'Chicadees in Mufflers' Wall Hanging is Finished.

I finished my winter wall hanging, Chickadees in Muff
lers today.  Its 15 by 17 inches.   I made a wider border for it than the usual narrow one I have done in the past.

When you do borders this way, you need extra backing so you can pull fabric forward doubled.

To give you an idea of how this works:
First you need to pin together batting and backing to your subject.  I always like to cut the batting and backing just a bit larger than needed.  Its easier to trim it down to size that try to accurately cut them so precisely later when its been quilted.

I wanted a 1 1/2 inch of border so my batting was trimmed evenly to 1 1/2 inches beyond the edge of my subject fabric.
My Backing fabric was trimmed 3 1/2 inches beyond the edge of the batting.
That meant the backing for this 12 x 14 inch work of art had to be 22 by 24 inches.  I like being able to turn the borders twice for some substance, hence the double length of fabric beyond the batting.

In the above photo I have turned the backing down a second time over the batting. You want to cover the edge of the subject fabric so when you sew it down, there are no raw edges.

I also like to mitre my corners.  To do this, after folding down the two sides evenly and pinning in place, I now fold over the corner at an angle just to the outer edge of the batting for the first turn down.

For the final fold over, I turn the backing down over the mitre corners once, then evenly a 2nd time and pin it in place.   I always have my iron handy to press things evenly into place.

Using my Blind Hem Stitch, I stitch all around, even down the mitred corners.

Add a label on the back and you are done.  If you need a hanging sleeve, you need to get that down also.

I have some Fabric Collage in mind so I ordered some Swedish tracing paper, which is actually pattern paper, that I ordered from Nancy's Notions.  While I await its arrival I will work on my Canada Goose.

Sunny day here but cold only in the 20sF.  At least we have not had snow for several days.

Have a nice day.

My Chickadees WH Keeps Moving Forward

I worked on my current wall hanging today.  I added the satin-stitching and some greenery to look like a fir tree.

I like how its looking so far.  I have to think about the eyes which may just be a dark spot with a lighter spot inside it to denote light on the pupils.  I will have to consider that idea.
Then there's the border to add and then finishing the whole thing with backing.
Its come right along so I can get it hung on my door while winter is still here.

Have a good day.

Chicadees Wall Hanging Is Coming Along

I finally chose my fabrics for this wall hanging and took a big step toward its design.

I took this idea from a Christmas card I received from a dear friend.  I loved the idea of the birds with mufflers and thought I should make something for the cool season but not Christmas.  This is what I have so far.  Its just roughly tacked down (with stitches) and later I will satin-stitch the subjects as well as add their feet and eyes and a bit of greenery to give the idea of pine trees.

I am finally feeling my quilting mojo is back so the ideas keep percolating in my brain and I keep making rough sketches.

The newest idea is from a Fons and Porter Program #3202 dealing with Fabric Collage.  I fell in love with the idea.  I shopped thru my fabric shelves and found several fabrics that will be ideal for fabric collage.   I drew some sketches of their program ideas and so far I have a penguin, elephant, pigs, flamingo that should make into nice collage.  These were all subjects shown in the Fons and Porter Program that other quilters had finished.  I loved them all.

 I have made rough drafts of those drawings but will have to make them larger and on possibly some stabilizer or lining fabric to work with in adding the collage.

Yes, my mojo is back!   Hooray!
Have a nice day.

New Wall Hanging Ideas, Chickadees and Canada Gooose

I am finally tackling another project or two.  I have some new ideas for wall hangings.
My first was from a Christmas card I received, a chickadee in a muffler....

I found the card adorable and also the little chickadee, which is our state bird.  This is a rough draft.  Its also one of my favorite birds.  I used to watch them a lot at my feeders, flying in to grab a seed and immediately flying off to crack it and eat it on a nearby branch in safety.

My idea is two birds in the forest.  The background fabric is yet to be chosen, but hopefully something with some pine tassels or what look like pine branches.

