My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint.
~Erma Bombeck
Thursday - WOW! When and how did it get here so fast? Two more days of sewing - well, really 1 1/2 days of sewing left for me. Why you ask? First, I will be taking my sewing machine in for its yearly service on Saturday. So sad to see it go but it's starting to sound a little clunky and it's time. Secondly, because my DD#1 and her family will be here and I know I won't be doing any sewing while they are here. So little time but maybe I can get another swap or bee block made before the end of the week. Still need to finish the binding on the car road quilt but I'm over half way through with that. Then the clean up begins. You should see my piles (blushing). I've gotten horribly lazy about putting scraps away. The pile must be a good foot and a half tall (me blushing even redder). And then there's that storage unit commonly known as the spare bed. Not to mention my desk, the computer desk, and maybe even a little on the floor. Where are the cleaning fairies when I need them?
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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY
Happy birthday, Donald Duck! Today Donald is 77 years old- at least as far as his film debut is concerned. Can you believe it? Here are a few facts about Donald Duck that you may not know:
* Donald Duck's full name is Donald Fauntleroy Duck.
* Donald Duck's voice is one of the most identifiable voices of all animated characters.
* Donald has a star on the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame
* Donald's first film was called "The Wise Little Hen" which deputed in 1934.
* Donald Duck supposedly represents what we are and Mickey Mouse represents what we should be.
* Donald has appeared in 7 animated features, this is more than any of his animated friends
* Donald Duck is the mascot of the University of Oregon.
* Donald's voice was performed by Clarence "Ducky" Nash up until 1983. Nash trained Tony Anselmo who was the voice of Donald from 1985 and onwards.
* Donald's first film was called "The Wise Little Hen" which deputed in 1934
* Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland because he doesn't wear pants
* Father's name is Quackmore Duck, mother is Hortense McDuck, twin sister is Della Thelma Duck
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WONKY STAR
Yesterday I made a block for my swap partner in Block Swap Adventure.....
Jorie requested a wonky star made with jewel tones. It took me over 1/2 an hour to pick out the fabric. I couldn't decide on a center square so I just made it the same as the background fabric. Plus, if I had read the instructions through completely before starting, I could have made this block much quicker than I did. Suffice it to say that Mr. Seam Ripper and I were very good friends yesterday morning. I'm still not a wonky block person - obviously! I hope Jorie likes her star.
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BINDING AND A CONFESSION
The majority of yesterday was spent putting on the binding for the car road quilt.
I have a confession. I just discovered last week that I had been incorrectly hand stitching on binding for the last 9 years - in other words, my entire quilting life. First let me explain: I learned to sew many, many years ago in home ec and from my mother sewing clothes. When sewing clothes you had to sew hems. To sew a hem, you had to learn to blind stitch. This meant placing your needle and thread into the little fold of fabric and then catching just a few threads of the garment to create a finished hem that couldn't be seen from the inside or the outside of the garment. Well........ when I was self teaching myself to quilt, I read that you attach the binding to the back with a blind stitch. Enough said......no need to read further. So, all of this time I have been hand sewing binding like sewing a garment - big part of the stitch into the binding and catching a few threads of the backing. Last week I was watching a couple of video tutorials on the proper way to stitch the corners closed - something apparently necessary if you are going to enter a quilt in a show (which I'm thinking about doing). And when I saw how the binding stitches were being made, I was amazed and thought "well, that can't be right" - the larger stitch was made into the fabric and batting of the back and then catching a few threads of the binding. I did a more thorough search and, guess what? I have been TOTALLY WRONG. Now I'm stitching my binding on the correct way. It is much more secure and is definitely stronger. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
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TODAY'S GOAL
Today I will try to make a Bee block and finish putting the binding on the car road quilt.
GIVEAWAYS
Sew 4 Home is having a giveaway. You could win three BIG fabric cuts, an awesome book, four spools of super sweet variegated thread, and a deck of very cute playing cards. A winner will be drawn on Monday, June 20, at midnight PT.
Pat Sloan is having a giveaway. You could win a copy of Threading The Needle by Marie Bostwick. A winner will be picked on Saturday, June 11.
