Serger Apron

I have a feeling that most people who have sergers are pretty much like me. I've put lots of hours on my serger, even done a few creative things with it, but don't use it to its potential. It's a fantastic tool and I have a really good one but it sits unused for weeks at a time.

So, among my goals for this year, there's one to learn to use my serger. When I saw this apron project my talented co-worker did (she's really a serger queen) I knew this is where I'd start.
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And here's the thing - it was easy, it really was. Even with my pondering, thinking-it-through style, it was still quick.

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On to my next project, a pink skirt for Nora to wear to a birthday party.

MUSE

Several of my church friends sing in MUSE, Cincinnati Women's Choir, but I'd never heard the group perform. The other night at the library I found this CD, which is an absolute treat.

A section of their statement: "MUSE is a women's choir dedicated to musical excellence and social change. In keeping with our belief that diversity is strength, we are feminist women of varied ages, races, and ethnicities with a range of musical abilitiers, political interests, and life experiences."

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Next time I hear about an upcoming performance, I'm moving from the "oh, that's nice" category to the "oh, I'm going."

Conference

Last night were parent/teacher conferences at Nora's school and I asked Steph if I could tag along. Nora's school has a brand new building this year and I drive by it every time I pull into the neighborhood. In the picture, the school is just a little left of center.

I loved meeting Nora's teacher and hearing about her progress. Nora is a little introverted by nature and my heart was so happy to hear that she reads aloud readily, participates, and has two special friends, both of whose names start with "N."

There's a happy face in the rectangle, so the story says, "My Dad is happy." The picture is happy, too. Love it, Nora.

Butterflies

The first thing we need to talk about is that I didn't piece the background of this quilt. I bought the fabric with the batik squares already put together.

The appliqued butterflies are from Anita Goodesign Antique Butterflies and they're huge. They come in three sizes and the largest one at the bottom is probably 8".

If you look closely you'll find some brown outline quilting that is also in the collection. Embroidered quilting is big right now - just put the quilt in the hoop, no stabilizer, and embroider. There are even special quilting hoops with more room for quilts. There is cluster of quilting at the bottom of the quilt.

I just peeked at the 10-day forecast to see if there are any 50's temperatures coming - there aren't. One of the things I've enjoyed about living in this area is that some time during January or February there is a break with 50's temperatures. That hasn't happened this year and I've missed it.

Big Blue Bag

Just finished a gi-normous linen bag. It would be just about right for taking a quilt to class. Viking Embroidery Club.

It started out with lots of little leaves that "quilt" the fabric with the batting and backing. And, yes, it is a large hoop, 200 x 360 mm.

The pocket flap has embroidery and cutwork. There are cool new "needles" that cut out the cutwork using the machine, but I don't have those so I just used scissors. In this design, even the cut-out leaves have embroidery that can be used for something else.

This was my late night at work and I came home way past hungry and wanting something sweet. I had sweet potato fries and apple butter - could have been worse.

Ring Bearer Pillow

Latest work sample - a Martha Pullen ring bearer pillow. Satin and organza and ribbon and doves, oh my. Way out of my comfort zone. Someone once told me, forget about what you're sewing on, just think of it as cotton. Well, maybe.

Monday night was a workshop with my quilt guild for the big quilt we're making. The International Quilt Festival is coming to Cincinnati beginning this year, and we're making a Cincinnati Quilt for next year's festival. Members are working on different parts of the city. My partner and I have Eden Park. We're in the design phase now. The quilt needs to be completed by September 12.

I'm excited about a Kathy Loomis workshop the guild is sponsoring next month. One of the sessions is on a Sunday, which means that I can attend. I just got the supply list and I have everything except for the fabric. I love it when that happens.

With so many parts of the country buried in ice and snow, I'm feeling very lucky today.

Colors

I tried out the colors for my class project - I'll need to make a few changes but I'm pretty set to go on. I used an old drawing, and there have been some updates but they'll be easy to incorporate.

Melody at Fibermania is having her second February quilt challenge. Since I loved last year's challenge, I've been looking forward to this one. This year's challenge is to make the quilt you've always wanted to make.

That required some thinking. I finally looked at my tub of scraps and decided I'd been saving them faithfully for a scrap quilt so the time must be here. I can't quite decide how to get started but I do know that
(1) it will have beads, and
(2) there will be free motion quilted with no stippling.

I need to decide soon how to do this. February is a short month.