LaVieEnRosie

Focus on the center...

Not these two... this one.

Oh. That's tomorrow. Sorry. I'm getting ahead of myself. More on that in a minute...

Did you have a good weekend? Did you spend it de-stashing and de-cluttering? Are you blaming all that on me?

That figures. I know Renee is. She told me so. But she also cleared out several boxes of stuff so she must not have minded too much. I was going to offer to help but I know half of her stash would have wound up in my car, headed home with me. One step forward... two steps back. I've been there!

A couple of you asked me how I had folded the fabric so here you go -- Fabric Folding. Remember two things -- not my idea, and not my fault.

My weekend was exciting but only in an indirect sense. Five hockey games, two of which went to overtime.

Not this one, the Coyotes won this game, 5 to 3, to take a two-game lead in their Round 2 series against the Nashville Predators.

The hockey was really the only excitement I had. This was my weekend...

Do you do this? Stick threaded needles in the arm of the couch so that they're ready-to-go when you finish one?

Kleenex. Telephone. Hand cream. Dr. Pepper Ten -- for those of you that haven't tried it, it's very good. Sewing box.

TV remote. Magnetic needle thing with needles and stuff -- do you bend your needles when you stitch? I do that. I also like those little leather thimble-pad things as I just can't get used to a regular thimble. (I have tried every type imagineable and I don't like any of them... oh well.) Scissors. Binding clips.

I was binding this weekend. Three quilts done, two more to go. They're off this week for pictures as I've always found pattern covers to be a bit lacking without a picture of the quilt... but maybe that's just me.

They agree. They're happy about the pictures too.

Now about focusing on centers... Pat Sloan has a new book coming out titled Focus on the Center - 8 New Looks for Medallion Quilts from Leisure Arts. It's pretty cool and she's asked me to participate in a blog hop this week. Lots of giveaways ~ especially book giveaways. That's always nice. And you know Pat, who knows what else is coming. There are nine other wenches hopping:

Tuesday - May 1: Vanessa Christenson of V & Co. and me.

Wednesday - May 2: Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville and Michele Foster of the Quilting Gallery

Thursday - May 3: Victoria Findlay of BumbleBeans Inc. and Rachel Griffith of p.s. i quilt

Friday - May 4: Jackie Kunkel of Canton Village Quiltworks and Dana Bolyard of Old Red Barn Co.

Saturday - May 5: Vicki Welsh of Field Trips in Fiber and Faith Jones of Fresh Lemons Quilts

I feel like the "old lady" in the group.

Actually... this picture sort of reminds me of Sample Spree.

You think I'm kidding?

I'm back tomorrow! Hmmm... two hockey games tonight... I just might finish another binding.

Oh my...

Did you ever play Truth or Dare?  It was quite the thing when I was about 11 and if memory serves, it usually involved boys or cigarettes.  

I don't think I ever completely out-grew the "oh yeah?  You don't think I would do that... you think I'm chicken?" stage of my development.  It isn't bravado or cheekiness, I just have this issue with folks trying to tell me what to do.  It's been a lifelong problem... just ask my parents.  

So when friends didn't think I'd have the nerve to show this to you... of course I had to do it.  

But first I need to tell you how it came about.  This past week, because I had nothing better to do... okay, I couldn't find what I was looking for and dire measures were required.  So I started cleaning out "my stash".  

I know the organizational gurus recommend regular weeding and pruning of closets, drawers and such but really, this is fabric.  It's historical.  We've got emotional attachments to some of it.  And some of it just might be worth a fortune -- just check out the folks selling "OOP" fat quarters on Etsy.  But a regular review is still beneficial because it let me know what I've got, and more importantly, where to find it when I need it.  

Since I was starting to sort anyway, I decided to also do a bit of re-organization and improvement.  Have you seen those pictures and blog posts from quilters who organized their fabric by folding/rolling it bolt-style on a ruler to make everything a relatively uniform size?  That's what I did.

Isn't it pretty?

Of course I raised a blister flipping that ruler to roll/fold everything but it was definitely worth it as everything is neat and organized - mostly.  I think keeping it this way will be far easier than getting it this way.  Now, in the interest of full disclosure and honesty -- to keep it real -- this is what was left after the purge.  

Yes, the purge... make that The Purge.  (I really do fear that years from now, quilt historians will remember April 2012 as the date of The Purge.  It lasted three long days... but now it's done.)  

