Super Full Blood Wolf Moon Eclipse

This is some information I dug up on the internet...

Last night was a Super Full moon ... meaning that the path of the full moon was closest to the earth.

The Indians call it a Wolf moon... because it is the first full moon of the year and the wolves come out.

There was also a Lunar Eclipse... the Sun, Earth and Moon line up and Earth's shadow darkens the Moon surface.

It was also a Blood moon... because of particulates in the air (or was it atmosphere?)  Earth's shadow casts a red tint to the moon.

We went out onto the porch and tried a few pictures.  

My phone, didn't capture the redness.

 I tried taking a picture with my phone and got this. 

Then, I tried zooming in and got this

Then I dug out my camera.   It is very difficult to balance on crutches and stand still. I even tried leaning back against my husband to stablize myself; but no go. The camera captured the color, but I kind of wobbled all over the place and got some interesting exposures.

My husband tried and I think he got the clearest, most stable shots.

Did you get out to see the moon.... it won't happen again until 2037 or 2057... depending on which article you read.  :)

2019 Gypsy Wife Quilt Along... preparing

If you are planning to join along you should have your pattern, or at least have it ordered and on the way.

I hope you have pulled some fabrics and are thinking about your colors and placement using the  coloring sheet I posted earlier.

Clean and oil your machine and put in a fresh needle.  

Clear your table and put a fresh blade in your rotary cutter

It won't be long before we start.... February 2nd.  At that time we will be posting links to blogs or PDF files that demo how to make each block.  You will have to refer to the pattern for measurements as we are not allowed to violate the copyright.  



Come join me on the facebook page for more tips and information, discussions and pictures of other members fabric choices.  

2019 Gypsy Wife Quilt Along


Don't be concerned that you are behind... Several experienced quilters that have their patterns have already made some blocks to test their accuracy.  Check out my earlier blog for tips on accuracy.

https://madakamom.blogspot.com/2018/12/2019-gypsy-wife-qal-my-tip-for-accurate.html

2019 Gypsy Wife QAL - My tip for accurate cutting

First, I want to show off my baby.... 1921 Singer model 66 treadle.  I do most of my home sewing on her.  She is a real workhorse, easy to maintain and a pleasure to use.

For those that have trouble with rulers slipping.... 

I went to my local CVS and bought the store brand version of clear Nexcare Tape.  I put it on the back of my rulers and I feel it helps keep the rulers from slipping.  You can also purchase dots and other sticky stuff made especially for quilters... but this is my go to  product.

 

Now for cuttting...   

I am using some scraps and I'll show you how to make accurate half square triangles.   These blocks may or may not be in the quilt we are making.. I don't have the pattern yet.  BUT the techniques I show you here can be used for all of your cutting.

Lay two fabrics right sides together and trim the edges straight.

  

We are going to make Half Square Triangles that will finish at 2 inches in your quilt. There's a "rule" about adding 7/8 to the size of the finished size you want.  So we will cut our square to 2 - 7/8.  This method will make two HSTs that measure 2.5in... but when sewn into our quilt will finish at 2in... the extra 1/2 in is the seam allowance.  (yes, you can just go to 3in and trim a bit more off if you want a little extra leeway in your cutting and don't want to mess with 7/8 marks that may or may not be on your ruler.)

 
Can you see that tiny vertical mark just before the 3in line?  That's 7/8 and it's ON the fabric.  If it were next to the fabric or off beside the fabric you would be loosing those few threads of fabric from your square. It doesn't seem like much, or worth the trouble, but if you are making a quilt with lots of pieces ... as we are with Gypsy Wife...  Every block would be  that )( much smaller... you could be loosing 1/4 in .. 1/2 in.. or even more by the end of the quilt.   It all adds up. 

I blew this picture up to extra large ... Look by the "tips" of the blue tape... they are pointing to that 7/8 in mark.  All my lines are ON the fabric.

Next we will take our ruler and draw a line diagonally across the square.

Then take your ruler, placing the 1/4 ruler line ON the line you just drew, draw a second line on either side of that first one.... so you will have 3 lines.

   

Now we go over to our sewing machine and stitch on the inside of the two outer lines(yes my stitching isn't perfect, but it is close enough to work)

    

Cut on the center line and you will have sewn triangles.

Here we finger press them open and you can see they are just marginally larger than the 2.5in unfinished square we need.

Now we "sliver trim" the excess fabric, turn the square and "sliver trim" the other side.

  

Repeat with the other block and Voila!  Two perfectly measured Half Square Triangles!

2019 Gypsy Wife Quilt Along

I haven't blogged in quite some time... I think life just got very busy between family and work.  The loss of several people... family and friends... that I was close too just took all my energy away.

But now, I am back.  

