Thursday, March 23, 2017

Don't Be Like Tish


Oh the joys of sit-down quilting.  It is my favorite type of quilting.  It's how I learned to quilt.  I was hoping to share with you today my finished Meadow Mystery quilt, but instead I'm sharing this cute little flowerish shape and a public service announcement.

Public Service Announcement:  When quilting at a sit down machine setting, make sure the surface you are quilting on is CLEAR of ALL unnecessary items.

When I started quilting Monday evening, I was doing nice therapeutic stippling in the background area of the quilt.  When I placed my hand on the quilt I distinctly remember thinking, "that feels really puffy?"  Yet I continued stitching.  I stopped to reposition the quilt a bit, put my hand on the quilt and thought, "why does it feel so thick right in that spot?"  You would have thought at this point I would have looked under the quilt, right?  Wrong.  I stitched a bit longer, letting the puffy question bounce around in my head.  Finally, I flipped it over...


Are you KIDDING ME?  I keep a small quilt sandwich at my HQ Sweet Sixteen so that I can check my tension every time I change my bobbin.  I completely forgot it was sitting on the table and when I spread the quilt out to start quilting, it wound up under it...or rather stitched to it.

So with lot's of other distractions this week...it is still waiting for me to fix it.  Think I can convince Dave the Quilt Engineer he is still in quilt training and he has to do it?

This evening was the Evening of the Arts at my daughter's high school.  It's an evening of music, theater and art.  This year my daughter is taking a stain glass class, a class I also had in high school.  I'm so stinking proud of her.


This is a candle holder that she made and had on display tonight (I think I can see a quilt top).  She also had another surprise in store for me.  About six years ago when we were moving, I discovered a 3D mirror I made in stain glass class had somehow broke.


Two of the gray pieces of glass had came off and the wire vine was mushed flat.  Disappointed, I started to throw it away, when my cousin, Doug, came to its rescue, insisting on taking it home with him, saying he could fix it somehow.  So years pass and I completely forgot about it.

When he found out Jen was taking stain glass he ask her if she would like to fix it as a surprise for me.  So behind the scenes whenever time permitted,  Jen and her teacher worked to restore my little mirror and it was on display this evening, along with this little sign...


Twenty years...seriously??  It seems like yesterday.


Fixing it came with its own little challenges, and well, they ended up having to substitute a blue piece of glass for one of the gray ones,  but I love it!  Now it is something that she and I share.  She told me she hopes it doesn't break again, but I told her it's okay if it does, one of her future kids can fix it again :)



Today I'm linking up with Finished or Not Friday and Can I Get a Whoop! Whoop!

16 comments:

Nancy J said...

This is the special gift of all times, and the candle holder, stunning. What a wonderful surprise.

Kate @ Smiles From Kate said...

Oh no! You must have been so upset. I know I find it very difficult to fix things (I have a quilt still waiting for repair that my dog chewed). You can do it Tish, just make up your mind and get on with it, and it will end up perfect, no one will ever know. I have every confidence in you. Love the story of your mirror, it makes it the more special.

Jayne said...

How many times have I done something similar to that while quilting?! Usually its where the backing flips and gets stitched...I'd say lesson learned...but for me, it periodically happens!

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

You know, I do think that it is OK to be like Tish and roll with life. :)

Susan said...

Yep, it happens. Instead of ripping stitches, try cutting really close to the stitching then use tweezers to pull out the threads caught in the stitches. Or, rip and restitch. Either way, it's going to take some time to fix. Sorry about that.

Paige said...

Sounds like something Paige would do too! The stained glass is beautiful!

Stitchin At Home said...

A special surprise, the stained glass pieces are beautiful! I think we've all quilted something a little extra that is not supposed to have been there.

Lisa J. said...

I've for sure quilted a little extra on the back and it took my machine refusing to move for me to clue in, duh. I love the stained glass piece made by your daughter, definitely a modern quilt design in there and what a wonderful gift your daughter and her teacher gave to you. I love the addition of the blue glass, very classy.

Jen said...

Of course it had to be bright red too. That quilt is turning out too beautifully to not fix it. I think once you buckle down and get it done, you will feel so much better about it. I sewed the backing folded under once and didn't notice it until WAY too late. Luckily it was a very scrappy quilt and I just chopped the whole side off and called it good. :)
What a fun surprise with the stained glass. Something to treasure for sure.

Jennifer said...

OMG, I'm doing straight line quilting in the same area as you have. 😱

Emily said...

Oh, that stained glass story is so sweet, it actually had me tearing up! How awesome a thing to do!

helenjean@midgetgemquilts said...

Lovely story about the stained glass and how thoughtful . Pooh to the quilting story , being a red patch you can't even pretend it was meant to be ! Sit down quilting - that's all I know

Cheryl said...

I have sewn random fabric onto the backs on my quilts too. I second a previous commenter that if you cut the fabric really close to the stitching lines then you can just pull it off without having to unpick.

Preeti said...

I know that was an unpleasant interruption but you have to smile at the quilting gods. They were just playing with you. But when it comes to the Stained Glass Mirror Story, so many moms would want to be like you - sharing artwork with their kids.

Lorna McMahon said...

Oh dear... That little nagging voice in our heads is so often ignored. But I have to laugh! That is too cute that your practice sandwich was hitching a ride. Your daughter's candle holder is lovely and she did a wonderful job of repairing your mirror!

KaHolly said...

Oh, tish! I've done that very same thing and it's sew frustrating! Loving the stained glass! What a Delightful Surprise! Xao

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