In the Studio and in the Garden

The blue and yellow leaders and enders project is moving along nicely now that I've changed gears from a leaders and enders to a get it done mode.  Patience for the leaders and enders process is something I still need to work on.

However I'm still on board with the process.  So while finishing up the blue and yellow leaders and enders I'm starting another.  These containers of triangles for HST's are my leaders and enders for the blue leaders and enders.

 

Yesterday's HST's still need to be squared up this morning before doing anything else in the studio

Hopefully I can find some time at the end of the day to make a dresden or two from this UFO.  This will be a small project.  The plan was for a bed runner but it might be a table runner.  Can a bed runner be used as a table runner?  I suppose as long as your table is as large as your bed, right?

But before I do anything in the studio I need to hop out to Mr. Podunk's garden and uncover the plants.  We had a little frost last night so he covered the plants that can't tolerate frost.

The peppers and tomato plants were our biggest concern.

This gave me a chuckle.  Obviously he ran out of buckets and bowls.  Whatever works and gets the job done.

The snap peas are a little more tolerant of frost so they did not need covering.  However I'm noticing a good weeding is in order.  Maybe I can spare an hour or so to help out in the garden.  

He's doing a pretty good job but lacks the time.  I used to be the one to manage the garden but health issues in the last couple of years kept me inside.  The health problems are much better now so I think I give it another try.  Gardening, like quilting, is very relaxing.   Right now would be the best time to do a little weeding while it's muddy.  Those weeds will pop right out of the ground.

Of course Miss Khaleesi wanted to help.  She's very curious about what's under this plastic.

We also have a couple of raised beds in need of some love.  This is his garlic patch.  It's doing really well.  Garlic is planted in the fall, mulched heavily over the winter and then harvested in June or July depending on the weather.

The other raised was our onion patch last year.  These onions are volunteers we did not plant them this year.  Instead of onions he wanted asparagus in this bed.  Since it takes a couple of years to get a good asparagus patch going he decided to let the onions do their thing.  I guess I need to trim these up before they bolt and do a little weeding here as well.

Here's his asparagus.  It doesn't look like much but it grow rapidly after this year.  That's why it gets a bed of its own.  It's like a weed and will take over.  You only need to plant it once and it comes back year after year.  Well I better get busy on these weeds so I can get back into the quilting studio.

    MY WORD OF THE YEAR....MOVE.....MEANS MOVING PROJECTS ALONG OR ME MOVING, STAYING ACTIVE.

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Squaring up Quilt Blocks with Embellishments

 Squaring up quilt blocks is not something I typically need to do.  But with applique blocks it's the best way to ensure your blocks will finish at the correct size.  Even the best of quilters can have some shrinking of background fabric during the applique process.  So as a general rule applique background fabric is cut 1-3 inches larger than the finished size of the block then trimmed to the correct size after the applique is stitched in place.  Most the time the trimming down is fairly simple process. Just press the block and square up to the correct size.  This cute little dresden with yo-yo's will take a little extra effort.

I have the correct size square up ruler but it's not going to work.

The problem is the yo-yo's.  They will not allow the ruler to make contact with the cutting mat.  In the image below the ruler is sitting on top of the dresden block and I can slide a pair of scissors between the ruler and the block.

Did it stop me from trying to square up a block?  No.  And as you probably already guessed the ruler slid, causing me to cut the block a little wonky and too small.  Thankfully the error is not huge and I can still use the block.  It's nothing that a little pinning and "easing in" can't hide.

The June Taylor 12.5" Get Squared Ruler would work great for squaring up this block.  The fussy cutting 6.5" window would have nested perfectly around the yo-yo's.  Sadly I only own the 9.5" version.  I could order it and wait for it to arrive.  Or make the drive into town and hope that Joann's really has it in stock.  The website says its in stock but I've been fooled by that nonsense one to many times.

Plan B:  Use a smaller cutting mat, cut one side at a time and rotate the mat after each cut.  I have a rotating mat that is the same size as this blue Westcott mat but I want to use this blue mat because it's a prettier color and I rarely use it.  I can rotate it without shifting the block.   By the way, I love this little $6 mat I purchased at WalMart.   This normally sets beside me at the sewing machine.  It's used for trimming and squaring up quilt block units.  She's holding up much better than my rotating mat that cost $30.  So if you see one at WalMart it's a great bargain mat.

This is one time I wish my applique had caused some shrinking to the background fabric.  I can't trim the block if I can't see the lines on the mat.

I can faintly see the numbers through the fabric.  Maybe they would be easier to see with a ruler on top of the block.  HAHA!  No you silly girl.  I wish I had a medium sized cutting mat. A medium mat could also be rotated to make the cutting easier. Unfortunately all I have is this small mat and the 24 x 36 mat.  

Plan C: I made a 12.5" square on my large cutting mat with painters tape. Marked a centering line on each side of the square.

Next I folded and creased a center mark on all four sides of the block.  On this block I've used a water soluble marker to make it easier for you to see.

To square up the block I can use the lines on the ruler and the lines on the mat extending out past the tape. The tape is a little outside the cutting line I need to use to make the cut.

