Author: Lorrie Shore

Weekend Treasures

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date August 21, 2022
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I found many goodies this weekend. Let me share a few of them with you:

This book is interesting for a variety of reasons. I always look at all of the pictures first. Then I start to read patterns, like they are a story. I know this is weird, but true. The measurements are written in inches and centimeters….hmmm. Wadding? What? That must be batting. Sometimes the fabrics aren’t cotton…Use silk for the yellow blocks? Then I looked for the copyright…London, Australia, New Zealand in 2002. Ah, ha! That explains it! I have many quilt books, but none from so far away.

49 cents at local thrift store…from 2008

This has a couple of nice star quilts that will make great patriotic themed quilts. Much better price than the original one!

All this for a dollar! A yard and a half of Nightmare Before Christmas fabric, seven uncut fat quarters, four uncut handkerchiefs, and some other scraps. Score!

On Saturday we found organizers and kitchen treasures. Nothing that I can share…Some of them are surprises for other people who love treasure, too!

What treasures have you found recently?

Later,

Lorrie

quilting scraps sewing

Coxey’s Camp blocks

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date August 16, 2022
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I started these six inch blocks last summer. It takes a little while to make 256 blocks…just a little while. They are made from scraps, scraps, and more scraps. Each block has 17 pieces. That is a lot of little scraps. You can do the math.

Here is the heap of completed blocks, just waiting to be assembled:

I was inspired by several blocks in this book: Sampler Spree by Susan Ache. You will see more blocks in the future. (I retired from 32 years as an elementary teacher. I will have lots of time to sew…finally!) Directions are well written and easy to follow. Sometimes simple sewing is just what is needed. All the blocks in this book finish at 6 inches. I made 256 Coxey’s Camp blocks out of scraps to make a 96″ square quilt, if I don’t add any borders.

Here is a sample of a completed block:

As I worked, I stored my finished blocks in a large storage bag from the Dollar Tree. The bags come in various sizes. (L…3 to a box, XL…2 to a box, and XXL…1 to a box…it is the size of a pillow). They are heavy ply. They also have a convenient handle. They are a bargain at $1.25.

I usually assembled 20 or so blocks at a time to maintain my own sanity. I parially assemble them and press them. Small steps that can be completed in about an hour are my best work sessions. Sometimes I get called away and let all the pieces on the ironing board. (The sections for an individual block are attached so there will be no problems picking up right where I left off.)

Time for dinner…or I’ve just had enough fun for the moment!

I love little trays for blocks that are waiting for the last 2 seams to complete the them…

I am taking this block set to Quilt Camp to assemble the top in September. I have lots of other projects to work on in my retirement. What will be next?

What big project have you been working on…even if it is taking a year or so? Leave a comment.

Later,

Lorrie

Tags 6 inch quilt blocks, quilt blocks, quilting, Sampler Spree, scrap quilts

thrifting/ yard sale

Yard Sale fabric & treasures

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date July 15, 2022
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There is no better way to learn the roads in an area than garage sales. Today, we only found four sales. How sad! I think that people are not having sales because less people are traveling due to exorbitant gas prices. Oh, the prices have come down a couple of cents a gallon this week. Unfortunately, prices went up all most $3 a gallon before this decrease. Last year at this time gas costs $2.85 a gallon. Today’s low price: $4.39. Let me step off my soap box and apologize. Sorry for my venting.

I had great fun at two of the sales. At one sale, the hostess was selling her mother’s and great aunt’s fabric stashes. I got two grocery bags stuffed full of fabric. Most of it vintage. We had a great chat while she helped me pick out quilting cottons and items to make doll clothes. I passed on the wild polyesters. My grandmother would have used those, too, especially the purple polka dots. Those 2 bags filled an entire tote box. It needs to be washed before it is integrated into my stash. (I always pre-wash yard sale fabric, just to be safe.)

Included in the bags were these “pre-cuts”. They were in a stack that was basted together with a price tag that said 10 for 25 cents. Were these for Rob Peter to Pay Paul set of blocks? What a great assortment of 60’s to 80’s fabrics!

