2022 Tuesday To-Do #19: The Fung Shui Quilter

It's time for another Tuesday To-Do.

I'm sharing my progress and plans while

linking up with Linda, The Texas Quilt Gal

and all the other quilters out there who need

a little extra motivation and perhaps haven't

quite grown out of show-and-tell <wink>.

Last week's progress:

1) Finish both Christmas quilts

All That's Christmas I is a full finish.

(The lighting made the darker squares really

stand out; they don't so much in real life.)

Both quilts have the same cozy Christmas feel so

should be perfect for "home-y" holiday decorating.

I love that little pieced border!

(back of ATC II)

With less than 2 passes left on the larger version,

I ran out of thread as suspected so everything was

paused until UPS came to the rescue and I was able

to finish up the quilting. The binding and label will

have to be moved to next week's list.

 2) Hope for good picture-taking days.

I've had some great ones...just not when I was

available to take advantage of them.

Sigh.

3) Make post on labels

Done.

If you missed it, here it is:

"How I Label My Quilts" Tutorial

Please let me know your thoughts on how this

turned out.  (I don't do many tutorials.)

Moving on to next week, we're looking at a major holiday,

among other events around here so my to-do is more like

suggestions instead of concrete goals.

1) Bind and finish ATC II

2) Load next quilt?

3) Sew a few more blocks on Waves?

4) Start a new quilt?

I have everything picked out and fabric pulled.

Should I be starting another with so much to finish?

By my rules, absolutely not, but my mojo is waning

and I just know that excitement of a new project

 would fix me right up.  I'll keep working at the pile

of tops till it's gone--likely within weeks.

I need that peace of mind way too much.

I guess you could say I'm a fung shui quilter.

We are finally getting all the kids together for the first

time since last Christmas to celebrate the 4th along with

Mother's/Father's Day and my oldest daughter's

birthday (29!)...and another little surprise that I think I'll

hold off a bit on.  As usual, our whole foodie family

is pitching in with my oldest son taking on the main

main event--Taco Birria--and everyone else following

suit with the Mexican theme.   Taco Birria is similar to

the hub's amazing barbacoa so I'm really looking

forward to this.  (The recipe belongs to a housemate

so I cannot share it but Google has lots of results.)

The next day the Cadet will be heading

 out on the two-day road trip to get his Jeep up to

West Point. (Upperclassmen are allowed vehicles on post.)

His brother will be accompanying him (and flying back)

so I would appreciate prayers for this long journey

from Kansas to NY, and over a holiday weekend to boot.

Have a great week and happy quilting!

How I Label My Quilts (Gasp! A Rare Tutorial)

Hello and welcome to a special edition.

I've had a request for a little more info on

how I make my quilt labels so today I'm

sharing a quick tutorial on what is likely a

slightly different method than most quilters use.

I really enjoy hand-sewing but, at the risk of starting

a "by hand v. by machine" debate, I'm a huge fan of

machine-binding because it saves so much time.

Hours that can be spent on my next quilt!

I've done it for years now and it still amazes me,

all that time saved!  It was a simple step over to sewing

 the label down by machine as well, and then those

binding scraps just begged to be part of the show.

My Method for Quilt Labels

Important!

This step fits in after sewing the top of the

 binding on and before sewing down the back.

Supplies:

Lightweight fusible interfacing

Muslin

Excess binding from quilt

Tip:  To make this even more efficient, keep a stash of

supplies ready.  A pile of 6x6 muslin squares and

interfacing triangles (a scant 6x6" cut diagonally)

sits in my sewing cabinet at all times.   

To make a label, place the interfacing

along one side of the muslin as shown.

Fold the muslin over and press into a triangle,

fusing the interfacing down at the same time.

At this point, use your normal method of writing

your label info.  I use the basic embroidery on my

sewing machine.  First pressing in a vertical center

 line and then marking the horizontal lines with

disappearing ink for an orderly placement.

If you embroider also, it's best to do this on the

side of the interfacing, using it as a stabilizer.

Next grab that excess binding you are left with after

sewing the top part of your binding down.  If, by magic,

you had just enough and nothing left, go for some

other accent fabric in your quilt.

I like to make this strip thinner so when your binding

is still folded in half, trim to 7/8".  Open it up and

press each side in to the center.

(This is like making bias tape.)

Next, press your strip in half again,

making a narrow trim.

