Gramma's Quilting Room

At Home Retreat Day 1

2012-01-27T21:57:00.000-08:00

Retreat Day 1 started with a bang. I finally got some sleep and it felt so good, I kept right on sleeping. Then I woke with a jolt remember it was garbage day. We don't take our cans down at night because of rotten neighbor dogs and rotten neighbor kids and the cans are supposed to be at the road at 6 but I know our guy doesn't get here until just after 8. My clock said 7:55!!! So I jumped out of my toasty bed, threw on some clothes and shoes, grabbed my coat and went outside to the freezing cold frosty morning without any coffee! The truck showed up about 10 minutes later....

After breakfast and all that stuff, I finally went in to the sewing room only to find Mr. Turbo lounging on the quilt hammock that I was going to finish quilting this morning. Naughty boy! As you can see, he is not happy. Just as I was warming the machine, Ernie tells me he is going to a meeting for work so why don't I go ahead and head to town for a Costco run..........ugh! I haven't had an alone town day for quite a while so I went to JoAnn's to pick up a couple things, went to a different store to pick up some jerky making supplies then off to Costco. 2 stops later and several dollars poorer, I headed home.

The bad part about power shopping like this is I have to unload all that stuff. And then it has to be put away. And then someone wants me to fix dinner. I didn't think to pick up something on the way home.

Finally I get to the sewing room and decided to work on this wallet. It's going together really good but I'm missing a part and now I need to get out the extra fabric and cut that part. This pattern is very well written and has little boxes by each step to check off your progress. I'm finding that quite helpful.

I'm sure Day 2 will be more productive. Ernie is meeting the buds for breakfast and then spending the day helping out a friend. I am more than ready for a quiet sewing room day.

A Post Full of Babble

2012-01-26T15:16:00.000-08:00

I've been feeling a little out of sorts here lately. I feel like I've been gone a lot and I want to stay home and sew. I told Ernie earlier today that I'm staying home this weekend and quilting. He can go where ever he wants with the dogs. Not with me. I think he needs to go back to work. LOL But with all the going, I've made pretty good progress on my granny square project. I have to have a car project and this is prefect.

I've been spending lots of home time knitting. After finishing my February socks, I quickly rolled that fabulous yarn I won from Judy L into balls for my March socks for the sock challenge. And what a nightmare that was. I quickly jumped online and ordered a yarn swift and ball winder from Knit Picks. Because this yarn is so yummy, I have a feeling I may be owning more of it. So I am getting prepared.

I started a new to me pattern and wasn't liking it. It felt very young and I'm not and these socks are mine. Then my friend posted a picture of her new socks on Facebook and I knew that was to be my pattern. She told me they are called Dragonfly Socks and I can find the pattern on Ravelry. I did. Right here.

I also spent most of Tuesday knitting Leland a new hat. I gave it to him yesterday and promptly forgot to take a picture of him. I'll do that next time I see him because he is just adorable and you need to see that.

So for my weekend at home retreat... I made a list at the beginning of the month of a few quilty goals I wanted to accomplish. I've marked a few off but I'd like to mark off a couple more. I still need to put the borders on Orca Bay and I need to finish quilting UFO #5, among other things.

Today I have a crockpot full of chili and the other crockpot full of beans--red, pinto and black. Last Saturday on the Pioneer Woman's Food Network show, she was making chili and I've been thinking of that all week long. I don't have any cooked beans left in the freezer so today was a good day to remedy that problem. There is enough chili for several meals. I love having the freezer stocked with quick and easy.

Design Wall Monday

2012-01-23T05:35:00.000-08:00

Again the design wall is empty. I've spent very little time in the sewing room this week. With power outages or the threat of outages, I didn't want to turn on my machine or longarm. What if there was a brown out or a huge power surge.....that would not be good.

So the time I did spend in the sewing room, I pulled out this project that has been cut out for a while. I just needed to cut the inner facing and the clear vinyl pieces. Now that has been done, the cover pieces are quilted and the inner facing has been applied. Today I will start putting the pieces together.

I am on a mission to stop using my huge purse. It is heavy and easy to load up with ~~junk~~ important things. Yesterday at yet to be born granddaughter's baby shower there was a piggy bank game. We were to clean out our purses of loose change and put it in baby's piggy bank. I had well over $10 in my purse........so it is time to put less stress on my sore shoulder and other wore out body parts that have to huff that ole bag around.

This cute folding wallet is from BYANNIE.COM. She has so many fabulous patterns.

If you've read my blog in the past, you know Monday is my day to visit other design walls throughout Blogland. Go to Patchwork Times to see what everyone is up to. Thanks for visiting me today.

I'm Done With Snow! And Socks

2012-01-21T07:14:00.000-08:00

I am so done with the snow. I want it to go away and I want spring now.

While Ernie was out playing on Snow Day 4, I worked on my February socks (and finished them last night).We lost power about 7:30 am and got it back on at 3:30 am. I don't mind being without power for a while but about 5, I was starting to go a bit batty.
My yarn for the next pair of socks was rolled into balls last night. :)

The battyness got to Ernie about 10. He fired up ole red and went to work. The man is obsessed with having a clear driveway. The snow was very wet and very heavy! We have a few broken branches and a couple trees that broke.

Our poor deck! It's still standing but the outside chicken pen needs to be rebuilt. The roof caved in.

The snow is also very beautiful. I am done with the snow now. I have seen enough. I want green again and I'm so looking forward to spring. We had very heavy rains the next day, most of the snow is gone. Only the gianormous piles are left. We are very lucky to live on a hill where we don't have the worries of flooding like so many others do.

Snow~Day 3

2012-01-17T09:23:00.000-08:00

I love snow days when I don't have to go anywhere. Who am I kidding??? I do not go anywhere when it's snowing. I stay home, stay inside as much as possible and do the things I love to do.

If I think there is any chance we will loose power, I fill my buckets with water for flushing. I fill my water pitchers and bottles for drinking. There is firewood stacked on the porch and a nice fire in the wood stove. There are jars of soup that can be warmed up on the wood stove. The Kindle and mp3 player are charged and I make sure the batteries are charged for the dvd player-just in case I need to watch a movie. This is what I always do. I don't want to be caught unprepared. I always have something to do--be it quilting, knitting, crocheting or reading. Some people nap....I don't.

This morning we lost power for about an hour and a half. I knew we would but was quite surprised how fast the PUD guys got it restored. Don't get me wrong, I'm quite happy it wasn't off longer.

I did get to knit for a while. It was quite dark so I pulled out my brand new Beam N Read and gave it the test. It passed with flying colors. I read in Denise's post about it and when I looked it up, I knew I had to have one! I love that little thing. It is going to come in quite handy for several things. Thanks Denise!!!

When the power came back on, I realized just how loud my house is....the radio was on quite loud, the fan on the wood stove, the fridge........noises I live with everyday but never realize how loud they really are until it is completely quiet. Again, I'm not complaining!

Fun Sewing Day

2012-01-16T17:48:00.000-08:00

I finished my cute little Kindle bag today. Once I got started on it last night, all I could think about this morning was sewing on this bag. After doing some domestic stuff this morning, I went in and played.

This is the inside pocket that will hold the cord. I need to put some fusible Velcro to keep it from gaping open. I stitched this bird first. It's been a long time since I've done any free motion embroidery and it shows. But I had fun so I'm not going to loose sleep over it.

I'd love to be as good as Carol at mamacjt. She does amazing work!

My Kindle is quite happy in it's new home.

I'm happy to have January's Color Palette Challenge finished.

Design Wall Monday

2012-01-16T07:07:00.000-08:00

Last night I looked at my blank design wall and decided that I should pull out my Color Palette Challenge project and do a little bit on it so I could have something to post about today. I've been quilting and knitting this week, trying not to start a new project. But I had this one all planned out and ready to start. (Click the button on the left for more info.) And once I started, I didn't want to stop. Understand why I didn't want to start anything new and shiny???

When I printed off this month's palette, I knew I wanted to make a bag for my Kindle with strips out of a bag of strips I had bought at a quilters sale and appliques from GO! dies that I hadn't used yet. I love the little wall hanging on the bird package so I am kind of going with that. I wondered if my color choices are a bit too far from what Vicki had chosen. Then I look again and again and I decided that this is what I have, this is what I am going to use. Sometimes I just have to make the tough decisions in the quilting room. LOL

To see other fabulous projects, visit Judy L. I love Monday mornings is Blogland.

****Monday PM, the bag is finished and shown off here.

Snow

2012-01-15T10:50:00.000-08:00

It started snowing last night.

The chicken house screened in porch was covered.

Ernie knocked the snow off it so it didn't cave in.

I love the way it sticks to the fencing around the garden.

No sitting out on the deck today.

Simply beautiful.

Do I want to sit and watch tv and knit?

No, hubs is watching hunting shows with the cats.

I think it's a good day to turn up the music and quilt.

I love a good stay home snow day.

January Socks-Done!

2012-01-13T11:13:00.000-08:00

Last month I signed on to take the 12 in 2012 Challenge with Denise at Justquiltin. I had 2 single socks that were lonely for their mates. Part of the challenge is to try new designs, along with using up the yarn stash. I have a stash, not as extensive as others but I have one that I want to use.

Most evenings, I have spent working on sock 2 and I'm happy to say it is now finished. I used Serenity Sock Weight-Deborah Norville Collection from Premier Yarns. I can't wait to wear them.

February's project is the mate for this Paraphernalia sock. I learned to do cables and read a chart but this sock has been finished since August and I'm afraid I may have forgotten what I was doing. I had such good intentions to start sock 2. But I didn't until last night. After a false start and a restart, the ribbing is going smooth.

I didn't buy this yarn, I won it from Judy L-so technically I didn't fall off the wagon like someone else did. She wrote this funny post and I entered her drawing and won. Lucky Me!! So I went to Springtree Road and picked this fabulous Muscadine Sock yarn. I had such a time picking which color I wanted and finally decided on Shiraz. It is so gorgeous and so soft. Thank you Judy for picking my name!!! Maybe this will be my March project.

I'm going to try really hard to get ahead on the sock count for when summer and canning season hit. Just think if I continue on, by the end of the year the lid to the yarn bin will close without a bulge.

Now It's Complete

2012-01-11T19:08:00.000-08:00

Here he is. Cute Corbin.

3 months old already.

sighhhhh

The Quilting Mojo Has Returned

2012-01-11T08:16:00.000-08:00

Finally! The Quilting Mojo is home. Sometimes it takes off and forgets to return for months at a time. Piecing Mojo had shoved it out the door. I'm hoping the 2 will now play nice together and lots of happiness will come out of the quilting room. The truth is my sewing room was a disorganized nightmare and the quilting table was piled high with stuff that needed to be put away. I spent the morning doing just that and now all I want to do is quilt. This will be marked off the January Quilting Challenge Plan. Next up is my UFO for January. It is ready to load onto the frame.

