Scrap Happy: needful things

June 14, 201828 Comments

Posted a day early for June 15, 2015

It is that time of the month for using up scraps and making something fun and/or usable!

It is Scrap Happy Time

These fabric scraps were strip pieced and the resulting new cloth was then cut on the diagonal. Next I used it to practice my free motion machine quilting… I have no skill so there will be many more small items made in my future (pot holders, mug rugs, coasters and more). I want to get this talent mastered! However, I was frustrated when I got my mini quilt assembled, and then had to let it sit for two months til I could find my sewing machine. It actually wasn’t lost, but it definitely was not set up for me to use and I surely didn’t have the time. Today I made the time to turn the little mini quilt into a case…

Not a glasses case but the contents certainly help me to see!

This case holds a magnifying lens so I can read the fine print when shopping without blowing my vision out. Close work and fine print cause my eyes to go fuzzy and as time goes by it happens more quickly and lasts much longer.

So, the case holds the lens in my purse and prevents it from getting scratched. My magnifier is at the ready for price tags, product contents and instructions, etc.

That strange reflection is only one light, but oddly it is triplicated on the lens surface.

Now I don’t have to be embarrassed by asking other shoppers to read for me. 😉

At home I have two very powerful magnifying ring lights, one stationed at the machine and the other on my cutting table. For reading my Kindle tablet enlarges the text quite nicely to avoid eye strain. My eye Doctor doesn’t seem to find anything to worry about in this situation, but I truly do worry about it. What if it becomes permanent?

Please do visit these other lovely quilters and see what fun items they have made!

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

Process Pledge: the gift

February 13, 201712 Comments

Keeping busy!

Still working on the coat muslin but taking a break to get back on that gift for my Sister-in-law. It is taking an age because I have to work under this…

I do it because if I don’t my eyes go fuzzy in the middle of my vision and then I can’t see much at all for an hour. So as it goes, I work for an hour (the most I can do even with the ring light) and then go on to something that doesn’t require fine vision. It’s doable and I still get to have fun working!

❤ ❤ ❤ I will get this done Kathee! ❤ ❤ ❤

~*~

What? You want to see more? Sorry, gonna have to wait till it’s done and received on the other end. Don’t want to give it all away too soon. 😉

~*~

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The new coat begins!

January 11, 2017January 11, 201734 Comments

I finally have all my parts to begin construction on a new wool coat.

I am excited to jump in and just start cutting, but because I am 63 and no longer very aware of my body shape… I will start with a muslin, to get the right fit, before I cut the pattern out or take scissors to Wool. I can’t remember the last time I made clothes for myself. Perhaps it was as far back as my wedding dress?

I was very excited to be able to order my wool Melton from Mood Fabrics with a discount of 60% off! Otherwise the fabric alone would have set me back over $150.00.

I will begin the measurement taking and start the muslin process on Friday.

~*~

Do you sew?

If so, do you make a muslin first or just dive right in?

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I make no resolutions

January 6, 2017January 6, 201729 Comments

Starting 2017 fresh and debt free has awakened a sleeping desire to create. Over the past few years I have come to my studio pulled things out, put them back; started some projects and left them lay…

Until I was just as depressed as before I started and now awash in fabric which had lost it’s meaning.

Previously I had taken the “*Process Pledge” and wanted to share with you what I was doing and how I was getting it done. However, my old nemesis Depression and his side kick Lack of Funds found me not able to function as I had intended. I needed a do over!

”The

The first step in this re-boot is to clean up, sort out what I have, and then finish a gift that is now overdue to my lovely Sister-in-law and a teal block for my friend Kate in Australia who sews them together, quilts them, and then donates them for Ovarian Cancer.

My steps:

Complete the gift for my SIL and the Teal block for Kate
Make a wool coat for me which is a lofty ambition, but I have my fabric and my lovely pattern. I will enjoy this even if it is slow work.
After practicing on me I look forward to a couple of fun coats for my Etsy shop. I have a vision of what I want to create and will be drawing it out before I tackle the fabrics!
Just keep creating and sharing my progress!

A journey begins with the first step and forward momentum takes it from there

I believe this. So, no resolutions, just a call to creativity for myself and then share the process and progress along the way! The projects will get done when they get done. Knowing this when I start means there will be no pressure and no deadline.