Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Front Yard Landscaping Day 2

It was so fun sitting out on my patio this morning, eating sushi breakfast and waving and talking to my neighbors walking by the yard.  I hope my garden will foster friendliness and maybe people will come sit a bit on the patio with me. 

Image may contain: plant, outdoor and nature

John has been so helpful and hardworking.  I could not have gotten so much finished so quickly without his help.  Last drink of water before calling it a day!  Got hot fast out there!

I was careful to choose plants that need 6-8 hours of sun.  They will definitely get it in my yard.  

Image may contain: plant, outdoor and nature

Letting the cobblestone cure another day.  Hope the Katie Ruella perks up. 

Image may contain: plant, tree, outdoor and nature

Brent saved the tree stump & I decided to use it as a feature in the driveway garden.   Dwarf azaleas with loriope on the driveway side. 

Rose bushes, Athelea, gardenia and some day lilies along the front

Image may contain: plant, tree, table, outdoor and nature

Rose garden with the reclaimed gates turned into a fence. 

I still need to fill in some grass areas, figure out a pathway from the driveway to the front curb, soften the edges of the patio a bit, plant a few more perennial plants and decide on some plantings for the pots.  New mailbox is going to be built tomorrow. 

Join the Conversation! 
💬💬💬


Monday, June 29, 2020

Front Yard Landscaping Begins

Image may contain: plant, house, tree, grass, table, outdoor and nature

1st thing this morning 

Image may contain: one or more people, people standing, tree, plant, grass, shoes, outdoor and nature

Marked and ready for the pavers

Image may contain: one or more people, plant, outdoor and nature

The pavers at the side of the driveway and front of the street.  I'll put potted plants here and maybe a birdbath or something artsy. 

Image may contain: outdoor

Ready for the concrete "grout" 

Image may contain: one or more people, shoes, tree, table and outdoor

Right after the concrete was added; nice natural look

Image may contain: plant, tree, grass, outdoor and nature

Looking from my driveway toward the yard

Image may contain: plant, shoes, tree, outdoor and nature

Future rose bed with wrought iron fence across the back.  Faces the street. 

I'm tired!  Big Day tomorrow.

Join the Conversation! 
💬💬💬


Sunday, June 28, 2020

How I Plan a Quilt

I didn't have the energy to bind the large Improv quilt yesterday.  I did however have the energy to root around in my home decorator fabrics and design another quilt.  Strange how that happens!  😎😎  I know my working habits and I trust everything will get finished when needed.  Lately I am cutting myself some slack and following more whims.  It's good to be free sometimes.

I rarely design a quilt & then pull fabrics.  I mainly pull fabrics and then design a quilt. 

I ask questions like:

  • how can I utilize only 2 squares of this fabric?
  • what is the best use of this large scale print?
  • what layout might work well with these fabrics?
  • what are the major colors?
  • how can I blend these fabrics?
  • what can I add for contrast?
  • what size will I want to sew the quilt?
  • will I be able to sew it on the longarm (faster)?
  • who is the recipient?
  • can I use fleece or do I need batting (which is precious)? 
I originally thought I would sew the scraps from the last quilt into a new quilt but as it turned out, there weren't enough scraps.  That is indeed an odd statement coming from a quilter.  So I set aside what I do have and will add more as I complete quilts until I have enough for another scrappy Improvisational Quilt. 

I looked more thoroughly through the fabrics on my home dec shelves. I found 2 squares of about 26" of a Jacobean print.  I have no idea from where it came but I know where it is going.

Question:  Should I use 1 square for 1 quilt or combine both squares for 1 quilt?

If I loved the print, I might have opted for 2 quilts. When looking for companion fabrics, I only had enough for one good sized quilt if I used both squares on 1 quilt.

A big focal point print says one thing to me: Medallion Quilt.  In this case 2 big medallion squares.

Really tough math here: 


The borders surrounding the focal print will be different on each square.  Here is the red floral of which I have 4 bolts.  It was used in drapes in a previous house but I still like it.  I might consider it for drapes in my house at one point.  Who knows? 

 Here I scavenged a small piece for the outside border.  That plaid was a set of thrifted valances.  Such interesting associations.  I love that about quilts.


