I finished both quilts Friday morning about 5:15 A.M. DD picked them up on her way to work. Everyone she talked to said that they looked great. I took some pictures and will attach later. The camera is downstairs and I am upstairs for the night.
Have a great day.
Showing posts with label charity quilts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label charity quilts. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Fund Raising Quilt Update
I have the binding sewn on the NICU quilt and am hand stitching it on.
The other baby quilt is pieced and quilted. I wanted to use the feather stitch on my machine, but after three unsewing of about 20" total I gave up and just did a straight stitch from corner to corner on the blocks.
I need to sew the binding on and finish the quilt.
DD will be picking them both up tomorrow morning about 7:25 A.M.
Have a great day.
The other baby quilt is pieced and quilted. I wanted to use the feather stitch on my machine, but after three unsewing of about 20" total I gave up and just did a straight stitch from corner to corner on the blocks.
I need to sew the binding on and finish the quilt.
DD will be picking them both up tomorrow morning about 7:25 A.M.
Have a great day.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Sorry to be gone so long.
Memorial Day before it got too hot I decided to finish weeding the flower garden in front of the house. Big mistake! While weeding I dislocated my artificial right hip. After a ride in the ambulance and x-rays the doctors attempted a reduction. Basically it is an attempt to put the ball into the socket. They were not successful.
From Monday morning at about 7:30 until Wednesday morning at 11:00 I was totally bed bound. The pain was minimal and I was able to just relax and be prepared for surgery.
The surgery was done and only two parts of the artificial joint were needing replacement. After surgery the pain was so minimal that I did not need pain medication. They told me not to be a hero because pain would slow recovery.
Basically I lost 8 days of anything other than watching TV or reading.
Yesterday my daughter called. A fellow co-worker is off work because her husband is in hospice and not expected to be with us much longer. DD wondered if we could put a basket together for a raffle that our co-workers are planning to help our our friend. I immediately thought of the preemie quilt that has never been quilted. Also I recently learned a very simple pattern that can be made in various sizes from a baby quilt to queen size quilt. DD helped me pick the fabric from my stash to make the baby quilt.
I finished the quilting on the preemie quilt before supper and need to iron, cut and sew the top for the baby quilt. I do not think I have the right fabric for the back of the baby quilt or anything for binding. Guess my DH will have to wheel me around Jo Ann's Fabric this evening to get some fabric.
Have a great day
From Monday morning at about 7:30 until Wednesday morning at 11:00 I was totally bed bound. The pain was minimal and I was able to just relax and be prepared for surgery.
The surgery was done and only two parts of the artificial joint were needing replacement. After surgery the pain was so minimal that I did not need pain medication. They told me not to be a hero because pain would slow recovery.
Basically I lost 8 days of anything other than watching TV or reading.
Yesterday my daughter called. A fellow co-worker is off work because her husband is in hospice and not expected to be with us much longer. DD wondered if we could put a basket together for a raffle that our co-workers are planning to help our our friend. I immediately thought of the preemie quilt that has never been quilted. Also I recently learned a very simple pattern that can be made in various sizes from a baby quilt to queen size quilt. DD helped me pick the fabric from my stash to make the baby quilt.
I finished the quilting on the preemie quilt before supper and need to iron, cut and sew the top for the baby quilt. I do not think I have the right fabric for the back of the baby quilt or anything for binding. Guess my DH will have to wheel me around Jo Ann's Fabric this evening to get some fabric.
Have a great day
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Guild was fun last night!
Our quilt guild met last evening. DH was so concerned about my driving to the meeting and back. I did fine. But, and there always is a but, I should have taken him up on his offer to drive me. My pulse rate was up too high to sleep until almost 4 this morning. 2 hours of sleep is not enough!
The meeting was just what I had hoped for. The show and tell had a lot of Shashiko quilts and the students of the class from Sunday brought some of their work to show as well. The speaker is a member of guild and she gave her "Memory Quilts" presentation. There were times when I wanted to cry and other times when I felt inspired to new heights by her endurance. I think she was talking about another class in the future. I would surely like to go.
Guild is planning a trip down memory lane next meeting and they asked if we would bring in quilts that had special meaning to us; either our first quilt or one with special background or one that had been made by a family member. I signed up to show my great grandmother's "Grandmother's Garden" quilt. I have been hand quilting it since forever. Maybe in the next month I can get some more done before the show and tell. It is a precious quilt to me and one that will never get used. It will be stored and displayed in a safe environment.
Several members of the guild came up to me and we had wonderful conversations. My old "friends" of course avoided me. I don't continue to attend the guild because of them, but because it is where I belong. I learn and get inspired by all the members!
I found out that the group that was sending quilts to the maternity center in Alaska are not doing it at the present time. Such a worthwhile effort and so special to the mothers. I may have some fabric and patterns that I had set aside for future quilts and can put them to good use. I will ask Jerri if she will give me the address and I might just send up some quilts on my own. That would make the people at the center and the mothers feel so special. I love doing that for others!
With the restrictions the cardiologist put on me for the next two weeks I cannot make more than one trip downstairs each day. The one for today is done. Tomorrow I will get out GG quilt and look it over. Let's see if I can make it a little more presentable to my guild members.
Have a great day and keep on quilting.
The meeting was just what I had hoped for. The show and tell had a lot of Shashiko quilts and the students of the class from Sunday brought some of their work to show as well. The speaker is a member of guild and she gave her "Memory Quilts" presentation. There were times when I wanted to cry and other times when I felt inspired to new heights by her endurance. I think she was talking about another class in the future. I would surely like to go.
