Read it now. I'll try the no trim technique and tapering towards corners. Little things can make a big difference. I already sew the edge as in dress making and that's a good one. Cheers

Sorry Geneva I missed your compass quilts somehow. They're stunning, I will read your link about the stitching later.

Terry I'm so chuffed for you getting recognition for the chicken quilt. Is the writing across the blocks what you've been learning in the embroidery class?

Sharon--I'm sending you a big hug. I am sorry for your losses and missing them is okay. Geneva--those mariner's compasses are amazing and I love what you are doing with them. I've posted regularly on my blog in the last month. I did have some finishes: a machine applique project that I started in a Karen Kay Buckley class; a skirt for a granddaughter--but, I actually had enough fabric to make a second skirt for the second granddaughter; a baby quilt made out scrap flannell bits from my friend, Martha's stash.

I posted about the August embroidery lesson and the September embroidery lesson. I think I might be getting the hang of how to follow the directions for the lessons. Sorry for the sideways image. . .

I started a new project using flannel scraps from my friend's stash. The novel, "Little Women" inspired it and I used some embroidery from one of my lessons! I stitched the secondary blocks for Good Fortune. This was the Bonnie Hunter mystery last November. I wrote another post to support the Bust Your Stash Two Inches at a Time challenge. Is anyone here participating? I set my 4th quarter goals and posted about it. I've been doing better about completing or making progress on projects that have been hanging about my studio for years.

I'm off to a slow start in October; but, I hope to figure out solutions to some of the challenges that have been thwarting my progress! Life is good! At my guild show in September, my "Chickens" quilt received second place as member's choice and first place as viewer's choice. I was tickled!

Sharon I'm sorry for your losses and so sad to hear the stories from all of you of your loved ones. I've seen it many times as a nurse but it doesn't make it any easier when it's your own.
Losing a loved pet is so hard I do feel for you.

Sharon, I'm so sorry for your family's loss. My Mom stopped eating about 2 weeks before she passed last year. I think they know when they're ready to go, I know Mom did. Doesn't make it hurt any less. Give yourself time for your mojo to come back. Maybe sew with some friends, take a class. Baby steps. It will return.

Thank you for the tutorial Geneva.

Dear Sharon
My sympathies and condolences for you recent losses. May you find comfort in the memories of your loved ones and may your mojo return from its sabbatical very soon.
Kath in southern California

Oh Sharon, I am so sorry for the loss of your step dad and your little dog. It's been a rough time for you.

I hope you find some peace little by little each day. It takes time and there is no way to hurry the process. Please know that your TQS lounge lizard friends are standing by you with love. I hope you have a great time in Houston and your quilt wins! And you might find a piece or two of your mojo there in Houston.

Thank you for the nice compliments on my Compass quilt. Yesterday I ripped out all the silver quilting I did. It didn't look like what I wanted. I now have a new plan! I suspect it will be better than the original. Isn't that how art works? And for those of you that want to try facing a quilt, it's rather easy. It gives a different look to the edge of the quilt. Here is a link to a Bernina tutorial on facing a quilt. I use this method and it works like a charm. For the compass circles I cut out a black facing fabric the size of the compass, sewed a 1/4" seam right sides together around the outside, then cut a hole (carefully!) in the center of the facing fabric. I trimmed the facing fabric about 2" around the outside. I didn't even finish the raw edge of the facing as it will be sewn down to the quilt. It was a little tricky, especially for the smaller circles, but I did stitch on the facing/seam right along the outside edge. You'll see what I mean when you watch the video. It gives the facing a really nice, crisp edge. I took my extension board off my machine to use the small stitching surface to go around the circle. Sewing a square/rectangular quilt is much easier! weallsew.com/make-quilt-facing/ Hope this makes sense!

