I think it's fixed


I spent the day away from my quilting machine and this was the project I worked on instead. The lone star quilt with the tiny center. I had procrastinated long enough on this one. It should have been finished in December. I decided it HAD to get done. Done is good!




I tried Bethany's method to fix the problem but I still wasn't satisfied with the results. It's a very good method; I just expanded on the concept a little.

The problems with this particular quilt couldn't be fixed without taking it completely apart down to the star points.

Here is one of the problems for this particular quilt. The pieces within the star points are not the same size.

Naturally since the pieces within the points are not the same; the star points are not the same size either. Here's an example. I lay the edges even on one side and this shows how much difference there is in the size of two different star points.

What I did was take Bethany's tip for measuring and expanded it a little. I first found the 45 degree of all the points. Marked all the sides.... 4 sides of 8 star points.... with a straight line. Then measured all the sides along the marked lines.... point to point. (I had 32 measurements.) I matched the closest size sides to sew the star back together. Luckily I could use either end as the center because the colors are the same. I hope this is making sense to you.

By matching the closest side measurement together and matching the drawn lines together; it eased out the tightness of the very center of the star. Next I took the sizes of the unsewn edges and averaged them by 16 to get the size of the corners. This was the method Bethany told me about. To get the side triangle measurement I folded one of the corners in half and lay it on top of the triangles. Then marked the triangle for the correct size.

So here it is all sewn back together with all the original fabrics. There still appears to be a little tightness in the very center but I won't know for sure until I get it onto the machine. I even got the borders sewed back on. I'd say it was a very productive 12 hour day.

Why didn't I simply cut new fabric to fix the problems? Well, this is a memory quilt. The last quilt worked on by the owner's mother before she passed away. I wanted to use as much of the original as possible so it would remain her work.... not mine. I'm just finishing it for the memories. If there is still a problem when it's put onto the machine that's when I can discuss with the owner the possibility of new fabrics. So now it waits it's turn at the machine. I'm anxious to know if the problem is fixed.

Is this April? I guess it is... storms and hail make it April.

Gee.... that's a lot of hail coming down.

I'm glad that quilt top was finished because I don't work with either machine during a storm. Too much chance of lightning damaging something (or me) so I unplug everything.

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Today..... it's back to work at the quilting machine.

Set aside for awhile.... and still a puzzler


This top was brought to me back last fall. It was in pieces. The star points were already made by hand. All I was to do was set it with the corners and side triangles and quilt it. When I put it on the machine the fullness was way, way, way too much to quilt out. Almost a full star point fullness. In other words I could fold up one complete star point before it actually was straight on the machine. The owner agreed to let me set it aside until spring. Spring is here and now it's time to get this one done. Done is good.

This one has me really stumped as to how to quilt it. It looks pretty good just laying on the table. The fullness is not too noticeable.



This is one corner where I have pulled it into straight. That's about a 8 inch fold.

This is the opposite side with it pulled into straight. Another 8 inch fold.

The main problem seems to be in the center and not around the outside. I'm not getting paid to take the whole thing apart, re cut the pieces, piece it all over again, and then quilt it too. Besides, it was made by the owner's mother who has passed away. This is the last quilt she was working on when she passed. If I remake the top it will not be her work, it will be mine. I have to keep her work for the memories. There isn't anymore fabric either.

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I'm wondering if I can take the stitching out of the center pieces to relieve the tightness and maybe make a new center? I can do that much if it would work. I have a small piece of fabric in my stash that closely matches the corner fabric that I could use to make a new center. Anyone have any suggestions?

These are today's finished quilting projects. 5 pillows are being made from blocks found in a trunk filled with WWII things. The lady wanted pillows instead of a quilt so that several family members can have a piece of their history. I decided to let these relax for awhile before finishing.

Next I finished the binding on this one. I had completed the quilting back earlier this year before I got behind on my work. It's also a found treasure. Found when cleaning out the things of the customer's mother who had passed away.



Then I started finishing up this one. It's also a treasure found by a family member when cleaning out her mother's things.



I always feel happy to be a part of completing the work started by someone and never finished. The saying is.... one person's UFO is another's treasure. When I complete quilts for someone who has passed away; I think that maybe the person is looking over my shoulder and applauding my efforts. Maybe they are happy to know their family can enjoy it as a memory of them.

Sometimes I'm lucky and all the pieces and instructions are still there. Other times I have to guess at what the original person had in mind. Then there are the times when I have to search through old patterns and books to get an idea of how a quilt would have been finished. Looking through quilt books is fun but sure can eat away at the hours.

What's my point of today's post? Well I often hear of quilters who believe the family will toss or donate all their quilting stuff after they are gone. Many quilters are making out a quilter's will. Certainly, if the person who passes has tons of gadgets and thousands of yards of fabric it will get tossed or donated. But among all those things there is usually one or two ufo projects someone will treasure. I'm one of the lucky people who often get to see what the treasure is and help finish it.

If you are a quilter who starts several projects at one time. Think about storing all the pieces, all the fabrics, and all the instructions in the same bag or box. It will help your family get it finished.... if for some reason you can't.

Time for me to go to work....

