The Egghead's Coop

just a brief wrap up

2011-08-29T06:42:00.000-07:00

We are OK! no damage, no trees down, no plants uprooted, no windows broken,and the garage and car are ok. and the ducks are ok too. All our power, phone, and internet are back on.

i went out early Sunday morning to check on the lake levels which were still within the boundaries, and there was no sign that it ever ran over them.
All the ducks were there, but only one group was braving the lake. the others were sitting quietly on the banks, probably wondering if they should venture in.
And in VA only 1 death due to a car accident caused by a non-functioning stop light.

Hurricane Irene is now but a memory, thank heavens!

About those ducks and geeese...

2011-08-27T05:08:00.000-07:00

Apparently the geese have more sense than the ducks! All the ducks are still here (so far)and the geese have apparently flown the coop.Some of the ducks are braving the lake, but most are on the shore. The lake is back to it's normal level from the rain that we've had, so that's good.

We've had some periods of wind with no rain this morning, but in checking the radar i see some yellow and orange rain in store for us this morning and this afternoon, as the eye wall gets closer.

The hurricane has made landfall near Cape Lookout, NC.

Good Morning from Hurricane Central...

2011-08-27T03:17:00.001-07:00

Yep, Hurricane Irene is still with us and will be for a while!
latest reports are that she has been downgraded to a Cat 1 and is moving NNE at 14 mph. Central pressure is at 952mb.
From the radar returns it looks like the center of the large eye wall will go directly over Moorehead City, NC, and the left edge of the huricane is curently at Albemarle NC.

We still have power, so i've made a fresh pot of coffee. we got a 20 min break from the rain and wind, but it has picked back up just now. top winds are down to 90 mph now, so our peak winds will probably be around 80 mph or so later today. Strongest gust so far today has been 35 mph, with most wind around 15mph.

When it gets light i'll check the pond and make a duck/geese report. as of yesterday they were all still hanging around.

She crossed the Border!

2011-08-26T18:59:00.000-07:00

Irene is now in the South-Eastern tip of Virginia, and is expected to stay for just over 21 hours, or thereabouts. the barometer is starting to drop. it's now at 1009 MB here. And the heat is hanging around 80 sticky degrees.

and when they said it's huge, they were right. from the looks of the radar everything from the Blue Ridge Mts. on East to the far side of New Jersey will be getting part of this hurricane.

can you imagine that!

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

updating the blog for this hurricane. Weather forecasters are comparing the potential effects of this hurricane to Hurricane Isabel in 2003.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_Hurricane_Isabel_in_Virginia

We went thru that hurricane, having just moved into our apartment here in Suffolk from Portsmouth. I'm happy to say that we weathered that hurricane a lot better than we would have if we had been in Portsmouth. Since that time sevral more trees surrounding the complex have been taken down, so hopefuly we won't have as many tres falling as we did then.But even then only one car got hit by a tree! (not ours!!!)
We have all our supplies and everything is ready.The car is safe in it's garage this time around, and now all we have to do is hunker down and wait it out.

PUBLIC NOTICE REGARDING QUILT PICTURES

2011-04-04T05:01:00.000-07:00

a lot of quilters don’t know it, but if they make a quilt from a copywrited pattern and then publish photo images of that quilt on the internet, the photos themselves are in violation of copywrite law, even if the copywrite holder’s info is published along with the photos.

in other words, you can make a quilt for yourself or to give away, but you cannot publish pictures of that quilt.

that’s why, in spite of continual requests for photos, my blog, “The Egghead’s Coop” no longer features photos of what i’m working on, nor will it for as long as the law stays the same.

I’ll still make my quilts from copywrited patterns and give credit and include links where i can, but i won’t knowingly break copywrite law just to show curious quilters what they look like.

Stash Busting Report 2011, week #14

2011-04-03T04:39:00.000-07:00

well, my numbers haven't moved much. i used 1/4 yard from my stash this week, and bought and cut up about 10.5 yards for another quilt.

so now i've got 2 quilts i'm piecing--the new quilt, "Motzart Modern" using two blue "Camelot" fabrics from Jason Yenter (along with other fabrics), and the next-to-new quilt, "Maison Bleue" with French General fabric.

the "Motzart Modern" quilt uses the "Amadeus" pattern from Carrie Nelson that I've made before, but this time i've made some changes. The center of the sawtooth star is made with the Jason Yenter fabric "Camelot Avalon Floral Blue" specially cut and twisted to form different kaleidescopic squares. the various star points will be 3 different colors of blue, each resting on a background of pristine white-on-white fabric with circles and undulating lines.
where the original 4 single corner blocks of the star block meet up to form a square of 4 on the quilt, i have changed into one single sqare block (eliminating the seams of the 4). the material for that block, "Camelot Sangreal Rose Medallion Blue," is also fussy cut, so each square in the quilt will be the same.

with that change in the 4 blocks to 1 block, i will also be changing the quilt top assembly. Instead of making up each star block and then setting them together, I will be assembling the quilt in vertical rows, 1/3 of the star at a time.

At this point I've got 20 of the 25 star center blocks sewn together, and they look fabulous!

Sunday Stash Report 2011, week #13

2011-03-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

fabric in: 2.5 yards, border for "Summer Wind"
fabric out: 23.5 yards, for "Maison Bleue",and an extra "Summer Wind" border.

fabric in YTD: 16.5 yards
fabric out YTD: 97.92 yards

net: 81.42 yards
goal: 275 yards

i finished piecing the "Summer Wind" quilt and decided it needed one final border, so i got some of the white border fabric to add to it, and will get the final borders on today.
yesterday i got out my tower of Rural Jardin fabrics and cut them up (along with extra fabrics) for my next quilt, "Maison Bleue".
Seven of the fat quarters i'll be saving to use in another quilt for July. So even though i did cut those fat quarters, i've not included them in today's total, but will wait to include them when i cut the rest of the quilt that they will go in.

I'm very close to meeting 30% of my net goal so far this year; only 1.08 yards to go and i'll be there!

Sunday Stash Report 2011, week# 11

2011-03-13T04:51:00.000-07:00

figures are the same as last week,

fabric in:0
fabric out:0
fabric in YTD: 14 yards
fabric out YTD: 74.42 yards

net:60.42 yards
goal: 275 yards

not much pregress this week. I started working on the star blocks for border #5 of 6 for "Summer Wind". these are sawtooth stars--24 of them--so it's just a matter of sitting down and grinding them out. the last border will be easy as it's simple patchwork.

just sent two quilts back to the quilter for a re-do this week. hopefully things will work out so i'll get all 4 quilts back by the end of the month, quilted correctly this time. cross your fingers!
meanwhile i'll be hunting for a new quilter yet again.

Sunday Stash Report, week# 10

2011-03-06T04:40:00.001-08:00

fabric in:0
fabric out:0
fabric in YTD: 14 yards
fabric out YTD: 74.42 yards

net: 60.42 yards
goal: 275 yards

little progress this week---appointments got in the way!
I did add borders number 1-3 to the "Summer Wind" quilt, so it's up to about 40 inches square so far, and that's almost half way done. i hope to make more progress this week.

Stash Report/Quilt Show Report

2011-02-27T04:44:00.000-08:00

nothing in and nothing out this week---i was at the quilt show!

Best new fabrics: a tie for first place,
"Sunkissed" by Sweetwater, and "Buttercup" by Fig Tree

Best new pattern:
"Lincoln's Watch" by Bonnie Blue Quilts. the vendor had plenty of patterns, but they sold out in 2 hours the very first day of the show! pictured is the quilt kit, well worth getting.
http://www.bonniebluequilts.com/detail.aspx?ID=5455

Best new books: several recomendations here.

"The Civil War Sewing Circle" by Kathleen Tracy, pub:That Patchwork Place

"Country Inn" by Barb Adams and Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs. pub last year, but still holding it's own!

the "Quilt Of..." books by Mary Tatem.
titles include: Quilt of Faith, Quilt of Joy,Quilt of Hope, Quilt of Life. devotional books written for the Christian quilter,each containing triplets of short stories about quilters and their quilts.

"The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt" by Laurie Aaron Hird. now comes with a bonus cd with piecing templates for all the blocks. also an EQ CD available separately.

Stash Busting 2011, week #7

2011-02-12T07:12:00.000-08:00

fabric in: 4.5 yards for muslin and borders
fabric out: 10.5 yards for still more muslin,and yardage for backing,borders,and binding.

fabric in YTD: 14 yards
fabric out YTD:59.17 yards

net busted: 45.17 yards
goal: 275 yards

this week i had to go and get more muslin for the "All Stars" quilt(boy does it eat up some background yardage!) as well as some yardage for two quilts. got the "All Stars" quilt assembled, and also added another border to my UFO Basket quilt, so both of those quilts will go off to the quilter's this week. that means that i will finally get to sit down and put the binding on my Christmas row quilt this weekend.

only 10 more yards to bust and i will be at the 20% mark for fabric busted this year towards my goal.

Stash Report-2011, week #6

2011-02-06T03:38:00.000-08:00

fabric in: 0
fabric out: 0
fabric in YTD: 9.5 yards
fabric out YTD: 48.67 yards
net: 39.17 yards
goal: 275 yards

don't worry, i'm still piecing the "All Stars" quilt! I'm almost half way done making the blocks, and will be piecing again next week. This quilt is taking a little while to make because i have to lay out the individual pieces of the blocks as i go, since the design is one that interconnects. If i had made it all with scrappy strips and no planning,(like a "brown bag quilt")it would be easier and faster. the design is great however, so i might do this one again when i start using up my strips.

Meanwhile my quilter called yesterday and said that there's a quilt ready to be picked up at the shop, so i'll go get that one this afternoon. It will be nice to have some binding to do during the SuperBowl game tonight.

Sunday Stash Report-2011, week #5

2011-01-30T04:15:00.000-08:00

here we are at week #5 already!

fabric in: 2.5 yards...1 yard for binding, and 1.5 yards of muslin for more strips.
fabric out: 13.10 yards, for "All Stars", a pattern by Cozy Quilt Designs (www.cozyquilt.com)

fabric in YTD: 9.5 yards
fabric out YTD: 48.67 yards

net: 39.17 yards GONE FROM STASH
goal: 275 yards

quilts for January:
2 "Butter, Charm, & Jelly" quilts, UFO "Thimbleberries", UFO "Christmas Row Quilt", "Zig Zag Too", "All Stars". total: 6 quilts cut, 5 quilts done and at the quilters. All will be comming back in February.

(NOTE: UFO tops are not included in the yardage count. Tops and/or backings are only counted if they're made in 2011.)

two more quilts went to the quilter's this week and I was able to empty two plastic tote boxes of stash to fill some empty drawers. My hope is to empty many more plastic tote boxes of stash this year.

I'm beginning to really make a dent in the stash, but i'm also planning on going to the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show at the end of February.
I know i'll be stocking up on thread, but i'm not sure what else i'll be bringing home. I'm hoping to find a cutting blade sharpener, another pin cushion, and who knows what else!

Sunday Stash Report, Week #4

2011-01-23T08:10:00.000-08:00

fabric in:0
fabric out: 13 yards
fabric in YTD: 7 yards
fabric out YTD: 35.57 yards
net: 28.57 yards
goal: 275 yards

This week i achieved the first 10% of my stash busting goal for the year!
i also sent out 3 quilts to the quilter's, so those should be back for their picture session in February.

fabric included in the "out" portion of this report included fabric for 2 quilt backs. I also cut out fabric for a new pattern, "Zig Zag Too" (number 320)from Late Bloomer Quilts (www.latebloomerquilts.com) in Livermore, CA.

