I'm in trouble.....

I'm in trouble already. My fabra-holic friend, Val, is having a yard sale. Her entire basement is nothing but tubs and shelves and more tubs of fabric. I get first shot at all of it. Fortunately, for me, it's not all cotton. A lot of it is dress fabrics. That means my daughter is in trouble too. I may have to take out a mortgage on my house to buy all her cottons. I might as well suck it up and admit that I'm excited about it. I'm gonna buy buy buy. I was only there for an hour tonight and spent fifty bucks. And the cotton fabric's not even out yet. She had an over the door ironing board that folds up. It will be such a space saver in my sewing room. And, of course there was fabric my kid wanted. Val and I went shopping last spring and she bought a bed ensemble and then a week later found one she liked better. I had been kicking myself for not getting the same one. Now....I own it. It's never been taken out of the package. And, the color matches my bedroom. This is gonna get ugly. (Just trying to sneak it all in the house?) Giggle! Actually, Garry would never say a word. I just like to pick on him. I'm going to have to put all Connecting Thread orders on hold. Well, I'm off to make room on some shelves. I may need to go buy another set of those shelves......hmmmmmmmm.....there's an idea!

A Finish!

Finished! Done! Yippeeee! One down, not counting how many to go. It would just make me feel defeated before the day starts. I'm on a "finish it up" binge. It actually feels pretty good. This is the Bricks andStepping Stones pattern from Bonnie at Quiltville.com I quilted this one yesterday and finished the binding about midnight last night. I don't know what I've done, but my right shoulder is seriously sore. I think I've got a "catch in my get-along". That's pretty much what I call anything that causes me to move slowly. And, I don't like this. In bed at 1 a.m. and up at 5 a.m. cause it hurts to even lay on my shoulder. It started a couple of days ago and with my sorry memory, I can't remember what I could have done to make it hurt. The only things that last in my memory are things Garry does wrong. Those I can remember for years. I mentioned that at dinner on Sunday to some friends. The women all giggled and the men just shook their head and said "I know", in chorus. It was pretty funny.

Oh, the backing on this one is a sheet I found at Goodwill. I've heard a lot of discussions about using/not using sheets as backings. I like them. This one is fun, bright and sewed up great. I even used the left overs for the binding. This is the first binding in my one year (I know, a quilting babe) that I'm very happy with. I have read lots about thread count in sheets being too high and all that, but I make quilts to use, so ... we'll see how it wears. And, for $1.99 for the sheet, I had to try it.

I'm off to pick another UFO and finish it today! I hope I don't lose my resolve.........

No one saw it arrive....

And we all know who I mean by "no one"!

Yep, big box came today from Connecting Threads. Again, I am not disappointed. I love this fabric. So...my day in pictures so far..... I was happily working on this....

when, out of nowhere, this arrived

Giddy-ness and grinning ensued

( no pic of my giddy-ness or grinning. You can thank me later for that)

Oh oh oh...I am a happy woman.

It was all on clearance. On sale. Now, what will I do with the money I saved. That's Girl Math, ya know. If I saved say, 50 bucks buying this on clearance, I figure I can go spend the saved 50 bucks on something else. It's a great thing that Girl Math. I have explained that to Garry, and I think he understands it, but his eyes do glaze over a bit. When in doubt, I mention his new dirtbike I got him for his birthday last year and then his giddy-ness and grinning ensues too. Life is just great!

So, first is the Connecting Threads sewing kit. Now that I'm hand quilting, I really NEEDED that. Came with the fabric and pattern, in the closeout section. Bargain!

Next is the yardage. Some pink and gray. Three yards of each. If there is no plan and I just like it, I buy 3 to 5 yards and in the stash it goes. It was also on Connecting Threads closeout section and under 4 bucks a yard. I wish you could all feel this fabric....yummy! Bargain!

And then ... the fat quarters. Oh yeah, baby! Three sets, cause they to were on sale and I think it ended up being under $1.00 per fq. I think there is like 30 or so fq's per package for under 30 bucks. So....I bought three sets.

I also saved money on shipping because orders over 50 bucks are free shipping. Bargain!

More Girl Math. Add another 10 to my 50 dollar savings from earlier and now, I have 60 bucks to shop with next week. Ahhh....don't you love it when a plan comes together?

And ... the rest of this post is not quilty....is garden-y. I have tomato plants that are taller than I am. I am only 5', but sheesh....I have tomato trees now.