Guild is planning a trip down memory lane next meeting and they asked if we would bring in quilts that had special meaning to us; either our first quilt or one with special background or one that had been made by a family member. I signed up to show my great grandmother's "Grandmother's Garden" quilt. I have been hand quilting it since forever. Maybe in the next month I can get some more done before the show and tell. It is a precious quilt to me and one that will never get used. It will be stored and displayed in a safe environment.
Several members of the guild came up to me and we had wonderful conversations. My old "friends" of course avoided me. I don't continue to attend the guild because of them, but because it is where I belong. I learn and get inspired by all the members!
I found out that the group that was sending quilts to the maternity center in Alaska are not doing it at the present time. Such a worthwhile effort and so special to the mothers. I may have some fabric and patterns that I had set aside for future quilts and can put them to good use. I will ask Jerri if she will give me the address and I might just send up some quilts on my own. That would make the people at the center and the mothers feel so special. I love doing that for others!
With the restrictions the cardiologist put on me for the next two weeks I cannot make more than one trip downstairs each day. The one for today is done. Tomorrow I will get out GG quilt and look it over. Let's see if I can make it a little more presentable to my guild members.
Have a great day and keep on quilting.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Guild Meeting
I turned in my Sew to Win block and picked up a new Kid's Komfort kit at Guild meeting last evening. It was good to see my friends from Guild. I am the website support person and our president announced my request to be provided with updates for inclusion. Some of our members are hesitant about updating their areas in the website and I want to give them the opportunity to include their information without needing to update the website directly.
There were 25 blocks finished in the Sew to Win category. Unfortunately I was not the winner, but I am still going to continue to contribute to the Sew to Win process. I am sure that the winner was just as excited when she found out as the winner last month. I picked up two blocks this month. Each is a wreath with a Christmas color set. They look like they will be fun to make. I certainly have enough green and red fabric that I can make my own quilt top if I do not win at the December meeting.
After the major cleanup and rearrange at our house Saturday, I have reclaimed my corner in the living room for quilting and logically stored quilting tools so I can start quilting again once DH is home. Today is his big road trip and after I drop him off at the rehab center I hope to have some R&R time at home. I have some things to put away from grocery shopping and a load of laundry to fold and put away. Then maybe I can continue working on "Navajo Tears". There is some pressing to be done and I have about 50% of the blocks sewn. I would like to get most of the blocks finished before DH returns home. Then I can put the blocks together and finish the top when he goes to bed before I do. Otherwise his Christmas present won't be a surprise.
Have a great day.
There were 25 blocks finished in the Sew to Win category. Unfortunately I was not the winner, but I am still going to continue to contribute to the Sew to Win process. I am sure that the winner was just as excited when she found out as the winner last month. I picked up two blocks this month. Each is a wreath with a Christmas color set. They look like they will be fun to make. I certainly have enough green and red fabric that I can make my own quilt top if I do not win at the December meeting.
After the major cleanup and rearrange at our house Saturday, I have reclaimed my corner in the living room for quilting and logically stored quilting tools so I can start quilting again once DH is home. Today is his big road trip and after I drop him off at the rehab center I hope to have some R&R time at home. I have some things to put away from grocery shopping and a load of laundry to fold and put away. Then maybe I can continue working on "Navajo Tears". There is some pressing to be done and I have about 50% of the blocks sewn. I would like to get most of the blocks finished before DH returns home. Then I can put the blocks together and finish the top when he goes to bed before I do. Otherwise his Christmas present won't be a surprise.
Have a great day.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Charity Quilts Donated
At Guild last night I turned in the two finished quilts and the two finished tops for the Alaska Maternity clinic. I returned all the fabric that I had intended to use for additional quilts for the Alaska Maternity clinic as well. I am sorry that I will not longer be able to make quilts for this worthwhile charity. I love making the small quilts and thinking about the newborn babies that will have a blankie to love.
My membership in Guild has been renewed. I was not able to stay for the entire meeting, but my main goals were to turn in the charity quilts and pick up the Sew to Win block for the November meeting. The winner of the October Sew to Win was so excited when her name was called. I was very happy for her. Even if I didn't win, I know how to make the blocks and can make one for my self. That is the advantage of being involved in the Sew to Win process. The November block is a pine tree with HST along the edges. Thangles were included in the package.
This will be another learning experience for me. I use the method of adding 7/8" to the finished HST and making a grid of 3 by 4 square the enhanced size. Then I sew along diagonal lines between the squares and created 24 HST without having to sew on a small piece of fabric along the bias. The HST do need to be trued up to the correct size and there is some waste, but the finished project makes the loss of fabric easier to accept.
This last weekend I made 240 HST triangles for "Navajo Tears" along with socializing at the retreat in 1 1/2 days and started putting the blocks together. My next learning experience will be making QST (quarter square triangles). My heart almost quakes.
I have the NICU quilt top layered and basted. It is ready for quilting and binding. My deadline for this quilt is Sunday, October 19. We will be making another pattern for the NICU. Wonder what pattern they will choose to teach us.
After guild I continued to unpack from the retreat. I have almost everything stored or in place to continue to work on my projects. I have so many projects that are scheduled for Christmas gifts that I will be busy all the time.
Have a nice and blessed day.
My membership in Guild has been renewed. I was not able to stay for the entire meeting, but my main goals were to turn in the charity quilts and pick up the Sew to Win block for the November meeting. The winner of the October Sew to Win was so excited when her name was called. I was very happy for her. Even if I didn't win, I know how to make the blocks and can make one for my self. That is the advantage of being involved in the Sew to Win process. The November block is a pine tree with HST along the edges. Thangles were included in the package.