That new quilt will use 1/2 a jelly roll(or a little more)from the lovely, soft "Dandelion Girl" fabric line, put out by Moda a few years ago, background fabric ("Staples") by Marsha Mc Closkey, and an olive green gingham ("Good Old Gingham") from Holly Holderman. All the various fabrics are playing nicely with each other so far, and i think it will be a lovely quilt when i finish.

I'll probably use the rest of the jelly roll on the backing, but i haven't counted that portion yet.

I went to the local quilt shop yesterday to drop off the quilts, and while i was there i picked up a really great new-to-me book called "Let's Twist" by CS designs.
(www.country-schoolhouse.com) they also have a tool to make those twisty pinwheels, so i got the larger sized tool, and may go back later for the small one.
I've always liked this design but could never figure out how those blocks got their twisty shape, so the need for some directions was definitely in order!

This quilt pattern looks like a great way to use up some of the various and sundry mis-matched left-over scraps that quilters aquire over the years, and still be able to come out at the end with a good-looking quilt!

I can also see this quilt made up of various sized scraps sewn together to make 'new' 10 inch fabric squares, if 10 inch or 5 inch squares are not handy.

Gosh, there's all sorts of possibilities available in this pattern for a quilter determined to bust even the smallest scraps in her stash...even a Victorian crazy quilt is within reach. yep, pieces of lace, yo-yo centers,stitchery,ribbons,buttons, embellishments,... the sky's the limit with this pattern.

Stash Busting Report-2011, week #3

2011-01-15T05:42:00.000-08:00

fabric in: 3 yards (backing)
fabric out: 13.32 yards
fabric in YTD: 7 yards
fabric out YTD: 22.57 yards
fabric busting goal: 275 yards

this was a good week! I got in my backing for the second Christmas quilt (now called "Christmas Row quilt")so that went in and right back out of my stash. that UFO quilt will go to the quilters soon, and be back in early February.

this week i cut out my second quilt this month using the "Butter, Charm, and Jelly" pattern, and the "Portabello Market" fabric from Moda. I decided to add an extra row to the leingth, and pulled all the fabric from my stash! As a result of some long hours in Pam's Sweat Shop, (aka the quilt room) my fabric busting totals are really getting there this month.
Only 5 more yards to go, and i will have busted almost 10% of my goal!

What's even better is that i checked this month's progress against the same week last year, and found out that I'm way ahead of where i was then.
So after i get the Portabello Market quilt top and backing sewn together and ready for the quilter, i'll start quilting on my #6 UFO for the rest of the month.

that UFO quilt is already counted from previous years of stash busting work, so i'll finish the first month of this year in the black and looking good!

Sunday Stash Report-2011, week #2

2011-01-09T05:18:00.000-08:00

fabric in: 4 yards
fabric out:6 yards
fabric in YTD: 4 yards
fabric out YTD: 12.25 yards
goal: 275 yards

this week i added in 4 yards; 2 yards each of two different greens. then i grabbed the fabric for an old Plannet Patchwork mystery quilt that i had cut out (and counted)a few years back. I wanted to get to this one last year, but time ran out.
i added in the new 4 yards, pulled and additional 2 yards out of stash for some borders, grabbed a pattern, and it's off to the races once again!

I'll be making a red and green version of "Rose Trellis" Last year's quilt was a twin size, but this red and green UFO will be close to a queen size, because the 9 patches are larger.

I did finish piecing the top and back for Luminere de Noel--the first quilt this year. that will be going to the quilter's this week, so by month's end i should have it back for binding and pics

2011 Stash Busting Report, January-week 1

2011-01-02T08:19:00.000-08:00

fabric in this week: 0
fabric out this week: 10.25 yards
fabric in YTD: 0
fabric out YTD: 10.25 yards
goal: 275 yards out for the year

I'm doing good this year and starting out right. I'll be making 2 quilts a month towards my stash busting goal.

For the month of January i'll be using the "Butter, Charm, and Jelly" pattern by Legacy patterns to make both quilts. this is one of my old stand-by patterns, and i've made several quilts with it.

the first quilt of the month will be made using the "Lumiere de Noel" fabric by French General, with a touch of "Chelsea Manor" by Bunny Hill Designs.
the second quilt this month will be made using the "Portobello Market" fabric by 3 sisters.

(pictures when i get them back from the quilter's)

End-of-year stuff

2010-12-31T12:28:00.000-08:00

today i tackled the end-of-year stuff around the place. And i got some exercize doing it, and wound up with a neater house and a cleaner garage.

The first thing i did was to check out some garage storage shelves at Lowe's. I've been meaning to get shelves for the last 3 years, so i decided,by golly, this year is it! So i ordered them online and picked them up at the store this morning.

i'm not very mechanically inclined, but i did manage to get these 2 sets of shelves together after a while. For someone who was so inclined,(my dear son-in-law, for example) it would have taken all of 10 minutes per unit. but the result is that i now have a clean, organized garage, and not a mess of various boxes and tubs. I can get to everything easily,nothing's going to tumble down unexpectedly, and everything is safe from minor flooding. YEA!

the next thing on the list is to get my bills and receipts sorted out. Earlier this year i had forgotten to go by Wal-mart and pick up an organizer like i had last year.
these are neat little file folders with 12 tabbed pockets (1 for each month)to keep bills and receipts sorted out. i finally remembered late in November (well i DID say it was late, LOL) that i needed one for this year, so i went out and got 2--one for this year and one for next year. Nothing like shopping ahead of time.

and yes, dear readers i did go online and order a new camera. it should be here sometime next week, so eventually i'll get to catch up on 2010 with some pictures of all the quilts i've made this year. I have it on good authority that some of you are positively DYING to see them, LOL, so be of good cheer, the wait won't be much longer.

and lastly, i'd like to put in a good word for a clothing company, called Serengeti.
http://www.serengeticatalog.com/

I've gotten two catelogues from them recently and the clothing is to die for. what's more they show color co-ordinated outfits and accessories that look good together, are reasonably priced, and everything comes in a wide variety of sizes.

Sunday Stash Report, week#52

2010-12-26T04:31:00.000-08:00

This is the last stash report for 2010

fabric in: 0
fabric out: 2/3 yards
fabric in YTD: 86.75 yards
fabric out YTD: 254.38 yards
net used: 167.63 yards
over goal: 67.63 yards

this is the last report for this year, and i've done well!
this last week i got the "Grammercy Stars" quilt top into one piece, and I've started piecing the "Christmas Rails" quilt. I should have that top in one piece by Wednesday of this week, which will be just in time to start and probably finish a Christmas UFO from years past.

Many years ago Planet Patchwork had a mystery quilt going using 9 patches and borders. And then they threw us a surprize by tilting and whacking those lovely 9 patches.

That's where i stopped on my original quilt. But the good thing was that i had also cut up some Christmas fabric for the same pattern, AND i have enough of it to make a Christmas quilt just like the 'Rose Trellis" quilt that i made earlier this year. So i'll have a Christmas quilt with strippy 9 patches on point, alternating with a lovely red and green print from the fabric line "Aunt Lucy's Cottage" by Blackbird designs for Moda.

And did i mention that we're getting snow, and lots of it, today and tomorrow???
YES WE ARE!! The weathermen are calling for 8-10 inches of it. It started snowing last night (Christmas)about 7 pm. And since we're in the "heavy snow belt" they don't expect the snow to let up until early Tuesday morning, which will give us 36 possible hours of snow. So far it looks like we have 3-4 inches accumulated, with no let up in sight.
So everything that can be is closed. With the exception of Pam's Quilting Studio, which will be going full blast, of course.

the picture above from 2008, shows our complex in the snow. Now just add on another 6 inches of snow and you'll be seeing what i'll be seeing.
of course this snow will also delay my getting a camera to take pics of all this Winter Wonderland, so you'll just have to be patient another week or so.

ps. forgot to add that the pond is frozen except for the very center where the fountain is. the ice is probably about 1/4 inch thick.

Sunday Stash Report week #50-#52

2010-12-18T14:04:00.000-08:00

ok, gotta admit it, i've been slacking off this week and haven't been getting my nose to the grindstone. But i got back to sewing today, and the good news is that i only have 2 more blocks to make for my "Gramercy Stars" quilt, and then i can get on with the borders. I'll probably do all that on Monday, so that by Wednesday i hope to be sewing on the "Christmas Rails" quilt that is waiting on me.

basically my numbers are the same as last week, with a net this year of 166.97 yards. Since that figure also includes the "Christmas Rails" quilt, that will probably be my total for this year, but i am determined to get the rails quilt into one solid top before the 31st.

I think this year is my best ever as far as stash busting totals go. When i started stash busting in 2008, my totals for that year were:

fabric in: 125 yards,
fabric out: 244 yards
net busted: 118 yards

so this year i busted 48 more yards of fabric than i did on my first try, and i bought considerably less than i did then too.

so the lesson here is try, try again, and keep on busting that stash!

UFO CHALLENGE LIST - 2011

2010-12-17T11:48:00.000-08:00

here's my list for the UFO 2011 Challenge:

1. "Grandmother's Flower Garden" (hanging diamond version) complete assembly

2. "Little Squares", finish piecing blocks

3. "Judy's BOM", add sashings,set in pieces,& borders. assemble blocks into a top.

4. "Blue B'day quilt", meander quilt

5. "Color-full quilt", machine quilt half of quilt (already started)

6. "Fall wall quilt",(Thimbleberries), machine quilt

7. GFG (#1)finnish hand quilting half of quilt(already have it started)

8. GFG (#1) hand quilt the other half, bind.

9. "Little Squares" (#2) sew squares together and add borders.

10. "Color-full quilt" (#5) machine quilt the other half, bind.

11. "Williamsburg Blue Dresden Plate quilt", hand quilt half

12. "Williamsburg Blue Dresden Plate quilt", hand quilt the remaining half, bind.

Kate's Christmas Quilt

2010-12-15T15:20:00.000-08:00

this blog post is brought to you thru the benificent talent of my daughter, Kate.

She and my son-in-law got their Christmas present from me today,and kindly published photos on her blog, located here:
http://icantthinkofanoriginalblogname.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-quilt-of-many-colors.htmlSo for all of you who have been positively DYING to see what i'm up to quilt-wise,
here ya go!ENJOY!

Stash Busting Report, Week #49

2010-12-12T01:39:00.000-08:00

fabric in: 2 yards, "Wild Rose" jelly roll.
fabric out: 0
fabric in YTD: 86,75 yds.
fabric out YTD: 253.72 yds.
net used: 166.97 yds.
over goal: 66.97 yds.

no new finishes this week, but progress nontheless!
Kate's quilt is back from the quilters, so i'm working on getting the binding on that. LOL, that quilt is a lapfull and then some to bind, but i'm making progress.

also made progress on the "Gramercy Stars" quilt this week. I have all the components for the 9 blocks sewn, so this next week will be dedicated to getting the blocks together and into a quilt top. With 61 pieces per block it's taking a while, but the block is 15.5 inches finished, and looks great!
I just love red, green, and white for Christmas *smile* i've had this project in the planning stages for about 2 years now, or maybe 3! It feels good to finally be making it.