Pics of the garden and then I'm back to YBR blocks.

Camera Found....Yay!

Yep, there it was. Under a pile of stuff I took to craft day. Of course. So, here's what I've been doing. I have 100 blocks made for the YBR. I'll only use 90, so I'll have some leftovers for something. This is that Connecting Threads Fabric. Yummy stuff!

This is a top I made when I first started last year for my friend Val. I'm finally quilting it. Finally. It was for her birthday last Sept. Maybe it will be finished for this birthday? Let's hope so. Nope, no hoping, it's going to be finished for this birthday! Yep!

This is the cheater quilt I've been hand quilting. It's almost done. Some of the edges left to quilt and then the border and binding. Not sure what to border it with or if I even have any fabric that will work, but this has taught me that I love hand quilting. Yippeee...


You know the best part of having these shelves to store fabric? No one (and by no one I mean Garry) can tell when there has been more added. Nope, it just looks the same to everyone (and by everyone I mean Garry). Giggle! Yep, more has been added recently.








I have been seeing lots about Locker Hooking lately, so I picked up a kit to start with and we'll see. My friend Patti and I are going to do this one together. Yep, Patti and I made a shopping trip a couple of days ago. She's quite crafty. Her hubby, Ted, is very crafty too. He does woodworking. Don't hold it against him, but he's a math teacher at our local Christian School. Here's a link to his website. I've seen a lot of his work in person and it's awesome. He's having a show this weekend that I'm planning to go to. I have just gotta have some of his art! Check it out.

Well, that's it for me here. Gotta make a quick run to the grocery store for milk and then, back to the sewing room for me. Have a wonderful Thursday!

Lost Camera Alert

Still can't find it. I had it a couple of days ago. Oh, on Saturday. I took it to craft day, but didn't take any pics. I was too busy using my new Connecting Threads fabrics making YBR blocks. I have gotten 100 blocks done and have started setting them. I worked on my handquilting all day yesterday. Yep, 11 hours of hand quilting. I've got two left fingers that are so sore now, it's hard to type. But, I can see a lot more hand quilting in my future. I love it. I'll post pics when the camera turns up.

I do want to mention that I am by no means a fabric snob. I think you use what you can afford, or what you have available. I am blessed to be able to buy some things that others may not be able to afford. And, on the flip side, there are things I just can't buy due to these economic times. Here's my point of all that. I ordered some fabric from Connecting Threads. Oh, MY! This fabric makes me so happy. It's so soft and so little fraying. It's like butter! I can't even describe it. I, naturally, ordered more already. Quite a bit more. And, the prices? They are less than most of the Joann's fabrics cost. Now, the thread from there. I love it. And, it's priced right! I bought several of their thread kits a while back and I love it. The colors are wonderful and it sews so well. I'm not affiliated in any way, but I highly recommend this company. I expect there will be an order in my mail box today or tomorrow. When I find the camera, I'll post some pics. Here's the link for them, if you would like to look around......http://www.connectingthreads.com

No time to blog.....

Gotta keep sewing. Kristie is trying very hard to get ahead of me in our little July sewing competition. I had to go out and do some campaigning and was gone most of the day yesterday. So, what's a girl to do? Stay up til 3 a.m. to get some hours in, of course. I don't know how long I can do that, but ... whatever it takes I suppose. I can't find my camera now, so, no pics. I'm determined to finish some of the projects I've got started. Hump day already, so enjoy the rest of your week......

Dirt Biking Quilt....Done!

Yep. Finished. One down, a lot to go. Garry is happy with it. He chose the fabric (from my stash) and he even chose the pattern. It's the Scrappy Mountain Majesties from Quiltville.com. He didn't really want scrappy though. He calls all the scrappy quilts "too random". He just doesn't get it, but that's ok. He doesn't get a lot of things I do....giggle!
Since I finished one, I started another, of course.


I found this pattern here and I love the look of it. It's going to take me a while to do this one. I'm doing a controlled scrappy with a set of fat quarters (or two). It takes longer to make these blocks than I would have thought.

Other than that, the hand quilting continues. This is working out well to do in the evenings when the family is watching tv. I still get to hang with them some, instead of holing up in my sewing room. Maybe they prefer it the other way? Nahhhh, they like me, they really do...giggle!