This is the quilt I pieced for Corbin in October, right after he was born. I meander quilted it with Bottom Line thread and the binding is on. I will stitch it down today while at my sewing group and come home to fluffify it and give it to him later when we go mooch dinner off them. Then I will get a cute picture of his adorable little self on his new quilt.

Directions for this quilt can be found here. I want to make another of these quilts using my 2 1/2" strip pieces. It makes a great scrappy, happy quilt.

Design Wall Monday

2012-01-09T05:47:00.000-08:00

On my wall today is part of my Orca Bay Mystery. I carefully~or so I thought~sewed all my blocks into rows, 5 row As, 4 rows each of B, C, and D. As I'm sewing my rows together and carefully pressing, I see row 10 has one little blue string block going the wrong direction.

Up on the wall rows 1-10 go and the inspection began. Thank goodness that was the only block out of whack. Now rows 11 and 12 are pinned together waiting for my return to the sewing room. After rows 11-17 are sewn together, the whole top will be joined and then borders...........oh the excitement.

I haven't sewn since Friday. My weekend was full of grand kiddos and organizing. Saturday we had 3 kiddos here for part of the day and Sunday I tackled my bedroom. Now I have an organized closet and organized dressers and lots less stuff. The first stop on the next trip to town will be Goodwill.

I'm betting there will be a bunch of Orca Bay goodness in Blogland today........I'm going to spend some time finding out. Go to Judy L's and see what she has going on and then check out other exciting design walls. I love Mondays.

Design Wall Monday

2012-01-02T05:33:00.000-08:00

I have gone several weeks with a sad, empty, lonely design wall. Then Bonnie posted the final clue for Orca Bay and I had to grab some of my parts and head to the wall. I just put up a few because I have a more flying geese units to sew together and a stack of half square triangles.

It sure is nice to look over and see color on the wall again. I love the outcome of this mystery. If you think you want it and haven't started it, you should go print out the steps before it disappears.

Today I will be touring Blogland via DWM at Patchwork Times and Mystery Monday Link Up via Quiltville. I love Mondays. :-)

2012 UFO Challenge List

2012-01-01T11:25:00.000-08:00

Judy L is hosting the 2012 UFO Challenge. I have been a procrastinator and have not made my list. I see this morning she has posted January's number......I went in and finished my list of 12 and did some rearranging. I know, shame on me but I want to be successful this year and figured-knowing myself-I better get a big project crossed off the list first. I just noticed that is my first finished top of 2011 so it makes even more sense to me.

Here's my list.

Split Decision Flannel quilt--needs quilted.
Rectangle String top, add another border and quilt.
Judy Neimeyer's Golden Harvest---get brave and quilt it.
Bright and Black Stars--black batting and backing fabric are all together.
Roll Roll Cotton Boll...back and batting are in the bag, all I have to do is get it loaded and quilted with a feather panto.
Carol Doak's Twisting Mystery.....finish last step, quilt, finish
Trees Left Standing--ready to quilt
Bonnie Hunter's Crab Apple-ready to quilt.
This is another Bonnie Hunter design called Twin Sister from Quiltmaker magazine that is ready for quilting.
Blue and white sample top needs quilted
Yellow backing Quilt As You Go String quilt.....make more blocks and put it together.
Pick something from the 2011 UFO List that still isn't finished and finish it.

As I discover the photos and posts from these quilt, I'll link up to them

Now I will pull out project #5 and put it on top of the priority list.

Scrap Sorting

2011-12-30T19:00:00.000-08:00

Today I spent the day sorting some of my scraps. In my continuing quest to become organized (will it ever really happen??), I bought a bunch of bins yesterday that I intended to use just for scrap sorting. The blue tub was stuffed full of scraps and chunks of fabric. So Taylor and I layed out all the bins, turned on a movie and got busy. When the bin was empty, she quit on me. This was a big job. The movie wasn't over so I went in and got more. I had a bunch of bags from April 2010 that I hadn't sorted yet so I grabbed those and a big box and kept on working.

After a while, I had full bins of scraps all sorted out by color. What will I do with them??? Right now they are still stacked in the living room in front of the couch. Tomorrow, I'll figure out which shelf needs to be cleared off so these bins will have a home. I bet there will be a new book coming out pretty soon that will help me decide what to make with some of them. I sure wish I would have done this project before the Orca Bay mystery started.....but I didn't!

It's A Quilt Top

2011-12-27T11:33:00.000-08:00

The Ultimate Scrap Quilt Like Julie's is officially a quilt top. All 2200 scrap pieces. When I first saw Julie's quilt, I knew I had to have one like hers. So publicly I'd like to thank Julie for making hers and not minding that I copied it. Thank you Julie!

I started cutting with my GO! until I had a lots and lots of triangles. As soon as I had them all sewed together, I cut more and more and more. The scrap bin was emptied, smaller chunks were cut and eventually fat quarters were shortened. This top used 440 large triangles, 440 print small triangles and 1320 small neutral triangles. I cut more than that so I think I might make the extras into a pillow or 2.

Don't get me wrong, I still have lots of scraps......bins and bins of strips and squares. I have other projects in mind for them but first I have some quilting to focus on.

Design Wall Monday

2011-12-26T07:33:00.000-08:00

I just realized this is the last DWM of 2011. Sighhh. I finished up my little bit of Christmas sewing the first part of the week-another post soon about that-so I had lots of time to work on Orca Bay. I am working on part 6 and I feel like I am all caught up. I have row 3 of the first set of stars matched up and ready to sew on. The second set standing by ready to be put together.

It's great that Ernie is doing so well that I don't feel so needed now. Some people in my family-DD2-call it hovering......she could be right!! But now I can spend lots of time in front of my sewing machine while he watches stupid TV shows and loud, explosive movies. I just turn my audio book up a little louder and sew, sew, sew.

Fill yourself a cup of something good and sit down and enjoy some time in Blogland today. I'll be visiting DWM posts here and Mystery Link Ups here.

2011 UFO Challenge Report

2011-12-24T13:58:00.000-08:00

Here's my 2011 UFO Challenge list: I didn't do very well. There were some months that I didn't touch the project. I'm not hanging my head in shame though. I'm thrilled that I got some quilts finished and made progress on others.

2009 BOM-blocks are finished, setting decided Blocks have been turned in to a quilt top and is now ready for quilting. The back and binding are even made.

Scrappy Twin Sister with back and binding Nothing happened here.

Depression blocks top Nothing happened with this one either.

Hearts and Flowers-set of 12 blocks Blocks were quilted using the quilt as you go method and sashing is almost all on. I need to decide on borders and finish. Maybe I should pick a day and do this.

9 Patches and Posies top Nothing.......I don't think I even took it out of the bin.

Double Delight Quiltville Mystery with back and binding DONE

Corn and Beans with back and binding Nothing

Lime green butterflies top Nothing

flannel Baby Yellow Brick Road with back and binding Nothing

Carol Doak BOM with back and binding DONE

Tumbling Blocks top Done-Blog post photo.

Bright Trip Around the World top Nothing

7 projects where nothing happened, 3 finishes and 2 about finished. I'll try to do better in 2012 but I'm not promising anything.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T08:10:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas

May your day be special.

Design Wall Monday

2011-12-19T05:39:00.000-08:00

Tis the season to listen to Christmas music over the hum of the sewing machine. Just when you think the projects are complete, you see something really cool in Blogland.... And that delays your progress on Orca Bay just a little bit farther, if ya know what I mean!

I did spend some quality time listening to my audio books and Christmas music. As of last night, I need to make 24 more red sting blocks and start sewing on part 5. I cut a bunch of half square triangles while listening to my book, thinking it was almost finished~it wasn't, so step 5 is started~and the book completed later in the day. I'm quite excited to see how the quilt is put together. I do believe we are not finished making blocks though. That Bonnie is very tricky when it comes to her mysteries!!! I won't even try to figure it out, I'll just wait for the clues.

This morning will be spent cruising Blogland through Design Wall Monday links at Patchwork Times and Mystery Monday Link Up at Quiltville. And finishing up the last of the gifts!!!

I wish you all a Merry Christmas or a Happy whatever you celebrate.

Sock Challenge

2011-12-18T19:07:00.000-08:00

Denise at Just Quiltin is hosting a 12 in 2012 challenge. 12 pair of socks completed in 2012. I've decided to join the challenge. I have 2 socks that need their mates so I have January and February covered. I have a bin full of sock yarn and a folder full of new sock designs to try so I shouldn't have any trouble finding a project.

Wish me luck!

Design Wall Monday

2011-12-11T20:38:00.000-08:00

My design wall is sad. It is bare. I think it is feeling neglected. Poor design wall. This week was hard to sneak in a few minutes to work on Orca Bay but I made a little progress on step 3. I have all my HSTs cut and I have 150 sewn, pressed and trimmed. I'm bundling these into 25s. I have my bin of red strings and strips ready with my phone book pages and my ruler.

Most of my sewing time was spent working on Christmas gifts. I've almost got everything sewn that needs sewn. Pictures have been taken and now gifts are waiting for their wrappings.

Ernie is doing great on day 9 of the new knee. The walker has been retired and he is now using the cane. His stitches come out this week and physical therapy has begun. He thanks you for all the well wishes posted on last week's DWM.

Check out Patchwork Times for other fabulous DWM links and Quiltville for Orca Bay progress links. Mondays are such a great day in Blogland!

Design Wall Monday

2011-12-05T05:49:00.000-08:00

This is where I left off on The Ultimate Scrap Quilt Like Julie's. Yes, that is the name. I started calling it that when I first started and it's stuck. 5 rows are webbed together.

I wrote yesterday about taking care of my husband and working on Orca Bay. I think TUSCLJ is going to take the back burner for a few days.

Thanks everyone for all the kind words yesterday. He is doing great! I got a little sleep. It will we wonderful when the knee is healed.

There will be great DWM posts here at Patchwork Times and OB Link Up here at Quiltville.

Step 3, Whoa Is Me

2011-12-04T08:39:00.000-08:00

Orca Bay Step 3 (see side bar link) was released Friday. Friday I was in the hospital waiting room (knitting) while Dr. Greene gave Ernie a brand new right knee. Thank you Dr. Greene. I pray my man doesn't have to walk in pain ever again like he has for the last several years.

Sooooo my Step 3 is going to be worked in a few minutes at a time. This morning when I should have been in the shower and getting ready to go bring Ernie home, I took a few minutes and went in and pulled my fabrics. The other day while sorting through yet another scrap bag, I found several pieces of black and red that I will use. If she calls for much more black, I may have to go shopping. Time to enhance the black stash again.

I hope I can be caught up by the next clue. If not.........