This will be another learning experience for me. I use the method of adding 7/8" to the finished HST and making a grid of 3 by 4 square the enhanced size. Then I sew along diagonal lines between the squares and created 24 HST without having to sew on a small piece of fabric along the bias. The HST do need to be trued up to the correct size and there is some waste, but the finished project makes the loss of fabric easier to accept.
This last weekend I made 240 HST triangles for "Navajo Tears" along with socializing at the retreat in 1 1/2 days and started putting the blocks together. My next learning experience will be making QST (quarter square triangles). My heart almost quakes.
I have the NICU quilt top layered and basted. It is ready for quilting and binding. My deadline for this quilt is Sunday, October 19. We will be making another pattern for the NICU. Wonder what pattern they will choose to teach us.
After guild I continued to unpack from the retreat. I have almost everything stored or in place to continue to work on my projects. I have so many projects that are scheduled for Christmas gifts that I will be busy all the time.
Have a nice and blessed day.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
I keep finding things
Yesterday after work and before the sun went down I went into my old sewing room with a flashlight (yes, we still don't have power after 48 hours) and started rummaging around. I found several of my BOM packages that I plan to take to my quilt retreat. I also found another Kid's Komfort that needs layering and quilting.
It was really too dark after supper to do much. I don't see how our ancestors did any needlework with light from an oil lamp or a candle. How did they do that?
The dogs are adapting to the lack of lamp light. Although I think that they think we have gone crazy with the flash lights and oil lamps. I even am using a different alarm clock and they haven't figured it out yet. I get extra sleep time. Yeh!
DH is trying to adapt an inverter from his truck driving days to recharge his cell phone and laptop. Then he is going to try to get the refrigerator a little colder. We may be able to save some of our groceries.
Well, have a great day, Karen
It was really too dark after supper to do much. I don't see how our ancestors did any needlework with light from an oil lamp or a candle. How did they do that?
The dogs are adapting to the lack of lamp light. Although I think that they think we have gone crazy with the flash lights and oil lamps. I even am using a different alarm clock and they haven't figured it out yet. I get extra sleep time. Yeh!
DH is trying to adapt an inverter from his truck driving days to recharge his cell phone and laptop. Then he is going to try to get the refrigerator a little colder. We may be able to save some of our groceries.
Well, have a great day, Karen
Friday, September 12, 2008
Another quilt layered and basted
Well, well, I have the NICU quilt layered and pin basted. The thumb is recovering from all the pin pricks and will be fine in a few days. The backing fabric will not be a good choice for reverse quilting. The clowns are too random and far apart.
This weekend JoAnn's has a fantastic sale with many 40% coupons. I will try to take advantage of as many of them as I can justify.
Cleaning continues one item at a time. Since it is supposed to rain most of the weekend, I hope to get quite a lot done in the family room. Perhaps I can start to move my sewing area into the smaller area in the L shape for the time.
Works continues as normal. Today is payday and I have a little left after all the bills were paid. I think we are going to dine out somewhere inexpensive this weekend just for a change.
Have a great day, Karen
This weekend JoAnn's has a fantastic sale with many 40% coupons. I will try to take advantage of as many of them as I can justify.
Cleaning continues one item at a time. Since it is supposed to rain most of the weekend, I hope to get quite a lot done in the family room. Perhaps I can start to move my sewing area into the smaller area in the L shape for the time.
Works continues as normal. Today is payday and I have a little left after all the bills were paid. I think we are going to dine out somewhere inexpensive this weekend just for a change.
Have a great day, Karen
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Alaska Baby Quilt #2
The Alaska Baby Quilt Trip Around the World #2 has been layered and pin basted. This morning I am wearing Neosporin on my left thumb and middle finger. Only two actual cuts, but lots of mini scratches in the upper layers of the skin. Luckily the left thumb is not used for touch typing, but the right thumb is used for the space bar.
Enough of my injuries.
DH had a good day yesterday. He mowed the lawn in the front and back of the house. It looks really nice since it is about 8 inches shorter than it was. I am amazed that my neighbors hadn't complained. During the winter one of them actually shoveled the drive and walk way for us. We have wonderful neighbors and I thank them for all the help!
I have another quilt I want to layer and baste tonight. It is a NICU quilt that started my walk down the road of Trip Around the World. I have the perfect backing fabric for it and I am thinking about reverse quilting by using the backing fabric as the pattern for the quilting. The bobbin thread will quilt the top and be totally different from the pattern of the fabric. I will have to mull over this idea and look at the top and fabric before trying this. I do not want to practice a new machine quilting skill on as important a quilt as this is. At the same time it would be a wasted opportunity.
The house cleaning continues to be one item at a time and it is starting to show. How nice.
Hurricane Gustav was declared a catastrophic loss, but our company was not hard hit so we did not set up cat loss reporting for it. Now we may have to deal with Hurricane Ike. Time to watch and see what it brings to the company. It is hard to see large losses both for the insured that we help and for the company itself in these hard economic times. We are fortunate to have good investment gurus here at the company and that makes for a tighter bottom line (no pun intended) on the balance sheet. Our stock has been taking a roller coaster ride lately, but seems to be on the road to recovery. That is good because my pension and my personal stock in the company is the basis for retirement.
Have a great day, Karen
Enough of my injuries.
DH had a good day yesterday. He mowed the lawn in the front and back of the house. It looks really nice since it is about 8 inches shorter than it was. I am amazed that my neighbors hadn't complained. During the winter one of them actually shoveled the drive and walk way for us. We have wonderful neighbors and I thank them for all the help!
