Serger

I finally had enough money in my credit union savings account to purchase a serger. It is one of the least expensive of the Singer sergers on the market. I still have to read the directions and then find some fabric to practice on. I still have to make room for another machine.

Have a great day.

Organization Tips

Oh I wish I had some organization tips to give people who read my blog. There is only one thing that comes to mind right now.
1. A place for everything and everything in it's place.
2. Keep like things together in one place. (i.e.: All rotary cutters in a box, basket, or use a hanging shoe rack and keep them in a specific pocket.

I will try to come up with some more.

Anyone out there who has tips please share them with me and I will post them in a special side bar.

Shop Hop

This got on my blog empty. Too funny.

Last Saturday (9/12) I continued on to a shop in Burlington, KY. It is called Cabin Arts and is in two buildings right next to each other. You will never believe it but a couple from Dry Ridge arrived just after I did. Reunion.

The shop is lovely and has a good variety of fabrics and patterns. I certainly hope they are included in the Tri State Shop Hop again next year.

After getting lost in Lawrenceburg, IN and getting lost again I finally found the main street and there was the quilt shop. The city has changed so much with the casinos pouring money into their city and county budget that they have totally remade the main thorough fare. The Quilt Bug is a shop I have been in before but they have changed their store greatly. Good quality fabric and several patterns that I need to return and check out.

With my car not being real cooperative I thought about not stopping at another shop, but Best Friends Quilt Shop in Cincinnati yelled my name and I couldn't pass by. The have expanded their store front to double the size. Everything is nicely presented and they appear to be building up the number of quality fabrics that they are going to display. I saw a couple of wonderful patterns for Christmas that are in kit form. Once my quilting budget grows a little I will have to go back.

Saturday, 9/19 I continued on my journey. But first I stopped at Seam Sew Easy for the Breakfast Club class. The pattern is called Belgium Waffles and it is exciting to work on. I almost finished one placemat. I also discovered that some of the jelly rolls in my stash are not quality fabric. I will have to use a fusable on the back of the other strips in order to have a nice placemat. Nancy reminded me at noon that I had to get hopping so I left with the promise to come back and work more on the placemat's.

After a very long journey through the corn and soy bean fields of western Ohio and eastern Indiana I ended up at Pohlar Fabrics in Libery, IN. It is right across from the dock on Brooksville Reservour that I used to fish from with my 2nd husband. I remember the fishing with joy; the husband is in the divorced pool again.

Guess who I ran into at Pohlar Fabrics? My buddy from the Kentucky shops. She was all finished with her hopping, but came back to Pohlar Fabrics to pick up some more fabric. We had a nice talk and she encouraged me to take my time at Appalachian Quilts in Fairborn, OH.

Next a longer trip through the fields and I ended up in Trenton, OH. I didn't run into any other shop hoppers I know, but I had a lovely time with my friends at Valley Quilt Shop.

Next was the trip up to Dayton, Ohio. My first stop was at Sew-A-Lot, then Appalachina Quilts and finally at Sulfur Grove Quilt Shop. I will add comments latter.

More next posting. Have a great day, Karen

Shop Hop and Retreat

Saturday I spent the afternoon driving from one quilt shop to another following the Tri-State Shop Hop bunny path. I was able to visit 7 of the twelve shops. What a drive.

My first stop was Sew-Ezy Sewing Studio in Sharonville, OH. They had a demonstration of a quilt as you go process that I really like. I pickup up the pattern and fabric bag and the gave out a goody bag. There was a pattern that I will have to go back for. It was like trick or treat. Along with water and pretzels they included a coupon for a local restaurant and a body shop. The restaurant is one of my favorites and very close to where I work.

Next stop was Aunt Ruth's Quilt Shop in Sharonville, OH. I had been in this shop before and was glad for a return visit. They are super friendly and have a great selection of fabrics. They have recently moved to a new location and have more room for their class studio. I have attended their 2nd Saturday night sew for all and really enjoyed the interaction.

Glendale, OH was my next stop at Stitches. This is the store that I originally had my first quilting classes at. They were in Fairield, OH, but relocated to a lovely shopping center. While I was there I saw a jacket that would be perfect for me after being altered to a vest. I recently completed my CCW and need vests to cover the holster. (Yes along with everything else I am proficient with firearms.)

