Running Stitches

Some Quilt History

2011-10-19T21:23:00.007-05:00

I think I could title this one, What Have I Been Doing Besides Blogging? ...or I better put this info on my blog before it becomes like Ancient History!

The photos are displaying in the reverse order as I uploaded them, so you get most recent news first. This top layout is made from 12 of the blocks I received in April 2010 (1.5 yrs. ago - maybe it is ancient already!) The flickr group is called Bee Pieceful. I finally figured out a setting design and made the setting pieces the last couple of days. It should go together fast from this point. Sometimes the thinking takes up a lot more time than the actual sewing. I will not include the table legs in the final construction.

This is a top I finished putting together a few days ago (my co-worker is inspiring or shaming me into getting busy on my projects, hence the high output in the last weeks or two). The centers of wonky log cabins are fussy-cut out of some old scraps I found in my ancient 4-H sewing workshop materials (I was the teacher, not the student - so they aren't prehistorically old.) I started putting together the blocks about 5 months ago. A picture in a book inspired me to go for the black stripey sashing, and that was motivation to find fabric, cut sashing, decide on borders, and finish up the top.

This is a finished quilt I made for DD#1. The nine patches are made from a charm pack I received as a birthday gift on my last birthday one year ago, so that was fairly quick - less than one year from pieces to finished!

The next two pictures are the back and front of a baby quilt made for my first great niece. She was born in March and I sent it to her in July, so at least she was still a baby! The pattern is simple and these prints were fun to work with. The back has a pretty, girly print of butterflies.

I hope I haven't repeated old news here. I definitely need to keep track of this blog a lot better than I have been. It is a good record of my projects, finished or not!

Melissa Kuber Lederer inspired

2011-09-18T21:49:00.002-05:00

Melissa Kuber Lederer inspired by cjhaab featuring plaid shoes

fall mustard with plum,wine options

2011-08-11T13:10:00.002-05:00

fall mustard with plum,wine options by cjhaab featuring long sleeve tops

Just looking at some different color combinations for fall.

Hot, But It's Friday!

2011-07-01T14:18:00.001-05:00

Linking to Susanne's Living to Tell the Story, for another Fave Five. A nice way to remember my gratitudes each week, and just about the only blog posts I'm doing right now.

This week's five favorite things:
1. Had the BEST time with our granddaughter and also spent time with her mommy, daddy and baby brother when we took her home on Sunday. She stole our hearts once more by declaring all the way to her home, "I need to go Gramma Grampa's house!"
2. Pretty weather early in the week. Ran Monday and Tuesday since I skipped the weekend. Enjoyed sitting on the deck in th evenings and quiet companionship of Drh. I did crosswords and he read.
3. Helped clean out and organize the church library one evening. We filled a big garbage barrel and some smaller trash cans, but ended up with shiny shelves of useable, attractive books for reading, and ministry resources. I like our church to look modern, inviting and homey to anyone who enters.
4. For some reason I have been efficient and productive this week. One morning I washed windows before work, and kept up with the dishes, laundry and other tidying chores. Home feels welcoming when it's neat and fresh.
5. Multi-item Fave: I have today off, so a four-day weekend. Drh always has Friday off. Today instead of sleeping late, I convinced him to beat the heat and we got outside early, trimmed all the bushes, borrowed a tree trimmer from a friend and trimmed trees, loaded up all the trimmings on the friend's trailer and served ice tea to ourselves and two helpers, all before 10 a.m., and it was still nice out!

Have a good weekend, Happy 4th of July, stay cool!

Friday, Sweet Summer

2011-06-24T20:42:00.005-05:00

Fave Five for a sweet summer Friday (not necessarily in chronological or any other order this week!):

1. G has come for the weekend! I'll spare you the cute stories of 2-year-old amazingness!

2. Saturday I ran in a race and was amazed at the consistency of my pace recorded by my Garmin! It's not the fastest I've ever run that course, but certainly the most consistently. It was a fun time with friends, always a great start to the weekend to run early Saturday.

3. Sunday turned out so nice that we took a motorcycle ride again, spent some lazy, quiet minutes just watching people take their boats in and out of the Illinois River, ate out before we headed home.

4. Enjoyed some summer food this week: grilled ham, cheese and tomatoes; BLT's; wonderful melon new to me called canary melon; strawberries; rhubarb pudding. MMMM. And since I'm upping my fruit/veggie intake and really cutting out sweets esp. at work, I think I've dropped the 3 lbs. I wanted to.

5. Took one morning off to help a church friend clean out the office. We are on the trustees committee, which is responsible for the care of the building. We both like to organize and update records, so it was good to declutter some old supplies and outdated catalogs which won't be used, put some stuff away where it belongs in other parts of the building, and review what records were in the desk. A good job done!

Have a great weekend, enjoy the weather and the summer food, and check out Fave Fives of other grateful ladies at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story. Thanks for hosting, Susanne.

What to Wear with Cobalt Skinnies

2011-06-21T21:04:00.002-05:00

What to Wear with Cobalt Skinnies by cjhaab featuring scoop neck tops

Friday, a Quiet Day

2011-06-17T21:27:00.006-05:00

I've had today and yesterday off work. It has been quiet since Drh is out of town. Time to think, take a nap, sew, eat on my own hours. I miss him, but a little time alone doesn't bother me either.

Today I looked back on the week for five favorites, and I'm grateful for:

1. Had a nice time and perfect weather for the family reunion on Sunday, as well as celebrating my in-laws 62nd wedding anniversary (see earlier post on celebrations.)
2. My sweet grandchildren, ages 2-yrs., and 3-months. Both are healthy, growing, happy, and the 2-yr.-old is a total hoot. Funny, smart and cute as a button. (I know, I know, so are your grandkids... :-))
3. Got some shopping done for myself and for birthday gifts, and had time to do it in a leisurely fashion. Dang, I forgot to get a father's day card for my f-i-l!
4. Ran both Tuesday and Thursday evenings. We're having continued good weather!
5. Stopped at the farmers' market Tuesday after work and bought fresh veggies, which I made into a delicious ragout and served with leftover corn casserole which I pretended was polenta. Today I went to get groceries and bought crab salad, which I had with a fresh tomato, broccoli and rosemary potato bread for supper. I hope those two yummy, healthy meals overcome the effects of the McDonald's hamburger and fries I had Wednesday!

and just have to add #6. Did some sewing and made my hubby some boxers for summer pjs. Aren't they cute?

As usual, visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for other Fave Fives on Friday!

Fave Five, Friday Again!

2011-06-12T21:32:00.003-05:00

Fave Five of this week, though I know I'm a couple days late. But the attitude of gratitude is theraputic, so I will write my faves anyway - it's good for the soul.

1. Celebrated our 35th (!!!) wedding anniversary on Sunday by having a quiet day at home, and then going for a motorcycle ride and eating supper and a piece of pie at a local family diner.
2. My older daughter turned 31 this week - she's the happy, healthy, smart and funny, stay-at-home mom of two sweeties, and wife of a fine man.
3. The weather was kind by turning cool at the end of the week so we were able to turn off the air and sleep with the windows open.
4. Saturday morning I got up early and left home at 6:15, drove to a lake, ran 5 miles which was around it and then some on a side road, and then helped at a small 5K race with the finish line team from my run club. I hadn't helped with a finish line before, but now I've learned something new, and it was fun. AND while I was running, I saw bluebirds, wild turkeys and chicks, a deer, a beautiful black and blue butterfly (dead on the road, but sparkling - also a dead frog-ick), and a pair of cedar waxwings collecting grass for a nest.
5. Enjoyed going with Drh and a friend to hear a western swing band at a free outside concert downtown Saturday evening. The music and company were entertaining, and I always love to "people watch."

Hope you had a good week filled with happy times worth celebrating, enjoying nature and friendships. Check out the other Faves on Living to Tell the Story by Susanne.

Pentecost and Other Celebrations

2011-06-12T20:49:00.004-05:00

Today I went to my in-law's "cousins reunion." This is a gathering of about 50-60 of the kids and grandkids, and now great grandkids of my father-in-law's side (his two brothers and one sister, plus one deceased brother). We gather every year to enjoy our family friendships. Drh left this morning right after church on a mission trip to Tennessee with a group from church, so he didn't go this year. He had mixed feelings about missing it, of course, but decided he should travel with the group. The picture is of my in-laws with their branch who attended today. On the left are our two daughters and their husbands, one holding my 3-mo. old grandson; then my m-i-l; then my brother-in-law and his wife (their daughters and families couldn't come since they live out of the state); then me with my 2 yr.-old granddaughter; then my f-i-l.

This is my father and mother-in-law. They celebrated their 62nd anniversary today, and also we talked of their anniversary 2 years ago, when my f-i-l was in the hospital recovering from a very serious heart attack, which happened in the restroom at the hospital right before he was supposed to check in for a stress test. We know he wouldn't have made it if medical help was not immediately given. Fortunately he recovered well, and we celebrated with cake and milk in his hospital room.

The church celebrates its birthday on Pentecost. According to Acts 2, this is when the gift of the Holy Spirit was given and continues today to empower the people of the church to carry out God's work in his kingdom here on earth. The color of Pentecost and the liturgical season is red, and below are pictures showing the pulpit and altar cloths I made after the design of the stained glass window. The quilting stitch pattern is meant to look like flames.

Friday Fave Five - I'm Back!

2011-06-03T10:53:00.007-05:00

Above is the window in our church above the altar. I've been making altar and pulpit paraments inspired by the design, so check back later for photos of them.

I've posted before on my Fave Five, but it's been a long time! Due to work and family busy times, I took a break from my blog for several months, and missed it. Not that many people read it and missed it, but to me it's a good journal and record of my days, thoughts, and home and sewing projects. So if no one reads it, that's okay with me!

This week I had some favorite times:
1. Got to eat supper with and spend time with friends on Sunday. They cooked chicken on the grill, and we also had potato salad, broccoli salad, and lemon cake. MMM - the tastes of summer!

2. Memorial Day off and a quiet day at home finishing up some sewing projects. It was nice to not have to be somewhere or do something on a time schedule for a whole day.

3. It didn't storm/rain either Tuesday or Thursday after work, so I could run as planned. Keeping up with my running always makes me happy.

4. New tshirts from the sale table at Old Navy with fabric to match for pj bottoms in the works - I'll be extremely cute and comfy when no one can even see me!

5. Drinking morning coffee with my hubby on our days off recently, including today. In the busyness of the last several months, we have missed this time to converse and connect at the beginning of the day.

Enjoy the day, and some other Fave Fives at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story today!

Finished Quilting a Fun Quilt

2011-05-30T15:09:00.005-05:00

This quilt started out as an idea to simply use up some of my fabric abundance (overstock). I pulled out several fat quarters that coordinated in color, and started cutting them. My inspiration was the book Rule-Breaking Quilts by Kathryn Schmidt. I was making blocks and they turned out to be odd sizes - 9x8.5, 10.5x9, 8.5 in. square, etc. None were really uniform.

Then L saw my beginnings and claimed the quilt. She pulled out more fabrics, I made some wonky 9-patches to add more variety, and used various strips and scraps to make some of the little checkerboard areas. Then I put all the separate blocks and pieces away until she came to visit again - I just didn't know what to do with them.

She stepped up to the challenge to arrange them, and used some of the bigger leftover pieces to fill in between blocks. I sewed them all together into the center of the top while she was still here to correct any mistakes.

