On Time & A Little Late

Here you go Jen, As I have mentioned, love the pattern

...kinda thinking of doing more in my colors :)

...and here you go Jennie! These babies will be in the mail tomorrow or ELSE!!! (I need stern warnings sometimes!)
Love,
Teriney & Shari

On another note, I spent a large part of last month also working on baby blankets for the ward. I planned on taking a picture when the binding was done, then when they had been washed and all the extra strings cut...and then the morning before I was to drop them off and Finally, after they were no longer in my care. Somehow it didn't happen. I did two zig zag style quilts and two quilts similar to the one below (for the darling nephew Eli) but one was done with red & white, with elephant applique and the other one with blues and an initial applique. Someday I will get my act together until them just imagine them as AMAZING ;)

sorry the pictures are soo small.

My web

To jen,
Well, here she is. This is definitely the thickest thing I've ever sewn; I think my machine needs a new needle now. But I actually really enjoyed this square. Enjoy!
Emilee
P.S. Sorry my pics are always ghetto phone pics.

Another Spiderweb for Jen

xo
becca

a spidey web

dear jen,

i enjoyed this more than i thought i would.

love, kristin

Little Rock PSA

There's been some discussion amongst the Little Rock Squares about where to get our machines serviced.  Before Sewing Machine Express went out of business, the wait for a basic tune-up was up words of two months (who can live with out their machine for two months?? not me!).  Other shops around town have been rumored  questionable.  So, today, I headed down to Hot Springs with my misbehaving machine in tow, and visited The Sewing Machine and Vacuum Store (where my machine was purchased).  I knew I needed at least one new part and two new presser feet due to a broken anchor.  I figured I'd have to place an order for the parts and wait a week or two to get them.  To my pleasant surprise, they had all the parts in stock!  I decided to press my luck and ask how long the wait was for servicing.  Not two months.  Not one month.  Not even one week.  The owner was able to service my machine with in two hours and had it ready for me by the time we were heading back to Little Rock!  He fixed a problem I've been having with my tension, which I had just been living with and chalking up to my own lack of tension understanding.  The staff (who is a member of the Hot Springs ward) was extremely helpful, evening throwing in a few accessories for my machine that I was missing and some extra training on how to re-thread my machine to prevent the tension problem from returning.  I was beyond thrilled to be going home with a perfectly running, wholly repaired machine that didn't break the bank!  It feels like I've got a brand new machine!!  Now time to get off this computer and finish up some Spider Webs!

FYI, here is there contact info.  They are happy to talk you through problems over the phone, too.

1130 Malvern Avenue
Hot Springs, AR 71901-6347
(501) 623-9666
smvs3@sbcglobal.net

Slow and steady wins the race, right?

Between starting a new microbiology job and 80-degree temps, this square is slow coming, but I'm loving all the geometry and exactness. 1 down, 3 to go...

busy bees caught in webs!

Our Little Rock bee last night was a success!

we missed everyone, local and distant, who wasn't there with us and we are going to do it again!

FOUR hours later, we all had at least a few of these!

We learned a few things:

1. the marking of the fabric is time and labor intensive.

2. ranch dip and chocolate are necessities.

3. you WILL most likely attach one of the strips the wrong direction or side, at least once! :)
4. Sharing strips worked well and we had plenty of yellow and grey once we pooled it all together!
5. You can reuse your trimmed strips for the corner strips that don't have to be as long! We had way too many strips at the end of the night!
6. A sewing bee is the perfect place to hash out the recent ward boundaries that switched three of the gals in our group last night!
7. The spiderwebs turn out so pretty! It was a lot of fun to learn something new!

Caught up in webs

After a late night with the girls, I dreamed about spiderwebs ALL. NIGHT. LONG. They looked something like this. Once we got going it went smoothly. Jen's name was only taken in vain a few times. I think ultimately we all enjoyed the challenge and new skills learned...or maybe I should just speak for myself.

bees caught in a spiderweb

This block did take a while, but I'm glad I got to try foundation piecing and I really enjoyed sewing together with the other busy bees. Thanks for sharing your scraps, ladies!

