back again:) the new Janome

Long time, no write.  And what a busy several months it has been with moving into a new home, getting engaged, and then my machine crashing.  But looks like things are starting to finally chill out.  Thank you!  I am ready for a relaxing summer.

My original sewing machine died when the timing device stopped working correctly.  I went to a local shop to have it repaired, but found out it was going to cost $100 to repair a machine that, frankly, has seen better days.  So I took the plunge and purchased a new fancy sewing machine.  I ended up with a Janome Horizon from a great little sewing store around the corner.  I have to say, I feel like I got the cadillac of all machines with this bad boy.  And after sewing on the machine for a week, I have to say I am quickly getting spoiled.

 After purchasing my awesome new little machine, I have managed to finish another one of my favorite rag quilts.  I used smaller squares of regular cotton the front and flannel on the back. I did this quilt for a friend of mine who had a little one last year.  I tried to gear it towards a boy and the parents love for Virginia Tech

  I will admit the squares did not get sewed together evenly. I was quite perplexed why nothing was lining up consistently.  Then it dawned on me.  The straight stitch option I used on my new machine was to offset slightly to the left of center.  DOH.

It was a great learning experience, and I still think the rag quilt is cute.
















The second quilt I started and finished on my new machine. I cannot believe how quickly it came together on this new machine! Granted this is a smaller quilt (again a baby/toddler quilt size), but I have never finished a quilt with such ease!  I chose to go with HST as a chevron pattern.  And look how cute it is!

I also learned how to free motion quilt with this quilt; and I have to say, I am in love with FMQ.  It is like a giant maze in which you try not to overlap any lines.

I am very pleased with how this one turned out. I cannot wait to finish another quilt I have started.

Results are in....

Remember this little guy?
I agonized over whether to put this baby quilt into my twins' school auction, & how to value it if I did. (blogged about here.) I ended up submitting it to the auction, & valued it at $60. It ended up selling for $50, & honestly I'm pleased with that. Plus the woman who bought it loved it & though she got a great deal, which made me feel like maybe my work doesn't suck. :)
Our handprint quilt also did well. When I left the auction about 2 hours before it closed, our raffle for the handprints was well over $200, so I'm hoping it made a bit more, but even if it didn't, I feel like our efforts made a decent contribution to the school.
All in all a fairly respectable showing for my first ever venture into any kind of public sale. I don't know that I'm ready to start selling things regularly, but it was a nice ego boost to know that people actually kind of like the things I make. Maybe it will help me shake my novice quilter's insecurity!

what do you do while you sew, besides sew??

So I have always wondered, does anyone use their sewing time for something other than sewing??  Now I am not saying, you claim to sew but really hide in the closet eating a box of chocolates, but double task.  Perhaps you contemplate dinner for that night, mentally shop for the upcoming event or just lose yourself in what you are doing.

I personally have found a great way to continue with my love of reading while sewing by listening to books on CD.  I am really lucky to have a job where I have access to a great library with a ton of books on CD with no limit on the number I can check out.  I have been on a James Patterson kick as of late.  Anyone have any recommendations on other good books to read or listen to??

Lisa

Busy bee quilts and lets get acquainted.

Workspace

Like most quilters who blog, I read a lot of quilting blogs. Every so often some one will post a picture of their sewing space (usually an actual sewing or craft room). It will be beautifully lit with natural sunshine, have darling refinished furniture & a bounteous stash organized by color & displayed in some cute shelving perhaps (or maybe trendy hat boxes, or tidy rubbermaids.)
I see those pictures & spend a few minutes drooling, & wishing for the day when I too will organize my fabric by designer & hue, (HA! who am I kidding? I'll be glad just to get it off my floor!) or have a cutting table you can walk all the way around (writers of quilting books seem to take it for granted that we can all find & house a tall table, long enough to accommodate & yards & yards of fabric.)
Then I remember I'm a cop's wife & a stay-at-home-mother of 4, & I'm lucky simply to be able to indulge my favorite hobby, even if that means sewing in our crowded, noisy kitchen while my children make capes & headbands out of my stash of quilting cottons.
This doesn't mean I don't still enjoy ogling other people's gorgeous workspaces, but I'm learning to be content with mine, in all its messy, inconvenient imperfection.
So here it is:
My machine sits on a battered old desk that used to live in my husband's parents' barn. You can see years & years of his father's & grandfather's signatures scratched into the wood. (Which might be cool if it were an antique, but it's a 1970ish piece of funk.) But it is sturdy & it serves. It lives in our kitchen now, where I can catch moments of stitching between all the crazy that goes on in our house. (That's my Star Wars quilt getting a binding put on. My dudes were so excited to finally have this one done!)

This is what my workpace usually looks like- kids, fabric & playdough everywhere! (We're on a serious play-dough kick here. They play this at least once a day, usually twice. In a week or so we'll have a new obsession, but for now I'm loving that they're loving something I love. Who doesn't dig play-dough, after all? & yes, I keep the rotary cutter far from little fingers!)
Anyways, that's a peek into my little "sewing room", aka our kitchen. Linking up to Plum & June's Let's Get Acquainted. Happy Monday!
Kate

Sewing Sunday

Last week was a big one for finishes, & this week is a big one for beginnings. I found 2 hours together to sew today (unheard of in my house!) & got to start some of my new projects.
I've finally started a giant x+ Star Wars quilt.

The finished blocks are 24 inches. I'm loving the death star peeking out in this one. When I showed it to Lisa, she thought it was a bit busy (totally true), but I figure if I'm making a Star Wars quilt, than darn it-- I'm making a STAR WARS QUILT! Anyways, it's started, for better or worse. (Sorry for the poor picture quality-- my linoleum laundry room isn't ideal, but it's all I had to work with today.)
I started a baby quilt too-- all 2.5 inch squares. I love simple patchwork. It's so peaceful to mindlessly sew straight lines sometimes.
Lisa has been sewing napkins like it's her job (& I think some are headed my way soon!) She'll be back tomorrow with a little tutorial on her napkin making method & since our next joint project is a rag quilt, she'll be posting our fabric requirements then too.
Have a great week! Go visit Miss Luella's for Plum and June's Let's Get Acquainted this week!
Kate

Twin Birthday Quilts

Back in December I asked my oldest boys what they wanted on their new blankets & the answer was an overwhelming "TRUCKS, Mama!" These are just simple patchwork, but since most (ok, all) of my sewing is done is stolen moments & 15 minute snatches throughout the day, (not to mention my habit of starting 4 or 5 projects at once), I've been poking away at these since January. I finally finshed the binding yesterday & all that's left is to embroider their names. (I've found it's best to label anything I make/buy for a specific kid to prevent later property disputes.)

That's baby brother modeling the new quilts. He thinks every quilt finished is specially made for him!
I also found some time yesterday to cut these up:

Like every other quilter in the free world, I jumped on the scrappy trip bandwagon this winter. I loved the pattern & the process for the scrappy trips, & decided to make Christmas versions for my aunts. I have 7 aunts to sew for, so Lisa suggested I aim for one quilt a month & that's my goal. (Yes, I could have used the time spent cutting to embroider my sons' quilts, but my quilting ADD wouldn't let me work on one project.)
Finally, just because Let's Get Acquainted is about pets this week, here's a gratuitous shot of Felon, one of our 3 feline babies. (We also have 2 parrots & assorted fish.)

Happy Monday!
Kate