This was a little bit harder than a rotating mat but it works.  Where there's a will there's a way.   

Let's see if measures up okay.

Looks pretty good!  Yah!  It's smooth sailing from here.  All I need to do is trim up the rest of these and then I can sew together the quilt top.  Woohoo!  Another UFO soon to be completed.  Now to start thinking about the quilting design.   The yo-yo's are going to add a little extra challenge to that part of the process too.  Oh well, that's part of the fun, don't you think?

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Quilting Paused for a Minor Surgery

 The progress of the Sugar and Spice quilt is moving along at a pretty good rate. I'm not used to working with a kit so I'm being very careful when cutting the fabrics. Included in the instructions is a cutting warning added by the quilt shop not the quilt designer.  Most of the fabrics in this can not be found anymore.   All of the background fabric is cut and I have about 10" x WOF leftover.  Yah! Adding it to my stash.   

Today I 'll start the strip piecing and subcutting for the chain blocks.  This method of piecing I find to be not so easy.  They can get wonky really easy.   Over the years I've learned tricks to keep the strips accurate but I still think aren't as accurate as one piece at a time.  I too write quilt patterns with this method because most quilters like quick and easy ways of making a quilt top.

The blocks should have already been on the assembly line but me and my girl had a little playtime yesterday.  The weather here has been really cold and snowy.  Little Miss Pris has decided this year she isn't as fond of snow as she used to be.  This means she's spending more time inside and wanting to be entertained.

We got a little carried away.  Now pink piggy is going in for a minor surgery.

This happens often with Khaleesi's stuffed toys.  She's a big girl but loves little girl plush dog toys.  We've purchased more durable toys for her to rag doll and play tug of war with but she has almost no interest in them.  So I do a lot of mending.  Maybe I should start reinforcing them before she gets them.  

The only heavy duty thread I keep on hand is blue jean thread due to the ever famous.....Hey you quilt?  Can you fix my jeans?  I know this makes sense to those who ask me to fix their pants, but you and I know this is an eyeroll moment.  Anyway Pink Piggy might end up looking like a Franken Piggy.

My poor girl.  She's on the couch pouting as I preform the surgery.  From this position she can watch me at my sewing machine in the Studio.

Perhaps hand sewing would be better. It would be easier to see what I was doing but I'm going for speed.  Khaleesi doesn't care what it looks like and neither do I.  The chances of me needing to do the again(multiple times) is pretty good.  I can't see a thing!  The hair on her other toys isn't this long.  I'm flying blind, hope I don't crash!

Huh?  Well would you look at this.  The ugly brown thread doesn't even show.  I'm feeling like a sewing rock star.  

However Khaleesi   is not so impressed with my sewing skills and has taken the pouting to a whole new level.  My goodness she is so spoiled rotten.  Oh well, we love our sweet spoiled rotten girl even if she is a little overly dramatic from time to time.  

Since there has been a lot of response on my Sugar and Spice quilt I thought it would be nice to share a little more detail about this pattern.  The pattern release was way back in 2011 by Black Cat Creations.  Here it is at displayed at Quilt Market.

The pattern says the original quilt was made using Flower Sugar 1 and 2.  Oh how I wish I had known about this quilt and this fabric way back then.  

My kit from the local quilt shop came with this mishmash of fabrics.  Several designers and brands.  But still cute as can be.  At the end of this blog post is a video posted on Facebook by our local shop called Back Door Quilts. It a quick look at part of their shop.

It was not easy finding more information on this quilt.  I lost count of all the different searches phrases.  But I did find this beautiful picture of the quilt done in mostly blue.  Can anyone guess the fabric manufacturer in this quilt?  Clue 1....it made me squeal to see this fabric.  Clue 2...I collect these fabrics.  

LAKEHOUSE DRYGOODS!  

It just doesn't get any better than dresden's and Lakehouse.  My two favorites all rolled into one.  I wish Pam and Holly would design fabric again.  Some try to mimic their fabric but none can seem to get the colors right.

Oh well back to reality.  Finding the designer wasn't very easy either.  I finally found Amy on Instagram.  And wouldn't you know it the last picture she posted was of this quilt.  She's selling it on Etsy.  Not the pattern, THE QUILT!  I'm interested but my budget is not.  So here's a link to her quilt for sale.

The border fabric makes the borders look like a lot of work but its a panel print.  The red and white is one fabric but looks like two.

And that background fabric....I love multi colored dots....sigh....heaven.  

I assumed since she is selling the quilt that the pattern was being retired. I was wrong.  Amy has a website and yes this pattern is still available.  Just click right here to go to both the PDF and mailed pattern.  Let her know Podunk Pretties sent you!  Not it will matter but I'm sure she'll wonder why the sudden interest in this pattern.

Thanks for stopping by my little spot in Podunk!

Moo-ving along the Sugar and Spice quilt.  Moo-ve, word of the year, read more about it here.

My local quilt shops most recent video on Facebook.  Back Door Quilts is known for their project samples and huge selection Civil War Reproductions.  This video covers a small section of the store, but does not show the Civil War Reproduction fabric section.   This is the shop where I purchased the Sugar and Spice quilt kit.  I don't think they carry it anymore but you could ask.

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