Fat Quarterly is having a giveaway. You could win a fat quarter bundle of LouLouThi from Fat Quarter Shop. This giveaway ends ?
Stitchin' Heaven Howdy is having a giveaway. You could win a $25 Stitchin’ Heaven gift card. I think the giveaway runs the month of June.
The Frosted Button is celebrating 500 followers with a giveaway. You could win two charm packs of Studio e fabrics from onthegrain. This giveaway ends Saturday, June 18, at noon CST.
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FINAL THOUGHT
Oops! There seems to be a problem, Houston. Earth to Linda. Come in, Linda. No one seems to be home. Either that or we've lost the connection. Maybe there's been a short somewhere. Perhaps she's gone into hiding. Do you know of any appointment she might have had? Can you see if there's a light on? Let me try again.........Earth to Linda - come in, Linda. Nope. Still no response. There seems to be no brain activity today. Hopefully she will be back tomorrow with some thoughts of her own......
Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not having any opinion at all.
~G.C. Lichtenberg
Stitchin' Heaven Howdy is having a giveaway. You could win a $25 Stitchin’ Heaven gift card. I think the giveaway runs the month of June.
The Frosted Button is celebrating 500 followers with a giveaway. You could win two charm packs of Studio e fabrics from onthegrain. This giveaway ends Saturday, June 18, at noon CST.
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FINAL THOUGHT
Oops! There seems to be a problem, Houston. Earth to Linda. Come in, Linda. No one seems to be home. Either that or we've lost the connection. Maybe there's been a short somewhere. Perhaps she's gone into hiding. Do you know of any appointment she might have had? Can you see if there's a light on? Let me try again.........Earth to Linda - come in, Linda. Nope. Still no response. There seems to be no brain activity today. Hopefully she will be back tomorrow with some thoughts of her own......
Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not having any opinion at all.
~G.C. Lichtenberg
30 comments:
LOL! Starting my day w coffee and Stray Stitches - a good start. So, I can tell my 4 yr old that it Donald's bday - he will be impressed. Love the pic of the "old dog." And, boy, do I know the multitude of uses for the spare bed! Mine is currently holding the linens for me. while I find time to fold them and put them away - LOL.
I love the way your wonky star seems to be reaching outward with its points! Does anyone else feel that movement? It's lovely in those colorful tones. They really pop with the plain center. Good choice!
Too bad we don't live closer...we could work on binding together and watch a chick flick. I know what you mean about cleaning up...but I find that I just don't have time to be creative and neat at the same time!
Love reading your post.....Donald Duck info so interesting and that dog with his glasses...LOL.
Love the wacky star block.
Have a fun family/ friends weekend.
I know how hard it is to send a sewing machine to the spa, I always miss mine when she is in spaing
I wish I lived closer!... I would bring a few cleaning fairies and we could sew while they clean! =P
Scrap piles...I use 2 big/tall laundry bins and just toss cottons in one and flannel in another...Most of the time my scraps get in there... lol
I wish you the BEST time with your daughter and her family!
hugZ,
annie
rubyslipperz106.blogspot.com
If you've been sewing binding incorrectly then so have I. I learned the blind stitch when I started making clothing. It never occurred to me to do it any other way. I'm not sure I agree that there's a right and wrong way, just different. But then I don't want to be judged.
I had to comment on sewing the binding on. For strength you sew your old way. The other way is alright, too. It just kinda pulls the bias binding flatter. Both methods are acceptable.
I really like that wonky star, those colors just make it pop!
My Donald, who will be six on June 21, will be thrilled to know that Donald Duck's birthday is so close to his own. And good for you for re-learning something instead of just figuring YOUR way was the right way. You've got me thinking, do I do it right? I don't know! Enjoy your last couple of days with your machine.
I am just starting to machine sew on binding. SHAME ON ME! But I won't if for my really nice quilts. Just placemats and such.
Oh my goodness, Linda. I have been stitching mine wrong as well. LOL I have been doing mine the exact same way as you were. I sewed clothing for years and years before I starting quilting, so I learned the blind stitch the same as you. LOL Well, thank you, my dear. I have learned something new. Now I need to get something done, so I can try out the 'correct' way to do a binding. I have been quilting for about 5 years now. I just keep learning new things from reading blogs. (grin) Have a great day.
