Welcome to Gramma's Quilting Room.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Just Stuff



Meet Louie. He is the newest member of our family. We adopted him Saturday. Lacey, the stinker, brought him over to visit while we were all working on filling the woodshed. She "didn't want to leave him home all alone".

Lacey is pretty smart. She took this little guy in when the owner couldn't keep him anymore. She had asked a couple times if I wanted to take him but I have Tony who is still a wild thing and didn't want another. Then I see him. How could I not fall madly in love with him!!! Darn you Lacey, thanks! He is just the right fit for our family. DJ, the big dog, is really happy to have him around. Tony has someone to play with and will leave him be. Tony thinks he is a new toy!

The baby quilt is ready for the longarm. It turned out larger than I thought it would. I think my little great niece will like it.

I have some flannel that I intended to use for the back but now I have to go get some purple or pink. My original border fabric is now back in the stash. I think this is the perfect border for these blocks.

My next baby quilt is started and the next one is in the planning stages. I think I should just make up a stockpile so I am always prepared. Nah, that isn't any fun. I'll just wait until the pressure is on then I'll make a quilt.

The little chickens are starting to lay eggs. How eggciting! I kind of feel like a dork getting all excited over eggs but I don't care. I embrace my dorkiness.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Design Wall-Week 18



Week 18 brings a baby quilt to my design wall. I'm cheating and posting on Sunday evening instead of Monday. I want to be ready for my Quilt For An Hour.

My niece's baby is due to arrive any day now. And guess who is late with the baby quilt. Yeah, that would be me. The worst part is, this baby's sister is over 2 and is still waiting for her quilt. I have that one ready to quilt and this one will be ready to quilt soon.

My friend gave me a stack of 6" squares, so I paired them up and made magic 9 patches with them, put them into a baggie and put them away. One day, while searching for something else, I ran across them. I've had this plan in my head since that day. Today I got them out, trimmed them up and here we are. I'm still thinking about the border fabric. I have others to audition before my final decision. The backing is a bright yellow flannel with green, pink and purple splotches on it. Soft and cuddly.

Here are instructions for the nine patches using 2 squares of fabric. I can't remember on who's site I learned to do this. It was years ago and I want to say it was Billie Lauder but I can't find it on the www anymore.

Go visit Judy L at Patchwork Times and see what other quilters have on their design wall. I love Mondays. Again, thanks Judy for keeping this going.

I Can't Believe I'm Doing This!


I can't believe I'm doing this! I'm posting a picture of part of my stash. This is the most organized part, there is no way I will show you the rest. Not right now. I've been in the process of getting my sewing room like I want it for a very long time. On Friday, Crystal and Mike brought me a stack of totes to borrow so I could sort things the way I want them, get them out of the room, rearrange the way I want it and then fill it back up again.

Just in time for me, Judy L is having a Show Us Your Stash! challenge. There are lots of links to quilter's stashes. Of course I had to go look and I clicked on gardenpat's link. Let me tell you right now, I am so stinking jealous of her organization that I want to go in my room right this minute and pull everything out and start over. I've only looked at 3 stash links so far and I'm afraid to look at the rest of them. But I will! I need all the inspiration I can get right now.

But not today, we are going to work outside. Today is the last nice day for a week or so. The rain is returning to the Pacific Northwest. I'm kind of happy about that but kind of sad too. I want to be stuck in the house with no garden chores to do.

Today we will work again on the firewood. Yesterday, Doug, Lacey, Jonah and Elliot worked like demons. The boys-Jonah, 5 and Elliot, 3 1/2-learned to run the splitter with Poppy. Up and down the lever moved. Soon they knew when to push up and when to push down. Doug ran the chainsaw and the ax, while Lacey stacked it in the woodshed. I helped but felt very inadequate so I cooked lunch. Crystal took pictures for me and was our water girl until it was time to take the little ones home for naps. I think I should have been in charge of naps, I could have shown them how it's done.

