Happy Zombie

I’ve been saying forever that cameras should come with an “Oregon button”. A magic button that turns dark Pacific Northwest daylight (that murky damp Twilight-ishy gray)… into happy pretty sunshiny brightness. Thanks to the Pioneer Woman - she wrote about the aperture button on a DSLR camera. Aperture… aka The Oregon Button. And the OB was staring me in the face all this time.

I had to test it out asap. I went a little extreme and over exposed myself a little too much (THAT’S gonna garner me some unwanted spam). Because I’m a PCP photographer (point-click-pray), I have no +/- numbers or metered levels to recite. I just watched my little aperture bar move up and down as I fiddled with the button. I did make this sound as the meter bar increased… [low pitch] blooooooooop [high pitch]. Decrease on the meter bar… [high pitch] bloooooooop [low pitch].

My before and afters.  Because I had the aperture set to steroid levels… reality is somewhere in the middle of the before and afters.

My kitchen and front entry:

My morning joe:

My phone I never answer (I hate talking on the phone):

Throne cam:


Edited in: I was on the throne… not *on* the throne.

I’m sooo happy to have learned about aperture.  Thank you Pioneer Woman - I can now make every day a happy pretty sunshiny day in Oregon.

It’s so hard to think of words as I bask in the afterglow of the most amazing quilt retreat ever. Our hostess Karen set up the most amazing retreat in what can only be called paradise. Our retreat was at the Falls Creek Conference Center near Raymond, WA.   Sarah, Sarah’s mom Kirsty and I set up shop in the center of the gym. The center of the quilting universe.

Falls Creek is an amazing place and our hosts could not have been more wonderful and accommodating. Great food, great lodging and great kindness. Having four days of the ultimate quilting weather (rain, hail, thunder and lightening) wasn’t too shabby either. The best part was being among such wonderful and amazing ladies - creating wonderful and amazing works of art. It was great to finally meet Michelle of Busy Bee Quilt Designs (who I’ve always referred to as “Hip to Be Square Michelle”). We also got to meet fellow bloggers Robin of Crafty Musings and Evelyn of Use the Loot (and her killer peanut butter cup cookies). And being among my friends like Carol-O, Judy, Robin & Mary, Laura & Susan, Mary & Teresa and Jane & Joan… that was gravy.

There were over 60 of us, but we were in a huge gym and we each had our own table - so there was plenty of elbow room. Sarah, Sarah’s adorable mom (aka MommaAnyoneCanQuilt) and I were in our own little table “pod”. Between Sarah’s imitations of Herbert from the Family Guy and my attempts to imitate Wendy Williams doin’ her “How You Doin’?“… it was far more a laughing retreat then a quilting retreat for us. There was also the My Little Pony drinking incident - but we’re trying to keep that hush-hush. Sarah’s got the scoop on it all.

Sarah’s mom looks on as her little girl and her little friend play with their toys.

After most went to bed… in the wee, wee hours… after way too much candy and coffee… it was then that Sarah spotted the roller skates. And then it happened:

(Works best if you pause it, let it load, and then play it. If the video does not appear, click here.)

As I mentioned in my previous post, Karen asked me to do a quilt-as-you-go demo since I’d done some QAYGing in the past (my Roly Poly quilt’s center). My demo was a mess - but it’s not like Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno were judging me. I don’t know who the genius is who thought up the QAYG method. I wish I did… so I could apologize for butchering his/her trick.

Quilt As You Go:
1.  For my 4-block quilt, I used two 1¾” strips (then folded) and two 1⅛” strips - the length of the backed and quilted block to make my rows.  To join my rows, I have one long 1¾” strip (then folded) and one 1⅛” strip.   After I measure my completed rows I will cut the strips to that length.

2.  Join a 1⅛” strip, rights sides together on top of the block and the 1¾” folded strip the back of the block (raw edge to raw edge). Join by stitching a ¼” seam.

