Sunday Stash

60% off sale at Craftsy, sure, I will have one of everything! I have to give myself a pat on the back, because one isn't even for me! The other weekend my friend came up to visit me and really like my Joel Dewberry - Bungalow, so I got her some fat quarters. I also picked up some Amy Butler for me. At that discount, why not?!  Ok, back to not buying fabric.

Linking up to Molli Sparkles this lovely Sunday for his Sunday Stash.

-Patch & Chels

Quilt Ladders ... An Attempted Tutorial

This post was supposed to be a quilt ladder tutorial, but let's face it, every time I turned around I was lost. My father was doing some unexplainable thing, had some jig that just appeared, was using this crazy machine. It finally got the point where I gave up all hope of having a high quality tutorial to share. So unless you have a full wood shop at your house you just might not have the tools to complete this project. Here is my feeble attempt to accurately explain what happened as Dad completed 80% of the work and me with a camera desperately trying to put in my 20%. We made 4 ladders at the same time. Mom couldn't wait to get her's loaded on Christmas day, hence the photo. 

To start, we cut two 16' x 12" x 1" rough-cut boards into 5' sections, and sub-cut the boards into 4.75" strips to make the side rails, 2 side rails per ladder.

Then each of the side rails went through the planar to take the edge off, you can see the detail below. A router would also work but would create a more rounded look.

Then to power sanding. The boards are rough cut, so not too much sanding but enough to smooth them up a bit. After I got going, Dad had all the rungs cut. Each ladder needs 4 rungs,  each measuring 17" x 3.25." I can't even begin to tell you how that got done! Dad has a sander that hooks up to an air compressor, so the thing is a beast and went quick.  

Then there was a jig to cut the legs down to the final size, yep it just appeared! After all the legs got chopped to the same length he took 27 degrees off the bottom using a chop saw (Yes, something I know). This is so they will rest out from the wall. Detail below, say hi to Dad above! 

After all the parts got cut he put the rungs into the Kreg Jig, this one you can purchase, to make pocket holes. He put two pockets on each rung one inch in from each side. It made a mess! 

As Dad was working, I was picking out stain. I decided on Fruitwood (left) and Ipswich Pine (right), from Minwax. Or in his opinion, futzing around.

Then once again a jig appeared.  He cut this jig at a 45 degree angle at 11" long.  Once we marked 3" inches down from the top this would perfectly place each rung. It did make putting the four ladders together quick. There is picture of the jig below, he marked one inch in to show where each rung should line up on either side. I was staining as Dad was assembling. I love how the stain took to the rough lumber.

Then we did the same thing for the other side. Once the whole ladder was assembled I finished staining the side rails. Oh, we used the Kreg 1.5" pocket screws to attach the rung to the rails.

Here are all the ladders done.  Two done in Ipswich Pine on the left, and two down in Fruitwood on the right. Now they are off to get 3 coats of polyurethane, the rough cut lumber required an extra coat! I also learned some yankee construction talk. Holiday: an area that is light or missing polyurethane. Let's say round one had a lot of "holidays."  

Pretty sure you are probably way more confused as to how these ladders are made. If you have any questions, ask! I can send them along to my Dad. They turned out super amazing and all who received them were very impressed! 

- Dad & Chels

Patchwork City

Some of the gals from the NHMQG decided to tackle the Patchwork City sampler as a group. Well each working on our own projects but everyone working on the same project. I love this kind of sew along. It just lets everyone's personality show through. Here is my color scheme ... 

Love the fabric second from the right, so different from other low volumes I usually use.

Not sure what happened to my blue picture, but I am super excited to get this project going. My Christmas sewing was getting in the way, now that is done it's time to get my sew on!

-Patch & Chels

Patch's Goals for 2015

Happy New Year! It's officially 2015 and time to share Patch and I's goals/ambitions for the upcoming year. Last year this list was so easy to create. I was walking into unchartered territory with starting a blog. I wanted to do it all! This year I want to refine my goals and focus my energy. Therefore, this required so much more thought. 

1. Find Balance. 
Last year I started working out and blogging. It has been stressful adding two demanding hobbies into my life at one time. This year I hope to fall into a schedule that will allow me to feel accomplished without feeling stressed.

2. Charity Quilts. 

I hope to finish a few charity quilts. This was something I had on the list for last year and never did. Well I have the tops done but not finished. Over the year I would like to get some finished and donated. Actually, I hope to get one done per quarter. 

3. Zippers.

Zippers just look like a challenge, so it's about time I actually learn how to sew them in.

4. Curves. 
At the end of last year I signed up to take a class on curves with my quilt guild. One of the ladies graciously twisted my arm. It was the jolt I needed to take the plunge into learning something new. Still nervous about taking a class with a professional.

5. Embrace the Process.

Many times I just share the end results and not talk about the process or take process shots. I have always wanted to share these moments but I get caught up in the moment and forget to take pictures. This year I hope to talk more about process and show more of how I work. 

6. WIP Control. 
Story of my life. Looks like I am officially down to 5 WIPs!  This has been on the steady decline since summer. After the struggle to lose 15 WIPS (yeah it's as hard a losing weight!), I hope this year I can keep projects coming and going at a steady rate instead of collecting projects.

7. Purge.

Last year began en epic purge/fabric stash decline. This year I hope to keep using up the materials I already have before going and purchasing anything new. I have many scraps that still need to get purged. There are a couple scrap purge quilts I have lined up for the new year. Hopefully they will make a dent in the pile.

8. Diet Restrictions. 

Over the last year I participated in a Fabric Fast. I did not hold true to my restriction, even splurging a couple times last year. On a good note, more fabric was quilted than purchased in the last year, yay. The experience was great to see how much fabric I really need on hand in my stash. This year I am not going to fast, but I am going to stick with purchasing just things I need. 

9. Learn My Machine.
Black Friday specials were very good to me! I bought a Pfaff, surprise. Not sure I shared that information yet. More on that later. I did FMQ my sister's quilt, but that was a huge learning curve. There are so many bits & pieces that go with my machine I have no idea how to use. The machine came with 2 free classes. Now I just need to find the time and the arm strength to get it back downstairs and to the shop.

10. Lose Weight.
Weight loss isn't a quilting goal, but in my quest to find balance might as well put everything down in the same place. The theme this year is 15 pounds for 2015. In the last weeks of 2014 I started running again and got a gift certificate for new running shoes. It's going to be my year to look great!

11. Travel More.
My Best Friend and I are traveling to New Orleans this spring to celebrate our 30th birthdays. It's our Fabulous and Thirty trip. I have always liked to travel and cannot wait to get back out and see things. I also hope to visit my cousin in Denver this summer. No time like the present.

12. Be a Friend.
Growing up my father always said, "To have a friend you must be a friend." Last year I gained many friends out in the blogging community. This year I plan to keep my old friends and hopefully gain a few more friends.

13. More Tutorials.
Last year I started off strong and made a few tutorials, but then I got weighed down with blogging. In 2015, I hope to put out a tutorial ever couple months. In the last month I have been collecting some tutorial ideas to help me out when I find myself in a slump.

14. Enjoy the Moment.
In all aspects of my life I tend to be so focused in getting thing done I forget to enjoy the moment. In the classroom, I am always worried about the time and making sure we get everything done I sometimes forget to enjoy my students. Same thing goes for sewing, when things are going well, I need to celebrate those moments.

15. Keep Going.
With 365 days of blogging under my belt, this year I am excited to see how much more this year will bring. Every month I kept thinking, "It can't get better than this." Then it would. I am happy to have all you joining me in my quilting adventures this year :)

Cheers to another year,
-Patch & Chels