Lots of quilting going on

November 15 found me at Bowie, Texas at the Community Quilters. I was invited to do a demo and bring my store. A nice group of ladies and full of talent. I demonstrated The Binding Tool by TQM Products. It is a wonderful tool that makes joining the last edges together when machine sewing the binding down easy and pretty much fool-proof.

 The following three pictures are old quilt tops found in a home after a death in a family. Aren't we glad they have been found and will be quilted to be passed on to the next generation?

The next picture is of two adorable baby quilts made for twin baby girls. Sorry for the fuzzy pictures.

And one more fuzzy picture--sorry. I've got to work on my photography skills. This picture is of one of their blocks out of the mystery quilt they are doing. This quilter bought her fabrics from me : ) I like her color combination.

The next two pictures are from this Wednesday at Kraz-z Quilters. Jan had bought the book 9- Patch Pizzazz by Judy Sisneros and she cut this quilt out last week, sewed it up and brought to show.

Don't just love her colors. She used a panel and the technique in 9-Patch Pizzazz. And we are right down to it on finishing Time Travel quilt. Kathleen, Bonnie and Sharon are pictured.

And then today we had Wise County Quilt Guild meeting. When we were at retreat in August, we were talking. Gena was telling us about her parents lived in Indonesia, Singapore, Libya, and Australia while her dad worked for Haliburton years ago. She told us of how her mom had learned about batik fabrics. Always looking for a program for our guild I asked her if her mom would come and talk to us about her experience and batiks. She said she would ask her. Well, today Bobbi came and talked to WCQG. Beautiful fabrics she brought. Not like any batiks I have seen. She told of how she had a tux made for her husband while they lived there. When he passed away this past winter they buried him in that special tux.

The lion on the fabric is a piece she painted herself in batik fashion for her first granddaughter.
She brought shirts and asked some of the ladies to model. Click on the picture to enlarge to get a better look.

The framed unit in the background are blocks (I can't remember what she called them.) used to print batik.
Here is a link on found that has pictures and explains how batik is made.

Bobbie even had some leather pieces that had been painted in the batik fashion. Lovely.


And now some show and tell from guild members.  Our Mary always is doing baby quilts with her added
machine applique.

Next is Marie with the beautiful quilt she made for her son who sails.

And there were many others that I didn't get a around to photographing. Too busy drooling. Sorry.

Well, that's what I've been up to this week. And you know the other regular stuff--cooking, laundry, paying bills, and working on the next project. Stay tuned.

Blessings and happy quilting,

Procrastination

Do you procrastinate? I know I do. I put off doing things that either I don't enjoy doing or don't feel like I do well. Or that are very time consuming (with procrastination doesn't that mean they take even longer-duh!). Last weekend I was inspired by Wanda at Exuberant Color. She got a lot of quilting done that she had been putting off. It got me to thinking about all the things I have put off doing. So instead of taking the time to reason out which thing to tackle first (do you hear more procrastination?) I just plunged in. I had been putting off for some time altering some clothing. You see I am vertically challenged. Those of you who do not fit the cookie cutter fit of clothes know what I mean. Even petite sizes many times I have to hem up. Don't laugh. So here I was faced with four jackets--one lined--and three pair of pants that needed hemming up. I stayed with it until they were all done. Such a good feeling!

This weekend DH went deer hunting and I had the weekend to myself. What to do? I had thought to have a mini quilt retreat. Nope. Instead I decided to continue the fight against procrastination. I ironed. I had a closet full of ironing that needed to done. I am spilling my guts now so go easy on me, okay. I don't feel like I do a good job when I iron. I grew up in the age of double knit and didn't really learn. No excuses--I will learn now! My motto now is --"It looks better than when I first started and I will get better." A few more pieces to finish and I can celebrate. And you know what? It's like I have a new wardrobe. Pretty cool.

Next in my battle against procrastination I think I will tackle closets! My DD (the organization gifted person) always tells me when I hint for to help get me organized, "What do you want to throw away?" Throw away! So I haven't let her near my things. After all this is a personal disorganization so it must be a personal organization. And yes there may be some things that get thrown out. Uh oh, have I put off organizing because I don't want to deal with getting rid of some of my stuff? Procrastination again. The battle goes on. But you know what? The battle won't be won in one day but IT WILL BE WON!

Blessings,

Elna Lotus SP

With the flaps down and ready to sew.

Flaps up and ready to store. It even came with the original sewing manuals.

I've already spoken about this machine while on retreat.  I got it home and did a little sewing on it and it started making a noise. I put it away until I had time to check it out. On Tuesday I oiled and cleaned it and the noise went away. The zig zag stitches would not go the full width and the bobbin winder wasn't working. I asked DH to have a look at it. Bless the man! He got everything to working. It just needed some lubricating. It hadn't been run in awhile evidently. The machine's dimensions are 5"x12" and weighs 12 1/2 pounds. It sews wonderful. I even got it set to sew a 1/4" by moving the needle. The machine was manufactured in Switzerland best I can tell from research in the late 60's. I just had to do some sewing on it. I had a stack of 4 Patch Stack Posies blocks cut out and ready to sew.  All done. 

Now when retreat comes (Oh, I can't wait for the next one!) I will have a lighter weight machine to carry. And when the older grandkids come we can have two machines to work on.

DH did such a good job that we've been thinking he might look into sewing machine repair training. Hmm.

Blessings,