A New Life for an Old Girl...

My latest fun project has been the restoration of a Singer model 15 Treadle Sewing Machine. With Tiffany Decals, this old girl has some real class. Her commission date gives her a "birthday" of February 13, 1914. So, she is just a few years shy of 100.

She has a lovely new home in my 4 drawer Victorian Singer Cabinet. I bought the cabinet many years ago (at least 25), and it became something of an inspiration. I acquired it initially strictly because of it's looks, restored it to learn something about preserving these lovely old oak pieces, and eventually started learning about these old machines. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was dragging home other old Singer machines and restoring them to working condition. The cabinet originally came with a terribly hard worn "Sphinx" Decaled Model 27. I looked  high and low for suitable replacement, but never really found one that I liked. Early on, I knew I wanted to return the treadle to working condition - with a period machine. The find of the Tiffany was fortuitous, as a collector show. It had grubby plates, and was a bit dirty, but seemed to show good potential, with a good bit of it's decals still extant, and wear not beyond the realm of further use. It did not have suitable plates for the rear and side, so after further search last year, a good set in a period design were found.

Last week I finally got the restored head up and running. With a new belt, she purrs along, and I pulled out the purple "Texas Two Step" quilt I've been working on to give it a go. It will take some use and practice to get smooth at using the treadle... it takes some getting used to! A bit like patting your head and rubbing your stomach in terms of the coordination needed to pedal with your feet and guide with your hands. The right hand has to stand at the ready to help stop the machine, I never did get the hang of that manuever.

The purple top is one I've been working on off and on now for two years. I've only worked on it at Mom's house, using her mother's model 66 treadle, which I also returned to good working order. I want to at least have a top that I can say I produced by "foot power". I'm thinking it would be fun to demonstrate the treadle at some fairs or such.... hmmm?  Enjoy the photos.

Waiting for Snow...

The forecast today calls for a 60% chance of Snow... indeed a true "chance" occurence here where snow is a true novelty.  The clouds of the morning however seem to be lifting a bit, and we have reports of snow SOUTH of us... so, we may miss it. Here's a nice picture of the fall leaves from the studio a few days ago... The leaves have all but fallen now, but the light was gorgeous that day, shining through the brilliant remains of fall. It is an Eastern Gum, and despite the terrible heat and drought of summer did put on a nice "show"...

But with the morning off, it was time to start on cutting those charms for an upcomind workshop with Gyleen Fitzgerald. Called Humble Tumbler, we'll learn to make a simple, small charm quilt, choosing two expanded "colorways". What else could I have picked but red and green! My collection of Christmas fabrics (and red and green in general) will more than fill the bill.

I'm hoping to learn a lot from Gyleen, I'm especially interested in her color theory, but even more so on her self-published works. She has some lovely books for children, and a book of quilts and poetry that looks like a great addition to the library - maybe even a nice gift for someone special!
Here's a link to her website ...  http://www.colourfulstitches.com/
She also has a book on "finishing" something I've been struggling with of late. More on that subject soon.

Here's a look at the worktable today: a typical spread of tools. The reds, the greens and those that might go both ways.

We are supposed to think about "expanding" the color way to include adjacent colors on the color wheel, but I think it may go to far beyond my Christmas theme.. will see where it goes tomorrow.

I'm trying the ergonomic rotary cutter of late  (upper left of the pic) to try to reduce pressure on those joints that are NOT likeing the advent of winter!

Well, as my hubby says, it's off to "sewing machine world for an evening of work...still NO SNOW :-(

Making it to "The Show"... a Quilt at IQA Festival

What a whirlwind! It's taken a few weeks for me to finally calm down enough to try to write about my feelings and the incredible events.

The  that I made for Mom and Dad was accepted at a special exhibit at this year's Houston International Quilt Festival.

I entered the quilt into the exhibit sometime in June. A friend in the quilt guild passed along to me the call for submissions. Festival was looking for quilts to show at an exhibition of "Traditional" quilts. When I first looked at the requirements, I was pretty surprised to find that indeed my quilt might qualify. Even better, the exhibition was not judged, simply a "special exhibit", and best of all, NO entry fee was required! The only requirement was that the quilt be one that had won an award at a Texas Quilt Guild in the last few years. 

A few clicks, an attachment of a picture of the quilt, and the submission was made. I soon forgot about the entry. Imagine my shock at getting a phone call one Saturday afternoon in late September, from an IQA staffer. She asked a few questions, (What award had the quilt won? ) and informed me that my quilt had been accepted for the special exhibit, and advised me that I'd receive an acceptance letter with instructions for shipping the quilt to the show in a week. I was stunned. I told no one, I almost thought it was some sort of a fluke...surely someone would sort out the error. The letter from IQA (International Quilt Association - the organization behind the annual International Quilt Festival) arrived as indicated. A never spoken dream of showing a quilt at Festival was simply made, with an email, a letter and a phone call. One sticky detail was yet to be ironed out. I would have to "borrow" the quilt back from Mom in order to ship it to Houston....

Would Mom allow me the use of the quilt? What kind of condition would it be in? Could I make time to make the trek to Dallas to retrieve it in time to make the show deadline?

The pieces fell into place much more easily than I originally guessed. Mom simply required that it be "back by Christmas"...I was a bit surprised that she let go of the quilt so easily...

I found it in lovely shape, though I just had to wash it once more to try to remove those stubborn marks that gained a minor critique at the Austin Area Guild Quilt Show where it won an Honorable Mention in 2008. Some of the marks stayed - they will probably always be there, though they are now faint. Packaging the quilt and shipping it was done with only a brief amount of concern... I somehow felt comfortable that it would make it to back to it's place of creation (Houston) without problems...

I put together a trip to Houston with my friend Cindy, who had never attended Quilt Festival (I can't remember how many years I'd been going... at least 10 or 12. I had not attended last year, and will never miss it again. The rejuvenation of the creative spirit that results from viewing the great works of so many quilters keeps one's spirit and mind working through even the toughest of years.

Cindy and I planned a two day visit - one day to view the vendor booths, and a second to take in all the quilt exhibits. We decided to check out the commercial goods the first day, and to take notes and decide upon purchases to be made after viewing exhibits the second day.

