I am...............

celebrating my 100th post and taking a trip.......................

                           Be back soon.  Just for fun sketches of last big trip are on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/straythreads/sets/72157630305213132/

                                 Isn't life grand!!   ~Ann~~

Out of the Cupboard -- 30's quilt

Quilts just like people need to get out and move to get the kinks out. This feathered star quilt was made by my maternal grandmother eighty some years ago. Sometimes when I glance at it when I get it out to stretch, the yellow completely over powers the feathered stars. The quilt fits a double bed and was never used much it is almost like new.

I have always been in awe of her tiny tiny stitches. All of her quilts have wool batting and are thick and heavy and oh so warm.

I am also amazed at the way the edges are finished. It is hemmed by turning the top and back into the quilt and stitched with a tiny running stitch, the batting is right up to the edge of the hem. And it is straight.

Connecting to my roots---Ann

Off the Wall

The T-shirt quilt came back for binding, I was asked to make a European pillow sham from the leftovers. There was enough of the red to make to two  regular size pillowcases and the star. The log cabin block took care of the rest of the scraps and the denim shirts did their part. I'm  pleased with the results and the owner is thrilled.  ---Ann--

the blue door

 

My blue door is finished. My front door has a western exposure and our summer sun can be brutal, it was stained brown but the color faded and pealed and the molding warped. Its been a year since our carpenters and door manufacturer looked at it and ordered a new window and molding. My uncle did the stained glass he did such a wonderful job. It is finished and really looks much nicer than my photos. Anyone coming to visit has to use the front door!!!  ~~Ann~~

Binding Coil Basket

Making these coil baskets has become habit forming. I have tried several ways to sew the binding on because tapering the wrapped clotheslines isn't all that finished looking. I have tried sewing on the outside of the bag using the open arm feature of my sewing machine. I turned one bag inside out for the final stitching was not easy to turn then I had to turn it back and one I sewed by hand.

This way is the easiest and looks finished.
Cut the bias tape exactly the same as the circumference of the basket. I clip it to the outside of the basket all the way around then cut,  sew the ends together diagonal seam with a 1/4 inch seam  and press open. That gives just the right amount of stretch to go around the outside of the basket. Hold in place with clips, necessary if there is a dip in the center front and center back of the basket.

 stitch around with a straight stitch and 1/4 inch seam

my bias is left over from quilts and is either 2 1/2 inches wide or 2 1/4 inches wide

 turn bias in, clip and stitch around again

Nice smooth binding.

Add handles.
I hand stitched the handles between the coils with a matching hand quilting thread. 
Too hard to go through the coil and too thick to stitch by machine.

What shall I put in this basket?  ~~Ann~~

Yellow flowers

 I never noticed before that there is a perfect 5 point star in the center of a Hollyhock.

 Rudebekias  Black Eyed Susans

 California Poppies

 Calendula

  my favorite  little violas, they always make my smile. -- Ann --

just beyond my backyard

Another coil bag, this one is for my sketching supplies. Maybe I should just call it a grab and go bag, the bag in one hand and coffee cup in the other.

Our skies in South Dakota can be very dramatic. I love the prairie because you can see so far.  I love to stretch my eyes and wonder how many miles I can see. When the weather forecasters are tracking  storms, and we in South Dakota are always checking the weather, I realize how far away the lightening strikes are.  Lightening flashes can be seen 60 to over 100 miles away.  ~~Ann~~

New camera bag

I made a new bag for my new camera this is the prototype. I sewed it with basting stitches and must have ripped each seam at least 5 times before I had the size  and shape right. I wanted a small bag to go in my big purse for traveling.

My camera fits snug, it has little pockets for SD cards inside, an outside pocket for batteries and a pocket for the shoulder strap which hooks to a D ring and a handle. It would have been cheaper and quicker to buy a camera bag but it wouldn't have been a blue batik with denim and free motion quilted. And it wouldn't have a zipper pocket that completely conceals the shoulder strap and it wouldn't have my name stitched across the top.   --Ann--

Happy Flag Day

Celebrating  the Red White and Blue
Ann

Tropical Shoo Fly

 My tropical shoo fly quilt on the prairie. This is my favorite summer quilt because I quilted it so heavily that it is just right when hubby has turned the AC to too cool for me. My intentions were to use this quilt top as a roman shade for a window but after the quilt top  was sewn it  wasn't right for the window so I finished it as a quilt and used a tropical print which I intended to make a blouse for me but sewing clothes for my daughter was lots more fun and then I thought it was out of style for a garment, so it was added to the fabric stash and it called to me for this quilt but of course it wasn't big enough so I added pieces to make it fit. That is a really run on sentence. I quilted this from the back side, around each of the flowers and leaves and birds and drew the designs to extend into the batik area. It was a chore and I have never done anything like that since 2003 when the label says I made the quilt. --Ann--

scissors

 Hubby dearest ventured into my sewing room on a weekend too windy or rainy for him to fish just to see what I was doing and commented on how many scissors I have. He always has to pick them up and snip snip just to get a rise out of me. I am very protective of my scissors.  He should be glad otherwise he would be buying me a new pair of really good scissors every 2 or 3 years, probably without his knowledge.  I have craft scissors in the jar and sewing scissors in the mug and at various work stations in my sewing room.
 The black handle scissors at 2:00 were my first very own sewing scissors that I got when I was 11 or 12 years old; they were a 4-H clothing project award. They served me well but are now relegated to the craft jar.  He wanted to take my spring loaded clippers at 11:00 for cutting the gills of the fish.  He said he would give them back after the fishing trip fortunately they are a little short for his purpose.
 I have project scissors for hand quilting, applique, needlepoint, and cross stitch, I'm sure there are some tucked away in long forgotten project bags.
Then there are craft and kitchen scissors, the scissors on the bottom will cut through bone.  Hubby dearest only saw a fraction of my scissors and that is probably best. I should look for a larger spring loaded scissors for Father's Day. For every scissors there is a purpose.
How many times did I type the word scissors?   Ann