I have plans for the new jelly roll, but they won't be happening till next year.
So stay tuned to this blog and keep watching for lots more lovely and exciting stash busting comming up shortly in the new year. I may even break down and get a new camera, so there could be pictures, at long last!

If you thought that the totals were good this year, hang on to your pins and needles, because next year I plan to do lots more. What I'm NOT planning on is getting another needle thru my fingernail. that nail is all grown out now, so everything is looking just fine.

And finally, thanks go out to my loyal readers and supporters. I love having your company and your comments along the way, and i read them all.

Three more weeks to bust our stash in this year, so let's get cracking and finish strong!

Stash Busting Report, week #48

2010-12-04T03:58:00.000-08:00

wow! only a few more weeks to go for this year's efforts!!Got to get cracking.

fabric in: 2 yards (layer cake) Collection for a Cause-Charity.

fabric out: 29.30 yards, total.
19.5 yards for "Christmas Rails", 2 pillow cases
10.25 yards for "Gramercy Stars", an old P&B Textiles pattern.

fabric in, YTD: 84.75 yards
fabric out,YTD: 253.72 yards

net used: 168.97 yards
over goal: 68.97 yards

I finished the top and backing for "Arrowhead" this week,(which will be hubby's new quilt) so that will go to the quilters in January.
With the addition to the original pattern of sashings,cornerstones,and a border, it measures 74 x 86.

Poor guy seems to be despirate for another bed quilt...

Him: "Can't you just take two of the throw quilts that you've already got, and sew them together down the middle?"
Me: Umm, noooo...that wouldn't work very well. (LOL)

still waiting for Kate's quilt to come back, so if anyone has some extra elves hanging around,please send them down. My quilter could use some help.

Looks like we're all set for a cold time next week with the weather. May even get some snow tonight, so I'll be out stocking up the pantry today.

Stash report, Week #47 Nov 21-27

2010-11-28T05:16:00.000-08:00

i slipped backwards a bit this week. I've got all the blocks made and will be working on the sashings and cornerstones next. I hope to get the Arrowhead quilt in one piece this next week, and then start on a new Christmas Quilt project for me.

fabric in: 16 yards of "Wild Rose" by Blackbird Designs

fabric out: 2 more yards of backing fabric for Arrowhead.

fabric in: YTD: 82.75 yards

fabric out YTD: 224.42 yards

net used: 141.67 yards

over goal: 41.67 yards

WHOOPS!

2010-11-22T06:05:00.000-08:00

Don't look now, but i just fell off the stash waggon!

got to admit that it was for some great fabric--the new Wild Rose line from Blackbird Designs. I got the new "Garden Club" book from them last week, and like it very much.
This morning i got an e-mail from Shabby Fabrics saying that Moda was ALREADY OUT of some of the fabrics in this line. EEEEEKKK! went my brain. So yep, i hurried on over there and bought up 16 yards of the stuff to make a quilt, using the pattern on page 49 of their book. this will make a great quilt to put on my bed in August or early September of next year. Besides that, it goes so nicely with my stash of "Garden Party", that it would be very easy to follow that quilt up with this new one.

I guess six weeks without buying fabric was just too much of a good thing for me.
But don't worry, i still have the rest of the week to use up some more stash. and with three more quilts to make this year, that should take care of my temporary lapse in good stash management techniques, LOL.

Stash Busting report, week #46

2010-11-20T16:50:00.000-08:00

fabric in: 0
fabric out: 3.5 yards for borders for the Arrowhead quilt.
fabric in YTD: 66.75 yards
fabric out YTD: 222.42 yards
net used: 156.67 yards
over goal: 56.67 yards

I got Kate's monster quilt to the quilter's this week, so i'll be holding my breath until i pick it up on Dec 7. it's probably the biggest one i've ever made at 100 x 100 inches, so i'm hoping that it comes out ok.

for my fabric out i decided to go ahead and add borders to my Arrowhead quilt to get it up to size. I have half the blocks made so far, so if things go according to plan (remind me again the last time that they did that???) I hope to have this quilt top finished by next weekend. I'm really liking how it's comming out. I think this is one quilt that would look well in almost any fabric, so long as there is good contrast.
Our leaves have turned here, finally, and this was the peak week for color in our area. Reminds me of growing up in Southern CA, when we would have great leaves for Thanksgiving. We're expecting rain this comming Thursday, but at least we had the colorful leaves to enjoy this week.

Stash Busting, Week #43

2010-11-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

Stash Busting Report:

fabric in: 2 yards
fabric out: 2 yards (that was quick!)
fabric in YTD: 66.75 yards
fabric out YTD: 219.42 yards
net used: 152.67 yards
over goal: +52.67 yards

some bright little bee will notice that my rotery cutter has been silent this week,
but that's because it takes a little while longer to make a king sized quilt than it does to make a twin. LOL. never fear, I think I'll have the trusty rotery cutter back in business by next weekend.

worked on Kate's Christmas Quilt (Glace fabric) and got all thirty-six 9 patches made, and the sashings and cornerstones are almost done. I've started putting rows together, and will start adding borders on Tuesday.
The Arrowhead quilt is on hold until i get this one done, and then I'll get back to that one, which should go quickly. I made one test block and it looks great!

I got 3 quilts back from the quilter on Tuesday, and will get busy sewing on the binding for those during the remaining weekends in November. They look good, and Nightfall sleeps like a dream!

I got another large tote this weekend, and went thru cleaning out 2 drawers of scraps. Now my old calico fabrics are folded and separated by color in the new tub. It looks like i've got enough to make another string top from them.
Just 2 more stuffed-to-the-gills scrap drawers to go thru and lots of strips to cut. someday i'll have my scraps organized...but that's a project for another year---like maybe 2012!
I'll probably save my hand quilting for then too. I have 4 tops earmarked for that.

i can't wait until i get my stash whittled down to just the scraps! FREEDOM!

Stash Report, week #42

2010-10-29T06:05:00.000-07:00

yes folks, here it is---the final count down is on!
After this report there's only 9 more weeks left to stash bust in 2010.
So how are you going to bust more stash???

fabric in: 0
fabric out: 26.20 yards
fabric in YTD: 64.75 yards
fabric out YTD: 217.42 yards
net used: 152.67 yards
yards over goal: +52.67 yards

this week i valliantly resisted poking buttons (but just barely--YIKES!)
i used 6 yards for the backing for "Arrowhead", and cut out Kate's "Christmas Redeaux" quilt using Judy's "Note to Self" pattern, which will take 20.20 yards.(enlarged to king size)

if you'll recall last year i made her a Christmas quilt which got messed up at the quilter's. So no Christmas quilt from me last year for Kate. :-(
But i'm trying again this year, so we'll see how it goes.
The fabric I'm using is from last year's 'Glace' line. It's amazing how much of this line is still left in the shops--lucky me!

This Sunday I'll put the binding on "Nightfall" (the Civil War repro quilt) and then it goes on my bed!

Stash busting report, week #41

2010-10-23T06:43:00.000-07:00

fabric in: 2 yards
fabric out: 24.33 yards
fabric in YTD: 64.75 yards
fabric out YTD: 191.22 yards
Net used: 126.47 yards
yards over goal: +26.47 yards

this week i'll put the binding on John's quilt, and sew up the pillowcases.

I have my next quilt, "Arrowhead", all cut out and ready to start sewing on Monday. for this quilt i used 2 layer cakes of "Louisa" by Terry Clothier Thompson for Moda. the pattern is "Anita's Arrowhead" from the Nov/Dec issue of 'Quiltmaker" magazine, page 16. I was intreagued by the sewing technique and liked the pattern, so this should be an interesting quilt to make.

Also used and counted this week this week are the 10 yards of border, backing and binding for the Hourglass quilt, which will go to the quilters in November. And last, but not least are two pillowcases to go with John's quilt.

I've counted up, and i'll be making 3 more quilts this year after the Arrowhead. the assembly of those should take me to the 3rd week in November, and then i'll probably take a break from quilting to clean house, and do all the baking and decorating and shopping for Christmas. Maybe i'll come close to doubling my goal this year for fabric busting, especially if i sneak in one more quilt after the three i have planned.

Can i make it to 200 yards busted?????? we'll see!

checking in, mid-week

2010-10-20T16:53:00.000-07:00

many thanks to all who left encouraging comments and congrats for me reaching my stash-busting goal. you guys are the best!
I'm still on a roll here, with plans to bust another 20+ yards later this week.

As i write this,I'm mid-way into putting together an hour glass quilt using Brannock & Pateck's "Rememberance" fabric from Moda. After fiddling with the block setting i decided to use an "on=point" setting. I almost have the two halves of the top pieced and ready to sew together. just a few more blocks and setting triangles to go, and then I'll be cutting the borders and sewing together the backing.

John's Christmas quilt is home from the quilters, so i'll be parked in front of the TV this weekend sewing the binding on. I sent two more quilt tops out to be quilted this week, and two more will go out the following week. Slowly but surely i'm getting caught up with my stash of un-quilted tops.

Stash Busting Week # 41

2010-10-14T12:12:00.001-07:00

yes, i know i'm early, but i figured that i'd better put down my numbers and add them up while i was thinking about it.
I'm glad i did, because i made my net fabric busting goal for the year this week. YEAAAAA!!! So everything from now on will be pure gravy.

Fabric in: 0
Fabric out: 30.25 yards YEE HAW!!!
Fabric in YTD: 62.75 yards
Fabric out YTD: 166.89 yards
Net used: 104.14 yards.

the fabric out was the layer cake and jelly roll that came in last week, 2 fat quarters, 1 quilt backing, and 1 quilt top and backing. i pieced the star top and backing this week that i was going to make at a quilting retreat last weekend, but i didn't go because i was still recouping from being sick.
The pattern is called "Star Fabulous",so that's ready to go to the quilters.

While i was finishing up the star top i was watching the great movie, "Cold Mountain". The top is kind of scrappy and i thought it would look right at home on
the movie set, so I'm calling the quilt "Ruby With The Eyes That Sparkle", LOL (stars in her eyes, etc...)

Stash Report, week #40

2010-10-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

Fabric in: 8 3/4yards
Fabric out: 29.07 yards (YE-HAW!)
Fabric in YTD: 62.75 yards
Fabric out YTD: 136.64 yards
net used: 73.89 yards

this is a catch-up posting because life happens---continually it would seem!

well i think i've got my mojo back, stash-busting-wise at least.

the fabric in was 3.5 yards for borders, 1 jelly roll, and 1 layer cake.
the fabric out was for 2 borders, 3 backings, and one new top. So now i have 4 bed quilts, and 2 couch quilts ready to go to the quilter in the next two weeks.

I counted up this week, and i now have.............wait for it..............
ELEVEN bed quilts all finnished that i can sleep under!
The long-term goal is more than that (of course!)but i'm getting there.

We've had a little bit of rain.....

2010-09-30T09:49:00.000-07:00

once again we are the proud owners of lakefront property...or at least we would be if we lived on the lakeside, LOL.
see the accompanying news article here:
http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/news/story/38110/tropical-rainstorm-nicole-unle.asp

it's not too often that the lake in our complex gets so full that it overflows it's banks. in fact this is only the second time in 7 years that it's done so. But as of noontime today, the usual walking pathway around the lake is under about an inch of water. we've gotten about 5 + inches of rain so far today, and probably about 3+ inches yesterday and into last night. Expectations were for about 10 inches total out of this storm, so we're right on track with more to come.

the fish in the lake were so happy that they were jumping, and the ducks just crowded around the perimiter. Nope, not setting one webbed foot into that growing lake. Not till it settles down at least.

fortunately our drainage here is exceptional, so our roads in the complex are not flooded.