We arrived without incident, leaving early on a Thursday morning, arriving in Houston just in time for the opening of the doors. Entering nearest the vendor end of the building, We stuck to our guns, working the vendor booths with all the diligence of women at the grocery. No booth was left unseen. No tool, fabric, pattern or new gew-gaw was not paid due attention. I took notes on what booths would be revisited on Friday afternoon for those all important purchases. But as we worked our way through 20 aisles of the huge convention center steadily towards the exhibit area, my own level of tension mounted.

Houston Skyline - from the Convention Center

I was pretty convinced, based on some pre-show buzz that the show was continuing it recent track of becoming a venue for "contemporary" quilting. Machine quilting, "Art" quilts, and very untraditional works were fast becoming the majority of works presented in both the judged show, as well as the special exhibits. To try to keep hand pieced and hand quilted works in the mix, the show had fairly recently added a "Handmade" category, specifically to try to keep somewhat traditional quilt entries in the show, even if only in a more and more limited way. I was sure that this special exhibit had been added (late to the show, and not detailed in the program at all!) to try to add at least some traditional, although, contemporary works. The show has always had some exhibition of vintage or historical quilts. I was sure that this exhibition would be probably be stuck somewhere at the back of the floor... a quiet respite from the "buzz" of the modern works.

After all, the exhibit, entitled "Texas Guilds' Awarding Winning Traditional Quilts" must surely be a sleeper of "Sunbonnet Sues" and Dresden Plates sleepily dozing amidst a world of modern quilt chaos...

Imagine my surprise, when I purchased a program which indicated that the exhibit was near the front of the show floor. At around 4 o'clock, we had worked our way through the entire floor, and decided it was time to spend time "looking" for my quilt. At the show, the vendor area is divided by a wall from the exhibit area.

As we rounded the "wall", and I almost died from shock. There was my quilt... paired with a lovely Pieced colorwheel quilt - literally the first quilt you saw as you rounded the corner from the vendor exhibit hall.

"50 Years of Love for Nancy and Harold" (left) at the entrance to the special exhibit: Texas Guilds: Award Winning Traditional Quilts"

My quilt (and it's neighbor) served as the introductory quilts at the entry to the special exhibit! "50 Years of Love for Harold and Nancy" - MY QUILT, (myhusband reminds me is it now "Mom's Quilt"), was literally only yards away from the Best in Show Quilt... not to be missed by any one of the 50,000 plus quilters who would enter the exhibit hall to view the top winners at the show over the entire week of Festival.

I had to sit down. A convenient bench allowed Cindy and I to sit just a few yards in front of the quilt and watch admiring quilters. I can't tell you how hard it was to keep from just pulling out the hankie and losing it in front of them all! Cindy, her first time at quilt festival must have been impressed at my ability to stay upright! I had to resist the urge to yell out "THAT'S MY QUILTS"... to the meandering crowd...

The following day, we spent the day looking at the "real" show entries... the money winners, (Did I mention that my quilt was literally only a few yards away from the "Best In Show" winner!?), the incredible, emotionally stunning beauty, the great political statements, the humorous experiments, the quilts that make you cry.... all of them, showing themselves to us in all their glory... along with my best work to date...perhaps the best quilt I will ever make. And quite possibly the only quilt I may ever see shown at such a prestigious event....

We ran into guild members, friends, many who gave me congratulations, and said they were so happy to see my quilt there... what a great, affirming day for any artist.

The quilt arrived back in Austin this past week. More carefully packaged than I was able to do. None the worse for wear, but ready to resume it's gentle life on Mom and Dad's bed, where it will be by Christmas time.

I thought you'd like to see once more their photos... One taken just prior to their wedding in 1953, and another, at their 50th wedding anniversary. What more could I ever need to inspire the creation of a great quilt?

A Beautiful Day for Poetry and Sewing!

I hope all of you had the opportunity to hear the Inaugural Poem offered by Elizabeth Alexander (no relation that I am aware - unfortunately!).

Here's a link to a transcript at the NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/us/politics/20text-poem.html?_r=1&ref=books

The lovely reference to sewing, as a means of renewal, and repair:

"Someone is stitching up a hem,
darninga hole in a uniform, patching a tire,
repairing the things in need of repair."

These words brought the great significance of the day to heart for me, with sewing and quilting taking such a big role in my life these days.

Since I began working full time for Husqvarna Viking, running their little shop here, I've had a wonderful time meeting so many people, making new friends, and yes, helping with a lot of "renewal and repair". It's great to see so many people turning to sewing (or turning back to it after many years) - not just for liesure or retirement activitiy, but to be a bit more frugal - looking at making things last, or even making things rather than buying them! Many more young women are buying machines, inspired a bit by the creative, DIY type shows on fashion, but also by the idea that they can indulge their creative interests by making something they can actually wear or use daily....

I have kept to my quilting (somewhat) making my monthly charity baby quilt, and actually put the big project up at the Fall Quilt Show (I promise to write that up eventually). However, my time left for posting, internet communication, and other more pedestrian pursuits has slowed a good bit. One of my New Years resolutions has been to get back to my boards and blog... thus this post!

I also though you might enjoy this post on Garrison Kiellor's Daily Writer's Almanac the day of the Inauguation... another poem by Elizabeth Alexander. I am soo happy to share at least her surname!
Here's a link:
http://www.elabs7.com/functions/message_view.html?mid=630942&mlid=499&siteid=20130&uid=b800efa02a

This is one of my favorite internet newsletters. Most NPR stations broadcast Garrison reading the Almanac daily... this is an important daily routine for me. If I can't hear it on the radio, I always check my email to catch it... Can't recommend it enough - a great way to keep learning a bit about the language, and get some poetry into you day, every day!

See you at the sewing machine!
- Karen

C'est Finis... Musing about Finishing a Quilt... and Winning!

I realize that I have indeed been away from my blog for some time, and for that gentle reader, I do apologize! I have no good reason other than a busy life, and, making a living - among other incredibly time consuming pursuits!

I AM happy to report the completion of a major work in 2008. The draft of this post has been languishing in my "draft box" for some time...so I felt it had "ripened" enough for a post.

I finished (at long last!) a great quilt work that had been underway now for 5 long years. That seems like such a long time. How many times in one's life does one work on a project that will take 5 years to complete?

(Mom & Dad at their 50th Anniversary)

(Mom and Dad at their engagement - has he got a hold on her or what?!)

