Carolina Crossroads Mystery

Still plugging away on my blocks, did the triangle blocks tonight. Getting closer to putting it together. I'm hoping to get alot of sewing time this weekend. Maybe I could get it to border stage? Sure don't know what I am going to do for borders. I like the idea of 9 patches on point, but wonder if it will be just too busy then. Maybe it just needs a calmer border, afterall there is alot going on in the quilt center.

Was a bad girl and bought more fabric yesterday. I haven't tallied it up yet, but it was a good amount. Can't resist the price and bought some large pieces for backing, again. This store has good prices anyway, usually $3.99 /yd. had a sale on some bolts for $2.49/yd. Nice fabric too, Wyndam , Chantclaire, and Marcus Brothers I think are the ones I bought. I'm not sure where he gets his fabric from....I know some it is older stuff. He has flat folds too, tho I usually don't find much what I like in them. They seem like they might be the trial runs as the hand, or feel of the yardage is a bit different. The ones I bought feel great and many had "quilt shop" on the bolt. I try to stay away from the shop all together which is pretty easy as it is a fair distance and not near much else...except Staples...and that is where I had to go yesterday for ink for my printer...didn't get that either...got a new printer instead! Must have felt rich yesterday, guess I'm delusional. :)

Weekend update

I'm not sure I really understand how blogger locates the pictures. I guess it will take me some time to get it, but right now I just wanted to make a quick post about what I accomplished over the weekend.

First I was able to get the borders on the Bargello Bowl quilt and get a backing ready. It's all ready to load on the quilter and I'm pretty certain I know how I'm going to quilt it. A while back I got the PJ quilter reloaded DVD and have been practicing the wonky feathers on my white board. I think I can , I think I can, I think I can! Just deciding on thread now. Leaning towards the King Tut seen in the picture. I've had trouble with tension in the past with King Tut threads, but I'll be brave and give it another go. I have good success with Rainbows but don't like the Rainbows I have with the shirt fabrics. So all is good and I will get it loaded soon and quilted before I loose my nerve.



I also was able to spend a little time working on the Carolina Crossroads mystery. Of course I'm terribly behind but keep plugging away. I made all the star blocks! One step closer! I haven't decided what I'll do for the border, guess I just have to get it together and see what I have. I do intend to make this quilt totally from scraps and stash. So far so good.

That's all, but I'm satisfied. We had a really nice weekend weather wise and it's a reminder that spring and yardwork is around the corner...I still can procrastinate tho as it is only Feburary so sewing is still guilt free.

Sick Day

I woke up this morning to my alarm with a sore throat and a big headache, the headache probably because I only slept for about 2 hours. I had to decide quickly if I was going to feel better or not because my deadline for calling in to work was fast approaching. Decided if I didn't sleep more I would have a horrendous headache all day and maybe I was getting sick. So took some Airborne and ibuprofen and went back to sleep. About 6 hours later I got up, headache better, throat only sorta sore and my ears full. Took some more Airborne watched a DVD. Then I decided I didn't feel that bad and I would go down to my sewing room and see if I could work on something.

I've been following the thread on stashbusters about the Disappearing 9 patch. I had taken a class on it in Houston the last time I went to Quilt Festival. I'm going to have to dig out my project from then and see what else I can do with it. It is a clever idea. Anyways, I was lead to Sophie's blog, http://sophiejunction.blogspot.com/ where she has posted a very intriging idea. Had to give it a try. So started playing around with it. All in all it took 2 hours to make this block that is 18 X 18 unfinished. I like it. It seems like it would make a good lap quilt or wheelchair quilt without too much effort and bust some stash.


After I finished that I thought I should finish cutting a flannel Wicked Easy Quilt and kit it for later. That way I could get the flannel box back into order. My fannel fat quarters turned out alittle short so I'll have to come up with some deviation for the border but I'll worry about that later. Will make a good fall project...remind me okay?

So that's what I've accomplished today...not a thing for my fab 4. I don't think I'm really a good list accomplisher? I kind of get in this rebellion mode when there is something I feel I HAVE to do and I just don't get it done. I'm happy that I've spent some time in my sewing room today and I watched a quilting DVD. Think I might try and work on the borders for the Bargello now, but it's about time for Lost and it takes my concentration to figure out what is going on on that show! Maybe I'll just try and straighten up a bit so it's more inviting next time.

Maybe I'll try and put a few of the Carolina Crossroads blocks together. I really would like to have both that and my Bargello quilted before I start another mystery in April. There are two other quilts that are on the agenda too, Travis's baseball quilt and a baby quilt for my new grandniece....which should have arrived this month, but I haven't heard yet. I won't be breaking anyone's expectations tho, Elissa's first one didn't get her quilt till her first birthday, should I break with tradition?

Coffee (sleeve) anyone?