Stashbusting Report, Week 38

2010-09-26T05:03:00.000-07:00

this week's numbers are the same as last week, but sometimes life just has a way of happening.

Fabric in: 0
Fabric out: 0
Fabric in YTD: 54 yards
Fabric out YTD: 107.57 yards
Net used: 53.57 yards

this week i pulled 5 yards out of stash for a quilt backing and ordered 2 more yards to add to it. I'll count all that probably in next few week's totals when i sew it up, and send the next quilt out for quilting.

this week i put the binding on my "Heritage" quilt and slept under it all week. It feels so nice! The weather here is FINALY breaking, and we are supposed to get periodic rain showers all weeek long---wonderful and much-needed rain! a great incentive to get back to quilting.

no quilting got done this week because life has a way of happening.
My long-awaited lap top computer got here this week. i unpacked it, tried it out for two days, faced the fact that i didn't like(read: was inept at using)the built-in mouse, and packed the whole thing back up and shipped it back to the company. maybe someone else can use it successfully, but that someone wasn't me.
Oddly enough,after waiting and anticipating for months to get the thing, it felt very good indeed to have it out of here---almost like things had gotten back to normal!

Hubby has given me a different mouse that he had from Logitech (to replace my mouse which is slowly dying)to try with my old computer, so i'll get that installed this afternoon.

Sunday Stash Report, Week #37

2010-09-19T04:31:00.000-07:00

Still slowly plugging away at those square in a square blocks, but the end is in sight.
This comming week, "Nightfall",http://theeggheadscoop.blogspot.com/2008/09/its-flimsy.html will go to the quilters (two years from the date it was made) and I'll get back the "Nine Patch Stacked Posey" quilt. Slowly but surely i'm catching up with these old quilts!

Fabric in: 4 yards for "Note to Self" borders and binding,and "Nightfall" backing.
Fabric out: 5.5 yards for "Nightfall backing"
Fabric in YTD: 53 yards
Fabric out YTD: 107.57 yards
Net used: 50.17 yards

next week (hopefully!) my numbers should take a big jump as i cut out 2 of the "Note to Self" quilts. One will be close to a king size,using fabric from last year's "Glace",(I can hardly wait!) and the other one a flannel twin, using some lucious pastel Bunny Hill flannel that I've been saving up.

Stash Report, Week #36

2010-09-12T06:45:00.000-07:00

fabric in this week: 0
fabric out this week: 4.64 yards for a pieced border (Judy would be proud!)
fabric in YTD: 47 yards
fabric out YTD: 96.67 yards
net used: 49.67 yards

progress continues....got the latest quilt (Kashmir) back from the quilters and finnished the binding yesterday while watching tennis, so it's on my bed now. Next up to be bound is "The Hamptons" which will be for DH. I brought it home from the quilters and spread it over his bed to show him. He took one look and said, "MINE!" so his it will be, LOL.

Stashbusting thoughts

2010-09-06T16:04:00.000-07:00

i knew there was a good reason to clean out and organize my quilting stash...

Judy is starting a new encouragement technique over on her blog
(click on her blog button, Patchwork times,to the left.)
we're going to be posting pics of our stash each month to see how lean it's getting.

so to give myself a starting point (and since i don't have a working camera yet) i counted my totes and drawers of quilt fabric that i have planned to make into quilts.....and if i make 2 quilts a month for the next two years i will deplete all but my scraps!

now that's a nice goal to have! So by this time next year i should have depleated my stash by half.

How much fabric is that? who knows now....but by this time next year i'll be able to tell you!

Stash report, Week #35

2010-09-05T06:24:00.000-07:00

not a lot of sewing done this week, but there's still progress being made.

Fabric in: 0
Fabric out: 0
fabric in YTD: 47 yards
Fabric out YTD: 92.03 yards
Net used: 45.03 yards

I took a page out of Judy's book yesterday and did some major cleaning and re-arranging of my quilt room/bedroom. the only things that didn't get moved were the bed,the cutting table,and the 4 single wide units filled with 16 quilt projects in the corner of the front wall,LOL.

the 6 ft table in the middle of the room that used to hold my quilting frame was moved to front the wall with two tall windows,(lots of natural light!) and became my new sewing table. Since being diagnosed with the arthritis in my spine i now send out my bed quilts to be quilted by an excellent quilter, so the quilting frame was dismantled and is being stored in the garage.

All the plastic totes of quilt projects that used to be beneath the quilting frame have been stacked against the side wall, which freed up lots of floor space. all the totes are facing out and fronted with the various quilt patterns, so i can easily see what i want to work on next.

the double wide 3 drawer sets have also been stacked 2 high against this same side wall, and filled with quilt tops that need to be quilted. The quilt batts sit on top of these.

and last on that same wall i have two single wide plastic units that both have thick wooden tops. these serve a double purpose; they hold 3 more quilt projects each, and the tops serve as a bedside table and a table for my laptop computer. the phone jack is right behind one of the units for easy reach, and i'll have good light from my bedside lamp.

I did get one more side of the Kashmir quilt binding sewn on, and have one more side to sew down today. then it will go on my bed for a week until the next quilt comes home from the quilters to be bound.

it was a good morning's workout,and then some, but i gained some floor space and real organization from it.

Hurricane Earl update

2010-09-03T05:09:00.001-07:00

at 8 am this morning, the winds have picked up to a steady 12 mph from the NE with gusts from the NW to about 25 mph. very little rain so far. there seems to be two major bands (yellow) with this hurricane, and the rest is slight rain. one rain band has already come thru, and the second is due in a few minutes. newscasters say that the major stuff should be out of here by 10 am with clear skies this afternoon and evening.

Rt 12 in NC is still closed.

Reporting on Earl

2010-09-03T00:03:00.000-07:00

It's 3am here. Temp is at 78 degrees with 87 percent humidity outside...air you can cut with a knife. winds are light but steady at 9mph, and no rain yet.
Tree frogs are loving it!

Earl has taken a slight Eastward bend and is now sending wind and rain bands @40 mph into Hataress with 6inches of overwash on hwy 12. it is still on track to hit Cape Cod late tomorrow afternoon, but expected winds there have been downgraded to 100mph from the North.

So Do We, or Don't We ?

2010-08-31T15:38:00.000-07:00

...get a passing glance of Hurricane Earl, that is.
The weathermen are divided and hedging their bets at this hour. Some say 30-50 MPH wind and a bit of rain, others say not even that much.

irregardless, i stocked up on my supplies today, just to be safe. And i found some new goodies in the grocery store. StarKist now has ready-made albacore tuna salad in a blue pouch. Just zip open,squeeze out onto your bread, and you've got lunch! Since it has a long shelf life (till 7/28/12) it's a good bet for a hurricane staple.

next up we have White House applesauce cups. With a shelf life of 01/20/12, it's another good bet. you can eat healthy and tickle your sweet tooth at the same time.

and last but not least, we have Gilliam's Old Fashioned Licorice Candy
Drops ("Quality candy since 1927"). Ah! this must be how the moms with a dozen hungry kids got thru the depression! And yes, they also come in other flavors.
with a shelf life till 09/23/12, it's good for what ails you and also keeps the kids occupied.

and with some brand new batteries in the old boom box, all i need now is the long-ago sound of Garrison Keeler's tales of Lake Woebegone to come wafting over the radio waves, and commercials for Powdermilk Biscuits. Yummmm!

Who says a Cat 4 hurricane, complete with flashlight wars and no electricity, can't be entertaining????

Stash Report, Week #34

2010-08-29T04:32:00.000-07:00

once again there is some progress work-wise, but not number-wise. I did order 1.5 yards of material to make a gift bag for the quilt I'm working on, so that won't be counted out for a few weeks yet.

Fabric in: 1.5 yards
Fabric out: 0
Fabric in YTD: 47 yards
Fabric out YTD: 92.03 yards
Net Used: 45.03 yards

and on the fun side yesterday i went to the 2nd anniversary celebration of our local quilt store. I got to see an Accu-cut GO cutter demonstration and signed up for that give-away, also signed up for a sewing machine give-away, and the door prizes, (natch). More importantly i got to see and feel the fabric being used in the shop's next BOM, starting in January. It's the centennial quilt shown here:
http://www.baumtextile.com/cgi-bin/fabricshop/gallery.cgi?Category=463

Pics of the fabric don't do it justice--it is MUCH prettier in person, and the details are amazing.

Stash Report, week #33

2010-08-22T04:25:00.000-07:00

well, i bit off more than i could chew, putting it mildly, LOL

I had great plans for mucho fabric busting, but only a little bit of it happened, and i did mucho seam ripping instead! But thru it all i did make some progress, which is what the game is all about.

I did get all of my HST pairs (the claws of the bear paw)sewn together and pressed, and started working on the opposite side of the paw...2 HST's and a blank square. Unfortunately i tried to do that while running back and forth to watch TV, hence the ripping part of this week's sewing. At least i know where i'm going with all of this activity.

Fabric in this week: 0
Fabric out this week: 2.7 yards (claws and binding)
Fabric in YTD: 45.5 yards
Fabric out YTD: 92.03 yards
Net used: 46.53 yards

Sewing along

2010-08-19T04:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was spent working on the HST's again, and prepping for today's work. Hopefully i'll get everything done to them by the end of today. that includes sewing together pairs and trios,sewing them to the center patches, and sewing on the sashing strips to the squares. Assembly of the 100 bear paw blocks into 25 quilt blocks will be saved for Friday when i only have a half day to sew. that will leave Saturday for the cutting spree and hand sewing on the binding for the "Kashmir" quilt. If i can get everything planned for Saturday done, then on Sunday i can finally catch up with the 4 pillow cases.

if i get all this done, then on Monday and Tuesday i can work on cutting and sewing the outer borders of John's quilt. Possibly easier said than done, as the borders consist of 2 1/2 inch squares....lots of them! i just may have a top together by Friday next. We'll see!

Day 2 of the Sweat Shop

2010-08-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

...and with today's heat and humidity it really was a sweat shop. LOL.

i was right yesterday, today was spent tearing the paper off the HST's and pressing them. Now that's definitely mindless work if there ever was such a thing, so to keep my mind occupied while working thru stack after stack of HST's I thought back to my University days....Penny University, that is!

Penny University was a folk singing club way back in the 70's. it got it's name because the coffee was a penny a cup, and it was just down the road from the local Jr College. Anyone who had a guitar or a banjo could get up on stage and do a 30-45 minute set just for the experience. Gosh there was a lot of great talent back then!

Anyway, one of those mindless songs that was sung was called "Liza and Henry". it was a dialogue song between a married couple with little between them except a certain old bucket...and it goes like this.

Henry: There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza.
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole.

Liza: Well fix it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
well fix it, dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it.

Henry: But how shall i fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza.
But how shall i fix it, dear Liza, how?

Liza: With straw, dear Henry, etc, etc.
With straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, with straw.

Henry: But how shall I cut it, dear Liza, etc.
But how shall I cut it, dear Liza, how?

