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Thursday, March 16, 2017

Counting Down


Eight days and counting,


before I head back to the northeast coast.

Progress is being made in my sewing room,
despite all of life's distractions.


Here's a quick pic of my design wall
(I'll never live without one again!).

My green Paper Lanterns quilt is just about all sewn together.
Just a couple more rows to sew to meet my one monthly goal.

While I was constructing those hearts blocks,
I kept thinking about how nicely they would play with one of 
Loft Creations' recent pattern releases,

Paper Dolls


Even though I don't have the time to make the quilt,
I did take the time to try the paper doll block.
TOO much fun!
I will definitely be revisiting this pattern again, 
and soon!

Click the picture to enlarge

Some of you may recognize the fabrics?
Circa late 1970s.
When Crafty Daughter was just a toddler,
I made her little sun dresses using this whole line.
(Yes, the scraps are still in my stash.)

*

When I am pinning pieced blocks or rows together,
I have a simple process I always use
that I thought I'd share today.

First, I pin at the beginning and at the end.

Next, I sweep back across and nestle all the matching seam allowances.

Then, I travel across one more time and secure all of the 
seam allowances that lay in the opposite direction than I'm sewing.
This gives me the opportunity to ease in any extra fabric
without compromising my corners.

Finally, I stitch it all together!

I'll bet a lot of you approach it in a similar way. 

*
Well, here's hoping it won't be too, too cold
in Massachusetts and Maine after next week.  It will be difficult enough
to be away from a sewing machine for a few weeks,
but to be c-c-c-c-cold, too?
Ouch!

Enjoy your day!
Thanks for popping in for a visit!

XO,
Karen

33 comments:

Paula, the quilter said...

Boy do I like those green lanterns! I think a design wall is the best thing ever!

Jeanna said...

I love your paper lanterns and dolls. As a matter of fact, I love everything Loft Creations. I have the paper lanterns pattern and it is on my list of 'new' projects. Safe travels and I hope the weather is tolerable when you get to the NE.

Sondra said...

You leaving so soon! I'm planning to bird in TX if all goes well for me, April...no date set yet. I'm sure it will be cold up in the NE but warming up some too. Love the lanterns and the paper dolls!

Anonymous said...

wow Karen such beautiful work i love the fabrics you use,well done.

Sheila said...

Your lanterns are just beautiful and I agree the hearts would play really nicely with the paper dolls, they are so cute , I may have to try those out. Hope it warms up some before you arrive , it sure has been chilly lately and more snow for Sunday.

Bernie Kringel said...

I can't believe it is already time for your migration to the north? I feel like you just got back to Texas?! Love the paper lanterns and really dig th paper dolls- both patterns are great. Safe travels back to the land of the cold. 😊

Simone de Klerk said...

Your Lantern quilt top turned out so pretty! Stunning. I want to make someone a special quilt and I think it will be this pattern, designed by the very talented Stephanie!!! I look forward to see how the other Loftcreations pattern turns out.
Happy Friday, happy weekend.

Karen said...

Loved seeing all your work, but especially those green lanterns. Very soothing colours in that quilt. Safe travels :) xo

Julia D @ Jada's Quilting Adventures said...

I really have to try out that Lattern Pattern. After I get through my ever growing WIPs pile. I hope you have warm weather for your travels :)

Anonymous said...

You're making great progress on your lanterns and I adore the hearts. Thanks for the tips on sewing rows, together.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

it is the cold that I wouldn't like - I would wait until April to leave Texas - but that is me :) you will have a fun time I'm sure and be back to quilting and enjoying your summer place in no time at all.

Louise said...

How fun to be using the scraps from your daughter's dresses! That must really bring back some memories. The staggered blocks is such a great layout for your lanterns.

Needled Mom said...

Your lanterns are beautiful. I have that one on my list to do soon, but am trying to finish up some older projects first.

Have a fun trip. I hope it's not too cold.

Lesley said...

Loving those lanterns! Well done!

FlourishingPalms said...

