Sunday snapshots

My quilt is all pin basted together. I'm planning on hand quilting it, and just got some thread yesterday.

 My youngest is the newest kid in the family to get braces. Just the top so far. The bottom ones to come at a later time.

Just finished listed a whole lot of stuff on Ebay. One of the items is this set of 3 snowmen with stars.

I also listed a set of 3 of these snow angel ornies. I still have the other 3. If you are interested in a set of 3, email me at appleberrycottage.hotmail.com  . They are $4.25 each plus shipping. Made from cotton batting, hand sewn beads for buttons and eyes, hand stitched nose, rusty wire arms and halo, and a "dictionary page" (aged with walnut ink) wings. Each snow angel has been lightly aged with walnut ink. Each has a clear fish line hanger.

Hope you enjoyed my Sunday snap shots!

~*~ Laura ~*~

How to adapt a 1/4" quilting foot

My 1/4" quilting foot arrived. But, it did work on my machine ~ an old Bernette 330. It snapped on, just like any other foot, but my machine kept unthreading while it was on (yep, I was using good thread). After some observing it while it was unthreading, I noticed the needle slightly hit the back of the  foot, but not enough to make a noise or break the needle. Determined to make it work, I used  dremel type tool to make the hole in the foot larger. It now works! How did I ever survive without one of these feet? It's SO much easier to get even seams with this foot. Guess my old Bernette is too old to have too many new feet.

I finished piecing the top, but still need to add borders. The pattern calls for just one border, but I might add another one. 

While using the jelly roll, some of the pieces were cut off pattern. This one shows the brown/ecru print. I used the 1/4" seam, but the fabric print is over 1/2" off from one side to another. There's not enough leftover fabric to use, so I'm just going to have to leave it as is. I think for any patterned fabric I will use my own cut fabric so that I can be cut on grain/pattern in the future.

I'm keeping mental notes of things that would be nice in a new machine. One is the quilting foot. But, my machine gets stuck when going from 2 layers of fabric to 6 (when going over seams). It would be nice to get one of the feet that combines the 1/4" seams with an even feed. I didn't even know they made them, until I wanted to combine the 2 feet that I have. I started looking at machine accys online, and found they make what I wanted.

The next decision will be to machine quilt or hand quilt. I am not an expert at the free motion machine quilting. I love to look of hand quilting, but don't know what pattern to quilt. I think I'll hit the library for some books for ideas.

~*~ Laura ~*~

Log cabin quilt

 I went to my local quilt shop yesterday and chose some Moda fabric for the quilt. I found this Moda jelly roll in shades of blue, brown, and cream. The red fabric is for the center blocks and stars.

The cutting took no time at all, since the 2 1/2 strips were already cut. The hardest part was diving the fabric into dark/lights. Then laying out the 16 squares and using different fabrics in each square. I tried to vary large and small prints, and get different colors in each. Since the jelly roll had all different fabrics, it's going to be a very scrappy looking quilt.

I haven't sewn a quilt in quite a few years. I've always tried to get even edges, but haven't succeeded. So, I just ordered a new 1/4" quilt foot for my sewing machine. For $6, it's worth a try. Now to wait for it to arrive in the mail this week. :)


~*~ Laura ~*~

Pumpkin mat

 I dyed up some wool in a pumpkin color to use in my mat.

 The photo makes it look more spotted than it is. I'm not sure I like some of the darker navy in the plaid. I haven't finished the edges yet, so there's still time to re-hook certain sections if I decide to get ambitious.

 A quick photo of the back.

 I think my next project will be a quilt. I haven't done one in a long time. My youngest boy wants a log cabin pattern. Ok, he really didn't say log cabin pattern, but a quilt with the squares going around. I found this pattern with hidden stars. No to find some red, tan, and blue fabrics ~ the colors he chose.

Last night I was at the computer when I heard the whoosh of a hot air balloon. I ran outside and got this photo from the driveway. The weather has been SO perfect around here ~ great night for a balloon ride.

~*~ Christmas in July ~*~

 It's Christmas in July! I listed some holiday items last Sunday evening on Ebay. Hop on over to my listings to check them out. I have the set of 3 Santa ornies, this candle mat below, as well as some baby afghans.

I started a small fall pumpkin mat. I just finished the background today. Just need more orange wool to finish the pumpkin. It's 8x8, so it's a small, beginner mat.  I might try selling a couple patterns or kits on Ebay. But first, I have to get this one done.

 Earlier in the week I completed this snowman pillow. I had the wool stitchery front sitting in a drawer, and just didn't know how I wanted to finish it.

Then I saw this piece of black plaid wool in my stash, and it caught my eye. Perfect for the backing of a pillow! I used some primitive stitching on the edges, and stuffed it with wool snippets.

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 The next project to complete are these cross stitch pieces. I'm thinking of making them into mini pillows ~ similar to the one above.

I haven't bought a sewing machine (no money ~another unexpected car repair~ gotta love older vehicles!). I did start looking on Ebay to see what used ones sell for. That got me into Joann's to look at new Viking machines. Gee, if I bought a new machine for myself, my old one could go to my sister. (she doesn't sew much) Guess I better save up~ the ones I like are $$$ !

~~* Laura~*~

4th Finishes

 I've finished several items during the 4th of July weekend. I created and finished a set of  3 snow angel bowl fillers. The wings are an aged Let it Snow music sheet.

I've been working on many snow angel ornies. 30 of them are for an order. The remaining 6 will be up for auction. The wings on these are an aged dictionary copy (with the page for "snow", of course)

I finished another baby afghan in white. The ivory one I finished  a while ago. They will be on Ebay in the future.

I almost finished a set of 3 Santa wool applique ornies. I need to add the hemp cord hanger, then add some mica flakes to add a vintage sparkle. Yet another future Ebay item.

Since I had a long weekend (yipee!) I went to the Kane County Flea Market. It was crowded, and hot. I had fun browsing, but really wasn't looking for anything in particular. I went to have fun looking. I did manage to find some skeleton keys ~ already rusted.  :)   They will be nice for hanging on punch needle projects.

I still have a few unfinished projects that I would like to complete. Seems like once I get one done, I want to get more completed.

If anyone has connections for obtaining a used sewing machine, please let me know. I have an old Bernette 330, which still works. My sister lost her sewing machine, and all supplies in a flood last week. I started looking on Ebay to see what used Bernettes, Viking, Pfaff machines go for. She doesn't need anything fancy, just a basic machine.

~*~ Laura ~*~

What's on my camera?

 What's on my camera?

 Well, a finished hooked pumpkin mat. I bound the edges using strips of the background wool.

A birthday party for my dad and my youngest, James.

 James got a Tribble for his birthday. And the fur trapper hat (I know ~ perfect for summer!)

Some senior portrait proofs.

I thought I would be able to sleep in a bit this summer, as I don't have to get up for school (just my job). But, Andrew took a summer job working landscaping. He has to be there at 7am. Since we only have 2 vehicles, I drive him to work.

I haven't time to do much crafting, but need to make some time to make some items. I have an idea of a few Christmas in July items to put on Ebay. We'll see how  much I get done.

~* Laura ~*~