Liza: With a knife, dear Henry, etc.
With a knife, dear Henry, dear Henry with a knife.

(by now everyone is laughing)

Henry: But the knife is too dull, dear Liza, etc.
But the knife is too dull, dear Liza, too dull!

Liza: (who by this time is getting a little upset with dear Henry)
Well, sharpen it, dear Henry, etc.
Well, sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, sharpen it.

Patient Henry: But how shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, etc.
But how shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, how?

Liza: With the stone, dear Henry, etc.
With the stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, with the stone.

Henry: But the stone is too dry, dear Liza, etc.
But the stone is too dry, dear Liza, too dry.

Exasperated Liza: Well wet it, dear Henry,etc.
Well wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, wet it.

Henry: With what shall i wet it, dear Liza, etc.
With what shall i wet it, dear Liza, with what?

Liza (on her last nerve) With water, dear Henry, etc.
With water, dear Henry, dear Henry, with water.

Henry (with a gleem in his eye) But how shall i fetch it, dear Liza,etc.
But how shall i fetch it, dear Liza, how?

Liza: With the bucket, dear Henry, etc.
With the bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, with the bucket!

(long pause)

Henry: But Liza...(everyone sings) There's a hole in the bucket dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, A HOLE!

500 HST's later....

2010-08-16T16:19:00.000-07:00

well i did it. i wasn't sure i could but i really did make 500 HST's today.

it was a bit mind numbing, (witness more than one strip set with two Thangles sheets pinned together instead of just one)but i actually sat and sewed 500 HST's today.

I have about 175 of them all pressed and i'm gradually tearing the paper off the remaining ones and stacking them in piles of 20. Tomorrow is stacking and pressing day, and that's probably as far as i'll get with them. I hope to start the "pin two together/sew" assembly line on Wednesday. if i'm really ambitious i'll also press, but i'm guessing that will be a job for Thursday, along with cutting the center block sashings.

with a lot of luck i might have a completed set of 25 Bear's Paw blocks by Friday which is good, because that leaves Saturday for cutting out the 25 yards of two quilts that i PROMISED i would do before Sunday's report.

yep, i think Pam's Sweat Shop is back in working order! LOL

Stash Report, week #33

2010-08-15T04:17:00.000-07:00

I've been fairly good recently, only adding fabric that i know will be used. this week i added one Glace' layer cake for a special project comming up next. The layer cake added 2.75 yards to my working stash, so that's the addition to 'fabric in" this week.

Fabric in: 2.75 yards
Fabric out: 2 1/3 yards.
Additional backing for "The Hamptons",and more strips for HST's.

fabric in YTD: 45.5 yards
fabric out YTD: 89.33 yards

net used: 43.83 yards

I'm still sewing the binding on "Farmers Market". 2 sides down, 2 to go! This week my quilt "The Hamptons" will go to the quilters and i'll pick up "Kashmir". I prepped my strips for 500 HST's for John's quilt, and I'll be making those this week.

I also hope to have the time to cut a new kit using the pattern "Apple Crisp" from page 94 of AP&Q October 2010 issue. I have some (lots of!) flannel fabric that has been sitting for over a year now, just waiting to be made up. the quilt takes 12.5 yards of fabric, so it will make a good bust. I also have more (lots more!)flannel from Bunny Hill also waiting to be made up, so if i get really energetic i just might cut two kits this week.

Can i bust 25 yards in a week???? we'll see.........

Stash report, week #32

2010-08-08T05:07:00.000-07:00

well i made some progress this week!

fabric in this week: 0 (still waiting for some orders to show up)
fabric out this week: 15 yards
fabric in YTD: 43.25 yards
fabric out YTD: 87 yards
net used: 44 yards 25 inches.

the fabric used included 17 oatmeal strips for HST'S, and fabric i started cutting for John's quilt. also i pieced the pink backing for "Kashmir" and cut 2 pillow cases, and binding. still have fabric, borders, and backing to cut for John's quilt.
"Kashmir" will go to the quilter's next Tuesday, and "Farmer's Market" will come home all quilted and ready for the binding. Thank you again, Vicky & Penny for a great veggie tower. (huggs)

And i've finally got more fabric for the net total than i've added this year, so things should go better from now on if i can keep my nose to the grindstone (and stop poking buttons)!

And here we go again!

2010-08-05T07:58:00.000-07:00

yep, it looks like we are in for round two of the thermometer-busting temps.
today's forecast is for a high of 101 degrees, with an apparent temp of 109.
time to stay inside and finnish the binding of Antique Thimbles.

usually when i bind a quilt i park myself in front of the TV and put in some great movies while the quilt in my lap keeps me warm. But with the heat of Summer upon us I've found a new place to bind my quilts. I unfold my cutting table, pull up a tall office chair, throw the quilt onto the table and bind away. It has the advantage of keeping the hot quilt off my lap, keeping me cool, and keeping the quilt fully supported and off the floor at the same time. if you have one, a kitchen table works just as well for a cool binding place.

and now with two sides already bound, i'm off to get this baby all sewed up so it can go on my bed tonight. I can't decide bwtween using the top or the reverse side first, but i'll probably opt for the top just because....although the reverse is just as nice.....oh, decisions, decisions!! LOL.

Someone blew the top off the thermometer!

2010-07-25T15:24:00.000-07:00

...and it wasn't me!

yep, for the second day in a row our day time temp has gotten up to 103 degrees.
and now at 6:30 pm it's still 100 degrees outside. folks, we just don't usually get temps like this around here. I knew that this was gonna be a hot Summer, but we aren't even into August yet.

How much higher will the thermometer climb this year? Stay tuned to this channel for the latest weather and wilting reports!

More catching up! (Sunday report revised)

2010-07-25T04:49:00.000-07:00

after looking at Judy's report i noticed that she reported a figure for the fabric used this year as well as the net fabric used----and i realized that i hadn't been doing that!

so i went back thru all my notes (jumbled as they are) and found out that i'm better off than i thought i was.YEA!!!

fabric in year to date: 42.75 yards
fabric used year to date: 72 yards
net fabric used: 29.25 yards (now that sounds a whole lot better!)

Stash Report Week #30

2010-07-25T03:56:00.000-07:00

Very soon now I'm going back to busting fabric which will be a good thing for my numbers, but first i have to catch up on all my curent projects and get them finnished.

Fabric in this week: 5.75 yards.... 1 roll of oatmeal strips (boy do these come in handy!) and 3 yards of champaign dots.

Fabric out this week: 6.75 yards...quilt backing for Antique Thimble, 2 pillow cases.

Fabric in this year: 39.25 yards
Fabric out this year: 12.25 yards (still in the black!)

I worked hard the past two days catching up on the Fruit & Veggie quilt, and went thru 340 2 inch squares. But the good part is that i now have only two more fruit/veggie strips to sew together, and then i get to press all the seams (!!!) and sew the top into one piece. this quilt will wind up being about 63 x 80 (final measurements still to come).

But i'm saving the good news for last, because i'm using up almost every inch of that nice tower of fruit and veggies that Vicky (LA Quilter) sent me! I'm cutting two 10.5 inch squares of each fabric to sew together for the backing, and making strips for the quilt binding.
This is going to be a colorful quilt!

Break out the Eggs!

2010-07-22T16:37:00.000-07:00

and the spatula, and grab your favorite slice of pavement because---you guessed it---it's outdoor egg-frying time!

with daytime temps hovering in the upper 90's in our neck of the woods, and Saturday's temp threatening to top out at 100 degrees, we're sure to find a local news crew trying to fry an egg somewhere in our area.LOL

now on to the good news. Got the Antique Thimble quilt top all assembled and bagged up, ready to tote to the local quilt shop for quilting today. Also picked up my first quilt from them ("Beach House", with the Moda fabric) and brought it home with me. A very nice quilting job well done and reasonably priced, so i've finally found a good local quilter to finnish my quilts! YEA!! So now will begin a series of weekly trips to the quilt shop to pick up and drop off my quilts...followed by lots of binding sessions. Just call me the "Binding Queen", LOL. and yes, i promise to get a new camera and take pics.Soon!

I sewed the binding on the new quilt this afternoon, and will handsew it down tomorrow. Hopefully i'll get that job done so i can sleep under it tomorrow night, but it might be a two day job. What a night to break in a new quilt on the hottest night of the year!LOL (that's either called dedication or stupidity, depending on whether or not you're a quilter.)

Stash Report, Week #29

2010-07-18T05:59:00.000-07:00

Where has the week gone!

this week's plans got inturrupted by an appointment for a baseline bone density scan for me.
It was entertaining and interesting with some positive results and lots of information, but it surely didn't help my quilting numbers this week.

yards in this week: 10 yards (FQ tower of "Summer's End" by Kansas Troubles Quilters for Moda). Lots of lovely colors in this one, which will be a Christmas gift quilt for someone in the family.

yards out this week: 5.5 yards (much more intended, though. just didn't happen)

yards in this year: 33.5 yards (all necesary, but i'm not liking the total)

yards out this year: 11.25

still in the positive, but i really have to make some progress! hope to catch up next week and have some better output to report.

Antique Thimbles Quilt

2010-07-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

Well, the quilt is comming along... i got four rows put together yesterday and have 6 more rows pinned together ready to sew today. last night i prepped two pillowcases for this quilt, and i might be able to get two more to match the back of the quilt.
(but i'll cut my backing and sew that first, because it's more important to have a backing than to have two more pillowcases, hehehe)

the renewal of the parking lot here is comming along nicely, but the guys who are outside doing the work and swetting it out surely have my sympathy! Right now it's 90 degrees with a 'feels like' index of 100. One thing is for certain---they're getting a nice tan while getting paid for it!

and on to another topic---family history! I've been working on mine for a long time now and have traced my ancestors back for several generations and centuries. Had another breakthru today which made me feel good.

kinda makes me wonder how they ever got along without dating services back then, ROTFLOL. (but of course, i forgot---back then they had the courtiers and servants to do all the running around for them!)

the fruit and veggie quilt

2010-07-14T03:33:00.000-07:00

for those who asked, here is the latest installment of instructions for the weekly internet quilt i'm making from Vicky's fruit and veggie fat quarters. I think it's a fun quilt to make as well as very interesting to watch while it comes to fruition.
http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2010/07/quilt-along-week-6.html

now about that backing fabric....

