Wednesday Work

Yesterday I proved to myself that I should not go back to bed after Ernie leaves. I wake up feeling like I have a hang over which I haven't had in so many years that I can't remember when it was. (One of those life lessons.) It seems like everything I did turned out wrong. I made a backing for the Framed 9 Patch quilt top and when I was finished and folding, it looked wrong. I measured it and yikes!!! Who read that tape measure?? I walked away.

When I went outside to do some things, I locked the door. Why? I don't know! After the panic was over, I went to the front door and it was unlocked. Time to hide a key outside. I hope I can remember where I hide it. Later in the day, I was reaching for a jar of brown sugar, dropped it and broke it all over.  See what I mean!!  About the only thing I did right yesterday was make a good dinner-if you don't count the under seasoned rice. 

This morning I decided to get an early start on things.  I went in to the sewing room and fixed the backing. I then pieced some batting scraps.  Next I decided how I want to quilt this and wrote it on my note for this quilt. I pulled out my threads and wound some bobbins.  It is now ready for the basting table later today.

Binding Friends has been cancelled for today. BooHiss.  I decided I need to go to Costco and this would be a good day since I had already planned to be gone.  My list is ready.  Now I need to get ready.

It's 8 am here and this has already been a good Wednesday Work day. Let's all cross our fingers that it continues to be.

While The Cat's Away...

My Cat-Ernie-is gone this weekend on a halibut fishing trip.  

The Mouse--me--is playing.

On his way out of town,

he dropped the beast off at the spa.

Instead of a weekend full of quilting tops from Mt. ToBeQuilted,

 I came up with a new plan-

finish more tops.

I had put my Ambassador machine in this cabinet a few weeks ago

with the intention of sewing in the living room in front of the tv.

I don't have a tv in my sewing room.

I had yet to open it until this weekend. 

I have done so much while Ernie has been gone.

I make a list of 3 household to do projects, 

hurry and get them done so I can sew without guilt.

Project 1 was to finish this top.

I had made a mistake on row 6 while at retreat and had already taken the row apart.

I thought maybe the other rows were wrong too 

but I waited until row 6 was sewn back together and checked them.

Thank goodness they were all good and no more un-sewing had to happen.

This is now a top with the backing and binding selected, waiting to be quilted.

Town Square is is ready for inner and outer borders.

I love this, it's so bright and happy.

What will happen today?

I have a couple ideas....

but first I must take care of those 3 things on my list.

The Cat will be home tomorrow so this Mouse must get playing.

National Sewing Month-Days 19-23...

...And Retreat Report,

Design Wall Monday

And Staying With Grands

 The other day I said I sewed something that I couldn't show. It was this tote bag. I used a preview pack from Benartex and had a blast making it for our Greedy Gift Exchange at retreat. That is always so much fun and it made me feel good that so many wanted my bag. Jody took this home with her--does this make us even now?  

We spent Friday working on these bags. We used Gecko Delight (pattern here) and each of us made one to fit our personalities.  Mine is on the left and my table mate, Cheryl's is on the right. Cheryl cut out oodles of these butterflies and offered them to anyone that wanted them. Thanks Cheryl-it was so fun to sit with you.  I dug into my 1 1/2" batik chunks to create an even more scrappy band. I only had my featherweight with me and she did an awesome job. I hadn't used the walking foot with her before and she did beautiful. I will be making another bag and using my big machine and the decorative stitches that makes this bag so fun. 

Parade of bags. Aren't they great!  After the bags were finished, out came the Pineapple Crazy project. I finished 1 more border block and 4 pineapple blocks.  Each time someone gave me new scraps, I put them into the block immediately so old and new friends will be in my quilt.  

I spent Saturday morning swapping out strips.  This is one of my favorite things to do. I get to touch all the pretties and we each end up with such a fabulous assortment of new fabrics. We also did black and white strips but I forgot to take a picture.

Sunday morning I came home from retreat to unload the car of non-essentials, then repacked it to spend the next 4 nights with the grands while their parents went on a little vacation.  The only sewing since Sunday morning has been on my Circle of Jewels. I can still say I'm sewing everyday, Maybe later today I can get out my machine.  

As usual retreat was a blast. I have such great friends and being able to spend time with them doing what we all love to do, well does it get any better than that!

Last week's list of plans:

• Keep working on Tell It To The Stars  Over halfway
• Finish cutting Wishes and Friends and Companions blocks  All blocks are finished-Yippee!!
• Lay out next row for Circle of Jewels.  Done!
• Finish packing for retreat  Done!
• Attend retreat  Done and FUN!

