Quilting in the South

“Life” Gets In The Way

2012-01-29T07:56:00.002-06:00

There is nothing, nada, zip, on my Design Wall. I had big plans. If you want to see what I did get done please back up one post and you will see how far I got quilting Crazy Cats. (see edit below) I was so proud of myself and planned another almost full day of quilting before the weekend.
However, DH had other ideas.

Enter Gari’s new car. AGAIN!

This is a Chrysler 200, the replacement for the Sebring. DH decided I needed to get back to having a convertible and he says he got a “really good deal.” And he only went to the dealer to get the oil changed on his truck. I can’t let him out of my sight.
Anyway, since he was going to be tied up Saturday I decided that I would take the War Eagle to the beach and introduce her to the beauty of white sands and emerald green waters.

Doesn’t she look pretty amidst all that beauty? Of course it was a little chilly to let the top down but that’s the beauty of a convertible, you can choose how you want to drive. There will be plenty of convertible days.
Now, my plan was a full day of driving and “beaching” on Saturday and then a full day of quilting on Sunday. Not going to happen. DH has decided that we need to drive back to Pensacola, by way of the beach, of course, and then go see the new Stephanie Plum movie. Well, who could say no to that great idea? Not me. So quilting will have to wait until Wednesday when I will quilt and cut the fabric for the next comfort quilt (fabric already washed and ready).
If you came here wanting to see quilts, better hop on over to Judy’s blog where some people got something done.

edit: I did get something done this week, I just forgot in all the excitement.

This is my 81/2" x 11" color challenge quilt. I am using the format I did with the journal quilts last year and they can be displayed in a plastic holder. I am trying to get out of my symetrical box.....not easy for me at all.

Crazy Cats on a Roll

2012-01-27T08:45:00.001-06:00

I may not have much time in the studio these days but when I have been in there I have been having fun.

Since every block is different I have not gotten bored. My CC’s are still funny looking and my loops are not consistent but I still am really liking how it looks overall.

Now, about my echoing. This is really a challenge. I must say that I have FAR more control of the machine now that I have the Railz system, but my control still leaves something to be desired. But since this is kind of a primitive quilt I am thinking of this as a practice/learning quilt and thus it looks pretty good.

I have been having fun doing this. I also have been wondering, do other people talk to themselves while they are quilting? I do, and not always complimentary.

I like to play soft jazz music while I quilt. With this quilt, since I have to think more than when doing a panto, I am listening to Earl Klug. The sound relaxes me and helps me to not hold onto the handles too tight.

And, after an afternoon of quality quilting, this is what I came back to. Two of Sadie’s toys have bit the dust. There was stuffing (see white bear) and bits of rubber (see green rubber duck) all over the front room floor. But she loves her toys and plays hard with them so who cares. The other two dogs only infrequently play with toys but Sadie has to have them all out on the floor, tosses them, and obviously chews them. And what, I say, are the toys for if not to play with?

Now, I’m off to shower and then spend another quality day in the studio. See ya!

Design Frame

2012-01-23T05:00:00.000-06:00

After a week of being on the road every single day, I finally got back in the studio on Sunday and got DH’s Crazy Cats loaded. Then, of course, it was time to figure out what I was going to quilt on it. I have not done any free motion quilting for several months so I was fresh out of ideas. However, I browsed some YouTube videos and came up with what I think will work.

This is my continuous curves attempt. I have no artistic drawing skills and it shows up in my quilting also. However, I think that I will improve as I go down the quilt and once the blue marking is washed out, these will look better, I hope.

This is what I am quilting in the strip blocks. Sometimes I see a row of e’s and sometimes I see l’s. Since DH’s initials are EL, that works for me.

I am going with really easy loops on the large outer border so that part is going well. And for some reason I didn’t get a picture of the second border so I will try to get that online later this week. I am planning easy leaves for the inner border but haven’t started it yet. I am not really excited about leaves so maybe something else will come to mind as I go along.

Oh, I haven’t gotten to the cats yet. My current plan is to echo the cats and that will take me some time since I have never done that, either.

This is the thread I am using. It is a Floriani machine embroidery thread and is working out very well, looking good on all the different shades of blue. I have Superior pre-wounds in the bobbin.

We had a wonderful time in Gainesville, FL last week. We ate well, slept well, attended a great concert, visited two antique malls, and, of course, visited a fabric store, Fabric Art, in Lake City. Did I spend any money? Oh, yes I did. And here is my bounty. The two batiks and spotted fabrics were 40% off. I already have a plan for the batik on the left (it is a lot more purple than this picture shows). I bought the banana fabric because bananas have become a favorite of mine since they are 0 points with Weight Watchers. I hope to make some kind of garment with it so I can wear it to meetings.

One more picture. While at one of the antique malls I found this. It is a sewing room for a doll house. I didn’t buy it (I am cutting down on things that have to be dusted) but thought it was perfect. It is a treadle machine and bolts of fabric. It was one of those times when I really wanted to buy something just to look at. However, I have no more surfaces to put “things” on so it stayed where it was.

Now, for a whole lot of quilting inspiration, check out Judy’s Design Wall blog.

An Anniversary & Design Wall

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-06:00

This week we are having another anniversary, our 51st. Last year our 50th was spent apart (see this post). Well, our luck has not improved this year. Our anniversary is on Tuesday and that just happens to be the day when I am on the road for WW for 14 hours and DH is on the road teaching for the same 14 hours. However, do not despair. On Thursday we are going to Gainesville to see The Manhattan Transfer, one of our favorite singing groups. We have seen them twice before and have really enjoyed the show they put on. And on the drive down and back we plan some antiquing, just to keep our hands in. If possible I will also make a stop in Lake City where there is a really nice quilt shop (the name of which I can’t remember right now). What we have learned is that it doesn’t really matter when you celebrate the important occasions, just that you celebrate them. And a long marriage is really something to celebrate.

And, yes, this is still on my Design Wall.

But finally, this top is done. All the cats have faces and the center has borders.

Next came the backing plan. I had bought 6 1/2 yards of backing fabric (end of bolt) and my quilt calculator app told me I needed 8 7/8 yards. My first plan was to use the extra strip blocks to make a center panel. However, after some figuring and figuring, I decided I could get a full backing out of the one fabric if I did some fancy cutting. Then it was cut and piece for most of Sunday afternoon. I even pressed the seams open so it would lie flatter (a first for me).

Here is the backing as seen from under the frame. There I was lying on the floor, just to get this cool shot. And there you can see my Red Snappers holding the backing onto the leader. (I LOVE my Red Snappers)

After rolling the backing back and forth a couple of times to be sure it was straight and even, I put the batting over everything to give it some time to “rest” some of the fold lines out. Later this afternoon I hope to begin some quilting on this but first I will need to figure out what thread to use and what I am going to quilt on it. I will not be doing a panto as I don’t want to quilt over the cats.

Because today is a holiday I do not have my Monday WW meeting so I have an extra quilting day. I will quilt and piece Monday and Wednesday, work on Tuesday (see above) and then hit the road on Thursday. Sounds like a fun and busy week, doesn’t it?

Keeping Busy

2012-01-09T05:00:00.001-06:00

Today begins a new semester for DH and this is going to be a busy one. He retired from college teaching 5 1/2 years ago and almost immediately began teaching as an adjunct instructor at the Community college where he had been teaching and at two others, also. This semester he is teaching 3 classes at the local school, 2 classes at one other and is also working with the music director at the second school to produce a musical. This is going to be like old times when he taught full-time and put on two plays and one musical each year. I think our evenings are going to look a lot like this.

This is me with one puppy and one cat, working on the computer and enjoying a quiet evening. All we need is a remote, coffee, and we can rule the evening.
This past week I did get some time in the studio.

And this is what my design wall looks like now. I finished sewing all the Crazy Cats blocks together and the center of the top is finished. I plan three borders for this quilt but will not get back to it until Wednesday.

I did want to show the cats now that they all have faces. Just like putting the quilting on a quilt top, having the faces on the cats really made them come alive.

You may have noticed that the dress quilt is back on the wall. I said I was going to put it up so I could start thinking of how I might want to finish it. Well, even before I could begin thinking, I got an email from my mother. She told me that I hadn’t gotten her message when she told me that she really liked the dress quilt and that what she had meant was that she would like to have it. Well, I think that is a great idea. However, now I really have to come up with an idea.

So here it is. I do have some ideas but they are not completely clear and I am not sure how to carry them out. And one of the other things is that I have no oriental fabrics. Usually the idea of buying more fabric is exciting but right now I am not sure since I have never used this type of fabric before. So this will all be an experiment for me……and I guess, a wait for Mother.

edit 1/11/12: Got a call from Mother and she wants the dress quilt, as is. She said that she wants to hang is over her bed and thinks it will be easier for her if it isn't quilted (read heavy). She doesn't even want me to put borders on it. So I will be putting a hanging sleeve on this "flimsy" this week and sending it on, hopefully, by the weekend.
And then I can get on with the other projects that are waiting for me. Yea!!

Meanwhile, I have an idea for a new comfort quilt. I have decided to make one in flannel and this is what I have in my stash.

And this is the idea I have for the quilt. I hope to be able to start cutting the fabric for this later this week.

Now it is time for you to check in with Judy to see what other quilters are working on.

I Love Winter Cold

2012-01-04T08:58:00.001-06:00

Well, as everyone who knows me knows, that’s a lie. However this morning, while taking the dogs out, it was 24F with no wind, the sun was shining low in the Eastern sky, and it was beautiful. Everything had the frost twinkle on it and it looked like the landscape had been sprinkled with diamonds. Of course I didn’t have my camera with me and with two dachshunds on leads, I didn’t have any hands for a camera anyway.

As beautiful as the outside was, I was really ready to come in when the dogs were. And this is what I was ready for: hot oatmeal, a banana, and hot coffee (a 4 point breakfast for WW’s). Now I am ready for whatever the day brings.

And I am happy to share where I am in the Color Pallet Challenge. This little quilt is a fused “art” piece. It is 8 1/2 x 11”. I only have it fused in place and hope to begin some form of quilting this week. I used my Go to cut the shapes and played with the design last weekend. One lesson I learned, from Laura while watching a segment of Sewing with Nancy, was that I need to fuse take the paper off of the fused fabric prior to cutting the shapes. It is not always easy to get the paper off of small shapes and the whole piece of paper is usable whereas the smaller pieces just get thrown away.

One other rambling thought. I am Facebook friends with a 20 year old who has a 3 year old child. Almost every day she writes that she “has” to go to work and how much she hates having to leave her child or how much she hates her job. I want, so much, to tell her that she doesn’t “have” to go to work. She can stay home. Of course she will have no money for the house she wants, for her son’s clothes, food, or the fun she wants to have. And I want to tell her that there are lots of people who really want work and would be happy to take her place at her work.

I thought of all of this yesterday as I was leaving at 7 am to begin my once a week 13 hour day traveling and leading WW meetings. My first thought was that I would much rather be in the studio (I am retired, you know). Then I remembered my Facebook friend and realized how lucky I am that I can share my success with others, that I have the health that allows me to hit the road and travel around, and that I then can come back home to be greeted by a loving husband and some really great puppies. I do thank my God that I am so blessed.

And away we go with 2012

2012-01-02T05:00:00.000-06:00

One last shot of the table runners I made for Christmas 2011. I made 6, 5 for gifts and this one that is currently on our dining room table. It will packed up today, along with all the other Christmas decorations to make a triumphant return next year.

So, my plan for last week was to spend most of my time doing a cleaning and reorganizing of the studio. If I tell you that not a lot got done would you be surprised? Of course not!

I did do some, however, and now the machine I do most of my embroidery on has been uncovered. It sits on a very long table, where I used to do my DSM quilting with my first HQ frame setup, so it is very easy to pile things on.

So I found several started projects while cleaning this table. Here, at the other end, is one. This is a string project that I was using as a leader/ender. I have five completed 8 1/2” blocks and 10 in-process blocks, seen here. I love how these blocks look so I will be continuing with this project until I find a completed quilt.

