This weekend I was really into working on the family room. I put together a table that I bought two years ago for the studio and started using it. (The table actually is meant for a patio, but it works very well as a place to sort things as I clean up the family room.)
I moved all the Christmas wrapping stuff into the storage area in the basement. I found an old vaporizer for cold vapor and took it upstairs (we are in a bi-level) to clean and set up as the static electricity is getting bad. I found a box of old papers and sorted it. I have about 1/2" of papers to file and the rest is going into the recycle bin for next week's garbage pick up. I put some gardening things together in one box instead of two. When the snow gets a little easier to walk through I will move the box to the shed. On second thought I think I will move all the gardening things into the garage. I think we will have to do some major remodeling of the shed this spring and I don't need to move things more than twice!
This may not sound like a lot, but my family room is 65F degrees and that is cold compared to the 69 to 71 upstairs. Once I get a space cleared out for the heater it will be better, but I want it in the open for safety. I also want to move the couch from where DH thought it was best (with the back to the fireplace) and start a fire. That will also help heat the family room.
There still isn't enough room for the quilting frame. I cannot make up my mind whether to set it up for a king size quilt or set it up for a queen size quilt. There is a difference in the length of the rails and ultimately the width of the frame. This is a decision I have to make before I order it and also it depends on where I set it up in the studio. Decisions!
Have a great day
Showing posts with label house cleaning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label house cleaning. Show all posts
Monday, February 15, 2010
Monday, December 1, 2008
Other objectives
Although I had a four day weekend I did not have the opportunity to do any quilting. Most of the time was spent working in the kitchen, working on a toilet that will not flush and searching for 5 pistols that belong to DH. The kitchen is almost back in pristine shape, the toilet is still not working and DH found 4 of the pistols. Today he will be looking for the last one. Finding these pistols takes a load off my mind.
We did have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with DD, SIL and GS. Jeremy is growing into such a wonderful boy. He and I had a long conversation and I must say he is fantastic. I love him too much to define. After dinner we had some target practice. Wait, you say. Jeremy is only 7. Well that kid can sure shoot a marshmallow blaster. I learned from him. What fun!
I have a very heavy work load during the next 15 calendar days and on December 16 I will be having my right knee replaced. I don't know how much blogging I will do in the meantime. I also need to stick very strictly to my diet so that my physical therapy after surgery is easier. 30 minutes 3 times a day for knee replacement physical therapy and some of it is patient driven. Thank God some of it is a machine that works on keeping the knee flexing. I will start at 35 degrees and end up at 110 degrees flex. After that any additional flexibility will be on my own.
Have a great day.
We did have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with DD, SIL and GS. Jeremy is growing into such a wonderful boy. He and I had a long conversation and I must say he is fantastic. I love him too much to define. After dinner we had some target practice. Wait, you say. Jeremy is only 7. Well that kid can sure shoot a marshmallow blaster. I learned from him. What fun!
I have a very heavy work load during the next 15 calendar days and on December 16 I will be having my right knee replaced. I don't know how much blogging I will do in the meantime. I also need to stick very strictly to my diet so that my physical therapy after surgery is easier. 30 minutes 3 times a day for knee replacement physical therapy and some of it is patient driven. Thank God some of it is a machine that works on keeping the knee flexing. I will start at 35 degrees and end up at 110 degrees flex. After that any additional flexibility will be on my own.
Have a great day.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Home Safe and Sound
We have returned from a very relaxing and restful week in Gatlinburg, TN. The sewing machine and my projects are the only remaining things in the car. I ran out of energy with the unloading. Thankfully the next vacation in April will be with a healthier husband and he can help with the unloading. He kept apologizing for not doing more, but he drove both ways and that was the saving grace.
I didn't get as much piecing done as I had expected. Creating 240 HST take a lot of time; with sewing and squaring up. I have almost 3/4 of my blocks completed for "Navajo Tears" and then I will lay out the blocks on the point with other fabric between. I have two options with the other fabric. Simple 8 1/2" squares or making QST and placing them in between the Navajo block. I will have to get my design wall out to make the decision.
