Closing Of A Quilt Store–End of an Era

A good friend of mine owned and operated a quilt shop for 23 years, since 1991.  She decided to retire and closed the shop at the end of October.  She has reduced her inventory with a big sale and had a couple of garage sales after that and now her inventory is down to a fraction of what it was when she was in business full time.  Janet ran her shop single handedly, except for when she had special sales or would bring someone it to work when she took an occasional day off.Our last photo at Quilter’s Delight, Janet’s store, in Holdrege, Nebraska.  Me on the left, Shirley, Janet, and Fay….best friends.  We have been friends for many years and enjoy getting together for lunches, dessert, chatting and room together each summer at the Nebraska Quilt Convention.  We are all quilters plus a few other hobbies thrown into the mix.  We don’t get to see each other real often as we live a few hours apart so make plans several times a year to eat and play catch up on our lives.  Our last time meeting at the store was bittersweet but we are happy for Janet and the new chapter of her life.

When the shop was open and doing business she had over 9000 bolts of fabric and now there are only around 500 left.  That still seems like a lot of bolts and it is but looking at them on the shelves it didn’t seem like many.  Of course Fay, Shirley and I had to purchase some fabric, books and patterns one last time.  You know we just “needed it”!  Janet is having one last garage sale in March and then Quilter’s Delight will only be a great memory.

Until Later,
Lynn

More Blog Feedback Needed

I would like to know if you hover over the photos below with your mouse if you see the pin button pop up on the photos and if you can click on it to save a pin.
I took these two photos in late August of the barn with the barn quilt on it and the other one is of the fall blooming Clematis that happened to have a wasp on one of the blossoms.  Those clouds in the east reflecting the setting sun were just beautiful.

I really appreciate any feedback you can give me as I try to straighten this out.

As I sit here at the computer and look out my window I am seeing white, white snow blowing and swirling around.  Good day to stay inside and sew which is next on my list.
Until Later,
Lynn

Blog Help

I need your help.  Feeling very smug I thought I would add a “Pin It” button to each blog post following directions from another blog.  I got the button installed and it was showing up at the top right side of the last post on basketball.  When I tested it out I found that only one of the photos showed up on the Pinterest selection page and greyed boxes with broken links for the other photos.  Two test photos below for testing.
I removed all the html code that I had pasted on the Settings to try and correct the problem.  Clicked on Settings then Posts and Comments then Post Template where I had pasted the code.  I thought everything would be back to normal and tried to pin from my blog and it would not load all the photos again and still had the greyed squares with the broken links.  I tried the post on making the valentine cards and no photos there either, just broken linksCan anyone help me?  If you would try to pin from this post or any others on my blog please let me know what you experience.  If I am reading another person’s blog post I don’t seem to have any problems pinning to Pinterest.

OK - now it is a few hours later than my original post.  Installed a new Pinterest button to my tool bar on Firefox so not sure if that is what made the change but now if I hover over one of my photos a pin button pops up and I can click on it to pin the photo to Pinterest.  Does the button pop up for each of you?  I still get the greyed boxes with the broken links if I click on that button on my Firefox tool bar though.


Lynn

Go Big Red! Cheering On The University of Nebraska Women’s Basketball

John and I have so enjoyed our Christmas gift from our children this year – season tickets to the University of Nebraska Women’s Basketball games.  They gave them to us early so we could take in the games before Christmas and just yesterday we attended the last one we can make it to this year.  We have a long legacy of UNL alums as my mother was a 1944 graduate, myself and John graduated in 1971, our daughters and both sons in law in 1997, 1999 and 2000.  Besides these immediate family, 4 of my mothers 5 siblings graduated from UNL and my 4 siblings graduated from there as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.  We love the University of Nebraska!  We have great seats and a wonderful view of the action below and have already told our daughters they can get us the same thing next year and if they are not planning on the same gift that we want to get the tickets ourselves.  We have really had fun going to the games and cheering  for the team.  We went to one game a couple of years ago with a cousin but did go quite a bit  when our daughters were attending the university a number of years ago.  One of our sons in law was in charge of uniforms and oftentimes had to be in attendance at the games the times we would visit so would all go and cheer on the team at the same time as visiting with them all.  Since that time we have not gone, until now.We do have 1 1/2 hour drive to get to Lincoln and so far have only had one game we couldn’t attend because of a blizzard and drove home in a snow storm one other time.  Weather is always an issue here in Nebraska so we know that can happen and have to be flexible.   Quite a few games have been at 2 in the afternoon on Sundays which is a wonderful time since it isn’t so late to drive home but this past week one of the games we attended didn’t start until 8 and it was midnight by the time we got home.  Not fun to drive that late anymore.The games are held in the newish Pinnacle Bank Arena in the Old Market area of Lincoln.  The first event held there was just August 2013.  It is a great facility, easy to drive to from out of town and wonderful parking that is also easy to get to and close to the arena.