Then I made the spiky border following Gwen Marston's Liberated Quiltmaking II. I used up all the rest of the scraps to make some blocks and pieced the back. When I quilted it, my goal was to use different quilting designs in different areas and blocks. Maybe this can be seen in the picture of the back.

This was a really fun project to use up all the scraps and I would like to do this type of quilt again, with L's help, of course!

Confining the Pile

2011-05-30T15:04:00.003-05:00

The fact is, a small, organized pile still looks like a messy, unorganized mess. So I found the perfect little basket at Target to contain my notepads for grocery and to-do lists, pens, crossword books, Bible, coupons and ads, etc. on my end table. Everything I need, within easy sight and reach, and much less messy.

Scrap Management

2011-05-27T13:34:00.005-05:00

I've been lucky to have a few hours of spare time lately, and my coworker and I took our cutting tools and mats to work for a few lunch time cutting sessions. We both managed to make big dents in our scrap piles - well, the piles are still there, but the scraps are cut into usable pieces now. She has an Accu-Go cutter, which was fun to try. I just used my ol' (dull) rotary cutter mostly. I've found I like having random strips, not necessarily with parallel sides, so I cut lots of them. The wonky log cabins were fun to make, so maybe having a bag of strips will inspire me to make more.

When I put up the new shelves, I went to Dollar Tree for a few small storage containers. One find was these three green baskets. A few days ago, they were full of wadded up big and small fabric pieces. Some of them were ironed before cutting and that made it easier.

Now I have just two baskets full, many squares in marked baggies, as well as a couple of bags labeled "Misc not sized" and "almost square" which will be good for points on wonky stars, etc. These baggies only take up two of the three baskets, so I have an empty one for more scraps!

For your viewing pleasure:

Check out some more empty spaces and decluttering ideas at I'm An Organizing Junkie.

Wonky Log Cabins

2011-05-21T21:45:00.011-05:00

I was reading blogs tonight and Vicki at Sew Inspired wrote about some log cabin blocks she is making.

She asked about how others make improv log cabins.

As she does, I also have felt that maybe I was putting too much effort into fabric placement, which fabrics to use, etc.

I made a baby quilt with wonky log cabins with fussy cut centers, and got so tired of making them that I stopped at 5 and made the alternate blocks as wonky 9-patches instead. I made each block individually, which meant even though I started with a pile of strips/scraps, I got up from the sewing machine after each seam, pressed it and cut the next side straight, and then often had to cut a strip or scrap to use as the next piece. That was time consuming and tiring.

Recently I found a bunch of odd scraps from old 4-H workshops I taught, and wanted to use them as the centers of wonky log cabins. This time I allowed myself to be much more random.

First I fussy cut the center pieces. Then I chose all the strips and scraps that were the colors I wanted to use. Then I started sewing them chain style, by sewing a piece on the right of each center.

I had 15 center pieces, so I didn't have to stop to press and trim until I had 15 sides on. I kept adding more pieces in the same way, pressing and trimming after every 15 seams. I purposely chose the shorter scraps and strips for the first rounds, leaving the longer ones for the end. And I did try to select fabrics to contrast with the previous piece on that block, such as using a green print after brown or red, etc., so one block wouldn't be too monotone. Even though it felt really random as I worked, it was fast and fun!

The blocks are coming out great. I am adding a last round of beige with white dots. After that I may put sashing between the blocks - not sure yet. They are set aside while I finish up a couple of other projects.

Sewing Closet Heaven

2011-05-21T13:35:00.005-05:00

Above you see the results of a big project that has made me very happy! In the past few weeks I have been able to clean out and totally reorganize my sewing closet, including putting up new Elfa shelves. Major improvement!!! I love the shelves. They are wonderful! Below: you might not want to look at it, but it's the embarrassingly messy before picture.

Laura at Organizing Junkie talks about labels this week in her 52 weeks of organizing project. I have used lots of labels for a long time. You can see the colored labels on my fabric bins - they either note which color family is inside, or note other items such as elastic, notions, fabric type or pattern category. Sometimes labels help to know where to put things away more than where to find them later.

I've even taken on the role of Label Police at work to label bins and drawers in our storage areas, so even when the containers are empty due to the items are out for their intended use, everyone knows where to put them back, and knows if we need to purchase more consumables.

Some Of the Quilts

2011-05-14T17:52:00.004-05:00

I've worked on the past few months. In order from the top down: a top made for DD#1's new bedroom. It is not yet quilted.

A top in progress made for DD#2 - it has been added to and is now on the quilting machine and about half quilted.

A quilt I made for DRH - the saw blade pattern worked out well to use up fabrics I'd been collecting for him for the past couple years. You can't see much but it has all his favorite things - tools, guitars, airplanes, wood textures, International Harvester logos, the moon, typewriter keys, baseballs, bikes and pretzels, and more.

A quilt I made for my little granddaughter's toddler bed. DD#1 then made matching curtains with the leftover fabrics.

What Have I Been Doing?

2011-05-14T17:37:00.006-05:00

Just working, sewing, quilting, running, going to the gym, cleaning, having a new grandson, and being so busy I can't remember what else, except NOT blogging. But I think I might be starting up again.

Today I spent making a man's thrifted shirt into a cute toddler dress and bloomers. I should've been cleaning and doing laundry, but I am tired of housework! And it rained all day so I couldn't go running either. I used all but the collar and a few scraps, so I added a little cotton print to make the bloomers.

Friday and the End of July

2010-07-30T13:14:00.004-05:00

Boy this month has gone fast. From the first of the month to now seems like a flash of hot weather, busy days and mostly fun activities. The past week was the same, and here are my five favorites that I am grateful for this past week. See more Fave Fives at Susanne's blog here.

1. Last weekend we spent in Indianapolis with friends. We enjoyed their company, went to car races, quilt and cross stitch shops, saw the downtown, sought the cool interiors (and drinks) of a couple of neat pubs downtown, shopped in the downtown mall (very nice), visited the Indiana State Museum, and in general explored the city while trying to stay cool. That was fun especially since we'd never been there before. The weather was cooperative in one way - none of the races got rained out!

2. Went to the new local baseball team's game. The ball field is really nice, and shiny-new, and the weather was perfect for an evening outside.

3. During the ride to Indy and back, I finished the binding on a baby quilt my sister made and I quilted for the Relay for Life. It's really cute. The second photo above shows how we were trying to decide on binding - we picked the red. I just haven't taken a photo since it's been finished. The first picture is the big quilt I made with my two daughters and my mother-in-law for the Relay auction, finished and displayed on the guest bed.

4. Got to the gym twice and ran twice - felt good since I'd been skipping exercise occasionally lately due to busy schedules. And we ate pretty healthy several days this week. That always makes me happy.

5. Started making some wonky I-spy blocks for a baby gift - really a spontaneous project with no plan and no time frame except the baby's due the first of September. This will be fun.

Plans for the weekend include sewing, shopping, cleaning, running, cooking, visiting friends, and sleeping late (huh??). Have a great week!

BLT Egg Casserole

2010-07-08T08:47:00.002-05:00

I wish I had a picture to include, but since a few have asked for the recipe, I'll post it without any pictures. This is more like a frittata than one of those fluffy souffle type dishes.

BLT Egg Casserole

Layer in 9x13 pan or glass baking dish:
1-2 c. frozen shredded hash browns - make them 1/2 inch deep or so
Chopped tomatoes
Chopped green onions
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese, more or less
Baby spinach leaves, a couple of handfuls
4 slices bacon, fried crisp and crumbled
Pour on:
1 doz. eggs beaten with 1/2 c. milk and 1/2 c. sour cream, salt and pepper
Bake at 350 for about 1 hour or until eggs are completely set and edges are starting to turn golden.

Friday of Last Week Fave Five

2010-07-05T13:34:00.004-05:00

Well, a LOT late this time, but reading some of the other blog posts linked to Susanne's this time has inspired me to share my week.

1. Waaayyy back on Sat. June 26, I ran in a small-town 5K which was in memory of a young lady who died two years ago from a brain tumor. The run benefited the American Brain Tumor Association. I knew this family when our girls were in 4-H with the young lady who died and a younger sibling. Her sister who now lives a few states away organized the run. I think the whole town turned out for it, and it was a great event for the community and the beneficiary charity. It was a good thing, too, for the sister who hadn't been able to attend the funeral due to having had a baby just a few days before her sister's death.

2. Spent 2.5 days in Chicago attending a conference for work, but also enjoying PERFECT weather, running on the lake front twice, the adventure of riding the train there and city buses around the downtown, wonderful food, shopping, interesting company, and a fun concert and fireworks at Navy Pier. The whole trip was a lot better than I'd anticipated, and the conference wasn't even that bad. (smile) Above are a couple of bad pictures taken on my cellphone, one of my hotel window view onto the lake, and the other is me stopped for a pause while running on the lakefront around 7:30 a.m.

3. Made a yummy BLT egg casserole (with spinach instead of lettuce) for a church brunch. I'm thankful for a wonderful group of church friends who have become a real family in the last few years we've been attending there.

4. Sortof said this already, but the weather this week was summer at its finest - mid 70's, golden cloudless sky.

5. NOTHING smells better than corn pollen blowing on a humid breeze on a warm summer night. MMMMMMM.

Quilting Marathon

2010-06-22T20:43:00.005-05:00

My sister came on Saturday and has been super-productive over the last few days. She quilted three small quilts and a twin size quilt on the longarm machine. She did a great job for only having done one baby quilt before, and that was several months ago. For some reason the photos reversed themselves above, so the first photo is actually the last one she finished, and the last photo is the first quilt.

While she did that, I supervised her, wound bobbins, helped her learn to put the quilts on the frame, set the rails, and baste the edges, etc. I also managed to put together a baby quilt top she had started, make her a pair of pajama pants by using some old ones as a pattern, finish making a pair for me which I started a couple of summers ago, alter a tote bag which had construction problems, reorganize some of my fabric collection, do all my weekend laundry, make some good meals (on the menus: Italian beef sandwiches, potato salad, blueberry cake, chicken nachos, Harvard beets, tossed salad, sauteed broccoli/squash medley, and Thai pork veggie stir fry), and cut out pieces for a set of four placemats for an anniversary gift.

Tomorrow morning she is off for home - it was fun and I hope she comes back soon.

Joys of June (Friday Fave Five)

2010-06-17T11:29:00.010-05:00

Relay for Life quilt top with borders, ready to quilt

Finally I planted flowers in the pots on the deck! After a month of being gone, bad weather, and other interferences, I am so happy to see the flowers! Since we don't have any flowers in the yard except the flowering shrubs, which are all done blooming now, I have really enjoyed the pots for many years. This picture doesn't really do justice to the beauty of the plants. Drh has worked hard on the yard this year, and it looks great, too.

I got the last borders on the Relay for Life quilt last night. Now it's folded and waiting for time to quilt.

This week has been a good one. My five favorite things this week are:

1. I helped with Sunday school, teaching about 14 kids ages 5-12 how to make an origami house. The lesson was on Luke 6: The Wise and Foolish Builders 46"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." The kids were fun and the houses turned out very cute.

2. Drh's cousins' family reunion was on Sunday, and visiting with family members, joking, and eating were top activities of the day.

3. Went to the farmers market on Tuesday in the rain and bought locally grown beets, lettuce, broccoli, potatoes, and olive wheat bread. MMMM.