Even before this, I knew this to be true -- Hello.  My name is Carrie and I have WAY too much fabric.  More than I'll use in a lifetime.  More than any one quilter will ever need or use.    

But the reality is that I have fabric that I'll never use, fabric that I've outgrown, fabric that makes me question my sanity and ask "what on earth was I thinking?"  I had fabric dating back 25 years, back to when I first started quilting.  The only saving grace - if there is one - is that by cleaning out my closets, I can donate the fabric to groups that will happily use it to make something wonderful.  So into bags it went, destined for a local guild/group that does a whole lot of sewing for charity.  Lots and lots of bags.  And a few boxes.    

This was the trunk of my car.  (I knew I was saving TJs bags for something.)

This was the backseat.  

Note:  I want it entered into the record that I drive a small -- okay, small-ish -- car.  (Huh?  Yes, it is the same car and trunk that I have bragged about as having a super-large trunk... something about superior German engineering in my VW... whatever.)

I took everything to my super nice and very kind quilter as she knows all the ladies who do the charity sewing.  While I had warned her several times, and given her a couple of chances to bail on me, she burst out laughing when she saw the contents of my car.  It took us less than five minutes to empty the car and deposit everything in her living room.

I labeled these pictures "oy vey" and it definitely fits.  

I didn't weigh the bags or even count them as that would have meant mentally calculating the amount of yardage, and then the aggregate cost of it all.  I don't want to know.

The purpose of all this is two-fold.  I already told you the first reason, I was "dared" to post the pictures.  The other reason is that in chatting with friends about this, I know that I'm not alone.  I'm not the only one with too much fabric that she'll never, ever use, and I'm not the only one who wants/needs to clear out the clutter.  It took time that I would rather have spent doing something else but it was necessary and now its done.  And it feels great to have it behind me. 

Especially because I found something I knew I had... something I couldn't find.  

Mel Fisher found the Atocha.  I found Flea Market Fancy fat quarters... the original.  

And no, they won't be available on Etsy as OOP fabric.  (OOP = out of print.)

I also never outgrew the "finders, keepers" stage of my development.  Just as my brother.

Seams-a-poppin'...

I received an e-mail from a friend yesterday asking me to remind her about what to do with the seams on four-patches... "that thing that gets all the seams to abut..."

I call it "popping the seam", others call it "collapsing the seam", I've even heard it called "opening the seam".  Whatever you call it, it is one of the things I am always asked about in classes.  As I was trying to figure out how to explain this, I realized that pictures would probably help.  (A picture is worth a thousand words, right... though with me, you get both.)  

And since I had the pictures... well, lucky you.  

The first thing to tell you is that this works with any block that has four parts.  Any block.  Pinwheels and Four-Patches are obvious.  Double and Triple Four-Patches, same thing.  Buckeye Beauty - the block with two half-triangle squares and two four-patches, both in opposing corners -- is another example of a block that can use this technique.  

Start by assembling your four-patch -- with seams abutting.  That means - one up, one down.  In this case, they were pressed to the dark.

Using a seam ripper or pin, remove the stitches above the horizontal seam line.  I prefer to slip them out rather than break them, but as I have never, ever, not once had a seam come apart because of doing this, it probably doesn't matter.  While the stitches don't have to be itty-bitty, it's probably best that they not be too long.     

No, I don't worry about trimming that little thread tail.  

Now do the other seam - the other side.  

There are two seams at this junction, and for this to work, the stitches above the horizontal seam line need to be removed on both seams.  

This is what it needs to look like after the stitches have been removed -- the seams are un-stitched above the seam.  

Depending on your stitch length, your thread, your fabric and your luck, you can also "pop" the seams just by putting your fingers right next to the seam and gently twisting them away from each other -- the same sort of motion you would use to tear a small piece of paper.  I repeat - gently.  

But if the fabric is a looser weave or a finer, lighter weight, or your stitches are very small and "locked in", be careful with removing the stitches this way as it can pull and distort your fabric.  

Un-stitching that little part of the seam above the long vertical seam of the block allows the seam to be "split" in two for pressing -- half the seam goes in one direction, the other half goes in the opposite direction.  So after the seams have been pressed, they should all be going in one direction around the block, and the center seams should be open, with the right side of the fabric showing.  It should also be a "mini version" of your block -- on a pinwheel block, the center of the block is a mini-pinwheel.  

