The quilt for a mountain boy...

I mentioned in my previous post the project Mountain Baby Blankets. I started on the first quilt last night. I pulled out my scrap basket and took out all strips with some scrappy log cabin blocks in mind. I found the fabric I bought about a year ago just because I loved the vintage feel of it. It is the dark blue one with images of little boy playing, little boy with a dad. Suddenly, a new, a bit different idea came and I just sat down and started sewing away. This is what I came up with so far. I am liking it a lot.











I think this little project will be done before I decide what to do with my other quilt. It would also be a perfect size for my free motion quilting practice.

Notion of the free motion...

In the earlier post I asked for some suggestions on free motion quilting. Thanks Kris and Emily for your help.
Once again I learned something about my sewing machine. My sewing machine is super simple and one of those cheap ones, but never caused any trouble and served me well, so I am happy with it. (knock, knock... knocking on the wood..) When I started sewing, here in the US, three years ago, that was all I could afford. Also, I had no idea we will become such close friends.



I've been tempted to try free motion quilting for some time, but thought that it won't be possible with my simple machine. However,I can't afford much more at the time,so I figured I better make it work.
I bought a darning foot, and searched for the quilting table (almost costing as much as my sewing machine). I asked you for the suggestions and search for even more info online (tutorials). I learned that my machine does not allow me to lower the feed dogs, which is ok since I could cover them with darning plate (I believe that is what they call it).
Well, after all this, I couldn't wait any longer, found some scraps and tried it. Please, don't laugh, but here are my first pieces.




Here comes another question for you. I think I can practice more and work on smoother lines, but my bottom looks terible. I know it is a tension problem. It works fine on the regular sewing. Do I lower the tension, or what do I do to make the bottom to look pretty?

Quilt top...

The quilt top is almost done. Well, I ran out of fabric.
I would like this quilt to be a bit bigger. I am thinking about adding more cream solid lenghtwise.



I still have the jelly roll left, but I think I don't like any borders for this quilt.
What do you think?




I've been up to something.... Coming up later...

Gone thrifting....

I was able to squeeze a short trip to local a thrift store today in between school and rushing home to study for the next day. I am glad I did.
Look what I found...



My cell phone for scale...



I am even happier to see that it matches my previous thrifting tresures...



I don't have much to show today for my quilting, but tomorrow is Wednesday and it seems like that is the day, that I can find time sewing in the evening. I can hardly wait. I was searching for more ideas for baby quilts, vintage sheets quilts and found plenty of inspiration.
If you need some, just zoom over on flickr and type baby quilts, or vintage sheets quilts into the search box. You'll find plenty.
I also have a question for all you experienced free motion machine quilters (meaning ones who do it at home on the regular machine). I finally got a darning foot and have a huge plans to practice free motion quilting. However, I am missing the attachable quilting table on my machine. I found some on ebay for around $65 that is supposed to work for most of the machine (my machine fits into the described dimensions). I am planning on buying it, but wanted to ask if you have any suggestions.
Thanks!

Mountain Baby Blankets

I am not sure how many of you actually watched Diane Sawyer's Hidden America special on the Children of The Mountains in rural Eastern Kentucky last week. I didn't because we don't have TV (cable, anyway), but I am glad that some of you did. Rachel did watched and decided to help. I would like to join her and ask all who can to join as well.



Rachel contacted the CAP organization, that goes out into the community to care for many teen moms in Appalachian Kentucky. There is a great need for warm blankets there.

Specifically, they have requested:

* Receiving-size blankets
* Blankets for swaddling (flannel, for example)
* Crib size quilts and blankets
* Child/toddler size quilts and blankets
* Twin size quilts and blankets

Please, visit her blog and look for any additional information.

I will be posting some ideas and links for free simple and quick baby quilts. I have som much fabric that was handed down to me by others. For me this is a great way to use it up.
Here are some of the links for now:
Crazy Mom Quilts
Sew Mama Sew
All People Quilt
Quilts for Kids
Charity Quilts Patterns

I am back in the game...

My wish came true and I finally sat down and dusted off my sewing machine last night. I could hardly wait, I was sketching the quilt's layout in my notebook during Energy & Environment class. Hahaha





I had this plans of maybe finishing everything last night, but I didn't. I got too tired way too early. That's OK. I have tonight to play with it as well. I'll set a pot of coffee next to my sewing machine. :)



I tried this " new to me" technique on adding sashing or just chain sewing. Basically, you eliminate cutting, but not really. You need to cut anyway. Pressing goes faster, though. I am not totally sold on this one, but I will try it again. Do you have any experience with this? How do you like like it?

I owe you & some new inspiration...

I realized that I never post pictures of my sister's quilt quilted. I owe you.





Also,
I needed to use my JoAnn's coupons, and I sure needed some inspiration. I think, that I just need to make something for myself. I was too busy with all the presents (and still am), but I need to be a bit selfish now.

I am remembering.....

Valentine's Day won't ever be the same for me. Last year on February 14th at 3:20 pm, I was on my way to my Geography class in Cole Hall at NIU in DeKalb, IL. I was in my car making my way through campus to the parking garages. I was listening to NPR and noticed way too many people walking on the sidewalks all on cell phones. Suddenly, I heard breaking news through the radio about shootings that happened. It wasn't clear where exactly the shooting happened. They thought it was in the bookstore. For whatever reason, I drove in the parking garages, seeing everybody fleeing out of there. I then found out that the shooting took place in Cole Hall and campus is closed. On my detoured (due to traffic) way home, I got almost hit by the other cars twice because roads where closed and it was a total chaos. Later, I learned that the shooter is dead and some students were shot. I was able to call everyone that I am OK.
It took me a few hours to realize that I might of been right there if I wasn't running late. My class was supposed to take place in THAT lecture hall right after theirs.
It's been a year and I still start walking much faster passing Cole Hall, I still stop and remember when seeing signs like this around town, and somehow, I stopped running late for my classes.



To learn more about what happend, you can go here.

Where I 've been...

here...



Most of my days are currently occupied by school. I don't like it a bit, but this is the hardest semester I ever had so far and I just will have to deal with it for now. There was no sewing ever since I came back from Europe... I am ready to cry at this point because there honestly is no time for it.



I have so many unfinished projects and just projects that I am dying to work on... So please be patient with me and don't forget about me totally. I'll be back here soon...
I am reading what all of you are up to, almost daily. In fact, those are those bright times of my days now. Thank you for that...