I hope blogger acts right today. I'm still working on this quilt. I thought I would show you what I'm doing in the alternate blocks. I was wrong yesterday when I said these were 8 inch blocks. They are actually 9 inch blocks. I didn't realize it until I looked at these.

This is all freehand. I got about half way through the quilt before calling it a day. If I can finish this one today; I can put an easy quilt on for a change of pace before moving on to the next intricate one.

I'm hoping to use my weekend for doing some work away from the machine. I have the binding to do on a couple of quilts. Repairs to do on a vintage top. A drawing to do for guild challenge. Some fabrics to fold and put away. That sort of thing. I need to finish these up and call the owners so I can make room in my studio.

It dawned on me a few days ago that I don't have any leader and ender pieces near my domestic machine. I can't have that!! Leader and ender pieces are how I create charity quilts. Yes, I've got to get organized and cut some leader and ender pieces. Hmmm... it also occurs to me that I haven't had a weekend for ME in quite a while. I guess it's time I had myself an "in home retreat" to do a litte planning and cutting of fabrics. I'll have my sister in law to come over to keep me company. She hasn't been here in several months. She needs to do a little planning too.

Ok, it's settled, a weekend in home retreat it is.

Time for me to get to work... it's not the weekend yet.

I'm down to the last row of stitch in the ditch of the double wedding ring. Today I will go back to put the design in the centers.



When I'm doing work at the machine my mind works constantly thinking of things I should be doing. I might be thinking of organizing or I might be thinking of the future. I might design a new 10 to what quilt in my thoughts or maybe even a new art quilt. None of which gets done because I'm working at the machine. I make lots of notes!

What was on my mind yesterday was window quilts. There had been some discussion on the longarm list about making these. This is what had me asking myself...... why did I get rid of my window quilts a few years ago?

Back in 1981 when I got my first quilting machine I was struggling just to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. I quilted pieces of plain fabric for practice. Being the frugal person I am; I used the practice pieces to make quilts for all my windows. I couldn't afford real curtains at the time.

There was nothing elaborate about those window quilts. I made them to roll up like regular paper window shades using string and eye hooks. The quilts served two purposes. They gave me curtains and helped save on my utility bills. These quilts stayed on my windows for several years. Probably 20 years or so.

I couldn't remember why I had taken them down and replaced them with just plain fabric for curtains. When my daughter called me at lunchtime I asked her if she could remember. She reminded me that I had taken the quilts down to wash and some had rotted from years of hanging in the sun. She didn't know why I hadn't replaced the quilts with new ones. Ok, now I remember...... I got a longer waiting list.

I took the quilts off the windows believing I would replace them with new "real" curtains. For some odd reason I related window quilts with poverty. I believed real curtains were a symbol of success. I was wrong! Or maybe not. I can either..... be thrifty with window quilts and have money in the bank.... or I can "look rich" with real curtains and not have any money. I'm planning on making more window quilts. The heck with giving my hard earned money to the utility companies. I want to keep as much of my money as I can for other things.

I've got my sketch book near my machine where I can sketch designs for window quilts as my mind comes up with ideas. My thoughts right now are should I make the quilts as art, country, contemporary, or just plain scrappy? I'm sure I saved all those eye hooks. I only have to figure out where I've stashed them.

Sewing the quilt tops together will be the easy part. Finding machine time to quilt them will be the problem. I'm already far behind schedule on customer quilts. Which reminds me.... I have to end this post and get to the studio.

I don't have any pictures of finished quilts today. I did get one quilt done on Thursday but it left here before I could take one of it.

The baby was sick on Friday. She has a virus infection with a fever and stuffy nose. She's too little to blow her nose so I stayed close enough to help her when she had trouble breathing. Needless to say I didn't get any work finished. She was more important.

Yesterday I let the machine sit idle while I tackled this room.... AGAIN! This is where everything lands until I have time to sort it all out.


There is more in this room than just fabrics. There is clothes someone gave me that fit. I still need to clean out the clothes from my closet that don't fit anymore before these can go in there. I think I've lost about 70 lbs. I also have some Christmas toys for the grands, a bin full of family photos and stuff, a couple of small tables I want to paint, some boxes I save for sending customers their quilt or to turn into nice storage boxes, etc, etc.

There is plenty of things under my design walls too.


Here it is. This is looking into the closet.


Here's a view of the room after I sorted it all out. The view into the closet.


And the view into the room.



The clothes that were too big have gone to the thrift store and new smaller ones took their place in my bedroom closet. Christmas gifts are wrapped and stored in another room. Boxes are either broken down and stored or setting in the kitchen waiting for me to make them prettier. Fabrics are sorted and folded. WIPs and PIGs are back in the right place. Batting scraps and some scrap fabrics were picked up by a charity group. Tshirt backs have been sorted into colors and stored ready for making into rugs. The tables are on the porch waiting for me to paint. So, everything is cleaned out and ready for me to start tossing things in there again because I don't take the time to sort.

