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December: A Purse A Day
What works for me is to devote the studio to purses for a month at a time. Each purse has 11 pieces, most of which are interfaced. So to do the same step several times makes the best use of my time....
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Starting 2021 with a Big List of Unfinished Projects
In no particular orderThis has been long armed a d just needs binding.This 60” x 80” Chevron just needs quilting and binding.
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Happily Plugging Away
I love jelly rolls. They are a reasonable way to place with a fabric collection, like this one - “quotation” by Zen Chic. These colors are not one I gravitate towards, but I really like how this...
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Hand-Quilting Tools: What Works For Me
This quilt has been my nightly companion since December 11. I think in another two weeks it will be finished. I am loving the texture. I am loving the sound of the thread being pulled through the...
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Some Political Peace
I know our nation is not yet out of the woods. The contrast of the capitol attack on January 6 with the normalcy of the January 20 Inauguration of Biden and Harris is stark. The majesty of all the...
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Quilting. Literally...
While I’m working on current projects, I’m always scheming future ones. These fabrics are a Japanese linen - I’m not sure how they will quilt and wash. Their feel is so much different from the meaty...
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Pursing
I thought February might be a purse a day month, but it’s not - the end of the month will be QuiltCon 2021 - virtually. But still - QUILTCON! I have signed up for two classes and a ton of lectures....
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2021 Sew Powerful Purses
Here are my first seven purses for Sew Powerful's 2021 goal. A guild mate gave me a terrific but odd piece of Marimekko fabric, perfect for straps (each one is 4" x 55" - that's a lot of fabric) and...
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Falling In and Out and In Love again with Projects
Last spring, when I was recovering from my shattered wrist and accompanying surgeries, I started a simple project using foundation piecing and selvages. I couldn't be very precise because of limited...
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QuiltCon 2021 - Together, Virtual - and What I'm Learning
QuiltCon Together, 2021, wasn't awful and it wasn't fabulous. While the social component was missing, the content was awfully good. And it's an absolute luxury to listen to a lecture/workshop at...
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Sewing but not blogging? What's up with that?
For the past year I've been part of a small little bee within my guild. I've always heard of bees but have never been a part of one. There are only 9 of us, led by Bill Keller. Every 6 weeks one of...
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A Low-Volume Hand-Quilted Finish!
A bundle of low-volume Japanese imports are the basis for this quilt, with a couple of additional fabrics from my stash. It is backed with an Art Gallery fabric (so soft and slidey), batted with...
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An Early and Deep Grief
In 1991 I was transferred from Hyde Park High School to Kennedy High School - a welcome change since Kennedy was a much shorter commute. But it was the first time I ever had white and Latinx students...
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Catching up on this, that, and the other
My tuning fork quilt is coming along nicely with some horizontal quilting and quilting in the bigger forks. Once it's finished, I plan to face this rather than bind it. It will be my first time for...
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An odd week with very little studio sewing
John was in the hospital for 4 days with internal bleeding, Our trusty GI's were on the case, gave him blood, cleaned him out, and all is well. Amazing place - LaGrange Hospital! and of course this...
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Piano Tuner's Daughter: The Most Satisfying Project Ever
Piano Tuner's Daughter - 58" x 71"Part 1: When I was little, my parents lived at 64th and Stewart. My dad tuned factory pianos for the Kimball Piano Factory at 26th and California. But when they...
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Procrastination Sewing: A Kimono
After 35 years in our house and 15 years in my fabulous studio, we are getting ready to move. The market for selling is hot. And the market for buying is even hotter. As soon as we can identify a...
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A Most Special Baby Quilt
I know, I know. All babies are special. But this baby really is. Cristina learned to quilt with me when she was in 7th grade. She is now 30 and having her first baby. Significant facts:1. In...
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Announcing a Really Big Adventure for the Studio - And for us...!
After 35 years in this stucco bungalow in LaGrange and 15 years in this lovely studio, we are moving. We bought a condo in OakBrook (we thought it was in Westmont) and this house is on the market as...
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Sewing to keep calm…
Moving is stressful. Leaving a house after 35 years is stressful. The actual moving process is stressful. Lining up proper documentation is stressful. None of this is distress - it’s all eustress....
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