A QUILT SHOW WITH MY MORNING COFFEE

aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh, my quiet morning coffee ritual. Yes, I guess it has become a ritual. I deserve being able to sit here as long as I want with my favorite beverage-it took long enough.

 

My life has probably been no different from yours-really busy. Having to start your day running as soon as your feet hit the floor in the morning. Get everyone up, ready for the day, out the door to work and school, throw in some laundry and maybe dinner in the crock pot before you head out the door for work. Should I have reminded you of how tired you really could be if you stop to think about it?

 

I am way past retirement age. [Retirement???] My son will be 55 next month, he started school at 5 years of age-his 3 sisters a few years after. Then, without much of a break, there were grandchildren to raise and put into school. The youngest grandson, Travis, just graduated from college a few months ago so in essence, I have been on the school merry-go-round for almost 50 years-whew.

 

Sooo YES, I do deserve to sit here with my coffee in my pajamas and robe all day if it suits me.

 

Some mornings the ritual is longer than others before I get started on my projects-my projects, all mine, all day if I want. Oh, boy, I can't wait to get up in the mornings.

 

Being a quilter, I love going to quilt shows to see the work of others and new products. Now, a quilt show comes to me right through my computer through the daily newsletter from www.FaveQuilts.com.  Every day is different:baby quilts, miniature quilts, tote bags, ornaments-anything quilted including new products and links to the quilt world. There are how-tos of all kinds including video tutorials. Sometimes I have to just turn the computer off to get myself away from my quilt show and get things done.

 

 

This morning this little chicadee pattern caught my eye. I love chicadees. I have already downloaded the pattern that's provided. It looks quick and easy 

 

Then there is this attic window quilt that is of interest since it is one of those projects that I have toyed with making for a long time.

  

I didn't get to cruise through all the links this morning, don't have the time. My ritual is being short changed by an appointment-I hope my psyche doesn't go into shutdown but it will have to catch up later with all those lovely projects that Jessica, the FaveQuilts editor, has pulled together for all of us.

 

 Maybe tomorrow morning will take a little longer.

 

 

God bless, happy quilting & check out www.FaveQuilts.com.

 

Carolyn Wainscott

 



WALK A MILE IN HIS SHOES-GAVIN'S JOURNEY

Aggravating thoughts-that is what I got up with this morning. Things are just not as they should/could be.The furnace won't come on, going to have to call someone, again, and it's cold in the house. All those projects I need to get done are no where near completion because my sewing machine decided it just doesn't want to sew with that thread on that material so everything takes 3 of 4 times as long as planned [the best laid plans, you know]. The dishwasher and washing machine didn't load themselves again so I have to do the laundry and clean the kitchen.  I have to pay some bills, ugh!

 

Before I go into the sewing room for the day to try and finish what should have been done yesterday, the computer is turned on to read my mail and check Facebook to see what family and friends did last night.  This social network is a boone and a bust for me. During times of extreme emergencies when I could not be there, it has been a boone to keep me up-to-date on the critical condition of several in our family.  Other times, it is a bust because of the time wasted instead of doing what needs to be done.

 

There on my wall is an update of 3 year old, Gavin, who was diagnosed with leukemia several months ago. Today GAVIN'S JOURNEY has taken him through a painful spinal tap and he is resting right now. When he wakes up, he will get to go home. My day is put into perspective-the house is not as cool as I thought and I can put on a sweater, those are just broken threads for crying out loud-not a broken little body, I am blessed to have clothes & dishes to wash and machines to clean them in and money to pay my bills with. LORD, forgive me.

 GAVIN'S JOURNEY takes us through the times that his platelets are too low for the week's treatment and then through the days he can withstand his injections. Then we get a ray of sunshine when Gavin feels well and is playing-just a common ordinary 3 year old's day. Those are the ones we like to see.

 

I don't know Gavin or his parents but that beautiful little face smiling at me from one of my family's "shares" tugged at my heart. Gavin's mom & dad graduated with several of my niece's and nephews and the request for prayer was sent out at the leukemia diagnosis or I wouldn't know anything about this precious little boy.

