Temps are cooler but we don't have the fall color seen in our northern states. But the drop in temps are very welcome.
I have my first totally finished quilt (almost). It is quilted and I am in the process of putting on the binding. Oct 24th is my Ex's 80th birthday and it will be his present. We are having as many of our family here as we can and at last count looks like 25, 4 children, 6 of 11 grandchildren, and 5 of 7 greatgrandchildren. Will be lots of fun, lots of good food, and lots and lots of photos.
I'm still trying to get all my things organized. It is a slow process because this house doesn't have any storage area other than a basic closet in each bedroom. There are lots of places where neat closets could have been added but weren't. I have 2 (need another) wooden storage cubes with 15 compartments (designed for shoe storage) filled with fat quarters, by color. Really makes selecting fabric for projects nice. I will make a curtain to cover to keep the ends from being damaged by exposure to light. Also, have a metal shelving unit to assemble and add for storage of other items (larger pieces of fabric, or some I have that aren't as big as a fat quarter), again adding a matching curtain. Saw a program/pattern a long time ago where they attached one side of velcro to the shelving and the other to the curtain. Makes removal easy to access the shelves, and then replace when finished.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Time Flys
Seems before I know it each day is gone, I stay busy, but sometimes when I look back on the day I wonder how it slipped by so fast.
I'm working on 3 lap quilts, a quilted sweatshirt (with an original design), and in the to be done area 26 quilts. I got the one I'd made for my EX a year or so ago, to the quilter this week. That quilt has a history. It is made of pillow squares and a larger square of photos of animals, birds and fish - very manly. While staying with my granddaughter in 2007 I pieced it, and gave him the top that year for Christmas. I then moved into an apartment 1st of Jan 2008, then it caught fire the 30th and I had to salvage things (really lost nothing of value), repack and put in storage. A small room at the back of the apartment suffered the majority of the damage, and his quilt was in that room still in the paper bag I had used for it. I found it under debris soaking wet but in tact. I took it washed and dryed it and the piano keys 4 sides for the outside borders. After moving where I am now in June 2009, they kept messing me around with the apartment giving me dates I could move back and then not meeting them after about the 4th or 5th I got disgusted and found another place. After a long extended unpacking here because everything (clothes, dishes, pots, and pans) had to be washed. Everything else had to be cleaned in a manner appropriate for the item as everything was covered with smoke residue. I found his quilt and the 4 parts of the border, but then when I went to put it together I could only find two (and I'd put them together). Then I found the 3rd. I'd put some things in a guest bedroom, to go through and unpack and then put away. After searching that room and thinking I'd moved every item and couldn't find the 4th I gave up. I was lucky in that I found enough of the same fabric and was able to make the 4th one and get the final border on the quilt. I should get it back from the quilter about Oct 1 and then can get the binding on in time to present to him on his 80th birthday the 24th. Hopefully the majority of our children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren will be able to come for dinner to help him celebrate. If we are all here it will be around 30. Nothing greater than having all your family together.
9/11 I was in school taking an advanced electronics course that supposedly included computer repair. I'd enrolled after my 65th birthday and was extremely disappointed because when I got to the computer portion is was only a few weeks and I new more about computers than the instructor. I finished got my diploma 3rd of the class only .05 of a point from top. I then searched out some schools in San Antonio, moved there for a year, they gave me credit for the electronics and I spent almost a year on computer repair, networking and web page designing. We did build a computer in class and I finally got the schooling I'd wanted for years. Other than a few times helping family and trading computer repair for other work, I haven't used it all that much. Due to to my age, I was never able to get hired - one look at the grey in my hair and I'm to old. OF course that was never the reason I was given, but when you go for an interview and everyone there is about the age of your grandchildren you know.
