Thursday, June 20, 2013

A Sewing Post!

Bet y'all thought I gave up sewing.  Things have been so busy around here that any spare time I found, I would spend writing blog posts...or sleeping.  LOL.  I love to curl up with a good book, but lately, I would be good for two pages at night and then I would be out. I'm a good sleeper. I like my sleep. I need my sleep. It's not pretty when I don't get my sleep. Lately it's been over 100° day after day, and combined with the wind, that just wears a body out. At least it wears THIS old body out.

I've been walking 5 miles in the morning. I finally figured out how to download books to my Nano from a library so it's been a treat to hit the road every morning, although sometimes I just soak up the morning and never even turn it on. We're generally very dry here, but yesterday morning it was humid. I'm not going to complain if the arrival of humidity will be accompanied by rain, but whew! I was a wet mess when I got back. DH had been riding and working with a couple of colts and he was hosing one down when I walked up. I was very tempted to ask him to direct that water my way, but he would have gotten way too much pleasure out of that. :) I settled for a shower.

I think it's been about a month since I even touched my sewing machine. Although I did dust it frequently. :) Now that we've finally finished with our fall works and fed our last load of feed, I was able to sneak in some time behind the sewing machine.

I had forgotten where I was after I finished the wedding quilt for sweet Haley. But somewhere in there, I had started piecing a simple baby quilt for my niece using the panel in the Oink-A-Doodle-Moo line:


I just bought the panel and pulled other fabrics from my stash. I kept getting a nagging feeling that it needed something else like a pieced border. But wait. I've never made a pieced border. I have been wanting to learn how to add pieced borders so I went to the expert on such matters...the border queen...Judy Laquidara. I didn't actually GO to her, but I ordered  her book . However, it just arrived today, and I was impatient so I found a book at the library and  before I knew it, with a bit of number crunching, I had a pieced border that didn't turn out half bad:


In fact, I rather like it. A lot.


 I like the way Judy presents her borders better. If I had not been so impatient, I would not have ended up with so many biased seams, but I'm thinking there will be more pieced borders in my future. I KNOW there will be, because Judy has inspired me. I am intimidated by EQ, but number crunching I can do.

 Off to Jackie it goes as I am not confident enough in my Free Motion Quilting skills to tackle this right now, and I am bushed. I think I'm even too tired to sew. Yep, I'm that tired.

19 comments:

KaHolly said...

I guess it's true that life just isn't always centered around the sewing machine!! I'm just loving the baby quilt. The border really makes it special! The extra work was well worth it.

Dorian said...

That is adorable Karin!! And congrats on your pieced border, it is just perfect :) Glad you got some sewing time in.

Deborah Hamilton said...

That's a very sweet quilt and the border is just perfect.

Doniene said...

Soooooo cute!! And your border is fabulous and perfect fit for this little sweet quilt!! Get some sleep!!

Blessings

Nancy said...

The pieced border is perfect for this quilt. Nice job!

I have Judy's book but have never used it. You've prompted me to look at it again.

Gwynette in NW Arkansas said...

The pieced border really gives the little quilt a special look!!

I'm off for a couple of weeks sewing with one daughter and doing girly stuff with the other. You are going along on my laptop.... LOL!!!

Keeping the machine purring and do take a nap!!

Nancy: rangerer@sbcglobal.net said...

That pieced border is perfect for the quilt. Congratulations on trying something new.

Mike Pearson said...

Oh yeah! That pieced border really puts the frosting on the cake! ... Tired? Sounds like you get plenty of sleep!

Michelle said...

Oooh, that border added a LOT to the quilt! I love taking that one, special quilt shop fabric and adding more affordable prints to make the rest of the quilt. Definitely easier on the pocketbook! :-)

Pauline said...

Great baby quilt, little animals seem more appropriate than just designs for kids. Nice job. Love the border
♥♥♥!

Teresa Quilts said...

I love your quilt. That border really added some oomph to it. Looks great!

Dar said...

Your quilt is just the cutest and that border sets it off beautifully. You did a great job for not having made a pieced border before. I hear you about being tired after a long day of being blown around and hot temps. I am impressed you can walk 5 miles each morning and still accomplish all you do. You are a wonder woman if there ever was one!! Time to take it easy for a bit.

ytsmom said...

It's cute. I'm working on a quilt now that I think needs a pieced border, and since I already have Judy's book, I should be set!

Karin said...

The quilt is soooo cute especially with the pieced border around. Great Job on that.

Anonymous said...

Love that border, I must try one.

Teresa Marie said...

Oh my gosh, I love this quilt! I just recently bought this panel, and some of the other fabrics in th line, and wasn't sure what I was going to do with it. Your design is darling! Love, love, love the border!

juliehallfeldhaus said...

Wow I love that quilt I think I will google that fabric:)

Kelly@ Charming Chatter said...

So adorable - I love it (the border is perfect)!! Rest up girl - you deserve it!!

Denise :) said...

Oh I *love* this! The border is a perfect addition and frames it very nicely! Myself, I stay away from borders because I always screw them up. LOL!! :)

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