Congrats to the winners, but It's not me!
SLMQG posted their winners list for the EZ Dresden Challenge. Nothing for me. There ended up being over 70 entries from around the world. wow.
Congrats to the winners!
Thanks for the kind, positive comments from some of the other contestants and others, here on my blog.
I felt a lot of love and support from my family and my husband's firefighter coworkers and family. At least I know they loved it.
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Monday, September 17, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Nowhere slowly
Ever feel like you're stuck on the same projects for a really long time? Whether you're stumped and scared, or stumped and don't know what to do next, or other projects just keep getting in the way, or no matter how much you work on something, it just doesn't seem to get any progress? And you love the project, and enjoy it, but you really want to move on to more projects?
I have a couple of those right now.
1--My little fire truck quilts seem to be taking forever to outline the trucks, ambulances, and ladder trucks. Doesn't help when I take a break and come back to the spool of King Tut Superior Thread ($10.00 a spool!) is off the machine and knotted nests are all over the basement, thanks to my little guy!
2--my Sylvia's Bridal Sampler king-sized quilt. It started with a BOM at Dave's Bernina, just twelve, and we finished the 12, and I got ambitious and planned a king-size with 42 blocks. I'm hand piecing a few. But otherwise, piecing the blocks have taken a backseat to other projects. Not to mention I have a Garden Maze setting to make for it, and two more borders. And how am I going to pay for backing and batting and border fabric? And how I'm going to layer and quilt the thing on my tiny-but-loved Bernina? I haven't had time to watch my Craftsy class on that very subject yet, to be able to plan.
4--in conjunction, I sigh at my own goofs that take more time. A bit of hand-piecing the Love-in-Mist at work in snatches yesterday, with setting in tiny squares into the diamond sets. Got 3 of 4 done, and after work, realized that I'd used the wrong color squares for those sections! Snip snip, redo. "sigh"
3--skirt. I get everything up to the zipper done, and then put off doing a zipper, so it all sits.
Do you have a certain task or sewing step that you detest or think is drudgery?
Projects I'd like to do or get going on:
1-Brown Bear quilt kit. (will need to replenish a few of the fabrics before I start--$ needed for that to happen)
2--Cat in the Hat dress up hat for my little guy. Maybe Halloween? Need to buy felt.
3--firefighter station quilt for my hubby. I'm ready to go, just need to make copies of the foundations and buy more fabric.
End of the night report:
1-outline quilting on fire trucks done. Next: flames in background and big outside borders. Should I do some bitty quilting in the small red borders, and the bitty black roads???
2--Dresden for my patriotic sampler. Hand-pieced, hand-appliqué with a slip stitch, but the center circle is machine-appliqué with my new favorite blind-stitch. I was ready to be done with it!
I have a couple of those right now.
1--My little fire truck quilts seem to be taking forever to outline the trucks, ambulances, and ladder trucks. Doesn't help when I take a break and come back to the spool of King Tut Superior Thread ($10.00 a spool!) is off the machine and knotted nests are all over the basement, thanks to my little guy!
2--my Sylvia's Bridal Sampler king-sized quilt. It started with a BOM at Dave's Bernina, just twelve, and we finished the 12, and I got ambitious and planned a king-size with 42 blocks. I'm hand piecing a few. But otherwise, piecing the blocks have taken a backseat to other projects. Not to mention I have a Garden Maze setting to make for it, and two more borders. And how am I going to pay for backing and batting and border fabric? And how I'm going to layer and quilt the thing on my tiny-but-loved Bernina? I haven't had time to watch my Craftsy class on that very subject yet, to be able to plan.
4--in conjunction, I sigh at my own goofs that take more time. A bit of hand-piecing the Love-in-Mist at work in snatches yesterday, with setting in tiny squares into the diamond sets. Got 3 of 4 done, and after work, realized that I'd used the wrong color squares for those sections! Snip snip, redo. "sigh"
3--skirt. I get everything up to the zipper done, and then put off doing a zipper, so it all sits.
Do you have a certain task or sewing step that you detest or think is drudgery?
Projects I'd like to do or get going on:
1-Brown Bear quilt kit. (will need to replenish a few of the fabrics before I start--$ needed for that to happen)
2--Cat in the Hat dress up hat for my little guy. Maybe Halloween? Need to buy felt.
3--firefighter station quilt for my hubby. I'm ready to go, just need to make copies of the foundations and buy more fabric.
End of the night report:
1-outline quilting on fire trucks done. Next: flames in background and big outside borders. Should I do some bitty quilting in the small red borders, and the bitty black roads???
2--Dresden for my patriotic sampler. Hand-pieced, hand-appliqué with a slip stitch, but the center circle is machine-appliqué with my new favorite blind-stitch. I was ready to be done with it!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
More Dresden fun
What a cute fabric line! Willow by My Mind's Eye by Riley Blake. These pastels are so calming and I love the Dresden designs!
http://maureencracknellhandmade.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-dresden-pocket-half-apron-and-giveaway.html?showComment=1347499892597&m=1
She has a tutorial to make her cute apron, that uses Dresdens for the pockets!
