Arranging My Squares

Pine cones in the center!

I used my new 5 and 1/2 inch square to rotary cut out all my table runner squares yesterday.

Holly and Poinsettias outside center.

Then I laid them all out to arrange color and pattern placement. 

And I even remembered to mirror image the snowflake design in each corner!

I decided to keep it simple and not cut up the squares any more.

I'm very tempted to try cutting each square into fours but I realized to do that I can't use the squares I've already cut.  I would have to cut new ones that are larger because of the seam allowances needed for the four by fours.  

I want to try it, but I tell myself to keep it simple for this first table mat.

Next step 1/4 seams!

After all this is my first ever quilted Winter/Christmas Table Runner.

I'm so pleased too.   

My Janome came with a 1/4 inch seam stitch and a 1/4 inch seam special foot.

It is a breeze to sew the 1/4 inch seams needed for the squares!!

Wish me luck that my square corners will match. 

We're leaving tomorrow for a few days for a campout with my Hubby's brother and wife.

It's the first time in ten years!

So I'll be busy packing the "Little Guy" (i.e., travel van) today.

Now to find a crochet project I can work on in the van.

Our weather has been awful here.

Yesterday the dew point was 74 (anything over 60 is muggy).

I couldn't stand to be outside.

No biking (sob!)

Have a wonderful weekend and I hope your weather is better than ours!

Winter Red-Work Table Runner

My inspiration...

Source:  Pinterest

I love this book!

Isn't this lovely in red and white!

This is hand embroidered.  

My fabrics...

Red, Green & Yellow Circle fabric will be the back.

The small check in Red, Green & Yellow will be the binding.

The fat quarters on the sides will be the 5 inch squares.

One of my Janome red-work winter designs...

Two Pine Cones will be in the center.

I chose sewing a Winter/Christmas theme table runner for my project at Embroidery Club.  

Initially I picked designs on a more Christmasy theme.  

But I wasn't happy with them for a table runner because depending on where one viewed the runner some designs would be upside down. 

Poinsettias...

Luckily I was able to find enough designs of a wintery nature that would look good from all view points.  

Now I'll be able to utilize the runner all winter and not limit it's use to Christmas only.

  

Holly...

My fabrics are 100% cotton from Joann Fabrics.  

I'm debating {{with myself}} whether to PRE-WASH or NOT.  

I've read that certain dark fabrics can run when washed..like REDs.  

And, as you know me,  I have chosen a couple red fabrics for this project.  

Plus I don't know how "good" Joann's cotton is - whether it's low or high shrinkage.  

One of my area sewing stores told me their cottons are of a higher quality with just 2% shrinkage and thus there is no need to prewash... but these fabrics weren't purchased there.  

Some quilters don't pre-wash because they prefer the vintage wrinkely results due to shrinkage.  

You guessed...I decided to pre-wash all the fabrics.

My next step, once I decide about pre-washing (or NOT), is to rotary cut my squares.  

I've sketched a pattern that will have 30 five inch squares.  

Ten squares will be red work designs and twenty will be red and green shades divide evenly.  

I may add a border all around the 30 squares.  

Years ago I took a hand quilting  class.  

I remember my hand being sore from all the hand stitching.  

Now I prefer to let my machine do all the work.   

Snowflake design for each corner.

Cutting out patterns has always been my least favorite job in the sewing steps.  

And with quilting if you want your corners to match you have to cut correctly.  

This is not something I can"wing"!!  

I have to be precise.

Today I purchased some quilting cutting squares in different sizes - more of a guaranteed outcome for me that my squares will fit.  

And I got them on sale (50% off)!!!

******

Funny cartoon for the day:

   

I'm missing Disney!

Brideshead Revisited

Our first view...

through a beautiful Yorkshire daffodil field...

Way off in the distance you can just see Castle Howard...

Do you know why this "castle" is famous?

Other than being one of the world's top ten greatest mansion and grand house?

If you haven't read the novel, Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh, then perhaps you have seen one of the two movies based upon her novel?

A fire in 1940 completely destroyed the dome, centre hall and dining room including the famous painting, depicting the "Fall of Phaeton" which decorated the walls and ceilings and were executed by the Italian master, Antonio Pellegrini. 

When Castle Howard's dome crashed to the floor in 1940, not only was this grand architectural feature lost, so too was Antonio Pellegrini's painting, The Fall of Phaeton, which had decorated the underside of the dome since 1792.

The painting we saw during our visit is a replica by the Canadian artist, Scott Medd, who was commissioned by George Howard in 1962 to recreate Pellegrini's original design.  

The first movie was filmed here in 1981 and the second one in 2008.  

I wish you could see this historic castle in person.  

The rooms are filled with the most beautiful artwork, wall murals and antique furniture.   

The image of Vulcan slumbering in his forge is a humorously appropriate subject to decorate the fireplace surround in the Great Hall.

How lucky we were - while on our tour of England/Wales/Scotland - to be able to visit this magnificent mansion and estate on April 26, 2013.

  

Magnificent Castle Howard

Doesn't this stunning vista take your breath away!

This also where I found and purchased my little teddy bear.  

Piper

The priceless art treasures, including marble statues like this one, displayed in the mansion were breathtaking. 

Do you have a favorite Brideshead Revisited? 

Book, first movie or second?

I'm partial to the first movie with Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews. 

Now I want to watch the two movies again!

I will be posting more photos of our trip to England/Wales/Scotland so stay tuned.  

Last night I was fooling around and drew this Mickey Mouse and tried some free motion machine quilting.  

It's going to take some practice but not too bad for my first try.