Quilted Table Runner

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Barb

I finally finished this table runner, which was a kit I bought from Connecting Threads. It includes small triangles and rectangles cut from fabric that raveled easily, so it was somewhat frustrating to assemble. I wasn’t sure it was going to turn out very well, either. But once I quilted it on my supermachine, it came to life and I’m very happy with it. Flowers sent to me by a dear friend really set it off.

This is the first time I came up with my own design for each block. I don’t enjoy marking quilts, so the designs have to be something I can repeat using only the blocks as a guide. Once I knew what I wanted to do, it was easy.

Tidal Quilt

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Barb

I’ve been busy making quilts but have had trouble getting photos of them on this blog. Now I finally have some photos to share.

I made this particular quilt last fall for someone who suffered a tragedy in her life a year ago. I used batiks to represent the colors of the ocean as she mentioned that she had decorated her bedroom with a beach theme. In the border I quilted one of my favorite Bible verses, one that greatly helped me during a traumatic time in my life many years ago. The backing is sand-colored Kona cotton.

The pattern is the “Double Slice Layer Cake” pattern from Missouri Quilt Co., which I’ve used before. The batiks are from Connecting Threads and I quilted this in a stipple/meander pattern using Aurifil thread, to which I have become addicted.

My First Double-Slice Layer Cake Quilt

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Barb

Yes, the name makes me hungry, but since I gave up white flour three years ago, I don’t eat cake, so I’ll content myself with making a layer cake quilt.

Layer cakes are packages of coordinating fabrics cut in 10-inch squares. I used squares from Connecting Threads and an instructional video from the Missouri Quilt Co. to make this quilt:

It was fun to make, and quick! If I hadn’t been fighting illness this past month, it would have been done weeks ago. The backing fabric came from a thrift store, where I found a set of homemade curtains in fabric I adored. I ripped out the seams and sewed the two panels together, and for a few bucks I had my backing:

Here’s the video I used, in case you want to try your hand at this (warning, it’s addictive! I’m planning to make another one soon.)

Two Finished Projects

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Barb

When I was homeschooling, I tried to make time for sewing, and sometimes I actually got some, thanks to my husband who watched the kids so I could sew uninterrupted. Back then, I promised myself that my post-homeschooling life would include plenty of sewing. And so it does!

Here’s what I made in July and August (machine-pieced, machine-quilted):

Stretched Stars

I also finished a project I began last fall, and worked on while watching DVDs with my husband in the evenings:

Embroidered pillow (downloadable pattern from www.connectingthreads.com)

Both were fun projects. I have more quilts on the way but haven’t found a new hand-stitching project yet.

Summer Vacation Projects–Finished!

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Barb

It’s been three months since summer began. Where did the time go?

I spent some of it watching my son swim in his pool, gardening, planning our daughter’s upcoming wedding and buying a vintage Bernina and playing with it. I also finished a couple of projects, including this needlework pillow from a kit I bought in 1987 but didn’t start until I finished homeschooling two years ago:

I also made this quilt from fabric I bought from Connecting Threads:

Like the back? It’s a like-new, made-in-Italy sheet I bought at Goodwill for $3.99. What a find! The look and feel of it is just wonderful.

And now my summer’s gone, and it’s back to work. I’ll post here when I can, but I’m also going to share some posts from my older blogs (I began blogging in 2005) that may help newer homeschoolers. You’ll see them on Fridays…..Flashback Fridays.

For current homeschooling news, be sure to visit my other site, Thriving in the 21^st Century.