So I'm hoping to get a big start on my room tomorrow. That's after I post what's on my design wall and do my quilt for an hour. There's a new club around the quilting world and I'm proud to be a member. I am a Judy L Junkie!

Friday, September 25, 2009

It's The Simple Things



What makes me happy? I love simple things. Yesterday, I repaired a stuffed snake for a cute little 5 year old. He called me to say thank you. I was giddy all evening. The little voice on the phone "Thank you for fixing my snake. He's beautiful."

This morning I completed Hour 5 of the Quilt For An Hour project that Judy L. has going on right now. I'm calling this my I'm not starting anything new project. I already know how I'm going to quilt this. And the best part, everything is from my stash. That makes me happy.

The other day, I looked out my window and saw my chickens all flocked around the chairs we sit in (after cleaning) to watch the garden grow. I'm always happy when I collect the eggs and say thank you to the girls for their hard work.

There are oodles of other things that make me happy. These are just drops in my happiness bucket. What makes you happy?

Monday, September 21, 2009

Design Wall-Week 17


What's on my design wall today? Nothing! Well there are those threads that refuse to come off but they don't count any more.

Judy L at Patchwork Times is starting a Quilt For An Hour today. My wall is empty patiently waiting for my hour 1 progress. I don't think I've ever been this ready for an "I'm not going to start anything new!" project. It's been a bit of a dry sewing spell and I'm ready to jump in with both feet.

The photo is of Adorable Granddaughter Amanda. She was bored this weekend and all of the offers she got to stop her boredom were for chores. Gramma rescued her from chore doom.

The last time she was here, we watched the new Mrs. King's Gallery Basket DVD. So she wanted to try her hand at making a basket. Here she is hard at work. After she got started, I think the only time she talked to me was when she needed help threading the needle or filling the bobbin. She sewed and sewed and sewed. We had to take a break when Grampa took us out to dinner. Then it was back to the machine. She finished her bowl Sunday morning and made a second smaller bowl. I totally forgot to take a picture of her with her bowls! (Hopefully someone with take pity on her mother and take a picture and send it to her. That's a hint for you Jen!) It thrills me beyond anything that my granddaughters love to be creative.

Now I must close. I need to do a couple of quick chores so I can Quilt For An Hour. Skip over to Judy L's and see what everyone else has on their wall.

Friday, September 18, 2009

A Few Minutes Today



Today I set the timer so I wouldn't forget to come out of the sewing room. I don't like setting the timer. I wanted to spend all day in my hidie hole. But I couldn't. I had a few errands to run this morning so I did those first thing--I can put off errands for days........

After I got home, I took the dogs for a walk and then had to decide which to do first, sew or chores. Yes, sewing won out. I made my Stashbuster BOMs. The left side top and 2nd down are this month's blocks. The 3rd done down is the result of my cutting mistake. But I like it and the block fits into the quilt so I'm keeping it. It is my quilt after all. I need to start thinking about sashing and borders for this quilt. I better put some fabric swatches in my purse.

Poor Tony puppy is exhausted after our walk. This is a good thing. Sleep for a while. I don't care if you are on the couch. Just sleep!

We have discovered we have 2 roosters. I guess that's what happens when you buy baby chicks, they can say you have hens but they tell you there is a 10% chance you'll get roosters. I think we might have 3 out of the 10. Hmm, what to do. So far Manly Stanley is a very loud little man and Rodney the Rhode Island Red has yet to find his voice. I hope I have the pleasure of hearing him when he starts to crow because it is hilarious!

Life on the farm is good today.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

I'm A Winner!


I have a list of several blogs that I love to read, sometimes I even leave a comment. (Comments are nice! Even if it's just a short little note that says Hi, I was here. )

One of my favorites is the blog of Sue Hecker. She has categories for every day of the week. One day she had a contest to guess what fair food on a stick she ate. Well, you know I had to enter my guess. I didn't win first prize, but my number was chosen in a random draw for the second prize. How awesome. Thank you Sue. The Gypsy Rose by Fig Tree Quilts jelly roll is gorgeous. (The link for the jelly roll shows the fabrics.)

