Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Quilting the Cross-Stitched Teddies Quilt

 I've passed the halfway point on the Cross-Stitched Teddies quilt.  I'd hoped to finish this row, but my back was protesting.  Photos 5 and 6 show you the exact point where I decided to listen to its complaints.  😏

A friend asked for a closeup of the little sewing machine on my shelf.  When I picked it up, I discovered something I had forgotten:  it's a music box!










Cross-Stitched Teddies, & Birthday Gifts

 Today I got another row, minus one block, quilted on the Cross-Stitched Teddies quilt for granddaughter Malinda, 6 ½.

As I was taking a few pictures of the quilting, I noticed some things on my bookshelf that I had not taken pictures of yet, and thought, Joanna needs pictures of the gifts she gave me!

Joanna at 20 is our oldest granddaughter.

On the shelf sits the following:

A handmade Ukrainian doll Joanna gave me for my birthday, October 6 of this year; a small sewing machine whose needle goes up and down when the hand crank is turned, given to me by my late sister-in-law Janice; a vintage Singer sewing tin, also from Janice; a fluffy, handmade Peruvian Alpaca wool teddy bear Joanna gave me for my birthday last year; a framed photo of Larry and me; a resin teddy bear at an ironing board, from Janice; and a handmade Christmas ornament from daughter Hannah (Joanna's mother).  

Joanna purchased the doll and the teddy bear at Lavender Thyme, a boutique where she works.  Hannah purchased the ornament at one of the vendor events where she sells Lilla Rose hair jewelry.

Hannah made the doily on the left, daughter Dorcas made the doily in the middle, and Janice made the doily on the right.

I opened the little drawer in the sewing machine's cabinet -- and discovered a small handful of tiny fabric triangles, put in there by youngest daughter Victoria years ago when she was wee little.

Six more blocks, and I'll be to the halfway point in this quilt.










Saturday, October 28, 2023

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Teddies Quilt Loaded, and a New Bag

 Today I sewed together a whole lot of leftover poly batting pieces to make a big enough piece for the Cross-Stitched Teddies quilt, then loaded everything on my quilting frame.  While I'm at it making Frankenbatting, I thought I might as well put together enough strips and pieces for the next quilt, too.  This next batting is cotton.

Having gotten the quilt loaded, I paused to look through a box of fabrics and kits that son and daughter-in-law Teddy and Amy and their family gave me for my birthday three weeks ago -- and, to my surprise, found a cute quilted Donna Sharp bag wrapped in tissue in the middle of the box!  I'll betcha they've wondered how long it would take me to find it!




Friday, October 20, 2023

Cross-Stitched Teddies Quilt Top, Minus Borders

 Malinda's Cross-Stitched Teddies quilt top is together, all but the borders.  There will be two.  The quilt measures exactly what EQ8 says it should right now:  70" x 70".  The borders will bring it to 75" x 75".  I'll cut them and sew them on tomorrow.




Cross-Stitched Teddies Blocks

Putting together the blocks for the Cross-Stitched Teddies quilt:



Wednesday, October 18, 2023