfyoM1t7eh/s1600/ellie+bag.jpg" height="640" width="418" /></a></div>
I've been sewing, but also having a nice busy life. Well, that and I'm on my third round of antibiotics for strep this year, as well as suffering through some colds and 24 hour viruses gotten from some evil children! Anyway, I'm going to focus on the fact that I'm busy with fun stuff so haven't been writing.<br />
<br />
Awhile back I saw and pinned this cute bag tutorial, the <a href="http://fabricmutt.blogspot.com/2014/01/ellie-travel-case-tutorial.html">Ellie travel case tutorial</a> from over at Fabric Mutt. I took a day to sit down and make it because I ...need more bags? The tutorial is pretty fabulous. Thanks to my practice making the <a href="http://www.sewsweetnesspatterns.com/products/aeroplane-bags">Aeroplane bag</a> from Sew Sweetness I had better success with sewing a zipper in this way, and added an interior zippered pocket.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwROf-k1Q0MWkdnqXLKr9LF2gNuHW0-dcxwlplu_n5mwUmWsXjM5G_T3pXHBcmbnaKX956DlumnUAeW3WLIgU0b_G18cTuFU0qovRdjZakEDGFtoKSsqTlP36Yu9kHGY7zzXycypGss8i1/s1600/ellie+inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwROf-k1Q0MWkdnqXLKr9LF2gNuHW0-dcxwlplu_n5mwUmWsXjM5G_T3pXHBcmbnaKX956DlumnUAeW3WLIgU0b_G18cTuFU0qovRdjZakEDGFtoKSsqTlP36Yu9kHGY7zzXycypGss8i1/s1600/ellie+inside.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>I used two prints from Pat Bravo's Carnaby St collection, Go Go London in Powdery for the exterior and Psychedelia in Gold for the lining. I also used Essex linen in Ivory for the exterior and handle. The only real problem I had is that I SUCK at attaching handles without ending up with lots of extra sewing. I don't know how people make them look so neat and tidy, and maybe I wouldn't be so aware of it if I hadn't used pink aurifil for it ;)<br />
<br />
This was a fun bag to make, and I'm going to make another too. I actually used enough batting and interfacing so that is stands up and holds its shape, I guess there<b> is</b> a first time for everything! <br />
<br />
Linking up to<a href="http://gogokim.blogspot.com/2014/03/welcome-to-sewjo-saturday.html"> SewJo Saturday</a> at My Go-Go Life. Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-11206599729056933242013-12-19T09:44:00.000-08:002013-12-19T09:44:58.116-08:00Gifty Lap QuiltsA few months ago I decided to make lap quilts for three lovely children of my acquaintance for Christmas. I've figured out why making things without patterns is a bad idea! I don't particularly love any of them, but I am happy to say they are done ;) I also get to say that all three of these were made at least partially with fabric I won, which made it less risky if they didn't turn out.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXbAln1LoW8XtuIXjgrjCBHalCb0ULD7f6yPGQywNgVti23aekyRDMNPmpfatQs4WcQN07z3D7MB90nLN15ghawH6I6m2So8cMzqepsU4lVLgI5EnATftgR_fc2QDQzv2TihsFcuRX9Gl/s640/pink.jpg" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvt2hHdYzkrIG2udnpuow1ZERCJOW4wnPxWXwniymMTU3xpyUJApX9vp0GEwdLLcKz0SH3uO7cYVWYOVgZl1D8EOa0L43KvkEOctzTAMV7LbR5GW-srkWfkHAKKoYtALmN5hFHAFvol-wc/s1600/kaufman+pink.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvt2hHdYzkrIG2udnpuow1ZERCJOW4wnPxWXwniymMTU3xpyUJApX9vp0GEwdLLcKz0SH3uO7cYVWYOVgZl1D8EOa0L43KvkEOctzTAMV7LbR5GW-srkWfkHAKKoYtALmN5hFHAFvol-wc/s200/kaufman+pink.jpg" width="200" /></a>The first was made mostly with a pretty Kona Cotton Bundle from Canton Village Quilt Works that I was lucky enough to win from Alyssa at Pile O' Fabric.<br />
<br />