But I also couldn’t help myself and started something new. The printout in the picture is for the color challenge being hosted by Judy and Vickie. I have decided to participate and am combining it with an uncompleted journal quilt challenge hosted by Vickie last year. Also in the picture are the fabrics I pulled from my stash: I think they match the challenge colors really well.

My original plan was to just pull the fabrics but once they were on my “design ironing board” I couldn’t help but play. This is what I finally had to leave in order to get dinner made.

As the final Christmas fun, DH and I watched old family videos. DH has been rescuing old VHS tapes and putting them on DVD. The oldest is one that was originally 8mm movies of family Christmas’ from 1963 – 1969. This picture is the “recording studio” he has set up in our living room. He assures me it will find a new home prior to his return to work in mid-January.

Here are about a third of the tapes that we have not yet converted to DVD but with that wonderful setup, seen above, it should take no time at all. Of course, once he has finished with the videos, he is planning on putting slides of the plays he has produced over his 47 years of teaching. That will take some time, I am sure.

Now, next week I hope to have ongoing progress on the above and at least 1-2 more. However, I may be taking on another Weight Watcher meeting so my time is being stolen, again. See ya,

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T18:10:00.001-06:00

How can we face 2012 with this?

I fear I will need all the help I can get from family and friends. Is everyone ready to lend support? Get ready, we start on 1/1/2012.

The First Day After Christmas

2011-12-26T05:00:00.000-06:00

And this is what is going on the design wall today. If you read this post you already know that this top was not made by me but I won it in a giveaway.

I am putting it on the wall so I can look at it while I sew this quilt together.

I gave this to DH for Christmas, a box of blocks. He loved the cats and so I am now ready to put it all together. This will be my first new quilt of the new year and DH will be warm with his Crazy Cats each night.

Christmas Eve was a personal one for DH and me. We watched Magoo’s Christmas Carol, again, a DVD of a musical program at the Vatican, and another DVD of a Christmas program with the Lettermen. All of this was going on while we ate dinner and then opened gifts.

And this is how our gift cradle looked when we began. This is our collection of gifts from family (living away from here) and from/to each other.

I am going to show some of the gifts we received. Although I will be referring to our children, please know that we also include the wonderful wives of these sons of ours.

DH was really excited when he got this book about the making of Magoo’s Christmas Carol from DS#3. It has been a family tradition since our middle aged children were very small. We even used to watch a really bad VCR tape we made when we realized the major networks were no longer showing it. We now have a blueray version and all of us can sing the songs along with the show.

From DS#2 he got a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. This has also been a family favorite Christmas show: DH plans to use this tree in his office next year.

And one of the gifts I gave him was this shirt. He is known for his t-shirts and this will be the one he will wear when school starts again in January.

From DS#2 I got this pancake set. I love the heart shaped spatula. I plan to make the pancakes this morning (waiting for DH to get up) but first I will have to figure the Weight Watchers points so I can plan the rest of my day.

From DH#3 I received these owl gifts: a card, a tea light, a beautiful weaving, and a cookie.

I collect owls and these two have gone out of their way to increase my collection (except for the cookie, of course). In my next post I will share the birthday gift that came with our Christmas package.

From my DS and BIL came this calendar. It is Quilts of Hawaii.

These are certainly not traditional quilts and I am really excited to be looking at them throughout the year. I would really like to evolve into more arty quilts but really need a lot of inspiration because my mind looks for symmetry almost all the time.

So, here we are with an empty cradle. However tonight our DD and DSIL are coming over to celebrate Christmas with us. We will have chili, for the men, and oyster stew for we ladies. Oyster stew was a tradition from my childhood and DD and I love it. We will also share gifts and each other’s company. And, maybe, we will watch Magoo’s Christmas Carol, again.

Almost Christmas

2011-12-22T20:51:00.002-06:00

And so much going on here.

We have been wrapping gifts. Like my wrapping table? When not quilting I find that blank space to be quite helpful. However, I do have a quilt on the frame so I had to get all the rest of the gifts wrapped so I could get on with my quilting.

Look at this package. Can you see how the edges match up to complete the picture? I am thinking that doesn’t happen often and especially not to me.

And the packages are piling up in our “gift cradle.” Both the doll and Santa have had to migrate up as the packages have arrived.

And what was DH doing while all this “Santa” work was going on?
Here he is watching a 3D movie. Doesn’t he look happy? Believe me he is.

Earlier this week we had the second of my pies: this time a turkey pot pie.

These were really good and will require a return engagement…..after I try something else later this week.

And one more thing I just have to share. This is a quilt top I won from Chris Ballard.

16 beautiful dresses made from Asian fabrics. When I saw the top it reminded me of my grandmother who was a professional seamstress and made the most beautiful clothing. She also taught sewing for Singer. Anyway, these dresses are beautiful but I not only got the quilt top but a baggie full of these:

These are 2 1/2” strips of more of the Asian fabric. Chris said that she made the top about 7 years ago but no longer wanted to finish it. Right now it is lying on my cutting table but will soon be up on the wall so I can “stare” at it for a while, looking at different ways to make this top into a great quilt. Thanks, Chris.

A Full Design Wall, Finally

2011-12-19T05:00:00.000-06:00

I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally have something new on my Design Wall. The cats are called Crazy Cats from

syverkstan.net . After I took this picture I made two more cats:

They look a little funny without faces, don’t they? I have two more to applique and then I will spend a few evenings getting their personalities on.

This quilt it for DH as part of his Christmas. A few weeks ago he “asked” me to make him a quilt for his bed. I already had planned to use these cats on a quilt for him (he is the reason we have one house cat and 6 outside cats, but I had not planned a layout. Then one evening I came up with this.

You will have to forgive the image of the cats, drawing either by hand or computer is not my area of expertise. But I am very pleased that the quilt pieces on the wall are looking a lot like the EQ image.

And now for some Christmas cat pictures.

Can you find the cat in this picture? This is another picture of our Christmas Village that is set up on our very large mantle. Can you see the cat?

Here is a closer picture. Can you see how thrilled she is to be having her picture taken?

And yes, here she is again. She just laid there, staring at me while I took these pictures. And when I was through, she put her head down and went to sleep. I guess I didn’t make much of an impression on her.

Only 6 days until Christmas. I have one piece to quilt and then all my gifts will be done. DH will get his quilt in pieces but I will have it done shortly into the New Year. This week will be quiet and peaceful, well, as soon as I finish with my three WW meetings on Monday and Tuesday. Then we will be on “vacation” for a week. DH has projects planned, mostly putting hundreds of slides on DVD. And me? I will be in the studio, creating new quilts and working on UFOs. In fact I found one I had forgotten.

This was a BOM from 2004. I really got bored with the color, or lack thereof, so I added 1/4” orange borders on the blocks. then I added darker tan blocks:

But even then I wasn’t content with what I had and added embroidery. Now, I seem to remember all of this but it didn’t become a quilt. Well, there was a reason for that. I then decided that I wanted this quilt top to really become a duvet cover for a down comforter. I stopped, however, when I couldn’t decide if I should quilt the top or not. I bought two king sized sheets to both line the top and to make the envelope. And now that I have unearthed this top I have the same question. Should I quilt the top of a duvet?

Design Wall? Maybe Tomorrow

2011-12-12T05:00:00.000-06:00

As I left my studio last evening I was able to say, “Now I can start a new project.” Why, you say? Well, it is because , as of Sunday evening, I have all my Christmas gifts finished. This afternoon I will finish the wrapping and packaging and Tuesday I hope to have everything in the mail.

And the most exciting part……..I will be able to finally work on something I can show. I have a couple of ideas already and even have some new fabrics just waiting for me to make time for them.

If your read my post of Dec. 9 you know that I have begun a new creative outlet. This past weekend I worked on revising a chicken pot pie recipe and bought ingredients for both apple and pumpkin pies. The only problem with creative baking is that, unlike a quilt, the pies disappear, quickly. But the good thing is that I can make them reappear almost as quickly.

Now, please join me at Patchwork Times to see all the beautiful things others are making

A Baking Star Is Born

2011-12-09T20:29:00.001-06:00

Next month I/we will be married 51 years. In all that time I have never made a pie. Every time I thought about it it seemed like it was really hard so I would forget about it.

DH came into this marriage telling me he LOVED apricot pie. Have you ever tried to buy an apricot pie? Well, they are really hard to find and we have only found a couple of bakeries that made them and none in the last 30 years.

Enter the mini pie machine. Isn’t this a great looking idea? But this machine retails for $150, currently on sale for $99.99. I don’t know about you but $100 for something that just makes pies seems a bit high, especially since I lead Weight Watcher’s meetings and don’t eat a lot of pies.

However, last week we came across this. It was under $30 so we thought it was worth a try.

Then we had to buy a rolling pin (never had or needed one before).

And today I gave it all a try. See my new rolling pin? Isn’t it nifty. I rolled the premade pie crust very, very thin. And here you see the bottom crust rounds, ready to bake.

Next I prepared the filling: dried apricots, Splenda, lemon juice and cornstarch. It looks a little fuzzy here: it looked a little fuzzy in the making, too.

And here we have the pies after only 10 min. baking time. Isn’t that impressive? I realize they are a little misshapen but that is because I need to work on my technique a little.

I set them out to cool: they were really easy to get out of the machine.

I was so excited with my success that I immediately sent for a recipe book that is especially for making mini pies of all kinds: pot pies, feta cheese & spinach pies, pumpkin pies, etc. I see lots of pies in our future. Especially since DH proclaimed the apricot pie a rousing success!

While the pies were cooling I spent some quality time in the studio and DH put lighting on our Christmas village.

Now I just need to figure out how to hide the bookshelves and the niche. They just seem to be junque collectors. Maybe I will have to design a quilt curtain for these areas. What a great idea!

Decorating Started

2011-12-07T08:18:00.001-06:00

We are a little late getting our decorations up but this at least we are started. And I started with the quilt above. Is called The 12 Days of Christmas and was a BOM from Esther Aliu last year. I got it done right before Christmas but couldn’t find a place to hang it. This year is different, it got the place of prominence and I am so very proud of it. The ornaments, called baubles in Australia, are detachable: they are held on with velcro. Each one is appliqued with very tiny pieces of fabric.

And each gift at the bottom is custom quilted according to the fabric used.

Today will be sewing, quilting and decorating. Even though it is chilly, raining and windy outside, it is going to be a great day at our house!!

Busy, Busy

2011-11-30T15:12:00.001-06:00

First I want to thank everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday last Monday. Between my blog, Facebook, and family I really felt the love. And I won’t count out Margie’s Sew Much Fun (read LQS).

Margie gives her customers a significant discount during their birthday month (once). I am old enough to have reached her ceiling discount so I took full advantage of it.

I visited the extensive batik section and this is what I got. I tried to focus on lights and brights because I already have several darks. But you can see that one dark snuck in there. It is a wood grain and I just couldn’t pass it by. Also on the table is a wool roving pincushion. I have one and love it so now another machine will have one, too.

And for fun I bought these earrings. Now I just need to get something purple to go with them.

On the sewing front, I have been busy.

Today I had three machines going. Here you can see one embroidering a label for Autumn Breeze, also pictured.

While that was going on I was at my straight stitch machine putting the binding on. Then I used another machine to prep the label so it could be sewn into the binding. I just have a little hand stitching to do on the label, tonight’s project, and it will be done. Then tomorrow I hope to get back to my table runner so I can get it on the table to start December.

Design Wall/Birthday

2011-11-28T05:00:00.000-06:00

Design Wall: Nothing. Everything is off the DW and all the things I am currently working on is Christmas so no DW updates today.

However, I have been busy. On a break from sewing on Friday I found our cat, Ms. Murphy, up a tree. I was a little concerned seeing her up on those little limbs but she didn’t seem worried at all.

However, this picture was taken right after she fell (broken branch) and caught herself by her claws and then swung back up where she rested before continuing down. I would have taken a picture of her hanging but I was too busy holding my breath.