Sorry the link didn't work or a picture show up. I will try to fix that on the desktop later.
http://maureencracknellhandmade.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-dresden-pocket-half-apron-and-giveaway.html?showComment=1347499892597&m=1
She has a tutorial to make her cute apron, that uses Dresdens for the pockets!
Sorry the link didn't work or a picture show up. I will try to fix that on the desktop later.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
9-11 Tribute: Never Forget
Today I want to talk about two things: the tragedy and heroes of 9/11, and my father-in-law.
Of course, I was horrified and heartbroken by the images and the tragedy, but I didn't have much connection to it personally. Now that I'm married to a firefighter, it took on much more depth of feeling for me, knowing what these heroes left behind at home, and family members' longing and pride for them at the same time. In our family, we speak with a lot of reverence and respect for the heroes of 9/11.
I also have a hard time separating the two topics, because my father-in-law was also a New York firefighter and crew captain, in Freeport, Nassau County, Long Island. I learned that he was friends with, and had trained some of, the firefighters who died in the towers. He also died in September and was buried on September 11, just two years after the attacks. My brother-in-law, the one on the left of the group picture, was already a police officer and firefighter in the town he lived in (which is where my husband and I live now, too), and my husband told me how special of a funeral service it was for Dad, the retired firefighter: his hearse was a vintage fire engine, and two ladder trucks from our city and a neighboring city formed archways with the ladders and flags at the entrance of the cemetary. My father-in-law loved being a firefighter, and sounds like he was one of the nicest, warmest, caring individuals out there. I never had the opportunity to meet him, because he died just two months before I met my husband. But it's because of him that my husband and his brothers love working in the firefighter and police fields that they do. My husband's first memory was walking across the street with his dad to the fire station.
My father-in-law had some serious chronic health conditions, and was living in Utah with my brother-in-law by the time the attacks on 9/11 happened. My husband told me that he was glued to the tv and news all day, in tears. Firefighting isn't a job--it's a way of life, a true brotherhood (sisterhood too), a personality. He truly hurt for the loss of his brother firefighters.
And speaking of tributes and quilts, I need to talk about a quilt I saw, that was entered in the Home Machine Quilting Show in May 2012, in Sandy, Utah. This quilt absolutely stopped me in my tracks. I'm taking pictures and drooling and nearly crying, when a girl walks by. Something made me talk to her, and she ended up being the designer and maker of the quilt! She had no ties to firefighters or first responders, just felt a need to make a personal tribute to 9/11. She had no idea that others would want to make a version of her quilt. I begged her for her pattern or instructions, but she told me she couldn't, because it was a copywritten image and she had had to get special permission just for herself! I was heartbroken! But still amazed! Her name is Marthe Henderson and titled her quilt "Never Forget".
Of course, I was horrified and heartbroken by the images and the tragedy, but I didn't have much connection to it personally. Now that I'm married to a firefighter, it took on much more depth of feeling for me, knowing what these heroes left behind at home, and family members' longing and pride for them at the same time. In our family, we speak with a lot of reverence and respect for the heroes of 9/11.
I also have a hard time separating the two topics, because my father-in-law was also a New York firefighter and crew captain, in Freeport, Nassau County, Long Island. I learned that he was friends with, and had trained some of, the firefighters who died in the towers. He also died in September and was buried on September 11, just two years after the attacks. My brother-in-law, the one on the left of the group picture, was already a police officer and firefighter in the town he lived in (which is where my husband and I live now, too), and my husband told me how special of a funeral service it was for Dad, the retired firefighter: his hearse was a vintage fire engine, and two ladder trucks from our city and a neighboring city formed archways with the ladders and flags at the entrance of the cemetary. My father-in-law loved being a firefighter, and sounds like he was one of the nicest, warmest, caring individuals out there. I never had the opportunity to meet him, because he died just two months before I met my husband. But it's because of him that my husband and his brothers love working in the firefighter and police fields that they do. My husband's first memory was walking across the street with his dad to the fire station.
My father-in-law had some serious chronic health conditions, and was living in Utah with my brother-in-law by the time the attacks on 9/11 happened. My husband told me that he was glued to the tv and news all day, in tears. Firefighting isn't a job--it's a way of life, a true brotherhood (sisterhood too), a personality. He truly hurt for the loss of his brother firefighters.
I'd like to think that my father-in-law would be thrilled with my recent quilt design. "Maltese Dresden."
Here is our "honor wall" in the Man Cave. My husband wanted a portrait just like his dad, in his dress uniform. The yellow helmet is my husband's first full-time helmet. The black helmet is battle-scarred and is my father-in-law's helmet.
And speaking of tributes and quilts, I need to talk about a quilt I saw, that was entered in the Home Machine Quilting Show in May 2012, in Sandy, Utah. This quilt absolutely stopped me in my tracks. I'm taking pictures and drooling and nearly crying, when a girl walks by. Something made me talk to her, and she ended up being the designer and maker of the quilt! She had no ties to firefighters or first responders, just felt a need to make a personal tribute to 9/11. She had no idea that others would want to make a version of her quilt. I begged her for her pattern or instructions, but she told me she couldn't, because it was a copywritten image and she had had to get special permission just for herself! I was heartbroken! But still amazed! Her name is Marthe Henderson and titled her quilt "Never Forget".
