Busy busy busy

Just thought I'd drop in for a quick second. I have company staying with me for a while and have been very busy. Not much crafting of any kind going on here right now, unless you count cooking Christmas goodies. Hope you all have a wonderful Holiday and hope to post some thing more interesting soon....
Regina

Dogs....

Ok...all day long I felt sorry for my other babies that I didn't put their picture on here. I know....I'm odd. So, these are my other three babies. Tator Tot on the right, he's the Dad/Hubby. Popcorn is on the left, she's the Mom/Wife, and the middle one is QtipGirl, Tat and Pops baby girl. Yeah, we refer to them as the Tot family. Now I'm done. They got equal time. Nothing quilty, but I have been knitting today. My tailbone still hurts from my fall. I don't bounce.......lol

Bored, Sick kids, dogs.....

This is one of my favorite pics. Why is that? Tis the season? I just wanted to share this morning. Nothing quilty about it, but it makes me laugh. My daughter is home sick this morning. Just a cold I think. Sore throat and the like.

This is one of my babies. Actually, my oldest dog, Mugsy. Someone gave him to me, cause I've got "Sucker" written across my forehead. He's really a great dog and Cindy's favorite of our four. Just thought I'd share a bit of my life. I'll post the other three dogs another time. And the parrot.....that's another story....

Ahhhh....Survived Thanksgiving......

Ahhhh...I'm back.....

Yes, I survived Thanksgiving. Although, I did slip and fall down my deck stairs on Thanksgiving Day (also my birthday). We decided to go to the movies that evening and out I went and down I slid. Garry says I don't "bounce" well. So, bruised ribs and tailbone. Lots of black and blue spots in places you don't even wanna know about, but I'm ok. Nothing broken. That's the important thing.

I did a bit of sewing today. Haven't been doing much because sitting hurts my hiney....just what you all wanted to hear, right? I made a little quilted rug for my french doors that come in the family room from the deck. I have four, yeah..four, little dogs. I used to breed Maltese pups and I have the mom, Popcorn, the dad, TatorTot, and one of the first pups, Qtip. I also have a Shitzu. I'm pretty much a sucker for any animals so it's a zoo. I also have a Parrot named Purdue. He's a nightmare. Anyway, I thought a cute little rug by the back door might be good for the pups to "wipe" their little feet on now that we have snow on the ground. Well, that's my little week at a glance. Think I may miss my Bible study class tonight. Just not up to moving around enough to get dressed for it. The colors are actually red and greens but they look pink. Hmmmm..... Hope you are all well....see ya soon......

Wraps....

I suppose you've all seen these already. Since I'm new to this quilting world, these are new to me. And...everyone I know wants one now. And...I love it! It has made me so happy for everyone to think these are cool and want me to make them one. So far, I'm using them as "thank you" gifts, and "just thinking of you" gifts and such. It only takes three fat quarters to make them. Here are a few of them that I've made. They don't take long at all to finish. The thing that takes the longest is the binding. Even my 9th grade daughter had to have a couple. I didn't think she'd think they were cool enough for her. You know kids. And now her friends are all wanting one! Maybe they would make a nice xmas gift for my daughter to make for them. I did buy her a Viking sewing machine too a couple of months ago.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I've got a Chamber of Commerce Arts and Crafts Fair to work tomorrow, then a trip to the hospital to see Val. Sunday is church day and we've got a lot to be thankful for with the great news on Val today. It's like Christmas around here. My daughter loves her too and started crying when she heard the news. Tears of joy really rock.

Later!

Great News!!!

Ok...here goes. I just got home from the hospital, where my friend Val had her surgery this morning. I got up there about 5:30 this morning so that I could spend some time with her before she went in. Her spirits were good and she said that with so many people praying for her, she'd have to be strapped to the table so she wouldn't float away. And here it is....they appear to have gotten all the cancer. In addition to this great news there was a question of having to cut her facial nerves because this type of cancer travels on the nerve endings. This would have caused facial deformities and loss of the use of her lower lip and one eye. They DID NOT have to cut any of the nerves. She will have a slight dent in her neck under her ear due to the removal of some lymph nodes. That's all.....just a dent! The doctor even went so far as to say that she may not have to have radiation therapy. That's still a maybe, but you never know. I'm just so happy for my friend. I can't even say how grateful I am for this outcome. Praise God for his mercy and grace. He must know how much we (and by we, I mean I) need her in my life. Well...I have phone calls to make and spread the news. I have a long list of people I'm suppose to call. Thank you all for your prayers. Regina

"Holy Flying Geese, Batgirl!"

