Retreat News

Someone has a sense of humor. This is the sign on the outside of the big horse barn. There is a room off the back side of the barn where we sew, laugh, eat, laugh, sew.... Sometimes there are several horses in the barn but this past weekend, there was very little activity. There was only one class held so the horses were outside.

I got to the camp nice and early on Thursday so my dear, dear friend Sonya could go to the sale at a quilt shop that is closing it's doors. We expected people to start arriving around 9 am but no one showed up until after one. People started to arrive and the chatting and sewing began.

Before everyone got there, I had a nice long stretch of time to sew. It's amazing how fast time goes by when you get to do what you want to do without being interrupted.

I spent my time working on my pink and brown BOM from the Carol Doak Yahoo Group. It took me most of the day but I like how it turned out. After that, I worked on more paper peicing. Then on Friday, I worked on a flannel quilt I had all kitted up and when those blocks were done, I finished putting together my black and white circle/star quilt top from the November retreat.

There was a lot of dah, tah, tah, dahs going on. Show and tell was fabulous. I am always amazaed at the different styles of quilts and quilters.

It was great spending time with Crystal--thanks Mike for being an awesome person/husband/dad--doing something that we both love doing.

I have lots more I want to say about the retreat but the laundry is calling .

Happy Anniversary To Us

Has it really been 35 years? Are you sure? For real? When did we get that old? I don't feel that old, not today anyhow. Aren't the roses beautiful. One for each year and one for the next. He's pretty sweet isn't he.

I wanted to go to the beach but it was a nice day and we had things to do here so we stayed home most of the day. Hubby worked on tearing down the old barn and I worked on quilting this top. Then we went to Costco (I needed to have a car seat there---rude people beware!) and out to dinner with Crystal and Mike and Elliot in their new vehicle--is it a car, van, Mommy Missle--what do you call it.

The barn is almost gone (I forgot to take pictures!) and the quilt top is now a quilted quilt with the binding sewn on and needing the final stitching. It turned out pretty darn cute, I think. I love the paisley border and used Not Quite Paisley pantograph by Jodi Beamish. I told you I love her pantos and of all the designs I have, I use hers 95% of the time. If you click on the links, they take you to my favorite shopping center. I love buying from Columbia River Quilting. Great service, speedy shipping and pretty good prices.

This is the Four On the Road Quilt that I started last November at our retreat--it isn't that old of a UFO--and now I can take it this year as a completed quilt. YeeHaw! I have a second quilt loaded and one row has been quilted. It was also in the project bag and will be a donation quilt. I used scrappy 9 patches set on point with quarter square triangles. The back is scrappy 10" squares and I am using up all my mismatched bobbins. I used my odd colored bobbins when I pieced the top so it is truely scrappy.

The final picture is hilarious. One boy, an old bike helmet, a brand new toy. The helmet is more fun than the tape measure. I should have sent it home with him.

Catching Up

I made a promise to myself to post a little more often and every time I think about it, I find something else to do. The past couple weeks have been tough for me. I'm on the up hill side now and I'm seeing daylight and getting some stuff done.

I participated in an online block swap after several years of not playing. We make blocks that represent Washington state. My block for this year made me crazy. I have had this block in my brain for several years (I'll post a picture after the blocks have been sent out.) and I finally drafted it out and made my sample. It's a nine patch but each part is pieced......know what I mean. I couldn't get my blocks to measure 9 1/2" no matter what I did. I pressed, I steamed, I starched and steamed, I swore and pressed some more. They wouldn't budge.

I ended up taking every block apart and starting over. My 1/4" seam was off just a tinsie tiny bit and it threw every thing haywire! There was lots of naughty words and noises coming from my sewing room. After calming myself over and over and talking nice to myself, I finally got my blocks made the right size and sent off. Before the deadline too!!! And I love how they turned out.

I stopped at my favorite quilt shop today to buy some batiks for another swap with the same group and found the perfect border fabric for my Four on the Road quilt. I hope to get those on in the morning and then get it loaded and quilted. I want to have binding on by tomorrow night so I can sit and stitch it down while I watch TV. And have something to show at the retreat I'm going to next weekend.

Today our friend was here at the house doing some Home Improvement Projects. I got my hall lights done--one fixed and a new one added and new kitchen light installed. Tomorrow the new fan goes up in the living room and some electrical work will happen in the bathroom.

Remember hubby isn't a fan of the HIPs. But last Saturday he finally got a sink put in my laundry room/back porch. I only had to wait 20 years but now it's done. Pretty soon I won't have anything left to nag about. Maybe I should start a nag list.......

