Making It Work - A Lesson In Patience

I've been channelling Tim Gunn this past few days (Project Runway for those of you scratching your head), and have babbled "make it work" on more than a few occasions.  You see, my darling Bernina came very close to being thrown through my wall on Friday, after repeatedly snapping threads and just being an all round biatch of a machine.  After the 542nd thread snap, I snapped.  And turned to my IG friends, asking for advice......  Which lead to Gemma texting me instructions to do this......

 

After holding my breath for a while, I managed to gently dust the machinery and dislodge a little thread in the uptake thingamajig, then put it back together again.......  It worked for a whole five minutes then 

SNAP!!!!

I called the dealer I bought her from (in Tasmania) and walked through some trouble shooting, and she gave me the bad news that I'd need to take her somewhere to be looked at.  Thinking tension discs or a burr on the bobbin case.  Sigh......

Anyway, I picked up my bottom lip and rang my Mum.  Drove around there and picked up this......

 

Good old faithful!  I used this for quite some time before buying my own Bernina, and it's an absolute work horse.  HOWEVER....  it has no quilting extension table thingy, nor a walking foot, nor a zipper foot.  Hence, I have had to make it work.

 

My to do list this week is literally packed.  And I was so depressed about my missing baby, I couldn't bring myself to sew.  Kicked myself up the bum this morning and got out my big extension table and just sort of sat it there.  Worked out how to drop the feed dogs and whacked on the fmq foot and just gave it a crack.

 

And ta-daaaaa!  Look, it's far from perfect, but given there's no needle down function, the fmq foot is not actually genuinely made for this machine and the dodgy way I had the extension table set up - it's pretty damn good!  I had this cushion cover top finished a few days ago - it's a birthday gift for one of my youngest daughter's friends.  M is for Mitchell!  I pulled out a bag of scraps leftover from my SON's QUILT, which I knew eventually would come in handy!  The letter M is from Quietplay's alphabet patterns, and is super easy.

 

I literally started in the middle of the cushion and worked my way outwards.  There's some wonk in those "organic" straight lines!  But I am actually very impressed with the consistent stitch length - that's one tick!  I used my go to thread - Aurifil #2024.

Once I got the the white space, I tried a little pattern I've seen around, and just love it!  I can see myself using it on a bigger scale on quilts.

I'm not even showing you the back!  Let's just say that inserting a zipper without a zipper foot is not my forte!  But hey - six year old boys are not likely to criticise?  I hope?

All in all, it has been a very interesting experience.  I have learnt patience in my quilting.  After I'd finished this cushion, I kept going and finished off two other cushion cover tops for Collaborate For A Cause.  And the quilting is actually incredibly neat and as I said before, the stitch length is perfect.  So there's a lot to be said for quilting with anxiety!  I am however looking forward to a phone call from the service guy telling me I can pick up my baby!

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I Quilt - Party Over Here!

Truth be told - I'm feeling like a bit of a blog-hosting-hussy of late!  But a blog friend has to do what a blog friend has to do......  And tonight, Ms Gemma from Pretty Bobbins is feeling rather poorly, so the I Quilt party is being held here!  Go throw your quilts in the air and shake em like you just don't care!  Ok, maybe not.....

Lucky for you I managed to stop off at the local park this afternoon, dodged the rain and froze my butt off - but got some lurvely photos of my latest finish.

I found a Vintage Modern charm pack amongst my stash a few weeks ago, and thought it would be perfect for the upcoming "I See Red" Showcase over at Harley Barley on FB.

It is a VERY simple design - all HST's laid out in a simple row, with a couple of red pinwheels thrown in the mix for added interest!  The little peep border is a first for me, and I just love what it brings to the quilt.

I've backed it in a green homespun I had here on my shelf - and I promise it's not all puckered and bunched up!  It had been folded for a week or two, and I didn't think to iron it before heading out!

I really love that a simple 42 piece charm pack can be turned in to something so beautiful.  My Aussie Charm Swap mates and I are pinning ourselves silly at the moment on my Charm Square LOVE Pinterest board.  Pop by and have a look!

This quilt has a finished size of 40" x 46" - perfect for a cot/toddlers quilt or a child's lap quilt.  It will be available to purchase on the 18th of June!