Hi Linda! I just love reading your blog...I always find out the most interesting things! And I think it is so funny that Donald Duck comics were banned in Finland because he didn't wear pants...I mean, come on, he's a duck! LOL!
I think your wonky block looks great...nice jewel colors. Sadly, since I'm still a real newbie to quilting, most of my blocks are "wonky" even when I don't want them to be! :o(
Have a great day today!
XOXO,
Cyndi
Enjoy your visit with your family. I am glad you got something useful out of the binding tutorials. I'm always learning from other quilters!
Sounds like you are going to be very busy for the coming week. Enjoy time with your family. And thank you for sharing the quilt binding tips. I did not know it is done that way either. Then, again, I am not really a quilter. I like making stuff for my family and home more than making quilt. So...
I think I may have been putting the binding on wrong, too, but I'll have to do it to remember exactly what I'm doing! I've done it so long, I don't even know how I do it! I just go through the motions. Then again, I'm not a fan of quilting rules! My bindings seem to stay on.
Have fun with your kids!
You are too funny!!!! I am sure that your thoughts must be planning for your upcoming visit.
Love your Wonky Star. The colors look so pretty.
I am so glad that old dogs can still learn new tricks.
Have a wonderful visit with your family. It's a perfect time to be without your machine.
Wow! You have a busy "rest of the week" before your daughter shows up. LOL. Have a wonderful visit with them. Speaking of opinions, as you did earlier in your blog, I've always liked:
"Everyone is entitled to my opinion." :)
Hi Linda, I do a lot of things the way I learned or taught myself, they may not be the correct way to do them but they work for me so I'm sticking to them, lol... Love the wonky star block.
I absolutely love that Erma Bombeck quote!! I need to clean up, too - my sewing sisters are coming over this Saturday, plus the pastor to check out our "sweat shop" - so if you find those cleaning fairies, send 'em to my place, too!!
Your wonky star is so pretty.
I did not know Donald Duch had a twin sister, let alone her name. Your wonky star is terrific. The fact alone that you hand sew your bindings is a plus in my book. Enjoy your family for a lovely weekend. - then treat yourself to a spa day when your sewing machine comes back.
I just cleared off the spare bed for an overnight guest. Thank goodness they didn't mind that I piled it all on the floor at the foot of the bed - another project on the to-do list
You are so funny. I love the wonky star. Using the background as the middle was perfect. The other colors just POP!
Well, I got tired of waiting for the cleaning fairies to come straighten out my sewing room so I finally tackled it this morning, just before I read your blog! Feels good to have things back in order especially with so many projects in the works.
I love how your wonky star turned out. I have a big problem with "wonky" but feel like I need to somehow master it to feel like I completely fit in with the modern quilt world. What pattern did you use? I must try this again!! Great choice to match the center to the background and the colors are so pretty.
Oh, and I don't think there is a right or wrong way to do things but some techniques are better for different purposes. I think I did binding just like you at first but found other methods make it more durable. Nice to have online help for a guide.
Have a great weekend!
Wonky star block is very pretty, love the fabrics used. And I also love the pic of "your old dog".
Thanks for the instructions for the binding I have been doing it wrong too! Will be a little more mindful next time I stitch down the binding.
Lovely star.
Linda, you are too funny!! :)
Binding I think it something every quilter takes years to learn properly. I too was like you, until I started working at a quilt shop and I was like WOW - so that is have it's done :)
Great block! I finished my bee block as well and want to keep it for myself :)
So I've been doing it wrong, too! Funny how all us Home Ec gals did it this way! LOL I still may do mine this way, may be too old to change my ways. :)
Sandy A
Ha! Ha! You crack me up. I know I have to send out the troops sometimes to find my mind. You rwonky star looks great. They are hard for me to make because they make no pattern. Just a little OCD, LOL!
I sew binding on like your old way. It was good to read a comment above that this way means strength. I probably won't change my way of doing it....but I would be very interested in the link where you watched the tutorial so I could check it out. Thanks!
Have a wonderful time with your family on your week off. We will miss your blogging!
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