**Monday morning note~~I was able to cut my black strips and 3 pair of triangles before he work up from a nice long nap. I'm well on my way. LOL

Design Wall Monday

2011-11-28T07:13:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, I finished steps 1 and 2 for the Quiltville mystery-I wrote about that here--and went right back to work on The Ultimate Scrap Quilt Like Julie's. It is starting to become a quilt top. I am webbing the top like Bonnie shows here. I really love this technique. Careful pressing make the rows play together so nice.

I was so lucky to spend most of the weekend in the sewing room. I became engrossed in my audio books and didn't want to leave. I've never read the Elm Creek Quilt books and picked up a couple from the library...my favorite source for audio books. I'm hooked and now have all of them on hold. I will be spending lots of time in the sewing room.

On my list for the week is the finish this top, finish a fun, fun birthday gift and work on the last of the Christmas gifts. Join me in touring Blogland by visiting Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday and Quiltville for Mystery Monday Link Up-Part 2.

Mystery Update

2011-11-26T19:15:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited to say that I am ready for part 3 of the Orca Bay Mystery from Quiltville~link over to the right. I know the next part isn't due out until December 2nd but I'm ready!

Here are 238 quarter square triangles. Don't you love those cute little clothespins? I don't know where I got them but they sure are handy.

I loved doing the 3 1/2" string blocks! I lay out my center string then put a dot of washable Elmer's glue stick on 2 corners of the paper and stick it to the string. Then I cut them apart, stack them up and make a bunch of blocks! I use my small Brooklyn Revolver cutting mat and in to time they are all trimmed up and ready to de-paper (movie time work).

I was surprised how fast these went. Aren't they fun!

Design Wall Monday

2011-11-21T03:46:00.001-08:00

Another Monday with an empty design wall. I did quite a bit of sewing but it was on units and nothing is ready to put up on the wall yet.

I worked on little quarter square triangles for the mysterious Orca Bay -- find the info tab at the top of the Quiltville page. In the basket on the left are the bonus half square triangles from the first cut of the strips for the quarter square triangles. Once in a while, I'll sew a few of those together while doing the QSTs.

These are a stack of the birds in the air foursies waiting to be pressed open for My Ultimate Scrap Quilt like Julie's . I am almost done with the 4 patches. I'm resisting laying them out until I have the correct number of blocks. I keep telling myself its all about the process right now. One step at a time! I wonder how long I can hold out.

I wanted to spend the day sewing but Thanksgiving dinner groceries need to be bought. I've put it off and put it off and I can put it off no longer. But this morning I am up super early. Ernie has to plow snow in the hills today and he tried to be quiet when he got up but whenever he tries, something goes wrong. I tried to go back to sleep but the brain started working overtime and I know that means I'm wide awake and may as well get up and do something. So the washer is washing, the coffee has brewed and the grocery list needs to be made.

Visit Judy L at Patchwork Times for fabulous Design Wall Monday links. And Bonnie at Quilville for Orca Bay Progress Reports. Oh dear, I hope I don't get sucked into Blogland and forget the groceries.............

It's Mystery Time

2011-11-18T21:17:00.001-08:00

I love Quiltville Mystery Quilts! I just love them. I know there is going to be a kabillion little pieces. I don't care. The quilt is going to turn out fabulous. Today Orca Bay started. Go to Quiltville and click on the tab at the top of the page for all the info.

I'm sticking with Bonnie's colors. I trust her and the colors she chose for this quilt are plentiful in my stash. Here are my background stings. There are lots of tans and whites but not many creams. I don't want to cut the 2" or 2 1/2" strips so I just pulled out yardage and cut my 1 1/2" strips from several pieces of yardage.

I have several blacks, even though some of these look navy. I took them outside to be sure they were black. And if they really and truly are navy, who cares! I also have lots of reds and blues.

This morning I spent quite a bit of time cutting for step one. Excited!!! I sewed for a while, pressed and made hour glass blocks. So far I have 30 itty bitty blocks. I can't wait to sew more.

Stocking The Pantry

2011-11-14T18:04:00.000-08:00

Today I had to finish processing the venison. I love having canned meat in the pantry. Now I have 14 pints of venison to add to the beef and chicken.

As I was filling jars today, I kept thinking how good burritos would taste and then I thought about enchiladas. I can't wait until I try them.

It's now official. All of my pint jars are full. I think I should stock up on more pint jars during the off season. I also was quite surprised how low my lid stash is. I usually buy a box or 2 of lids when I grocery shop but I haven't been doing much of that lately. Just picking up a few things now and again.

I'm thinking of trying the Tattler reusable lids. Have you used them? What are your opinions.

Now I'm going to grab my crochet bag and work on my Granny Square Project while I enjoy an episode or 2 of Drop Dead Diva on Netflix.

Design Wall Monday

2011-11-14T06:14:00.001-08:00

Or maybe I should call this a Non Design Wall Monday because the wall is blank except for the massive amounts of thread that linger there. I continue to work on my Ultimate Scrap Quilt Like Julie's whenever I have some time. I did quite well with my Saturday Challenge. All the twosies are finished and now I'm making the foursies. Pin a stack until I run out of pins and then sew and press, pin again.

Saturday night I learned that we were going to be processing venison that one of the hunting buddies got. Where, I asked. Here, I was told. Uuuugggggghhhh! I didn't want to do that but since it is the share plan, I quit my whining and got ready for the day! And boy was it a long day. Thanks to 2 of my kiddos and their families for all the help!

See other fabulous design walls here at Patchwork Times.

My Saturday Challenge

2011-11-12T12:10:00.000-08:00

You know how it is when you wake up in the morning and all the must dos start popping into your head??? That's what happened to me this morning. I knew I had to deep clean the kitchen. It's driving me crazy. I knew I wanted to work on my Ultimate Scrap Quilt. What to do, what to do. Both.

I've challenged myself to stick to the timer game today. I set the timer to 20 minutes. Started with one kitchen project, was almost finished when the timer went off, so I stuck to it. That cannot work in the sewing room, only the kitchen. I know me, I will forget the timer isn't running and I will have been sewing for an hour or so.

Almost all the onsies are sewn into twosies. Some are already pressed.

I've sewn a few foursies. I had to, I needed to see if I like it. 18 blocks done, 92 to go. I decided to make it 80 x 88. After all the foursies are sewn together, I'll count up the extras and maybe I'll have enough to make it larger. Right now, I have no idea where I am. So I'll just sew a bunch, press them pinwheel style--you know where all the seams spin one direction--pin them into groups of 11 until I have 10 sets. Then take it from there.

But now I need to tackle that pan cabinet and the spice cabinet and see if I can do both in 20 minutes.....

Oh and during my sewing time, I'm listening to a really good book. I don't know if that's a good thing or not, it makes the time go by really fast. I'm so easily entertained, it's almost scary.

Finished Project

2011-11-07T08:50:00.001-08:00

While putting away some of my retreat supplies, I decided to sit down and finish my pillow tops. I had taken this old UFO kit with me just in case I needed one more project to work on. I have taken this kit with me to retreats for 3 years!

My table buddy Marilee was working on a pillow cover made from a quilt block. As I was making my first block--one was already complete--I decided to make the 2 blocks into pillow covers and be done with this UFO. I did it. I just needed to put the binding on this morning and decorative stitch it down.

Now I have 2 new couch pillows and 1 less UFO and I am happy! I told you the retreat was full of inspiration! The pieces for this former project will go back into the correct bins and I will mark this UFO off the list. Now back to laundry. :o)

Design Wall Monday

2011-11-07T05:41:00.000-08:00

After resting up (prying myself out of the recliner) from retreat, I decided to play with my Birds In The Air blocks.

I have decided to stick with my original plan and make the quilt just like Julie did.

Today I am going to start sewing my blocks into pairs and then into 4 patches. I love that there is no design plan. Just pick up 2 and sew them together. This will be quite fun while I listen to a new book or my new Michael Buble Christmas CD-which I highly recommend, it's fabulous.

That is after I do some laundry and housework.

Check out other fabulous design walls here.

Fall Retreat Report

2011-11-06T16:00:00.000-08:00

Fall Retreat #2 was fantastic. My face and my stomach hurt from laughing. I had the best table mates. We all got so much done and had such a blast doing so.

I broke my iron handle and it kept flopping down and pinching my finger. If you click the picture to enlarge it, you can will see several things going on. See where I monkey rigged it to be able to continue to use it and it . I emptied a thread spool (and heaven forbid I would throw it away) and using a selvage strip, I tied it to the handle and kept on going. I will have Ernie look at it to see if he can figure out how to keep the handle up without the spool. If not, it's a good thing Jo told us about her new iron and I ordered myself one. I must have had a premonition.

I continued to work on My Ultimate Scrap Quilt like Julie's here. I have all my bird in the air blocks made with lots of leftovers to maybe make it a bit longer. I'll decide that when I need to.

The folded strips in front of the green basket are from our batik strip swap. We swapped batiks and background fabrics and I had 4 sets of each. I love strip swaps! And thanks to my friend Sue, I have 2 new strip books. One was a late birthday gift and the other I won in the Greedy Gift Game so lots of new projects to use them in.

My crumb basket is back there too. I made several more crumb blocks while showing a few of the gals how I make them. Then I set them aside and continued to work on my bird in the air blocks. My tablemate Pam worked on crumb blocks and was quite amazed at how her bin looked as if she had twice the amount of crumbs after using so many--she now knows the secret of multiplying crumbs and the fact that the quilters give you their scraps. Except the new to crumb quilters.......haha, I wonder how many came over to the crumby side.

I own a Sidewinder and seldom used it. A while back, I needed to wind a few bobbins for my Janome Gem machine before a class so I got it out and decided to just keep it in with my machine. It's my travel machine. I was too lazy to walk to where my bag was to get the thread stand out so I used my pinky as a thread holder. I thought I was pretty clever!

Thanks to everyone at retreat for another fabulous time. I miss you when I don't see you and I'm so happy we are able to spend time together. Now I am ready to stay home and work like a crazy woman. I have so many ideas that need to be written down before I forget and so much energy to do them all. Thanks for the inspirational weekend.

Yeah Me!

2011-11-01T20:04:00.000-07:00

After years as a UFO, weeks on the quilting frame, Butterfly Garden is complete. I no longer feel like such a slacker! I think I like the Challenge Plan.

I kept my nose to it all day long. Even with Ernie coming and going most of the day, I kept at it.

After the quilting was finished, I cut the binding fabric. I was thrilled that I knew right where it was at! Then I decided to sew it together and press it. By now Ernie was headed to the dentist so why not put the binding on!

With leftover stew for a quick dinner, I machine stitched the binding down, marked it off the UFO list! and now it it ready to be fluffified!

Yeah me!

Quilting Challenge Plan

2011-11-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Quilter Kathy, I have created my very own Quilting Challenge Plan.

My November 2011

Quilting Challenge Plan

1-Make a plan. Pick a project, write down the plan for the project.

2-Work up the courage by practicing and by saying kind words to myself.

3-Be brave and just start.

