Idle Handicrafts

I’ve finally gotten the sewing room/art studio into a usable state. I have grand plans for installing cork tiles along one wall to serve as an inspiration board/design wall, but my first attempt at this did not last one night. I guess it’s too humid here in Lower Alabama for the sticky squares to stick to the walls. So, I must investigate alternate means of adhering them to the wall.

Over the last two nights, I caught up on the blocks for Crazy Mom Quilts‘ Star Quilt-a-Long. I remain madly in love with this blue fabric, and the way it coordinates with the red.

I’m hoping to get some good pictures of the studio soon. I tried to get one a few minutes ago but a certain Labrador Retriever kept barging into the shot. Here is a picture of what Beckett does while I sew:

Well, the studio at the new house has been painted and I’m starting to move in furniture and get it set up. I hope that by the end of the weekend it should be ready for crafting - but the decorating process will be ongoing.

Idlehandicrafts World HQ is undergoing a move, and craft time will be limited until boxes are packed, moved, and unpacked. Naturally, setting up the “studio” in the new World HQ is a top priority, so I hope to be back at the sewing machine within a week or so.

Hey guys, Beckett here. I have to admit that I am not so fond of my mom’s craft fixation. Why on earth would she want to sew or knit when she could be playing with me? Or even just gazing at me, admiring my handsome good looks? Anyway, I think we’ve reached a landmark agreement on the matter. I’ll let her knit without my help as long as she promises to keep the Everlasting Fun Ball full of treats.

Yesterday I closed on my first house. I took the day off work to deal with things like the final walk-through and getting a cashier’s check, but since closing wasn’t until 4pm I spent quite a lot of time sitting at home feeling very nervous. To quell my nerves, I decided to do some sewing - thinking that perhaps this would be a recipe for disaster. It turned out, however, to be just the thing. My nervous energy channeled itself into four star blocks, each with perfect points.

These are the first four blocks of the Star Quilt-a-Long and the setting blocks. Yes, this is different fabric from the first three weeks. Yes, I redid all four blocks. I have an explanation, really.

The new plan is to use these fabrics to make two versions of the quilt-a-long quilt - a full-sized version and a baby-sized version. A number of my friends are reproducing and these will be destined for gifts. I will remain vague about the particulars in case the giftees are reading.

I do intend to continue using the fabric I’d previously chosen. One of those blocks met a slightly slobbery fate at the paws of a certain Labrador Retriever so there will need to be some revision. I still haven’t figured out what color fabric to use on the setting blocks for that colorway - I think I may need to wait until all the blocks are done. I may branch out on my own as far as creating more blocks for that one - it depends how I’m feeling.

But here is the pressing decision of the moment - paint colors for the new house. So many colors! So many choices!

Last night I redid the Ohio Star for the Quilt-a-Long. I had forgotten to switch the foot on my sewing machine back to the 1/4-inch guide, and so the seams were not consistent with the previous two blocks. This one is better, but I have decided that I do not like that foot. It’s fine for sewing on the edge of a piece of fabric, but when I’m trying to seam across something the little plastic guide piece fights against the cloth. It should be fairly simple to find a better foot, however.

I am also having doubts about my color scheme for this quilt. I thought I had found good fabric for the setting blocks, but now I do not like it. I may need to wait until I have more blocks made to decide.

Several of my friends are expecting babies right now, so I think I will make a smaller version of the quilt as a baby quilt too. I have a fabric that I’m in love with:

I may switch up one or two of the star blocks, depending how I feel as I sew. I think I’ll make the baby version with 9 blocks - 5 setting blocks and 4 star blocks.

First up, block #3 of the Star Quilt-a-Long, the Ohio Star:

I was being so meticulous about points that I didn’t pay attention to which foot I had on the sewing machine, and thus the seams on this one do not match the previous 2 stars in the quilt. D’oh! So, this one will get redone.

Next, the Economic Stimulus Quilt:

This one is love. Love the colors, love the fabric, love the loud fabric that’s going to go between the strips.

Meanwhile:

This is what Mr. Beckett does while I sew.

These are the pillows I inherited from my great-aunt Harriet. A friend of hers made them. I’m not certain about the timeframe, but the yellow and blue are very typical of the 1930s. These pillows were the catalyst for my learning to quilt.

My first experience with patchwork actually came in 7th grade, when I made this pillow in art class:

that we here at Idle Handicrafts World Headquarters do not do our part to stimulate the economy. To wit:

While most of my economic stimulus check is going towards mundane expenses related to my upcoming house purchase/move, I did set aside a little of it for fun. And what’s more fun than new fabric?

One of my favorite craft blogs is Crazy Mom Quilts. She has just started her second quilt-a-long, and I’ve decided to participate. It has been a while since I have done any quilting, but it really is my favorite craft.

I took up quilting shortly after the death of my beloved great-aunt Harriet in the fall of 1998. I have some pillows that a friend made for her in the 1930s. They have appliquéd yellow flowers on a blue background. Having a tangible reminder of my great-aunt has been a great comfort to me.

Anyway, here are the first two blocks from the Star Quilt-a-Long: