Merry Christmas!

Restoring Antique Grandmothers Flower Garden Quilt

Using a light box I traced templates onto double layers of freezer paper. If you trim the freezer paper to 8 1/2" x 11" you can run it through computer printer to make multiples of the same template. After cutting out the templates - iron the shiny side of the template on the wrong side of the fabric. Use the iron, and some spray starch applied with a small paint brush to iron the raw edges down. I spray the spray starch directly into that little yellow bottle, a little goes along way. I make a whole stack of patches before I start a sewing session, I match a similar patch to a hexagon that needs repair, peel off the freezer paper template ( they can be reused) applique the fabric template, then quilt it in place.

Too much time on my hands;

I loved the atomic era fabric scrap that I found in a thrift shop last week so much I made yet another retro apron.

Estate sale find

I may have missed the International Quilt Show in Houston this year, however I "picked" a handpieced handquilted 1930's Grandmother's Flower Garden from an estate sale in Hondo, Texas this morning that is in fair condition. I paid a twenty dollars.

What are you reading?

This one is a real page turner.

Workspace at home and how times change.

My husband refinished a rolltop desk for my home workspace years ago when we got married. I used it, but after the advent of home computers it wasn't practical. So he built me a box to house my bulky computer terminal, keyboard and printer. Now that I have the "new" sewing cabinet in my small sewing studio I no longer had a computer space. This week using the drawers for extra space and Moda's Pumpkins Gone Wild designed by Sandy Gervais; I customized the old roll top to accommodate my laptop.

I love it.

I have a vision

Do you think I can turn this old $3 vanity into my dream sewing table?

Whimsy quilts

Thrift store finds

I love a visit to the thrifts stores in Kerrville, Texas. They have more resale shops than any other town of that size I've ever been too. I found lots of great vintage fabrics and lucked out finding a ruffler and a side cutter II attachment. A side cutter cuts off the excess fabric and allows you to finish seams with you machines zigzag or overlock stitch.

Allison's Quilt

This is the whimsy quilt I made for my friend Allison called "did I leave the water on?"

Pyron's in Lytle Texas

Pyron's in Lytle, Texas is another wonderful place for rural Texans to find fabulous fabric. Karyn Allen ( pictured at cash register ) along with her Mother; Paulette Pyron ( cutting fabric ) have made it their business to supply quilters and homemakers with a vast variety of 100% cottons. Prepare to spend the day if you venture out this way. Pyron's is located south of San Antonio - 15126 Main Street, Lytle, Texas. They are open weekdays from 10 - 6 and Saturdays from 10 - 3.

Tadpoles

After two years of drought and one very cold winter the frogs have made a comeback.

Old Polish Settlers Reunion

This is the quilt I donated to the Old Polish Settlers Reunion in Bandera this weekend.

Big tank update

After plugging all the holes and painting what he could reach; Richard began jacking up the tank a little every day. He dug and leveled the area underneath so it wouldn't shift. He attached wires and pulleys, it took weeks of his genius planning but only 30 seconds for Richard pulling and Fred pushing to set the tank upright. Way to go.

My perfect 1/4" seams.

The older I get the harder some things become. I used a piece of 3/4" aluminum carpet runner purchased from the big chain home improvement store and cut three pieces to fit my sewing machine throat, and the plastic sewing table. I filed down the edges of the cuts with an emory board and taped them to my table and sewing machine. The aluminum piece taped on the sewing machine butts right up next to my 1/4" machine foot. I like using a #10 crochet needle for my stilleto. My seams are getting better.

Retro Apron

Roadrunner Fabrics

Nearby in Hondo, Texas we are lucky enough for Arlene Ryan pictured cutting fabric to visit our town once a week ( on Mondays near the grain towers by the railroad tracks ) with her super bus called Roadrunner Fabrics. Arlene and her husband equipped this bus with everything a quilter could need. She visits a different rural town every day of week . Thanks, Arlene.