6 More

I completed another 6 and I may have an idea where this is going. So far these blocks have been fun and they have helped me relax and just do something for myself. There are no deadline and the only person I need to please, is myself. Maybe if I finish these, I'll actually have something to put in my own quilt show (the one I'm in charge of). The job has me so worried about doing my best, that I hadn't taken time to think about the quilts yet. So cross your fingers for me that this quilt will be completed by October.
I took the blocks and laid them on my bed to get an idea of how many I needed to make. I left them there for most of the day. I would find myself gazing at them. I really like them against the all red background.
Simplicity at it's best. I am just loving the reds, maybe I'm bias. But it already looks good on my bed and it matches the red work pillow, I wouldn't need or want to change anything.

Today I need to get back to the "dress". There are a few things (buttonholes) that I need to finish up. So time to change my thread and get to work.

Take care, Brandie

Another 6 Schoolhouses

I think I may have my mojo back. I finished another 6 blocks! I'm moving right along, even if I have no plans on how to finish. These pictures are all pre-trimmed. (Sorry for the turned corners) I will have some duplicate houses made from some of my favorite reds.
We did see the sun yesterday and I even had to open some windows. I have so looked forward to that! The smell of sunshine is so much nicer than mud. We already have some sun today and the weatherman says that we will reach the 80's by the end of this week. Hurray!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Take care, Brandie

Is it Spring?

This weekend there was 22 feet of snow reported in Donners Pass. This is what 22 feet of snow on an interstate look like. Yuck! With snow this high, it's easy to see how the tragedy in history happened. If you don't know your California history, click the link and be surprised by what you'll learn.

This happened 2 and 1/2 hours away from me. And here I was complaining about the rain. Shame on me!
On the sewing front...
Remember these antique blocks? I finally got them quilted. That's one from the UFO basket. Now I'll have one more for a future granddaughter. I feel a bit better about myself now. I'm going to blame the rain for my lack of production.
Yesterday we had a little sunshine! Hurray! That little bit helped. They say we are to have more today, but I don't see any, but I not going to complain!

Time for some housework and maybe a few more SH blocks.

Take care, Brandie

Schoolhouses 101

Today we are going to start our own little red and white quilt blocks. If you are lucky enough to see the show in New York, show us pictures. If you are like me and want to go but are stuck in the wrong state, make your own red and white quilt.

So here we go... Warning, I'm not a professional, so make a test block first.
These are the few blocks I finished up this weekend. Notice anything wrong, neither didn't I till I looked at this pic.
I have an upside-down door and windows. Don't do this yourselves! I've already made the mistake, so hopefully you all are in the clear. Keeping my fingers crossed!
1. Chimney

from your background, cut 2 Q's 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 O 2 1/2 x 4

house color 2 P's 2 1/2 x 2 1/4
2. Roof (this is were it gets tricky. The original pattern had templates, so I modified them so we can all use our rulers on the 45 degree and get almost the same results, hopefully)

from the background cut 1 square at 3 1/2. Now cut it at a diagonal for piece D

also cut a 1 1/4 strip for B, this can be trim later, I cut mine at about 6 inches and sewed it done before trimming.

from the house fabric, cut another square at 4 1/2 x 4 1/2, then diagonally again for C.

cut a strip of house fabric at 3 1/4, cut the end at a 45 degree and then measure and make 6 1/2 and cut at a 45 again. both sides should measure 6 1/2. Hope that makes some sense
3. Windows

background, N 1 1/4 x 6 1/4

windows, J 2 @ 1 3/4 x 3 3/4

house, K 2 @ 1 1/2 x 3 3/4

house, I 1 3/4 x 3 3/4

house, L 1 3/4 x 6 1/4

house, M 1 1/2 x 6 1/4
4. Door

background, H 1 /14 x 6 3/4

door, E 2 x 5 1/2

house, G 1 3/4 x 5 1/2

house, F 2 @ 2 1/4 x 5 1/2
Next join the window unit to the door unit.
Then take all the units and join them.

Good luck and let me know if I missed anything or if you just need help.

Take care, Brandie

I Staked a Vampire and Look What I Accomplished

Yesterday the weather was trying to work against me. We had really high winds and big fat rain drops. You all know I don't like snow, but I have to tell you, I'd rather have snow that 30 mph winds! I am very fearful of winds. That might be because Paradise is covered in trees. It might be because I was watching 2 huge trees kiss the house over and over yesterday.

