50 Projects 2010-CLOSED--Join us in the 50 Projects 2011

[SharLaMarz]

I love the seahorse, it's amazingly beautiful! You are so talented with those buttons of yours. Do you buy your buttons as you need them or do you have a huuuge stash you choose from?

Well, I had a very productive day although I didn't craft anything! LOL  I made my weekly trip to a couple thrift stores and I'm glad I did. I'd about given up on finding a bowling ball for my garden gazing ball project, so I didn't even ask the ladies there if they'd gotten one in. Well lucky me they got TWO and saved them for me! WooHoo! One ball came in a small fabric bag and the other came in a big sturdy bag that has a wire rack in it. I'm so excited because I'll be able to use it as a stand when the gazing ball is finished. A little paint and it will work great! Check it out!




The next thrift store I went to I found this awesome bowl with a really neat base

Guess what??? It's strong enough to hold the other bowling ball!!

How great is that?? I am so excited over my great finds today!! 
I went and bought all the glass flat back marbles/blobs (everyone has a different name for them lol) and I got my E6000 glue that everyone talks so highly about    I'm tackling these tomorrow! Go Me!

[evilSabina]

What a great idea soorawn!  Nowadays you almost have to be your own medical detective!!  It would also help to see if it is a pattern of some sort...I know I would have the weather that day (I have arthritis flares so weather is important, I know!)...what my stress level was and what was causing stress...maybe if I ate something new...I think it could be modified to record what you need!

Great idea! I would include everything you ate and when. Stuff you've been eating for years can still negatively impact your health. And maybe check your home for environmental factors, like mold. You may be more sensitive than other members of your household.

[alwaysinmyroom]

Love the aprons and the quilts!

Waggonwest--are the 5 completed quilt projects new for May or did you include them in your April count?

I am assuming that stuff you are posting now everyone is for the May contest, so keep count so we can agree on numbers at the end of the month!

OMg sharlamarz!!!  Your thrift store finds are great!  Even the bag is wonderful and would make a great recon! I didn't even think about using glue to put the mosaic pieces on!  Dang...I was going to use mortar...sure would be easier with glue then grout!!  I have had my bowling ball since I was 13 so I am a bit reluctant to start on that garden project...but as hubby says, realistically, am I going to ever bowl again and if I do, I can use a house ball!

Just so that you know, I went to the garden center and priced glazing balls--holy mackeral! They go for around $40!!! and up!!

[cursive_queen]

wagonswest - your quilts are lovely!  I really like the wedding quilt as the blocks appear randomly placed.  I like that look, but I can't work out how to do that... my brain seems to rigid and starts making patterns.
I'd practice the free motion on maybe a small quilt, then do your ME quilt.   Remember it's for you to love, and you may love it all the more if you do the quilting yourself

You said in your post you send stuff to the quilter, do you have a quilter to recommend?  I have a top that I'm scared to quilt as it has vintage fabrics that I would probably ruin (leave holes in) if I had to unpick messed up stitches.

[waggonswest]

Always,  I am starting my May count with the learning how to free motion.  So only one so far. 

Cursive,  Thanks.  The pattern is not random on the wedding quilt.  I started with the fabrics in strips to do a traditional diagonal pattern (like the baby quilt)

abcdeabcdeabcde row 1
bcdeabcdeabcdea row 2
cdeabcdeabcdeab row 3

but shifted two blocks instead of one. 

abcdeabcdeabcde row 1
cdeabcdeabcdeab row 2
eabcdeabcdeabcd row 3

With those particular fabrics it worked.  I tried to lay out the baby quilt fabrics in the same way, but the contrast was too great and it just looked stupid. 

In the past I have gone to my local quilt shop and they have done a fine job.  I've taken my brother's quilt to a local lady who does amazing and creative work.  She does the Sunpaint Project quilts and they are stunning.  I'm thinking about sending the boxes quilt top to the Missouri Quilt Company for their standard, nothing special, two week service just to see how it works.  But only because I put enough work into it to not want to mess it up by trying it myself yet not enough work to warrant getting special service.)  If I do that, it will be the first time I've not gotten a referral from some one I know and trust and haven't seen samples of the work. 

[alwaysinmyroom]

You guys!!!  I have been quilting for over 40 years and I still mess up, but I swear, once you wash the quilt, and it become quilty, you really do not notice any crooked stitches or "mistakes"...I just don't think you can make a mistake unless you are submitting your quilt for a show or something!

Cursive_queen--I understand your concern about the vintage fabrics...would you consider quilting it by hand?  It would definitely be a labor of love...many Amish quilting groups will quilt by hand for a fee...

[cursive_queen]

wagonswest.  I didn't know if you did it random or it was a technique, I love that it does look sorta random, it gives if a free flowing vibe. I'm sort of amassing a list of quilt places I could possibly send my quilt to as I don't know of any local ones.

Alwaysinmyroom -- I've never hand quilted before, besides tying.I don't know how to.  Its a quilt for my oldest stepdaughter.  It had a geshia panel in the middle, then the boarder fabrics are all from scraps of vintage kimonos and there are like 3 blocks on which I did hand embroidery.

[pinokeeo]

Shar, if the E6000 doesn't work, use construction adhesive.  It's made for outdoor stuff.

[alwaysinmyroom]

I work a lot with vintage kimono fabrics--they are quite sturdy...I recently did a panel which will be machine quilted by another Craftster member... Hand quilting is basically a small running stitch using a short needle...since it is Asian, have you ever looked into sashiko embroidery/quilting?

[cursive_queen]

Always-  Good to hear that the fabrics are sturdy.  They sure don't look it!  The ones I have are all different textures and types of cloth an some look very thin and fragile.

That sachiko is beautiful, but I would be so nervous that I'd mess it up.  Do you use a hoop when you hand quilt like you would when you embroider?  I know I've seen big quilting frames.