I've won a few things recently (Fat Quarter Bingo!!-woohoo) and feel my luck may be used up. I think that very well could be the case--see yesterday's post.

Go over and visit Sue, she has an awesome website and blog. Thanks Sue.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Good Day/Bad Day


Ever have one of those days? I'm having one today.

Good Day: Today is our 37th anniversary. Yeah for us. Ernie brought me home 3 dozen roses. I love getting roses. Love it! Thanks Babe.

Here's to 37 more years. We have had some very good times and some very tough times. I think most marriages have those. We raised 4 children into awesome adults that we are very proud of. We are at a comfortable place in our lives right now and it feels good.

Bad Day: Not totally bad, just ughhhh, kind of bad. I've spent so much time in the kitchen and not the sewing room that when I do sit down to sew, it seems I sew thing together wrong! 3 different projects, 3 different goofs!

When I photographed the blocks for the Design Wall post, I saw I had one of my HSTs wrong. Today, when I should have been in the kitchen but don't want to be, I hung the top with the blocks sewn together and yip, right there I see where my 6 blocks are sewn together wrong. The center should be backgrounds, not the colors. The importance of the design wall is jumping out at me. I will leave this up on the wall and work on it to make it right.

Tomorrow, our sewing at Marian's day, I will spend time with my seam ripper. First is the BOM that need 2 blocks taken out and then sewn into the right places because it is now haunting my dreams. Second is the Carol Doak wall hanging I started to put together and put a piece in the wrong spot. Quick redo on that one. I should have both of these right again before I leave her house.

I should..........but will I??? Now I probably should get back to kitchen duty.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Design Wall-Week 16

3 little monkeys jumping on the bed, one fell off and went to find his dog food. Tony had played long enough.
Elliot and Clella spent the night Friday night so their parents could go out on a real date. They got up extra early on Saturday morning so Poppy layed down hoping that Clella would go back to sleep for a couple more hours. They made it an hour-Elliot and I snuggled up on the couch. Then it was game on. Poppy was the best toy of the day.

About noon, I went up to have lunch with friends at the quilt retreat that I had to pass on.
(After a couple emails and comments, please know my grandchildren did not have anything to do with me missing the retreat. Although, I would miss anything if my family needed me.)
After watching show and tell, I was inspired to sew. So I grabbed my basket of leader and ender half square triangles and started putting together more depression blocks. I assembled 6 more blocks and have lots more HSTs to be put together. I am almost ready to call this a complete top and add some borders and get it quilted. I also just discovered there is a mistake in the top right block! At least I spotted it now.
On Friday afternoon, I also went visiting at the retreat. I was feeling quite pouty about not being able to be there with my friends. Then I came home and worked some more on this quilt top. After it has hung up there for a while, I see that I have a couple squares out of order. This is supposed to be a calendar quilt. I was going to leave it alone but now it's driving me crazy. So I have some unsewing to do before I go forward. I think I like the border corners. Something simple. I'll use the gold for the binding because I don't have enough of the brown.

Head over to Patchwork Times to visit Judy L and to see what everyone else has on their design wall. I love Design Wall Monday.

Monday, September 07, 2009

A Fish Tale


A four day weekend results in 4 days of fishing. 2 fish brought home, 1 day skunked and 1 day lost "the biggest salmon I've ever seen!"

I stayed home where it was warm and dry.

