Today’s post is informative, but brief, as Carole has posted all the details for this project on her website.

Carole, at From my Carolina Home, is organizing a quilting project for those who were hardest hit by hurricane Florence this month.  The blocks are scrappy, feature  jewel or earth tones, are surprisingly versatile 9 patch blocks, and in a word – beautiful!

She is accepting 12 1/2 inch blocks, whole quilt tops (queen sized) or finished quilts.

If you are moved to help please visit Carole on her blog  to read all the particulars and to get your copy of the block directions as well as where they are to be sent .

You will find all of her information here:

Carolina Hurricane Quilts

Thank you!

 

The title says it all.  I have been very busy repairing, making and finishing.

REPAIRING

My purse/backpack which was coming apart on the upper left corner.

I used 40-year-old fishing line that I collected somewhere along the way from my family. 

The stitching went into the old holes, but I had to back track to get a continuous looking line of stitching.  I then used a suture knot on the inside to tie it off.  For your interest; these are very good knots for quilters who hand tie their work.  The extra twist locks the thread so it stays put while you finish the tying.  Oh yes, and no need to ask for someone’s finger, because the knot is good for package tying too!

LINK:  Not to worry;  it’s only thread and diagrams.

REWEAVING

Bob’s Moreno wool socks

The toes go first, note the repairs on the two laid out, and then the heels.  This one may be too far gone, but at the price of Moreno socks I will give it a try!

MAKING

You saw these doll quilts/table toppers in a previous post but here is a closer and clearer look. 

Every once in a while I lose my mind and do a bit of hand quilting. 

This one was small and I took lots of breaks to save my eyes from strain.

FINISHING

Nope, not done – yet.

Machine quilted straight line and stitch in the ditch

I had to go Frogging on this one twice!  First on the center blocks because I let intuition take over instead of referencing the pattern.  I was so proud of my work until I looked back at the pattern picture and realized it bore no resemblance to the original!  And again when I realized that two setting blocks, one each on the  center sides of the bottom, were sewn incorrectly.  I think I saved its looks by picking the stitches to release the seam and pressing it to the outside.  I then restitched and quilted just to the outside corners of the blocks. This one is waiting for the fabric I had to order for the binding.  It may be here today!

OK, back to work, but before I leave I will mention that I am joining up with Carla of Granny Maud’s Girl  in the Bee Myself and I group.  They post progress at the end of the month on projects that are made just for themselves.  It gives us permission to be just a bit selfish and make for ourselves and not everyone else.  Feeling guilty about making if it isn’t for someone else or for sale is really stifling to the creative process sometimes.

~*~   V@_

CREDITS:  Mini quilt patterns are from the Temecula Quilt Co. in Temecula, California.  The line is “Mini a Month – 2018”.  For those interested, there will be a new set available for 2019.

 

When I was a teen and wanted to learn to drive my father made me his “gopher” and taught me how to change a tire, the oil, and other necessary skills to keep my car running healthy.  These were the direct teaching he gave me, but there were many other observed lessons in just watching him work for others.

My best memory is of him taking two wrecked Porsche bodies and removing the front from one, and the tail from another, then putting them together to make a whole and attaching it onto his friends frame.  Much sanding, painting, buffing, painting, etcetera went into the remake of his friend’s Porsche.

When he was done his friend was very pleased and dubbed the car his Glazed Tomato!  It was very red, and very shiny.

So why am I talking about this?

Because this morning I happened upon the following 29 minute video about the finishing process this fella went through to make his car as smooth and shiny as the Glazed Tomato.  WOW!  All those tools, all that fancy new miraculous tech and coatings to make his car look as good as my dad did by hand in his garage at home.

I think it is safe to say my dad didn’t get paid enough for all his attention to detail.

Having been ill with the walking pneumonia  for a couple of weeks has left me weak and unable (make that scared to go out in public with all the FLU in the air) to get out.

So what to do for a Valentines card for Bob?

Make it.

With what?

Scraps of course!

Digging into my scrap drawer for red, white and black fabric scraps, I cut, sewed and then stitched this together.  I then added a few vintage mother of pearl buttons to it for flair.  I thought it could have been neater, but Bob said it wouldn’t have looked right if I had made it perfect.

Glad he liked it. 🙂

Please visit to see these other fine submissions:

Kate , Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn,  Lynda (me),
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan, Karen,
Moira, Sandra, Linda, Chris and  Nancy