Showing posts with label cats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cats. Show all posts

Friday, July 2, 2010

Design Wall

First, it is Friday and we did go out to lunch, but it wasn't any place really special.  I got to go out to lunch yesterday with some friends, so today I told my husband that we could go to IHop so he could have breakfast. That's not to say that I don't enjoy having New York Cheesecake pancakes.  We went to the music shop that he enjoys shopping in that is right next door to JoAnn's - so we both got to see what special deals we could find for the 4th of July weekend.  I bought a new rotary cutter, name brand was Claus.  It has a titanium blade - will have to see how it holds up to the others.  Best part was it was 50% off.  I was also able to use my 40% off coupon on another item.

I tried to post a response to the forum on TheQuiltShow.com on the subject of Design Walls.  In my attempt, I found I could not find how to put an image in the New Forum, so that is when I decided to post it here.  There are lots of ways to create a design wall.  It can be as simple as pinning your pieces to curtains or putting a flannel back table cloth on the wall.  If it works, that is all that matters.  I have limited wall space in my house.  I have a good size shop out in my garage for my quilting frame and commercial embroidery machine, but there is no space for a design wall out there - besides I don't do any sewing out there.  In the house my sewing room is sufficient for my sewing machines and ironing board and cutting table, but not alot of extra room... and no space for a design wall.  The hallway was the only available wall.  It is a very bright hallway because there is a skylight above it, and I can stand back in one of the two doorways to get a perspective view of whatever might be on the board.

When I told my husband I needed a design wall he decided to use corrugated plastic board that is used for signs.  It comes in 4 x 8 foot sheets, and is typically white.  I covered the board with flannel using a spray adhesive, which included the edges that fold over to the backside.  He attached a 7' piece of molding that created a lip to hold onto the two screws on the wall.  He attached the molding with two screws from the front side and reinforced it with a couple staples in between.  I lifted the board off the two screws on the wall to take these pictures.  If I ever didn't want it on the wall, I could take it down and slip it under a bed.


A few months ago I needed a larger area for a quilt I was working on.   My design wall is mounted so that the bottom is about 24" off the floor.  I created a hinged board that folded was 24" by 48" and it made my wall expand to 6' x 8'.  I slipped the opened hinged board under the bottom edge of the one that was hanging.

I have one at our cabin in Colorado.  My sewing area is in the loft and there is no wall to hang a design wall so we took a 4 x 8 sheet and divided it into three pieces and put two hinges on it so that it can stand on the floor pretty stable.  It folds up and stores behind my sewing table very nicely. I have also made a couple different sizes that I can take with me to quilt meetings.  One of them I even covered the back so it would look nice sitting on display on a table.

The cats like to get in the middle of whatever might be new in their space.

If you have any questions about my design wall, I would be happy to try my best to clarify.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

BOM Progress - new border

It really takes determination to keep at a quilt that is as intricate as this one is. There were actually 176 flying geese in this last border. In took 28 paper-pieced strips with 6 on each... that takes a little bit of time. The nice part about paper piecing is you can pretty much count on the flying geese strips to be the right size when you are done.

There is one more border to add. I think there are 72 sawtooth stars in this border. I have 8 stars to complete before I am ready to construct the border... and oh yes, 4 log cabin blocks for the corners. The end is in sight.


Sugar leaped at the opportunity to pose in the middle of the quilt when I layed it across the bed to take a couple pictures. Then of course there is Boston, knicknamed the "String Katza" because she likes to be in the middle when I am sewing or knitting or doing anything that involves string. If she cannot nab a string, she is going to be in the middle regardless.
Fluffer likes to nap on the ironing board.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

September is here


In less than two days we are off again. This time it is for 10 or 12 days. Boston, Sugar, Shorty & Fluffer will miss their little treats they get through the day, but they will be well taken care of in our absence. Keiha our trusty Sheriff Kei (she keeps the cats in line) will be taking a vacation from her duties and will assume the role of Keiha Rochelle while we are gone. I'm not sure that Keiha will miss us too much... she gets alot of special attention at the Smith residence.