It's My Turn

Aflter spending my recent sewing time on obligations, I am taking time to sew for me. I finished quilting the purple split nine patch and I'm waiting for the binding fabric to dry. I kind of had an accident (not that kind!) and spilled on the fabric so I had to wash it. Needless to say, I am a bit embarressed about being clumsy but the dogs didn't laugh at me.

I got the quilt done about 10 this morning and then started doing things on my to do list--gotta have the list or things don't get done. I've been that way my whole life and I don't thing I'm going to change anytime soon. If something has to be done today, it needs to be on my list. The only thing left to do is to fold clothes and they can wait until we watch our movie tonight.

I watched Oprah yesterday and they repeated the bedbug show and I had the creepy crawlies so all the beds were stripped, matresses vaccuumed, bedding washed and all beds are remade. Then I vaccuumed up all the DJ hair and the threads from the sewing room. Now I am going to take my turn.

The middle photo is my project bag. I have a UFO box that is almost full. I decided that I need to pull a few projects from the box and put them someplace handy so I will work on them. I am going to start the oldest project which was started last November at our quilt retreat. It's the Four on the Road from quilters cache. It just needs borders but I ran out of stash background fabric that I wanted to make the inner border out of. I decided to use a different/similar fabric and get r done. It's aged long enough.

I'm having a hard time not picking the quilt sampler project but I'm saving that for the next retreat. I want to get these almost finished tops done. Then I am going to finish the black and white one. Better get to it.

Pomeroy House Quilt Photos

My Simple Life

Now that the Labor Day weekend is over and Ernie and Mike had a successful road trip from Arizona, it's time to get back to "normal". The moving truck is unpacked and Crystal, Mike and Elliot are settling in to their new home. I am ready to get back to my simple life.

This photo was taken at the Pomeroy Living History Farm last month. The Pomeroy Living History Farm is a non-profit educational museum depicting 1920's agrarian life in Southwest Washington state. The farm is open to the public the first full weekend of each month, June through September. Over twenty-five staff and volunteers dress in period costume and utilize living history as an interpretive technique to provide many hands on experiences for guests.

The pile of fence posts made me think of my childhood. Dad had a pile just like this somewhere on the farm. If my memory is wrong (which it is sometimes), then he should have.

Every year they have a Quilt Festival the first full weekend of August. Sonya, Gloria and I attended on Sunday. There were old quilts and new quilts. This years theme was Redwork. Well, needless to say, I had to jump on the band wagon and I have a Christmas wall hanging I am now working on. I love this place. I saw old friends and new friends and lots of eye candy. I even have an entry form for next year when the theme will be butterflies. What to do, what to do. (I tried editing this post to upload photos of an old quilt and a grouping of new redwork but blogger doesn't like my dial up.)

Today I will stay at home and work on a customer quilt. Its a purple split nine patch with a flannel back. I am using my newest pantograph on it with purple variegated thread. It's my first time using Maxilock thread on the long arm and it is working great. Not once have I shredded or broken thread. Oh but I'm only a quarter of the way and that was last night. It's time to see if the thread remains nice to me today.

Priorities

How do you like my handsome prince with his magic wand? (I'm sorry Mike, this is just too cute not to share.) He goes around the house blessing things. That's the only thing I can think he is doing cuz he isn't getting the cobwebs that are on the ceiling! And he isn't making everything nice and shiny clean and there are no piles of money or folded laundry anywhere to be found!

We made it home from Arizona. It was a challenging trip. I had issues with "people". We are walking through the Las Vegas airport. Crystal is pushing Elliot in the stroller, I am packing his car seat, we are walking side by side. We are on our way to the other side of the world for our connecting Southwest flight--that's another rant for another time maybe. I am not a small woman, I am packing a car seat. "People" can't see me! I am dodging "people" and finally decided I am not going to do that any more. I don't know how many "people" rammed into the car seat. Not one of them said excuse me or I'm sorry or I'm an idiot and I'm not paying attention to what's going on around me. It was kind of fun when they almost fell over and it made us laugh! Oh how I love "people".

This is my friend's BOB quilt. We named it BOB so we could remember which order the borders were to be put on. Black, Orange, Black. Well, I can only quilt up to 104 inches wided and BOB is 102"! BOB is a BIG boy! so he didn't get borders so he get black binding instead. He got the last of the quilting on him yesterday afternoon and BOB is now super dooper beautiful. Today he will get his binding.