4. Got my flowers planted finally. Summer is here!

5. Phone chat with Daughter #2 - a good update of her summer in Montana. She seems to be doing well and learning what she hoped.

Visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for more Fave Fives. Have a good day!

Relay Quilt Progress

2010-06-15T09:19:00.001-05:00

Just a quick look at the center of the quilt top. Tonight I can cut and add the borders, I hope. It's coming along! After a design problem (good design, bad instruction following - both by me), it is really going to turn out looking like I planned. (big smile)

Another Friday Flies By

2010-06-10T13:20:00.005-05:00

I was blog-hopping today and ran across a wonderful quote. I hope it 's accurate because it's SO true:

"Life is largely a matter of expectation." – Horace

It reminds me of a discussion with friends at church. It happened to be one couple's anniversary and we got into a chat about how one survives? enjoys? a long marriage such as theirs. Most of the couples around the table had been married at least 30 years, or 40. My dear hubby was shocked when my answer to a happy marriage was to "lower my expectations." Actually it was not anywhere close to the slam it first sounded. In the pursuit of happiness, not only the marital kind, I've had some hard lessons which taught me that if I would only quit expecting perfection, most things would work out better and be more satisfying in the long run. So without giving up expecting the best out of myself and others, or looking for good things around me, I have come to feel that lowered expectations sometimes mean less stress, more fun, and just a happier day.

Friday Fave Five for this week:

1. Enjoyed family time and baby time with little G while attending a wedding last weekend.

2. Daughter #1 turned 30 - and is the wonderfully sane, beautiful, positive, friendly, smart and faithful woman I raised her to be. (smile)

3. The summer skirt-wearing weather, including storms, is wonderful - I LOVE summer.

4. Have had time to get a lot of work done on the quilt for the Relay for Life auction.

5. Getting Friday off - time to catch up on house chores, think, sew, piddle around the house quietly.

See more Fave Fives at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story. Have a great weekend!

Back to Earth

2010-06-04T09:00:00.009-05:00

I've been gone for awhile. Drh and I took a ten-day trip to deliver our daughter L to Montana where she is attending a photography school for the summer. On the way, we stopped at Yellowstone National Park for three days, stayed in Missoula, MT, for a day where we left her, and took in Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument and Museum, and Badlands National Park on the way home through South Dakota.

My main impression was that the West is HUGE. I can't imagine the thoughts of the pioneers and explorers as they first encountered those amazing and majestic spaces.

I took several pictures (hundreds, actually), but those taken by L were so much better that I will just direct you to her blog - enjoy!

Yellowstone - Day One, Yellowstone - Day Two, Yellowstone - Day Three

The most interesting part was the other-worldly scene created by the hundreds of hot springs and geysers in the thermal fields and basins. Just like being on another planet (I think, as I've never really gone to one).

Because it's early in the season for most park visitors, we avoided lots of crowds, and were blessed with chilly but mostly dry and sunny weather, the sight of lots of moms and babies - bison, elk, grizzly and black bears, great horned owls, nesting eagles, pronghorns, and regular calves on the ranches along the way.

I didn't forget about the activities and plans waiting for us at home - in fact, I probably added to the list as I was fortunate to find a great, cute quilt/fabric shop in Missoula (and bought a little fabric). They were even open early on Sunday morning and right next to the little breakfast deli where we ate a great meal. The shop is Selvedge, and if you ever get that far away from home, I urge you to visit. They have a wonderful corner full of vintage fabrics, home decorating and drapery bolts, a big selection of printed oilcloth, some fascinating books (I wish I had bought them all!), and beautifully selected designer quilting cottons arranged in the most delicious and inspiring displays. Here is their blog. I didn't take any pictures, but I wish I had.

The travel schedule was demanding enough that I only got to run once - about 3 miles in Missoula on a great trail next to the Clark Fork River. But the walking, stair climbing on boardwalks and trails, a short hike at Yellowstone, plus the adrenlin of driving so far pulling a trailer must have worked against the constant eating, since I managed to lose a couple of pounds on the trip.

I would say my Friday Fave Five are:

1. Beautiful open spaces and skies of the West.

2. Reminder of the great timelessness of the universe as we saw all the baby animals and the care given them by their mothers.

3. Appreciating the natural wonders of our country and how they are being preserved.

4. Spending time with my husband and daughter on a unique adventure.

5. Getting home again to my comfortable and welcoming place of my heart.

(See more Friday Fave Fives here at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story.)

Now it's back to work and routine - oh, we'll be attending a wedding and the surrounding festivities this weekend, so maybe not! Have a great week!

Saturday Laziness

2010-05-15T17:04:00.005-05:00

Today I did not do any chores. I took the sheets off the bed, carried the laundry downstairs, photographed a finished quilt, and I made this bag. I didn't even go running. It's the end of the day and I might take a nap! Drh said fish patties is okay for supper, so I don't even have to cook.

I bought the bag pattern book a few weeks ago. The photographs are very nice. I have never been too motivated to make a bag which includes a ton of hardware, stiff interfacing, etc., so these patterns really appealed to me.

The directions were pretty good. The bag on the cover was made from an "old summer dress", but it must have been a big one. The fabric needed for this project totals almost a yard of each for the outside and the lining. I bought a yard of drapery fabric for the outside, and used a yard of cotton for the lining.

The handles are covered plastic tubing, which makes them comfortable, but they don't meet perfectly, leaving a break in the circle.

The shape is a bit odd. I would probably cut the corners differently if I could do it over.

I won't use this pattern again, but the book has lots of other, easier projects which I want to try. I have already made one bag from this book which I really like.

Window Views (Friday Fave Five)

2010-05-14T12:43:00.007-05:00

Some recent photos for my Friday Fave Five.

1. My cute baby granddaughter figured out how to climb and stand up on her table, maybe to have a better view out her window? Don't you love those pigtails?

2. I have this view when I eat lunch at work every day. Today I was SO lucky to enjoy watching several warblers in the branches. See the circles for blurry views of the birdies.

3. We put new windows in our house a couple of weeks ago - we decided to include the grids in the upper panes, to give our house a faux craftsman look - hard to achieve in an 80's bi-level, I admit. Here is my bedroom with the afternoon sun shining in, and freshly dry-cleaned drapes. I made them several years ago out of Waverly drapery cotton and still love them, so I was glad they came back looking great. The room is peaceful and comforting to me.

4. It's really not my most favorite place to be, but I am also blessed that my desk at work is next to beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows and the view is interesting and pleasant. Since I had my camera at work today, I decided to share the view with you.

5. We watched a great movie last night that drh had recorded from pay-per-view, The Blind Side. It was a great story, dramatic, funny and moving all at once. I recommend watching it if you haven't seen it.

Check out more Fave Five's at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story.

Fun Friday

2010-04-30T19:27:00.003-05:00

Today L came to quilt. We had a good time talking. While she quilted, I sewed together setting blocks for a quilt to be silent auctioned at the Relay for Life in August. Here are the 9-patches she made on the design board, along with the green-centered-in-white setting blocks I made. My other daughter and m-i-l are making more 9-patches. Then I'll add setting triangles, two borders, backing, quilt it, and bind it. Come back for future progress pictures!

Where I Run (Friday Fave Five)

2010-04-23T20:37:00.007-05:00

All the trees and flowers have been so beautiful this spring and the weather has been just about perfect. I thought I'd show five pictures of where I run every week, at least once and sometimes twice. It's a 4.37 mile loop, with many views of the lake. It's not quite as easy to see the lake through the greenery now as it was earlier. Being out in this peaceful and beautiful part of the world is refreshing to me - one of my favorite places, and one of my favorite experiences. I hope you enjoy these photos!

Spring Beauty

2010-04-21T20:29:00.003-05:00

On Sunday we went to see my brother and his wife- the weather was perfect to enjoy their company and grilled pork steaks in their beautiful back yard.

Friday Fave Five

2010-04-16T11:15:00.004-05:00

This week has gone by quickly and rather smoothly. Does that mean I actually remember all that happened? Not really! And even though I started this post on Friday, it's already Saturday night when I am finishing it!

But some highlights to be thankful for include:

1. Beautiful weather - 15 deg. above normal for this time of year, plus lots of sunshine.

2. Routine medical procedure went fine for a family member.

3. Drh finally got his Christmas present done - a spray-in bed liner in his truck.

4. Ran at the lake Thursday night and it was great - weather, friends, and I finally felt like I may be getting back in shape after the long winter.

5. Talked to both my girls on the phone and they are so much fun to talk to. They like to describe their sewing projects especially.

Friday I spent a couple hours at the sewing machine store helping V pick out fabrics for display quilts she's going to make. I also dropped off one I made that she will put up on display for awhile. She is making a child's dress from the same fabrics to show how you can use the same fabric for different projects.

Today I ran in a 4-mile race in a town about 1/2 hour from home - the weather was perfect, the friends were fun, the food was fine - hot dogs, potato salad and cookies make it "famous. " I even took 3rd in my age group! Then I washed and changed, and went to a fabric store and another quilt shop which were in other towns close to the race - couldn't pass up the opportunity. When I got home, I did some house chores, laundry and read my new quilt book. Hope the rest of your weekend is really good!

Mishmash of Thankfulness, Plans for the Coming Week

2010-04-09T12:54:00.003-05:00

Five things I am thankful for today:
1. The beauty of spring - fresh, new leaves of delicate green, gorgeous magnolias, bright forsythia blossoms, early sunlight.
2. Foods of spring - asparagus, ham, eggs, things cooked on the grill.
3. Clothes of spring - brighter colors, lighter fabrics, something different than fleece and flannel!
4. Shoes of spring - maybe? Sandals are lined up and ready to go.
5. Running with friends - a great way to be healthy, enjoy social time and feel really alive.

Menu plan for the coming week, starting today:
9. Company coming: grilled pork chops, oven roasted potatoes, Greek salad, brocolli or asparagus or both, dessert provided by guests
10. bacon cheeseburgers, baked beans, coleslaw, cantaloupe
11. whatever drh wants (omelet? soup?)
12. same as 11th
13. crockpot braised beef steak w/ wine, mushrooms, potatoes, carrots; fruit salad
14. stirfried veggies & pork, rice, cranberry sauce
15. meatloaf, mashed potato casserole, leftover veggies, etc.

Some things in the fridge I need to work into the menus this week: leftover salmon, bacon, corn, brocolli, asparagus, tomatoes, sweet potato, potatoes, cantaloupe, lots of eggs

Working on 4 different quilts right now. The first is a baby quilt - I'm already sewing on the binding. The second is a larger finished top with backing and batting cut and ready to put on the frame - it is for a family gift. Third is another baby size quilt for display in the sewing machine shop. The top is done but I have to cut and sew the backing and batting. The fourth is a collaboration project with my daughters and m-i-l. Some of the cutting and sewing is done, but not all. We're making it for a Relay for Life silent auction this summer. Each of the other three is making several 9-patch blocks, I am making the setting blocks, adding borders, and of course quilting it. We're using some Joel Dewberry Deer Valley prints, and I think it will be very unique! But with so many projects in various stages, it feels very busy around my sewing room.

I am also planning to sew a couple of summer toddler outfits - that will be fun!

Pictures later of all these things!

Long Time, No See

2010-03-22T09:58:00.004-05:00

Wow, it's been awhile. Hello, everyone! Just so you know, I have been really busy... going places, sewing, baby visiting, etc. Since I've last blogged about my every day life, every day has been so full, I haven't had time to blog. I won't complain about that! Some of the events in the last few weeks:

I've helped my older daughter use the quilting machine to finish some baby quilts.