Then she proceeded to walk on down, just as though nothing had happened. You gotta love cats.

Saturday I visited a LQS where they are having an apron contest. I didn’t photo all of the aprons, only the ones I voted for. these are children’s aprons but my mother loves chickens and I immediately thought of her when I saw this one: the two of them are one entry. While I was there I also bought fabric. This store gives you 1/2 your age as a percent off of whatever you purchase. This year, since I am turning 69, I am getting a pretty good discount, don’t you think? I forgot to take a picture of my new fabric so will be showing it later.

Sunday I planned on sewing again but somehow got a cleaning bug. I have been wanting to move a few things around in the studio so I began what will be a month long process. Anyway, This is one shot of the seating area of the studio. The ratty footstool is from our ‘65 VW camper. It went through four kids and several camping trips before the camper was traded: the footstool stayed. I keep thinking I am going to recover it but it has not made it to the top of the “to do” list.

And the view from the other side. I had this room set up to also function as a guest room with this hide-a-bed. However, we do not have company often (3 times in 5.5 years) so I decided I don’t need to keep a space in front of the couch. The problem is that the couch was covered with fabric, pillows, quilts, etc. so everything had to be gone through, folded and a place had to be found for it. But my seating space is now ready for me to take breaks in comfort.

Now, today is my 69th birthday. I have always had a policy of not working on my birthday so today is no exception: my Monday WW meeting has been postponed for this week. But, for the first time, DH cancelled his classes and is spending the day with me. We will be going to NWFL, to Red Lobster to eat crab legs by the water. Then we will spend some time at the beach, do a little shopping and wind up back at home where our puppies and cats will be waiting to show a little love all around.

Now, since there was no creativeness in this post, you better go to Patchwork Times to find some.

Design Wall Accomplishments

2011-11-21T05:00:00.000-06:00

This is my very first table runner. The picture was taken Sunday evening, after the sun went down, so the color is somewhat strange: the bottom square is close to true. Anyway the runner is 56” long and 14” wide. I am using 2 swap blocks (tan) and 2 new blocks made like the ones I sent for a Christmas swap. I hope to get this quilted this week so it will be ready for our table right after Thanksgiving.

Before I can start quilting the table runner I need to finish quilting this swap block quilt. (Does it seem I am swap block obsessed?)

My original plan was to practice some ruler work while doing this quilt but then I realized that I needed to get it done quickly so I could do the runner so a medium meander seemed like the best way to go.

Here is the backing I chose. It is in the center with a border fabric on the sides (not shown). I love this fabric and did when I first saw it in the shop so I hated to use it for a backing fabric.

However, it was perfect for this quilt so here it is. I have about 3 more passes to complete the quilting. I have been having a little trouble: my stitch regulator is not working very well. I will probably be calling HQ later today to see if they have any ideas why it is “dragging” and/or falling out of regulation all together. I can get pretty regular stitches unregulated but I really like not having to work at keeping my speed steady.

One last thing: today I found a top from a BOM in 2007. It is the second top I ever made. I haven’t unfolded it yet but I believe it is a king/queen sized and the original plan was to make a duvet cover. I remember I bought two king sized sheets to complete the task but then put it aside. I think the next thing I will be doing is seeing if I can find all the parts and get this UFO underway. If I do I think I will have all my swaps and BOMs either completed and/or ready for quilting. Maybe I’ll even have it out so I can show it next Monday Yea!!

Don’t forget to go over the Patchwork Times to see what other’s are creating.

Crazy Weather, Crazy Busy

2011-11-16T13:44:00.006-06:00

First the Crazy Busy part.

I have been working on my table runner in the hopes that I can get it put together and quilted before December 1. However, look at the back of this block. These are swap blocks and I don't expect everyone's 12 1/2" blocks to be the same size as my 12 1/2" block, heck, even mine aren't always the same size. But I would think that any sewer could see that these seams are being "pressed" wrong.

A n y w a y, I worked on them and finally got my blocks all sewn together. And I really am likeing how this is looking.

Then I stuck the 1" border piece on there to see how this was going to look. Great, huh? What I like about this runner, my first since we only recently got a rectangular table, is that it will not only be good for Christmas but for January too as it has a Winter theme with Christmas colors.

Now, what else is keeping me busy, besides not quilting my quilt, is that I am supposed to be studying some new stuff for Weight Watchers. And for some reason I have been avoiding it. It is just reading some stuff and watching a video but between leading my 4 meetings, the 400 miles I drive to do the meetings, sewing, housework (uck), and traveling to spend money with DH, I just haven't had the time to sit and concentrate. Oh, well, it will get done, sometime.

Crazy Weather

Ok we had a week of cold weather, 50F during the day and 30s at night. This week, and especially today, it has been in the 80s during the day and 70s at night. Seems it is either Summer or Winter here this year.

We have had Fall, however.

Oak trees are not the best for color but even they have been showing yellow and orange leaves. And, of course, dropping little acorns all over the yard: very difficult to walk on, both for people and animals. We have one dog who almost insists on being carried when we walk under this tree.

The front yard is looking decidedly fallish but the hammock is looking like death. I sat down on it the other day and several of the strings were shredded. Now I know I'm not that heavy, WW remember, so I guess next Spring I will be buying a better hammock. The one I had in FL lasted 17 years and was never taken in. It looked terrible but held itself and me together.

My ever blooming roses seem to have given up, and I don't blame them. The contrast between the fading flowers and the ground cover of leaves is striking. I would rake those leaves but we can't burn them anymore and that was the gratification of raking. I really miss the smell of burning leaves in the Autumn.

Anyway, it's time to get off the computer and get busy, again.

Busy Week

2011-11-14T05:00:00.001-06:00

Now I know that you all have not been waiting with baited breath to learn that we got our 3D TV butI’m going to share anyway.

We had already moved the old TV off of the high shelf and onto the table where the new one would be going. Here you see the old one being disconnected from the amp, blu ray, Direct TV, and DVR. And the new TV is in the big box. Look what a mess we had.

Even the antique cradle wasn’t spared the involvement in the mess.

And here we are with the new TV up and running. Unfortunately we couldn’t hook
up the studio sound system because the amp is not new enough to connect to the
TV. So Sunday was taken up with a trip to Best Buy. Little by little we will
have the full theater experience. Fun, fun.

Even with all this excitement I did get a little sewing done. The design ironing board has the layout of the Christmas table runner I am making for our new dining table. I made more of the swap blocks I had on the wall last week and paired them with two of the swap blocks I have been trying to make a quilt with. I like the contrast (thanks for the comments last week) and then added some applique mittens in the middle. These are not sewn together yet, that had been part of the plan for Sunday, before the trip to Best Buy.

Friday I did get this quilt on the HQ. I am still debating if I will quilt it with a meander or practice some ruler work on it.

I am going to again share how much I love my Red Snappers. It took me all of 10
min. to load the backing of this quilt. It wouldn’t have taken that long except
that my studio doesn’t have central heat and it was cold (48F outside) so the
plastic was a little harder than usual.

Here is the bobbin thread.

and I am still trying to decide what thread to use on the top.

Meanwhile, DH and I shared one of our favorite meals. Look have excited he was
when it was delivered to our table.

This is a taco pizza from Pizza Hut. It is so very good and we love it.

And now it is time for all of us to go to Patchwork Times and see all of the creations in process. Each week I try to check in on all the blogs that are posted there cuz it gives me such inspiration. But to not get bogged down by being on the computer for too long at a time, I read them in 10 blog bunches. Most of the time I get all the
way through by the end of the week: sometimes I don’t, but I try. There are
some very creative and artistic people out there and I don’t like to miss what
they are creating.

It's a Party

2011-11-09T12:48:00.003-06:00

First: November is my birthday month. Well, since my birthday is almost at
the end of the month, and since it is sometimes even on Thanksgiving, and since
it is so close to Christmas, I celebrate all month. Hence, I got my iPad2
already (of course the giver then got my iPad, but who’s to notice a little
thing like that). Well, then I won a giveaway at Joanne's
blog and yesterday my prize arrived.

So this morning we had a party. Doesn’t this look festive? And there are my
gifts. What? You can’t see them so well?

Well, here is a closer view. There is a great quilt pattern by Joanne which
looks like I can use over and over to use up the scraps that seem to accumulate
in the studio. And that pattern also includes several sizes so I don’t have to
do too much thinking, something that becomes increasingly difficult at my now
advanced age.
Also included was a strawberry recipe book and these wonderful food fabrics,
the reason I entered the giveaway. And do you see that cute strawberry. At
first I thought it was a pincushion, but no. Look what it really is:

It opens up to be a nylon shopping bag. And when empties, the bag is easily
“stuffed” back into the strawberry. It is going in my car and will be used a
lot. I love it and THANK YOU, Joanne, for all the great goodies. Happy Birthday Month!!

Design Wall and a little more

2011-11-07T05:00:00.000-06:00

Here is my design wall. Up there are blocks for two different quilts. I finished the Christmas swap blocks and as I did I put them amid the deco swap blocks that I was working on a couple of weeks ago. Until I started posting this picture, I didn’t realize that the Christmas swap blocks are really almost the same as the deco swap blocks. Funny, huh?

Here are the Christmas blocks, in process. I have difficulty chain piecing and still getting blocks together right. So I get all the pieces prepared and then I put them together. In order to keep all the pieces together I set up each block either in a manila folder or on top of one. Here are just two with four blocks ready to be sewn.

Today I will be sending these blocks off to the “swap mother” and someday I will get a package back with blocks made 11 other quilters. I don’t plan to make a quilt with them this year so I will start 2012 with at least one UFO ready for me.

But, that’s not all I got done this weekend.

These are my newest

Crazy Cat blocks.

I have really enjoyed making these.

I have a couple more to do and a little hand embroidery to do on all of them.

Because I do three WW meetings on Monday and Tuesday, I have decided that the rest of those days are devoted to household chores. But Wed – Friday are planned for the studio (of course the best laid plans …….). The weekends? Well, they are just up for grabs.

Swaps and Stuff

2011-11-04T20:54:00.001-05:00

Once again, I have had difficulty finding sewing/quilting time. Monday and Tuesday I was busy leading 3 of my 4 Weight Watchers meetings. By the time I did all the paperwork and then drove the 50-60 miles home, took the three dogs out, fed the cats, fed the birds, fed the dogs and took them out again, reloaded the washer and dryer, and started dinner, I was too pooped to even open the studio. So the plan was to sew Wednesday and Thursday.

However, both those days I moved furniture. Some of you may remember that on this post I reported that we purchased a new TV and that we agreed to place the new TV where I had wanted the old one 5 years ago. Unfortunately this necessitated moving almost every piece of furniture in our great room. It also would mean some moving of the wiring for the TV, DVD/BlueRay, and the Direct box. So I decided that we needed to start before the TV got here and that’s what I did all Wednesday and Thursday. I’d like to say that it is all done but only the big pieces are more or less in place. We did move the old TV to where the new on will be going and I really love it there.

Today I finally got into the studio. I am working on some swap blocks through some internet friends.

We were given the pattern and colors and told to make 12 12” blocks to swap. Now, this is not a difficult block but today, as I was trimming 48 HSTs, I couldn’t help wondering about those people who do quilts with hundreds of HSTs. Rather than make quilts with lots of little pieces, I think I may try to learn how to be an art quilter. Anyway, I have 5 blocks finished with 7 more to go.

Tomorrow I will be leading my 4th WW meeting in the morning and then traveling to attend a WW staff meeting so no sewing will get done. But Sunday I hope to get the rest of the blocks done and ready to send. Then it will be back to the blocks on the design wall and some Christmas gifts I have just barely started.

We have a Winner

2011-11-01T15:59:00.001-05:00

Thanks to all who entered the My Memories Software giveaway. Since I don’t know how to do the random generator thing, I drew a name out of a hat. And the winner is Bonnie from In Stitches With Bonnie. Congratulations Bonnie, I hope to see lots of neat journal pages in the coming weeks.

