Design Wall Monday

I've been stealing bits of time--20 minutes here, 20 there--all weekend to work on my Golden Harvest top. I have just 3 more pieces on each of the last 4 outside border strips to sew on and then the final sections can be put together. Exciting!

I've been looking at Judy Niemeyer's website dreaming of making each of these fabulous designs but then I look at my UFO pile and wake up to reality. Really I am going to make 1 more, I just don't know when. In the mean time, I'll continue working on this one 20 minutes at a time.

Check out other fabulous design walls by visiting Judy L here.

In A Few Minutes

I love my timer. Simple as that. I have learned that if I set the timer for 20 minutes when I sit down to sew, I get so much more accomplished. The other day, Judy L wrote about the games she plays. That got me to thinking about the games I play and most often they involve my beloved timer.

This morning I set the timer for 20 minutes--my most often used setting so I will (force myself to) get up and move around--turned on the stereo to some Rod Stewart and started working on the final 4 borders sections for my Golden Harvest. Stitching, pressing, trimming......pretty soon my time is up. While pressing the last strip, I see I have had yet another whoopsie. I have to take that strip off and sew it back on again.

These are my favorite un-sewers. I find the blade on the left to be the best for me when un-sewing while paper piecing. Then I use the rubber end on the red ripper to gently "erase" my little thread bits away. My friend Nadine taught me that and I had to rush to JoAnn's to buy one for myself. Don't you love getting fabulous tips from your friends?!? And a side note to the makers of the red ripper--you need to make a cap for that thing. One that will stay on when it is not in use.

Now my time is up on the computer and my dogs want their breakfast...soon I'll be setting the timer again for another 20 minutes.

What Not To Do...

...and how to fix it.

I decided this morning instead of sewing for just a few minutes, I would spend 1 uninterrupted hour working on my Golden Harvest quilt. I'm paper piecing the outer border. I'm working each step, no problems, easy peasy. I should have it finished within the hour.

This is what I'm supposed to do. Fold the paper back, place the ruler on and trim the fabric.

Unless you don't pay attention and do this...

That's right, I did it! This is what happens when you don't fold the paper back and place the ruler on the line and cut. Stuff like this makes me suck the air right out of the room!

So I get out the tape and patch the paper back together. Take off the too small strip and cut another.

Oh yes, I cut it wrong! Good thing there was extra fabric from cutting these strips. I hope I don't mess up this color again because I'm out of the extra for this one and I don't want to cut into the extra yardage.

All is well in the Quilting Room now. I've finished my cuppa and I'm allowing myself to finish up this section before I move onto the laundry basket. That laundry basket has waited this long, it can wait a bit longer. That's my story..............

Design Wall Monday

It's been 4 weeks since retreat and I am finally working on my Judy Niemeyer's Golden Harvest project. I took it with me Wednesday to our Binding Friends group and worked on the pieced border units. Then I saw this post by Jackie and knew I had to work on it again. So last night after the company left, I finished all the big border units. Then I had to put it up on the wall to look at it. (And to get the curve sections in the right spots because I had already messed that up on one section.)

I think if I steal bits of time here and there, I can sew a curve or 2 together. I am always amazed at how much I can get done in a few minutes.

Check out Judy L's for other fabulous design walls.

Picnic Day

Today was the annual hunting club picnic.

Roasts were roasting, fish were being fried, someone slow smoked a whole hog.

Salads were made, veggies chopped, dip made. Cookies, brownies, cupcakes........

No one went hungry! If you needed just a little something more, you got it for yourself.

Mrs. West won the quilt. She was thrilled.

I got lots of compliments and that made me feel good.

Design Wall Monday

After finishing the deer quilt yesterday, I started putting up my Hopscotch leader/ender blocks with some of the border pieces. I love it when the l/e gets to the project stage. I'm trying only to work on this one for 15-20 minutes at a time when I sit down after quilting for a while. But you know how that works!

To see other fabulous design walls, visit Judy L at Patchwork Times.

Finally! The Deer Quilt Is Finished!

It sure took me a long time to get this quilt finished and I am so glad it is! Nothing like a little pressure to make things work. Monday evening is the last meeting before the big picnic on Saturday where this will be one of the big raffle prizes. I promised the guys it would be there at their meeting for a preview. Yeah me!

I hope whoever wins it will love it. Now I can work on quilts I really, really want to work on.

Design Wall Monday

There is nothing on my design wall other than a bunch of stray threads. This was on my wall until a couple days ago.


I am happy to report this quilt is ready for a backing and some quilting. This was a bit of a challenge for me but with the help of a photo printout, I got it put together. The binding strips are cut and waiting for attention.

I haven't had much time to sew or quilt in the past week. It seems something was always happening. With the dog having surgery, I became the nurse and the sunshine meant there was finally time to work in the garden. Sewing time was at a minimum on some days. Today is a calm day at home and I hope to finish quilting the hunting club quilt that is on the frame and get this one loaded for tomorrow so it can be sent to Judy L for someone in Joplin. Read this post to see how you can help.

Head over to Judy L's and see what others are working on.