Put your light in the right spot…

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This is what happens if your light is way over there on the table and you are sitting too far from it. ‘Growing toward the light’ happens especially to hand sewers/appliquers. It is very hard on your back and shoulders.

Place your light in position so that you can sit up straight and see what you are doing, both at the same time. This probably means that you need an adjustable floor lamp. I use my Stella floor light, but there are other lamps that also work.

As always, pay attention to your posture.

If you are right-handed, the light should come from the left. Left-handers, the light should come from the right. In both cases this keeps the shadow from your dominant hand from falling on your work, where you are trying to see what you are doing.

My own personal shopper…

My friend, Amanda, had on the cutest top the last time I saw her. She then told me about Stitch Fix (I’ve added a link in the column at right, under Fashion). This is an online personal shopping site. You fill out your info, indicate what sorts of things you like, etc., and eventually you get a box!

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The box opens to reveal a box that is thoughtfully printed on the inside, with instructions about what to do next, and your items enclosed in tissue paper. There is also a return envelope, ready to use.

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I took a quick peek, and a photo, from the side before tearing the tissue paper…

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I told them I like greens and blues. I got greens and blues, but not exactly the shades of green and blue that I normally buy. They couldn’t read my mind-amazing!

I did as instructed and tried on everything. Three of the five items fit well and are very much worth keeping. Lorna was here and chimed in so I feel pretty good about what is staying in my closet…

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These are not garments that go together, but I have other garments in my closet that go with all of them. I would never have found these on my own, nor would I have chosen them for myself. How about that! You are never too old to learn more about how to dress yourself :-).

So, if you are shopping challenged, check out Stitch Fix.

Show and Tell…

Ilsabe emailed this photo of her quilt. She says:

I had one of your books for years and finally just finished a quilt based off of one of the quilts.  I hand quilted it.  So I thought I would send a picture of how it turned out.  I love your color choices in the original but wound up in a different direction.

IlsabeUrban

I am always happy to see how other quilters use our patterns. Ilsabe, you did a great jpb!

FYI: In case you are wondering, this pattern is from our book, Applique Outside the Lines. The quilt in question is Peppermint Sparkle.

Empty Spools, 2015…

You might have noticed that I was too busy to write on the blog, but I did post to instagram and facebook. I hope you enjoyed the scenery and the waves.

Today, before class was totally over, I did take photos of my students. To be honest, I am always busy being the teacher and forget to stop and be a photographer. But I noticed that most everyone was taking pictures and realized that I should be too!

Penny had already gone and I am sorry I missed getting her photo. She worked, and conquered, the Everyday Best block before leaving to take in some sites on her way north. Penny, we missed you :-).

And I don’t know how I managed to miss Jane, but I did. She worked on a lovely applque quilt-in-progress in class. It ought to come together pretty quickly once she gets home.

Here’s a slideshow of my students and at least some of the work they did in this independent study class. I have to say that every person in the room was a delight and we all had a fabulous time!

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