We went to St. Louis for the Missouri Valley Men's BB Tournament.

I went to a baby shower.

I chose, cut and sent out fabrics for my month in the Bee Pieceful flickr bee.

I did the taxes, cleaned, did a ton of laundry, grocery-shopped, got a hair cut, got the oil changed, cooked, went to church meetings, ran many times, went to the gym a few times, helped with the beginner runners' group, did volunteer work for the running club, participated on "E" Bible study, even got to shop for fabric, clothes and books a couple of times! and of course did even more routine chores every day.

We attended a wedding and reception on Saturday.

Drh rehearsed and sang in our church Lenten Cantata.

I've made several blocks for another sister-colaboration quilt.

We got to spend yesterday evening with #1 (and only) grandbaby - she's 11 mo. old and cuter than words can described. Just starting to take a couple of steps, chatters and "reads" and is always in a happy mood.

Day Off and Working on Quilts

2010-02-26T17:01:00.006-06:00

On Friday I took a personal day to stay home, get some chores done and work on quilts. I got the borders on the baby girl quilt for a new girl arriving in May (not mine!) If A hadn't been coming today to quilt some baby quilts, I would've put it on the frame. But the top is ready, the back is cut, and the binding is made. It will be a quick finish in a couple of weeks from now.

I cut out lots of 5.5 in. +squares for a D9P which my sister and I are making for a young family member. Some of them are on my design board above. The design looks kind of rough, but it is another collaboration quilt, so it will all come together. We are each making eight 15" 9-patches, which we will then split, arrange and choose the border and backing for together. I imagine I will then quilt it. I am looking forward to visiting my sister later in the spring so we can finish up the top.

A had a fun day learning how to use the longarm quilting machine, getting two baby quilts quilted and sewing on binding. I had fun playing with Baby G. We had chicken salad sandwiches for lunch, and a crockpot dinner of pork chops, potatoes, carrots, onions and mushrooms, along with salad and applesauce. I'm tired, but it was a wonderful day.

Today drh missed seeing A&M&Baby G, since he went snowmobiling: here he is trying on the gear. I took a couple of cute videos on my camera for him to see when he gets home. Hope the rest of your weekend is great!

Another Baby Quilt Progressing

2010-02-16T21:09:00.003-06:00

My friends are starting to have grandbabies. I love to make baby quilts now. Here is another one made like the last one - a happy accident in measuring resulted in twice as many blocks as I needed for one baby size quilt, so I could make two. The back is different, and I used a different feathering design, and it will have green binding.

Also, I finally got time to carefully make a wonky star for a flickr bee - it was for January! Now I need to get the February one done - a crazy quilt block - so I can be ready when the March envelope arrives soon!

I enjoyed watching the doves gather on our deck in the sun last weekend. They toasted themselves and drank water from melting snow on the top of the grill cover. I am happy to see winter melting away, too.

Quilting Time

2010-02-08T20:07:00.003-06:00

Here is the baby quilt I just finished. I am happy with the quilting, the first time I did any feathers. Even though they are sort of primitive looking, I think they look decent. They fit the style of the quilt. The back is a darling animal print flannel. It is so cozy.

I have two more baby quilts to make before May and one is almost all pieced. I have enough blocks to make another one just like this Stacked Stripes one, but I'd have to get more dots for borders, or something else.

It is snowing again... expecting a lot. Maybe a snow day tomorrow??

One Long Week

2010-02-05T16:10:00.002-06:00

It's Friday and the long week is just about over. It's pretty icky weather out- very windy, wet snow, starting to accumulate although the roads seem pretty wet. I'm tired from long work days and brain energy exertion.

Five favorite parts of this past week:
1. Fun with our church family and the great food at the church chili cook-off last Sunday.
2. Election Day went well with minimal problems (and those easily solved), good weather, enough energy to last. This was the first with new staff configuration and we were really nervous about it.
3. Went to the gym Wednesday after work. This always makes my life feel normal.
4. Went running Thursday after work. Good stress relief and mood booster. Slept like a rock last night.
5. My m-i-l is fine after she had a car accident and her car was totalled. Drh was able to be a great help that day, and will continue to help them work through insurance and car purchase details.

I will have time to finish up a quilt and some other sewing projects and take photos this weekend. YAY. Have a great Friday! Come back soon!

Friday Faves

2010-01-28T21:40:00.002-06:00

Just a quick list of five things that made this week good:
1. Public test of election equipment at work went smoothly.
2. Had a cold, but it wasn't that bad.
3. Finally shaved my legs (you don't want to know how long it's been).
4. Made and shared some great Raisin Applesauce bread (recipe here) with drh and my co-workers.
5. Enjoyed cute videos of my granddaughter showing her darling 9-month-old skills.
Oh, and because I only went back to Sunday for the 5 above, but I realized Saturday needs to be included:
6. Last but not least, visiting d#2 and her husband, seeing their puppies and going out to eat at a fun and good German restaurant with them, and having good driving weather for the day's trip.

Short Break

2010-01-28T21:06:00.002-06:00

I've kind of already been on a break, I guess. Very busy with work, have had a cold, kind of tired. I don't want to whine, so I'll sign off and be back in a few days when the busy time is over and I feel better.

Friday... Finally

2010-01-15T09:45:00.002-06:00

I do have a few favorites this week:
1. The crescendo of busy-ness at work has come and gone. Now there is still lots to be done, but not the frantic crunch that always happens 3 weeks before an election.

2. The weather has warmed up! I got to run outside last night, and apart from being out of shape and having a sore hip, it felt wonderful!

3. I had a quiet Sunday with time to quilt a baby quilt. The binding fabric is washed, pressed and ready to cut.

4. Great crockpot meal last night of potatoes, carrots, onions, mushrooms, pork steaks with rosemary, garlic and lemon pepper. Also salad made with romaine lettuce, apples, dried cranberries, walnuts, green onions, celery, honey/mustard dressing. MMM.

5. We still have a couple clean garments to tide us over until I can get laundry done this weekend. :-)

I'd love to get back to Friday Fix-Ups soon, and posting some pictures of my current sewing projects. I have a couple of Valentine projects in mind, too. Just a couple more weeks of concentrating on work, eating, sleeping and running - hang in there, I say to myself! That's about it for today. Have a great weekend.

I'm Back

2010-01-09T09:08:00.004-06:00

I have not had much time the past couple weeks to think - well, I guess I've been thinking a lot, but no time to write any of it down. No photos today, either. Just might have to wait on that...

Random thoughts:

The gym was pretty crowded on Monday - lots of "resolutioners" perhaps. But I did go twice this week, and ran on the treadmill once. The weather is bad for running. Though I've run outside all winter the past 5 years, I just can't take this cold - it's been in the 10's or lower the last several days. The last day I ran outside was Christmas day. Hopefully it will warm up soon.

Work is hectic, trying to get all aspects of the election to come together with fewer people and a new boss. But we're getting it done. Just looking forward to the middle of Feb. when it will be over until fall.

I have done some sewing, especially on the three-day New Year's weekend and on Thursday when I was snowed in at home. I am really looking forward to working on several projects I've started for spring baby gifts, etc.

I miss my kids and grandbaby more than ever, probably since we got to see them so much over Christmas week. I am sure we'll head out for more visits as soon as weather and work permit!

Basketball games are fun.

Cooking is fun, when you have a plan, ingredients and time to mess with it.

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts a weekly blog meme (what does that mean - can anyone answer that for me?), so I decided to participate. It does everyone good to focus on things to be thankful for.

Friday Five Favorites (from the last week):

1. Cooking a festive and yummy dinner (pan seared steaks with grilled veggies, acorn squash, wild rice pilaf, chopped romaine and tomato salad, apple betty with ice cream, cabernet wine) and going to a basketball game with friends who celebrated their 34th anniversary, and spending the evening with them. Drh sang at their wedding. It was just as cold then as it was this year - 3 degrees.

2. Watching the beautiful snow on Thursday and not having to drive in it.

3. This morning's drive to work - bright sunrise, heavy white frost on the trees, blue sky.

4. Catching up on some volunteer paperwork commitments on Thursday while snowed in, and having time to sew in the afternoon.

5. New crossword calendar I received from drh for Christmas. It's a good one - challenging vocabulary without being full of words that are just impossible to know (like names, titles and celebrities I never heard of).

Projects Finished in 2009

2009-12-27T20:52:00.003-06:00

Irish Chain for DRH
Baby G Disappearing 9-Patch
Flamingo/Plaid whole cloth practice quilt
Ducky Baby Quilt, quilted
Char's Photo Quilt and pillows, quilted
Colorful Wonky Stars and Log Cabins
My blocks for J&L Wedding Quilt
Waterfall wallhanging, quilted
Hannah's Parasol Quilt, quilted
Cowboy Quilt and bag
9-Patch Cranberry/Blue Table Topper
June S.T.U.D. mini - Anything Goes
Noah's Star Quilt, quilted
J&S Wedding Table Runner
July S.T.U.D. mini - Summer Lovin'
Bee Pieceful block for Quiltlady50
Mod Sampler
August S.T.U.D. mini - Buildings
Fun Find church doll bed quilt, mattress & pillow
August S.T.U.D. mini - Anything Goes
Sewing shop Patty Young fabric challenge - baby outfit
September Bee Pieceful block
Patchwork zip bag
Sept. S.T.U.D. mini - Anything Goes
Black and white dress for Baby G
Placemats for sister birthday swap
Church bazaar items
Halloween B'day table runner
October Bee Pieceful blocks
October S.T.U.D. mini - Woodland World
Teeny Tiny quilt swap
November S.T.U.D. mini - Anything Goes
November Bee Pieceful blocks
J&L quilt - done
Teeny Tiny mini angel quilt
Zip bags for Christmas gifts
Corduroy pants and jumper for baby
Placemats and runner for guild project

We Had a Nice Christmas

2009-12-27T20:38:00.004-06:00

S-i-l Matt, daughter Anne, Grace, daughter Laura, f-i-l Harold, and s-i-l Brett.

We had a great time at Christmas, especially being entertained by a darling 8-month-old who is so cute, smart, happy and friendly, we can't think of a better baby! The only thing I would've changed is having had to cut short our day by wanting to get everyone on the road early due to lots of snow and iffy roads. Thanks to my great family for a wonderful day!

One Last Look

2009-12-21T19:49:00.004-06:00

... at the quilt my younger sister and I made for our second brother and his wife for their wedding, which was about 1 1/2 years ago. But they didn't tell anyone about it right away! We finally got together with them on Sunday, and with our other brother and his lady, too. We missed the 5th sibling and her husband - they live too far away! Only one of the kids made it - he's the youngest cousin, still in college. All the others are grown and gone from home except the far away family's youngest daughter. Anyway, we had a great meal (potato soup, oven turkey sandwiches, apple coleslaw, pie, cobbler, poteca, coffee and wine) and a fun afternoon together.

Me (#1), Dave, Kathy, Greg (#2), Jim, Melanie (#5), Jerry (#4), Lucy

A Little More Sewing

2009-12-19T09:09:00.005-06:00

Made these coasters for stocking stuffers from charm squares sent by mini swap partner in the Netherlands. Aren't they cute?

