Tolentreasures

  I found this pattern in a quilt magazine that I had never opened. Truthfully, I was looking for paper to start a fire. Fire started, I was browsing and found this pattern  and could not wait to try it!  I had a few oops, well really five oops before I went back and read the directions!    Sometimes I like things "not so precise"  and this quilt fits that so well.   For more of her patterns, go to  www.beaquilter.com So, stashbusting is happening at my house! 

Lots of winter projects in my world!  A nice, easy winter with time to rest and  create! How could you ask for more?      An amazing weekend spent  with these creative ladies, quilting, sewing, laughing, and of course,  eating!  And... still persevering on this afghan!  Setting deadlines to get it done and missing them!  

That is what I am choosing to call all this stuff.  UNFINISHED sounds so  "glass half empty" The quilt was started last weekend at  Ladies Sewing Retreat.  What fun!  The afghan is for  Shelby's class'  Linus Project.  Not needed until January-ish. Tons of doodles....in progress.  And this. The little quilt and pillow is finished.  Now to paint the cradle.  Cramming for the open house now! 

A little bit of this... painting for a customer and A little bit of that... work on the string quilt AFTER I managed to clean the sewing room  and make room  to  work again. Straightening the attic  and creating a space to  price items  for the  Open House.  It will be here before I know it.  And.. I found some t-shirts that made Some fun t-shirt yarn.  Last of all, work on all these "treasures" that I found at the flea market on Sunday!  Nothing  earth-shattering, just bits and pieces of  daily projects. 

Let me start by saying,  I have been in my share of quilt shops.   I am sure, not as many as real quilters, but I would venture to say that  I have seen more quilt shops than your average  non-quilter. IN LOTS  OF  STATES. This shop was by far THE BEST! Quilts,  Antiques, A Soda Shop Food Desserts and a  LOT OF  FABRIC!  A ton of fabric!! Everything was so artfully arranged!  Mom loved it also!  A whole room of Christmas! A room for fall. And then,  Everything else so  beautifully arranged!  Kid's rooms,  Orientals, Batiks, Civil War Prints,  Food Prints,  A room to browse books and patterns.... If you are anywhere close... make sure you visit, or make the day trip to see it.  The food was excellent and there is a lovely tea room  and  antique shop next door....

I picked out the pattern over a year ago. I think that Mom has fretted over it since then.   A year of finding the fabrics, all batiks, coming from quite a few states and trips.   Finally this weekend, we started. Figuring, sorting, cutting, figuring, re cutting, sorting, figuring and finally some sewing.   It all took me back to high school geometry class and poor Mr. Simerlink.   I am really not sure he ever liked me, but I sure would have made him proud this weekend.   I used every bit of geometry that I remember. (which is not much considering it was 40 years ago!) This is what my dining room looked like for much of the weekend. And it even spilled out onto the kitchen floor at one point!   Mom brought in Kamden's quilt that she had finished. This one looks a lot easier! Some time out for Gracelyn Cheering, she is the little blonde in the middle. And ...

Ok, so the disclaimer on this would be: This is coming from a person (me) that is truly not a quilter! So, that can go two ways as I see it. If you are a quilter, look for a better tutorial. If you are not a quilter, you will see that even a non quilter can do this! My mom has been making these for awhile. Most of these directions are hers.   She is a quilter, an awesome quilter!   The parts that probably are not right, are my shortcuts.   I am all about fast and instant gratification. I didn't get that from her. (or my dad, which leads me to believe it was some long lost grandparent that was as impatient as I am) But enough of those genetics.   These are fantastic stash buster and quite fun and fast. There's that f word again....fast!         I am going to set mine together in squares like this with a dark color border on every square. And honestly, in my crafter ADD personality, who ...

  I know, I know. Every year I try to stash bust and vow not to buy anymore fabric, yarn or wood.   And every year, it is broke before the end of January.   This is the year. I have to. My sewing room is being moved to a smaller room. Therefore, I must reuse, reduce, condense, eliminate!   So, yarn projects are being finished, the stash of t-shirts cut up, and all that fabric...   String quilts.   Even the fabric to piece them together and back them is going to wait until I use up and organize all the scraps.   And there are lots!  Over the past week, a huge garbage bag of junk has left the sewing room. That's progress, right?