PATRIOTIC QUILT

While the coronavirus was beginning to brew, I made a list of ‘unfinished’ projects that needed to be completed. 

This project has been 10 years in the making.  When I was packing up for our move to Alabama, I found my white Damask napkins had a lot of fraying around the edges.  I didn't have the heart to toss them, so I put them aside.  While visiting Ikea, I picked up 8 tomato red linen dish towels. This got me thinking that I could make a not so normal patriotic quilt.  I just needed blue fabrics.  While at Joanne Fabrics, I hunted for a deep cobalt blue and white fabric as well as a vibrant red gingham(I love any gingham patterns!).  I fell in love with one and decided to use it as my backing as well as pieces for the front of the quilt.  Since my other fabrics were not deemed 'quilting' fabric, I thought that a men's shirting fabric would finish out my materials for the quilt.I showed my idea to Mr. Thrifty and he made a template on the computer.  He is so amazing at this type of computer work.

 All of the fabrics sat in a bag at the bottom of one of my lidded baskets in the bedroom for almost 10 years. 

 This showed the dimensions I was planning in making this quilt.

The beautiful deep cobalt blue and white fabric.

Here are my fabrics.

Now, it's 2020 and I was needing a posting for July 4th.  So on February 20th, I began the project.  In the design, I wanted to have 12 1/2 in by 12 1/2 in blocks and 6 1/2 inch by 61/2 inch blocks. The extra half inches on the patterns would cover my seam allowances.



Using my computer pattern, I began pieces the patches together. Notice the fraying napkins.

In this narrative, I need to step back and tell you about why I decided on making a quilt out of used material.  My Grandma Roth was a quilting ninja!  She made numerous quilts.  She gifted me with one made out of her leftover polyester dress fabrics when I graduated from college in 1977. The backing for this quilt was a regular bedsheet.  When I last picked it up, I noticed that it didn't even have batting between the two layers.  I have used this quilt off and on for 43 years! Notice Grandma's hand embroidered date.

Once I finished the exact pattern of the front, I realized that it wasn't large enough as a 3 by 4 feet quilt.  But, I had run out of the damask napkins.  If you can't ever find something, go to the Internet.  Someone on eBay was selling 7 damask napkins with the exact same design.  Once I ordered the napkins, I was ready to expand my quilt pattern.

To make a long story short, I received the napkins and added an extra row of squares to the top and 2 squares to the bottom of the quilt.  But now, would I have enough of the backing fabric?  

The blue and white fabric was only 42 inches.  I cut the yardage of fabric in half and pieced it together to make it 84 inches wide.  Now, I had a piece large enough for the backing.

I'm sorry to get off track again.  I really wanted to incorporate a monogram on one of the squares.  A friend's sister has this incredible monograming sewing machine.  I spent an hour with her and she showed me the process.  On her laptop, she uses a monogramming app to design the monogram.  I wanted a  tomato red L laying below the J.  The reason we used the J on top of the L was because if we did it the other way around, you would miss major components of the letter.

After sizing it, she put the design on a flash drive and  went to her sewing machine.  After she placed the flash drive into the sewing machine, she pulled the two colored threads onto the spools.

Using a frame, she inserted the material and the pushed a button and there was the L.

Then the J was sewn over the top of the L.

Once all the sewing was done, she pulled the paper fabric that she had attached to the underneath of the fabric off.

I could have sat there all day watching her monogram.  I asked her how much her sewing machine cost and she said 14.  I said 1,400 and she said NO, 14,000!  Yes, but she uses her machine a lot and she does a lot of embroidering images on her quilts, so it is well worth it to her.  By the way, Martha is an amazing seamstress!  I loved spending time with her observing such a talent.  Thank you Martha!!!

So, I returned home and started piecing together my squares.

Now, I have the front of my quilt squares sewn together.

Another trick Martha showed me was how to use spray adhesive to glue the front, batting and back of the quilt together.  It really works and really helps in reducing slippage while you are actually quilting on the machine.

I had to wait until my

Amazon order of cobalt blue double binding tape arrived.  The pink roll is for my second quilt, but that's a whole new other posting.

Meanwhile, the Corona virus hit so we were quarantined at home.  Now, I had no excuse to finish the quilt.  I quilted on Tuesday and Wednesday on the machine. 

I attached my quilt walking foot to the machine and quilted from the front of the quilt.  Here is the back when I finished the quilting.