For those who didn’t win, don’t forget that you can purchase this software with a $10 discount just by entering this code {STMMMS26911}.

Thanks again for playing along, Gari

DW, kind of & Giveaway Reminder

2011-10-31T05:00:00.000-05:00

DW: My DW looks just like it did last week. All I did on that quilt was press the 5 log cabin blocks, as far as I got. Every day I planned some sewing time and every day I got sidetracked.

On my Design Ironing Board is some of the applique prep I did get to work on, a little, this week. I prepped 5 blocks of this BOM and had planned to get them on the background squares: Sunday was going to be my sewing day. I even announced this plan so I would be left alone with my “muse.” Didn’t happen. DH and I went out for breakfast and then he decided that he would get my birthday gift “now.” Since it was an iPad2, how could I say “but I want to sew.” So off we went and didn’t get back home until time for dinner. So the above is all that I got done all week. I really hope to do better this week.

Now, don’t forget the My Memories Suite giveaway, the “rules” are on the third “here” below. I have shared my insights on this digital scrapbooking software here, here and here. My aim, since I don’t scrapbook, was to see if this software was something a quilter could and would use. I really like what I can do with it and am happy to share with other quilters.

I will be drawing the winning name this evening and will notify the winner by email. If don’t win you can purchase the software at mymemories.com and if you use my code (STMMMS26911) you will receive a discount. So, everybody, join in and find a new way to use your quilts (or hobby, or family, or pets, or whatever).

And after you have checked out my giveaway, go on over to Patchwork Times to see other quilter’s beautiful work.

I will be

My Memories Suite Giveaway

2011-10-26T13:21:00.001-05:00

OK, I have played with this digital scrapbooking software for the past two weeks and I think it is great. And remember, I don’t plan on doing scrapbooking. However I have found several uses for it: journaling the process of my quilts (or other crafts, someday),printed labels for my quilts, and Christmas cards.

This is my try at the journaling of a past quilt:

It was so easy to set this page with the pictures I already had. And this layout only took me about 30 min. even though I haven’t used any of the tutorials that can be found on the My Memories webpage. One of the neat things is that you can create an album of several pages for each quilt or project you do, you do not have to have everything on one page like I have above. You also can make the pictures any size you want and can crop the pictures right in the software.

I would show you my Christmas Card plan but, unless I come up with something better, I will be using it this December.

So, anyone want to win a copy of My Memories Suite? If so, please visit the My Memories web page and look at the different layouts available. Then leave me a comment on this post telling me which layout you like the best. On Monday I will be picking a winner. And, if you don’t win I will have a way to purchase the software at a discount so don’t miss this opportunity.

Something New on the Design Wall

2011-10-24T05:00:00.000-05:00

I try to work with some sense of organization: 1 new project, 1 UFO, and 1 charity quilt. Right now my new project is Christmas so I can’t share it. I just finished a charity quilt so I need to figure out what I want to make next. And last week I finished a UFO, see this post, and so the next one is on the DW.

These blocks are also from an internet swap with embroidery centers designed from Nita’s Place. Once again I have had them sitting on a shelf for a couple of years. I have paired them with several different fabrics but always they seemed too “bland.” As my readers may already know, I am partial to lots of color so nothing has seemed right.

However, a couple of weeks ago I bought some precut 2 1/2” strips that are various shades of cream and I decided that maybe with some log cabin blocks I could make a very calm cream quilt. So here you see the embroidered blocks

and I have started on the log cabin blocks. It will be fun to see if I can keep a bright color from sneaking into this top, won’t it?

A week ago DH suggested we pay a visit to Sears. We have not shopped there in so long I could not figure out what he was interested in. Well, we headed right up to the TV section where we investigated 3D TVs. We didn’t get one but the rest of the week found him on the computer doing research with occasional outbursts of information. By the time he had finished his research all of the TVs in our area were sold. Did that deter him? Oh, no. Saturday we went to our local Sears and ordered a new TV, DVD/Blue-Ray player and 2 pair of 3D glasses. They are supposed to be delivered early next week which gives us this week to rearrange the furniture to place the TV where I have always wanted it (a deal we made before I would agree to this purchase). This should be a lot of fun, both rearranging the furniture and watching 3D movies and sports at home.

Now, for a bit of color you need to go on over to Patchwork Times where color abounds.

Successes

2011-10-21T09:54:00.001-05:00

I got it quilted and I am so happy with it. This quilt is now called FREEDOM. The blocks are from Eleanor Burns’ Underground Railroad book and was a BOM this year at my LQS, Three Notch Cottage Quilt Shop. The layout is mine and I was able to sash and border it with fabrics already in my stash.

The quilting came out so nice and really seems to fit the freedom concept of the quilt.

Yesterday I sewed the binding on to the front.

Of course it is always a wrestling match to do this as big quilts take up so much room and have to be moved around a lot.

I didn’t start the other side of the binding because I needed to make the label first. So this morning I opened the My Memories software and began experimenting with it for that purpose.

And here is what I came up with. I created the label in the software and then saved it as a jpg. I can then copy it and paste in Word and print it on fabric. I am really excited about this new way of doing labels. It is easy and fast, something that sometimes is necessary. Maybe this means that all of my quilts will have labels, ya think?

Blank Design Wall

2011-10-17T05:00:00.000-05:00

So today I am sharing three things: my newest creation using the My Memories software (giveaway coming next week), the above completed quilt top, and further down the quilting I am currently doing on my batik Underground Railroad quilt.

First, I really am enjoying the above software. I am beginning to be more creative in how I document the process of making my quilt tops as well as the backing and quilting ideas. For each project one creates an album in the software so it is set up to be able to have several pages with both pictures and “journaling” which I call words. I have several earlier pictures of this top in process so will add those to the “album” and hopefully will have a finished product by the time this quilt is quilted. Then, as I have just begun working on some Christmas gift ideas, I also plan to start albums for them which I can’t show you since occasionally family members read this blog. I will, sometime this week, begin working on a label for this quilt and we will see if the software will allow us to be more creative in this area also.

Quilting on the Underground Railroad is coming along nicely. As of last evening I have completed a little over half of the quilt. I am quilting it lengthwise, 107”, so it takes me quite a while to do one pass.

This is the pantograph I am using. It is somewhat complicated as there are several switchbacks. Just about the time you think you are moving along toward the end, the thing takes you back in the direction you came from.

I really like how the teal thread looks on the different fabrics. I use a poly thread so it shines on the darker fabrics and blends or shows off on the lighter fabrics.

This is the panto I am using. I found it at a guild sale table at a quilt show ($1) and I really like how it looks on my quilt.

And what is this, you might ask. Well, this is the stage set for Hal Holbrook’s Mark Twain. We went to see him Saturday night. We were not allowed to take pictures during the performance so I shot this before he came out. I have to say that I have always enjoyed Mr. Holbrook’s performances but this was wonderful and I now have a new appreciation for Mark Twain. If you have a chance to see this performance, run, don’t walk, to get your ticket.

I hope to work on my Christmas gifts, finish quilting URR, make a backing for the above quilt, plan a setting for another set of swap blocks, and get caught up on my BOMs. Opps, I think I am setting myself up for failure. But if I can get a little done on most of them, I will really be happy.

And another thing that makes me happy is visiting Judy’s blog at Patchwork Times and seeing what other quilters are making.

My Memories Suite

2011-10-13T09:38:00.001-05:00

I have never wanted to be a scrapbooker. Our children are all grown and 3 of the 4 live a long distance away so we don’t get to be with them or their children often. However, a new program that offers digital scrapbooking has come along and I think it is going to be a great way to document my quilts, pets, travels, etc., as well as a way to create some really interesting quilt labels and maybe even to add some visual interest to my blog (as if it needed it, huh?).

Above is my first try with the My Memories Suite. In this page I am using a premade template that comes with the software (there appear to be hundreds of them). I was able to manipulate everything on the page that was already there and to add my own “stuff.” If I read the opening page right, when I have become more familiar with the software, I will be able to create my own templates but for now, using what is there seems best to me.

What is also cool about this program is that I can save my page, print my page, and/or post or email my page.

I am going to play with this for a week or two and then My Memories Suite is going to let me offer one for a giveaway. I will be practicing and plan to be posting about it a few more times before the giveaway. Stay tuned to learn and get excited about this new creative software.

Design Wall 10/3/11

2011-10-03T05:00:00.000-05:00

This is my design wall for the first Monday in October 2011. These blocks are from an internet swap a couple of years ago. I have had them on the wall a few times with no certain idea of what to do with them. This week I decided they will be a gift and began the design process in earnest.

First I put the blocks out on the wall and, of course, move them around several times. Then I decided on the sashing and borders. Originally I planned to have the sashing, which is also the second border, be just that fabric. However, when I put it on the wall it looked way too busy. Using the cornerstones, made from the first border fabric, calmed down the already busy center.

I have the center rows sewn together, not an easy feat since several of the blocks were poorly made, and am ready to sew the first border.

All this sewing will have to wait. I have a new WW meeting to lead on Monday and two on Tuesday and since I have to travel a little over 100 each day I will probably only be up to feeding the animals when I get home.

Speaking of animals, we seem to have a new one here.

Meet our newest member (?). We found her a little over a week ago, wandering the streets in downtown. We have placed ads in the newspaper and on the radio and visited the two vets, attempting to find where she has come from. The plan is that if no one has claimed her by Tuesday, she will become part of our family. We have not named her yet, that would mean she was staying and we don’t know about that, yet.

Here she is with Abby. We figure she is about 6 months old but we will know for sure when we take her to the vet for a check up and shots next week.

This is finished. And I got it done before the end of September. I really like the scrappy binding and it almost finished that 30s fabric.

I did get the URR on the frame. The backing is a batik fat back I bought at MQX in 2008. It has been sitting around, waiting for a quilt to come around that fit it and finally it did. I can’t show it yet since it is all rolled up on the pole, but will later.

Now, if I could just come up with a plan for the quilting.

And now, one last picture. This is for people who think we have no Fall color in the South. This is a maple tree that is just beginning to turn.

This poor thing was cut down a few years ago and this is what has grown out of the stump. It is about 15’ tall now but has about 7 small trunks. I don’t know how this effects it’s growth but it makes a very pretty sight in our very green yard.

And now it is time to pour yourself another cup of coffee or tea and hop on over to Patchwork Times to see what other quilters are up to.

Design Deck

2011-09-26T05:00:00.000-05:00

This is my Design Deck for today. It is my Underground Railroad top, complete. I love it and it is perfect for a new fall quilt. With any luck I will be getting this on the frame sometime this week.

This was where I was on Wednesday, got the center done with the 6” center panels and the 1” black sashings between and on the ends of the blocks. I really like how the little black lines separate the blocks from each other.

Here we are with the first two borders on. I do have to admit that I put one of the borders on backward, you know, right side to wrong side. Those are pretty long seams to have to unsew but unsew I did.

And then yesterday I got it finished.

After completing the above I decided to use my time wisely and make the binding for my tumbler quilt.

It is a scrappy binding using the scraps from the front as well as pieces of the backing. I’m afraid I got carried away attaching the pieces together and I think I have enough binding for two comfort sized quilts. We will see when I sew it on today.

In addition to sewing, I walk. DH and I walk 2 miles almost every day. On our walk the other morning we saw this:

This spider web was more than 3’ wide and almost perfect. We looked and looked but couldn’t find a spider. It had rained very hard for two days prior to that so it had to be spun that morning. And can you see the fog? That stayed around until about 10am. Spooky, huh? Perfect for getting in the Halloween mood.

This is Buffy. She has felt left out since both Ms. Murphy and Abby have been spotlighted on the blog and she hasn’t. The sweater is one that Abby had on when she came to live with us. It doesn’t fit her anymore but is perfect for Buffy.

Buffy is primarily DH’s dog and he is way proud of her for being an Auburn fan.

