Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Monday, January 9, 2017

Painting, Quilting & Ripping Out



Some days you should never
sit down at the sewing machine.
Look at this mess . . .
I'll be ripping stitches all night.


This is my latest toy . . . it magnifies, 
has a light and swivels and is wonderful,
because I am in the early stages of cataracts.
I have not had to rip stitches
for a very long time, until I purchased this.


So is it a fluke, a coincidence or just bad luck
that in the last two days I have had to rip out stitches
in a quilt that I'm working on.


Before I show you what I've been working on . . .
I want to thank Nancy at
 Cozy Thyme Cottage
When I opened the Christmas card that she sent
these lovely gift tags fell out.
Aren't they pretty :)
If you haven't visited Nancy's blog
you can find it here:



I have been having more fun with
my fabric paints and made this chart
for color reference.



And I've finished three more blocks
to be used in a future quilt.


In the last post I had drawn and painted
a Ball jar with flowers . . . so I drew another
and made it a Mason jar :)



 I also just finished painting this block.
I think that I will use it to make a pillow cover.


Here I just quilted some crossing stitches 
and used them to play around with.


I could make coasters out of them, I guess?


Girls just want to have fun
and that's what I did today.
Not counting the ripping out of stitches
that will occupy my TV watching time, tonight :)


Oh, here's my helper.
He gets a treat when he comes over to the 
Art Barn, so he's Johnny on  the spot when
I head out to sew.

It's All Good!

KEEP SMILING!

 Your blogging sister,
Connie :)



44 comments:

  1. Always so frustrating when you have to rip things back, such a shame. The blocks you have finished are a delight, stunning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much. I got it all ripped out last night, so hopefully I can get on with my quilt :) We got more snow in the night and are excepting even more this afternoon . . . but at least the temperature is rising. It was 18 when I woke up this morning :)

      Delete
  2. I wonder if ripping out stitches is what keeps me away from the sewing machine. When I was doing a lot of sewing I was doing my fair share of stitch ripping. I like all your quilt blocks. I still haven't given that a try yet. I can't even decide what to draw...lol I have to buy the paints too. The store I was at yesterday didn't have them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amazon has a set of 18 colors for $30.00. I think it's a great deal. They are "DecoArt So Soft Fan Favorites" if you type that into Amazon search they should pop up. I got it all ripped out, so I'm ready to try again, LOL.


      Delete
  3. From the comments above, I see that you finished the stitch ripping! Wonderful! That's always a major accomplishment when there's a lot to tear out. Oh, and your painted fabric blocks are delightful. I look forward to seeing them in your finished pieces. Also, that Helper of yours is a mighty handsome little fella. What a joy those kind of helpers are!

    Have fun and stay warm Connie,
    D~~~~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Donna, thanks for stopping by to say "Hi". Yes, I'm ready to sew that section of the quilt again . . . let's hope I do better this time. Snow, snow and more snow that's what our forecast looks like. It has slowed down any outdoors construction, so my hubby has been home since before Christmas. He's getting a taste of what retirement will look like and he is loving it :) It's nice to see him out in his shop and having time to enjoy it:)

      Delete
  4. Pretty blocks. I think those last two would work nicely for patchwork pillows on a porch. Anyway, that's what I imagine looking at them. Good to see you having fun. (Who doesn't hate ripping out stitches?) xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The little girl with the umbrella is planned for the porch this Spring. I think I have some pretty blue and red calico print that I can frame her in to give the pillow cover a more vintage look. "Spring" doesn't that word sound lovely? Snow is pretty, but I'm tired of being cold, LOL.

      Delete
  5. I need a seam ripper like that, where did you get it? I just finished ripping out a cushion I made that was too big for the chair and I have to do it over. The others fit great, go figure? Love what you did with the fabric paints, really cool. Hugs, LJ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have already made a block for this quilt that is a match to this one and the same as you . . . it went smoothly. Go figure why one went together wonderfully and the other I've had to rip out. Oh well, so goes life, LOL. The seam ripper is one I found on Amazon, it was around $9 but well worth it. Just type in lighted seam ripper in the Amazon search bar. Thanks for stopping by and for your sweet comments.

      Delete
  6. All your designs are so pretty.
    The little girl reminds me of Morton Salt.
    Lovely gift tags, what a thoughtful gift.
    I don't sew because I would be ripping everything I did out. : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She does look like the Morton salt girl doesn't she? It will be interesting to see how I work these into useful projects. Even I don't know what I'm actually going to do . . . I just have a lot of ideas buzzing around in my head, LOL. Thanks for popping in to visit :)

      Delete
  7. I am in awe of the blocks you painted! The bird one makes my heart sing! So cute!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Connie, it must just be something in the air. I sat down at the sewing machine this afternoon (it's too cold and icy to go outside) and started working on a bonnet. I sewed the three layers of the bill together, trimmed the seam real close, and noticed I had one piece of the fabric up-side-down. I still haven't ripped out all the stitches! Your other art squares are pretty, and oh what cute helper you have.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You know I have been reading blogs where the blogging sister is ripping out stitches, so you might be right. I was going to resew that piece today, but I couldn't muster up the nerve to go outside. It has been blizzarding all day and it's still coming down. It was a great day for an afternoon nap :)

      Delete
  9. Oh Connie. I am sorry you had to rip out stitches but that sure looks like a handy seam ripper outer! I hate to redo and rip out too. Thank you so much for promoting my blog. When we get caught up a bit with our unpacking I plan to get a note off to you. I enjoy your blog and love checking it to see what you are up too! Thanks for sharing your life! Nancy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nancy you are so sweet . . . thanks for popping in to say "HI", I know that you are very busy :)

      Delete
  10. Bummer about the ripping, but you'll be glad when you look back that it's done right. You've got s real talent for paint and it shows in the blocks that you've done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much and you are absolutely right . . . if I do it right I with enjoy it more. It would be a shame to put that much time into something and not do your best.

      Delete
  11. You so make me want to do some fabric painting and drawing with thread! Your blocks are so pretty and I like how you did the color wash on them. I love that seam ripper too.... I haven't ripped for several years. I was always ripping out seams when I used to make my own clothes.... or when I made alot of pillows.. sometimes would sew the wrong side to the right side and be so mad at myself! We have a good 2 feet of snow here in Madras! Ugh. I never was a snow bunny and never have really loved snow.. but always seem to live in a snowy climate. Right now I'd love to live at the Oregon coast! My sister in Florence only has rain and wind. I'd take that any day. I bet you have more wind up where you live. I hear that we're going to get freezing rain over this snow too.. oh joy. I told my hubby that if I could fly, I'd be over at the coast right now staying with my sister! I think we have at least another 10 days of this too. I like your Mason jar made into a Ball jar!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Marilyn, it is always a pleasure to read your comments. We have so much in common. We do get a lot of wind, more now than at our old house. There is a big difference living in the middle of a tight community and living in an area with a field and open space in front of you. The north wind blows over that alfalfa field and right into our yard. We have about twelve inches of snow and some drifts that are much higher. This is not our normal winter . . . pretty but becoming a nuisance.

      Delete
  12. One of the reason I sew less and less is my eyesight. And, if I had to rip anything out, I would have to use my embroidery magnifier!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a shame that as we grown older we have more time for all the things we love, but our bodies start slowly putting limits on us. We are all in this boat together :)

      Delete
  13. I love pretty tags! And I hope you have a better day sewing today...no ripping! Sweet hugs, Diane

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm heading out right now to re-sew what I ripped out . . . wish me luck, LOL.

      Delete
  14. Well, I thought I had commented on your post, but I guess I didn't! I really like your magnifier. Believe it or not, when I used to sew more, i never really minded ripping things out. And with a seam ripper like your new one it would have been so easy. Beautiful painting too!
    Blessings,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Betsy, I'm enjoying this new seam ripper, it really saves my eyes :) I am delighted that you like my free motion and my painting, thank you :)

      Delete
  15. your new tool looks nice, I have already had one cataract surgery and my other eye is going, I have the fast growing cataracts, so this would be very nice.
    Just love your coloring of your quilt blocks. The bird is my favorite. Your little helper is too cute :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My cataracts are not at the point to have surgery, I don't know how long that will be, but I will be glad to have it over with. After Steve had his surgery, he stopped wearing his glasses, except for drug store reading glasses. I've been wearing glasses since I was nineteen and feel naked without them, LOL.

      Delete
  16. That is a really cool ripper!! I like it...and I bet it is easy to rip things using that. I love your hand painted blocks -they are just gorgeous. I like those tags-that was really a sweet little gift to get.
    I hope you have a blessed, wonderful week. xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Diana, thanks for stopping by to visit, it is always a pleasure.

      Delete
  17. quilting blocks are very beautiful...

    Please visit: http://from-a-girls-mind.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Krishna, I will visit soon. Thanks for the invitation :)

      Delete
  18. Connie I'm glad I popped over for a Blog Visit this Morning, your Art is Beautiful, what Talent you have... the fabric painted block Art is Fabulous! And your Helper, Adorable! The Fabric Chart is a good Idea too... I'm trying to become more Organized in my Creative Process but I think my Mind is just messy and scattered by Nature? *LOL* Happy New Year from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, it doesn't take me anytime at all to have a mess in my Art Barn . . . I have been trying to create a habit of cleaning up one mess before starting on another. That seems to be working out very well, except when I have two or three projects going at the same time. At least I can shut the door on it and walk over to the house . . . that in itself is a blessing.

      Delete
  19. Hi Connie, here's your comment as requested. I hope whatever you're working on turns out A-OK

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, I think it is fixed . . . I've been three days trying to figure it out. Sometimes Blogger just doesn't behave, but it usually ends up fixing it's self in time. Good thing because I am far from being a techy. Thank you again. You are the best!

      Delete
  20. I just read your comment you left for Ann...about the comments not working on your blog...which one? You have a few listed in your profile. This one seems to be working okay. LOVE your fabric painting. Especially the bird!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This was the one that was giving me problems . . . but it seems to be working this morning. Thanks for coming over to lend a hand . . . I get frustrated when thinks don't work.

      Delete
  21. a fun post...and your little helper is adorable. xo

    ReplyDelete
  22. Gorgeous. I love that new tool but nothing looked like it needed ripping out to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are just too sweet . . . if you look close you will see that I had lots of ripping to do, LOL.
      It's all done now and the quilt is finished . . . I'll post photos soon :) Thanks for visiting.

      Delete