Before adding my binding, I watched a few online videos.  There are so many amazing sites out there and I learned so much.  To begin the binding process, I sewed  the underneath of my binding to the front of the quilt.  It took a bit of practice to make the corners mitered.



Thursday, Friday and Saturday, I sewed the binding to the back of the quilt by hand.

On Sunday, I embroidered 20 on the back of the quilt for the year. Just like Grandma!

  Already with the Corona virus, this quilt has created memories.

I'm thrilled with the results.  It is always fun to tackle new found sewing skills.  I learned a lot from this process. Thank goodness I persevered and finished. 

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!



REWORKING A SOFA SLIPCOVER INTO A OTTOMAN SLIPCOVER

When I replaced the slipcover on the couch, it was still very sturdy and washable fabric.  I was wanting to make a slipcover for an ottoman in my reading corner but didn't have the fabric. While looking closer at the old covering, I realized that maybe I could use the pillow part of the slipcover as the top of the ottoman.  I had NO experience in adding piping to such a slipcover.  But, if I cut just right, I could use the piping for the top and the 4 corners that were pleated.  

I will tell you, that this was a challenge to say the least!

So let's start with my outdated ottoman.



Pretty bad, right?
So let's get to work.

First, I cut the top of one cushion leaving the piping on all sides with about 2 extra inches of fabric.




 I laid the 'top' piece on the ottoman.  I is a bit oversized, but I will settle with the slouchy look.





Then I started cutting the back of the sofa fabric leaving the original hem on.  I was thinking, there would be less sewing.


  I pinned my top and sides together and then went to the sewing machine.  Now the battle began.  I fussed and sewed, ripped out seams but continued until I had all 4 sides sewn to the top piece.








 Two broken needles later, where I hit the piping was the worst casualty.

I realize that it is far from perfect, because the fabric was too thick in the corners but I came away with a washable, better looking covering then I had before.  Seams are not perfect but from across the room, no one will know the difference.

What I learned about myself was that I hate to give up.  An upholstery class is definitely in my future.


So let's look at the results. 

BISCOTTI PAINTED FIGURINE USED TWO WAYS

I can't believe it has been a year since we lost our Biscotti.  Since my youngest daughter was going to be home for her birthday, I decided to make a decorated birthday cake.  I looked online to find a 'Biscotti' looking figurine.  Because he was a Labrador/German Shepherd mix, the figurine below came closest to resembling him.

But, I needed to tweak the coloring on him. I got my cream and white acrylic paint colors out and went to work.

Biscotti had a very distinctive marking on the top of his head-a heart.  How appropriate for a Valentine.

I first painted the cream color all over his body and then using the white paint, I painted the heart on the top of his head.

Once the figurine was done, I could make the 2 layer cake and place him on it.  But since the birthday was coming up later in the month, I put him in my indoor house planter.  He looks right at home.

Before I placed the dog in the planting, I took the opportunity to showcase him on a birthday cake.

For my youngest daughter's birthday, I placed him on her cake.  To implicate that the dog had tried the cake before we did, I pulled some of the frosting off and put frosting on his nose.  It looks like Biscotti enjoyed her birthday cake!

What a fun idea.  You could do the same with your own favorite pet.



JUNE BRIDAL VEIL 2020

Back in February, I purchased this bridal veil, something I would never buy at a thrift store--but it was  only $5.00.  After looking closer, I noticed that the veil was in perfect condition.  Maybe, some beautiful young girl could use in her in own wedding someday.  The cost of veils in this day and age are cost prohibitive.  But until that lucky bride asks to use this veil, I will use it in a vignette.

The silver and pearl beading is exquisite.

It didn't take long to figure out where this veil would go in my home decorating. Yes, one of my statues would grace this gorgeous veil, and it being June, there was my answer.

Isn't she gorgeous!  What the galvanized tin crown placed over the veil, it make for a beautiful spot in the dining room.

Weeks later, I was in my bedroom closet searching for a piece of jewelry, when I spied a pair of shoe clips that had belonged to my Mom.  I actually wore these shoe clips on my navy blue heels on my first date with Mr. Thrifty.

What about if I use one of the shoe clips to adorn the crown on my bride?  It easily clipped on the crown.

Funny that a small adornment makes my June bride so much more elegant.

Weddings this year I imagine will be quite different. For all of those brides out there, may you have a beautiful wedding.