I have been getting a little bit done. But mostly I have been visiting with my daughter, loving on my grandson and going on a little shopping trip or two. Yesterday we picked up Miss Taylor so Elliot would have someone new to chase around and this is her last long visit before school starts next week. My grandkids are growing too fast! We made a dash into Joann's and then out to lunch.

I'm out of here, I'm going to cut some binding and maybe get it stitched together and pressed before the household wakes up.

It's going to be super quiet here next week. Maybe I'll get a car seat and go to the airport!

Greetings (for the final time) From Arizona

I am happy to report that I made it to Marana. I am also happy to report that Crystal and Elliot will be coming home with me on Monday and Ernie will come down on the 31st to help move their stuff north.

Oh Baby, It's HOT, HOT, HOT! Yip, this is the desert. Right now, at 9:45 pm, it's 91 degrees outside. No Thank You Very Much! I like our cool nights.

It rained for a few minutes yesterday, put on a powerful thunder and lightening display. When it was finished, everything dried out and it got hot again. Sorry folks, this isn't like the Pacific Northwest and you can have your hot summers. I will miss the nice winter though. I guess if we wanted to, we could winter down here but I kind of doubt that we will.

Today Crystal, Elliot and I went to the nicest quilt shop. It's called Cactus Quilt Shop. We walked in and holy wow! Quilts everywhere, dolls everywhere, wall hangings, mini quilts. Fabric!!! Crystal wishes she had discovered this treasure a lot sooner. So do I! I left some money there today to make up for the times I didn't. Now I have a few more projects to add to the list. (The list is getting long!)

We came home, ate some lunch and then packed up a few boxes of treasured possessions. It really reinforced my plan never to move.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching Crystal pack up her fabric stash. I had my eyes wide open just in case she found a piece she didn't need or want. Brat Child, didn't want to part with anything! Guess I'll have to help her set up her new sewing space to see if she still loves everything.

I spent a little time this evening working on my redwork embroidery project. I haven't done any embroidery for a long time. I forgot how much I enjoy it. This is my first redwork project. And I am loving it.

Hopefully my little update will keep people (Mike) off my back. I am going to go read for a while, then sleep for a while. I think we have big plans for tomorrow.

Playtime

I've spent this morning playing on the computer instead of getting my other stuff done. I've been noticing all of the "signatures" on the blogs and of course, I want one too.

So I have my very own, not so original, signature that was created at My Live Signature . It's free and it's fun. What could be better than that??

I spent yesterday in front of my sewing machine working on some blocks for a swap. I love the look of black background but it sure is hard on my eyes. I have my little lamp set up by my machine and the extra light bounced off the white bed and drove me crazy. So I got out my featherweight which is black and couldn't buy a good quarter inch seam! I spent a good share of time ripping out what I had done and that puts me in a mood!

So I got myself some lunch, watched some mindless TV, went for a walk to the dumpster and the mailbox (2 more free samples!!!), chatted on the phone with Taylor and then went back to the Viking in a better mood. (I'm going to work with the featherweight today and get that 1/4" seam allowance marked!) I have all my blocks done until I get some more of the dreaded black fabric. I made a couple cutting errors (stupid lines on the ruler moved on me!) so I am about 5" lacking to complete my project.

Now I am off her to have myself a good day. You do the same!

Fun With Farbic

I am having so much fun being able to go to Quilt Party with Sonya on the first Thursday of the month. After Thursday's presentation on thread and needles, I left there totally inspired to play with my machine and my threads. But that will have to wait for a few days. I have more important work to do. The Miss needs new clothes for school and Gramma's in the mood to make some.

I left picked up Taylor and we headed for Joann's to get fabric for some school clothes. How much fun it is to shop with someone who loves everything. She loves fabric, "string" and zippers.

This is her cute dress made with a flower print batik and a crinkly hand dyed (well it looks hand dyed). She loves it. We have fabric for another dress and a shirt.

Then we spotted the denim on sale for 50% off. How could we go wrong there. We got some awesome shiny denim and then found some with pink stars embroidered all over them for short pants. Then we picked up a couple pieces for jeans. She is such a skinny minnie that it's hard to find jeans that fit her in the hips and waist and are long enough for her legs.

We had fun taking pictures. We tried to take some like Aunt Jen would but Gramma needs a better camera and lots more practice. Our outside pictures were the work of a soon to be super model.

