First, some good news: some flanges were replaced on the car’s exhaust pipe, everything is back to normal and it only cost about $100. I’ll take it. Thank goodness it wasn’t more. Don and I were thinking up how many different ways we could describe the repair: it’s been flangified, it’s flangilicious, it’s flange-tastic, etc.
I hung out in the apartment all day yesterday. Since I was lacking in the sleep department, I ended up finishing my latest Louise Penny mystery, then I putzed around on the computer, watched a little baseball and played with fabric.
Having no plan, I started cutting 3 inch strips from some of my fat quarters. Isn’t that Olfa Rotary Cutter pretty? I got it several years ago. By the way, I only use Olfa cutters. I’ve tried others, but I end up coming back to Olfa. They are the best brand for the money, in my humble opinion. The first cut or two was a bit wonky and then I realized I had to change the blade. Always change your blade after each project. It’s amazing the difference it makes. (By the way, if you follow that link, you’ll see Olfa’s new design called Splash. It’s in my colors. I want one!)
No rhyme or reason here. I just pulled fabric and cut strips. Then I sewed them all together and cut them again.
I was thinking of Chinese Coin blocks.
I was originally thinking about a pillow cover – with a white Moda Solid between each Chinese Coin strip. But I quickly realized the strips were going to be too long for a pillow, so now I’m thinking small wall quilt.
Here they are, haphazardly pinned to the wall which is in a dark corner of the room, hence the color distortion. Imagine 5 or 6 inch strips of white fabric between each Chinese Coin strip with more of the solid white fabric forming a border on top and on the sides.
I’m thinking that it might be a simple yet graphic quilt that just might be the perfect quilt on which to practice machine quilting. After I practice on a smaller scale, of course. I’ve never machine quilted anything; hand quilting is my preferred method. But…as I hand quilted the big old bed quilt I finished last spring, I thought to myself, “There just might be an easier way, Claudia.” We’ll see. I much prefer the look of hand quilting but since I have two quilts already in the queue to be hand quilted, the idea of machine quilting one is increasingly more attractive.
Basically, it just felt good to play with fabric and hear Mabel (my Featherweight) purr. I love her.
I had some strips of fabric left over. I grabbed a length of yarn and proceeded to tie each strip onto the yarn. I tried a new knot that I found directions for online. Why do I have such trouble with knots? I always have. If you could have listened in on yesterday’s knot-tying adventure, you would have heard lots of cursing and swearing. The diagram looked simple. But somehow I was able to muck it up several times. I would clearly make a bad sailor.
Anyway, I ended up doing this:
Not necessarily something I would do at home, but heck, I’m on the road. The lampshades here are crooked, old and not very attractive. Why not prettify them a wee bit?
Today I don’t have to be at rehearsal. That makes 2 days off, which I could have spent at home if the danged car hadn’t been a problem. I’ll have to find something to do today that will keep me from being too homesick, though it looks like it might rain.
Happy Tuesday.
Love your cutter. Mine is so plain! I’ll have to put a new one on my Christmas wish list. Thanks for the idea!
Glad your car repair was not too bad. Sad you were not able to go home. Hopefully, the next break for you will include a trip home to see Don and your girl.
Enjoy your second day off!
Thank you, Chy!
Hi Claudia, Glad your car repairs turned out to be as minor as they were — always a relief, isn’t it? Love your quilt strips — such pretty, fun colors and patterns. I don’t quilt (I do knit and embroider), so I’m always amazed to see what people create. And the lampshade — what a great way to brighten up a room! Heavy rains here in PA this a.m. — flooding on the way to work, roads closed, etc. Enjoy your day off…hope you can find something to take your mind off home.
Heavy rains at home, too, Vera. With a leaky chimney or flashing that needs repair, we dread these days. It’s rainy here, but not heavy yet.
Claudia, That fabric is all so pretty I Love watching your projects,I just don’t know how you keep such a high energy level? We are approx. the same age, and when I get home from work, I’m done! I sure admire your many many talents! ,and Love to read your blog! -Judy A-
Yes, but I don’t work every day like you do. And when I rehearse until 7 pm I just come home, eat and veg in front of the television! Yesterday was a day off, so I had a bit more time than usual.
Oh,to have the energy of our youth, huh? {{{ :^ )
Anytime you save money on car repairs…it’s fantastic…so flange-tastic works for me! I love the idea of a small wall quilt…the turquoise fabric, after is was cut down, looks like fingerprints…cool! Enjoy your day! ;)
It DOES look like fingerprints, Donna! xo
So glad to hear your car repair wasn’t too much. That is always such a relief. It’s a rainy morning here again so I am trying to get caught up on some indoor things. Love your quilt idea and can’t wait to see it finished. xo Laura
Rainy here, too. Rain, rain go away!
Sounds like you got alot accomplished on your day off. Love those fabrics! Did you ever get your little lamb?
Judy
I just checked with the company manager and he said there’s a small box waiting for me. I’ll stop by rehearsal today and get it – can’t wait!
I usually hand quilt and HAVE been doing so on a simple 9 patch couch quilt for my son’s house. I wanted to speed things up and am not experienced in machine quilting so I decided to practice a bit on it. ( Plain white blocks are fancy hand quilting. Some of the 9 patch are hand quilted. Started the machine practice around edges and such…I just posted about it the other day if you want to have a look )
I am using Warm and Natural cotton batting and I have to say it is easy to quilt with either way.
I like Warm and Natural, too, Deb!
Oh, the fabric colors and patterns are coming along nicely. I agree, white in between. I can’t wait to see it all come together. Good for you getting another day off.
I took a walk, ran a couple of errands, forgot to eat lunch, and just ate an early dinner. Now for some reading. xo
Love your colors! You’re always good with mixing colors.
Great that you car is up and running!! You never know what to expect when it comes to cars!!
Hmmmm this post makes me wish I had a day with no commitments so I could play with my rotary cutter. Of course, I need to clean up my office/sewing room before I can even get in there!
Sounds like you were lucky with the car (but they can become money eating machines). Luckily I only had to spend about that for the plumber yesterday. The kitchen sink got stopped up and started to leak (badly) on Sunday. All fixed now. Hope you found something good to do today. I went bowling with friends. J
Great news about the car..sad it’s too late for you to visit home..The lamp looks cute with the colorful fringes tied on!
It’s always a nice surprise when car repairs aren’t as costly as you might have anticipated! Love what you did with the lampshade! I know you’re not fond of trends but you could start something new with this! Love the fabric strips and they look divine on the lamshade! BTW, don’t know if it’s wordpress or my I-pad but I’m having trouble leaving comments. I can see the comment box but the post button doesn’t appear. I have to keep scrolling up and down to get it to work and sometimes I just give up.
Excellent news about the car!.. I know how that goes.. The cutter is very pretty and I LOVE the colors in those strips.. Very creative way to use them. I also think they would make a beautiful quilt. The colors just say.. happy :)
Glad that the car repairs were reasonable. One just never knows.
I’d say you put in your time very well. Playing with fabric is almost always fun and creative. Love the coin strips. So cheerful. Being cozy and sewing while the rain drips outdoors is a great way to fill a day – but I know the rain is getting kind of tiresome this summer out east.
Claudia, I’m glad to see that you got to spend some quality time with Mabel today. Your little wall quilt will be very pretty. And I love what you did with the lamp shade, nothing wrong with making your temporary home fun and playful. Hopefully, next time you will be able to spend your days off at home. hugs, debi
SO sorry you didn’t get to go home..Love the fabric ..so bright and cheery