The "great quilt" is a quilt started in early 2003. My mother and father's 50th wedding anniversary scheduled in August of that year inspired me to begin a quilt I thought I would fininsh in 6 months! I considered that it should have to fit on my parents queen sized bed, and, that it MUST be hand quilted. How little did I know when I began the project how long it would actually take. Shortly after completing the top (in a wedding ring design of course!), I realized that my hand quilting skills were inadequate to the task. I began signing up for various workshops that year, and shortly decided to put away the quilt and put a "learning" quilt on the frame to hone my skills. The "Learning" quilt took a year itself - it was a vintage top that I sandwiched and hand quilted.

(Here's the Learning Quilt: )

The great 50th wedding anniversary event took place as planned and was a great success... with the quilt top shown and a great quilt promised. My mother, who followed somewhat the progress of the work finally tired of asking about the quilt, and began to foist vain threats on me... "you'll have to wrap me in my coffin in it if you don't finish it soon...".... that sort of thing!

But, as I soon learned, a great project, and a great quilt can NOT be hurried.

Through good times and bad, a son's graduations, a downsizing and move, the emptying of the nest... through all, there was always the quilt.

(- The Quilt underway in the frame... Little "Tadpole" a brief visitor to our household, he loved to "help" me quilt. An unknown illness took him away from us too soon.)

The steady, soothing work, the quiet progress. Some trama resulted when I no longer was able to continue using the family frame (too large to set up in the smaller digs!)... but I adapted to a lap frame and continued... the quilt none the worse for wear...

Finally, the quilt was ready to bind, a month's chore, and then... the final wash! I decided not to agonize over the removal of the marking - I knew they might not entirely come out after having been on the quilt for so long, but decided to enter the quilt in the guild show in September before taking it to Mom at Thanksgiving, and a cleaning would be necessary to get it show-worthy.

(Detail of quilting and the Binding being attached! ALMOST DONE! )

It was with great trepidation that I left the quilt at the Show site... it's first time away from me for more than a day or so!

But the joy of seeing it hanging in the gallery, with admiring people walking by... the excitement of people discovering the hand work (wow!) was only matched by my amazement at winning a ribbon! Honorable Mention in the Large Piecing category!

Most gratifying, were the kind words of the judge, who praised the "lavish" hand quilting... and provided gentle critical remarks... not at all what I expected - having heard stories of the dangers of the judges critique!

(Adoring husband took this picture of the proud quiltmaker at the show:)

Here's a link to the guild site where you'll see many more lovely quilts...

http://www.aaqg.org/

Hmmm.... what's next?!

My UFO list has 14 pieces (I wasn't JUST working on that big quilt all those years after all!), I think the next one will be for ME! Here's a lovely dresden plate top I finished some years ago (before the wedding ring) that has been patiently awaiting a quilting. It will HAVe to be done by hand!

(A Dresden Plate Top at a workshop - hmmmm, what pattern to quilt?)

A Night to Shine - COMPLETE!

After some minor delays, and a few late, late hours, I was able to turn this little lap quilt over to Joe to take to Trinity. This quilt is part of their annual fundraiser - my contribution... I named it after the event. For more details, or to bid yourself... visit http://www.trinitykids.com/.

I had great fun making it. I used the great new pieced border technique I learned from Sally Schneider, and used up a lot of really glitzy, sparkly fabrics - I'll never know what possessed me to buy such garish stuff... but it's perfect for the theme of Star shine! This one was machine pieced on the 15-91...

Here's some pictures...

Shameless Commerce & Camera Breakdown!

More about the Shameless Commerce at the end of my post today.

I was amazed to see how long it's been since I've posted. A lot going on at the old house. I just got back from two weeks in Cleveland... at a Manager Training Program for Husqvarna Viking (the sewing machines, not the Chainsaws!).

No, I'm not abandoning my affinity for all sewing things vintage.... I'm just falling in love with some new machines. I'm going to be managing a new H-V Gallery Store in the N. Austin Joann!
Yep... shiny, new plastic wonders - some computerized - that will do almost everything except heat you coffee. I have to admit that after spending 10 days playing around with them that I was getting awfully used to the ability to do need up and down, and did not miss the lifter at all! They really do sew by themselves.

I wish I'd taking the camera - though actually, IT's not broken down, but my floppy drive took a dump, and I'll have to go to the "old computer stuff" store to get a "new-old" replacement. My Sony Mavica, once the premier (and first) digital camera still works wonderfully, but I do go through floppy drives - as the camera puts it's pictures to floppy disk - yes, those little 3.5" plastic guys! Amazing isn't it. How the floppy drive in the camera has lasted through (conservativly) 25-30,000 pictures for my eBay biz over 7 or 8 years, while a floppy drive unit for a computer is lucky to last a year or so...? So, I KNOW they CAN be made to last, they just aren't! I wonder how many things we buy today are made to fall apart or stop working on a schedule... what a waste of resources eh?

Yes, it IS my Shameless Commerce Division! And it's spring sweep time, so I must point out that EVERYTHING in my Ebay store is 30% OFF through SUnday, April 27th... so click on the link to the left, and PLEASE take some of this fabric off my hands!!

Pictures of the Star Quilt next week, final quilting is underway this weekend!

Karen

Keep on Working...

Just a minute to post the now finished top for the "auction" quilt... I think it turned out quite nice.

All sparkly in various Hoffman Fairy Frost and other prints from the stash. The theme of the event it "A Night to Shine" and it's done in school colors (blue and grey). I added the bits of turquoise to spice it up a bit. Now... how to quilt it? I'm thinking about "McTavishing" it... but then again, some more traditional feathers round the border? We'll see.

I REALLY enjoyed the pieced border technique, the pattern is by Sally Schneider (http://www.sallyschneider.com/). Called Laurel Wreath. She has one done in jewel tones, with the "beads" around the border all done in different colors. The entire quilt is actually just made of 12 in. blocks, all pieced on the diagonal. The colors make the pieced border look like something really difficult to manage. If you look closely, you'll see the diagonal seams in the border. After it's quilted, they will be even less apparent... making the quilter look like a real genius! My favorite kind of quilt pattern. One that looks fancy, but has an "easy" secret!

