Rags and Smiles

I have my own personal lemon tree.  It has been most unkind to me this month.  But, unlike many other lemon bombardments, this one had a somewhat acceptable outcome.  I won't go into detail here, but my trip to the Land of Horses had to be made post haste.  Fortunately the three Rags I was working on were finished in time.  I didn't get to start anything new.  But that's quite all right for now.

I'm the type that frets over gifts.  Will the recipient like it?  Will it be just what they wanted?  Will I  be able to hide my disappointment if they are disappointed?  I beat myself up with those questions. Mainly because I hate to disappoint.

But I was pleased to see that my gals
 were pleased with their rag quilts!

 

 

 

 

 

The sun was setting and the lighting was poor, which doesn't help given that I am a mediocre horrible photographer.  But that's okay.  I'm not in a contest. 

 

Now that they are done and delivered I can concentrate on the countless others I have left!

 



 



Sew until next time,

Lovely Daydreams from the Land of Cotton

Rags and Stockings

I've finished Rag #3.  She's adorable, if I say so myself!  Of course, I can't show Her or Rag #1 or Rag #2 until they have made their debuts in the land of horses at the end of this month.  But. . .
I can show you side profiles of them :). 

I so hope the girls like them.  I do have more to make for that part of the world, one for another Little Lady and one each for her two little Sugar Cubes.  I know Mama Cube will understand if I do Little Lady A and Little Boy Blue's first.  She's a good Mama like that.   I just have to start the auditioning of quilty pieces and the main characters for each.  They shouldn't take long to make, it's just the auditioning process that creates little detours along the way!  Those characters can be, well, characters!

In the meantime I've been putzing around with a Christmas Stocking block.  I have some tweaking to do to make it suit my fancy, but I think I like the overall appearance.  

What do you think girlies?  Is it a keeper?  Or should I go a different route?  I definitely have to work on the ribbon hanger.  It has a mind of it's own!

Well that about sums up my play time with cotton.

Sew, until next time,
Lovely Daydreams from the Land of Cotton

Vintage Finds

This past weekend I went to Two Chicks Barn Sale  with half of my Aaron/Hur team, a junkie much like myself.  One who's out to save as much goodness from destruction that she can.  One who's giving new life to much loved, well worn, and sometimes discarded treasures.  One whom I enable and one who enables me!  We are two peas in a pod when it comes to junkque.  We love dusty, rusty, dirty old things.  What one can't think of to use these "has beens" for, the other will.  And so our love affair of trash treasure is fueled by expectation,  surprise, creativity and each other!  With all that being said, one may wonder what on earth this has to do with living in the Land of Cotton.  As it happened last weekend, not only was there a barn sale featuring the afore mentioned ladies, they opened their shed up to local vendors and their wares.  Goose.  Bumps.

At one particular vendor, ran by a local farmer, Mr. Harcum (boy did he have some lovelies!) we happened upon boxes of textiles ~ insert fluttering heart here.  Inside one box there were bits and pieces of someone's love of cotton from days gone by.  It had my name on it, but I didn't necessarily want ALL of it, so Heidi Jane and I split the cost.  A whopping $1.50 each.  Drop my jaw.  Pick it up.  Move on quickly.  I got another treasure from him while I was perusing his booth as did my partner in crime. We left the items there for storage until we were finished spending all our money looking at the other vendors. When we returned to Mr. Harcum to pick up our deals for the day, Heidi decided to explore the last TWO boxes of textiles!  Being the thrifty shoppers that we are, an offer was made for both boxes and two happy junkies walked away with their finds.  At the car we divvied up our goods ~ hit a couple yard sales and ended with a walk in the Delmar Park. 

This is my share of goodness:

 I'm petty sure I will use that fabric for quilts. It's had a good washing and drying.  I paid no heed to the fact that it could have been delicate or dry cleanable.  In the machine it went.  It stunk.  Period.  Better to have clean, shrunken fabric than something that smelled like the inside of  a chicken coop.
Besides, the quilts I make are going to have to be machine washable.  Fact of life. 

