Freedom to Quilt!

My big, Papa Bear size, project is over, as I told you already.  Remember that big stack of paper?

Now the Mama Bear size project is also over.  The next project is now a Baby Bear size one.  You know what this means?  It means I have time to quilt!

I have worked on some massive spring cleaning to catch up on all the things that were postponed until now. The weather has even cooperated, and my yard no longer looks like a jungle.  Maybe just a dense forest.  Progress is definitely being made.

I have been reading blogs left and right trying to catch up on everything I have missed this year.  There is so much inspiration!

I even finished a quilt!  It was a small one, for a friend.  Unfortunately, I have lost my camera cord, so as soon as I find it, I will post a quilt reveal.

I think my next quilt will be a small quilt, but there are so many projects that are left in an unfinished stage that I will definitely be working on finishing an old quilt while I am working on a new small quilt.

I hope things are going well for all of you, and you are having a wonderful summer.

Fuse-and-Tell Journal Quilts

I promised Paula that I would review Fuse-and-Tell Journal Quilts first, so here goes.

Fuse-and-Tell Journal Quilts is a book by Laura Wasilowski, who has since published Fanciful Stitches Colorful Quilts which I have previously reviewed on HubPages.

The information is only from Fuse-And Tell Journal Quilts, although a lot of  the information probably applies to both.  The quilts were made using the technique of fusible applique.  They also use Fast2Fuse instead of or in addition to batting.  As Laura says, "Fusing is a fast, easy way to assemble a wall quilt without sewing seams, using templates, or following a pattern."

A journal quilt is like a small diary in cloth.  "Whether geometric or pictorial, they tell of happy memories, sad events, funny anecdotes or flights of fancy."  There are many ideas in the book on how to find inspiration for journal quilts.

The book shows you how to make six colorful and fun journal quilts, and has many other examples scattered throughout. These are journal quilts in that they allow you to journal the stories of your life.  These quilts are not limited to the size of a piece of paper that another journal quilt project used. This makes it much easier for me, since I have difficulty following size constraints.  Some of the quilts do have stitches on them.

The first section discusses Fascinating Fusing Facts, materials and tools for the fusible journal quilt. Then it goes into the six journal quilts, with facts about the inspiration of the quilt, and step by step directions (with lots of photos) on how to make them.  You are not limited to making just these six quilts, of course.  There are lots of other quilts that serve as inspiration throughout the book.  The final chapter explains how to finish a fused journal quilt.  There are ideas about how to quilt these journal quilts and three different ideas about how to bind them.  I am going to try the Wrapped Binding method for the quilt I am making now, just as soon as I finish adding the photos to this post.  There are also instructions on how to add hanging loops.  The final section has some templates to make the six featured quilts.

Amazon is offering a preview of other pages of Fuse-and Tell Journal Quilts. Click on the link and see many other pages of the book, or buy it there.  I will get a small percentage of Amazon's share of the price if you do.

Quilt Books!

Just so you can get a preview of the books that I got from the C&T sale.  They had really good prices, and I really needed a quilt fix.  I don't think that I would believe you if you told me last year that I would buy so many books all at once.  I am going to look at them one at a time, and thoroughly enjoy looking at one before moving on to the next one.

A friend of mine asked me if I was going to make quilts out of each one.  I told her no, that wasn't my plan.  If I am not required to do anything other than read non-pattern books, then why would I be required to make something out of pattern books.  Of course, that doesn't mean I can't make something either.  I definitely would if I had more time in my day!

Shuffling Paper

When I showed my photo of a stack of paper from the end of our project last year, and said something to the effect that "there is more", I'm not sure people fully understood the extent of the "more." So here is a bigger stack, and yet again, I have to say there is more, and hopefully this time you will have a better understanding of "more." This is probably a third of the total of actual paper.

It may be hard to believe when looking at these big stacks that most of the work on this project is actually done on the computer and not printed at all.  The paper is just the reference material.

I have been looking at this paper nonstop pretty much all month, stopping only to come home to shower and sleep.

I have been missing quilting, but I managed to catch the C&T clearance sale.  Normally, I wouldn't buy the books, because even though the prices are quite low, the shipping would add to the price, but I needed a quilting fix, and I bought a stack of books.  Since I didn't have time to look at the books, I could dream about getting them in the mail and wallowing in quilty goodness.  It worked out quite perfectly, because I received the box in the mail after the project was completed.

I haven't had a lot of time to write on HubPages either, and only wrote a few hubs.  One you may be interested in reading is 10 Great Ways to Learn How to Quilt.  I thought it would be useful for people who didn't have family members or others around that knew how to quilt.

HubPages

On my last blog, I told you that I have been very busy writing on HubPages.  I have written almost 200 hubs since October.  This probably doesn't sound like much, but when I write a hub, I have to take the time to research the topic, add photos, and edit it and make sure that it is a high quality hub.  Since my blogs are more personal and chatty, I do try to check them for spelling errors and the like, but I don't feel like I have to do research or write a certain length. In fact, I try to keep my blog posts short!

I have really enjoyed writing about anything and everything, and making a few pennies at the same time.

Michele asked me to let her know about some of my hubs.  Here are some  that might interest you. These are quilty or crafty ones.


Easy Crafts to Make or Sew and Sell at a Crafts Fair or Bazaar

Best Gifts for Quilters

 How to Make a Quilt Label

What is the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative?

I also have a series that describes types of quilts, and so far have separate hubs that describe traditional, liberated, art, Amish, African, modern, mystery, scrap, and sampler quilts.  There are also a couple of quilting book reviews. The author, Laura Wasilowski even put a link to this hub on her blog. I like this book review because I was able to add a video of Laura singing which showed the quilts in the book. I hadn't thought of a video trailer for a book, but it is an awesome idea.

