FEW AND FAR BETWEEN

Few and Far Between !


This is the first post of 2017. Our posts have certainly been few and far between. Harmony has been busy shoveling snow in Maine and I have been happy basking in the sunshine here in Florida. This last week has found me finishing up some UFO's. I have felt the need to have fairly clear agenda as I prepare to start a huge hand quilting project. I am finishing a quilt for a friend who is unable to complete her quilt. I hope to log many, many hours doing this for her.

I have completed the label and binding on a 10 Minute Block Quilt. The dark fabric is from the Downton Abbey Lord and Lady line and the light fabric is a shirting from the Downstairs collection. I pieced the quilt in the fall of 2015 and picked it up from the quilters in may of 2016. Here it is almost a year later and i am finally ready to mail it to my sister-in-law!

I also finished a Christmas 2016 present that will arrive in time for my son-in-law's 2017 birthday.
This is a panel that I cut apart and paired with black polka dot sashing. It is stippled and line quilted on my domestic machine. Since Harmony's husband is also a music teacher he will be using this as a wall hanging in his classroom. The jazzy cats seem really appropiate!

I added one more binding and label this week to a mystery quilt I did years ago. A picture will show up in a future post.  This is a quilt that I am keeping since the colors are perfect for my living room down here!

I inherited a longer table for my sewing machine and need to go finish setting up the room My guest room with sewing  nook definately looks like a sewing room with a guest nook now, but I am not complaining!

In stitches,
Pieceful

Summer Adventures!

 Snippets

Since I didn't get much sewing done this summer I thought I could share snippets of why! It's been busy!

We've been soaking up the love of having our own property! Lots of walks, farmers markets, lawn mowing, bike riding and porch sitting...

 My dad came up for a visit and helped us build stairs into our garage attic! I even went to a painting party and painted a scene for our living room!

We even took a few road trips to see friends and go camping and hiking on the coast!

It's been one of the BEST summers!

Respectfully,

Harmony

Summer Sewing Part 3

Mixer Cover

One of our most beloved wedding gifts was a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer. We use it weekly, if not multiple times a week! We use it enough that it live on the counter top. Last Christmas I made a mixer cover for my aunt (who gave us our mixer) and Mr. Harmony decided that we really needed on too. And truthfully, we did need one. On a trip to JoAnn's Fabric I mentioned that I was going to look for material for the mixer cover. Mr. Harmony decided he was going to choose the fabric! Oh boy. Suuuure, why not.....

He made a wonderful choice!

I used the same formula from the sewing machine covers to make our mixer cover.

It really isn't as bright or busy as it appears in these photos. I promise. Either way I love it!

Respectfully,

Harmony

Stay Tuned!

This post concludes my Summer Sewing Series and as you can see, I didn't get much sewing actually done this summer so I thought I'd show you a bit of what I have been doing with my time!

Summer Sewing Part 2

Sewing Machine Covers

Pieceful has been asking for sewing machine covers for awhile now! I bought the material last winter/early spring and previewed them in an earlier blog post. I am ashamed at how long it took to get to actually making them! Once I got started though, they were super simple to whip up. I made her two covers. One to keep here in Maine and the other to take to Florida with her for the winter.

The fabric I felt was just perfect since Pieceful is an avid reader. All of the words are quilting related. the only difference between the two covers were the linings.

One had thimbles,

and the other scissors.

I did it all myself, including the quilting. I find straight line quilting very relaxing. Very little thought goes into it and the rhythm of the machine is so soothing!

Happy Belated Christmas/Birthday/Mother's Day and all other applicable holidays that this project overlapped Mum!

Respectfully,

Harmony

Stay Tuned!

Next blog will show the same pattern for a different purpose!

Summer Sewing

T-Shirt Quilt

Good afternoon, Harmony here!

Earlier this year a friend of mine asked me about creating a wall hanging for a dear friend of his. This friend was a professor for the University of Southern Maine College of Music. An incredible conductor and inspirational teacher, he touched many lives throughout his career in academics and conducting a Youth Summer Music Camp. This spring a large alumni concert was put together to celebrate his retirement. The music was moving and the atmosphere was one of a kind. I sent a piece of muslin along with that friend to the concert and he had other alumni sign and write messages on it. This provided the backing to the wall hanging. It's not often a quilt starts from the back! For the front we decided to use t-shirts from various years of the music camp he conducted at. 

The colors I had available were tough to bring together, so I decided for a simple black. I kept the quilting to a minimum so that it wouldn't distract from the lovely messages on the backing! Below is Dr. Martin receiving his gift from our friend Pat!

This was my first time sewing with t-shirts and I'd say I would do it again!

Respectfully,

Harmony

Stay Tuned!

