Cheaper rotary blades???

Have you heard about L.P. Sharp Company?

Located in Gilman, Minnesota, they offer a reduced price on both Olfa brand and generic brand blades. They carry different sizes and when you exchange your old dull blades for new ones, their rate is better yet.

So contact L.P. Sharp at www.houseofhanson.com/lpsharp.html and tell 'em Gypsy sent ya.

Quick Update

Just a quick post before I'm off to work.
If you need to make your hourglass block bigger, go up 1" on your beginning block size. For instance, if you want you hourglass square to be 4", start with a 5" square of light and dark fabric.
If you want your hourglass square to be 5", start with a 6" square of light and dark fabric. You get the idea.

Don't forget to share pictures of your final quilt.

Hourglass Quilt

To begin your hourglass quilt, you will need 4" squares, 1 dark and 1 light.

From each dark/light block combination you will get 2 finished hourglass blocks, in other words, 2 sets. You can use both sets in your quilt or work with a friend and trade half of your blocks or maybe make 2 quilts.

Picture #1
To begin, place a light and dark 4" square right sides together.
On the darker square, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner using a Pilot brand fine point black pen. (Pilot brand does not

bleed.)

Stay away from pens that promise their ink will disappear. It does not, but more on that later on.

Picture #2

Using the continuous piecing method, sew a 1/4" seam on each side of the drawn black line using a size 10 or 12 to-the-inch stitch.

Once a seam is sewn on to each side of the black line, cut along the black line. You now have 2 half square triangles (or HST).

Next you will press each HST open making sure the dark side of the seam is pressed towards the dark fabric triangle. Do not press the seam open as it weakens the seam.

Picture #3
Lay out HST #1 with the dark triangle towards the top left.

Right sides together, place the second HST (in the same color grouping) with the darker triangle on the bottom right. Slide them together until the seam lines come together, but do not overlap. It must be a snug fit.

Using the same Pilot pen, draw a line diagonally from corner to corner, this time from the light triangle point to the dark triangle point.

Picture #4

Pin if necesary and sew a 1/4" seam along each side of the drawn line. Cut apart on drawn line.

Picture #5

Press open to see your hourglass block.

Trim square by placing the diagonal line of your ruler on the center diagonal of the block. Be sure to align the 1-1/2" mark in the very middle of the block in order to trim the first 2 sides. If you don't square up from the center out, your block will be off-kilter.

Blocks will finish at 3" square trimmed, and 2-1/2" square sewn.
In order to determine how big you want to make your quilt divide
width and length of required size by 2.5".

For instance, if my quilt needed to be 25" x 35" before adding borders, it would be 10 blocks wide by 14 blocks long. (I tend to make them the size I like and then add borders.)

Good luck and happy sewing.

Pennies From Heaven

I don't know about you all, but I simply adore packages. That has not changed from the very first time I went off to college and ordered seed catalogs (they were actually free then) from every vendor who offered one just so I would get mail.

I met one of my dearest friends when I walked in to class after lunch with a package. Inside, amongst other things, was a postcard of a lilac bush. A very quiet, shy classmate named GB was sitting next to me and said, "I like lilacs." I gave her the card and we've been pals ever since. And yes, she grows lilacs.

I've been amazed and blessed in my life's journey with the friends I've met along the way. A few days ago, I managed to wander out to my mailbox (it's 1/2 mile from the house) and I discovered another lovely package full of wondrous treasures from a new friend. Such excitement, such trepidation!!!! Could it be fabric? Is it fabric? Who knows me so well that they would send me FABRIC!!!!

And not just any fabric, but well loved pieces from a time gone by including the most wondrous turtle block. As you can see, it was fashioned by a most creative hand. Ohhh, such a lovely gift. Such a lovely new friend.

Thank you Finn.

Crumb Cake

Thanks to Patti over at "Quilting Is My Passion" and her lovely tutorial, I dove right in and used up about ohh, say 1/2 teaspoon of the 37 gallon bucket of my string stash.

