Little Miss Muffet

Sat on her tuffet...well, I don't sit on it, but it does make quite a neat prop up for my feet when I am sitting in a chair in the living room. I made this tuffet in a class about 10 years ago and I truly love it and the class was great. But now, with so much use, it's badly worn. Enough to need a new cover.

You can see here how worn it is. The fabric is very faded and dirty and the fabric on the button is ripped as well.

If you look at the side, you can tell how bright it used to be. Such a difference. So after looking at it for a couple of months, I put recovering it on my list for 2020. And it is finished.

I loved the Kaffe Fassett fabric that was on the button, so I decided to use it again for the button, and like the last time. I pulled colors from that fabric to make the stripes. Look at the difference here, between the old and the new.

The difference in the two is stunning to me. I knew it was dingy and dirty, but this really shows it.

And here it is, all done up and ready to use...well, almost. I want to get some Scotchguard to protect it a bit before we put it to use again.
If you are interested in making your own tuffet, this pattern came from Tuffet Source. She is on facebook and sells the kits and pattern for the cover. You add the fabric and while I made this in a class the first time, I don't think it is too difficult to do on your own. The directions are good.
That said, go and have a lovely day.

A Few Thoughts on Blogging

Hello Friends. I think a lot while I am sewing. One of the things I think about is my blog. Should I take a picture of this? Would this make a good blog post? How long has it been since I blogged? I need to blog this, but I need more pictures.

These are my thoughts on blogging. The first is that a blog, to me, needs pictures. That's why I look at blogs. A story is best told with illustrations, when it is a story of a sewing or quilting. Let's be honest, it's why you read blogs too. We all want to see the projects, the fabrics, the crafting spaces. Many times when I don't blog a project it's because I haven't taken the time to photograph it yet. I always think I will get to it, but I sometimes don't.

Sometimes I just feel lazy. I don't want to sit at the computer and type. I don't think my story is particularly interesting. Or I don't think anyone will care but me, so I don't blog it. That sort of defeats the purpose of blogging to keep track of my makes.

I must admit, that at least once a year I sit down and look through old blog posts and I am amazed at all the things I have made, some of which I have forgotten until I see the photos. I love that part. The "Oh my, I forgot about that!" part.

Many times what gets me to the computer is the guilt. "I haven't blogged in such a long time." The year before I went through my cancer treatments, I blogged the most ever. I was really trying to build up my readership. The year I went through those treatments, I blogged very little, as I wasn't sewing and had no energy for anything at all.

Now, I don't really worry about who reads my blog so much any longer. I get an average of 20 reader visits per post. Sometimes a little more, sometimes less. it's funny, because Bloglovin' tell me I have over 200 subscribers, so does that mean my readers have given up on blogs?

Maybe. I have often been amazed when someone I follow doesn't post for months, or longer, and then they do and they get loads of comments, as if they have never been gone from blogging. I have never had that kind of response. Ever. The best I ever did was when I used to link up with Crazy Mom Quilts and some of the other Friday link ups. But then we all went round to the link ups and commented more, didn't we?

I still plan to keep blogging, as much or as little as I feel like. I know I will still have followers who drop by, and most don't comment, although if I'm honest, I don't comment as much as I used to. One thing I used to do was to reply to all the comments, which came into my email. I have been thinking about that and I realize that visitors to the blog cannot see whether I have replied, unless I do on the blog itself. So going forward, I plan to do that, instead of the individual reply as I was doing. It's easier for one thing. And others can follow the conversation. Just my thoughts.

If you drop by, say hello if you wish, or not. I will be here when I have something to share. I hope you have a wonderful day.

My Good Fortune

I had never done a mystery quilt before. I had seen them all over the internet, but never was intrigued enough to participate. Until last year. Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville fame runs mystery quilt alongs every year apparently. For some mysterious reason, I decided to jump in and join up for the Good Fortune Mystery Quilt Along. According to my photos, we must have started last year in November. That is the date stamp on the first pictures of part one.

I kept up with the first three parts. This quilt was made from nothing but scraps and I did enjoy that aspect of the project immensely. When we got to the fourth part, I couldn't quite wrap my head around it for some reason and I became quite frustrated. So I quit. I put all the finished pieces in a project box and walked away from it. I did mountains of sewing and other projects for awhile after that.

In August, something tugged at me. I decided to pull it all out and give it another go. I had downloaded all the instructions to do the rest of the quilt and so I had that ready to go. I worked on it for a bit. I finished all of the components of the quilt finally. Then, I began to assemble the quilt.

I made it this far by the fall. I had the center of the quilt finished. It hung on my design wall for weeks, as I tried to get energized about it. I had some Christmas sewing to do, so I took it down and hung it over a hanger on the sewing room door. And there it stayed. Until this past week. I finally decided to get it finished. I had made my list of 2020 projects and it was near the top of the list.

Now, I think that if I had known there were four borders on this thing, I might not have started it in the first place. I am not a fan of borders, which is one reason I like the modern quilt movement so much. Borders are not mandatory. But there was nothing for it but to plow forward.

So this week I began sewing the borders on to the quilt top. To me, it seems a tedious process and each side seems longer than the last.

 But finally all the borders were on all the sides. This is a pretty large quilt too! I love the look of the design when I stand back and take it all in. Up close, I worried about some of my fabric scrap choices, but looking from a distance it all works.

In these two photos, you can see the four borders a bit closer. Two of them are quite narrow. The green and white HSTs are trimmings from the pinwheels. Bonnie calls them bonus blocks. It's not the type of thing I usually save to use.

