The Story of Edder Sawtelle

I am glad I did not know anything about this book when I started reading because if I had, I would never have picked it up. I had based this book on the cover alone. They say never judge a book by it cover. Well in this case I was glad I did.

In this tale reminiscent of "Hamlet," a speech-disabled Wisconsin teenager bonds with three yearling canines and struggles to prove that his sinister uncle is responsible for his father's death.

Based on that line alone I would have never read this book. I'm one person that can not stomach Shakespeare. I just don't understand his writing style. To be more correct the language of the time.

After reading it I was unsure how and what I felt. It does bring out some very strong emotions. I had to think about it for a while. I lied awake the night I had finished the book and just kept going over it in my mind. I came to the conclusion that this book ranks right up with To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

Yes, this book does have a sad ending, but at the same time a book that you will want to add to your collection.

Charlie

Want To Know

I've been thinking about this for some time now and I want to know some information from my fellow quilters out there. I'm going to be doing a series of posts asking some questions.

Today's post: Tell me about your sewing machine.

1. What brand of sewing machine do you have?
2. Does it have a good built in 1/4" stitch? Do you have to tweak it?
3. Does it sew through thick fabrics? nine or more layers?
4. What do you love about your machine ?
5. What do you hate about it?
6. If you were to buy another machine would you stay with the same brand you have now? If not, why?
   

Here are my answers

• I own a Viking Platinum 755
  

• I do have to tweak the built in 1/4" stitch, but with 25 needle positions I can always get the perfect stitch.
  
• This machine has no trouble sewing through thick seams.
• I love the top drop in bobbin and that I can wind the bobbin from the needle.
  
• I don't really hate anything about my machine.
• I think that I would stay with the same brand. I really like the Vikings. They have some great new features that I would love to have if I had the money.
  

Upcoming "Want To Know" topics are: thread, batting, rulers and fabric

Charlie

Quilters Gold

Maybe I should clean more often because look at what I found.

These are 2 1/2" squares that came from a charm pack and were found in my quilting room. Hmmm, wounder what I had in mind for these? It has long since escaped my brain.

This is the background fabric that goes with the squares. It was also found while cleaning. Some of it has been cut into 2 1/2" x 4 1/2"strips while most of it's 4 1/2 squares. There are even a very few 2 1/2" strips.

What ever this project might have been it was made using squares and lots of background.
Has anyone else cut out a project and sit it aside and forgotten about it? I know that I need to label things or better yet place it in a baggie with the pattern. I've been placing all WIP (work in progress) in a baggie with a label and/or the pattern and any left over fabric till I am done with it. Then at that time I will put the left overs in the stash. Never know when you might need some extra. This way it's right there. No need to spend time looking for it. I have all my WIP in pull out bins that are in my cutting table. I just love this table. I think it was just made with a quilter in mind.

Does anyone know of a pattern I could make using these bits of fabric? I am thinking the pattern came from a magizne. I will look over some and see what I can come up with, but in the mean time let me know what you think I should make out of these.

Charlie

Edit: I found the project that these squares belonged to. It is from the February 2007 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting.

The pattern is called Fresh Tradition by Darlene Zimmerman.

Is It Love?

The border fabric is here to stay and I am going to bind the quilt with the brown.
Here is the quilting thread choice. I think it will give everything a nice warm feel.

This quilt will be gifted to a dear friend of ours. She just does not know it yet. She thought the quilt was beautiful when she saw a picture.

Charlie

P.S. The peace treaty was signed later that night.

World War III

I left you with one word and a picture yesterday. I am sure many of you were shocked, confused or shaking your head as to why I would say that. For those of you that did not see yesterday's post, that word would be hideous and the picture was of the Amy Butler Midwest Modern quilt I made.

You would have thought World War III had started last night because of this quilt. No, I really mean that. This quilt caused a fight between me and my BH that just came out of nowhere. There is not anyone to blame for this fight. It's just one of those things that happened and we learn from it and move on. Here is how it went down.

I get home form work last night about 9:30 and watched American Idol on the DVR. Understand that my BH likes to relax and watch TV in the living room about 10 o'clock, but I was watching my show. Once I was done watching it I went and told him that I was done and the TV was his. "Oh, and before you go watch TV did you see the quilt that I just got sewn together it's laying out on the cutting table." BH said "why would I have seen it? I don't go into your quilt room when you're not there". I thought fair enough. I turned on the light to show him. I am all excited about this quilt. Grateful that I could take a miss cut and still make it all work out. You know really feeling good about myself. The BH did not say anything about the quilt , so I took that as a good sign. You have to know my BH to understand that. I started to asked him all kinds of color questions about the quilt and he would not answer any of them. What color thread do you think I should quilt this in? You think this fabric would be good for the border or do I loose it? Should I use it on the back and get another fabric for the border. That line of questions. Ones that most of the time he's more than happy to give his fifty dollars worth (inflation!), but last night he would not say anything. He just ignored me then walked out of the room. Now that was the wrong thing to do.