This lot has it's own set of quirks, but some cool treasures. Crochet thread, cone thread, spools of thread, buttons, patterns, zippers, embroidery floss, bobbins (that will fit my vintage Singer) and some gadget I've never seen before.  Oh, and a hook for rug hooking.  I probably won't use much of it for it's intended use, but I will use the thread (once it  has been wound down to the clean thread) and the bobbins. 

Not bad for a day's find.  Not bad at all.

Side note:  Rag #3 has been scripted, lined up, and stacked according to placement in the show.   Now to stuff, sew and clip.

This show is about to get under way!

I'm sew excited!

 

Sew, until next time,

Lovely Daydreams from the Land of Cotton

 

 

Back on Track!

Well, I have to say I'm ashamed of myself for not being more diligent.  I didn't visit the Land of Cotton much this summer.  Life happens and Playing with Cotton had to wait.

School is in full swing finally now.  Itty Bitty and I are settling into a routine of sorts.  I'm forcing myself to re-organize my home and make my life a little smoother.  It tends to keep me a little more sane when I have control of my home.  Not as in controlling, but more as in guiding.  It has been a while since that scenario has played out.  It will take some practice but I feel I'm on the right  track!

As that has been happening I've been able to accomplish some things in the Land of Cotton.  The cast for Rag #3 has come together nicely.  Most of the cutting is done.  I have to cut the batting, but that won't take long once I get started.  After all is cut, I put the players in their spots and number the rows they are responsible for.  That way no one gets out of line, if you know what I mean.  There's nothing worse than a cast member showing up for the wrong scene!

I hope the recipient for which this script was written will be as excited to get it as I am to give it!

I know ~ it looks crappy a mess right now, but this is the cast getting to know each other.  They have to trust one another to work well together!  Then we'll be on a roll!  Yea, baby!

I've also finished my Sunflower blocks for a fall lap quilt. 

I'm thinkin' I'll use a darker orange for the sashing and for the back of the quilt.  I'm quite excited about this one!  Unlike the Americana quilt it has come together rather nicely.  Speaking of the Americana ~ she is still in her little box, waiting to be pressed, sewn back together, the sides added and a fabric picked for the backing. She is a feisty one, that red, white and blue Missy! Feisty, indeed.

That's all for today, folks.
Until next time,
Lovely Daydreams From the Land of Cotton

"Fall"ing Behind

It seems I'm struggling to blog these days.  Between refereeing the Mohicans, and doing nine million loads of laundry, and trying to keep up the housework, and refereeing the Mohicans, I can't seem to sit and put pen to paper!

But the Cotton gods smiled down on me and a small bank of time opened up.  Really though, it was my Heavenly Father.  I'm so blessed.

I was going to finish up my Americana quilt but Kelly said it looked "off" to her.

 

 

I see what she means.  There's a disconnect there in the middle. The pattern is cute, but  it doesn't travel the whole quilt.  So, I, being me, took it apart.  Not the whole quilt, but right about mid way.  If I flip it, it has a more comfortable feel to it.  Now, all I have to do is sew it back together and add a row of half blocks down each side to give it a little more width.  And that should be that.

 

I'm not moving as fast on Rag #3 as I had anticipated.  A couple supporting actors have failed to show, so it's slow going there.  I can't manipulate the plot without all the characters.  I need to crack the whip and get that show on the road!  It's due to premiere by the end of October (along with other Rag-time shows).

 

I did, however, choose to add madness to mayhem by starting a fall quilt.  Don't ask.  I just don't know the answer.  It will be a lap quilt like the Americana (when I get that gal finished).  She's been scripted and most of the characters are in place!  That always helps. It is a simple Sunflower block.

 

 Here are the first two scenes:

 

I am liking the way they are proving themselves!  And they make a statement with their generous 18x18 inch size.  Pretty easy to put together, too.   I'd say six or eight of these beauties would make a very nice lap quilt! 

Well, all seems to be quiet on the home front.  I think I will start on Sunflower block #3.  That is, after I fold a load of duds and throw some towels in the dryer and start another load of duds.  Shucks, who knows, I may even get Sunflower block #4 cut out! 