Besides being an Auburn fan, I am also a Patchwork Times fan. I encourage you to drop over there to see all the wonderful projects her other fans are working on.

Its Progress, Here

2011-09-21T20:44:00.001-05:00

It’s quilted. I finished it this afternoon and am very pleased with how it has turned out. Now all I have to do is make up the scrappy binding and this comfort quilt is good to go.

I used a panto and I know I took a picture of both it and the name but for some reason it didn’t make it so I will retake those pictures and share them later.

The quilting does not show on the back unless you look at it at an angle. Usually I like that but this time I had no tension problems or breaks so I would have been happy to have the quilting show. However, since this will go to a child it is probably best that it doesn’t show anything, quilting or dirt.

When I finished the quilting I started working on the Underground Railroad quilt: I squared up the blocks and began sewing the sashing between the blocks. As I walked into the sewing room of the studio I suddenly really saw what that room looks like.

You would have thought I would have noticed that mess before but I tend to just see what I am working on and not anything else. Well, I took the picture so I would be so embarrassed that I would make time to find that table top, and the one you can’t see to the right. There must be at least 4 projects scattered out in that space.

However, when I turned to walk into the next room, the cutting a pressing room, this was what I saw:

Well, my goodness, there seems to be a pattern here. So now, here is my dilemma, do I take some time to really clean this up or do I use that same time to get some sewing and/or quilting done.

Well, I guess I will take some time to ponder that question, so I’ll get back to you as to what my priorities are.

Working on Finishes

2011-09-19T05:00:00.000-05:00

This is the week I get everything, well almost everything, ready for finishing.

My tumbler quilt top is finished. I put the backing together Sunday and here they are, resting on the HQ, ready for me to get the backing together and begin. Of course that will also mean that I get to sit on the floor and go through all of my pantos to find a good one for this comfort quilt.

And on the Design Wall? Well, here is my Underground Railroad quilt, on the DW again. I have all the blocks finished and have drawn up several layouts in EQ.

This is the plan I have chosen, I think. I have the border fabrics hanging on the DW and I have cut the 1.5” black strips to put between the blocks. If I get the tumbler quilt set up on the frame I will cut the borders and begin putting this together, too.

If you look at the lower right corner of the first picture you will see the rack where I hang the completed tops. I counted 5 already on there. That’s when I decided that I needed to focus on finishes. If I can get these 7 done I then will have some time for the current BOMs and the swap blocks I also have waiting for settings. Wow, I seem to be way behind in getting things done.

Saturday we went to a model train show. DH has talked about setting up a train set for several years but mostly he has been collecting ideas and parts. At the show he collected this.

This is a toy Dunkin Donut truck sitting on a Dunkin Donut box (with only one donut left). Someday it will sit on a road next to a great train layout. Now it is just a reminder of the great donuts we had yesterday.

Now, grab yourself a cut of coffee and a donut and check out the wonderful quilting being shown at Patchwork Times.

Confessions of a Mad Housewife

2011-09-14T12:23:00.001-05:00

Wasn’t there a book with a title similar to that? Well, whatever, that is me today.

First I must say that we have been eating healthier for the last few years and feel really good about that. However, after the first 27 years of marriage, I made the startling discovery that I didn’t really like to cook. I am a good cook but it just isn’t my creative bent. Well, having said that, I recently bought a book called "Everything Healthy Slow Cooker Cookbook.” What could be better: healthy, small amount of kitchen time, more time in the studio.

The first dish I tried was pork chops with onion, apples and spices. It tasted good but the chops were a little dry: I attribute that to the fact that they were really too thin but all I could find at the time.

So today was my second try.

This is not only something I have never made but I have never eaten, but it sounded good.

I got busy dicing cabbage, slicing an onion and cooking and breaking up a can of tomatoes. Doesn’t it look good. And with the spices it was smelling good, too. Then I went to the recipe to see what to do next. Oh, steam some whole cabbage leaves….no problem. And they steamed beautifully.

Next step was to mix the egg with the cooked rice. cooked it said. Well, I had the rice but it was not cooked and there was no time to cook rice today. So, I quickly defrosted a pork tenderloin, added a few more spices and onion to the tomato mixture and all is now in the crock pot for a great dinner tonight. Lesson 1: read the directions the day before to be sure everything is ready. Lesson 2: read the directions again, all the way through, so you know you have everything before you begin. And I always wondered why I don’t like following a quilt pattern. I never learned Lesson 1 or 2. However, when I get this posted I am off to the studio and won’t have to come out again until dinner is ready Yea!!

I can’t leave without my pet picture(s) of the day.

This is what I wake up to almost every morning, when she is not curled around my head telling me I am sleeping too long. She is really a quilt baby.

And this is the excitement Mango and Mickey live with since Ms. Murphy came into the house. We do keep the top of the cages covered so she can’t reach down to them and they have done a great job of staying in the middle when she gets curious from the sides. Mostly she just watches them although she is able to open the food dish door so we have those closed off. Smart cat means that we have to be smarter owners. Not easy with a cat.

Movement

2011-09-12T05:00:00.000-05:00

This looks a lot like my last Design Wall post (2 weeks ago) but there has been progress. The top two rows are all sewn (done after this picture was taken). The rest is sewn into two piece blocks, ready to be completed. I think this is going to make a really neat comfort quilt.

I got a little bit done on my Hearts Desire block. These are the flowers for the block and some of the stems and leaves. I still have several more leaves to make and a lot more other stuff. And then I have to do the whole thing three more times. I am really challenged by this quilt and have decided to slow down and only work on it a little at a time and spend more of my limited quilting time on other projects.

This past week I experienced the “end of an era.” I did my last Weight Watcher meeting in Port St. Joe, FL. I have been traveling there once a week for a year (365 miles round trip) and have loved it but finally both WW and I decided it was time for a change. For the past 10 weeks I have been training the new leader and Thursday I left all the paperwork and products with her so now that wonderful group is her own.

To celebrate the change on my way home I got something to eat and had my dinner at the beach. I have been able to go to the beach every week for the past year: I will miss it.

And when I got home, this was what was waiting for me. DH had gotten me flowers, the new cookies we like and a note that made me feel ever so good.

But I am not done with Weight Watchers. Tuesday I started leading two groups (9 am and 12 pm) and another on Saturday morning. It is a brand new center so the groups are small ( 1 & 2 people) but we hope that they will increase with time. It is exciting and I am only driving a little over 100 miles each day. And I drive by two quilt shops and my sewing machine dealer. Now how’s that for a great way to work?

And now for another gratuitous cat picture. I heard this funny noise and turn around to see this. The container is where we keep the cat food. Someone, it was me, left the top open. There she was, tottering on a large plastic bowl, attempting to get into the container. However, almost immediately after this picture was taken, down everything went. What a mess. But Ms. Murphy helped by trying to eat as much as she could before I could get it all up. Wasn’t that nice of her?

In the Beginning of Fall

2011-09-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

How do we know it is Fall in the Deep South? Well our leaves do turn, more of a rusty brown than bright yellow and gold, but they do turn and fall all over the ground.

But even more importantly, football fanaticism begins. So where did we find ourselves last Saturday?

At Auburn University for the first game of the 2011 season. As some of you may know, and other don’t care at all, Auburn won the National Championship for 2010. Everyone knows this is not going to happen this year but it doesn’t dampen the school spirit. Just look at the picture above again and you will see a sea of orange, my favorite color, which was the cheering fans of Auburn.

And where were we? Well, see the third light pole from the right? Well, our seats are just a few rows under that. We got all our walking exercise walking up the ramp and then the full 30 additional steps to the row we sat on. However the view was terrific. And, the weather was perfect: full sunshine, not too hot, and a great wind that kept us cool.

Now, it wasn’t the best Auburn game we have been to (1 a season) as we were behind most of the game (which we were 22 point favorites) but in the end we won and that’s what counts. And, as you can see, it was an enthusiastic crowd that did all it could to cheer our new and very young team to victory. Great Day!!

On the home front, there has been no sewing or quilting. I am hoping that will be changing but probably not until this very busy week is over. Yesterday I helped open a new Weight Watcher center where I am scheduled to lead three meetings (Tuesday 9am and noon and Saturday 9am). Also tomorrow I go to my last meeting where I drive 360 miles. I have been leading that meeting for 1 year and have really mixed feelings about leaving them in someone else’s hands. However, I will not miss that long drive every Thursday.

On the home front, I caught Ms. Murphy, again, being cute.

I call this her “suck up” pose. DH is a Hoppy fan and now Murphy seems to be also.

And here she is trying to tell me that she, too, can get a good view from the high bleacher seats. DH was pretty sure that wagon train lamp was going to tumble as she came down from her perch but she wiggled around it and it stayed put.

Well, that is all from our home front. Today I hope to at least see the inside of the studio but most of the day will be spent getting all my WW stuff here ready to hand over tomorrow. It will be nice to get some of my space back, not to mention a large portion of my trunk.

Thanks for visiting and come again. Gari

Design Wall Progress

2011-08-29T05:00:00.000-05:00

Isn’t it amazing? I have something new on my design wall! I cut these tumbler blocks and spaced them out so I can fill in between with either white or cream tumblers.

Here is a picture of the blocks as I laid them out on the ironing board. I was looking at how they go together as I have never made a tumbler quilt before.

This will be a comfort quilt and here I am, again, trying to use up the 30s fabric I got for this quilt and used again in this quilt. And yet this fabric continues to seem to multiply as soon as I turn the light out in the studio. For this reason I already have planned a doll sized quilt for the cradle using what’s left (I hope) of it.

Prior to the tumbler blocks going up on the wall, this was there:

These are my Underground Railroad blocks. Well, except for what you see as the first block in the third row. There you can see the fabric for the last block which I hope to sew this week.

Here are the blocks with the fabric I have chosen, I think, for the sashing. I’d like to do something different than just straight sashing so I’m glad I have some time to figure it out.

I am finally getting around to working on My Hearts Desire quilt blocks.

So I got out the prepped pieces for the first of 4 blocks. I laid them out and look how many empty places there are. I was sure I had made all of the pieces for all 4 blocks but now I see that I had only gotten started. So I will set aside time each day to prep those missing parts. I am way behind with these: Esther has already started a new BOM quilt. I, however, really want to complete this quilt someday.

And now for some gratuitous cat pictures.

Ms. Murphy found the cradle. Doesn’t she look like a little princess?

And here she seems to be saying “are you still looking at me?”

Be sure to drop by Patchwork Times to see what other quilters are working on.

WOW

2011-08-24T09:31:00.001-05:00

There has been no sewing here since last Wednesday when I quickly got my Underground Railroad blocks completed for the LQS’s BOM meeting on Saturday. Since then I have been mostly in bed (see this post), getting up finally yesterday and today trying to get back in my groove.

Without a sewing/quilting entry, I thought I would show my new acquisition:

You can only see part of the antique cradle but if you want to see the whole thing go to this post. It is cast iron and VERY heavy. The mattress is original stuffed with horsehair but I now have it covered with a quilt (of course). And yesterday added a doll I just love. I am not a doll collector but when I saw her I just had to have her: she makes me smile.

She has been in my bedroom for several years as I love to see her when I first wake up. She reminds me to smile first thing in the morning. However, she is now in the family room, right in front of my chair. Now I see her while I am doing my morning devotional. If I were doing Peaceful Pathways as a doll quilt it would be for her to sit on in this cradle.

Have a wonderful rest of the week.

Design Wall (late)

2011-08-22T18:54:00.001-05:00

Well, this week this is all there is. I got these two blocks done on Wednesday for the LQS’s BOM meeting on Saturday. Then I did a 10 hour WW day Thursday and a 10 hour day for WW on Friday. After spending the rest of Friday with DH doing some shopping and eating we came home and went almost immediately to bed. Saturday I woke up feeling tired and decided to not go walking. Good thing because I developed some pretty severe dizziness and before noon was back in bed: I completely forgot the BOM meeting. The dizziness was reduced to vertigo and extreme tiredness as I slept almost all day Saturday and Sunday. Today I am up but not moving too much. The vertigo seems to have almost gone away and I am not as tired but decided to skip Yoga tonight anyway. I haven’t been in the studio since Wednesday but am planning on trying to put in a little time there tomorrow. I really miss visiting my stash and projects.