I love this green curtain.  Unfortunately, I only have the one curtain.  Once I took out the hem and header it was long enough for the side borders.  I should be able to capture the scale of the print well too.  


I would have gladly paid $3.93 but happily paid $1.91 for it.




Fleece blankets are fused and ready.



I had this fabric already sewn for another quilt backing.  I trimmed it down so I have enough for a generous binding too.  It's a soft blue with a nice hand.  

So there we have the beginning of the next quilt.  Depending upon the upcoming weather I may or may not be starting my landscaping projects.  If not, I have the next quilt planned and ready to go.


Are you familiar with Rosie Lee Tompkins?  She is an African American quilter active in the 1970s through the early 2000s?  She was discovered by Eli Leon who became her encourager and championed many shows of her quilts.  Upon his recent death, he gave BAMPFA, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive of the University of California, Berkeley his collection of 3000 American quilts; 500 were sewn by Rosie Lee Tompkins.  It's a staggering collection and is forcing BAMPFA to expand their museum in unprecedented ways.  

To view the virtual exhibit, follow this link.  Be sure to give yourself an hour to listen to the guided tour.  It's well worth the time.   Thanks to my friend Barbara for bringing this jewel to my attention. 

Next Audio Book:                


 Still working my way through Anna Karenina

Join the Conversation!
💬💬💬






Saturday, June 27, 2020

The Grateful Threads Project: Improvisational Quilt 4

I haven't taken it off the longarm yet but the 4th Improvisational Strippy Quilt is quilted.  It's a humdinger at 72 x 86 inches so I want to have the binding made before I cut it loose from the frame.  Then I can go directly to the domestic machine and sew on the binding.

I have started cutting my binding at 4" wide.  It gives a nice border look to the edge.  It's also easier to turn to the front for top stitching without wrangling with a bulky edge.

©Debra L Dixon 2020


I can't tell about the entire quilt but from the snippets I like what I see.  The plain strips between the improv strips seems to have been a good idea.  I'll have to use that idea more; unfortunately my stash of prints compared to suitable solids is probably 99 to 1. 

©Debra L Dixon 2020

©Debra L Dixon 2020

©Debra L Dixon 2020

©Debra L Dixon 2020

And, of course, there are still scraps of Improv pieces lingering from this set of 4 quilts. 

I can't hear or concentrate well on the audio books when I am quilting on the longarm.  They are perfect for when I am sewing on the domestic machine.  So I think I'll pull together the remaining scraps and add some new pieces for another Improv quilt while I finish listening to Born a Crime by Trevor Noah.  

It's not a good gardening day.  The ground is soggy and it may even rain again today.  Sounds like a good day to sew.  Frankly, any day is a good day to sew.  Who am I kidding?  

Join the Conversation!
💬💬💬

Friday, June 26, 2020

The Grateful Threads Project: 3 Improvisational Quilts

I may not have gotten the expected landscaping started this week but I certainly stayed focused on the Improvisational Strippy Quilts!  These are a big chunk of wonderful to be gifted to the Houston Furniture Bank this fall. 

As I've said previously it is so liberating to sew, sew, sew and not have the nagging questions:  will someone like it?  will it match her bedroom?  is it too girly?  is it big enough?  is it age appropriate?  The Granddaddy of them all:  will it sell?
Houston Furniture Bank serves 8 families daily.  There will be someone who loves each quilt. 


This is a great little reclaimed fabric quilt.  The rectangles are the from the patchwork crib skirt, the plaid was a sundress, the horse and animal prints, the red ticking stripe were from the 8 bags of fabric my neighbor dropped over here a month ago.



Lots of pretty florals here!  I bought the navy blue Ralph Lauren print at a thrift store about 8 years ago.  It was a bundle of long pieces probably left from a decorating project.  The big red roses were some of Mary's stash and the green floral was from the 8 bags from my neighbor. 


This is a major conglomeration of pieces: leftover striped drapery pieces from my apron business with my son, denim pieces, cotton towels Mary gave me, some decorator prints from the early 1990s, the last length of that horse print. 


