A New Winner

Since I didn't hear from Lorraine I have named the next person on the list as the winner of the book Strata Various. So, Nancy at Patchwork Penguin congratulations!  Send me your snail mail and I will send your book out.  (I am thinking of this as de-cluttering... the book has been sitting on a table in the great room for a couple of weeks now!)  

Raggs had his first visit to our vet today.  He was calm and cool.  He got a little tense when the vet was actually in the room but overall, he was great.  Only one shot and lots of medicine -- heartworm, ring worm, ear cleaner... etc. We'll get him at 100% soon.  

He still weighs less than 27 pounds.  And, we're not all that sure that he really is an English Springer Spaniel -- he might be one of the cocker breeds -- American or English.  But, we do know he is a super dog.  Very cuddly and is learning his commands well.  

Yesterday I pulled out a pineapple quilt that I made the main blocks years ago.  (Hum, probably around 15 years ago.)  I pull this piece out every couple of years and get a little more done on it.  Last time I prepared angels to applique on the outside border.  Yesterday I laid out the pineapple part, the white borders and the green angels I had cut.  Looking at it I realized the angels are way out of proportion for the size of the logs (1/2" finished!) While at my regular Wednesday group I reviewed the book Pieced Borders The Complete Resource by Judy Martin and Marsha McCloskey. I came up with an alternate border from the book. Today I made up two different sized borders.   Tomorrow I will post the two sample pieces I did with the center to see what you all think.  (too dark tonight to take a decent picture.)  I did the pineapple piecing using Christmas fabrics that were already many years old when I pieced it.  Then it took me a couple of years to find a green fabric that would match what I already had going. I really have no excuse.  The top should at least be finished this year. And, heavens knows,  I'll be happy to finish the top. (And, eventually quilted.) 

Happy Quilting All 

I Did It!

Last fall I bought Lazy Girl Design's  Wonder Wallet from a booth at a quilt show.  So a few weeks later I tried to make one.  I don't know what I did but it was a disaster -- there was a hole in one side seam and flap hung over the side of the bottom part.  It was pathetic.  So, like all smart quilters I grabbed the flop, the extra fabric and the pattern and stowed it all away.  

hum, hum, whistle, whistle.  (that's time going by for those who can't figure it out... like everyone!)  Enter Suz of The Thread and I blog. She's making millions of them.  Well, how about lots of them?  She has some on her blog already made and some with fabrics all picked out. (you'll have to scroll down a few posts to see them.)  It was just the little jiggle my mind needed.  I've got that pattern.  I might be able to actually do it.  

Yesterday was the day.  I didn't have borders that looked good on string x, I couldn't find a backing for the wonky 9 patch.  So, I cut a new wallet.  Used different fabrics from the ones I had tried first.  And very carefully followed the directions.  YAA HOO!  It worked.  So now I may make a few more.  Just for fun.  (maybe that ought to read to use up stash!)  I'd like to say the colors aren't right on the photo but, they are pretty close.  I'm beginning to think it might be a bit too pink on the bottom part but... it's fine.  Really it is.  

I may have to get out the fabric Jenny gave me that was left over from the purse she made me.  I could make a wallet to match it.  And, I'm going to make a second one just to hold punch cards, gift certificates and shopper's cards.  Currently those are rubberbanded together in a pocket.  This would look ever so much prettier!  

I'm continuing to make blocks for the million pieces quilt.  And, putting together some other scrap quilts I've got going.  I guess I need to take out the streak of lightning that is going to be a donation quilt and a practice quilt for the long arm when it arrives at the end of this month. 

Off to the studio -- Happy Quilting All...   

Still Looking For ...

I am still looking for Lorraine from Bluesy Beach, Australia.  Lorraine please email me at brsinstitches@gmail.com.  I'm holding off naming a new winner of the Stratavarious book until Wednesday.  

And congratulations to Jane Emerson who has won the hand dyed fat quarters.  I've sent Jane an email asking about her favorite colors.  I don't have every color in the world but I can try to send her fat quarters she might actually use.  

I've been trying to border a String X quilt from quiltville.com without any luck at all.  I thought I had a perfectly good batik to border it with but it looks terrible.  I had a nice purple floral -- too busy.  Today I am going to audition the solid purples I used with the string parts to see if that will work.  I'll report back later about that. 

I've been doing a little bit on the million pieces quilt.  So I guess that is what I will focus on today.  And, I think I will work on putting the bricks together on a bricks and stepping stone also from quiltville.com. 

Time to get going on the quilting part of life.  

Happy quilting all!  

 

Happy Mother's Day

I had a nice Mother's Day weekend. Kevin and I had a great time Friday afternoon with the dogs and catching up. Pat worked with Kevin all day Saturday fixing up his new workshop above the garage.  They were putting plywood type stuff around the walls.  They didn't finish until about 6 pm last evening and they both were worn out.  The dogs hung out around the garage until I got home and then came inside with me. Dinner was terrific.  This morning the guys cooked a puff pancake for breakfast.  (Darn, now why didn't I take a photo of that?) And, they did all the dishes too.  I was groggy from Raggs waking up at 4:00 am!  I'm just beginning to wake up now.  

