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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Beautiful day yesterday

Yesterday we decided to take off and go up on the Blue Ridge Parkway and drive north. We stopped at Mount Mitchell since it was on the way, then headed to Linville Falls. The weather was perfect, and the views beautiful. The leaves are just starting to turn, which always brings on the tourists in this area.


But we were very lucky and had over 20 minutes at this top overlook all to ourselves. Between Mitchell and here we walked about 3 miles, over half of it uphill, lol.

Then on the way back we stopped at Alta Pass Orchard for some apples. I bought 2 pecks to make applesauce on Friday. Another thing I love about fall.

Then of course on the way back through Burnsville, I had to stop at the quilt shop, Needle Me This, just to "look around". I love this quilt shop. It is so light and breezy inside, and the owners are soooo nice and friendly, and of course I love their fabric selection. Dave was with me, so of course I ended up buying stuff, lol.

I got a Halloween panel that has 2 different panels. A lady shopping there told me she made a wallhanging using one on each side and it came out really cute. Didn't take much to talk me into buying it.


The stripey fabric above will be a border. I think it's so cute!!

Then Dave found some bins marked "orphan fat quarters" with a little label that said they needed a home. $1.50 each. He picked out 4 and said I needed them. He also liked the packet of fall fat quarters, and I just had to get the charm pack of Sunkissed fabrics.


All in all it was a fun day out.

Oh, I made another snap bag. I like them with the longer handles. I think I will make more in fall colors and try to sell a few at the shop. Although, it seems that what folks usually buy are the kleenex holders, and bookmarks. Cheap I guess, lol.



This weekend is the Asheville Quilt Show. I want to go. Will see if sister Roma would want to go with me on Saturday, but if she is busy, I know that Dave will go with me on Friday. We'll see.

Later,
WilmaNC

Monday, September 26, 2011

Christmas Sew-a-Long

I doing a Christmas Stitchery sew-a-long from sewhappy.me.  It looks to be fun. Thought I would share the first block. I am not the best at embroidery, but my things usually turn out to be pretty.


There are only 7 panels to do, and they are small. Join in the fun!!

WilmaNC

Friday, September 23, 2011

Bracelet tutorial

Here's how I made my bracelet, though the one with my name was given to me by my sister in a little kit at our retreat.

First, cut out a plain rectangle about 2 inches long and a little wider than you want your bracelet. Using the alphabet setting on your machine embroider the name you would like on the bracelet. You can use a piece of stabilizer of you like.


Cut scraps of materials you would like in your bracelet. Make them as wide as you would like your bracelet. I made mine about 2 inches wide. Cut 4 pieces for each bracelet, 2 for each side of name patch.


Sew patches together in sets of 2.


Each set will be sewn to sides of name patch.




Cut a piece of batting and a piece of backing the same size as your bracelet top  (I trimmed to 7 inches long, I like my bracelets loose) and layer, fabrics right sides together with batting on top.




Sew around sides using 1/4" seam allowance leaving an opening for turning.


Turn.


An option to turning is to just layer normally and do a blanket stitch around the edges. Turning these little tubes is hard!! At least for me, lol. After deciding what closure you would like, sew the ends closed.


You can make whatever closure you like. For Sarrah's I put on a snap. For Kenzie's (she only 2) I sewed on a button and a small elastic loop. (Note: I sewed the button on so securely that I could barely get the elastic around it!! Didn't want a choking hazard.) I like to top stitch around the edges for a nice finished look. 


Here are the finished bracelets.


Hope you can follow this easily. I am definitely NOT a tech writer, lol. 

These will make very cute Christmas gifts for the girls in your life.

WilmaNC

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Fall and Pumpkins

Fall is almost here, I love the coolness in the air, and the trees are just beginning to turn. I even like wearing long pants for a change.

So I was looking for some fall decorations and found these 2 styrofoam pumpkins that I bought years ago. They have become very faded so I decided to find a way to spruce them up. Lo and behold, I got an issue of Southern Living in the mail (bought the subscription with Coke rewards) that had an article about decorating pumpkins.

I found some fallish fabrics, put them on the printer plate and made color copies. Then I cut the papers into strips, and with Mod Podge, I stuck them to the outside of the fake pumpkins. They are cute.





And easy peasy. Sweet!!

Still working on the bracelet tutorial. Soon....

WilmaNC

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

A couple of new things

Thanks for all the nice comments on my weight loss post. Just wanted to pass on that I did try tucking in my shirt, and I don't like the way it feels with all that stuff around my waist, plus I hate wearing belts. I did try though.....