I have another quilt I want to layer and baste tonight. It is a NICU quilt that started my walk down the road of Trip Around the World. I have the perfect backing fabric for it and I am thinking about reverse quilting by using the backing fabric as the pattern for the quilting. The bobbin thread will quilt the top and be totally different from the pattern of the fabric. I will have to mull over this idea and look at the top and fabric before trying this. I do not want to practice a new machine quilting skill on as important a quilt as this is. At the same time it would be a wasted opportunity.
The house cleaning continues to be one item at a time and it is starting to show. How nice.
Hurricane Gustav was declared a catastrophic loss, but our company was not hard hit so we did not set up cat loss reporting for it. Now we may have to deal with Hurricane Ike. Time to watch and see what it brings to the company. It is hard to see large losses both for the insured that we help and for the company itself in these hard economic times. We are fortunate to have good investment gurus here at the company and that makes for a tighter bottom line (no pun intended) on the balance sheet. Our stock has been taking a roller coaster ride lately, but seems to be on the road to recovery. That is good because my pension and my personal stock in the company is the basis for retirement.
Have a great day, Karen
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Alaska Baby Quilt Finished
The binding is completed on the first Alaska bound Trip Around the World Quilt. It is folded and on the stack of quilts to be turned in at Guild.
I have two quilt tops that I want to layer tonight. That will be my only goal for quilting today.
Slow progress on the family room. One item at a time as I pass through.
Have started my specific list for my October retreat. Also, I have been contacting various agencies to see what I can do to insure that James gets the proper attention.
Have a great day, Karen
I have two quilt tops that I want to layer tonight. That will be my only goal for quilting today.
Slow progress on the family room. One item at a time as I pass through.
Have started my specific list for my October retreat. Also, I have been contacting various agencies to see what I can do to insure that James gets the proper attention.
Have a great day, Karen
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Latest news
The binding for the baby Trip Around the World has been sewn on and basted for the hand work. I used a pale orange for the binding and I think it looks great. As soon as I figure how to empty my camera I will take some photos and post them.
No progress on the family room. Today is the day the garbage goes to the street so I have a deadline of sorts. I keep promising myself that I will work on this and then get involved in something else.
No change for DH.
I have all my quilt magazines entered into the database I am using. It is a great way to know what not to bid on for back issues on e-bay.
Today is open for examination.
Have a great day, Karen
No progress on the family room. Today is the day the garbage goes to the street so I have a deadline of sorts. I keep promising myself that I will work on this and then get involved in something else.
No change for DH.
I have all my quilt magazines entered into the database I am using. It is a great way to know what not to bid on for back issues on e-bay.
Today is open for examination.
Have a great day, Karen
Saturday, September 6, 2008
A little corner of the living room
Last night I completed my second Kid's Komfort quilt. It is the one with the curved quilting. That will be two to turn into Guild at the October meeting.
Then I looked at the mess in my corner of the living room and decided that it would not do. Everything is now picked up and put into its storage place. If I make enough progress in the family room today I will move these items into a new corner and start using my studio.
It is exciting to see these projects reach completion. Each completion makes the finishing of the next item seem more possible.
Today I printed out the first two lessons from the Studio Makeover class. It is time to start doing my home work in preparation for my new quilt studio.
DH fell today. Just his dignity hurt. I am very worried.
The weather is beautiful today. I have turned off the AC and opened up the house to air. The dogs are outside playing in the backyard.
I have some errands to run and then I will attack the family room again. I can only do a little at a time. I am always exhausted. Between my own health and DH I tire very easily. Even to blog is hard.
Karen
Then I looked at the mess in my corner of the living room and decided that it would not do. Everything is now picked up and put into its storage place. If I make enough progress in the family room today I will move these items into a new corner and start using my studio.
It is exciting to see these projects reach completion. Each completion makes the finishing of the next item seem more possible.
Today I printed out the first two lessons from the Studio Makeover class. It is time to start doing my home work in preparation for my new quilt studio.
DH fell today. Just his dignity hurt. I am very worried.
The weather is beautiful today. I have turned off the AC and opened up the house to air. The dogs are outside playing in the backyard.
I have some errands to run and then I will attack the family room again. I can only do a little at a time. I am always exhausted. Between my own health and DH I tire very easily. Even to blog is hard.
Karen
Friday, September 5, 2008
Thursday Machine Quilting
Last evening I spent time trying to figure out machine quilting. I haven't done much beyond stitch-in-the-ditch and I was trying to do a long curve starting at the corner of four patches and swinging out into the patch on the right and then coming back to the seam line where the next two patches meet the previous two. Basically it grew into circles running through the intersection of the four patches.
It looks exactly like what it is; a beginner machine quilter trying out something new. Anyone looking at it up close will know it, but a novice will only see the circles. I am using a variegated 50/3 King Tut thread and it looks really great on both the top and bottom of the quilt. This will be one of the Kid's Komfort quilts I will be turning in at Guild at the October meeting.
DH had another bad day. I wish I could use different words for the good days and the bad days. He is so depressed right now that it is effecting his dementia and every day is not a good day. He finally figured out why his back is hurting worse the usual. He had put the lifts for his shoe into the wrong shoe. Since he is wearing a brace on his left leg that runs from inside the shoe all the way up his thigh, it makes his left leg longer and therefore he needs lifts in the right shoe. He hasn't been able to find the lifts for several days. He looked in both of his everyday shoes (right only) and did not realize that he had transposed the lifts into the left shoe. Once that was corrected he felt a lot better and the pain decreased measurably.
Tonight I am going to go through my stash and find a bolt of fabric I purchased on clearance that should work for the binding on all my Alaska quilt tops. I will need to get out the ironing board to iron the fabric and clear off my cutting table to make strips of fabric for the binding. This is a relatively new process for me. I usually cut my binding on the bias, but because these are quilts that have no curves, I am going to go with the straight of grain. Fun!
This weekend will be a continuation of changing the family room into my sewing room/quilt studio. My family room is L shaped and I have made some progress in the smaller area. If I can clear out what remains and take down the card table that I have been using for my grandson's coin collection I should have sufficient room to move my computer system and office furniture into this section. Once this is done I can start progress on the other section and have a place for R & R when my 60 year old body starts to complain. I really want to get everything totally out of the other area so that I can measure the remaining walls and mark exactly where the windows on the south wall are positioned. Then I can start drawing floor plans with more accuracy than I currently have.
BHG has a fabulous website for planning room layouts and I am using it currently to show a before layout and also working on a final layout. Having the before will allow me to know the dimensions of all my furniture and how they interact at this time.
This Studio Makeover will take about four months from start to completion and I need to have parts of it available for working at the same time. What fun ;).
Have a great day, Karen
It looks exactly like what it is; a beginner machine quilter trying out something new. Anyone looking at it up close will know it, but a novice will only see the circles. I am using a variegated 50/3 King Tut thread and it looks really great on both the top and bottom of the quilt. This will be one of the Kid's Komfort quilts I will be turning in at Guild at the October meeting.
DH had another bad day. I wish I could use different words for the good days and the bad days. He is so depressed right now that it is effecting his dementia and every day is not a good day. He finally figured out why his back is hurting worse the usual. He had put the lifts for his shoe into the wrong shoe. Since he is wearing a brace on his left leg that runs from inside the shoe all the way up his thigh, it makes his left leg longer and therefore he needs lifts in the right shoe. He hasn't been able to find the lifts for several days. He looked in both of his everyday shoes (right only) and did not realize that he had transposed the lifts into the left shoe. Once that was corrected he felt a lot better and the pain decreased measurably.
Tonight I am going to go through my stash and find a bolt of fabric I purchased on clearance that should work for the binding on all my Alaska quilt tops. I will need to get out the ironing board to iron the fabric and clear off my cutting table to make strips of fabric for the binding. This is a relatively new process for me. I usually cut my binding on the bias, but because these are quilts that have no curves, I am going to go with the straight of grain. Fun!
This weekend will be a continuation of changing the family room into my sewing room/quilt studio. My family room is L shaped and I have made some progress in the smaller area. If I can clear out what remains and take down the card table that I have been using for my grandson's coin collection I should have sufficient room to move my computer system and office furniture into this section. Once this is done I can start progress on the other section and have a place for R & R when my 60 year old body starts to complain. I really want to get everything totally out of the other area so that I can measure the remaining walls and mark exactly where the windows on the south wall are positioned. Then I can start drawing floor plans with more accuracy than I currently have.
BHG has a fabulous website for planning room layouts and I am using it currently to show a before layout and also working on a final layout. Having the before will allow me to know the dimensions of all my furniture and how they interact at this time.
This Studio Makeover will take about four months from start to completion and I need to have parts of it available for working at the same time. What fun ;).
Have a great day, Karen
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Baby "Trip Around the World"
It has reached the binding stage. How exciting. I have to get several quilt tops together and go to Jo Ann's for a binding fabric that will work with all of them. Either that or get a neutral solid color fabric. That might be the better idea. With a 40% coupon burning a hole in my pocket I think I will be heading that way right after work. Then I will pull out my instructions for making binding and be on my way to a finished UFO.
I am practicing my machine quilting on a Kid's Komfort quilt that will be turned in at the October Guild meeting. I am getting so much done in the evenings that I cannot believe it.
I miss the interaction with my 'friends' but get so much more work done without the distraction. Maybe they did me a favor. I am sure that was not their intent, but you know the old adage. "When life hands you lemons make lemonade." I should open a lemonade stand at Guild. Naw. They ain't worth it.
The above is not an example of a Christian thought. But, remember that I am not perfect. It is what I do with my thoughts that makes my Christian walk. It is easy to forgive. The hard part is to forget the slings and arrows and go forward. With Christ at my side I walk through each day with an easier heart knowing that it is written: "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather
give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay
saith the Lord." Romans 12:19 (KJV)
Have a great day, Karen
I am practicing my machine quilting on a Kid's Komfort quilt that will be turned in at the October Guild meeting. I am getting so much done in the evenings that I cannot believe it.
I miss the interaction with my 'friends' but get so much more work done without the distraction. Maybe they did me a favor. I am sure that was not their intent, but you know the old adage. "When life hands you lemons make lemonade." I should open a lemonade stand at Guild. Naw. They ain't worth it.
The above is not an example of a Christian thought. But, remember that I am not perfect. It is what I do with my thoughts that makes my Christian walk. It is easy to forgive. The hard part is to forget the slings and arrows and go forward. With Christ at my side I walk through each day with an easier heart knowing that it is written: "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather
give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay
saith the Lord." Romans 12:19 (KJV)
Have a great day, Karen
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Tuesday Accomplishments
Last night I finished quilting the baby "Trip Around the World" and sewed a seam 1/4 inch from the edge. Tonight I will trim off the excess backing and batting and it will be ready for binding. I haven't decided what fabric to use for the binding, but I have time.