Then I got started on my huge overflowing scrap basket. You know the one that you "are going to get to as soon as you have a few minutes". Then you cram more and more into it. I have run out of cram room! I needed a plan so I went to my 2 favorite people for inspiration and boy howdy did I find it. I can't do a complete redo like Patty did but I can get my stuff organized.

I read Patty's blog and Bonnie's Scrap Users System and couldn't wait to get started. I have a garbage can of itty bitty pieces, a big bin full of strings and my rubbermaid containers are all nice and neat on their shelf full of their fresh cut pieces. Oh, I still have a half a basket to cut up but it isn't cram packed like it was and I should be done with it Sunday or Monday. Heck maybe even tonight. Who knows!

Another Finish

I went to bed last night thinking of quilting. I know not to do that. The night is extremely short when I do. I heard Hubby leaving at 4:45 this morning and I was wide awake soon after. I finished quilting this Quiltville Chunky Churndash yesterday. I trimmed it and it was laying on the quilting frame waiting for the binding to be put on.

If you recall from my May post, this is my quilt from our fall retreat Ugly Fabric Challenge. I've had the top finished and the binding ready for a few weeks and just needed to decide on a backing. Since I have been on a quilting frenzy, I just went to the stash, picked a piece of fabric, made a back, picked my pantograph, Rhapsody by Jodi Beamish, found a perfect verigated thread got it done.

When I went to Quiltville to grab the Churndash link, I looked at the picture of Bonnie's quilt and she had done Rhapsody on hers! I couldn't believe it. I love Jodi Beamish pantographs and when I am looking for a new one, I look at hers first. I just ordered a new one and am not so anxiously waiting for it to arrive. (But I have to wait to use it because the thread that is in that order is for my next project.)




The binding is stitched down by machine. When I did the Wicked Easy baby quilts, I found the perfect stitch to use for bindings. There is no one that recieves my quilts that cares whether the binding is finished by hand or by machine. And if they do care, they don't get to keep the quilt! So there! I am all about getting my pile of tops made into quilts and this is the fastest way for me to move on to the next top.

The mail will be here in a few hours, hopefully my package with the thread will be there. I am now going to get the backing loaded on for Sonya's BOB quilt. Then I will work on something else until the mail comes. What if my package isn't there.......not to worry. I have other things to work on.

Time to get started on something else. Maybe I'll put some clothes in the washer before I forget that I have a few domestic things to do today!

UFO DONE!

This cute little lap quilt has been calling to me for a while. Yes, another project from Quiltville. It's called String-X and makes a nice little dent in the scrap basket. I think I have enough pieces cut for 2 more of this size.

I have been wanting to practice my ruler work on the machine. Oh boy oh boy, I need to continue the practice. The curves in the plain squares--I figured out how to do those really good by the last row!

On the border, I used my circle templates and the information from my video, Longarmed & Fabulous to do a border treatment that included turning the quilt. Good thing it was a small quilt. I almost gave up on it. In the inner border, I did my standard loppies. They are so fun to do.

On the X strips, I just did a wavy back and forth wiggle. It was fun. Lots more fun than the stitch in the ditch with the ruler. When your longarm quilter gives you "the look" when you tell her you want stitch in the ditch, there is a reason for that. Honestly, I don't mind doing it. I know I have to practice that a lot more.

I have a sampler top that I am planning to do lots of stitch in the ditch work and lots of free motion in the background. I am about ready to tackle that one. But it is at the bottom of my to quilt bin so it will wait it's turn. If I'm still in the mood tomorrow, I have another quilt to load on. Either one of mine or the famous BOB quilt--depends on when I get the fabulous thread for that one.

I know, 3 posts in one day. But I had a lot to say.........so until next time.....

PS-Dee & Taylor, this one is for me to keep. Love you.

Quilting Baby Quilts

I love quilting baby quilts. I think all baby quilts should have one side with flannel. There is just something so snuggly about flannel and babies.

The top picture is a quilt made by my friend Sonya for her son's friend's baby boy. Seahawk colors with no prints. That's what he wanted, and Sonya did a great job picking colors and fabrics. The lime green binding sets everything off perfectly. Cotton front and flannel back.

Quilt #2 is for same son, different friend. He wanted teddy bear colors. So Sonya picked teddy bears! She found the softest teddy bear flannel. It was so much fun quilting these 2 quilts.

Picture #3 are my 2 charity baby quilts. Both are made with the Wicked Easy pattern and flannel scraps from grandkid pajamas. It was fun showing these to the grands and listening to them remember their pj's. Ian told me he still wears his pj bottoms from 3 years ago.....they must be shorts by now!