Design Wall-Week 15



Where has the time gone? Week 15 of Judy L's Design Wall Monday. Be sure to check out what everyone is working on. I have no idea which order these pictures will publish in so I'll just chat and you can find the picture. :-)

Me, I cheated. I pulled a Thimbleberries UFO out of the bag that it has been in the box for a couple years and put it on the wall. I shouldn't say I'm cheating because I actually plan to work on this quilt during the week. My friend Sonya gave me these blocks and I feel like a rotten friend for not finishing this quilt. A few months ago I went to the quilt shop with the blocks and bought sashing and border fabric so I have no excuse. I put this UFO on my list for the small online group challenge and this number was pulled for August. I have 3 days until the next number is called. I've been doing pretty good getting those projects done or to a place where I can put them on the list for the next step like I did with the row quilt. (quick note--the blocks are printed, not embroidered but they sure look like they are)

The 2 blocks are the beginning of a BOM for the same small group. We are each taking a turn to choose a 9" block. I have decided to use one or 2 white background fabrics and my scrap basket. So far, so good. I am waiting for Stashbusters to post the next 2 BOMs so I can still be caught up with them.

The wagon full of produce--that needs to be taken care of this morning. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we celebrate 3 day holiday weekends with rain. We had mega rain storms this weekend and it beat my garden up pretty good. The roma tomatoes are so heavy that if the rain could hit them, they were knocked to the ground. Cherry tomatoes are spit wide open but I'm going to try to save most of them.

I am going to make another batch of pickles, put the tomatoes on to cook for sauce, zucchini chunks will go in the dehydrator and carrots will be eaten. I have to take some of the goods over to my dad's so I can borrow the pressure cooker. I think it's time I learn to use one. But I'm going to borrow before I buy.

Hubby just called and has landed a nice fish so I need to get busy before he gets home. Fresh fish and tomato salad for dinner. Yumm (I took a picture of this awesome fish and will post it later.)

Saturday, September 05, 2009

A Few Minutes A Day


Since September is National Sewing Month, I decided it was time for me get sewing again. Just a few minutes a day makes me feel good and I can get a lot done after a while. 2 finishes this month makes be pretty happy. And it's only the 5th. I can only imagine what I can do if I keep up this pace. But who am I kidding??? I know me.

One day while cruising through blogland, I found the cutest wall hanging. I follwed the link to Jenny of ELEFANTZ. Jenny has offered this stitchery free on her blog (link to it on her side bar) and I have seen it on several blogs. I haven't done embroidery for a while and I was ready for a tv time project.

Once I got started, it went pretty fast. A few stitches (or more) each evening and the blocks were finished. I already knew I was going to change up the borders and yesterday I started the borders. After stitching the pieced borders across the top and bottom, I took them off. This morning I added 2 background strips and then the pieced borders. I was very happy with that. I got out the backing fabric, batting and pin basted it. I started stitch in the ditch and all of the sudden, I was ready to add binding. I had planned to stitch the binding down tonight while in front of the tv but couldn't wait to get it finished.

The border pieces were leftovers from Ashlee's quilt that was finished in March. There are still a few pieces left and they will become another project and anything after that goes into the scrap basket. Now I must go dust my Party Lite houses and shelf. I probably should have done that before taking the picture. Embarrassed!!! But gee, I have sewing to do.

Thursday, September 03, 2009

It's A Great Day When...

...you can sneak in some time to sew!

Finally, I took the time to sit down in front of my sewing machine. She's been lonely, we missed each other. I needed to finish something, anything. So I looked in my box and found this wall hanging. I didn't write this one on my UFO list and honestly, I don't remember if I made these blocks this year or last. Doesn't matter now, it's hanging in my bathroom.

The top was finished, the backing was cut and so were the binding strips. I wonder what the delay was...maybe another great project that couldn't wait to be started. (Aren't they all that way??) I pin basted it, set up my sewing machine for a curvy line stitch and started sewing. Then I did some stitch in the ditch around the flower pots. I found a butterfly stitch, enlarged it a little, tested it a few times to get it right, changed to some iridescent thread and tested a couple more times. Then I stitched some cute little butterflies in the background fabric and added some tiny buttons to the flower pots.

This one is done, done, done. I am happy, happy, happy. Now I must go take care of my tomato sauce that finished cooking and is now cool enough to put away. It truly is a great day!