Secret fabulous sewing tool

Short entry today, still having neck pain.  Just thought I'd share this secret that I wish I had known about long long ago.

Next to my ever so fun circle cutter, my favorite tool to use when I'm sewing are Crayola washable markers.

Summer Quilt finished

So I've been busy since my last post. I've had about a week of fabulous days pain-wise. Like the pain has been numb with only shooting when I move the wrong way. Much better than pain all the time. However, today I tried swimming, very bad idea. In pain again. Oh well, one day I'll be better. On my good days, and the days when I've been trying to be in different positions, I've been crafting away so that the boredom doesn't set in. Today, not much crafting, too much pain which is why I'll try to be brief with my blog.

I'm much more visual than a writer, so I'll post lots of photos of my work. I am generally a perfectionist but not when it comes to sewing/crafting. It's supposed to be fun, and I could give a rat's ass if I screw up a little. It's about the journey, not the product.

So the big news is I finished my summer quilt - it has no batting since it's hot here. It's all scraps except the blue and green polka dot material. I also used glow in the dark thread to quilt most of it, which is just a really cool bonus. It's a very fun fun quilt.

As you can see, I've done a lonestar in the middle (of course, being in TX and all). I did the quilt on point (meaning the square surrounding the star is cockeyed instead of straight). The instructions for the star I found on youtube from these fabulous ladies in New Zealand (I think). There's 3 parts, so don't forget to watch the other two.

This quilt was a fun one and a scrap one, so I just added and added. I played with patterns, so I tried the porthole quilt. That was fun. I used this tutorial to make the portholes. I did mine a little differently though. I had bought a circle cutter from Olfa, so I had to use it. This did cut down on some fabric waste. I love the way the portholes look and feel.

I started this quilt before my blog so sorry, no pics of me making it :(.

I had fabulous helpers of course.

As I've said, I'm not a perfectionist when it comes to having fun. I also believe that quilts should be used until they fall apart. My dogs are of course allowed on the quilt, muddy toes and all. Just breaking it in :). The day I took the pictures I stayed in bed most of the time. So I got to play with my camera and learn things about it. That has come in handy since I learned how to take close up shots of my work.

Ok, neck hurting, will tell you all about my other projects later...