Tonight I want to layer the second baby "Trip Around the World" and baste it. I bought another box of quilting pins yesterday at Jo Ann's with a 40% off coupon. Jo Ann's is so great about coupons. When you sign up for the mailings you get them and also going into the store they frequently have coupons as you walk in. I am getting such bargains, that it is difficult to stop spending. However, I am getting my long term staple gadgets now rather than fabric. I think I have enough fabric and patterns to last my life time and beyond.
DH had another bad night last night. He is starting to show more episodes of sundowner syndrome. It is hard to go to bed and sleep when he is up and watching TV. I hope he doesn't start wandering. I cannot work a 40+ hour week and stay awake to keep him safe at night. I don't know what the solution will be when he progresses that far with his dementia. He did manage to keep his CPAP on all night long. His sleep apnea is probably the main reason for the dementia and using the CPAP along with his meds keeps him from sliding down the road of dementia to the point of total memory loss. Please pray for him.
Have a great day, Karen
Tonight I want to layer the second baby "Trip Around the World" and baste it. I bought another box of quilting pins yesterday at Jo Ann's with a 40% off coupon. Jo Ann's is so great about coupons. When you sign up for the mailings you get them and also going into the store they frequently have coupons as you walk in. I am getting such bargains, that it is difficult to stop spending. However, I am getting my long term staple gadgets now rather than fabric. I think I have enough fabric and patterns to last my life time and beyond.
DH had another bad night last night. He is starting to show more episodes of sundowner syndrome. It is hard to go to bed and sleep when he is up and watching TV. I hope he doesn't start wandering. I cannot work a 40+ hour week and stay awake to keep him safe at night. I don't know what the solution will be when he progresses that far with his dementia. He did manage to keep his CPAP on all night long. His sleep apnea is probably the main reason for the dementia and using the CPAP along with his meds keeps him from sliding down the road of dementia to the point of total memory loss. Please pray for him.
Have a great day, Karen
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Monday and Quilting
Yesterday I almost completed the quilting on one of the baby "Trip Around the World" quilts. I will finish the quilting this evening. Then I will layer the second baby "Trip Around the World" and start quilting it. The first was quilting with straight line quilting diagonally through the rectangles of the patches. Sewing through the bias was very interesting. The second I will be implementing some techniques I learned from one of our Guild's visiting quilt teachers. I am going to try a simple curving stitch down the seam lines between the patches. I envision the curves going into the patches and making a pleasant change to the puffiness of the finished quilt.
I made some real progress in the process of getting my family room ready for the studio makeover. As soon as I get one area in the back corner ready I will be moving my computer system into it. This way I can combine all of my hobbies in one area and free up the smallest bedroom to be what it is designed for. It has been my computer room and office since January, 2000. That is when I had my hip replaced. The computer remained there when DH had both knees replaced in December, 2000 and through several knee surgeries for me prior to my knee replacement in September, 2006. I am doing much better with the stairs now and feel that I can take my computer system back downstairs.
My EQ6 class is slowly coming along. I have fallen behind in the lessons and plan on setting some time aside each evening this week to play catch up. I want to finish the lesson prior to the end of the class so that I can ask as many questions as possible. This is a great product and I can see some fantastic quilts in my future.
A Christian friend of my was talking about how her walk with God is progressing. She reads from the Bible every day. I have been reading some scripture, but if I want to walk the walk I need to be more regular in all aspects of my spiritual life. Just praying is not enough. The Word of God is also necessary to keep me on the path. How wonderful to have a friend who likes me whether I am happy or sad, angry or glad; who takes me as I am and points the direction chich is most in tune with my goals of spirituality.
Have a great day, Karen
I made some real progress in the process of getting my family room ready for the studio makeover. As soon as I get one area in the back corner ready I will be moving my computer system into it. This way I can combine all of my hobbies in one area and free up the smallest bedroom to be what it is designed for. It has been my computer room and office since January, 2000. That is when I had my hip replaced. The computer remained there when DH had both knees replaced in December, 2000 and through several knee surgeries for me prior to my knee replacement in September, 2006. I am doing much better with the stairs now and feel that I can take my computer system back downstairs.
My EQ6 class is slowly coming along. I have fallen behind in the lessons and plan on setting some time aside each evening this week to play catch up. I want to finish the lesson prior to the end of the class so that I can ask as many questions as possible. This is a great product and I can see some fantastic quilts in my future.
A Christian friend of my was talking about how her walk with God is progressing. She reads from the Bible every day. I have been reading some scripture, but if I want to walk the walk I need to be more regular in all aspects of my spiritual life. Just praying is not enough. The Word of God is also necessary to keep me on the path. How wonderful to have a friend who likes me whether I am happy or sad, angry or glad; who takes me as I am and points the direction chich is most in tune with my goals of spirituality.
Have a great day, Karen
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Update
Friday evening I finished the top from the 2nd baby "Trip Around the World". I matched it up with the backing fabric I will be using. I then matched up the 1st baby "Trip Around the World" with it's backing fabric as well. I also matched up two other finished tops for baby quilts with their backing. That is four baby quilts that will have to be quilted. I think piecing of tops will have to wait for quilting and binding.
Saturday was spent with my MIL and our extended family. I had a chance to get better acquainted with my step grand daughter Brandy Jo and her half brother Austin as well. They are two very well brought up children. Shortly my step son will be the proud grandfather of four. His oldest step daughter is due any day. He is only 29 and a grandfather already. He always said he wanted a large family and he certainly does.
James and Charles have finally bounded as adults. I am so happy that this has happened. And to think they did it over a over heating battery in Charles car???
Last night was race night and we watched the NASCAR race at Bristol. I fell asleep before the race ended and right now I have no idea who one. That will have to wait until I have time to sign on to the NASCAR website.
