I'm EQ Happy!

I've been stretching my brain lately with some learning on my Electric Quilt (EQ) program.

EQ is a program that allows the user to design blocks, quilts, etc., on the screen.  I have dabbled in this for some time, going through versions 5, 6, and now 7.  Each new version builds on the previous one, and can usually be purchased as either an upgrade or a new program if you want to start.  Actually, I started with a program from another company, but it soon became obvious to me that I needed to jump on the EQ wagon for the best options for my needs.

Up until recently, EQ was only windows-based.  Which was fine as long as we had the desktop computer, and I even at one point loaded the program onto Bob's window laptop, so it had more portability.  But I've been loving my MacBook laptop for quite a few years, and I take it wherever I go, and was always a little sad that I couldn't conveniently take my EQ with me in case inspiration struck.  Yes, there were a couple programs out there that let you run windows things on a Mac, but reading some of the reviews from people using that for EQ made me hesitant to even go there.

But, lo and behold, those EQ people finally got the Mac conversion up and running!  So I had been planning to purchase the EQ7 upgrade for Mac.  I read good reviews of it, but held off on purchasing because I wasn't in need of it at the time.  Plus, I did read some reports that people had a hard time getting the download to work and working with the files.  Those are very basic things, and I didn't want to run into those problems and have to feel ridiculous asking for someone's help to make it happen!  EQ does have really good support on their website, plus I always have my tech guy, Dan, on speed dial.  And he is always very patient and helpful with my computer questions.

Here's an example of pulling together some ideas for a design for Quilt MN 2016.

Then last fall, at Houston Quilt Market, I discovered a woman who offers EQ coaching.  This sounded like something with my name on it!  I had gotten proficient at using EQ6 for my everyday designs, which helped me out with some of my pattern designing and writing.  But I knew there was a lot more potential in the program that I just didn't know how to use and hadn't taken the time to learn.  So I signed up with Kari from the On Point Quilter to get her help.  We have now had 3 online class sessions together.  Learning how to use screen sharing capabilities was another little learning opportunity, but with her instruction I have succeeded.  Here's an example of something we did in our last little class--

I learned how to take an image from a fabric sample (on the left), move it into a quilt block and try to "fussy cut" or position it to make a kaleidoscopic effect.  Those little giraffe heads aren't all positioned perfectly, but it's a good start!  With a little more time and patience I could manipulate them properly.

Now all of this might not seem like anything remarkable when compared to the amazing images and graphics that are possible with today's technology.  But for me, it means a lot.  It means I learned how to purchase and download the EQ upgrade, learned how to screen share for my lessons, even learned how to do screen shots and put them into this blog!  What's next?!  And what are you doing to stretch your brain today?!

a little clean-up

I know this is late for Valentine's Day, but this is too good to be true!  We (Bob and I) have been working on some cleaning up, sorting out and re-organizing.  During the excavating, we have found many gems.  This is a good one--

Such a sweet reminder of our fun days with both Brita and Dan when they were young.

And a reminder of my own childhood--

These little cookbooks were mine, and I remember them well!  Even though I thought these little books were very special, everything I really learned about cooking was from my mom.  She could write a wonderful cookbook of her own!

This doesn't look like much, but it's a wonderful sight to me!  This is a little cubbyhole closet underneath the basement steps.  When this space was created, I fully intended that it would be outfitted with some sort of shelves.  That was about 20 years ago!  It was just never at the top of the "to-do list".  Random things were thrown in there, but I sort of knew what was in there.  Mostly it was a lot of boxes of old tax records, now largely shredded and disposed of, thanks to Bob's quality time spent with the shredder!  Remember, you really only need to keep 7 years of records!  So we installed a few little shelves and I even narrowed down my collection of boxes.  It's not a horde, it's a collection!  

In some spare time, I have learned a new variation of a design for my quilting, and practiced it on a little boy quilt.  This isn't a real good depiction of it, but with a little more practice it will be fun to use in the future.  

 I have seen this done before, but had never taken the time to really see how to best do it.  I found some great videos by Angela Walters, a name known to many in the quilting world.

  You can watch this video by clicking here.

And maybe take a minute or 2 to enjoy some of her other videos, too.  It's great to have that kind of learning opportunity.

I'm a good starter!

My biggest downfall with my sewing and quilting and crafting is that I'm always very good at starting things, but not so good at finishing!  

I've been trying to stick with this project so it doesn't linger unfinished forever and ever.  I started it last summer, following Sue Daley's sew-along and this is as far as I've gone.  Her finished piece is much larger, lots more ambitious than I'm feeling, so I might just end mine without all of the graduated rows surrounding the center star.  This is all handwork, and not quick to do, so it takes me a bit of time to accomplish much.  Some evenings I watch a show or 2 on TV, and stitch these little guys together.  And I do like being able to do this handwork.

