Accidents Happen

My blog has a whole new look! I was trying to download a
new background this afternoon and accidentally reverted to
a classic template. Oh well. It will take me a while to
replace all the fun stuff that was on the side bar.


update: I found a template that restored all my items, but
it is not one I am going to stick with- I need to figure
this out!

Until next time,
Moorea

Arizona Cross Block

Well, it's a little after one am here, and I just finished a
mock-up of a block I designed that will go into my southwestern
quilt. It may be a very common design and have a name, but I
am going to call it Arizona Cross, as it will go on point
and look somewhat like a Catholic cross from that area. I cannot
believe the points came out so beautifully. This machine has
made my confidence soar! I always thought it was me that could
not get the points to match- but this is the fist time I have
pieced with this new machine and look how it turned out! I did
not have to undo one point to redo it! WOW!


I flanked it with the beautiful fabric Aunty Ruthie sent.
It is so soft and of such quality! I cannot wait to set
it next to the beautiful blocks.


You can see the color looks better with the fabrics.
It is slight, but it sure does make a difference!


The turquoise fabric on the left is the one I will be
using- it is just a tich darker and matches better with
the turquoise found throughout all the other fabrics.
You can see how bright is in the mock-up block. It's
just too bright for my liking. Playing with the half
blocks was so much fun. I had about 5 designs, but
none of them was southwestern enough. This one is perfect!

Surprise!

I received a box in the mail Monday from a dear friend of my
Mom's in Honolulu- Aunty Connie! She generously sent me the
scraps of old sewing projects she and her daughter worked on
in sewing classes. I just lOvE scraps- they make my world go
'round! I part and parceled them out into various projects,
OK- a fEw dOZeN projects, if truth be told. Don't look at me
like tHaT!!! Oh sorry- I now it see it is a look of agreement-
you have a few dozen quilt projects stashed away too!


Oh La La -This one was one of my faves, and there was about
a yard of it- I'll put it into the "purple quilt" stash of
course! There were some tone on tones and some cute yardages
that could become pieced backings. I am going to cut up the
small scraps for my Bonnie's Scrap User System (BSUS):0)

It does my heart good to have new fabric in the stash- there
was a turquoise piece that inspired me to work on my South West Quilt design and I'll post the block I
designed a little later this week.

Decorative Sampler & Heirloom Stitching

It was recommended at my last sewing class that I make a sampler
of all the decorative stitches my machine can do. I had so
much fun making this- and it will definitely come in handy
because some of the stitches do not look like their picture
at all!



We also did something so interesting- heirloom stitching.
All you need is a wing needle and linen or 100% cotton fabric.
I cannot wait to do some little project using this technique.
Here are some links so you can see fabulous examples:
Janice Henning's Heirloom Stitches
Gina Butler


You can see how the needle flares out- that is what makes
the holes so big. order one on ebay here.

Fini

I was able to bust a move and finish this cute
baby quilt for a family @ church. Click to see
the little embroidery stitches that my new
machine has- 90 to choose from- It was so fun
to use them. I used an entire spool of thread
to quilt this the stitches were so intricate.




I LOVE this backing. I wish I had used tan thread,
but alas, I was just in auto pilot and made a bobbin
with blue thread...it turned out cute.

UFO complete

Princess Buttercup was finally able to get some time
to finish her MIL's Dresden Plates quilt she bagan...
how long ago PB?


click to see her first attempt at free motion quilting-
she did a fantastic job!

Class One

I took the first of three classes tonight for my new machine.
My Mom and I made a date out of the evening- she came over to
see the kids first, then we set out in rain & heavy traffic but
got there on time. She wandered about the store while I took my
class then we went to In & Out and got caught-up on life
happenings over burgers, fries & lemonade. It was great!
I made button holes for the first time and learned what all
the strange little attachments were for. I am now ready
to free motion quilt! Woohoo! I felt sorry for the gal next to me,
her new machine went haywire so she could not finish the class,
and her machine was sent to the "spa" as the teacher called it.
I am so thrilled with my machine, I decided to name her Wilhelmina.
That was a pet name for one of my favorite VW Vans my Mom & Dad
had when I was a kid. I think Wilhelmina & I will be great friends.

Love & stitches,
Moorea