This week is only 2 1/2 days of work. The rest will be some minor house cleaning after our vacation and getting ready for the holidays. Vacations are very nice, but there is always the let down and the recovery. Fortunately I love Thanksgiving and Christmas so this gives me a slow let down from vacation. I did some shopping in Sevierville for Christmas and only have a few items to purchase. Then the wrapping.
Have a great day.
I didn't get as much piecing done as I had expected. Creating 240 HST take a lot of time; with sewing and squaring up. I have almost 3/4 of my blocks completed for "Navajo Tears" and then I will lay out the blocks on the point with other fabric between. I have two options with the other fabric. Simple 8 1/2" squares or making QST and placing them in between the Navajo block. I will have to get my design wall out to make the decision.
This week is only 2 1/2 days of work. The rest will be some minor house cleaning after our vacation and getting ready for the holidays. Vacations are very nice, but there is always the let down and the recovery. Fortunately I love Thanksgiving and Christmas so this gives me a slow let down from vacation. I did some shopping in Sevierville for Christmas and only have a few items to purchase. Then the wrapping.
Have a great day.
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.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Sew to Win Block
I finished the Sew to Win Block for Guild last night. It turned out really pretty. I hope I win this month, but have learned some new techniques that will be valuable in the future.
DH has been in the hospital now since October 10th. This has been the longest month in my life. He almost died in the first 24 hours and was on a ventilator to help him breath from 10:00 am on the 10th through 10:30 am on the 14th. He was in Intensive Care from the 10th through the 13th and in Telemetry from the 14th through the 17th. He transferred to a rehab facility on the 17th and I had him pulled out of there and transferred to Drake Center on the 23rd because of the poor care he was getting. Drake has him truly on the road to recovery! For a while there I thought I was going to be a widow before my 14th wedding anniversary. Now James is more lucid that he has been in months and is aware of thing around him that he missed totally. There has been some definite memory loss during the time just prior to his illness, but his dementia symptoms have reverted to those when he was first diagnosed. He has made progress that I think will impress the doctors to the point he will be allowed to drive. I am already acknowledging that I will be a passenger in a car he is driving. What a change!
DD and SIL spent Saturday helping me prepare the upper level of our bi-level home for DH to return to. Whether he is in a wheel chair or a walker he will be able to move from room to room with no difficulty. We moved furniture to make additional space between traffic areas so the house is more invalid friendly. God bless my daughter and son-in-law! They were so much help! I still have some minor cleaning to do between now and when DH returns home. It will be a breeze after all the assistance provided by the "kids".
I am looking forward to Guild this evening. Terry Tope will be our guest speaker. Her speciality is reverse applique and I cannot wait to hear her speak. She taught a class this weekend that I was not able to attend, but I am sure some examples of students that took the class will be shown during the meeting.
The Sew to Win block for the next meeting is a mystery. I cannot wait to see what they have planned for us. The President's block for our former president should be announced shortly. I definitely want to contribute to that. Also, they should be announcing shorting what quilt teachers will be visiting and teaching for Guild in 2009. I would like to that one or two classes if possible.
I need to get back to my responsibilities. Have a nice day.
DH has been in the hospital now since October 10th. This has been the longest month in my life. He almost died in the first 24 hours and was on a ventilator to help him breath from 10:00 am on the 10th through 10:30 am on the 14th. He was in Intensive Care from the 10th through the 13th and in Telemetry from the 14th through the 17th. He transferred to a rehab facility on the 17th and I had him pulled out of there and transferred to Drake Center on the 23rd because of the poor care he was getting. Drake has him truly on the road to recovery! For a while there I thought I was going to be a widow before my 14th wedding anniversary. Now James is more lucid that he has been in months and is aware of thing around him that he missed totally. There has been some definite memory loss during the time just prior to his illness, but his dementia symptoms have reverted to those when he was first diagnosed. He has made progress that I think will impress the doctors to the point he will be allowed to drive. I am already acknowledging that I will be a passenger in a car he is driving. What a change!