Plans for this week:

• Recover from retreat and babysitting. :0)
• Get all retreat stuff put away.
• Tell It To The Stars
• Friends and Companions block for the week.

That's probably all I can get to.  Have a great week.

National Sewing Month-Day 18...

...And Retreat Report-Day 1

As usual, retreat is a blast! It is so much fun to spend this time with old friends and make new friends and finally meet online friends (Hey Mel!!!) I spent a good share of the day doing the TahDah. Each time a block was finished a TahDah was said. Yes, we are easily entertained.

I started the year out with good intentions. I made 2 blocks for the Wishes Quilt Along, put it away and when that happened, I was lost. Once in a while I would print the blocks to catch up but it just didn't happen. The other day I came across the bin and decided enough was enough. I finished printing the block instructions I needed and started cutting. My plan was to work on these 7 blocks at retreat and not stop until I had them all finished.  I am now caught up and can't wait to make the remaining blocks.  Another project to mark off the list.

All the while 9 patch leader/ender blocks were being made. I must have my leader/enders!

Next I pulled out my Pineapple Crazy.  One border block was made and half a pineapple block before I couldn't sew another stitch so called it a night. I came home and had a quick conversation with Ernie-who was asleep--sorry babe-and spent some time with the dogs and kittens before I went off into dreamland.

When I forget things, I send myself an email. 3 messages have been read and things gathered for another day a sewing, laughing and having fun. Today is more Pineapple Crazy and a group bag making project. This is going to be fun!!!

Design Wall Monday

Since it is National Sewing Month, I've been sewing every day. I hope to keep this up all month long. This week it helped that I had my list from last Monday or I would have been off on a wild goose chase. I did start out on a chase but pulled myself back onto my path.

This is last week's list:

• Finish the 2nd wall hanging.  Done
• The Hexi Quilt--baste, quilt, bind. Done
• Take SMM to Wednesday group and decide on a layout.  Done and ready to sewing into a great top.
• Sew some Pineapple Crazy blocks.  5 done (added the 6th to make a good picture)

This week's list:

• Work on Smith Mountain Morning
• Work on Tell It To The Stars
• Lay out next row for Circle of Jewels
• Baste UFO Parade project #2

These should keep me busy. If I get all this done, I'll work on more Pineapple Crazy blocks.

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

September Sewing-Day 3

I am using National Sewing Month as my excuse to sew every day this month.

I really like having my little list posted on Mondays.

On Monday, I set up tables on the deck and basted my hexi quilt.

I quickly basted the section that was in the sun and covered it up.

By the time I was finished, the whole quilt was shaded.

Then I started quilting until it was time for 2 1/2 year old Corbin to spend the afternoon. 

After he went home, I collapsed in the chair for the rest of the night.

I picked up the hexi box but all I did was open and close it.

After a very good night of sleep, 

Tuesday I quilted and quilted until it was done.

Added the binding and label, then settled down to stitch them down.

By the end of the day, 

I had a finished quilt. 

UFO Parade quilt 1 is marked off the list!

Simple somewhat straight line quilting in the ditch.

This morning I finished up my 9 patch wall hanging #2.

Wednesday is Binding Friends (sewing group) day and 

we laid out my Smith Mountain Morning blocks.

Darn me, I forgot to take a picture.

They are all pinned into rows but I'm not sure when I'll start sewing them.

I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings,

Working The List

In Monday's post, I made a short list of things I wanted to get finished this week.

I'm happy to say I've marked everything off my list and then some. 

This is the back for the lime green and brown quilt. 

Notice the pins?

The quilt is basted and ready to quilt.

Here are 6 blocks-3 months- for Tell It To The Stars.

I have 2 more months to do and I'll be caught up,

ready for September.

Can you believe that's only a few days away!

September!!! Already!

I got my brown stars sewn for Smith Mountain Morning.

Here are 11 blue stars laid out on my little design boards ready to be sewn together.

I used the brown blocks as leaders and enders for Tell It To The Stars.

Bonnie and Judy L working together. 

snicker, snicker

I'm going to a retreat next month so I made the lottery blocks.

These are Exploding Blocks from Missouri Quilt Company.

These were so fast and fun to make.

Now I want to wind bobbins, 

clean and oil my machine, 

insert a new needle

and start to play.