2010-07-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

I was shopping (yes, i know i shouldn't) at Thousands of Bolts and ran across this luscious fabric on sale, that will go wonderfully well for a backing on my "Antique Thimble" quilt.

the note on the salvage reads "Inspired by a quilt from the International Quilt Study Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, designed by Kathy Hall with Jo Morton for Andover Fabrics, Inc. Patt #4101."

this fabric is in 4 shades of navy blue, 2 shades of teal, medium tan and oyster white. the main pattern is one of a vertical striped flower basket filled with leaves and lilly blossoms and what could be crocosmia. all of these (flowers and basket) are picotaged with small white dots. the background is thin blue strips (again picotaged with the white dots) against an oyster white and grunge tan. Again, it's an amazing piece of fabric, so i got enough of it to make a pieced backing so that the quilt will be reversable, and a pillow case if there's enough fabric left.

right now i have no idea what quilting design i will use, but i'm getting ahead of myself. better get the top sewn into one piece first! LOL

Stash report, week # 28

2010-07-08T15:28:00.000-07:00

there will be some 'catch-up' reporting this week, and that's my excuse, hehehe.

yards in this week: 20 yards
yards out this week: 8.5 yards
yards in this year: 23.5 yards
yards out this year: 16 yards

now about that 20 yards....in checking back i see that i forgot to report when they came in, so i included the 24 FQ's for my "Antique Thimble" quilt as well as the backing fabric to go with it----10 yards of some luscious stuff (more about that later!) and 4 yards for pillowcases. So all that set me back a bit, but still on the plus side.

the best news is that i FINALLY finnished my Beach House top UFO,(after 3 tries). well i couldn't help myself, actually. those 12 sawtooth stars kept on calling me to get a move on. So what started as a small quilt wound up to be a twin size Summer quilt which will be all for me! (and yes, when i get a new camera i promise i'll put up a pic.)

meanwhile i am still working away on my online weekly quilt project using the fruit and vegie FQ's that Vickey so nicely donated to me. this quilt is gonna be fantastic!
All the little 2.5 inch squares of fruit and veggies are behaving well and shining like the jewels that they are. I'm going to use the rest of the FQ's as backing fabric. three more weeklky segments to go on that project, and then it will be a top.

and tomorrow i start sewing those Antique Thimbles together.

So what's cookin'?

2010-07-04T10:41:00.000-07:00

Oh how i love cooking for Holidays! So since it's the 4th today i figured that lots of the traditional stuff would appear on the table. So we're having....

fried chicken, potato salad, deviled eggs, sliced tomatoes with guacamole, pasta salad, and pound cake with strawberies and cool whip for desert.YUM!

HAPPY 4TH EVERYONE!!!!!

Lilies, second edition

2010-07-03T17:11:00.000-07:00

yep my second round of lilies are blooming. These are new ones for me, as i'm used to growing the early blooming "Easter" lilies, which actually bloom about Father's day or just before. the second rounders are the orientals which look different alltogether.

the plants are tall, the stems look more like orchids, and the leaves are fat and oval, and are widely spaced on the stem. Everything shoots up from the bulb, and then the lily buds fan out on their own short stems at the crown of the plant. And yes, they need staking. I put in 18 inch stakes on mine, and they grew to 3 ft tall for their first year. one plant has 3 blooms and the other one has 2. but even with just those few blooms i can go out on the porch and smell the spicy clove scent. the flowers themselves are quite large,8 inches across and 4 inches deep. they stand 36 inches high.

now what do they look like? this was the closest i could find on the web, since my camera is still on the fritz. http://www.lilybulb.com/l9006.html

they are definitely beautiful, and i would have an armload of them if i had the space to do so.

Stash Report, Week #25

2010-06-27T14:53:00.000-07:00

not a lot to report this week. tennis at Wimbledon was on as well as the world soccer cup from Africa, so that meant long hours in front of the TV and few hours quilting this week. But in spite of that i finally managed to get my Kashmir IV top into one piece. laid it out on the bed and it looks pretty good.

never one to let the quilting dust bunnies grow, i immediately got out more material to cut for another quilt. this one is made from a group of 24 FQ's by Sara Morgan (called "Sara's Blues")of Blue Hill fabric. great fabrics in tan, brown,and indigo blue. I'm making this quilt using a large tumbler pattern,(called "Antique Thimble" from Temecula Quilt Company, www.temeculaquiltco.com).

the prints in the picture of the quilt are similar to the fabrics that i'll be useing, so the prints will be showcased nicely. not sure yet whether i'll square off the sides or leave them as is and bind. the tumbler has a forgiving side angle, so i don't anticipate having any trouble with the corners in binding it. I'm making my quilt larger than the pattern called for, so i'm cuting more fabric.

and as if that isn't enough i also have an ongoing project dealing with some fruity fabric and lots of strips. So between the two projects i should be prety busy for the next few weeks.

yards in this week: 0
yards out this week: 11 yards (24 FQ's, + 5 yards backing)
yards in for the year: 3.5
yards out for the year: 31 yards

And the Heat Goes On...

2010-06-23T04:27:00.000-07:00

yep, we're looking at temps in the upper 90's to 100's for the next three days.
the weathermen say that we just might get some rain tonight, so we'll have to wait and see.

meanwhile everyone who can is doing their outdoor thing early. even the mailman had all the mail up here by 11:30 am yesterday, and i imagine that he'll be out early again for the rest of the week. Can't say that i blame him!

I just picked up the new issue of Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting mag at the store yesterday, and there's a georgeous blue and yellow quilt on the cover,"Blue Boquet". I also found two other quilts that i like, "Nothing But Triangles", and "Scrap Happy", so this issue is a good value for the money.

hot, hot, HOT!

2010-06-19T04:17:00.000-07:00

Looks like our temps will spike this weekend. the weatherman is calling for temps in the mid to upper 90's for both days, so my plans are to stay inside as much as possible. The corn in the local farmer's fields looks tall, strong, and beautiful, and is just beginning to top out this week, so it will love the hot weather.

My faithful amaryllis is blooming again on the porch. Just two blooms this year but they are beautiful. And my how the baby amaryllis has grown! She's got 6 big, strapping leaves this Summer,(so far)is as big now as her mamma, and will probably be blooming next year.

this week i've been diligently sewing (for a change). I've got 20 quilt blocks made, pressed, and squared up. they're ready to sew into a top, so that will be my project for today. The fabric is Kashmir IV (all beautiful pastells) and I've teamed it with a cream on cream colored mini polka dot. the dots have there own lustre, so when they catch the light they pop right out, almost like fairy dust. A very subtle quilt, but it should be pretty in it's own right.

So What was in the Package????

2010-06-05T06:56:00.000-07:00

Well i valiantly restrained myself this morning from opening the package at 12:01am, LOL
i waited until Hubby was up, and then i daintily unwrapped (read 'ripped open") the box to find.............

a layer cake of the new Bella warm pastel solids fabric!
Knowing that these were the basic colors of the Fig Tree Quilt Company, i ran to the Fat Quarter website and ordered a layer cake of "Fresh Cottons" and some matching backing fabric.

I already own the perfect pattern for this quilt, a large sized "X Rated" pattern from Schnibbles (on the cover of her latest book). So this will be the next quilt on my list to make.

thanks again to my darling daughter and son-in-law, who always choose the right presents. Aren't they talented?????

Birthday Present

2010-06-04T05:27:00.000-07:00

My darling daughter has found the perfect place to shop for my birthday...http://www.fatquartershop.com/ They do a great job wrapping special packages.
In this pic is a box wrapped in Moda paper, a nice red bow, and a cute gift tag.

and tomorrow i get to unwrap it! So this post will be continued..........

Rain, lovely Rain!

2010-05-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

this week weather-wise we are in store for lots of rainy days.

We started off yesterday with rain most of the day (and night).We got about 3/4 of an inch of rain total.
we follow that today with a slight break in the rain about 7 am, followed by more rain. We're expecting more than an inch today.

the ducks are deliriously happy as you can imagine. the lake level has risen about 6 inches and has another 6 inches to get to the absolute top before it begins to spill over it's banks.
today we have a 90 per cent chance of rain, followed by a 40 per cent chance tonight.

then we have three days of sun, followed by three more days of rain.

the good thing about all of this is two-fold. First the apartments won't have to turn on the sprinklers for a while, and second the grass is beginning to turn green again! Oh, and did i say that the ducks love the weather? LOL.

Do you share a refridgerator?

2010-05-14T03:51:00.000-07:00

I do, and it shows! what we really need is a pair of "his and hers" refridgerators.

but lacking the space for that, here's what's in my side of the fridge:

1 loaf of lite white bread, 40 cal. per slice.
eggs, jumbo size
10 bottled waters, 16.10 oz each
one tub of homemade chicken salad with chicken, carrots, celery, lite mayo
smart balance heart rite light butter
1/2 loaf pan of homemade meatloaf with 90% beef,lite white bread crumbs, egg, ketchup
chicken dressing, chicken gravy, roast chicken (leftovers)
yoplait delights yoghurt

condiments:
tyling s&s sauce
coffee house skinny creamer
miracle whip lite mayo
famous Dave's BBQ sauce
kraft ranch dressing
kraft honey mustard sauce

Update

2010-05-12T04:51:00.000-07:00

Definitely been too long since i last posted, so an update is due.

today i finally broke 200, yea!
no, not 200 quilts made, nor 200 UFO's.
not 200 birds to the feeder nor 200 posts here.
not 200 laps around the lake, nor 200 trips this year to the mail box.

but a nicer 200. My scale was nice to me today. watching what i eat and trading high calorie snacks for low calorie ones has paid off.i am now under 200 lbs.

i need to be a lot more under that 200 of course, but i'm on my way!

i got some great quilting magazines this week;
the new 'Quilt Sampler Spring/Summer 2010" issue from BH&G is wonderful. lots of good things in there. and the new issue of McCall's Quilting, which is only on display until 5-31. this one comes with a bonus CD which i haven't played yet, but the patterns in there are wonderful. Look for the number 17 circled in blue on the cover,and you'll have the right one. loads of inspiration comming from both of these, and some great eye candy to boot!

Sunday Stash report, week #18

2010-05-02T04:03:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a while since i've done one of these. I took a hiatus in making quilts to give hubby some quiet time around the house. He's feeling better now, so it's back to quilting.

In this week: 0
Out this week: 10 yards
In for the year: 3.5 yards
Out for the year: 27 yards

I've cut out a new quilt this week called "Jitterbug" from the book "Layer Cake, Jelly Roll, and charm Quilts" by Pam and Nicky Lintott. (same book that Vicky/LAQuilter got recently.)

For this quilt I'm using the prints from the Kashmir IV fabric line, with the champaign frosted dots from Lakehouse for the solid parts. I had a tower of the Kashmir IV, so the left overs from this quilt will be used for Judy's new mystery quilt in June.

Truths For Mature Humans

2010-04-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

With a friendly nod to my good buddy, Dids, here is:
Truths For Mature Humans

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing worse than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. And just how are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this - ever.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Dern it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

20. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

21. I would rather try to carry 10 over-loaded plastic bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

22. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

23. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

24. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

25. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

26. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

27. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

28. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

First Hummer!

2010-04-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

Or at least the first one i've seen at the feeder was today. A female Ruby throated hummer came right up and took a drink or two. I had just finished changing out the nectar, so she got a good first drink. And i happened to be right on the other side of the glass, so we were inches apart.

The hanging feder is popular with the neighborhood finches. We had two gold finches and a male house finch feeding there at the same this morning. the house finch must have thought he found a real spread,the glutton, because he kept on eating and eating and eating, like he was starved. later a mourning dove came by to gleen any spilled seed from the ground.
Now i know why my seed levels are going down so fast, LOL.

Thursday Doings

2010-04-08T04:30:00.000-07:00

The weather is supposed to be a bit cooler today, but windy as we get set for a cold front to move thru tonight. It will bring blessed rain with it, so the parking lot pavement will be turning a bright neon yellow from all the pollen on the cars.

today it's time to refill the bird feeder with more seed. the small finches and chickadees have really been using it which is a good thing. We also have some mocking birds and cardinals around here, so i've been thinking of putting out a pie tin on the porch filled with snips of dried fruit and sunflower seeds just for them.