Talk about a bunch of great presents for Mother's Day!  Woot! Woot!  Aimee thanks for getting Kevin to the quilt store! And, Kevin thanks for getting the fat quarters and the rotary blade for me!   I love the fat quarters!  I have a plan for two of them.  I'll let you know how it turns out!  They are being preshrunk as I type!  

Here's a view showing the individual fabrics.  Nice mix of colors.  And, no, I don't have any of them.  

Brian and Jenny got me the dvd and workbook Pajama Quilter Reloaded.  The workbook has some great pattern ideas in it.  I am looking forward to viewing the DVD.  This should be a big help with my long arm that is coming at the end of May.  Remember how pitiful my finishes were for April?  Well, that's because I am saving everything to quilt on my soon to arrive Nolting 18" commercial.  

I've heard only great things about Pajama Quilter Reloaded. It shows how to do free motion quilting an gives lots of ideas for patterns to follow.  Now, how do I load that quilt on the machine?  I saw a site today that sells videos for the beginning long armer.  I need to check Nolting's site to see what instructional videos they have before I buy any.  

The fabric is ready to be ironed -- and I am motivated so will sign off and head for the studio.

Happy Mother's Day.  And, for those of you who are quilting -- enjoy your quilting time!  

 

No Quilting But

Kevin and Cassie came to visit for Mother's Day weekend.    Raggs and Cassie did very well together.  And, if we are lucky, Cassie will teach Raggs all about going out side!  

We took the dogs to the local state park, Promise Land.  Cassie loves to swim so Kevin was lobbing balls into the water and Cass was happy to swim out and get it.  Kevin tried to wade in but he said it was way too cold.  So then he brought her on land to fetch.  Raggs watched a lot. He did well chasing the ball if I threw it but he couldn't keep up with Cassie. And even off leash he stayed fairly close and came when called.  Good boy, Raggs. 

Tomorrow I run errands in the "big" city.  Then home to quilt, hopefully.  

Happy Quilting All!   and Raggs.... 

Drum Roll Please . . . .

Thanks to all who commented on my blog and entered the Strata Various book give away.  And here is the generated number.  There were 22 people who responded.  And, lucky number 7 was the winner.  And you ask, who was number 7?  

Lorraine from Blueys Beach Australia wins the Strata Various book.  Lorraine does not have a blog and didn't leave an email address. So Lorraine, if I don't here from you by Monday, May 11th I will give the book to the next person on the list.   

And, the second place prize of a couple of hand dyed fat quarters goes to Jane at QuiltSmiles. 

Lorraine and Jane send me your addresses and I will get prizes in the mail shortly.  (Remember I have to get this crazy sweet dog a crate before I can go out during the day!)  I'll try to remember to post a picture of the hand dyed fabric that will be sent.  

I spent quite a bit of today actually sewing in the studio.  I was able to get all the borders on the wonky 9 patch.  Wow!  I like it. (This is duller than it is in person...)   After I finished the borders I started refolding and putting away the fabrics from that quilt.  As I was doing that I auditioned borders for the strip X quilt cause I wanted to use batiks.  The sun was almost down so I will need to verify tomorrow that I like what I picked.  Hum, maybe I can get those borders on tomorrow.  

I started making more blocks for the Million Pieces quilt.  I have 25 blocks but I think I want 35 so will do more of them while I work on other blocks.  I've also been sewing some 4 patch blocks together. (hum, that sounds like I am making the 4 patch blocks.  No, I've already made them so I am making 16 patches from them.) I've found a pattern I like and will slowly work toward getting it done.  (This doesn't count as a new quilt as I had the 4 patches made and sitting around.)  So parts of quilts are being done.  What isn't being done is the dog blocks. Remember them? They are all different sizes -- I would have to think about those! (Some day, just seems too much like work right now.)  

Remember the Lint Bowl Challenge?  Today I refilled my bobbin using Connecting Thread's Essential cotton thread.  I cleaned out the bobbin area and under the throat plate before I put the refilled bobbin in.  I'll take pictures of the dust/lint after I finish this bobbin.  We'll see how it looks.  And, then I'll try it with a different thread... don't know which one but I'll let you know. (Assuming I know what the thread is!) I spent some time trying to decide how I would determine equality of sewing time.  Duh, with a newly filled bobbin.  Sounds like that will work.  

Now, it is off to bed.  Raggs rambled into bed without me.  Springers are known as Velcro dogs.  They stick with their owners.  Since I am home all day, Raggs sticks to me so I am surprised he went to his bed without me.  Maybe he was hinting that it is time for me to go to bed! 

Sleep tight all and Happy Quilting!  

Behind the Closed Door . . .

Going into the door 

Behind the door. . . 

"I was framed!  I didn't do it!  Aren't I a cute dog?  Remember Mom, I'm a cute dog!"

Hum, is that ANOTHER Longaberger basket lost to another dog?  ARGH.  

That crate can't come fast enough.  And, no, I don't think this is a 2 year-old.  I'm bettting he is under 2 by a good 6 months.  No more freedom for me until the weekend when the crate arrives.  

I hope everyone is having luck getting their comment on the blog site.  I'm going to be taking care of that tomorrow.  Won't get it mailed until either the crate arrives or the weekend.  

Happy Quilting All!