Special Days and Angels Among Us

Today is a special day for me.  It is my birthday.  I am not fishing for birthday wishes. Indeed I have been inundated with them even before breakfast.   It is not special that I was born on this day.  What is special is that I have lived another year and seen kindness and love in the hearts of good people.

I would like to share with you one of my projects about which I am passionate.  Many of you have read about it before. Some of you have participated; and for that I love you.

This project I am speaking of is the Quilt Angels.  The Angels are dear kind and loving people who are willing to donate a quilt to show love and hope to teens who often feel unloved.  They have "learned" that the world can be a hard and unforgiving place. Some of them have never felt safe even in their own homes.  Some of them have been removed from dangerous homes or situations and now feel a fear of the world.  Can a child of fourteen thrive and succeed with that view of the world? Can anyone?

That is where Angels come in.  Each year I ask for my readers and their friends to become Angels.  By sending a quilt, which will be given to a teen in the shelter, you become one of our Angels.  The quilts should be at least 45 by 60.   A bed-sized quilt is even better as they can sleep under it each night for years and be reminded that there is love in the world.
There is a tab at the top of my blog labeled 'Quilt Angels'.  On that page there are links to past posts with more information about the project.
I will be finishing my "Wonky Nine Patch" quilt to go for this project. The photo below shows only one section in the planning stages.

I may also make an additional quilt if time permits.

So, if I can persuade you to be a Quilt Angel, my birthday will indeed be a happy one. I am declaring December 15th the "get it to us by"  date for 2014.  We like to deliver on the week prior to the week of Christmas if possible. However, a late quilt will be taken to the shelter and given to  a teen who comes into the program after the Christmas distribution.

Have a Beautiful Day,
Gene


My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.

Quilting Mojo and more

At some point, my wonky nine patch quilt got pushed to the back burner.  My goodness, I think April was the last time I posted about this quilt!
Recap:  I am doing this quilt in three sections.  It is wonky nine patch blocks with sashing.  I am using a poly batting (that is harder to quilt!)
Here is a picture from "way back" showing some of the blocks.

I had finished quilting one third of this quilt and had started on the second third when I lost my mojo for it. The poly batting is to blame I think.  I still feel like I am wrestling alligators to quilt it.
But today, I finished quilting the second section.

While the quilting isn't quite "up to par" - it is quilted.  Once I quilt the last section I will join the sections with strips as I learned in Marguerita McManus'  books:

Finish (almost) Any Quilt

and

Crazy Shortcut Quilts: Quilt as You Go and Finish in Half the Time! 

However,  that method uses pins and I don't like getting stuck. I mean, let's face it, I am clumsy.  So I am going to use LapelStick to hold the strips in place as I join the sections. 

Now I will let you in on a little secret.  Keep an eye on my blog.  I will be offering a special deal to my readers. We are talking major bargain!  I can't spill the beans just yet, but I think you will find it to be a great deal on a product that will save you some work and make life easier. (hint: look in the previous paragraph.)   As soon as I am told "Go with it" and have the coupon code to share with you, I will do a special post AND put it on my sidebar for your convenience. 

I have done a little bit of weaving to get ready for the ((((yikes!!!) holidays. They seem to be approaching too quickly.  But I do plan to be ready.  So I have woven these two scarves. 

Soft and snuggly colorwash scarf

Gimme Sparkle scarf

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.

Sewing Chemo Caps

You may remember that I made Chemo Caps for my Aunt a while back.  Recently I discovered that a lady I know and think highly of has started Chemo also.  I sent her a message to find out the colors that she likes.  I am not sure I nailed it with my fabric choices, but I tried to make these pretty and happy looking.

Each of these are reversible so while there are four pictures, there are only two caps.  I also have a no-sew woven cap that I will be giving her.

As you can see the aqua blue one is lined with a butterfly designed fabric. 

Or is the butterfly cap lined with blue? 

The red an purple one is lined with a multi colored granite textured design fabric 

And here is the multi-colored one, I forgot to tie the ties on it when I was taking photos. 

The pattern I used is at THIS LINK  It is a PDF pattern.  Be sure that your print settings are set to actual size and NOT fit to page. 

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.

Late Post - Half Price SALE

This is a great time to learn a new skill and perhaps make some presents  for the upcoming holidays.

