March!

So yesterday was "Leap Day".  Everyone was talking about what we would do with their "extra" day.  Well, it was still Wednesday and I had workout, laundry and housework to do.  And try to squeeze in a little quilting!  On the agenda for the day was getting the supplies together for my Quilting Adventure!  I am so bad about taking pictures of everything but I do have a few visual treats for you!

First, at the quilt show this past weekend one of the venders had this little baby to keep machine side.  The "Scrap MaBob".  You clamp it on the table next to you and there is a container for your scraps and a place to put your beverage.  Cleaver!

Clamped to my island

What I'd really like to see in my Scrap MaBob!

Today I finally took the Valentine's decorations off the holiday tree and finally got the St. Patrick's decorations up!

St. Patrick's Tree

I finished quilting the interior of the Spinning Log Cabin quilt.

It was really fun to quilt!

I thought of doing feathers in the blue space but I thought it needed something funkier.  These funky feathers remind me more of fern fronds.

I love the swirlies in the yellow space!

Every evening I can spend time with my Honey and hand quilt the feathered star quilt.  I'm currently using John James Gold'n Glide size 10 quilting needles.  I have been on the search for a size 11 or 12 but have been unsuccessful locally.  I did pick up some Roxann's size 11 but the eye was too small for my size 30 thread.  So I'll stick with the 10's for now.

Off to get some hand stitching in!

Happy Stitching!

Distracted...

So it takes me a week!  I hope I'm getting back on track...but who knows!

Guapo's position pretty well sums up the mood around here the first week after Joe's surgery.

I just didn't sleep well and was exhausted most of the time.  DH really did bounce back faster than I thought but there were doctors' appointments which always took longer than expected.  I didn't get as much done as I had hoped but hope to be back on track soon.

I did do the next Stitch Along.  I drew my own star and stippled in it.

 I stippled in the star and used a stencil to follow for the interior design.

Then it was on to Bryn's tee-shirt quilt.  I had this fabric in my stash so I decided to use it.  Unfortunately, I was a bout a yard short....

so I inserted this pink in.

Friday afternoon I cleared off the island and pin basted the quilt.  I'm using a new batting.  It's a really thin poly bat from Hobbs and so far it seems good.  It's not supposed to beard.  We'll see.

Saturday I worked with my friend, Mary, doing the Craftsy Block of the Month.  We both cut out our pieces before getting together so we wouldn't take too long.  We still managed to spend 3-4 hours of work time.

The second block here is backward from the way it's supposed to be but it works.

Today I made some fish chowder for dinner.  My dad was coming over and I will say, it was delicious! It also means I have a "free dinner"-I don't have to cook one night because I have enough for another dinner.

After I made dinner I got a chance to quilt for about an hour.  I was hoping for more but I went to Costco with Joe as he still can not pick up anything more than 20 pounds.

Workout tomorrow morning then I hope to get a few hours of quilting in.  I do have to make my Dijon Chicken and Kale Stew tomorrow for my "Uptroden Stitch Group" get together Tuesday.

Happy Stitching!

Not Getting As Much Done As I'd Like

Okay, this is where the whole distracted thing comes in.  I started a Face Book page early last week for people who grew up in my community.  I thought it would be amusing with a few people interested and fizzle after a few days.  Well, last time I checked, about a half hour ago, there were 412 members!  It's been a fun trip down memory lane!  I can't believe how much I'd forgotten!  But now I remember!  The 70's were rather foggy!

Anyway,  I got back to sewing yesterday.  Now that I have my "good" sewing machine back I can get back to my quilting project.  It will take me to the end of the week to get caught up with the weekly lessons.  I did get the Bobbin Washers that Leah Day recommends.  I'm going to give it a few times before I give it my opinion.  This is #2 in the weekly exercises.

Starting in the middle.

You start in the middle and work the stipple in 2" rows and intertwine the rows working toward one end so that you don't have to keep turning your quilt.  I did forget to leave myself a way to get back to the other end once I finished going the first way!  That's why we practice.

