Wholecloth.... lessons learned #1

I finally got to load my wholecloth.  Less than 25% done and I've got a running list of lessons learned.  Here we go:
1)  Match the thread to the fabric.
2) Match the thread to the fabric.

3)  Use So Fine (#60 weight) or thinner

4)  DO NOT use a pencil to mark your fabric.

5)  The main plumes need to be larger than any fill you are planning on using.

6)  Make sure you have replaced your cone of thread on the the thread holder (after winding the bobbin) before you take off at full speed. 

7) Match the thread to the fabric.

8)  Save the "thread burying or tying off" for long-winded phone calls to save you time.  I'm all about saving time.  I NEVER seem to have enough for my quilting projects.

Stay posted for lessons learned #2. 

Psychadelic Baby #2

Close up of the stitching:

This is what the back looks like:

This fun quilt belongs to Angi.  She decided to go wild with hers, and used as many green, purple and orange scraps as she could find.  It's so cute!  I freehand stitched this one and had a lot of fun with it. 

My New Sewing Machine!!

I am thrilled.  I just "won" this on ebay.  Dean just laughed when I told him that - I "won" it.  haha  That's what they tell you when you've bid more than anyone else for that item.  I hope I'm truly a winner, and not a fool.  I've been thinking about getting a featherweight for quite some time.  I keep an $80 machine at our condo in AZ and it makes so much noise it drives everyone crazy.  When I got out my old Singer 99 (circa 1925) and started sewing with it again, it was bliss.  It's quiet, every stitch is perfect, and I love it.  So....  I thought, hmmm, I need a littler one to take to AZ and to our Loose Threads meetings and, ya know, just to look at.  They're so cute!  Th
Is machine is a Singer Featherweight 221' made in 1935. It weighs 11 pounds. I should get it in 4-5 days.  Keep your fingers crossed that I got a good one. 

Not your typical Holiday Inn..... this is in Nyborg Strand Denmark

I thought these chairs in the entry were interesting.

The stairway was colorful.

 At first glance you see this picture and you think, okay, nice, but nothing spectacular.

Well, look again....

Yes, they are postage stamps, many, many postage stamps. 

Spirals on a Psychadelic Baby

Far out, man, this is so mod, isn't it?  Joanie allowed me to do spirals on her quilt and I think it was the perfect choice.  Love it! 

Christina's Quilt

I LOVE this quilt!  It's called a ten-minute block.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbTHlGGKMPM  My daughter Christina made this and I think this is only her third quilt.  She used charm packs rather than layer cakes.  This beautiful quilt went to her mother-in-law for her birthday.  Lucky woman!  I want to make one now...  ahhhh...  another one to add to the wanna-do list.  I did have to quilt each block individually because the center diamonds are similar to the cathedral window technique. 

 This is the back:

Psychedelic Baby Times Three

My quilting group, aptly named Loose Threads, is making strip quilts this year.  We call it a Strip Club!  haha  This pattern is called Pschedelic Baby by Cozy Quilts.  Angi made the orange and green one, I made the middle one with orange and the busy brown print, and Joanie made the black and batik one.  I'll post pics of the finished product soon.

Eye Candy

Aren't they gorgeous?  I love thread.  These gems just arrived yesterday.  They're Coats Sylko.  I accidentally ordered a cone a few weeks ago.  I tried it out and loved it - used it in both top and bobbin and no issues - not one break. 

Happy Mother's Day Mom and Grandma

Wow, I cannot imagine my life without sewing and quilting.  I think I've always loved to sew, and I have my mom to thank for this! 

 My mom taught me how to sew and I used to make my own clothes as far back as sixth grade.  My mom, Sylvia, used to make most of my clothes and then I remember walking to a store (can't remember if it was called Ben Franklin or Coronet) to buy fabric and patterns for my camisoles or other hippy-ish tops. 

I learned to sew on this sewing machine, which used to be my Grandma Maciejewski's machine, and then it was given to my mom.  I never got to meet this grandma, she died in 1948 long before I was born.

This gem of a machine was manufactured in Elizabeth NJ in 1925.  It's a Singer Model 99 - apparently a 3/4 size version of the Model 66.  I just took this machine out from below my longarm -- I needed to use it because my daughter has just taken up quilting and needed to use my machine.  I haven't used it in several years and it ran fabulously!!! 

Well, Mom, thanks for teaching me how to sew!  Love you!

The Doors of Aeroskobing.... Aeros Island, Denmark - August 2010

My life is so busy that I frequently forget some really monumental events in my life!  Thank goodness that we have digital photos to helps us remember.  I'm posting these photos to share and relive some of our incredible adventures that we've been fortunate enough to take the last couple years. 


We arrived at this little village on this little island via ferry.  It was pure chance that we found this place.  It's not a normal tourist place for the American, but I found it hidden away in a Denmark travel guide.  It is known for cycling, and is popular among Germans and Danes for a vacation retreat.  The ferry ride was fairly short, just one hour.  The ferry departs the mainland twice a day so we had to plan things just right.  Thank goodness I took a lot of pictures because I cannot remember much more statistical information about Aeros.  We had a great time cycling there.  The village is known for it's brightly painted homes.  I love taking pictures of doors.  Here are a few.