3.  Flip top strip over. Press.

4.  With right sides together, I join the next block to the top strip.

5.  Raw edges together, join by stitching a ¼” seam.  Flip block over and press.

6.  On back side of row, flip over folded strip and stitch with a slip-stitch.  If you love stitching binding down… you will love this.  The technique is the same.

7.  Join your rows in the same manner as joining the blocks into rows.

8.  Press front.

9.  Flip back over and repeat step 6.

Bind it… and tah-dah - it’s done!

Well, it’s DONE if you quilted ALL of your blocks.

I’ve been asked by Karen to do a demo at her quilt retreat this weekend - and I thought I’d be a smarty and post a tutorial ahead of time.  I have a tendency to teach/demo in Can’t-you-read-my-mind-glish. This way in case anyone forgets to bring their English to Can’t-you-read-my-mind-glish translator… there will be a reference here for all those words and sentences I forgot to say.

And… that was my plan. I’m trying very hard to crack the whip and get all I need to do to get done. Packing half my studio. Half my wardrobe. Snacks to buy. Fabrics to organize. My head is spinning. So thinking I have plenty of time… I decide I’d embellish my little project with some stitchery.

Natalie of Cinderberry Stitches has some ADORABLE free projects on her blog (check out her sidebar), and I took some liberties with her Sweet & Spotty Needle Wallet birdie (ie, I only used partial of the drawing for the sake of time).  So cute are Natalie’s drawings I couldn’t make just one.  No… I had to make four.  FOUR.  What the freckle was I thinking - I don’t have time!

So time got me again.  It’s like I’ve put myself in boots and I’m sloshing through the mud… and my boots are filled with mud… and I’m getting no where fast.  Now feel like I’m doing some freaky time travel post into the future.   Back to the future.   Hopping back to the past.  And now back in the now again.  If you’ve come to this post because I’ve sent you here to look at my tutorial…  it’ll be up later once the WIP has been cracked.  And I get myself into the future. Ahhhh the future… where Chex Mix comes only with Chex - none of that filler stuff I always have to pluck out.

My second attempt at the Sweet Slice cake was a little naked, so I decided to make a fabric “blue plate special” plate… and then some strawberries.  All I needed were some dollops of whipped cream.

Of course, I always find myself chanting, “I just need some whipped cream”.

I scoured blogland and flickr for tutorials on how to make whipped cream out of wool felt. I found a few, but they required sewing teeny tiny stitches on pee wee pieces of felt.  I have teeny tiny pee wee patience for that.

I was looking for something quick and simple - and for a way to use some of my pearl beads (my latest obsession).

So I came up with my own version.  After many prototype go-arounds with scissors, pencil and felt… I went to my trusty ruler rack and found just the ticket.  Darlene Zimmerman’s HEXAGON ruler by EZ Quilting by Wrights.  Maybe I’m not the only one who’s inner voice (or voices) keeps chanting, “I just need some whipped cream”?  Super easy, super fast, super not fussy.

1.  Ruler, wool felt.
2.  Cut into hexagon of desired size.
3.  Snip from points to about ⅓ of the way from the center to make little “pies”.  Just eyeball.  Inconsistency adds character.
4.  Trim each pie as shown.
5.  Result is one of those ninja flying disc looking things.  But not as sharp.  Or as deadly.

6. With matching thread (I used red for visual effect), pull a stitch through the sharp corner of each “pie”. Continue.
7. End where you started, and through the other side.
8. Tug/gather. Gently.  You now have a dollop.  Sort of.

9. Make a few tacking stitches.
10. Make a knot on the bottom of your dollop, but do not cut your thread.
11. Enter off center. Add pearl bead. Exit off center. Knot off on the bottom.

Sew/tack into place on what ever you’re going to dollop with whipped cream.

And now I must think about tonight’s dinner… and I think I know just what to have - and where to get it at!

