Design Wall Monday

Who would have thought I'd be writing a DWM post at 4 in the morning while drinking coffee. I'm trying to get myself back on Ernie's schedule. My best time of day is first thing in the morning and going back to bed messes with my best time of day. I'm hoping I make it but a nap later may be in order.

28 blocks complete for the BOM-Quilt Addicts sampler quilt. Only 2 more to do. I'm getting pretty excited about sashing. I think after this is finished, I am going to gently place my Carol Doak 50 Fabulous Paper Pieced Stars book up on the shelf and leave it there for a while. That is right after I go through and make a note of which blocks I have made for this quilt.

Today's big plans include working on at least 1 of the blocks, baking zucchini bread and processing green beans. Sounds like a pretty full day to me.

Grab yourself a cup of something and go to Judy L's to see her fabulous project and then visit others.

Stash Report 8.29.10

This is not what our sky looks like this morning. The clouds are here and it's supposed to rain. I think I'll sew today. Yeah for rain.......guilt free sewing day.

According to the checkbook, it's been 2 months and 7 days since I've been inside JoAnn's. But yesterday I needed machine needles and rotary cutter blades (and it was the last day to use a 50% off coupon). I needed more Kona black to finish my star quilt. So we made a quick trip to town. I bought what was left on the bolt. I know I'll be ok using this because that's where I bought what I've been using from the beginning.

It's a good thing Amanda was here to use some fabric so the used number went up a tiny bit. I can't wait to report the usage for the star quilt. I have it all drawn up in EQ7 but I haven't looked at the numbers yet.

This week's report:
Used this Week: .5 yards
Used Year to Date: 176.5 yards
Added this Week: 4.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 143.5 yards
Net Used for 2010: 33

Go to Judy L's and check what she and others are doing to their stash.

Friday Focus

Remember way back to August 16, 2010? Neither did I, so I looked it up. I said I was hoping to make one of these paper pieced star blocks a day. Really, I thought it was do-able. I am a dreamer, I had big plans. I'm sure glad there is no real deadline for this quilt top.

The only deadline is the one I have self imposed. I'd really, really like to get this quilted before retreat in October. With only 4 more blocks to make, I am hoping to achieve this goal. I just need to make my focus list and pay attention to it.

Next topic--organizing my stash.........today at Stash Manicure is a very motivating post. Is it possible to create order from my chaos? Of course it is! I just need to set aside some time and get to it. Just like eating an elephant, take one small bite at a time. (When looking for a link for elephant eating, I came across this great post about goal setting.) I will be like the Little Engine That Could. I think I can, I think I can.

So now I will get off the computer, restart the washer, fold that load of laundry, make my list and get busy. On that list will be some sewing time! I only have 4 more blocks to make and they are already cut and ready to sew!!!

Design Wall Monday

Here it is Sunday night, I should be in bed but I have 2 girls here and they are quite chatty tonight. So I thought I may as well do my DWM post now.

The first photo shows the completed block from last Monday's DWM post. I'm going to leave it on the wall because I'd rather see a 12" spot of color than a white wall with strings all over it. I have started another one but it only has 2 pieces sewn on each of the 4 A sections.

The second photo shows the bag Amanda made using her embroidered butterfly. I started to make it for her then decided she really should do it herself. I did put in the zipper but other than that, I just told what the next step was. She did a great job and already has it full of her stuff.

This afternoon, she wanted to use this knifty knitter loom and made this fun, funky scarf. (Edited to add that she used Bernat Boa yarn.) As soon as her Aunt DeeDee saw it, she wanted it but I don't think it's up for grabs. :) She's had a very full day because she also made cookies for her Grampa. That scored some major points!!

With 2 of them here tomorrow, I'm not sure what we will do but I'm sure it will be fun. I love that my granddaughters love to do the things I love to do. I love teaching them.

Stash Report 8.22.10

The last half of the week has not had much quilting going on. Friday I picked up 13 yo Granddaughter Amanda, had a visit from my mom, sister and 2 nephews and went to Dee and Crystal's homes to visit. Saturday was our family reunion. Sometime today I will have to take Amanda home. :( My social packed weekend is coming to an end.

While she was here, she wanted to do some embroidery. I think I am going to take this in and turn it into a little bag for her. While she stitched, I crocheted. I have 2 more of this set to finish and then I can do the last set and turn these into an afghan.

On the quilting side, I made a back for the Scrappy Bento Box and it is loaded on the frame with 2 passes of the panto done. My big plan for Monday is to get the quilting finished!

This week's report:
Used this Week: 5.5 yards
Used Year to Date: 176 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 139 yards
Net Used for 2010: 37

Visit Judy L's and see how others are doing with their stash.