I'm trying a new groomer today. My dogs are being shaved. I have used the same groomer for many years. It's been very convenient since she is in my vets office. My vet recently changed his policies. It's always been that if one of my four dogs needed a shot or anything routing, they would just take care of it while the dogs where there and charge me for the shot. Now, new policy, each time they visit the groomer, he checks them over and charges me $33.00 office call per dog. This added $132.00 to my last groomer trip. I told them this wouldn't work for me and the vet said he'd just charge me $16.00 per dog from now on. That's still an additional $64.00 each time they get groomed. No way. I'm not doing that. So, I have found a new groomer and had a long talk with her last week. I'm really hoping she works out. Yes, I'm quite picky about my dogs although you wouldn't know it to look at them right now. They are a mess. I've procrastinated over finding a new groomer or sucking up the extra charges at the old one. So now....they are a mess. Matted, dirty. Ughhhhh....but this afternoon, I expect them to be beautiful and bald...hehehhee Maybe they'll get their pics taken today and I'll show ya!

Just got back from picking the pups up and they got shaved close! I had let them get really matted and yucky. Now...they look ... uhm....scalped?! But they are running around like they were pups again....Happy dogs!

LOOK MA, SLOBBER!

100th Post....Already?

I haven't checked 'snopes.com' to see if this actually works or not


But they say,

If you ever get the sudden

urge to run around naked,

you should drink some Windex first.

It'll keep you from streaking.

Have a Great Day!

It's a good day

When you can just sew and sew and sew some more! OCD has kicked in and I actually want to finish some UFO's. Garry is trying to get some guys together to go dirtbiking this weekend, so I thought a finished project is better than a top in a basket, deserted, ignored and lonely. I think I can have this one done by Friday and he can take it with him. I'm toying with the idea of trying to design this sort of like a sleeping bag or stadium blanket so that he can roll it up and tie it for traveling. I think I can do it. I'm the little engine that could today. I think I can, I think I can....hehehhheheeeee Well, back to it.

Some amazing quilting

Anyone else get up and can't wait to see what new beauty is on this site Check out this Storm at Sea that she just finished quilting. On top of the fabulous quilting she does, she's such a sweetheart! I realize that I'm never going to be in her league when it comes to quilting, but a girl can dream. Check out the back of the quilt too! It's a work of art.

I've been deciding on what to say or do about some people in blogland who are not happy about my last couple of posts. I've decided that it's just too bad if they are not happy about it. This is my blog, my opinions, thoughts, feelings, crafts..etc. It's my right to feel how I feel about anything. Actually, it's my right to ridicule on here, if that's what I choose to do. I didn't feel like I was ridiculing anyone, but maybe that couple deserves/needs ridiculing. The topic of the post is somewhat irrelevant to me now. I wish I were sorry that I might lose some people who have read my blog in the past, but this blog is more for me, than for them. By nature, I'm a postitive type person. I tend to be sarcastic and make jokes. If that offends you, then this may not be the blog for you. There are plenty out there to choose from. And, that's enough on that subject. On to fun stuff.

I've almost got my adventure in hand quilting finished. I think I will attempt an actual pieced quilt top soon with hand quilting. I really have enjoyed that. I'd post another pic, but it looks the same with more quilting done. I've got to get these hours up, or Kristie is going to get too far ahead of me to catch up on hours. The Survivor competition is going strong with Jen, Jill, and Moneik. GO, JEN!

The Filth continues

I just can't get over this. I'm completely wrapped up in "how can anyone live like this?" I know it's not quilty, but I just can't seem to stop myself

Oh...and THIS IS NOT MY HOUSE. I do NOT live like that!
UPDATE: I HAD TO DELETE THE VIDEO FROM THE LAST POST. IT STARTED RUNNING EVERYTIME I OPENED MY INTERNET AND I GOT TIRED OF THAT WOMAN TALKING FAST. SO, IF MY LAST POST MAKES NO SENSE TO YOU, WATCH THIS VIDEO INSTEAD.

Who wants a Clean House?