I wish all 12 of us could have been there.

An Idea.

Lately, I have been fantasizing about a Quilter's Retreat.

Getting some, all or most of the 12squared girls together for a few days of quilting, sewing, learning and chatting.

Would you be up for something like that?

We could decide to work on a common project or individual projects.

Everyone interested would be welcome to come to my home for a few days (maybe during the week) or a weekend of 12squared fun.

(As long as you don't mind sharing a bed, sleeping on a blow up mattress or snoozing on a couch.)

I can also show you highlights of OKC or we can lounge by the pool in our down time.

What do you think?

Here I go...

and the journey begins tonight.
without tips from my lr peeps.
wish me luck.

Dachshund Quilt

I put together this little wiener dog quilt this week for Henry (my four-year old).  

If you'd like to see more pictures, there is a detailed post on my personal blog.  Just click HERE!

Help Expert Quilting Mamas!

Spring has finally come to New Jersey which makes me and my babies ecstatic. Long runs, picnic lunches, and daily basketball games are just what we need to make us happy. :) But it also brings along one small problem: warmer nights. And since our 1920s house has no air conditioner, it can get quite hot. I finally decided we should swap out our down duvet for a cool lightweight quilt but am debating if I should buy one or make one. Any tips? Keep in mind the following:

1. Our bed is a queen
2. I am not even close to an expert sewer (is that even what it's called?)

3. I only have a basic Singer sewing machine

4. I don't want to spend one year's salary on the fabric, etc...

5. I have no idea what "stitch in the ditch", "make a quilt sandwich", or "bind" means nor do I know how to perform these tasks.

6. In New Jersey peeps are more concerned with fancy cars and working than crafts so I've been hard pressed to even find a fabric store, let alone a quilting store anywhere within a 45 minute drive of here.

So if you were me, would you recommend buying one from Ikea or Home Goods or somewhere or do you think it's at all feasible to make one myself?

P.S. If you vote for me to make one, please include any and all tips! :)

pink & purple for Eliza

My only niece (on my side of the family), Eliza, turns 4 on June 4th. Her favorite colors are pink and purple and anything princess (she has FOUR brothers). I did the lawn chair design. I love my new walking foot, but I don't know why the binding is all wavy.


The backing isn't my favorite, but she'll love it.

And I get to deliver it in person when we go to Utah in June.
Now I need to work on her brother, Max's quilt, whose birthday is June 20th.

Regrets

Dear Jennie,

Sorry we have not posted your square & that it is not in your caring hands. Shari and I will have them mailed out next week. We hope you will forgive our lameness & slothfulness!

Love,
Teriney & Shari

sewing nite in?

Hey, little rock gals!

Anyone interested in a quilting date to tackle the spiderwebs together?

That way we can figure it out together and amass our greys and yellows too!

ps-I'm the one on the back left that looks mysteriously like a man....

A Square For Jennie

Hey Jennie,

This is already on its way,

but I wanted to share a picture.

 The zig zag was my favorite fabric.

Love ya,

Jen

Spiderwebs in May

Guess what?

It is my turn for 12squared.

In a few short days, you each will be getting some inspirational material for my square.

(I finally ordered it. As soon as it arrives here, I will get it to you.)

The fabrics will look like this:

I have picked yellow and gray for the colors of my quilt.

Along with my selection, I want you to mix in yellows and grays of all shades.

Want to see the square selection?

You should know, I let Mr. Deschamps pick.

I simply could not make my mind up.

Click here for directions:

Spiderweb Block

Each quilt square will actually combine 4 mini squares.

The square will end up being 16.5".

It is a little bigger than the previous squares.

Is that okay?

One more thing.

I would like the center stars to be white.

Are you nervous?

I am.

I hope you don't take my name in vain while sewing this square.

xoxo,

Jen