Idol chatter… I gotta talk about American Idol. Just gotta. I see stars! What an amazing group this year (and some not so amazing to me - Cruella de Rocker). I adore David, though last night’s performance wasn’t his best I thought, bummer - but I trust he’ll bounce back. I also think Brooke was amazing and I think she’s got a pure and true love for singing. I had leaky-eye listening and watching her (and I loved how she took a shoe off to play the piano… just like most of us do when we sew on the sewing machine!). Loved Chikezie’s performance, song and style! Plus, I have a fantasy he’ll make it really big and will take on a duet partner named Macaroni. My other faves are Carley, Michael and Jason. I like Syesha too, and think she’s as cute as a button. She’s Hello Kitty come to life (you’re shakin’ your head agreeing with me).

I’ve been meaning to post about my quilt in the latest issue of Quilts & More, but have been under the weather with that cold that’s going around. You’ve either had it, are having it or you’re about to have it. It’s a doooooozie! Luckily I have my very own publicist and cheerleader who cheered me on even before I got an issue myself (how does Pam always get things first???!). Giant mahalos to my other cheerleaders on the squad too. Thank you Nanna Jamma, Cyndi, Connie, Lisa, Wendy, Anna, Vickie and Amy!

I see stars… do you? Maybe if you click on my graph drawing you can see them. Q&M has named my quilt Spice is Nice (which I think is a great name), but I’ve named my quilt Peek-a-Boo Stars. I love the fabs I used, but kinda hard to see the stars hiding in there. Olly olly oxen free!

Another change made for the issue was going from row construction instruction to block construction instruction (makes me wanna sing Conjunction Junction, what’s your function after typing that). For this quilt I set it using row construction. Much easier to get the stars where they belong and still keep all the hair on your head. If you look at my graph drawing, you can see my row setting. E-z cheezy, macaroni and chikezie.

And other stars… some hometown loggers are starring in AxMen on the History Channel. I’ve been obessed watching the loggers log the storm damaged forest across the street from me, and now I can watch on tv some other parts of Clatsop County being logged too. Who knew loggers would be tv stars! Well, I did, actually.

Hmmm… interesting epiphany of mine. Thom Beers the creator of Deadliest Catch and AxMen… features many of our local fishermen and loggers - just like our local high school mascots… Astoria Fishermen, Ilwaco Fishermen and Knappa Loggers. Are the Seaside Gulls next? Sorry Mr. Beers… I beat you to the punch. Ga-head, the Tillamook Cheesemakers are all yours.

Feeling a little Perez Hiltonishy with this post.  And now I must nap.

Have I mentioned I loved bags? And not to make light of addictions - but I am addicted and I know I’m not alone. If Dr. Drew had a clinic for us… would you go? And if we did go, I KNOW we would FIND A WAY to smuggle in fabric, needles & thread, buttons, zippers…

My friend Lisa is a bag enabler. Look at the awesome rockem’ sockem’ little bag she made me! Lisa has mad sewing skillz and the inside is just as amazing as the outside (I have to wait for better weather to take an interior pic). I love pink and green too… how did she know!?! Psychic abilities must be another one of her many amazing talents. Lisa also put inside the some delicious Aloha fabric for me. Mmmm! Have you met Lisa? She’s awesome. We met over a strawberry, and now I’m addicted to her blog as well. Lisa’s blog is so much fun, and her field trips are the bomb! I heart you Lisa! Edited in: Here is a link to Lisa’s post about the box bag.

Gosh (or gorsh if you’re reading this from the mid-west), maybe I’m an enabler too??? I had forgotten all about this little bag until Sharon started making them, and then again for her girl gang. Sharon also made a darling one for Anna! Sharon and Anna make me blush-n-gush… I heart you both!

It’s been a few years since I’ve made the Ditty Bag, and after seeing Sharon’s darling bags… I just HAD to make some again. Sounds like an easy task, but it was quite an effort to find the pattern in the basement of my computer. At least I knew if I couldn’t find it, I could at least go groveling and begging to Kris or Karen for a copy.

Fast forward… I’m makin’ the bag, “threading” the drawstring (even though it’s not a string), and thought to myself… I should share my tip. Now, I wrestle with sharing tips because I always feel like everyone knows it already and I’m the last to discover it and then I feel like a doof for posting it. Necessity was the mother of my invention, so if you already know this tip - humor me and pretend you didn’t learn it already via your grandmother’s great aunt who’s been doing this since before the bread slicer was invented.