There's another new English paper piecing project calling my name, and it is called--

This is a bed quilt size, full of interesting pieces.  It comes from the blocks in this book--

It's a monthly sew-along organized by Paper Pieces, so they send out monthly installments of the papers needed for a required number of blocks.  Some of the blocks are real easy, they are made from just one piece of fabric, so I'm already doing some of those!

Each of the straight edges of these hexagons is 3", to give you an idea of the scale.  The picture at the top of the page uses 1" hexies.  Many of the other blocks are made of several pieces fit together to make a 3" hexie, and they have names!

I'm not going to be up-to-date on the monthly assignments for this project, but I'm happy with collecting and gathering here and there, until I get that other project at the top of the page done!  I'm forcing myself to not give up on the unfinished project, but I am still putzing around with picking fabrics and even cutting some pieces for the new one.  Here are some little bags I made up for 6 of the new blocks--

As you can see, my talent lies with starting!

something's missing

I've had the feeling that something has been missing in my life, hard to put my finger on it because there's more than 1 thing missing!

Mostly, when I think of things I miss, my kids and grandkids are #1 on that list.  When Brita and Dan were kids, one of my main goals with parenting was to make sure that my kids would grow up to be fully functional adults who could take care of themselves.  That meant when Dan had a job that required ironed pants and shirts, he had to learn how to iron for himself.  And now he is really good at ironing, even though his work attire now is probably the antithesis of ironing!  So, with that frame of mind on childrearing, it shouldn't come as a surprise when they grow up and away, right?!  Doesn't mean I don't love knowing that they have happy lives far from their original home, but also doesn't mean I don't miss them sooo much!!  But that's not what this "something's missing" feeling was about.

Maybe that "something missing" has to do with the lost and founds happening to me lately?  I really strive to keep my home and belongings organized, mainly so I don't run into that problem of things going lost.  Just within the last few weeks, I've "lost" some important things:  my #37 foot for my Bernina 730, my Socks with 2 Circs knitting book and my mechanical needle threader.  I'm happy to say that the first 2 things turned up in unexpected places, and I'm still working on the 3rd one.  I know it's here somewhere!

Finally, it dawned on me that what was missing was this!  Yes, writing and sharing pictures on my Frayed Edge blog!

I have casually drifted away from regular writing, and I think that's been bothering me.  Partly, the drifting happens because of the time that it takes for me to organize my pictures and words.  I really labor over it, probably more than it needs.  I want to avoid saying the wrong thing, so sometimes just saying nothing is my preference.  Also, it bugs me when spelling and grammar are left by the wayside, so I always need to check and double check.

A lot of times an idea pops into my head that something I see or do would be fun to put on the blog, but then a moment passes and I'm on to something else.  So that's something I am going to work on.  Most of what I have intended this blog to represent is the sewing, quilting, knitting, etc., that I like to share.  Along with that comes the scenes from my everyday life, involving family, vacations, cooking, books, etc.  So all of that gets lumped together, hopefully someone reading this will find it interesting in some way or another.

We have had some beautiful sunrises lately, and the days are definitely getting longer!

Not very long ago, I wrote that we were doing some updating on the room that used to be Brita's bedroom.  I now call it my "overflow sewing room", since I use it for storing everything that won't fit in my actual sewing room.  This is also the room that has the crib for visits from the grandsons. The first picture shows the work on the floor happening, by this time the rest of the wallpaper gunk had been removed and new paint applied.  The flooring is easy to do in those long uninterrupted areas, but putzy to do around nooks and crannies.  The second picture shows things going back into the closet, hopefully in a much neater and orderly way than before!

That sorting and organizing job has yielded some interesting finds of things that I had forgotten about.  For example, these 2 Pendleton wool shirts--

 Both of which did not fit me, but were in perfect condition.  So, I wondered who might really appreciate them.  I decided they needed to go to Montana, since the style and fabric would be appreciated there, and they should be arriving on Dan's doorstep soon.  He says he knows people there that would be glad to have them, so it's a win-win!

I just had 2 recent finishes on these things:

Last fall I started working on a new concept for a custom tote bag for a friend.  I used pieces of other tote bags that I have collected with this in mind.  It has taken awhile to work out the plan, but now I am very happy I took the time to make it into something she will be proud to use.  I used the design for my own pattern, Aisle Style, which is loosely based on the measurements of a paper grocery sack.  I quilted the outer bag to Soft & Stable, also called headliner because it's used in the ceilings of vehicles.  It gives enough body to stand up on its own.  I had these nice leather handles that attach with a metal clip that is pounded together to grip the edge of the fabric.  I might have to keep collecting and make one for myself!

And someone has a birthday coming up, the big #2 celebration calls for a personalized quilty blankie for this little guy!  As so often happens with the second child, Jack gets a lot of things handed down from big brother.  So it's time to make sure he has some things with his own name loud and clear!  And I put Cuddle fabric (plushy) on the back, so it's even better for snuggles!

