Second this year

 I just finished quilting my second (of this year) UFO/WTBQ (waiting to be quilted) on Mo'e yesterday; even got the binding and label on.  It still needed buttons sewn on when I quit last night.  It was a block of the month from Shabby Fabrics that I'll keep for myself - at least for awhile.

This is the back... I had no idea what I would do with this fabric when I bought it and I'm still not sure it's the 'perfect' backing, but it is what it is.

When sewing on the binding....I lost in the 'race' with the bobbin, but won with the spool :).

I stitched on most of the remaining buttons and all of the beads this afternoon while watching a Booth Brothers concert live on youtube.  I say most of the remaining buttons because it appears that I'm one or two short.  I don't know what happened... I counted once and they came out one short.  I counted again and had exactly what I needed... counted again and I was two short.  I thought maybe the missing one(s) had got caught in the quilt or just got knocked either into my lap or onto the floor, but I've looked and looked and can't find them.  My next thought was to find my little container of tiny buttons to see if I could use a couple of them - of course, I can't find it.  Found lots of other button containers, just not the one I need.  <sigh> so the finish will have to wait awhile until it 'magically' appears.

Now, to clear my workspace so that I can start on the first of the t-shirt quilts.  And I might grab another finished top and load it onto Mo'e... we'll see.

take care....

ttyl........

Productive weekend

And did it ever feel good!  I did two quilts on one of my domestic machines... both gnome themed.

This table runner...

and then what was supposed to be my Christmas tree for last month... well, it's done now, so I'll have it ready to hang next Christmas.  Not a good pic, sorry :(.

Then it was on to working on the quilt that has been hanging around on Mo'e for at least a couple of weeks.  I just couldn't decide on how to quilt it... then my friend, Katie, suggested wonky stars and I remembered the mariner's compass star pattern that I've used (and liked) in the past.  It took me a little bit of thinking and hunting to find the path pattern that I had for it, then I decided that wonky could be done just by not hitting the designated spots except in the corners...

 

And here it is with quilting, binding and label all done.  I tried indoor pics last night... but they were blah, so I decided that a quick photo outside wouldn't hurt.

I started and completed the quilt top itself in 2018...it's been hanging around on the rack waiting it's turn ever since.

I grabbed another quilt from the rack - not as old as the previous one, but one that's been waiting for probably at least a year ( the last couple of years were kind of hit and miss as far as quilting went).  This, too, is a Christmas themed quilt top and I found some great backing fabric for it in my stash.

I also plan on starting to turn hubby's t-shirts into quilts for some of the grandkids later this week.  I think I can alternate between sit down and stand up work and it'll be ok.... we'll  see.

take care...

ttyl.....

New Year - New Beginnings

I realize that the first month of this new year is almost over, but it's been an uphill battle for me both physically and emotionally.  I hit a 'wall' after the holidays and just didn't feel like doing anything except walk Buddy and take long naps.  My knees were hurting and I needed shots but had to wait until the three month mark ( can only have them every three months even though I am hurting again by the end of the second month) so that didn't help my mood any.

Now, I've had the shots, got through hubby's 1st birthday in Heaven and finally getting enough energy to get some things done around the house AND get some sewing/quilting done.

Here's a photo of grandson with the quilt I made and sent him for Christmas ( along with matching buffalo plaid pillow and socks lol).

His mom said that he was under there somewhere... I can see his cap, but that's all.  She also said that he spent the day wrapped up in the quilt - guess he likes it lol.

 

Started a new project this month, but it was stalled for a few days because making those pinwheels was sooooo boring - cut, stitch together, cut across at an angle, press each piece open, trim to 2.5" then sew to three other blocks to make the pinwheel... repeat for a total of 12 sigh... I got bored again just typing about it.

Got through it, though and was able to call the top finished in a couple of days... it's now completely finished - just no photo for some reason.  I did the simple quilting on Marie, one of my domestic machines.

And this has been hanging on my wall since sometime last month...I had planned on having it for my "Christmas tree"... just needed some simple things and then be sandwiched and quilted, which is happening now.  I'm quilting it on my domestic machines 1. because it's small and 2. because Mo'e is already wearing a quilt.

This is what's on Mo'e....

I` just can't seem to decide HOW I want to quilt it... I come up with one idea or another then decide that it isn't what I want to do.  I want it masculine, so no feathers or swirly swirls, but do I want to do fm edge to edge or use rulers and do one block at a time.  I thought about doing countinous curves in the small beige triangles, but am stumped about the larger pieces.  Someone suggested circles and I thought "Ok, I could do that".. then decided "no".

While in the process of writing this entry, my computer screen decided to 'freeze up'... I tried and tried for at least an hour to try and figure out what I did and how to correct it... nothing worked so I decided I'd take a nap and worry about it later.  

After the nap, I checked again... it was still froze so I decided I'd take it in to the geek squad and let them figure it out.  Wouldn't you know that the darned thing was 'unfroze' when I put it up on the counter for the 'g.s.' to look at.... ratchin' fratchin'....

