Tuesday, February 28, 2012

It's the little things that get me

Last weekend Ray and I went to the Sewing Expo in Lakeland. Trying desperately to stay out of a depression that keeps following me around, I thought the sewing expo sounded like something fun.
The only problem was Ray thought he needed to go with me. I'm not sure why, as we had already discussed that he would go do "boy" stuff while I did my "girl" stuff. I was surprised when he didn't drop me off at the entrance, but paid for parking and walked inside with me.

The expo was pretty much fun. It was like a quilt show with garment fabrics and embellishments thrown in. I got to play on longarms machines. I would have played more if Ray had not been there but I played. Maybe that was why he went in with me, he was afraid I would come out with one. Ah ha! That might be it!
Back to the show. After the second row we saw this beautiful booth that drew us in. It was the Primitive Gatherings booth. Ray and I both were dumbstruck! It was beautiful! It had all the traditional quilts we both love. There was one problem; they were small. I mean really small. Did that stop Ray from asking if I would make one for him? Nope! Didn't even slow him down.  Look at the pattern he picked up.
22" X 28"
Did you happen to catch the size? Yes this is one of the patterns Ray grabbed. Yes, I am nuts, because if he asks me to make it for him I will. He pointed out a few other items that I will show later. I am still shaking my head over this.

A friend of mine, Karen, told me the last time I saw her that she thought I was nuts when I first started working in 1 1/2" strips and 3" finished sizes. Then she tried a Miss Rosie pattern called Cracked Pots. She now is a convert and loves them. I too love working small, but have never worked this small before. The pinwheel pieces are worked on HST paper and that measure 3/4" finished HST. Now that is small!
I am using the Triangulations papers that I print here at home so I don't have to worry about running out and needing to go to the quilt shop. Since I work late at night that is a good thing. Do you know about the Triangulations CD? I love it. I know how to make a HST without paper and I can make them pretty accurate with the need of only a hair trim to make it perfect. When I use the Triangulations is when I want to make tons of them. It really is faster to work with. I don't sell the CD, nor am I paid by Bear Paw Productions but I do love this CD. I have the 2.0, and now they are making the 3.0 and I read they have lots more to offer on it like a couple of quilt patterns. If you make HST and QST a lot and you are looking for a good way to make them try it, you'll like it.

Ok, now I am off to do some sewing.

Later,
Diane

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, isn't Primitive Gatherings just the best? Check out their website. And do keep us posted on the "mini" quilt.
Linda G

Cynthia said...

Oh Diane, this is small but it is gorgoreous.I can't wait to see the beginnings and ends of your new project.

Anonymous said...

Have fun, can't wait to see the finished quilt.

It makes my pieces look huge. But I am a convert I've made all the parts for Bonnie Hunter's Orca Bay just have to get the blocks together.

Karen