A New Twist On Cathedral Window

Cathedral Windows as a quilt pattern has always fascinated me. I tried to make one a long time ago, but in my impatience, I didn't follow the directions, and had raw edges on the blocks, and that didn't work. Enter a book on the assembly, lots of sewing experience, and the understanding of how it goes together,  and I have decided that I like it very much. The book is full of  lots of ideas that take this pattern way beyond the muslin background which was the style back in the 50s. This has a fresh and artsy twist of color, which I like. So my sensible goal was to make a 3x3 block wall quilt so I could complete something with it before I decided that I didn't like it. But that wasn't the case. There are so many beautiful fabrics and the combinations of prints for the blocks and the windows make it difficult to see where one ends and the other begins. I like that. The only down side is that the blocks take a lot of fabric, and so much of it remains unseen. That seems wasteful to me. I would love to know who invented this design. Quilts in the old days were utilitarian, and this pattern uses so much fabric, that I can't imagine it being very practical for ordinary quilters who used old clothing and scraps with which to sew. Well, hat's off to whomever came up with the idea, because its my new favorite, and this 12"x12" experiment will look nice hanging on my wall.  

PHOTOS ©pegyates/2011

Baby Slippers

The center square in these pieced blocks is 1/4". My vision may never be the same.

Last pair of shoes done, and I would probably make another pair, but I am tired of sewing for a while. I get muscle aches from sitting so tensely and I keep making myself relax, but it doesn't last. I wish I could sew lying down, that would make things sew! much easier. I am glad, however, that I decided to make these gifts. I know how I felt when I got handmade things, and handmade baby gifts are extra special. I think I need a nap.
PHOTO ©pegyates/2011

The Handwork Has Begun

Binding on the back side of the quilt is getting hand-stitched attention. I never did master the technique for doing both sides on the machine. I always ended up with a little flap of fabric that annoyed me. I like this detail better anyway. Now today's work includes finishing up two pair of shoes to go with the quilt, and I will be done with one day to spare. Who knew I was so efficient?
PHOTO ©pegyates/2011

Putting It All Together

Oh Baby Girl. Not born yet, but almost. Fluffy girl stuff has always intimidated me. I raised two sons, have a nephew and a step-grandson. I wouldn't know what to do with a girl. Their little outfits, dozens of pairs of shoes, hair adornments, ruffles, fluff, pink and girly.

So when I decided to sew for this soon-to-be-here granddaughter of a good friend, my translation of pink took a huge detour, way off course. I knew batiks would be my choice, all from my stash. Some of them I've had for over 5 years, so it was time to sew out of my fabric bounty.

I actually had some pale ones, but the brighter colors said, "Choose me!" And knowing that pastel was too boring, I decided to let this quilt speak of a bright, happy and colorful world. I imagined this wee girl lying on it when she is able to hold up her head, and scratching at the colors like my boys used to do when something colorful was in front of them.

The quilting is done, and now I have to trim the edges and make bias binding. I found instructions so I will have one continuous piece of bias tape to bind it. Plus I have that handy little contraption that takes the strip of fabric in one end, and spits out a folded strip out the other that goes directly under the iron to be pressed into a crisp-edged piece of bias tape to bind the edges of the quilt. Of course there will be photos of that process. And the baby shower isn't until the 11th, so I have dispelled the rumor that I wait until the eleventh hour to complete a project. This time.
PHOTOS ©pegyates/2011

Tiny Sewing

The daughter of a friend is expecting a girl in September. I have never had the pleasure of spoiling a daughter or niece, so this has given me the chance to make girly-girl things, beginning with a pair of baby shoes. A princess should always have lots of slippers. My other goal is to make a very bright baby quilt. I have the top pieced, so I have to add borders, baste it, do some machine quilting and bind it. The difficult part is done. Plus she will have another pair of shoes with a paper pieced top that will replicate the block in the quilt. It's probably better that I didn't have girls to dress...it would have been expensive.
PHOTOS ©pegyates/2011

Clothesline Tote Update

Zigzag stitching the bag together was a LOT easier than covering the clothesline. It was like putting a coat on a worm. I really think if I attempt another one, it will be a thicker clothesline. This one had a tendency to roll a bit and it took a lot longer than I thought it would. I consider myself a good sewer and this challenged me.

I need more clothesline and more fabric. I assembled this from photos online, and didn't have exact measurements. It needs to be taller. I have plenty of fabric though, so after another trip to the hardware store for line, I will be able to add enough strips to make it the size I want. I figure it will be a good tote for the grocery, or when I have my camera and other things that I want to take along.
PHOTOS ©pegyates/2011

All Tied Up

credit to Bali Pop, their original
design, shown here for inspiration.