I adopted a companion that has been a joy. He is about a 3 year old Scottish Terrier mix and such a great dog. He came neutered, with a vet report of excellent health and with some obedience training. He has messed in the house a couple of times, the second I drug him by his collar to the mess, and pushed his nose near it, and scolded him - and guess he didn't want me to be that pissed at him again, and has always waited till he could go out. He will sit, stay and when I tell him to go get in HIS chair, he will go jump in my reclinder and lay down. I still have a little problem with him wanting to jump up on company. But after they have been here a little while he behaves himself. He isn't a barker but will bark when someone knocks at the door, for awhile he ignored if they ran the door bell, but lately he will also bark then. I couldn't believe that to adopt a dog that had been found as a stray could be so well trained. He is such a joy.
I'm working on 3 lap quilts, a quilted sweatshirt (with an original design), and in the to be done area 26 quilts. I got the one I'd made for my EX a year or so ago, to the quilter this week. That quilt has a history. It is made of pillow squares and a larger square of photos of animals, birds and fish - very manly. While staying with my granddaughter in 2007 I pieced it, and gave him the top that year for Christmas. I then moved into an apartment 1st of Jan 2008, then it caught fire the 30th and I had to salvage things (really lost nothing of value), repack and put in storage. A small room at the back of the apartment suffered the majority of the damage, and his quilt was in that room still in the paper bag I had used for it. I found it under debris soaking wet but in tact. I took it washed and dryed it and the piano keys 4 sides for the outside borders. After moving where I am now in June 2009, they kept messing me around with the apartment giving me dates I could move back and then not meeting them after about the 4th or 5th I got disgusted and found another place. After a long extended unpacking here because everything (clothes, dishes, pots, and pans) had to be washed. Everything else had to be cleaned in a manner appropriate for the item as everything was covered with smoke residue. I found his quilt and the 4 parts of the border, but then when I went to put it together I could only find two (and I'd put them together). Then I found the 3rd. I'd put some things in a guest bedroom, to go through and unpack and then put away. After searching that room and thinking I'd moved every item and couldn't find the 4th I gave up. I was lucky in that I found enough of the same fabric and was able to make the 4th one and get the final border on the quilt. I should get it back from the quilter about Oct 1 and then can get the binding on in time to present to him on his 80th birthday the 24th. Hopefully the majority of our children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren will be able to come for dinner to help him celebrate. If we are all here it will be around 30. Nothing greater than having all your family together.
9/11 I was in school taking an advanced electronics course that supposedly included computer repair. I'd enrolled after my 65th birthday and was extremely disappointed because when I got to the computer portion is was only a few weeks and I new more about computers than the instructor. I finished got my diploma 3rd of the class only .05 of a point from top. I then searched out some schools in San Antonio, moved there for a year, they gave me credit for the electronics and I spent almost a year on computer repair, networking and web page designing. We did build a computer in class and I finally got the schooling I'd wanted for years. Other than a few times helping family and trading computer repair for other work, I haven't used it all that much. Due to to my age, I was never able to get hired - one look at the grey in my hair and I'm to old. OF course that was never the reason I was given, but when you go for an interview and everyone there is about the age of your grandchildren you know.
I adopted a companion that has been a joy. He is about a 3 year old Scottish Terrier mix and such a great dog. He came neutered, with a vet report of excellent health and with some obedience training. He has messed in the house a couple of times, the second I drug him by his collar to the mess, and pushed his nose near it, and scolded him - and guess he didn't want me to be that pissed at him again, and has always waited till he could go out. He will sit, stay and when I tell him to go get in HIS chair, he will go jump in my reclinder and lay down. I still have a little problem with him wanting to jump up on company. But after they have been here a little while he behaves himself. He isn't a barker but will bark when someone knocks at the door, for awhile he ignored if they ran the door bell, but lately he will also bark then. I couldn't believe that to adopt a dog that had been found as a stray could be so well trained. He is such a joy.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Don't you hate it when things go wrong
I cut over 100 1 7/8" white squares to attach to the corners of 3.5" x 9.5" sashing strips. And they are not the right size they are too small. Now I have to go back to the drawing board to figure what size square I need to make a half-square triangle on either corner that is the right size.
The quilt is called Morning Star and is really neat and should be easy to assemble once I determine the correct size for these squares. It consists of a 9.5" square, with 3.5x9.5" sashing strips 3.5" corner stone square. The addition of the small square (half square triangles) on either corner of the sashing gives the cornerstone block the look of an Ohio Star.