I have photos of my existing family room for before pictures. Unfortunately I am having trouble uploading them to my PC. That will have to wait until some evening this week.
Today is laundry, family room and misc. I cannot wait until the 8th of September when my one-on-one with Myrna starts. Three months with an expert at designing a quilting studio. What an honor!
Have to get to my Sunday chores.
Have a great day, Karen
Saturday was spent with my MIL and our extended family. I had a chance to get better acquainted with my step grand daughter Brandy Jo and her half brother Austin as well. They are two very well brought up children. Shortly my step son will be the proud grandfather of four. His oldest step daughter is due any day. He is only 29 and a grandfather already. He always said he wanted a large family and he certainly does.
James and Charles have finally bounded as adults. I am so happy that this has happened. And to think they did it over a over heating battery in Charles car???
Last night was race night and we watched the NASCAR race at Bristol. I fell asleep before the race ended and right now I have no idea who one. That will have to wait until I have time to sign on to the NASCAR website.
I have photos of my existing family room for before pictures. Unfortunately I am having trouble uploading them to my PC. That will have to wait until some evening this week.
Today is laundry, family room and misc. I cannot wait until the 8th of September when my one-on-one with Myrna starts. Three months with an expert at designing a quilting studio. What an honor!
Have to get to my Sunday chores.
Have a great day, Karen
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
I digress
Today I need to sit on the pity pot for a while. The last two days have been (deleted expletive)! DH has had two very "bad" days in a row. It caught me off guard. Then he asked me to promise that I would not tell the doctor at our next meeting. He is so out of it that I don't know what to do. He is taking his pills at the wrong time and consequently he is drugged instead of medicated. Then my small quilting group on Mondays totally ignored me last night. I finally left at 8:30. I was the first one to leave, but I was close to crying.
Off the pity pot!
I have almost finished the second Alaska baby quilt. Only three rows to sew on and then the two major sides to sew together. I plan on finishing the top tonight.
Saturday I made a major road trip. Jo Ann's Fabric, Staples, Half Price Books and Meijer's. Polka Dot material...I didn't own a single piece. Sentimental Stitches is starting a polka dot garden so I loaded up on 1/4 yd pieces of each that Jo Ann's had. Along with that I got several pieces of fabric that will work as the backing for my charity quilts and some foam core board to make a design wall in my new studio. Staples was a stop for more color ink cartridges for my printer. I am going through them at the rate of two a month. Half Price Books was just to look for books by Chiaverini and another author. I ended spending $50 on books from idiot's guide to home security to beginning wood working. At Meijer's all I was going to get was two book shelves. I walked out with three book shelves, one computer desk, three lamps, three lamp shades and an African violet for my flower garden in the kitchen window. Wow, what an expensive day!
Myrna Giesbrecht is starting her Studio Makeover classes from her website on September 8. I need to gut the family room before that. After this top is completed the sewing machine is going to be packed up and I am getting to work! I am excited and just a little worried. I have never approached a total renovation of a room before. I guess the class will keep me on the straight and narrow and I will end up with my dream sewing studio in the end.
Have a great day, Karen
Off the pity pot!
I have almost finished the second Alaska baby quilt. Only three rows to sew on and then the two major sides to sew together. I plan on finishing the top tonight.
Saturday I made a major road trip. Jo Ann's Fabric, Staples, Half Price Books and Meijer's. Polka Dot material...I didn't own a single piece. Sentimental Stitches is starting a polka dot garden so I loaded up on 1/4 yd pieces of each that Jo Ann's had. Along with that I got several pieces of fabric that will work as the backing for my charity quilts and some foam core board to make a design wall in my new studio. Staples was a stop for more color ink cartridges for my printer. I am going through them at the rate of two a month. Half Price Books was just to look for books by Chiaverini and another author. I ended spending $50 on books from idiot's guide to home security to beginning wood working. At Meijer's all I was going to get was two book shelves. I walked out with three book shelves, one computer desk, three lamps, three lamp shades and an African violet for my flower garden in the kitchen window. Wow, what an expensive day!
Myrna Giesbrecht is starting her Studio Makeover classes from her website on September 8. I need to gut the family room before that. After this top is completed the sewing machine is going to be packed up and I am getting to work! I am excited and just a little worried. I have never approached a total renovation of a room before. I guess the class will keep me on the straight and narrow and I will end up with my dream sewing studio in the end.
Have a great day, Karen
Friday, August 15, 2008
Oh how I wish I could work on my to do list
Good intentions never accomplished anything. If I don't work in my family room I cannot have my sewing room / studio. Does that make me go down there and work. Nope. I piece my quilt tops instead.
I have given up on trying to make the Trip Around the World a post on my blog. I just forget to take pictures as I go along and take off sewing. Sorry. If anyone wants the instructions and the photos I do have, leave a comment with your e-mail address and I will send them to you.
Last night I got most of the top put together. Once I have it finished I will take the two tops to JoAnn's and get backing and binding fabric for them. The fabrics for the tops are not "baby" fabric so the backs will have to be "baby" fabric!
Big weekend coming up. Two days to work on the house. I would love to give the family room floor a really good SCRUB! It has been too long since it had more than a lick and a promise (if you know what I mean). To do this I will have to put a lot of things out by the street for the garbage man. I have Saturday and Sunday to do this since the garbage man comes early on Monday morning. Wish me luck, please.
My next EQ6 class assignment should be available at 6:00 P.M. EDT this evening. I cannot wait to get my hands on it. If I can finish it tonight then that will leave me all of the rest of the weekend to work on house cleaning.
