Studio Post #13 - Jeanne Got Her Groove Back!

I'm posting a day early because tomorrow is Easter Sunday! I got into my sewing room yesterday and feel really good about what I got done.

First of all, I finally made the binding for my "God Heals" wall hanging and sewed it onto the front. I also made a hanging sleeve and pinned that in place. I made a label for it, too. Now I have some hand stitching to do to finish it!!! Bonus - I cut the hanging rod today and Louie drilled holes to fit the hanging copper. I'm so pumped! No photo until it is DONE.

I also stitched a bunch of little Easter bags / baskets for candies. Even though only two people at lunch tomorrow will be little kids, we all like treats! Here's what I stitched (and I may go sew a few more). I also have some paper gift bags, depending on how many people show up (and/or I send home with SOs. . . . ).

 

I did a little bit of other stuff in my sewing room, but just wanted to have a post with some content for once!

204 Studio Post #12 - Almost Nothing

I had such good intentions to get back on track, but alas, my time management was not stellar over the past week. I did a tiny bit of planning for the 2024 MQ Challenge (which is due in just over two weeks). It's already Wednesday and I have a busy day today (and tomorrow). But perhaps this evening or Friday I will sew!

 

Here's where the planning is at:

 

2024 Studio Post #11 - Absolutely Nothing

I had really good intentions last week, but I did not sew anything. I was out of town a lot and brought a project with, but didn't stitch or even plan any part of it. 

Oh! I drew out a sketch of what I might do for my 2024 Minnesota Quilt Show Challenge entry . . . but that's it. I hope to get into my studio this week!

2024 Studio Post #10 - Crib Sheet!

This shouldn't make me so incredibly happy, but it does. 

 

Our oldest grandchild Joshua is five. The guest bed is a tall queen sized bed and he prefers to be closer to the floor. Thirty-five or so years ago, my father made a toddler bed for our first born, Morgan (Joshua's daddy). We got it out of storage last year and I bought a crib sized mattress off Craigslist. The lady gave me the sheets that went with it, but they are clearly baby-themed (duckies and bunnies). Joshua didn't seem to mind, but it bothered me.

I dug through my bin of "juvenile novelty" fabric and found two pieces that were both fun to look at and large enough to become fitted sheets. (The construction vehicles here and a piece of aqua scientist fabric.) Then I started looking online for directions. It shouldn't be too hard, right?

But different directions had different starting dimensions. And one had elastic only at the four corners and two others had it going all the way around the entire sheet. A friend texted me images of directions from a pattern she had. Louie asked why I didn't just go and buy a pattern. It's just a fitted sheet!

So I was finally brave enough today to measure, cut, and stitch. I decided to put elastic along the two short ends. It fits! I don't have time before the boys are dropped off to sew the second one, but the toddler bed has a little kid's sheet on it now!

 

Also, how cool is it that I have a bed frame that my dad made for his first grandchild and now my first grandchild sleeps on that bed when he stays overnight? I'm so happy!

2024 Studio Post #9 - Habits

No photos this week and not much to report. I've been stitching on my bright "God Heals" wall hanging (Studio post #7). I have a set of DVDs from the library (Monk, season 2) and it works well to stitch while I watch. I may or may not enter the wall hanging into the 2024 MQ show (nonjudged). I'm eager to have it on my wall with the names of the people I'm praying healing for!

 

I've also been planning to sew two cute crib sheets for the little toddler bed I have set up in the guest room. The crib mattress I got for it came with baby themed sheets . . . but my five year old grandson sleeps on it when he comes over. He doesn't seem to mind the sheets, but I'd love to have something more age-appropriate for him.

 

I have some construction vehicle fabric and some "junior scientist" fabric. I just looked up directions on how to make a fitted crib sheet. When I get them made, I'll post a pic. I'm excited to tackle this, but I have other things that are more pressing right now. (The "habits" in the title refers to the habit of posting weekly. It's a motivational tool for me in its own odd way.)

Nostalgia and Letting Go

Nostalgia is interesting. Sometimes it just grips you and logic has no place. Many years ago, my mom had a box of stuff she was going to donate. She was a Depression-era farm kid who saved almost everything.

It was just chance that the timing worked that I saw this jar in a box when I stopped by her house and asked if I could please have it. Of course, she gave it to me; she didn't care about it. 

Honestly, I'm not sure why seeing it triggered such a visceral reaction in me. We almost never got to take anything out of this jar in my childhood. I think she mostly used it when she and my dad had bridge parties. She typically put spearmint leaves in it (like these). By the way, I love eating these but haven't had them in ages!

I'm glad I have it. I use it as a cookie jar. I really, really love this little jar and I'm not entirely sure why. The bell next to it in the picture above is another beloved item from my childhood. I thought I had written about it elsewhere, but I can't find a blog entry for it. (To add later???)

One thing I didn't rescue from my mom's mini-purge of her house back in the 90s was a grocery sack full of MAD magazine and comic books! She tossed them in the recycling. I was so upset when I found out. She saw no value in them and I explained that I could have sold some of them or at least enjoyed re-reading them. Ah, well. Stuff is just stuff.

Yet . . . why do some things tug at our hearts more than others? I've saved this jigsaw puzzle since the 1970s. I like jigsaw puzzles. I like words. I like fun fonts. But I don't especially like this puzzle. It's kind of "Meh." So I brought it to the lake, put it together, took this photo, and now it's in the pile to go to the library for their jigsaw puzzle exchange. 

 

I think there was something else I thought about in reference to nostalgia, but it's gone now. I have so many things I think about and I can't follow through on all of them! Time to focus on what's important . . .

2024 Studio Post #8 - Quilt Top Done

I had this mostly done at the January in-town retreat (post #3) but wanted to finish the bottom portion. I'm not entirely happy with how it turned out and may cut off the bottom corners to have it lay better on the bed. It didn't fit well on the floor in front of my bookcases in the living room! (This is a side view with the head of the bed to the left and the bottom of the bed to the right.) 

Next I'll work on the backing, which I'm piecing together with random fabric leftovers. The batting I have is too small, so I'll need to decide if I piece it together with other batting or buy a piece that's big enough.

After I have the batting and backing ready to go, I'll schedule time with my friend Rose so I can long-arm it at her house. Then I can make the binding and put it on! 

 

The color scheme and design are a bit odd, but I'm having fun with it. Louie's only comment was, "that's colorful." I'll be happy to have it on our bed when I'm done!