Imagine how wonderful it would look done up in Christmas Colors. Sally was at our guild last month, but I was unable to make it to her workshop, but I'm glad I bought the pattern and one of her books, and was able to put it to such good use so quickly... Here's a close up.

I cut the backing last night. My piece was too short to cut in half, so I did a diagonal back...

If your backing piece is at least 1-1/2 times longer than the top, you simply cut it in half diagonally. Then slide the pieces off set until you have a piece wide enough for the quilt width! Sew them together on the diagonal seam and voila! you have a back with a piece of fabric only 1-1/2 times the length of your top! And the nice thing about a diagonal seam is it's easier to quilt over, and doesn't show through as easily as a single center seam. It's really nice for hand quilting. I picked up this idea from John Flynn's website... http://www.flynnquilt.com/ It's under the free lesson menu. There's actually a mathematical forumula for the brave at heart (or of mind?) to help in calculating the needed length of fabric to make a diagonal seamed back. It is very cost efficient, as you don't end up with a big hunk of fabric, just two small triangle scraps (and who can't use scraps!).

Now, I have to spend the day pin basting (ugh), but, while I baste, I can think about how I want to quilt it....!

The quilt (a lap quilt size 54" x 70") will be auctioned off at the Trinity Episcopal School fund raiser April 5th in Westlake Hills in Austin!

FYI... the backing is an older blue sparkly Christmas fabric. Kind of a toile design, blue with grey scenes of angels... it's not obviously a Christmas theme - but definitely religious... will work wonderully for this donation quilt made for an Episcopal school don't you think!

Blue and Grey

What have I gotten myself into?

Dear Husband has been working at a local private school for several months, and recently commented that the school's big fund raising event is coming up in April. He slyly mentioned that there would be a silent auction, and, that it would be awfully nice if he had something to donate for the auction.

Silence.

Of course, he could donate one of his hand made knives, but a quilt done in school colors might go over better right?

More Silence.

I finally have to reply - you know I'm trying to finish up mom's big quilt - right? And I've volunteered to take on the publicity for the guild's quilt show (an unbelievably large task)... right?

Even More Silence.

But how can I refuse... of course I'll just whip something together. So inspired by this month's guild speaker, Sally Schneider, I decide to use the pattern that I bought at the meeting to make a fast, quilt.

The event's theme is "A Night to Shine" so, stars it is. And I'm using a pattern that includes a pieced border... that is incorporated into the block piecing. When finished, it will look incredibly complex, when in fact, it is just diagonally set blocks, with a build in border...

Here's a picture of the work in progress:

Two strips are done, and are being pinned together for sewing...

It did go together fairly quickly - probably have about 12 hours total into it... I'll give you an update next week... due date: April 1!

A Quilter's Work is Never Done....

Way past time to post my Charity Quilt turned in at the February guild meeting. With all the mess going on last month, I made it the easy way, with one of the little "kits" our guild "Baby Bundle" committee make available. The kits are made using Anita Grossman Solomon's fabulously simple "Super-Sized Nine Patch" pattern. yep, 9 pieces, easily cut from strips across the width of a yard of fabric, or from fat quarters... sooooo easy. A great way to put together a quilt in an afternoon. If you do a "pillow turn" rather than a binding, and tie rather than machine quilt it's even easier. Though I feel like I can free motion something like this as fast as my fumble fingers can tie it!

These little quilts, under 42" square, are a great way to practice your free motion quilting too!

I decided to quilt some "cloud-like" puffs... and a few balloons in the corners to go along with the pattern in the fabric.

This simple pattern can be found for download online in the free patterns at the Quiltmaker magazine site:

http://quiltmaker.com/patterns/patt230/

By the way, this site has a fabulous collection of various simple patterns for charity quilts - all easily downloadable. Many are soooo simple! You have no excuses not to make that pattern for your guild's charity effort this month!

Thanks to Anita for sharing this pattern with the guild!

(Quilting) Life Goes On...

After a couple of weeks of trauma, I hope to get back to writing about some of the nicer things that happened over the month of January... and what's up for February... Thanks to those you who send condolences over out loss of our old kitty friend. One of these days soon, I'm sure we'll have room again for another...

Before all the grimness of the end of the month, I actually had some pleasant quilting experiences that I feel I need to share. As a Christmas gift to myself, I signed up for two quilting workshops last fall, they happened early in the month, unfortunately, with all the other goings on, I didn't really get a chance to report.

The first was a two day workshop with that "Dear Jane" lady, Brenda Papadakis, who incidentally, has recently moved to Texas - we told her it was OK that she got here as soon as she could! The workshop was courtesy of the Chisholm Trial Guild, with a membership in the areas of Georgetown and Round Rock - just north of Austin. With an invitation to Austin guild members to attend the workshops, how could I forgo such a wonderful opportunity.

If you aren't familiar with Brenda or the Dear Jane phenomenon, its all about a fabulous sampler quilt, made up of 4-1/2 inch blocks, by a lady named Jane Stickle, "in war time 1863". While we don't know a lot about the quilter, her work is incredible, with over 250 small blocks, each almost an entirely unique design... Brenda published a book on the quilt, and it has garnished a following of quilters around the world, who make quilts as copies, or in honor of this quilt. The quilts made in the spirit of this quilt are often referred to as "Baby Janes". The quilt, all hand made of course, includes pieced and appliqued work, and every block presents a different challenge to the quilter.

Many of the attendees were "followers" and brought their existing works in progress and finished. Just looking at those was a great experience and very inspiring.

We spent one day doing hand work, and the second working by machine. I decided, in the spirit of Jane to modify the 5-star block known as "Papa's Star" into the form of a "Texas Star", in honor of Brenda. The workshop was great fun, and very informative, though Brenda expressed a great deal of weariness at all the moving mess. expressing that her sewing room was still mostly packed! I hope Brenda get's settled in, and is able to unpack her sewing room and enjoy living in the Great State, an I hope we see her in the Austin area again soon.

Above is my work from the class...THREE blocks!

And, I also was able to attend the Austin Guild workshop with Denise Lipscomb... I think I mentioned this earlier. I've finished 3 rows towards this quilt - which will need 12... not sure yet who will end up with this one... perhaps another neice?! The braid is very simple to do... but doesn't it look complex? It's so simple, that it gets a bit too repetitive. It's going to be a project that I can pull out anytime I just want to sew, without complications! Denise was a very easy-going teacher, no stress, just simple easy instructions, very helpful.

