Friday, February 22, 2013

SAL Times Three!

I have the blocks for row 3 of the Temecula SAL all made.
Row 4 blocks are cut and on design boards awaiting stitching. By the time you read this I'm guessing they will have posted row 5.
I've sewn up a handful of little 9-patch blocks for the SAL Cheri will be posting next week. She says there will be three little quilts, using a total of 52 9-patches. I only plan on doing the two smaller quilts, so I didn't do that many. I do have my limits (yeah, right).
My Simply Charming Every Other Month Mini Sew-Along quilt is finally quilted. 
It just needs the binding stitched down by hand and I have bartered with a neighbor to do that for me on a couple of little quilts. I'll be dropping it off to her tomorrow and picking up another one she just finished.
Lately I have been repurposing wool clothing from thrift stores, getting ready to do more wool applique. Thanks to advice from my friend, Gayle (whom I have yet to meet, though we are less than 1 1/2 hours away from each other), I have had wonderful success felting and then dyeing some of the wool with Kool Aid. Wednesday I had three large stock pots on the stove, each with a different color of Kool Aid, and I felt like a mad scientist, or a wicked witch stirring my cauldrons. : )
This shows you some of my results. On the right are the original wool colors and left of them you see the results after a Kool Aid bath. Sometimes I am just trying to muddy a "too bright" color and others I am trying to change completely.
I brought home another bag of thrift store wool today and a fresh supply of Kool Aid. Can't wait to try some new color combinations. I also need to get prepping the wool for the first little project I want to try. I've done two snowmen blocks from my class with Lisa Bongean. Now I want to make the little pattern we were gifted at the dinner/trunk show, but I needed some navy blue wool. Took care of that today, so other than a million other projects in line ahead of it, and no time to get to it, I have no excuse for not getting started.


I want to show you something in my sewing room. This Bernina is about 60 years old. It was my Mother's machine and the one on which I learned to sew. Mom made most of my clothes on it when I was little and I made most of my clothing on it when I was in high school. About 10 years ago Mom got a new machine and wondered if anyone wanted this one. I jumped at the chance. It runs just fine, but I haven't had a place to put it in its cabinet until recent changes in my sewing room, which I will save for another post. See the pretty spool pin doily on it? That was a sweet little Valentine surprise from my friend Mary (who lives two states away, but I have met her).



And just in case you think it is "Springtime In The Rockies," this is the view from my house this week, with three more storms in the 7 day forecast.
Stitch on,
Janet O.

34 comments:

  1. I'm a die-hard Bernina gal and I know what I'm about to say will show my ignorance, but I didn't know Berninas went that way back. What a gorgeous machine! And the fact that it was your Mom's makes it extra special.

    I like your version of the Temecula quilt better than theirs, Janet. Now that I see yours, I just might make one after all.

    Now about the wool...GOOD FOR YOU! I'm sooooo impressed with the results of your Kool Aid dyeing! WIth respect to your search for navy blue, try using a "Black Watch" kind of plaid. It's awesome!

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  2. Wow your Rockies photo is awesome! Sounds like ideal sewing weather. I also didn't realise that Berninas had been around that long. Is that a fairy sticker on it? Love all your blocks - and also your charming quilt - the quilting on it is charming - actually more than charming, it is gorgeous!! Good on you with the wool - looks like fun adventures getting the colours you want.

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  3. You have been busy. I love the views from your house. I don't have those

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  4. good for you making so much progress! LOVE the view bring on the snow! its soooo pretty and keeps you quilting away.
    have fun!
    Kathie

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  5. Love your row quilt, BUT YOUR VIEW...YUM!!!

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  6. You amaze me! That finished quilt is beautiful. Love the colors. And the Bernina.....where was I when you mom wanted to know if anyone wanted it!?

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  7. Awesome!! I sure do miss the Rockies when you post pics like that!!! Gorgeous! As always, your quilt projects are amazing!!! Such beautiful quilting and fabrics!! You get accolades from premier quilters and I see why!!

    Blessings

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  8. Wow - beautiful view!!
    Love your blocks with great repros!
    Your felted wools look wonderful.

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  9. You have been hiding a treasure. Now I want one of those Bernina's!

    I have not dyed wool with Kool-Aid but my friend did. I have a piece in my wool stash. The Kool-Aid aroma has never gone away.

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  10. All of your projects are wonderful - as always! But, I'm really blown away by your wool! Wow! You have already amassed a nice collection and have done a great job dying them - they all look really great. I think I need a lesson in that. I see that you found a new postcard of the mountains - lol.

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  11. You do know, don't you, that I am simply green with envy over all of your gorgeous projects, the dyed wool (did some of that a loooong time ago---makes me want to pull out my 'witch's brew' pots and 'stir' again. :D That Bernina machine is to 'dye' for. I have never seen a vintage Bernina---sooooo sweet. Your view is gorgeous, any time of the year, but especially with the snow. I would get eve less done if I lived there---I would be glued to a window with camera in hand...

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  12. All your projects are so inspirational along with the view. You doubled the amount of wool you have with your kool-aid dye pots. Fun!

