One Done 159 To Go

Since I couldn't make up my mind which picture to post, I decided to post both of them. The colors have changed a wee bit.......... And the glitter doesn't bling as much as it does in real life.

Tonight will find me finishing up the green portion and then I can start putting them together.

Signing on the Dotted Line

I signed up for the Siggy swap on the Dear Jane list again this year. This will be year number three for me. Every year since I joined the list I have enjoyed this event. No, I have not assembled any of the quilts but that is the goal for this year. To assemble all three of them, I hope in time to take to Bennington in October to share with the nice ladies at the museum there.

Someone introduced me to Carol at Inkspirations in time to make a special stamp for my second year. This year she designed another one for me to go with the fabric I had purchased for this event. The original idea was to have a stamp so I would not have to sign my name so many times. Now I have the stamp so that I can paint and embellish the siggy. The deadline for receipt is April 15^th. I have to make 160 of them. I will be spending all of my free time until then getting these darlings painted and embellished. I am already thinking about next year as I am working.

This is 3 1/2 inch blocks of muslin ironed on to sheets of freezer paper. There are 25 to a sheet. I am ready to stamp the design.
Last year I painted sand...............This year I am painting sand........ I really am tired of sand.


All the sand is done and I have begun adding the pink portion of the umbrella. After the pink comes the green and then I need to assemble the blocks before I got to work with the glitter pen.

Introducing Savannah

Here she is.................. My gorgeous Singer 301 long nose....... Robert has her in top working order and he even sent a cradle in case I ever wanted to put her in a cabinet....... He has really provided me with some wonderful tools of the trade.

Things at work are getting so much busier for the next several weeks. I am also in the middle of a project at home that has a looming deadline. I must really like the pressure because I keep going back for more......................

Finally a Finish for March

It might not look like it but there are two wrist warmers there. Finally I have something else finished.

They will be a welcome addition to my winter wardrobe next year. I even have a matching pair of socks.

Those little wooden sticks are size one double pointed knitting needles that are 4 inches long. They are so much easier to use with socks than the longer ones.

Decisions................

Here is the "Ocean Waves Jane" I am assembling right now. The blocks are from a Row Jane I participated in last year.

The bottom photo shows 4 different sashing blocks. I would ordinarily go with the one on the far left (dark blue and light blue) but Vickie suggested I try to add a bit more interest. The yellow that you see is a print with blue flowers.

I stopped by the shop this morning to show Vickie the blocks and to get assistance with the decision. As I was leaving I glanced at the 30% off bolts. There was the perfect backing and it was originally $5.99 a yard and I got 30% off of that price. There was just enough for the backing. Oh what a great find. I will post pictures tomorrow of the backing I bought today and a close-up of the yellow.

Let me know which block you think is best to use.

Another Flimsy Pieced

It was a busy weekend. I did get my table made and all set up ready to go. Lem even came downstairs to assist. After I moved everything from one wall and we got the table set up, I decided I wanted it on the other wall. I cleared everything from that area and asked him to help me move the table. As he is standing on one end and I am on the other, he looks up and says "are you sure this time? We aren't going to have to move this again are we?". My reply was "Well, we might if I don't like it there. All he could say was "oh, I see"..........

He really is good about my attempts to re-arrange furniture. My mother is famous for it. Papa always said he made sure where the bed was before he laid down as once he walked into a dark bedroom and discovered himself on the floor because she had moved the bed somewhere else in the room............... I usually get it the way I want it and leave it there for years.... Once I was in 're-arrange mode' and he asked exactly why we were moving the furniture. "It is either this or I go shopping" was my reply.

Anyway, I did get my Hour A Day top pieced and I am pleased with the results. The next thing to do is the siggies for the Dear Jane swap........ I can start painting them this weekend if all goes well. That is an upstairs project. The downstairs project is the Ocean Waves Jane. I got two of six rows assembled. I had printed the incorrect setting block for the sashing row but I have that corrected now and I hope to get one of those rows done. That block will have the yellow in it and should add excitement to the quilt. As soon as I get a row done you will have a snapshot.

The Breakfast Club

Only Vickie and Joan were there today. Everyone else is traveling this week.

Vickie brought three more blocks that she has completed for the Country Cousins challenge. Here she has done 4 blocks and I haven't finished the first one.

It has been too cold to sit in the family room and applique. The weather is supposed to be better starting today so there is hope.

I must finish the siggies first and Kim's blocks for the final Row Jane. I hope to be able to make the legs for my table this weekend, at least if all goes as planned. I can't imagine it should take too long.