Bet you're feeling a bit rushed about getting all your WIPs to a spot where they're ready for travel. I am especially enjoying the fact that you have multiple WIPs. It's very freeing to know it's okay to have more than one project in the works. Cheryl Arkison, at QuiltCon, based her lecture on that. She surveyed quilters to get them to count their WIPs (those are in fact different) and UFOs. And then used her lecture as a platform for justifying lots of them. Very refreshing!

Sorry that you're counting down the days until you leave. Given the weather conditions everywhere, I think I'd want to be staying in Texas a little longer! :-)

Anonymous said...

Things on the design wall look great! You made me smile with some of your memories, and that fabric, definitely! Spring is coming and going, so I hope it's settled in by the time you head to the northeast!

Fiona said...

the paper lanterns look just lovely... the colour is so good and makes it look delicate like paper..... great choice. I like your sequence joining up seams..... I think it makes more sense than my sewing and stretching!!!
Happy Packing
Hugz

Abby and Stephanie said...

Safe travels and may the warmth be with you. Your lanterns and paper dolls make me happy. I love the hearts with the dolls. Sweet as can be. And the lanterns...sew pretty.

Createology said...

Your design wall is featuring some lovely blocks and rows. Paper dolls are super cute and I totally understand having scraps from when your daughter was little. I sewed for my daughter every day when she was little. Grandma would give me her fabric scraps and I would turn them into (I thought) really cute outfits. Cold is not my favorite at all. Safe travels north. Raining here today...

Lynette said...

The lanterns look so great! And I love those paper doll blocks. Wishing safety and smoothness for your move north. We've got to move another load of our daughter's stuff today - not my favorite activity, but good family time. :)

Edith said...

Love your green lanterns, and I really like the fabric you used in the alternate blocks. Your method of pinning easing is similar to mine, I do start with corners matching, then ease in the middle, works like a charm. Very pretty quilts happening here.

Anthea said...

The green lanterns look great Karen... as for the seam sewing, i have a similar method, makes for better smoother sewing & no bits hanging off the end of the seam!

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

The paper dolls are too cute. Stay in Texas!!! It's COLD here. ha ha ha ha Save travels.

canuckquilter said...

You've been busy! It looks like you've been squeezing every bit of sewing possible to make up for the time away. If you encounter colder weather, just consider how much more you will appreciate spring :) We keep getting teased with spring temps then plunge back into a deepfreeze...but at least we aren't buried in snow!

Unknown said...

You did an amazing job!!! I love those lanterns. Thanks for sharing your great job:)
Kim

Barb said...

You are getting a lot done...good for you...love them.

Preeti said...

Your lanterns will make a lovely quilt. Who can say no to dolls with hearts? I am so done with heartless beings :-) Now about those seams, actually I am just the opposite. I start with matching the centre seams and work my way outwards. Sending you hugs and warm wishes!!!

Raewyn said...

You have some great projects on the go Karen - hope you can get them all to the stage you want before you head home! Your method of joining a row/block/etc does sound similar to mine, and it does achieve a nice organised result! Hope temperatures warm u for you - happy travels!

Sandra :) said...

I'm playing catch-up here - I'm behind on blog reading and commenting (and emails, and housework ... haha) - I wish I'd kept the scraps from all the little rompers I made my boys in the early 90's - I don't even have the rompers any more :( I did save them each a bib I made them, and those will get passed on when they present me with grandies :D I know the memory aspect will mean nothing to my kids, but hopefully it will mean something to their wives!

I hope you had a safe journey - are you still in (MA & ME? I'm not sure if those are the correct short forms, lol)? I got a pretty little envelope in the mail last week that made me smile ... I wanted to get a picture of the contents with something I have at home here but haven't had a chance ... will do so when we get some sun ;)

DeniseinVA said...

It all looks very pretty Karen. And happy traveling :) I hope it won't be cold by the time you get there.

Nann said...

"Superman and Green Lantern ain't got nothing on me..."
Great design! And congratulations on achieving your OMG.

Allie-oops Designs said...

I forgot I had the lantern pattern, lol, LOVE your green lanterns! And those paper dolls are too sweet!

Scrapatches said...

I really like the green paper lantern flimsy. The background fabric is wonderful. It looks like it might be one of those "color yourself" designs ... :) Pat