While browsing around facebook recently I discovered an exciting new group to follow along as we piece an amazing quilt together.  I jumped all in and even volunteered to be a moderator!... what was I thinking!   :)

The pattern is The Gypsy Wife by Jen Kingwell of Amitie.com.au 

This looks like an amazing challenge for me to occupy my "downtime" between church and family and work and will feed my creative soul.

Join us on facebook at Gypsy Wife quilt along 2019 (sorry, when I figure out how to put the link here I will... for now just search for us on facebook)

UPDATE:   here is the link to our facebook page ....  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1020630088120710/


Everyone must purchase their own copy of the pattern... which can be found by doing a google search.  There are several sites and shops that you can purchase from (ie Etsy, Ebay, Amazon, and various online quilt shops).

No measurements or sizes will be posted... you must have your own pattern so as not to break copyright laws.

This will be a guided quilt-along.... that means beginning February 2, 2019 (and the first Saturday of each subsequent month) we will announce which blocks or section of the quilt we will be working on. Throughout the month we will post hints and tips to help you with challenges along the way (such as accurate cutting and sewing partial seams).

The quilt has been broken down into sections like so:

We are working out the details of how exactly we will do this... but just like eating an elephant, it will be one bite at a time!

**********************

So to get this started and be ready to begin sewing on Feb 2 here is a list of fabric requirements.   You can start gathering your fabric while waiting for your pattern to arrive.

Several months ago I found a collection of 99 fat quarters for sale on a website that I can no longer remember the name of.  I fell in love with this collection and purchased it with no particular project in mind.  I think it will be perfect for this project.

I think I have decided to use neutrals for a background rather than a variety of colors, so I may need to dig through my stash for a few more fat quarters.  But this will be enough to get me started.

A search of Pintrest will show you a variety of backgrounds and colors that others have made to help you decide on your own color theme.

Here is a blank coloring sheet that I believe you can print off and practice coloring your own way. 

Paducha

 I was able to get away for several days to Paducha for some shopping and classes.

First stop.... Hancocks!  I needed some coordinating fabrics to construct this quilt block that I will be teaching at FCE retreat the end of May.   I don't know the official name or designer of this block, but was given a picture and asked to make a quilt. The design was based on the layout of the squares in Savannah GA by a quilt shop that used to be there.... So, I've named it Savannah Squares.   I was working on a sample block at the retreat two years ago and everyone suggested I teach it at a future retreat.  I will be able to teach this year and I've found these fabrics to make up kits for those who attend.... and I'll make up a quilt for myself with the extra fabric purchased.

My first of two classes was with Gail Garber.   Using a compass she taught us how to design our own star quilt.

These are some of the shape designs she incorporates into her quilts

A 6-pointed star she designed

  

She showed us how to use a compass to design a star.... and here is mine, colored in.   I need to cut it apart and paper piece it when I have some time.  I'll need to play with the compass some more and see what other designs I can come up with.

The second class I took was with Sue Patten.  A long-arm class named Plunk & Play.  I hadn't seen any of her work before, but it was a long-arm class and I was hoping to learn something new.  Boy, did I!

I probably would not have taken her class had I googled her in advance and learned more about her style.  Her quilting is more whole-cloth with a twist.   She tosses out templates, pounces with powder and the just sews... heavy quilting in spots, light quilting in others... very different then the  E2E quilting I'm accustomed to.   But, I gave it a try!   and it was fun!

I'm not sure if I'm interested in doing a complete quilt using this method, but I do have a quilt that I was going to applique kites in the border..... instead, I am going to give this a try.

  

During down-time between the show and classes at our cabin I brought along a project that I started in a Paducha class last year... Mardis Gras by Toby Lam Lischko.   I have made mine in Christmas colors rather than the purple/gold/green of Mardis Gras.

 

Nana! I can do it!

We have hit another milestone!   Last weekend our grandson decided he didn't want to ride with training wheels any more.  So I took them off and he spent hours tip-toe-ing up the driveway and trying to balance and get his feet on the pedals coming down.

Last night.... mission accomplished!

This morning he stopped mid-ride and had to pick some errant worms up off the driveway and put them in the garden and grass to help the flowers grow.

 

Then he serenaded me with his "I'm the worm-saver" song as he rode up an down the driveway.

Our little weekend projects

 This little project took two months of weekends and some evenings when it wasn't raining.  Last year, we removed the first stump and I planted my rose garden (3 roses) and some vegetables.  Once this second stump is out and the soil prepared I plan to add three more roses to the original section and this new section will become my vegetable garden.

We start by digging down around the stump and roots

digging out and chopping off  the extended roots

our grandson even gets involved cutting some of the smallest bits of root away

most of the side roots are cut away and now its time to dig down under and cut away the center of the stump

but first, rain storms form a moat around the main stump, delaying work

Once things have dried out a bit we cut away at the main stump... removing it piece by piece

It's these little roots on the bottom that give us biggest problems.  We have to carefully dig away the dirt because the chain saw dulls very quickly when it hits dirt.  

a little video on removing the main root.