A Tip from Kayla

When Kayla was home for our lefse making class I decided to rope her into helping me.  I had my bonus triangle quilt that needed to have the threads clipped.  It wasn’t a terrible job or hard job but something that HAD to be done so that I could get it in the mail the next day.  American Patchwork and Quilting picked the project up and it needed to get in the mail to get there by the deadline date.

The strings on the front were all trimmed.  I trimmed as a went and rechecked as I unrolled it from the frame.  The back was a mess.  Remember I had done some custom quilting on this one.  The post is here if you missed it.

You can see that the backing is VERY pieced.  This in not typical for me.  I’ve seen others do it but this is not my preferred….but about two years ago I decided to try making a very pieced backing.  Then I went to use it on a quilt I was going to gift, and I chickened out from using it.  I know this isn’t true but something in my head told me if it’s so pieced, it would seem like I was cheap.  I don’t believe that for myself.  I just wondered if the person I was gifting it to might.

SO…the backing sat.  I never did use it.  Two years later…I was cleaning out my sewing room and decided it was STUPID not to use it.  I was fairly confident I was going to keep this quilt so I used the backing!  Once it’s all done, I liked it.

Anyway…back to clipping strings.

Kayla sat down to clip threads and asked me if I have some packaging tape.  I looked at her funny and said, “Packaging tape?”.  She said ya.  I didn’t know why she wanted it but went and got it.

The next thing I new she was clipping threads…like this….Can you see the packaging tape on her wrist?

Here’s a close up.  

She turned the tape and made a bracelet with the sticky side out.  Then she would clip a string and stick it to the “tape bracelet”.  The sticky would hold the strings.

I thought the idea was GENIUS!!  She of course didn’t know why I grabbed the camera and snapped a few pictures.  I was sure some of you would think the idea to be genius too!!

She thought I was silly…..

But I’m right, aren’t I?  The idea is genius…and here’s the genius girl that shared the idea with me.

I’m thinking I might use this at the quilting machine.  Hmmm.  I’m always clipping threads and running to the garbage can.

Thanks for the help Kayla…and thanks for the great idea.

On a Saturday 31 years ago today, I was eagerly awaiting her arrival in the world.  I was pregnant…retaining lots of water.  I had been “resting” for a week hoping every day that she’d decide to be born.  We ended up going to the hospital that evening and they broke my water….she was born the next morning.

I was so happy to have girl.  She’s grown into a wonderful women that I’m very proud of.  In most relationships it’s daughters who call Mom’s on the phone asking questions.  With us, it’s a pretty even exchange.  I’m often calling her asking plant advice or trying to understand something some new slang word.

One of the best days I’ve ever had was the day Kayla made her appearance and joined our family.