AND I made this darling red and green zip bag to attach to a camera case for Christmas. It has two sides, green for new batteries and red for used batteries. Pretty clever, if I do say so myself! It holds about 4-6 batteries in each side. Don't you think this will solve the eternal problem of wondering which batteries are still good? YAY.

Small Sewing Projects

2009-12-18T20:51:00.003-06:00

I made these three placemats and table runner to send for my sister's quilt guild charity project. She put the binding on the lower right placemat since I had to box them up and mail them off before it was finished. I used a few scraps from a flickr bee partner, but most of the scraps were from a quilt my daughter L made for 4H about 9 years ago.

This little mini was sent to me by a flickr swap partner in the Netherlands. Isn't it cute? I haven't had enough time with working and getting ready for Christmas to finish up my return swap, the other swap or my bee blocks yet this month! But I can't wait to work on them again soon! Have a great weekend!

Fun with Baby

2009-12-18T20:42:00.004-06:00

Last Saturday we got to spend the evening and babysit for G. She is pulling up now so giving her mommy and daddy a challenge every day. Hard to believe I once had enough energy to raise babies - just one evening was quite an event!

Getting ready for company on this Sunday and next weekend - cleaning, cooking, wrapping, and hopefully sewing on several ongoing projects if I have time. Hope your holiday celebrations are fun and happy!

ABC

2009-12-14T19:16:00.002-06:00

Not that it's very interesting, but in the interest of putting up a new post:

ABC's of Me

Accent: midwest, but NOT Chicago
Breakfast or no breakfast: every day: cereal, o.j., coffee w/ sugar and lots of Coffeemate
Chore I don’t care for: vacuumingDog or Cat: neither. too much trouble
Essential Electronics: computer, sewing machines, cell phoneFavorite Cologne: noneGold or Silver: either one is fine
Handbag I carry most often: rather large, dark green with brown handles
Insomnia: neverJob Title: Asst. Exec. DirectorKids: two daughters, 29 and 27; two sons-in-law, one granddaughter, 6 mo.Living Arrangements: small town bi-level; don't know how we used to fit two kids and their junk in here with us and our hobbies
Most Admirable Trait: loyal to a fault
Naughtiest Childhood Behavior: threw grass clippings on elderly neighbor's porch because we thought she was too crabby
Overnight hospital stays: just for having my two babies
Phobias: flying, touching pictures of bugs
Quote: To thine own self be true; thou canst not then be false to any man. Shakespeare
Reason to smile: astounding beauty of the world
Siblings: two brothers, two sisters, all younger
Time I wake up: 5:15 weekdays, 6 or 7 weekends
Unusual Talent or Skill: sewing, which is unfortunately becoming a more unusual skill in this world
Vegetable I Refuse to Eat: hominy
Worst Habit: postponing vacuuming
X-rays: just dental
Yummy Stuff: squash, potatoes, noodles, bread of almost any kind, Bridge Mix, crab salad, tuna salad, peanut butterZoo Animal I Like Most: giraffe

Good Weekend, Short Report

2009-11-24T10:03:00.003-06:00

We had a good weekend. L&B came Friday evening and stayed til Sunday morning. Had a great time with L in the sewing room. A&M&G came Saturday around lunch time and we all went to the game in the late afternoon. Sorry I didn't take a picture of L&B at the game. Came home to fully done lasagna because I used the time bake feature on the oven. MMMM.

Baby G met Penny for the first time (see top photo.) Penny was pretty rowdy and G was really on her way to a nap, so it was a short meeting, but entertaining.

The Whole Week in One Post

2009-11-15T21:40:00.006-06:00

The week has gone pretty well, all things considering. Last Sunday we had supper with friends that we haven't seen in too long. They had a new baggo game and we played until it got dark, then cooked on the grill.

Wednesday I was off work for Veteran's Day. Started out getting up too early to pack drh's lunch, which he then said he didn't need. But I got a good start on other projects that way, I guess. First I made a teeny tiny mini as an "angel" quilt for a swap (see above.) It was quick and fun, and I just quilted it on my regular machine. The recipient likes Civil War repro fabric, so that's what I based my design on. The block is called Shoofly. Then I cut out and sewed two pairs of flannel pj pants for myself which have been on the project list for WAY too long, maybe 2-3 years? But they are perfect and cozy (see bad photo of purple pair below.) I finished up two more paper foundation string blocks for the Bee Pieceful November lady. Went running in the afternoon as the weather was gorgeous. Then I cleaned out the dead flowers from the pots on the deck. Still need to take care of the ones on the porch. That night was the first basketball game of the season, so that was fun.

Thursday I ran after work and went to a pub with friends. After leaving, I must have lost the $10 I got in change, because the next couple days it was nowhere to be found. Ugh.

Friday night after work I finished up the binding on the big quilt and now have to arrange to get together with the recipients to present the gift.

Saturday we had to go out of town for a funeral, but came home by mid afternoon. I did some laundry, ran, cleaned the bathroom, a few other chores. Since we had a good lunch after the funeral, I fixed grilled cheese for supper. The most eventful part of the day was the run - a dog bit me! It was totally my fault. I was paying attention to a guy mowing his lawn and oncoming cars, and ran right across the path of a small leashed dog with big sharp teeth. I am sure I startled him into biting. The owner scolded it severely. But it wasn't as bad a wound as the time I tripped on a branch which then jabbed my leg, or the time I fell of the trail and landed on my elbow. And I put lots of antibiotic lotion on right away (as soon as I got done running 2.5 more miles - ha.)

Today was rainy and chilly, so I did some errands after church. Had to get paper and a new calendar, some buttons for corduroy jumper project, and a Redbird tshirt for Baby G to wear when they go to the game with us next week. She will be a cutie in it, I am sure. A told me they have given her a new hairdo - Pebbles-style ponytail - because she was pulling out and chewing on her barrettes, and doesn't like the hair in her face. Last time we saw her, drh noticed that and asked for scissors... he was teasing, of course.

This week should be productive. Tuesday I am off but have some dr. appointments and other errands. Hopefully I can get to the gym, run, sew and do the bill paying and other paperwork with energy and efficiency! Have a good week!

November Warmth

2009-11-08T15:05:00.004-06:00

Detail of mini (below) finished for November swap, going to Pennsylvania

I can't believe how nice it's been this week. Thinking back on October, one might believe the seasons have been totally rearranged! I ran Tuesday, Thursday and yesterday, and it was great to be back in a routine, as well as outside in good weather.

Friday after work I went to the grocery store and stocked up. Lots of dollars later, I have canned tomatoes and beans to last all winter, other pantry items, boxed foods such as jambalaya rice and instant hot cereal, steaks and fish for the freezer, and tons of fresh fruit and squash which will not last as long. But I should be able to cook up a storm for awhile.

Saturday I quilted a mini, did laundry, made a roast in the crock pot, ran, sewed binding on the mini and continued sewing the binding on the big J&L quilt. Today I finished up the mini with a label and packed it for mailing on Monday. I organized fabric, did more laundry, and enjoyed the warm weather - I could probably open more windows except the bugs are trying to get in. Tonight we're going to some friends to cook out. Not very eventful, but a great weekend in all respects.

Friday Fix-up Etc. Saturday Report

2009-10-31T14:58:00.004-05:00

I felt like I had been stagnating without running much lately, getting grumpier and lumpier. So Thursday we had enough of a break in the rain that I forced myself to go out to the lake. It was also the last lake run for the fall, since the time changes tonight. Starting next week we run in town from the running shoe store. The rain held off for the first couple miles, then sprinkled, then poured for the fourth mile. But what can you do? You have to get back to the car, and since you're hot, the rain feels good by then. And my mood was noticably better, so I was glad I went.

I also learned that Race the Dead was going to be Friday night instead of on Halloween, so since the objective is to have fun and run slow, I decided to leave work an hour early on Friday and go to the race. I won a "trophy". HA. It was pretty nice out, relatively. After almost 4 inches of rain Thursday night and Friday all day, the sun came out about 10 minutes before sunset, creating a beautiful sky and reflecting gold and pink on the remaining clouds. The race course was dark, bumpy, wet and passed a cemetery. Very fun, had hamburgers at the nice little host tavern afterwards and chatted with running friends I haven't seen for a few weeks. A motivating evening, and I'm not sore today like I thought after running two days in a row.

Finished up my October S.T.U.D. mini for Suzee and have it packaged up and ready to mail. I concentrated on the quilting this time - used a tinier stitch length and traced around the designs in the various print fabrics. I am please with the way it turned out and I hope she likes it. The theme was Woodland World.

Here is Grace wearing the outfit I made for the Patty Young fabric challenge in September. The sleeves are a bit long, but otherwise she really loved it. She and A spent last Saturday with us since M went to a men's retreat near here. We get to babysit for her tonight while A&M go to a church Halloween party. I wonder if she learned to crawl yet? Last week she had three good methods in mind but didn't achieve any forward motion. 1) get on hands and knees and rock away, 2) lie on tummy and thrash arms and legs as fast as possible, and 3) put head and shoulders on floor and creep toes forward until bottom is sticking up in the air. Fun to watch, I will say.

Today I made some monkey bread for our breakfast, cleaned up the pile of papers by the phone, sorted out all my running clothes and put away the sleeveless things, put aside some race shirts to possibly make a t-shirt quilt, changed the sheets, switched out drh's short sleeve and long sleeve shirts for the cold weather seasons, cleaned out my coupon pocket of my purse, found my keys (didn't take long), bagged up some things for trip to Goodwill later this week.

and... Hooray! Finally done with the shoe closet reorg.

Recent Projects

2009-10-30T12:45:00.005-05:00

Two minis made for the My Favorite Quilters Teeny Tiny Mini Swap - I made the Civil War repro Bear Paw and sent to Lish, who made the 30's repro string quilt and sent it to me. Aren't they both just ... teeny? and cute.

This is a table runner made for my friend JG whose birthday is Halloween. She has always been a pumpkin fan - go figure. I got the amazing pumpkin fabric from Kimmie as a swap extra. I decided to make the back so JG could flip it and extend the use clear to Thanksgiving. Fortunately the front and back matched up and didn't shift while I was quilting it. I used black thread on the top and brown on the bottom. The quilting design is made in alternating lines across the width of the quilt - one is simple scallops and the other is more elaborate. Definitely a technique I will use again.

I'm working on a mini for the S.T.U.D. swap Woodland World, and it's about ready to go. It should be, because tomorrow is the last day of October, and that's the deadline! Just a bit of binding to finish sewing, then packing and mailing in the morning.

And for my friend Aimee who has the Friday Fix Ups http://adventuresandpursuits.blogspot.com/2009/09/join-me-for-fridays-fix-up.html - I have finished my shoe closet clean-up and will take a photo tonight! FINALLY.

Friday Fill-ins

2009-10-23T09:38:00.003-05:00

From Friday Fill-Ins http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/:

1. It was a dark and stormy night, and the rain hasn't quit yet!

2. ?? so I offered to take the books myself. (Can't think of an answer)

3. Rushing out, I thought I could get in my run before it rained again.

4. More rain!!! ...I think I heard a howl!

5. Shhhh... I'm trying to take a nap.

6. I haven't cooked a decent meal all week, so give me something good to eat!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to running the Race the Dead race, tomorrow my plans include house chores, sewing and babysitting Grace, and Sunday, I want to take a nap!

