Monday, February 21, 2011

THREE WISHES

I made 3 wishes which turned into four,
By using this pattern.



Quiltmaker Magazine introduced the Warm Wishes pattern in 2000
as the quilt for Project Linus Make-a-Blanket Day.

 I have made this pattern on numerous occasions for gifts for my grand kids and other relatives.  It is very simple to make.  BTW it is a great stashbuster.  It looks different every time it is made up.  I was cleaning the sewing room and came across a stack of 6 inch squares (72 of them).  They are in a color I do not care for and usually don't have an occasion to use.  I don't remember cutting them up but I do remember the fabric.  Normally when I pre-cut something I put a copy of the pattern with it in a plastic bag. I thought to myself what am I going to do with all of these.  I immediately thought of the Warm Wishes pattern it require 6 inch squares. I had enough squares to make two of the crib size tops.

Went to search the stash for something to use with them and found a scrap of flowered fabric that had flowers in the dusty rose and dusty pink in the squares.  Then I picked out the fabric for the narrower rails.  I found a blue and a green that would work (there is blue flowers in the flowered fabric.)  I figured I'd make one in each color of the rail strips.  I prefer having the two inch fabrics in the same colors.  It makes the piecing faster because I don't have to worry which rail is on which side.

This is the first quilt from the squares.  I used only the green 2 inch strips  and the 3 inch strips are the flowered fabric.
size 49" X 62"
I set about constructing the strip sets and joining the blocks on the first one (the green strips.)  When I cut the flowered fabric for the 3 inch strips for the two quilts I discovered I still had some fabric left.
I decided to use it for borders. 

When I completed the first one I  thought I would use two colors of strips like the pattern calls for.  (It took me twice as long to construct the quilt because I had to make sure the blocks were
facing the correct direction to get the framed box effect.)

The second quilt:
size 52" X 62"

When I completed the second quilt I realized I had 11 left over rail squares.  I also had the left over 11 squares from the first quilt.  I thought I don't want 22 orphaned blocks that are similar in nature.  If I make another quilt I will have 33 blocks and that is enough to make another quilt.  I would have four similar tops not orphaned blocks.    I checked the flowered fabric to see if I had enough for the wide rail.  Yes I did, but I also had enough to cut 6 inch blocks for the third quilt if I didn't use it for rails.  If I did that I would have to scrounge the stash for something for the wide rail in the block.  (I had enough  dark blue for the two narrow rails).  I would also have to find alterantives for borders.  The stash relinquished all of these fabrics.

The stash coughed up this 1950's blue mini patterned cloth and there was enough to do the wide rails and to have a 6 inch border when the top was completed (I had enough of the dark blue to do an inner border before attaching the 6 inch border.

This is the third quilt:
size 49" X 60"


The remains of all the other quilts produced this fourth quilt:
size 49" X 58"
This quilt was literally already made.  I had left over 6 inch squares from the strips I cut from each quilt, and I had left over rail blocks from each of the three quilts. 
I was left with only 1 orphaned 6 inch square and 2 orphaned blocks.

I didn't keep track of the amounts of fabric used to make the blocks and borders.  But when I went looking for backing fabric I did measure it.  I used 17 yards of fabric for the backs and bindings.  That is approximately 34 yards of fabric.  The following pictures are the backings I chose for each quilt.

Quilt # 1 backing



Quit #2 Backing

Quilt # 3 Backing

Quilt # 4 Backing


Putting the Binding on:

This last picture is of the binding construction.  I used the machine to apply all the bindings.  I needed to get these done quickly and they are utilitarian quilts for little girls to play house with and drag around.


I was very pleased with the look.  The binding is top stitched on the front of the quilt with the machine and you have an extra row of visible stitching on the back.

Making three wishes was a breeze ,
getting the fourth one free...was the best wish of all.

Is there four wishes in your future? 
Thanks for stopping by.


Monday, February 14, 2011

48 VALENTINES AND COUNTING

It is said, it’s the thought that counts,

Counting the times we sat and watched TV,
Counting the trips to the grocery store,
Counting the days you took out the trash,
Doing things for the woman you adore.

So many mundane things you did,
Repeating them each and every day,
Counting the times you said I love you,
And showed me in every way.

The years rolled by, the moments filled,
With big and little things,
This woman, you constantly thrilled.
With the surprises life brings.

We’ve grown old together,
Our waistlines they grew too,
I have someone I can count on,
To share my life, I love you.

Everyday you make Valentines day for me.
It's the little things that count.


 New Article on my blog: 
"A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"
A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind
First Clue to be presented October 16.
 
Other blog sites by me:
 
Where I have stories of my cats and other pets
a blog about my courtship with my husband,
and a blog about my most embarrassing moment.
A "Soap box" blog where I do air my opinions.
 
blogs about the wildflowers on our farm
Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,
blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures
Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle
New Blog:
 
All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.
I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .
Please do not copy without permission

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

HONEY IN THE SNOW

About seven years ago we had a small dog dumped at our gate.  She only weighed about 15 pounds and wasn't more than 15 inches high.  We put out a "found" sign even though we did not think she was lost.  We live a mile from the interstate and that night it had poured down rain.  The little dog was clean and smelled like perfume. 

When my husband found her he said he thought she was tied to the gate.  She was so frightened she was plastered to the gate and didn't move.  He brought her up to the house and we had a problem.  We had four dogs already.  We didn't want to introduce her to the family if she was going to be leaving right away.  We decided to keep her in the master bedroom.  That night she inherited the name Honey.  She was so sweet.  She immediately decided our bed was her bed.  Being she was small this wasn't a hindrance to our sleeping. 

Small is another thing.  We had never had a small dog.  All of our dogs have been 60 lbs plus.  This was a whole new experience.  A dog that actually fit on the bed with you.  Our other dogs all wanted to be in the bed but it was like having a hog in the bed.  Honey literally fit right in.  Each day ended with Honey still here.  Our other dogs were scratching at the door to be allowed in. 

After 5 days and no inquiries to our signs we decided that Honey was probably in her new home.  We introduced her to the other "pups".  Hoping they wouldn't eat her.  It took less than 30 minutes to find out there was a new alpha dog in the house.

Honey was at least 3 years old when she adopted us.  She has been with us seven years.  What have we learned about little dogs?  They aren't any different than big dogs except they have little widdlers and have to be let out more often.  What kind of dog is she?  I usually describe her as "Honey, who shrunk the border collie".   She is very smart (when she wants to be).  She doesn't like little kids (she snapped at the grandkids when they were little, a couple of times).  She adores my son and daughter(they are adults..lol). 

Honey has been a very sweet addition to our lives.