A prayer request, sure, that is the least I can do. I am so thankful that my children, grandchildren and great, grandchildren are all healthy and doing well-what if it were one of my own. Wouldn't I want prayers for them? In fact, in several critical situations, my family has done the same-requested prayers from the Facebook community and they have come through so how can I not do the same for another.

For Gavin, my prayers went into a quilt for him as for other children in jeopardy. Prayers go into each stitch to cover him with, prayers for healing, prayers that he will be pain free, prayers for his family as they travel this journey with him.

Yes, Gavin needed a quilt so I went to the box that holds the fabics reserved for my prayer quilts and lo, and behold, there was one already partially done. I had pulled some blocks from another box but this discovery was the one. This is for Gavin. The rest of the day was spent finishing the quilt top and then quilting it with stitched prayers.

A pocket is sewn onto the back of the quilts for the child to put special things to keep close by as they go through treatments. I try to keep books for the pocket but didn't have the exact thing I wanted so took a shopping trip. I found something for Gavin plus another couple of books for the next prayer quilt-just in case another little face peaks out at me.

Here's Gavin's quilt with it's treasure pocket:

No, it will never win a blue ribbon in a quilt contest but a smile of approval from Gavin is the greatest award there is. I met Gavin's grandmother when I took the quilt to her office so she could get it to him. [I am terrible at mailing things so that is the quickest way] Being a grandmother, my heart goes out to her also.

Jesus said 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Matt 18:18-20

So even though we cannot all be together physically, let's gather in prayer for Gavin.

God bless all of you
Carolyn Wainscott

 

 

 



HOW TO FINISH A QUILT WITH CORDING

Finally, Finally-

the serger and I are almost seeing eye to eye, the long arm quilter has been serviced and working great

AND

the Dresden Quilt I started months ago is done. A 2 part video tutorial can be seen on FaveQuilts.com
 @
 http://www.favequilts.com/Techniques-and-Videos/Video-Tutorial-How-to-Make-a-Dresden-Plate-Quilt/ct/1
for instructions and tips on putting the quilt top together.

I had a great coordinated set of fabrics that had been in my stash for some time that included a border print just waiting for the right project and this was it. I enlarged this pattern years ago because I would rather make one of something than 30 or 40-I call it my short attention span way of quilting. I'll be sharing some others along the way.

The rosy pink background did have to be purchased to set off the prints. There is cording all around the Dresden also that is covered with a [miracle of all miracles] bias burgundy that was also in my inner sanctum of squirreled away treasures. It is a near perfect match for the burgundies in the prints and adds just enough embellishment to the quilt with all the machine quilting and the center focus.

That is another subject that I will tell you about later. It has fussy cut florals from several different prints that compliment the main fabrics in a stylized basket. Those fabrics were felted with my felting machine then a little thread work done on top. Like I said-that is a subject all to itself and I loved doing it-it is a good accent to the quilt. It was started along with the quilt but layed aside with a lot of other things until I could get to them.

The back of the quilt is pieced from large pieces of the prints-makes for a very interesting back-surely not boring by any means. It actually came about by how a lot of other things come about-by necessity. There was no more of the rose fabric, not enough of the prints to make a large enough back and no other fabric in the go tos so just started throwing pieces together. I'll take a photo when I get the matching dresden plate pillow scarf done. It is like everything else-started, almost finished-plan on working on it next week [or maybe the week after-then it becomes months, sometimes years]

Instead of the traditional quilt binding, I decided to finish the Dresden with cording to match what was already around the center and Dresden petals. There is a little different method to apply cording from finishing with binding. Cording is sewn to the quilt top before quilting. It is easier to maneuver the quilt top than the whole quilt.

Fold fabric over the cording, match raw edges of the quilt top with raw edges of cording fabric and sew to the right side of the top. Rounding the corners a little makes it a little easier also so the cording lays better.

If this is as clear as mud, here is my video that shows the entire process.