On to my fabric projects, which gave me the idea for the blog name. I like being able to sew. I have a lust for fabric that makes me want to have it just to look at.

But finally, I decided to follow one of my facebook friend's plan of 'something a week'. I promised myself that I would sew every day, and hopefully have a project completed, or nearly so, each week. I have way too many ideas, plans and schemes in my head that don't seem to come to fruition. So by challenging myself, I become accountable for using my time wisely and finishing what I start.

This is from a Bali Pop by Hoffman collection of fabrics, called Strawberry Fields, that is 40 different 2.5" strips. They are sewn end to end, folded and wrapped around cotton clothesline, and then coiled and stitched together to create things. Baskets, totes, containers and the like. I decided that if I could get the clothesline covered, (easier than it looks), I would make a tote like in the photo. I don't know what kind of multi-armed seamstress invented this method of wrapping and stitching fabric covered clothesline, but she must be like Shiva to be able to keep everything lined up by the time it gets under the presser foot to the needle. I'll let you know if I manage to keep my fingers from becoming part of the tote.
PHOTOS ©pegyates/2011, except the completed tote photo.

Night Skies Over The River

Trying to catch up on the things I wanted to post about but couldn't find a moment to myself.

These are from the night of the mega moon of March 18/19. Usually when things like meteor showers happen, we are under cloud cover. Rarely do I get the chance to photograph cool sky things. I was able to do a timed exposure and capture Orion's Belt and Sword, another timed exposure once the moon had risen, and finally moonset the next morning. I wish when I dreamed I could dream that I was able to fly. I would go to that moon, but be back in time to pack Paul's lunch before he left for work.
PHOTOS ©pegyates/2011

Open Door Weather

Just a lovely, end of the day shot when the sun was slipping low, and skimming across the floor.

Family

Ah, my sweeties. From l to r, Liz, Evan, Katie, Marshall. I had not seen Marshall and Katie since before Thanksgiving. Evan was here then, and at Christmas, with plans for Marshall and Katie to come for a visit, but Paul's heart had other ideas, along with Mother Nature, who decided to spit snow on everything. It really was so emotionally and mentally draining with Paul's stroke, that it really worked out better that the visit didn't happen until yesterday and today. We got to meet Liz for the first time, and she is lovely. Katie is wearing an engagement ring from Marshall, and I am blessed to see both of my boys happy.

We are still recovering from everything, and I am amazed at how exhausted I can be by late afternoon. It's a process. A one-day-at-a-time experience that has taught me a lot about how fragile life is, how frail I really am, and how one small thing can eclipse my perception of a normal day, and rearrange how I think about everything. Did I mention I am thankful?

Internal Overhaul

This is the box of chocolates my nurse put in my bag because my surgery was backed up from its original time. I would have preferred about 60% cacao, but that day, I was just glad to get home.

Boy have I been away. Seems when my sweetheart got home, my gallbladder decided to attack me. And it continued on until December 19 when I finally gave up and went to the ER. I had an ultrasound and they found stones...no kidding, really?...but sent me home because my bloodwork didn't show an infection...lucky me. I was told to see my regular Dr., with whom I already had an appointment on the 28th, and she referred me to a surgeon.

New Year's around the corner, I think to myself, I'll tough it out until after the first of the year, and then go. So we are in Massaponax, VA on Jan 4th, and surprisingly, I feel pretty good that day. Then the sweetheart starts having a headache, along with some chest pressure that he neglected to tell me about. With the cardiologist's urging, we go to the ER for a CT scan to rule out another stroke. That was okay, but his EKG was showing an abnormal rhythm. Guess who was admitted to the hospital? Chemical stress test on the 6th, heart cath on the 7th, and finally a quadruple bypass on the 10th. Meanwhile my gallbladder decided to start up again. But with a husband who was discharged on the 14th, minus his driving privileges, but plus 54 staples and a newly wired shut sternum, my gallbladder was given a stern talking to by me to knock it off.

I have never felt so bad for so long in my life. On February 14th, the sweetheart was given back his driving privileges, I had my surgery consult on the 16th, and laparoscopic gallbladder surgery on the 22nd. It will be 5 weeks since my surgery in two days, and I am still sore at times and learning how to help my body live without something I had every intention of taking with me when I left this world. Not to be. I couldn't even keep the stones. They now have to send them to the lab to see what they are. Wait, wait, I know, I know...they are gallstones!! It took me 55 years to make them and I wanted to at least see what they looked like. Anything after 50 years is an antique, so me AND my gallstones both qualify.