Who doesn't need a quilty binder for back to school?

My son likes playing Minecraft.  Actually, he lives and breathes Minecraft.  So, when the back to school shopping happened, the black vinyl binders just didn't cut it and I offered to make a quilted cover.  He surprised me when he said "that would be cool.!"
Wow, what a great son!
So the thinking began.  How do you make a masculine binder cover that he would be proud of when his favorite colors are black, gray, and black.
So, inspiration struck.  Why not made a pixelated quilt with a minecraft theme.
An idea was born.  Have a peek.
Yes, those are 3/4" squares of fabric fused onto a base fabric, and then quilted.
I think it turned out pretty well,  and so does he :)

So, just like many of our photo sessions, it ended up with a photo of Rob and Neeka.  They're both cutie pies!

Talkin' Tuesday and GenQ Magazine

Tonight was a hoot.  GenQ Magazine was sponsoring Talking Tuesday - see buttons on sidebar.  Up to its usual hijinks, GenQ brought out the best in the chatters.  We even got to chose what our super hero name would be if we could be a quilting superhero.
I mentioned that since "Captain Buckethead" was taken in our house, that I'd have to pick another name.  This drew a couple of ?? replies.
So here he is, fresh out of retirement in Bucket City,

Captain Buckethead !!

aka my darling 12 yr old son.

I think I'm going to have to insist he use a quilt for his cape,

 but then Superman's mom didn't tell him what to wear, did she?

Batik BOM #2 finished

Today's finish is another customer's quilt.   It is the same pattern as the last one but in a different colour way.  It also got a much different quilting treatment.  This time I made feathers.  Feathers in many different combinations.  The different blocks, of the Block of the Month pattern, received a different pattern.  The cornerstones that connect the blocks received a continuous pattern to accent their linear feature.  The filler blocks that were all the same received the same circle of feathers., half a circle in the side triangles.   As I do for all my customers who wish it, I serged the edges to make it easy and neat for binding.
So, here's a peek.

Time to vacuum the sewing room.

My baby's back....

Yesterday I got a call from the sewing machine hospital to say my baby was ready to come home.  She had a general overhaul and cleaning.  I vacuum out the bobbin area regularly but the tech was still able to remove a ball of fluff the size of a large grapefruit from inside the machine.
The lesson - get that regular servicing !!
She has a new bobbin case (see story below) and the total bill was less than I was expecting so it's all good.
And she's sewing like a dream.

The new bobbin case is because I put a needle through it a while ago.  I broke a needle and when I went searching for the pieces, I found the tip gouged into the side of the plastic bobbin case.  Being the frugal (cheap) sort, I smoothed it out with a scissor blade and got it up and running.  But since baby was going into the shop anyway, I figured I'd spring for the new one.  I'm happy with that decision. :)

Now, on another note.  Do you need rain??  Just send me camping.  Both of our camping trips this summer were cut short because of rain..  Camping in a tent, with an 11 yr old, and a dog, when it's raining and the forecast is for more rain-- isn't fun.  So, both times we went home.  This time it took 2 weeks !!!!! for the tent to dry out.  Every time it was almost dry enough to pack up , it would rain again.  AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH !   I think we're done for this year.   I need to win a lottery and get a trailer.  But then, if it were a big enough lottery, skip the camping and do the 5 star resort is what I say!

August FNSI

This was quite a night.  I think instead of calling it FNSI, I'll call it Wrestlemania Marathon.
I worked on a customer's quilt.  I had half of the quilting done by yesterday, so I figured it would be a cinch to finish it tonight.  Wrong in so many ways.
I started sewing this afternoon and met problem after problem.  The thread kept breaking.  I blamed the thread, as it was embroidery weight - not what I would have picked.  That and the bobbin thread was quite a bit thicker as it was 100% cotton "machine quilting" thread.  Also not what I usually use.  So, I tried to tough it out.
Rethreaded top and bottom, too many times to count
Changed the needle
Changed the bobbin
Changed the bobbin thread as I had the same colour in "my fav" thread
Changed the top thread
Changed them all again, a few times,
Still, every foot or so, the thread would shred and I would let out a few of those words that my mama would have washed my mouth out with soap for saying.
So, I went to Costco. I came home and made a delicious fruit salad of strawberries, watermelon and red grapefruit.

 And I walked the dog.
  Then downstairs I went again.
Finally in frustration, I pulled my machine out of the table and put in my backup/take to class machine.
Should have done that in the first place, it worked perfectly.  No more thread problems.
So, it wasn't the thread, or the bobbin, or the needle etc.
It was my machine.
So, I'll be taking her to the doctor tomorrow. 
So, in the meantime, I wrestled that quilt through the smaller machine and got 'er done.  Serged the edges, and packed her up.  Hopefully the recipient is home tomorrow and I can deliver it.