Now the quilt sandwich is put together and quilted. Leave at least 1/2" unquilted all around the edge of the quilt. Trim the batting to match the cording seam on the quilt top, trim the quilt back leaving at least 1/2" outside the cording all around. Turn the 1/2" in left on the back and either hand or machine stitch to close.

The short attention span Dresden Plate pattern is available in my pattern store on Craftsy
@
  http://www.craftsy.com/user/43851/pattern-store

 It is ready to download and print in pdf format. I've been tracked down for the pattern so decided to get it up and going. I am getting ready to try it for a Christmas Tree Skirt and one gal was going to make table covers. Just may try that also to match the tree skirt. mmmhhhmmm-maybe a skirt for myself.

For other ideas, classes, workshops and patterns check out www.Craftsy.com:

If you have any ideas, questions or comments let me know. I would be glad to hear from you.

God bless you and happy crafting

Carolyn Wainscott
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



JENNA'S PRINCESS GOWN

Great granddaughter, Jenna, took hold of my hand and said "Mamaw, come with me into the lobby". Where the child gets her terminology I don't know.We were at my sister's home for a family gathering and I suppose Shirley's elegant room size entry is like a "lobby" to Jenna. Her focus was on the large porcelain doll in her full victorian regalia. She wanted an outfit just like that only maybe in red to include the feathered headpiece and how soon could I go home and get it done? That is Jenna for you.

Jenna has definite likes and wants and I can't wait to see what she will accomplish because she has some great ideas that with a little training and encouragement can be fantastic. On one weekend  visit, she announced as she came in that she wanted a red velvet outfit. Now how does a 6 year old  know about velvet. [Brit, are you putting her up to stuff?]. Of course, she went home with a red crushed velvet skirt with matching top. There was no peace til it was finished as she sat by my side making sure it was done right. How can I not appreciate her genius?

So let's move forward many months to the "lobby" episode. No, the dress didn't get done immediately-too much going on and I kept having to put her off-maybe for her birthday. I did find some cute red calicoes that would look great for the dress so they were laid aside for the Jenna approval which I was certain would be given on her next visit. She took one look at the fabrics and announced that they were too old for her [how can calico be too old for a 6 year old?], weren't "sparkly and shiny" enough and took off into my sewing room to find sparkly, shiny fabric more in line with what this little diva had in mind.

Several more weeks went by, the dress still wasn't  started and the birthday suddenly fast forwarded itself and loomed a few days away. Ok, I would just go buy a dress in the toy department for dress up-that would surely do-until I looked at those dresses and couldn't bring myself to do that. The dress would have to wait, again. I called to tell them maybe it would be Christmas for the dress-there has been so much on my mind that I couldn't think about sitting down at the sewing machine but children don't understand that when they are promised something they may not get it as promised. I heard Jenny wail in the background-that was the one gift she wanted.

It was only a couple of days now til the birthday party on Saturday. Friday was spent making the princess dress of course. It took all day and it got done-expect for wrapping. The dress made it to the party on a hanger and it was all worth it.

Jenna had opened most of her gifts when I sent her dad to the car for the dress. She was busy jabbering and opening a gift when he called her attention to what he was holding. She stopped in mid sentence-that is a miracle in itself for her to be tongue tied-and just sat there for a second or two till she ran over to the dress. Of course, she had to put it on immediately.

Here's Jenna in her princess gown that she picked the fabrics for:

The only downside to the whole thing was that great, granddaughter, Ashlynn was so disappointed that she didn't get a princess gown also. She started taking off her clothes the minute she saw this one. I have her fabric ready now-only it is yellow even though she wanted blue just like Jenna's. I am sure I can make it so that she will love it just as much. They both love dressing up. There is a princess in all of us.

Will show that one when I get it done also.