Questions and Answers

2009-10-21T13:08:00.002-05:00

1. Where is your mobile phone? in my purse

2. Your hair? brown, short and scraggly

3. Your mother? artistic, smart, deceased

4. Your father? smart, talkative, deceased

5. Your favourite food? chicken

6. Your dream last night? rain (or was that real?)

7. Your favourite drink? water

8. Your dream/goal? staying organized

9. What room are you in? office

10. Your hobby? running, quilting

11. Your fear? losing people

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home doing favorite stuff: running, quilting, or with my family

13. Where were you last night? running in the rain

14. Something that you aren’t? mean

15. Muffins? banana nut

16. Wish list item? time to sew and think

17. Where did you grow up? Peoria

18. Last thing you did? ate lunch

19. What are you wearing? tan slacks, black/tan/turquoise print knit top, lt. khaki jacket, black earrings

20. Your TV? not used much

21. Your pet? none

22. Friends? fun, but not enough time to see them enough

23. Your life? busy and happy

24. Your mood? a little on edge due to the rain, long to-do list

25. Missing someone? my daughters - always

26. Vehicle? dirty

27. Something you’re not wearing? long sleeves

28. Your favorite store? TJMaxx

29. Your favorite color? green

30. When was the last time you laughed? this morning

31. Last time you cried? Sunday

32. Your best friend? funny and caring

33. One place that I go to over and over? post office

34. One person who emails me regularly? either one of my sisters

35. Favorite place to eat? home
In addition: old local tavern with the best pizza

36. Best Vacation? hiking in Rocky Mt. National Park

37. Dessert? chocolate cake with chocolate icing

38. Why do you blog? journaling

39. Skill you wish you had? swimming

40. Favorite trait in others? intelligence

Monday Calm

2009-10-19T15:35:00.002-05:00

Kate at http://chroniclesofacountrygirl.blogspot.com/ asked some questions today:

What was the last thing you baked? 2 cherry pies for the church bazaar.

What was the last thing you tried on for size? some tops and jackets when I went shopping with my daughter - nothing looked good, though.

What was the last thing you purchased on credit? fabric. surprised? Just used my credit card and will pay when the bill comes. Not like I bought $1000's worth.

What was the last thing you purchased with cash? lunch at the church bazaar (bbq, chips, lemonade and raisin pie)

What was the last thing you took a photo of? mini quilt that I'm mailing to my swap partner this afternoon. Can't show you that yet, but here's a good one:

Quilt Festival Choice

2009-10-15T11:04:00.005-05:00

This is a quilt top that my younger sister and I made for our middle sister. She got married in January 2009. We started this early in the fall of 2007. We each made half the 9-patch blocks, with tan or cream prints as the 4-parts and colorful prints as the 5-parts. We had a piece of drapery fabric with a large floral print to guide us in color selection, since we live in two different states.

She picked out the creamy rose and blue setting block fabrics and made the half-square triangle blocks because I was totally against making triangles! She came to my house and we laid them out, lining up the cool colored 9-patches on the rosy halves, and the warm 9-patches on the blue halves. Then we went fabric shopping for the borders. At the end of the weekend, it was all put together. Thanks to our husbands for entertaining each other with computering, golf, and nature hikes. Thanks that they get along, because that is usually what happens!

She took it home and had it professionally quilted, and then put on the binding. I don't have a picture right now of the finished quilt, but our middle sister and her husband love it and have it on their bed.

Thanks to Amy for again sponsoring a Blogger's Quilt Festival! Go click on a few!

New Acquisition

2009-10-13T13:42:00.003-05:00

Scored! A giant outdated map on foamcore was being thrown away at work. I used clips to attach an ugly flannel-backed tablecloth - it's pink with blue butterflies, can you tell? Now it's a design board!! YAY. I'm so excited. Some leftovers from my most recent mini were on as a demonstration of how nicely the pieces stick. I'm so happy! I might hang it on the wall behind the quilt frame which you can see in this picture. Now I have some more things on there for current flickr bee blocks and a b'day gift project.

A Few Thoughts

2009-10-09T15:00:00.006-05:00

I was doing some blog surfing (I call it chaining - following links in blogs found by links) and found these questions here at Chronicles of a Country Girl.

1. What is your absolute best asset? Not sure if it's my best asset, but I automatically jumped to overanalyze this question: my best physical asset? my best intellectual asset? my best asset in the talent department? my best possession? my best relationship? Whew. I think I have best assets in all those areas and can't really determine what is THE best. My smile, my ability to see the big picture and overanalyze everything, my sewing skills, my house, my sweet husband, my whole family...

2. What is the best thing that has happened to you in the past week? Well, I must here tell you that my short term memory is certainly not my best asset because I can't really remember much that has happened in the past week, but going out to dinner with friends is at the top of the short list.

3. What do you usually use to mark a place in a book you’re reading? I cut the fronts of birthday and other greeting cards we receive into strips about 1.5-2 inches wide and use them for bookmarks. Some of the really pretty ones are laminated on my Xyron. That way I feel I continue to enjoy the cards people are so nice to send.

4. How many times do you hit the snooze button in the morning? Zero.

5. What was the last thing you put a postage stamp on? A package to my sister including secret placemat swap, and some jewelry and a scarf I am loaning her to take on a trip.

Big Quilt on Frame

2009-10-04T14:43:00.004-05:00

Last night and today I finally put a pretty big quilt on the frame. It's 84x84. My sister and I made it for a late wedding present for our brother and his wife. I'm using cotton batting for the first time. So we'll see how I like it. I hope to have it quilted in a few days, but my evenings will be busy this week, so it may not be finished until next weekend.

I really like the colorfulness of this quilt. As most quilts do, it kind of designed itself as we worked on it.

Off to run - perfect weather!

Scrap Pile Fun

2009-10-03T14:42:00.004-05:00

Started looking through my scraps to make some little zip bags for my church bazaar. I also pulled out some vintage zippers probably intended for some projects years ago. Here is what I ended up with - a green/brown combo, brown/gold/rust combo, green/turquoise combo, and a bit wider one of pinks and greens. Unfortunately, the scrap box seems to be still just as full. But all I used are scraps except for the stiffening.

Now, since so many of the scraps were just too small to use in these projects, any ideas for using the tiny ones? I have a notion to cut them into 1.5 inch squares and make little charm quilts or something tiny. Doesn't that sound like a lot of work, though?

Sunday Visiting

2009-09-27T20:06:00.006-05:00

Baby G and friend Baby L

Grandpa let her sit on the motorcycle, even though he doesn't like her outfit

Nice hairdo - but that's how it looks after napping, I guess

Well, instead of doing anything productive, we spent the day visiting. First we stayed late at church for the monthly lunch to visit with church friends, and then we took a motorcycle ride to see Baby G (and her mommy - but daddy was playing golf.) It was a great day for a ride - sunny, warm and breezy. We had fun seeing one of Baby G's friends, too, and seeing how excited and happy she was to have another baby there. While it doesn't show in the picture, she waved her arms, babbled and laughed, and tried to hug and kiss Baby L.

We took along the first dress I've made for a baby in probably 25 years. It turned out fine, even though I had to patch together the ribbon trim, since there was only 4 ft. on each spool. That was not enough to go around the hem once. In the back, there are pieces of the same one that's around the waistline to span the gaps. I love the sailor collar.

Finished dress - possibly will fit for Easter

Friday Fix Up

2009-09-26T11:19:00.003-05:00

Here is my first Friday Fix Up. As you can see, the shoe pile is in desperate need of help. So here is how I fixed it:

BUT unfortunately, the pile is still the same behind the door. I plan to get to it later this weekend. Really. Now I'm sewing and doing laundry. More later...

Weekend Adventures

2009-09-20T18:00:00.006-05:00

This weekend's happenings seemingly call for a less mundane title - there are a couple of less common events to report on. Friday I went home early because we had to give an appreciation dinner to election judges on Wednesday evening. So I got to spend the afternoon sewing! Drh was painting the laundry room, the current house updating project.

Saturday was a good day. I slept a little late, changed the bed, cleaned the bedroom and bathroom, washed out all the silverware dividers and the silverware drawer (not something anyone would notice, but good to have it cleaned), and gathered up laundry. I couldn't start on washing because the laundry room flooring was going to be put in next. Which happened, too, and it's great that the concrete floor is finally covered.

I went running a little after 10:30 - it was beautiful, perfect weather - sunny, 68 degrees. My town was having a garage sale day, so lots of people were out enjoying the day. About 1.5 miles before the end of my 5-mile run, I was joined by two female golden labs. They took off from someone's garage sale area where a little boy was playing with them. I stopped and tried to chase them off, but they wouldn't leave me. I called out to the people that they better get their dogs back, but they said the dogs weren't theirs. So I kept running, and the dogs did, too. A couple of times, I had to slow down and call them back because they were running down the streets and there was a bit of traffic from the garage sales. They obeyed me just like they belonged to me. A few people asked me if those were my dogs, and one elderly neighbor told me I should have them on a leash. On the last portion of my run, I ran past my own house to the end of the block, turned and walked back to cool down. The dogs ran ahead of me, and actually turned into MY driveway and ran up on MY porch before they even knew I was going to that house! It was really weird.

Then I noticed one of them had a bloody foot. They sat down on the porch and said, Hi, we're Blondie and Goldie. Can you give us a drink of water, tie us up in the yard in the shade, and try to call our owner? So I did. One had a collar with a tag with a phone number on it. HA. Drh found some rope for me to use. He kept his eye on them while I took a shower.

Later in the day we had to go eat with friends, so a young couple we know offered to take them to their fenced-in yard. But Drh had time and decided to hunt the dogs' owner, so after doing a reverse look-up on the phone number, he rode off to the next town to notify them. We'd left messages, but thought perhaps some neighbors could help us find them. He found a bunch of information, including that they moved and live about 5-6 miles from us, and the owners' invalid mother's caregiver's husband was visiting his grandma in our town and would be able to take them home. So that is what happened. Isn't it exciting?

On Sunday I got to teach my friend J how to use the quilting machine. She liked the results after she spent the afternoon quilting. That was fun. While she quilted, I fixed two pairs of pants of mine so they wouldn't gap in the back of the waist, started a little dress for Baby G, and helped fix a zipper on J's daughter's jacket. Lots of things to check off my to-do list!

Lost for a Title

2009-09-12T10:41:00.006-05:00

Can't think of a clever title for this post... ohwell.

It was a good week. On Monday we took a motorcycle ride to Arthur, which was having a Cheese Festival. The weather was perfect, and we had pork sandwiches, ribbon fries, homemade ice cream, pie, and the free cheese and crackers. There is a nice and interesting fabric shop there, with great quilting fabrics and lots of other choices because the large Amish community makes many of their own clothes. I bought a few fat quarters - who can resist? It was a relaxing afternoon.

I managed to run on Tuesday, go to the gym on Wednesday to lift, and run on Thursday, and we ate fairly well - I made Pork Pad Thai and Turkey Taco Bake this week, and we had leftover pizza, too. So a healthy week, also.

Thursday night was the sewing shop open house where Patty Young was the guest of honor. My little baby outfit won the child's garment sewing challenge, and I was given a nice prize of more Patty Young fabrics and her little girl's apron and chef's hat pattern. She gave an interesting talk on her background and how she came to be a fabric designer, as well as her design process.

