Lynn Carson Harris

Sizzix - a time saver

You guys,  look what came in the mail!!!! My new sizzix custom die!

This die has the blades to cut twenty one inch squares at a time. I can place small scraps over the die cutting surface and then run them through the Sizzix.

Here's what it looks like after cutting. 

I can quickly separate the squares from the cut away trash. I had these quares cut and stacked in no time this afternoon. Since I'll be sewing these across from point to point and trimming one side to make half square triangles, I am able to use squares that are missing one corner.

I put five layers of white backgound fabric through the sizzix and cut one hundred squares at once!!! This new Sizzix die will save me days of cutting time.

To make sewing point to point easier, I put a piece of washi tape in line with the sewing machine needle. I can now line up the point of the square on that line and follow it as I sew across the square.

Zippity zip and I have lots of sewn half square triangles. This is only the beginning.

Now, I'm ready to sew miles and miles of tiny sawteeth strips!

I'm crushing hard on that strip of alternating teeth on the right. 

Barn Update

 

I am really enjoying the barn photography these days. 

 

I go out and check on the progress D and B are making every so often but I tend to look down at all of the interesting bits that that have been left behind.

 

I look down because looking up makes me nervous. D climbs around in there like a monkey. Here he was putting in the new electrical wiring. I'm afraid he'll forget he's up there and take a step backward. I know he really won't but it still makes me nervous.

 

He's done a lot of climbing to get these Christmas lights up. The floor still isn't finished but at least there's light now! I guess they can work after dark to get the flooring done. 

If we can only get rid of the mosquitoes I think we'll be ready for the wedding in September.

 

Customer Quilts

I've been working on more customer quilts lately. 

Send me an email if you are interested in having me quilt your quilt top.

La Passacaglia progress

I'm still slowly working on my La Passacaglia rosettes. 

I seem to switch back and forth between knitting socks and English paper piecing in the evenings.

Scenes from the Barn Basement

As part of the barn renovation, wedding preparations we are putting new wiring in the barn. 

B was about to start taking out the old wiring this morning. Before starting, he came in and suggested that I take my camera out to the barn.

 

The lighting was low but I managed to get a few shots that capture the neglected state.

 

Who knows how long that Orange Crush can has been there? 

 

I had a little company while I was working.

 

Don't worry, the wedding festivities will be on the main level, it is much cleaner and tidier up there. We'll also be giving it a final scrub down before the event. None of these photos show the area where the new flooring and supports have been put in.

It is really difficult to capture the upper level of the barn in photographs. The space is so huge and open. I was in there the other day, sitting on the swing and enjoying the spaciousness and new floor. I had the idea that next summer I can use that space for kids sewing camp and maybe even some adult sewing workshops. I mentioned it to B and he is keeping that in mind when putting in the new wiring and outlets. Doesn't that sound dreamy? There is such a lovely cross breeze out there when the doors and windows are open. 

Sister Shirts

My son is getting married on Labor Day weekend and miss P is thrilled to finally be getting a sister! She has been wanting a sister for FOREVER and now that both of her brothers are engaged can hardly believe that she will be getting TWO sisters in one year. 

When laying out the fabric to cut out Miss P's latest Flashback Skinny Tee from the beautiful knit from BariJ's new line, Anna Elise, P suggested that I make matching sister shirts for herself and Megan, her soon to be sister. 

I was pleased that I had just enough fabric for both shirts.

Megan's shirt is made from the Sailor Top pattern from Fancy Tiger Crafts that I used for my latest shirt.

I made a minor adjustment on this one for a wider back and a little more room under the arms. It seems to have passed the wearability test.


These two sillies had fun with their photo shoot.

Only a few more weeks until they are really and truly sisters!

Thanks, Bari, for making their first sister shirts possible!

Every Last Piece - feature quilt of the week - Wind Farm

This week's feature quilt is Wind Farm, which I made for my niece's high school graduation in 2012.

The base blocks were built and squared up with a 6.5'' square rotary cutter ruler. A triangle was stiched to the corner of each square and four squares are sewn together to make a wind mill block. When building the blocks I used all but the lightest lights and the darkest darks from my scraps. 

I like the way the blue fabric in the blades shows continuity throughout the quilt.

I'd like to make another one with less variation in the value of the fabrics making up the string pieced blocks and higher contrast of the windmill blades and the background.  

My sister and I made a second string piece quilt for my nephew's high school graduation in 2012. We each built half of the background blocks from our scrap stash. I then, added the corner triangles and put the quilt together. This was a great design to work on together. My sister and I live across the country from each other and have very different scrap stashes. By mixing all of the blocks together, there is still a cohesive look for the quilt. 

In this variation of the design, the triangle corners are pieced the same way as the blocks for my Aurifil mini block but are larger.

 

You can purchase an autographed copy of the Every Last Piece from me here.

I can't compete with Amazon's low prices. But if you want to save a little and purchase from Amazon, please click here. This is an affiliate link and clicking through to purchase will allow me to earn a few extra pennies.

You can also ask your local quilt shop or book store to get the book for you.

Scenes from Our Weekend

 

We enjoyed a lovely four day weekend. Our days were filled with baby chicks, barn repair, pea picking and shelling, mowing, cleaning, weeding, raspberry picking, and a belated double birthday celebration.

A New Flashback Tee

You may remember me mentioning Miss P's favorite shirt ever- Rae's Flashback Skinny Tee pattern made with Gillie Wishes from Bari J's Emmy Grace line for Art Gallery Fabrics. Bari recently asked if I'd like to play with some fabric from her new line, Anna Elise, and I jumped at the chance for another knit top for P.  Yesterday, I made another Flashback Tee for P, this one is a size 9/10. It is hard to believe my daughter is that big!

We love the way the Art Gallery knits wash and wear. They are so soft and really hold their shape. 

The stripe design in this Tribal Study print were perfect for a fussy cut touch on the neckband. I'm feeling pretty chuffed at how that turned out.

Miss P is pretty thrilled with it too. 

It even passed the cartwheel and headstand test.

Thanks Bari!

Bari sent a generous cut of the knit and with careful pattern placement I was able to cut out TWO tops. Stay tuned for an adult knit top! 

La Passacaglia Progress

While Miss P was busy in her lessons and classes at cello camp last week, I was sitting in the back working away on my English paper piecing. I stitched all of the pieces that I had prepared. 

After sewing all of these together I knit most of the foot of a sock. 

I call that a successful week away at camp!