Craftsy's BIG Fall Course Sale! (sponsored post) Have you heard Craftsy's BIG Fall Course Sale is happening now? Learn from the world's best instructors in the comfort of your home, when you shop up to 50% off ALL online classes! Once you enroll you can watch your classes anytime, anywhere, forever. Hurry, offer expires September 22, 2014 at 11:59 PM MT. Shop Craftsy's BIG Fall Course Sale and save.

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.

A Sister - In Memory

 Today would have been my sister's birthday. It is hard to believe she would be a grandmother, a woman of years.  She was a great big sister. Sure we fought, but "out there in the big world" she was my protector. In our early adulthood, we would go on "adwentures" (yes we could be silly.) A road we had passed many times but never turned down, became a mystery to be explored. 
Here are several pictures of her. The little girl in the picture is her daughter.  That darling little girl now has babe of her own, my sister's grand children.  Today, as always, I miss my sister and her zest for life and "adwenture."

I hope I don't bore you,  but here is an essay I wrote about her.  It comes from the heart and so on a day to honor her life, I share it with you.

A Final Goodbye

I stood in the cemetery looking down at the headstone. The marker stated a name and two dates. The first date is not within my memory. The second date burns and pulls at the corners of my mind. This date, May twenty-ninth, 1983, is a day that I cannot forget. You see, this plot of ground is my sister's resting place, and today I visited here , alone, for the first time. As I visited this grave site, I came to feel sadness, to accept loss, and to appreciate the release of emotions.

 The cemetery was empty when I arrived. There was a solitary car standing guard near the office building. The wind was blowing slightly, as the storm sirens began to sound. My mind transformed the sirens into a funeral dirge that would not stop. I longed to sing that same sad tune if only to give voice to my sadness.

 My sadness was the result of a great loss. When my sister died I experienced the loss of three people. The first loss was obviously the loss of a beloved sister. Yet she was far more than the word sister can describe. In our younger years she had been my defender, and now I felt undeniably defenseless. Most of all, I had lost a friend. While I stood there, a sense of acceptance washed over me. Finally, I could accept the loss and still keep the warm sweet memories of her impish smile and loving manner.
Emotion had overwhelmed me, causing tears to run down my face. Feelings of grief, sorrow and loss were jumbled up carelessly among the feelings of love and devotion. Having been able to release these emotions, I resolved to never put my feelings in chains again. Now I will cherish the release of emotions.

 Still standing by the headstone, I looked down, one last time, before leaving. I saw the roses carved into the brass plate that stated only a name and two dates. I knew that she would not wish for me to be sad or lonely, but I knew also that she would embrace the release of emotions.

Goodbye my sweet sister.

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.

Wordless Wednesday

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My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.

Charming Batiks - Getting there

You may remember that I started a quilt top using batiks and charm squares.

I am slowly working on this top and just enjoying the process.  Friday evening I laid out the squares to see how far along I have gotten.

I have 49 of the 6 1/2" squares.  I want to add a few more inset circles. Since I am out of freezer paper at the moment that will have to wait.  The technique I am using for the circles uses freezer paper.  I have non-crafty/sewing plans for today so I don't have to rush out and buy the freezer paper.
I hope you have a great weekend. The promised cooler weather is here and I am enjoying the open windows. Yesterday we were in the 90's again. I am happy for the relief.



My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.

Weaving -Orange is the new Wow

I have been weaving on a wonderful Saori premade warp. I call it orange but it has been listed as both persimmon and sienna.   I will call it orange.  The warp (the threads of the fabric that run parallel with the selvedge) was a challenge to me as I didn't love orange so much. Or at least that was what I thought.  The warp was six meters long (about 19.65 feet or more than six yards.)

Now I have this lovely fabric which I had to just drape around me.

I love it and want it to become a knockout piece of clothing for me to wear.   I hope to show it to you in weeks to come. I may be chicken to cut into it because I love it so much.

Linking this up for Link A Finish Friday.


My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.

Take a Class and Improve your Skills

While this is a sponsored post,  I have taken many classes on Craftsy and highly recommend them.

