Pages

Thursday, October 26, 2017

My most challenging project...

Newly finished couch slipcover
 Making a fitted slipcover for my wonderful couch that is still in awesome shape was extremely challenging for me, but as of last night, I am officially finished with everything except the narrow hem for the back which will need to wait until my hands recover. I'm very proud to have it finished. The pillows you see is what the couch looks like underneath her covering. We were sick to death of the pattern and color, but having the pillows as an accent isn't bad. I'll live with it for a bit before deciding whether to recover them as well. If I were to do it again and not to distant in the future, I'm sure it would be much easier having had the first one to get the hiccups ironed out. My Bernina was a trouper and didn't balk at me until the end when the layers of material got very excessive. It was slow going one stitch at a time, but I made it. I understand why upholstery professionals own commercial walking foot machines.
I'm pretty proud of how the sides came out. In order to get the cover to be fitted, I added a length of velcro on the seam line underneath the arm and my sweet husband was kind enough to add the sticky side of the velcro to the couch using a staple gun. It worked perfectly! Prior to doing that, the fabric from the bottom part of the outside arm wanted to hang out from the body of the couch a bit. It wasn't bad looking at all. I just like a more tailored appearance.

My other project was a fun one -- Kitchen Towels! I've made two so far and have plans for several others.
And so you, too, can join in on the fun, I am attaching the link to my local craft store that is giving away the instructions and pattern for free! Click HERE! I'd love to see your versions of the kitchen towel if you make one/many!

Waiting for a customer order to arrive but for now I think I will add a few more rows to my rug in progress.

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Dressed to Impress -- The Flamboyant Hoopoe's first show

I purposely have not posted a finished picture of the hoopoe because I wanted to get a picture of it hanging at the NW Quilting Expo show. I love how the pieced background turned out because it really does give me the feeling of a misty sky.

I took Esterita Austin's Luminescent Painted Illusion two-day class so I didn't have much time at lunch and after the class to really take my time and look at all of the quilts, but what I did see was fabulous. There were so many talented artists reflected in this year's show. Esterita's class was insanely fun. Even though I struggled with the painting, she was able to keep me on track with her calm demeanor and fun personality. I highly recommend taking any class she offers if you get the chance. I'll post a picture of my project once I get it quilted.

I picked up my quilt yesterday and read the judges comments. I haven't entered many quilts into shows but one of the main reasons I have started doing so is for the comments. I'm at a point where I need to know how to get to the next level so getting suggestions on how to do something better or what I didn't do well is really appreciated. There were three judges that signed the sheet, and their comments were:

  • Pieced background is well done and a great addition to piece
  • Very successful composition
  • Fabrics are well chosen to depict imagery
  • Head feathers are excellently done
  • Very good piecing and applique technique
While they didn't specifically say anything against my piece, what they didn't say may be of help to me for future projects. There were no comments on the machine quilting so I'm thinking that maybe that is an area where I need improvement. I already know that machine quilting is my weakest link and have really quilted a lot this year in an effect to improve. 

I'm presenting machine quilting The Lady, and she has stretched me greatly. 

Do you love...

and then fill in the blank. The word Love is used too easily and on everything from food to things, to sports, to movies, and on people. It may seem to have lost its strength; however, there is tremendous power in Love especially when it seeks the best for another without expecting anything in return. The shooting this week in Las Vegas tore my heart in two, and I had to put my thoughts to words. I do not know any of the concert attendees but I ached for them and their loved ones. In my grief, I searched the Bible and listened to how Jesus responded when asked what is the first commandment of all.

Mark 12:28-31:

“28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ 29 ‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”


The love that was shown by so many that tried to protect others (many of which were strangers) even when they themselves were injured is the true definition of love. I want to always have that kind of love, and I pray for that same love for you too. Jesus commanded us to love one another just like he loves us. That means it is not an option. The question is--can we obey His commandment? As Pastor Jeremiah recently preached on: Love is not a feeling. It's an action. Love is a response, Love is a verb, Love is what we do more than what we feel. The feelings come after the action.

In the face of so much heartache in our world, it may feel overwhelming in the sense of what can one person do. I'm praying to God about what I see is needed in my area and how there is no way I alone can fulfill those needs. I'm waiting on Him to open up doors that I alone cannot do. Would you join me in doing the same in your community?

A good showering of Love will do the world a world of good.