More about the pineapple blocks

In the photo is 1 hour of work spent in class and 1 hour at home on the paper foundation block. It is by Little foot and you can see the info on the close up photo. I liked this method but it made me more nervous and I made a few more mistakes. Remember that I purchased the foundation fabrics?? This is a similar method but a different product. I found that picking out the paper at the end is more difficult than I thought. In the class all the supplies were furnished including the fabrics, I love the choices they had, I just assembled them.

This next photo is of a unfinished pineapple block using a ruler that is a companion to the book "Positively Pineapple." Here is a link to the directions on using the ruler. This represents 2 hours of work in class. I like the traditional method of measure, sew, iron, cut, repeat. Mom bought the ruler so we always have it and can make as many pineapples as we want. The paper was the same price but you could only make 20. The foundation fabric was the cheapest at $8 for 20 blocks. I think the ruler will win... the directions on how to use the ruler are online (hint, take a class or you will be lost. I think the ruler maker wanted you to buy a book to learn to use it!!) I will finish this block Saturday.

Here is the paper pineapple finished!

The rest of the week, I am going to be cutting strips for more blocks. I also decided to make mini nine patches using some fat quarters I had purchased in the spring. I may just make snowballs and nines out of it. I needed something soothing this week. The weather has been cold, the dog relapsed in his illness and now improving a bit and my health is ok but feeling stalled. Cold, slow thyroid, tired, etc. I needed a little boost of inspiriation. Class did it, and some mindless sewing... I need to check the class list for October.

Pineapple blocks

I am working on finishing the 2 pineapple blocks I started in class last night. I am using a pineapple ruler for one method. The other method is using foundation paper. I think I like the ruler method the best.
Photos later when I have completed the blocks!! I love pineapple blocks.

Sunday Stash report and the Saturday class

I have used about 2-3 yards of fabric this week. I made fall disappearing nine patch pictured earlier this week. The tote is shrinking down, I want to be less than half. I am at 3/4.

I took a class at the local quilt shop. We made a tote using a product called "Texture Magic" and was it FUN!! You sew your fabric to the product then steam it and it shrink 30% making a great puckering effect.

I had a charmed day at class-no machine problems, I had cut my fabrics and things were going smoothly. Then, I realized I looked at the supply sheet and not the pattern so I didn't have all the fabrics and batting needed. I live 4 houses from my quilt shop so I had to run home and pick up batting and fabrics. I was the only one the the class who got my purse done. I really can see the possiblilities of the product, but it is expensive. A good experience for my first class since the 80's. Pineapple class is tomorrow--we will learn 2 techniques. I am excited!!

I finished the Pumpkins Gone wild charm pack quilt top tonight. I love the disappearing 9 patch. They all look very different. Here is the one I did earlier this summer, without sashing borders. Doesn't the autumn one have a Partridge Family bus feel? OK you will have to google it if you are young enough not to know who the Partridge family is....

My dog has been ill and I had to take him to the vet. He will be fine with his prescriptions, he has an infection. I hope he sleeps better tonight because that means I will sleep better too.

Sunday's Reports

Statsh report: 1 yard out and 3 yards in. Ooop! The tote may start filling up again.

I did do quite a bit of sewing this week but not alot of fabric was used. I made about 12 spool blocks and I started joining 9 patches of my "Pumpkins" for the disappearing 9 patch.

I Bought a fat quarter bundle of Elenor Burns fabrics for the Victory quilts. I love that so much, I will make a retro sampler this time with the 40's fabrics that coordinate with the project. I made a stash buster sampler in the spring from this book. I love the 6 inch squares.

It was a lovely ride to East Jordan with Mom that is where the Quilt shop is and the long arm quilter she uses. Ds rode along and did homework and played video games. A new game this week kept him busy. The drive was pretty, leaves just starting to change. The shop is cute but up for sale. I hope they find a buyer.

I also purchased foundation fabric with the pineapple pattern stamped on it. I love that pattern. I am taking a class at the end of the month on pineapples and THEN I will have the confidence to try it out.

I am still working up the guts to start my Civil War Diary quilt. I even have the first few blocks printed out!! Paper piecing is still intimidating to me. Watch me try it though, I promise it will be on this blog!!

Working on fall projects!!

The photos above show that fall is here, regardless of what the calendar says. Some views from my back yard. I have been working on my fall exchanges.

Gracie's spools. So easy, yet I am having a very difficult time getting the points to line up perfectly. I have decided that if they

aren't perfect, that's ok. I was ready back out of the exchange because they aren't good enough. I decided that maybe everyone else is having a hard time too. Oh well, I am doing my best. I am even using pins (which I rarely do) and starch and a square up ruler (borrowed) and whatever tricks I can think of....

I keep looking at Pumpkins gone wild, that looks like more fun!!

Cold season has started already!

