Just when I think life cant get any busier. It gets busier. Big changes on Ms. Darla's site, doctors office visits (5 casts in 5 weeks...geez!), long work hours for S, laundry, cooking, reorganizing closets and more. But Im still here. Thank you Lori for taking the time to email me and ask. It is nice to be missed. I don't have much time to post as my to do list is longer than a legal sized sheet of paper, but thought I would quickly share just a few things.
I've started my first quilt! And I am really excited about it. I've decided to start small with a baby quilt patterned after one in the Denyse Schmidt book. But in true "me" fashion, I'm not following the pattern. Im just eyeballing it as I go. This usually works for me on most projects, but the sewing fairies are whispering in my ear that quilting might be a tad different. I'll keep you posted on that.
The fabric is from some of the stash I swiped from Grammer Shirley last summer. The colors are mostly pinks, yellows and greens and when completed will be mailed off to Texas to a new baby that will be joining the family in February. My cousin and his wife will be welcoming their first baby (a girl) who I think will be named Virginia Grace. Don't you just love all of the traditional names that are coming back in vogue? I do.
And that little piece of machinery doing the hard work is my Grandmother Florence's 1950s Singer Stylist 534. I have to admit that it sat patiently in the closet for many years, only being brought out when my mother visited to make throw pillows and curtains. Only now does it have a permanent place to be. I like this sewing machine for many reasons...it it simple and I love that if it breaks I know how to fix it for the most part. I also love it for the basic reason that my grandmother used it. Many doll clothes and itchy-necked Christmas pajamas were sewn on this exact machine and I guess it is a way to continue to connect to a woman that I dearly loved and still miss.
And many thanks for all of the comments and emails regarding the rag rug tutorial. Im so glad that so many of you are finding it helpful. I have spoken to my Grammer about the great response and she is thrilled too that so many young women are rediscovering repurposing and rug making. If you are making a rug, please post it on the flickr group. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.
More later (hopefully sooner than later). I am so behind on all of my blog reading.
P.S. If you are a quilter and have any good tips for a first timer, please share. My "eyeballing" can use all the help it can get.