Hazards in Quilting? Who Knew?!

If you would've asked me this question a couple of years ago, I would've said, "no way"! Believe it or not, there are hazards in Quilting and not just to your pocketbook! After doing it for awhile, I've found, not only can it make a significant dent in the pocketbook, it definitely takes a toll on ones body. Particularly the neck and back, and personally, my neck. I sew/quilt almost daily and really struggle w/keeping my shoulders relaxed and not straining my neck. After reading a few articles like this, I came to the realization that I've been doing it all wrong! =(   I would like to continue to quilt for many, many years to come, so when my neck really started bothering me, I began surfing the web for stretches and/or exercises for sewers/quilters.

I came across this handy dandy, preventative maintenance pdf: Ten Exercises for Quiltmakers. I pinned it on the wall behind my machine to remind me to take breaks often and stretch.  I'm sure the exercises are effective for Readers and heavy Texters too! I've since been working on improving my posture, bending from the waist, and using my eyes more than my neck.

While looking for the stretches/exercises, I found more good info for proper  height adjustment for sewing and cutting tables here. I know my sewing table should be lower, but I haven't come across one that is "cheap" enough. I'm thrifty remember ;)

Got the desk at Goodwill for $4 on a 50% off Saturday

My cutting table is just about the right height. It is raised w/4 - 1" risers. Another inch would probably do the body better.








And speaking of exercise, to keep in shape in general AND in preparation for Extreme Flagstaff, a mud run, or hopefully one day Survivor and/or The Amazing Race, my bff Melinda suggested I put my pull up bar in the doorway of my sewing room and do at least 1 pull-up every time I enter. Truth be told, I don't do a pull-up every time but I do about every 2nd or 3rd time... and I'm up to 2 - 3 reps when I do them!

One last thing where exercise is concerned, whether I'm sewing, cutting or ironing, I try to remember to keep my abs engaged (belly button to spine) to tighten my core and strengthen my back.

Lastly, from this point forward, I will end each post w/a scripture or verse as encouragement to anyone who reads my blog; a biblical truth or spiritual fruit which is truly my thread for life.

A Thread for Life
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jer 29:11 NIV

Scrap Quilts and Inspiration

I am a member of the Quilters Anonymous Chapter of the Arizona Quilters Guild. It was here that I first heard about Fave Quilts. They feature a ton of free quilt tutorials! This is where I found the inspiration for this beautiful scrap buster, Fun with Bricks.   It's a wip (work in progress). I've completed only the top.  I haven't yet decided if I'm going to add a border.

It is also here that I discovered Quilting in the Rain.  Quilting In The Rain, or QITR as I like to refer to it, is one of my favorite blogs of all time. Jera has so many A+ quilting tutorials. Thanks Jera!

I adore scrap quilts! When I have fabric left over from a quilt project, if it's a 1/4 yd or less, I usually cut it into strips so as to be prepared for the next scrap quilt on my list. I have a long list of "quilts to make". It easily numbers 1,000+!  Here are pics of  a few more scrap quilts I've made.

Liberated Log Cabin

Foundation Piecing. Quilting done on long arm.

Foundation Piecing mixed w/a  couple of cut up spinning hexagon squares gone wrong.
Inspired by Tie the Knot Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting Nov/Dec 2012

Not so long ago I went through a big bag of strips and scraps and separated the strips according to width. I now have 4 drawers of strips;  1", 1.5", 2" and 2.5".

As if this weren't crazy enough, after seeing all the beautiful and inspiring quilt tutorials on QITR, I started making homemade layer cakes AND charm packs! Well I haven't actually put the layer cakes or charm packs together, but I have been cutting 5" and 10" squares. My goal is to cut a few squares out of all my fabric, however, I just realized today this will be be a never ending feat, as I continue to accumulate fabric. But it's okay, this is the life I've chosen and I shall happily live it!

Two of the first layer cake quilts I make will be the Cuttin' Corners Quilt and the Four-Step Flagstone Quilt. I plan to get started on one of these two w/in the next month!

This is How I Sew

Meet Betty, also known as Ugly Betty or Back-burner Betty. She's a Baby Lock 1506 Denim Buster and the first machine I'd ever owned. I bought her for $40 on Craigslist about a year and a half ago. I'm not sure how old she is but I do know she wasn't nearly as smooth as the borrowed one I was using before her.

Betty

Shortly after I got her, I decided to buy the borrowed one from my friend. This is Wilma. She is my work horse! She's a Baby Lock Quilters Choice Professional.

Wilma

She came w/this quilt frame (expands to King Size) and I paid a mere $400. I have awesome friends!

A couple months ago, something happened to Wilma and she was out of commission. This left me no choice but to get intimate w/Betty. I used her until I could afford to get Wilma up & running again. After a new foot pedal and spool pin ordered from My Sewing Machine Parts, Betty wasn't as bad as I once thought. We spent many hours together and she made me proud. =)