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Tuesday, November 02, 2010

There is a First for Everything

Hi Knitters,
I don't know if I can describe this well enough but I will try. It was so funny. I was sitting looking out my front window after school and my girls were in the room with me. All of a sudden my daughter starts laughing really hard. "Mom, look!" All I can see is my son backing into the driveway with the back end of the car open and two more boys inside hanging on to some huge piece of furniture of some sort. I kept trying to figure out what it was....

Of course! It was a really old dust-covered organ that they had found on the side of the road. Why wouldn't you stop and load that gem into your car? I remember lots of people had these upright organs in their homes when I was growing up but the kids had never seen one of these before. It looked so archaic. Do you remember these like I do? I am sure they were thought to be a real luxury at the time. I had friends with these exact organs in their houses. We always had the regular old piano at our house.

The boys set it up on our driveway and my son dug up a really long outdoor extension cord. I was bracing myself for the loud organ playing that would take place in my driveway. You're not going to believe it but it didn't work. Go figure. I told him I didn't want the organ inside of our house. We really and truly don't have room. My son said not to worry they would put it out on the curb if they couldn't get it working which I wasn't thrilled about either.

They fiddled around with it for awhile to no avail. Then they got all excited thinking they were going to sell the organ. They were laughing really loud and running around the house. They got online and saw that similar (however working) organs were being sold for a couple hundred dollars on ebay. They even found a minister who collects organs and restores them. However, I told my son again I didn't want it left in our garage or in our house. I tried to consider it staying but I just couldn't do it. They loaded the organ back up in the van and took it to one of the friend's houses. Sorry to the other sweet mom who now has an organ at her house but I am glad it's not sitting in my garage right now. I think my son emailed the minister so we'll wait and see what happens.

This was a first and hopefully a last.

There is never a dull moment around here. Honestly. I would enjoy a few dull moments. To the mothers of young preschool-aged children, you think it's busy and crazy now but just hang onto your hats.
Okay, all of that was going on when I started writing on the real topic for today's post. It was so silly I had to take the detour to, "The Great Organ Adventure." I am so excited and proud about this: I finished my first ever large-sized quilt!

Do any of you remember when I first posted about this quilt I started making? I just found when, July, 15th, 2009. Click here to see the first post on this quilt! Our house had just begun a massive renovation where almost every inch was gutted and every inch was dust covered. I decided at that time to put it away to finish after the remodel. You know how that goes. You forget.

The other day last week I was cleaning out my studio and I ran across the finished quilt top and the backing fabric and batting I had picked up at Stitcher's Crossing way back when. I had since taken a really great quilting class at Stitcher's so I kind of remembered how to finish a quilt. We had made a small quilt in the class. That was a year ago. Click here to see my fall-inspired quilt.

The fabrics for the quilt top were all bundles I had purchased online at Spool in Philadelphia. I had quite a collection of summery-themed bundles. Spool puts together fantastically coordinated fat quarter bundles. Click here to see what they have pulled together right now!
For the backing I used two colorways sewn together of this Amy Butler fabric. Since I didn't use a pattern for my quilt but instead stitched up random columns of squares and rectangles both skinny and fat my quilt ended up not being a standard size. It is a great and generous size though.
It is so summery and juicy. The colors are refreshing and light. I love it so much.
I masking-taped the backing down on my floor and did the basting that way. It wasn't too bad. I made sure not to scratch the wood floor with the pins. The quilting lines I stitched on my old 1970's sewing machine which took a lot of maneuvering. It was quite an accomplishment for me. I only broke two needles. I did random lines, no measuring and no marking or planning. The quilt lines are quite fun and not so straight at all. I actually like that the lines are not straight and even. It's more charming, natural and playful to me. I really prefer that kind of quilting without the precision cutting and stitching.

For the binding I used the extra fabric from the backing after I trimmed it off. I loved seeing it come together. It was very exciting. The binding looks so good. Again, there is nothing perfect about this quirky quilt.
I enjoyed the hand-stitching of the binding to the backing. I feel much more in my element when hand-stitching. I am not much of a machine girl. The kids are excited about the new couch quilt. I am actually surprised by the amount of attention the new quilt has received. I barely get a nod from anyone about my knitting projects around here. My son (the organ collector) and his group of about six friends, who were over for lunch one day, have even admired and commented on the quilt several times. That made me laugh. They all stood around the quilt in my living room to take it in and compliment.

It will be heavily used no doubt.
Now I am back to reality with the writing and knitting. It was a fun short-lived break with the quilting. I signed up for a Barcelona skirt (Amy Butler pattern) class at Stitcher's Crossing in a few weeks. My sister is joining me for the class. I have had this pattern for a long while and have never made the skirt. When I saw that Stitcher's is offering a class for this pattern I jumped right in! I will share what I learn and hopefully I will end up with a cute new skirt.

It's Wednesday already? Really?
best, susie
p.s. By the way I watched the Fiddler on the Roof with Peachy this past weekend. I forgot how much I loved this movie. My family went to see it in the theater in 1971 when the movie was first released and I loved it then even though I was little. We had the album of the music and we listened to it all of the time. I remembered all of the words to the songs. It was really fun. The movie is rated G! Hooray for the long-lost art of the G-rated movie. I miss that and it can be done well.