Never made flying geese before, but I bought Ms. Burns ruler and figured I better give it a try. I made too many. I have leftover goose? geese? It was ok. Not sure when I'll be ready to make more. I came down with a touch of the flu Sunday night, Monday morning. Felt pretty bad all day yesterday, but I zycam-ed and feel much better today. I'm still not feelin like doing cartwheels or anything, but I'm better than yesterday. Yesterday was a good day to make geese. This whole thing is looking way too busy for my taste, but it's good practice and it's starting to grow on me. I may add another border of muslin, per my daughters instructions...ahahahhaaa....she's full of ideas.

Later, Regina

Friends.....

Well, this one is hard for me. I have kept this away from my blog for fear of "losing" it, but even if no one ever reads it, I'll feel better for writing it. My best friend has cancer. This is not new. She has non-hodgkins leukemia and has been in remission for several years after a hard fight and lots of chemo. Now...she has a new cancer. Cancer of the salvitory glands. She will be having surgery this coming Friday. We spent the day together yesterday doing fun stuff. Shopping and arts and craft fairs. Val is an amazing woman. She is our Township Supervisor, is on more boards than I can list, President of our Chamber of Commerce, a wonderful Mother, Sister, Daughter, Wife, Christian, and yes, Friend. She and I are not life long friends, in fact, we've only been friends a few years. Ya know how you meet someone and it just clicks? Like you've known them all your life? That's how it is with us. Our husbands are friends, too. I've decided some things during all of this. I know that God knows how much I need her in my life. On the flip side of the same coin, if that should not continue, I have to remember how grateful that He gave me the time we've had. It's been quite hard to maintain that mind set. I want to get mad and do something about it. But...I have to maintain Faith. I have to not worry. I have to remember that He knows better than I do. So...if anyone reads this, I would really appreciate just a moment of your time that you could say a prayer for Val. And one for me, too, that I do and say the things that will help her through this battle.......Thanks......

Fabric, Bags, Pinwheels, Shopping

Did a bit of shopping today...yep... adding to my black and whites for my next YBR. What do you think? A bit more "even"? I'm adding just a touch of red in it too. Not much though. I'm pretty happy with these now though. I think I'm almost ready. It was a girl friends day out today, so we, Val and I, did hit some Arts and Craft fairs that were going on in the area. That was fun too. Happened upon this little jewel also, and the best part is that I managed to sneak it into the house without Garry seeing it. He has me on a Purse Diet. No more bags for me....so he thinks....lol..... Ok. I admit it. I do have a bag fetish. And, it's not just handbags. I like to buy duffle bags, luggage, makeup bags. I just like bags. But this one....today's find....Oh Yeah, Baby! I'm liking this one.....

Ain't she a beaute?

Worked on my pinwheels tonight and desided they are just too busy next to each other....so.. stash busting, I found some and added borders....I like it much better now. I'm glad this was just made out of fq's. It's a great way to practice and learn about values. I like pinwheels a lot too.

Hope everyone has a great Sunday. Sundays are super busy here. Church in the morning, then dinner with friends, then my favorite time....Sunday afternoon nap....and back to church for Sunday night service. I know...I do go to church a lot. Three times a week. I love my church family and the time we spend in worship. It's changed my life in a lot of ways. It just works for my family. So, I'm off to bed soon, although, the movie Saharra is on, and I sure hate to miss the chance to see so much of Matthew McCuddly. I do own the movie though, so I guess I can let this one on tv go. LOL!

Later.....Regina

Pinwheels....

That's a few of them. Just some fat quarter and muslin. I love muslin, by the way. Just gives quilts that "old time" look to me. I'm sure after a while, I'll get tired of it, but it's also good for the practice I sure do need. I've got about 12 of them done so far and I would like to rotate them with some nine patches, but then there's the math to consider.....LOL The finished pinwheels came out 10.5 inches...sooo....ok...not ready for math today. I'll have to sit down and think it through. I didn't sleep well again last night. I seem to do most of my "thinkin" at night. Been that way for about 10 years. Lack of sleep causes many problems most people don't consider. It's not only the tired feeling all the time, but also it causes weight gain.....ugh.....the dreaded weight gain. I was, over the years on a lot of meds for this, and I do mean a LOT of meds. They helped me sleep, but it's just not the same kind of sleep and they also cause weight gain, and unclear head during the day...more of the same issues as not sleeping. So....what I do now is, every three or four nights, I take a couple of OTC non aspirin sleep pills. They do the trick and although I don't feel fabulous the next morning, I do feel better.


