Category Archives: Featherweight

A Very Good Year

Posted on December 29, 2019 by heARTs Creations

My year was not as productive as some, but it was enjoyable. It is the process, not the progress that I now focus on. There was still a lot of thread used! Each year I post a pic of my empty spools. Not as many as last year, but I also had less partial spools when the year began. It continues to amaze me how much thread quilters go through!

What are my plans for 2020? I will continue to minimize the contents of my studio. I have been cleaning out my craft bins, tossing, gifting and rearranging as I go. I sold some of my fabrics because it would have taken at least a dozen quilters to stitch through my stash! I also sold my electronic cutting machine (Scan n’Cut) because I was not using it. Beware – stand in one place too long in my studio these days and you’re on your way out! Now I’m seriously thinking about finding my Featherweight a new home. I’m not acting too quickly on that decision as I want to be sure. The cleanout has been very freeing.

I’m also knitting again! Starting out with something simple like a dishcloth seemed like a good approach. Next week I’ll be taking a sock knitting class – something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time and I am excited! I chose a pretty jazzy yarn!

There are several flimsies in the wings waiting to be quilted. I need to decide which ones I will tackle and which will go to the long armer. There are also a few projects that have been around for a long while. Hopefully the motivation will hit me to complete them. A couple have challenges that I have been avoiding. Hmmm…am I passionate about them enough to meet the challenge? We’ll see!

So here it is – my end of year Project Progress Listing. Lots accomplished – lots more to do!

Dec Projects

Thank you for being part of this past year with me. May your new year be filled with joy, peace, love and creativity!

4 Comments

Posted in charity quilts, Color, Featherweight, Hospice Quilts, Quilting and tagged Charity, Knitting, projects, Quilting. Bookmark the permalink.

Back from A Retreat

Posted on February 8, 2019 by heARTs Creations

Talk about fun! There might have been more laughter than sewing! Thankfully, there was a lot of sewing on my part. As usual, I brought more projects than I could possibly have worked on. Just in case I have a problem with a project, or if I should get bored with a project, or if I miraculously finish a project, I’ll have another to keep me busy. This was a “Featherweight Lovers” retreat, so we all brought our Featherweight machines. Although not a FW, Dee Dee’s Singer was an absolute beauty and I love her elegant setting with a table lamp!

0AA19A26-5EF1-4329-BE27-F189491F2DDA

I actually worked on three projects at once. First, was my leader-ender with 2 1/2″ squares finishing as sixteen patches. Second, for the “I Spy” I am doing, I did “square in a square” for the five inch cut picture squares. Simultaneously, I sewed parts of the project using the Egyptian fabric. Only one complete block to show, but quite a bit done on the others. Update: Corrected block. There were 3 pieces turned the wrong way – this is meant to be a star!

DE1D9B61-9040-471D-A6BC-A278B8694EF1

ALL the “I Spy” squares are now a square in a square. I set them all out and pinned – now I just need to sew together. I did need a few more and I have such awesome quilting buddies – I now have all I need. Thank you!!

And finally, my sixteen patch leader ender. I set out these blocks because that is just so much fun. A few of my 1 1/2″ strips happened to get onto one of the blocks and EUREKA! I knew I had to use them for sashings. I ran out of long enough strips, but did manage to get this much together. A little wild, but I love it. After I’ve added the other sashed blocks, I’ll work out a border – maybe I’ll have another happy accident!

FCE74C2C-AEBF-4473-B1EA-329FC775D855

Lots of great sewing done by the other retreaters. Here are just a few: Pam’s scrappy and her batik (borders to be added) –

86772B0A-ED7A-4256-8310-F3875C1C767D

Jennie’s charms and stars – I love those colors –

3AB9CEBE-6ED8-448D-BCFC-C3ECE84A1599

Janet’s Sunbonnet Sue. The setting is delightful. And how about her tiny pieces from her ongoing leader-enders?

3AE55BA3-37A8-47D2-86B2-0F4856CC7B29

Seatta loves to do the Bonnie Hunter quilts –

B461F73F-7F5A-4553-9120-FEFC70629DA6

There were so many more that did not, unfortunately, make it into my camera. Very inspirational group. AND, an intensely fun group!

A big Thank You to Debbie for planning this fun and memorable retreat!

5 Comments

Posted in block pattern, Color, Featherweight, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting, Quilting Retreat and tagged projects, Quilting, Scraps. Bookmark the permalink.

New Sewing Machine Desk

Posted on January 20, 2019 by heARTs Creations

I’ve had a Featherweight for several years now but haven’t used it much. I bring it to retreats as a back-up, but have only used it once. There’s been a student desk in my studio for a few years now that’s only served as a catch- all. I considered getting rid of it, but it has a strong family history. It was my husband’s desk growing up, then it was my son’s until he left home. I painted it black for my daughter to use at her home where she used it for her sewing machine. Now that it’s back here, I thought if I put the Featherweight on it, I might actually sew with it. Even better, if hubby built the machine into the desk, it would definitely be more useable! TA DA!!

I love, love it. Hubby did such a good job. This is the third desk he’s modified for my sewing machines. This modification didn’t cost anything but a bit of his time! It even has three storage drawers. It’s not portable, but that’s okay – my portable table is set for this Featherweight. Thank you Builder Bob!!