Just because I wanted to.........

Remember this pile of slices I showed a couple days ago?

I cut the strips at the fold line and stitched them together.  This was just a random group of batiks, not necessarily ones I planned to use together.  Don't ask me what I am going to make out of it, I sewed them just because I wanted to...........

The art quilters come today, first time since the end of Nov.  Cookies are baked, basement is clean......

Behind closed doors......

I stayed home all day yesterday.....it felt so good.  I started out the day adding another side to the pieces I started the night before last.  Then it was time to go down to the basement and straighten up for my art quilters group.  I haven't seen them since the end of November because of the snowy winter we have had.  Right now it stands as the 3rd snowiest winter on record.  We had flurries all day yesterday and it is sticking on the grass but the driveway and streets were warm from our 50's the day before.  I will bake cookies today and move the design walls that are stacked.

There was a pile of batiks that I hadn't put away so I chose some of my favorites and did some slicing and then put them all away.  I worked on supply lists for 2 classes too.  It was a good day.

So many things to do, so little time.......

Yesterday was one of those days.  I didn't finish running errands until 11:30.  I had planned to bake a batch of shortbread cookies, so I mixed them and started eating lunch.  One friend was coming by to pick up some fabric that she needed to finish a quilt started about 8 years ago.  The first batch of cookies came out while she was here and after tasting one, she wanted the recipe.  Then another friend stopped by that needed help with her computer.  2 hours later she left.  I finished another bottle cozy that just needed its final stitching.  The next few hours are a blur as I did many odd jobs.

Last night "The Bucket List" was on TV and I had missed it at the theater, so I got out the boxes of pre-cut pieces left over from the last 2 batik log cabin quilts and sewed until I ran out of bobbin thread.  By then I was so tired I didn't want to do anything else.  I didn't even answer comments yesterday, something I almost always do.  There just weren't enough hours yesterday.......

2011 Journal Quilt 9

In one of the drawers was a little plastic bag of paper pieced squares.  I knew they were made at least 15 years ago.  In the early to mid 1990's everyone was collecting show pins, guild pins, anything quilt related pins.  There was a pattern for a vest that you could make with squares to put all of the pins on and wear them to a quilt show or guild meeting.  I'm not sure if this block was meant for a vest or a wall hanging, but I never finished making the blocks.  Fortunately I had just enough to cover my 8.5" x 11" Journal Quilt.

I still have a little pile of the papers to piece on, but they will probably get turned over and be used for scratch paper now.

Miscellany again.........

There were inquiries about what do I 'do' with the journal quilts.  For me it is the process of making them, the learning and surprises as I am making them, and my growth as an artist that is most important.  The product is pretty to look at though and I remembered I had this basket that was my mother's when I was a child.  I think it will hold about 40 or more of them and I think it would be nice on my coffee table.  It would be a conversation starter for some guests; others would look at it with that 'what are those?' look on their face, afraid to ask.  I'm a little bit of a rebel and challenger when it comes to guests in my house.  A lot of people don't why I have 9 wallhangings on my walls.  That's OK and I don't have to justify why I don't buy generic pictures to hang there instead.

I finished a third tote so the pile is growing.

This programmed machine embroidery is for another water bottle cozy.  I need to make a few more cozies while the construction is fresh on my mind.

By the way, if your name is 'anonymous' and you have a question for me, there is an email link on my right side bar.  I can't answer your questions otherwise.

Time to reorganize.........

This is the view from my chair looking at the top of my sewing cabinet.  After a week or 3 classes (plus prep work), a birthday party for a relative, a day of prep and then attending church sewing circle, and then yesterday the Quilts of Valor sew in,  I'm ready to stay home and reorganize.  It was like a race moving from one thing to the next.

I began clearing the cabinet top last night and started with the easy things, like this pile of 3 fabrics that I like together, that has been piled for over a year and moved from one spot to another.  I got about a third of the top cleaned off.  Today I have to go pay Dad's rent, grocery shop, and then hopefully stay home until my brother and I go over to Dad's tonight.

Water Bottle Cozy Tutorial

Measure around the fattest part of your water bottle and add
1 ¼” – 1 ½”. Figure the height measurement (your choice for how much of the bottle you want covered).

Make patchwork, embroidery, etc. to match your measurements. Iron to fusible batting or use spray to adhere them together. Fuse or spray baste this to a piece of fabric for lining that is about 1” larger around all edges.

Place the ¾” line on your ruler along the edge of the patchwork and trim with your rotary cutter. This leaves an edge you can wrap to the front for binding.

Bring the edge of the lining up to the edge of the patchwork and then fold in once more. Make mitered folds at the corners and topstitch close to the folded edge. The photos below show it in detail.

Fold up to the edge...

Fold again up over edge of patchwork...

Fold a diagonal, making sure it is straight...

Fold into the edge of patchwork...

Fold a second time over the edge of the patchwork.  Each bottom edge must be folded into the miter as you are approaching it.  Make sure you stop about 2" back so you have room to do the folding.  If you finish the right side stitching and try to fold the miter as you get to the corner, your presser foot will bump it back and you will have to refold again.  By folding the bottom edge and corner and then finishing the folding of the side edge, you will not have any problems.  This puts the side fold on top of the bottom one and there is nothing to bump into with your foot.

If desired you can quilt it at this point if it wasn’t quilted prior to assembly. It doesn’t have to be quilted (your choice).

Sew Velcro on the ends, the hook portion on the lining side and the loop portion on top of the cozy.  I only sew 3 sides of the hook tape in place so I won't have a line of stitching showing on the patchwork.