23 comments:

  1. What a beautiful quilt! I also like less "structured" piecing and stitching. I do not quilt, but sure like to look at them.

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  2. I absolutely love your new quilt! It's magical! -Ve

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  3. Your quirky quilt is perfect!!

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  4. ALL of my machine sewing seems to end up being random! lol I love the quilt and the organ story is priceless! 'See you Monday at Knitter's Guild?
    Sara

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  5. I also just finished my first ever quilt! Congrats to you! I absolutely love the colors you picked!

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  6. Susan, do you have a Flickr group? If not, you should - so knitters can post pic of projects they have created from your patterns! If you have one, I can't find it...

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  7. Love the story - son's are great, never NEVER a dull moment. The quilt turned out beautiful and I'm really looking forward to seeing the skirt - sisters modeling the finished items???

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  8. That is one, funny organ story! Love it! I wonder how one is played compared to a piano.
    Your quilt is totally awesome. Love, just love the colors and prints you used. As always, wonderful job, Susan!

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  9. What a fantastic quilt! It's cheerful, just like you!
    I laughed out loud at that funny organ story. Good for you, saying NO to more broken stuff coming home!!haha

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  10. As a fan of bright colors I'm loving what you did with the quilt, it's brilliant!

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  11. You better make 3 more, so your kids don't have to fight over that one 60 or 70 years from now!

    It is beautiful.

    I just made a little sized quilt last month. I gave it to my daughter at her baby shower for her baby girl (not yet born).

    Quilts are so satisfying to complete!

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  12. I love your quilt...beautiful job!

    (Loved the organ story too...good memories for sure!)

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  13. Oh no - an old organ! My in-laws had one for years and tried to get us to take it (my husband plays piano and organ) but, like you, no way was that thing coming into my house! Your quilt is scrumptious! :-) The colors and the mixture are so..so...lovery! I am not a quilter - my sewing forte is children's clothing - but admire all the beautiful quilts made by others. Keep quilting!:-)

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  14. That is a gorgeous quilt! Congratulations! And the organ story made me laugh, but also gave me a moment of nostalgia. My granddad had one of those in his house in the 70s. They were The Thing, weren't they? Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

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  15. I dearly love quilts and yours is gorgeous! I think it will make you happy every time you look at it - so cheerful!!

    Your son and his friends are a hoot! Let us know if the minister that collects organs takes an interest.

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  16. Just beautiful!!! You certainly have bragging rights on this wonderful piece!!

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  17. Beautiful quilt. I'm sure it will bring joy to everyone who snuggles under it!

    I love Fiddler on the Roof as well. Did you know that Jerry Bock the composer passed away yesterday, Nov. 3? he was certainly a treasure.

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  18. Congrats on your first quilt! It's wonderful!

    I've made at least 6 Barcelona skirts now and it's a great pattern. I've done both the layered and regular, varied the lengths a bit. One of my favorites is an unlined layered with home-dec weight. The unfinished edges show more with the heavier weight. Have fun!

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  19. Our house in the country was at the end of a long driveway off the main highway. One day, when we were children, my brother brought home a pair of lace panties he had found there on the ground as he rode his bike home. "Are these yours, Mommy?" he asked. Mother nearly fainted. "Put those in the trash and wash your hands immediately!" A found organ would not have caused as much consternation. (You may not want to post this...)

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  20. I had to laugh at your organ story. My husbands parents had an electric organ in theri house and my kids always loved to play "music" on it when we were there. Well, fast forward several years and my inlaws were moving to a nursing home and we were in charge of cleaning out their home. My husband asked if I wanted the organ and I said - most emphatically - NO, I do not what that thing in my house! Well, guess what, my kids said that the only thing they specifically wanted us to keep from the house was the organ! ACK! Now, we have 2 granddaughters of our own and the organ is once again a big hit! They don't want play the piano nearly as often as they want to play the organ. OUrs still works and apparently will be living in our home until it gives up the ghost - at which time it is going directly to the curb!
    Kally (Ravely)

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  21. Boys! (just be glad you don't have a barn for things they bring home to be stored in).Those teenage years make toddler years look calm, don't they? Your quilt is gorgeous-so fresh and cheerful.

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  22. Fun story about the organ! I have 3 boys and love it. I have a high schooler, a middle schooler, and a first grader (homeschooled) - but I must say that I'm loving the teen stage more than toddler stages.

    I love your ability to jump in on new projects, it's inspiring! And the quilt is beautiful; reminds me of yellow and pink lemonade, and limeade, and watermelon.

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  23. Around here, about every three months we have "bulk pick-up". Basically you put ANYTHING out on your curb that you don't want and the refuse guys (or gals) come pick it up in the morning. My 21 year old son is a bulk pick-up aficionado! You would not believe the stuff he has brought home...some amazing, some not so much. But don't you just love that these kids have an appreciation for this stuff..that they think "wow..check it out...we could totally use this!" They define the recycle mentality! Of course, then YOU end up with a broken organ..oh well! LOL.

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