1/4 inch seams & moleskin

On the supply list for my first quilting class (Starting From Scratch on quiltuniversity.com), the instructor, Carol Miller, recommended “Dr. Scholl’s Foot Padding or Moleskin” under “miscellaneous”. It wasn’t until the very end of lesson two did we get to actually sew – after extensive instructions about fabrics and colors and patterns… and then measuring and learning to cut with a rotary cutter… and then cutting all our pieces. Finally we were ready to sit at our machine to attempt a perfect 1/4″ seam, but first a long explanation on the importance of an accurate 1/4″ seam. Since this was my first quilting experience, I took every detail seriously – but somehow thought that the 1/4″ seam thing should be easy enough to do by just running my fabrics under the pressure foot at the 1/4″ line. Well, it turns out that’s not as easy as it looks. So I used the moleskin to line up my seams and my squares were much more accurate. It’s amazing how a tiny, fraction of an inch will cause your quilt square to no longer be square!

Then, my mother bought me an amazing new sewing machine for my new quilting passion. It came with a 1/4″ foot – so I didn’t use the moleskin any more. This week I started a project that required my squares to be square (some projects you can get away with them not being exact) and was having trouble getting them to come out to the required 8 1/2″ square. I remembered the moleskin trick, so drug it out and stuck it on my new machine. And now each square is just right… such an easy trick. And really takes the stress out of trying to stretch your fabric into a square!

Moleskin for 1/4" seams

Here’s my project that requires perfect 1/4″ seams…

Batik squares for baby quilts

Born2fly.org and Human Trafficking

My dear friend, Linda, forwarded an email to me this morning. Just what I’ve been looking for. An organization( in my area) making a difference in the lives of children all over the world – specifically children that are sold into sex slavery. Please take a minute and watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHro8wJFVqg and then go to www.born2fly.org and get involved. During the time it takes to read the next few paragraphs—about 30 seconds—another child will be trafficked for sex somewhere in the world.

My daughter and her husband are working to bring awareness to human trafficking in the San Francisco area. Their church family has a series of workshops each year to help others understand the reality of this in our world today – they call it the “Abolition Project”. This is a huge issue in their part of our country. It’s also about buying your stuff from companies that are “Fair Trade” and that do not use slaves (children & adults) in the production of their goods. Have you ever noticed the “Fair Trade” label on coffee, chocolate, etc? Those are common items we enjoy everyday that, often, are harvested by human slaves. Become aware and find out where your food, clothing, and other items were made. And how were they made?

October is Fair Trade Month: learn about fair trade – Day 18: Fair Trade, the Market, and You.  Fair Trade Certified producers are also empowered by the Fair Trade system to form cooperatives that enable them to create sustainable working and living conditions within their communities.

Poster by Derek Hansen (my son-in-law) http://abolitionsf.reimagine.org/

Janelle is crafty

Janelle is my lovely daughter who is currently living and studying fiber & art in southern France with her college – Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah, GA. She is a senior now and will graduate in May 2010! Be sure to check out her blog and see the interesting embroidery diary she just finished for a class.

Today we were able to skype – always fun!

Janelle - skyping from Lacoste, France

Another picture with Kara – her sweet roommate:

Kara & Janelle!

They are so cute & fun! Always make me smile.

Later this week they head to Paris for a few days of sightseeing and learning more about all the arts in Paris! Wish I were there too.

Stay warm, my little Janelle. Je t’aime et profiter de Paris!

Daughter’s Wedding Quilt

My daughter, Melody, was married this summer on August 8. It was such a lovely affair and I still cherish the wonderful feelings from seeing my daughter marry the man of her dreams with the wedding of her dreams. I miss her a lot – as she lives in San Francisco and I live in Orlando. Yes, the name for my blog and quilting business, “Quilted Melodies”, is named in her honor.

I had a lot of fun creating a quilt for her wedding gift. She and Derek live in a typical San Francisco flat – with that vintage air. She has definite design/decorating tastes and I had to choose fabrics that I thought would fit her style – vintage looking, but contemporary. I spent hours searching for fabrics online and in the end chose Charisma by Chez Moi for moda. I am waiting for my daughter to photograph the quilt for me (she’s a professional photographer), but here are a few photos of it in process and when it was presented to them before the wedding:

Charisma fabrics

WIP

The wedding quilt

So… I’m waiting for some photos of it in her SF apartment! It was a fun one to make – especially since it was for their wedding gift!

Have to include some photos of the lovely bride and handsome groom on their wedding day:

Mr. & Mrs. Derek Hansen

Luv quilting

Well, I started this blog with the idea of posting regularly and telling stories of my life – which often include my two cute beagles, but right after I started the idea I got involved with a creative project that requires a lot of time sewing quilts. A sweet, young friend of mine (and her mom, sisters, and brother) have opened an adorable shop in the historic district of Sanford, Florida. It is a co-op venture with many creative artisans contributing their handmade created items to the shop to sell. The focus is babies, children, and hip moms! Check it out at www.fawnmom.com.

Fawn Shop window

So, I’ve been busy creating… my business name is “Quilted Melodies” and this is what I’ve finished for the shop so far:

"Friend & Flowers" quilt

"Through the Garden Gate" quilt