Opening it at the fold, slip the top of your triangle label

into the trim, placing it snugly up along that center fold.

Fold your trim back down over the label.

Wonder clip, or pin, into place and topstitch down.

Now we're ready to insert the label into the quilt.

When the top of my binding is sewn onto my quilt, I press

it down from the front, and again on the back as I fold it

into place and clip.  This really helps me keep things straight.

(*Showing a different quilt in the remaining pics)

When I'm pressing and clipping that binding down on

the back, I insert the label in a lower corner and clip well.

Especially at the far points of the label that didn't quite

get into the above pic--this is where it has the greatest

chance of slipping out as you move it to the machine.

The label will add a bit more bulk so grabbing this

section of the binding when sewing it down can be

a little tricky, especially if you like a narrow binding.

I always start sewing my binding down right here so

I remember to give it a little extra attention,

and perhaps a little tight pull if needed.

When I turn the corner, I flip the back over to

make sure things are off to a good start.

(Better to make any adjustments now!)

**Update**
I forgot to add that when gifting the quilt, you can

tuck a large tag with washing/care instructions

in the little "pocket" created by the label.

I rarely do tutorials so I hope this is clear.

I feel these labels go on so quickly and

have a nice professionally-finished look to them.

I hope you'll give 'em a try.  If you find you love them

as much as I do, please let me know and if they end

up on your blog, please give a link back here.

I would appreciate it!

Happy [faster] quilting!

2022 Tuesday To-Do #18: Where's The Slow Lane?

Hello, Do'ers and welcome to another week of doing.

Time to link up with Texas Quilt Gal and show our stuff.

How was everyone's week?

I've just finished writing up this week's post (below).

It has a real "out of breath" feeling to it, and the irony

is that Jimmy Buffet's "Slow Lane" just came up on

my playlist.  So, while you read it, it might be fun

to keep that in mind and have a good laugh.

I even linked it for you if you've never heard it

and/or want to listen in while you read.

You're welcome.

On to my last two weeks...

1) Quilt up Serenity

DONE

It's bound and labeled, too, so it's a complete finish!

I just need a good day for a photo shoot.

2) Make 5 wave blocks 

DONE

(Holding off on pics till I get a little farther along)

3) Make small items for longarm guild table

at quilt show

Not done.

I received a personal phone call requesting 10 items

(table toppers, etc) to be sold at the guild's table.

I want so badly to help out here, especially as a

new member, but even in the strongest moments

of my people-pleasing nature, I know I just can't.

I. Physically. Can't.

And I'd love to because I have some orphan blocks

that would be put to great use here.

Being one of the smallest words in our language,

it's amazing how hard it can be to say:

No.

There.  I did it.

Wow, I didn't expect this but now that I wrote that,

I feel it is completely the right thing to do.

3) Finish weeding garden paths

and prune tomatoes

DONE

Once upon a time, I could spend an entire day in the

garden.  Eventually we get too old for that stuff, right?

Now I set the timer on my phone, and when I'm done

I hop in the pool to cool off.  Let's face it:  weeding is

never really done till winter but I'm managing them.

By the way, I've had a request for a full garden pic.

Asparagus ferns in very front-left, and the pepper bed next.

A couple lost to storm/wind damage--no worries, still

have plenty.  Tomatoes, cabbages, eggplant, beans, onions,

carrots, beets, etc all in the back.  And the "forest".

I usually post lots of these but there are many reasons

I haven't this year, time being the main one.  Because it

has always been a major happy place, I usually keep the

garden in pretty tip-top shape.  This year I've only put a

fraction of my usual time in out there, and I've left three

beds completely empty.  In the far back of the pic you'll

see the result of my brilliant idea to let the volunteer dill

and sunflowers do their thing.  With all the rain, I couldn't

get in there anyway but then things got completely out of

control (and full of mosquitoes) so now now it's a forest.

I'm not touching it till we get a cool spell.  If that's fall

then so be it.  The chickens will enjoy the dill and 

sunflower seeds immensely.

The OCD side of me is shocked  this is going on;

the other side of me could care less.

The beds need re-done badly but because I am still

mulling over the design, there they sit.  I have put in

20 years of work into this space but now it's too big.
I don't want to take care of it all but I can't let go either.

 Maybe God will reveal the next step?  (I have been giving

some thought to growing and making our own whole

own whole-grain mustards but I need to research it.)