This is all that's left of the 6½ yards of gabardine Cindy sent me!  It worked well for the backing complimenting the heavier front fabrics with its soft supple hand.  It's not color matchy matchy with the front prints and I'm fine with that. 

I'm planning to finish one more of the Improvisational Strippy quilts today.  It has 4 very scrappy sections and I am alternating them with tan solid.  I'm not a fan of tan but I do want it to look more masculine and I own tan fabric.  So there you go. 

Currently spending time listening to Trevor Noah's well crafted memoir:  Born a Crime.  Worth your time this summer to have a listen.



Join the Conversation!
What have you accomplished this week? 
💬💬💬

Thursday, June 25, 2020

About My Fabric Stash

Now we have quickly moved into Monsoon Season.  This is the time of year when I live on a lake.  My backyard typically floods a little when the rain is consistent and heavy like it was last night and is today.  Landscaping is on hold until next week.  It's all good.  The plants, bushes and trees are very thirsty.  They appreciate the drink.  I appreciate the cooler temperatures.

As Edith alluded in her comment on the previous post, it's true I have an eclectic fabric stash.  The main reason are the words, "Sure, I'll take that fabric!" when offered a box, bag or trunk full of free fabric.

It started innocently enough about 15 years ago when a friend called asking if I wanted some fabric.  Mary was in the habit of stopping by her local WalMart where they carried drapery weight seconds for $1/yard.  She must have been in her English Floral period because many if not most of the fabrics were florals; like 8-10 yards of florals.  I happily took them all off her hands.  At the time I thought I would use them to redecorate the house I shared with my former husband.  Yea, that didn't happen.  He didn't like English Florals.  I still have some of them but a good portion have or will become community quilts.

The second call came when she cleaned out her nursery prints.  She was working in an office and stitched a few nursery sets as gifts.  Next thing she knew she was getting orders for nursery ensembles.  So she started stock piling WalMart $1/yard decorator prints again.  Tons of pink, blue and lavender prints filled 4 or 5 huge tubs.  Young mothers' tastes changed and no one wanted the traditional colors so Mary wanted to clear out her sewing space.  Enter me.

During that time I also bought fabrics but they were mainly quilting cottons.  Nothing anywhere near the amount Mary gave me though.  I did buy decorator tropical prints for house decorating.  One piece, a red floral, did not get used in the original intent and I have about 4 bolts of it.  So that is always on the short list to be used although it's rotation seldom happens.

Then Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in 2017.  Mary's house flooded.  Her sewing room and supplies were on the 2nd floor and were unscathed.  But, she & her husband had to evacuate for a total home renovation and she decided all the fabric was leaving too.  Between me and the local quilt guild we cleaned her out.  She was very generous and I made 2 or 3 trips with my SUV packed solid bringing fabric and supplies back to my studio.

This trip was mainly quilting cottons and flannel. She bought a large cache of trendy cotton offcuts from her nail stylist who cut clothes for a small local children's manufacturer. Those were included & she threw in applique blocks, some lingering decorator prints, buttons, books and any other miscellaneous supply that looked handy.  There were no strings attached.  I've sold some of it but mainly I am using it for community quilts.

Last month my neighbor who works for an estate liquidation company came over with 8 bags of decorator fabrics for me.  And, the sewing group from church regularly gets boxes of donated fabrics from deceased estates.  While most of it is usable, it's mainly dated and unacceptable for the group's projects.  I usually bring it home.  So you can see.  Once the word is out I will take fabrics for my community projects, it just shows up!  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

I haven't bought new fabric in 10 years; easily.  I have bought thrifted fabrics, home decorating, & clothing items for their fabric that I have & will use in projects.  I don't have a sewing budget that allows me to buy yardage off a bolt.  I enjoy working with an eclectic collection of fabrics.  This year I have really started pushing the design ideas with simple layouts but letting the fabrics play together for fun quilts. 

I'll go on record saying: No one has ever returned a quilt because of the fabric.  😎The advantage of distributing my quilts through the Houston Furniture Bank is the parents choose the quilt for their child so the final decision is on them instead of me.  It gives me 100% creative space to design as I want.  It really doesn't get any better than that!