Now, it's dinnertime and I haven't done much of anything that could be called 'productive'... except maybe stopping to fill up the gas tank on my car before they raise the price again.

Dinner's calling ( microwave beeping)

take care..

ttyl.......
 

Happy Thanksgiving

 I spent the beginning of the week making masks for the household of my oldest daughter and also one of her older half sisters.  Last night, I cut out a mask for myself and will probably finish it up today.

Truthfully, I'm not sure how today is going to go for me... this will be my first solo Thanksgiving EVER and the first one in over thirty years without my dear husband.  I think our kids in Texas want to video chat sometime this afternoon and the daughter in Wyoming might do the same - plus a nephew said that he was going to call me today to let me know his weekend plans.  I was invited to a granddaughter's home for dinner today, but declined because I'm just not ready - and the governor said no more than two households are to gather and I would be the third or fourth -- umm, no thanks.  They'll probably be ok since they ( her parents and maybe in-laws or close friends) are together quite often, but since I haven't seen them since my husband's funeral five and a half months ago, it's not a good idea.

My youngest half-sister passed away this past weekend - only 54. Her oldest son is the one who said he'd call today to let me know if he decided to come home to Michigan over the holiday weekend.  He's been handling things concerning funeral, etc. from his home in Washington, D.C. but would really like to 'touch base' with his three younger brothers in person.  With the Covid numbers being on the increase here in Michigan, he's been a little hesitant about coming now, but I think he feels he should - he just won't take the risk of flying and hopes he can find a car to rent.

The weather here is YUCKY... no white stuff, thank goodness, but plenty of rain.  I have wreaths and a cross to place at the cemetery and would really rather wait another day or so before I go - guess I'd better check the weather forecast.

Anyway... no quilting in my near future, although I have a top and backing hanging out on Moe's frame for when the urge hits... just a simple, small quilt, probably baby quilt size that I pulled from my rack of WTBQs (waiting to be quilted).

I bought two turkey 'tv dinners' and a package containing two slices of frozen cheesecake the other day.... one of each for today's dinner and the other for another night.  I have frozen veggies and fresh potatoes to add to the turkey and dressing dinner, if I want.  

I hope you all have a Blessed day with lots of turkey and pie and family/friends.  Enjoy what you have while you have it.

Take Care...

Stay Safe....

ttyl..........

Just to let you know I'm still alive

 I can't remember the last quilting I did... oh yeah, I finished grandson's Buffalo Check quilt.  Life just hasn't been very conducive to quilting for me right now.  Maybe after the new year I can get back to it.

The past two Wednesdays I had medical procedures done ( and I obviously survived).  The first one was a colonoscopy (no cancer!) and this past week, it was surgery on the nerve that goes from my left elbow 'funny bone' down to the ring and pinky fingers.  There was lots of scar tissue ( dr. said it happens to some people) that had attached itself to the nerve and it was causing my pinky finger to feel  'numb'.

And, of course, before medical procedures, you need to be tested for COVID-19 - I passed (obviously).

Along with this 'stuff', I was trying to finish Christmas shopping and had planned to get gifts wrapped before the 'funny bone' surgery because I didn't know if I'd be able to do it afterwards.  And, I was also stressing out over the placement of my husband's and my headstone.  I don't know what happened - or why it happened, but, for some reason, when they poured the foundation, they only did it on my late husband's plot.  As soon as I saw what had happened, I started making calls and politely 'raising hell'.... it still took at least three weeks for them to correct the error.  I haven't been out to check on it myself, but my brother was there and took a couple of pics for me to let me know it was finally corrected.  I will try and go sometime this week - I'm waiting for the wreath that I ordered for my grandparents and the 'floral' cross that is for my husband's plot to be ready for pick up later today.  Tomorrow, I have to take our cat to the vet to have his infected ear treated - and sometime this week, I hope that someone is coming to install the ice maker in my new refrigerator -- oh yeah, that was happening in between the medical procedures.

The bandage wrapping is off my arm now and I started working on masks again yesterday - Christmas themed ones for my former step-daughter in the Detroit area and my daughter in Texas (and their families).

And if that wasn't enough for my 'plate', I have a neighbor stopping by this morning to talk about replacing the flooring in our small bathroom - good bye nasty carpet and hello vinyl plank.  I'm hoping I can afford for him to extend the plank out into the area outside the bathroom and the doorways to two of the bedrooms.

So, I think you can see why quilting has not been on my radar lately.  I'm sure there are several of you who have been waylaid by one thing or another ( or several) thing(s).  This year has really been a hard one for so many.