And finally....

SHHHH! Don't tell mom - but the 50th Anniversary Quilt is getting a Binding. Fairy Frost Gold in the thinnest of bindings - 1/4". Those scallops are a bear... but one side is finished!

ALMOST there!

KEEP QUILTING!

OLOK - R.I.P.

Alas, the last of the family pets from the childhood home has passed on. I hope there are plenty of nice fat meecsies wherever he may be.

Meesies What I Love to Eat,

Meesies Fat and Oh, So, Sweet

Bite they little heads off,

Eat they little feet

Meeses, (little!) meesies - What I Love to Eat....

Thank you Olok!

Quilting Hospice

OLOK is sick... this week, I combine my quilting, (and work) with - nursing. The ravages of time appear to have caught up with our formerly tough old tom cat. Named "Our Little Outside Kitty" by my then young son, OLOK (rhymes with "o-lock) has always been our not too familiar - mostly outside cat. As the years have passed, he's grown fonder of staying "in", especially in bad weather, no longer living up to his unusual name.

He's more than paid his keep - a champion mouser, no vermin stayed long around the premises - often such deeds were highlighted by a special "offering", laid neatly at the back door, as though offered in payment for room & board. Such offerings being rare, however, as he had a serious taste for mice... rarely sparing one for a "giveaway"... I once watched him somewhat incredulously as he finished one off (it was barely dead) with great relish, leaving nothing but the tail - ugh! He was always my husband's cat, as Joe "rescued" him from a no doubt shorter, and harder life as a feral cat. As a very small kitten, he was noticed roaming the garden and back yard - coming and going in and out of the street drain. Our home then backed up to a very old farm - where a few cats were always to be seen around the old barn and nearby pond,(Frogs being apparently almost as good as mice - legs only please!) cruising quietly at the feet of the elderly woman who lived there in those early years. It was always an idyllic scene.

- OLOK in better times...sneaking into

the sewing room...

The appearance of the little cat was not welcome, as our other cat, TC (the Ten Dollar Cat), was very territorial, and, a fight would be sure to be in the future, if the little kitten were not caught and tamed (or - given away). My husband set about to trap the little orange striped tabby...

It only took a couple of days, and one day, the kitten was to be found in the trap - baited with sardines - at the back of the lot... I remember watching my surprised husband trying to pick up and carry the cat - inside the trap - back to the house. The cat, seemingly so happy, and friendly in the garden chasing frogs, had turned into a tiny Skil Saw... actively trying to attack my husband through the bars as he carried the trap by the small, to-close-for comfort handle! Not a happy kitten - and a surprised husband.

He brought the cat (still in the trap) and, decided he could "tame" him... sitting, still hissing and spitting in the trap, and looking VERY untameable - now, in the corner of the kitchen.

Throughout the day, he offered up tiny bits of tasty things - which the kitten at first refused, but later, young hunger won out, and he ate them, only when no one was looking.

Joe spent the night sleeping on a sleeping bag, next to the trapped kitten - by morning, the door was open, and, hand inside the cage, the dirty deed was done - the kitten (somewhat) tamed...

So, OLOK was never REALLY my cat, or, my son's though, he often would deign to allow me some seemingly reluctant (don't touch my feet!) lap time. Most days he could be seen spending the lazy summer days in his favorite spot in the yard or garden. He never forgot that street drain - always a quick spring away in the event of any alarm. Never tolerant of any other people, he could disappear in a heartbeat at the appearance of any visitor to the house or yard.

I was concerned about our move into the city from our "almost country" suburban location in June of 2006, but he seemed to adapt to closer quarters fairly well. Spending more and more time indoors, especially cold winter days. He discovered that the hunting, while not quite as good, was still possible here, with baby pigeons replacing the field mice of his former haunts.

He's always been protective of his territory. Despite being neutered, he still was known to spar from time to time with any other cat with the misfortune to step over whatever invisible line separated HIS world from the rest of it. Only a few of these encounters ever resulted in any damage needing any care. OLOK was always an impressive (and beautiful) creature. Strong, and big, but never really overweight. If he didn't want you to hold on to him, he was quick to let you know it was time to put him down...and you knew you didn't want to argue. He could turn instantly into an armful of sharp claws! A bit of a "macho" man, he would never back out of a fight.

Last spring, he finally got involved in a contest that resulted in an abscessed wound and a vet visit. The vet then remarked at how healthy he was for his age... I wonder what the other cat looked like...?

The neighborhood, unfortunately has many feral, and sort of tame cats - many living at one unfortunate old soul's home... none are neutered, all look in bad shape, and several seedy looking tom's are seen frequently haunting our yard. I began keeping OLOK inside nights - he was NOT happy... favoring staying out at least until our bedtime each evening.

A few weeks ago, he apparently got into another scuffle - but this time, kept his wounds secret - hiding in front of, and under his throat - two chest bites. They festered, and, finally, when I noticed him turning down food, I knew what was up and forced a search of him - by then the abscess had already swelled and drained. He's been on a downhill slide ever since. The vet can find no real reason for the refusal of food - says it's just something they do naturally - he may just start eating again - he may not.

He has been spending days in the sewing room (which he normally is not allowed in), taking over my old rocking chair, seemingly enjoying the hand feeding (sometimes forced though). Drinking water, but refusing solid foods. The vet says, he may snap out of it, or he may not - we could have him force fed regularly, but have decided not to force him to endure such an ignominious treatment.

So, the sewing studio has become a "hospice" of sorts... day by day, the hoped for recovery seems further and further away, though I hope that the next plate of special fish, or tuna or kitty milk, might suddenly be accepted by my old friend.

At least, I have a nice, but somewhat mindless quilt pattern to work on.

I enjoyed a wonderful class last weekend by Denise Lipscomb, owner of Common Threads Quilting Shop in Waxahachie . She taught an easy, (but complex looking) pattern called "Pioneer Braid".

All the pieces are cut, there is a lot of chain piecing, and repetitive work, with the only decisions being which color to pick up next. A great way to get rid of scraps, though I decided to stick with a single color scheme - light and dark purples. Doesn't it look complicated? It's so simple, it's silly... for the pattern and a virtual visit to her fine shop: www.commonthreadsquilting.com

OLOK gets to hang out with the first two rows. The rocker holds many memories - it was my favorite place to nurse my young son so many years ago...what better place for a kitty hospice?