Rough Morning

I'm feeling a lot like this deconstructed sewing machine that was on display at the Clark County Fair last week. I've caught the quilting bug and I've been quilting up a storm, having my own quiltathon. Last night I had spasms in my lower back that about sent me through the roof.

My friend has these all the time and I don't know how she manages to get through the day. So really, I'm only whining for a bit!! Then I'll suck it up and stop my sniveling.

Ernie has been getting up at 3:OMG30 because of the fire danger in the woods. Normally I can go back to bed and go right back to sleep. But not this morning. After a long night of clock watching and then a short sleep, you'd think I would cuddle right down under the quilt and sleep like a baby. No, I have a quilt that needs the back made and that's all I could think about. So I got up, made coffee, cruised through BlogLand then went in and made the back, cut the batting, loaded the quilt and have one row of a very dense pantograph done.

I'd like to go in now and take a nap but today is Binding Friends day and I need some friend time. The best part of this is my stash report will show fabric out this week.

Design Wall Monday

There is nothing on my big design wall. After catching up with the Pat Sloan BOM, I took out the final paper pieced block for the BOM-Quilt Addicts yahoo group. I last showed you my progress on this DWM post. I have the other 6 blocks (I want to make my quilt with 30 blocks instead of 24) cut and ready to sew.

My focus this week is standing at the long arm. But when I need sit down time, I plan to work on these blocks until I have them all finished. Am I being realistic when I say I can do one a day??? Maybe half a block a day will be more like it.

Visit Judy L's blog and see what other quilters have on their design walls.

Stash Report 8.15.10

This is a photo of one of the displays from last weeks quilt show. Aren't those little quilts fabulous!!

This week's stash report is sad. No stash used, nothing added. Very little sewing except for working on the BOM. Some weeks are like that.

This week's report:
Used this Week: 0 yards
Used Year to Date: 170.5 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 139 yards
Net Used for 2010: 31.5

Visit Judy L at Patchwork Times on Sundays to check other stash reports.

Yeah!

I can put my Summer Breeze project away for a few days. I am all caught up!!!

I've uploaded my photo to the Flickr Pool. I'm bamma-judy. This weekend I've done this twice. This is new to me. It kind of makes me a bit nervous. Why??? I don't know. I'm sure I'll get over it soon.

Next up are 3 quilts that need quilted. Maybe I'll get one loaded this afternoon before we go bbq-ing with friends.

Hope you are having a great Saturday afternoon.

The Hurrier I Go...

...the behinder I get. My Gramma Maple used to say that all the time and now I understand what she meant.

My onion adventure has been put on hold. I spent one day this week super sick. I dehydrated myself instead of onions. When you are working in the kitchen, right next to the sink, you probably should drink water. I didn't, not one drop all day until I had a small glass at bedtime. Silly, stupid me.

The photo shows some of my scissors. Pat Sloan is having a fun scissor challenge over at flickr. She's giving away a pretty cool prize and I would love to win!!! Quilters have some pretty serious scissor collections. I'm envious of a couple of them.

Not a lot of quilting has gone on. I have been working on my Summer Breeze BOM. I redid the one applique block and have 2 more finished and the last one is almost finished. Can you believe I'm almost caught up and ready for the next clue! Pat Sloan is also challenging us to CATCHUP on the Summer Breeze project. Would I be if there wasn't a prize involved? Probably because that was my plan and I always stick to my plan....... ;-)

Onion Processing-Day 1 Results

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be blogging about onions. Not just any old onions, these are Walla Walla Sweet Onions from Walla Walla, Washington. Isn't that fun to say?? My friends live in Walla Walla, Washington. Hi Marilee, Hi Mary C!!

I remember as a kid when Walla Wallas were first in season, mom would peel one and eat it like an apple. To this day, that still makes me shudder. I love them but I can't eat one like that.

So the first photo shows one of eight trays after they have been dried. I loaded them up pretty good. 16 chopped onions yielded 3+ pints dry. Time in the dehydrator--20 hours. I think I will rotate the trays tonight though. The bottom 2 trays weren't quite as dry as the other 6. I'm giving them another couple hours while I prepare the next round.

The second photo shows the Sweet Onion Relish. With my adjustments to the recipe, instead of 3 pints, I ended up with 5 1/2 pints. You know that happens sometimes when you make relish. It isn't like when making jams or jellies, the recipe doesn't have to be exactly the way it is written. Of course I had to try the relish for breakfast. I want to keep my family safe. Just let me say OMG!!! The Ritz with relish is delicious but now I'm thinking gourmet. This needs to be put on some cream cheese and eaten with Wheat Thins. Watch out Top Chef, here I come!!!