I was sooooo domestic yesterday. I even made homemade, and by homemade I mean bread machine, raisin oat bread. It's a pretty heavy bread, but my daughter loves it for breakfast and it was still warm in the machine this morning. Sometimes it takes so little to make 'em happy. Garry does not eat bread. He just doesn't care for most breads. The one bread he does like is Johnny Cake...ya know...sweet cornbread. I also make a single layer white cake, chocolate frosting of course. I have the bread machine going again today, making some dough for rolls for dinner tonight. Company coming....fried chicken, mashed taters, gravy, salad and a veggie...undecided what veggie..... and speaking of weight gain....ahahhahhahaaaa...... Ok...I was raised by southern people. Frying is what I learned, but actually I cheat. I fry it in good oil just until it's "purty" and then I move it to baking racks and bake it till it's done. Most of the grease bakes out into the pan and then I don't feel quite so bad about fixing it. And...I don't do it often. Well....time for some sewing...a few more pinwheels and then the math part......
Have a fabulous Friday....Yipppeeeee......Friday!!!!!!!!

Cleaning Day!

Ok...a bit brighter outside today. Still rainy though. Didn't sleep again, but feel pretty good today. Good enough to start a really really serious cleaning in my dining room and kitchen. I guess now that I've moved to the living room with all the craft/quilt/sewing stuff, I can see more and more how bad the dining room and kitchen were looking. I'm a clutter bug. A "stacker". You know, "Mom, where do I put this ________? (insert anything in the blank)". Or .. the hubby who just drops his socks/jacket/coat/keys /tools/lighters/screws/you name it, where ever he lands. So....stuff just gets "stacked" up. I'm pretty picky about real dirt, but the clutter....ahhhh....I'll get to it. Today was that day. And I really didn't get far. I'm easily distracted. Not like a raccoon, ya know they are distracted by shiny objects....LOL. I just start in one corner and then I'm off to something else. I eventually come back to the original task, but it may be an hour or two. Anywho...it's all looking so much better. Long day though and I'll be ready for quilty things very very soon. In fact, in about an hour or so. Right up until bed, with the exception of feeding the crew. I did manage to throw beef at the crockpot and we'll have beef tips and noodles....yummmmy! ... and so easy.

I have a lot of my pinwheels done and I'd like to start some nine patches to go in between them. I love pinwheels but they really can look very busy next to each other. Off and running again, hope everyone is having a wonderful Thursday.

Later......

Blogs, memories, thoughts.....

Not a quilty day. But...it is a blog day. A person could get completely lost in the Land of Blog! I like seeing what others do and have to say about all kinds of things. It seems that a lot of women are going back to older traditions. More "scratch" cooking, canning, arts that seem to have been lost through the years. Actual Homemaking. I feel that way about quilting. A lost art. Well, not completely lost, as I'm finding out more and more each day. I'm not usually so nostalgic, but it's one of those days, I suppose. I was thinking of my Grandmother. I miss her everyday. She lived in Tennesee, a very small town called Finger. Yes, Finger. They were cotton farmers. During summer vacations, my family would visit there. We picked cotton too. Very hard work. I can remember being very young, six or seven maybe, and thinking I'd really done a lot. Had my cotton sack half full, and then found out I'd accomplished picking about $0.17 worth of cotton in a whole day. Amazing. I of course was devastated to find out that was it. My weekly allowance was a lot more than that at 50 cents, and I only had to take out the garbage and make my bed. But...there are things I remember. The cupboard in my Grams farm house that held her biscuit making supplies. The way the door folded out and the big bowl fit perfectly inside it. The way the water tasted fresh out of the well. They had no indoor plumbing until I was a teen. I think of the way my Gramps made popcorn in that funny contraption with the turner handle on top, in the fireplace. Homemade ice cream. Catching fireflies and putting them in a mason jar. Stealing dried apples off the big front porch, before, during and after the drying process. I guess those are memories I'll have forever. I hate to think that when I'm gone, those memories will be gone, also. Maybe it's the lack of sunshine today, as gray days tend to make me sentimental. But, these are just thoughts today.

And...it's off to church tonight. I have a Ladies Bible Study class on Wednesday nights at our church. I love it. I love the fellowship, the women, the learning, everything about it. God has blessed me in so many ways. I want my children to have those memories. I wonder what they will remember of me when they are older...

Done! Finished! Yippeeee!

What a feeling to finish quilting one in one day! It just rocks! Of course, I'm sure I'm just preaching to the choir here.
Yipppeeee....Hurraaaayyy!