Fanciful Stitches Colorful Quilts book review

Other topics include genealogy, saving money, making money, investing money, book reviews, parenting, and anything else I think about writing.  Here are some that might interest you.

How to Get What You Want - Step-by-Step Directions

How To Find the Time to Do the Things You Want to Do

Comparison of HubPages and Blogger

I am back to work full time now, so that means I will have even less time for reading and writing hubs, reading and writing blogs, and even quilting.

Lost For a Whole Month

Oh my goodness! My last post was in January, and here's March.  What happened to February?  Sorry, I didn't mean to be missing.

I was on HubPages, writing hubs, and reading hubs, learning how to write hubs, making comments on hubs.

I ventured out to read blogs instead yesterday, and oh swoon!  So many beautiful quilts.  I remember what happens to me when I read blogs.  I want to make every quilt I see.  Of course, the fact that it takes me forever to finish a single one is a very small detail!

You'll be happy to know that I found my lost block.  Sorry to make you worry about my missing all month long.  What? You don't remember?  Oh yeah, it was a BOM and now I found it.  It was under another WIP.  Yes I can still call it a WIP instead of a UFO as long as it is in plain sight.

Technically it is two blocks, and I even put them blocks together.  All the blocks are sewn now, and some of the setting stars.

Denim Rug Almost Finished!

Denim Rug Almost Finished

I have finished weaving the denim rug!  I actually had enough extra thread that I also made a smaller rug.  I just have to wash it and hem the binding, and I will be finished!  Somehow everything worked just right last night.  I had cut a bunch of strips, and didn't want to cut too many, so I took the remaining pant leg, uncut just in case. It turned out that I did need to cut the pant leg, but it means that I used up all of the jeans.  I also ran out of the thread I was adding with the denim strips, and the binding thread, so I didn't have anything extra of anything.  Then, when I paid the teacher for the thread I used ($10), it turned out that between my sister and I, we both had just enough dollars to pay in cash. 

Rabies Shot

It was time to renew the dog license, and the renewal of the dog license requires that the rabies vaccination is up to date.  I called my vet to make an appointment.  I asked the receptionist what other vaccines he needed, and she said it was just that one.  I knew that the city offers a clinic for cheap ($5) vaccines, so I cancelled the vet appointment, and went to the clinic instead.    The city offers the cheap vaccines a few times a year (4?) at different places around town.  The one in January was farther away than other clinics, but I couldn't wait for that one since that is in the fall.

I wasn't sure of the best time to go - whether it was better to come earlier than the appointed time to wait in line, etc. - but the instructions were simple and clear.  I drove there after our walk, and went around the building.  There was a line of people with their dogs, so I just waited behind them. The line went down one end of the building, but it was moving pretty quickly.  Someone came out to see the size of the line, and told us that there was only one vet in the morning, but there would be two vets in the afternoon, which seems strange, considering that the clinic was only for a total of four hours.  Some of the dogs were nervous, so Zeus was also nervous.  He was shaking, but otherwise was well mannered.  It was cold waiting outside, but I had dressed for the weather so I was fine.

We finally got into the building, and it seems that the line inside was as long as it was outside, but it was still moving pretty fast.  They checked the current tags, and gave him new ones.  Another table took the $5.  As we were walking by what looked like a window to the kitchen area, there was a worker who was holding her hand.  I wondered if she had been bit.

 I walked up to the table where the they gave the vaccine, and they told us to come behind the table, where they were.  I told Zeus to sit down, but then there were no further directions, so I got up to see what happened to the vet.  Zeus walked under the table.  He wasn't pulling on the leash. The vet said "get control of your dog!"  I thought that was strange because the dog wasn't doing anything bad, and neither of us had any direction on what he really needed to be doing.  I asked Zeus to come and sit again.  At that time, the vet got angry again that we were now in his way, because he wanted to take something to the kitchen.  He said "Fine, I'll go around,"  and went the other way. The other worker stayed and she told me what side effects to look for, and she was nice.   So we waited a few minutes for him to come back, and when he came back he said "Your dog is nervous."  I stayed calm and said "Yes he is."  Of course the dog is nervous.  The other worker told me to talk to the dog, but not touch him.  I knelt and talked to him.  The vet was kneeling down but then he stood up.  I said, "Are you done?"  He said yes.

I am hoping that the vet's attitude and irritation had to do with the fact that one of the workers had gotten bit, and not a regular part of his demeanor.  I am just glad that my vet doesn't treat me and my dog like that.

The booth for the city auditor was also there, so it was convenient to renew the dog license while we were there.

It only took an hour from start to finish at the clinic, to get the shot and the license.  I think it was worth it regardless of the treatment from the vet.

Block of the Month

I have finished sewing most of the blocks for my Thangles blocks of the month.  I had difficulty with the last blocks, which use quarter square triangles, because I didn't open the piece of paper.  It is so funny, they copy the instructions on a sheet of paper.  They fold it in half, and then again to fit into the packet with the fabric.  I apparently hadn't been unfolding the paper all the way, so didn't even notice the instructions on the right side. I probably did open it the first month, and the right side just said how to use Thangles, so I generally just used the instructions on the left side.  Anyway, by the last month, I had forgotten there was more on the right side.

I just need to redo the quarter square triangles - the centers.  I have also lost one of my blocks.  I am making stars around the blocks, and hopefully by the time I have made the stars,  I will have found the missing block.  If not, I will make them with fabric I have at home.