This is a lap quilt size but I have 2 other full bed quilts to make (queen and king), all with the same size pieces so really need to get the size of these squares figured out.
Haven't been doing as much sewing as I'd like. I have 2 blocks that I signed up in a round robin and these 2 I'm adding the last border and I have had a hard time getting something that will work with the orignal block and the 3 borders added before me. I've made a couple for each and they just do not look right to me and wasn't happy with them so back to the drawing board I go. I hope to get them finished this next week and in the mail. I have one of mine home, I did two but have no idea where the other one is, guess it will wander home when I least expect it. The one I did get back the lady that was supposed to add the last border just sent the block and fabric rather than adding her border.
Have a big family get together at my house this next Saturday. AND I am so looking forward to seeing my family, right now count is that about 21 will be here. If I have everyone the count would be 26. So having 21 is a good percentage. I'm doing most of the cooking which I enjoy.
The quilt is called Morning Star and is really neat and should be easy to assemble once I determine the correct size for these squares. It consists of a 9.5" square, with 3.5x9.5" sashing strips 3.5" corner stone square. The addition of the small square (half square triangles) on either corner of the sashing gives the cornerstone block the look of an Ohio Star.
This is a lap quilt size but I have 2 other full bed quilts to make (queen and king), all with the same size pieces so really need to get the size of these squares figured out.
Haven't been doing as much sewing as I'd like. I have 2 blocks that I signed up in a round robin and these 2 I'm adding the last border and I have had a hard time getting something that will work with the orignal block and the 3 borders added before me. I've made a couple for each and they just do not look right to me and wasn't happy with them so back to the drawing board I go. I hope to get them finished this next week and in the mail. I have one of mine home, I did two but have no idea where the other one is, guess it will wander home when I least expect it. The one I did get back the lady that was supposed to add the last border just sent the block and fabric rather than adding her border.
Have a big family get together at my house this next Saturday. AND I am so looking forward to seeing my family, right now count is that about 21 will be here. If I have everyone the count would be 26. So having 21 is a good percentage. I'm doing most of the cooking which I enjoy.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Finished Quilt Top
Last week I finished a Disappearing 9-Patch quilt top. Myra a neighbor had pieced 9-patch and Dresden plate blocks for my friend Barbara. A little history. In May just before moving into this house, I met Barbara she was running a "thrift store" across the street from where I get my hair done. We exchanged phone numbers and during the hassle and total disorganization of the move, unpacking etc, I'd misplaced her number (and seems she had mine as well). After several months we made contact again and she stopped by for a visit. When she did she realized a lady that was making some blocks for a quilt for her was my neighbor. To shorten the story when Myra finished them she brought them over to me to give Barbara the next time I saw her.
The workmanship and stitching was beautiful. The "girl" does great work. He choice of fabrics and combination was outstanding. I laid the blocks on the large area on my living room floor alternating the 9-patch and Dresden plate blocks. They were beautiful, but personnally felt that the dresden plate blocks got lost in the busyness of the entire look. So when Barbara came by I suggested she divide and make two quilts. After rearranging the blocks showing one top with all the same block - she agreed. By then I'd seen some disappearing 9 patch quilt arrangements and convinced Barbara that would be a great way to use the 9-patches.
We got a little more coordinating material made a few more 9-patch blocks (same size) and then cut all in 1/4, and assembled into a disappearing 9-patch. Myra gave me the name of the collection by Moda she'd used fabric from and I was able to get a piece that matched some she'd used in the quilt and the one we thought best for the outer border. This collection had been discontinued so finding enough for the border was a fabulous find. AND I'm so glad I did because I think it is the perfect frame for the quilt.
Now the Dresden plate will be a more traditional assembly with sashing and borders. Still not decided if I'll add cornerstone squares but may.
