November Update

Look, it's a new post! Wow, I don't even have an excuse. I have not been overly busy but I have become consumed with cross stitch. Did I need another craft? No but I have one.

I finished stitching Take Time.

I found this kit at Walmart.

I need to frame it and add the shells.

It will be displayed in the bus at the beach.

I learned to coffee/tea dye Aida.

I followed this video but paid close attention to time because my fabric was different from their's.

I really like how it turned out and can't wait to dye more.

Because bright white isn't necessary for everything. 

Then I started stitching this for the grands.

I bought the pdf chart from Aliton Embroidery Etsy shop.

I'm still thinking about pulling out the gold and restitching in a darker gold.

Next up is sewing news. 

I finally made my blocks for our quilting group Christmas party.

I'll show you those after the party.

I cut out and sewed a new knit shirt. 

I'd show you but it's sitting on the machine waiting for a hem.

I love mixing up the textures of knits.

This is a raglan top with the stripes for the sleeves.

I pulled fabrics finally for the new Quiltville Mystery Frolic.

It took me a while to decide on my fabric.

I'm using stash and I have almost no blues at all.

I have lots of purples so that's what I'm using.

I thought about using bright yellow since I have very few aquas.

Daughter Crystal and I went mystery fabric shopping and

I decided to buy 1 piece of aqua and use that.

I did add a few more purples and of course I had to add to my neutral stash.

These aquas were put back in the bin.

I'm happy with my fabrics. 

I have not quilted anything since Hawaiian Sunset 1845.

I've made backs and now need to have a basting party.

I pulled out some little Churn Dash blocks to use as leader/enders 

and decided to finish making up these blocks 

so I can get them turned into the top I have designed in my head..

Of course it's not fun until the seam ripper comes out. 

It seemed like everything I touched that day had to be taken out and redone. 

Farm News

Hubby decided he wanted to hatch out some chicks.

He put 22 eggs in the incubator and we now have 19 babies.

We had a raccoon problem and lost quite a few of our hens.

The kids have fun with the names.

In this group are Peanut Butter, Peanut, Peanuts 1-5, Banana Split, Turtle.

Honestly I only know Peanut Butter because she is the only red chick. 

Always fun on the farm.

Until next time........

Design Wall Monday

I think I may have went in to my sewing room twice all week.

Not to sew but to get something!

We had a very full week of family stuff and adventures.

So the only sewing time I had was in the evening.

I made some great progress on basting my diamonds.

I need to cut more.

 This was where I was last week.

Now row 2 of my pencil box is almost stuffed.

I think I'll be able to put 3 full rows in there.

Then I may start stitching a few of them together.

I have a wedding coming up on Saturday 

so of course I need a new outfit.

I have a pretty good knit fabric stash but 

choosing which fabric to use is sometimes hard. 

I sent this picture to my daughter-

the one getting married-

and had her choose. 

Pretty sneaky aren't I?

I decided to make the Origami Tunic from Love Notions.

That's my plan for today and tomorrow.

See what other quilters are doing at

Small Quilt and Doll Quilts Design Wall Monday.

Design Wall Monday

We spent last week at the beach with family.

Loads of fun for 3 days and then it was very quiet.

So I pulled out Wild & Goosey and started sewing block parts together.

I need to take more scraps with me next time we go for more variety,

We came home Friday and on Saturday,

I set up my outside office.

I printed 2 more patterns so I bound the instructions and glued the sheets together.

Then traced and cut out for my size.

I started with Patterns for Pirates Grampa Cardigan.

I had gotten this fabric on the clearance table at JoAnn's.

I sewed it up that night and know where to make my adjustments.

It is a wearable muslin.

Very soft and drapey.

I need to topstitch and hem and I think I'll add patch pockets.

Sunday was hot so I hid in my sewing room for a while.

I love Doug Leko's new mini Simple Folded Corner ruler.

I got mine in the Quiltville store when I ordered some other things.

It was fun using it on these spools. 

I need to do some work on that red one.

It's not quite right.

Anyhooo, all the blocks for the 30s Saturday Sampler are finished.

Time to cut some sashing and cornerstones and a couple borders and the binding.

Another step closer to busting this UFO.

All the blocks I'm going to make for Triangle Gathering are complete.

This final one will be made into quarters for the 4 corner blocks for the outside border. 

I'm ready to lay these blocks out and sew this into a top.

Now I need a new leader/ender project.