Catching Up = Design Wall

2011-08-15T05:00:00.000-05:00

But before I share what’s on my design wall I will show how my last wall quilt looks.

It all went together like it had been made to even though I did more ripping and fixing on this quilt that ever before. I have prepped the borders, the mostly red fabric, but will not be sewing them on until I get some other things done.

Design Wall

This is what I have been working on for the past week.

This is Block 7 from Bunny Tails’ Henrietta Whiskers. It is only prepped for appliquéing but that is part of my plan for this week.

And this is Block 8, also prepped for applique. And after that I will be doing the embroidery.

Next came the Boot Bash blocks. This is Block 6. The body of the boot is made with fabric I have been wanting to use for years but never could find just the right place to use it. I think it makes this boot look special.

Here is Block 7. I was really excited with this one because of the cactus. And would you believe that the upper and lower part of the boot are from the same fabric? Cool, huh?

This is Block 8. Mine is very different from the original. I don’t know why I chose the red and white but isn’t this a pretty boot? I love it.

And then from the sublime to the ridiculous. This is Block 6 of Crazy Cats. I am doing all the cats with plaid and then whatever else that comes to mind.

And this is Block 7. Of course there is still embroidery to do but that will come later.

And last but not lease with Block 1 of When Nature Calls. The block calls for lots of flowers around the outhouse but I am holding off until I have several blocks done so I can see just what I want it to look like. I am really excited about this BOM as the finished quilt will reside in my bathroom. Just a little bathroom humor I inherited from my mother.

Now, if you are not too pooped from seeing all the work I went through last week, hop on over to Patchwork Times to see the work of other quilters.

Sewing, Piecing, and Antiques

2011-08-08T05:00:00.000-05:00

This is my Design Wall today. Looks a lot like my last two design walls, doesn’t it? However, now each of the rows are sewn. The center will be 60x84. I think I know what I am going to do for an outer border but I think I need an inner border first so that may take some time to figure out.

This was when I was just getting started putting the rows together but I wanted to be able to show the true colors.

I also got the first border on Snowbound. One more and this one will be ready for quilting.

And over the weekend I drew all the pieces for several applique BOMs (I really went overboard this year). I plan on this being an applique week to see if I can get caught up on all of them.

Unfortunately we went antiquing again. This was my prize, a cast iron cradle. When I got it I was thinking of using it to store fabric. But once it was set up in the family room, I could see a quilt an a baby doll in there. We’ll see what finally it gets used for.

Of course Ms. Murphy had to check it out but interestingly, she hasn’t jumped into it, yet.

And then all the investigating had her all tuckered out.

It seemed to even tire Abby, who never paid any attention to the cradle.

Well, I better get off this computer, put a load of laundry in the washer, and get into the studio and get that applique stuff going. Be sure you check out all the creativity at Patchwork Times.

Where’s the Design Wall?

2011-08-01T08:41:00.001-05:00

Today DH and I began week #14 of our morning 2 mile walk. I am so very proud of us, each of us has only missed 2 days and both times the other went alone. Now this may not seem like much to most of you but we are OLD, 68 and 70. Also, when we started the morning temps were in the low 60s. Today it was 79 and the humidity was 84%, and this was at 6:30 am.

And did I tell you that Abby goes with us at least 6 days a week? And this is usually how it is with her the full 16’ of leash ahead of us. But she loves it and pouts when, on the rare occasion, she has to be left at home.

When we started I couldn’t find the Sketchers I had bought the last time we were walking. So I wore an old pair of shoes until we had walked consistently for four weeks. And then I got these, and I love them. They live in the car (the socks change daily) and until I saw this picture I didn’t realize that they have walking stains on them. Whoopee, I can see how I abuse them by using them.

Now I know that most of you came to see my Design Wall.

Well, here it is, looking a looking a lot like it did last week. I have bordered the diamonds with a continuation of the background fabric and am playing with some ideas for the center blocks which will also need additional background fabric. Anyway, I am almost ready to put this thing together. It has been a design as you go project but in the end I think it is going to be very pretty.

Now for a really great thing….. I won these fantastic fabric squares from Ravelly to use in her new When Nature Calls BOM! The first block is out and I am so excited to begin, yet another, BOM. My mother has an outhouse theme in her bathroom (and, no, she is not getting this quilt) so I have decided that my tribute to her will be this quilt in my master bath. Anyway, block 1 is on my agenda for this week.

One of the reasons for little being accomplished this week is that we were out and about all week. I don’t think we really did much but I did buy some fabric (no picture yet) and this..

Now, isn’t this cute? But wait……..

It’s a flash drive, a 4G flash drive. And it works. It’s not like I needed another flash drive but it was so cute I couldn’t resist. They had several different animals so I am hoping I don’t find myself at Staples again any time soon.

And now it is time to flash on over to Patchwork Times to see what other quilters are doing with their time and money.

Short but Sweet

2011-07-27T09:33:00.001-05:00

This is all I have gotten done this week. The quilting is finished on this baby quilt, frogs from Urban Elementz. And the label is embroidered, frog from Artistic Thread Works. The binding is a beautiful paisley print that I “found” in my stash. It had all the colors of the 30s fabrics and was dark enough to be drug around by a toddler/child. I still need to hand stitch two sides of the label and this will be another finish for July. Whoopee!!

I do have a plan for the “big mistake” I made last week and if I can get off the computer this morning I will be working on getting that quilt top back on track. Then I only have 3 BOM blocks to complete and I can make time to work on the Flowers For Me blocks for Esther’s Hearts Desire mystery quilt. I was so intimidated by this quilt that I finally put it away for a while but I think that by August I will be ready to pull it out front and center again.

Now, off to Esther’s blog to see what her other quilters are up to.

Monday, A New Week

2011-07-25T05:00:00.000-05:00

My Design Wall has not changed since Wednesday. After discovering the mistake I had made, I decided to work on other projects while I pondered how to remedy my mistake.

The first thing I did was

to begin quilting the 16

patch comfort quilt, now known as Froggy.

I even got it done and…..

Have the binding sewn to the front. I will finish it when I design and embroider a label for it. For now it is back, hanging on the “to be completed” rack.

I also made two Eleanor Burns’ Underground Railroad blocks but forgot to take pictures so will show them later this week.

So the plan was to get back into the studio Sunday and begin the reclamation project for my DW quilt. However, we went on a 114 mile road trip instead. WW is opening a new office 57 miles from here and I have been offered three (3) meetings there. So we drove down to scout the new place, to get new cushions for our deck swing, and find food we can’t get in our hometown. We had a great and restful time and now I am ready to tackle my Design Wall problem.

Be sure to stop by Patchwork Times to see other walls and projects.

WIP Wednesday =

2011-07-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

Works In Process Wednesday and I have been doing a little work on my LCQAL blocks. I had to! On Monday I posted a picture of my Design Wall. You really should go see what a mess I had up there and then come back here to see what I have up there now.

This is the setting I have decided to use. But there seems to be something wrong up there, can you see what it is?

Here is a closer view of the top, can you see it now?

Well, it seems that in my zeal to get going on this top I confused the measurements for this quilt with those of Snowbound: Snowbound blocks are 10.5” and this top’s blocks are 12.5”. So, those HSTs are 2” too small. And I only made 24 of them, 8 more than I needed. So I packed it in and went for pizza.

When I got home I saw this:

Can you see him? That rabbit sat like that for over 5 minuets while I got out of the car and pulled stuff out, too. He was still there when I went into the house.

Tomorrow I hope to be able to figure out how to solve my quilt dilemma. I only have enough of the red fabric for the border so who knows what creative inspiration will come.

Lots of Projects: No Finishes

2011-07-18T05:00:00.000-05:00

This is my design wall this morning. And when I saw it in the picture, it really looks like a mess. But when I was putting it on the wall, I thought I was coming up with something. The 12” blocks are from the LCQAL that finished up earlier this year using Bliss by Moda. My thought was to use some charm squares to make up a divided 4 patch but, oh, I don’t like it at all. So later this morning I will be taking the charm squares down and trying to come up with something else.

The first thing I took down from the DW Sunday morning was the 16 patch quilt top. It is ready for quilting and the backing has also been readied.

I went through all my batting pieces and chose the ones I could put together for this quilt. Here are the leftovers, ready to go back on the shelf to await their call to duty.

I even prepared the binding and it is also waiting it’s turn to be used…….sometime in the near future, I hope.

Then I started working on my Snowbound UFO. I trimmed all of the blocks while I began sewing them together. Look at all the slivers of fabric on my cutting table. I keep thinking there is something I should be able to do with them but I probably will just toss them. As you will soon see, I already have enough mess in this studio.

I sewed the blocks together and once again enjoyed seeing these clever blocks from Bunny Hill Designs.

So now the center is all together and pressed. And on the chair back are the inner borders (don’t look too closely at the mess behind the chair). I still need to add cornerstones and then we will be ready for the outer borders. I am thinking of white cornerstones on them with maybe embroidered snowflakes. But that also will be decided either today or tomorrow, or whenever I get around to it.

Here in South Alabama we have been getting rain. No, I mean RAIN. We have had about 7.5” in the last 4 days.

This is how my shoes have looked every time I go out. But I don’t mind, we really needed all that rain. Besides, these are Crocs and I just rinse them off and keep going.

Now, clean off your shoes and run on over to Patchwork Times to see what other quilters are working on.

Design Wall and finishes

2011-07-11T05:30:00.000-05:00

I didn’t have a design wall post last week. Somehow, with a very long holiday weekend, I didn’t realize I had missed it until Monday night when I was getting ready to write and suddenly realized the day had passed. Oh, my, do you suppose I am getting old? No way! I just don’t pay attention to the calendar as much as I used to.

So, here is my design wall for this week:

This is my 16 patch quilt top, ready for backing, batting, and quilting.

And here it is with the backing fabric. I hope to be getting the backing ready this morning and maybe even get it on Mildred, too.

I also finished quilting JR on Friday, sewed the binding together on Saturday and on Sunday completed sewing on the binding. I always love it when a quilt or project is finished.

And now another kiddy picture. As we were getting ready to leave for our morning walk this morning, this was the scene that greeted us, Pewter, the momma, and her two growing kittens, basking in the sun. We have two small families living around our deck: anyone want a kitten/cat?

WOW and stuff

2011-07-06T13:36:00.001-05:00

I really had a slow start this week. We drove to Pensacola to do some eating and antiquing. For the eating we had…….

Taco pizza. No one makes it where we live so we are always excited when we find it.

Then we went to the Blue Moon Antique Mall. As soon as we get there I start singing the song, one of my favorites.

Anyway, just as we came in the door I spotted this chair.

It is the 70s style of Scandinavian chair and footrest that I have seen for years but never could afford. This one is done in gray leather and reclines and swivels. I have been wanting a chair for the bedroom (for when I don’t want to watch what DH has on the TV) and this is perfect. I will be making a throw and pillow for it but with the low arm rests it will be great for doing that hand embroidery the BOM designers insist on putting in their blocks.

And, of course, next to the chair is the dress form I just had to have. It is male but this one has arms. He will be dressed in cowboy clothes and will be a living room cowboy to go with DH’s B Western collections.

Now, I have been doing a little work in the studio. On Monday I organized my pieces for the 4 Block 4s:

All of the pieces have been pressed to fabric and sorted into baggies, ready for me to start making those blocks.

However all that has been put aside as Mildred and I worked out our differences and have begun quilting JR. I am using King Tut Lime Stone, a variegated lime green, for the top thread. I like how it is showing but does not take away from the bright colors.

And lastly, there is Ms. Murphy. I went to take this picture and what I got was a “get out of my face” look. Somehow, I think she thinks she is the boss around here. But, of course, everyone around here thinks that. Just look at this look of contentment:

DH and Abby, doing what they love best.