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  13. Busy,busy, busy. I love all your projects. I wanted to do Cheri's SAL but am a bit too busy. Stay warm and out of the snow. We are in the midst of a snow storm right now. Hugs

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  14. It puts a smile on my face to think of you dying wool with kool aid...I don't know if it's the wool or the kool aid...or both :)

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  15. I have never seen a Bernina like that! I would jump at the chance for something like that.

    Those 9 patches are so cute! That's my favorite block of all time.

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  16. I'll have to echo some of the other comments - I've never seen a vintage Bernina - what a treasure you have there! Wonderful progress on all your projects!

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  17. I love your Temecula blocks; you have some great repros. I'm working on mine, too. Also glad you pointed me over to Cheri's SAL. I'm making a few nine patches for that one, too. I guess I'm going to have to get the Simply Charming book, too. Those quilts are really cute. I always love to see the view from your window...it's just beautiful.

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  18. Oh, pretty little SAL blocks! Lots of great CW prints spied. And gorgeous wools! I have never tried dyeing but sure like the colors you picked. Have fun with the snowstorm :)

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  19. Wow, lots of eye candy with this post! Wonderful quilting on the Simply Charming quilt! And I agree with Kaaren... I like your Temecula blocks better than theirs! Your kool aid dyed wool is gorgeous, as is the photo of the mountains!

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  20. I resisted the Temecula blocks given the UFOs that I wanted to work on but I am really enjoying watching your progress...maybe someday I'll make them...

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  21. I love your mini sew-along quilt - so sweet. And that row quilt - i love your blocks! I can't wait to see it finished. And I just love your view.

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  22. how fortunate you are to have the old bernina...no doubt it's a workhorse as most machines of that age are. and don't fret, it's nowhere near spring here either...much to our dismay

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  23. Lucky you to have your Mother's old machine that you learned to sew on. My older sister has my mother's BERNINA. It isn't as Old or Pretty as your. The doily looks perfect on there. The heart quilting turned out great! If I lived closer I'd do the bindings for you too. I've never dared to DYE either. I have a friend who used Koolaid to dye wool yarn. Turned out pretty good there. Resisting the urge...

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  24. The Kool-Aid dying project is looking great. Who knew? I love the little Bernina. I've never seen one like that.

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  25. You are so busy...love the SAL, I'm having trouble keeping up with just one SAL.
    I have some Kool-Aid, someone sent me years ago, it's here some where, must try using it, who would think that would work so well, your wool looks great. Cute little Bernina!
    Keep having fun!
    Julia ♥

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  26. Such cool results from the dyeing - really amazing changes in the colours.
    And what a sweet old machine you have...she'll be so happy sitting out in your sewing room and being admired!

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  27. Hey Janet - Sorry I didn't get back to you after your last couple of emails - been crazy busy here lately and I've been on the go. All your wool colors have turned out wonderfully - you have quite a variety to work with now! Yay for you being an excellent student from afar! You can always Google Kool Aid Dyeing to get more suggestions and ideas.

    I've got my Temecula blocks done for rows 1, 2, & 4 - need to get caught up on the others. It's been fun playing with all those little pieces and deciding on color combos. I've been making 1" hexies while watching TV the last week or so and they're so much fun!

    Your machine quilting looks fabulous - sure wish I'd followed along with you when you were practicing - I can tell it's really paid off for you!

    BTW - stitching down the binding is my FAVORITE part of making quilts (hint, hint) LOL

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  28. I love the echoed hearts that you quilted on the red and white quilt. Today we have a storm that is blowing through with a fury and should arrive at your house any minute! Sorry.

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  29. Sweet Bernina - all decked out with her doily too ;-)
    Love all your blocks and quilts.
    We have a storm coming in this evening - nice time to stitch along the front range!!

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  30. BEAUTIFUL VIEW!!!!!! Love your new quilt...and colors.

    Your vintage "Bernina" ...oh my, what a treasure.

    xoox, Caroltn

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  31. your tiny 9-patches are cute. i've got a similar handful that i just happened to have already made and leftover from something else so i'm like you and waiting to see what the next step will be in Cheri's SAL. not sure, but i may have to make a few more . . . the trick is to make only what one needs thereby eliminating the possibility of having some of them unused and back into storage~!

    absolutely LOVE the results of your woolen kool aid dying experiments~!!~ they have a much mellower/antiqued look to them that should work into your projects in a beautiful way. i may have to do some research of my own on that.

    :-)
    libbyQ

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  32. Well, girlfriend, I hope the refreshments Monday are not Koolaid and a cookie!! :-)) I can't wait to see all your projects, your sewing room and your "new" Bernina!! The mountains are spectacular!!

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  33. Lots of lovely things to look at (and drool over) here; including the view from your window. Wishing you success with every little thing, the heart-quilted red/cream quilt is just as sweet as you are! And, oh~ those wools... divine!

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  34. I got a sweet little purple Valentine from Mary, too!! It would look fun on my Bernina ... but it's a bit newer (and actually needs servicing at the moment). We're supposed to get snow flurries tomorrow/Friday -- I hope we do. We really haven't had much in the way of winter. Your Temecula blocks look fabulous! Did you used the kit? Can't wait to see the results from your dyed wool!! Hope you're enjoying a GREAT week! :)

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