It was a pretty good week of sewing for me: something I needed to do, I done did; I'm current with two QAL projects, I got to DREAMi! and still found some time and a way to start on two more projects.
The table topper for Micah's First Birthday party is on the way to be ready for the big celebration at the end of month. The theme of her party will be Bees and I found the sweetest fabric by Timeless Treasures "You are My Sunshine." The topper measures 27" x 39" and I just used a simple nine-patch pattern to showcase the fabrics and also because I didn't want to put in too time on something which may be on the receiving end of some party spills and crumbs.
All of the half-square triangles have been cut, sewn and arranged for the Postcards from Sweden from MMM quilts. Since I used my stash of Kaffe Fassett Shot Cottons with some Peppered Cottons, my quilt doesn't look at bright as some of the other Postcard quilts so I may be calling mine Postcards from Kaffe. We have two weeks to sew the rows together and I'm hoping Sandra will change it to three weeks since we'll be spending some time with the darling granddaughter at the end of the month.
This is my DREAMi! project which is another quilt from Christa Watson's Piece and Quilt from Precut book, Dot 'N Dash which I happen upon quite innocently (wink). I was putting away some fabric and came upon the wonderful Robert Kaufmann's Quilters Linen in a color I call Steel Teal which I forgot I had bought less than six months ago. I knew it would work well with some 2-1/2" strips I already had cut in shades of grays, teals, pinks, etc. to make the Dot 'N Dash quilt. Since Sandra is the host for both the Postcards from Sweden QAL and the monthly DREAMi linky party, it's going to be pretty okay if I take a little time away from the Postcard Quilt to spend a little time working on the Dot 'N Dash quilt, right Sandra?
In my never-ending quest to carve out more sewing time during the day, I thought a new portable sewing machine, a Juki HZL 70HW-A to use either in the dining room or kitchen would help. I already own a Janome Gold which is a sweet little machine but the only drawback is that it does not have a needle up and down feature which I kick myself for not wanting to spend the extra $100 for it. I sew in my studio which is in the basement or lower level of my house and too often I am drawn to the laptop which is sitting on the kitchen desk and I find myself spending way too much time on Social Media, Blogs, computer games, etc. which could be better spent on sewing. I thought maybe having a sewing machine upstairs would distract me from the computer. Also, since there are the TV shows I want to watch in the evenings, I also can also sew then as long as I have Closed Caption on. Really, it's not because the sewing machine is noisy, it's just that Hubby likes to play his guitar while watching TV.
I'm thinking my idea is working out quite well. Since the arrival of the new Juki, I sewed sixty-four 8"x 12" strip blocks made from 2-1/2" strips of Kaffe Fassett stripes and shot cottons which have been waiting to be made for awhile so I'm considering it to be an unidentified UFO project. And yes, I'm still spending more time with Kaffe and am pretty sure this is going to be my last project for the year using his fabrics, maybe.
And I sewed a mega strip for a future Staggered Strips and Squares quilt using low volume fabrics with some black and white Cotton + Steel fabrics. Once the strip sets and blocks are cut, I can finish sewing the top upstairs.
I think my Juki Jr. and kitchen table sewing is just what I needed to get more of my projects done. And as for my Janome Gold, I'll be saving it for Micah, she doesn't need to know about the wonders of needle up and down until later. Hopefully, whatever March Mode I'm on, either Miss Behaving by staying on task or Misbehaving where the fun is, it continues. I'm happy with doing both.