Onion Processing Day 2 begins now. More relish and more drying. And Ernie wants onion rings with dinner. Yes, I do live an exciting life!

Kitchen Gadget Fun

While at the produce market yesterday, I bought a $1 bag of 5 apples and a pear from the discount bin. They didn't look too bad, a bruise here and there but not pretty like the apples and pear we like to buy.

I cut them up last night and loaded up the dehydrator. This morning the little bits were all nice and crispy. I can't throw away a perfectly good jar, not when I have a Food Saver and a large canister. Did you know you can seal up these jars if you put them inside the canister and seal the canister? When you release the vacuum seal from the canister, the jar lid pops and it's sealed!

This mix of apple and pear bits are labeled and put in the cupboard until its time for oatmeal cookies. Or maybe just as a snack!

Now I just have to figure out how to get the pickle smell out of some other lids. After a trip through the dishwasher, the smell remained. I thought soaking them in baking soda would do the trick but after they were closed up for a while and then opened, I could still smell the pickles. Any suggestions?

Now to tackle that bag of onions!

Edit 11:30 am: 16 onions peeled and chopped to fill the 8 dehydrator trays. Turned it on at 10:30 am, will check it around 4, again before bed. Then again in the morning around 6 or so. That will give it about 18 hours. Hope I don't have to get up in the night to go out to the shop--it could be scary out there. :) I'm very curious as to how much this will yield.

Design Wall Monday

Here she is, Miss Meadow Breeze. All the blocks are made. I just have applique to do on 3 of them and I will be caught up.

I have decided to take the applique off the green block on the bottom and remake it to put it on a block with the stripes going in the right direction so the placement will be like Pat Sloan has it in the original design. I will only take off the flower parts as the curve stem is showing up in the other green sections. Shouldn't take too long.

I have the applique shapes drawn onto the fusible for the next step. I don't know how much I will be working on it this week but I'm sure I'll squeeze some time in.

We went to the fair yesterday and stopped at the produce stand on the way home. After a quilt show Saturday and the quilt display on Sunday, I want to hide away in the sewing room. But I bought 50 pounds of fresh Walla Walla sweet onions and they need to be taken care of first. The dehydrator will be set up in the shop away from the house and I found a recipe for Sweet Onion Relish from Paula Deen that I will start soon. It looks like today will be a kitchen day instead.

Grab yourself something to drink and maybe a snack because when you visit Patchwork Times and start blog hopping, you are going to be there for a while. With all the inspiring Design Wall Monday posts, it really makes me want to hide away but I can't, I have onions....enjoy your visits.

Stash Report 8.8.10

I love old barns. At the Pomeroy Farm, the big old barn is still a barn in use. They hang several quilts inside and I peeked behind one to see this scene. This reminds me of dad's barn back in the day. When I was in dad's barn the other day, it was all different. He's changed it around a lot since I was a kid. And the smell of the hay! Oh, I love that smell!

There were a few vendors at the quilt show and I felt the need to support one of them. I think she was cleaning out her whole quilt room.....and I helped! She had 2 Brooklyn Revolver cutting mats, one large, one small. They are now mine and she had some flannel. I had to get it, one piece had moose on it and all I could think of was pillowcases so I had to buy a coordinating solid. Hopefully pillowcases will be made soon.

So with the flannel in and the Bento Box fabric out, I am only a half yard up on my net total. But a half yard is better than nothing.

This week's report:
Used this Week: 6.5 yards
Used Year to Date: 170.5 yards
Added this Week: 6 yards
Added Year to Date: 139 yards
Net Used for 2010: 31.5

Poor Judy L is without internet but she was able to post the Mr. Linky box. So head over to Patchwork Times and see how others are doing with their stash.

A Perfect Day

Today was the 15th Annual Quilt Festival at Pomeroy Living History Farm. This years theme is 100 Years of Pomeroy Quilts. Of all the quilts shows I have been to, this one is my favorite.

I love all the old stuff around the farm. I love the old quilts. I love the old UFOs! Isn't it wonderful that our foremothers left them for us to enjoy. I wonder if the future generation will appreciate my UFOs.



I really wish I would have taken more pictures. I get so wrapped up in the looking and visiting that I forget to use the camera. It's not like I was carrying around a baby or anything! (Daughter Crystal and 9 month old Grandson Leland)




This was a perfect day. Good idea Crystal. More pictures later. I love The Pomeroy Farm.

Quiltathon Final Report

This has been a fun 2 days. I didn't get as much done as I had planned but I got more done than if I hadn't Quiltathon-ed. I worked on Meadow Breeze for quite a while this afternoon. I finished the applique on part 4. I got some half square triangles made and part of them squared up.