It really ended up looking like I think it's the 70's still. No idea what a 12 year old is going to think of that, but I won't worry about it, there are two dogs that can use any of these if the kids don't like them! Her favorite color is pink but I still think I went overboard. It's not quite as bright as the picture implies, but it's sure...pink.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTOU5Ec6X6JyqTsp0hAbClZUrwCLvowZhnabMGgU-SS0mFAEJKQhIUWlsHKcMFBN9XOQu-f0jV6uNpjnN92z7TgQfTELOxQUW80Ee5N5TRNfUNevSPYiZJjXJNUha1QRm6ZCTGIXAgQcG/s1600/IMG_6358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTOU5Ec6X6JyqTsp0hAbClZUrwCLvowZhnabMGgU-SS0mFAEJKQhIUWlsHKcMFBN9XOQu-f0jV6uNpjnN92z7TgQfTELOxQUW80Ee5N5TRNfUNevSPYiZJjXJNUha1QRm6ZCTGIXAgQcG/s640/IMG_6358.jpg" width="470" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The second was made with a combination of Kona solids and some Robotic fom Birch Organics given away by Fabricworm through Sewcanshe. I went with the sexist slant of boys like robots (and his Dad said he'd like the robot and sciencey prints, which makes it slightly less sexist? I know his daughters are just as interested in science as anybody). It's my favorite of the three, maybe because it's the least busy.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJCBMEmWbn06yFTryJ5HEpEjDhB2T1AkD8L3Mu_F6d89DnTrezFeNpxSRCOagO0xc78NL5T69zVggqi73adZX6Pf8IYVR5PKUDWTOYKHBQb2Mh_B_y5H4bj9EIRU4KGdaLlNcZiEXo61u/s1600/IMG_6361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJCBMEmWbn06yFTryJ5HEpEjDhB2T1AkD8L3Mu_F6d89DnTrezFeNpxSRCOagO0xc78NL5T69zVggqi73adZX6Pf8IYVR5PKUDWTOYKHBQb2Mh_B_y5H4bj9EIRU4KGdaLlNcZiEXo61u/s640/IMG_6361.jpg" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZeF-hWnu0afbajHIermeJM37l7IBSfI-UFWSmHUHkrAOi5Wrq9LxmvcTtiND24urJPUXfcdfJkLZ37488DPqHNOjlRZnSfSGptuE_FZ-32ZYzDRA02EOqhkf31Pl4kTKC5vr8i6TjAk6/s1600/IMG_6363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZeF-hWnu0afbajHIermeJM37l7IBSfI-UFWSmHUHkrAOi5Wrq9LxmvcTtiND24urJPUXfcdfJkLZ37488DPqHNOjlRZnSfSGptuE_FZ-32ZYzDRA02EOqhkf31Pl4kTKC5vr8i6TjAk6/s640/IMG_6363.jpg" width="522" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The last one had a good amount of Monaluna's Fox Hollow organics that I won from Moona Fabrics through a giveaway from Maureen Cracknell last year,. This was a hard one, I decided to make it around the Fairy Tale Castle pattern I tested for <a href="http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/2013/11/fairy-tale-castle-pattern-now-available/">Blossom Heart Quilts</a>. I made side A too busy, had to cut it apart and simplify it. Side B was mostly a gathering of 12.5" blocks. When I got "done" I realized it was way too small and had to add on, and now the 7 year old has the largest quilt.<br />
<br />
When I started the quilt her favorite color was purple, but as of last night it was pink, sigh! She has surprising taste in fabric, picked out the prints for<a href="http://alimakes.blogspot.com/2013/04/small-things.html"> this ball</a> I made and didn't choose the prints I thought a young girl would. I'm still banking on her standards being lax if there are animals involved though, and hope she will just start singing about foxes and what they say.<br />
<br /><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span>
I'd just done straight stitching on the first two quilts, after it taking less than an hour to stipple this one, I'm wishing I'd done that for all of them, it was actually easier than all the repositioning.<br />
<br /><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span>
OK, long post, big pictures, wish I'd gotten outdoor photos, and glad they are done so I can get back to the other holiday sewing projects I have!<br /><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXbAln1LoW8XtuIXjgrjCBHalCb0ULD7f6yPGQywNgVti23aekyRDMNPmpfatQs4WcQN07z3D7MB90nLN15ghawH6I6m2So8cMzqepsU4lVLgI5EnATftgR_fc2QDQzv2TihsFcuRX9Gl/s1600/pink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXbAln1LoW8XtuIXjgrjCBHalCb0ULD7f6yPGQywNgVti23aekyRDMNPmpfatQs4WcQN07z3D7MB90nLN15ghawH6I6m2So8cMzqepsU4lVLgI5EnATftgR_fc2QDQzv2TihsFcuRX9Gl/s1600/pink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-68407788496914191622013-12-07T07:20:00.000-08:002013-12-07T07:20:00.654-08:00Sew Sweetness Greenbacks Wallet<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1lQZzFm6JBZW2AqFT_PcSMmGlgGRPw7_BFjVQI1uVJhilMWOX_ehQae9XNmFVUe0DsJ_75_yrrxFqc7_3JOC8mdpDM3yoilgGpy4cAuYPck9mYFx8ShxSH-dOY5gLfg9acJoD1JPgbH7/s1600/trio+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1lQZzFm6JBZW2AqFT_PcSMmGlgGRPw7_BFjVQI1uVJhilMWOX_ehQae9XNmFVUe0DsJ_75_yrrxFqc7_3JOC8mdpDM3yoilgGpy4cAuYPck9mYFx8ShxSH-dOY5gLfg9acJoD1JPgbH7/s640/trio+front.jpg" width="584" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a BIG photo!