I finished a couple of things recently. The first is the July tablerunner from the Cotton Way series. I love all of these. I had the top made for a while, and I finished up the quilting and the binding while at the Ohio retreat. It looks kinda 3D up close.


I purchased a pattern for a Christmas mug rug from Pleasant Home a couple of weeks ago. It is so cute, and very easy, but I like to support folks' business endeavors when I can.


There is a pocket on the left for a letter to Santa, or a cookie or 2. My little patches on the right are wavy. While sewing I kept wondering why it was so hard to keep them straight while quilting, then realized that when I attached my walking foot, I didn't get the little lifter bar on the screw, so it was feeding normally instead of evenly, lol. This one will go to the grandkids, they won't care.

I have taken all of the pictures for the bracelet tutorial, but still have to write the instructions. It will be up by the end of the week.

Later,
WilmaNC

Sunday, September 18, 2011

My Weight Loss Journey...

is getting close to goal!!! Only 8 more pounds to lose,I am so excited. But it will never be over if I want to stay this way, and I have adjusted my mind to that. I'm posting pictures to show my progress. (Thank You Weight Watchers!!!)

Before I started.



One month after I started:

Yesterday:


I feel so much better!! But you know, I always had a theory that when one person loses weight, it has to go somewhere, so it must go to another person. So beware!!! My fat is looking for you!!! LOL.


Someone asked for instructions for the bracelet we made at the retreat. I have to take son to the airport in Atlanta today, then hope to get back to normal this week. I will write up a tutorial really soon. I plan to make them for all the girls in my life for Christmas.

Later.
WilmaNC

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Back from Retreat

Had a great time at the retreat. Just realized that the one thing we didn't do is take a group picture, just too busy I guess, lol.

First thing we did was make a little name band bracelet. I really like this, and plan to make several for Christmas presents. (Pay no attention to the hand with all the age spots!!!)


Next day we had the class with Edith Dyke. I only used 3 fabrics (wild ones!!) from my stash. It came out very nice I think. I worked on this most of the time.


The nine patch border was a pain to get attached. The center blocks were 9 patches that were cut and reassembled, cool huh?

Here's a picture of myself and my sister Patty.


We went shopping and I bought some stuff, but haven't taken pictures yet. Maybe in a couple of days, as today we are driving to Atlanta to pick up my son at the airport (actually the Chamblee Marta station) and he will be coming for a week.

I'm tired, but happy.

Later,
WilmaNC

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Retreat time!!!!

I'm getting ready to go to our semi annual retreat of the ABC Quilters in Ohio at Round Lake. It is a beautiful spot, and is near to the Amish quilt country, so lots of shopping and good food, as well as a bunch of sewing. I am leaving on Monday, and for 2 days will visit with my grandson and his family, then head to the retreat on Wednesday morning where I will stay until Sunday morning, then head home. There aren't many of us coming this year, but our 2 members from Scotland, Betty and Robina, will be there. And Arlene and Lolly from Chicago, me from NC, and 3 from Ohio. It will be fun, and I am so excited to get away and just sew for a few days.

I bought a little kit to make an apron from Pleasant Home to take along. It is so cute, and she always picks such neat fabric combinations. These aren't the fabrics I bought, but you can get the gist.


And we are having a teacher, Edith Dyke, come in to teach a class for a quilt called "You want me to make a what??". Should be interesting.

I think I will also take along a tablerunner I need to get quilted. Don't want to have any spare time on my hands, lol.

The blocks for the BLOCK LOTTO this month are interesting. Although batiks are my least favorite fabric, I seem to have a lot of it. I think the name of the block is curved rails, and they were so easy to make. I made 9. The perspective on this picture is really off. I should have kneeled down to take it.....


I am reading a book about John Muir called A Passion for Nature, that I find fascinating, especially after having visited Yosemite this summer.

(He was the founder of the Sierra Club). There is an area in Yosemite called Hetch Hetchy that was a beautiful valley similar to Yosemite Valley, that the government allowed to be flooded by damming a river in the early 1900's to provide a reservoir for the San Francisco area. Here are before and after pictures. Muir fought a long and hard fight to save this valley that ultimately failed. Sad. Under 300 feet of water. We didn't have time to explore that area, hopefully we can take another trip out there and spend more time.



One thing he says that I totally agree with is that he didn't think this earth was created just for the use of humans, it was for all of nature. And that each animal, plant etc is just as important as each human being. Nuff said.

Hope you all have a really nice day, and get outside and enjoy the end of summer. There are some beautiful things out there just waiting for you to come and see!!!!

Later,
WilmaNC