I only have the last hour to finish on my Hour a Day Quilt. It is turning out so well. Judy does the absolute best instructions. I have had great success with every one of the designs she has shared with us.

I also made the decision to do one block on the first row of my "The Road Less Traveled" BOM. That is going to be a fun quilt to make.

Perhaps I will have a table to show tomorrow.

Nature Abhors a Vacuum

I must feel the same way about tote bags.

I had finally emptied my pink tote bag and I should have hidden it immediately.

I filled it instead.

I will confess, I like hand knit socks. I like working with the new computer dyed yarns. Some of you may remember my collection of sock yarn from last year. I have been knitting socks with a few side trips into “baby hat” land. This has been my “sit and watch TV” project all winter. I noticed that when I wanted to wear something pink there were not a lot of socks to coordinate.

On Friday, after I went to the library I stopped at my local yarn shop. They had received some new sock yarns and who among us could resist those wonderful colors. There were several that I did resist because they would have been $18.00 per pair and I haven’t gone that high in my spending for socks quite yet.

They even had a pattern for a “wrist warmer”. That looked like fun and the pattern was free so I went home and put my gray socks aside and began the wrist warmer. So now I have the gray sock, pink baby sock, pink baby hat, burgundy childs hat and the wrist warmer all in some stage of completion in the basket beside my bed. I also have a full pink tote once more.

What No Pictures?

Well, I took them. Passed the camera to Lem so that he could email them to me. Then when it is break time here at work, I can post them. We know about the best laid plans, don’t we? They are all so blurry that you get nauseas just looking at them.

I spent the weekend on chores. I did get some sewing done but not what I had hoped. We got the table moved out of the studio. Didn’t have to take the legs off after all, just put it on its side and angle the legs through the door. We couldn’t get it upright again so there it is in the back room waiting for some assistance. Then I got the plastic carts moved where the table was. The Duchess is on the Field Desk and the Janome is on another desk. The desk aren’t the same height. I don’t like it at all. I need a table to put the two machines on so there will at least be room for my coffee cup and pin cushion. You know one of those tables they sell at office supply places. Like the one that is under the cutting table. The cutting table that has a long sheet of paneling left over from something to make the table longer. Did a bit of laundry, thought a bit more.

Here’s the plan…………… I found some 2x4’s in the garage. Amazing what is actually out there……… I can make legs for the cutting table top, use the other table for the sewing machines, move the plastic carts to the wall where the cutting table is now and hang the design board over it…….. I got the plans all drawn. I am just waiting for the weekend to get started. I am also thinking of painting the floor again this summer. It is really stained and it would be more pleasant if it looked nice. After all, just how much can paint cost? If I paint the floor I wonder how it would look to paint some quilt blocks on it for interest? I did uncover the bulkhead door Saturday so I could open it for ventilation. Okay……. I will put a stop to all this thinking and get back to work.

Oh So Sweet

Here is my block for the guild meeting tonight. Not that I will win the lot but I do continue to try. Those interested bring a block made from the directions given at the last meeting. For each block you bring you can put your name in for the drawing. The lucky winner gets them all.

Such a simple little block. I just was not able to get it right. I had to take out almost as much as I put in............ Can't imagine why. After I finished my eye went to a nice blue fabric that would have much better. I am not making another one for tonight. There just won't be time.

Another One

Yes, another Jan Patek BOM arrived yesterday. I haven't even started the first one...... I picked up my Faye Anderson block last night to finish but "my eyelids grew very heavy". No one was swinging a coin in front of my face but I was out for the count. Asleep at 8:30PM.

That sure won't get the applique done..............

What Happened to February?

Here it is March and I haven't finished with February yet. Instead of adding to the list the things I planned for March, I will finish February instead. Things seem to get away from me anyway. I finished piecing the New Years Day quilt and put it aside to layer and quilt later. It is out again because I realize it is the perfect gift for Kate.

I had planned to archive for awhile at least the Hour A Day quilt I am working on but since Samuel has moved into his own abode, I will want to get it finished for him.

These two quilts are perfect for me to learn to machine quilt on. I have no idea how long something like this will take. I still have the one Peg and I layered two weeks ago waiting in the wings.

One thing for sure, there is NO PRESSURE. I will continue to work on them and adjust my list as the need arises.

Ta Da

At long last, a finish............ My quilted pullover. And not a moment too soon. The other one was getting rather tattered........... The guild meeting is tomorrow night and I will be wearing my new quilt........... Just the thing on a gray winter day.

Hourly Progress

Here is the result of hours of pleasure...... Judy does the best directions. I have great results following her patterns. They are easy to follow. She tells you which way to press the seams. She allows for the blocks to be trimmed to size so that you always have the right size to work with. Here are the components of the star blocks, all ready to assemble.




