Pretty Threads are like Fabric - You can't have just one

Why buy one when you can buy the whole lot at a discounted price?  It innocently starts with just one spool or one fat quarter and you think, this is so pretty.  It happens in quilting and embroidery and other craft areas, you get hooked. 

I have an embroidery machine and a few spools of thread.  I couldn't make that much because I had limited amounts of colors.   Along comes a new friend that decided it's time to get out of the embroidery and sewing business.  One wants to sell very discounted (about a 1/4 of the retail price) and the other one wants to buy, what a perfect combination.  Add the name Robison-Anton, YLI and more and I'm sold.  The YLI Serger thread box is stuffed.  I never knew there were so many variations of red and green.  There were a few that were a little older but she threw them in for free.   I can't wait to try them out soon.  Add these to the punch embroidery thread lot I won at the auction and I think I now have enough thread to create.  Just in time for Christmas.

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~*~Trish~*~

Paper Pieces - How do you do it?

I assembled the last 3 blocks of the first pillow by following the paper piece templates.  I have yet to trim them down to the seam allowance size of the pieces.  Which kinda brought up some questions for me.  How do you paper piece?  Do you remove the paper as you go?  Do you wait until the full block is assembled?  Do you use special paper or normal printer paper? 

Here's my take on  the questions...  I remove the paper once the block is completed.  It's a pain to me sometimes.   I've purchased special packs of foundation piecing paper but for the life of me, I can't remember where I put them.  Do they really make a difference?  I'm assuming I can send them through the printer as well.  So, I end up using normal paper from the printer which is what could be my problem removing it :-).  Once I get moving on the blocks, I enjoy making them.
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~*~Trish~*~

Seam Allowance Challenged

I was meticulous on building my foundation pieces for the smaller star blocks.  I figured 4.25" with 3 across would give me12.75" of a pillow cover.  When I finished my first foundation block, I was happy with the results.  It was not without it's challenges but I fixed them as they occurred and moved forward.  Finally, success, a completed block trimmed down to 4.25".  I moved on to the second foundation block, same process, same trimming and same 4.25" block results.  Then, the "duh moment" occurred.  You know, it the evil twin of the "aha moment".  I had cut off the seam allowances.  Ugh. 

I had to go back to EQ7 and make the blocks 12.75 because then I'd have my quarter inch seam allowances to give me the final 12.75 size.  On the positive side, my tiny blocks just got a little bigger.  I was only able to finish 1 correctly sized block yesterday.  Today, I hope to finish the other 3 needed for one pillow.

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~*~Trish~*~

Tiny Templates

I've never been one for small quilt blocks.  Don't know what it is.  I cringe when I think of cuttings something on a smaller scale.  That's why I've missed a couple of farmer's wife postings when trying to complete a 6" block.  Well, now, I'm trying to complete a 4.25" block.  I promised I would make some photo pillows for a friend.  They wanted stars on the pillow as well.  When you are making a 12.75 inch pillowcase (I like some extra room in mine) and they want 5 photos on it, you end up with 4.25 inch blocks.  The only way I could do this is to add it to my Electric Quilt 7 and then print out foundation pieces.  I tried the templates and rotary cutting prints but way too small for me.

Here's the templates printed out and then the layout of the photo pillow I hope to complete and finally the fabrics that I intend to use.  I still need to cut small pieces to try and foundation piece them.  Let the fun begin!!

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

On the road photos & Quilt dedication

Here are the final photos from our recent vacation.  The first set is from my favorite city - Pittsburgh, PA.  These were taken from the passenger seat in a moving car.  Not too bad.  The second collage of photos is from the quilt dedication.  It was funny to me how small the quilt looked on the wall.  However, it was the smaller of the two completed and this is what was chosen.  It even made a few seconds on the local news that day.  Have a great day!

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~*~Trish~*~

Cut and Ready for Assembly - Pink Pillowcases

I ended up not using my purchased pink breast cancer fabric for backing on the breast cancer quilts.  So, I decided to cut it all up and add them to the pillowcase challenge I have for myself.  I think I'm 10 pillowcases behind. So, I have cut all the fabrics for the pillowcase and sash.  I'm debating about adding a thin trim between the two.  Either white or dark pink.  However, matching pinks is sometimes so hard!