On another note.... just about everyone who knows me personally can tell you that I am a very giving person. It's the main reason I do so much for charity and share by posting to my helpful hints blog. I will share new techniques I'm creating or let people see what quilt I am working on for myself. Last week my giving nature decided to bite me on the butt. What happened is very personal and definitely not something I plan to tell all over the internet or talk about with customers or friends. It's happened before and believe me... those bites on the butt are very painful.

I have decided it will be best if I keep my WIPs, PIGs, and new techniques hidden from view until after they have been finished. If it be a contest quilt I'm working on it will not be shown until it's actually in the contest. If I'm working on a new piecing technique I will not let it be seen until I've had a chance to perfect it. I'd like to be the one teaching it.

I moved all my current quilt projects out of my studio and into another room so they can't be seen by anyone coming into my home. I will only take them out when no one will be here but me. I'm keeping all posts to the helpful hints blogs as drafts until I've had the chance to get the most use out of them before sharing.

If anyone is tempted to email and ask what happened..... DON'T. I will not answer. If you want to send a note of encouragement..... PLEASE DO! Happy notes are most welcome right now.

Ok, a few days ago I was sitting and dreaming of what my studio would look like if I managed to buy the empty lot next door. I've been keeping it mowed and cleaned of junk and saving my pennies for several years just waiting for it to come up on the city auction block. See... I can money along with the vegetables every year.


All of a sudden I feel the whole house shake and vibrate.... earthquake!? I run outside... to find that it was only the old Phillip Morris plant being imploded..... or was it? As the day progressed I realized it was my dreams tumbling down in an avalanche of boulders in my path. I found out that my dream of getting the lot next door will never happen. The city didn't even give me a chance to buy the lot.... no auction at all..... they sold it to a rich person. A house is going to be built there.

Ummm.... I guess I should explain what I mean by a rich person. There is a very big difference between a rich person and a wealthy person. A rich person is someone with money and doesn't care who they trample on in the quest to get even more rich. Donald Trump is one example. A rich person also flaunts their money to those with less. You know who I mean.... the ones who have flashy expensive cars and 2000 dollar shoes. They treat store clerks and hotel janitors like it is their lot in life to be servants to the rich.

A wealthy person is sooo much different. A wealthy person has money but you would never know it by talking or working with them. Wealthy people are the ones with the biggest hearts. These are the people who give anonymously to a needy person featured in a news broadcast about tragedy. Wealthy people drive 15 year old cars and shop thrift stores for college kid furniture. In other words, this is how they stay wealthy.... by not spending foolishly.

I am neither rich nor wealthy.... although I do my best to live frugal and do what I can to give to charity. Well anyway, my dreams of having a studio next door have come crashing down... never to be seen again. The boulders in my path are too many to step around. I have to turn back and find another path..... this time I'm not sure I want to find another path.

In this particular case.... the wealthy person just happens to be a church. It uses tithe money to buy cheap land to build houses to rent so it can buy even more cheap land to develop. Why would a church need sooo much money but doesn't help the needy? Yes, you read right.... it doesn't help the needy. No food pantry and no help center office but the church does own many, many rental buildings, land, restaurants, businesses and such in the west end.

Ok, enough of my grumbling.... I'll set those thoughts aside and show you what I did while I was without a computer.... There was this issues quilt. I sometimes call these my challenge quilts. The quilts challenge me to make them flat. The maker is such a sweet old lady. As you can see... plenty of issues.


Plenty of fullness.... and loose threads....



Also has very friendly borders..... this one waves at me plenty... A tuck here and there helps.


An open design tames much of the fullness....


Can't stitch in the ditch when I can't find the ditch.... serpentine lines help stabilize it so a design can be done in the blocks....


A quilt with issues benefits from a really nice design.... the owner will be so busy looking at the roses she won't even notice the fullness anymore... besides, this quilt is for a special grandchild.... the owner's grand-daughter.... Victoria Rose.


And here it is.... as flat as I could make it... time and a few washings will flatten more of it. Pat myself on the back... no wonder they call me the quilt fix all fairy... (wink, wink, smile)


The next one to be quilted.... a quilt by an appliqué artist.


Woodgrain design on the frame...


Couldn't quilt on the arms or legs... it's padded... but I could contour the dress.


And the glass just seemed to need close diagonal lines to indicate it was solid.


Then on to this quilt....


Cross hatching in the center.....


Fish on the outside border to go with the fish in some of the fabrics...


Next was this one....


It was full of flower fabrics so flowers were the design in the blocks and the inside border....


More flowers on the border..... this time it gets a leaf vine instead.


A view of the leaf vine from the back.


Ok, I also worked at changing this room's color from this....


To this.... I have plenty more work to do in here before I can actually get started moving stuff back. Lots of trim to finish and the closet office to paint.


Decided I better find a better place for the travel baby bed.... thank goodness it's small... I decided the best place would be here in the corner.... so it got cleaned out....


The baby bed finally has a place of its own... looks like Jewell appreciates the new spot.



And finally.... I worked on these.... I'm supposed to have these wall hangings finished by the 10th of April. They are supposed to be in a gift shop before the Derby season starts. I hope I manage to finish in time.... if not.... oh well, its a head start on next year.



So that's what I did while I was without a computer..... when I'm not spending a few hours a day reading and typing.... I get more work done.