It seemed solely plumbing equipment that I should live on washing clothe yesterday. It was finally fourth dimension to get got the mensuration of adding the clothesline to Wind inwards the Whiskers. It truly went fairly smoothly, except for pinning the quilt to the ironing board. Fortunately, that was fairly slow to undo, but it was exactly a reminder of how the best set plans become awry sometimes.
Before I headed into the sewing room, however, I finished upward the 11th block for the Snow Globes quilt. This ane is called "Silver Bells."
There's exactly ane to a greater extent than to become earlier I tin give the axe start sewing these blocks into a flimsy. After that, I got our dinner started inwards the tedious cooker, as well as and thus headed into the sewing room to encounter my fate.
The kickoff determination was to determine how to destination the clothesline on both sides of the quilt. The instructions for the quilt suggested leaving the applique opened upward hither as well as sliding the clothesline nether the pieces. And I don't know if I exactly didn't similar that idea, or I forgot, or what, but my applique is fused as well as stitched down. I could solely assay to exercise the illusion that it was tied to the postal service on this side...
as well as the tree on this side.
The forked pins came inwards handy for this task. I used the applique pieces as well as the diagram to assist me amongst placement of the twine for the clothesline.
When I was happy amongst the clothesline placement, I fused downward the applique pieces as well as and thus couched the clothesline into place. Also...somewhere inwards all of that, I top-stitched the appliques every bit much every bit possible. The footling quilt is stitched into house at the upper corners.
From at that topographic point I was ready to gum downward the clothespins. I forget where I heard almost this product, but it was when I made the Snips & Snails quilt.
I used it when I glued the Oshkosh buttons to the overalls.
I prefer it to a gum gun. I get got problem amongst the gum gun gum hairing as well as getting all over everything inside a one-mile radius. This gum inwards the subway scheme hairs every bit well, but it's already inwards liquid form, requiring no oestrus for use. The applicator on the subway scheme is much to clumsy to usage on a quilt, as well as thus I mash out a part onto a slice of cardboard as well as and thus usage a toothpick to apply it to the especial I'm glueing. When it was all done, it looked similar this.
I can't set out to enumerate the many ways my truthful cat has helped me amongst this quilt. Here, he's lending his weight to the glueing process. Actually, I was a footling nervous letting him prevarication at that topographic point thus presently subsequently the clothespins were stuck down, but it seemed I'd in all likelihood live on worse off if I tried to motion him.
Now I'm exactly letting the quilt prevarication for a 24-hour interval or 2 to give that gum a expert direct chances to dry. The subway scheme states that it needs a sum 24 hours (about 4:00 p.m. today) to dry out completely, but that a permanent bond powerfulness non live on established for a sum 72 hours. Fine amongst me. I'm sick of working on this for a bit, as well as thus I'll exactly give it some time. I noticed ane of the clothespins was non stuck every bit tightly every bit I'd like, as well as thus I'll set upward that ane this morning.
When I was this far, I took some fourth dimension to expression upward the photos I took when I visited the McKenna Ryan showroom inwards Portland several years ago. Walking inwards the forepart door, this quilt was hanging exactly off to the left, as well as I took some pictures of it for futurity reference.
If you lot expression at her clothesline, the clothe are non attached to the quilt, but are only held inwards house amongst the footling clothespins. Also, the clothesline is non couched down. Making the quilt inwards my sewing room, I followed the instructions, which agency that everything hanging to the correct of the footling quilt is applique...with fusible on the back...and thus how does that work? Honestly, I don't acquire it. It's sort of similar ordering a t-shirt from a J.Jill catalog solely to observe upon arrival at one's domicile that the edges of the sleeves as well as the bottom of the shirt haven't been hemmed...the dreaded "rolled hem," every bit it's described inwards a catalog. It's exactly a way of making women's vesture fifty-fifty to a greater extent than cheaply than previously. Okay, but I digress into ranthood now. Pardon me.
It also brings to hear something I heard inwards a shape amongst Lura Schwarz Smith quite a few years ago. I didn't truly tending for her class, but she said something that made a lot of sense. She made a distinction betwixt quilts for the "wash" as well as quilts for the "wall." In other words, some quilts are plant of art, non intended for usage (and occasional washing), but rather for hanging on a wall to live on admired as well as never touched or used. I hollo upward there's room for both inwards the quilting world, but non truly inwards my house. There are already lots of quilts hanging, as well as non a lot of wall space. This beingness such a large quilt, it's going to live on hard to observe a usage for it. Even amongst the clothesline couched as well as the clothe stitched down, it's soundless going to live on every bit good delicate to always use. I'm afraid it's destined to hang inwards my sewing room for the remainder of its natural life. Oh well. Live as well as learn. If I've learned anything from this quilt, it is never to brand some other McKenna Ryan pattern, as well as that's something worth knowing. And yes, at that topographic point is some other inwards the plant inwards the And On that Farm quilt, but it volition live on my in conclusion forever as well as ever. Amen.
The adjacent mensuration amongst this quilt subsequently I've given the gum fourth dimension to dry out is to move on the beads...and this is the in conclusion mensuration too, thus Hooray!!! I took some pictures of the beading piece I was looking at the quilt inwards McKenna Ryan's store too. Here's what I get got ahead of me.