We have shared the tickets with our daughters and niece when we couldn’t attend for various reasons so that has been nice too.  We can’t attend the last two games next week since we will be gone on a trip but one of our daughters will be using them.  Will have to check online to see how they played I guess.

Until Next year...Go Big Red!
Lynn

Machine Quilted Valentines

Happy valentines day everyone!  I have always loved making valentines and this year was no exception.  I stitched 8 different hearts on whole cloth postcards for my valentine project.  I do love to machine quilt so this was a good excuse to do more of what I love.

The first three were stitched in pink thread for the design and white for the background.  The “binding” is a strip of fabric with fusible on the back cut with a wavy rotary cutter and pressed around the outside edges to finish them off.
These are less frilly and are for my two grandsons.  Hopefully they won’t think they are too girly.  Red fabric with white thread says happy valentines day, right?
White on white fabric and red stitching for the heart designs on these three.  As you can see I do love to stitch feathers and what a better place to use them than on hearts.

I made the back of the card from a printed phrase, poem, sentiment printed on card stock and that too was fused to the back of the card.  By the way, the front fabric was fused to Peltex or Timtex which is a thick, stiff stabilizer.  I quilted the cards, fused on the back then fused on the binding.  Ta-Da done!

I finished them up on Wednesday, popped them into addressed envelopes and delivered them to the post office to mail.  I always mail these kinds of fabric postcards in envelopes to keep them clean and prevent them from getting caught in post office machinery.  Hopefully they will arrive in time for Valentines Day and be enjoyed by all.

Until later,
Lynn

Links List #8

Today I want to share another of the list of sewing/quilting links I have collected.  As a reminder, I originally gathered these links to send to the newsletter chairman to use in my guild newsletter. Each month she chooses a few to share with the members.   I did check them out and at this time they are all viable but if you have trouble you might do a search for the website or subject.  ENJOY!

http://ocd-obsessivecraftingdisorder.blogspot.com/2010/08/bag-lady-week-messenger-bag-tutorial.html free messenger bag pattern and tutorial

 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/bernina_videos_view.php/bernina_videos_id/303 video invisible applique by machine

http://ivoryspring.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/free-pattern-silver-lining/ quilt pattern

http://www.favequilts.com/Miscellaneous-Quilt-Projects/American-Quilting-Traditions-11-Free-Quilt-Designs-Quilt-Blocks-and-More-Americana - Patriotic%20Quilt%20Patterns free eBook, patterns & techniques

http://www.quiltmaker.com/videos/index.html videos on foundation piecing, 4 designs 1 block, stitch and flip simple way, easy triangle-squares

http://www.superiorthreads.com/reference-guides/ many reference guides

http://www.mccallsquilting.com/quiltalong Accent on Amish free video lessons

http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/komebukuro-traditional-japanese-rice.html small drawstring bag

http://weallsew.com/2013/06/06/coiled-rope-basket-by-juliette-lanvers-for-weallsew/ coiled rope basket

http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures/2013/06/all-about-scale-not-the-weighing-kind/ scale in fabrics

http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/sewing-general/sewing-tips-quilting-tips/ quilting tips

http://dontlooknow.typepad.com/dont_look_now/2008/02/one-of-my-favou.html point finger pin
 cushion

http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2013/05/amish-quilts/ amazing amish quilts

http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2013/05/making-hanging-sleeves-for-quilts/ make hanging sleeves for quilts

http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2013/05/seam-series-how-to-sew-a-flat-fell-seam/?utm_source=feedly making flat fell seams

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2011/04/living-up-to-my-blog-name.html tiny scrappy triangle quilt blocks

http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2013/05/sewing-tips-for-turning-inside-out/ turning tubes

https://ivoryspring.wordpress.com/2013/05/09/free-pattern-forest-floor/ quilt pattern

http://www.bhg.com/crafts/quilting/sewing-and-quilting-crafts-projects/ sewing supplies caddy

http://www.bhg.com/crafts/sewing/accessories/simple-to-sew-totes-purses-and-bags/ - page=1 purse pattern tutorial

http://www.bhg.com/crafts/sewing/accessories/easy-sewing-projects/ tissue cover

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2008/02/rag-rug-tutorial.html rag rug tutorial