I have 3 quilt tops to sash. A pinwheel with patriotic fabric, using red, white and blue sashing strips, a 9-patch. Each block is 9 squares of like color, and there are 6 colors (pink, red, purple, blue, green, yellow). Each horizontal row will have one block of each color with beginning block offset by one to create diagonal rows of each color. This quilt will be sashed in white no corner stones. The 3rd top is a very scrappy quilt top of a huge variety of 4" squares of every color and every fabric pattern I could find. It is a little over 1/2 done, now have enough 4" squares to finish it.
I then have a lap sized quilt top to finish, still have the small and 3.5" white squares to cut out then I can assemble and finish this one. Maybe if I get a strong spurt of energy I can get all finished by end of day tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Mother's Day
Nothing is better for Mother's Day than to have conversation with your children, if you can't visit in person.
I live near my youngest daughter and went to her house for supper, but had phone calls from the other 3 during the day.
I have a dear friend in Illinois whose father is dying of cancer, if you read this please remember Pat and Sandy in your prayers.
Lots to do and WHERE do I start. I'd misplaced my favorite ruler that I use to rotary cut my pieces for my quilts. After 2 weeks of searching I gave up looking and decided I'd find it when I least expected to, OR I'd buy another when I got desperate. As luck would have it, this past week I was moving fabric I'd put in a drawer in a plastic 3-drawer container and there was my ruler standing on it's side at the front of the drawer. I'd looked there twice before, but didn't move anything.
So lesson learned when looking for something move things in the drawers. LOL
Have a little more "cleaning" to do this morning then I can spend the rest of the week sewing mostly. Tomorrow I have new living room furniture being delivered (sofa and love seat), then a trip to the grocery store on Thursday. But all in between I will be either cutting or sewing. I hope to finish the tops I have started to the point they are ready to sandwich and quilt or send to the quilter.
I've been surfing and found some really neat new quilt patterns and of course saved to my files for future reference. I'm thinking sooner rather than later I need to try a couple, as if I need more projects.
I live near my youngest daughter and went to her house for supper, but had phone calls from the other 3 during the day.
I have a dear friend in Illinois whose father is dying of cancer, if you read this please remember Pat and Sandy in your prayers.
Lots to do and WHERE do I start. I'd misplaced my favorite ruler that I use to rotary cut my pieces for my quilts. After 2 weeks of searching I gave up looking and decided I'd find it when I least expected to, OR I'd buy another when I got desperate. As luck would have it, this past week I was moving fabric I'd put in a drawer in a plastic 3-drawer container and there was my ruler standing on it's side at the front of the drawer. I'd looked there twice before, but didn't move anything.
So lesson learned when looking for something move things in the drawers. LOL
Have a little more "cleaning" to do this morning then I can spend the rest of the week sewing mostly. Tomorrow I have new living room furniture being delivered (sofa and love seat), then a trip to the grocery store on Thursday. But all in between I will be either cutting or sewing. I hope to finish the tops I have started to the point they are ready to sandwich and quilt or send to the quilter.
I've been surfing and found some really neat new quilt patterns and of course saved to my files for future reference. I'm thinking sooner rather than later I need to try a couple, as if I need more projects.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Gee I've been Absent from here
Didn't realize it had been that long since I posted to this site, need to try to come back more often. Seems I have my plate full and running over with projects, and life in general. Which is good it does keep me busy for very full days and most before I know it, it is past bedtime.
I have been working on organization, arrangement and then redoing trying to get a pleasing grouping of furniture and an organization of my craft/sewing items that is workable. In a house that is fantastic, except for it's lack of storage area the later hasn't been easy. I hope in the near future to add a room for sewing, move my washer/dryer and hot water heater into a large room that will also include a second bathroom/mud room and pantry. AND if funds will allow I'd like to push a wall over and enlarge the kitchen by about 4', add double ovens and change free standing stove to a cook top with more burners, and add a warming unit. But then dreams, dreams, dreams all are limited to $$$$$$ available.