And here is the first two blocks to roll off the assembly line. As you can see, I did the center of my block a bit differently. I did lay out the star on both fabrics, but trust me, this was the right choice. They are turning out so well. Our oldest grandson just moved into his own home and this might be just the thing for him. It seems masculine enough right now but time will tell.

Two More Blocks Completed

Last night I was able to finish another block for my Faye Anderson Quilt. May was kind enough to let me join her challenge to do a block a week. I am a few weeks behind but since I do have enough blocks prepped for the month of February, I have hope of catching up soon.

As I sit and stitch it is as though all the others in the group are sitting with me.

Look What George Brought

George is our mailman. Yesterday he brought me this wonderful gift from a friend. She actually made that bag. I am amazed. It is wonderful. Just the perfect thing for me to keep the ubiquitous sock in. The thimble has a lovely flower, the floss will be put to use on my Faye Anderson blocks as will the hand quilting thread. The wheels in my head are already turning with ideas for quilting that special project.

Lem was not too happy. He only got bills in the mail.

Thank you dear friend for the wonderful gifts.

Little Hats All in a Row

When my sister asked for some baby hats for one of her organizations, I put my socks aside for a bit and picked up a skein of baby blue yarn. While I am watching TV, I knit. Usually it is just socks but I can do that and still watch the program. If there is nothing on to view, I listen to books on tape and do hand work that requires both eyes all the time. In the past weeks I have been working on hats. Here they are. I have already mailed two hats and now these will be sent. I am working on the second gray sock now.

An Hour A Day

Since I am working on quilting the Carnival top upstairs, I am able to work on the Hour a Day quilt downstairs each morning. I have discovered that it takes me longer to complete the steps than it does others. That just means I am able to savor the time used making that quilt a bit longer.

Judy directions are so easy to follow and it always goes together precisely. This is going to be another winner for me. I even plan to attempt to machine quilt it myself on my little Janome 4623……

Tomorrow is the breakfast club so I will not get to sew in the morning. I really only get four mornings a week to work downstairs because Friday is the breakfast club, and the weekends are spent upstairs with my wonderful spouse. That means that the quilt will have to wait a bit for me to get there again………….

What's Up Next

Here it is........... My fabric for the Hour a Day Quilt. This is going to turn out to look so good. Judy does such wonderful designs and the instructions are clear. I know that I am a wee bit late but I do want this quilt.......... HMMM.... perhaps it will turn into a gift. One never knows.

Look at what I found in the "Draft Portion" of my daily posts........ Seems at though I got the cart before the horse....... That is nothing new.

Here is the update. I finished another Faye Anderson block last night. I have one half of the fabric for the Carnival top quilted and I am half way finished with the other piece. I really want to wear the top to the guild meeting on Thursday so I need to finish that this weekend. I also need to finish my swap block for the guild meeting. I can continue to sew on my Hour a Day quilt in the mornings but in the evenings I will be painting the siggys for the Dear Jane Siggy Swap. Looks like I have things mapped out for several weeks to come.

Carnival Top

That sure is bright and cheerful................ I hope it will become a quilted top by the first of March. I want to wear it to the guild meeting. The pattern is from Back Porch Press
This will be the fourth one I have made. I am wearing the first one, done in purples. It was my first quilt. Now it is starting to wear and I am having to decide if I will patch it or not. What you see is really two pieces. I will layer them tonight and start machine quilting. The pattern calls for flannel to be used as batting. I found such a great fabric for the lining that I am going to try to make this reversible. I even have socks knitted and earrings beaded to go with this top. Two years ago I anticipated finishing this project and purchased some purple velvet to make slacks. Naturally I cannot find that material. It is on the other side of the basement that has not been organized yet. I did find a piece of purple small wale corduroy so I will use it. I know the slacks will not be make by the guild meeting but I do hope the top is.

Saturday Afternoon

I finally got my studio organized. It took all of my free time this weekend but I know it was worth the effort. The shell baskets were on sale last summer and they are perfect to put a project in to keep all the parts together. The laundry basket on the right is my Heartstrings project. I don't think I will empty the basket this month but I am making progress. I plan to do at least two blocks each week till the basket is empty.
This is a view of the cutting table on the opposite wall. Everything is within easy reach.
Behind the curtain on the table is stacks of even more plastic totes with even more unfinished projects. I am looking forward to the day when they are not there any more.
There is my sweet little Duchess. My chair is low so I can get by with using an army field desk for my sewing machine. I did order the plans to make the cabinet the Featherweights go in but I have to wait until my son has time to make it for me. My nine patch leader/ender is right there on the table, close at hand.



The six totes you see there contain my stash. Except for the small stack on the stool, that is all I have. Two large pieces will be used soon as backing for my siggy quilts and that small stack of fabric will fit into the boxes then. I have seen what some others have a stash but I do not think that way. I see a quilt that I want to make and I purchase what I need to make that quilt. Then I take it home and put it in a plastic bag or tote till I get to it. After the quilt is made, the scraps go into my "Simply Charming" tote ........ I hope to do many charm quilts and that take a lot of different pieces of fabric. Occasionally I see a piece that speaks to me. When that happens I buy as much as I can afford when I get home I look for a quilt to use it in.............. Same obsession, just a different way to store the fabrics.

Yup, I am in the basement. It is cold there this time of year. I make every effort to get up by 5:30 am each morning and sew downstairs until 7:30 am. Then I have to go upstairs and fix lunches and dress for work.

Saturday Morning

I finally removed all the Valentines Day decorations from the family room and cleared the way to sit and work on my Baltimore Album....... Since the room that was originally the dining room is now my husband's office, our table is in the family room. I sit there when I am doing cross stitch because I have a table stand. The room is too cool to sit in right now even with the gas logs lit so I have been sitting at the table with a small ceremic heater to keep my toes thawed out.
I am also trying to learn to hand quilt. I am not very good but I am still going to keep trying. This is set up and ready to go so that I can get at least one thread in each day. I like to do more but that is not always possible. Always leave your needle threaded and ready for use so that you are ready to go the next morning.
I even organized my little stack of "stuff" to work on. The basket is the Baltimore album and the stack on the right is the fabrics for my Faye Anderson blocks. Lately I have been knitting more because I can stay warm in bed and watch TV while I knit.
Someone showed their Jan Patek 2006 Mystery Quilt and I knew that one was in my future. I joined the 2007 BOM. I hope to get it started soon.

Promise of Things to Come

Joan brought everyone in the Breakfast Club a little touch of spring. Yes, that is cabbage and parsley with the babys breath and carnations. These were made to adorn the trays of cookies and the Hospital Auxillary Tea last week. After the event they were destined to be tossed but Joan saved a few to share with us. Mine is till looking perky and is so pleasing to the eye at mealtime...................

Happy Valentines Day

On my break this morning, I was looking for a picture to post. This little gem crossed my path and it even has some instructions to go with it. It is from Domiknitrix and she has a tutorial on the increases used to make this little heart.

Last week I began spending one hour each morning doing some organization downstairs. I still have many hours to go........ After the first hour, I then begin working on the project at hand. This month it was my Blogging Siggies, the Confetti Top, my Hour A Day quilt and my Heartstrings blocks. The siggies are almost complete. I need to sign the last half of them, trim them and make them charming..... Then they can be mailed off by Friday I hope.

This morning I opened the box containing the Confetti Top. Why did I put that aside. It is so near being completed............... I had planned to begin the Hour A Day quilt but I had left the instructions upstairs and I just did not want to make the trek up again. I have completed 6 Heartstrings blocks from my basket of scraps. I used all the muslin I had on hand. Monday I purchased a couple more yards and if all goes well I can wash it this afternoon. I also need to wash the backing fabric for the quilt Peg and I are going to pin on Friday. I am trying to work up my courage to machine quilt. I have two already pinned to be quilted but I really want to practice on this one first. Progress is being made even if it is slow going.

When I posted the picture of the 18 quilts in plastic totes at the foot of the stairs, little did I know that I would find 18 more in baskets to go on the shelves in the studio. I have uncovered many more still are not listed..... I am going to be busy for quite some time.

A Beginning for One of Us

Some of you might remember the challenge I entered with Vickie and Rebekah on making a Baltimore Album Quilt. Vickie is the first out of the starting gate....... She chose a black background and wonderful reds and yellows and greens. She brought her first completed block to breakfast last week and it looks much better in real life. My camera just does not do true colors.

Rebekah is still looking for the right background. She might wait until she is here in June so that we can look together.

I have begun my first block but right now it is on hold till I finish my Siggy Swap blocks.

It is still too cold to sit in the living room at the computer but I will be responding to everyone that has been kind enough to say hello very soon.

Mission Accomplished

I have finished my portion of the heart block swap quilt I am doing with my daughter, Rebekah. The idea is from the front of the "Quilts of the Henry Ford" book. It is originally done in two colors but we wanted to use many pink fabrics. She did half of the blocks twice and I did half of the blocks twice. When she comes to visit in June we are going to assemble both quilts and finish them. The fabric they are on is one we are auditioning. It seemed good in the planning stage but seeing them all spread out, perhaps I need to audition a few more fabrics.

