Little of this, Little of that

Last night, I decided that I should wash all those tea towels that I applique'd for Christmas gifts.  I had thought ahead of time to purchase some color catchers... into the washing machine they went.... color catchers ( 3) came out a pale pink after the washing was done.  Into the dryer next... this is what came out ( well, this is one of them)

After washing

Before washing

Out came the iron.... which got most of the wrinkles out.  Two of the Santa Claus towels needed some 'repair' work done because I didn't cover the seam with my applique' stitching as well as I should have.  All in all, they're not TOO bad... the recipients might have to iron them smooth again after washing a couple more times, but hopefully the 'stabilizer/backing' I used will soften up after that which should make the applique's softer and less likely to wrinkle as bad as they did this time.

This past Wed. I worked on the reversible apron for my oldest daughter... it's done except for the buttonholes and buttons.  Since I don't like the way "Marie" (my newer Janome) makes buttonholes, I'll have to haul out "Jan" ( my older Janome) to make these buttonholes... trying to figure out where I'm going to set it up is what's keeping me from getting the job done.... I don't want to move Marie... I keep thinking I could set Jan up on the kitchen counter, but haven't yet.

Today, I decided to wash, dry and iron the yardage of fabrics I'll be needing for my son's quilt top that I plan on starting Monday.

  I read over the directions again... there's only nine blocks, five of one and four of the other, BUT I would like it a little wider and longer  ( it's 86" x 86" ) so I'm going to try and do four blocks across and four down.  I should be able to do it.  I'm not crazy about the cut off corners and probably won't do them, but I might change my mind and do them anyway.  I have the batting - still need to get backing fabric... OH!  I didn't take a pic of the fabrics for the top... brb....

There!   

White, Black, mottled chocolate brown and mottled beige; totally masculine colors, I think.  I'm thinking maybe another brown for the backing fabric.  NOT going to stress myself out now about how I'm going to quilt it, so don't ask me, Colette!!!  lol

Our stupid dishwasher still isn't getting the dishes clean even after I spent money buying a product that was supposed to clean it ( money that I could have spent at the LQS).  Since it's so close to Christmas, I refuse to call in a serviceman and refuse to go out and buy a new one.... that being said, that means that I'll be suffering from 'dishpan' hands until this one is fixed or a new one is installed.  I HATE doing dishes by hand!!!!!  Hubby will do them, but they don't come out any cleaner when he does, so I've told him that I will do them - in my own time.... which may be tonight before my evening shows come on.  I should have time for a load or two.

Toodles til next time.

Another gift finished

I'm not getting anything done quilting wise, but I did make a reversible apron - with matching 18" doll apron, for one of the great granddaughters today.  She'll get it for Christmas.

 Maybe tomorrow I'll get the Strings for Siren quilt together... just have to sew the rows together to  make the top... then either quilt it myself, which I really don't have time to do, or find someone else who will volunteer to quilt it.

I'm trying to get 'odds and ends' done this week  and quilt the San Antonio Star quilt this weekend so that I can start on my son's quilt either Monday or Tuesday.  I want to have it done ( quilted) by the end of Nov. so that I can send it to him for Christmas.  A reversible apron for my oldest daughter is the only other thing that I have left to make.... well, almost.... I think I'm going to take plastic shoe boxes and make Barbie beds for my grandson, Hunter's three youngest sisters.

What a week!

Earlier this week, I finished up some more Christmas gifts... then, I rested and waited for Thurs. which was going to be a longggg day.

Bright and early Thursday morning, I was up and on the road to Woodland for my first class in the Sue Patten/HandiQuilter Workshop.  I was a little hesitant to try free motion quilting with their longarm, but it didn't take me long to feel comfortable and I 'went to town'... so much fun!  Sue passed out pages of meandering patterns for us to trace and then to practice doing... and with the instruction to go home and print out 12 copies for practicing on.  ( I haven't done it yet, but plan to - maybe tomorrow).

After the two classes that day, I had to get back to town to attend the Executive meeting for our quilt guild ( which was basically a waste of time as far as I was concerned - and you don't need to repeat that, Colette :) ).  Then it was on to the guild meeting --  we were to bring in the Brown Bag exchange projects ( if we participated in the exchange, which I did) for a 'show and tell' and then return them to their rightful owners.  I think everyone was pleased with 1. the exchange itself and 2. what they received back.  This is mine:

I LOVE IT!!

Can't wait to get it sandwiched, quilted and bound.  I might just hang it on the wall behind my long arm so that I'll see it every time I quilt.

Friday, I was signed up for the afternoon class with Sue Patten... this class was on using stencils and was packed full of information and ideas of ways to use either the entire stencil or just parts of it.  I took my San Antonio Star quilt top in with me to show Sue ( and the others taking the workshop) in the hopes that someone could help me figure out how to quilt those 3D flying geese in the borders... and Sue did.  I believed that because the pattern is all straight lines, that I needed to do something rounder/softer to give it more interest - Sue said "Not true" and I wanted to fasten down the flying geese in at least the outer row so that fingers and/or toes wouldn't get caught in them... she showed me an idea that I like and that I can do - it will take awhile to get it done, but I think it will be worth it.