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1zuJEjM2avB81S-AVIOXUqN1X4sIOI0lJ-30VYfD2zY_wzXPsSBHxQWt4WhdLAKGVlnp3kqPwuZ5jUARDO52eWxWJVdeS5e5oJ6QMUP0NpnIJXSUT-BUNR-nqy5m1huCWRpg0tlqnoAT/s1600/as.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1zuJEjM2avB81S-AVIOXUqN1X4sIOI0lJ-30VYfD2zY_wzXPsSBHxQWt4WhdLAKGVlnp3kqPwuZ5jUARDO52eWxWJVdeS5e5oJ6QMUP0NpnIJXSUT-BUNR-nqy5m1huCWRpg0tlqnoAT/s320/as.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'll be working on improving my sewing skills in 2014 so I can make higher quality items, things that have little to no chance of falling apart in the same calendar year, things that people will say "No way, you made that? Compared to the crap you turned out last year, that's fantastic!"<br />
<br />
Cough.. OK, no really, I'm just waiting for a compliment on something I've made. It's been two years, and that was clothing, so I'm waiting for that craft sewing flattery.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLLhXd33AuCBeKXzW4h0lZPU31wFMwzLhHIK1rR33O0rROGHmTOCiAZX4jTQRGfy6EaSAQ7MykOiQL3a6F3eJ0oLFl735MUHgX1jLz1Bbl3QjXlkijYevrfI7JvvGHDi6L2Tb8zsLr4a0/s1600/phone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLLhXd33AuCBeKXzW4h0lZPU31wFMwzLhHIK1rR33O0rROGHmTOCiAZX4jTQRGfy6EaSAQ7MykOiQL3a6F3eJ0oLFl735MUHgX1jLz1Bbl3QjXlkijYevrfI7JvvGHDi6L2Tb8zsLr4a0/s320/phone.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cell phone holder on back of wallet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That said, I thought I'd try something totally new to me, a wallet. Sara at Sew Sweetness has a pdf for a variety of <a href="http://www.sewsweetness.com/2013/05/greenbacks-wallet-trio.html">wallets</a> of varying difficulty - beginner/intermediate/advanced, more or less. I didn't really have a need for wallet #1 which is about credit card sized, and attempting wallet #3 scared me, so Wallet #2 it was. <br />
<br />
I wasn't quite sure what size it was going to be, I figured it'd be similar to the clutch I made from the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o5KT_ZLjjaObmeZjYham1wsHKtfV5pP5IvCoj4kcN_w/preview">patchwork pencil pouch</a> tutorial at LBG studio. What? The tutorial specifies on the first page that it will be 5" by 7"? I just didn't read the directions until now because I'm lazy, but Bam! Her tutorials are complete, so if you're not lazy like me you'll be very happy!<br />
<br />
The fabric is from timber & leaf by Sarah Watts. I'd coveted Fawn in Birch Blue print and missed out on the last of it. Hawthorne threads finagled some bolts that turned up in the manufacturer's warehouse, and I luckily saw their FB post about it, and ordered these three prints.<span class="highslide-caption" style="display: block;"> </span><span class="highslide-caption" style="display: block;"> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_wUVWvDy_xFYN5kWtJDDr4yqVjx634a5yvgL7Pg2D8sIZYtya7dly46PmgfyRmZl_lxdnGh7WwlmGphdGYSQvJzGSNofn0vi4VPgE69lfwyfUbhKlcExKWlo9Bs44-pe2Rcj4UxUmlxx/s1600/interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_wUVWvDy_xFYN5kWtJDDr4yqVjx634a5yvgL7Pg2D8sIZYtya7dly46PmgfyRmZl_lxdnGh7WwlmGphdGYSQvJzGSNofn0vi4VPgE69lfwyfUbhKlcExKWlo9Bs44-pe2Rcj4UxUmlxx/s320/interior.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior of wallet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I may have gone overboard on interfacing after my floppy purse fiascos of a few weeks ago. I didn't trim it 1/2" smaller than the fabric, resulting in lot of layers. <br />
<br />
Deviation - I altered the pattern. I have a spiffy pouch I put all my
seldom used cards in, it's the only "madebysomebodyelse" item I didn't throw out like yesterday's trash once I realized I could make my own shit, and I love it. Therefore no need for that many credit card
holders in the wallet. Luckily making lots of zippered bag in the last year came