Yep, one week of school and DS has a cold. He went to Renfest and started feeling poorly. Fun was had by all anyway. We listened to music and I love this group pictured, we bought several CD's so I can have some "real" music. I also loved the bagpipes. If you have read my blog, you know that I like gnomes. Look at that guy!! What a great idea for a costume. There were some strange costumes, some wonderful costumes as well as some strangely wonderful costumes.


I have been quilting for the past couple of weeks. Herer is a sneak peak of a project I quilted for an exchange.

Now, I am going to piece more blocks for an exchange. I have some borders to add. I also found a set of Calendar blocks that need to be joined. So the quilts never stop here, do they?



I have been saving my charms packs of Pumpkins gone Wild for this fall. I am going to make a disappearing 9 patch with small sashing.



Lots of ideas, now to get the machine going!

Sunday Stash Report

I have used several yards of fabric to back my quilt tops this week. I am working on more tops but I want to complete UFO's too...

Here are pictures of the 2 tops I have quilted, I need to bind them. I am pleased with the results. My sock yarn granny is pictured, too.

Now for the tote measurement---It is less then 3/4 but a little more than half. My goal is 1/2 tote by the end of the year. I have purchase some larger pieces for backing over the past several months when it was on sale to prepare for the big stash busting goal!!

I'm still quilting!!

I have quilted my Victory quilt and 2 table runners. Photos will be taken soon. So that means more basting.... I have decided that I really don't like basting the layers together. Pin basting is ok for small items but I poked my finger and stained the top a little. Using big needle and thread takes so long.... I didn't like the fuseable batting and I didn't like spray adhesives odor.

I guess that leaves me with needle and thread or paying someone to do it for me!!! Since football started, I am making more granny squares (crochet) and I am using sock yarn. Very pretty.

Quilted items

I did finish machine quilting the Road to the White House quilt. I am excited that I have learned a lot doing this quilt. I have some issues with the back but I will keep working on it. Smaller items I have quilted are better. Yes, I have several more smaller ones to quilt. Don't most of us has more to finish??

I am thinking about several new tops with fabrics I have purchased. I have the concentration to get cracking on my Civil War Diary quilt. My thyroid issues made focusing hard so I put that on the back burner. I also am signing up to take a Pineapple class with 2 methods being taught, I think I will get more experience with paper piecing. I am still in the beginning stages of learning for that.

Basting is still an issue as you can see with the photo of the puckers on the back of my quilt. Practice, practice, practice I think is the solution.

Maybe Santa will consider a small long arm????

Sunday Stashbuster report and some confidence

I have use approximately 5 yards of fabric over the past couple of weeks. I have signed up for block exchanges so I have purchased a couple of yards for this. I am still about 3/4 full on my tote and the goal was to be at 1/2. I am confident I will get there.

Speaking of confidence, I am machine quilting this weekend. I started with a table topper as practice, see? I have only quilted small projects and borders so far. The machine is threaded properly, and I remembered to drop the feed dogs.

Yea! After 2 hours of quilting my Road to the White house is nearly completed. I have 2 pucker/pleated areas on the back but that is ok, no photo please. It is my first try. I have 4 hours in the basting, remember!! And it still needed more. So today I am pinning the edges to finish. I am going to be the queen of stipplilng because I really like it. Watch the tops on my wip and ufo fly over to the completed pile. I still love hand quilting but that will be for special quilts. I am developing arthritis in my fingers so I am trying to not make it worse and yarn things can but I still do them a little at a time.

So I am singing a little song from the play, "The Sound of Music", if you know it sing along:

I have confidence in confidence alone!

Besides Which you see I have confidence In me!!!!!!!!!!!!

getting closer

Why does it take so long to baste a quilt?!? I have about 4 hours in this and getting close to the end and on to quilt.

I may need to break down and buy a quilting frame to baste. Any tips to make this less painless?

Yes, the simple life

I really enjoy the work of Tasha Tudor. She lived a simple life. She lived in a house without modern technology, grew a garden and dressed as days gone by. I would like to simplify my life but not sure I want to go to that extreme. I like air conditioning, central heat and the computer.

But there is something romantic about living close to the land, growing your food, gardening, making your own soap, tea, items necessary for daily use and living a simple life. I think it would be more inspiring for creative works. Tasha must have thought so because she was a painter and writer among other things.

I am thinking about how my life outside of work can be simpler and less cluttered so I can spend my time doing what I like. I may need to get a outfit for the part.

Longing for the simple life...

I went to the Renissance Festival last weekend. It was wonderful. Loads of fun had by all, it was the Highland Fling weekend. There were interesting games, pipers, plays, jousting and lots of fun. We may go back before the festival closes this fall. The family decided that costuming is a must before next time. I always did like to play dress up.

I have been sewing a binding down on the posie quilt. It was cold Sunday night and we recieved frost. Fall is here early. That means quilting my tops!

Wish me luck, I have to get a filling redone at the dentist. I hate the whole thing, maybe I will just cancel. Oh, I can't I will get charged anyway. Time to put on the big girl panties.