4-Have faith that it will go well and if it doesn’t,

have hope that I can figure it out with another plan.

5-Relax and have fun!

Here is the first part of my project. It is one of the projects on my 2011 UFO Challenge list. This is the project from April! For heaven's sake!! April. It has been on the quilting frame since September. I am so frustrated with myself sometimes. I am so close to being finished with it but just don't do it. To say I haven't been in the mood is an understatement. Granted I have had a few other things happening but my life is fairly calm now and it's time to focus.

I need to focus on that project so I can quilt Corbin's quilt. The top is finished, binding and backing are ready. The frame is not ready. I am working on that today.

So here is my plan of action.

Finish the quilting on the Butterfly Garden quilt.
Load Corbin's quilt.
Quilt Corbin's quilt using a large meander.
Bind Corbin's quilt.
Bind Butterfly Garden.

Such easy things that just need to be started.

I am done beating myself up over this stuff. Quilting is supposed to be fun. I am going to have fun!

Design Wall Monday

2011-10-31T05:31:00.000-07:00

Crumbs! I'm playing with crumbs. Remember Jo's Crumb Along? I'm a little behind. I want to make some like she showed,--stars, triangles, pinwheels, maybe a few more geese.

I haven't had a lot of sewing time this week but when I did sew, I mostly played with crumbs and strings. This weekend is another retreat-I know, lucky me! And a few of us are going to sit together, dump out our crumbs and strings and go crazy. How much fun will we have?!? I am going in with a plan, the other gals are crumb beginners. I know for one of them, this is a major milestone but she is super excited and I am excited to show them how to do this.

I'm going over to Judy L's now to start checking other design walls......I should be there for a while.

Design Wall Monday...

2011-10-24T06:14:00.000-07:00

... 3am Thoughts

I woke up this morning at 3 with thoughts of blue spirals in my head. I have so many strips left and I'm on a mission to use them up. I decided to see what this little quilt would look like with a scrappy blue border on it. I like it so much that I am going to add it on this morning.

For your viewing pleasure (click to enlarge), a collage of some of the retreat show and tell. None of these projects are mine, they belong to my talented friends!

Retreat Report

2011-10-23T13:27:00.000-07:00

I love spending time at Royal Ridges. Fall is so beautiful surrounded by these huge old Maple trees. It's so quiet and peaceful there. A quilter's paradise.

My first project was to make this top for newest grandson Corbin. I used the tutorial at Love Laugh Quilt. I like how it turned out. I think I will add another 2" border before I quilt it. Right now it's 36" x 36".
Then I started working on my blocks for the quilt like Julie's. I learned that if I have only 1 earbud in listening to my music, the volume is higher than if I have them both in. The gals several tables away could hear my music....I was a bit embarrassed not because of what I was listening to but because I didn't know it was so loud. LOL

I sewed and sewed, press and snipped, stacked and sewed again. After the end of Saturday, I had 202 4" blocks made. I'm 2 blocks over half way. Now I have to dig through more of my scraps and cut more triangles. That will be cutting session 3. But that's fine, I'm going to love this quilt.

My face and stomach hurt from laughing so much....that's a good thing. Thanks quilter friends for making my weekend so special. I can't wait to do it again!

Retreat Prep

2011-10-18T08:01:00.001-07:00

It's hard work for me to prepare projects for a retreat. It's even harder if you have 2 retreats within 2 weeks. Am I complaining? Goodness no! (I love Pete the Cat!) It's hard because I have so many things I want to do that it's a bit overwhelming. So I made a list. Now I am kitting projects.

I will start with a project that I have wanted to do for a long time. I read this post from Julie at Quilter Behind The Barn Door. It got my blood pumping.

As you can see, I've collected a few inspiration pictures for this block. So easy but creates such drama...for me anyhow.

Today I will cut this pile of fabrics.

Using these fabulous dies.

I will add bits and pieces to my bin.

As you can see, I had to make a few (23) test blocks.

I am inspired by Julie's attitude, it matches mine.

See why I say it is the ultimate scrap quilt? And for pete's sake. If you are one of those people who try to keep the same fabric from touching when you make scrap quilts, don't attempt this one. You will go berserk. Just slap those squares together any old way. And don't worry about an occasional point getting cut off in the seams. Believe me when I say No one will ever notice.

Next (or if I get bored) I will work on this Spiral Log Cabin. I found the tutorial at

Love Laugh Quilt.

It's over on the right hand side bar under Tutorials.

This should keep my out of trouble. If I run out of something to do, I'll grab another project when I come home to let the dogs out. It's good to be so close to home and retreating at the same time.

Design Wall Monday...

2011-10-16T20:39:00.000-07:00

...on Sunday night.

I spent quite a bit of time Sunday working on the Twisting Mystery from Carol Doak's Yahoo Group.

These are the fabrics I chose.

Clue 1 was completed here.

Then all my focus was shifted to new grandson Corbin.

And finishing up the canning.

Sunday I did Clue 2.

And Clue 3.

And Clue 4.

And half of Clue 5 with the other half needing piece 3 sewn on, trimmed and joined together.

Maybe that will happen Monday.

If it does, I will work on Clue 6.

I'm hoping to be caught up before Clue 7 is posted.

I'm afraid of getting distracted by reading Design Wall Monday posts that can be found at Patchwork Times on Mondays.

Wish me luck.

My Apple Butter

2011-10-10T14:52:00.000-07:00

I was asked for my recipe for Apple Butter. Ummm, it's one of those things that I just do. So I'll tell you how I do it.

I use a 7 quart crock pot like this one. I use the apple peeler/corer/slicer thingie and then I cut the sliced apple into quarters. I fill the crockpot. I honestly don't remember how many apples I used. I used Gala and Honeycrisp. I peeled until the crockpot was full.

Then I added 2 cups of brown sugar, 2 cups of white sugar (Kathy started with 1/2 cup white sugar and says hers is perfect, so maybe try that first), 1-2 tablespoons of cinnamon-depending on how much you like cinnamon, you can always add more but you can't take it away and 1 cup of apple juice. Mix everything together.

Cover and turn on high. When the apples are hot, open the lid to let the steam out. You will not put the lid back on. I prop mine on a wooden spoon layed across the crockpot. Let it cook like that for several hours. If I am cooking it overnight or if I am leaving the house, I turned it to low. Stir once in a while.

Do a taste test. If you want it sweeter, add more sugar. If you want more cinnamon, add a bit more.

When the apples and juice have reduced, turn off the heat and let cool a bit. Then I use my stick blender kind of like this one and start mixing. You could use a blender or food processor also. If it is not thick enough, cook it longer.

When it is the consistency I like, I test it on a piece of toast. Put hot butter into hot jars. If you want to seal it, add the lid and ring and do a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. My yield was 9 half pints. Check the Ball Blue Book for more information.

Remember this is the way I do it. There are lots of recipes online. I'm ready to make pear butter and pumpkin butter. Now I need a piece of toast. ;o)

Design Wall Monday

2011-10-10T05:11:00.000-07:00

Not much of a change on my design wall from last week.

There isn't much quilting time when there is a new grandson.

I finished the table topper top Sunday night.

I am not making quilting plans for today.

Maybe I'll remove the paper from the back.

See other great design walls here.

When Plans Change

2011-10-09T21:01:00.000-07:00

You know how it is when you make plans? I had sewing plans. I was going to finish this table topper and get it basted for quilting. So instead of my hours of sewing marathon I had planned, I just did a few minutes here and there and now I have a finished top. I still need to remove the paper and figure out how I want to quilt it.

I'm not too upset about my plans not working out. I now have 11 more pints and 7 more quarts of green beans in my pantry. I have 9 1/2 pints of apple butter. I made 2 apple pies. I spent lots of time at Crystal and Mike's cuddling with kiddos. I knitted on my new socks. I had a great weekend. I can sew Tuesday.

Granny Gone Wild Crochet Along

2011-10-08T11:15:00.000-07:00

My friend LuAnn has posted about a new crochet along. I love the name they have chosen. Granny Gone Wild. Isn't that great! See my link on the side bar. And perfect timing for me!

I finished the striped throw I had been working on and am ready for a new granny project. A few days ago, I was watching Brothers and Sisters on Netflix--season 5, episode 4, 5 or 6-I don't remember. Anyhow right in the beginning they showed this afghan. I backed it up, paused it and ran for the camera. I have an app on my phone for my shopping lists and I hurried and put in the colors for this new project. I'll have to do some research on Ravelry to figure how much yarn I need to buy. The colors are a bit off in the photo, they are an emerald green, mint green and royal blue. Shouldn't be much trouble finding the perfect colors.

I am ready to go shopping! But I won't, not today. Did I not say right here that I was done canning! I was a bit wrong. Today I have my crockpot full of apples for apple butter. I am getting ready to make a couple pies and I have jars in the dishwasher for apple pie filling. Yes, I was wrong.

Afternoon update: I went back and read my post and saw that I was expecting the apples but not this: My darling husband just walked in the door with a 5 gallon bucket full of green beans.....good thing there are more jars and lids ready to go! I love that man! The house smells heavenly.....apple butter slow cooking in the crockpot, pies in the oven.

Hello Baby!

2011-10-05T05:22:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the family Corbin.

October 4, 2011

6 lbs. 10 oz

19 1/2" tall

Pictured here with his Grampa, Sister Clella, Brother Leland.

Hiding from the camera is Brother Elliot.

Mom and Corbin are both doing wonderful.

Design Wall Monday

2011-10-03T05:10:00.000-07:00

I have a lot on my wall today. On the right is the Sunset At Sea wall hanging that is patiently waiting to be quilted.

In the middle is my UFO table topper. The left side border is almost all paper pieced and ready to put up on the wall. Then I will do the 8 corner blocks. I'm still not sure about the inner border. I have a couple other pieces to put up and look at for a while.

Then on the left side of the wall on top is clue 1 to Carol Doak's Twisted Mystery. Below that is September's BOM for BOM-QA group and below that is the poor little block rejected block that has yet to be put in the orphan block bin.

The rain has set in here for a few days so I am planning an in the house away from the kitchen retreat. That is after I process that last canner of tomatoes that didn't get done yesterday. And after I check in at Judy L's and spend some time seeing what my friends in Blogland have on their walls.

I'm Done, And...

2011-10-02T18:24:00.000-07:00

...I'm done in! I'm tired of green beans. I'm tired of tomatoes. Friday was a long tomato day. Saturday was a short green bean day. I picked the garden clean and snapped all the beans. I couldn't believe there were exactly the right amount of beans for a full canner. No jars were short and no beans were left over. Amazing! So 14 more pints done. And we are done doing beans this year.

Ernie brought home 45 pounds of Roma tomatoes yesterday. Today was spent canning 7 more quarts and 7 quarts of sauce. Both crock pots are full and will cook overnight. I should have 5 or 6 more quarts of sauce in the morning. The dehydrator is full and there are about 6 pounds of whole tomatoes in the freezer. As soon as the last sauce is sealed in jars Monday, I will be officially done!