So far in 2010 I've done a bit of sewing - not as much as I'd like but have accomplished a bit. I've been involved in a block RR where there were 3 groups of 5 ladies. Each made a block and sent to the lady just below herself in the group she was in. Then we each added a border and sent to the lady just below us. As the block continued when the 4th border was added the small quilt top comes home to the person making the beginning block. I'm participating in 2 of the groups and have made 2 blocks and sent on their way and added borders to 4, I have the last two here and need to finish those and get them mailed. I have one of my 2 home. I chose a theme as I have a small table in my living room to which I plan to add 4 chairs in the near future and will use it for additional seating when I have a large family group. It will also be used to work jigsaw puzzles or can be used to play games on, when grandchildren are here for a visit. I hope to make a number of small quilt table toppers to change by the seasons or holidays. For my blocks I chose the Valentine and 4th of July for themes. I have my Valentine one home and it is beautiful red and white. I started with a pieced background of two fabrics alternating red/white design and appliqued red and white hearts to that. I have borders added with red/white fabric, pieced border and one of red/white heart fabric. I need to sandwich and quilt so that it will be ready to use next Feb 14th - or probably the month of Feb. My 4th of July isn't home yet, but should be soon. It is done with a attic window pattern using red and blue window frame and a flag print fabric. I have a lot of ideas on file for other small quilt table toppers for this small table.
I've made (or I should say almost made) 3 quilt tops. I have one pin-wheel that has smaller blocks and larger blocks of the same fabrics. It is made of a white fabric and flag print. I've joined the larger into a block of 6 blocks and will set together using 3 strips of red/white stars, blue/white stars and white fabric, using the smaller pin-wheel block as a corner stone. I'm anxious to see this one together.
The second is a scrappy quilt made of a huge variety of 4" squares. I've joined in rows of 22 squares and need to add a few more rows and it will be finished. I ran out of squares and had to order a few more to finish it. So far it is really looking great.
The third is a 9 patch I choose all the 4" squares that were predominately yellow, purple, red, pink, blue, and green. I then set them together using light and darker values either 5 darker and 4 lighter or vice-versa. I will then set them together all the colors in the first row then offset the color by one in the next row so I have diagonal rows of each color.
I finished a small lap quilt and gave it to my friend for a donation to the school where her twin sons are seniors. The school has one major funding event each year. Each class gathers items or money for a larger item to donate, and they get other donations to auction from individuals and local businesses. The quilt was included in a very large, very nice basket of picnic and gourmet meal items and brought $800 at auction. My friend treated me to the bar-b-que dinner and auction. I was impressed that in this economy that all the items in both the live and silent auction went for more then their retail value.
On my agenda for this year is to finish at least 4 pieced quilts (1 each for my 4 children) I also have 4 art quilts to make for them. Since I don't have all the kits for the art quilts yet those will probably get finished next year. I have the older two children's pieced quilts cut out, just have to sew them. Have the material for my youngest son's but need to cut it out and then sew. The youngest daughter is waiting for her to tell me the colors she wants. The older two are done to go with the color's of thier bedrooms but the youngest daughter is planning to change her colors. So if she doesn't decide soon, I'll pick something in a color family I know she likes and get it done. I want to give them the quilts when all 4 are finished, to prevent any comments of favoritism. I could start with oldest and go down, but think it better to give all four at same time. Then I will work on the 11 for grandchildren (some of these I've already started and have a number of blocks made). Again I'm still gathering kits (block of the month) for one. These are mostly either art quilts or applique, all are more involved than a pieced quilt would be. Some of the applique are done by hand and others will be done on the machine. I hope to be able to concentrate on these 19 quilts more towards the end of this year and all of next year and to get them all finished. 4 at least by Christmas 2010 and hopefully the balance by Christmas 2011. Then I will begin the great grandchildren's quilts I've thought pieced because they are all still very young and haven't yet shown an interest that I can select a theme for. But by then some will be older and the number may no longer be 7 so the quilt I make for each may change.
I have been working on organization, arrangement and then redoing trying to get a pleasing grouping of furniture and an organization of my craft/sewing items that is workable. In a house that is fantastic, except for it's lack of storage area the later hasn't been easy. I hope in the near future to add a room for sewing, move my washer/dryer and hot water heater into a large room that will also include a second bathroom/mud room and pantry. AND if funds will allow I'd like to push a wall over and enlarge the kitchen by about 4', add double ovens and change free standing stove to a cook top with more burners, and add a warming unit. But then dreams, dreams, dreams all are limited to $$$$$$ available.