I sewed the backings together, loaded them on the frame, layed down the batting and then the seperate quilt tops. Then I just meandered my way across. It didn't take long to get these 2 quilted. I put the binding on them right away and then used my fancy sewing machine to finish the binding. 2 done with 1 more of these to finish and a box of girly flannel for 3 or 4 more.

I just follow the cutting guide lines for the size of scrap I have and stack the pieces. After a while I count what is in the stack to see what piles need what. When my scraps are gone, I sit down and start sewing the blocks. The fun part comes when I have the blocks finished and I need to sew the blocks together. What a fun quilt to make. I can't wait for these to find their loving owners.

My Fun Saturday

Did you know there is an event (not just) for guys that is almost like Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show? There is! Its the Great Oregon Steam-Up. This is the 37th year, July 28 & 29, August 4 & 5. 62 acres of heitage powered equipment. It is entirely maintained and operated by volunteers. Lots of eye candy for the menfolk! It is located just west of I-5 exit 263 in Brooks Oregon.

We went yesterday. I enjoyed spending the day with hubby while he drooled over the John Deeres and other old and new tractors. There is also a Caterpillar Museum and its a good thing there is.

We have an old Cat D7. Her name is Charlene. (I figured if he was going to spend so much quality time with her, she had to have a name. She's lived here for so long that now she is considered family.) She needed a new magneto--all I know is that it is something that helps start the pony motor that starts the Cat. We found 2 guys that work on them and then we found Guy 3 that had a brand spanking new one in a box ready for us to take home to Charlene. But......

Guy 3 wanted to be sure it was the right one. We go over to the Cat Museum and right there inside in low light is a cousin to Charlene! Hubby climbs up on him, and there is the magneto with the numbers all dark and tiny. The numbers are angled so you can't see them very well but with sheer determination, the numbers are spotted, the part is listed on Guy 3's product list and Hubby is happy.

Go back to Guy 3 to buy magneto. No, he doesn't take Visa and we have no checks with us and not enough cash. Let's go find a cash machine. And bless the Great Oregon Steam-Up, they have a cash machine right there by the main office. Get the cash, got back to Guy 3, buy the mag, head for home. Good thing too cuz my dogs are barkin and its getting hot outside and I want to quilt.

After we get home, Hubby goes out and talks nice to Charlene. She's been parked for a while and needs a bit of TLC before she fires up and moves some dirt. After a couple hours, I go out to see what is happening and I smell fresh dirt. I now all is well.

Hubby is happy, Charlene is happy and I have to apologize for wanting to call in the scrappers to take her away. I'm sorry Charlene. You can live here forever.

Next weekend is a quilt show at Pomeroy House. I should make Hubby go with me before we go to the family reunion! No, I'll go on Sunday with Sonya.

Dear Mike and Elliot,

Please forgive me. I did not mean to hurt your itty bitty feelings. Of course I want you to move up here. I am an insensitive boob. I am so very sorry. You know I worship the ground you walk on. And Mike, I kind of like you too.

Dear Blog Readers,
Evidently my darling son in law has his feelings hurt because in my last post, I neglected to include Mike and Elliot. But is he pregnant and needing my help with packing and such??? I am now publicly apologizing to him. I must go now and give myself 40 lashes with a wet noodle.

Dear Mike,
I hope you will still be my friend. Because of my lack of sensitivity, I now have welts caused my a wet noodle. Are you happy!!!!!!!!!!


So, Dear Blog Readers, I will be going to Arizona in August to help Crystal, Mike and Elliot get ready for the move back home to Washington. I sure hope Mike isn't mad at me any more because I can't wait for the whole fam damily to be in Washington again where they belong.

Love you.

Fun at Gramma's

Here are Taylor, Ashlee, Ian and Amanda. Life is good at Gramma's house.

Jenny and the kids were here from Texas for a few days. I had breakfast with them this morning as they were headed for the airport to go back home. Taylor had to come a spend a couple nights also. She misses them all. At night, my living room looked like a flop house with 3 kids sleeping on the floor and one on the couch. I had to share them with other family and friends so they only stayed here for 3 nights.

It sure is quiet now. Knowing they are so far away makes me miss them a bit more. So now I am going to go full speed ahead on some of my projects before I head down to Arizona next month to help Crystal move back up here.

I have a pile of quilts to do for a friend and a pile of quilts to do for myself. I am slowly making a dent in my "tops to finish" pile and adding them to my "tops to quilt" pile. On Monday, I quilted 2 baby quilts and finished the binding on them yesterday morning. Next up are 2 more baby quilts for my friend. I hope to get one of them loaded on the machine tonight so I can get going on it first thing in the morning.