Do any of you watch this show? Good Grief! I watched this show the last couple of days during my hand quilting adventure. Last night they had this "contest" winner show on for the Messiest House in the country. OMG! Do people really live like that? Ok...I'm naive? Maybe I am. Do I have clutter? Of course I have clutter. But...but....I'm at a loss for words. How could anyone let it get this bad? How is that possible? I realize this isn't quilty, but I'm just really thown by this. Yea, I admit that I laughed during the show. And ... almost got sick, too. How do you not clean your own toilet for months? I don't get it. Like I said, I'm not a clean freak. I've got a storage room, actually two, that need some organizing, but I guarantee there is nothing "growing" in there. I guess that's all I can say about that and now I'm moving on......
I hand quilted on my trial cheater quilt all day yesterday. I have a meeting at the bank today to re-evaluate a line of credit I have, so I can't sew/quilt til later today. And, I suppose laundry should win out when I get back.
I'm so impressed with all the Survivor Quilters in the competition. All of you Ladies are rocking the house down. (GO, JEN!) Kristie and I are not officially in the competition but we're hanging tough anyway. (GO, JEN!) And I'll just leave you with this...Don't let your house get cluttered. Apparently there are people out there who don't know this....ahahhahhahahahahhahahaaaaa

Still Sewing....

I made this yesterday morning and I need to finish the borders. That's where I always get hung up and go to something else. Why is that? Borders are not that big a deal, but I get there and in a basket it goes. Hmmmmmmm.....
I have never hand quilted before. Until yesterday, that is. I had a piece of cheater cloth so I cut a hunk of it and decided to give it a try. I found a tutorial on YouTube and went for it. I, actually, found this to be great. It was very relaxing and I could even bring it into the family room and work on it while I watched tv with the family. Have any of you watched Wipeout yet? My kid laughs til her stomach hurts. What does this say about her? She's mean! We also watched the finale of Hell's Kitchen. I didn't watch the entire series, but have watched it since the last four or five people were on it. I like it except for all the "beeping" they have to do. Oh...back to quilty stuff..... I worked on my hand embroidery also. All in all, I sewed for 10 hours yesterday and my house looks like it. Nothing else got done. Garry got home late, so he brought home fast food. We were suppose to go out for pizza, but it was just too late. Either way, I didn't cook! This is the back. I have no idea if I'm actually doing it "right". I don't think it looks too bad and it's only lap size-ish. I figured that was a good place to start. Well, it's laundry or more sewing.....hmmmmmm......should sewing win?

Sewing and Sorting....

Val and I went to Joann's yesterday to get fabrics for Vacation Bible School costumes. I just happened to have had several coupons and a 10% off total coupon so of course, I had to pick up a few things for myself. I was so tired of knowing I had a piece of (insert any fabric here) and not being able to find it. I sorted. I ironed. I folded, neatly! And now I have most of the yardage stacked. I also cut a boatload of 2 and 2.5 inch strips. Those are not all sorted in drawers and separated into light and dark stacks. I actually didn't sew anything last night at all, but I did get a lot done last night and this morning towards being a bit organized. I had a stack of scraps left from my log cabin I made last week, so I threw them together into a table mat kinda thing. It'll look nice somewhere here at Christmas time. All in all I got a lot done. Now, I'm off to cut fabrics to do another log cabin I think. Unless I stay on here and another pattern distracts me.......

A No Sew Day

No sewing for me yesterday. I was in what my family refers to as "panic cleaning" mode yesterday as I had company coming for dinner. My husband and are were both adopted children and about ten years ago, we found his biological father. We only got to meet him once as he was living in Florida. He died about four months after we found him. Somewhat bittersweet, but Garry was glad he found him. The best part was that he found out he has a half-sister who lives about an hour from us here in Michigan. And, she's wonderful. Anyone who knows me at all knows that I'm very overprotective of my adopted daughter, Cindy. I've let her spend the weekend with my new SIL, Pam. That's a big thing for me. Anywho, Pam and her hubby came over and spent the day with us. My BFFL, is my kid says, Val and her hubby also came over for the day. Val's having her kitchen redone and can't cook, so I told them they can eat here til it's finished. They are family rather than company. It was a wonderful day. I grilled hamburgers and sausages, made salad, tater salad, fruit salad, jello whipped stuff, chips, dip, corn on the cob. Just a summertime meal. The company was wonderful and my new BIL told me it was "a meal fit for a king, and he was just my brother in law". What a nice compliment. The guys stayed in the house and we women wandered around outside looking at my flowers and mater plants and rasperries growing everywhere. Then we drug some lawn chairs under a tree and just sat and visited. It was so nice! Perfect day. Cindy loves Harry Potter and spent most of the day watching it in my sewing room. Cin did get a new top cut out to make. Best to do that with Val here because I do not sew clothes. Val does. I need to post a pic of Cindy's dress that she made. She got it done just in time to wear it on Father's Day. Garry thinks it is so cool that she loves sewing. I do too! I'm also grateful she has Val to help her with it....hehehheheeee
So, all in all....a no sew day.