Next blog will show sewing machine covers!

Studio Set Up

 Studio

Today's blog post is a chance to show you my current set up of our 'creative space'. We are calling it our studio because not only is it my sewing space, but it also serves the purpose of a music practice and recording space as well!

The studio is upstairs. Right at the top of the stairs actually! Above is my sewing station as seen right as you turn off the stairs. As you can see, the space has sloped ceilings. Luckily I'm not too tall! I can stand upright at this iron and not hit my head as long as I don't grow another inch :)

 

  

 

As you might be able to see from the first picture above, my table is set up on bed risers. I really like this height! It is perfect for cutting. I often spend an entire afternoon cutting and packaging two or three projects at once to get it done so that I am more likely to sew throughout the week. This setup allows for longer stints of cutting without the back ache! The first picture is poor representation of lighting in the space though so I took a picture from the other direction. The doorway you see is the bedroom. I have also found that I really like the half wall by the stairwell because it allows me to lay out pieces of projects not in use! You'll notice that for this sewing project I was using a stool. I like the stool the best, but adding a cushion put me just a bit too high. This cushion does work well with the chair you see off to the side for days I want a back rest. But if I were to be 100% truthful, I spend most of my time sewing standing up!

 Again, this was taken from the top of the stairs. This angle shows that I haven't COMPLETELY taken over the room. Opposite the sewing side, we have a lovely practice area. Complete with an area rug, keyboard, amp, bookshelf and (further to the left) an instrument storage nook. PS Hubby would DIE if he knew I posted a picture of him in is jammies!

 

There! A better picture of him to make up for it! This is us on a typical afternoon home!

Music and Sewing

 So the music teacher in me is wondering does anybody else listen to music while sewing? I find it help pass time during projects that have repetition! If the sewing is straight forward I tend to choose music I can sing along to, but for projects that need more focus I'll chose something more classical or instrumental so that I don't get as distracted! I know Pieceful likes audio books while she sews.

Just Because

 Here is the view from my front porch! We live in Aroostook County, which is potato country. I took the first picture before school one morning in the fall. The tractors were getting ready to head out and harvest. By the time I got home from school they were done with the portion of field directly in front of the house and the farmer waved me over and said I could come pick any leftover potatoes to keep. I filled my crate and we have plenty of 'taters to get through the winter!

Stay Tuned!

Hopefully I will have a finished product or two to show off in the next post!

Respectfully,

Harmony

Harmony at Home

I'm Baaaack! 

This is Harmony posting today. I've been gone from blogging for quite some time. For good reason though, I promise! Last fall my husband and I bought a house! Woohoo! The best part about buying a house? Is having a room dedicated to creativity! We are calling it the 'studio'. It's a nice open space at the top of the stairs leading to the bedroom. We have one half of the room dedicated to music (we are, afterall music teachers!) with a keyboard, amps and plenty of instrument storage. The other half is my sewing area! I can leave everything set up and ready to go on a whim! We've been here three months now and I've already sewn quite a few projects here and LOVE the new space! More pictures to follow ;)

2016 

One of my New Year Resolutions this year closely resembles one that Pieceful had a few years ago. She dedicated time each Sunday to work on sewing Christmas gifts. So that when the holidays came around she wasn't so overwhelmed with projects. I am going to dedicate time each Sunday to be creative in the studio. For me, it may not involve working on gifts each Sunday, but it will involve either sewing, cutting projects, organizing or blogging about what I accomplish! Some weeks I might just squeeze an hour in while others I may spend the day! Either way, I will be creative!

Completed Projects

Believe it or not, I have completed a thing or two since my last post! Don't believe me? I have photo evidence! A wall hanging from a book series:

 A bag for my uncle that I designed to specifications he gave me!

 Many aprons and a zipper bag for Christmas presents (many more bags to come too!)

Stay tuned!

My next blog post will show off my studio but here are a few sneak peaks. The wall hanging was made by Pieceful a few years ago, but fits wonderfully in the stair well. The sweet lady bug was a Christmas present and I absolutely love it!

 This photo is a teaser. Piecefuls (belated) Christmas gift are in the process of being made out of this material!

 Respectfully,
Harmony

Using Your Imagination!

 I make lots of my Christmas presents and am sometimes organized enough to post  pictures after they have been delivered. Alas, that posting will not occur this year. I made bowl cozies, placemats, a shawl and a table runner that have already been gifted and there is not a  picture to be found! Please use your imagination and know that I have been busy in the sewing room!

I do, however, have a picture of a quilt top to post.  This is a tshirt quilt that is being mailed back to Maine to be machine quilted. It looks black and grey but it is really navy blue. Not a Christmas gift but a gift nonethe less. Enjoy Mikey DiBona!