Except for the apples that we will get next weekend...........I better wash more jars!

Tomato Tamahtoe

2011-09-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

Or whatever.........I say tomato goodness!

Crystal brought me 2 boxes of tomatoes. We think maybe 50 pounds.

Now most of them look like this. Or they will. I have 7 more in the canner with that many more to go in. What doesn't fit into the last 7 quarts will go into the freezer. As tired as I am right now, I will be very happy when I go into the cupboard and bring out a jar of red gold.

Dinner tonight? Leftovers.........thank goodness for leftovers. I don't really care if we have dinner. I just want to sit with my feet up but I have a feeling Ernie is bringing me home a couple more boxes of tomatoes. Guess what he's going to be doing if he does!!! He's been pretty good about helping. He's been doing an awesome job of picking and snapping green beans.

Edit: At the end of the day there were 28 quart jars canned, 6 quarts in the freezer, 2 empty boxes and 1 tired woman. I fixed grilled cheese twice for dinner and was sound asleep by 8:30. It was a good day!

Design Wall Monday

2011-09-26T05:10:00.000-07:00

I spent all weekend finishing the top from the class and kind of got sidetracked away from my April UFO project. That happens pretty often with me. But I'm now back to work.

I needed 4 more sashing sections, made one, thought I'd made the second until I put it up on the board. What did I do?? Why won't this fit??? I used the extra strips instead of the ones for this quilt, so that kind of stopped me right in my tracks. And the fact that someone asked if I was going to stay hid out in my room all day. Umm, that kind of was my plan~~~~

Also on my wall it a little table topper that needs finished. I used a block out of the Quilt Mavens book. Recently Deb Karasik was a guest speaker at the quilt guild. (I am regretting not being a member of the guild because I missed seeing her. Boo Me!) Anyhow, I remembered this little UFO. I got it out, printed a few border sections to make it bigger and now I'm thinking about it more. And I have a plan...........

Grab a cup of something and visit Judy L to see what everyone other walls look like today. I love Monday in Blogland.

Sunday Afternoon

2011-09-25T17:30:00.000-07:00

The top is finished!

I cannot wait to quilt it with simple stitch in the ditch.

Yeah Me!!!

Progress and A Mystery

2011-09-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

I'm making good progress on my Carol Doak class project. All the paper piecing is done and I'm starting to put the center sections together. This will finish about 26"x26".

Carol Doak has created another mystery quilt for her Yahoo Group. A small, intimate group of about 7400 quilters. I wasn't going to do it because.... You know the saying, "I'm not starting any new projects until I get some other stuff done!". Yeah, that saying. BS to that! I'm doing this one!

The fabric requirements and cutting instructions have been posted so I went shopping in my stash, pulling these fabrics. They were intended for something else but I think they will be perfect for this. So I am using them. I spend last night cutting and cutting and now I am ready for the first clue.

I'd really like to have my class project done before she posts it on Tuesday but she is know to post a day early. I better get the next load of laundry going so I can get back in my room.

A Day With Carol

2011-09-23T05:20:00.000-07:00

Carol Doak was teaching an all day class through NW Quilting Expo in Portland Thursday.

My friend Harriet and I attended her Sunset At Sea class. We had a blast! Harriet is new to paper piecing, I'm not. I learned so many little tips and tricks that will make my pp-ing so much easier and lots more fun because I'll remember Carol's funny little sayings or her silly jokes about this or that.

Look at this mini! She now sells pattern cds with 4 miniature printable patterns. I love doing the minis and after seeing hers, I want to make them all! I did buy Set Four but I will have to buy Set One so I can do this mini. You can find these in her web store along with all of her books and other things.

Here is one section of my Sunset At Sea. I really, really want to work on it today......so I am going to hurry and get my stuff done so I can sew all day long if I want to.

If you ever get a chance to take a class from Carol Doak, do it. I'm so glad I did. Thanks Crystal for insisting I take the class. Thanks for going with me Harriet. It was a really fun day!

Design Wall Monday

2011-09-19T05:06:00.000-07:00

I added a few more crumby flying geese to the crumb blocks bin. These blocks will finish at 6" but here there look like they are about 24". It was really hard on Friday to stop with just one block. But I did it~and then Saturday I made 3 more and put them up on the wall. Every time I looked at them I wanted to sit down and make more~~but I didn't!

I worked on this instead, April's UFO Challenge project. I am doing the quilt as you go method that I learned watching Betty Cotton on Sewing With Nancy several years ago. After doing one quilt this way and saying I would never do another, I decided to give it another go. And you know what, I'm having a blast doing it this time!

All blocks are quilted, the short sashing is made and 2 blocks are connected. The border fabric is just hanging out there to see if it will live with this quilt........I'll decided after I put on the inner border. I can't wait until I can get in there today to do more! There are no beans to can, zucchinis to take care of or tomatoes to peel. It looks to be a sewing room kind of day!

Go over to Judy L's and see her colorful design wall and then visit other great quilters to see what they are up to.

Jo's Crumb Along

2011-09-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

Jo, over at Jo's Country Junction is hosting "Crumb Along With Me".

(Clicking the box will take you to her first post.)

You know I'm playing along.

Last month I made these crumb blocks. Still I have no idea how many blocks are in the bin but I could not resist these cute flying geese that Jo is showing us. I have a little bin that I have been putting my crumbs in so I will work out of that until I need to dig deeper.

When I start sewing these crumb blocks, the hardest part for me is stopping! I have other things that need my attention so I am limiting myself on how many blocks I can sew at a time. Today I am picking the number 1. That's right. ONE block today. Believe me if you want to. :o)

Problem Solved

2011-09-15T06:15:00.000-07:00

Tuesday I was happily quilting along on the butterflies when I started to have thread issues. I was getting frustrated so I quit for a while. This is the same thread I'd been using for most of the quilt until I started changing out different colors to do the butterfly wings and birdhouses.

When I came back in, I pulled off a bunch of thread thinking maybe there was a bad spot. Nope, still shredding. So I parked the machine and quit for the night. Then yesterday was Binding Friends day so there was not even a thought about the quilt.

Sometime in the night I woke up to kitties doing a dance across my back. As I'm laying there trying to go back to sleep, this big ole light bulb went off in my head! The butterflies and the bird houses have fusible web on the back of them......DUH! CHANGE THE NEEDLE!!! Whoopsie! Didn't think about that one......yeah, duh!

So this morning after a few chores, that's what I'll do. I'll change the needle and finish quilting this quilt.

Design Wall Monday

2011-09-12T05:14:00.000-07:00

My design wall is empty! But on my never ending quest to cross every single project off my UFO list, these are what I am working on right now.

This is project #4 on my list for Judy L's 2011 UFO Challenge. That number was drawn in April! April, for heaven's sake. The only progress I made on these blocks was to take them out of the bag, put them up on the wall and arrange them into rows. I didn't pull any sashing fabric or border fabric or even backing. I just pinned the rows together and put them neatly back into the bag.

While I was quilting, I needed to take a break so I sat down at my sewing machine and didn't have anything to work on! What! There was nothing right there that I could sew. Not even a leader/ender that could be sewn together-I need to cut more scraps for bow ties. I looked up and saw this bag of blocks and right then decided I was going to do them as quilt as you go. Backing is all cut, batting scraps are going to be used and a few are cut to size. I test drove the decorative stitch I thought I wanted to put around the block but decided to do it in the sashing instead. The quilting on the blocks will give me a chance to play with my sewing machine.

In Saturday's post, I thought this quilt top was completed sometime in 2010. Last night I was browsing back through my blog and I found this post. That is over 2 years ago. 2 Years!!! I've been thinking about quilting this quilt for 2 stinkin' years. Well the thinking is over and it's loaded and advanced a few times.

So 2 quilting projects are what's happening for me this week. Wish me luck. I can't wait to see what others are working on this week. Visit Judy L here to find out.

What Do I Do When It's 90+ Outside?

2011-09-10T21:35:00.000-07:00

I Quilt!

Turbo Tested, Turbo Approved

This baby quilt was pieced last September! Almost a whole year ago. I got it out a couple days ago, loaded it onto the frame super fast using my new Red Snappers (I swear these are changing my quilting life!) that Gari talked about in a couple February 2011 posts. I thought a long time about getting them and one day I decided I needed them. I really glad I bought them. Sometimes a quilter needs a new tool! In no time at all, I was unsnapping the quilt and adding binding. Now this little gem will be washed and put away until a sweet little baby girl needs a quilt.

I woke up this morning at 3:00 and couldn't go back to sleep so at 4:15 I got up and started sewing. I added the final 3 border pieces to the Split Decision baby quilt that hasn't been touched since March. Then I made and pressed the binding and pieced the back. It is ready for quilting. Instead of loading this one, I picked my 2nd oldest UFO and loaded it.

This quilt was started in 2002 as a Row Robin and finally put together into a top sometime in 2010 and then promptly put on the to be quilted mountain and forgot about. It is now listed as quilting in progress...........that's a good thing.

I have big plans to catch up on the 2011 UFO Challenge list. One quilt is waiting to be next and a set of blocks is waiting for sashing.......Plans, Big Plans!

It's A Finished Quilt Top!

2011-09-07T07:36:00.000-07:00

And isn't it great??? I'm very happy with this quilt top. When I wrote my DWM post , I didn't think I would get this done until Thursday. But a few minutes here and there really makes a big difference in my progress. These are our 2020/11 BOM-QuiltAddicts blocks. I'm excited that they are used and not sitting around waiting for me to do something with them.

I wanted to put another white border around but I don't have anymore. I ran out of the original white and used another for sashing, inner border, white stars and spacer. I've decided it's done the way it is. I'll use the remaining colors for a scrappy binding.

This will be quilted soon as the new grandbaby is due to arrive in a few weeks. Everyone is saying girl but no one knows for sure (or they aren't sharing that news). Either way this quilt will live at Crystal's house and be used and loved by all.

And if baby is a boy, this Gramma will be working like a crazed woman to get him his very own quilt. Or maybe I'll start on it next....

Design Wall Monday

2011-09-05T05:30:00.000-07:00

I had big plans yesterday. I was going to turn this into a quilt top. I was up at 5:30, the house was all quiet, I went in to sew. After a couple hours, Ernie got up, took the dogs for their car ride, came home with special coffee for mom and settled in to read the paper. I went back in to sew for a couple more hours. More stars were made, while sashing is the leader/ender. I'm on a roll!

Then it ended! Ernie saw deer outside, wanted pictures, I exited the sewing room never to return until late last night when I took this photo. I made some chocolate zucchini cupcakes. While they were baking, I loaded up the dehydrator with zuke slices for chips. When that mess was cleaned up, I created another. I cleaned out a couple cupboards! After putzing around for a while, it was time to go to friend's for a BBQ.