So far in 2010 I've done a bit of sewing - not as much as I'd like but have accomplished a bit. I've been involved in a block RR where there were 3 groups of 5 ladies. Each made a block and sent to the lady just below herself in the group she was in. Then we each added a border and sent to the lady just below us. As the block continued when the 4th border was added the small quilt top comes home to the person making the beginning block. I'm participating in 2 of the groups and have made 2 blocks and sent on their way and added borders to 4, I have the last two here and need to finish those and get them mailed. I have one of my 2 home. I chose a theme as I have a small table in my living room to which I plan to add 4 chairs in the near future and will use it for additional seating when I have a large family group. It will also be used to work jigsaw puzzles or can be used to play games on, when grandchildren are here for a visit. I hope to make a number of small quilt table toppers to change by the seasons or holidays. For my blocks I chose the Valentine and 4th of July for themes. I have my Valentine one home and it is beautiful red and white. I started with a pieced background of two fabrics alternating red/white design and appliqued red and white hearts to that. I have borders added with red/white fabric, pieced border and one of red/white heart fabric. I need to sandwich and quilt so that it will be ready to use next Feb 14th - or probably the month of Feb. My 4th of July isn't home yet, but should be soon. It is done with a attic window pattern using red and blue window frame and a flag print fabric. I have a lot of ideas on file for other small quilt table toppers for this small table.
I've made (or I should say almost made) 3 quilt tops. I have one pin-wheel that has smaller blocks and larger blocks of the same fabrics. It is made of a white fabric and flag print. I've joined the larger into a block of 6 blocks and will set together using 3 strips of red/white stars, blue/white stars and white fabric, using the smaller pin-wheel block as a corner stone. I'm anxious to see this one together.
The second is a scrappy quilt made of a huge variety of 4" squares. I've joined in rows of 22 squares and need to add a few more rows and it will be finished. I ran out of squares and had to order a few more to finish it. So far it is really looking great.
The third is a 9 patch I choose all the 4" squares that were predominately yellow, purple, red, pink, blue, and green. I then set them together using light and darker values either 5 darker and 4 lighter or vice-versa. I will then set them together all the colors in the first row then offset the color by one in the next row so I have diagonal rows of each color.
I finished a small lap quilt and gave it to my friend for a donation to the school where her twin sons are seniors. The school has one major funding event each year. Each class gathers items or money for a larger item to donate, and they get other donations to auction from individuals and local businesses. The quilt was included in a very large, very nice basket of picnic and gourmet meal items and brought $800 at auction. My friend treated me to the bar-b-que dinner and auction. I was impressed that in this economy that all the items in both the live and silent auction went for more then their retail value.
On my agenda for this year is to finish at least 4 pieced quilts (1 each for my 4 children) I also have 4 art quilts to make for them. Since I don't have all the kits for the art quilts yet those will probably get finished next year. I have the older two children's pieced quilts cut out, just have to sew them. Have the material for my youngest son's but need to cut it out and then sew. The youngest daughter is waiting for her to tell me the colors she wants. The older two are done to go with the color's of thier bedrooms but the youngest daughter is planning to change her colors. So if she doesn't decide soon, I'll pick something in a color family I know she likes and get it done. I want to give them the quilts when all 4 are finished, to prevent any comments of favoritism. I could start with oldest and go down, but think it better to give all four at same time. Then I will work on the 11 for grandchildren (some of these I've already started and have a number of blocks made). Again I'm still gathering kits (block of the month) for one. These are mostly either art quilts or applique, all are more involved than a pieced quilt would be. Some of the applique are done by hand and others will be done on the machine. I hope to be able to concentrate on these 19 quilts more towards the end of this year and all of next year and to get them all finished. 4 at least by Christmas 2010 and hopefully the balance by Christmas 2011. Then I will begin the great grandchildren's quilts I've thought pieced because they are all still very young and haven't yet shown an interest that I can select a theme for. But by then some will be older and the number may no longer be 7 so the quilt I make for each may change.
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