Last night and today I worked on and finished this little zip bag. I used some of the pieces in the charm pack sent to me by Julie in the August S.T.U.D. mini swap. It turned out cute, but I should've trimmed and squared up the hourglass blocks before I sewed them into rows. Actually I wanted to practice making this type of bag for possible church bazaar items, and I think I can whip out a few with simpler patchwork or just plain. I probably have hundreds of zippers I've not used in things over the years.

Off to the rest of the day!

Weekend Report

2009-09-07T09:13:00.005-05:00

Since we have today off, it's still considered the weekend, but so much has been checked off my list, I thought I'd report the "so far" stuff.

Saturday I ran in a 5K and drh ran, too. He is a biker and does elliptical, so not totally conditioned for running (which affected him yesterday.) But we had fun, and it was a beautiful day, and I got another medal! Third in age group. A&M&Baby G walked the course with the stroller. After the race, we went to their house and played with the baby and fixed lunch. M's parents and grandma joined us for lunch and the afternoon. We all had a nice visit. We got home later than we'd planned, and the evening consisted of a long nap and early bed time.

Have you ever seen a Bumbo seat? That's what the baby is sitting in above. They're new since I had babies (so is practically everything else - HA), and it is a fun seat for babies. They are securely held, but can stretch and turn and kind of bounce in it. She likes it.

Sunday after church we cleaned the house. It probably helped that it was kind of gloomy and threatening to drizzle most of the day. We dusted, vacuumed, tidied up, polished mirrors, changed sheets, washed linens and other laundry, washed the kitchen and front hall floors, put away things, and sorted out paperwork piles. Then I caught up on writing some notes to friends, and some volunteer paperwork I'd been putting off too long, and updated the church website - it took me most of the evening, but all is caught up now! Drh worked on some computer jobs, practiced the guitar, and then went to town and got a pizza for our supper.

Today I already got the checkbook reconciled, the bed made, the dishwasher going. Now for folding laundry and some closet straightening. Later we're going to take a motorcycle ride for lunch. I'm still reserving time for sewing later today!

August Mini Arrived

2009-09-04T17:57:00.005-05:00

I finally got the second August S.T.U.D. swap - it may have been lingering in the post office awhile. It's darling! The theme was Buildings and Julie chose to make log cabins into bird houses. Isn't it nice? And she sent a charm pack - wow! I am excited because I've never had one before.

Weekend plans (3 whole days!):

Saturday - run in 5K, visit and eat lunch with A&M&Baby G, and her other g'parents, too

possibly go to last dirt track race of summer (at local track)

Sunday - church; laundry, clean house, catch up on paperwork

Monday - long motorcycle ride - unless the weather on Sunday is just too nice to resist being outside all day, so it might be Sunday instead - or both!

Have a great weekend!!!

Sewing Challenge Done

2009-09-02T16:01:00.005-05:00

I just finished the sewing challenge for my machine shop open house. Patty Young for Michael Miller fabrics were required - Patty herself will be at the open house on September 10.

I must say, the biggest challenge was remembering how to sew garments, and how to make buttonholes. But it was fun, the fabric is beautiful and lovely to work with, and I hope my baby granddaughter looks just as cute in it as I imagine.

So besides this cute little project, I have also made two mini quilts, a Bee Pieceful block, quilted a doll bed quilt and my Mod Sampler, helped my sister cut setting blocks and lay out a bed quilt, and taught my daughter how to use the longarm quilter, all in the month of August! It is amazing that I got so much done. I don't have quite so much planned for September... yet.

Doll Bed Finished

2009-08-23T11:23:00.003-05:00

Brown Bear trying out the bed at home

I finally sat down and made a little mattress and pillow for the church nursery doll bed. It didn't take long - I guess I'd put it off because the stuffing process is always a pain. But for the mattress, I just cut two layers of fairly puffing batting, slipped it in, and did a bar tack stitch in six places to make it tufted. The pillow was easier - I just robbed some stuffing from my daughter's huge pregnancy pillow (which had a big hole ripped in the side anyway). I could probably make 50,000 doll pillows from that giant thing.

Saturday Satisfactions

2009-08-22T21:20:00.007-05:00

Hi, I'm back! Seems like a long time since I had any time or anything interesting to post, but today I have something to say, I guess, and can get around to it.

Last Saturday we spent much of the day cleaning out the laundry room, throwing away a ton of junk and moving most of the keepable stuff into the family room temporarily. Drh is going to finish the drywall job (begun 22 yrs. ago) and put down flooring on the concrete floor, and build nice cabinets with real countertops! It will be a nice room for use and storage.

On Sunday afternoon we went to visit A&M&Baby G, and got to babysit for a couple hours in the evening. Baby G was a delight, until she decided there was no way she wanted a bottle and had to just spend the waiting-for-mommy time crying her eyes out. Well, babies are like that sometimes...

This week I've been settling into my new desk at work which came with my change in position. I've also been working on a big project which was left behind by my predecessor, trying to learn the ins and outs and bring it up to speed before we implement the program. Nuff said - probably boring...

Wednesday after supper, drh left for Bristol and the races with a few friends, leaving me home alone for four days. I went to town to do a couple of errands and spent much time at the fabric store. Thursday after work, I ran - it was beautiful out! Friday I went to the mall and shopped for clothes, shoes and baby things. Had Schlotzky's sandwich for supper, worked on a mini quilt for the STUD swap when I got home.

This morning I finished sewing on the mini's label when I got up, took some pictures, packaged it up and got all my errands, list, etc. lined up to go. First stop was the post office to mail the mini. Then I went to town: the bank, the sewing machine store, Arby's (found a coupon for a free combo meal in my purse that expired in May 2008, but they took it!), Penney's, Joanne's Fabrics, Hancock Fabrics, a store where I had to make a return, another store that has lots of cool discounted stationery and papergoods, a shoe store and WalMart! Whew.

At the sewing machine store where I got my longarm machine, they are starting to carry fabrics. There is a sewing challenge going on, because in September, Patty Young is coming to an open house. Here are some of her fabrics, the ones I chose to use in my challenge project. I don't quite know what I'm going to do yet, but I better get crankin' because the projects have to be turned in by Aug. 31!

When I got home, I had to cook myself some dinner. Here is how it went:

Main ingredients

While the pasta cooked

Apple cut and topped with brown sugar, cinnamon, raisins and "butter", then microwaved

Pasta with tuna, cannelini beans, tomatoes, black olives, feta cheese, green onions, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper, and baked apple for dessert

Yummy!

Weekend Report

2009-08-11T12:38:00.004-05:00

We had a great weekend with my sis, b-i-l, daughter, s-i-l and Baby G. We ate hamburgers, watermelon, and enchiladas; laughed, played with the baby, sewed, walked, some played golf... A couple of highlights:

Saturday Satisfactions

2009-08-08T13:42:00.005-05:00

It's Saturday again, and even though it's a busy one, a great day. This morning I got up early, took out all the recycling (two months worth - we were gone last month on collection day), ate breakfast, went to a 5K. It was pretty nice out at 7 a.m., though now it's already hot and steamy. The registration table line was growing fast, so after I signed in, I sat down and helped get everyone signed up. Had time to warm up a little after that. I ran pretty well - and got 3/5 in my age group! (I told drh that I should really enjoy this summer because next year I'll be moving up an age group and that will be the end of the medals. Several very fast and slightly older ladies will be way ahead of me.)

Got back to town, went to church and hauled all the recycling there (two months worth again!) out to the curb just as the collection truck arrived. So I was able to put the bins away without making another trip.

Went to the post office and picked up the mail. My mini from Bangkokmom arrived! It is so pretty with linen sashings, red dot binding, ric-rac trim, variegated thread - real Summer Lovin'!

Before I came inside, since I was still hot and sweaty from the race, I trimmed the bushes and swept the porch, and washed out the trash bins since the recycle collection truck came along to my house, too. Ate lunch, took a shower, took some photos before drh went to take a long nap (he was up all night at Relay for Life.)

I finally got photos of my Mod Sampler. Check the flickr group for lots of photos of these quilts from a Quilt-Along started last February on the Oh Fransson! blog.

I am working on the binding for this little doll bed quilt for the church nursery. Isn't it cool looking? I'll also make a matching mattress and pillow for the little wooden bed.

I better sign off because I still have lots of chores to do today for company tomorrow. My sis and b-i-l are coming for 2 days, and we'll eat, chat, sew, shop, take walks, golf, sew, quilt, and eat and chat some more (hope we have time for all that.) Also A&M&Baby G will be here tomorrow to see their aunt and uncle. I can't wait!

S.T.U.D. Mini Made it to Bangkok!

2009-08-06T09:01:00.004-05:00

I sent my July S.T.U.D. mini to Bangkokmom. I was a little worried about the package making it half way round the world, but it only took a little over a week. Check out the flickr group here.

I also can report that I have the binding finished on the Mod Sampler, and have the quilting done and started the binding on the little baby bed quilt for church. Photos later...

Saturday

2009-08-01T12:45:00.003-05:00

After a busy week (what did I accomplish ??? ?), it's Saturday. And drizzly. So far today I have folded, packed and mailed my August Bee Pieceful block, cut and sewed binding on front of Mod Sampler, cleaned off my computer desk (that took awhile), made the bed, baked barbecued chicken wings, made potato salad (with already cooked potatoes), looked at weather radar to see if it's raining at the fair, eaten lunch, looked at pile of filing sitting on the floor (next job). Too bad drh is at the fair in the rain, but he can eat chicken and potato salad for supper.

Fun Find

2009-07-22T22:26:00.006-05:00

I spent most of Tuesday helping clean and reorganize Sunday school rooms at church. In one pile of crafting/fabric supplies, I found this.

Isn't it cool? The blocks are all sewn together just like this. I washed them and dried in the dryer, and they held up well. I wonder when they were made? Did you notice the two at the top are the same fabrics, but made as opposites? I also brought home a broken doll bed and a yard of brown flannel. So the doll bed will be repaired and a new quilt will be made! I'm excited about it.

I also got my Mod Sampler on the frame and started quilting it! Finally.

"Studio" Tour

2009-07-22T22:24:00.001-05:00

Sewing table and part of closet on a neat day.
My fabrics.

Organized supplies and tools in ziplocks and bins.

New method of folding and arranging small pieces.

Typically messy area.

I decided to participate in the Sew Domestic Studio Blog Tour, but I'm too late to be an official member. I thought you might like to see my space anyway.

My answers to these FIVE questions....
a. What do you use your space for? Sewing and quilting; sewing, crafting and quilting supply storage. It used to be a spare bedroom but we moved out the hideabed couch and a dresser to make room for the quilting machine. YAY.

b. What is your favorite thing about your space? It's Mine. All Mine.

c. What struggles do you have with your space? It's kind of small so I have to move my ironing board (the only moveable furnishing) around a lot to get to what I need. Also, I let the mess get away from me too often.

d. When do you use your space? Now I am using it almost every day, after work, and on my days off. For a long time it went unused because I wasn't sewing much for a few years.

e. Share an organizational technique that works for you. A few of my organizational techniques: I hang my scissors on a hook rack. I use lots of zip lock bags, which are easy to see into, to sort and store threads, notions, and other doo-dads. I use plastic storage bins to keep categories of fabrics to manageable sizes, and under my quilting frame to replace the dresser drawers I used to have. Other baskets and containers store frequently used small items. I TRY to put things back where they belong after I use them.