Cousin Linda lives a door away and we have tried to convince each other that walnut trees and cedar don't uproot (which is what we mostly have in our yards).

I miss the sun. It was only a couple of weeks ago that I was outside in short sleeves and flip-flops. For weeks now, my yard has been water logged. I have planters that are so full of water, they can't drain as fast as the rain falls. I feel like a bath tub raisin. I need some vitamin D. You all know how pale I am (not that I would sunbathe), I just need to see some rays of light.

I may have to travel...

But that ain't going to happen today, so... on with the schoolhouses.

Between the power outages, I managed to get some things done. I cut out about 16 SH blocks. I have all the pieces labeled and I'm ready for production.
Block 1. It sure looks uneven in the picture! I'm going to have to measure that up and see if it is the camera or me. All the blocks will have the same background, roof, door and windows. But all the SH will be different reds. These are 11 1/2 inch blocks and I still don't have a clue how I will put them all together.
Between one of the power flashes, I also managed to get a few blocks done for our guild meeting. Maybe my mojo is back?! They aren't to pretty together, but they wanted spring colors and these were all scraps, so no fabric was harmed in the process.
Because I had the scrap boxes out, I also made up a few hexies. I going to exchange them with my fabric pen-pal. I sure hope she like pink, cause thats the box I opened first!
So today I'm back at the machine to do another SH block. There's no wind and the power is on. I have no excuses!

My blogging buddy Ranette has suggested that I have a SH quilt along. Monday I will post some modified instructions for those who want to participate. Some gather up some reds or whatever color use want to use and come back Monday.

Take care, Brandie

Have a wonderful weekend...

Bucket list quilt

OK, I'm going to do it, start a new project that is. I figure I'm not hurting anybody and that the only one with remorse is me. The rules are only in my head. If I can only get over my guilt of not finishing my UFOs. I know that I won't entirely forget about them, they will just have to wait for the right day and that is today!

So on to my new project.

Last year, when we had that crazy canned pumpkin shortage. My good blogging buddy Ranette, sent me several cans of pumpkin and this beautiful red schoolhouse card. I don't think she was aware of my love and obsession with that block. In this pic you also see a book devoted to schoolhouses. If you look closely, you can see a bunch of papers sticking out of the book. Those are all photocopies of schoolhouse blocks I've been collecting.
So I did it. I gathered up all the reds that I have been saving and collecting just for these blocks. As time has gone by, I've learned to appreciate scrappy quilts and actually long to make them. So some of these reds will work and some may not... but time will tell.
Inside the book there are a number of blocks I wouldn't use, but I love that someone did.

Anyone out there want to make a modern "ranch adobe" house?
Of course there are the old styles done together.
Don't you just love the log cabin surrounded by log cabins?

I love this too, but I'm going to stick with a basic block. After that... I'll figure that out as I go.

I'm not going to beat myself up about the UFOs, I'm just going to try to relax and have some fun on my own time. So please don't be upset if I only get 1 block done a day. My ho-hum-ness needs to warm up. I'm hoping those reds warm it right up!

Take care, Brandie

Pincushion Fingers

Oh my poor fingers! I have poked them over and over again. 16 hooks and 16 eyes later, I believe I'm done. Want to see? (Please ignore Antoinette"s under garments, she just needed a little more padding)

The neck line has been finished. A bit of lace and more piping.
The sleeves are buttoned in to the outer sleeves, minus the buttonholes. I feel that I don't need to bother with putting in buttonholes, because no one is going to take the sleeves out.
The lining is all finished and nicely hides all the seams and all the ugly parts (boning) that no one needs to see.

The cotton bodice fabric was layered with a heavy denim to keep it's shape. Then lined with everyday muslin. The bodice has a nice weight to it and it stiff enough to stay in place on the body.
The front of the bodice and it's nice point. This took the most time, just to get it right.
This has taken me more time than I realized and I'm wanting to start something new.

Would you start something new if you had a pile of UFOs?

How do you get your quilting mojo back? I'm in a quilting funk and don't feel like myself...

Any advice is welcome.

Take care, Brandie