Today is my day! So I say now, because the Mr. is home and you all know that means my plans change without notice. I'm thinking Thursday will be my day, after the bus leaves with grandson Jonah and before Ernie comes home from work!

Read Judy's Design Wall story and check other walls here.

Friday Fun

2011-09-02T21:27:00.000-07:00

After spending the day with Daughter Crystal and the kiddos, I decided I was going to play in my sewing room.

Beth over at Love Laugh Quilt has a fabulous tutorial for this doll. As soon as I saw her doll, I knew I had to make one and was very excited when she posted her tutorial.

I had so much fun and cannot wait to make more. Thank you Beth!

Tuesday Knitting Report

2011-08-30T07:12:00.000-07:00

I knitted these slippers using this pattern.

They knit up really fast.

I used these instructions for Felting In A Front Loading Washer.

I was a nervous wreck while waiting for the first cycle to be done.

After 2 cycles through the washer, they fit.

Now they are stuffed with plastic bags and drying.

I am now going in to put some lotion on my alligator legs.

Design Wall Monday

2011-08-29T05:13:00.000-07:00

Not a lot of time was spent in the sewing room this week. I did make a new block to replace the orange and brown one--much better. I cut more friendship star pieces. I made a few more bow tie blocks.

I made a bag for my tablet using an online tutorial but it turned out to be too tight. It will be for the Kindle instead. It turned out really cute so I'll use the same idea of that one and make another for the tablet.

I finished the Trees Left Standing top that I showed last week. I knitted a pair of slippers. I'm going to try to felt them today so I can show them off tomorrow. Now that everything has been documented, I guess I spent more time in the sewing room than I realized. Isn't that fun!

This morning will be spent cutting tumbler blocks and baking zucchini bread/muffins for the freezer. This afternoon, I get to go to the dentist again. Yes, I do know how to have fun.

I jumped for joy when I saw Judy L has a design wall and today she has something fabulous on it. Go check it out and check out other great projects.

Today's Project

2011-08-28T09:32:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Marian gave me a paper bag full of scraps from her Mother. The bag was packed with old fabric. Not knowing what was what and what might fade, I threw it all in the washer with a couple Color Catchers. (When looking for the link, I liked them on Facebook and got a free sample. :} ) So the big laundry basket is full of all kinds of fabrics.

My challenge today is to empty the basket. The mesh bag in the chair is a bunch of pre-cut squares that will go into the bin of others the same size. The plastic bag behind that is for strings, the plastic bin is for chucks that will be cut into tumblers. There is also a pile of big pieces that will be used for other things. In the basket is the garbage bag. I don't think there will be much garbage though.

Wish me luck......I'll let you know later how it worked out.

Design Wall Monday

2011-08-22T05:11:00.000-07:00

It's fun to have a loaded up design wall. I am loving the new bow tie leader/ender project. I've decided not to use cheddar and use from my over flowing bin of 2 1/2" background squares.

Next up is the last l/e project, Trees Left Standing that I started here using up some of the 1" bonus triangles. When I put the red strip on the wall and looked at it for a while, I knew it had to be lots thinner. So I decided I like it showing 3/4" and the outer border will be 2 or 2 1/2" wide.

On the right are my 2010/11 completed blocks for BOM-Quilt Addicts Yahoo group. That's right, I said completed! Before the newest project starts! OK, so just the blocks are completed but I feel good about that. :0) Now I am going to cut up the remaining fabric from the fat quarter pack into 2 1/2" strips to make up stars for the border and scrappy binding. I'd better make the binding first though......... And I think I will rearrange some of the blocks and maybe replace the brown and orange one. (afternoon edit--The orange and brown block has been replaced with a pink and blue block and looks so much better. )

I love Design Wall Monday, thanks Judy L. Go here to see what other's have on their walls today.

Progress

2011-08-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I talked about the Pokey Dot Throw and that I hadn't posted a photo of it. LuAnn (check out her blog!) wanted to see it, so here it is folded in half. Just for you, LuAnn. :0) Hiding behind the throw is daughter DeeDee who laid claim on that throw and it now resides at her house. See the border on it? That is what I am going to do on the striped throw after I put on the last 2 stipe sets that are left.

I spent lots of time Friday sitting in front of the TV with this covering me up for a while-it was kind of chilly in here. I don't know if you can see it or not, but at the bottom of the photo is a little ball of yarn. That's how much is left of the blue that I'm using for the every other stripe. Of course it isn't a color that I can just walk into a store and buy. I had to order from JoAnn's, so this will not be done by Tuesday as I had planned. But I will stalk my order status so I don't loose my finishing enthusiasm.

You all know the rule about ordering a $4 skein of yarn when the shipping is $8, you have to order other stuff, right??? So I had to order the heart die for the Go! because I had a 50% off coupon. (And I saw a photo of an adorable pillow that I want to make for some adorable girls.) It took the discount off the order page but if it doesn't work, I have a set of knitting needles it can be used on. Always cover those bases!!

Now I must make some zucchini bread before it gets too much warmer and I loose all interest in the kitchen.

Tuesday Knitting Report on Friday

2011-08-19T06:09:00.001-07:00

This post should really be called Pick A Project, Any Project.

I haven't done a Tuesday Knitting Report all month. The last one, here, shows me working on 2 pair of socks. I had been pretty lax about my reports even before that. I'm trying to do better.

Anyhooo....I have decided I have too many irons in the fire and it's time to get some of them out of the fire and cooled off. I'm trying, really I am, to get some things finished so I can start more things without the guilt. So the photos shows 3 of my in progress projects. Front left is the shawl from the sweater gone wrong yarn. Behind that is the striped afghan using yarn left over from the Pokey Dot Throw I finished last November but didn't blog about-I wonder why I didn't. And then the cute little red, white and black bag (from The Quilting Gallery exchange) that came from Dawn in England, holding my sock project.

So...I finished up my Abracadabra socks. I love them and can't wait until I get to wear them. Sometimes I just smooch them because they are so soft.

I am almost finished with one of the Paraphernalia socks. The cables are kind of hard to see but believe me they are there!! And the second sock will be cast on as soon as this one is finished. I did tear out back to the ribbing and started over on the cables. I have learned the proper way to read a chart and it has made cables so much easier and fun. I'm excited to start on sock 2. I try to work on one of my projects each night while sitting in front of the TV. Or when I just crash in the chair during the day!!

I promise to check in on Tuesday and if everything goes my way, I'll have one of these three things finished!

Design Wall Monday

2011-08-15T05:47:00.000-07:00

I am almost to the stage in my current leader/ender project where it becomes the main project and a new l/e needs to be started. Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville fame has issued the Cheddar Bow Tie Leader-Ender Challenge. I wasn't going to do it. No, I wasn't going to start any more new projects. But........

I have a drawer full of 2 1/2" background squares, a drawer full of partial 2 1/2" strips. And I have been wondering what I was going to use for my next l/e project. I do want to make a cute bag for my g tablet. Does it sound like I'm rationalizing something here??? I have had my eye on some cheddar......I don't have any in my stash. I could make the cute bag from my stash and then decide if I need to buy that cheddar fabric......you all know I'm going to. :)

Head over to Judy L's and see other fabulous design walls and wish Judy luck with getting her new wall up and filled with beauty.

Design Wall Monday

2011-08-07T16:58:00.000-07:00

Design Wall Monday on Sunday Evening

This morning I went into the sewing room to do a bit of cleaning up and put up a new shelf. I did that and decided to sit down and sew a few crumb blocks from the bits and pieces that were in my little basket. These darn crumb blocks are like those potato chips that you only want to eat one of but you know, even before the first bite, that you will be out of control in no time! So after 1 string block and 17 crumb blocks and a quick photo, I put the blocks away.

I have no clue how many blocks are in the box. Probably enough for a nice sized lap quilt but I'm not counting yet. One day I will get the box out and start sewing the blocks into a top. I already have string strips sewn for the border so it will go together really fast.

A Finish, A Finish, Finally A Finish!!

2011-08-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

Can you hear me singing? If so, I'm sorry. I can't help myself. I have finally finished this UFO. I have not been very successful with the 2011 UFO Challenge. I posted about my February project here and here and again here.

Today I will post that it is finished! My new goal for August is to get a couple more of these UFOs marked off my list. I am motivated now more than ever before to reduce that pile of quilt tops. I would love it if I could have a year when all of my planned projects are complete. Realistic? Maybe not but I'm sure going to try. So 2 finishes with 7 left to be caught up. Can I do it? Let's see. I may need a push now and then, but please be gentle.

Now I must do something to get ready for company tomorrow....

Design Wall Monday

2011-08-01T05:58:00.000-07:00

Night Watch

Sunset Silhouette Designs, Inc.

By Carol Robinson of Omak, WA.

I bought this as a kit. I started it over 4 years ago, I remember taking the pieces to work with me to cut out during down time. They were quite fiddly but I rather enjoyed the process. This is one of those projects that I really, really want to finish but I was very uncertain about what to do so I put it away only to be taken out, admired and written every year on the UFO list.

Yesterday I got it out and made a decision. I will add the outside borders, then I will layer it and do free motion quilting/raw edge applique all at the same time! If you have an idea that might work better, please share it with me. The bear, pine needles and moon are ultra suede. In some places on the bear, there are 3 layers.......I'm hoping a jeans needle will do the job. I have a few little pieces that will have to be glued back on but I'll wait until I am close to their area before doing that.

It's good to have a plan with this. Finally!!

Go over to Judy L's where others are sharing their fabulous design walls.

Design Wall Monday

2011-07-25T05:13:00.001-07:00

Not much sewing room action around here this week.

I did manage to sew a couple more rows to this baby quilt.

I spent some time working on gift that can't be shown yet.

I stitched out this quilt block for my friend Sharlene.

I worked on my Abracadabra socks.

I worked on my Paraphenalia sock.

I discovered I have been reading the chart wrong.

I also discovered I am really making the second sock first.

So I will keep calm and carry on.

Discover other fabulous design walls by visiting Judy L.

All Is Calm

2011-07-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

That's life on the farm today.......it's calm. No place to go, not much to do. I quickly got the laundry washed and hung out. Unlike most of the country, good ole Southwest Washington has not had much heat. We have had cooler and wetter than normal days for a while now. I am ready for some summertime. My garden is craving sunshine.

As I was hanging out the clothes, the dark clouds blocked the sun and I got a bit nervous, but I'm going to believe the weather guy today-for a change. The laundry is all hung out now. Mark that one off the list.

My friend Sharlene picked up a project from quilt guild the other day. It was 12 of these muslin preprinted quilt squares. I think she said 2 were finished, 1 was started. I volunteered to do one and now it is ready to return to her. She has all the others done. Now someone will sew them together and hand quilt it for a donation. I was going to press the block but decided not to, I can't remember if Sharlene pressed hers or not. If so, I'll do it when we meet on Wednesday.