WOW & it’s Mildred

2011-06-29T08:40:00.001-05:00

I have decided to finally name my HQ16. Her name is Mildred and she is 5 years old. I wanted to name her after one or the other of my grandmothers but I sometimes get mad at her and I just couldn’t say some of those things to either one of them. So, why did I choose Mildred? Well, my mother has a friend named Mildred. They have shopped, traveled, and been friends together for years and years. Sometimes they have a great time, laugh, shop, cook and enjoy each other. Other times they get in each other’s way, don’t agree on how to do things, and stay apart when they need to. Well, except for the cooking, I have the same relationship with my HQ, thus, please meet Mildred.

I love her and we have great times together. And sometimes I don’t like her very much and I leave her alone in her room for days and/or weeks. However, because she is a really good friend, we get back together and make our friendship work, again. Cool, huh?

For my WOW entry in Esther’s blog I am showing what I worked on yesterday. I do machine applique so I drew one copy of all of the parts to Block 4 of Heart’s Desire. Then I photocopied the two pages with my printer and didn’t have to draw them for the 2-4 blocks.

Here are the drawings and copies laid out with the chosen fabrics. See the little pink post-it? I labeled each fabric and then also put the number or letter on the master sheet.

This is the beginning of cutting the little pieces up and placing them with the proper fabric. Excuse the color, a big storm was approaching and I was trying to get them all sorted before I left the studio. However, everything is now ready for me to come back in and press the block parts to the fabrics.

I am now way behind on this mystery but I did have to take some time out to get some other projects more up to date and a couple even finished. However, I do intend to finish this quilt, it will just be closer to Christmas than to the end of summer.

Today looks like a rainy day, very good after almost 6 weeks of no rain, so I plan to spend most of the day in the studio. However, I will be taking some time out this afternoon to have my first ever massage. In the movies they have looked pretty painful but I am looking forward to it.

Another Design Wall Monday

2011-06-27T05:00:00.000-05:00

This has to be the most boring design wall in history. I did take this picture Sunday afternoon but it looks a lot like the picture I took Wednesday. The difference, however, is that I have started sewing the rows together.

I have three more rows to do and the center will be done. And I have already decided how I am going to quilt it…….

Isn’t this cute? I got it last month as part of the ‘panto of the month’ program from Urban Elementz.

And speaking of UE, yesterday I got June’s panto and have decided to use it on JR.

I think this will be perfect for that strip quilt.

Speaking of quilting, I started quilting on this today but had to rip it all out (only got 6” in). The tension, which tested perfectly, went all whacky. I think it is really the thread but after ‘unstitching’ I was not ready to try again. Perhaps this afternoon.

And one last picture, since my last cat picture did so well…

I am not really into bathroom humor but I cam around the corner and this was what I saw. She has water both inside in the kitchen and outside on the deck, so where does she drink? No wonder she was so laid out last week.

Mid Week

2011-06-22T18:52:00.001-05:00

Well, here I am, finally getting back to at least twice a week posting. You can blame Esther Aliu for this. She has started a WIP Wednesday on her blog. So I decided that if I want to be a part of things I need to get back to Wednesday blogging.

I have been somewhat busy. I got a backing sewn for my JR quilt and got it all on the frame yesterday.

That's as far as I got but Friday I will decide on the thread and pattern and maybe even start the quilting. It should go fast and then it can travel with us next weekend.

I also finally cut the white squares to fit in with the 16 patch leftovers for a comfort quilt. I have the top two rows sewn, not together, and plan to finish the rest this weekend. Right now it is only 36x48 so it will need a couple of borders before I can call it finished.

And I did something that is unusual for me. I cooked. This is not my creative bent but my DIL posted what she was making for dinner and it sounded good to me. I changed it a little to fit my Weight Watcher’s points (and what I had on hand) and look how my Ange’s Oven Fried Chicken turned out:

Isn’t that beautiful? I must say that those chicken breasts were huge so we split one, and look how I packaged the other:

I wanted to remember where I got the recipe when I find it again in the freezer.

Today was my last day to lead one of my WW meetings and I am feeling a little down. I hate closing a meeting when there are still some people who want to continue but we just don’t have enough to keep going. I also feel I am loosing friends who are helping me as much as I am helping them. But they have the tools and a list of other, further away, meetings where they can continue so we are all moving on.

Something New & BOMs

2011-06-20T05:00:00.001-05:00

(I am unable to edit my pictures without losing them so bear with me.)

On the design wall today is the Henrietta Block 5 and……………

Block 6. I am finally caught up, yippee!

Also on the wall are blocks 1 & 2 of Crazy Cats from syverkstan.net. I have been saving them all year but recently decided they will be a great Christmas gift so into the mix they went. The trouble is that I was having trouble finding time to get them started. Aren’t they cute? They will have embroidery on them later.

Also on the wall is Block 5 of Boot Bash from Molly’s Place. I fell behind on this one, too, but I am getting caught up.

I also worked on a new project, a Jelly Roll Race quilt.

This is me sewing the strips together: I can’t remember which Moda line it is, but it is bright and cheery.

Here is the center, finished. I was really surprised at how big it was. But, as is my want, I thought it needed a little bit more.

And here it is, a finished flimsy. The inner border is orange stripe which will also be used for the binding (you can almost see the binding strips on the hanger). I hope to get it on the HQ this week as I would love to take it as a handwork project (binding) when we travel later this month.

And this is Ms. Murphy, lounging. She was sound asleep and for the life of me, I couldn’t see how she could be comfortable.

Now, after you finish laughing, don’t forget to pop over to Patchwork Times to see all of the other quilty creations being shared.

Design Ironing Board 6/13/11

2011-06-13T05:00:00.001-05:00

This is all I have to show for a weeks worth of sewing.** Well, I had more but for some reason my photo program has decided that if I name a photo, it discards it. I have no idea where the pictures went but they are GONE. These are my applique pieces for Henrietta Whiskers, Block 5. They are just resting on the ironing board, waiting to be pressed to the background and then appliqued in place. I plan to prep Block 6 before I complete 5 and then I will have both to complete and I will be caught up, with this BOM.

I also made the two blocks for my LQS BOM. They are Underground Railroad blocks, made with batiks. I will get new pictures done so they can be seen later.

I did get the quilting all done on this batik quilt. This isn’t a good picture but I was afraid to monkey with it for fear it would disappear.

Here is the back. I love the color and the quilting shows up so well on the black stripes.

And, last but not least, here is my poinsettia from Christmas. There are only about 3 very pale red leaves now but we get new green ones almost every day and it is very healthy. I have never had one of these live anywhere near this long so I am really excited. And, actually, very few plants live long here (black thumb, you know).

**This has been the week that wasn’t sewing. Every day I was planning to work in the studio but every day DH has come up with something that has taken me away from it. I have been to Walmart, twice ($$), out to eat (several times and I am not complaining), moved furniture both in the house and studio (both places because DH wanted me to do something else that required furniture moving), and hours and hours of dealing with our internet provider who just Friday seems to have gotten everything working again. Not complaining, just explaining.

Be sure to check out Judy's blog for more inspiriing quilting ideas.

No Design Wall Monday 6/6/11

2011-06-06T05:00:00.001-05:00

Because I spent most of the weekend sewing on this batik quilt top (along with a couple of surprise things that can't be shown, yet), there is nothing on my design wall. Now, that beats having that feathered star partial top up there for weeks on end, doesn't it?

Anyway, this top is done and here you see it on the frame, ready to quilt. I did have to spend some time piecing the backing and then forgot to get a picture of it so you will have to wait until it comes off the frame.

Here are two pictures of the quilting: the one above of the top and the one below of the quilting from the back. I especially like that one because you can see the top through the batting as it is hanging down.

Since I took those pictures I have quilted about 2/3 of the quilt so I should have rest done tomorrow morning. I have the binding strips cut but not sewn together so that will be my next sewing task. I do, however, already have the label done and ready to sew on with the binding.

I was going to show the label for the Eleanor Burns Egg Money Quilt that I finally gifted to my DS#2 and his wife for their 25th anniversary. However, my laptop, with those pictures, has been infected with a "worm" and is at the computer doctors for a wormectomy. I did ask that if they had to clean out the whole disk that they save my pictures, my quilt patterns, and my machine embroidery designs. She asked if there were any documents I needed but I told her that all my interests were in those three libraries and that would be sufficient. I hope to hear something this week.

Now I realize that this is not a very informative post but you must remember that I was alone for 4 days, doing a lot of sewing, some cooking, some cleaning, and one day not feeling too well. None of this is very interesting, not even while I was doing it. Of course, nothing much interesting goes on here even when I am not alone but it sounded like as good as an excuse as I could think of. So, for some more interesting blog posts, hop on over to Judy's blog and see what is going on in other parts of the quilting world.

Design Wall 5/30/11

2011-05-30T05:00:00.002-05:00

Today we celebrate Memorial Day. It is the time to remember all the men and women who have sacrificed to keep our nation free. Thanks to one and all for the freedoms I have. I am truly grateful.

This is what is on my wall this morning. I have the center done, 3 borders on and the 4th border is on the sides. I am hoping that this morning I will be able to get the top and bottom borders made and on and then this top will be ready to quilt. This is a throw that will be 60 x 70, just the right size for snuggling when it is either cold outside or the air conditioning is turned down too low. Anyway, I think I have enough black batting for it but won't know until I get it done and on the frame (and of course, until I make a backing for it). I got a new panto from Urban Elementz Saturday that will be just perfect and I think I am going to quilt it with purple thread.

And to make the weekend even more productive, look what I got finished.

My feathered star is now a full fledged, finished, flimsy. In my previous post I showed my "one" mistake while making the friendship stars but otherwise it went together quickly and I am really pleased. It looks a little washed out in this picture because I took the picture in full sun but once it is quilted, later this summer, you will see how really pretty it is. I am not sure how I am going to quilt it: I may be looking at other feathered stars for inspiration.

Now, before you return to either your celebrations, eating, or sewing, be sure to go over to Patchwork Times to see what other quilters have been up to.

Feathered Star: working

2011-05-25T13:23:00.002-05:00

On my schedule for Tuesday was “complete the feathered star table topper. Well, here is where I am, one border on. All of the parts are made but I spent 3 hours on the phone Tuesday and 2 hours on the phone today, trying to get service from my internet server. I believe the router is kaput but they think it is my computer(s). I was using my cordless phones and had all three go dead, because of how long I was on the phone, both days. However, I seem to have service, for now, so thought I would share what I have been up to.

Here is another reason I didn’t get as far as I should have. What is wrong with this picture? And I didn’t see there was a problem until it was all sewn together either. I made a couple more before I was willing to take this one apart and do it right.

I now have 12 that are complete and, except for the sewing part, look just like this. All of the borders will look like the one in the first picture with plain squares in the corners. Then I will bind it with the background fabric, after quilting it, of course.

I am off to teach a WW group this afternoon and will be in FL doing the same thing tomorrow but hope to have this top finished on Friday. It will be good to have this one done because I have visualized it for so long and I am really proud of the feathered star.

May 23rd Design Wall

2011-05-23T05:00:00.001-05:00

So here is my design wall for today. In the center is my most recent attempt. I am sewing squares and rectangles of batiks, framing them in black and then sewing them together. The squares are 3” and the rectangles are 2.5 x 3". Of course the strips are different lengths but I have a plan to even them out. As you can see, I have several rows sewn but the rows are not sewn together, yet. I had a plan for blocks on this quilt but I couldn’t make it work. So I went with the little squares and I am liking it a lot. I have a plan (read: thought) for borders which I am hoping will work.

And, sadly, off to the right, is my feathered star. I think I heard it sobbing yesterday when I was in there working on the batik quilt. But I have blue friendship stars scheduled for today so with any luck you may be able to see some progress in that area.

To close out this out I am sharing what I wake up to every morning. There is nothing better than waking up under your own quilt, with Abby.