I started early this morning so I quit mid afternoon. I didn't take enough breaks today and my neck and shoulders are aching. I wish I had a live in masseuse. At least dinner was easy. Leftovers and salad. Pineapple upside down cake for desert. Think I'll go to bed early.

Thanks Judy L for hosting the Quiltathon. I can't wait until the next one. Thanks Diane for being my partner in crime.

Quiltathon Day 2-Morning Break

The best thing about dedicated Quiltathon days is that I can plan my projects and focus on what I plan. I didn't go back into the sewing room last night but I got a super early start this morning and finished the Scrappy Bento Box top. It is now on the to be quilted pile with the scrappy binding. WooHoo for a finish!!!

Next on my project list is the Pat Sloan Meadow Breeze BOM. I'm still working on part 4, with part 6 being published. I'm hoping to be caught up before she posts part 7.

I just noticed that my stripes on the green fabric aren't going in the same direction. I plan to make up the rest of the blocks-you know on my quest to be an overachiever-so I can get them in the right place. I hope I can just move this set to a different spot without it looking funny. I'll have to wait and see.


I think I may have over estimated what I can get done in 2 days. I don't think I'll be working on any paper pieced stars today. With not too much planned for the weekend, I may just keep on Quiltathoning.

Time to get back to it.

Quiltathon-End Of Day One

There isn't a whole lot more to report since my lunch break. I did get the inner border and the piano key border sewn on. I have the outer borders almost ready to sew on.

I started tinkering around in the kitchen during one of my afternoon breaks. I changed my plans for dinner and decided I wanted to make Shepard's Pie instead of meatloaf. I turned out really good. I'll probably spend the rest of the evening working on a crochet project. Or just watching some mindless tv.

I'm excited to get started early in the morning. Nite All.

Quilathon-Lunch Break Progress

Wow, I'm farther along than I thought I would be. The body is all sewn, the piano key border that I thought was finished needs a couple more keys on the top and bottom strips. I always forget to add the side numbers when I'm counting. At least that's an easy fix.

During one break, I did a short walk through the garden before turning on the sprinkler. I picked 4 tomatoes! We've had a few cherry tomatoes but these are the first big ones. So I had a tomato for breakfast. And it was delicious!!!

After 99 minutes (that's as high as I can set my timer), I went back out and turned off the water. Gathered a few eggs, gave the chickens and dogs fresh water and went back in and put the pedal to the metal. This is where I left off. I decided it's lunch time and the dogs want back inside to nap!

I have a movie that I want to watch so I think I'll fill my water glass, turn on the tv and see how far I get with this. I see a finished top this afternoon.

Quiltathon Plans

Thursday and Friday Judy L at Patchwork Times is hosting a Quiltathon. I plan to be quiltathoning.

I got a tiny bit of a start today. I made the final Moose on the Porch block. Then I had to try Pat's (from A Little of This and a Little of Pat) spool block. She made a great video for Accuquilt showing how to cut the shapes for this block. I don't have a GO! Cutter yet so I made mine the old fashioned way. I used 2 1/2" strips from my bin and then cut half square triangles with my Easy Angle ruler. I followed Pat's easy sewing instructions. I know I'll be making more of these.

My big plan for Thursday is to work on the Bento Box blocks and the Pat Sloan BOM. Friday I plan to finish up the black and bright stars. I really think I can accomplish all this in 2 days. If I have time left, I will work on the sashing for the Moose on the Porch blocks.

Wish me luck. Will you be joining in on the fun???

Design Wall Monday

In the elusive quest to be organized, I came upon a zip bag full of these block parts. I remember when I started them, maybe 2 years ago. The 2 1/2" strips are bundled into pairs, my hand written instructions are there but no date on the page.....I should start dating things just for historical value (snicker!).

I sat down last night and sewed the parts into blocks. In a few minutes, I had these blocks sewn. I think I'll set these 8" blocks 8 X 10. I have plenty more ready to sew together.

There is a really good post over at Stash Manicure called The Story of MIAGIA that has really inspired me to get busy with what I have and to use what I have for others.

This will be a good in between project--I have my paper pieced stars ready to finish and I have a couple quilts to get quilted this week. But today is a full day with a very busy 5 year old (shame on me, he's 6!). I can't wait to see what adventures will happen today.

For more inspiration, go to Judy L's and check out other design walls. I do love Monday mornings in Blogland.

Stash Report 8.1.10

I had a very busy quilting week but nothing to report for stash usage. The fabric I used for my BOM block kits will be reported when the top is finished. The quilts that were finished were already reported.

This week's report:
Used this Week: 0 yards
Used Year to Date: 164 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 133 yards
Net Used for 2010: 31

Visit Judy L's and see how everyone is doing with their stash.