She also had several blocks that were started. This is a basted and marked block. It has some very nice hand quilting started on it. The seller couldn’t remember which of her relatives had started this. She only remembered Grandma and Aunt tying quilts. My grandmother always tied her quilts, too, with the brightest colored yarn she could find. Red was her favorite yarn color. Speaking of colors, this block has classic 80’s colors and fabrics. I am going to finish it to decorate one of my sewing areas and honor the quilter that started this block.

Love this! Nothing like a sock monkey to make me smile. This kit, which is still available from the company, sells for $19.99 plus shipping and handling. I paid 50 cents! Score, baby!

Where have you found your best deals lately? Enjoy life!

Later,

Lorrie

Tags fabric, quilting, sock monkey

quilting rainbow scrap challenge

RSC yellow update

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date April 10, 2022
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The color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for March was yellow/ gold. Sadly, I was not as productive this month.

I only need one more of these scraptastic blocks to make a quilt.

This was an experiment with hollow cubes…my measurements were a bit off. Notice the crooked bottom right corner. I know where I went wrong and need to fix it next time.

I did not get a feathered star block made this month. I picked out fabrics, but it didn’t get cut out. Such is life!

April is pink. Time to dig into the scraps and get busy.

What projects are you working on month by month?

Later, Lorrie

sewing

Iron lady

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date April 5, 2022
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My wonderful mother-in-law gifted me this 1901 Singer sewing machine several years ago. I think it was in 2016. (That was the date on the receipt for the new belt.) At the time, I couldn’t get it to stitch. I gave up. My husband said that he has not seen this machine being used since before we were married…over 37 years ago.

It has the original treadle. Everything moves freely…squeaky, but moving. Did you know that the treadle gets oiled, too?

It makes me sad when people turn these into a table base.

Someone painted the machine a lovely copper color and added new decals. They did add a layer of clear coat over the decals to protect them.

This weekend I bought a book to help me get my iron lady stitching. The timing for the bobbin was WAY off. It only took two hours or so to figure that out.

Book of wisdom…lots of models…enough information for me…

Bobbin case …could use some cleaning, too.

Now she is stitching like a dream!

The bobbin winder is still being a little difficult. It turns and spins, but the bobbin doesn’t…hmm. I added a small scrap of cloth under the spinning end. Voila…temporary success.

Last evening, I used temporary 1/4″ marking tape on the throat plate to mark the seam allowance. Now I am ready to sew.

What machine are you sewing on today?

Later, Lorrie

quilting

Spring Flowers

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date April 2, 2022
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I just received the May/ June issue of McCall’s Quilting. Several of the quilts are appealing to me.

I am not crazy about paper piecing, but…I love this little flower table topper.

I spent a short while digging around in my block bins to find some flower petals and centers.

The original pattern uses a blue batik background. I found this small print in my scrap hap. I think it will work wonderfully with my flowers.

What project are you working on?

Later, Lorrie

tranquility

Spring Things

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date March 24, 2022
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Everything is blooming yellow here in West Virginia.

In front of my house, along the road. These keep the dust down in summer.

Well, not everything is yellow…

Our volunteer compost peach tree is blooming.

What is blooming in your yard?

Later, Lorrie

quilting rainbow scrap challenge sewing

Basted and Ready

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date March 20, 2022
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I meant to post this yesterday, but my motivation got lost along the way. Oh, well, it gave me something to do today!

This is block 11 of 12 for my dresden crumb block quilt.

Also works as part of this month’s rainbow scrap challenge…

I pieced this block last week. It was not a total success, but it was not an epic failure either! I thought I could piece this using shapes cut with an accuquilt die. You will notice that it is no quite square. I wish I could blame it on something…drunk quilting, maybe…but I can’t.

This is what I have learned about basting. Sometimes the prep work is well worth the time it takes to get it done. Thread basting is much less painful than pinning with applique pins. It is also quicker and easier than glue basting…no glue to wash out later.

Have you basted or appliqued anything recently?

Later, Lorrie

tranquility weather

Spring has sprung

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date March 17, 2022
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I have been waiting for the time change. More daylight during my waking hours!! Hallelujah! The birds are singing. The spring flowers are starting to pop.