Results of My Friday Night Sew-In

Let's see...what did I get done?  Not a lot.

I worked on cutting the pieces for Smokey River by Whirligig Designs. 

And I finished my Cathedral Windown pillow.

This pillow doesn't match anything in my house but I love it nonetheless.  I enjoyed making this one so much that I have a second planned using French General.  And then maybe a third one using a charm pack or two.  Ohhhh that's a good one.  I can see it in my head already!

Well off to sew...no resting on my laurels today.

Check it out!!!

Have I got something to show you?!!!  I had something that came in my mail today that is going to CHANGE your life.  It's the solution to make rotary blades go farther.

We all know how expensive it is to buy rotary blades...especially when you're a very active quilter like myself.  Again, like myself I'm sure many of you have tried different blade sharpeners.  They are labor intensive and unless you put a lot of muscle behind it, the sharpeners don't really work that well.

Well The Grace Company has changed all that because they have come out with this...

It's the True Sharp Power Rotary Blade Sharpener!!!

It sharpens 28mm, 45mm, and 60mm blades all with the push of a button.  It comes with both coarse and fine grit stones that sharpens even the dullest blade.  To use it you plug it in and follow a few simple directions. 

To use the machine all you have to do is put a drop of oil on each stone (the one on the machine and one on the lid).  Insert the blade into the right ring.  Here's a picture with a 45mm blade placed inside.

 

Next, close and latch the lid and then press and hold down the button for 30 seconds.  Open, flip the blade over and repeat.  The duller your blade, the more times you may have to rotate the blade and continue sharpening.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

I LOVE this little gizmo and yes I've already tried it out and it really DOES work.  So go throw away those old hand crank blade sharpeners and get thee to your local quilt shop and ask them to order you one or go directly to http://www.graceframe.com/.

You're welcome...LOL.

Playing Hooky is FUN

I love Cracked Pots but I need a break...especially after finishing the 20 house blocks required!

So the past couple days I've been playing hooky from it.  I've started making half-square triangle blocks...1200 to be exact...for my Ocean Waves quilt that I cut out months ago and haven't had a chance to work on.

And yesterday I started on this...

It will eventually become a 16" pillow.  My goal is to have to it completed today...fingers crossed.

What are you working on today?

What's next?

I don't really have anything clever or insightful to say today...but then again...do I ever? Hmmm....

Anyway...I wanted to share what I've been working on for the past few days.  As those that follow my blog know, I along with half of blogdom LOVE Miss Rosie patterns.  Carrie's patterns are interesting and creative.  I never get bored with her patterns. 

This week I started...

I don't usually talk about my fabric choices.  But the reason for these particular ones is I wanted to use Kansas Troubles but they can be so very dark and one note sometimes.  To lightening things up and give the quilt more character, I through in a little Arnold's Attic by Barbara Brackman, prints from Brannock & Patek, and a couple miscellaneous tone-on-tone fabrics.

And here's where I'm at as of today...



While I'm not completely done sewing the courthouse step rows together and the border on, you get the idea.  I am really happy so far with how it's turning out.

Now I am working on the houses.  Here is a sample of one of them.  I promise it's not as wonky as it looks in the picture.  I have 16 houses to go and then it's on to the final border. 

If you think you might be interested in making this quilt, I have a little advice.  This is not a complicated quilt to make.  But please take your time to really read the cutting instructions because is A LOT of cutting involved with this quilt.  And it's easy to make a mistake if you don't pay attention.

By coincidence there are two other bloggers working on this very same quilt right now.  So go check out Yvette's blog BOM Quilter as well as Ranette's blog Ranette's Daily Stitch to see their fabric selections...which are completely different from mine.

Till next time...