Wow you made some great progress. Glad the new machine and plan are working out good. I think it is Miss MisBehavin, a little of both.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Jan - you have made fabulous progress! Look at that Postcard. I think it looks beautiful, as does Micha's table topper. That will be a fun party. Great idea for the upstairs sewing machine, and the needle up/down feature would definitely be one I would miss a great deal. Your Fasse stripes project looks like it is shaping up quickly as well. I'd say you like being upstairs! I get caught up in social media, blog, FB and Pinterest WAY too easily. It's a big time grabber for sure. Happy sewing! ~smile~ Roseanne
You go, girl! Look at all the fun stuff you're working on! Lots of great variety. First of all, I think doing Postcards in Kaffe shot cottons is a BRILLIANT idea. Those fabrics just glow, and will make a gorgeous, gorgeous quilt. And second, thanks for the reminder of your Staggered pattern. I've been pondering what to do with some black and white scraps and this is inspiring me. Are you doing all the strips in lights and squares in blacks? Or are you putting them both in the big long strip?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Louise, your Posty quilt is really pretty in Kaffe shot cottons! I have a Janome Jem Platinum, which I used until I got my new machine last June. My daughter has a Jem Gold, which is living here with me until she is in a permanent place and not moving around. I sew downstairs and leave my computer upstairs, which is helpful, but my phone is still with me to check social media and play music. When I watch shows, I have closed captioning on because I'm hard of hearing. I need to go now, and keep plugging away at my Postcards!
ReplyDeleteI like the darker tones in your postcard quilt. It's very rich looking.
ReplyDeleteSo many gorgeous WIPs, and they all look like they're going to be fantastic! Your birthday runner is super cute, and I'm sure it'd make some great photographs for memory! I love your version of Postcards from Sweden, the colors look great to me! And Dot 'n Dash is probably my favorite pattern from Christa's book, so I'm excited to see you start it, and the fabric pick looks great! And of course, you know how much I love Figures so I'm always happy to see you sew a block from CMM with Figures.
ReplyDeleteYikes, you are making me dizzy! I can't believe you spend any time on social media with all these accomplishments! Micah will love the little table runner. We went for a bee theme with my daughter's baby shower. Who doesn't like bees? Have a great birthday party!
ReplyDeleteSo many beautiful projects going on! Like you, sometimes I pull in a machine to the living room as well! I agree with Shannon, the darker tones in your postcard quilt add a richness that makes it beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThat postcards quilt is gorgeous! Great work!
ReplyDeleteI love your Postcards, it looks great and is original too. You have made great progress this week, I wish I was a step behind you. All I can think of now is You are my Sunshine, the sweet old fashioned song, and I can hear Seven of Nine singing it in Duet with the Doctor in Star Trek, did I ever tell you I love sci-fi?
ReplyDeleteOh how I love your posts Rose! I think we need t-shirts: Miss Behaving and Miss Enabling Miss Behaving. I know who I am.... As for an extra week, glad you thought of that, and where grandchildren are concerned, they always rule, so I think we can extend the linky no prob! I know there are some eager beavers whose tops are already a flimsy, but there are more of us who are plodding along, faithfully so, just not as one-project-focused, right? You certainly DO have my permission to DrEAMi away. The Juki is adorable, and already proving her(his?) worth. I think you are the quintessential mistress of Kaffe, and he'd approve! I just love your PfS; makes me want to do another (and I'm row 5 of this one LOL) in batiks! I do believe you have more irons in the fire than I do!
ReplyDeleteAt this rate Rose, you will have a sewing machine in every room! I love the Kafee HSTs! The colours are so rich and bold! It's lovely!
ReplyDeleteI love your Postcards from Sweden! Looks great. You always get so much done, I'm so impressed!
ReplyDeleteKaffe Postcards! I love the shot cottons and the problem with them is they never look as rich in photos as they do in real life - I bet its a knockout! I have a Kaffee project to get back to one of these days. Love Micah's table topper and think she is one lucky girl. And, yes, sometimes being able to sew with DH near is a good thing. I have a Featherweight coming my way which I'll use on the screened in porch in Maine - bliss! Sometimes we just do what we have to to make it all work! Good luck on your projects! I have been doing more sewing than blogging, but I'll be back!
ReplyDeleteHi Rose: I am so impressed with your progress in everything. I am looking forward to having enough time to do more quilting but I'm not sure when that will come. I love the Kaffe Postcard idea and I think it will be awesome. My grandsons second birthday party got cancelled because they were all sick with a stomach virus. Oh well get to see them this Friday I believe.
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