I've been perusing YouTube videos since I've non done much beading inwards my time. In the process, I learned I'd demand a sure as shooting sort of thread known every bit Nymo Nylon Seed Bead Thread. Apparently this is the best thread to usage for beading. I ordered a set of colors from my friends at Amazon.com. I wasn't sure as shooting what color I should live on using, but I figure having a provide of colors can't hurt. This is the epitome from the Amazon website. These are expected to become far today.
It's expert to live on able to consider these pictures from the quilt already made up. I never would get got watch to exercise the iris inwards this configuration, but it works.
There are also dark seed beads for the eyes of the chickadees as well as floss for whiskers on the kittens as well as antennae on the butterflies.
So, there's soundless enough to exercise on this.
Okay, thus Wind inwards the Whiskers is on opor-garai for a few days to give the gum fourth dimension to dry. Time to exercise something fun. I've been salivating over this footling mini quilt always since it was gifted to me yesteryear my friend Ila. (Thank you, Ila.) Is this the cutest matter ever? Look closely to consider what it is. It's cats sitting around a quilt similar an old-fashioned quilting bee.
I looked for an online presence for this designer, Alley Cat Tales. Even though I found a website, clicking on whatever of the patterns at that topographic point took me off into cyber-security-haunted-mansion land, as well as I bailed out. If the patterns are soundless available, the website may get got been compromised yesteryear hackers somehow as well as you lot won't observe anything you lot desire there. In whatever case, this was printed on the pattern as well as it's my solely clue almost the designer's name.
So in conclusion calendar week inwards my darkest of hours working on Wind inwards the Whiskers, I cheered myself upward yesteryear excavation through my stash for possible fabrics to use, as well as came out amongst these.
This adjacent ane volition live on keen for the back.
If I acquire whatever to a greater extent than assist inwards the sewing room, I'll get got to start laying off purrsonnel. There comes a fourth dimension when the workers start getting inwards ane another's way as well as you lot acquire an instance of the constabulary of diminishing returns. (I learned that every bit a pupil of economics, thus exhibit a footling respect.)
I found him some other chore asset downward my sewing chair...for a while...until I wanted to sew.
The kickoff mensuration amongst this footling quilt is to brand the background quilt. It begins amongst 4 4-patches.
Then I sewed those together.
From at that topographic point it's built out log cabin style. I sewed strips to either side, but yesteryear as well as thus I was getting tired of sewing, as well as it was getting unopen to dinnertime anyway.
Dinner was inwards the tedious cooker inwards the shape of this Marsala Beef Stew. It rained pretty much the whole live-long 24-hour interval yesterday, as well as thus this was a prissy repast on a mutual coldness as well as moisture day. I served it upward amongst a loaf of baguette for dunking.
I looked for the recipe originally published inwards the NYTimes, but couldn't observe it. The link may get got been taken down. I made a few changes to it, as well as thus I'll give you lot the recipe correct here. You tin give the axe also exercise this inwards a Dutch oven.
Beef Marsala Stew
adapted from NYTimes Cooking
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 pounds boneless chuck roast, trimmed as well as cutting into 2-inch cubes, divided
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
12 ounces frozen pearl onions
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons Lycopersicon esculentum paste
1/2 loving cup addition 2 tablespoons sweetness Marsala wine, divided
1 1/2 cups unsalted beef stock
1 teaspoon freshly Blue Planet dark pepper
iii thyme sprigs
8 ounces modest push clitoris mushrooms
4 large carrots, cutting into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Directions:
1. Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon crude to pan; swirl to coat. Add one-half of beef; set upward 8 minutes or until good browned, turning to chocolate-brown on all sides. Place browned beef inwards a 6-quart electrical tedious cooker; sprinkle amongst 1/8 teaspoon salt. Repeat physical care for amongst remaining 1 tablespoon oil, remaining beef, as well as 1/8 teaspoon salt.
2. Add frozen onions to pan; set upward 1 infinitesimal or until browned. Add to tedious cooker. Add garlic to pan; saute 1 minute. Add Lycopersicon esculentum paste; set upward 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add 1/2 loving cup wine, scraping pan to loosen browned bits; set upward 2 minutes or until one-half of liquid evaporates. Add stock as well as pepper; convey to a simmer. Carefully pour stock mixture into tedious cooker; nestle thyme sprigs into liquid. Top beef mixture amongst mushrooms; scatter carrots over top.
3. Cover as well as set upward on depression for seven 1/2 hours.
4. Strain mixture through a colander over a Dutch oven or large skillet; discard thyme sprigs. Bring cooking liquid to a boil; set upward half dozen minutes or until liquid is reduced to 2 cups. Stir inwards remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons vino as well as flour, stirring amongst a whisk to shape a slurry. Stir into cooking liquid; set upward 1 infinitesimal or until bubbly as well as thickened, stirring constantly. Pour over beef mixture; toss gently to combine. Garnish amongst thyme sprigs.
To brand this inwards a Dutch Oven: Using a large Dutch oven, follow instructions through mensuration 2. Cover as well as bake at 300°F for 2 1/2 hours or until beef is tender. Proceed amongst mensuration 4.
Okay, thus at that topographic point was ane to a greater extent than matter accomplished yesterday. With the Snow Globes block done, I needed something new, as well as I traced out Block seven of nine for Friendship's Garden.
Now that's hooped upward as well as waiting for me downstairs, thus I'll caput at that topographic point next.
There's a footling housework on today's agenda, but mainly, I'll live on working on the Alley Cats Quilting Guild. It'll live on a prissy diversion subsequently struggling all of in conclusion calendar week amongst Wind inwards the Whiskers.