Sunday, April 21, 2019

Slow Stitching Family Day



Today is Family Time.
We will be gathering at my younger son's house for his first Easter in his new home.

I will be bringing my 
along with me for to enjoy some stitching with the 
lovely stitchers at 

Slow Sunday Stitching


I got way behind in this stitch-along at one point and although it has
officially ended, I am still slowly stitching.

I took this outside one warm sunny day recently to sit on our yard swing
 and enjoy some lazy swinging and stitching,
but I could not get quite comfortable holding the frame
and my hands tired quickly.



So I have invested in a good wooden lap stand that will support my expanded Q-Snap frame.

This is a Z-Frame from K's Creations

I purchased only the lap stand with no frame.
It is made oak and it is solid without feeling too heavy. 

I can hold a smaller frame  without a stand but the enlarged frame
 was making my wrist very tired
and a lap pillow did not help much.
It just felt awkward.
This frame works very well for two hand stitching.

I am changing up the colors in the floss to make this my own.

As we will be gathered together for several hours
and they are doing the cooking and hosting,
I am bringing my cross stitch with me to keep my hands busy.
I am taking the lap frame, too.

Looking forward to a slow day of family and fun and stitching.




May you and yours have a Happy Easter !

Saturday, April 20, 2019

Scrap Happy Saturday ~ Settling Into My Sewing Corner


Scrap Happy Saturday Blocks

for my



Week 14  Block for 




Blocks may also be found and posted
 Here on their Facebook Site

I am trying to get back to my routine in my new old sewing corner.

I have been spoiled by my sewing room, 
which will soon be my quilting room.

I am hoping that the routine will help me feel more settled into sewing.

I am sewing aqua scraps because it is "Aqua Month" at the 

grab button for SoScrappy


Tomorrow is a family day and we will be gathering
at my younger son's home for his first Easter there.
We have many blessings to celebrate together.

Next week my new longarm may be coming home! 

May you and yours have a Happy Hoppy Weekend!

:-) 

Friday, April 19, 2019

Kennel Quilt-a-thon ~ Calling All Paws!



Last year the kitties and I made Kennel Quilts for the Freebies Blog Hop:


This year we are joining the 


Kennel Quilt-a-thon!
Date: May 17, 18 and 19



These little quilts are easy to make and are good scrapbusters
and
you can comfort a shelter pet waiting for a home,


Maestro, Nutmeg and Katniss,
who are all former rescue shelter cats
say,
 "Hope to see you sewing along!" 

Update:  This one did not happen for us.
The dates of this sew along got lost in the shuffle.
Kitties and I are planning to make some kennel quilts 
for the shelter where they were adopted. 
<3 <3 <3 

Thursday, April 18, 2019

I Like Thursday # 8 ~ I Like New Adventures



My Quilty Kitties say it is time to take a leap into our new quilty adventures.

Many of you have been very encouraging following  



and 



I really appreciate the supportive words.  

Yesterday I was at a standstill, because the next step is to dismantle my cutting table
and the recommissioned desktop is much too heavy for me to move by myself.
My hubby had an appointment today before work.
Tomorrow may not be much better,
It may have to wait for Friday or Saturday.
That is okay.


Maestro said, "Take this cover off.
It is time to sew."
Katniss supervised. 


This is Maestro's favorite part of sewing ... bobbin winding.


Maestro waits for it to stop and then takes it off for me ...
at which time I have to snatch it off her quickly before she runs away with it,
thread trailing and all.


Maestro was very miffed that I would not let her have the bobbin.
When she was a kitten they were her favorite toys.
Then one day I saw her crunch the plastic with her strong teeth.
No more bobbins for kitty.
Maestro does not understand that I will not let her play with them because she can get hurt
and would not move off my sewing machine bed.

So I found something else to do for awhile.
While I am moving I am also renovating and upgrading.
I am always looking for ways to improve my quilting
by improving my tools and making my quilting space better
and more comfy and cozy.


I had bought this 8.5" Wool Pressing Mat at a local quilt event a few months back
and have found I really like it.
It presses my seam very flat.
I use a dry iron and do not notice any "animal smell" as some people report. 
If I spray  the fabric or block with water of starch, I do so off my pressing table.


So I bought a larger, thinner one for my homemade pressing board.
Wooly Felted Ironing Board Cover
This one is 20" by 54"  and  1/8" thick. 
and it was the least expensive one I could find.
I bought it at Fat Quarter Shop,  but it is out of stock. 


It came with these clamps and elastic to attach it to the back of the board.
Maestro helped by pulling at the elastic and snapping it.
No photo.  Too busy cat wrangling.


I like my new wool pressing board very much.
My iron is a cordless Panasonic.
It is not as heavy as my others and I have to put it on to reheat between use,
but it gets the job done very well. 
Since it is in its recharge unit when it is not in my hand, 
the kitties have never knocked it over.
They leave it alone.
It must have been the cord that attracted them to my other irons.
I was always afraid they were going to burn themselves ... or me.
I also like this iron.


The kitties think the new wool pad is very comfy.


I really like this fabric! 
New adventures and new start.
I have a wonderful new pattern to play with and these beautiful
Pinkerville Fabrics
This is for a surprise project that will be revealed until next month.
These colors and designs are perfect for spring sewing.

Then the kitties and I took a break to enjoy the sunshiny day.


Spring is blooming out my windows.
The acrobatic squirrel has the new feeder figured out.


Squirrel brought his bird friends to the feeder this time.


Maestro, who gave up on trying to help me in the sewing area,
 likes to do her bird watching from the bedroom window.


Where she can crouch down behind the pansies waiting for her time to pounce.
Look at those ears tucked down for a lower profile.
This is the bird that got away.


Antenna ears back up to listen for the approach birds.
Staying low ... waiting ... waiting ... waiting.
Good thing for the birds that Maestro is an indoor cat.
I like birds.

I hope you enjoyed reading about life in the scrapatch.

Since today is Thursday,
I will be visiting and reading about the life and times of the

I Like Thursday Quilters @ Not Afraid of Color

Happy Thursday!