"Family Forever"

In 2012 I met up with a group of friends for some shopping at Hancock's of Paducah.  My friend Rose Mary and I thought it would be fun to work on projects together at our upcoming retreat that summer, so we each bought a "Tropical Breeze" pattern by Fat Quarters Anonymous.  We were both drawn to the same fabric line so we bought everything we needed and started on our quilts that summer five years ago.  This is all I got done --

I set it aside for a long time.  (Hmmm, I seem to do that a lot, don't I?)  Finally, last year I decided it had been a UFO long enough and I needed to finish it.  I wasn't really loving the fabrics I had planned to use for it.  It really needed some more color.  (I do that a lot, too!)  Color definitely helped.

I wanted to use some of the fabrics I had originally bought for the borders, especially since I had so much of it.

The first one looked pretty good ....

..... the second one, not so much.

That was okay, though, because I have quite a selection of batiks  Surely, I had something that would work.  Hmmmm......

With help from Hubby I auditioned border fabrics until I finally found one that would work.  At first, I wasn't sure the binding fabric, which I matched to the backing, would work either.  

Once it was finished I decided it was perfect, and I love it!

I mailed it last week to my former sister-in-law who I still consider to be family, and I always will.  That's why I named this quilt "Family Forever."  We share many precious memories.  I hope they come to mind whenever she snuggles up in her quilt.

I'm linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  Can I get a Whoop Whoop?

And All is Right With the World!

After I wrote this blog about the pre-cut kit that ruined a whole day of my retreat in June, I emailed both Marcus Fabrics, who manufactured the kit, and Hancock's of Paducah, who sold the kit.)


Within 4 hours I had a response from HoP offering me a full credit in the form of a store voucher, even though they were in no way responsible for the quality of the merchandise they had sold.  I refused their offer for just that reason, but Justin Hancock still insisted I at least take their offer of free shipping on my next order.  I doubt I will take that either, but the next time I am in Paducah I want to shake that man's hand!  What excellent customer service!!

About three days later I received a response from Marcus apologizing, informing me that they were aware of the problem, were cutting new kits, and that I could exchange it at the retailer in August.  I thought the reply was a little cold and impersonal so I told them so in a follow-up email.  Today, I received a personal call from them.  I guess they do want me to be a happy customer.   I'm still hesitant to use another one of their products.  You know, "Once burned, twice shy" and all that.  I did think it was only fair to let you know about their response, though since I told you about the problem.  

I am not the kind of person who writes complaint letters at the drop of a hat, being generally pretty good at giving people the benefit of the doubt.   I would much rather write letters of praise and let companies know how much I appreciate their product or their service, and I often do.  One thing is certain.   It's a lot more fun to be in that position!!

My New Project for June -- A Disaster!

It's time already to report on my NewFo for June.  I thought this would be one project I could start and complete pretty quickly.  I was really excited about working it with my friend Rose Mary at retreat last month.  We had seen this kit for "Rainbow Square" and pre-ordered it from Hancock's of Paducah.  

Looks pretty simple, right?


The first problem was with the pattern itself.  The wording was so vague on Step 1 that everyone who read it thought it meant something different.  Even Ruthie (who has actually tested patterns for a quilt magazine) had trouble figuring it out.  We did a lot of ripping on Step 1.  

No matter how carefully I stitched my 1/4" seams, the strip sets were wonky.  Look at how much difference there is between the ends and the middle of this strip set.  


It was at that point when I pulled THIS strip from the jelly roll.

REALLY, Marcus Fabrics?!?!? This is a 2.5" strip that will work out to be an accurate quilt block?  No wonder everything was turning out wonky!  


At this point I was hoping to still make the blocks turn out true - somehow. After all, this wasn't the first time a wonky-block-gauntlet was thrown in my path.  I could probably still make it work.  The next Step was to sub-cut, rearrange, and sew back together.  Like this -

Hmmm.  I might be able to get those seam allowances to line up better, if I "ooch and skooch" a little, right?

Wrong -- more ripping!

I still wanted to save this project.  I decided to cut the binding fabric and use that for the insert strips instead.   Time to go "out of the box."

Yikes!  That is so far off, I don't know if there is any saving it.  

I know the seams are accurate.  I am pretty exact in my sewing.  In fact Angela from Quilted Joy doesn't even measure my quilts before she puts them onto her long arm because they are always precise and well pieced.  

I guess it is time to contact Marcus Fabrics.  In the mean time, no more pre-cut kits for me! 

I am linking up with Barbara at Cat Patches.  I hope the other stitchers in the NewFo Challenge had more success in June than I did!

A NewFo Finish -- March Pillowcases Done!

I got into my sewing room this week and finished the ten pillowcases that I had cut out for my March NewFo.  I am back on track with my pillowcase project and almost caught up with my goal of making 50 for an early June deadline. 

 

Aren't these pretty fabrics?  I've been trying to make some of the pillowcases appropriate for teenagers since there are plenty of teen patients in childrens' hospitals.  I think someone will like these a lot.  

These are good for teens, too.  I especially like the blue one with the musical instruments.  

I hate to tell you how long ago I bought these florals.  I'm pretty sure it was around 2004.  I bought them from the famous "back room" at Hancocks of Paducah during Quilt Show Week.  I can't imagine how many pieces of bargain priced yard cuts are bought from that back room, thrown into stashes, and never looked at again.  Would you believe these three pieces are the only pieces I have done that exact thing with?  You're right.  Don't believe it!

A Pay Day Finish!

When the Cottage Quilters announced that our 2011 Challenge was to be based on a candy bar wrapper I knew there would be a lot of bright quilts inspired by M&Ms and Skittles.  I like to do things a little differently (if you haven't already noticed) so I went candy bar shopping just to see what I could find that was a little out of the ordinary.  I liked the wrappers for the Zero Bar and Hershey's Cookies 'N Cream, but I decided on the Pay Day wrapper because of the colors.  

I cut a bunch of squares from  blue, orange, tan and white scraps.

Then I made a WHOLE LOT of half-square-triangles........

.........and I started playing on my design wall.

 

                             

                              

My good friend, Angela,  quilted it for me and did an absolutely stunning job on it.  She's pretty amazing.  Check out her blog.  http://quiltedjoy.blogspot.com/

 

I cannot thank Angela enough for the gorgeous job she did.  We have entered this quilt in the AQS show in Paducah and got the entry form mailed just before the deadline.  Now we wait until the first week of March for news.  Here's hoping!   

How I Spent National Quilting Day

I actually spent National Quilting Day working on a quilt!  In my last post I showed you the progress I had made on Aidan's Star Wars quilt.  I am happy to report that because of National Quilting Day the top is complete.  On my way home from visiting my grandchildren in Huntsville the other day, I stopped at Hancock's of Paducah and bought these two fabrics for an inner border and binding. 

Yesterday I finished filling in the black background and added a half inch inner border of orange before putting the Darth Vader borders on.  I am loving this quilt!

Now, to piece the backing.  I have these two pillow panels that I want to use on the back along with the Darth Vader fabric and some black and orange scraps. 

I am really excited about getting this finished.  I know Aidan is going to love it!


On a serious note -- I think we should have a MONTHLY National Quilting Day.  Don't you!?!?