One last picture of the whole beauty, hanging on the clothesline. I am so glad it is done, but seriously, I don't see me ever making another mystery quilt. I plan to quilt it in an all over swirl pattern, since there are so many small pieces and seams that I feel a need to secure. I may be back to show when that part gets done, but it may take a bit to get to it. The project list is long.

Happy new  year my friends. May your year be filled with Good Fortune.

Ringing Out the Old and Ringing in the New

Here we are at the end of the year. It seems like each year goes by faster and faster, like a boulder rolling down a mountainside. I have accomplished much this year.

 I crocheted a blanket for my middle child. This is the woodland blanket by Attic 24.

 I started Bonnie Hunter's Good Fortune Mystery. I still haven't finished it, but I have it on my to do list for this year.

 I made three quilts for my brother to gift to his step daughter and her two children.

 I participated in a few sew alongs this year as well. I enjoy the community of sewing with others and seeing how we each interpret a pattern.

I crocheted another blanket for my oldest, also an Attic 24 pattern. I have re-discovered my love of crocheting. I am currently trying to finish up another blanket.

I also did my first three craft fairs this year. I wanted to earn money to help pay for my sewing supplies, and I did. It also allows me to make lots of little things that I enjoy making that are not quilts or clothing.

For the new year, I do plan to enter a few craft fairs. I have crochet to look forward to as well as plenty of sewing time. I hope to find my blogging voice a bit more often this year. It's tough enough to make the time to sit down to write, but I need pictures too, and that is the hardest part for me. I hope to make the time to take and download the pictures I feel I need to be present  here. I do make a lot of things. I sew or crochet or hand stitch every day, now to document it.

Happy new year friends. I hope 2020 is all you want it to be.

Finally a Showing

I made this quilt for my brother's daughter. It was a surprise, and so I couldn't show it to you when it was finished. But now that she has it, I can.

 Many ideas were contemplated, but I finally landed on the Ohio Star for her quilt. I made nine stars that finished at 12 inches and 4 that finished at six inches. And then, just for fun, some small 4 inch stars in pink ombre fabric, for a pop of surprise color.

Here it is, all quilted. I decided to do an all over square grid on it and the texture came out perfect.

 And, it's tough to see, but the centers of the stars are quilted with another star.

A fun backing completes the quilt. It was very well received.

I found a shot of the stare within a star quilting so you can see it better. And that's a wrap on Christmas quilting. Happy Friday my friends.

Christmas Time is Busy Time

Lots of sewing projects going on here. I scarcely have time in the day to work on all of them. I guess it's good that I keep busy, though. And holiday cookie baking begins today. So, let's see what I've been up to.

 First up is my Dear Dottie quilt. I made the baby size in a quilt along with Rachel of Stitched in Color. I do plan to make another in a limited pallet soon.

 I am doing some very dense straight line quilting on my Dear Dottie. I am almost finished with it.

And here is the back. I don't think I could ever do this much quilting on a larger quilt, but for this size, I am loving it.

 And all these next photos are my Tomte blocks from the sew along with Sue of Moss and Lotus. All the patterns here, plus some new one are available in her Etsy shop.

 They have been so much fun to make. They are all paper pieced, so if that's your thing, go check it out.

 I made a new reindeer head for my middle daughter. I got this pattern years ago. It is still available on line, but the links with the directions are nowhere to be found any longer. It was a bit of a challenge to assemble, but since I had made 3 of these in the past, I finally figured it out.

 I bought a bunch more tiny bottle brush trees to add to the holiday decor. I love these cuties.

 I got myself an early gift of some LED lights for my sewing machine and all I can say is WOW! They sure do make a difference. They weren't too expensive either, so I can't believe I waited this long to help out these old eyes of mine.

 And here is the first of 4 Santa ornaments I am making for the grand children for next year. It is the Twelve Days of Christmas ornament from Mmm Crafts. I figure I can work at a slower pace and do it right. No rush. That will make next year even easier for me. Yay!
Well, lots to do today, so I gotta run. Talk to you soon.

Super Simple Advent Calendar

I got out all of my Christmas stuff yesterday, in anticipation of decorating. I found the Advent calendar that my children used when they were young. I was a thirty something mama with 2 young children. I worked with a woman who's youngest was in eighth grade. She had grand children. While we worked together, in a school cafeteria, she made this for my children. When I saw it, I thought it would be good to share it. I have made a couple for my grand children and it's super simple.

It is made from a single piece of felt, cut 36 1/2 inches long by 1 3/4 inches wide. This one is cut with pinking shears to give it a bit of a fancy edge.

Today, if I was making it, I would use my pinking blade on my rotary cutter for easy cutting.

This is the little poem at the top. My friend typed it up and cut it with her pinking shears, and she attached it with brads. I did not have brads when I made mine for my grandchildren, but you can attach it however you like.

You need some yarn for the bows. The top one is green, and you loop it through the jingle bell and knot it. Every fifth bow from the top down is also green. My friend used a hole punch to make holes for the yarn, but you can just sew it through with a needle as well. Then, knot the yarn so it won't come out, and tie it into a bow.

This is the top back. Just make a simple sleeve, glued, stitched or however, and thread a double strand of yarn through it for the hanger.

Tie all the bows and you're ready to go. This one is over 30 years old and still going strong. My daughters each have one for their kids. It's so simple to make and I hope you make one for your children or grand children. I kept the original at my house, and I untie the bows each night. And remember all the fun things about having this in my home at the holidays.
Talk to you soon.