Knots Quilt

I finished a small quilt top.  The quilt pattern name is knots.  I watched a a YouTube video from Brenda at Conquering Mount Scrapmore for the pattern.  I used my stash fabric for everything except the border.  The border fabric I purchased from The Sew yeah Brothers.  The design has children doing chores and playing, along with chickens.  This will be perfect for my younger grandchild.  I have a another quilt  made for her sister. I will be quilting this by tying. The border and backing will be the same fabric.  I would love for them to put back the quilts and use them for a child they may have.  The last time I gave them a quilt, I told them to save them for their children. I basically got the comment of screw them, I am using it now.  😂  I think she really liked it.

I hope you have a great day!  Cool weather is coming!!!  It is still canning season.  Preserve some good eats for later.  🍒🍅🍉🍓🍑Dawnie

Grandma's Memories

 As I was sewing a binding on a small wall quilt, memories of my Grandma Mary Johnson appeared.  Years ago she made a quilt for me.  Off and on, I got poked by a pin, but it took me some time to locate that pin and remove it.  In this case, the pin had a glass head.  I was able to use a pair of pliers and break the glass head and the pin slipped out easily.  A couple of months ago, my brother gave me a small quilt that my grandmother made for him.  He has had the quilt for many years.  (30+ years)  The quilt fits a twin-size bed, but not a full-sized bed.  I have a smaller bed, so I decided to use the quilt. Every once and a while, I felt a little pin-poke.  Yes, this quilt also had a pin left in it when grandma quilted the quilt.  Ha! Ha!  It was more difficult to remove this pin because it had a flat metalhead.  I had to maneuver the pin to a seam and guide it through 2 stitches.  This story is not to make fun of Grandma, but to share funny memories. I love these old memories of Grandma!  

Yesterday my granddaughter asked me why the dog's ears were sticking up like they were?  My comment back was that he had his listening ears on.  

Dawnie

Bonnet Pot Holder

A while back I found an antique pot holder made in the shape of a bonnet.  I wanted to replicate it, with a few little changes.  This is what I found:

The top of the bonnet has been quilted with a sewing machine.  This is very thin.

I made a pattern.  I am not an artist.  Remember that when you view my pattern.  LOL  Oh, the pattern is free......

This is what I made.  I used ric rac instead of lace.  I also put ric rac along the bottom instead of bias tape.  I used a plastic ring to hang the bonnet instead of bias tape.  I felt that the bonnet needed to be tied.  You won't notice it, but I actually quilted the bonnet at the front and along the left of the bias tape on the top of the bonnet.
I used cotton fabric I had, but you can buy a fat quarter if you don't have fabric laying around.  I made my bias binding from more cotton fabric I had on hand, but it would have been easier to purchase some.  The cotton batting I placed inside of the bonnet was also leftover scraps from quilting projects.  The ric rac came from a package, but I doubt I used more than 12 inches.  I also had the plastic ring on hand.  All of the supplies are available at a fabric or hobby store.   I used white thread so you can see the sewing.  Matching black thread would have looked better.   

Back.  I added my label.  

I forgot to add seam allowance and I think the neck and bottom are smaller.  I think the bottom could be larger and gathered to look more realistic.  Just a  thought.  I hope you enjoy this post.  If anyone decides to make it, please let me know and send me pictures.  I would love to see it.  

Thank you for viewing!  Dawnie

Pumpkins

It isn't quite autumn, but it is coming fast.  I have been quilting a little.  I made a pumpkin table runner using Lori Holt's pumpkin pattern from her Farm Girl Vintage book.  https://www.amazon.com/Its-Sew-Emma-ISE906-Vintage/dp/0988174979/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=farm+girl+vintage+quilting+book&pd_rd_r=ffe0512e-a87f-4622-a0b9-79369750c373&pd_rd_w=tk4Wy&pd_rd_wg=HKHLV&pf_rd_p=67c9d84c-d98a-4415-a549-dd3360e9d207&pf_rd_r=K9E1141M9M3YRR8SDAGX&qid=1568591589&s=gateway&sr=8-1                                                                                                         
                                                  

The edging is bright sparkling orange.  The background also sparkles.

Do you see the chicken in the background?

I want to do this canning jar table topper next.https://www.etsy.com/listing/663276057/in-stock-lori-holt-yes-you-can-canning?ref=yr_purchases

The place I worked has been sold and they brought in most of their crew, so I am unemployed.  I worked there for 13 years. You would think I have had a lot of time on my hands and I would get a lot of things done.  Wrong.  I have caught up on my sleep.  I have also caught up on TV and movie binge-watching.  What are you up to?