************

Up to 50% Off On Sewing, Quilting & Knitting Classes (sponsored post) Best-selling Craftsy classes are on sale for one week only! Save up to 50% off on Sewing, Quilting & Knitting classes taught by some of the world's best instructors. Once you purchase a class, it's yours to enjoy forever. Every class comes with a money-back satisfaction guarantee! *********************** I have had wonderful experiences taking classes on Craftsy.  However, one class just didn't "cut it" for me.  So I tested the money back guarantee.  They offered me a choice and what I got was better than my money back. However, I could have simply gotten my money refunded. The way they handled it showed that they truly want customers to have a good experience. Now, I must get back to *my* projects.

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.

I Made it Happy

Remember how the t-shirt I sewed the woven fabric on didn't work for me.  It didn't fit my niece either (it was HUGE on her.)  So I ripped away the tshirt and saved my woven fabric.

I used another black t-shirt and played around with ideas.  Somehow, I took Vicki's idea but twisted it a bit.

Rather than taking a panel down one side, i went from the right shoulder on an angle. Then I cut another strip and went from the left sleeve to meet the first strip.
It makes me happy!

I wore this to our church picnic Sunday. One of our members was taking pictures, so a friend and I did a silly pose.

Sharing a hotdog!

The picnic was held at a pavilion on the lake which is right across the street from our church.  It was a beautiful day, although very hot and humid. I burn easily so I stayed out of the sun as much as possible.
I hope you had a wonderful weekend and have a very happy week.

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.

Sewing Success

After the T-shirt sewing not making me happy, I decided to do some sure-fire "happy making" sewing.
You may remember that I started a quilt using batiks and charm squares.  I was going to make my version of a Yellow Brick Road.  But then I found the six minute circle and added some inset circle squares.
So I decided to just mix it up and have fun with it. No plans except block size and fabrics.

So here are the blocks I made to do some happy sewing:

And here are some of the previously made blocks

I have a few more "starting squares" cut

and a bit more fabric under the arm of the machine. I was expecting a possible guest so I neatened up the area.

The charm squares are hiding inside that roll of fabrics.  I do love my batiks.

Now I think I will attack that t-shirt and remove my woven fabric and see what I can do with it.


My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.

A bit of sewing

I did a bit of sewing but I am not happy with the product - at least not for myself.  It seems that I am not good at making clothing for myself.  But I plan to get better.
 I decided to take a t-shirt and cut off the bottom, replacing it with some of my woven fabric.


 
While I like it on the hanger, when I put it on, it appears that I have just wrapped the fabric around me like an apron.  It accentuates my tubby belly.   So I am planning to see how it fits my niece. If it looks good on her, then she will get it as an unbirthday present.
If not, I may take it back to the drawing board and see what else I can do with it.

I hope your sewing or other creative endeavors are working as you hoped.  As for me,  I will be getting back to it soon.  I always see a "failure" as a lesson in "how not to do it."  Each one brings me closer to success.  So remember that and smile when your things don't go as planned. Consider it a learning experience and move forward.
Peace my friends.

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.

Sewing Circles and Winners

After posting about my use of LapelStick to sew circles, one of the comments led me to find a new-to-me method.  So I tried it.  Then I had the idea to check The Quilt Show for past videos.  If you are a member there, show 704  has the innovative woman who shared this showing even more.  She had moved on from perfect circles to organic circles.  One of mine in the photo below is an organic circle.

And now for the LapelStick winners:  

Random.org picked #1 (yes really!) Sophie who shared this technique with me. 

and #9 Barbara 

Ladies,  you will be hearing from me. But if you read this first please send me a mailing address.  

Thanks. 

I also did more weaving as I am working on making enough of this fabric: 

to complete a jacket for myself for cooler weather. 

I hope you are having a great week. 

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.

Happy Labor Day (USA)

Hi Folks,   I have been enjoying the long holiday weekend with a friend who works.  We have done a lot of "goofing off" - and I am teaching him to weave a little. In the process, I put  a warp on the big rigid heddle loom for me to use as a demo.  I set up the smaller Cricket loom for him to use.
I got lost in the weaving and made this long piece of fabric. It is 90 inches long and eleven inches wide.

I am thinking I will make more and sew it up as a jacket or coat for fall/winter.  I put it around my neck (just goofing off)  and really liked what I saw.  That gave me the idea.  It looked something like this:

Ha ha....no one will miss me wearing a coat that looks like this.   Now I have to weave more fabric.

Hey, don't forget to enter my LapelStick giveaway. I may throw in an extra surprise for the winners.
Have a great day.

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.