 A closer look at the quilting.  Overall daisies on the quilt, and a chain of daisies on the border.

 Packed and ready to depart from my home.

This is one quilt that did not find a soft spot in my heart.  If it had been mine, it would probably be in the darkest corner of a closet by now.

Studio Tour! Moving in ~~!

Finally the day has arrived.  I moved in to my new quilting studio.  It still needs a serious case of decorating - I vision quilts on the walls _ but for now, I'm in.
Here's a few pics.

 Here's the new work surface, with the Janome Horizon set in flush with the desk surface.  For the first time I have a machine at the ideal working height for me :)  happy dance!! The acrylic extension table that came with the machine made a great insert to fill in the 'hole.'  It's only white because I have it covered with a teflon microwave oven liner - it makes it really slick for FMQ.

 This end of the room is long enough to house my Inspira 10' frame.  I use my Horizon on this frame             hi mom!    (Oops, walked away from my computer when ds in room)

Here's the view from the end of the frame end of the room.  What you can't see is the space beside the bookcase where I can hang a design wall.

For anyone planning to build a 'studio', here's my itemized breakdown.
The white storage cubes are from Michaels. I already had them.  They're sold as scrapbooking/craft storage and are on sale on a regular basis, or you can use their 40% off coupons.  I love the modular format as I can make them work around my style.  The book case, I already had found it at a yard sale a couple of years ago for $8 or so.  The chairs are from auctions.  They were around $5 each.
The desk surface is a 4'x8' sheet of 5/8" MDF from Home Depot.  It retails for about $35 but this was in the bargain bin at 50% off because one surface had 'skid' marks, and one of the edges had a ding in it from the straps that they use to bind a stack of wood.  Since I was having it cut to 36"x78" and the other side was pristine, I grabbed it!!  The Depot has a cutting service, so the dashing fellow cut it to size for me for free.  Now I also have the cut off pieces for "extra" stuff.
I mounted the desk on the wall using large L brackets.  Make sure you use a good stud finder because these have to be mounted securely to the wall.   Then the desk surface is screwed to the other side of the brackets.
I used 2 ballisters (the posts of a stair railing) for support legs along the front edge.  One is beside the white cubes, the other is beside the maple table.  This table I've had since I was 17.  I bought it at an auction.  It was covered in heavy grey paint and had the marbled grey arborite with the metal edge on it - circa 1950's.  I had it restored about 20 years ago and it's a beautiful, solid maple table - gate legged,with a double drop leaf.  When it's closed it's only about 12" wide.  It has come to college with me and served as a desk, and has moved with me at least 7 times.
There is another wheeled cart that is part of the Michaels storage system that I use for a cutting table.  I will fit right between the book case and the desk.  That way, I can move it around to my left side when I need to support a large quilt for tabletop quilting.  I'm just waiting for a a strong lad to help me bring it downstairs, since it weighs a ton.
The recessed area for the sewing machine is made from a piece of the extra MDF.  I used small L brackets bolted together to make a Z shape and hung the base from that.  They're relatively cheap at Home Depot and a few bolts and screws finished that job.
I've kept the cut out piece and plan to put some "legs" on it so I can place it back in, if I need to use the whole desk surface.
Separating the room off in the basement was a bit pricier project.  Studs, drywall, sound/fire insulation, mud, paint, etc.  I'm lucky I had a friend who was able to help with that.  I did pay an electrician to move the outlets and light fixture boxes and switches to where I needed them.
Finally, I purchased a 2'x4' sheet of pegboard and mounted it on the wall above the storage cubes.  Yes, that is a hammer hanging there.  You never know when you need a hammer!!   The pegboard also gives me a place to (finally) hang my rulers so I can find them :)
There are a few more odds and ends that still have to come down from upstairs, but for the most part, it, and I, am raring to go.

Moving in !

Today was the day.  The day I started moving in to my quilting studio.  First I made a trip around town looking for better light fixtures and ended up buying basic 2 bulb flourescent fixtures with daylight bulbs.   Then, taking risk in hand (ha ha) I installed them all by myself!  So now I've done some detailed measuring to help decide what goes where.   I've already decided I don't like the bookcase where I put it, so moving it will be the next feat.  Then I've got to get my frame up.  Everything else will be made to suit around that large !! piece.  No pics yet.  Soon,  soon...

