I have wanted to make a mariner's compass for years and could never muster up the ambition nor the courage lol. I knew it was a challenge and lots of work so it always stayed on the back burner.

Two days ago I got into the mood and started to work on the pattern, see? I knew it was work and here is the killer. The book I used is by Judy Mathieson. She is the best on this stuff. Anyway, long story short. The first book had her beautiful quilts and one could drool over them while trying to find instructions to attempt much less even think about making one of those creatures.

Therefore one bought the second book when it came out because it said better instructions, yeh right! Here is a small paragraph from the second book...(Quote) precise instruction could not be given to put the quilt together due to lack of space (Unquote)..or something to that effect. Now when one pays a good price for a book that shows the quilts that are in it, one would assume that the instruction are there too no? Brings me to more of my bitching.....I had made new rules for buying books and patterns after that experience. While I was in Paducha and was purchasing the " Jacquline De Jonge" pattern for a mere 48.00 bucks at Hancocks...I took that puppy out to check it....well the entire pattern was there in full size! and none of this "need to enlarge 40%)..so mucho kudos to Jacquline and none to Judy.

I understand why the pattern cost 48.00. It cost 12.00 to make a copy, it's that big. I don't like to mess up the orginal so I make a copy. Anyway enough bitching for now.

In judy's book she says that if you didn't want to make the templates and ADD THE SEAMS, BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T, PLEASE! That you could stack them and make a foundation etc. etc. etc. Well it took a day and a half to get the patterns all made on freezer paper and ready for foundation. Now I am hoping that at least her templeate were precise and I would not be cussing up a blue streak. I say this because in one part of the book she gives you drafting lessons...now why couldn't that space be used for instructions for putting the quilt together and the foundation patterns or even seam allowance on the templates, I ask you? who the hell wants to draft when they want to sew? ok I said no more bitching..

Here is a quarter of the center of the compass. I made the four quarters with no mishaps.



An then, she didn't say the next step so I sewed them in halves and then together to form the circle. I assumed that I would be setting this circle into the outer circle.


I then started to work on the outside part and as I finished a section, I would lay it around the center. I made two or three mistakes. I misplaced fabric. Each spike has a light and a medium fabric and somehow I managed to put the dark in the wrong place....if you can't see then it's ok lol.

I finally finished tonight at 10.15. Her templates were not exact. I will have to make some adjustments. Anyway, the block has a 26 inch diameter and contains 96 pieces of fabric and that is just one block. The quilt has three compasses, some half and quarter one...so I'll debate if I want to continue or just finish this one off as a 30 inch quilt hanging. I could add some borders and take it to 40.



The block looks square in this pic but it's the background of my design board that you are looking at. The block at this moment is still a circle. Dont forget to click on the pics to see a larger view. This was a lot of work and I'm a bit pleased with myself in spite of the book. Oh, I believe a third book is out, giving even more instruction...ahahahah, yeh right!! The fist time, shame on you, the second time, shame on me, the third time would really be rediculous or something to that effect.....

I think this is the nuts. I made this little dog tent bed last night. Today I had to get the pvc pipes and drill the holes and finish the deal. Isn't it cute as anything?

In this pic you can see her in it...she went in immediately lol.


I use two different dog fabrics. One for the front flap and one for the other three panels and a contrast for bottom, the pillow and the pvc holders. The pillow that is in the pic is not the correct one. I had to put it in there because she was so impatient to get in lol.

This has been a work in progress off and on for the past five years. I had bought or won a Singer Featherweing on Ebay five years ago. It needed parts and rewiring and etc. I have been rewiring and replacing and the last thing I had to do was get the motor refurbished. It came today and I installed it and worked on the tension until I got a perfect stitch.



It sews beatiful now and quiet as a mouse...isn't it lovely? Here it is with the case and accessories...all the parts are orginal so it'b back in orginal conditiion....

I've started to work on my Double Wedding Ring, King quilt. I work on it off and on as there are so many arcs to make....198 of them. this quilt is all shades of blue and it is a scrap quilt, which means that the fabrics go anywhere. I just pay attention to values, light to dark. There are A and B arcs and each arc has 8 different fabrics. You have to cut strips and then from the strips you cut the pieces for the arcs. If you multiply 198 by 8 you will see how many pieces there are just in the arcs alone. Here is a pic of the paper strip that I sew the arcs on and the pile of arc pieces...and some arcs sewed together.-->



Here is a pic of the first quarter block and then two quarters sewed together to make half a block. One set of arcs start with the light fabric and the other sets starts with the dark, then there are light and dark corners pieces....when the other half is joined to this, it will be a complete circle....it's going to be beautiful....even the background is a very light blue with the tone on tone flowers on it being several shades lighter so it appears almost white.....The block goes from light to dark and when all the lights meet they will give a raised effect and create dimension and motion of circles going around and around....I will try to work more on this quilt....

And yet another purse/tote. I call this one my Picasso/monet. The fabric designs were named like that and there in one on each side. This is the Picasso side.

This is the Monet side.

I only had two pieces of sample fabrics and the Monet piece was a bit short but had a piece at the side that I could cut off and so I made like front inset pocket and walla! a new design lol..... The handles and lining and inside pockets were made out of my hand painted fabric....I must quilt today, my customers are waiting for their quilts. lol bye now until the next fit.....

Another bag. I'm still in bag/tote mode. This is from my Mary Englebreit colletion. "Bloom Where You're Planted" Here is one side.




Other side. Bag is channel quilted. The pocket inside is faced and interfaced.

Side view. The bag is 13 ins. tall by 12 ins accross and 4 ins deep. These were sets of panels. Two to a set. Makes it just perfect for a tote or small quilt. Of couse I have more. This fabric is no longer in production.

Inside is lined with the coordinating fabric.

I guess I'm in handbag mode now hahahah....Here is a large tote made with Laurel Burch designer fabric...18 ins. tall, 12 accross, 4 1/2 deep. Here is one side.









Other side...
One side...


The front. This was a panel so it dictated the size of the bag as I wanted the entire design to be displayed and wrap around to the side.

Inside. Two very generous pockests one a double......

The bag has a good feel not too hard and not too soft just a nice body to it. It is interfaced inside to give it the body and lined, pockets of the same line of fabric....