For two summers I have been watching a pair of Canada Geese raise a family on our river, from tiny fluff balls to sturdy adults looking much like their parents before flying south to warmer climes.

I chose this idea for my goose.

For 2018 we actually had 2 families of geese being raised.

Decisions are tough for me.  I dilly dally on backgrounds especially and then the fabrics I need for the subjects.  I often lay them aside to see if they capture what I am feeling.  I have a habit of changing them and being undecided for days at a time before making the final decision.  Its fun but it sure puts me behind in my tasks.  Luckily I am retired and can take as much time as needed for these decisions.

I am off now to play with fabric.

Have a good day.

Fabric Collage is the Subject Today

I just saw a Fons and Porter Show on doing Fabric Collage.  I love making wall hangings and this is a new style for me.

Its a new idea for me so I think I will try it.   These would make ideal wall hangings on my door featuring different animals and other subjects.

I need something new to grab my interest and make me start sewing again.

Have a nice day.

A Tribute To My Darking Penny

There's bad news in Maine this week.  My darling companion for the last 13 years has gone over the Rainbow Bridge.  She has been with me thru the good times and the bad times these many years.  Her loss was unexpected.   She was under the vet's care for possible sprained shoulder muscles from maybe slipping or losing her balance on a patch of ice.  I thought it was her age since she had slowed down so much in the last couple of weeks.  From trotting ahead of me during our walks, she was lagging behind her last days.  You know how we go to the doctor and perk up a bit, well she did the same and his findings were good steady heartbeat and good lungs but he wanted to do a complete workup and x-rays right after Christmas to rule out other hidden problems.
I guess she had us all fooled.  She was on anti-inflammatories and one day she seemed to get a bit better but then she was lagging again.  I checked her first thing one morning and she had [assed in her sleep.  No suffering, which is good, but I was devastated.
When one has a fur baby, they are the light of our lives.  We plan our days around them.  We love them  We cuddle them.  They are our shining lights.

Penny loved the snow and wandered thru it if it wasn't too deep.

When snow was deep, she had my son's Golden to break trail for her when we lived together.  He short legs struggled thru snow if it was deeper than 6 inches.

Her double coat kept her warm and toasty even during the coldest days.  We walked together in all weathers.  She was my anchor and reason to get out and do my daily walking exercise 4 times a day.

Oh, what fun we had.

Trips outdoors if wet or snowy meant a good rub down, especially the feet when we came into the lobby.  She knew the routine.  She would lay down and roll over so I could wipe down her chest and her feet. It was automatic for her.

I think those rubdowns felt mighty good to her.

Even blizzards did not keep us hidden indoors.

Here she is waiting for the elevator door to open after one of our walkies.

But I think our favorite walks were the ones in spring and summer when we could run in the grass and smell the flowers along the way.  Her nose was always working.

Here's Penny checking out the daffodils.

We have a pair of Canada Geese that come back each summer to raise a new brood of chicks.  This is Penny following the trail of the family as they headed back to the river.

Deep snow was tough going for a short-legged Corgi, but she loved the snow.

I will miss her.

She has made her last journey, this one over the Rainbow Bridge.  

Hugs Penny, I love you and miss you!

My New Microwave Oven

I mentioned to my son that my appliance took its last breath this week so he stopped at Wal-Mart, close by where he goes to the gym on Saturdays, and picked up one for me.

It has the turntable I wanted and the wattage (1000) which I think is best for most of my reheating needs.  The make is Hamilton Beach.

I christened it by heating up a bowl of chicken soup for my son for his lunch.  It works fine, tho I am keeping the carton in which it came in case I need to return it.

This is a bowl of Whoopie Pies I received from L.L.Bean, courtesy of my good friend Kathleen for my Christmas gift this year.  There were 20 pies in the box I received the other day with a few assorted flavors; classic, chocolate, peanut butter and mint.  I already bagged some of them to freeze since they freeze so well.  I am having my first one today as a snack

Thank you Kathleen.

Its a miserable and rainy day but its warm so that's a good thing.

Have a good day.