Done is better than perfect.

This is the first sewing I have done in more than a year. 

I started my first (of many) eye surgeries December 2017 and still have one to go.

I truly didn't even want to blog this little wall hanging.

There are so many, many, many (did I mention, many) things wrong with this thing.

I felt as though I was forced to blog about it since I not only wrote a post about finding little treasures, but also, how I was going to start AND finish a small quilted project a month.

 What was I thinking????

(I'm still working through eye surgeries)

I tend to be a teeny bit of a perfectionist when I sew.

If the least bit goes wrong I will toss the project and start over or find another project.

I was determined to finish this thing - one way or another.

I loved the colors so I kept going.

I read somewhere you should never point out your imperfections - no one notices but you.

Not sure that's true...
I'm pretty sure even you non-quilters can see ALL the things wrong here.

Honestly, I'm happy I didn't toss this project and kept going.

It's far from (or even close to) passable, but I decided with all it's imperfections I liked it anyway, so

  I'm keeping it.

As they say...

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

😉

Linking today to:
https://www.quiltfabrication.com/
https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/
http://www.esthersquiltblog.com/
http://www.myquiltinfatuation.com/
https://www.quiltfabrication.com/

Odif 505 Temporary Adhesive spray

My go to temporary adhesive spray for embroidery and applique is Dritz Adhesive spray.

I have used it for years with no problems.

It's a bit pricey...

Regular price is $17.99 for a 5.62 oz can.

I purchase it at Joann Fabrics and try to use a 40% off coupon when I can.

I have heard many quilters rave about the Odif 505 Temporary Adhesive spray.

  I thought I would give it a try and ordered a can via Amazon.

$15.03 for 12.4 oz

(Big difference in price from the Dritz I usually use.)

Anyhow, I received my 505 and began to read the instructions on the back of the can.

I came across this.....

WHAT??

THEIR KIDDING, RIGHT???

DRY CLEAN?

I will assume this hasn't been an issue for quilters using it to sandwich their top, batting and backing together before quilting.

When I embroider/applique I use adhesive spray quite a bit and need it to wash out with water.

Do you know.....

Does this 505 really need to be dry cleaned to remove it?

If so, I may have to go back to my Dritz temporary spray for embroidery projects and just use this for quilting.

Do you use temporary fabric adhesive on embroidery or applique projects?

If so, what's your favorite?

Any suggestions?

That Dritz is so expensive for such a small can...

Linking today to:

https://conniekresin.com/

https://lovelaughquilt.blogspot.com/

Finding little treasures

While going through my scraps I found this little stack of 2 1/2" squares I had kept from my mothers stash. 

They were already cut in these perfect little squares...

Thanks, Mother.

(I know, "Mother" sounds so formal but we never called my mother Mom - always Mother or Granny and my dad Pop.)

Anyhow…

Thought I would try out my new little half square triangle ruler.

I haven't decided whether it takes more time to draw the two lines to sew on or just one line down the middle and sew a 1/4 inch away. 

For right now it works well for me since I am still dealing with eye issues.

I am able to see where exactly I need to sew.

Aren't they cute?

Tiny little half square triangles.

Now what to do with these babies???

I already have an idea.

Stay tuned....

Linking today to:
Wow me Wednesday
Linky Tuesday

~ Got a question ~

In the past, when someone would comment on one of my posts
 I would e-mail them thanking them for their comment or answer a question they may have. If I thought my answer would benefit others I would respond in a comment, otherwise, I would e-mail them directly. Unless they are waiting on an answer to a question, I feel like no one ever goes back to see if a blogger responded to their comment.

 Maybe I'm wrong.

I have noticed most bloggers respond to a comment with another comment, so I will be trying something new...

Instead of e-mail, I will be responding with a comment on my post.

What's your opinion - which is better?

Do you actually go back to see if that blogger responded to you via another comment?
I'm just trying to decide the best way to let my readers know how much I appreciate the fact that they not only read my blog posts, but take the time to comment.

That's really all I had today but who wants to read a post without at least ONE photo, am I right?

A gift for Brianna.

Bath towel, Magic Bath Crackles and a bath puff to match.

Have a great day!

Linking today to:
https://www.skiptomylou.org/

My Amazon haul

Good morning, everyone. 

I got a couple more packages from Amazon last week and thought I would share.

 The first is a Riley Blake design called Sew Cherry by Lori Holt.

Oh, sew pretty....

(photo via Amazon)

Next is the Mama's Cottage charm pack by April Rosenthal. 

(photo via Emerald City Fabrics)

I'm loving all the bright colors in these two charm packs.

Does anyone else find it hard to cut up these little charm packs.

Do you think "What if I cut them and then find something else I would have rather used them for?"

I do.

 After all, they are only 5" little pieces, it's not like I have a whole yard to play with.

Let's face it....

I'm the same way if I have yards of fabric.

 I still, for some reason, just can't cut it until I am absolutely sure what I want to make.

 I have fabric that has been in my stash for years because I thought it was pretty, bought it, and it's still not cut. 

Am I weird?

I know, I need to change that way of thinking and just make something...
 … make anything.