I knew I was saving the left over ends from my 2" strips for a good cause (well okay it seemed like a good idea at the time). And when they were assembled in to a vertical chain, it made a lovely spacer to a totally chaotic wall quilt.

For those who've known me a long time, you know this is totally out of my "comfort zone." However, I think it's good to go beyond our boundaries once in awhile.

The Mile-A-Minute blocks are trimmed down to 6-1/2". The vertical spacer chains are 2" wide.

I was so caught up in this project I made 10 extra 6-1/2" blocks. Which, I have decided, should be the ingredients for someone else's "Crumb Cake."

So, if you leave a comment to that effect on this post, I'll pick a winner from the list of names and mail you the 10 blocks within the next 63 days. The contest ends at midnight on Wednesday, August 15th, East Coast / USA time.

Here is Patti's post so you can join in the fun.

htttp://quiltingisstillmypassion.blogspot.com/2007/07/mile-minute-blocks-photo-tutorial.html
Until then, keep stitchin' . . . . . . .

Free Patterns?

Did you know that if you log on to the fabric manufacturing sites, many of them offer free patterns. Of course, these are created to promote their new product lines. But hey, that's okay as it lets me see new fabric at the same time.

http://www.robertkaufman.com/

http://www.baumtextile.com/index.shtml

http://www.andoverfabrics.com/

Cool and Breezy and Easy

LEMONADE PIE

1 (6-ounce) container frozen lemonade concentrate
1 medium container Cool Whip
1 can sweetened consensed milk (fat free is fine)
1 baked pie crust or ready-made shortbread pie crust

Combine lemonade concentrate, Cool Whip, and condensed milk. Place in to pie crust. Place in freezer. Thaw 10 minutes before serving.

Friend's birthday coming up? Better make two. Enjoy! . . . . .

One-Patch Wonders

In 1985, I had the good fortune to attend a class taught by Harriet Hargrave.

At the time, little did I know that one sentence she stated would influence my quilting style from that point on.

The discussion was in regards to scrap quilts, building your stash, etc. Harriet remarked, "Decide on your favorite strip size, then cut and save an extra strip for future projects." (Ok Harriet, if I did not get it exactly please forgive me, but after all, it has been 22 years.)

My favorite strip size is 2". And yes, I'm still saving them. From them, I cut 2" squares. Simply by choosing 2 colors, you can create simple, cheerful whimsies for your dolls, your walls, or your friends. They can be shared on birthdays, rainy days, Saturdays, or just to send a hug to someone in need of one.

They don't take long to make, but the joy with which they are given is priceless.

Now don't thank me, thank Harriet.

http://www.harriethargrave.com/

A Tisket, A Tasket . . . .

Utilizing vertical space can be your best option in a small room. This idea is very simple to incorporate. It goes up quickly, comes down quickly, and does not require expensive materials.

The 4 baskets to the right were purchased at Three Crowns Antiques in Newnan, Georgia many years ago. They are English market baskets, made of willow, and very sturdy. (I've no idea if the store is still there and if so, whether they would carry the baskets.) The 2 on the left I've had for quite awhile, aren't nearly as sturdy, and therefore hold lighter items. As you can see, they are filled with my "baggie projects" still in progress.

The "S" hooks were custom made for me by a friend who is a blacksmith, but you can also find them in some specialty kitchen stores that carry pot hooks.

The "pole" is actually the handle of a heavy duty garden rake. You can also use a thick wooden broom handle or a 1-inch closet dowel.

In order to hang it, I purchased a length of chain, 2 U-bolts with bar, and 4 nuts. The U-bolts slid over each end; U section on top, bar on bottom enclosing the pole. Then nuts were tightened with a wrench on each threaded end, first making sure the chain was threaded through the top of the bolt. The chain was then hung on hooks screwed in to the rafters.

