Report of the NQA Annual Show in Columbus, Ohio

We had a great time. There were four of us together in the car and we split and mingled at the show. I spent way too much money...haven't even looked at the receipts yet. Then we cruised around some of the local quilt shops. I got a steal on some glittery fabric at one shop and found a paper piecing pattern at another.

Basically we shopped until we dropped and dropped in at the Olive Garden for dinner. Then we went to another LQS. We didn't get home until after 10 PM. What a day.

I had a shopping list of the things I wanted to pick up at the convention. I got the most important one. Starr Designs has a pattern for a paper pieced quilt top called Fairy Dust. They didn't have one at the show, but sold it to me and will pay the shipping costs to boot. They had the fat quarters for the quilt top and I debated for almost two hours before buying two of them. The only other purchase will be for the background fabric and I can get that at my LQS.

They had the Body Rite Posture Support at the shop but the price was more than I was willing to pay. I have since checked the internet. One place had it for 25% less, but the shipping cost took it right back up into the impossible. Maybe I can find one on e-bay and save some money. Must put a favorites search into place.

Have a great day.

NQA Annual Show in Columbus, Ohio

I really thought I would not be able to attend this year's NQA show, but two friends are going up Thursday and they invited me. How wonderful to have great friends. Since this will be my second year I have a better idea of what to bring and what not to bring.

Extra batteries for my camera are a must. I will be packing a sack lunch instead of going hungry this year and will not forget my water bottle. I am going to leave my purse at home and bring only the essentials in a smal clutch bag. I will use the NQA bag I bought last year and buy another this year and use them for carrying things. Most important will be a good pair of comfortable shoes.

I cannot wait. This year they are having a special exhibit of rose quilts. I plan on getting some great pictures and ideas for my own projects.

If you cannot tell I am really EXCITED about this.

I irons some of my new fabric that I got on e-bay at our small quilt group evening. We shared some patterns and processes for flying geese. I know there will be a flying geese quilt in my future.

Less than 48 hours and I will be in Columbus. Hooray!

Have a great day, Karen

Have you missed me?

I haven't updated my blog in quite a while. Too busy at work and then have caught the e-Bay bug. So far I have spent almost $1000.00 on fabric and one pattern. Now I have to get to work making these purchases into quilt tops and other things.

Speaking of other things I saw the cutest adaptation of a 5" square last night at a birthday party. Two 5" squares were sewn together without a binding with the two bottom corners cut off as if a 2" half square triangle had been removed and the edges where the corners had been were sewn together. It was a scissors holder and if it had been made in orange with green handled scissors it would have looked like a carrot. Words cannot describe it and I don't have a picture.

We were celebrating J.W.'s 60th birthday. What a hoot! It was a surprise birthday party and she hadn't a clue. The food was great, but the conversation and show and tell was even better. It was a new way for us to bond over our quilting without pulling out a piece of thread or fabric.

The party favors were 5" squares of different fabrics rolled up in a ribbon like a napkin ring. You do remember what cloth napkins and napkins rings are, don't you?

I am starting to gather some things together for my new sewing/quilting studio. I haven't measured the room yet, but I know some Sauder bookcases are in order and I have a pattern for a special sewing table that I purchased from Keepsake Quilting. All I have to do is clear out all the stuff from the family room and start creating a floor plan and move everything from my current cubby hole. I should be able to report that it is finished sometime in the next few years. I do move slowly.

Have a wonderful weekend. Karen

OHAD

Success. I finally got one hour of piecing done yesterday. I have almost finished the fourth row of the apple core wall hanging. When this is completed my next project for during lunch hour at work is to finish cutting the pieces for my Patchwork Party 2008 blocks.

I have also made a great decision. James and I discussed how little use we get out of our family room in the lower level of our bi-level. I am going to take it over as my sewing room. It is about 30% of the house. What a wonderful place it will be. I will have room for all my sewing machines to be set up and maybe if I am a really good girl I will be able to by a long arm quilting machine and there will be room for it too. WOW!

Have a great day, Karen

No progress

Well......
I must be in a book reading mood. When I get home from work at night the first thing in my hands is the book I am currently reading and the last thing in my hands is what ever book I am reading. I really must get out of this rut.

That being said, I pledge to myself that tonight I will fix dinner, eat dinner, take all the dirty laundry downstairs to the laundry room (which is next to my sewing room) and do laundry. While the machines are working I will be in my sewing room without a book.

Now let's see if I can keep my word to myself. LOL

Have a great day, Karen

One Hour A Day (OHAD)

One of my blog buddies came up with this idea. Yesterday I actually was successful. I pieced for one hour on my apple core wall hanging. I almost have three of the five rows completed.

This is a hand piecing project. I tried the "Curve Master" and was not successful. Back to the basics. There are twenty five apple cores in five rows. Each core is a different fabric. Have you ever tried to find 25 different red fabrics? What fun for my stash, but what a chore.

Today my lunch hour is my own so I will finish the third row and start on the fourth. Tomorrow is also available, so I may finish the last row and then I start putting the rows together. Wish me luck.

Karen

I think I am in a fog

I had planned to piece my apple core quilt during lunch yesterday and then forgot to take lunch.

Today was our company chorus rehersal so I didn't bring my portable bag with needles etc. Rehersal was canceled and I didn't have anything to work on. Bummer!

I did read a little of my "Foundation" trilogy instead. Maybe I will get some quilting in tonight.

I went to a Caregiver's Support group last night. There were four of us and the moderator. It felt good to be with others who were walking my walk and we shared what was happening in our life and offered suggestions where it seemed they would be acceptable. James is having one of his bad days and he has pestered me here at work many times. I just want to escape...but there is no where to go.

Well, I will see what the evening brings.
Karen