Orange Crush Choices - Too Many!

Rather than doing any quilting I have been playing in my fabrics looking for what I have that will work for the OC mystery. I pulled everything I had in large enough quanity and looked "solid" color from high and low and made a real mess in my sewing room. I've now narrowed it down to the following choices and ask for your help in making a final decision.





The first is most like Bonnie's choices...on the second I subsituted a purple for the black.





Not quite sure where I would use a quilt with these colors but I like them, and I always like what Bonnie does.

These next choices I think would make a nice quilt I could use in my living room. I have used the green and burgandy fabric in another project, a runner I have in the living room.



Love the fabric on the far right in the second picture...it has gold metalic highlights. I'm not sure it has enough contrast with the others tho.

The brown with the acorns on it is a bit warmer, however I think I would use the other which is a mottled brown and black and the pattern doesn't show as much.



This is alittle softer palete with the spring yellow and pink....I think I would use it in my living room as well. The dark is a real deep mottled burgandy which goes with my burgandy leather sofa.








These next choices I think would make a quilt I would use in my car...it's a blue/green minivan. I think it is more a teal blue than green. It's a good idea to have a quilt in your car, and I don't, yet.








The colors on the right are very bright and I would be tempted to use my bright scrap strips in lights and darks with this combo.

And then there is this combo. I don't know where it would go...as if that really matters....but I like them.









Just kind of clasic. Could be good.




And then I tried the orangy fabric from above with the fabrics I like for my living room....hmmmm.....



So what to do, what to do? I thought it would be helpful to look at the choices in pictures....but I'm not so sure....I'm more confused....what do YOU think?

I'm going to go quilt my Bargello....really, I mean it this time! And let all this percolate.

Procrastination = Shopping

I've been playing in my fabrics and have not done any quilting...seem to be procrastinating and I'm getting excited about OC.

Yesterday I just had to get out of the house, so took a trip to, what else?, the fabric stores! I was looking for an issue of Austrailian Patchwork and Quilting from earlier this year. No luck...they aren't even carring the magazine. Did find that Joann's carries the magazine but I guess the one I want is too old. I was also looking for the book More Nickle Quilts, but didn't find it either. So I didn't buy anybooks or magazines. Good girl! Those were the only things on my list. I came home and ordered from Amazon. It's cheaper than in the quilt stores but I always order more books to get the free shipping so it doesn't end up saving me anything. I ordered Lisa Boyer's books too.

However....I went to the Quilt Barn for the first time since they moved into their new digs. Like it! Usually don't find that when a quilt shop moves from a quaint location to a strip mall type place that the move is an improvement...in this case it was! More room and still felt cozy. I was so tempted to just pick out fabrics for my OC...and buy this and that....I was so very tempted...and these days I don't often find myself being so tempted. But I just had to buy something! It's such a nice shop, and they need my support! I remembered that I had bought a pattern for a tote bag that uses charm squares...this shop had lots of charm packs to pick from...so how could I not? Also found some prewound bobbins for my HQ. And the coordinate needed for the tote bag.

I also visited Pacific Fabrics and Joann's and didn't buy a thing! Amazing for me...am I sick? Not really, just acutely aware of how much is in my stash.

I went to the sewing machine shop to see if they had a single hole needle plate for my Pfaff, and they did, so it came home with me too. All in all a nice outing and not too much damage done.

Oh yeah, and Buddy got to go to the pet store too. We got some cat food. He didn't mind one bit! He was so excited that he got to do alittle shopping of his own.

Random Act of Kindness?

When I came home from quilting at the library on Saturday I noticed that someone had cut my grass in my front yard. It was a surprise and I was thrilled it was done and mystified. My first thought is that my nephew, Travis had come by, but no, he was playing ball,a double header, and the back wasn't cut and he would have done that too. Started to realize that it was one of my neighbors...yikes...is my yard that bad? Terror and quilt feelings now... The grass was starting to get a bit long, but I don't think it was to the obnoxious state yet. Everyone who knows me knows that I'm not all that fond of yardwork and I'm a bigtime procrastinator. My neighbors pretty much keep to themselves and I don't really know them and it has never happened before so I'm alittle bewildered. I've decided to take it as an act of kindness and appreciate it for that. I think it may have been one of the guys who rents the house next door. They have only been in there about 4 months or so, and I noted their front was cut too. So maybe I'll bake them some cookies or something...one of these days.

Today was a day for cleaning house, making calls, getting the mail, doing laundry and grocery shopping. I did stop by the local quilt shop, Carriage Country Quilts, (picture above) alittle over a mile from my house. I was good! I wanted to get the book More Nickel Quilts but they didn't have it. I found a pattern for a tote bag and that was all I bought! No fabric! I fondled lots, and thought about combos for the OC...but didn't buy any. Decided I have to shop my stash first and I know it will be a great quilt even tho it isn't made from the newest fabrics. I'm finding that I'm starting to drool over the reproduction and civil war prints that I've not really been attracted to in the past....probably because my stash is deficient in that catagory.

No further progress on my CC...have decided what to do for the borders. I received the panto in the mail today that I think I may quilt it with....the improved clamshell pattern. Still have to make a decision on the batting I'm going to use on the BB and get it quilted and make a backing for the CC and quilt it. My goal is to have that done by next Sunday. There I have said it...it shall be so. (I wish anyway, lol)

Orange Crush, Yikes!

The new mystery on www.Quiltville.com is about to get underway...I'm excited but I really, really want to finish my CC first! I'm still plugging away, no new pictures yet, but I have started working on the borders. Dragging my feet on quilting the Bargello too, but I did make the binding today. Baby steps, I know but I'm working on it. The fabric requirements for the new mystery is giving me an adrenaline boost tho...a push to the finish...what is it that runners get?


