Last quilting post for a bit – Rick noted that my blog has veered from its original intent as more of a decorating, food, lifestyles type of blog to a craft blog. More lifestyle in the upcoming week – I promise.
Since I was on such a roll on Saturday I pulled out an old unfinished project that has been languishing in the closet since I lost interest in it last year. My niece gave me a selection of fabrics (I do believe they are from the Seaside Rose collection but I might be wrong) – I wanted to do a shabby chic kind of tabletopper with the fabric but as the quilt evolved it really ended up looking like a baby quilt.
I was halfway through machine quilting it when I just gave up. So this weekend I pulled it back out and decided to finish it. I’m machine quilting using a technique I like to call "quilting in the general vacinity of the ditch." I’ve also heard it referred to as "sweet flipping buddha what kind of hot mess is THAT!?" by others when they see my technique.
Sigh. It really is a testament to my earliest quilting attempts. I’m hoping that once I wash it a million time it will have kind of a vintage shabbiness to it and the miserable sloppiness of it will be forgiven.
My ironing board has been up and down all weekend long. I have a lovely laundry room but there just isn’t the space to leave it up permanently. The laundry room is also the passage between the house and garage and invariably Rick will fling open the garage door and crash into it.
Growing up ours was a permanent fixture in our garage. With a trunk full of my dad’s wrinkled dress shirts nearby. My mother wasn’t overly fond of ironing and found it easier to just go out and buy new shirts for him until he caught on. We always had a teeny stainless teapot (like you get at a diner when you ask for tea – they bring you hot water and a teabag) that we would use to fill up the steam resevoir.
I used to have a friend whose mother kept her freezer stuffed with ironing. She would take damp clothes out of the washer and freeze them until she was ready to do her ironing. I’ve never come across anyone else that has done that. She must not have known about the trunk method.
Oh, I do love this shabby chic table topper–such a lovely combination of fabric. I like that it looks old already! So nice you have a pretty laundry room. I’ve always wanted one of those. I like the task of ironing–it’s very soothing & contemplative. Funny about the ironing stored in the freezer–sounds like something my great-grandmother did–LOL! It strange what happens with blogs, they sort of take on a life of their own. My own started as a craft blog, but rather organically it took shape into being an all sorts blog with crafts, food, lifestyle…It works though and I’m happy with it. And I love what you’re doing here, I enjoy that you share all kinds of things–crafts too ;o) Happy Days!
The ironing in the freezer? That’s hilarious. If I had an extra freezer, I might do that.
I think your quilting projects are great, and I love to see your progress.
My mom had a long plastic zippered bag in the laundry room that she threw all the needs-ironing-clothes into, then she’d spritz water in there and zip it up. I don’t suppose she waited too long to do the ironing, otherwise there might have been mold, I would imagine. Me, I just iron when I need to wear something that looks too wrinkled. I think my sewing projects are better ironed than my clothing!
My grandmother used to keep her damp laundry in the freezer til she could iron it! Sweet flipping buddha left me ROFL! Glad there is someone else out there who does things her own way. Thanks for the laugh.
Good for you for finishing up that UFO. It turned out great! Now, in my opinion, what you need for more successful machine quilting is a walking foot and invisable top thread. And maybe a new sewing machine… One of these days I will bring my Bernina to Dad’s and you can try it out. You might just like it!
Ditto on the frozen laundry. Mom kept hers sprinkled and in a bag in the freezer, too. Her reasoning was to avoid mildew, but still not let the wrinkles set. ??? Frozen always seemed pretty “set” to me! I enjoy your website, and I’d be proud of that pretty colored quilt if I’d done it!!! haha..
My Mom (who ironed beautifully – my stuff never looks like it’s ironed after I agonize over it!) would take selected items and sprinkle them with water (anyone else remember the old RC bottle with the sprinkle thingy?) then roll them up in a plastic bag and place in the fridge for several hours. Then, they would look amazing when she ironed them. I guess the heat on the cold damp fabric had more of an effect.
Permanent Press–the most important invention of the last century! LOL! I remember my mom having dampened rolls of things piled next to the ironing board when she got ready to do it. Mostly ironing in her bra and panties in the summer. By the way, I say send your quilting to Nicole. That’s what sisters are for, isn’t it?
I absolutely LOVE the colors in that little quilt. I’m glad you decided to finish it.
Lana
Love the quilt…it’s adorable!
Lidy
“sweet flipping buddha what kind of hot mess is THAT!?” LOL that was funny! where in the world did you come up with that creative phrase?…too funny. I love the quilt beautiful, calm, yet cheerful colors.
My ironing pile is so big. If it were kept in the freezer, there would be no room for ice cream. Maybe that would inspire me to get it done 😉
Love the quilt! My mom always kept a huge bag of laundry to be ironed in the bottom of the fridge. I think that your mom sounds a lot like me, I do the same thing with dress shirts heading to the cleaners, they stay in the trunk because I forget to go and I just end up buying new ones because it seems easier. My hubby has an extensive wardrobe!