Until next time,
Lovely Daydreams from the Land of Cotton

 

 

 

 



 

 



 

Shamrocks and Rags

Although I am smitten with rag quilts right now, I do play with other patterns.  I see something I like in the World of Quilts and want to copy it.  Sometimes it's easy peasy, sometimes not quite.  I found a Shamrock block some time ago ~ before my old computer went to cyber heaven.  Upon its demise it took with it all my photos, all my favorite blog spots and documents (translate: patterns)!  I can't find recipes I had tagged in blogs nor can I remember all the  DIY blogs I was following!  So, I'm back at square 2.  ('cause I did remember one or two blogs ~ yay, me)

Anyway, back to the Shamrock block:

It instantly became a favorite!  I love the simplicity of it and it was rather easy to piece together!  Mostly squares and squares with the corners lopped off.  The stem is just two triangles sewn on either side of a one and half inch strip and cut to size.   The unfinished size of this block is 12.5 inches.  The fabric is OLD 80's fabric I had in my stash.  Most of the "sample" blocks I've been playing with come from that stash.  I think once I've made enough I shall turn them into a large sample quilt.   But I think I will make a lap quilt using the Shamrock block pattern.  It will be perfect for St. Patty's Day.

I did find the original site:   http://generationqmagazine.com/2012/03/playdate-shamrock-block/.  Glad it was a free tutorial!  Last thing I want to do is steal someone's work.  But even without the directions the block is pretty easy to figure out :). 

Rag #3 is coming along.  I have began the tedious job of cutting, cutting and more cutting.  I have a couple more fabrics to sign on to complete the top.  But the fabrics on hand can start getting into character until then.  It is so exciting!  I can't wait for curtain call!

 I am going to do Rag #4 in unison with Rag #3 since they are both in the Pink family.  The challenge will be to keep the cast in their designated spots and not mingle with each other!

So, as it all unfolds I will be the ever diligent director.  I will post "trailers" as I go so as not to spoil the whole show!

Until then,
Lovely Daydreams from the Land of Cotton!

A Glaring Mistake and Rag #3

In my last post I shared a completed block from my little Americana quilt I was starting.  Well, now, let me just say, even after proofing my work, I did not catch a glaring mistake until just a few days ago!  Dolly, how could you not have pointed that out to me?!!   See this. . . . .

The bottom row is UPSIDE DOWN!   Good.  Night.  Nurse.  Good thing I know how to use a seam ripper!    This is how it's suppose to look . . . . .

 

 

Much better.  Much, much better.  And . . . . I've gotten a few done and sewn together.  Initially I was going to make it 3 blocks by 4 blocks, but it was too short.  So, I added a row.  Now it's too narrow. 

See my dilemma?

I'm mulling over adding a row down the side and making it 4 X 5.  But since July 4th is only two days away and I won't be finished by then, I'll just tuck this in a UFO pile and finish it after I've done Rag #3.  And speaking of Rag #3  . . . .

Ms. Pinkerton finally joined the set for Rag #3.  A couple of her co-stars were already here.  Now we just have to audition and sign on the remaining cast so we can get this show on the road!

Until then,
Sweet Dreams from the Land of Cotton

A Little Americana

While I'm waiting for Ms. Pinkerton (the main character) to join the set for Rag #3, I am working on an Americana quilt. I saw a block that I like over on Country Junk'tion  and decided to copy it.

It's not a hard block to make at all:

I script my blocks onto graph paper, color them ~ 'cause that's how I work, and proceed on.  A lot of people use the A, B, C, D . . . . method, but that just confuses me for the most part.  I need a comparison chart, if you will.

Any way, I'm making 12.5" blocks (12" finished).  I just divide that number by the number of blocks in the row and come up with a "cut number".  In this case it is 12" divided by 4 blocks = 3" blocks.  Add 1/2" for seam allowances (1/4" each side) to give me 3.5" squares.  But. . . . I am doing HST (half square triangles), so I cut 2 - 4" blue squares for the corner squares, 4 - 4" red squares for the sides, 6 - 4" cream squares to match with the red and blue, 2 - 3" blue squares and 2- 3" red squares for the four inside squares, like so:

To make the HST, I match a cream square with each of the 4" red and blue squares, right sides together.  Then I use my handy dandy little 1/2" ruler to draw two lines diagonally from corner to corner on the cream fabric, like so:

Just match the line that runs down the center of the ruler to the corners and draw a line on either side of the ruler with a pencil or fabric pen.

Sew on the pencil lines.  (You may want to stick a pin in to hold the pieces together while you stitch.
You will then cut right down the center, like so:

This will give you  twelve 3 1/2" (ish) squares.  Here is where you can square up (or fussy cut) your HST to make sure they measure 3 1/2".  If you cut correctly and your seams are good, they should be pretty much on the money.  You will then trim off those little ears.  Put all your stars in one spot.  Find your script.

Place everyone in their position.  (this is why I color my script)  Carry the characters to your machine and following the script, sew a scant (a little narrower than) 1/4" seam. Sew a row at a time. Press each row and then sew the rows together. Press those rows.  I learned after several blocks, it is probably best to press open the seams instead of pressing to one side.  This helps with some of the bulk that comes with all these pieces. 

 

 

 

Ta-da!  You have a block!

 

 

 

I know ~ the colors are opposite.  That's because this isn't block one.  It's block two.  I thought I might like it reversed.  As it turns out, I don't like the center of the block at all, this one or the first one.   It seems . . . . off.  Not nearly as pretty as the one on Country Junk'tion!

 

So, I toyed with some different twists and turns and new characters for the centers.  And this is what I have so far:

 

I like the variety in the centers.  It lends more personality to the set.  I have two others that weren't in the photo opt (you know the kind ~ too busy to be bothered with) but they will be in the final act.  I'm thinking this will be a lap quilt.  Just big enough to throw over your legs while watching a movie or star gazing on a cool night.  So I'm figuring three blocks wide and four down and about a two or three inch sashing.  That should seal the deal.  Can't wait to get her done!

But, until then,
Sweet Dreams from the Land of Cotton



So. . . .

. . . . . let's see how this thing rolls.

I've been on a rag quilt spree as of late.  I figured if I were to enter back into the Land of Cotton I should brush up on my thread skills ~ aka: sewing.  I have two quilts completed.  I can show the side view, but don't want to spoil all the surprise!

I'm getting ready to start the third (and fourth)  ~ I only have about a trillion to make for all my grandies and kidlings!  I'm auditioning the cast of characters for Number 3 as we speak.  I have secured two players with the main character in the shadows.  I just have to woo her to my side!  Then the other two or three should be relatively easy to convince.

In the meantime, as I'm waiting with abated breath for the characters to line up, I am fiddling with the makings of an Americana Quilt.  I can't wait to share that with my gals. 

So, until then,
Sweet dreams from the Land of Cotton

Yet, Another Blog

I know ~ I've lost my mind!  What little there was to lose.  But, I wanted to document my adventures in the Land of Cotton.  I love sewing.  I've sewn all my life it seems ~ one thing or another.   And, I also want to share my pittance of knowledge with my girls.

I am certainly not any of those marvelous quilters/seamstresses out there in blog land or on Pinterest.
But, I do love the art of Cotton.  And with today's abundance of information and tutorials quilting and fabric play is easier than ever!  And I'm an easy kinda gal (tee-hee).

It seems that more and more people are coming home to the Land of Cotton, either out of need or for the sheer pleasure of being there.  Either way, I'm glad to see the art of Cotton being revived.  It is to me what paper crafting is to, well,  Paper Crafters!

Right now my passion falls under the guise of quilts.  I love the fact that you can take any ol' kind of fabric and turn it into something not only useful, but beautiful.  And I love the history of quilts and quilt making.  What we modernistic folk refer to as "up-cycling" or "refurbishing" or "re-purposing" or being "green" to save our planet,  our ancestors just saw it just as a "waste not, want not" kinda world where discarded pieces of fabric, be it clothing or grain sacks, became useful quilts for cold harsh winters.  Frugality didn't get here by accident.  And I intend to do my share of "saving the planet". 

Quilting has quietly evolved into an art.  A beautiful masterpiece painted with cotton, needle and thread.  The pallet of colors, styles, shapes and types of fabric is as endless it seems as the number line.  It is only contained by how far your imagination can run.

So bear with me as I take a trip down memory lane, or have a fabric "ah-ha" moment, or even post some silly little project.  It will be for a good cause, 'cause I just might go insane if I don't find a pastime that allows me to feel somewhat useful.

Comments and gentle critique are welcome, even encouraged. 
Thank you, and come again.