- Karen 1/23/2008

Quilting a Holiday

What better way to spend a few hours on a quiet Christmas day than to work on a Rag Quilt?

A couple of years ago, I made 5 or 6 of these easy, but arduous quilts. They were all the rage - patterns were everywhere. I looked them all over and settled on the RagTime pattern from Quilt Country in Lewisville looked simple enough. As you can see, it's just alternating plain blocks with 4-patches, with a 1 inch seam that is sewn on the front, then clipped to turn into a lovely raggy chenille like surface.


The problem is the heft of the flannel, which makes the final sewing of the heavy batting filled strips a real bear wrestling match. And then, there is the clipping.....


One of the scissor companies came out with a scissor especially designed to make the work a bit easier on the hand, but it's still requires thousands of snips... tick, tick, tick, goes the life clock.



I discovered an old pair of electric scissors in my collection of old sewing things, and discovered that it is the simplest way to clip those seam allowances - no wear on the hands, and does the job in a fraction of the time required with manual scissors!



I had two large blanket-sized bags full of pre-cut blocks, that have not been touched for two years - last year I laid off, and decided I'd given away enough Rag quilts for a while!



But, alas, one important member of my family had NOT received a quilt - my baby brother! 10 years my junior, he's just not someone I think of as one who sits around needing a lap quilt...



But that said, he recently commented that he "had NEVER been given a quilt".... and so, the mighty bags of flannel squares were resurrected from the depths of my stash closet. Some uncut yardage, which included some darker, more manly, and less Christmas-like fabrics were also enlisted in the efforts.





The old 1927 Singer 31-15 was more than up to the task of constructing the quilt, and those old electric scissors still work as well as I remember. If was a fun task to work on over the holidays.

So, for the past few days, I've tried to finish off the quilt. Tomorrow, I'll post a picture of the finished quilts.

I do hope you were able to take a few hours out to enjoy doing a bit of quilting this Holiday Season - and wish a Very Merry Christmas to you and yours!

2007 Challenge MET!

First apologies for such a long sabbatical. A lot has been going on, some good, but some that can only be described as "challenging"... lets start with the good stuff first OK?!

In mid 2006, I joined the Austin Area Quilt Guild, and after a few months of participation, decided that the best way to give back a bit to the group would be to challenge myself to make a baby quilt each month for the guild's charity "Baby Bundle" project. I made my first quilt for the January 2007 meeting, and challenged myself and others to make a quilt each month in 2007...

I'm happy to announce that I met the challenge (actually ended up making a few more than 12 - but sort of lost count)! Last month's quilt didn't get pictured... it was actually made in a bit of a hurry, as I'd been on the road to and from my Mom's in Dallas and so it was finished at literally the last minute - and almost didn't make it to the guild meeting - as we had a flat tire on the way there! So no picture was made. I used some older red/blue cheater fabric designed for pillows, and turned the pillow panels, which has a lovely folk artsy "heart" design into a 4-block quilt! But this month's was made at a more leisurely pace. The crazy log cabin blocks were made some months ago, an outgrowth of a workshop by Gwen Marston that led me to her book "Liberated Quiltmaking". I decided to make up a free-pieced "crazy" log cabin blocks. Then, I took the smaller scraps and strip pieced them to a 3" x 12" foundation for a border. I really liked the end result, and plan to do some more such quilts... great, great fun!

Here's a closer look at the blocks and border.

To set the log cabins, I just put 5 inch borders around them, and used my 15" Omnigrid square to rotary cut them into true squares... keeping the log cabins a bit "twisted"

I chose a cool design cam and stitched the binding down to the front with the lovely old 1971 Elna 62C.

One of these days, I'll take pictures of all my sewing machine collection for you... this machine makes the loveliest designs, all with little cams. Those Swiss do make good machines.

I used the Singer 15-91 to do the quilting... all was done free motion.

And what about the other challenge? I spent over a week in late October in Dallas, while Mom went through Triple Bypass Open Heart surgery! After returning home, she went back to the hospital for a couple more days to treat some atrial fibrillation that developed after the surgery. At 72, it's been a real challenge. My father, who's 76, never imagined that he'd be caring for mom - he was supposed to be the one with the heart problems! He had a stent put in place in an artery over 10 years ago, but I know always thought mom would be caring for him... After two full days at the hospital, Dad & I decided to split our time there - he in the morning, and me in the afternoon (he can't drive after dark).

So, another trip and a lot of time spent in the aftermath has been tiring, and, well, not fun.

Mom is recovering well, though suffering a bit from some confusion, and short term memory loss, we are hoping that she can work through some of this and regain her former vigor. Right now she's thrilled that she lost 10 pounds through all this and has worked herself back down in size and is fitting into some of her smaller clothes!

So - even in the darkest of times... there is hope!!

And now, back to that big old Wedding Ring quilt that MUST be finished in time for my next trip to Dallas!

Here's wishing you and yours a Happy, Happy holiday!

Monthly Baby Quilt

Still on track with my goal to produce a charity quilt each month... Here's this months (October turn in).

This was a true scrap construction, using up only the tiniest amount from my true scrap collection!

I machine quilted it, using Signature's 40 weight pastel variegated thread.

If you look closely, you'll see that I machine quilted spirals in each block! Just did a couple of lines of walking foot work round the border.

Check out the little decorative heart stitches used to hold down the french binding... I like to sew the binding to the back, then fold to the front. Gives one more opportunity to decorate the front with a decorative stitch. Use the "Heart" cam and my 1977 Elna 62C Supermatic! Here's a detail:

Isn't that cute! I really think piecing these little quilts each month is really helped me improve my piecing tremendously. I'm now seeing more straight seams and joins than crooked ones!

This one went out Monday nite as a Baby Bundle Donation for the Austin Area Quilt Guild's charity quilt program.

PIECE and HAPPY SEAMS all!

- Karen

Quilting to Soothe the Soul

Well, as though things weren't busy enough, I had to take a brief detour last month and spend a week away from home. My mom went to her Doctor with a complaint of feeling tired, and breathless when working in her garden. Her Osteopath sent her to her heart Doctor THAT AFTERNOON, and he promptly put her in the hospital. She "failed" the stress test, and further tests indicated serious blockages in three arteries needing immediate attention. Mom is a heretofore healthy 73 years old!