I had a couple preprinted candlewick pillow tops but I cut them up to use as the backing for a quilted bag I made. Now I'm wishing I would have make the pillows. Oh well, I have enough other things to work on. Like 2 pair of socks, a pair of felted slippers and a shawl, all in progress and 2 more embroidery projects in the works. I think I will gather them all and put them by my chair. Maybe that will encourage me to finish something. Oh and there are the mittens I want to make.......sigh! I did find this post--the only time I labeled this redwork project. Yes, it's over a year old..........but the last block is almost done and I have all the other fabrics together in the box to finish it. Cross my fingers, I may have a finish this week!

Now I must make potato salad and get the steak marinating. Then it's off to my quilting room for therapy. Hope your day is calm.

Knitting and Other Stuff

2011-07-19T08:17:00.001-07:00

I am such a pushover! I am like Dory in Finding Nemo. I see something shiny and off I go! The latest shiny object is a pair of Paraphernalia socks. I tried to be strong. Really I did. But Judy L showed her's here and I had to jump on the band wagon. I went to my sock yarn stash and found this yarn that I bought quite a while back from Knit Picks. It probably wasn't the best choice to use but I'm fine with it. I will have a pair of socks with cables, whether they can be seen or not is fine with me. If they turn out good, I'll be happy to show them to you. LOL

I am not doing the knit along that she is doing but I am getting over my fear of cables. I thought this would be a good pattern to try and with Judy's encouragement, I am doing it. I'm sure there is a mistake or 2 but what sock of mine would be complete without one. :-)

So I can no longer say I am afraid of cables because I'm not. As long as I have my clicker and paper and pencil.

I am back to working on these socks too. It's been a while since I did anything on them and I really want them so I am back to knitting a few rows a night before I pick up the cable socks.

I've been spending some time perusing Goodwill for treasures. One day I found this fabulous curved plate to use as serving dish, 14 wide mouth pint jars and a bunch of forks and spoons.

After talking to the hostess of the hunting club picnic, I decided to get a stack of plates and silverware for big gatherings. Like she says, I can wash dishes but I hate buying, eating off of and throwing away paper plates. Sure got me thinking and now I'm all set.

Yesterday I found this cute little Tupperware child size cake carrier and it HAD to be mine. I wanted to buy Corelle dinner plates but the last time I was at Goodwill, there were none. Yesterday there were 28 dinner plates and 3 salad plates. I think I'm good for now. I'll still keep my eye out for a few more but not 28 at once. And I added a few more jars, forks and spoons to my collection.

My Mondays and Tuesdays are spent with Jonah. His new best friends and our new family members are Dozer and Turbo. Right now they are all cuddled up in the chair taking naps. It's hard to be 7 and get up at 5:30 to go to Gramma's. Some mornings require naps!

Design Wall Monday

2011-07-18T05:14:00.000-07:00

Slow and steady wins the race. Isn't that what they say? I hope so, because I've got the slow down pat. A few minutes here and there, I have more rows sewn together. Not many because I've been on a knitting kick. I'll tell you about that tomorrow.

Thank you to everyone that left a get well wish last week. I wasn't going to post about not feeling good but this is my life journal and it had a big effect on what didn't get accomplished. Now I am almost back to my old self and feeling great.

This is my current leader/ender project. I've picked up a few miniature magazines at different retreats and this little quilt has been taunting me. A few Wednesdays ago, I pulled out my little bags of bonus triangles and took them to our Binding Friends day to trim. I got most of them trimmed and am now sewing them together the blossoms for the trees. The finished blocks will be 6" and use up several little half square triangles. I will use the same greens and red that I used on the Crabapple Quilt to finish it.

Head over to Judy L's and see what others have on their design walls.

Design Wall Monday

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

I finished Golden Harvest. She is now a complete top. I just can't bring myself to change her name though. As I was putting the leftover fabric away, I stumbled upon 2 bundles of triangles that I had bought at the Stash Builder's Sale back in April. On one bundle the tag said 40 Kaffee Fassett fabrics 75 cents. I wish the tag was with the other one but it wasn't. I got out some Kona Snow and cut more triangles and soon I'll have a baby quilt for the newest grandbaby.

Not much time was spent sewing though, I decided it must be a good time to get super sick instead. As soon as I started to feel human again, but unable to get up and do much, I started working on my shawl. The one I'm making with the yarn from the dreaded sweater. Simple, straight knit. I'm working my way up to a fancy one but I think it will be a while.

So now I am going to grab my quilt and park in the recliner and maybe go back to sleep for a while. It's been all sleep all the time or no sleep at all, lots of movies have been on and some have been watched. It's all good though, medicine is a wonderful thing. I'll be fine in a day or two.

Check Judy L's blog for fabulous design walls.

Small Appliance Love

2011-07-05T06:58:00.000-07:00

I know it's crazy but I love my FoodSaver! If I had to choose only one small appliance to own, it would be this one. I'm spoiled and I like all my kitchen toys/tools. I'm glad I don't have to choose.

Sunday I smoked 4 chickens for daughter Crystal while working on The Pantry Project. They were deboned and but in the fridge to rest while we celebrated yesterday. First thing this morning, I packed them up into 7 packages for her freezer. Maybe I could have gotten another package but while deboning, I ate a lot of chicken and Ernie got a super sandwich today for his lunch. I work pretty cheap, don't I.

Today I get to do pretty much whatever I want to. Yes, I do that most days but today seems to be more special to me. I have the washer going and a load ready to hang outside. The water is on for the garden and the timer is set so I don't forget to turn it off. I am going to finish up a couple more things and spend lots of time in the sewing room today.

I hope you get to do whatever you want to do today.

Design Wall Monday

2011-07-03T22:32:00.000-07:00

Almost! It's almost all put together. I just need 2 more 20 minute sessions. I just need to find those 20 minutes. I have no clue where to look for them. I'm not too worried though, I know they will show up soon enough.

Until then, I'm trying to think up a name for this quilt. I've been calling it Golden Harvest at the Bed and Breakfast. That is the name of the pattern and the name of the fabric line. But it just isn't working for me. I think I will call it Stolen Moments because so much of the work has been done in little moments of time whenever I find them.

Happy Independence Day

If you find a few moments today, go over to Judy L's and see other fabulous design walls.

The Pantry Project

2011-07-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

Our home used to belong to my Gramma and Grampa Maple. I love this old house. We have done a lot of things to change this house but one thing that hasn't been changed too much is the "hall cupboard". It's always been called the hall cupboard. Always. It was built by Grampa with rough cut lumber. The shelves are far enough apart to hold quart jars.

Right now these shelves hold too much junk. Not all of it is junk. See my canned beef and chicken, my fabulous stock. There are a few jars of jelly left and some other stuff that probably needs to be used up soon. (Ignore the dust on the top of the jars.)

The shelves need to be cleared out and organized. (I have already taken lots of stuff off the shelves. And I'm not done yet!) I had big plans to paint them but that didn't work out too well. Proof of that is right here. I still want them painted. I just don't know when I'll get it done.

With my revitalization of coupon shopping/stockpiling, I needed to make some changes. BIG changes! Today was the day to start. I had bags of groceries on the floor and shoved into what has been labeled the scary room. It has also been known as the middle bedroom, Doug's room, my sewing room, the "when will it become the gun room" and the "if you don't know where to put it, put it in there" room. Now it will be known as the pantry. Well that's what I'm calling it anyhow! Half will be my stockpile side and the other half will be for Ernie's gun stuff. He can call it the gun room if he wants, he'll just be wrong. And probably his half will be more like a quarter.

So after some work, here is one corner with lots of things on the shelves. On the wall are a few of my treasures and on the left is a cabinet piled high with more junk. That's up next!

I know some of you are trying to count, so I'll just tell you. 5 cake mixes, 4 frostings, 25 brownie mixes, 20 pastas, 12 rices, 26 BBQ sauce, 3 A-1, only 3 mustard, 8 salad dressings, 3 ketchups, 8 Miracle Whips and OH NO, I'm out of mayo! 19 peanut butters, 6 cereals, 13 asst. V-8s. On the right is Gatorade and Propel for Ernie's lunch and with it on sale right now, I am going to go buy more. Not one item was bought at full price!

Yes, that's just a start. There is more to be done. I have a grand plan to have the small closet full of toilet paper before winter. Yes, it is still sold in winter but Ernie is having another surgery and I don't want to have to "run to the store" for anything! And it's just something I want to do.

And while all that was going on, these were in the smoker for Crystal and after they are cool, they will be packaged for the freezer. As will the bones and skin for a later stock making session. I don't know if Crystal wants smoked chicken stock but I sure do.

Now I think I'll spend a bit more time in the Pantry.

Design Wall Monday

2011-06-27T04:54:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-06-23T08:08:00.000-07:00

...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

2011-06-20T05:05:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-18T17:45:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-13T05:11:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-06-12T14:21:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-06T05:08:00.001-07:00

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.

Design Wall Monday

2011-05-29T18:59:00.000-07:00

I've spent lots of time this week thinking of the families that lost everything from the tornado damage. Judy L is collecting money for the Red Cross and quilts to be distributed to some of the victims in Joplin. Go here to see how you can help.

I am making this quilt to send. This is my favorite quilt in Scrap-Basket Sensations called Island Chain. I pulled open the 2 1/2" strip bin and started pulling out strips. Wednesday at quilt group, I spend the morning cutting the color strips for 2 quilts. Thursday I cut the background and this weekend I sewed.

I always copy from the book so I can have my copy right at the machine and with this quilt, I needed a picture right on the design wall. This is the original layout and after looking at it for a while, I decided to leave it just as it is. Then it was time to sew the twosies together....I needed more help putting them back up on the wall.

Thank goodness for digital cameras and printers! I printed off this picture so my twosies would be in the right places. I've started sewing the rows together and hope to have this one off to Judy L. in the next few days.

Retreat Pictures

2011-05-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

Here they are, in no order at all, a few pictures from retreat. Show and Tell is always so much fun and inspiring. My friends do amazing work. If I have posted your picture and you don't want it here, please let me know and I will remove it.

This is Marian on the left with her stunning One Block Wonder. Click the photo to make it bigger and more beautiful. Her helper and dear friend is Sharlene.

This beautiful quilt is a memory quilt for our friend Alice. She was a very active member of Kiwanis and Kathy (on the right) is too. Kathy asked us to make make star blocks we thought Alice would love. You can only see 2 star points of my block on the left side of the chair. Kathy and Billie put this top together to send it home with the quilter.

This is our lovely Pam and her Golden Harvest quilt top.

Here is the lovely Pam as quilt holder with Sonya the quilt maker. Aren't these colors fabulous??

Jo Ann on the left doing what she does best.....love you Jo Ann. On the right are gals working on their Judy Niemeyer projects.

I had to stop on my way home one night to take this picture-you should click it to make it bigger and brighter. Views like this make me stop and think. I'll keep my thoughts to myself.

