Posted on by agilejack

A Wet Saturday, Sheep, and More Pincushions

I was supposed to play pickleball at 8:30 this morning but it was raining and the courts were really wet so it was canceled. It’s not safe to be out there dinking around when the surface could be quite slick.

Rico had his weekly herding lesson at noon at my trainer’s place in Molalla, Oregon. And he was brilliant! He did some of the best work I’ve ever seen him do! And we lucked out and the rain stayed away too. I just love getting to be able to take advantage of Oregon’s beautiful country side every weekend!

When we got home we just spent a couple hours hanging out with Ernie since his owner was coming home today. It was so much fun to have him in the house and I hate to see him go. But the good news is that he’ll be back for a few days later in December.

This was our final walk with him yesterday afternoon.

Ernie left around 6:00. So I got myself some dinner then hit my sewing room to play with an idea I had last night for pincushions. I’ve seen a variation of this design used for quilt blocks.

I started by digging out some Australian Aboriginal fabric scraps and selected some strips what were around 1.5 inches wide. I sewed them into a strip set and then cut them into 2 in and 2.5 inch strips. Then I put a strip of bright colored fabric along each long end.

Once that was done I added a triangle to each side to make the piece essentially square.

Then, using my 5 inch square ruler, I squared those bad boys up.

These will have backs in that black fabric.

I thought I was done for the night but since these went together so quickly I decided to dig into my KFC scrap strips and make a few more. I chose strips in the red/pink/orange family and made my little strip set. Then cut several strips from that piece and sewed a 1 inch strip of that black Aboriginal fabric to each edge.

So, how do I know how long to make the strip sets? I laid my 5 inch square ruler over the top to make sure it was long enough to go from corner to corner.

Then I cut some 5 inch squares of black and white Jumble for the corners, and cut them in half diagonally. I sewed them on by eye-balling the center of each piece.

Then these were squared up and I cut 5 inch square pieces of the jumble for the backs.

I decided that I needed to take a few minutes and make one more and pulled out the Aboriginal strips I was using before. I ended up sewing just one narrow strip set, bordered it with the black fabric, and added jumble triangles.

This one might actually be my favorite.

Look at all of these pieces together. I’m thinking there’s a great idea for a quilt in there.

And this arrangement is pretty cool.

And a more cohesive look.

Hmmm. that would be a great use of my scraps. I’ve been toying with the idea of making a string quilt and this would scratch that itch.

I drove out yesterday to a little town called Carlton, Oregon, southwest of Portland. It’s in the heart of Oregon’s wine country and is gorgeous countryside. I really enjoyed the drive. I met the long arm quilter who did my six quilts and grabbed those bad boys. I haven’t had time yet to completely unfold them, get a closer look and take photos. They are sitting on my guest bed in a beautiful pile. There are now 10 recently finished quilts on that bed!!!

I’m usually pretty conservative on what thread colors I choose for my quilts. I usually like the quilting stitches to sort of blend in and let the fabrics and piecing be the stars. But I went with some bold choices on these.

The black quilt is quilted with a deep and vibrant red thread. It doesn’t show up in every block but it looks really cool when it does!

My red Algorithm quilt was done with a lighter reddish/orange. It’s really pretty.

My red and purple Fractured quilt was screaming for a deep red thread. I think it was the right choice. It disappears on the red fabrics but shows up on the narrow purple strips.

After my trip to pick up quilts I had a slow drive home because of terrible traffic and got home just in time to snarf down some lunch, get the dogs settled and head off for a THREE HOUR pickleball lesson with my coach! I had no idea we were going to train for three hours. It was so fantastic!!! He has been sick and is finally feeling well enough to get out and play. It had been almost three weeks since we had gotten together to practice. And it was a really good practice. I was so tired last night I could hardly keep my eyes open. I think I was in bed at 11 pm, which is REALLY early for me!!!

We were laughing because we’re so much alike… we are fighters and willing to work hard for improvement.

I’m meeting my teacher tomorrow at 11:30 for some training, and then we’re helping our club president with a new player training session. Several people will be teaching the beginners, and then I’ll get to play with the beginners to show them how the game is played. Then we’ll have an hour to play with the higher level players. It will be a fun group!