A Triple Bypass later, she spent a week in recovery. I arrived a few days after the surgery, to help dad in the daily slog to and from the hospital, about 30 miles away in nearby downtown Dallas (they live about halfway between Dallas and Ft. Worth. At 77, Dad no longer enjoys driving far from home, and can't drive at night. We ended up doing a "split shift" which him at the hospital mornings, and me there in the afternoon and evening. It left me with some time to kill at their home, and after I spent a few days doing some cleaning chores around the house, I ended up with a little time on my hands (they are on a dial up connection - using the Internet too time consuming to be attractive!). What to do?



Of course, not to be without some quilting work, I had taken my trusty Elna 62C and the bag O' Purple - a large blanket sized bag of purple quarters, yards and scraps that has been the source for one purple quilt, and now is serving as the source for two additional tops - for nieces. I have to admit that this is not MY favorite color. To that end, I've decided to use the colors to put to use in learning new techniques. Last spring, I used the purples at a Pat Speth workshop on Nickle quilts, and recently, I took it to a great workshop by Lynn Roddy Brown of Houston.

She taught a wonderful technique for a pattern she called "Texas Two Step", a variation of a fairly common block that involves two 4-patches, and two half square triangles, set in a particular way.



However, rather than set up the Elna on the dining room table, I decided it was high time I cleaned up my Grandmother's treadle operated Singer 66. Mom inherited Grandma's machine and brought it home sometime in the early 90's. My Grandmother, Birdie Lee Fillette, though not a woman of means, lived a long and fruitful life, raising 8 of her own children, many of her years as a single mother, her husband being not the best of father figures - as they used to say "he drank a bit"... at any rate, she sewed clothing for all the kids, and in 1946, just after WWII, she purchased, new (on "time), at the local Singer Dealer in Alexandria, Louisiana, the Singer. A model 66, is a no-frills model, with a "Godzilla" crinkle finish, and a plain 3 drawer cabinet. It has seen so much use, the crinkle finish is worn smooth across the bed... it turns over with great ease. Mom rescued it from the small home her mother was living in when the family moved her into a nursing home in the early 1990's. My grandmother lived to be 95 years old, passing on in 1999. I remember visiting her many times, and seeing her using the machine. She often credited the use of the treadle as a reason for her long life. She said it was great exercise and one of the reasons for her great "legs"! Indeed, she was always a trim woman!



Mom said she bought the treadle rather than an electric model as that was what she had before, and she said she saw no reason to waste electricity when she could sew perfectly well without it.!



At any rate, sometime last year I had fitted it with a new belt, and oiled it up, but had not had time to take it for "a ride".



I decided to take all the pre-cut pieces and try putting them together with the Treadle.

While my technique probably needs help, it wasn't too difficult to work the machine, and I was soon sewing at a clip. By the end of my visit, I had finished a good number of blocks... I'll post them when I get them all put together... Here's a picture of just one block, and a postcard of the pattern I made as a thank you for Lynn...

By the way, she has a new book out, which I highly recommend - this pattern is in the book, called Simple Strategies for Scrap Quilts. Her web site is http://www.lynnroddybrown.com/. There you can see a full size version of this quilt done scrappy. It's a great pattern, and can be set in many different ways. Because you have the half dark, and half light, it's easily adapted to any settings you've seen for log cabin patterns...

The work was not only good exercise, but it was very relaxing, especially helpful in dealing with the stress of visting mom daily at the hospital - what work that was! So difficult to see loved ones suffering, and so out of sorts. Though it is truly miraculous the work that Doctors can do now for such problems that once would have meant a shorter life, and an end of suffering.


Mom went home, and is recovering well... I hope this is her last visit for big "work" for a while!
I saved the purple blocks, and will finish up the next group next time I visit. As for now, I am still working nightly on finishing up the Wedding Ring quilt for mom by Christmas. Now only tiny hearts hand quilted in the rings to finish up - then BIND!


PIECE and Happy Seams to all
- Karen

Baby QUilts as Coping Mechanism...

OK... the nest is STILL empty...

...and, I have to admit, that the odds of my baby bird returning any time soon (as seems to happen quite a bit these days), seems terribly remote.

I was blessed with an "explorer" the kind who (sorry Trek fans) "boldy goes"...with nary a look back. He left home for culinary school, and promptly built a great life for himself - already ready a Sous Chef and turning twenty this month - albeit in a great town about 1200 miles from home (boo hoo).

The prospect of any enlargement to the family, likewise seems remote - though there does seem to be a fairly steady gal pal arrangement these days. One which I have not yet met, though, who seems, (after an accidental chat on son's AIM last week), to be quite nice. And any gal my son picks must be pretty good - he's always had an eye for the good things in life. And, at twenty, there's plenty of time for that later -No worries - right?

Oh, but, as anyone who's learning to live with the empty nest knows, there are some days when the nest is emptier than others.

The quilt shown above is this month's "baby bundle" quilt. At the beginning of the year, I challenged myself to make at least one each month, and so far, so good... actually, with about 9 quilts done, I'm a bit ahead of myself for a change! The quilts are fun, non-stressful creations, as challenging or easy as I like. They are as enjoyable to give away as to make... Each also provides a ready palate for testing new skills or patterns - in this case, the new walking foot for "Big Red", which worked admirably, and a great continuous like pattern for the border - from Janie Donaldson's "Add-a-Line Continued More Continuous Quilting Patterns" -it can be found on page 12 in the book.

Note in the picture above though who looks over my every quilting job, both blessing every quilt, and (gratefully) quietly ignoring all faults... my son's picture hangs as that of the "saint of the sewing studio" (please pardon - no damage intended to the devout!). He was always a bit of a cynic where organized religion is concerned, so I think he'd enjoy the irony of the comparison.

A closer look indicates that this is a very young picture (Jr. year in H.S.) still sporting that adolescent skin, and in a somewhat awkward pose for the camera (er, uhm, for mom actually - because he would ONLY sit for a photo at that time if forced too by me of course !). But, it's one of my favorites, because it is such a great picture, still hinting of the innocence of earlier years.