Pam again, helping me with my crumb quilt. I love showing off this quilt to show what you can do with your bits and pieces. I'm hoping dear sweet Lacey didn't take my ribbing the wrong way. I know there are quilters that just can't save the scraps.......I say give them to me. ;0) At the next retreat, Pam and I are going to share our crumbs and make blocks. Thank you to all my friends that gave me new bits and pieces for the next one.

Thank you to Sonya for all the hard work you do to make our retreats so fabulous. I love that I spent my birthday weekend with such wonderful women. Really, I love whenever I can spend time with these women. Thanks for being part of my life.

Design Wall Monday

2011-05-23T05:03:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I was at our spring quilt retreat. I had a great birthday weekend. Thursday, I finished up the deer quilt top and backing so it will be done this week. On Friday several of us started Judy Niemeyer projects. Some of us are doing Golden Harvest. Others are doing Christmas Celebration Tree Skirt. Each project different looking that the others, each project is fabulous beyond words.

I have the first 3 steps done and I cannot wait to work on the next step. Do you think my mojo is back?? But first I have to get the deer quilt quilted......so the incentive to do that is pictured here.

I'll post more about retreat later. I'm headed over to Patchwork Times to see other design walls.

Design Wall Monday

2011-05-15T16:38:00.001-07:00

Design Wall Monday on Sunday Night

Between projects (laundry and other fun things), I spent lots of time working on the deer quilt for the hunting club. The bottom section matches the top section. After yesterday's post, DD2 and the kiddos came over with dinner so no more was done on the top. When I went in this morning, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

I think I'll go back in and work on the borders--aka get away from the tv--and maybe get this finished tonight.

What To Do, What To Do

2011-05-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

Today is the final day for this session of Hunter's Education for Ernie. When they finish with the range portion of the testing and all the guns are cleaned and locked away, the guys are spending the remainder of the the day doing trash pick up in the woods. It really makes me mad that people feel the need to chuck their garbage out the window of their vehicles instead of taking it home to throw away. I figured it would be the perfect day to get the deer quilt put together. I have lots of parts sewn and now have to figure the layout.

Not too sure I like so much green around the center block. I think I need to put something else there.The green 4 patches really are for one of the borders. I also like that the half square triangle borders around the deer block are different. I didn't pay attention to how the first block was sewn together when I did the second.

Now that my unexpected company has left, I'm going to eat some lunch and then get back to it.

Design Wall Monday

2011-05-09T05:19:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year again. Time to make the quilt for the hunting club. The picnic is in June and this is how far I have gotten. I have the quilt all designed and I don't like the design I have. Now I will just go crazy and free lance a design. Each of these blocks will get a border on them so they can be made into a workable size. I have the border pieces already cut for that and strips ready to make into a checkerboard outer border. That's it for my plan so far.......but I have an idea of what I really want and have lots of time today to work on it.

To see last year's quilt, go here. (Or just look up in the header on the left side, 2nd down.~Thanks Mary C for pointing that out to me. ) Our friend Art won the quilt and says he naps under it almost daily. His wife thinks she needs to win this one because he isn't good at sharing.

To see other fabulous design walls, go here.

Tuesday Knitting Report

2011-05-04T16:23:00.000-07:00

Whoopsie! I forgot last Tuesday and almost forgot this week too. Really, I did forget to post on Tuesday because today is Wednesday. I continue to do one color section a week. That's not much progress but it's better than none. So I'll keep making progress and one of these days, you'll be surprised to see the Abracadabra sock finished!

Design Wall Monday

2011-05-02T06:02:00.000-07:00

I love tumbler blocks. I love homespun plaids. I love homespun tumbler blocks. I hope some young boy will love this quilt. I have 3 more rows to sew together. I have some fun fabric for the backing of this quilt. It's blue and white plaid background with race cars all over.

This started out last week as leaders/enders while I finished up the Crabapple top-and it is finished!-and soon turned into my main (as in avoiding the timing of the longarm) project.

And with the finish of the Crabapple top, I need a new main leader/ender project. My overflowing 2 1/2" square drawer needed to be emptied so I started sewing 4 patches. Then I looked in Bonnie Hunter's Adventures with Leaders & Enders book and saw Hopscotch, Butterscotch on page 66. I didn't even read the instructions, I knew this would be the project for my 4 patches. It didn't take long to put the sample block together. I also have a drawer full of 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" bricks. This will make a nice dent in the drawers but will not empty them out.

**I finally read the instructions and Bonnie uses 2" squares......guess I'll have a bigger quilt.

If you go to this post at Patchwork Times, you will see a bunch of fabulous design walls. Better bring a cup of something....you may be there for a while.

After reading comments from my post yesterday, I need to say I wasn't beating myself up at all. I was hoping to inspire myself by writing my thoughts. I do feel bad that I haven't followed through like I wanted to but I seldom beat myself up. Thanks for all the kind words. I have such great friends in Blogland!

Hanging My Head In Shame

2011-05-01T10:00:00.001-07:00

I was so excited when Judy L started the 2011 UFO Challenge. I couldn't wait to get started. I made my list, posted my intentions and completed January's project.

Then I moved on to February's project. I did nothing about it in February and waited to load the top until March 19th. I am embarrassed to say it has been on the frame for weeks. I knocked the timing out and I am still tweaking and it is not going well. It would go better if I went in there and worked on it until I had it perfect but I don't. I'll fiddle with it for a while, get discouraged and sit down and sew instead. So February's project is staring at me all the time. It makes me feel bad about myself. :>(

When March's project was chosen, I was so excited to put those blocks together into a finished top. I am not saying this UFO is done until it is quilted and bound.

These are the blocks for April. I took them out of the bag to take this picture last month. I put them back in the bag. My Mojo was missing so these were not even thought of. Again, looking at them makes me feel bad.

This little beauty is May's UFO. I think I have a few more blocks stashed away to add to this, maybe not...I don't know. With a new grandbaby due in October, I am excited to work on this one.

With the return of the Mojo, I have been busy, but I haven't been working on my UFOs. I plan to change that but not today. Today is a super nice sunshiny day and I am going outside to enjoy it. Ernie is on the tractor and I have a couple projects for him. It is supposed to rain again tomorrow......I'll sew then.

Design Wall Monday

2011-04-25T05:21:00.000-07:00

As I continue to work on my Crabapple top, I need to have a new leader/ender project. I want to make a couple more Quilts for Kids to send with my next quilt from their kit, so I decided to make a couple tumbler quilts. I had a bin full of homespun fat quarters and had cut them all into 6" tumblers using my GO! Cutter. This will make a great quilt for an older boy. After sewing several pair of these, I decided I better have some kind of plan. I put them up on the wall and now will sew them into rows.

Once you get into the habit of using the leader/enders, you have to have them beside you! As weird as it sounds, it's just strange not picking up those pieces and having to clip the long threads. Isn't that right Diane? I have a drawer stuffed full of 2 1/2" squares that will get reduced down for the next leader/ender quilt.

I am ready to sew the last pieced border on the Crabapple top and the final borders will be on it today. I do love this quilt and cannot wait to get it finished!

Then there is that pile of scraps from the Stash Builder's Sale. I got out my GO! Cutter and 3 bags of those scraps and I cut. And I cut. And I cut until all those pieces had a new home in their proper bin or drawer. I have 2 1/2" strips and squares. I have half square and quarter square triangle pieces and I have 5" charms. I have a few little string scraps and a few itty bitty pieces for the crumb bin. But mostly I have 3 empty bags that once held scraps.

Since we have a week of cold rain in the forecast, I think I will spend the week finishing up a few things before I turn into a toad!

Do Not Panic

2011-04-21T08:36:00.000-07:00

I'm working on my Crabapple pieced border. I put my pieces up on the design wall. I count how many more I need to make. I need to cut more muslin strips. I'm using only muslin as my background. I go to the background fabric drawer. I can't find a piece of muslin. Not one little piece! Panic......... I look in my strip drawers......nothing! Serious Panic.....

Wait!!! I have all my background strings in a bin, maybe just maybe, there will be muslin in there! Eureka! I've struck muslin gold!

Now I need to add some colors. At least that part is easy peasy! So 40 minutes later (I have been using the timer set at 20 minutes and started it twice. That makes me a timer cheater. snicker!!), I think I have enough 3 patches to make the remaining 4 sections of 3 patches that I need.

But I need to fold that load of clothes from the dryer first! Darn me for starting that timer game I like to play. It's a great game though because I get lots done on timer game day........

Tuesday Knitting Report

2011-04-20T06:35:00.001-07:00

I continue to work on my Abracadabra socks. Little progress is being made with only one or two rounds knit at night resulting in only one color block for the week. At this rate, it might be Christmas time before these are finished! I don't even have a good excuse except I'm tired at night and from what I don't know.

We have had a few nice sunny days here and I've been spending lots of time outside soaking up the Vitamin D before the sun hides behind the rain clouds again. That's it, that's my excuse. Playing outside is hard work!

Do You Coupon?

2011-04-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

I do. I always have, sometimes I'm more focused on it than other times. When my children were young, they hated it! They would get so embarrassed but that didn't stop me. Heck, it's free money and if the manufacturer's didn't want me to use their coupon, they would not have made them available to me. Does this make me a tightwad or a cheapskate? Yes. Do I care? No. We have worked hard for our money. I will continue to work hard to spend it wisely. So now with this new zip in my step, my coupons are now organized in an old 3 ring binder. I have wanted to do this for 30 years! It took days of working on it and now it is fabulous and so easy to use.

With the new Extreme Couponing show on TLC, a new fire has been lit it me to be more focused on my grocery shopping. (The more I read about these people on the show, the more I understand that most of what was on the shows had been encouraged by the show producers and they don't shop that extreme in real life. Or at least they didn't. ) I do not shop that extreme. I do not need 60+ bottles of mustard, but if I have the coupons for 5 or 10 and the sale is good enough that I would get it for free or almost free, why wouldn't I get 5 or 10??? Do I need 1000 tubes of toothpaste? No, but if I could get that many for free (well maybe not 1000!) and give them away, yes I would.

I have always had a stocked pantry. It's just what I do. I also go through times when I only use what is in the pantry and freezer without going to the store. I often challenge myself to plan my weekly menu using what I have stocked in my kitchen freezer without taking anything out of the big freezer. I have gone weeks without going into a grocery store. I seldom pay full price for anything. I garden and I can and we eat well--maybe too well.

I sit down and clip my coupons, put them in my notebook and make my grocery list according to what is on sale. I am lucky to have 3 stores close together that have pretty good sales. I also have Winco and Costco that I keep shopping lists for. I do not make special trips to town (10 miles away) just to "go to the store", I plan my errand day to go everywhere I need to go, in the order I need to go to them. I do not enjoy shopping and want to go in, get what I need and get out!

Now I need to organize the rest of my life. But not today~~~