in handy, and I just add a zippered bag onto one side. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFpxVssCkZldv0qBVV-dEvs4tSzAki0xSrZpJmlgiIgScRxQv8ciMWlzzFeHu68AX6Sspm0WYx9KDcHOihD3ksuuqx0-D1IynPmv5H3Xgp-PpNQECuHQFj95j_AYwbwNcD7YOLV-AVimu/s1600/whole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFpxVssCkZldv0qBVV-dEvs4tSzAki0xSrZpJmlgiIgScRxQv8ciMWlzzFeHu68AX6Sspm0WYx9KDcHOihD3ksuuqx0-D1IynPmv5H3Xgp-PpNQECuHQFj95j_AYwbwNcD7YOLV-AVimu/s320/whole.jpg" width="264" /></a>The only problems I ran across were 1. when sewing the credit card area into three slots it didn't work - I needed just a wee bit more room (was wondering if I'd needed to add a seam allowance but that didn't seem to be the case). Instead I divided it into two, resulting in 6 slots. 2. I had trouble following the directions for the wrist strap, and although it's not a direct result, I feel it's too long - a few inches longer than I'd like, too long to feel secure if I'm carrying it solo in public.<br />
<br />
With a zip pouch on the other side (and I HIGHLY recommend doing this, I feel kick ass - not only do I have a place to stash change and bills - who am I kidding? I don't carry cash since debit cards were born.. but there's room behind the pouch to stash a small notepad or your checkbook) this pattern ticks a lot of my wallet needs. I'll throw it in my purse because it feels stealable despite the wrist band, but I'm pretty happy with it. Damn urban living!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5938563145216054404.post-25951887715595185472013-12-04T23:14:00.002-08:002013-12-04T23:14:38.172-08:00Winter Anybody? That & A Mini Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPBBXZCPsPd3KS0B5An7N6kVyAID4UVd3h92cL93UfGdXIIrHi6Vck6bmpbt0968sLy4Es88mrzz8Rd4OUiriJUt8trQzrDr5dzChV-IHZoCdn6RxlMgWOk_QZNd39SDJ_-R0K6SA0T3L/s1600/winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPBBXZCPsPd3KS0B5An7N6kVyAID4UVd3h92cL93UfGdXIIrHi6Vck6bmpbt0968sLy4Es88mrzz8Rd4OUiriJUt8trQzrDr5dzChV-IHZoCdn6RxlMgWOk_QZNd39SDJ_-R0K6SA0T3L/s640/winter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I'm linking up my winter fabric choices for Ali's (yes it IS the best name ever isn't it?) winter <a href="http://www.asquaredw.com/2013/12/stash-flash-december.html">Stash Flash.</a> My husband and I take turns decorating the tree each year, during my years its a tasteful (;) blend of silver, turquoise, green and purple, and his years it's that plus whatever will stick to the tree. It doesn't help that we give each other ornaments each year, and while I usually receive something pretty & feathery, I keep giving him things with tentacles that just don't really coordinate well with anything...<br />
<br />
That said, my idea of winter mainly combines the limey greens I love with the classic red I associate with the holidays. In my bundle are lots of prints that make me think of ornaments, stars & wrapping paper. That koi print? yeah yeah, it just includes two of the colors I find Christmasy, AND every winter I worry about fish in ponds freezing to death. Mmmhmm. You have until the end of the month to link up!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PJks-dW2UXDX631o8-RWgVrQr8bp9ksKQ6AUIuI2sqsuzFRxNDNUYX9DfJSLfn8jOKpILQ-FCBmXPOjHfwOFKwdl8_v-XIsT2WKhwt-wX8_fB7D100rm6qxWN9SiRmUsJOosVcXuPHxe/s1600/mini+pedal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PJks-dW2UXDX631o8-RWgVrQr8bp9ksKQ6AUIuI2sqsuzFRxNDNUYX9DfJSLfn8jOKpILQ-FCBmXPOjHfwOFKwdl8_v-XIsT2WKhwt-wX8_fB7D100rm6qxWN9SiRmUsJOosVcXuPHxe/s640/mini+pedal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I also finished binding a mini quilt I'd been working on. I was looking for a pattern that would work large scale, and though it would be fun to start making test minis to try them out. This block pattern was from EQ5, and I made it with 2" squares that ended as 1.5" squares. The end product is just under 12.5" square. I am just amazed as many points line up as do! This just won't work for what I had in mind, however my machine pedal has been slipping all over the place and I put this down today between it and the carpet, and it's keeping it in place so I'm pretty content!Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12495709613649753195noreply@blogger.com2