DD and SIL spent Saturday helping me prepare the upper level of our bi-level home for DH to return to. Whether he is in a wheel chair or a walker he will be able to move from room to room with no difficulty. We moved furniture to make additional space between traffic areas so the house is more invalid friendly. God bless my daughter and son-in-law! They were so much help! I still have some minor cleaning to do between now and when DH returns home. It will be a breeze after all the assistance provided by the "kids".
I am looking forward to Guild this evening. Terry Tope will be our guest speaker. Her speciality is reverse applique and I cannot wait to hear her speak. She taught a class this weekend that I was not able to attend, but I am sure some examples of students that took the class will be shown during the meeting.
The Sew to Win block for the next meeting is a mystery. I cannot wait to see what they have planned for us. The President's block for our former president should be announced shortly. I definitely want to contribute to that. Also, they should be announcing shorting what quilt teachers will be visiting and teaching for Guild in 2009. I would like to that one or two classes if possible.
I need to get back to my responsibilities. Have a nice day.
Friday, September 19, 2008
HAPPY DANCE
Our power was restored yesterday at 7:00 in the evening. We still have power this morning. This weekend will be general pickup after the storm both inside and outside of the house. I really need to run the vacuum!
I found the perfect pattern for a lap quilt for DH in an old issue of Quilt. It is a Navajo block and will work perfectly with my stash of red fabric and a package of six 1/2 yard fabrics that I picked up about 6 months ago. I am not certain when I will start it, but soon.
After all the restoration of normalcy in our home (from the storm and its aftermath) I am going to get the treadle machine out of storage and into the living room. It will be a statement of my love of sewing and once I learn how to use it again it will become my sewing machine for special projects and for power outages. I will never be without a sewing machine again!
Have a great day, Karen
I found the perfect pattern for a lap quilt for DH in an old issue of Quilt. It is a Navajo block and will work perfectly with my stash of red fabric and a package of six 1/2 yard fabrics that I picked up about 6 months ago. I am not certain when I will start it, but soon.
After all the restoration of normalcy in our home (from the storm and its aftermath) I am going to get the treadle machine out of storage and into the living room. It will be a statement of my love of sewing and once I learn how to use it again it will become my sewing machine for special projects and for power outages. I will never be without a sewing machine again!
Have a great day, Karen
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Update
Last night was spent organizing my quilting supplies with the goal of being ready for the Crafty Friends 2nd Annual Retreat in October. I found the hiding place of several of my supplies and organized them with the retreat in mind. I also labeled some of my mini storage boxes so I know what is in them without opening. A simple solution to something that has driven me to insanity from time to time.
I am on countdown to the retreat. With DH health declining so rapidly I do not think I will be to many more retreats in the near future. Until he is so ill that he cannot be left alone and must be institutionalized, by primary role with be caregiver. I don't know how I will juggle work and caregiver, but with each passing day the definition has become more clear and even with rapid changes, I seem to adapt. God says He will never allow something in our lives that we are not already prepared to handle. I am leaning on the promise with all my belief.
Today I completed the minor pick up of clutter in the dining room. I moved the knick knack cabinet that my MIL gave us to a corner that is a little more out of the way in case DH falls in that room. Then a quick dust and put back with crystal that is stored there. I also moved one of the extra chairs in the dining room to a more convienient place so that DH can walk around the dining table with ease. Just a little thing to make his day easier. The other extra chair is where I lay my purse and carryall bag when I get home from work. A few things had piled up and I sorted them and put them were they belong. My mother always said a place for everything and everything in it's place. I am trying to apply this more and more to my daily life.
This afternoon I will be running some small errands and then home to more straightening. If I get all my goals completed I will allow myself all Saturday evening and all day Sunday for quilting and piecing. Now that is what I call a reward and there are no calories involved.