When I was cutting apart the shirts for Bargello Bowl I cut off all the cuffs. They kept reminding me of something and it finally clicked. I love my coffee extra hot and always ask for it to be made that way. Sometimes the cardboard sleeves don't really help all that much, but I gave this a try and I think it worked better. Maybe because it is a different medium to transfer heat thru? It's kind of cute too...guess I might have to carry one in my purse....once a girl scout, always a girl scout. :)

A few finishes

This first quilt I made at a class I took at April retreat at camp Arnold. It is from a Terry Atkitson pattern, I think it was called Duet. I wasn't particularly thrilled with it and didn't think I would ever make it again so passed the pattern along to a friend. The top was made at least 2 years ago this April as I didn't attend the retreat last year. I quilted it last fall using the Baptist fan template.

It was my first attempt at using this template and I had some problems lining it up...I guess I'll have to practice again. I do like the look of this quilting pattern, but found the results dissappointing. I thought I was getting it lined up correctly and then when I finished stitching the row and went around to check it out it was missing. Still will make a fine kids quilt. I plan on donating it to either project Linus or the hospital I work for.
This quilt top was also done at the retreat. Just messing around with some of the other fabrics I had brought. It was quick and easy. Made using the loop method. I quilted it the same time as Duet, but just did a freemotion loop and double loop pattern.

It also will be a donation quilt. I finished the bindings, but have not decided whether I will put a label on them on not. I'll wait and see where I actually end up donating them.
The other thing I have finished is the stethescope cover and scrub hat for work. I need a change and thought this would be fun for a bit. I've been adding to my collection of hats now since I got my haircut and it won't stay out of my face while I'm working, so I'm wearing a hat everyday to hold it back. A hat isn't required in the area I work, PACU, but if I go into the OR area I need to wear one and I venture there a few times each day so it saves a little effort just wearing it the whole day. Don't have to worry about hat hair that way either!

So I am coming along on my Fab 4. The binding is done as is the scrub hat and stethescope cover. I've started on the borders for my Bargello Bowl, but don't think I'll be able to finish them until Saturday. Haven't decided what to load on the quilter, was hoping it would be the Bargello but think I'll look and see if I can find something else so I can keep moving along with finishes.

Evaluating Fab 4

Well I didn't do so well. In fact until today I haven't even lifted a needle since my last post. Wow! That's not going to do! I don't have any particular excuses, there was just other stuff that was taking my attention. I haven't been letting down on the shopping front tho, so it looks like I've got things backwards. That I can explain....SALE, deals not to be missed! IMPULSESIVENESS! Doesn't help the the sewing and quilting outlet is going out of business and they have the best deal on Minkee. I LOVE Minkee on the back of quilts. I haven't finished the borders for the Bargello quilt yet and I'm about half-way thru sewing down the binding for the charity quilt.


What do you do when you fall off the horse.?...get up and try again. I'm really hoping that getting my goals and actions in writting will help me gain some control, and at least more awarness. Soon I hope to get a list of UFO's together and a list of projects I have intentions of making, I think those are called PIGs, and then I could make a list of all the tops I have waiting to be quilted. To tell the truth I'm afraid to do that...baby steps, I guess, and I'll be happy for the fact that I'm trying to face my purchases and my usage.



I'll take a stab at another Fab 4, even tho it is now already Monday, so by Friday I would like to accomplish:

1) Binding on charity quilt

2) Borders on Bargello quilt

3) Load a quilt on the frame

4) Make a new scrub hat and stethescope cover



I think those are fairly realistic. I do have tomorrow and Wednesday that I should be able give some time to the tasks. Maybe I'll even surprise myself and do more!

Fab 4 Friday

Well, it's alittle late but I've been thinking about this and what I could get done by next Friday given the fact that I'm still up to my eyeballs in mess in the kitchen and go back to work Monday. Then I thought I won't get anything done if I don't make an effort. So with high hopes I'm going to make a public list. So here goes....

1) Bind 2nd charity quilt
2) Borders on Bargello
3) Tabulate hours quilted for year
4) Tally yardage used and yardage bought for year

2008 Quilt Finishes

This is my first and only finish for this year. It is a healing quilt made for a co-worker diagnosed with breast cancer who had a masectomy. I love how it turned out. There are positive messages written by fellow co-workers and the colors are cheery. I used minkee for the back so it would be a soft cuddle quilt for when she may not be feeling so hot. I had lots of trouble quilting it, the thread kept breaking, but I knew I had to get it finished so I kept going. Finished sewing the binding down on New Years Day so it qualifies for a finish for this year! It took me about 6 weeks to get it put together, much longer than I had anticipated, but Christmas kinda helped throw the wrench in my time schedule. So I didn't get it to her before her surgery and I do regret that. She is still off work recovering so I guess it really wasn't too late. A few pictures of the quilting and the back.

The color doesn't quite show right for the backing, it was a royal purple. Very soft! I like how the quilting shows on the minkee.