Thanks for all the suggestions on the black and white fabrics. I agree with you all. Oh darn, (insert sarcasm here), that means more fabric shopping. Will it never end? Hahahahahhaaa

I'm playing with some fat quarters I have. I have a couple hundred now. Is that a lot? I really don't know if it is or not. Anyway, I want to do some pinwheels and rotate them with a nine patch, but the math has got my head all warped now. And I'm good at math. I'll figure it out, but it's kinda messing with my head. See how new I really am to all of this? Ahhhh...back to the fat quarters.....and math.....Later!

Yippeeee! Loaded up and stippling!

Ok...it's loaded and half done. The pantograph just didn't work for me. I think I just need more practice to get the "feel" of the whole thing. But, fortunately, I like stippling. I like doing it and I like the look of it. Whewww....thank goodness! I guess I'm glad that it takes so little to amuse me. My husband, Garry, I'm sure would disagree, but ya know, he's a man....lol Actually, a very good man! (Just in case he ever reads this...hahhahaha)

This is my assortment of black and white fabrics. I think I'm going to add just a slash of bright red here and there in this one and do a YBR. At least that's my current plan. There are just too many patterns out there. I wanna make 'em all!

I'm off and running again now....back to the land of stippling.....

Regina

Monday, Monday.......

Good Morning.....I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Mine was great! Bought myself a few little gifts, yes gifts. Happy ME day. Does that work? It'll have to because I already bought them. My iron sucked, was probably 20 years old and very tired. And now....taaa daaaaa..... My new Rowenta Precision, clearance priced at Joann's iron. And I love it. Smooooooth as silk. Especially when compared to my old one. Hope it lasts...... I also happened upon some fabric that wasn't just calling my name, but screaming it. It now has a home, with me......LOL Some black and whites. Thats next I think. A black and white top.

On the quilty front, I'm adding borders to another Irish Chain top I'm working on. Hope to load it on the frame today and start the quilting. I'm thinking I'm going to get brave and try out the laser, which is still in the box, and a panto. I'm loving this so much. If this one turns out nicely, I'm giving it to my brother and sil, as a Christmas gift. Keep my in your prayers today, I'm not feeling all the confident as of yet.

If I get as much accomplished today as I hope to, I'll post pics on the frame later. Have a great day even if it is Monday. Laundry day here, too ......grrrrrr......

Thank YOU, Jen!

Just wanted to send a special "Thanks!" out to Jen ( http://cre8tivequilter.blogspot.com/) for the help I needed when I was so frustrated. Yep...all about the tread. Had some terrible problems with the needle thread breaking in the Janome. Cheap thread does not cut it, even to practice. Cause you can't practice if it doesn't work.....LOL

I don't know how she does all she does....but I'm just glad she does it all!

Happy Halloweenie!

Ahhhhh....the joys of Halloween. Our small town does a Halloween Extravaganza at the Township Hall. I love small towns. They set up barbecue areas and supply hot dogs, apple cider, popcorn. Everyone comes out and participates. I'm treasurer of our Chamber of Commerce, so I spent the evening standing in the rain giving all the kids (and parents) popcorn. I was wet and freezing and had a blast. I love this stuff. All the kids just make me smile. My daughter, who we adopted when she was seven, never wants to try anything new. She's just very shy. She's 14 now and yep, that's her in the pic. I have never been shy. We are total opposites, probably due to our early childhood differences. I push her to try everything. She ended up having a wonderful time. She just loves it when I push her to do new things and it makes my heart soar to see her come out of her shell. She's adorable too btw. But I'm still soggy.......

On the quilty front, I did make some blocks today. It's from another website and I don't really know procedure to give credit where credit is due....so here is where I got it. http://www.myquiltblog.com/nancyrose/4624/myquiltblog.com/nancyrose/4624/

She's awesome and I love her blog too! Several of you bloggers have become a part of my everyday life and I feel like I even know some of you. Seems so strange, but fun.

This is "Ethel", my machine. It's a Viking Sapphire 830, named after my Grams who passed away just a few years ago at the ripe age of 98. She quilted her entire life, by hand. No machines used for any part of it. Seemed only fitting that I name her Ethel. I don't know what to name the frame/machine. With all the thread breakage, she may end up named OsamaB. Think that's fitting? OK....I won't go that far and I'm sure I'll figure out the problem at some point. Just frustrated right now. No matter where I set the tension, I can only quilt about five minutes and....needle thread breaks. I'm sure it's something I'm doing wrong, just don't know what as of yet.

It's so odd to be moved to the living room. I've lived in this house 5 or 6 years and never used that room. I have this wonderful family room that's big and all windows and bright. Beautiful hardwoods that I had put in this past summer and it's just always been "my" room. Pay no attention to the mess in there, as it was when we were having the floors installed and nothing was where it was suppose to be. Those two pics are only half of the room. I just can't show my office part due to my disorganized desk. It's bad. And now....this room belongs to everyone. Fine...I'm sharing! But I don't have to like it.