Now - I mentioned last week that I had lost my FMQ-jo.  This little project was the one that lead me to that conclusion.  I was so sad.  I wanted to free motion to heck out of it, but just couldn't get myself together, and instead went with some straight lines through the blocks.  I did manage to do a little swirly pattern around the outer border, which I think is darling and suits this pretty little quilt.  And I used my favourite Aurifil #2024 50wt thread to both piece and quilt.

Since then, I have purchased myself an extension table for my Bernina.  I've set it up and have had it in place whilst piecing a few blocks this past week, but am finding it strange to get used to.  I'm hoping with time, it will become part of my regular setup and will make quilting SOOOO much easier!?  Time will definitely tell - as I have two quilts tops ready to baste and quilt!

So tell me - how do you get your sew-jo or FMQ-jo back when it's gone on hiatus??  And have you changed your quilting set up in order to help?  Did it take a while to get used to?

SPILL!

Please link your quilty process below and visit three other linkers - it's always nice to share the love!

P.S.  Anyone notice anything different around here?? ;)

An InLinkz Link-up

Wee Wander Finish & A Little Deep & Meaningful

It's taken me a couple of weeks to get around to binding this baby, but today was the day!  I ended up getting some blue Robert Kaufman dots that co-ordinated perfectly with Wee Wander and frames this little quilt beautifully.

I got very motivated this afternoon after finishing it, and raided Chloe's bedroom for some baby-ish props for my little photo shoot!  Although this quilt started out as "just a quilt", after I had quilted it - my feathers/leaves/whatever they are - I thought it would be a good idea to add a hanging sleeve on the back, so that when the owner had finished using it for their baby, they could hang it on the nursery wall.  I was SOOO thrilled with how it looks on a wall!

If you had of told me a month ago I'd have a quilt with this sort of quilting on it, I would have laughed at you!  I'm really, really proud of myself for giving that feather business a crack, and will do it again!

I used my trusty Ikea numbers fabric for the backing, which shows the quilting beautifully.   Aurifil #2024 50wt was used to piece and free motion quilt.  This little 32" square quilt is the perfect size for a bassinet or pram quilt.  Or even as a little play mat - oh so versatile!

The idea for this little piece of loveliness came when The Handmade Library announced they were holding a Collaboration market.  The lovely Melisa from "Melisa Jane" joined up with me and after much indecision, we finally agreed on making a Wee Wander baby set.  Melisa has made THE MOST awesome nappy bag (Diaper bag for those in the US) I have ever seen!  Looky looky......

Both of these items will be available to purchase as a set on the 7th of May over at The Handmade Library.  Pricing and further information will be available soon!

Now, whilst I have your attention - I told Gemma from Pretty Bobbins that if I got off my lazy bum this evening and made it upstairs I would try and post a little reply to link up with her discussion over at I Quilt tonight.  So, here goes.....

Gemma asked us to share our successes related to our passions.  I'm taking a big gulp and going for it.....

1.  Being able to spend a couple of days each week to do whatever I please, which inevitably means sewing.  I had kids here at home with me for 15 years, so now they're all at school, I quite happily utilise the time for things I want to do.

2.  Learning to quilt mostly through online means.  I have asked hundreds of questions online, whether it be in FB sewing groups or direct chatting to my quilt friends - I have been so very grateful for each answer I have been given!

3.  I have sold a number of quilts to customers now!  I'm able to name my price and know that they are worth it.  And when customers say they want to buy something I've made, I'm ALWAYS thrilled to think they appreciate the time I've put in to my work.

4.  I've slowly but surely changed the direction of my little business over the past year.  Ms Midge started off making children's wear and now I've incorporated cushions, quilts and bags in to my repertoire - and my customers are still there!  Some of the same customers who have bought their children's clothing from me are now purchasing quilts.  I love that!

5.  Opening my inbox every day and finding emails from you guys - the fact that you take the time to comment on my blog posts and encourage me on a regular basis is fabulous!

6.  Friends.  I have met soooo many wonderful human beings through this quilty gig, and I wouldn't be without them.  I have always valued friendship very highly in terms of my success as a human being - so I feel pretty damn successful these days!

So there you have it.  It's now 11pm and my eyes are hanging out of my head - but a promise is a promise Gem!  Every now and then, when I'm rambling excitedly to my husband about how I got an email from this famous quilter, or I received a gift from another famous quilter he'll say "that's great, now you have to work out how to make money from this blogging business".  I always laugh at him, and tell him it's not about the money.  And it's not.  I agree whole heartedly with Gemma on that one.  Success is a feeling - not a bank balance.

Peace out.

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