DaGMT Day 8 - "Ruination of my rotary blades via paper piecing"

I'm not a paper piecer by nature, as mentioned in yesterday's post, but having taken a class from the Diva herself, Carol Doak, about a decade (!) ago, I feel like I at least have the tools to do it somewhat properly, and now and then I whip something up.



My row for the Summer Picnic project is done. It's supposed to be limes and lemonds in various stages of slicing/wedging for squeezing into your fun summer drinks. But in looking at it, they could also be done in multicolors to represent beach balls. Whatever strikes your fancy. I'm just glad that part is done and I can move on to the writing of the directions and soon after that be allowed to stop thinking about summer for a while.

Show of hands if you own the Add-A-Quarter ruler, please. I do not, I just use my 6" x 1" ruler which has 1/4" markings on it and have never had a problem. I was told by the Diva that this was not a good alternative way back when, but 10 years later I'm still using it. I still can't figure out how the other ruler thing would improve my life drastically from my current ruler, and I truly am interested in knowing if you own it, use it, and recommend it, and why.

I only mention it because every time I paper piece I remember the Diva telling me it wasn't going to work as well, so I was thinking it a lot these past days. Kind of like every time I play Solitaire on the computer I hear Laura Brannigan singing "Solitaire" over and over in my head. Hence one big reason I never play solitaire.

I am absolutely loving seeing all your projects on your blogs, hearing about how this DaGMT challenge is changing your lives for the better, seeing the flickr group get more and more photos every day, etc. Thank you! You are making this a very gratifying first attempt at a quiltalong for me!

If you haven't joined yet, you have until 11:59pm on 2/29 to do so. But really, you'd be totally stressed out trying to get 20 minutes in in one minute at that point, so join now instead. We'd love to have you!

DaGMT Day 7 - "One week in and my sewing studio is a mess"

It had to happen. I couldn't keep it neat forever. Certain people in my home would argue that I didn't even keep it neat for 5 hours, but I beg to differ and insist that there are many different definitions of "neat". My personal favorite is "without ice", as pertaining to happy hour.

Today's project involved leaving tiny bits of scraps and paper all over the sewing area. Yes, I paper pieced, something I rarely do, but now and then I find it kind of fun. Until I remember that I kind of suck at it.

I'm this week's designer in the "Summer Picnic" row quilt project over at www.patchworkposse.com, and so far the other two designers have both stuck with the watermelon theme. Not being a huge fan of summer, I really couldn't decide what to design my row with that would reflect any sort of longing for a season wherein I usually want to commit hari kari twice a day. A straightjacket just didn't seem terribly appropriate.

I decided on limes and lemons, because gin and tonics on the deck with Mr. Quilting Hottie and often some friends while the children run barefoot through the grass and for 10 second intervals at a time don't threaten to kill each other is one of the better parts of summer for me. I adapted a kaleidoscope pattern from EQ into paper piecing and today I put together two whole and two halves of fruit garnishes. I wish I could say I accomplished more, but see "I remember I kind of suck at it (paper piecing)" above as a reminder of why I didn't get more done.

Plus I was multitasking while putting them together, on the phone with a GS leader to bemoan certain aspects of our cookie sale. They aren't bad for multitasked fruit.

>But either way, I do have to get the whole row done tomorrow or I'm in deep doo doo as far as not being on track to get the instructions to Patchwork Posse on time. Everyone cross your fingers that tonight is NOT the night the stomach bug decides to strike our home.