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2008/09/gifts-to-create-for-christmas-08.html checkbook cover

http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com/free-quilt-patterns free quilt patterns

http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com/videos/bonus.html quilt videos

http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com/videos/index.html many more quilt ideas

http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2013/04/curved-piecing-tutorial/ curved piecing tutorial

http://www.freespiritfabric.com/graphic-elements/gallerys/t97_1.pdf double wedding ring quilt pattern

http://mypatchwork.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/ipad-stand-tutorial/ make an iPad stand

http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-free-motion-quilting-challenge-4.html quilted postcard tutorial

http://www.patchworkposse.com/2011/10/celebrate-christmas-quilt-a-long-with-quilting-gallery-and-quilt-tutorial/ Christmas wallhanging

http://quilting.about.com/od/stepbystepquilting/u/how_to_make_a_quilt.htm?nl=1 quilting articles

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art6345.asp free Christmas projects

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=q1nkdkobrf9r7bh8nk15inojl4&topic=43.0 - axzz2aXhpOP9n arm/wrist band purse

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=410068.0 - axzz2aXhpOP9n list of tutorials on Craftster in purses, bags& wallets

http://ajpadilla.com/patterns big list of free patterns

http://ajpadilla.com/tutorials/beginners-corner/hand-piecing-tutorial many tutorials

http://andsewitgoes.blogspot.com/2006/04/my-fusing-method.html fusing tutorial

http://www.qovf.org/ quilts of valor website

http://www.qovf.org//ufiles/files_photos/pdf_1285260326_hometownpride.pdf Home Town Pride pattern

http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-to-make-barn-quilt.html barn quilt tutorial

http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-to-make-barn-quilt-hanging-quilt.html hanging the barn quilt

https://www.superiorthreads.com/blog/2012/10/bobbin-tension-how-adjust-and-why-its-important/ how and why to adjust bobbin tension

http://www.nancyrinkdesigns.com/free-quilt-patterns.html free quilt patterns

Until Later,
Lynn

Nebraska State Quilt Guild Challenge–Kay’s Block

The challenge rules are posted at the bottom of this blog post if you don’t remember from my other posts about this challenge.  Kay is a former art teacher and an artist in her own right as well.  She painted/drew the wonderful grasshopper block.  It is just fabulous, don’t you think?Janet added the pinwheel blocks to border two sides before getting it to me to add another border.  After looking at it on my flannel board for a while I came up with an idea…..circles again.  I love the circles on the original block and wanted to repeat that motif if I could and satisfy another requirement or two for the challenge.
I  had a piece of gradated fabric in the perfect shades of green to use as my background for the circles.  I drew double circles on paper and cut them out to try out arrangements to see what I liked best.  I first settled on just having them float upward and had the papers pinned onto the strip of fabric for several days while I evaluated it. As I was thinking and studying the block I pulled these batiks from my stash as candidates for the circles.   One day as I walked by it occurred to me to have the circles make a path similar to the ones in the original block.Here are the circles made of fabric with fusible on the back and arranged on a diagonal – so much better than just floating straight upward.In this photo they are fused down and then stitched with a machine blanket stitch with it's mirror image using several orange, yellow and green threads I pulled from my thread stash.  Not sure that is the right term for the stitch but it looks like a blanket stitch going both ways out from the straight stitch that runs next to the applique.
Ready to send off to Fay.  One block left to work on but I am wondering if I will be doing circles on that one too!

Until Later,
Lynn

Challenge rules -It is a round robin challenge with a team of 4-5 quilters of your choice.  Each quilt will start with a 9” finished center block.  You will build around the center block using borders with the following shapes—pinwheels, circles, diamonds, applique, and some embellishment.  The front of the quilt must have at least one of each shape listed but you may use more of these shapes if you wish.  Each quilt cannot exceed 120 total inches around.  It must be quilted, bound and a label sewn on the back.

Nebraska State Quilt Guild Challenge–Janet’s Block

Challenge rules for the Nebraska State Quilt Guild 2015 are at bottom of this blog if you don’t remember what they were from my previous post about the challenge. 

I didn’t get a photo of Janet’s block before I added my border but you can figure it out what it was, a pinwheel block.  I added the applique circle flowers, stems and leaves on 3 of the 4 sides of the border.  I again used the dissoluble paper like interfacing inside the leaves and flowers.  The stems are bias cut and tiny.  I had purchased a 1/8” bias maker from Clover and this is the first time I used it and it worked great to make the tiny stems.  The photo above is before appliqueing when everything was glued down using a glue stick. After the applique was done by machine using a clear polyester thread.  I love it and hope Janet does too.

Until later,
Lynn

Challenge Rules - It is a round robin challenge with a team of 4-5 quilters of your choice.  Each quilt will start with a 9” finished center block.  You will build around the center block using borders with the following shapes—pinwheels, circles, diamonds, applique, and some embellishment.  The front of the quilt must have at least one of each shape listed but you may use more of these shapes if you wish.  Each quilt cannot exceed 120 total inches around.  It must be quilted, bound and a label sewn on the back.