I’ve certainly packed a lot of stuff into my long weekend! But that’s the way I like it.

27 Replies to “A Wet Saturday, Sheep, and More Pincushions”

    1. The best source in the Portland area is Pioneer Quilts in Milwaukie. Another good source if you want to drive a little more is Boersma’s in McMinnville. The both have websites if you want to shop that way. Pioneer is my favorite quilt store in Portland.

      Anne

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  3. Love love the pin cushions! These would make fabulous quilt show boutique items. And the deep colors of thread on your quilts I think enhances them overall. You really have a terrific eye for everything you do. Again, thanks so much for sharing all your projects. Keep on inspiring us all 👍👍👍

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    1. the pin cushions are really going to make fun gifts for my sewing friends. I’ve already given a couple away and they were well received.

      thanks for your lovely comments and thanks for reading!

      Anne

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  4. Love love love the idea of a quilt with these blocks. Black and white quilts are so graphic they just make me so happy. Can’t wait to see what you come up with. I’m thinking the blocks could be much larger to go together quicker.

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    1. I’ve collected a decent number of black and white fabrics wanting to make a black and white quilt. I’ve never gotten very far on that idea. But I do love the graphic black and whites with the really colorful prints!

      Anne

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  5. 🥰 I know y’all will miss Ernie so much, I was hoping the owner would give him to you! Sounds like the boys enjoy him too. You’re on a roll with your pincushion production, so pretty and colorful 🥰

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    1. It’s really fun to have Ernie around. But I have to say that he was pretty happy to see his mama! My boys are very tolerant. I think they don’t really know quite what to make of Ernie!

      Anne

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  7. I agree with thread choices. The fabrics and piecing are the stars. Quilting is the star when you have a lot of “open” space. Then, with the right batting, it really pops. I haven’t seen any of those in your repertoire. 😉

    Interesting blocks for the pin cuhions. I was thinking the same thing when you showed the photo of 4 of them together. It would be a fun use of scraps.

    Awwww… so glad Ernie wil be back. I know you miss him.

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    1. I don’t tend to do a lot of quilts with white or off white backgrounds. In fact, I think I’ve done two like that. they’re not my favorite.

      We’re all missing Ernie tonight! I hope he misses us too!

      Anne

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  9. I think those block’s should be used in a quilt. They are very eye-catching. I wish pickleball was around when I was younger, it sounds like something I would have liked to do.

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    1. My biggest regret with pickleball is that I waited until I was 61 to start playing! If I had started in my 50s I’d be a lot further along and I wouldn’t have been fighting my body so much!

      It is so much fun!!! I wish you could play.

      Anne

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  10. I am making “Sock Snowmen” for Christmas and need an affordable stuffing/filler. Most directions say to use rice but I am afraid of insects. I need something with weight. Do you thing the crushed walnut shells would work I love your pincushions and want to try some.

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    1. A couple people have said in comments here that “critters” like to eat the crushed walnut shells, so the might not be your solution.

      What about weighting the bottom with several great big metal washers? Maybe wrap them in plastic to keep them from rusting. then you could stuff your snowmen with poly fill.

      If they’re bigger, you could even sew a flat stone into the bottom.

      You should definitely make some pincushions. I’m having fun with them.

      Anne

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  11. As other readers have expressed, the minute I saw those blocks I had the thought they would look good in a quilt. I’m still working on the Kaffe rectangles with Sharks Teeth strips added to each long edge! “Let the fabric do the work”! I’m already planning another! Keep those good ideas coming.

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  13. I will say again, very inspiring work. I really like the way your pictures show the colors, stitching and designs. If your friend ever needs to find a home for Ernie I would drive to Oregon from Michigan to give him a great home here. Really seriously! Thank you for the great ideas. Lily

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    1. when I’m taking photos I really want the colors to be their best… and the stitching, details, all of it. I’m a very visual person and seeing things really helps me solve the puzzle.

      You’d have to get in line behind me for Ernie!

      Anne

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