Now there is one more important thing you need to know when using this technique -- how to get all the seams on all the blocks going in the same direction.  

Maybe this only happens to me but sometimes... some of the blocks have seams that are going in a clockwise direction while other  blocks have seams that are going in a counter-clockwise direction.  

Here's what you have to do to prevent that - to make sure that all the blocks are the same.  As you are chain-piecing the blocks, the pieces all need to be aligned the same way.  

Seams up.  Seams down.  It doesn't matter so long as all the blocks are the same.  

Left -- seams up.  Right -- seams down.  

By up and down, I mean the direction the cross-wise seam is "facing" as the lengthwise seam of the block/four-patch is being stitched.  

Same four-patch, right?  It will look the same on the front... but not on the back.

Left -- pieced with seams up results in clockwise seams.  Right -- pieced with seams down results in counter-clockwise seams.  

Four matching blocks with the seams all going in a clockwise direction.  

Four matching blocks with the seams all going in a counter-clockwise direction.

Even if you get a piece turned sideways, the seams are still abutting.  Which is good, and bad.  Good because that might be what you're trying to do in some places... bad because you won't realize it's wrong until after the block is assembled.  Been there... ripped that out.  

This is one of those little techniques that can make your quilting life easier because the abutting seams means that the block will fit together more easily... it will be flatter... you won't have to fight seams... you can eat all the chocolate you want without gaining weight... okay, maybe not that last one.  But no matter what you call it, this really will make life easier. 

And coincidentally, I'm working on a little quilt right now where knowing this technique will probably qualify as "useful".  

Have a Happy Tuesday!  

Hit the rewind button...

I think I erred on a couple of things.  

While I was kind of late, my taxes were done a week ago.  As of Tuesday, my neck stopped hurting and the crick in my shoulder disappeared.  Funny how that happens.  But we're all done for this year, right?

I also think I gave the impression that the three quilts I showed corners of last week would be debuting today... oops.  Mid-May.  They have to have their "pretty pictures" taken this week - or next - and I have to finish writing and checking the patterns.  And since one of them is getting an "alternate version", the cover will still take a few more weeks.  But soon.  I promise.  Seriously... just ask anybody getting ready for Market... it's like next week or something.  At least it feels that way.

The only thing I did get right was that the store is open -- Rosie's Shop!  

Whew.  Since I don't have any other quilt pictures right now... you'll have to settle for random.  

Do you know what these are for?

Me either.

You know Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts, right?  A few years ago, Edyta wrote a terrific book that featured quilts that were made with half-triangle squares - Friendship Triangles.  Super scrappy - super fabulous.  The best part was that the half-triangle squares were part of a swap.  These were done with "roll-ups" I got from Olde World Quilt Shop in Cave Creek.  Each roll-up contained one "lighter" strip, one "darker" strip and a strip of Edyta's half-triangle square paper.  I initially did ten roll-ups, but after finishing them pretty quickly and enjoying the process, I got ten more.  That means I stitched and cut twenty strips -- that's 560 half-triangle squares.  I keep one from each roll-up and return the remaining twenty-seven half-triangle squares with papers still attached in a little baggie.  They were turned in last week and in another week or so, I'll get back 540 different half-triangle squares.  I expect there will be some duplications but with that many, I'm pretty sure they won't be glaringly apparent.

Of course, I'm sure I'll have to add a few anyway.  Just to be different.  Though I still don't have a clue what I'm going to make... something from the book or something different.

Do you see this amazing little red pincushion?

It was made by a friend (Hi Mary!) using a vintage salt cellar.  It measures about 2" across and 1 1/2" tall and I think it just might be the cutest thing ever.  That little whale is a magnetized needle-finder/keeper.  I got it forever-ago.  I don't use it but it sure looks pretty on the shelf.  

The only quilt picture I have is "borrowed" from a Seller on eBay -- here's the listing:  Antique Friendship Quilt

It might be a little obvious... but wouldn't this be beautiful made with Rouenneries?  Lots of it... because it has to be scrappier.  

That's all for today but I will be back again this week as I promised more Schnibbles Confidential... this time about fabrics.  

Happy Monday!

 

 

 

Almost there...

To those of you who 'fessed up that you're late-tax-doers - my heartfelt thank you.

To the rest of you... ttthhhhhbbbbppppttttttt.

Monday!  The Rosie Store will go "live" on Monday.  The link is there -- to the left of this -- but it links to an empty page.  It's all there, it 's just "hidden" until I make sure I haven't forgotten anything.  I'm sure I have but here's the thing, I'm going to be adding patterns and "other things" in the coming months anyway, so if I have forgotten something, who is going to know but me?

What's coming?  The first batch of patterns will include the most recent eighteen (18) Schnibbles patterns.  As new patterns are published, they'll be published as paper patterns and PDFs at the same time - the Schnibbles and anything else.  

Like Dimestore.  This is a new Schnibble.  I'm working on the binding.  Have you tried these Clover binding clips?  A friend gave me a big box (50 clips) and so far, I like them.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the 19,487 other clips I've got... but I'll figure that out later.  

I'll also do a "Scarlett O'Hara" when it comes to deciding which big quilts to turn into PDFs.  

But this one is definitely on the list, it's a new quilt for Spring Market...

This is Bounce.  This quilt will come with a couple of options... which might explain why the pattern cover will have two versions of it.  My favorite thing about it is this -- 1 Layer Cake and about 4 yards of background fabric makes a 74" x 74" quilt... or something like that.  And, yes, I love, love, LOVE this Hope Valley fabric.  (Oh my, have you seen the preview for Chicopee?  SewMamaSew.)

A sweet friend pieced this one for me... and when Market week comes around, I'm going to let her tell you all about it.  This is just a little peek.  The gorgeous quilting is by Linda Hrcka of The Quilted Pineapple.  (Pssst... Cupcake.  You're going to love it.)

If there is a pattern you think I need to have on "my PDF. list", let me know what it is.  You know I like making lists.  

Finishing the binding on this little quilt -- Leap Year -- is on my "to do" list for this weekend.  

My list this weekend -- bindings and a lab experiment.  

You'll have to wait until October to hear about the latter.  

Until then, Rosie and I hope you have a tax-free weekend!

P.S.  'Fess up... how many of you, when doing your taxes, did a double-take when you totaled up how much you'd spent on fabric and quilting stuff in a year?  Or am I the only one who actually has to add it all up for the tax-man?  If you don't have to do that, be happy... be very, very happy.    

 

Going to the beach...

I'm not hibernating.  It's April.    

I.  Was.  Doing.  My.  Taxes.  

Every year, I tell myself that this is the year I'm going to be organized.  Every year, I tell myself that this is the year I'll be ready.  Every year, I tell myself that this is the year I'll get them done early.  Every year, I tell myself that next year... that will be the year!

Yeah.  Right.  But... hope springs eternal.  Right?

I just wanted to check in to let you know I was still here.  And I found something too cute not to share.  While I've had some mixed feelings of late about Pinterest -- too many issues and questions and concerns to get into now -- I did see something I loved, something I wanted to share.  So bear with me while I make sure all the sources are credited...

Pinterest links back to -- Stuffistolefromtheinternet.com

Stuff I Stole From the Internet links to Buzzfeed.

Buzzfeed links to OddStuffMagazine.com.

The last picture is my favorite -- sometimes I feel like this.  I know I'm not alone.  

I think somebody just told this baby that Market is in less than six weeks.  

I'll be back soon with some Big Cartel news.  Yep... PDF. patterns for the Schnibbles.  Coming soon.

After I go to the beach.     

 

Moments of pure genius... by accident

The Slinky.  Silly Putty.  Play-Doh.  Super Glue.  Post-it notes.

LSD.  Corn Flakes. Dynamite.  The Microwave Oven.  Viagra.  The Pacemaker.  Velcro.  Penicillin.  Anesthesia.

Saccharin.  Smart Dust.  Coca-Cola.  Teflon.  Vulcanized Rubber.  Plastic ~ Bakelite!  Radioactivity.  Mauve.    

All of these things were invented by accident.  

Somebody very creative and very bright was working hard to create something else and instead they created something better.  Something cooler.  Something that changed the world.  

Make fun of Moda Lissa?

As if!?  

You know... she just might be the only person who got Bibelot right.  

The way it should have been.  

This quilt is perfect just the way it is.  

I think there was a reason Sherri had this quilt leading the parade -- it's triumphantly, tremendously, transcendently, terrifically, totally tubularly titanically tip-top, top-notch!   