I have spent at least one hour 4 days a week working on cleaning and organizing (again) the studio. I am also working on the siggy swap blocks that Cynthia is hosting. As soon as the siggy blocks are done, I can begin my Hour a Day quilt that Judy is sharing with us. I have some great fabrics for that one and I am anxious to start...........

The Breakfast Club

On Friday mornings a group of us meet for breakfast from 8:00 to 9:00. Left to right are Vickie, Nancy, Peg and Joan. We only meet in the winter months as everyone is too busy during the summer. Not to mention that the tourist are here and we have trouble finding a table. Vickie (far left) is the designer and maker of the Snow Scene quilt and Peg (third from left) is the maker of the horse quilt. I am truely blessed with wonderful friends.

Faye Anderson Block Four

Poor thing...... She has issues......... I am repeating my mantra "finished is better than perfect", "finished is better than perfect".

It was mentioned at the last guild meeting that quilting is a process and some of us are farther along the path than others. Keeping this in mind, I will put this block in my finished quilt......... After all, I did learn while making the block.

Block Three from Faye Anderson

I was surprised to discover that I had not posted this block yet. I finished it last week. There is another one that I need to take a picture of. Currently I am only lagging one week on this project. At least as far as the applique is concerned. I seem to have a picture taking problem.

Wouldn't you know I did not finish my errands yesterday. When that happens, the multiply. This afternoon I will try once again. Lem is going to fix his famous sausage casserole for dinner tonight so I will not have to cook. I do have a needlepoint class and I really don't want to venture forth into the cold. I do however want to finish those adirondak chairs I began several years ago. The end is in sight so I must keep my eye on the prize.

Rat Race or Ferris Wheel?

This year I promised myself that I would enjoy everything I do, even things that were considered chores in the past. I have been holding up until recently when the temperatures dipped into the unmentionable part of the thermometer. This weather is just too much for a Southern Girl like me. I do understand that many of you live in colder climates and like it. I was born and raised in the southeastern part of the United States and I consider 40 degrees a low, not a high.

Yesterday while running errands after work the old mental attitude set in and I felt that I was a rat on a wheel, trying to get things ACCOMPLISHED………… While at the grocery store I noticed someone that had stopped at the Dunkin Donuts counter, purchased a cup of coffee and was leisurely doing her shopping while enjoying her drink.

Today I will do the same. Instead of feeling as though I am a mouse on a wheel. I will be riding a ferris wheel with stops now and then. Moving a bit slower instead of allowing the RUSHED feeling to take hold. I need to stop at the library, two banks, LQS, Curves, butcher shop, thrift shop and grocery store. Dinner will be something I can fix quickly from the frozen food section. Then I will go to bed and snuggle under two quilts while I appliqué until time to turn out the lights.

I am behind already on my Hour a Day quilt. Not concerned at all. I know I will catch up. I will also be rearranging my list of things to do in February to accommodate the Hour a Day quilt. Judy is so good to design these quilts for our enjoyment and her designs are always a pleasure to assemble.

About the quilt from yesterday -- I suppose it just did not look the way I had envisioned it would look. Perhaps when it is quilted it will be more appealing. I am going to attempt to machine quilt this one myself on my Janome. I began the year with the idea of either finishing one quilt or two quilt tops each month. I did finish one quilt this year (picture later) and I have pieced two quilt tops. I have also enjoyed every stitch taken.

Well, it will be warm

But that is just about all I can say about this quilt. Perhaps if I select an attractive backing I can use it with that side up.

This is the New Years Day mystery quilt…………. Probably my last mystery for awhile. There are too many other ones waiting in the studio.

I did spend 30 minutes this morning clearing up some areas before I began sewing. We are getting there – slowly but surely………..

Punxsutawney Phil predicts early spring

Lemuel, has a friend that lives in Punxsutawney, PA and for the past three years she has sent a Punxsutawney Phil Beannie Baby to him. They are limited editions and can only be purchased in Punxsutawney.

It is wonderful to report that he has predicted an early spring this year. It sure will be welcome.

Resistance Is Not Futile

Yesterday I needed to stop at my LQS for buttons and interfacing. I went in, made my purchase and left. I DID NOT make a fabric purchase. I DID keep a scarf wrapped around my head to block my vision.

While I am working on filing and other mundane task here at the office, I am mentally reviewing what I have on the agenda for February. As soon as Blogger allows, I can post my February goals.