After the first three shops I had a long drive to Dry Ridge, KY. The Quilt Box is located in a very old farm house on a working farm. They even have a pond that husbands can fish as long as they release any catch they make. I was enchanted with the shop and while talking to the husband of the owner he mentioned Japanese fabrics. These are regular quilting fabrics with traditional quilt motifs. Not the usual Japanese pagodas and kimono dressed women. I overheard two staff members talking about how several patrons have purchased this fabric to make clothing. I will definitely have to go back.

I will continue this later.

Sewing Studio update

I have started to make progress in my sewing studio. You no doubt remember my moaning about it in several past blogs. Well it is finally getting the attention it deserves.

Last weekend I started going through all the "trash" that has accumulated in the family room. I have only made a dent; but a good dent at that. The recycle bin will be full next Monday. I may even stack several boxes of paper on top of the bin.

Once I get all the paper out and move the garden pots that have accumulated (I think they multiply like rabbits) then I will start to see more possibilities.

Last year during the back to school sales I purchases two or three book cases. They are waiting patiently for me in the garage. I cannot wait to put them together and use them for the magazines and books about sewing and quilting that I have gathered together over the years. How exciting to be able to go to a book case and pull out the very pattern I want. As I put things into place I will also be creating a database of title, pattern and location for each. Then I can go to the computer and say "I want a pattern with the Ohio Star" and find all the various books and magazines that use it. How exciting!

The other thing that I am so looking forward to is my sewing machines. Yes. I have many. Three or four are in the garage also. Mostly Singer machines, but also a treadle machine. I am going to get that treadle machine in working order for the next time we have a power outage. I will not be deprived of my quilting where there is no electricity.

I leave for my October retreat early this year. They had to change the date to September 26, 27 and 28. I so look forward to the friends I have made over the last retreats. I will be looking specially for Maureen. I haven't seen her since last year and I miss her kindness and gentle spirit. Some of the others just make me want to burst out laughing. They are a great group of women and I love them all.

Enough for now. Talk to you later.

Quilt Quild

I missed Guild again last night. I have been having problems with my pancreas and it's too painful to go running around. Now I will have to wait until October's meeting since we meet the first Monday of each month and the September meeting always falls on Labor Day.

Wonder how much I can get done on my list?

Have a great day, Karen W.

NQA Annual Show in Columbus, Ohio

Saturday I attended the Quilt show in Columbus. I had a great time. I met vendors from past years and some new ones as well. I enjoyed talking to one vendor from Marshall, MI. I attended college at Western Michigan University very near to Marshall and have fond memories of dinners at Winn Schuler's restaurant and seeing the town circle decorated for Christmas. I asked and they do still put up the Camel Crossing sign between the outer sidewalk and the circle to the Nativity Scene. Wonderful old memories.

I also talked to a vendor who's husband was in Alabama at a Bagpipe Competition. They sometimes go their separate ways and sometimes go together. She used to be a professional competitor in Scottish Dancing. Now in her late 50's she is no longer to compete, but still dancing when possible. She told me about a Bagpipe and Dance competition that is open to the public in northern Ohio in August. Depending on DH health we may go up to see it. He loves the sound of the bagpipe and I love the dancing.

While I was at the convention I saw a display for a powdered product that mends all types of fabrics. This includes denim, cotton, silk and wool. The way DH goes through his jeans I figured that it would pay for itself in one pair of jeans. Then I saw another display for Angelina that also uses the same powder. Two birds with one stone!

I really shouldn't mention this, but one of the group of quilter's that told me I was no longer welcome in the neighborhood quilt bees was at the convention also. I was walking up one isle and as she turned into the isle she immediately told the one woman with her that they needed to go back around. I think she ran away from me. Well that is what a bully does when they are not surrounded by their friends, isn't it? She still amazes me. Every time we pass each other at Guild meetings she looks down at her shoes. She doesn't have the graciousness to look at me and refuses to talk to me. Well that is her lose and my gain. I have learned that "good friends" that don't stay with you through the bad times are no friends at all. I would rather deal with a straight out enemy than a snake in the grass. ENOUGH ABOUT THEM.

I enjoyed the quilts on display and took so many pictures that I had to replace the batteries in my camera twice. When taking a picture of one quilt I finally realized what one of the quilt tops that I inherited from my grandmother was an Irish Chain pattern. I had always classified it as a 25 patch block. Funny how looking through the lens of a camera will may things look totally different.

Have a great day.