Have a great day, Karen
I am on countdown to the retreat. With DH health declining so rapidly I do not think I will be to many more retreats in the near future. Until he is so ill that he cannot be left alone and must be institutionalized, by primary role with be caregiver. I don't know how I will juggle work and caregiver, but with each passing day the definition has become more clear and even with rapid changes, I seem to adapt. God says He will never allow something in our lives that we are not already prepared to handle. I am leaning on the promise with all my belief.
Today I completed the minor pick up of clutter in the dining room. I moved the knick knack cabinet that my MIL gave us to a corner that is a little more out of the way in case DH falls in that room. Then a quick dust and put back with crystal that is stored there. I also moved one of the extra chairs in the dining room to a more convienient place so that DH can walk around the dining table with ease. Just a little thing to make his day easier. The other extra chair is where I lay my purse and carryall bag when I get home from work. A few things had piled up and I sorted them and put them were they belong. My mother always said a place for everything and everything in it's place. I am trying to apply this more and more to my daily life.
This afternoon I will be running some small errands and then home to more straightening. If I get all my goals completed I will allow myself all Saturday evening and all day Sunday for quilting and piecing. Now that is what I call a reward and there are no calories involved.
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
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Studio Makeover
My teacher for Studio Makeover has had some major life style changes either chosen or forced on her. Family and personal goals have changed the direction of her life and as a result I will not be able to study with her. I honor her choices for it must be hard to make a 180 degree turn in your life because your know it is the right thing to do. There is always that little piece (I believe it is the adversary) that keeps telling you to ignore responsibilities and move in the direction YOU want to go.
I have the first two lessons of her syllabus and her book on Studio Makeover. I will use these along with my common sense and the help of DH to make a studio that will fulfill the functions I need and provide some quality time for the two of us to work together. I will be learning some skills from DH before he forgets the skills. This is foresight in my part, because I know there will be many things that I rely on him to do that he needs to teach me. It may help lessen his depression in the process.
Yesterday I went to JoAnn's to exchange a purchase I had made in error. They were kind enough to honor the 40% coupon on my new purchase. This is a wonderful shop for supplies for quilting and other crafts and the employees are so helpful. I love to go in and talk to them.
This morning while getting ready for work a did a couple of small chores around the house. Just putting away a pair of needle nosed pliers was a success and I did do more than just that one thing. I ran the dishwasher so it will be ready to empty when I get home. Another success. Each success builds the path to another.
I am not sure what my plans are for this evening. I will leave you in suspense to find out tomorrow.
Have a great day, Karen
I have the first two lessons of her syllabus and her book on Studio Makeover. I will use these along with my common sense and the help of DH to make a studio that will fulfill the functions I need and provide some quality time for the two of us to work together. I will be learning some skills from DH before he forgets the skills. This is foresight in my part, because I know there will be many things that I rely on him to do that he needs to teach me. It may help lessen his depression in the process.
Yesterday I went to JoAnn's to exchange a purchase I had made in error. They were kind enough to honor the 40% coupon on my new purchase. This is a wonderful shop for supplies for quilting and other crafts and the employees are so helpful. I love to go in and talk to them.
This morning while getting ready for work a did a couple of small chores around the house. Just putting away a pair of needle nosed pliers was a success and I did do more than just that one thing. I ran the dishwasher so it will be ready to empty when I get home. Another success. Each success builds the path to another.
I am not sure what my plans are for this evening. I will leave you in suspense to find out tomorrow.
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
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Saturday Successes
This morning I measured all the walls and doors and windows in the family room. I also measured some of the furniture and office equipment. I set up a room diagram of the family room as it exists now. Tomorrow DH will be asked to help me with the remaining measurements. Friday I had the 36 hours flu and today he had it. So much for my plans for this weekend. But I still had successes.
This evening I catalogued all my magazines that I currently have scattered about the house and put them into the magazine holders that I bought at IKEA. I have filled eleven of them so far and still have more to go. I also catalogued my printed quilt patterns from various websites that have free patterns. I guess I am showing my age as well as my mistrust of computers when I have to have paper instead of saving to a hard drive. I have had my share of computer problems and don't really trust them. And this is from a computer professional of almost 40 years. I still know that a machine can freeze up and then where are you left?