This afternoon, it was Tricks and Techniques... which was showing us how to test bobbin and upper thread tensions and how to load the backing, batting and top onto the quilting frame.  Some things I've already been doing, most things I haven't... and some things aren't possible for me to do, either because of physical restrictions ( I can't sit on the floor to align and pin my top to the leader/ender canvas, but I CAN sit in a chair and try it that way) or because my machine/frame is different from the HandiQuilters that were being used in the workshop.  We learned, too, that we CAN use poly threads in the bobbin with cotton thread on top and visa versa - I'm sure I've read/seen/heard that you don't mix thread types and using different colors of threads on top and bottom is risky ( this one I know is possible because I've done it successfully at least once).  It looks like I'm going to have to switch over to pre-wound bobbins, unless I can figure out how to make sure my machine winds the bobbins properly.  They're NOT supposed to feel 'spongy' or wind unevenly and I know I've had some of both.  There is a machine that HQ has that will wind the bobbins for you, but at $299.00, I won't be buying one.  I will check into purchasing a "Sidewinder" - I think that's the name of it... does the same job for about 1/10 the price.

I took lots of notes ( well, lots for me) because Colette wasn't able to attend the afternoon session and she wants to know what we learned.  It's a good thing there were pass outs, too, because I'm sure I'm going to need them; I know at least twice during the past two days that my memory failed me.

Busy Weekend

We had our monthly sew in at the local library this past weekend.  On Friday we laid out the string blocks and had almost enough for three tops.  Cindy and Cathy V. jumped right in and starting working on making more blocks while Mary Jean and I started assembling blocks into rows.

Saturday, we had a 'class' with Toni Ivey.  She brought in some lovely scrap quilts that she made and she gave us patterns for several quilts along with the pattern for the one we were to work on that day, which was called "Goodnight Irene".  I've made this top before, but it was called "Chicklets" and was done completely with 2 1/2" squares, while "Goodnight Irene" uses both 2 1/2" and 4 1/2" squares.  I was able to complete one row of blocks plus got a start on blocks for the second row.

She didn't do a lot of actual 'teaching'... just showed us the basic construction and let us get started, but that was enough.  I went around and asked each member who was there if they were interested in attending another class if she came back - everyone said yes, so I talked to her and scheduled her to come back next April.  The next class project looks a little more complicated... sixteen block squares alternating with solid blocks that have archs of print fabrics on all four sides.

Because I didn't sleep well the night before, I was exhausted by the end of the class and left the library before 4 o'clock ( a first for me, I think)... came home, ordered pizza for dinner and, after dinner, fell asleep sitting up on the couch - woke up 3 hours later ( 11:15).

Yesterday, I slept in til almost 10 a.m. and took my time waking up & doing anything.  About noon I decided I'd better get into my sewing room and get something done.  I finished up the last of the gifts for quilting friends and then I  made a small 'purse'/bag for my oldest daughter - this morning I made her a matching notepad cover.  Now, I need to go buy a pen to go with the notepad ( the one that's in there is one of my marking pencils that I stuck in there temporarily).

 

Today, I have to get some laundry started and maybe start on sewing the String quilt rows together.  I'm still determined to find another long armer in the guild who will quilt it so that I won't have to... I just have too many of my own to do -- and I'd really like to see some other members get more involved in doing the charity quilts.

Long arm classes in Lake Odessa later this week... YAY!!

Second day

This is the second day in a row that I've had absolutely no ambition to sew; not even on the Strings for Siren blocks.

After counting the blocks that I have ( either done by me or done by other guild members), I sat down and did the math to figure out just how many we'll need for each quilt.  Linda G. had told me we'd need either 106 or 108 ( I can't remember which)... well, according to my math, that wouldn't make a very big quilt top.  My figures showed that we need 143 to make a top that will measure 71.5" x 84.5" which would make a nice twin size.  We can do with less blocks if we either add sashing or borders.

Right now, I have 249 and my cousin, Cathy V., has about 100 blocks done herself.  Other members are still working on blocks, too... so, we should have enough for at least 3 quilt tops - I was kind of hoping for 4, but I'll be just as tickled if we get the 3.  We'll know for sure come Friday when we'll be putting the blocks into tops.  I'm hoping that someone shows up at the sew in to help with the assembling.  I just need one more person... then, I hope to find others willing to quilt & binding them.  Colette has volunteered to quilt one and Cathy V. might want to quilt the one she's been working on.  I can do one, but since I have had the same quilt on Mo'e for probably more than a month and still have to take even one stitch on it, I'd rather not commit to doing it.  And, we have plenty of members who own long arms that could do it - and I'd like for them to get more involved in the charity quilts... it's not something that should all be left to Colette and myself.

I still have soooo much left to do before Christmas... haven't even started on my son's quilt and I really NEED to start on it within the next week or so... and that means that I need to get my San Antonio Star quilt quilted and off from Mo'e!!  The flying geese borders are what have held me up... since they are '3-D' ( meaning that you can stick a finger - or toe) under the 'wings), I have to make sure that whatever quilting I do, it will fasten the wings down enough so that they won't be 'toe catchers'.  I've been watching Linda V Taylor videos for ideas and I THINK I might have something that will work.

