Saturday, February 22, 2014

Icepocalypse Rockets

     The big Icepocalypse I and II 2014 hit my area in the last few weeks.  The first time it was a mixture of snow and Ice it occurred while my mother was in the hospice house. The other one hit my second night home after my mother passed away.  I had worked 2 nights in a row and came home to the power out.  That began my families week without power.  



     During that week me attempted to keep our freezer full of deer meat frozen. We used our trusty old generator.  On I think night number 4, our generator caught fire and blew up.  We spent the next day calling all over the area to find a replacement.  Only to find nothing.  Just by chance our Good friend Jenny and Kirby had power and let us borrow theirs!!! 



    
 Our husbands grew up together as neighbors. Kirby's dad Johnny has taken an interest in my boys for years. Johnny taught my boys all about rockets and has taken them on many trips.  I made Johnny a quilt last year in thanks.  Not knowing what to do in return for the use of the generator.  And still not having power at the beginning of this week when this challenge began.  The theme reminded me of their family.   Out of the fabric I made Johnny's quilt out of I decided to make Kirby's son Jordan one to match his grandfather.  The base fabric is a rocket material.  Thus matching the Project quilt theme, "across the Universe.



     Due to the lack of time and my crazy work schedule, I decided to make a Sew as you go quilt.  I wanted to start early on the week and I honestly was not in the mood.  This is actually the first I have sewn in about 2 months. So after working a 12 hour shift Friday, I got up and went to work.  I made 15 strips to make finished rows of 3, 4 and 5 inches. I backed the quilt with some planet and rocket flannel, so it will be extra soft!!  I used fleece for the batting.  I used one of the stripe material as the binding.  I went on then to sewing.     I actually got off work this morning and spent about 2 hours finishing it.   


     A few of the most important things I have learned about this quilting method is to spray baste the backing to the batting and to make sure the line you begin this is straight and centered.  Maybe soon it can do a tutorial on this.  



     Glad to be back in the sewing and blogging mood!!! What will I finish this week????

   

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Lots and lots of Ahhhh's


     I have fallen in live with Paper piecing. For the last month I believe that this is one if the only things that has kept me sane.  First as I watched my mother pass and spent hours away from my sewing machine and second threw 6 days of no power and again no sewing machine.  I have been on a roll!!!  I have finished 7 in the last month!!!  I have also started 3 Mystery Ahhhh's called Chromaticity.    There are all hand sewn.  Some fussy cut.  All made of Jason Yenter Deco as the base and his complementing fabrics. I plan on making a quit with 50 or 100 of these.  They have 3 inch sides.  The Ahhhhs are from Hillbilly Quilt shops website.  They come precut in little packages.  


     Here is most of the ones I finished laid out together.  Below are photos of the last seven I finished in the last month!