Tools of the Trade

Remember, in this post, I mentioned that I had signed up for a quilting class? I loved the class, and learned a lot. In that class the instructor had us sandwich a mini-quilt. She taught me some great tips that I used in the past two weeks when I finally sandwiched the quilt top I referenced in my last post. She taught us the time-saving tricks of:

• Always leave your saftey pins open when they are out of the quilt, they should only be closed when they are in your quilt.


• Add all pins to the quilt, without closing, then when all pins are in, go back and close them.


• Use a tool, called a Kwik Klip to help close the pins.

In the past two weeks, I have sandwiched, and then re-sandwhiched that quilt top. The first one did not turn out so well. The back had all sorts of lumps in it WITH the pins in it. Which meant if I had gone ahead and quilted it, then it would have been a very sloppy back. So, out came the pins and back to the drawing board I went!

My tools and timesaving tips:

• Don't use painter's tape. Nope, it didn't hold down my backing enough. Hence, the lumps. I used Duct tape the second time, and it went much better.

• Who needs a Kwik Klip, when you have a Strawberry topper-cutter?

Seriously, I don't know what this little utensil is called, but we use it in the summer time to cut off the tops of strawberries. It works great in that aspect, but I found a new use for it with the quilt. It holds the bottom of the pin perfectly, so I can just push down on that safety pin and close it up.

With about 100 or so pins in this blanket, your fingers can get really raw trying to hold that little pin in place. This little tool was a big timesaver!

Tasks for this week: Get to finally finishing up this quilt!

Quilt top done

I have been working off and on all summer for a gift for someone special for our family, the lady who watches my kids while we work. She is so good to the kids and to her family. She had it hard when she was raising her own kids, and now she gives back to them by watching her grandkids while the parents work. We're not family, but we're close enough in my book. It was a tearful day when I decided to take my oldest out of that setting and into a pre-school.

I have finally finished the top to the quilt. I am planning on quilting it over the next two weeks or so, so I can finally give her the quilt. I had hoped it would be an end of summer gift, but life got in the way of the final finish.

Each hand represents a child had in her house this summer. The age group is very large, so the older kids helped with the younger kids. I hand embroidered each one's name under their hand.

When summer started and most kids were back to school, I asked her if it was too quiet. She said it was nice, but she did feel like a lot of her help left!

As for the fabric, I bought a jelly roll of the Flutterby line for the strips. The brown is croduroy. I am hoping the contrast in fabric type will work ok. I think it offsets the hands nicely. Anyone had experience mixing fabric types in their quilts? I'd be interested in knowing how it turned out.

Fall Color Anticipation

Fruits of our labor. Fresh, warmed by the sun, home-grown tomatoes. Yum. What a nice treat to enjoy with dinner.


I am awaiting fall color from this plant. I'll have to look up the exact name, but this is some sort of hardy geranium. I was not sure about it, but was told it would have great fall color. Last year was the first year I had put them in. They were AWESOME flowers. At a time when there is not much flowering going on, when the garden's summer colors simmer out, this plant puts on its show. I am awaiting with anticipation some more color! See those buds? It's FILLED with them.

Stepping back, you can see they have a great mounded shape. I planted them behind some peonies...I'll probably move them after they bloom. The peonies are taller, so you really have to peer around those peonies to see what's going on with these geraniums.

Check out this combination! This was an unplanned combination that turned out well. I love the way the yellow from the Black Eyed Susans mix with the purple-ish color of the Sedum 'Autumn Joy'. It works well with each plant's bloom time, too. The BES bloom while the Sedum's green buds come out. Then, just as the BES yellow begins the fade, the Sedum begin their show!

And, while I am purusing through my gardens, what are my little helpers getting into? Anything and everything they can.

Refreshed yet?

Table Cloth Skirt and Dinner Party Top GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Woo hoo! Maybe I'll have a chance to win a new, cute outit or Corinne!

Table Cloth Skirt and Dinner Party Top GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

First Day of School

There she goes again, on to school again. She had so much fun last year that it was easy to take her again this year. I am so glad that she is learning so much, and has fun doing it. It sure makes it easier on me when I drop her off!

The best part of school is that every day is a new adventure. Some new activity, or new story, or new friend. We have enjoyed seeing her flourish in a school-like environment.

She is now in "Pre-K", but I think the curriculum is about the same as last year. ABC's, 1, 2, 3's, etc.

This picture was taken in our front garden, what she calls "Mommy's garden". I was going to take it by the light pole with the black eyed susan's still in bloom and the sedum Autum Joy starting out its fall show. But, nope, she wanted the picture to be RIGHT THERE. And, of course, Morgan got right on in the action!

Another year, many more adventures to come!

The dress she is wearing was made by my sister, Stephanie, using the Oliver and S Tea Party Sundress pattern. The dress was a gift. I have not been convinced that I like this pattern, until, of course, I saw the final product in person, and on it's even better! This is a very flattering dress, with a cute flair at the hips. It's perfect for Corinne, who I think has a long torso. She likes it, so that's what really matters.

I may attempt a winter dress of this pattern in Corduroy. I think it will be really cute with a matching long sleeve shirt and tights. And with Mary Janes, of course....

McCall's 5369

I made a special dress for a certain someone who had a birthday party recently. It took me almost every night for one week straight, but it got done in time for the party, which was my goal.

I loved how it came out.

I realized, though, at the cutting stage of this dress, that I am not good at critiquing the patterns I choose to sew. I need to improve here. Had I realized that each ruffle would need to be hemmed, and then sewn on, I am not sure I would have chosen this pattern. It took a lot of time.

In the end, it was worth it. She loved the dress. She wore it with no problems, and I was ready to hear the "I don't want to wear that" argument. Nope, it was her party dress, and she knew it, and she loved it!

She posed so great, too, for my pictures! Wow, it's amazing that she has become such a sweet little person.

I had to add two buttons to the bag, rather than the one it called for. The dress, size 4, was WIDE at the top. The two buttons I added enabled the bodice of the dress to fit better. I think it came out looking just fine.

This dress, size 4 came out a little short on her, so she wore some small shorts underneath. If I did it again (which I won't - nope, this was a lot of time), I'd add one more ruffle for length. I ran out of fabric for that.

Is it September Already?

Although my blog has been quiet during the month of August (and for the most part all summer!), it's not been quiet here. It's been a busy summer. August flew by.

This summer we've:
* Had two long vacations
* Visited DC
* Had a birthday party
* Hung out at home
* Enjoyed time on a boat
* Seen a helicopter up close and personal
* Ridden horses
* Introduced our little ones to fun on two wheels
* Gotten some crafting done

Back to reality this month...