That's enough, probably more than enough, for now!  

I need to get ready for the Super Bowl, after all!

plenty o' projects

I just had a fabulous week with 2 special friends, having a sewing fiesta for a whole week!

I secured a condo at a resort, we moved in our "equipment" and spent all those days just doing whatever we wanted.  It was pretty cold, but we had few reasons to leave the fireside.  Except for a trip out for lunch, quilt shop visiting and restocking a couple groceries.  

Here are some of the things I worked on:

These turned into little pumpkins and were pretty fun to put together.  The curves are cut with the ruler shown below, and then the uneven ends of the curved seams are trimmed to make the correct size of block.  The directions are very good.

Mini Pumpkins by Sew Kind of Wonderful
uses the Mini Quick Curve Ruler
Available at Bear Patch Quilting Co.

I like this ruler so much that I am using it to teach a class at Bear Patch for a little tablerunner, shown in the previous post.

Here's a project that has been waiting about 2 1/2 year for my attention.  It is a set of signature blocks, about 20 of them, for my 60th birthday present from the Ham Lake Piecemakers.

I used my Electric Quilt program to design a small quilt.  This is just the beginning section, the rest is still waiting for me!

Below is another fun quilt with a fun ruler--

The X Blocks ruler.

It uses 2 1/2" strips, I picked a jelly roll of fabrics by Basic Grey for Moda.

I got all of the blocks made, and laid out as I wanted them.  Then I packed them up again for my next chance for sewing.

blocks for Timbuktu

 This is one of 3 little Sweet Pea Pods by Lazy Girl.  I learned to take apart a zipper for this, remove the slider, then put the slider back on.  That's how I got a turquoise zipper pull on that black zipper.

And a little bit of knitting happened, too!  This is the beginning of a scarf called Reyna, pattern available on Ravelry.  I'm using a new yarn (for me) that is a really nice fine merino wool from an Australian company called Cleckheaton.  I saw an advertisement for it at JoAnne's, and I went to check it out.  I turns out to be a pretty nice yarn, a little bit larger gauge than what the pattern called for, but OK for what I wanted.  It's definitely more expensive than the usual JoAnne's yarn selection, so remember your coupon!

And here's another little quilt that is all about dinosaurs for little boys.

This one is for Jack's upcoming 2nd birthday.

I realized that big brother Ian got all kinds of my quilts and snugglies, and I hadn't really made anything special for Jack.  I hope he likes it!

That wraps up the majority of my accomplishments on my sewing vacation.  I also bonded with my Bernina 820, which is a new machine for me.  And it worked great and I loved it!

Good Bye 1990's!

I think it's been a long time since I have stripped wallpaper, and that's a good thing!  And luckily, it's only a border strip and not entire walls.  This was so very pretty back in the early 90's in Brita's bedroom, but it has lost its charm!  The room is due for an update.  

Repaint and new flooring to start with.  Then window treatments and who knows what else.  There is still a twin bed in there along with a baby crib.  That's in addition to a boatload of sewing, knitting, crafting materials.  That all had to be moved out during the past few days.  Now small job.  I started out sort of sorting and organizing before packing stuff in boxes, but I'm on a deadline, so most of it just got lumped into boxes and will have to be sorted before it goes back in the room.  I'm leaving in a couple days for a little sewing getaway for a week, and Bob says he will work on the paint and floor while I am gone.  I could not pass up an offer like that!

 Thought I would share a couple fun Christmas pictures with you--we went to North Carolina and had an excellent time with kids and grandkids and friends there.  A very warm and friendly holiday celebration for all of us.  We gave the little boys each a sleeping bag, and they were immediately rolled out on the floor for play naptime!  I tried to get a selfie with Ian and Jack, but it's hard to maintain control of the camera when those little guys want to see what's going on!

Before Christmas, I made a fun new tablerunner for the Christmas display at Bear Patch--

Pattern by Tiger Lily Press, and all those curvy lines are pretty easy to sew.  I'm offering it as a class soon.  I also made the tablerunner shown below--

This one happened on a whim, because we got the new Mini Quick Curve Ruler (by Sew Kind of Wonderful) in the store, and I took one home to try out.  There was a little tablerunner pattern included with the ruler, and that orange and red popped off my shelves to make some quick blocks.  Really not so hard, and I have another pattern for pumpkins made with that ruler in the works.

In October (I think) I worked on this quilt at 2 retreats, and it's finally all together and on display at Bear Patch for a future class.  It is a pattern called Delight from Jaybird Quilts.

I finished the pair of Man Hands gloves I talked about in the previous post, along with a stocking cap.  They are both on their way to Whitefish, MT, to keep Dan from freezing this winter!

It's not very often that I get my kids together in one place, plus my mom, so I have to share our Christmas picture with you!

Back to the wallpaper!