Last night I was able to snap this picture of the 3 quilts rolled on my longarm.  I'll be trimming and binding them today.  What a fabulous process to get quilts finished and into the hands of families making their houses homes.

No photo description available.

Join the Conversation!
How have you acquired your fabric stash?
💬💬💬

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Houston Furniture Bank: Improvisational Quilts

As it turned out there wasn't any rain yesterday.  So much for the 80% prediction.  And, when I might have had a tiny bit of interest in getting started on the landscaping the crew was working on something else.  By nightfall the rains started and now the yard that formerly resembled concrete is soggy and flooded.  Today's forecast is 100% chance of rain.  I'm not even going to consider yard work.

Returning to my default setting, I started longarm sewing the 3 improvisational quilts.  These are strictly as they are.  No real design effort exerted.
About ¾ into stitching the 1st one, I remembered a pile of improv strips I worked on in January 2018.  We had a few weeks of freezing weather & I was concerned about the news of Houston folks freezing on the street.  I pulled out some of my heavier cottons (drapery weight) with the intention of sewing some street quilts.  I felt the heavier fabrics would last a little longer on the streets. 

I finished one (below) and gave it to a local homeless man who has been out on the streets about 15 years.  I see him quite often picking up litter along the roads.  He graciously accepted the quilt and a tote bag full of clothes.


This year I have partnered with the Houston Furniture Bank so I will let them distribute the quilts to Houston families they serve. 

These are the strips and one set has been incorporated into a quilt already.
The other 3 are on today's list.



Yesterday's Progress:  2 Tops sewn/quilted  (60 x 72")


This is the quilt using the thrifted patchwork crib skirt.  That gaudy plaid was a  Ralph Lauren sundress!  It adds a bit of oomph to a dull group of prints.


I only had one piece of the safari print so I tried to get it about in the middle of the quilt.  For being a conglomeration of prints this quilt is actually pretty decent.  I expect these quilts to have a lot of hard use & last a long time.  They have thrifted fleece blankets as the batting.



I was so inspired by yesterday's work, I pulled out more drapery prints.  I would really like to eliminate them and the huge tub of thrifted fleece blankets from my storage room this year.  They work well together because the prints are heavy enough I don't have to worry about the fleece print showing through the top.  The fleece is stout enough to support the weight of the prints.

Join the Conversation!
What fabrics would you like to eliminate from your stash?  Why? 
 ðŸ’¬ðŸ’¬ðŸ’¬

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Weather Forecast: Rainy with a Chance of Quilting

I can't complain about the weather because we do need the rain; but, it's throwing a detour in my landscaping plans.  Rain is forecast for the entire week.  As I write it is not raining but by the time the crew would arrive, heavy rains are expected.  I've waited awhile to start the landscaping.  What's a few more days? 

I woke this morning excited to start on my 3 improvisational strippy quilts!  Everything is prepared so I can spend today and the next couple of rainy days piecing on my longarm.  It's a great change of pace.  I have to keep the sewing procedures varied to save my hands and back.  Too many repetitive tasks too long cause pain and take the fun away from sewing.  I'm sure you understand! 


Winding a big supply of bobbins


I figured out a rough estimation of the 3 quilts using some fabric supplies and scraps I have on hand.  A few years ago I became interested in the idea of buying thrifted juvenile linens and reworking them for quilts.  At the time I was seeing a lot of gathered crib skirts which have long fabric pieces.  I thought they would be good for quilt borders. 

 I successfully turned a few of them into gathered apron tops.   The top section of this apron was once a crib skirt.  I have a nice green stripe crib skirt set aside for a gathered patchwork skirt for myself.  Maybe this summer? 


In the pile of pieces was a patchwork crib skirt.  It has been waiting for its 2nd debut.
I'm using it as the backbone of the 1st improv strippy quilt. 


Earlier in the summer my neighbor brought over 8 large garbage sized bags of fabrics.  Most of it is decorator weight.  I don't have a problem using it for community quilts.  I envision these quilts living a hard long life and if the fabric is a bit heavier than quilting cotton the quilts may last even longer.  I'll be mixing in some of those prints today too.  


Time to start! 

Join the Conversation! 
Do you have any reclaimed fabric ideas to share? 

Monday, June 22, 2020

Let the Landscaping Begin!