I've been wanting to make another Chunky Churndash.

I made this one in 2007 so it's time to make another.

 I love a good plan. 

Check out great Design Wall Monday posts that are linked up to 

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts Design Wall Monday.

Design Wall Monday

There wasn't much quilting happening around her this past week.

We made a quick trip to the beach on Tuesday, 

attended 4th grade graduation Friday,

helped put on a big picnic and our son got married on Saturday.

On Sunday I barely moved.

Wednesday and Thursday I sewed. 

I have a pretty fabulous knit fabric stash.

If you are in the market for some nice knits,

check out Knitpop.

I made myself some  2 new tops.

The camo top was my tester the week before.

I really like Love Notions patterns.

These are all from the Rockford Raglan pattern.

I also have made several Laundry Day Tees.

I'm a big gal and I love my shirts to be flowy, not showy!

Today we head back to the beach for several days.

There will be some block construction happening there.

Check out the quilters that are actually working on quilts this week at

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts Design Wall Monday.

Design Wall Monday

I guess I am on summer vacation from quilting. 

Not much sewing machine action has been happening.

I did make myself another pair of pants.

 I've tweaked the pattern just a little tiny bit more.

I also cut out another pattern for woven fabrics.

I'll test that out on some pajama pants.

In the meantime,

I discovered this great bin in the school supply isle at Walmart.

(Really Crystal told me about it.)

It is perfect to hold all of my Mischief Quilt parts and pieces.

I've only sewed this much on the next rosette in the last 2 weeks.

Now it's front and center to take to the beach for outside stitching on nice days.

I've also been hanging out with these people.

Too bad the other boys weren't around for a picture.

I love that Stellie (middle) idolizes Mae (left) and 

that Corbin is her cousin, not her friend! 

But really he is her friend too. 

The workings of a 5 year old mind!!

I'm hoping to spend some time in front of my sewing machine over the next couple of days.

Then it's back to the beach for us. 

We have some fence to build.

Check out all the fabulous design walls at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

Enjoy your summer!

Design Wall Monday

 The Mojo Has Returned

I found my mojo at retreat and thank goodness it has stayed with me!

I've got all my parts for Midnight Flight sewn together.

I think.

You know I've miscounted something but

I have lots of extra fabric so it's nothing to get panicky about.

I'm working on block quarters now from the kits I have made up.

I have a nice stack of them. 

Ooohh, I see a frinckle I need to check out.

I think I'll take some TV time this week and finish kitting up the quarter blocks.

A few more blocks were added to Oklahoma Backroads as leader/enders.

Along with block sewing, there has been some t shirt sewing!

I love the Laundry Day Tee and how it fits me.

Next project is making the dreaded pants pattern that fits.

I can do it!

Check out Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

Quiltathon Day 2

Yellow walls and florescent light, yuk!

My quiltathon isn't going as planned.

I decided to spend some time with my Laundry Day Tee pattern.

I taped my pages together,

traced out the size I needed.

Put my master pattern underneath,

marked the adjustments and drew out my final pattern.

This fabric came from Walmart.

It's a nice knit.

Not as nice as Knitpop  or Love Adore but it's nice.

It was a super easy sew.

I love that it is all the seams sewn on the serger.

I really love using the coverstitch for the topstitching.

I need to hem it this morning.

Maybe I'll make that quilt back today.

Or maybe I'll make another Laundry Day Tee!

It's still early.

Design Wall Monday

2017 UFO Busting continues.

This table runner is finish number 6.

This is from July 2009.

I put it away and promptly forgot where I put it.

 I thought it was gone forever.

Recently I opened a bin to get something else out and there it was.

How long had it been since I had opened that bin?

I asked on Facebook which color binding I should use.

I even posted pictures of a few selections but no red.

Only because I didn't have any that looked good with these repro prints.

Thousands of Bolts to the rescue again!

I finished and wore another new shirt.

I made a design chance,

then neck too low for my comfort so I added a piece of lace.

After wearing it, 

I'll take the lace off and rework the neck.

I have enough fabric to combine with another piece 

and I'll use the lace on that one.

My plan to work on this month's UFO was put on hold.

I chased a squirrel instead.

This is The Mischief Quilt.

I wrote my story here.

I see some great links at Patchwork Times Design Wall Monday.

