Wordless Wednesday, San Clemente, CA

Welcome progress

It's been a struggle. I have to work hard to get the letters to approximately the same size. And they're not there. Maybe next time. This is as close as I could do for now. And it's difficult to figure out the spacing between the letters. I've done a lot of cutting and cutting again. However, the result looks artistic to me. So if I like it, boo to the quilt police. Now on to the borders. First of all, I'm planning to put a solid stripe down the sides. After that, I keep changing my mind every few minutes. Right now, I'm thinking of patchwork squares, maybe.

I'm doing the free-pieced lettering one more time. I've been wanting to do a "Welcome" thing for ages. This is coming along, but needs a lot more work. I think that I'm only beginning to learn how to do it. It takes patience.
Meanwhile, I've been having fun. My family took me out to dinner last evening to celebrate my birthday. My actual birthday was ten days ago. But it was worth the wait. We went to the beach at San Clemente and had dinner in a lovely restaurant on the pier. I'm saving some photos of the beach for Wordless Wednesday.

Water tower crochet cozy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSN5nXfhAbg

I've been up to my elbows in Spring Cleaning. Three cheers, I did the oven today. Not as bad a job as I had expected. I'm so arthritic, it's difficult for me to bend over like that. The house is shaping up, though. I just do a bit each day. As far as my quilting is concerned, I'm planning my next project. I'm thinking a neutral background and bright lettering. My little mascot doll is sitting on the ironing board supervising and giving an opinion. When I made her, I only had that lavender yarn in my stash. So she has lavender curls.

Wordless Wednesday

No-bias pot holders

Well, I can't be doing serious stuff all the time. I like to have fun with little projects. The bottom photo shows the finished backs of the pot holders. Pot holders are such a good way to use orphan blocks and scraps. But I hate to think of sewing on all that bias binding. So I pillowcase-turn them instead. I bought some insulated lining. That's my only investment. Since the lining stuff comes in a 36 by 45 inch piece, one package will make a lot of pot holders. In addition, I cut up an old towel and put that inside also. For the loops, I cut a strip 2 inches wide, and press under the edges 1/4 inch on each side, fold in half and press again. Stitch the edge, and cut these to the desired length. I cut the blocks (or use one plain piece of fabric) 9 inches square, plus cut the insulation and piece of towel 9 inches square. Set the sewing machine to sew something thick (if your machine has such an adjustment). I quilt by sewing an "X" from corner to corner. Sew the loop to the bottom edge, but be careful to give room for the 1/2 inch seam line. The backings are 7 1/2 inches by 9 inches and 6 by 9 inches. Just turn under one edge and hem on the machine. Place the lining pieces right sides together to pot holder. Smaller piece on top and covering the hanging loop. Stitch all around in 1/2 inch seams. Trim the edges. Turn and press. Done.

Peace Breaks Out Banner

Good news, I have completed the Peace Banner. It is both hand and machine quilted. I hand quilted the letters with blue perle cotton, and meander quilted the clouds by machine.
I had a busy day today. I spent some time with my relatives. It's great to get together with our cousins.
I do want to say by this banner that we all need to achieve some peace of mind. And my needlework helps me to get to that place.