I have 4 Pink Ribbon diamond print flannel cases cut with a darker pink flannel sash.  Also, 10 encouraging words panels cut with a light sash.  Once I decide on the thin trim, they will be assembled in no time on the serger.
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~*~Trish~*~

Fall Favorites 2010

I finished uploading all my photos from our local vacation and summarized up all my favorites.  Most of them are from a trip on the PA turnpike heading to Pittsburgh.  The leaves were changing closer to western pa and they were just beautiful.  Here are a few of my favorite things to see.  The spider web was fascinating to see with all the dew on it but luckily Mr Spider wasn't home.  I dislike spiders, they give me the heeby jeebies.  Don't forget to click the image for a better view. ** Sorry about the repost for readers.  I had to fix my misspelled word on the image.  Just drove me nuts  I'm leaving chili as chilli.  I think I've always spelled it that way :-)**

P.s.  The Chilli is on the stove right now!  Yummy!!  This time it's turkey chilli.  It's awesome!
Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Too Cute

The vacation is winding down and I'm reviewing the photos we took along the way.  I just had to share this one.  It is a red cross visiting dog that was at the hospital when we attended the Breast Cancer Quilt dedication at the hospital.  It was the most docile dog I have come across and made everyone stop mid step when they saw her.

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~*~Trish~*~

Vacation without my computer

I've been off on a vacation for the past two weeks.  It's mostly been a staycation but we have been visiting family and friends as well.  I have not been posting much or reading any of my favorite craft blogs.  I went through a little withdraw and peeked every once in a while.  However, for the most part, I've just been spending quality time with the hubby.  I didn't even work on crafts.   I have this one day left vacation and then, it's time to catch up on my reading.  Here's just a snippet snapshot of how far behind on my Google Reader I am. Have a great weekend!!

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Curves Ahead

Well, I found some time to try out the new curve master foot and I didn't do too bad.  The main issue that I had was trying to figure out where the fabric edges were supposed to go.  If I place the edges in the center lip, then there is a ton of foot off to the right.  I can't understand why it's so wide if you only use to the center part?  One of the many sewing mysteries :-)

After reviewing the videos on the web, I remembered to keep the top fabric separated and up high when sewing.  It worked pretty well.  I think I had an issue with the AccuQuilt fabric cutting.  I just threw some scrap fabric on the form and I think the white fabric was thinner in some placed when folded.  They came out different sizes.   I know there is some talk of this issue but I'm hoping it was my mistake because they were pretty off. 

The other issue I had was that I tried to piece using the curve master foot.  Do not try this at home.  What a mess.  I was not able to sew a straight line at all.  Thus, all my mismatched corners and seams.  That's a big lesson learned for me.  I'm still encouraged by the results so, I'll try more in the future.

Lancaster Trip

Yesterday, we took a trip to Lancaster.  I'm about 40 minutes away. Since we are both on vacation for this week and next, a day trip was planned for Shady Maple buffet and QVC outlet shopping.   Can you believe that I was in Lancaster and did not buy a stitch of fabric?  What's up with that?  Well, it was a very very very rainy day.  I was too lazy to walk in the rain so we skipped the quilt shops.  Yep, save them for another day.  However, we did get some great scenery photos.  Here's a favorite from a distance.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Trish's Tools - Buttons and Curves - New sewing feet to try

I thought I would try my hand at two new sewing feet I just purchased.  I purchased a Button Sew on Foot and the Curve Master foot.  I'm hoping they will be a help on these two areas in which I need all the help I can get.  I purchased the button sew on foot because when I was previously looking for the perfect pink button for my purse, I ended up buying a few more buttons.  More like a box full of buttons.  OK, maybe a couple boxes/bags of buttons.  Now I have all these buttons but I'm not sewing them all on by hand!  Here's a photo of the feet.

The other foot purchased was the Curve Master foot.  I've been wanting to try this one since I tried to sew a curve.  I've heard many different opinions about this foot so I can't wait to try it out.  Let me know if you have one and how you made out!  I just found this You Tube video on the Curve Master Foot.  She makes it look so easy.

UPDATE:  I tried the button foot.  Didn't work for me.  I thought I have a low shank machine and purchased the low shank foot.  Never even touched the button. Too high. However, I did find the original button foot that came with my machine, so at least that was good.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Farmer's Wife Friday - Block 14 - Butterfly at the Crossroads

Happy Friday!!  This week's Farmer's Wife block is number 14 called the Butterfly at the Crossroads.  What an interesting name.  I went backwards in the blocks numbers and found one that I skipped because it had too many half square triangles in it.  I love how this block turned out even though I see one major mismatch on one of the wings. I'm not perfect and neither will my quilt be.  I'll just embrace the special characteristics that make it unique!  I hope you have a great weekend!!

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~