Don’t forget to go over to Patchwork Times to see what other quilters are up to.

Design Wall 5/16/11

2011-05-16T05:00:00.001-05:00

Well, doesn’t this wall look busy? First off, on the left, we have the first 5 blocks of Esther’s Heart’s Desire BOM. All done and boy, was I ever proud of my accomplishment. She gave us the center block one month and then in March she gave us the outer four and two months in which to do them. It took me all of that two months but I finished at the last moment. I was looking forward to the next block until I looked at it Saturday night. It is a beautiful block but we have four, again, to do but this time we only have one…YES, I SAID ONE… month to get them done. I will probably not even try to get them done on time but tomorrow I will begin prepping. You really should go over to Esther’s blog to see our new task/treat.

The little colored squares are the beginning of a batik quilt. I designed a block for this quilt but as I began piecing I have changed my mind and right now I am just making little blocks, lots and lots of them, and will decide how they will be placed, later. I really love how the batiks pop when sashed with black.

Unfortunately, you can also see my feathered star, still without a border. This UFO is not getting done at this rate. But it is still on the wall, just to keep me from forgetting it.

Now, don’t you forget to go to Patchwork Times to see how other quilters are getting along.

Design Wall 5/9/11

2011-05-09T05:00:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day. With all of our children either miles away or working, DH and I spent the day in Pensacola, FL, eating and shopping. The weather was beautiful and the day was fun and restful.

So, my design wall for 5/8/11:

I’m afraid that nothing got done on my feathered star table topper. I wonder how long it will hang up there before it goes back on the shelf.

To the left are 7 of the 8 Underground Railroad blocks, LQS BOM.

These are the two for May and for the first time in a long time I have them done ahead of time.

Here are all 8, one of them was lost for a short time but I found it before posting this. The fabric is chosen by the LQS owner and it seems we are going for a lot of orange, my favorite color. I did add some of my own batiks in the log cabin as only one fabric was there for the dark side and it just didn’t look good to me.

I also spent some time doing the applique on other BOMs and chose the fabric for others. These BOMs are really filling up my sewing time.

While we were out today we visited one of our favorite antique malls. And I found these:

I love overalls and couldn’t pass these up, so fun. They are a little heavy so will probably be used mostly during the winter. I now have 4 full overalls as well as two shorts ones. What I need is a farm: my dad always wanted to be a gentleman farmer, I guess I am following in his footsteps.

Oh, did you see the flowers next to my hand in that picture? DH brought them for me, aren’t they pretty? Now for more pretties, run on over Patchwork Times and see more quilts in the making.

Design Wall & Book (Vook) Review

2011-05-02T08:20:00.000-05:00

But before we look at my design wall, you MUST look at my completed Eleanor Burn’s Egg Money Quilt. I am really pleased with it. Also, please note the llittle bald head right behind the top of the quilt. Isn’t he cute?

And here is my design wall. On the right is the UFO I am going to begin work on later this week. I made this feathered star almost two years ago in a group class some guild members put together. I was so very pleased with how this came out, designed a table topper for it and then…nothing. So it has come up to the top of the UFO list and it will get done!

And here are the five blocks for Esther Aliu’s Heart’s Desire BOM. The top and bottom blocks are not complete but far enough along for me to feel I might have them done by the time she gives us the next installment on May 15th.

Book (Vook) review: Several weeks ago I was asked if I would read and review an e-book on quilting.

I will start by saying that I have an iPad and a Nook and have already been reading e-books and e-magazines on it so this part was comfortable for me.

This particular book is written for someone who may be interested in quilting but knows nothing about it. It covers the structure of a quilt, fabrics, colors, tools, etc. And the best part it that every chapter starts with a video, introducing the subject.

As to content, I found it somewhat superficial. By that I mean that many terms and/or ideas (example: batting) were not well explained, but only skimmed over. If I were a beginning quilter I would have no idea at that point what batting really is That said, many ideas were introduced and, much like a survey course in college, if you were still interested, you would know that you needed more to learn about it.

I really like the concept of this book but wish it had been more fully fleshed out.

Now, for more quilty fun, head on over to Patchwork Times.

Design Wall & Thank You

2011-04-25T05:00:00.000-05:00

This is on my design wall today. It is step one of my Journal quilt for May. I don’t know if you can see that it is woven with two different blue fabrics.

And this is step two.

This will be step three sometime this week, that is once I work on all these little pieces a bit. I think I am getting into this art quilt thing. Next week I will show the quilt and what I am using for inspiration.

Here is what I got from Australia last Friday. It came from Peg Cohen, she is one of the OPAM administrators. I have used OPAM to help me complete several UFOs and in February I won the drawing. Here is a quilt pattern that I probably will use for a comfort quilt and four DMC embroidery flosses. With all the hand embroidery I am doing on BOMs, I can really use these. Thanks Peg.

This weekend was our great grandson’s 3rd birthday.

Here he is attempting to blow out the candles. After three blows, his mother had to help him and then we could have cake.

Now, last but not least, here are my hydrangeas, just starting to bloom. Soon this bush will be covered in blue: how wonderful.

Now, it is time to go to Judy’s blog to see what else is going on in quilting land.

Honeysuckle Time

2011-04-20T20:15:00.001-05:00

Morning and night we are greeted by the smell of Honeysuckle. I love that sweet and clean fragrance. Last year there wasn’t any in our yard so imagine my surprise when it showed up in abundance this year.

But, that didn’t keep me from spending time in the studio. I have the binding sewn on the Eleanor Burns BOM and now will need to find the time to do the hand sewing. And I also got some hand embroidery done on my Snowbound blocks. I may just be able to make a quilt out of them, yet.

I also got caught up with the LCQAL blocks.

Here is block 11. I had to do some fiddling with the pattern (changed the fabrics) but it came together rather quickly.

And this is block 12. The circles were part of the fabric so I didn’t do anything special there. I do like both of these blocks.

Here are all the blocks together. I really am not fond of the brown or dark green fabrics so am considering breaking them up into two smaller quilts. But that decision will have to wait until some other projects are closer to completion.

Well, that’s it so far. Wed and Thurs are Weight Watchers days and then it is back to the studio for some more sewing time.

Design Wall & Family

2011-04-18T05:05:00.000-05:00

This has been a most productive week.

I got my April Boot Bash block done:

These have been fun and rather easy, a nice break from the Heart’s Desire blocks which are quite a challenge (here). These I have made great progress on (no picture ) and hope to have Block 2 and possibly all three Block 3s done and on the wall by Wednesday.

Here are the four done blocks, don’t you think they will make a fun quilt? I am getting some ideas of settings but nothing for sure: I do have 8 more months to get creative.

And I completed the April block for Henrietta Whiskers.

And here are the Jan – April blocks all together. The blocks are made in different sizes so it will be interesting to see how they all play together.

And Sunday was a very busy family day. Our DGS and DGDIL came for a visit.

They are on a “road trip” all the way from CO. He just recently got out of the Air Force and she is entering the Air Force next month. It was so much fun being with them and when she is in tech school they will be really close to us so we should get to really know them, for a while.

As they were arriving I got a call from my mother but had to call her back when our company left. We talked for 30 – 45 min and almost as soon as I got off the phone with her our DD called. I felt very popular today.

Now I’m going to get another cup of coffee and head on over to Judy’s blog to see what other’s are up to.

Studio Wednesday, Yea!!

2011-04-13T18:46:00.001-05:00

This has been a week of working in the studio, so far. DH has taken a couple of small parts in the musical, Big River, and, besides his teaching schedule, has been out until after 10pm every night. What this has meant for me is that I haven’t had to work within anyone’s schedule except mine. So I have been in the studio all day, every day: what fun. Of course sometimes one has to do the more mundane and today was one of those times. I have a really nice, soft, light cotton nightgown that I love. However, it is flimsy and today I had to sew up several tears in the fabric. It is a wonderful gown to wear in the summer so I keep putting it back together cuz I haven’t been able to find another one to replace it.

After that I worked on Heart’s Desire. What a mess applique makes of fabric. I finally decided that I didn’t know where the parts I had prepped earlier were so I started all over again. And since Block 2 and the three Blocks 3 are very much the same, I made all of the parts at the same time.

Here are blocks 1 and 3 (3 is not quite all together as I can see two missing stems). It really takes a lot of time to draw each of the parts and then press to the fabric (and remember to press to the wrong side), cut each of the little pieces out and then place them according to the pattern. However, I think the next two will go faster as most of the pieces are ready.

There will be no studio work tomorrow but Friday I will be back at it and I hope to have all these blocks done by Sunday. Then I can clean up the applique mess and go on to the waiting projects.

Design Wall Monday

2011-04-11T05:00:00.000-05:00

My design wall contains 23 16 patch blocks, enough for a comfort quilt. I am trying to decide if I will use white or cream as the alternate blocks. I plan a white or cream containment border and then a scrappy border, and then, a who knows border. I will probably piece the backing and even have some of the backing left from the Egg Money quilt quilt.

Next to those blocks are two Underground Railroad blocks, the BOM from my LQS. I found them to be really easy and quick.

And under them is my Journal Quilt for April.

I found making this was very interesting and different. I saw it as kind of a picture of Spring in our woods. Lots of green, sprigs of color, and frequent gray skies.

This is the picture I like the most: aren’t my roses looking good. All of the bushes are covered with roses.

I had hoped I would be showing completed blocks from the Heart’s Desire BOM. However, I seem to have lost the applique pieces I had prepped. So today, after I search for them one more time, I will be doing them over.

This week I will have more sewing time. One of my Weight Watchers meetings has ended and another is taking the week off for Spring Break so I will only have one to do. I love leading these meetings but it will be nice to have more time with my machines.

Now, before you start sewing, drop by Judy’s blog to see what everyone else is working on.

Third Time’s The Charm

2011-04-04T05:00:00.001-05:00

What does that mean? Well, for the third week in a row, the design wall remains the same. Does that mean I haven’t done anything? NO!!

I quilted and bound this comfort quilt. I am very happy with how it turned out and hope it makes some child feel better.

I also began quilting Eleanor’s Egg Money quilt. My original plan was to custom quilt each block and border but early in the week I began thinking about where it was going and what would be appreciated by them. This quilt will be gifted to really great people who don’t have any knowledge or interest in quilting. They will value it because I made it for them but would not appreciate the hours it would take for custom quilting. So I decided to quilt using a panto.

The panto is feathers and I am using a light silver gray thread that blends with the colored fabric and shines on the white background.

And this is where I am in the quilting now. The quilt is 103” long so I really feel great at how far I have come. And, the binding is ready, too.

This is the pieced backing (better picture to come after quilting is done). That was a chore itself but it did use up a lot of 30s fabric. And now that I am almost done with this quilting, I will be getting back to applique and piecing.

And what kept me from getting that quilt done? Well on Friday we shopped for our new toy and Sunday we went to buy it. We live on 5 acres and 2.5 is “yard.” I have been trying to keep up with parts of it with a push mower and finally decided that I deserved a riding mower. This one is supposed to be able to head into our woods and cut down the brush that grows up between the trees. And don’t I look like a natural?

Now, when you are finished laughing, ride on over to Judy’s blog to see what others are quilting.

Process

2011-03-30T19:48:00.002-05:00

Above are 3 1/2” strips of batiks that I have cut for a new quilt project.

And this is what I am doing with them. On the right you can see the colored strips sewn to a 1” strip of black. Lying on the machine bed, in the middle, is the same but pressed and on the left are the segments, cut apart. I have sewn about 100 of the 700 needed and then I get to sew another black strip to the other side.

And I am trying to teach myself to do leaders/enders using the 30s fabric squares. I seem to find that I have sewn many pieces before I remember I was going to do a leader first. But by the time I get all of these done I should have learned this lesson for good.

This is my “Rose Among the Thorns” picture. Those thorns are really long, strong, and sharp. But my bushes are full of flowers and many more buds. Spring and rain means March in Alabama.