I walked into the living room and said you know how you want me to come and talk to you when I have a problem? I have a problem. You will not answer my simple questions. Then marched back into the quilt room and told him I wanted to be alone because you don't care right now and will not answer me. When have I ever helped you pick out thread for a quilt he said. I was pissed at this point and pulled out the thread that he helped me pick out the for the last quilt and threw it on the table and said this one. He said I just told you that it would work. That is all I'm asking for here right now is a simple yes or no. "Do you want to know why I haven't answered any of your questions about this quilt and have stayed quiet?" I told him "yes". "It's because I don't like this quilt. I don't like the colors or anything about it. Rather than hurt you, I chose not to say anything". Aw, now as sweet as that is. I would rather he tell me right up front that he doesn't like it. I am a big boy and can take it.

Yes, I was thinking to myself when the fabrics came in that I really did not care for them. I wanted to try something of Amy Butler's. It seems that everyone loves her fabrics. I thought I would give it a try. I think that woman has more talent in her little finger than I have in my whole body, but this line was not for me. It did start to grow on me after the comments came in when I posted a picture of the cut fabric and the more I got pieced together.

I turned to him and told him I wish you would have told me this up font and there would not have been a problem. That is when he told me o.k., I think the quilt is hideous.

He did tell me that I should quilt it with a darker color thread because a light one would get lost. O.k., I think he is right. I am thinking a brown? What about you?

Tonight he told me that the picture I posted on facebook made the quilt look better than in person, because the flash made the colors stand out a little more.

The moral of the story is this. Tell me what you think up front. I really look up to my BH because he got the color sense that I wish I would have gotten. He can match colors like there is no tomorrow. I trust him 150% when it comes to that. Most men have trouble getting dressed in the morning. I love him for his ability to help me pick out my colors.


Charlie

P.S. The border fabric is on the left. Should it stay or should it go you be the judge.

Hideous

Charlie

Happy Easter!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Easter.


This is what I got my BH for Easter/ birthday this year. For some reason he thinks he needs to get a Easter basket, but I was all too happy to oblige.

Charlie

Nearly New

Arrange:
–verb (used with object)

• to place in proper, desired, or convenient order; adjust properly:

After rearranging the quilt room not once, but twice, I think I have it arranged in a convenient order. It's what works for me.

I like the working of the U shape. It works for the kitchen and it works here as well. My sewing machine used to face a wall and that was not the best view, but now I get to look at a window and do some day dreaming. It only looks out into a parking lot and a road with cars moving by, but at least it's a window that lets in natural light. I find myself wanting to quilt more because of it. I want to get a few cubby's to place on the floor for more storage space, but that is a small detail at this point. The window needs to get some proper curtains

Do you see that blank wall on the left? It is screaming out for something on it. I think I'm going to make a few small quilts to hang on the wall. Maybe some knick-knack items. What theme do you think I should go with and no, not chickens or roosters?


I was able to gain more desk space by taking a table that was the same height and I already owned and placing it behind the desk. This will aid me when I quilt my three layers together.


Here is my FQ stash. I have to look at some fabric each day or I would go nuts. I am a see it, feel it, ooooh and aaah over it kinda guy. I do not own much yardage of fabrics. I like scrappy quilts. The more fabric in a quilt the better.

Still have to have my computer in the room. It's great for taking breaks and talking with people on facebook. The BH thinks that because of facebook and me getting to know "famous" quilting people that my drive for quilting has grown. I think that might be part of the reason. Reading peoples blogs each day and having an outlet (ie: this blog) to share my creative side helps. Having all the clutter out of the room gone sets my mind free to create. I found it hard to work in a room with piles here, there and everywhere. I didn't need half the stuff that was in this room. With the junk gone I am free to let myself go. Now the room seems bigger than it really is.

I'm off to create in my wonderful newly arranged quilting space!

Charlie

P.S. When I was cleaning rearranging,I came across these. They are 4 1/2" squares and some have been cut in half. I have no clue what project I was going to use them in. Now I need to find something as I'm not throwing them out. If anyone has an idea please post in the comments.

Foul

I spent yesterday rearranging and organizing the quilt room. I not only did it once, but twice because I did not like the layout the first time. I promise I will take some after pictures as soon as I get the room the way I want it. I think I might move things one more time. They always say the third times a charm. With things moved around I have a lot of blank wall space and need to make some new curtains. Maybe I could do a design wall or hang some of my smaller quilts. Might work it out to where I could do both. Any one have any great ideas on how I could make a design wall? I live in an apartment so I can not go drilling into the walls.

In my You Give me Fever blog post, I told you about a fabric chicken that my grandmother made and I used to play with as a child. This is the chicken made out of red and yellow calico fabric.


Keep in mind this chicken is about 36+ years old. While the normal life span of 6 - 8 years is most common. Did you know that a male chicken has no penis?

Here is a picture of me around age 4 with my grandmother Lela and the chicken. I was just so darn cute back then. What the hell happened?

I have a quilt made out of this same fabric a picture can be found here. Maybe this is where my love for quilting come from... A chicken.

And I will leave you with this picture:
I would guess Thanksgiving age 4. I had a thing for legs even back when I was so young.

Charlie