On the good side, our weather has been weird, but in a good way as far as I'm concerned.  It's November and we've had a few days with temps in the 60's and no snow to speak of.  The high winds blew out the pilot light on our hot water heater a couple of weeks ago and I had to call for a serviceman to come relight it for me -- BUT when the high winds started again just before my 'procedures', I still had hot water to shower with.  AND the fridge didn't completely die before I could replace it. And a package that the carrier said was delivered to me on Tuesday was brought over to me on Friday by one of my next door neighbors - pumpkin pecan waffle scented candles from Bath and Body Works... house is starting to smell sooooo nice :).

Well, I guess I'd better get dressed and walk Buddy before the neighbor gets here.  Just wanted to let y'all know that I'm still  alive -not kicking so much but I'm working on it lol.

take care....

Stay safe...

ttyl....

Hello Remember me??

It's been more than a month since I last posted, but it's been a busy time.  I was making masks for several family members and going to dr or doing "Something".  

 It was over a month that the quilt sat there waiting to be finished.   I had been working on it, but when I couldn't go more than a few inches without the top thread fraying, I gave up for about a week.  I had changed needles, so I was pretty sure that wasn't the cause but couldn't figure out what was.  Then, it dawned on me that I hadn't oiled the bobbin area lately.  So, I applied oil and no more frayed thread.

  November 1st, I finally finished the quilting - Buffalo Plaid Wolves by Lorna McMahon ( question to myself - did I spell her last name right??). 

I had decided right from the beginning that I would try making a wide binding.. wish I could remember where I first got the idea, but I've searched and searched with no luck.  I knew that I needed to cut the strips at 4.5" and that I needed to trim the batting and backing to 2" beyond the quilt, but that was all I remembered.  

When I started stitching it down to the quilt top, it went fine until I turned the first corner.  I went about a foot beyond the corner ( down the next side) and then stopped to check the miter on the corner.... wait!!  something's wrong... that doesn't work!!  What did I do wrong!?!?!?

Back online to do some more searching... finally found something on allpeoplequilt.com...a download that shows just how to do a wide binding.  Their example wasn't as wide as mine, but it still worked.  I was turning the corner right and the corner of the quilt top, like you normally do when binding ( stop, flip the binding strip back on itself and then align the binding with the edge of the quilt top)... NOPE!  you have to flip the binding strip back on itself so that the fold is on the edge of the batting and backing.

 So, here's the completed quilt laying on our neighbor's 'hill'.  I'm so glad that this is done and I can get on to working on other Christmas gifts.

Hi ho! Hi ho! It's off to Mo'e we go.

While at lunch with Katie and Barb on Friday, Katie mentioned that her husband was off work that day.   I told her that I could use his help with Mo'e, who had decided to 'skate' his head all over kingdom come.  She and her ever so helpful hubby came down and I showed them what I meant... sorry it's too hard to describe, but basically the head of the machine was sliding back and forth on it's base.

"Helpful Hubby" held the machine head up so that Katie could dust the base while I went searching for some new shelf liner.  It worked!

Then I was able to load the backing on for the next quilt ... in the first photo, you can get an idea of the flannel print I'm using.  I thought it worked with the Buffalo Check top.

All loaded... after I trimmed off about 10" - maybe a little more.  It's a wide (108") and my leaders aren't quite long enough for it ( and I didn't need that much anyway).

Yesterday, a neighbor went with me to a Booth Brothers concert about an hour from here.  Missed a turn and ended up in Indiana but the next exit worked as a U turn (kinda) and we only had to backtrack a couple of miles.

Back home again by late afternoon, I decided I'd check to make sure I had the right size batting..... well, twin wouldn't work... minimum 6" short on the length.  So I went into the 'stash' room and found some queen size batting.  The one I decided to use is not the usual Hobbs 80/20 that I use... it's not Warm & Natural but very similar.

I got it in place and then decided I'd bring the quilt top out to make sure it would fit... yes, but only if I lay the top with the 72" across and float the 96" length.  Once I basted it as far as I could on the sides and across the top, I decided to go ahead and start quilting - I managed to get three rows done.
I'm just doing straight lines in a plaid pattern -- 1/4" from each side of the seam line(s) and then down the middle of each block.  Using light gray thread until I get down to the wolf when I'll have to switch to black to outline and somehow quilt it.  I know I want to outline where the hip would show and where the back of the front leg travels up into the torso but, beyond that, I haven't a clue yet.  I don't want to continue the plaid pattern across it nor do I want to create 'fur' with stitching, so, hopefully, something will work out in my head by the time I get that far.

No, I did not center the quilt on the frame ( probably about the first time I haven't).  There's only a hand width of batting & backing on the other end.  I didn't want two 'skinny' strips of batting & backing left after trimming - I'd rather have the one fatter piece.  There will be a skinny strip after trimming on the right side, but not enough to save - should only be about 2" ( I'm trimming it 2" from the edge of the finished quilt so that I can try a wide binding -- in a beautiful medium red tonal).

Ok, I guess I'd better quit dawdling around and get busy. 

Until next time... when I hope to be able to show you the finished quilt ( so you may not hear anything from me for a week lol)

take care...
ttyl.....
Stay Safe.....