Friday Night Sew-In results

Well, it's 2 am and I'm calling it a night.  I managed to get my project done, and I'm tuckered out.
I'm making a quilt for a customer, and she asked about a bedskirt.  Being the daughter of a "slipcover queen", I said "sure",   So after some calculating, and some shopping, we came up with a plan.  For the base of the skirt, I used a fitted sheet.  In this case King size.  The quilt fabric was purchased 5 !!!!! years ago, so the chances of finding a compatible fabric for the bedskirt seemed to be a daunting task, but not so.  The first place I went to had this decorator fabric, the perfect green to match one of the greens in the quilt.  And it's very similar in texture too,  WIN!!
We went with a rather formal look, with pleats on the sides and corners.  Once I had the panels made, I sewed them onto the sides of the sheet right at the edge where it would meet the top of the box spring.  This would have been easier to pin into place if I had the right sized mattress to fit the sheet on.  Then I could just pin it along the top edge.  Instead, I pulled the corners tight (pinned one corner to the sofa and pulled the next corner.  Used my teeth for a third hand lol)  and marked the top edge on the sheet.
So, here are my 2 am photos.  I will not vouch for the quality :)

No, it's not a table cloth.

I had only one casualty.  My blind hemming foot.  It's the first time I've used one.  I learned to blind hem on my Mom's old Kenmore,  You had to do ironing and pinning gymnastics  before sewing.
I have to say, after blind hemming 9 yards, times two edges, plus ends,(about 20 yd total) I've decided that the blind hem foot is a keeper.
But, alas, I broke it.  I was trying to "help" it over one of the thick seams and pulled the fabric so hard that the needle came down on the little guide in the foot.  I tried to straighten it with my hemostats, but it really didn't work too well.  Then genius struck.  Duh, my other machine is also a Janome and should have the same foot!  Yes it was, so I tossed the broken one and carried on.  I was more careful after that.

When this you see...

I recently bought this pattern from my LQS.  It's "When this you see.."  by The Rabbit Factory.  Usually I shy away from teeny tiny pieces, but for some reason this pattern appealed to me. So, deep breath, and dive in!
First I raided my stash.  I've got a ton of deep, rich colours, so I decided to go with them.  I did purchase the cream fabric - there are two different ones, but the same shade with an embossed tone on tone pattern.  I'll probably add more to add richer creams into the mix.
Considering that the pieces finish at 1" or even 3/4" (ahhh!), I'm surprised how quilckly the blocks are adding up.  I only need 180 or so.  So far, I have 30,..... or so.
The first 9 I sewed together, but I'm not sure they'll stay that way.  Once I hit a design wall, I may unlink them and "scatter the stars."

I'm thinking I like the look of the checkerboard blocks to be scrappy, with the star blocks all the same to tie it all together.
The pattern calls for appliqued swags around a plain cream coloured border, but, there's lots of time to change that..
If you see me walking down the street looking cross-eyed --- just keep on walkin'
So, what are you working on?

Sad, the trees are dying

I knew it was coming but was in denial.  I live in a section of town that was developed about 20 years ago.  When I moved into my house, the street wasn't even paved yet.  A few years later, the city planted trees along the street.  In front of my house, they planted an ash tree.  Many of the trees along the street are ash trees.  There are some maple, oak, linden etc, but you can really see from a distance which ones are ash trees.  You see, they're the trees that are dead or dying.
We are in an area that is infested with the Emerald Ash Borer.  This nasty beetle bores into the bark of ash trees and lays its eggs.  The larvae that hatch eat the layer just under the bark, killing the tree.  The bark just peels back like cheap paint and you see all the little trails left by the larvae.
I'm sad.  I've nurtured this tree, watered it, fertilized it and watched it grow.  First it was about 8' high and blocked the view of my neighbour's front door.  Then it blocked the roof of the awning over the front door.  Then it blocked the upstairs window, then the roof and finally it grew tall enough that it didn't block the house anymore.  When the city crew came by last year to prune the daylights out of the tree, I cried.  The beautiful crown of the tree was chopped back.  I couldn't see the sickness in the tree, but I guess they did.  So, now the beautiful tree is half dead, and probably will be completely gone by the end of the summer.
If you haven't been hit by the Ash Borer in your area of SW Ontario yet, be vigilant.  Make sure there is no transfer of wood from an infested area to a non-infested area.  All the provincial parks are posted that you can't bring wood into the park.  This scourge has been coming for years, and many, including me, just didn't "get" it.  Now it's too late.
If you're planting - plant anything other than Ash trees.  Maybe we can starve this bug out of existence.  It's dream, but just maybe...
In the meantime, now I hope they come cut it down soon.  I'd like to get a new tree planted as soon as possible so I can have the pleasure of watching it grow big enough to clear the neighbour's house once again.