I also have shredded several documents that are no longer needed for tax or government purposes. Since none of the companies that I have started are in business and the statute of limitations with the IRS is past as well as with the Department of Transportation I can destroy all my records. I will have five or six four drawer file cabinets available for all my sewing and quilting records. AND I won't have to dust them either!
Have a great day, Karen
This evening I catalogued all my magazines that I currently have scattered about the house and put them into the magazine holders that I bought at IKEA. I have filled eleven of them so far and still have more to go. I also catalogued my printed quilt patterns from various websites that have free patterns. I guess I am showing my age as well as my mistrust of computers when I have to have paper instead of saving to a hard drive. I have had my share of computer problems and don't really trust them. And this is from a computer professional of almost 40 years. I still know that a machine can freeze up and then where are you left?
I also have shredded several documents that are no longer needed for tax or government purposes. Since none of the companies that I have started are in business and the statute of limitations with the IRS is past as well as with the Department of Transportation I can destroy all my records. I will have five or six four drawer file cabinets available for all my sewing and quilting records. AND I won't have to dust them either!
Have a great day, Karen
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday Evening
Surprise: I have more magazines about quilting than I thought I had. I was clearing off a chair in the dinning room that I set various "stuff" on at the end of each day and I discovered almost 20 issues of various quilting magazines. I am in seventh heaven!
EQ6 has a free software program to use as a database and I am cataloging my quilting books in one database and my quilting magazines in another database. Looks like I will have some data entry to do this weekend.
This is the beginning of a three day weekend. I have informed DH that I have planned out the entire weekend. It may be selfish, but sometimes caregivers need to do exactly that even if they are not on a respite. (For those who do not know what a respite is, it is time away from caregiving with no responsibilities but to take care of yourself. It is a time for reflection, healing and rest.)
I will digress only this far. Yesterday I had an appointment with my primary care physician. He treats me and DH. I told him about my quilt neighborhood group and how they had told me I am no longer welcome in their group. My doctor said, "Tell them to go to H---. They have no idea what you are going through. Until they have to deal with what you are handling they have no right to make any statement or to treat you with disrespect."
Have a great day, Karen
EQ6 has a free software program to use as a database and I am cataloging my quilting books in one database and my quilting magazines in another database. Looks like I will have some data entry to do this weekend.
This is the beginning of a three day weekend. I have informed DH that I have planned out the entire weekend. It may be selfish, but sometimes caregivers need to do exactly that even if they are not on a respite. (For those who do not know what a respite is, it is time away from caregiving with no responsibilities but to take care of yourself. It is a time for reflection, healing and rest.)
I will digress only this far. Yesterday I had an appointment with my primary care physician. He treats me and DH. I told him about my quilt neighborhood group and how they had told me I am no longer welcome in their group. My doctor said, "Tell them to go to H---. They have no idea what you are going through. Until they have to deal with what you are handling they have no right to make any statement or to treat you with disrespect."
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
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.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Oh dear
I spent more time unsewing than sewing last night. Isn't that a nice way to say I used my seam ripper more than I wanted?
I was working on my Baby Trip Around the World and kept getting the fabrics in the wrong order. Then I made the oops of the evening and cut two of the panels in 2 1/2" instead of 3". I may have made the goof of the century and now may not have enough material. Since it was late I stopped. Tonight I will gather the troops and see what I need to fix this.
My second mistake was breaking my new rule of not picking up the living room and dining room before going to bed. My only excuse was I was very tired.
I will attempt to finish this top tonight.
Have a great day, Karen
I was working on my Baby Trip Around the World and kept getting the fabrics in the wrong order. Then I made the oops of the evening and cut two of the panels in 2 1/2" instead of 3". I may have made the goof of the century and now may not have enough material. Since it was late I stopped. Tonight I will gather the troops and see what I need to fix this.
My second mistake was breaking my new rule of not picking up the living room and dining room before going to bed. My only excuse was I was very tired.
I will attempt to finish this top tonight.
Have a great day, Karen
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