It's funny how just little things can set me off to a place of sadness though. What started all this musing (and missing) was the discovery, tucked away in my old treadle cabinet's drawers, of 3 items from son John's rock collection. Just three small bits, a few of many, which still, somehow, continue to clutter the house here and there. Though we moved away from the boyhood home last year, and have packaged up (or so I thought) or sold off, or shipped off to him every thing that was designated as HIS... still somehow they turn up. Usually I find them in the unlikeliest of places - as in this case, Whilst searching for a wayward walking foot for "Big Red" the 15-31.

The small rocks are a bit of turquoise - bought in an unusual touristy place no doubt. A smooth reflective piece of hematite - bought by me on one of my many trips to a far away museum, back in the days when my life was filled with business travel. I always tried to bring home some new thing for him...more for the enjoyment the anticipation gave me - knowing that even the smallest little thing brought from far away gave him great pleasure!

And last, but certainly not least, a real small piece of meteorite - found long ago on the shores of Lake Buchanan. A true bit of pre-John history, that we shared.

No telling how they ended up in the old cabinet... probably picked up from the carpet at some point, and put there for safe keeping.

I think, I'll keep them just a bit longer, as they provide pleasant memories of a shelf full of found things... all that John kept for his own enjoyment. He can have them whenever he likes... but I have them, and my memories, NOW!

- Karen

That FIRST Quilt

Anyone who's ever quilted has a FIRST quilt. And, as a quilter, it has great importance.

If you ARE a quilter today, then that first quilt set you on the path you find yourself today - whether still a beginner, working on that NEXT quilt, or an experienced quiltmaker with dozens under your belt! That Quilting Journey begins with a first quilt...

Perhaps a sewing machine was involved - but perhaps not. Hand quilting is a time-honored tradition, and the method isn't really important is it?! The fact that is got DONE is what's important!

Lately, my mom has been doing some serious "downsizing", which prompted some musings on the beginnings of my sewing, and quilting journey. This all started with the "return" of some most unlikely, and somewhat forgotten items from my quilting past.

The year must have been 1968, or more likely 69... when I was a Freshman in High School. The item, a patchwork, drawstring pair of bell bottom pants! The patches are about 3 inches square to boot - nothing shy about these babies! Paired with a muslin and red bandana patterned peasant top - they are a sight to see. I had COMPLETELY forgotten about this endearing piece of Karen's sewing and teen years history. Yes, this get up would be right at home at any "Flower Power" costume ball... all I'd need is the floppy canvas hat (with matching red bandanna print band), to make the outfit complete. The hat is long gone, but mom kept the costume for some bizarre reason - wisely deducing that it might some day provide humorous reminiscense, as well as proof of some difficult and rebellious years (to mom mostly...).

I'm grateful she saved them, as I only have a vague memory of making and wearing this get up...! At this point, I can't cheat you out of a picture...

How about the close up of the patchwork in the pants... check those intersections! No doubt this was made AFTER my first quilt... where I got practice piecing those squares - more about that later.

Not at all bad eh? The drawstring was also handmade with an "Inkle" loom. My last project before leaving Girl Scouts... The inkle loom was "found" recently, but alas, it was no longer useable...not to mention the fact that instructions on how to use it were long gone...

However, my inexperience in fashion/sewing technique shows... note the bottom of those pants! I was obviously working my way down from the waist, and just wacked off the bottom to make the right length, leaving that untidy remnant.

I just CAN'T imagine that I wore this, but mom says she has PICTURES (aaaargh!?!)... and that she'll give them to me when she finds them - if she's smart, she'll hold them for some appropriate ransom!

But back to that first quilt... I had to share the outfit just to give you some background for the times... Along with "Flower Power" came an interest in getting "back to nature", and, along with that, a renewed interest in handcrafts. Building your own furniture, weaving, and, of course sewing, though sewing your own clothing was not really all that cool...

The inspiration for making a quilt came with the times, but also with some exposure to the quilts of my grandmother, who at the time was in her early 60's, was very active, and still sewing on her 1940's Singer model 66. Never electrified, it was a foot powered treadle - she preferredi it to electric to the end - sewing on that machine all her adult life, until well into her 80's - despite the constant efforts of her 8 children to provide her with a "modern" machine. She still made most of her own clothing, and made quilts for the grandchildren, and others with scraps from her sewing bag. All would be called utility quilts today, nothing at all fancy, usually tied, or occassionally machine quilted in the ditch. She lived about 8 hours away by car, in Alexandria Louisiana, so we were able to visit her several times a year. I have many early memories of enjoying "helping" her sew at that treadle.

Oddly, my mother was never interested in making a quilt. At the time, I think purchased bed covers (and the ability to AFFORD to purchase them) was much preferred by her. She grew up the 7th of 8 children, in extreme poverty, a child of the Great Depression. To HAVE to make quilts - well, she has left all that behind. (Though making children's clothes to save a few dollars was acceptable, and no doubt provided a creative outlet!).

So the choice of my first quilt design was very much influenced by Grandma's work...

The Trip Around the World was pieced from scraps from mom (and my) scrap basket, I remember some of the clothing represented in it's squares even today! Mom always saved her sewing scraps for our doll clothes, and so I had plenty of fabric for the top.

It is large enough to cover a twin bed with a nice drop, or a full bed just so. The squares were cut the old fashioned way (this was long before rotary cutters!), with templates made from the cardboard from a cereal box, and all cut by hand with scissors.

The quilt was pieced by machine - the squares into long strips (rows) that were then sewn together. I do remember the batting being Mountain Mist Blue Ribbon Cotton (on Grandma's orders), and the backing was a "not-quite-new" sheet sacrificed for the job. No binding, the backing was just cut big enough to fold over to the top (though mitered!), leaving a nice red border round the quilt. I did sew a nice feather stitch round the edge of the border - simply for decoration!

The quilting was strictly "in the ditch", no marking. And yes, quilted with that old Featherweight...something I DON'T recommend. I remember it was rather like wrestling a bear to get it through that little machine...

After that quilt, I didn't make another quilt until my son was born, in the summer of 1987. My interest in quilting was renewed, and many quilts came on the heels, of that baby quilt, along with a deep interest in improving my skills, learning ALL the techniques, and a returning interest in old sewing machines!

Today, I find myself wanting to share and teach these skills to others - so they can know the joy of creating something with your own hands... for yourself, and for others.

Karen's "Trip Around the World" ca. 1968