Springtime determination

It is finally starting to feel like spring around here -- sometimes for just a few hours at a time -- but the sun is so welcome, and plants and trees are starting to bud and blossom.  

I'd love to start some new sewing projects, but I'm determined to keep up on my Yamtastic Quilting Bee and finish up some long neglected projects.  First.

 Yamtastic Quilting Bee block for Sally -- March.

Yamtastic Quilting Bee block for Gabrien -- February.

Growing wall of granny square blocks.

It's difficult to choose my favorite part of making a quilt.  I love the planning, choosing the colors and fabrics, playing around with pieces on the design wall, sewing the pieces together and watching the design take shape, taking those last few stitches to complete the top, and even hand stitching the binding to the back.  But I always, always, always put off making quilt backs.  

I'd even rather baste than make a quilt back.  

Sooooo-- I have a nice collection of quilt tops with no backs.  Sitting, just sitting, for a long, long time.

I have been working on them for the last two days, and I only have three finished.  Sigh.  

Here are some sneak peeks of my progress on two very old projects:

 City Park Quilt (Cherry House Quilts)

 Back for City Park Quilt

Wonky Cross Quilt

 Back of Wonky Cross Quilt

I want to thank you all so much for your congratulations on and interest in my new Juki.  I am still madly in love with the automatic foot-controlled thread cutter and the knee lift for the presser foot.  Several people asked about a special foot for 1/4" piecing.  

 I actually just use the foot the came on the machine.

 I noticed when I started using that machine that the seams appeared to be about 1/4"so I measured: a scant 1/4".

 I grabbed a charm square, cut it in 1/2, and then sewed it back together.  As you can see it measures exactly 4.5"

It doesn't get any better than that!

Happy Spring!

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

A parade & a new sewing machine

I had the week of the 20th off in February and planned to set aside several days to sew and sew and sew.  I had big plans for finishing WIPs and just playing with fabric, but my sewing machine broke bright and early my first morning of sewing!  I rushed it in for repairs only to be told that it would take two weeks --

 TWO WEEKS!  

I really thought I was just going to sit down in the shop and have a good cry, but managed to hold it in while a salesman tried to sell me a new machine that was way overpriced and not at all what I wanted.  He valiantly tried to sell me an expensive extended warranty package, too, all the while insisting that his prices were the lowest, despite the fact that I could prove otherwise.  

I had already been planning to get a new machine in the not to distant future

but was waiting for a great deal.

 When I couldn't take the sale's pitch any longer, I went out and sat in the parking lot feeling really frustrated and posted a message to my sewing circle asking if I could borrow a machine from anyone.  Almost immediately I received a message back from Elizabeth Hartman offering to let me borrow one of hers for the entire two weeks until I got my Pfaff back!  And suddenly I was back in business!

I have to say it was wonderful to sew on a more modern machine, and I quickly fell in love with a couple of features on Elizabeth's Baby Lock:

The knee lift and the automatic thread cutter.  Using Elizabeth's machine and having a better idea of what I wanted, I started researching sewing machines online all over again.  

A little consult and encouragement from another sewing circle friend, Jen, and....

Meet my new Juki:

It does one thing and it does it very, very well -- perfect straight stitches at up to 1500 spm.

And look at all that extra room for quilting!

 Knee Lift:

Automatic Thread Cutter -- 

push a button on the machine or just rock back on the foot pedal!

 And this kitty-tempting thread holder.  

 Between this and my Juki serger, Sammy can get herself in all kinds of trouble without even trying.

Quarter inch seam perfection!

 I just love sewing with my new machine!  And it made finishing up this quilt top a breeze!

 Parade on Peacock Lane

The fabric was designed by my sweet friend, Violet Craft, for Michael Miller Fabrics.

 The pattern, Lizzy's Parade, was designed by Cherri House.  It was published in the Winter 2009 issue of Easy Quilts, and I had been saving it to showcase just the right fabric line.  I hope it did yours justice, Violet!  I can't wait to get it quilted!

Oh - and my old Pfaff (which originally belonged to my mother) is back from the shop and ready to be passed on to an excited new owner -- Molly!  

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan