Trudging Along

 I had planned on sewing the loops for the luggage tags on my Janome, but my Janome got all jammed up AGAIN! Last time this happened I had to replace the entire needle bar assembly. Sewing through some bias tape shouldn't have bothered it, but honestly, better it mess up on something like that than in the middle of the quilt like last time. It's now at the shop waiting it's turn for servicing. 

I'm still taking turns sewing the applique scooters and sewing the loops. I just unburied my Singer 201.

My mom gave me tons of single fold bias tape, which I normally never use. Since she's given me bias tape before, I've learned to use it for different purposes than it's intended uses. I sew two lengths together, then I use that for loops on luggage tags, drawstrings, loops on zipper bags or potholders. I don't want the single fold bias tape mixed up with my double fold bias tape which I use all the time, so I'm sewing all the single fold bias tape together like in the photo, which is how I will actually make use of it. For now, I'm just tossing in a large tote.

I realize this is a hot mess, but a lot of this will get used for the luggage tags, so I'm not going to try to organize this until the luggage tags are done, and I see how much I actually have left. 

I've now got this many fronts done, with the scooters appliqued on.

I only have this many left to do the applique stitching on. I didn't count them, but less than 50 I think. Per usual, I'm pretty lax about counting. I know I have over 400 luggage tag fronts. I think I have about 400 luggage tag backs with the interfacing pressed on. I actually overcut the interfacing, so if I need to cut more denim backs, I've already got some interfacing ready to go. I have about 400 clear vinyl pieces cut for the information sleeve. But I've got some some more clear vinyl cut to correct length, that just needs to be subcut. I'm thinking I'll be able to start assembling luggage tags next week. As I run of out precut pieces, I'll cut more of whatever I'm short on. When I decided on 400 luggage tags, I was thinking that would be enough for a couple years. Now I'm not sure it will be, but we'll see. I think DH is adding another big scooter rally to his plans for this year, and if we can arrange some smaller events at dealerships along the way, we may use all the luggage tags. 

DH asked me how much making the luggage tags costs, and the biggest cost is my time. The denim was all given to me, most of the interfacing was from stash, but I did have to buy more at $15. The fusible webbing was from stash and the fabric for the scooters was all scraps. I had to buy more clear vinyl at $30. The bias tape was given to me, and the thread was all from stash. There's really no noticeable dent in the thread. I have enough of all of the supplies to make another 100-200. Some of the supplies I'd have to rebuy at that point, but some I'd still have plenty of. Basically, the $45 I spent would cover 400-600 luggage tags when combined with what I already had in stash. The cost is not the problem, the problem is my time. I don't mind making stuff for him to give away, but I also want time to quilt, and make Christmas gifts, and play with the grandkids, and travel... you get it. If all I cared about was money, this would absolutely be the best option. 

I want to try experimenting with making a few other small things that he could give away. I've been watching batch sewing videos on YouTube for ideas. I saw a few things that are much quicker to sew, and I'm thinking maybe I'll make some prototypes of those and see what he thinks AND I'll see what I think. Perhaps I will stumble on a few things I could alternate sewing on that will give me more variety on tasks, possibly be faster to make, but still give him the quantities he needs. 

There are some things I really like about making the luggage tags. I like it when giveaways are useful items. I really like repurposing and upcycling stuff. Using up scraps, old bias tape, and cutting up old jeans is my kind of project. If you have any good ideas for me for batch sewing that I can make scooter themed, let me know. Bonus points if it uses scraps. 

Modern Technology Quilt

 I have a second finish for 2025, it's the quilt pattern called Modern Technology. I bought it in a quilt kit from Craftsy back in the day, and I made all the blocks for it three years ago, but it's FINALLY a finished quilt! I ended up making more blocks from stash to make it larger than the kit called for, but it was a very fun quilt to make.

This quilt doesn't have a set layout, you can just play around with the blocks and find something you like. I think the original kit was for a twin sized quilt, but by cutting as much as I could from the provided fabric and adding some solids from stash, I turned it into a king sized quilt. Since Craftsy used to give you fat quarter bundles in the quilt kits instead of exact cuts, you could often get more blocks than the pattern called for. I miss being able to shop their fantastic sales, but I still have several quilt kits from them I haven't made yet, so in the grand scheme of things, the fact that they no longer sell quilt kits after being bought out a couple times, doesn't affect my quilting life much. I am glad I can still watch the classes I purchased back then. 

I debated on basting one of the MANY quilt tops in the quilt closet, but I decided my time is better spent trying to finish the 400 luggage tags I am making. I've been cutting the rest of the interfacing I needed and pressing that on the pieces that need it in the evenings. I'm still working on appliqueing all the scooters on the front of the tags, but I'm about 3/4 of the way done with that. I've got two grandkids this weekend, so no sewing time. I am hoping to get more of the clear vinyl cut for the luggage tags in the evening. It may not be sewing, but it needs to be done so I may as well work on it. 

My vintage machine is buried in projects in progress, so I decided rather than starting to quilt another quilt, I will use my Janome to start sewing the loops for the luggage tags. Most of what has my vintage machine buried is all the fabric I'll be using for the loops, so by sewing those, I'll be one step closer to assembling all the luggage tags, and I'll be clearing off my vintage machine. Sewing the loops is BORING, so by going back and forth between sewing loops and appliqueing scooters, I give myself a bit of change. As soon as I have all of either job done, I will be ready to start assembling the luggage tags. 

My goal is to finish all of the luggage tags in May, and if I can get that done, I have two deadline quilts I need to start. One of those is cut out, and the other I am still in design phase. I have two quilts cut out that I could use for the second quilt, but part of me wants to start a new one. I've got the new one mostly figured out, and I have everything I need to make it. No matter what the two deadline quilts will not require any purchases. 

Life has been busier than I expected. I've had the grandkids quite a bit, and been feeding extras for meals. None of that is a problem, but it does mean I've had less sewing time than I expected to have. It will all work out in the end, it usually does.If I don't get something done, I guess it wasn't that important after all. 

First Finish of 2025!

Last year at this time I had 12 finishes under my belt. I knew this was not going to be a productive year for quilting, but only one finish is kind of sad. That said, I'm pretty happy with the finish.

I think the attic window with a panel turned out pretty well. It's funny how your brain can make things line up even when they really don't. This quilt is for a rally in Oregon.

I've also been appliqueing lots of little scooters onto what will eventually become luggage tags. All of these have the applique sewing done, but I have quite a few left to do.

The piles are loosely organized by color. Some you can see which color thread I'll be using on them because the thread is right on top of the pile. Some of the larger piles will be further subdivided when I get to that color family. I think I've probably got over half the appliques sewn at this point. I'm going to be working on cutting out the vinyl and more interfacing this weekend. 

I did start FMQ a king sized quilt this week. I've just passed the halfway point. Hopefully I'll finish quilting it next week, and then I'll need to baste something else, because I don't have anything else basted right now. I have a closet full of quilt tops, so it's just a matter of finding a backing to go with a top, and then I'll be ready to baste. 

DH is finally having some extra time, so he's started tackling his to do list. I asked for new lighting for the walk in pantry, and I'm loving it! There are two lights in there, but one had a short in it, so it rarely worked, and neither lights were very bright. I asked for LED lights instead, and it's like a whole new space! Now I can actually read the expiration dates without hauling packages into the kitchen. 

DD#1 sent me a pic of one of the new additions on the homestead. I knew they wanted to restart their chicken and duck flocks after the move, but this didn't look like either one to me. They had told me they weren't sure they would be able to get chickens this year due to the avian flu causing shortages, so they might start with ducks instead. I'm a city girl, so when she made me guess, I just thought, not a duck, not a chicken, maybe a goose? Turns out they got a couple baby turkeys (called poults, look at me learning stuff!) but they also scored some baby chickens as well! I am excited for them to see their new homestead working out so well. 

Baby Shower

DD#2 and I hosted a baby shower at my house on Saturday. It was a Disney Princess/tea party themed shower. The expectant mother is one of my "adopted" kids, not really adopted, but one of the family nevertheless. 

There was savory food.

And lots of sweets.

Cold drinks here, and hot drinks elsewhere because of course there were multiple types of tea! 

Here's a close of of the diaper cake my sister made! Isn't that awesome?

We had an area with baby safe paints and blocks for people to decorate, we played a couple games outside as well. 

We even had a photo booth for the social media posts. 

It was getting warm outside so we had planned to open gifts inside. Here's the guest of honor opening a teddy bear made by my mother for the baby.

And here she is opening up the baby quilt I made from leftovers of her wedding quilt. It made her cry, which wasn't my intention, but this baby was a long time coming and I think seeing parts of her wedding quilt in there, really made the long journey hit home. 

Don't forget to grab a shower favor on the way out! 

Now that the shower is over, Easter is coming right up, but DD#2 is hosting that! 

I have gotten some sewing in. I'm about 3/4 of the way done quilting that scooter quilt. I've also started sewing around the scooter appliques for the 400 luggage tags I'm making. I'm not sure how long it's going to take to get that many luggage tags done. Quilting the scooter quilt is the first FMQ I've done in months, and applique isn't something I do often, so I'm not particularly quick at it. Now that I can start getting into a routine again, I'm planning to FMQ an hour each day on my Janome, then work on luggage tags on the Bernina, and if I get to where I really need some piecing time, I'll switch to my Singer 201 and piece on it. It may sound crazy to have three machines set up to sew at all times, but for me, it works. 

Does Absence Make the Heart Grow Fonder?

 I know I've been MIA for a couple months, my last blog post was the end of January, and now it's April. In case you've been wondering, DH and I are fine, but there's a lot going on with other members of the family, so I really haven't been sewing at all. We ended up taking a lengthy, unplanned trip to see my parents, but a little bit of quilty stuff snuck in. 

I saw the world's largest quilting needle in Paducah, Kentucky. I went to Hanock's of Paducah also. I actually didn't buy anything there, which even surprised me! I've ordered from them lots of times. DH offered to take me to the National Quilting Museum, but I just wasn't into spending the time or the money that day to do it.

Not that I didn't spend any money on quilting on the trip. 

We went to Marshall Dry Goods in Batesville, Arkansas, and I bought a couple bundles of fabric at wholesale prices. I actually was waited on by Marshall himself, and he showed me the new battings they've just developed. I've been buying from Marshall Dry Goods for years, and this was the second time I've gotten to go in person. If we are anywhere near there, we detour so I can save the shipping fees.

DH took me to Paris two days in a row.

Paris, Arkansas

And Paris, Texas. Technically I have been to Paris, France, but only the airport, and it was so foggy we couldn't see any of the city. 

We saw a couple of our kids and several grandkids on the trip. We managed to miss the worst of the weather issues, but unfortunately DS the Elder and family didn't. Shortly after we left seeing him, they were hit by a tornado. They are fine, but their apartment building is not, so now they are picking up the pieces of their lives and in temporary housing. We saw a LOT of tornado damage on the trip, and it's looking like a bad year for weather. 

This tornado went over DD#1's house the same day, but thankfully, it didn't touch down. It was weird to have two of my kids in tornado's paths within an hour of each other, and they don't even live in the same state. 

We've actually been home for a bit, but I still wasn't sewing, so I didn't have much to blog about. I'm throwing a baby shower on Saturday, so I've been working on stuff for that. I did make a stack of burp rags for the baby, but funnily enough, I did not need to make a quilt. I had made a quilt from leftovers of their wedding quilt, and kept it in case they ever had a girl. Guess, what? The baby is a girl, so quilt was already done. One of my nieces is also pregnant, and I'm using a quilt I had already made for her baby too. 

DH wants another scooter quilt to raffle off, so I got to work and just sewed the borders on a few minutes ago. I started out with a panel and no plan. I've been wanting to try the Attic Windows illusion with a panel, so I started with that.

This is wider than tall, so I needed to add something to the top and bottom.

I auditioned several options on EQ, and decided on this. It was a lot of HST's to cut, so I decided to die cut them.

Is there waste with die cutting? Well, here's the waste from almost 400 HST's next to my 60mm rotary cutter. Perfectly cut HST's with no dog ears to trim? I'll take the waste. Sometimes I use my EZ Angle ruler to cut HST's, and I like doing that just fine, but this was faster, and in this case, speed matters.

Here's the quilt top, made in under a week. The baby shower is Saturday, and all my free time between now and them will be either house cleaning or other shower preparations. I'm hoping to baste this quilt on Sunday, and if I can, I should be able to finish it by next weekend. 

This year is shaping up to be a lot different than we had planned. I knew it wasn't going to be great year for quilting, but now it's looking like it will be a worse year for quilting than I knew. That's OK, life happens and sometimes things get put on the back burner. When I have something to show, I'll blog, if I haven't done any sewing, I won't. This year the blog will be sporadic, so please hang in there, I haven't lost my love of blogging, just lost the time to sew.