These Ts might be a little bit different than mine, but they definitely look like Ts... like little "muscle Ts".

Sorry, I did look for a picture of Daniel Craig in a tight t-shirt but there wasn't one to be found.  And trust me, I looked.  A lot.  

Just in case you think I forgot, I didn't.  Flying geese.  Rulers!

Just so you know, if giving away Daniel Craig were an option, it wouldn't happen.  I'd keep him.  He and George could fold fat quarters and keep me company while I sewed.  

The arm over George's shoulder belongs to Matt Damon.  He could come too.  

Just so long as they don't distract me from this... as some of your commented, I really do love these rulers.  I also love quilts with flying geese, and quilts with stars... which have flying geese for the points.  And I want you to love flying geese, especially the making flying geese part.  So I went digging through drawers and baskets and any place else I could think of where I might have stashed another ruler or two, and I managed to come up with a few more rulers.  So after spending a few minutes with Ms. Random Generator, here are the names of the ladies who need to check their e-mail boxes...

The winners of a set of Fit to be Geese rulers ~ an original and a mini ~ are:

#93 -- Sandy E.... who wrote: Anything that helps make sewing perfect blocks easier is what I need. I'd rather be sewing instead of un-sewing with a seam ripper. Love the tutorials that come with them too.

#3 -- Marica... who wrote: These rulers would suit me very well this month when I'll try to do a lot of flying geese. Since I have a hard time finding them here where I live so I'd like to be in the draw for them :)

#35 -- VickiT... who wrote:  Wow. Look at all those very lucky people. Congratulations to you all. Thank you for the great post you did too showing off all of the great things in the book and the wonderfully lovely extra pictures making everyone smile. I would love to try the rulers. Thank you for the additional surprise chance.

#63 -- Debi... who wrote:  It would be awesome to win the ruler...especially since flying geese are not my favorite blocks.

And the winners of an original Fit to be Geese ruler are:

#29 -- Diane... who wrote:  How did you know a pic of Daniel would ease the disappointment of not winning the rulers and book the first go around?? Wow! is all I have to say. I'd love another chance to win those Geese rulers. I have to confess, I made Lincoln a few years back and my geese left a lot to be desired, so much so, it's never been quilted. Thanks for having another giveaway!

#30 -- Nancy, Near Philadelphia... who wrote:  I'd be delighted to win these rulers. Geese are hard for me . . . 

And that, chicas, is all the news I've got for this Wednesday.  

Here's hoping you have an accidentally fabulous day!

 

 

Fit to be a Monday...

Whew.  Monique is still talking to me.  

You wondered about that too, didn't you? 

First, let me thank everybody who hopped and left comments, or just hopped along to see all the quilts.  Thank you!  

I appreciate it.  And I know Monique appreciates it.  

Since there are some goodies to give away, let me announce the winners.  

Yes, winners.  Plural.  Multiple.  (There's a reason I keep a stash of rulers on hand.)

The Monique-centric goodie box goes to Shelley, aka Shelquilts.  ::::applause applause::::

And an assortment of Open Gate rulers will be on the way to Julia P and Tania in Australia.  ::::applause applause::::

Ladies ~ please check your e-mail boxes.  

I wish I had hundreds of copies of this book so that I could send one to everyone but alas, I have just one copy of it.  But if you'd like one of your very own, please feel free to harass the owner of your LQS into ordering one for you.  Or you can get one here - Traditional Fat Quarter Quilts.  

And...

Because I love Monique's rulers that much... and because this month's project for Sinta and Sherri's Year of Schnibbles is Summer Day and it has a lot of flying geese... and because some of you might still be looking to try the Fit to be Geese rulers... I'm going to give away three sets of Fit to be Geese rulers.  That's a regular-size Fit to be Geese ruler and a Mini Fit to be Geese ruler ~ both of which will make the 1 1/2" x 3" finished size geese you need for Summer Day.  

If you leave a comment here by Noon on Tuesday, Pacific Time, you could win the flying geese rulers of your dreams.  

And finally, because I'm apparently not the only person who enjoys gratuitous pictures that have nothing to do with quilts, Monique or books...

Daniel Craig.  From the upcoming Bond movie, Skyfall.  Due out this November.  

I'm thinking this picture might need to be the wallpaper on my computer desktop.  :)