I am starting slowly with my leftover scraps from other projects.

(Yep, still working on organizing those scraps; it's taking forever.)

I'm hoping I will get brave after using up my scraps and start working with my "real" stash including my pretty little charm packs.

To help me use up some scraps and practice a bit of free motion quilting, I purchased these two books by Jera Brandvig.

As I was reading the "Look inside" pages on Amazon this sentence caught my attention:

"This is a great way to hone in on your free-motion quilting, while you work on a single block at a time."

Perfect.

Just what I needed.

This will be an easy way for me to start learning the art of free-motion quilting.

The Quilt As-You-Go Made Modern book is beautiful with lots of ideas for using up scraps in a fresh new way.

The Quilt As-You-Go Made Vintage book is a follow-up to the Quilt As-You-Go Made Modern.

This book focuses on classic blocks. There are 51 classic blocks and 9 projects in this book with simple easy to follow instructions.

Last, but not least...
The Omnigrid marking ruler for half square triangles.

I think I got quite a haul including my binding tool and free motion quilting foot out of my $100 Amazon gift card.

Whatcha think?

Linking today to:

Linky Tuesday

Christmas curtains

I packed away all my Christmas decorations this year except my buffalo check curtains.

I received so many compliments on the curtains that I decided to leave them up and add more color to my living room this year.

Since normally my living room is pretty neutral, I knew it wouldn't take much to add splashes of color here and there.

That's the joy of having a neutral pallet, you can switch things up pretty easily. 

I'm thinking a few quilted projects and colorful pillows here and there might work.
I am just itching to get something started.
Unfortunately, I had another eye surgery last week and won't be able to sew again for awhile.
In the meantime...
I can plan.

Have a great Monday everyone!

Lucy Aurora

Need a quick personalized baby gift?

I whipped this one up in no time for sweet little Lucy Aurora.

First...

 I purchased a 3 piece bib and burp cloth set with a pretty little heart already embroidered on it.
I just added her name.

Next...

I fell in love with this soft, snuggly (ready made) blanket.

I pulled a scrap of pretty polka dot fabric from my stash and added the applique design. 

Fast and easy!

And what baby doesn't like a tiny security blanket to hang on to?

Again, simple.

All I did was embroider her name.

DONE!

Easy as that.

Don't you just love quick and easy?

I do.

Linking today to:
https://www.skiptomylou.org/

~ My organized mess ~

I say "organized" loosely.

VERY loosely...

 I thought if I kept my scraps bagged by color it would be easy to find a particular color for a quick applique project. 

It did work for awhile, but my bags were getting WAY to full.

While nosing around the internet I discovered Lori Holt's way of organizing her scraps for quilting.

Most of my scraps are just that - scraps.
 All shapes and sizes.

I started at the ironing board and ironed each one to see what shapes and sizes I did have.

I'm actually going one bag at a time.

This has turned out to be a very time consuming project, but I am hoping in the end it will all be worth the effort.

After about four hours, I am only through two bags.

I cut my strips into the sizes Lori Holt suggested.

I cut 1 1/2", 2 1/2", 3 1/2", and 5 inch strips.

Lori also suggested 7 and 10 inches, but I chose not to cut my larger pieces.

 I keep my larger pieces folded in baskets.

I am still keeping smaller bags of the awkward pieces for applique projects.

I'm hoping my new organized scraps will inspire me to start working on more little quilted projects.

How do you organize your scraps?

Cricut Maker fun!

Back in October Mr. Fisherman bought me new toy. 

A CRICUT MAKER!!!!!

When it arrived in the mail all I had was a bit of colored card stock to play with.
So I played...

I really liked this owl design and stuck it to my lampshade.

Looks a little dark and spooky, don't you think?
After all, it was October - the scariest month of the year.

I also made up a few tags for treat bags to hand out at Halloween.

This darn thing is so much fun to play with.
I can't wait to share future projects.

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and now on to a great New Year.

I'm starting my new year by cashing in one of my Christmas gifts from Mr. Fisherman.

 A $100 Amazon gift card!

I have never been much of an online shopper. 

I like to touch and feel things before I buy.

I like to know the quality of things before I spend my hard-earned dollars on something.

You can't always tell the quality of something from an online photo.

It may be beautiful in a picture, but when it arrives it's cheap, cheap, cheap.

Well.....

I have since changed my way of thinking.

 I have not been able to drive since my first eye surgery in December 2017.

I can handle the surgeries, but not being able to drive???

Drives me nuts!

Soon, I will be back to normal, but in the meantime, I have learned how fun it is to shop online.

I have ordered several things online over the past 6 months or so and had only one return.

I can see how online shopping could become very dangerous.

My first purchases using my gift card came in two days.

Oh, how I love Amazon Prime!

I saw this binding tool used on a U-Tube video and thought I would give it a try.

I also ordered an open toe, free motion quilting foot since one of my goals in 2019 is to learn the art of machine quilting.

I also ordered a couple charm packs which were not part of Amazon Prime's two day shipping.

Darn.

 I see how that 2 day shipping can really spoil a person, can't it?