Random pic of hub's blackberries and grapes.

(And weeds.)

More random:  Fresh green beans have hit the table!

Yum! 

Sorry, not a lot of flow to this post today!  Just

another indicator of being pressed for time, I guess.

And I miss writing.  It calms me.  Someday soon.

Anyhoo...

With so much going on around here, I had to skip

last week's link-up.  Some of the main highlights

of the last two weeks:

* Cadet flew out for leadership training

*A sister visited

*The last harvest (more in a bit) happened

*Golfing 3-4 times per week, trying out drivers now

*Attended the Wichita Open

(top 25 qualify for the PGA, including the above 2)

*A family reunion

*Orthopedic dr sent me back to PT (more in a bit)

*Hedgehog sitting for my daughter

(They're cute but messy.  And prickly!)

*Quite a bit of quilting

So let's visit a couple of those, starting with the last

harvest.  There's a complicated matter I've been

handling for years that's now coming to an end.

As a result of that, I found myself watching the very

last harvest to take place on the last bit of ground

that's been in our family for over 120 years.

All those years.  And just like that, it was over.

It was a little like saying goodbye to my dad again.

I could've let myself get pretty emotional but...

well, change happens.  And a great pressure will

be lifted so there is a positive side to it at least.

Now for the "bonus" quilting I've been doing.

All That's Christmas is quilted and trimmed,

just awaiting binding.

The larger version, All That's Christmas II,

is about half-way quilted.  I'm praying the

thread I chose sees me through to the end.

It'll take a miracle.

Above, Serenity, All That's Christmas I & II.

Things are getting done!

Housekeeping

That subtitle makes it look like I might have actually

cleaned my house, but no--blog housekeeping.

One reader asked to see my book holder, minus the book.

I honestly can't remember where I purchased this but I

think it's more for holding pictures--which is what it was

doing before I stole it from another room in my home.

(Everything is fair game for the sewing room, right?)

It takes up quite a bit of room on a surface that is

too limited anyway but it has taken me quite a few

blocks to get that layout imprinted in my brain.

Thus the book.  

I've also had a request to go over how I do my

quilt labels.  This is something I've meant to do

for a couple years.  I've even taken the pics for it,

but somehow I haven't gotten around to it but

it's now on my to-do's and should be showing

up in a post later this week (hopefully, tomorrow).

Just a little reminder to the few no-reply followers

out there:  I do see you and read your comments.

I know I've said that before but I just like give an

occasional shout-out of appreciation.  I have

considered putting my replies on my blog but I like

 to keep the option of being more personal in my

replies; some things just don't need to be out

there on the Internet, you know?

And next week?

1) Finish both Christmas quilts completely

 2) Hope for good picture-taking days

3) Make post on labels

....and heck I don't know what else!?

Just keep at it!

Happy quilting!

2022 Tuesday To-Do #17: It's About Time!

Tuesday has arrived again so it's time to link

 up with Texas Quilt Gal and the other do'ers.

It was really a great week for me all around

but 2 finishes and 4 bonus items?  YAY!

I'm excited to share my list so without further

ado, here is what I have to show for my week:

1) Finish quilting and bind flag quilt

DONE!

Old Glory

65x65

(I haven't had the chance to take full pics outside yet.)

2) Load next quilt

DONE!

Harvest Pumpkins

(43X56)

Loaded it, quilted it, bound it, labeled it...

FINISHED IT!

Not one but two finishes this week!

3) Make 5-10 "Waves" blocks

Partly done:  made 3

This is some very slow-going--a great time to

finish up some audio books!

4) A little less golf and more gardening, maybe

even some house cleaning--so neglected!

Partly done.

I did play a little less golf, I did lots of weeding

out in the garden and managed to do a little

bit of housecleaning.  I can't seem to get to

the windows though--so dirty!  Ick!

Bonuses!

* Unpacked all of my quilt tops hung them up.

* Cut out batting for 5 of the quilts
* Made labels for all 9 quilts

* Loaded another quilt

Serenity, the largest of my 9 tops,

is now loaded up and ready to go.

Next Week's List

1) Quilt Serenity

2) Make 5 wave blocks 

3) Make small items for longarm guild table

at quilt show

3) Finish weeding garden paths

and prune tomatoes

Happy quilting!