Working toward one end.

The whole sample done.

I should get my day started.  Lots to do.  Groceries.  Help Dad.  Ironing.  Quilt Project.  Phone Interview.  Tee Shirt Quilt.  Get Gory Details for Brother-In-Law's Upcoming Wedding!

Happy Stitching!

Best Laid Plans...

Busy day yesterday.  Workout at the gym, meeting with the decorator at my house then going over to my dad's to get his sunroom and bedroom rearranged and updated.  I finally got down to my sewing room at almost 4pm to start the Free Motion Quilt Along that Leah Day is doing once a week this year.  I'm only 4 weeks behind and was planning on doing one 4 days in a row to catch up and doing the Free Motion Quilt Project on the other days.

Sorry-I flipped it in the iPhoto but it didn't flip when I transferred it here.

 I WILL get better with my machine quilting!  Anyway, I was working on the Quilt Along and my machine started squeaking!  Not a good sound.  So I packed it up and it's going to the machine doctor today.  Unfortunately he doesn't pick up from the dealer until next Tuesday so I won't get it back until next Friday.  I really like quilting on this machine-a Viking Sapphire-which has a larger opening to be able to move the quilt around as I free motion quilt.  Fortunately I have other machines so I can  piece while the other's at the doctor's.  So I started working on my daughter's sweatshirt throw.

Here the throw is "thrown" on the floor!

I'm still working out how I'm going to put it together I'll make it "rag style" with the cozy nubby part exposed on the back and will be the smooth side with the raw seams on the front with all the writing.

I also found out my trainer is pregnant so I'm going to make her a quilt.  She's not going to find out what it is before so I'll do a generic one with primary colors.  I dreamt about it last night and checked out the dies I have for the Acuquilt and I think I have everything I need.  Bonnie Hunter has a cute I Spy Quilt in the Ohio Star pattern with black and white check sashing.  I love it and, since I won't be having grand children any time soon, it will give me an excuse to make it for her.  I've been working out with this trainer for a year and a half and really like her and how she's whipped my body back in shape!

Waiting for a delivery that needs a signature then off to run errands then hit the sewing room!

Happy Stitching!

Getting Caught Up

I was going to post yesterday's activities last night but got distracted!  (What's new?)  

I thought today I'd show you how I set up my work area for doing the Quilting Project and the materials I use.  I do follow a lot of what Leah Day suggests but I do prefer Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream as Diane Gaudinski suggests instead of the gloves Leah uses.  

I have been fortunate enough to have taken machine quilting classes from Diane Gaudinski and Harriet Hargraves-probably the most recognized names in machine quilting.  If given the opportunity, I would take Harriet first then Diane.  That last sentence almost sounds like I'm a prize fighter planning my next fights!  Anyway, let's get back on track!

I'm getting back to my quilting daily and doing the Free Motion Project.  I'm also going to start doing her current "exercises".  And start Bryn's Graduation Quilt.  Anyway, this is how I have my sewing area set up to watch the lessons on the computer.

Setting it up right next to the sewing surface lets me review if I get confused.

I have pre-cut the fabric squares and batting squares so I can just pick them up and go.  I also like to listen to music while I quilt.  I get too distracted if I have the TV on while quilting.  I can have it on while piecing but I need to concentrate while actually quilting.  I subscribe to Pandora on my iTouch.  I'm planning on upgrading to an iPhone the next time I'm eligible for an upgrade.

This is the area to my left while sitting at the machine.  Notice my project board in the background to help keep me on track!

Yesterday's 5 designs.

Acuquilt Go!

My friend, Mary, got an Acuquilt when she first started quilting.  I've played with it once and picked up some more dies when I went to the Houston Quilt Festival last November.  She brought the Go over on Tuesday for me to play with.  I've planned a "play date" for this weekend.  Like I need to cut out another project!  I'm thinking of doing a disappearing 9 patch or cutting some half square triangles to hand piece.  I'm leaning toward the 9 patch.

Happy Stitching!