I did stop at Joann's on the way home from breakfast. I got 2 dress patterns for Taylor, a blouse pattern for myself and I found a cute maternity pattern for Crystal. I still am shocked at how much patterns cost and thankful that Joann's has them on sale. I love a good sale at Joann's. I got a new quilting design packet for half price. I wish they had the thread I like to use on the long arm but they don't so I will just have to make do with what I have.

I'm off here now to finish putting groceries away and to fix hubby a fabulous dinner. snicker, snicker BBQ pork chops and ceaser salad. It does sound fabulous, doesn't it.

Sisters Quilt Show

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show , second Saturday of July, already marked in my day planner for 2008. What a day!

For the past 4 years, my friend Sonya and I have taken a bus trip over the mountain to Sisters, Oregon. This year was just as fasinating as the past 3. There isn't enough time in the day to see all the quilts. But there are a lot of talented photographers (not myself amoung them!!) that post their pictures on the web, so after a while we do get to see everything. So, thank you to all of you for sharing with all us.

Here are a few of my favorite quilts.

I come home just full of inspiration and awe. Oh the talent--the piecing--both hand and machine, setting, quilting--again both hand and machine, color seclection, design--you know what I mean. It still amazes me--all the talent displayed in one city.

I was also amazed at the people of Sisters. Our bus has a reserved parking space!!! Donna and her husband (sorry, can't remember his name) save 3 spots on their property to park tour buses. They open their home to strangers that need a cool place to rest, use their bathrooms, or just sit.

After the quilt show, we head out to a quilt shop where we are even more inspired. But I am hot and tired and still thristy. I did spend some money but I didn't get what was on my list--guess I will have to visit my local shops cuz you know I have to have what is on my list.

Now its time to head back to our side of the mountain. We do a stop at Safeway to pick up dinner and drinks. Vitamin water sure helped me. Glad I got that instead of the diet Pepsi that I really wanted!

Now I am going to get ready for my company that arrives tomorrow night. Jenny and the kids will be here for a few days and I can't wait to see them. Hopefully I'll stop by here and show you some of my favorite non quilt pictures from Saturday.

Until then, drink lots of water!

Happy July!!!

Holy Cow, when did that happen! Oh yeah, on Sunday. Retire and forget the date.......life is good.

I miss my company from last month but I'm looking forward to my company for this month. Crystal and Elliot went home last week. Jenny, Ashlee, Amanda and Ian will be here in 2 weeks!!! WooHoo! Poor Elliot must have caught a bug on the plane. Now Crystal has it, I have it, Mike is getting it. Ernie refuses to get it. You can see in Elliot's picture that he has the I don't feel good look. Poor baby!

I've been sewing (when I'm not blowing my nose!). I got my pj pants cut out, then took a break to work on this cute little box. I found the fabric on a remnant table and had to have it! I seem to be grabbing alot of orange and yellow fabrics lately. Someone needs a spash of color in her room. I also made my lotto block for Thursdays quilt party at Craft Warehouse. It is so much fun to go to quilt party.

Now if you are afraid of a fat belly and butt, don't look at the next pictures. I had Ernie take pictures so I could see where I needed to make changes on my pattern. I also need to have my online sewing friends look at these and give their advice. I can see alot of my tweeking spots by using this fabric. I can see my pucker and pull lines and see where I needed to do more adjustments. Then I finished them up and wore them to bed last night. My next pair will have a sew on waistband instead of the hurry up and get them done fold over.

I now have another wearable muslin laid out ready to cut. This muslin will be a pair of capri pants out of a pink and purple print floral. That should be attractive, a big ole flower right on my big ole butt. But I am not going to make a trip to town to get some $1 a yard stuff when I have a mountain of fabric right here at home. If nothing else, I will make them into pj capris.

So on the front I cut the crotch curve a little deeper and took a bit more from the inseam. On the back, I also made the crotch curve deeper. I think I will put a couple darts in and add a zipper. That should take care of the waist frinkles.

I also got out my favorite book and looked through it again. If you are a full figured gal, you must have a copy of Rita Farro's book, Life Is Not a Dress Size. It is Rita Farro's Guide to Attitude, Style, and A New You. There is even a special section on sewing your own clothes. Not about fitting, just about the freedom to be your own designer. If you don't own this book, you are missing out on a great feel good about yourself book. I love it and read it often.

Happy Birthday America!!!!