I guess that's it for the ramble. Did you all notice that General Hospital is on my television?

Any suggestions for a name for the frame/machine would be great.

Later,

Regina

Quilting, Sewing Kits, Praise

I've become addicted to 30's prints. They just make me so happy. So...of course...I ebay-ed. And got lots of fat quarters. Six months ago, I didn't even know what a fat quarter was. I used the Yellow Brick Road Pattern and here's the top. Hanging all kitty-wambassed on my wall. But...I love this one. I have to add borders and then...I'ma quilt it!!!

I made these "sewing kits" for Ladies Day at my church. Each year in the fall, we have a Ladies Day and it's amazing. We have breakfast, and singing, and speakers, prayers, skits, lunch. It's the most wonderful day of the year for me. This year, my third Ladies Day, I jumped in head first. My friend Val and I did breakfast, crepes, muffins, fruit. Then my daughter, Cyn, was in the skit and I was the "soundwoman". She also did some singing, so we had lots of rehearsals for both. And each year we give everyone a "favor" to remember the day. I volunteered to do that also. The theme for this year was Patterns for Living. Sewing kits seemed to fit. I bought medicine bottles from Walmart. Made pincushions to hot clue to the tops. Lots of basting there. Then I added a button, spool of thread, saftey pin, and on a piece of cloth a straight pin and a needle. I made 220 of those bad boys and loved every minute of it. My other friend, Jan, made the labels for them. A little sewing machine pic and the words..."A day hemmed in prayer is less likely to unravel". As always it was the best day. There is something very special about 200 women singing praises to the Lord. It moves me beyond words and I just thought I'd share a bit of it. And yes....under the sewing kits is a little table runner I made last week. And...only 48 weeks till the next Ladies Day...and I can't wait ....
Happy quilting....
Regina

Pinnacle/Janome 1600p dbx

Been a while already....my how time flies. I'm adding pics of my new frame and machine. Learning to use a frame and how to blog at the same time may be more than I can handle. (lol) This is the first quilt top I made. My friend, Sharon, from church, agreed to teach some of us how to quilt. Little did she know what a monster she was creating. So....I've been moved to the living room and am giving up the "family" room. Something about how it's suppose to be for the whole family ... not just my sewing adventures. I was kinda taking over in there. But that room is over 500 square foot and has hardwood floors ... so easy with all my threads everywhere to clean up. But .. that's over now. I'm relinquishing it back to them and I hope they all feel guilty about it. (they won't)

And...now I have two of the same pic here and can't figure out how to remove one....so double your pleasure, double the fun!

So...there you have it. My new passion is growing. Happy quilting to all of you.....

First large quilt.

Ok...I'm bitten. I've got the quilting bug. Four months and I don't want to do anything but piece tops and quilt them. I even enjoy putting the bindings on. From what I've read on everyone else's blog, enjoying bindings is not normal. Perhaps that will pass. Here are my first endevors into this new world.....

This is an Irish Chain quilt. I've done some straight line quilting thru the chain parts and now I have these large white areas with no idea what to do with them regarding the quilting part. I've only been at this for about four months and I'd like to do some machine feathering but I actually like this one so much I'm concerned about screwing it up. I may take a lap quilt top I've done and practice feathering on it before I attempt this big one. The other is a close up of a pinwheel I did. It didn't turn out quite as big as I had hoped. Learning how much you lose when you sew the blocks together was an adventure too!

I've done several and I can see some improvement in my piecing. Time is on my side I suppose. I can only improve from the first couple I made.

This is one I like pretty well. Just big enough to snuggle and hang on the back of the couch. My first one that I'm really happy with and is completed.

Here are a couple more I've done. All small and more or less practice quilts. I have three nephews who won't notice the mistakes. Thank God for small children who only know you did something just for them.

This is a rag quilt I did. Saw the pattern for it....had to give it a try. Not bad and I loved all the poka dots. Dots on the front, dots on the back. This was fun with the easy quilting, but not so much with all the clipping.

This is a scrappy star I think. I've looked at so many patterns I've lost track. I love ticking. I think I could use it in every quilt I make. Might not be such a great idea, but when ya love something...it's so hard no to work it into everything.

Well, I suppose that is all for now. I have some sewing that is calling my name and better get to it. I hope to make new friends and share this experience with those of you who know so much more about this lost art than I do. Thanks for looking and any advise will be appreciated greatly.