E-z cheezy… here’s whatcha do. Get an el-cheapo letter opener with a puka on the end. I got mine at my local Safeway for 99¢ (which means it’s probably about 49¢ elsewhere). Thread and knot a ribbon to the end of the letter opener. I suppose if you’re not lazy like me, you could actually tack or sew it down instead of knotting it. Attach a safety pin to the other end of the ribbon.

Attach your drawstring or strapping to the safety pinned end. Your letter opener is now one gianormous Land of the Giants sewing needle… and you can thread your drawstring through the tube/channel with speedy ease.

Before you know it… you’re done and doner with that pesky drawstring!

Jelly Roll trix… just add milk and watch em grow. Ok, not with milk. BUT… with an Easy Angle and Companion Angle you really can seem to make the Jelly Roll’s grow. There are so many great patterns for Jelly Roll’s hitting the market (Nicole is making a beautiful one… go see it!), but I want to make something from a non-JR pattern too. With a 2½” strip, there is a way to make your strip width “grow” to make a 2⅞” half-square and a 5¼” quarter-square. If you’re using a non-Jelly Roll pattern that calls for these two measurements… here’s your answer!

Easy Angle: For a 2⅞” square, cut a 2½” x 3¼” rectangle and use the Easy Angle and cut into two half-square triangles.

Your final result:

Companion Angle: For a 5¼” square, cut a 2½” x 13½” rectangle and cut into four “quarter-square” triangles. Discard the ends - or save them for another project.

Your final result:

An extra added bonus is half of your dog-ears are magically trimmed. I use the rulers for dog-ear trimming on other projects too. I also find it hard to cut into a piece of fabric to make say a 5¼” square when I have plenty of 2½” strips or I only have a 2½” strip. Using the Companion Angle I can avoid cutting a big square. I love these rulers and think if you’re someone who’s addicted to Jelly Roll’s (and who isn’t!), these two tools will add big bang to your JR bucks!

I have a new Moda Holly Jolly Jelly Roll that stares me in the face waiting to be made into something. Waiting, waiting, waiting!  But for now all I seem to be doing is repeating over and over… Holly Jolly Jelly Roll, Holly Jolly Jelly Roll, Holly Jolly Jelly Roll, Holly Jolly Jelly Roll, Holly Jolly Jelly Roll…

This is the fabric folding method I used in my re-do (BTW, not quite yet a re-DONE… but I’m getting there!). Anyhoo… I’m not sure if this is the exact way Lois Hallock does it (I have her book… I guess it’s time I read the words instead of just looking at the pictures!). This is how I learned it from my friend Karen when we folded her fabric in her new studio (and Karen learned it from Lois). So here’s what I do:

1) Place folded yardage with selvedge to your left, the fold to your right. Line up your ruler on the fold. I use a 6½” ruler, but you can use what ever size you like. You can also let your shelf size/space dictate what size you want to make it.

2) Next just start rolling up. Flipping over and over until you get to the end. Let the ruler be your guide. It doesn’t have to be super tightly wound, but you don’t want it to slip and slide either.

3) When you reach the end, your last flap my need to be turned under just a bit. Kind of like how you do when you wrap something in tissue paper.

4) Slide out your ruler and now fold the folded end to the selvedge end. Stack your fabrics with the fold facing you. I use the same method with fatquarters, but with a skinnier ruler (I used a 3½” ruler). I let my shelves dictate how I was going to roll/fold my FQ’s, and rolled them on the 18” width of the fabric so they’d rest nicely on my narrow shelves.

My yardage cupboards have deeper shelves so finishing with an 10”/11” final unit worked perfect for me. If you don’t have a neat piece of yardage to begin with (and boy do I have a lot of those), just fiddle with your piece so you and up with a nice folded unit with now raw edges visible.

I hope I made sense of this! If you’re like me - the pictures tell the story and not the words. Drink the fabric folding Kool-aid… you won’t regret it!   Some before and after photos here.