It's been a long,long time!

FOR TODAY  November 28,2015

Outside my window..it is dark and still 75 degrees.

I am thinking...that it has been far too long since we have had any new posts.

I am thankful... for  many .many things during the Thanksgiving season.

In the kitchen...I have lots of leftovers although Thanksgiving was  just for me and Mike this year.

I am wearing...short sleeves and capris.

I am creating...a T-shirt quilt for a neighbor in Maine.

I am going...to put laundry away .

I am wondering... if my family in Maine enjoyed the Thanksmas presents I made this year.

I am reading..."The History Lottery" . A novel by one of my kindergarten students! And, yes, I am enjoying it! Congratulations, Kristi Hall Gherlone.

I am hoping....to finish refurbishing my side flower garden soon. The weeds had a party this summer!

I am looking forward to...attending lots of Christmas activities .



I am learning to ...  make burlap wreaths.

Around the house...I making plans to redecorate a bedroom.

A favorite quote for today... "It's a small,small world."

Excitement in the neighborhood

FOR TODAY  June 4, 2015

Outside my window..it is finally sunny after 5 days of rain!

I am thinking...how lucky I am to live in Maine. We have had a bear in the neighborhood. two eagles had to be seperated by the local game warden and his daughter who is studying  to be a wildlife specialist at the University of Maine. The eagles were taken to a refuge and then released. I am also thinking about the up close and almost TOO personal encounter I had with a moose  while driving on Saturday! Lot's of excitement in the neighborhood!

I am thankful... for preventive medicine check- ups.

In the kitchen...I have a nice piece of fresh haddock waiting to be cooked for  supper!This is another reason I am thankful to live in Maine!

I am wearing...jeans and a long sleeve top. It is very cool here for June 4th!

I am creating...a wall hanging for the living room.

I am going...on a Shop Hop Saturday with a bus load of quilting friends and Harmony!

I am wondering... if the weather will cooperate so I can attend a Little Legue game tomorrow.

I am reading... an Amish Romance.

I am hoping....to attend an informational meeting on the National Park  proposal for this area.Gathering information to be informed.

I am looking forward to...some more time in the flower gardens.



I am learning to ...  amend the soil  for my flowers.

Around the house...Michael is working on the window trim in the living room!!!!!

A favorite quote for today...I just saw this on a mug advertisement today. "Give us this day our daily thread" . Written by a true quilter!

Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

Especially to my Mum, Pieceful. Today's long awaited post is dedicated to her. She has share with me a love for quilting!

Today I finished a little wall hanging that I started last July! That's embarrassing to admit. I've had the top completed for months, but I have been putting off quilting it because even though I took a class at the State Quilt show last July (the same place I started piecing the top) I had never free motion quilted an actual project before! I made an attempt around January that was pathetic and called for the seam-ripper.

This picture just about sums up this project....

That's right. Instead of just picking up my seam ripper and trying again I set it aside and then lost confidence to even pick it up again until this week....in MAY! But I did it! The quilting is nothing to write home about. Simple and not a lot. But I am proud because I actually did it!

It is going to hang in the hallway on the door to our apartment as a cheerful welcome!

I still need to work a finding the best tension. The front came out nicely, but the back wasn't wonderful, but let's face it...hanging on our little door nobody will see the back! I know you can't see the actual quilting because I played it safe using similar thread colors to the materials. Here are a few close-up shots that might do justice.

Thanks for teaching me this art, Mum!

Respectfully,

Harmony

Posting from Maine

FOR TODAY  May 3,2015

Outside my window..twilight is falling .

I am thinking...about watching "Call the Midwife" in a little while.

I am thankful... for the safe travels we had last week.

In the kitchen...I have a few dishes to wash.

I am wearing... capris and a hot pink top!

I am creating...a sampler quilt.

I am going...to  go to the Monday quilt group tomorrow!

I am wondering... how much gardening I will get done before blackfly and mosquito season arrives.

I am reading...NOTHING! I need to  start a new book tonight and I am undecided what to read.

I am hoping....the warm sunny weather lasts.

I am looking forward to... a potluck supper meeting on Wednesday.



I am learning to ...  forgo breads and pasta!

Around the house... I need to spring clean.

A favorite quote for today..."May you never forget what us worth remembering,nor remember what is best  forgotten." Irish Blessing

A Post from Pieceful

Today is March 27,2015 and my head us spinning. Time is passing quickly and we will be heading home in a month. Tonight I want to post pictures of some of the projects that have kept me busy this winter.
A tote bag, candle mat and apron for my Internet Random Acts of Kindness friends, and a car seat tent and doll blanket ! Lots of fun!