SEWING MACHINE FRUSTRATION

Are you ready for this???

This is my sewing machine.

I have loved this machine.  Still do.

Here is the problem.  I think the even feed has gone out.  I can not sew on this machine.  I can blanket stitch and quilt but it won't sew....well...it will sew but does not sew correctly and makes it a chore...I have to pull the fabric through.

Sigh....Sigh.

It has been this way for months.

See this machine?

It is my embroidery machine.  It sews beautifully but just recently  has decided to cut off while I am sewing.

I will sew and it will stop....I have to patiently wait for it to turn back on.

I will so some more...off it goes.    

I have been playing musical machines.  I would sew on my embroidery machine and quilt on it if that was the machine I was on at the time and blanket stitch and quilt on the other machine.

What a circus!!!!

So...........................  none of this would be a problem but

the cost to work on the embroidery machine is 150 to just look at it.

Sigh 

Sigh.

It is about 100 to look at my sewing machine.

Here is my quandary

I don't want a fancy sewing machine anymore.  I just want one that will do a pretty straight stitch and do the blanket stitch.  I do want the even feed.  Any suggestions?

Thinking about a different embroidery machine instead of a pfaff...not happy with the automatic cutter.  Any suggestions?

I need help.  The fun has gone out of sewing....gotta have the right equipment.

My husband says to just get them fixed.  I say get new machines.

What say you?

ART WITH FABRIC BLOG HOP

During this week I have seen some amazing pieces that have so blown me out of the water.  To be honest I truly do not feel I belong in this group of hoppers.

It has been fun to see what inspires others and how they interpret the designs they have chosen.

We were asked to pick an art piece (painting, drawing sculpture, architecture)...Anything and put a twist to it or how ever you want to do it.  We can use any kind of technique we chose using fabrics.


For myself I have chosen Picasso


                               



I have taken this exert from Lisa's history room

"the “Dove of Peace” Picasso had created for the 1949 Paris Peace Conference had caught on. It had become a symbol for the peace movement, the Communist Party, and other liberal groups. In the years that followed, Picasso agreed to create other peace doves for conferences across Europe.

The modern peace dove is a more whimsical bird than the 1949 original. This proud bird is portrayed in happy flight, bearing numerous bouquets of olive branches and flowers in its wings, beak, and feet.

Here is my piece using Island Batik Fabrics

I chose this piece because we live in such troubled times and I know that the majority of the people on this earth truly want peace.

I had planned to use ribbon instead of his squiggly random colors but that didn't work so I just have Peace coming out of his mouth and some hearts because I know peace is in the hearts of most mankind.

There is only one other blogger posting today

Chris @ chrissquiltinguniverse (http://chrissquiltinguniverse.blogspot.com/)

If you have not been to all of the other blogs, please do go by.  Certainly a source of inspiration.

Thanks Alida for allowing me to be a part of this amazing blog hop.

PUMPKIN FEST - ISLAND BATIK

Here in Texas you can definitely tell that Fall is in the air.

I truly love this time of year.

Several years ago I started making

Kim Schaefer's Calendar Quilts.

I made about five of them and now my daughter in law has them.

So I decide to continue to make them

This is her pumpkin one.

                                       Here is mine using the awesome Island Batik Fabrics

I kinda made it my own...tweeked it to my own liking.

Here is a link if you want to find Island Batik on pinterest

At the risk of repeating myself, Island Batik fabrics are so wonderful to use in applique, they hardly ravel at all which makes it so nice.

Here are some of my fall patterns that you can find on craftsy.

This is a free pattern

This one is using the Accuquilt Go dies but the patterns are included if you do not have one.

Once again using the Accuquilt Go dies but the applique patterns are included.

This is one of my favorites using the awesome Island Batik Fabrics.  It is hanging on my mother's door where she lives.



This is a free pattern as well.



I hope you all are enjoying this fantastic weather....time to get outside and "smell the roses"

Monday, October 10th, 2016 

Bea @ beaquilter (http://www.beaquilter.com/)

Heather @ heatherquilts (http://www.heatherquilts.blogspot.com/)

Tuesday, October 11th, 2016 

Carol @ quiltedfabricart (http://www.quiltedfabricart.com)

Janis @ turtlemoonimpressions (https://turtlemoonimpressions.wordpress.com/)

Jennifer @ inquiringquilter (http://www.inquiringquilter.com/)

Jayne @ twiggyandopal (http://twiggyandopal.blogspot.com/)

Wednesday, October 12th, 2016 

Laura @ periwinklequilts (http://periwinklequilts.blogspot.com/)

Yanicka @ yanickahachez (http://yanickahachez.blogspot.com/)

Sarah @ georgiagirlquilts (http://georgiagirlquilts.blogspot.com/)

Patty @ elmstreetquilts (http://www.elmstreetquilts.com/)

Thursday, October 13th, 2016 

Terry @ terryaskeartquilts (http://www.terryaskeartquilts.com/)

Janeen @ quiltartdesigns (http://quiltartdesigns.blogspot.com/)

Alida @ tweloquilting (http://tweloquilting.blogspot.com/)

Friday, October 14th, 2016 

Maartje @ quiltingamsterdam (http://quiltinginamsterdam.blogspot.com)

Andrée @ quiltinglearningcombo (http://quiltinglearningcombo.blogspot.com)

Lee Anna @ lapaylor (http://lapaylor.blogspot.com/)

Kristel @ WIPgirl (https://wipgirl.wordpress.com/)

Saturday, October 15th, 2016

Chris @ chrissquiltinguniverse (http://chrissquiltinguniverse.blogspot.com/)

Barb @ bejeweledquilts (http://www.bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com)

I am looking forward to seeing all of the awesome projects, hope you can join us.