Happy crafting, sewing and quilting

Carolyn Wainscott

But Jesus called unto them unto him, and said,  Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

LUKE 18:16-17
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While on a visit, Jenna, talked her way into having my Red Riding Hood sample for my hooded cape designed for HANNAH'S CLOSET which is available in My Craftsy Pattern Store @
http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851 


The purple one hadn't been made yet or she probably would have wailed until she got that one, too.
She isn't that much into her dolls so she didn't take the matching doll cape


Here is my latest design. It came into being while I was working on a crochet version for soon to be born, Charlotte Ann-hince: Charlotte Ann's Newborn Mermaid Pattern


A doll version is in the works for the mermaid pattern but for now here are a couple of more patterns available:
http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/other/sunbonnet-sue-baby-quilt-pattern/44984
My Sunbonnet Sue Baby Quilt is 50" x 50"

and I couldn't  leave out another of my favorite traditional quilt patterns in an enlarged pattern for Overall Sam which is also 50" x 50"

I love designing doll clothes and my great granddaughters love dressing their dolls in these coordinating outfits that mix and match

and on of these days I may get around to getting Jenna's pattern into a printable form

THE HOODED CAPE-ANOTHER DESIGN FOR YOUR AMERICAN GIRL DOLL FROM HANNAH'S CLOSET

This cape pattern kept bouncing around in my head so I finally got it done. It still took weeks to get it finished with all the distractions here. For every step forward, there seem to be 3 steps back. I know a lot of you know the feeling.

The Red Riding Hood Cape was the original thought for the pattern using the polar fleece since it is so easy to work with. It is heavy enough not to need a lining. It doesn't ravel so it doesn't even need to be hemmed or edge finished if you choose. The fleece comes in a nice wide 60" and an abundance of color and patterns. The pattern is so simple and easy to put together you can complete the capes in an afternoon from start to finish if there are not too many distractions.

I hope to share another version soon using the same pattern. It is really quick and easy to do and available in my Craftsy pattern store
 @ http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/Toy/AG-HOODED-CAPE/15386. 

The pattern for the girl's version will also be available if you want to make matching outfits.

The morning to take photos I was still putting on finishing touches when great granddaughter, Maizin, was brought over to model. The plan to have everything completed the day before had gone out the window but Maizin's momma and daddy [Andi & Joey] are very patient with me and we had a beautiful sunny day.

Maizin couldn't figure out why she had to wear the very warm fleece cape. She kept saying "But Momma, I not cold" but she did well and we got done fairly quickly with a lot of help from Andi setting the scene for me and here are some of the results with that beautiful child-she really is a diva and so much fun to work with:

 "Now why did I want to come to grandma's house?"

 "I gotta sneeze"

 "Are we done yet?"

After Maizin left, I realized I had not taken any back shots of the capes so I improvised by dragging out my large doll to pose even though she is no where near as gorgeous as Maizin, she would just have to do.

  Construction in the video for the doll's and girl's capes is the same. I hope it helps

My HANNAH'S CLOSET patterns are the way I sew-simple, quick and easy. The pieces can be dressed up or down for a casual, sporty look, mixed & matched or even for a pageant with the right trims and accessories.  Those ideas will be in future posts if I can stop walking backward here.

Thank you for stopping by and I would love to see the clothes on my facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carolyns-Canvas/151145938331115] that you make using HANNAH'S CLOSET patterns. We can have our own style show.

Have a great day and happy crafting

Carolyn Wainscott


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A great site to check out is Craftsy.com. Patterns from independent designers are available for all kinds of crafting, sewing, quilting, crochet, knitting, beadwork-you name it, Craftsy has it. My reversible, coordinating patterns are available in My Pattern Store @
http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spring is in the air, and with Craftsy’s Spring Blowout, so are amazing savings! For a limited time, ALL yarn and related kits are on sale at the lowest prices of the season –– and we both know you need some fresh new finds for warm weather! Explore these amazing deals while they last. Offer ends Monday - shop now! 

Yarn: http://www.shareasale.com/u.cfm?d=260230&m=29190&u=705639
Knitting Kits: http://www.shareasale.com/u.cfm?d=260237&m=29190&u=705639
Crocheting Kits: http://www.shareasale.com/u.cfm?d=260253&m=29190&u=705639

Craftsy.com  also offers workshops and online classes with top instructors in their field. I found interesting the free workshop for adjusting your own sewing machine.