In the meantime, I've still been working on other Christmas gifts and trying to clean up both my sewing room and the mess that has spilled out from there into our family room.

Catch up again

Saturday's date was ok... weather was cold and rainy and there were very little fall colors to see, but we did have a good time.  For once, my phone's GPS worked correctly and we made it to our destination well within the time allotted.

As we're sitting on the train waiting for it to pull out - what do I see out the window but a quilt shop!  WooHoo!!  Hubby was nice enough to wait in the car while I checked it out after we returned from the train ride.  It's upstairs and, as I told myself under my breath as I climbed each step, it had better be worth it - and it was.... WOW  what a place... almost on the verge of HUGE.  I could have done some serious damage there money wise if I had more cash with me and if Hubby wasn't patiently waiting in the car.  I brought home two fat quarters that I found in the sale bin along with a stencil and one each of their two 'license plates' from the Row by Row.

I thought this would be a great destination for another Mystery FART (Fabric Acquisition Road Trip) that I like to organize for the guild members every so often.  After getting home and reading messages on facebook, I found that a couple members have been there ( also found out there's an elevator, too ), but they might want to go again.

Sunday,  I finished the Brown Bag challenge... sorry, can't share the pic just yet.  Oh, and Friday  I finished two more pair of the Santa/Rudolph tea towels.  I need to count them again because it looks like there's only one pair of towels left to be done - I think there should be two pair.

Yesterday, I did the applique stitching on two Gingerbread men blocks for the BOM that I'm doing with fatcatpatterns.com.  No pics of those yet.  I also found one that still needed appliqueing and did that one Sunday night.

I also started cleaning/clearing around my sewing area yesterday.. man, what a mess!  A little of this, a little of that.. just take care of it!!

Last night, I started back working on the Strings for Siren quilt blocks again.. got two done.  Then, this morning, bright and early ( well, considering that I slept til 8:30, 9 am was bright and early) I went back to working on them and had 12 blocks done by 11.  I'm hoping to complete 10 blocks a day for the next 9 days which, added to what I've done last night and today, should make enough for another quilt top.  We could possibly have enough blocks for FOUR twin size quilt tops by the time it's time to put them together at the next sew-in (Oct 16th).

Still have Christmas gifts to get done... which is partly why I was determined to clean around my sewing area.  I want to get started on my son's quilt top; something that should have been done MONTHS ago).

Catch Up - Again

I haven't blogged in awhile for one reason or another.  A friend of mine (and other members of my quilt guild), Gary, passed away last week and it left me in shock.

Sunday and Monday were nap days for me for some reason - two naps on Sunday and a three hour one on Monday.  Got a little sewing done, but not much.

Tuesday, some of us in the guild went over to Dee's home to purchase some of her fabrics that her daughters were trying to 'do something with' after her passing.  I was only going to buy for our Charity quilts stash and look for some batiks for my cousin, Cathy, who couldn't make it that day.  I scored big on fabrics for the charity quilt stash and found some nice batiks for Cathy... AND, found some fabrics and patterns that I couldn't resist purchasing for myself.  I was also 'gifted' with quilting stencils ( originally for hand quilters but will work with my long arm quilting).

Wed ( yesterday), I had to go in for annual mammogram and my first bone density test ( getting old ain't easy).  Came home and worked on & completed another Christmas gift.

That's how I'm working right now... with the goal of completing one project a day.  I was up at 5 this morning, by 6:00, I was working on today's goal... had it completed in a couple of hours. 

 This was the second tea towel with a penquin on it - three pair done, four to go :).  Last night, while tracing out the penquin pattern, I also traced & cut out two more santas and two more reindeer for the next two pairs.

Some time in the last week, my original laptop's keyboard stopped working - infact, it was the last time I tried blogging.  I spent the next day or two trying to get this new laptop figured out and loaded with whatever I needed ( like pics from my camera).  The day before yesterday, I turned the old laptop on - and what do you know... the keyboard is working again - so I've been transferring my files ( pics, documents) over to cds so I won't get caught unprepared if the keyboard goes out again.

I have not worked on my Brown Bag Challenge in the last few days and really need to get back to it.
 The deadline is quickly approaching.  I figured out that it's not going to make itself, darn it.

Guild meeting tonight... taking sympathy card for Gary's family in for other members to sign before we mail it off,  along with money we pooled together, on the way home.  I'll probably stop at Walmart for groceries, too.

Tomorrow will be bath day for our

 Buddy with plans on taking him to a birthday party at his favorite pet supply store.

Saturday, hubby and I have a 'date'.  I bought us tickets to take a fall color tour via train.  I don't think we're going to see much color - trees are still pretty green, but I'm sure we'll enjoy it anyway.  We have seats in the caboose of an old fashioned steam train.  From what I understand, we'll be riding for an hour then get off for cider and donuts before returning to where we started.

MAYBE Sunday I can spend the entire day working on the Brown Bag Challenge.... and it probably will require another full day after that - LOTS of small pieces in the two borders - what was I thinking!?!?!  :)