Hugs to you all. This season of our life comes with such joy and sorrow. But through it all, we continue to create. "Sewing mends the soul."

geneva

Sharon,
so very sorry to hear of your losses. i hope you can feel the hugs coming with this messag. sending you and yours lots of strength and patience with yourself. all we can do is take one step at a time - enjoy the memories - let ourselves cry when we need it - and focus on the things that we want to and need to do. everything else will come in time.
my dad stopped eating and drinking at the end of july and passed on for a happier place on 2nd of August. it has taken me quite a while to get myself back on track. but i have learned to focus on what i need to do - then spend the rest of the time with what i want - even if that is nothing at all - sometimes we just need some time to rest our bodies and soul and let memories and grief take their place.
mojo will come back when it is time - i started sewing again only a couple of weeks ago - and find i want lots of bright happy colors and easy projects where i can just enjoy semi-mindless sewing - so be it!
big hugs for you
lotti

Sharon,
So sorry to hear of your stepfather’s passing, but knowing he is in God’s hands will provide a little more peace each day.
Don’t worry about the Sewing MOJO, it returns when you’re heart has the energy to deal with it.
May God watch over you and your family as you face each day with His love and care.
Luann

Good Morning all!

This month has been a great deal of change in our life and not much of it involves sewing/quilting.
I went to Seattle the middle of Sept. to play Grammie for 4 days, also went to Pacific Fabrics and smoked my CC, hehe. When I got home our sweet little dog, Buddy, who we adopted 11.5 years ago developed lung cancer and we had to put him down. This has devastated both of us and we miss him terribly.





My stepfather was placed into memory care in August and my mom decided to sell her home they have lived in for over 30 years. We have been busy helping her go through stuff, get rid of stuff and clean. Jim stopped eating and on October 6th he passed. He was a wonderful man of God and was 89 years old, but suffered with that dang Alzheimer's for 10 years. He was career Air Force for 26 years and about 10-12 years he was logistics officer for Air Force One during half of Eisenhower, all of Kennedy and most of Johnson and then retired to become a private contractor. He had the opportunity to travel with Pres. Eisenhower when Hawaii became a state. He many interesting stories to tell of the entire Air Force One experience. He was in Iran in 1979 when Khomeini took over and it was a harrowing experience to escape from Iran. When he came home he became a pastor and that is when he met my mom; they made a great team. His memorial service was lovely and attended by many people. We thought very highly of Jim and how much he loved my mom and his care of her.



My sister lives in Arizona and my mom will be heading down there on Friday for the winter. I will miss her terribly, but it will be good for her to deal with winter down there.

I haven't been able to sew with all this, I believe my mojo has left the building. I did get a quilt accepted into Houston and will be there for the entire week. I am really looking forward to that. I am sure next month I will have Houston stories. If you guys happen to find a wrinkled mojo laying around, it's probably mine.
Have a great month everyone.
Sharon in Colorful Colorado

Geneva- Great to see your Mariners Compass progress. Love the quilted background and pre quilted compasses. I’ve not done that but I’ll add that idea to my list of possibilities!

Glad to hear re the wine making progress.

Barb

Geneva, those compasses are great! Are you paper piecing them?
I've never faced a quilt either. I'd like to try it sometime.

Geneva those are some nice looking compasses.
I have yet to face a quilt, I think I might add that to my 'lessons to learn' for 2020. I would call it techniques but long before I get the technique I’m sure I’ll be learning the 'lessons'. LOL

Happy Sunday! Today is the 13th, my day to post.

Thanks to all for your nice comments.

I have been working on the Mariners Compass quilt. I made one more compass, an 8" one. I really enjoy making the compasses. Its fun to see them emerge! I quilted the background with a 60 degree diamond pattern in black/white and white/black thread. I like the way it came out. I quilted each of the compasses onto batting and then faced the circles. I sewed right along side the backing at the fold for a nice crisp edge finish. Once I figure out my last design to add the the quilted background I will applique the compasses to the background. I tried to sew the swirl idea I had in my head, onto the background but I don't like the way it looks. So today I will rip it all out. I have an example of what I want, but it is on a 4"x 8" piece of an envelope and it's black! I can't trace it easily. So today I will try using tracing paper and charcoal. Oh the things we do to make our art! Here is a picture of what I have done so far. Minus the stitching that I'm going to rip out. I plan to face the background also. Space goes on and on....





The wine is coming along. We put in yeast and it is doing it's thing. So far so good!

The harvest has begun in the large vineyard behind us. The nights have been below freezing so we have had to put up with the noisy fans. Oh well, it's worth it for the rest of the year when it's so beautiful and quiet!

I hope you are all enjoying October.

Take care, geneva