Yesterday I was at patchwork again but didn't have such a successful day. I had promised to make some Pineapple blocks for Mrs. Harada but the first one I made was too small. I made the second and third one by hand. And then someone suggested I do the blocks paper piecing so I spent quite a lot of time measuring (not my forte) and making a paper piecing pattern. I perforated the paper with the sewing machine unthreaded and yesterday at Mrs. Furui's house I tried sewing. The sewing is so much easier! The block looks beautiful! BUT IT WAS TOO BIG!!!! I give up! I handed all the blocks, small and large, to Mrs. Harada and told her she could use what she liked and thow away the rest. I AM NOT MAKING ANY MORE PINEAPPLE BLOCKS! (I see that I was so disgusted that I didn't even take any pictures.)
On the other hand, Mrs. Harada made me four more star blocks (and hers were all the right size!) and now I need to decide what to do with all my blocks. Mrs. Furui did some measuring and I sat on the floor trying to arrange paper squares into a pleasing pattern. I can see how having the Electric quilt might be helpful. I will be playing with my squares for the next few days.As a group, all my friends and I sat around trying to decide on a quilt pattern for NEXT YEAR'S bazaar. This year's bazaar will be held tomorrow and our tree quilt be raffled off. I'll try to take pictures of that event tomorrow. The quilt raffle is always the highlight of the bazaar and hopefully people will be surprised and pleased at this year's contribution. But next year's quilt? We poured over Mrs. Furui's books and made suggestions. A Christmas quilt? A house quilt? How about a simple Nine-patch? Grandmother's Fan quilt? We never did make any decisions which is surprising and a shame. Usually we have a line up of quilts we want to make but this year we seem to be running out of ideas. I'll spend some time on the computer looking for patterns too.
And in the evening I had my group of boys come for Halloween crafts. ARGGHH! These boys don't get along well even normally (Y-kun causes a lot of annoyance and bickering) but last night they were at their peak arguing about who was copying whose idea, who should go first, who had taken whose scissors etc. By the end of the hour I was wide eyed and panting! But I guess they all went home happy with their Halloween cats so maybe that is all that matters. A night like that though makes me want to stop being an English teacher!!!!
7 comments:
I am so happy to see that your knees have gotten to the point where you can sit on the floor.
One of my first quilts was a log cabin and when all the blocks were done, there was a variety of sizes. What happened when I used them anyway? the result was fine and I learned that fabric is a whole lot more forgiving than one might think. Three years ago I made a baby quilt I almost tossed but somehow it went together and quilted out. That lesson came back again. (probably machine quilting wouldn't have done the job)
Boys! I love working with them. You could have them come up with a set of rules for gatherings. Then you can say, "Hey, these are the rules you suggested and agreed on".
If every request uses please and thank you it is harder to make a fight.
I don't quilt much - I've only made a few baby quilts. However, I do love looking at quilts. Here are a couple of sites that have quilt blocks and quilt patterns - maybe something there will inspire you. HTH
http://www.quilterscache.com/QuiltBlocksGalore.html
http://www.free-quilting.com/list.html?cat_id=53
Have you never seen this blog?
http://www.quilterscache.com/QuiltBlocksGalore.html! I think coud be useful for your problem : a lot of free patterns! Best regards and Happy Halloween! Piera (Italy)
I just watched Gyleen X. Fitzgerald on thequiltshow.com and she has a pineapple RULER! and a book... I might actually try this... simpler than paper piecing...
Trash to treasure book
Tee hee, what a group of little boys can do to a person...but you stuck thru it, and they went HOME...you are such a neat lady, my dear friend, and I'm soooo ever happy to know you. BTW, our local hospital is relocating to a new bldg, and in process, are dispensing w/ lots of items not to be used in the new bldg...including some decorative items...like, at least 2 paintings by Grandfather...I know that a sorority gifted the hospital w/ the paintings many yrs and they didn't discard anything...so my dtr, Sonya, and the gal in charge at hospital are on the search for those paintings,and have possibly found one of them...have a great day..and I'll sniffle and sneeze..ear/sinus infection, etc...hugs, Pat in IN
Tanya, you are such a patient teacher. I love those cats and may try one myself for my dolls. I love to make scenes with my dolls and create calendars. So far I haven't made a proper quilt but maybe one day.
I love to read all about your adventures.
Looking at you on the floor makes my hips ache, lol. I've never made a pineapple block, although I love them, but I think after reading this I won't even bother. My piecing is dreadful as it is! I think if I tried I've give up quilting altogether.
That tree quilt should bring in a bundle. I'm sure you will all come up with another winner, in time!
Too funny about the boys - glad they all went home happy though!
Post a Comment