A miracle ---i can see

A miracle - well for me anyway. I can see the top of my cutting table.

(I love how the sunlight through the curtain makes shadows on the table)
I actually got it cleaned off today. Only out of necessity though. Had to make room to square up the star block quilt I've been working on. I finished all the quilting today. ( I am so in the market for a mid arm machine and frame - 6 inches and shoving the quilt through that spec is driving me crazy) I did some free motion single line stars across the top bottom of the quilt. I also came up with a quick easy way to bind. I left one inch of fabric extra on the back. Then I folded the fabric in half and then again and finally pushed it over the from and topstitched it down. Very nice 1/8 inch binding.

Quilt label to be added tomorrow and then packing it up to leave for Florida on Friday. It is a gift fro my son. Actually he got the top last May for graduation from college and then I took it back to quilt.

February's Scrap Challenge

February's scrap challenge color was red.  First I choose a photo of one of my roses.  I decides to select a portion of it and make a kaleidoscope.

 I started with looking through my large and small scraps for lights and darks.

Next I sorted thread for various red shades.  It is unfortunate that as soon as white is added to fed you get pink or if yellow a peachy shade.  I decided to only use the reds.

Here is my pizza slice wedge based on the flower contours from a small section. I started with red satin, but scored it.  I found a darker cotton and utilized what I could of the satin scrape for the applique pieces.

Below is my finished piece.  After lots of applique and then quilting I finished the piece off by going around the edges twice with yarn and a zigzag stitch.

You may be able to see some of the free hand quilting  by clicking on the close up.
Unfortunately, i was not happy with my results.  I think when i have time I will do a realistic read rose.

Studio Pictures

Since my 1st studio on a budget design two years ago. I have added more storage and rearranged things.  Since I am always misplacing tools under fabric etc.  I put up a larger peg board and traced where my tools go. Whenever I glance that direction I can tell what is missing and try to put them back right away.  Oops! My favorite ruler and blue rotary cutter are nowhere to be seen.

 

When our Goodies Store was closing last spring, I was able to pick up 5 clear plexiglass cubicles.  They are a bit scratched, but very durable and perfect for all my quilting magazines, idea notebooks and embellishment boxes.