Remember the original? It's a copywritten photo!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Light in sewing spaces
As I quilt my two (yes two) little fire truck quilts, I had to pause and admire what a difference more lighting can do.
The other night my husband asked me where I'd like to hang the Maltese Dresden. He said he would suggest his Man Cave, which is the firefighter-themed room of the house, but he wanted more people to see it because it was special and he indicated he felt it was a huge achievement for me. Ahhh*sigh* my hubby loves me!
I suggested in the living room above the keyboard. And he, the firefighter, said no, because the quilt would be too close to the lamp. Fire hazard. Grrr. "Ok, I'm not using the keyboard a lot right now; what about me putting the lamp next to my sewing table, where I know I need it every day." He agreed to that.
So after more rearranging of my sewing space two days later, I'm enjoying more light, especially in the evening with no extra light coming in the window. My poor eyesight sure appreciates it! If there's one thing I learned from Household Equipment class at BYU, was that lighting is equipment and just as important as other appliances and tools. Yup!
The other night my husband asked me where I'd like to hang the Maltese Dresden. He said he would suggest his Man Cave, which is the firefighter-themed room of the house, but he wanted more people to see it because it was special and he indicated he felt it was a huge achievement for me. Ahhh*sigh* my hubby loves me!
I suggested in the living room above the keyboard. And he, the firefighter, said no, because the quilt would be too close to the lamp. Fire hazard. Grrr. "Ok, I'm not using the keyboard a lot right now; what about me putting the lamp next to my sewing table, where I know I need it every day." He agreed to that.
So after more rearranging of my sewing space two days later, I'm enjoying more light, especially in the evening with no extra light coming in the window. My poor eyesight sure appreciates it! If there's one thing I learned from Household Equipment class at BYU, was that lighting is equipment and just as important as other appliances and tools. Yup!
Christmas in September
I just participated in Quilters Newsletter Magazine's Best Christmas Quilts Blog Hop. There's some really beautiful quilts in the issue, and lots of fun table runners, stockings, ornaments and other such Christmas fun. Lots of beautiful new Christmas fabrics were featured. Snowflakes, snowmen, lots of metallics, holly, plaids, wishes.
One if my favorite quilts was Golden Gifts, featuring a gorgeous printed panel from Stonehenge Christmas Traditions! Oh heavenly beautiful.
And Ta-Da! I won a beautiful Windham Fabric fat quarter bundle, and a copy of the magazine!!! Yay! Thanks, Rana Heredia! Her cute quilt is Deck the Halls and looks like chevrons decorations with holly hanging.
The box was sitting on my porch this morning, and even my little guy was excited for a "present" and gave the bundle a hug!
One if my favorite quilts was Golden Gifts, featuring a gorgeous printed panel from Stonehenge Christmas Traditions! Oh heavenly beautiful.
And Ta-Da! I won a beautiful Windham Fabric fat quarter bundle, and a copy of the magazine!!! Yay! Thanks, Rana Heredia! Her cute quilt is Deck the Halls and looks like chevrons decorations with holly hanging.
The box was sitting on my porch this morning, and even my little guy was excited for a "present" and gave the bundle a hug!
Monday, September 3, 2012
Pickles on Labor Day
I love pickles! Sweet, bread-and-butter, and kosher dills are all yummy! I have been buying a lot of pickles and salsa this summer because they're so great to snack on without a lot of calories. Also it's an easy way to get more veggies in my diet!
I don't have my own veggie garden yet, so when my sister, and also my neighbor offer to share out of their gardens, I say "yes, please! And thank you!" But my neighbor shares her zucchini most frequently, so I've made my share of zucchini bread and wanted something different.
My husband has inherited a marinara sauce recipe from his mother, and we've gotten confident in making that, and water-canning the sauce. So now I'm ready to expand my food-preserving repertoire. Pickles!
I found a zucchini bread-and-butter pickle recipe in the USDA Guide to Freezing and Preserving, and went to work after grocery shopping and the city festival parade. Ta-da! I can't wait to try them in 6 weeks.
Aren't my quilty towels cute!??
I don't have my own veggie garden yet, so when my sister, and also my neighbor offer to share out of their gardens, I say "yes, please! And thank you!" But my neighbor shares her zucchini most frequently, so I've made my share of zucchini bread and wanted something different.
My husband has inherited a marinara sauce recipe from his mother, and we've gotten confident in making that, and water-canning the sauce. So now I'm ready to expand my food-preserving repertoire. Pickles!
I found a zucchini bread-and-butter pickle recipe in the USDA Guide to Freezing and Preserving, and went to work after grocery shopping and the city festival parade. Ta-da! I can't wait to try them in 6 weeks.
Aren't my quilty towels cute!??
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