When living in an apartment with a drywall ceiling, it's possible to insert heavy-duty plant hangers in to the ceiling without losing your security deposit. First measure the distance between the hanging chain on the pole and set your plant hangers that distance apart. However, when working with plant hangers, it's best to put a much lighter load in the baskets. Sheetrock is only so strong after all. :0)

If you utilize this idea, let me know how it works out for you. I'd love to see a picture.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . . .

Free Fabric?

Did you know . . . . that if you log on to http://www.marcusbrothers.com/features/tips.html

you can share a quilting tip. If they list it, you win 5 free fat quarters. It takes awhile for them to arrive. So long, that by the time they did, I had completely forgotten what tip I had submitted. Good luck!

Until then, keep stitchin'!

"Deputy, cordon off the perimeter."

I could not refrain from using a quote from J.D. Rob's character, Eve Dallas.

As promised a quick review on creating a studio. (Well as brief as I can manage.)

In order to separate my work space from the rest of the basement I bought 5 rolls of plastic sheeting and proceeded to tack them to the rafters. (Remember everything has to come back down.) The plastic allows me to heat the space more efficiently and it keeps the dust down. The carpet had been moved in first thing.

High grade extension cords had to be threaded along the ceiling using tea-cup hooks from the electrical outlets on the other side of the basement. I have a healthy respect for electricity. At one time I worked for a major electric company typing safety manuals they used to train their employees. One could say I'm overly cautious about safety; however, I don't believe you can ever be too careful about such things.

Two trips to the thrift store during their "fill a bag for $3.00" sale garnered enough flat white sheets and tableclothes to line 2 gray cinderblock walls. I'm sure you know that white reflects light best.

I purchased my shop lights at Wal-Mart along with daylight bulbs. The bulbs were the most expensive item in this venture. One light hangs above the sewing table and another above the cutting table. They plug in to a ceiling fixture that was in place.

Notice that my sewing table, ironing board, and cutting table form a work triangle (It took me years to figure this out). This is how they design kitchens (fridge, stove, sink). The closer they are together, the less time I spend moving from place to place.

Further down you'll notice the Amish quilt and log cabin quilt are pinned to my portable design wall. (Everything I build is portable.) These were made using paneling that was painted on the back to prevent splinters. To the front, using caulking glue, I attached a full size sheet of blue core board insulation, off-set by 2" on the top and 1 side to allow room for screwing in to a wall. They were then covered in thin cotton batting (which I had on hand) and another layer of thin polyester batting, the cheap stuff. Some folks use flannel as a covering after gluing their insulation board directly to a wall.

Since I couldn't screw these in to cement, I attached a small piece of 2 x 4 to the top back, screwed in eye bolts on to the top of the 2 x 4's and hung them with chain attached to rafter hooks. Yes they swing back and forth if nudged, but hey, they work for me. And no, I did not do all of this alone. A dear friend assisted some of the initial set up. It took me about 4 months from start to finish, but I also painted all of my shelves and cutting table. Paint gives everything a fresh start.

It's been a very, very long day so I'll say goodnight for now.

Until then, keep stitchin'

Translation

My shift leader and I were having a wacky discussion last night about communication within families. I told her that if you can talk to your teenage children and they understand you, then you are bilingual. If both your husband and your children understand you, then you must be trilingual. (Anybody who works night shift understands goofy jokes at 4 in the morning.)

This led me to consider the fact that not everyone knows about Babel Fish. http://babelfish.altavista.com/

Babel Fish allows you to type in a message and then translate to another language. Or if you receive a message in a second language, you copy it in and then translate it to your language. It's not 100% perfect, but you'll get the gist of it.

More quilt related adventures to come. Until then, keep stitchin' . . . . .

Close up shot - Kitchen Sink #1

I'm learning to play with Picasa2, which was a free download. (Thanks Bonnie.)

This picture is dedicated to Mr. Toooolbucket who requested a close-up.

I promise more fun and adventure on studio set-up later on in the day.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . . .

Space, The Final Frontier

Anyone can build rectangle shelving units. Even if you don't own or operate a tablesaw or know anyone who owns and operates a tablesaw. I built mine back in 1993 when I lived in an awful efficiency apartment in Riverdale, Georgia for 11 months. Thank goodness, both the shelves and I survived.

