Denim Quilt - 3

 

First step is done! I have 16 rows of chain-pieced blocks. 

Next step is to press everything. Denim isn't the most forgiving fabric, especially the squares cut from jeans that have a little spandex mixed in. It will take some pressure to get the seams to lie flat. 

What's your experience with sewing denim?

Planning, planners, and people who plan

 

A little progress on the denim quilt. But not enough to be worth a new picture. 

So today I have fallen into my fall planning mode. Whether it is a reaction to years of buying new school supplies, or the itch to ensure I am fresh for the new year, I don't know. But something in the fall weather pushes me to get out paper, pens, pencils, stickers, and look at planners.

I was an avid Day-Timer person for a great deal of my professional career. But as soon as technology entered the planning area, I was a convert. I had one of the first Compaq PDA's. I had an Apple Newton. Today, I live and die by Google Calendar. I have it on my computer, my tablet, and my phone. Always in synch. Always searchable.

Those last two characteristics are the reasons I can't see myself returning to paper planning. I don't HAVE to carry a planner around with me ... I always at least have my phone. Plus, I can always search ... when WAS that last doctor's appointment? 

But my heart still longs for scribbling. I have tried bullet journaling. I've tried going back to Day Timers and their clones. But ... can't search!!

Now I am trying a hybrid. I am using a disc-bound notebook (Levenger's Circa is my preference). I still keep my digital calendar, but have brought over task lists, trackers, and other lists of interests into a pseudo-bullet format. This seems to satisfy my need for paper as well as the convenience of online.

On a funny note, I was naïve enough to believe that, when I retired, I wouldn't have such a full calendar and could simplify. WRONG! Some days it seems like I am busier now than when I worked full time. Not with meetings and agendas, but with household management tasks, sewing, knitting, baking. I find I have to write down what I want to get accomplished if I don't want to lose sight of it.

What do you use for planning your life?

Romance Novels

 

Can't spend ALL my time sewing and cooking, so I have been reading more than usual. I almost always gravitate to Urban Fantasy, like Anita Blake or Harry Dresden. But, lately, I have become hooked on Romance Novels. The Billionaire Romance series and the Children of the Gods series are a couple of my favorites. 

NOTICE: if you are allergic to sex or violence, do not read these books!

Why do I find them entertaining? Well, as I said at the beginning of this series of blog posts, I am looking for things that do not make me sad or mad. What better to carry one away from reality than vampires, sexy vampires, and hunky men? 

That being said, you might notice that most, Dresden being the major exception, of my reading involves women with strong personalities, some women who can kick ass, and others who are strong willed. Then they fall in love. The authors seem to know how to write a woman in love who does not give up her strength. As several of the heroines claim ... they do not need a prince, they can rescue themselves. However that doesn't mean they can't give themselves to someone physically and emotionally. 

I find the interaction between strong women and strong men fascinating. Try it and let me know if you like it.

BTW, the picture at the top is from my bedroom. The sun is filtered through the slats of a folding door and reflects off the brass bedpost. I find it beautiful and fascinating.

Not much Denim Today

 Sewed a total of 5 squares today ... 😡 If that doesn't seem like much progress, it's because it isn't. 

Does going to see my trainer and a dentist appointment count for busy time? How about losing myself in Minecraft and Path of Exile for a couple of hours ... while the Vice Presidential debate was on! Gaming seemed like a much better way to pass the time!

Although I did remember that I could chain piece this quilt. I'd already started just sewing one square to another, cutting the thread, then sewing the next piece. At least tomorrow will go faster by chain piecing.

By the way, this is supposed to be happening in Albuquerque this week:

How busy was your day?

Denim Quilt - 2

 

Here's the layout. I tried for a somewhat Ombre effect because, as I said, I didn't want to have to deal with color pooling. I'm pretty pleased.

Now I have to start piecing. That's going to be interesting because not all the squares are exactly 4". Why not? You may ask. Well ...

I began cutting this during my visit to Dallas. My daughter's house consists of:

1. Two dogs ... one of whom is a great Dane who thinks she is a lap dog

2. Two cats ... both crazy, but one would come into my bedroom every day just to sniff the air coming out of the air conditioner window unit.

3. One 10-year old who is very ready to be all grown up. Ahhh ... pre-teens

4. One 8-year old who loves everything Minecraft and Pokemon and wants to tell you about it ... constantly

5. One spouse who can fix anything ... but yells at the TV during sports events

6. And my darling daughter.

Could you cut consistent squares in that household? I'm not saying it's chaotic ... no more so than mine was with two children about that age. But I wasn't trying to cut perfect squares then, either!

What do you do to ensure your cutting is accurate?

Making a Denim Quilt

 Of course, we have devoured almost all the yeast rolls from the last post! G reminded me that I could take half the rolls, just prior to cooking, and freeze them. I probably should do that, but where's the fun?

So, moving on, here's the start of a denim quilt:

My visit a couple of weeks ago with A and family resulted in a stack of worn and outgrown jeans that M wants to be a quilt. I determined that 4" squares produced the least waste and went to cutting. The first photo shows the approx. 300 squares I will use to make a 60" by 60" quilt. The dimensions were at her request and she is a very opinionated young lady, so 60 x 60 it will be. I have no idea how she decided on those dimensions!

I spent a good part of my visit cutting and then finished the last 50 or so squares upon my return home. Last night, I took the time to sort them into, again approximate, dark, medium, and light squares. Now the task was to figure out the layout so I wouldn't get "puddles" of color.

I decided to start with the light squares in the middle and spiral out getting darker. That leaves all the dark squares on the edges and I think it will look great. Am also planning an appliqued large M in red in the middle.

Next step is the layout on the dining room table -- since I don't have a design wall ... hint, hint, G!!

Also, please note the glass of wine in each picture. I will have to tell you some time about joining Naked Wines  If you take a look at their web site and want to participate, contact me and I can give you a coupon for a discount on your first order.

What is your Covid-inspired beverage of choice?

Becoming a Maker as a 2020-itis Solution

So, we all have our opinions about 2020, the Virus, Politics, etc. But I am trying to NOT focus on things that make me sad or mad. 

How? I make things! I have been sewing, quilting, and baking. I'll share the trials of trying to find bread flour later!

Here's my attempt at re-creating my Italian grandmother's buttery dinner rolls. Neither my sister nor I have been completely successful, even after watching Nanaw Mimi in her kitchen, with her hands coated in butter, shaping the rolls and then putting on MORE BUTTER. They were divine!

Well, I found a recipe in Fannie Farmer's cookbook . The recipe had had instructions following after the standard rolls for rolling the dough as if for cinnamon rolls, but using softened butter, rather than the cinnamon sugar. Had to try it! They are as close to hers as I have ever been able to re-create. As you can see from the second picture, George and I had to sample a couple!

Bread flour? Apparently, now, there is no issue. But back in April, May, June, there was none to be found in the Albuquerque stores or online. King Arthur flour even noted they didn't have any in stock, and didn't know when they would. Apparently the lockdown caused all of America to want to bake. 
 

Here is a really great, and interesting, article from Bloomberg Businessweek back in April that really discussed how King Arthur flour handled the huge surge in demand for bread flour. 

What's your strategy for staying sane during these insane times?