We're havin' a heat wave ~~~~

2010-04-06T13:51:00.000-07:00

~~~A tropical heat wave!

i thought it was getting rather warm outside, but 88 degrees for a high temp early in April is a bit much! this is more like late June weather, but i'll bet the local kids will love it as they're out on Easter Vacation this week.

I just pulled up all my pansy plants--they were cooked and not looking very lively.
We aren't expecting any rain till the weekend, which is great for the vacationers, but hard on plants.

meanwhile my chickadee's are preparing to go into family mode, which is good news. It means that they like the surroundings, so i guess my bird feeder and choice of seed meets with their approval. Still haven't seen any hummers yet, but with this warm weather the main flocks can't be too far away. The first azalias are beginning to bloom, so it shouldn't be long before they show up.

Ready for the Hummers!

2010-03-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

I put up my hummingbird feeder today, and hope to have lots of customers this Summer.
after being spurred on by my daughter last year, i decided to try attracting our local hummers. I've seen a few around here in years past, so maybe they will like my spot and decide to make it a regular stop.

I'm using Hummingbird nectar from First Nature (find it at Wal-mart)which is supposed to be pretty good stuff. I also checked the migration map for Ruby-throated hummers, and found that they just flew into our area a couple of days ago. So i'm hoping that a nice attractive feeder,a good open location, and flying insects will add up to lots of visitors.

ps. this is the same window on which i hang my Christmas wreaths. Last Christmas some birds decided to 'investiate' the wreathes and steal the berries. but the joke was on them as the berries were only wax.

Stash Report, week #12

2010-03-21T02:30:00.000-07:00

no progress this week because i'm dealing with a bad case of hives.

in for this week: 0
out for this week: 0
in for the year: 3.5 yards
out for the year: 17 yards.

Oh, don't i look pretty--NOT!

2010-03-19T14:17:00.000-07:00

Today is a very nice Spring day outside. And i bear the evidence of it.

After taking the trash out today and then shopping in Wal-mart for a few groceries, i started to itch--really bad! i hurridly looked for an itch-calming lotion, and it's a very good thing i did. I have a case of hives.

first time i've ever had them. the Dr. at the emergency room said it looked like a case of contact allergy. and sure as the world, after they mostly subsided while i was inside the emergency room for the afternoon, all i had to do was go outside to the parking lot and bingo, they appeared promptly again. exposure to the outside and all, don't you know.

so i came home and got on the web to see what allergins were floating around out there today in all this nice Spring weather. I saw that the allergy index for our area was up into the medium high range, which is a danger sign if there every was one. And then i checked the list. I found out that cedar pollen is floating thru our area right now. i've had some trouble in the past with cedar pollen, but nothing like this.

So i'll be doing the hermit thing for the next week or so, and staying inside like a good girl. unless it rains *smile*

ps. and no, no pretty pics, LOL.
i can tell you that the smallest outbreak is now three fingers wide, and the largest covers the inner left forearm from elbow to wrist.

blond/Senior moments

2010-03-16T11:05:00.000-07:00

yep, I'm having them!

the latest episode deals with me and the gas cap on my pretty red car.

i got this thing last July, and although i don't drive very much, having difficulties operating the gas cap was an additional discouragement to using gas.

in my last car i had to push the cap in and then turn it to get it to open. that was no problem. And since it was the same car manufacturer, i expected the gas cap to work in the same very easy way. ROTFLOL! Well, the trick was on me.

I never expected to be foiled by a simple thing like taking the cap off to put in gas, and yet time and again i had to have a knight in shining armor come over and 'show the poor old senior lady' how to get the stupid thing off so i could gas up. I mean honestly, how many times can one person be embarassed into learning such a simple thing AGAIN! Oooooh, just about any time i put in gas. yep, that often.

So today when the trusty gas cap resisted all my attempts to get it off, i was determined to get the better of it.

you know what? there's a little secret that all those kindly knights failed to point out. As long as i know where the little notches are inside the tube which will let my gas cap off, all i have to do is turn the cap so the handle points to those notches, and the thing will practically fall off into my hand. No more pushing in with all my might, or wishing i was about 3 inches taller so the angle of leverage was correct, or remembering to eat my spinnach so i have the muscles of popeye,etc.

maybe at last i have conquored my gas cap.

Eat your heart out!

2010-03-13T11:52:00.000-08:00

this seems to be the perfect pre-Spring day.....

it's 67 degrees outside, some clouds, a 10 MPH breeze, and periodic sunshine.

i just finished a lemon delights parfait from yoplait (think lemon creme pie)
and i'm going out for a walk around the lake.

who knows, all the goodies above just might be habit-forming!

now all i need to do is pick up a pedometer at wal-mart, and get started on my walking routine.

anyone want to start walking again???????

Listen to the Mocking Bird

2010-03-10T10:32:00.001-08:00

some of you will remember that tune!

today was another nice warm day,(just barely made it to 70 degrees) so i decided to go outside and spend some quality time just listening to the birds.

my first surprize was that there were no birds on the lake today! So with some nice bread heals in my hand i went up to the front pond (much smaller!) and found one lone Canada Goose who was honking loudly and seemed very distressed to be alone! i think i would have been too if the 100's of buddies who came to spend Christmas Day on the pond with me deserted at the first sign of Spring.

so i tossed the bread and came back to just stand in the relative warmth of the porch and listen to the birds singing from the trees. i recognized the song of the Cardinal, but there were some i had not heard before, i also heard the local carpenters (downy woodpeckers) actively investigating trees for a potential homesite. I saw one kind neighbor had put some strings out for the local nestmakers, but i think it's a bit early yet for that.

We're expecting some rain here in the next few days. So although it won't be ideal nesting weather, the worms are sure to be the main attraction for our local feathered friends.

churn dash quilt

2010-03-09T15:45:00.000-08:00

here's the update of the Churn Dash blocks:

I have 13 blocks made and all 68 of them cut. i'm planning on having some extra HST's left over, so those will go into the quilt too, probably as either a border or some cornerstones.

the blocks come in color groups--red/pink, blue, light brown, med brown, and black.
all of the color groups have other colors in the fabrics, so the blocks are comming out pretty good.
the individual blocks will be sewn into a set of 4 from the same color group. At least that is the plan for now......I may just set them singly in rows with plain white sashing, bringing the size up to 6 inch finished. So far this quilt is like Topsy...it's growing!

and yes, the individual blocks are small.
raw edge to raw edge the blocks measure 5 1/4 inches square.

right now i don't know the finished size of the quilt. it all depends on how i set the squares.....
all 68 of them!

Spring is comming soon!

2010-03-09T05:33:00.000-08:00

....At least that's what my local birds are singing. and they should know, right?
Last week they weren't doing much, but this week every single morning some bird is singing outside my window! this morning it was a black bird (not so melodious), but still, the songs have been varied and consistant.
it seems that the primary job of the whole local bird population is to announce (at 5 a.m. no less!) that Spring will soon be here.

and fortunately the snow has gone. What a difference a week makes! We accumulated a total of 12 inches of snow for this season, and around here that is enough to enjoy but not so much that we got tired of it. but look what was lurking in the ground all this time! SPRING!

Stash Report, week #10

2010-03-07T07:45:00.000-08:00

i think i should hire out as a juggling act in the local circus!
this week's report gets a bit complicated---but that's what makes it fun!

Stash busted so far: 23 yds, 4 inches
fabric in this week: 1 charm pack, 1 jelly roll=3 yards, 32 inches
fabric out this week: 0
fabric in this year: 7 yards, 12 inches
fabric out this year: 15 yards, 28 inches busted.

the charm pack and jelly roll went into the project i'm working on. I'm changing some things in the pattern, so hopefully everything will be busted by next week.

It's March and we are still getting snow!

2010-03-04T06:16:00.000-08:00

Yep, i can't believe it either, but it's true.

We had an overnight snowstorm on Tuesday and woke up to an inch of snow on Wednesday.
The weatherman is calling for more of the same for tonight into tomorrow, but we're not sure whether it will stick or just snow nice big puffy flakes.

So far Tuesday's total of one more inch gives us a grand total of 12 inches of snow for this Winter.

Shall we make it a baker's dozen????????????????

Changing directions is a GOOD thing!

2010-03-04T04:33:00.000-08:00

As promised i have been working on my first UFO this week. What i thought would be a snap of a quilt to put together has turned out to be otherwise.

LOL, someone a while back said that by planning my stash ahead, i would someday run into a pattern with wonky measurements and regret my decision. NOT ME!
When that happens i don't regret anything.

I just get inspired, change directions, and go off on my own. And that's what i've done this week.

I made my first set of 4 Churn Dash blocks and found a wonky measurement in the rails portion of the block. I had been cutting at night, so i double checked my measurements in the day time agains the pattern, and found that they were the same ones the pattern called for....but they didn't fit~
So i did the math, found the solution, and fell in love all over again with Churn Dash blocks.
And as a result I'm changing my direction on this quilt.

Instead of making the original pattern I've decided to make a Churn Dash quilt.
it's been a long while since i made churn dash blocks for a Christmas quilt ("My Favorite Things"), so it will be nice to reaquaint myself with the joys of the block.
curently i have no idea what the final size will be, but it should be an interesting journey along the way. I may even tie this quilt like i did the first one!

As a result of my experimentation i've had to order a layer cake of the fabric i'm working with, so I'll round up the stash figures to an even 3 yards added for the week.

Top #2 for 2010 is done!

2010-03-01T13:42:00.000-08:00

that would be the Rose Trellis quilt top.

I took the final measurements and it came out to be 64 x 80, which is a good size for the bed.

On the left is a pic of the whole quilt on the bed, showing the layout.

On the right is a partial pic of the quilt, showing one of the 9 patch strips and the Rose Trellis borders for each row.

The quilt is bordered by a 2 inch row of light green, followed by a pink and white row of stripes, then the main border, 6 inches wide of Rose Trellis, and then on the bottom another row of light green. The binding will be strips of the pink, rose, and green dot from the Bliss line. this is also the same fabric as the pillow case on the bed.

ps. in the close-up view of the second pic, you can also see the tracery design of roses in setting triangles. this piece of fabric was from the original Bliss line. Fortunately i had some left over from my first Bliss quilt, and it fit in here perfectly.

Stash Report for week #9

2010-02-28T05:54:00.001-08:00

fabric in this week: 0
fabric out this week: 3 yards
fabric in this year: 3.5 yards
fabric out this year: 23.16 yards

I'll work on finishing up the Rose Trellis top today (took a day off yesterday).
I also cut out my next project last night, a Churn Dash wall quilt--the first of 4 UFO's to be worked on.
i checked my records, and none of the yardage for the UFO's was counted previously, so they'll all finally be busted this year.

UFO #1 is a wall quilt, thus the small yardage out this week. the good part is that it should be finished quickly because of it's small size.
One and one half yards was for that wall quilt. The remaining yardage was pulled from my stash to enlarge the Rose Trellis top by adding 2 more borders and increasing the backing yardage required by the original pattern.

hang on to your hat!

2010-02-26T09:35:00.000-08:00

the wind is really gusting outside today. So far at noon the temp is 41, but the winds and gusts of up to 28 MPH are taking the apparent temps down to the mid 30's. But we do have sunshine, and don't my pansies love to see that!

they have survived being covered with 3 different snowstorms and yet they're still filled with blooms. the leaves look a bit ragged (well, who wouldn't) but they'll perk up in no time when the milder temps get here again.

About those UFO's

2010-02-24T04:50:00.001-08:00

i've got 4 of them to deal with in this year's stash busting, so i'm putting most of them into my quilting version of "March Madness".

the first one (UFO #1) which i plan on tackling this last weekend in February is called "Butter Churn", a pattern by Sherri K. Falls. It's a small wall quilt, so when i finish it, i'll hang it on the wall over my computer screen.

UFO projects are also in the line-up for working on in March, as my quilting version of "March Madness".

First up in March is UFO # 2 is called "Jacob's Ladder", but it's not the traditional setting.
in this quilt each quilt block consists of just two 4 patches and two HST's, each made from a muslin and a single print.
there are multiple prints in the quilt itself, so when the blocks are put together it appears that all the prints were sewn in diagonal rows. one diagonal row has two small matching print squares and a muslin background, and a second diagonal row which has a line of small muslin squares, bordered by a line of various printed triangles (the second side of the HST's).

the pattern for this quilt by the same name ("Jacob's Ladder") can be found in an old AP&Q Feb 1999 issue, p. 56.
in the article picture, the quilt i am making is shown on the quilt holder at the foot of the bed.
the traditional setting of "Jacob's Ladder" with alternating setting blocks is shown on the bed.

Fabric for this quilt comes from two turnover packs (triangles) from the "Wildflowers II" fabric line (plus a few from my stash), some yardage for the 4 patch squares, and a great setting fabric from Marcus Brothers, called "Aged Muslin Cloth".
the muslin is just the color of brown paper bags and it's an overdyed muslin, so it has striations of colors. Very nifty!

Mid-Week, and making progress!

2010-02-24T04:18:00.000-08:00

I have consistantly been going at this latest quilt, and today i'll be sewing up the last row of the 4 patches on point. i prepped them last night, so i hope today to have all 4 rows sewn along with the 3 rows of strippy rose boquets all merged together along with the two outer borders into one top. WHEW!
Lots of sewing for one day, but that will leave some catch-up time on Thursday, when i plan to sew the binding pieces into one strip and join the backing fabric into one piece.

By Friday and Saturday i hope to start working again on my first UFO from last year.
The pattern is for a small wall quilt called "Butter Churn" from Sherri K. Falls, and uses 2 packs of nice charm squares from Moda's "Legacy" line.

i checked my records last night, and i never previously counted any fabric from any of my 4 UFO projects. So that means when i finish the tops i'll get to bust more fabric! YEAAAA!

(not a lot, LOL, but every inch counts!)

Stash Report, week 8

2010-02-21T04:11:00.000-08:00

previously used: 8 2/3 yards
in this week: 0
out this week: 12 yards
in this year: 3.5 yards
out this year: 20 2/3 yards

i managed to finish my first top for 2010 earlier this week (the blue and yellow) and got every block to play nicely with it's mates. So that one is put away for quilting later.

and now it's on to quilt #2, a pink, green and white one called "Rose Trellis" from a pattern by Sandi Irish of the same name. the patern was put out as a pamphlet a few years ago at Hancock fabrics stores (the chain, not Hancock's of Paducah) to go with their line from Hi-Fashion Fabrics, inc.

it's a strippy quilt, set with four vertical rows of 9 patches on point, alternating with rows of roses in a border pattern. So far this week i've gotten all 28 nine patches made and started adding the setting triangles to them. i hope to get this top together by the end of the month.

Also this week i've been playing in my project boxes that i've set aside to work on this year; a total of 20 boxes in all. I've managed to get them organized with all the fabric and the quilt pattern in each box. So it will be interesting to see how far i get this year on knocking out this row of boxes.

All told, i've got about 3 years-worth of projects lined up now, but at least i can say that i know where i'm headded---provided i can keep my boxes in a row! LOL

What can you do with those empty TP rolls?

2010-02-16T13:38:00.000-08:00

Just another case of getting creative (or something) here.

We won't say just how this idea got started....but lo and behold i was confronted with an empty TP roll this morning. Not wanting to waste something so creative, i thought of turning it into a crafty quilting thing while making my fabric drawers neater at the same time.

so here's the deal (and this works for anything long that you need to keep track of.)

take the TP roll and cut a nice long verticle cut in the tube with a pair of scissors.
open the tube out and flatten it a bit. Turn it and cut across the middle with the scissors again, leaving you with two nice pieces of cardboard.
turn it once again and cut those pieces vertically so you wind up with 4 rectangles.

now grab a sheet of wrapping paper or tissue paper. cut off a single strip the width of the paper and wrap around the cardboard twice. you should be able to cover all 4 pieces of cardboard if you're using wide paper, or at least 2 if using the tissue paper. Secure with a bit of scotch tape, and then start wrapping something around the piece of cardboard.

i chose strips of binding fabric that had already been cut from my stash.
I sewed the strips together and then, (using a very high tech procedure), i threw the binding pile on the floor, steped on it with one foot to create some tension, pulled up one free end and started wrapping.

now if you're familiar with strips of binding fabric, you know that the more they're handled the more the sides have a tendecy to fray. Fear Not!
With this technique after wrapping your binding you can cut all those stray threads off with just a good whack of the scissors for each side of the card.

then all that's needed to finish the project is to secure the loose end of the binding fabric with a safety pin, and it's nice and neat and won't get all twisted while sewing it to your quilt.

Tuesday goals

2010-02-16T04:04:00.000-08:00

well i'm already behind for making Monday goals, so how about Tuesday goals instead?

i finished my first quilt top for 2010 yesterday, and it's looking good!

Now i'm on to my second quilt top, in pinks and white for February.
the design is from a pattern sheet that i picked up at Hancock's a few years ago, called "Rose Trellis" by Sandi Irish of Hi-Fashion fabrics, inc.

It's a strippy quilt with 4 vertical rows of 9 patches set on point, (7 patches per row) alternating with 3 vertical rows of a border fabric, then a narrow inner border and an wider outer border. the original pattern is colored in blue, yellow and white, but mine is in pink, rose, green and white, and i think it's gonna be fabulous.

What i really like about this pattern is that it can be made to any size just by adjusting the square size of the nine patches! I'm making a twin size, but this same pattern could also be made in a king size quite easily just by using larger 9 patches.

I so love adaptable patterns.

A New Week!

2010-02-15T07:19:00.000-08:00

it looks like the weatherman is calling for favorable weather this week--minus snow!

we'll get some rain this afternoon and evening, but sunny skies and some cool days thereafter.
it will be a nice break.

Snow, Round #3

2010-02-13T11:33:00.000-08:00

We had snow again last night and this morning. there was about an inch total snowfall, which makes 11 inches of snow for the season so far. That eleven inches ties a record snowfall that we had back on Dec 26, 2006 or 07, but this time it took three separate tries to get it all on the ground.

and an update on the quilt show.
We ran into a bit of a snafu this week here at home, which has necessitated a re-thinking of plans and a re-shuffling of $$'s.
Nothing we couldn't handle, but an adjustment nontheless. As a result i won't be pounding the concrete doing lap after lap around the showroom floor this year, but I'm not about to give up a quilt show without a fight.

So i sat down with my fabric list, two of my favorite online fabric websites, and my calculator in hand and came up with a way to manage getting enough stuff for 7 quilts for next year. When i need to i can really crunch the numbers! So i'll be keeping the postmen busy next week.

so what are you doing during the olympics???

2010-02-09T14:54:00.000-08:00

if you quilt or knit or crochet do you have a project ready to work on yet?

this post:http://hexagonquilt-along2.blogspot.com/2010/01/hexi-olympics.html
got me started thinking about what i could do with all that time.

I have an old hexi project that hasn't been finished. Yeah, i just about OD's on hexies there for a while. but i put the project away KNOWING that at some time in the future i'd want to get it out (read find the perfect excuse to do so) and work on finishing it.

when i was rummaging around in my closit last Fall, i got this project out and put it into a drawer where it was easily accessible. I was just waiting for the perfect excuse (read: time) to get it out and get started in on it again.

so now with the olympics comming up, i'll get it back out and see how much more there is to be done. i may just wind up with a finished top by the last ceremony!

The round-up from round #2

2010-02-08T05:49:00.000-08:00

well fortunately round #2 of snowstorms only gave us two inches of snow. that brings our snow total to 10 inches so far this year. predictions for round #3 are light as well, but we will have two cold fronts combining once again, so we'll have to see how that plays out.

and in two and a half weeks the Mid-Atlantic Quilt show will be starting up.

Are You Ready For round #2???

2010-02-05T14:41:00.001-08:00

another snow storm is headded our way; this time with not as much snow, but much more wind.
so this will definitely be a 'stay inside' storm, or else a 'hang on to your hat' storm, because the temp gradients are supposed to be really tight.

I guess this weekend's storm is the warm -up ( or cool down) for wednesday's storm to come.
Imagine that- we're going back in time to the years when all the kids were in school, and we routinely had three snow storms a Winter, and drifts up to our knees.

glad we're not up in the D.C. area for this storm.
they're expecting 2 foot plus of snow from this one, which will be their second big snow of the season. if i recall correctly, i think they had to go all the way back in the record books to the 1930's to find a similar storm with as much snow in D.C. for the month of January.

but meanwhile i have the perfect pastime all planned.
I have my hot chocolate, marshmallows, and my fabric list made out of all the fabric that i'm going to be looking for in just 3 weeks from now, at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival! www.quiltfest.com

I've been going to this festival for years and years now, and i think i've finally found just the right time to get there, where all my favorite vendors are located, and of course, a mile-long list of what i want to buy. i've got it all writen out in a big list. I mean SERIOUSLY-- this list rivals that of Santa Clause, and it takes all the front and back of a piece of steno paper to keep it organized.

See, i have to keep these super wonderful quilt vendors happy and willing to make the long treck down here and back every year. And now for the BIG SECRET!

(PROMISE YOU WON'T TELL!!!)

the whole secret of shopping at quilt shows is that you have to let your purchases age a whole year before you use them----especially if you are like me and about 60 other quilters, who are all supposed to be busting our quilting stash this year.

so when i go shopping at the quilt festival i'm actually shopping for next year's projects in the stash busting challenge. *wink, wink*. After all i think it makes a whole lot of sense to shop for fabric now when it's available. you just never know when they might start rationing fabric purchases in the future......

LOL. remember the 30's and all those feedsack quilts? We quilters would be in a heck of a mess now if we had to rely on feedsacks for our quilting material---especially those of us who live in the city!

(and we aren't even going to mention what the kid's underwear was made from).

Snow Update #3

2010-01-31T06:39:00.000-08:00

Sunday, almost 10 am.

having not gotten to bed last night until almost 1 am, i slept in this morning and awoke to..........

snow, sunshine, and blue skies! I glanced out the window just in time to see a neighbor's son trying in vain to open car doors with all his might which were iced shut. he tried the other side and managed to get in , although who knows where he was headded.

whatever snow was on the roads last night froze to sheets of ice (try driving on that!)
this morning it's 20 degrees outside, and the wind chill is 11 degrees.

I'm so glad that i stocked up on hot chocolate for the duration, because i'm an armchair observer these days. I'll let the kids go out and play in the snow, hike thru the cold temps to take pics, send them to twitter and facebook, and freeze their toes and fingers off in the process.
I'm content to settle down for a long Winter's nap with my quilts, hot chocolate, and Hershey's chocolate nuggets.

p.s. final snow total: 8 inches!