The girls love the silkie chicks!

I hope you are doing well.  Thank you for viewing!  Dawnie

That One Thing You Were Put On Earth to Accomplish

Tonight, as I was sewing an edging on a baby quilt my grandmother Mary began, I started thinking.  This is going to get deep, so put your boots on.  I think all of us are put on this planet for a reason.  I haven't figured my reasons out, but I hope something I did, (which was positive), will outlive me.  People may be placed on this planet to give birth to someone that will become famous or infamous.  They may be here to build something important, or to lead a nation, or to preach the gospel to millions, (I know we are all to spread the gospel, but that is another blog post.), maybe to teach children in school, or be a Sunday school teacher.  I think you get the drift.  Well, I have put off finishing a baby quilt for nearly 30 years.  This quilt  was for my little brother.  My grandmother started it and I was to finish it.  I wasn't in a hurry since my brother never married nor had children.  We thought.  A few years ago, I found out that he may have a child out of wedlock, but we are still not 100% sure since he will not do the DNA tests.  His son is now around 28 years old.  I visit with my nephew on the telephone from time to time and we have exchanged pictures.  He has some of the family traits and looks a lot like myself.  Now, back to what I started blogging about.  (Sorry, I know when it comes to stories, I take the long way around and get lost a time or two.)  I was wondering as I was sewing this quilt if this is the one thing I was placed on this planet to do.  If so, this may be one of the last acts I do.  LOL  This quilt is soooooo adorable.  It has more character than any other quilt I have seen.  It is made from with fabric squares which are about 2" X 2" and made from scraps saved from old clothing.  Most of the seams on one row do not match up with the seams of the next row.  One I found was inside out.  One had a seam on the front in the square.  Grandmother was in her 80's when she made the quilt top.  She was the best hand quilter.  When it came to sewing and putting together quilt tops, she had the philosophy of "Get er Done!"  I am a lot like that.  My mother is able to sew perfect seams effortlessly and quickly.  I have to work at slowing down and doing the seams right.  I hope my little brother hangs this quilt on a wall and enjoys it just as I have.  It was lovingly made and I am enjoying every little square!  I will display the quilt once I stretch it onto the frame and as I progress toward the completion of it.

Thank you for reading my blog.  I wish you and yours many blessings!  Dawn

Organization

I am organizing again.  I read about organizing fabric using pre-made fabric boards which were very expensive.  I actually ordered pink foam board and I was going to make my own.  I ordered the boards from Walmart.  They messed up the order.  Instead of getting two packages of ten, I got two boards.  Two boards would not have gotten me too far with my large fabric stash.  I tried to go into my on-line Walmart account and sign a form for them in order for them to send me the corrected items.  I could not get into my account.  I opened a new account with them and of course it told me that I had not made a purchase in the last 90 days, so the form has not been signed.  After no return phone call, I decided to forget the order, even though it would have made my boards pink.  Pink would be my preference since I am the "Queen of Pink."  Go ahead and ask my co-workers and my son.  They will agree.  LOL  I made an alternate choice using comic book boards.  They were under $10.00 for 100 of them.  I haven't a clue how they are used with comic books, but fabric I figured it out.  Fabric comes folded from selvage to selvage when it is cut off the bolt.  I fold it one more time and roll it around the comic book boards and then pin the end.  I find that anything over five yards does not look as tidy, but it can be done.  I purchased some new storage cubes.  For other storage, I have a few cubes left from a purchase 20 years or so ago.  I found that these cubes are fine, but they do not do well with children or in basements.  Any ground moisture would be wicked up into the particle board and mold and mildew would grow on the bottom and back board of my cubes.   If rollers were placed on the cubes, they would not be in direct contact with the floor, so you should be able to use them in basements.  Children tend to rip the handles and hinges off of the doors of the cubes and the stack of cubes could be moved and out of kilter easily.  I purchased these 4 cubes from Amazon and the brand name is Way Basics.  Each cube was $20.00.  I still have a long way to go and more cubes to buy, but here is the beginning.  Thanks for viewing my blog.  Blessings to you and yours!  Dawn

More Cheap Gifts

As I was cleaning, I came upon a bundle of green washcloths I purchased this summer.  They are the same green color as my end table in the living room.  When I purchased them, my plan was to make coasters with them.  Well it is  better late than never.  LOL  I made 4 using the pinwheel design I was working on earlier this week.  They go together real quickly.