If you haven't already guessed, I HATE HOUSE CLEANING! I am my own worst enemy as far as this housewifely practice is. I strongly believe in a place for everything and everything in it's place. BUT, I don't have a place for everything I have and therefore do not put away things. I am known as person who is controlled by my stuff instead of me controlling it. I have several books on how to get rid of clutter. That is the problem...too many books about it and I cannot seem to follow the directions.
Enough.
Have a great day, Karen
I have given up on trying to make the Trip Around the World a post on my blog. I just forget to take pictures as I go along and take off sewing. Sorry. If anyone wants the instructions and the photos I do have, leave a comment with your e-mail address and I will send them to you.
Last night I got most of the top put together. Once I have it finished I will take the two tops to JoAnn's and get backing and binding fabric for them. The fabrics for the tops are not "baby" fabric so the backs will have to be "baby" fabric!
Big weekend coming up. Two days to work on the house. I would love to give the family room floor a really good SCRUB! It has been too long since it had more than a lick and a promise (if you know what I mean). To do this I will have to put a lot of things out by the street for the garbage man. I have Saturday and Sunday to do this since the garbage man comes early on Monday morning. Wish me luck, please.
My next EQ6 class assignment should be available at 6:00 P.M. EDT this evening. I cannot wait to get my hands on it. If I can finish it tonight then that will leave me all of the rest of the weekend to work on house cleaning.
If you haven't already guessed, I HATE HOUSE CLEANING! I am my own worst enemy as far as this housewifely practice is. I strongly believe in a place for everything and everything in it's place. BUT, I don't have a place for everything I have and therefore do not put away things. I am known as person who is controlled by my stuff instead of me controlling it. I have several books on how to get rid of clutter. That is the problem...too many books about it and I cannot seem to follow the directions.
Enough.
Have a great day, Karen
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
History strikes again
Yep, I didn't go to the group meeting. Shame on me!
I continued to work on the baby Trip Around the World and cut one piece of the sewn together strips 1/2 inch too long. Just means that I have one less row to fudge with. I have been taking pictures as I go along. Once I figure out how to add pictures to my blog you will be able to watch as I go.
I have started to read one of the three books I bought through Amazon dot com about setting up a sewing room / studio. Looks like I have my work cut out for me. First I have to literally get every piece of furniture and all knick knacks out of the way and start measuring the walls, windows, fireplace and sliding glass doors so I can diagram the layout. I think I may have to throw away a love seat that I have had since 1982. It's in poor shape and I don't have the couch that went with it any more so I won't be too much of a pull on the heart strings.
After I finally get everything cleared out I have to figure where to put my 7 (yes seven) sewing machines. I could keep the one for traveling in it's case, but it is the most modern of all my machines. I will have to think about it. I have purchased several different storage containers and other things to make this studio my own. The Dollar Store and sales at JoAnn's are making this an easy transition.
This evening I think I will plan on spending one hour working on the family room and then reward myself with some more work on the quilt top. I would like to get it finished before the 21st so that I can give it to one of my friends who has a long arm and has offered to layer and quilt my tops for charity. Oh, I do so want my own quilting frame.
I wonder if Uncle Sam will hand out some more money for fuel surcharges and what my IRS refund will be next spring. Maybe I will have enough to get the machine to go with the frame. I am easy to please and don't need the top of the line machine. I requested several books from the inter library loan service in Ohio on long arm machines. One of them even tells you how to set up your own business.
Well, maybe after I retire I can supplement our income with quilting. Who would think I would ever want to go back into business on my own? I have been fighting with DH for years because he wants to start up some kind of business. After two failures in our own businesses I didn't ever plan to do that again. But, with only myself to contend with I might even consider it. We will have to see what the future brings.
I continued to work on the baby Trip Around the World and cut one piece of the sewn together strips 1/2 inch too long. Just means that I have one less row to fudge with. I have been taking pictures as I go along. Once I figure out how to add pictures to my blog you will be able to watch as I go.
I have started to read one of the three books I bought through Amazon dot com about setting up a sewing room / studio. Looks like I have my work cut out for me. First I have to literally get every piece of furniture and all knick knacks out of the way and start measuring the walls, windows, fireplace and sliding glass doors so I can diagram the layout. I think I may have to throw away a love seat that I have had since 1982. It's in poor shape and I don't have the couch that went with it any more so I won't be too much of a pull on the heart strings.
After I finally get everything cleared out I have to figure where to put my 7 (yes seven) sewing machines. I could keep the one for traveling in it's case, but it is the most modern of all my machines. I will have to think about it. I have purchased several different storage containers and other things to make this studio my own. The Dollar Store and sales at JoAnn's are making this an easy transition.
This evening I think I will plan on spending one hour working on the family room and then reward myself with some more work on the quilt top. I would like to get it finished before the 21st so that I can give it to one of my friends who has a long arm and has offered to layer and quilt my tops for charity. Oh, I do so want my own quilting frame.
I wonder if Uncle Sam will hand out some more money for fuel surcharges and what my IRS refund will be next spring. Maybe I will have enough to get the machine to go with the frame. I am easy to please and don't need the top of the line machine. I requested several books from the inter library loan service in Ohio on long arm machines. One of them even tells you how to set up your own business.
Well, maybe after I retire I can supplement our income with quilting. Who would think I would ever want to go back into business on my own? I have been fighting with DH for years because he wants to start up some kind of business. After two failures in our own businesses I didn't ever plan to do that again. But, with only myself to contend with I might even consider it. We will have to see what the future brings.
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