All you need is a nearby Home Depot type of store and a screw driver or portable drill. Well, and the gas to get there, but we won't talk about that. You'll want to go to their pre-cut lumber section. You're looking for Grade D (yes lumber comes in grades) white pine that is 48" long and 12" wide. Buy 3 of them for each shelf unit. You shop for lumber the same way you shop for fabric. Look for clear boards with few knotholes and no warping. If you just won the lottery and feel like going for Grade A, that's up to you. Personally, I like to paint mine so grade D is just fine.

Ask the kindly tablesaw operator at Home Depot to cut 1 of the 4-foot boards in to 3 - 15" long pieces. The first 2 cuts should be free. The third one is probably still 50 cents.

You'll need wood screws to assemble. Nails just won't do it. I've no idea what size, but someone at the store will know. Too big a screw will split the wood and too small a screw will not hold it together, so yes, size is important.

Using #1 - 4 ft board, draw a center line with pencil across the width (not length) of the board. Repeat for 4 ft board #2. Using a portable drill with a drill bit (bit must be smaller than the screw size - trust me on this), drill 3 small holes equidistant along the pencil line. Repeat for board #2.

Align the 12" x 15" spacer board directly under the predrilled holes of board #1 and drill in wood screws about 1/2 way down. Lay that board flat on the ground and place second long board on top of spacer piece. Repeat step. You now have a big H. Place the remaining 12" x 15" boards on each end of the H and screw half way down on each end and each side. Once all spacer boards are in place and evenly aligned, finish setting screws flush with the top. Take your time. Paint if desired.

CAUTION: If you make more than 1 stack and there are kitties or toddlers in the house (prone to jumping and bumping), they need to be screwed together and then to the wall. Mine have never toppled, as they are weighted down and very sturdy; however, there are no kitties or toddlers here.

Kitchen Sink, #1

Thank you so much Mary for your kind assistance with my header. Unfortunately, the blog elves will not allow me to list my title also.

This picture is for those of you wanting to see the entire quilt. The title is Kitchen Sink, #1 in the series.

The 4-patches are made with 2" squares, then trimmed down to 3-1/4". The light and dark fabrics consist of many donated, old, very ugly, or otherwise unloved fabric. For fun, I threw in any leftover blocks that could be trimmed down to 3-1/4". It is backed in flannel that I bought through the Hancocks of Paducah catalog about 5 years ago. If you make a kitchen sink of your own, I would love to see a picture of it. It's a very liberating pattern because you throw in, "everything but the kitchen sink."

In stitches . . . .

Setting Up

Through the years, many folks have asked me how I arrange my work space.

When I lived in Georgia, I moved 8 times in 12 years and got very good at setting up my work space quickly. This was often due to the fact that I was moving on a Saturday and teaching on a Monday. I taught in a minimum of 3 quilt shops back then and had to be able to locate all of my needed supplies.

My current residence required a bit more thought. I knew when I rented this small house it would not be for a long duration; therefore, everything that went up, had to come down very quickly. Electrical outlets were at a minimum, as well as sufficient lighting. For an even greater challange, I decided to keep set up under $100.00.

Throughout the next few days, I'll explain the process step by step.

until then, keep stitchin'!

Welcome To My World

I am so very excited to be joining the World Wide Quilt Guild. Yes, I've been promising that as soon as my studio was cleaned up, I would begin my blog. The nice thing about working in a basement is being able to move the unwanted items to the other side of the room, out of site.

I've so enjoyed the wonderful pictures and stories my fellow quilters are generous enough to share. I'm looking forward to meeting many new stitchin' pals in the days ahead.

Thank you Finn and Bonnie for your kindly assistance. Eventually I'll get the hang of how to set up and edit.

(You'll notice my pal Bonnie, the Princess Puppy guarding the stash. It's nice to finally have a quilting space big enough to fit my dog too. )

Until next time. Keep stitchin'!