I think I'll chase a few squirrels. 😀

Design Wall Monday

There's not much to talk about his week. I sewed another t shirt and have another partially sewn and another cut out and waiting. I forgot to take any pictures. I love that they don't take long to sew. Simple front, back and 2 sleeves. Easy peasy and they fit and don't shrink up to show off my tummy.

 I don't know what happened but I decided to clean my sewing room. EEEKKK! That room was a scary place and now it's even scarier. But I'm making good progress.

Really I do know what happened, I read a Facebook post where a woman was given all of a friend's stash. It was an OhMyGoodness moment for me. I needed to get my stuff in order.

In the evenings there has been hexi work. Lots of basting. I've added a few more sections to my On The Road Quilt. I'll lay it out when the row is complete for a picture. I discovered I need to make lots more neutral blocks. 

The t shirts have to be finished first. That's a good project for this rainy, rainy day. I'll put in an hour or so more time cleaning, because I have a few piles to sort through still. Then I'll sew and sew and sew... (that picture is an old whoopsie, haven't done that it a while so I better pay attention.)

See what others are working on at Patchwork Times Design Wall Monday.

Design Wall Monday

After finishing Grand Illusion,

(4th finish this year!!)

I decided to get to that pile of t shirt knits.

Shirt one is done and after another press it will be ready to wear.

I've discovered a new online fabric shop.

Knitpop, they sell knits.

Really nice knits.

I may have already ordered a couple of times.

With my design wall empty and my machine clear,

I'm going to spend time with my serger and my ball point twin needles 

and make myself a few more shirts this week.

See what others are doing at Patchwork Times Design Wall Monday.

Quiltathon-Day 4

Crappy cel phone picture edition. 

I need clothes. After finishing Grand Illusion-except for that little bit of binding to finish, I decided to do some sewing for myself.

 I have a stack of t-shirt knits to sew up. My pattern is almost tweaked to a perfect fit. So today I decided to get busy and cut and sew a shirt. I don't know where my brain was but the neckband is awful and has to come off. Honestly, this is not my first t-shirt. Just the first in a while. I'm pretty excited to sew on knits for the next few days.

So tonight after we go out to dinner, I'll take that band off and finish the binding. It's been a great quiltathon. I already know what I want to work on next month.  Thanks Judy L. 

Design Wall Monday

I spent some time this week working on my Splendid Sampler blocks. I have the 2 embroidery blocks to finish and the new block from Sunday and I'll be all caught up. Hopefully before the new block comes out on Thursday.

I got my first t-shirt finished. I still need to teak the pattern just a bit but I really like this one. It has a black back. Like I said before, that pile of knits is going to be use up. Mixing fabrics has never been a problem for me. LOL

I also worked my scrap problem...I was looking for a certain piece of fabric and while digging, I decided to make a pile of cut it up fabric. So there are new tumblers, strips and strings along with enough backing squares for another quilt as you go string quilt. With the Sampler blocks, several sets of 2 tumblers were sewn together waiting to be mixed in with the new fabrics.

It was a good week in the sewing room. See what others are working on at Patchwork Times. I was quite excited to see Judy L is sewing again.

April Scrap Busting Plan

I have a Grand Plan.
(Don't I always!!)

I really, really want to get my scraps and my stash under control.

For April, I plan to use up this stack of t-shirt knits.

In my past sewing life, I made clothes.

Lots of clothes for me and my kiddos.

Jeans, western shirts, t shirts, shorts, pjs, cute undies, cute dresses...

Right now I am in desperate need of new shirts.

I hate to go shopping for clothes so it's time to get this done.

And I want to free up that space the basket of fashion fabrics is taking up.

I love sewing with my serger so this gives me a lot of serger time.

(Can you believe my spell check didn't include the word serger?!? I does now!)

The bottom knit is already a shirt.

It is my "muslin" for fit.

It's not too bad,

I'll wear it around home or to sleep in.

I'm excited to use these up.

This morning I'm listening to the latest Quiltcam.

She read an email from someone that was cutting with her Go Cutter.

The light bulb in my head turned on bright.

I put Bonnie on pause and got out my own cutter and small tumbler die.

I need more variety in my tumbler boxes and while making string blocks, 

I found a nice bunch of fabrics in my string bin that were too big to turn into strings.

It's time to get working on my tumblers again.

They will not be my focus this month but will be ready when I'm ready to work on them.

This morning I will finalize my basic t-shirt pattern

and maybe cut out a couple more shirts.

It's fun to have a plan.

And now I must get to it!