Image may contain: tree, sky, house, shoes, outdoor and nature

I had 3 days of help to get the trees trimmed and the courtyard and back yard whipped into shape.  This week is devoted to laying the new patio and digging the garden areas.

I had a very large tree in the area where the patio will go and the ground has enough old roots that nothing but weeds have successfully grown there.  

Everyone arrived bright and early ready to start.  Even the thunderstorms!  Rats!
We had just enough time to pull everything out and then put it all back in the garage.


Image may contain: one or more people and people standing

Image may contain: tree, plant, outdoor and nature

 The rain is needed and it will soften the ground for shoveling but I was hoping to get started today.  Oh well.  Plan B:  quilt 2 quilt tops for hire.  It's always good to have paid work as Plan B.  Ha! ha!


Image may contain: outdoor

When I worked at Floor & Decor some 4+ years ago I brought home the tile display boards when new ones were designed. They were headed to the trash compactor and we all know that just hurt my conscience too much!  They've been waiting in my garage. They will become a 9 x 12' patio toward the driveway end of the yard. I'll have garden space between the patio and the driveway. Then garden space between the street and the patio.

Image may contain: plant, tree, outdoor and nature

I hit the jackpot yesterday when visiting my parents. My dad filled up the back of my SUV with big potted plants! Yea!!

Well, there's always tomorrow. . . . .

Join the Conversation!
How do you react to a change of plans? 

💬💬💬

Saturday, June 20, 2020

Penny Pincher's Quilt Batting

When possible I use thrifted fleece blankets as batting for my community quilts. I like the texture when I quilt with fleece as a batting.   Fleece blankets are generally economical, useful, easy to reclaim and ubiquitous.  They are mostly in gaudy prints and colors that have a tendency to bleed through light colored fabrics so I use them predominantly in dark colored quilts.  If I have a light color in the quilt, I will put a scrap of white tshirt knit or some thin gauzy white fabric under the light area. 

My favorite blankets are the double fleece with the knots along the edge.  At my thrift store they generally sell for the same price as a single layer fleece blanket so they are really a bargain. 
The disadvantage is the knotted trimming when they are cut off.  It's another part to deal with responsibly.  I can't say I've come up with any good solutions.

The nappier the fleece the better I feel about reclaiming it!



Such a hideously stereotypical piece of nappy fleece.  Good bye! 



At this price I usually get 2 pieces of 60 x 60" for $2.50 a piece.  


Quilters have asked in the past how I get the blankets ready for quilting. 
  1. Choose the largest blanket & measure to evaluate how much to add.
  2. Straighten the edges with a rotary cutter.
  3. Align the two edges.
  4. Cover the edges with a strip of fusible interfacing.
  5. Iron the interfacing down.
  6. Finished! 



I was digging around in my supplies last night and unearthed this roll of fusible skirt waistband interfacing.  It's easily from the 1990s & I was pleasantly surprised the fusible still stuck.  I'll be happily using it for edging for many quilts.  Yea!   And, possibly a gathered skirt or two. 


My friend Cindy sent me 6+ yards of a 60" wide very soft dark teal gabardine.  The recent sewing marathon has produced a huge stack of scraps & I have some reels of strips I've sewn together in the past waiting for their 15 Minutes of Fame.


A bunch of miscellaneous scraps, some a friend gave me.  They usually sew into  great looking quilts. 


When I end up with a lot of strips, I will sew them end to end keeping the top edge even.  Then I wind them on a cardboard holder so they are ready for strip piecing. 


I have enough of the teal fabric for 3 - 60 x 72" quilts.  I plan to load it on the longarm and stitch 60" wide strips until the entire length is filled.  When finished, I will cut the length into 3 - 72" quilts. 

Below is the general style although no two are alike.  I enjoy fooling around with the strip widths and color arrangements for some striped variety.  You can see the defined texture the fleece blankets give the finished quilt.


All the preparations are finished.  I like to accomplish that on an odd day so when the time arrives to load and stitch on the longarm, I don't have to spend a lot of time getting the supplies ready.

Join the Conversation! 
Do you have a Penny Pincher's Sewing Tip? 

💬💬💬