REFURBISHING AN OLD OLD OLD QUILT (WELL...NOT THAT OLD...)

Now when I show you this, please be kind.

This is one of the first quilts I ever made.

It was a tie quilt.

The border was just the backing flipped over and turned under. 

That being said.

When this quilt came to me it was a mess....I put it away

saying

one 

day

I 

Will 

Fix this quilt.

One day tuned into 25 years.

Here you see that the binding has come undone at the top and bottom.

                                       The stitching came undone in some of the squares.
                                        This was a very loved quilt.

                                         

                                                Just another picture of the binding.

So I was just going to take the binding apart and put a new one on.

I was going to fix the seams

Take out all of the yarn for the ties.

And....just meander it.

Sounds Simple????

NOT!!

   I started taking it apart so I could get to the seams and this is what I saw....

Oh my gosh............What was I thinking.  I made clothes for my school...I knew that you had to have all squares equal?

                                                            So what was I thinking?

                                                     I am so embarrassed.
                                        This is what I saw on the inside.....shame of shame.

I have no excuse (I am red with shame)

So....I took it all apart...literally.....seam by seam

Cut the squares down.

Sewed them back

Quilted it.

and this is what I got.

The batting was high loft....I hate quilting high loft but thought since the years of

washing and abuse that it would be okay.

It was not but I got started and just kept going.

My baby is having a baby....YEP...our third grandbaby...

Do I get a WHOOP!!!

That is why I wanted to fix this quilt for my son to give to his baby.

Turned into a redo.

and I also quilted this panel for them.

  I made the same panel for my third son's baby.  I just love this panel.

When my son's wife  decides on colors for her baby room I will make a real nice quilt but for now....



                                                          .let the fun begin!!!

BRINGING IN THE FALL WITH "BOUNTIFUL TABLE TOPPERS" USING ISLAND BATIK FABRICS

                                    

                                     

This month has been a continuation of last month which means getting even one project done is a success.

                                          We got our new box of fabrics from Island Batik

                                                    All I can say is YUMMY!!!!

                       For my Bountiful Table Topper I chose yellows, browns and greens.
                       From my Island Batik Bountiful Basket of fabrics!!


                                      This is what I came up with!  Which doesn't have a name.

Talking about racking one's brain....oh my gosh.  I have fretted, I have worried and even tried different things but nothing I did worked out or made my heart sing......until

                                      I certainly didn't want to waste any of my gorgeous fabics.

                     

As you can see, I finally came up with something that I felt was worthwhile and it is now sitting on the bar in my kitchen.  Just matches perfectly.  My husband just called from the kitchen and said how pretty he thought it was.... (singing heart).

This topper measures  18 1/2" x 28", just perfect for the bar.

I used my Accuquilt Go cutter with the FUN FLOWER DIE # 55334 and the

 ROUND FLOWER # 55007 (for the center of the flower).

Two 1/4 yards fabric for the circles and the flowers, and 3 - 2  1/2  strips from selvage for the binding.

The blanket stitch was used to edge the applique and wonderful Heat N Bond for my fabric adhesive.

Now I am ready for cooler weather, what about you?

I noticed that a few other ambassadors posted their runners today.....

Beaquilter

Mary Mack's Blog

here are a few others

Freemotion

Patchwork breeze

Pamela's Quilts

For Quilts Sake

Inchworm Fabrics

Vicki's Crafts and Quilting

Moose Stash Quilting

There will be more.......but these are the ones I know of.

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY.........AND WINNER OF MY GIVEAWAY

Would like to thank all of you who commented on my blog and for going by my craftsy site and taking the free "Gecko Invasion" pattern......  

It thrills me when people actually want one of my patterns.  I hope that if you did go by that you will enjoy it.   

There were more patterns taken than comments, therefore, I really appreciate those comments and the time it took to do both.  

The winner of my Island Batik "Tradewinds" fabric giveaway is Seacoast Quilter.!!!!  Congrats!!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------

WE thought we left all the rain behind when we left for Washington State but it seems it followed us....even tho I am aware that it rains quite regularly.  My son said it was beautiful before we can.

HUMMMMMMMMM

Visited some awesome quilt stores....but left my camera cord at home....pooey....

Have a fabulous week-end.

THE WEATHER TODAY.....RAIN..... THE WINNER OF MY GIVEAWAY

It seems that where ever we go it rains.....but I hear it rains a lot in Washington state so I won't take the blame for this.

Certainly is beautiful up here.

Lots of quilt stores.