If I were a carpenter....I'd file bankruptcy.....

...I'm building windows. Cathedral Windows, that is. And it's slow going. I don't mind that it's slow going, but it looks like I'm accomplishing nothing. Most of the time is spent cutting the squares and ironing/folding them the right way. The actual sewing time is really not much at all. I hear a lot of people who don't like the pressing/ironing, but I don't mind it at all. I added a couple more rows to it and here it is now.

I found a bag pattern in a magazine. I'd say which one, but I don't remember. So, I made a couple of them. This blue one is my second attempt. The pattern calls for using kitchen towels. I'm sure you've all seen the magazine by now. I tried the first one with just cotton and I like it but it's very flimsy. So, I tried this blue fabric and used a stablizer (?) and doubled the fabric over. I like it much better. It has body to it now. I might take the tan one apart and do the same to it. I did happen to pick up some lovely towels a few days ago and some more handles. I might have to do some more of these to break up the window building work. I also worked on my hand embroidery for a bit yesterday.

Kristie and I are having a bit of a competition to keep up with The Prolific Quilters who are in a serious competition. I think we may really just be encouraging each other to keep on keeping on..... Should be fun!

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth of July! We'll be going to a big cookout later today. Another couple from our church family has a very big event every year. It's a great time and fun for young and old. Tomorrow, we have Garry's sister and her family coming for a cookout here. I've done nothing to prepare for it and won't be home most of today....oops! I'll get it all done tonight or in the morning. Nothing like failing to plan and working under pressure......hehehhehee

Jumping In....Head First....

Well, not to be left out of anything...I am in on the ticker tape sewing challenge. I set up a goal ticker over there. No. Over there on the right. Up. On the top. Yep, that's it. I'm actually only competing against myself, but I'm cool with that. I've set a goal of 70 hours for the month. I should be able to do that easily. I have my office in my home, so....I can sew when I want to some degree. The house will be a mess and no one will have clean clothes, but ... 'eh, what the heck, it's only for one month. They can put on a swim suit, or Heaven forbid, wash a load themselves. I'm figuring they can survive on hot dogs and chips. Hehehehee...who am I kidding. That would never work. Garry would have me committed to some mental institution. I'm way too OCD to be able to let that happen anyway. I'll make it, I can go without sleep...... Figure I can get some UFO's completed this month and work on my Cathedral Windows. It's currently 4 blocks by 4 blocks. Doesn't sound very big, put it's growing.......
I hope you all have a wonderful, safe Fourth of July. God Bless America!

Cathedral Windows

I've had lots and lots of questions about where does the fabric come from that you fold over the "window" piece. Well, I'm not a tutorial kinda person, but here goes. When you sew the two pieces folded fabric together you get two triangles that kind of flop there in the middle. When you lay them down they flatten into a diamond shape.


This is where you put your "window" fabric and batting piece if you choose to add batting. I did.



Your window fabric is slightly smaller than the area you are covering which gives you background fabric to curve fold over the window fabric like in the next pic with my short chubby little finger holding it....hehehehe
See the pic with the stilleto holding the fabic over the red window fabric? The fabric you use to fold over the window fabric just sort of automatically curves over the window fabric. I pin all four sides like that and then take a close look at the points of the window to make sure they line up with the window next to it. I think you are "suppose" to hand sew this down at this point, but I used what I think is a blind hem stitch and used the machine of course.

I know myself well enough that if I "had" to hand sew them all down, it wouldn't be this big ever. I need to work on keeping mine flatter when I pin them. I've noticed that if you don't, you have some puckeryness (like that's a real word, or like I spelled it right if it was). I have already figured out that it's easier for me to pin several windows and then sew the fabric over them all at once.

Hope this helps everyone that asked me about it. Again, Thank you for this tutorial for without it, I wouldn't have even attempted this quilt. Hers is a great tutorial! I loved how she suggested just cutting six pieces of background fabric in case you don't like making these. I didn't really understand how this worked when I decided to try it, but as I sewed the background fabric squares together, it started to make sense and her pics are great in that area. Anyone who tries this, let me know, I'd love to see pics of them!