It has been a while

Gee, I did not realize just how long it has been since I posted. 

In January I attended a retreat and enjoyed it, but when I returned home I could not get myself in gear.  Maybe it was a let down??

This is  the quilt I hand quilted while I was retreating.

It is called House on the Square – designed Jacqueline Paton

After not doing very much I decided that I should get back into the sewing room.  I saw photos of these antique doll quilts on the web and went about reproducing them.  The first one is 9-1/2 inches square and I machine quilted it in the ditch.  The second is 8 x 10.  I made the blocks with all of the quirks of the antique and it is hand quilted, but the stitches look like a child did them.

                  

I also made this little quilt, which I am hand quilting.  I started following the pattern of the fabric, but I think I am going to unquilt it and do something else.  The pattern for this can be found on the web it is called Baby Basket by Anita Shakleford.  It measures 14 inches square.

 

For a long term project I have this on my design wall.  It is from a pattern called Nighthawk – designed by Judy Hasheider

The other day will attending Little Women Club one of the attendees showed us the neatest trick to add a little something to your binding.

Cut a strip 1-1/2  inch wide and a contrasting strip 1-1/4 inch wide.  Seam the two together lengthwise with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press wrong sides together matching the raw edges.  And you will get this.  (Sorry the photo is blurred and I should have used higher contrast, but you get the picture.)

You can adjust the width of the strips according to how much of the accent fabric you want to show.  Also, when you go to miter your binding corners it will miter beautifully.  And this will lie flat unlike a piping. 

On another subject I have a 13 year old West Highland Terrier named Daisy.  Daisy is constantly pawing at the sunshine on our hardwood floors or if she sees a shadow she will jump at it.  The other day we had a beautiful sunshiny day and my husband and I left for awhile in the afternoon leaving Daisy home.

When I returned I went to my sewing room, where I have this doll bed sitting on the floor.  And returned to this.  There was just enough sunshine shining through the blinds to entice her.

I think I have rambled on long enough.  Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time.

Pat