Slow start to the day

We had lots of wind last night and I couldn't sleep. Got up about 4:30 am and went downstairs to read and watch TV. Fell back to sleep in my chair around 7 am and then woke at 10 am stiff and sore and still tired. Went up to my bed to stretch out and maybe sleep alittle more, but it was still windy and the furniture on my deck off the bedroom was still bumping around. Eventually got up and have done a little laundry and a little sewing...I really want to keep sewing, but there is this job in the kitchen I must attend to. It involves getting the saw out so I've been waiting till the wind dies down a bit so I can back the car out of the garage and it won't be so cold.

Seems to be getting a little better so guess I'll head off to Lowe's and get a few supplies. Went there yesterday without a list and didn't remember to get what I needed to fix the cupboard slideout. I did check out the garage doors and I need to replace mine, but didn't bring all the measurements I needed to order one. Just as well, when I got home and looked at the garage door mounting I realized that I really need to take care of the leak and the repair the drywall before I get the garage doors. I really need to make those calls that I hate to do to find someone that can help me get this problem taken care of. Maybe I can wait a month or so till the weather gets alittle better? Can you say procrastination? I think I'll work on reorganizing the kitchen and trying to find more space. Then I'll sew some more tonight while I watch Lost.

Carolina Crossroads

I'm trying to get back into working on my Carolina Crossroads mystery. Worked on the hourglass units the other day and again for an hour today. I have 70 made now so I'm getting there. I do really like how it is turning out. It's fun see the scraps from other quilts. I did get ahead of myself and made up the blocks to see if I was going to like it. I was most concerned about the scrappy lights I was using, especially the prints, but I decided it was ok and that I should keep going.

Before I got sewing on the hourglass units I got distracted and played with the scraps to see if I could or would make crumb blocks. I've been intriqued with this idea since I read the tutorial on Patti's blog http://quiltingisstillmypassion.blogspot.com/2007/07/mile-minute-blocks-photo-tutorial.html and every time I have a crumb of fabric I can't decide what to do with it, save it or throw it. I think I have decided I'm not going to save itty bitty pieces anymore. I just don't think I need this as something else to do. I love how Patti's quilts turned out tho, maybe I'll try it with leftover blocks? Such a teaser! What can I say, I'm an ADHD quilter!

Remembering Mom

Today is the 10th aniversary of my mom's unexpect passing from a heart attack. Can't imagine how it's been so long. I still miss her dearly, but the hurt isn't there so much. She is frequently with me in my dreams and often I still think I'm going to call her and tell her something. She was my friend as well as my mom. She taught me to knit and crochet and helped me with my sewing. She used to make lots of my clothes, of course it was frugle back in the 60's and 70's, definately not so nowadays. She had me knitting a sweater when I was in 6th grade and we were on our move from the Detroit area to the Seattle area. I did even wear it for a while. I kept trying to get her interested in quilting....maybe, if we would have had more time in her retirement.

I regret that I often got impatient with her for not getting something. She never held it against me, she seemed to understand it was frustration coming from within me. She was much more emotional mature than I'll ever be. She was always there for me and my sibs. She still is, in my heart.

Just needs borders

Finished putting the last panel together last night and sewed all the panels together. Just need to figure what I want to do for borders...of course it's going to come from my stash. This top is made from recycled mens shirts that I bought at thrift stores. I read about this on Bonnie Hunter's site http://www.quiltville.com/ several years ago and started stopping now and then and picking up what shirts I would find. I would bring them home, wash them and store them in my cupboard. I was quite surprised to find that I had 50 shirts when I got them out to cut them apart. Needless to say it took hours to cut them apart and get strips ready for this "quick" quilt.

I've never been a fan of plaids before, in fact I really dislike the homespuns sold in the quilt stores. They are too loosely woven and rough. Good for making chenille. But men's shirts feel good and there is so much variety!

I did this fairly randomly, that is I really didn't plan it just let it happen. I do like how it has turned out. I think it will be a very usable cozy quilt, maybe I will have to use flannel for the backing. I have lots of shirts leftover so I see lots more plaid things in my future!

A beginning

I've been following several blogs for sometime now and have really gotten hooked. One blogster made a comment about having lots of visitors and not very many comments. Well, I was one of them...just didn't really know how to post. Tonight I gave it a go on my sister's blog, I thought that would be pretty safe...lo and behold it led me to setting up my own blog!

I don't really know what this blog will be about yet. My first thought is about quilting as those are the blogs I read. I am trying to stashbust along with the rest of the members of Stashbusters, to which I also belong. I'm not a prolific quilter so will probably have to drift off topic now and again.

My resoulution this year was to keep track of how many yards of fabric I use verses how many yards I use. I'm only counting completed quilts for the yards used, no matter when they were started. That way it may encourage me to get some of the UFO's done to balance the purchases. I also resolved to keep track of the hours I spend sewing or quilting. Goal is to average an hour a day. Anything to give me a kick in the rear as I can be quite a couch potato if I really tell the truth.

Yesterday I worked on Bonnie's Bargello Bowl. Didn't quite get the top done but will post a picture (maybe if I can figure it out).