Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Hyde Park, Utah

This is where I live.  Hyde Park is a suburb of Logan, in Northern Utah.  We've lived here for 19 1/2 years, and it is the best place I have ever lived!  Here are some pictures, all taken within 1 mile of my home.

I'll start with my yard.

The daffodils are blooming in my front yard.  I know that there will be more snow, because my daffodils always get snowed on.

This is a blue spruce, which is Utah's state tree.  When we moved to Hyde Park, we were able to put Christmas lights and a star on top of this tree.  It has doubled in size!

Deer Berries in the orchard.  I love to see the deer in Hyde Park!  But don't like cleaning up after them.
My tulips are just poking out through last year's debris.  I need to get it cleaned out.  When the tulips bloom, I have to keep them sprayed with deer repellent or the deer will eat them.  When the tulips are done, the lamb's ear grows over them, and attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and bees.

This is our little orchard.  There are 2 apple trees, 2 pie cherry trees, 1 peach tree and 1 pear tree.  The peach tree produces bad fruit.  We're going to cut it down and put a big, juicy plum tree in it's place.
This is our backyard.  The iris in the lower, right corner are popping up and need to be cleaned  out.  There are 2 small fruit trees, further back by the white fence.  An awesome peach and a not so awesome plum.
Here's a closer look at our little peach and plumb trees.  My Dad and step-Mother gave these to us about 4 years ago.  They were volunteers in their huge garden area.  Last year was the first time either produced fruit.  The peach is incredible.  I think the plum is a wild Pottawatamie plum.

This is our little vegetable garden.  We'll plant peas, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, Lima beans, cantaloupe, radishes, Swiss chard, kohlrabi, carrots and maybe some corn.  We can't plant until the ground is dry enough to run the rototiller.

Monday, May 6, 2019

Beautiful Spring Day

Spring is my favorite time of year.  The air is just full of fragrances from all of the fruit trees that are blooming.  Here's a few pictures.

 
This is my little orchard.  We have 2 pie cherry trees, 2 apple trees, a peach tree and a pear tree.  We also have a plum and nectarine in the back yard.

Apple

Pie Cherry   
 
Apple


Pie Cherry
We make juice with the pie cherries, then make some of it into the best tasting jelly.  My boys won't eat anything else.

The apples get juiced, too.  We drink some fresh, then we bottle the rest.

First Time Quilting Negative Space

Keep in mind that this is my first time quilting negative space.  I've used up 3 bobbins for this top section.  Here's what I've got so far....






Gotta have some dandelions!
 
Just a fun flower.


 I used a stencil to get the main shape.  Then added some free-motion to fill it up. 

Friday, March 22, 2019

Made a Cover For My Longarm

I have a lot of samples that I've made for teaching my classes, or when I took classes.  So I sewed some of them together with my serger.  This will keep the cat from getting on the quilt.  And I'll have some ideas handy when I'm stuck with the how-do-I-quilt-this blues.


Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Fringe Quilt Top Is Finished

The exciting thing about this quilt, is all of the "negative space" that needs to be quilted!  I haven't really had much experience with negative space quilting, and it's a bit intimidating.

 My longarm is in the way, so you can't see the whole thing.

I've made a lot of samples for my Home Machine Quilting Club.  Maybe I'll just make something different in each big, grey square. 

Or do I want to make the quilting revolve around dandelions and birds?

The light grey sashings are 3/4" wide.  I think I'll just quilt 2 straight lines through each sashing.  Maybe do a strand of pearls in each small, dark grey, border rectangle.

Where the focus fabrics (dandelions and birds) are, I'll probably just cross-hatch.  In the other big print squares, I'd like to make medallions.

Please post any ideas you may have, below.

Monday, March 11, 2019

Matching Sashing Intersections

I'm making the Fringe sample for the store, from Robin Pickens' Dandi Annie line, by Moda.  I LOVE this fabric!  The pattern is challenging if you're not sure how to get all of those sashing intersections to match.  Here's how I do it.

First, I sewed all the rows together.  Then I measured 6 different rows.  Then averaged the measurements and cut ALL of the horizontal sashing pieces the SAME size.  This will help the quilt
be squared-up when the top is finished.

My sewn rows aren't exactly the same length, but that's alright.  I'll pin the sashing strip to the bottom of a row, at both ends.  Then I'll pin one end (right side) into the carpet.  


The sashing is a little shorter than the row.
 


Stretch the sashing and the row just a little, until they're the same size.  Then pin the other end into the carpet.  Now I can evenly pin the rest of the row.









When the sashing strip is sewn to one strip, then we'll get it ready to sew to the other side.  I fold the sashing onto the row and use my Frixion pen to mark where the seams are on the sashing.


 

See how the marks line-up with the opposite row?


Pin all of the seam allowances in place.


 See how there's gap in the row between the pins?  As I sew, I can ease this to fit by pulling it taut.


Here are my finished intersections.


 

Monday, February 25, 2019

Free Patterns Added!

If you'll look above, there's a FREE PATTERNS!!! tab.  I've added 8 new, FREE patterns!  Here are some pictures.

Thread Catcher for a Serger




Mitered Corner Receiving Blanket
(Burp Cloth and Bib, too.)




60 Degree Border Print Table Topper




Beginning Binding Class Handout




Chenille Hot Pads

Denim Chenille Rug




Rick-Rack Boxes



The Simple Quilt with Pillow