Since I don't have any quilt pictures right now I thought I'd post this picture...I love looking at pictures on other peoples blogs...I took it alittle over a week ago on one of those days that felt like spring might be coming but it couldn't make up it's mind whether to rain or shine. It's looking out my slidder on the north side of my house. Looked like that rainbow was coming right out of that house. Wonder where the pot of gold is? Looks like they could use it to fix whatever they have that grey sheet hanging over and I could use some too!


Oh yes! I almost forgot...busted 43 yds of fabric today! Gave it away to friends in my quilting group. That counts! I don't have to struggle to find a place to keep it or worry about using it up before I die. :)

Lack of Motivation

Okay, so this last weekend was national quilting day and I had a 4 day weekend...why oh why could I not get motivated to sew???? Didn't do too much I must confess but sit on my kiester and surf the web and read blogs, also watched some movies and caught up on some reading that is collecting by my chair, made some delicious apple dumplings....but not much to be proud of.


Finally, Sunday afternoon, late afternoon, I forced myself to go downstairs to my quilting room and see if I could find something productive I could do...maybe quilt the Bargello Bowl? Well started to tidy up a bit and came across this tote...it's the leftovers from 3 baby quilts I made using mary's triangle...all with different arrangements. I thought I would empty it and sort the leftovers into my strip bins....

Well, I'm pretty tired of this fabric after making 3 quilts from it, but as I started to put it away I started to challenge myself on how to use it up...make another quilt. I had lots of leftover 5 inch squares I had cut for the other quilts. For some reason when I was making the earlier quilts I just kept cutting and cutting until I cut up all the fabric. So it's pretty much all cut up into the pieces I needed for those quilts.
This is the one that I have left. I've saved it to mark my quilting progress. It was one of the earliest quilts I quilted on the HQ16....did a line dancing technique. I turned out ok, but could use some work on stitch lenght consistency....my machine does not have a stitch regulator.




I started thinking about a technique I saw on TV awhile back....a long while back! But thought I could try it with what I had leftover. So I combined the 5 inch blocks into sets of one pair and one spare....
The I cut the pair in half on the diagonal....
Next came sewing the triangle pieces onto the squares....

And then cutting them apart.....

And mixing them up and sewing them back together....and squaring them up to 6 1/2 inches

Makes a block that looks a lot more complicated than it was to make....a good thing!

Before I was ready for bed I had 12 blocks made and I now have created another unfinished project! And totally didn't make any progress on my CC or Bargello...and I WILL have them finished before I start the next quiltville mystery!

I decided I needed some more blocks so tonight I worked on making some more while I watched Dancing with the Stars. Since I didn't really want too many more blocks, but I did want variety so I tried making them with two colors of triangles on the squares, like this....

It only produced 2 quarters like I wanted so it didn't really save much time...had to sew more to get less....so I went back to making them with the same color on the outside. Now I have leftovers....it just never ends! Stay tuned to see how I plan on setting these blocks...I have an idea but gotta work the next few days so there won't be any sewing time.

Checking In

Haven't got any quilt pictures to show right now, so here are my babies, Heidi my kitty and Buddy my big baby. Buddy is waiting patiently hoping Heidi will not eat all her food so he can. He is so submissive...the cat is the boss, even tho he out weighs her 10 to 1...he's about 100 lbs!

I have sewn my Carolina Crossroads blocks together, but I'm not going to say how I chose to do it yet as I don't have a picture. Will hopefully get borders on this weekend and then will post a picture.

I haven't had much time for sewing lately, or maybe it's not enough energy. I worked an extra day of overtime last week, been to the dentist, and seems like I've been running around too much. I'm looking forward to the weekend as I will have 4 days off. It's predicted to rain for most of it so I won't have to feel guilty about not working in the yard, but boy does it need it. I'll do alittle laundry and abit of housekeeping and then quilt. Oh, and there is a quilt show this weekend that I might decide to go to. Okay I better get myself to bed so I can get up for work in the morning...took a nap this afternoon around 5 and I'm not sleepy yet...I should never sit down around that time of day!

Carolina Crossroads

WA HOOO!!!! The blocks are done!

Pattern setting as per Bonnie's directions. I'm liking it!

With black sashing....

Or yellow...

Here's alittle of each...I saw someone's picture somewhere, sorry I can't remember where, who had used sashing and I really liked it. Not sure if I should sash or not. I'm liking the yellow better than the black one, but I like it without too. I'm going to work on quilting my Bargello Bowl tomorrow while I percolate on the CC.

Stashbusting?

It certainly is an eye opener to start keeping track of the yardage I purchase. These pictures show the 25.5 yds I just purchased. The price was hard to pass up, some will be for backings and some was just a different flavor than what I have in my stash. Reflecting on this purchase I don't really feel bad, I like the fabrics, and it doesn't look like all that much. Just don't know where I'm going to put it, I seem to be running out of space. And this amount, this 25.5 yds doesn't even look like that much, so I wonder how many yards I really have. I don't have any idea how to tally it all up.

So far this year I have bought 95.5 yds of fabric!!! If that was all I owned it wouldn't be so very much...I'm sure it would probably all fit on one shelf in my cabinet, maybe one and a half. I have 4 cabinets full of fabric, plus bolts on top of the cabinets and bins wherever I can fit them.

The sadest part of all is that so far for the year I have used 11.25 yds! If I continue at the same pace it will take me about 17 months to use the 95.5 yds. EYEOPENER! I think this is the most valuable thing I have done as far as my stashbusting efforts are concerned. I think it is time to go No Buy. Can you feel me shake with fear?

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!