Weekend Report

2009-07-19T19:57:00.009-05:00

We went to a resort near Branson, MO, for our nephew Joel's wedding to beautiful Sarah. And we had a lot of fun eating, boating, swimming, playing with the baby, and of course, going to the wedding. Isn't my family beautiful?

First Quilt Parade

2009-07-14T13:01:00.004-05:00

The First Quilt Parade is on at Camille's blog and Carrie's.

This is not my first quilt, but the third, and the first one I took or saved a picture of. I had to scan a photograph to get this, so the quality isn't that great. I made this in 1988 and called it Ronnie's Sunshine Quilt. It was for a friend's new baby boy. It was cut with scissors from cardboard templates. I did a good job of that, and it made the piecing very accurate. Then I hand quilted it. It took a LONG time, and I didn't really like the quilting process, even though I enjoyed embroidery and cross stitching at the time.

My real first quilt was made from flannel and was a quilt as you go log cabin pattern for another friend's baby. It was kind of mushy and lumpy. But as a handmade gift, you couldn't beat it. The second quilt I made was for my own first baby in 1980, and was simply squares made from scraps of clothes and things I had made over the years in high school and college, with mostly pinks, blues, yellows and purples. I still remember many of the pieces even though the quilt is long gone. I stitched in the ditch on every square. Then after a couple of washings, the batting came apart at the stitching lines and wadded into lumpy, unpleasant balls in each square. I was quite disappointed in it, which is why I was willing to give hand quilting a try later.

After I made the Sunshine quilt, I made two more similar ones for my niece and nephew, my sisters' babies. Then I made a couple more things when I belonged to a quilt guild, and drh bought me a large frame for hand quilting. I'm sad to say the first quilt I put on that frame was never finished and I sold the frame a few years later. I guess kid activities, making family clothing, and volunteer work kept me busy enough through those years.

My most recent quilt is the blue/white/black table runner I just finished. I also have my Mod Sampler ready to put on the quilting frame, hopefully today, and then that will be my most recent quilt.

I've learned that I don't like hand quilting, and using templates isn't something I'd do again. Rotary cutting is wonderful. I don't like triangles; I don't like doing the math to work out a pattern, but I also would rather do that than buy a pattern. I really like fabrics - shopping for them, washing and pressing them, arranging them, enjoying them as I work the piecing and quilting, making sure I have good quality materials. I decided I have to not fret so much over the designs and colors, and just go with my instincts so I can start and finish things. I learned that it's okay to work a few minutes at a time if that's all I can do that day. I love my long arm quilting machine even more than I thought I would. I really like looking at others' work for inspiration and just entertainment. So those are lots of things I've learned over the years.

Random Thoughts

2009-07-14T09:01:00.002-05:00

Outside my window…sunny, green, summer, still early enough to make the day seem promising.

I am thinking…about whether I should get dressed before I start my to-do list for the day.

I am thankful for…my husband, my family, my comfortable home.

From the kitchen…leftover cajun rice/sausage/veggies; or leftover spaghetti tonight. No cooking today!

I am wearing…pjs and bare feet.

I am creating…ideas in my head for new quilts and sewing projects.

I am going…to the DMV, Hobby Lobby and thrift shop today.

I am reading…the newspaper daily, but not much time for more lately (besides blog reading, that is).

I am hoping…that we have a relaxing weekend with family at the wedding.

I am hearing…a lawn mower in the distance.

Around the house…things are a bit messy, but not an emergency yet.

One of my favorite things…is summer food - fresh fruit, sweet corn, grilled pork chops... mmm!

A few plans for the rest of the week…wrap wedding gifts, pack for trip, laze around in between wedding festivities, get home on time Sunday to wash undies for the following week.

Weekend Finishes

2009-07-13T21:43:00.006-05:00

I am happy my weekends continue to bring me enough time, energy and motivation to keep on finishing things! This weekend was a long one, since I took off Friday to go to the races with my family and some friends. We ate, waited out a rain storm, read the paper, did crosswords, talked, ate again, walked around the vendor displays, ate again! But the weather cleared up and the evening was very nice to be outside, even though the race itself was kind of boring.

After a late night Friday, I slept late while drh went back to the race track for Saturday's event. Trying to miss more rain, I went to a local art festival early to find bowls or table accessories to go with the table runner/wedding gift. I had success, purchasing two beautiful bowls from a former teacher of my brother, who also is a potter! And I found two more bowls and a nice tote bag for myself, resisted tempting earrings, and enjoyed viewing some gorgeous paintings and other artists' displays.

I went to the sewing machine shop to get more thread, had a nice chat with the friendly owner, did a couple more errands and headed home. I finished sewing the runner top and back, and cut and pressed the binding, just on time to change and head out to the lake for the Dog Days 5K race! The weather once again changed to allow for a great evening - the humidity and rain showers of early in the day were gone, and a fresh breeze helped keep the runners "cool." I finished 4/4 in my age group this time, but it was a fun race.

Sunday after church I practiced some drawings of my quilting pattern for the table runner, put it on the frame, and did the quilting. I can't say as it turned out exactly as I had imagined, or hoped, but it looks fine and with the bowls will make a good gift.

I haven't started my July S.T.U.D. mini yet, but I have the fabrics and know what I'm going to make. Hopefully I can work on it tomorrow, since I do have the day off. Later in the week, we'll go out of town for the wedding, so I must squeeze in laundry, pre-packing and gift wrapping, too. Have a great Tuesday!

Shopped, Scored

2009-07-07T17:23:00.006-05:00

I had the day off and after doing a few chores around the house, paying bills and vacuuming the upstairs, I took off for two quilt shops, each about 20 miles away in slightly different directions with about 15 miles between them (a triangle with my home). It was fun! I hadn't ever been to the first one, but I will definitely go back. They had some $9 bags of fabrics which appear to be buyer's samples. I am ignorant of the designer labels, so I don't know what line or company they are from. The one bag I chose had two pieces of purple and brown print, one purple and brown pre-quilted piece, and four sets of buyer samples. Each sample set has 7 or 8 pieces of companion designs - two sets of pink/red/aqua blue, and two sets of green/gold/tan. I'm sure that I or one of my daughters can make something with them.

I also bought two books on free motion quilting, with design ideas which are fun and beautiful looking. Two more necessities: hot iron cleaner (great when you gunk up the iron with batting or interfacing adhesive) and a NEW rotary cutter blade. The one I've been using must be ancient - can't remember when I actually bought it. But the new one cuts like... NEW! Amazing how a sharp blade can slice so easily.

And a couple more pieces of fabric - a couple of sale pieces, some lemon print for a summer project, and a big piece of green and white geometric print with which I hope to make some dust covers for my quilting machine and bobbin winder.

A very fun day. Hope yours was, too.

Weekend Report

2009-07-05T18:51:00.006-05:00

The weekend was pretty good. Friday was a holiday, so we were able to get lots of chores done around the house. Drh trimmed all the bushes and mowed the yard - it looks great. I did laundry, put away a bunch of laundry and clutter, changed sheets on one of the guest beds, and dusted the bedrooms. I think I did more, but I can't remember now! I did get started cutting out pieces for a table runner I'm making for a wedding gift, since our boss let us off early Thursday and I took advantage of that to stop at the quilt shop for fabric before going to the lake for the Thursday night run.

I fixed leftover country ribs shredded with added bbq sauce for dinner. After dinner I cut the backing and batting to the proper sizes, and put the Star quilt on the frame (see above). It took a lot less time than previous projects - maybe I'm learning how to do it.

Saturday we woke up to drizzle, which became a steady, all-day rain. I had half-planned to run a 5-mile 4th of July race, but since I hadn't signed up in advance, decided to delay my Saturday run until the rain quit. We fixed eggs, hash brown patties and toast with jelly for breakfast, and lingered over coffee. Then we worked on our church's new website until about 1 p.m.

After lunch I decided that if it quit raining by 3:00, I'd still have time for 5 miles and a shower before we went to friends' for dinner and the fireworks. I started quilting the Star quilt. By 3 it hadn't stopped raining, so I made the salad for the dinner contribution and kept on quilting. It was only 5 times across, and the last time was only 5 inches deep (?). I took it off the frame, changed my clothes and we left for our friends' house. They fixed great chicken shishkabobs, mashed potatoes, and corn bread, which went great with my apple/walnut/raisin/celery salad. They made chocolate caramel ice cream pie for dessert. MMMM. Unfortunately the weather never improved, so the fireworks were postponed until tonight.

Today after church, I did run my 5 mile goal run. It was beautiful out today - sunny and breezy. Everything is still so green and pretty since we've had a wet enough spring and summer. Had lunch, read the paper, and trimmed the Star quilt so the maker can now add the binding.

I finished all that I can on the table runner, since I need MORE fabric. The missing areas are due to inattention to the rule of "calculate 3 times, measure twice, cut once." The calculations were sloppy, so I cut one of the black strips to make the black and white units in the missing areas 1/2 inch too short. DUH. That meant I had an inch extra fabric left, so it would have been JUST RIGHT amount if I'd paid attention earlier. But not enough left for the re-do.

I took more photos of the Star quilt out on the deck so I have a good record of the project including the back, and helped drh wash and wax my car this afternoon. Made rhubarb pudding, talked on the phone. Now we're going to go back to our friends' for the delayed fireworks show - hope your weekend was just as fun and productive!

STUD Swap Mini Arrives

2009-07-03T12:32:00.009-05:00

YAY, I got my first swap mini in the mail today (actually it arrived on Wednesday, but I wasn't able to get to the post office during open hours until today.) Jennie-Sunflowerquilt has made the most perfect mini Irish Chain quilt with lovely, soft cherry red and green and buttery beige fabrics. The tiny 1-inch squares all match up so perfectly. She included some fat 1/4's, candy, notepads, and embroidery scissors! I hope to make matching placemats with the fabric - the colors look great in my kitchen/living area.

On another subject, I haven't posted about yet, I was able to go visit my daughter A and baby all day Tuesday. Baby G is growing and is so cute - smiling, cooing, and we had a great tongue-clicking conversation going. The picture is from later in the day when she was getting a bit cranky, but generally she's a laid-back, happy girl.

I even accomplished stuff while I was there. I took along a pillowcase project to make, and a swim suit top to alter (A had volunteered a long time ago, but she turned it over to me because of the stretchy fabric), and some embroidery designs to trace. So I hauled out her sewing machine and supplies, reorganized her thread totebag, and took over the dining table. I was happy I was able to complete the pillow cases. The tracing didn't go so well, so I need to use a different method altogether. A took time to fill up the jars in her new spice rack, and Baby G got to sit and watch us be productive. A successful day!

First Mini-Quilt Swap a Success!

2009-06-29T21:22:00.005-05:00

My mini swap partner received the package I sent her today. So I can put some photos on, since she's already seen it. It was a blast to make, and finding the cute goodies to go with was also fun. I have to confess, the little ceramic watering can was a lucky discovery at a local thrift shop, but it is a perfect match, and SQJ is a gardener - how perfect is that??? She loves sunflowers, but I had the daisy fabric already, and somehow the other pieces jumped out and said, we match - use us!

I used a piece of cotton batting I had left from a previous project. Piecing the back was a snap, since there was an automatic "striped" piece left from the little nine-patches. I kind of wondered about putting it on the big frame and using the long-arm, but it worked fine, the quilting took about 15 minutes at the most, and I LOVE how it came out. Just a success all around, and SQJ even said she likes it - the best part!

I'm signed up for the next one in July, too. The theme is Summer Lovin', and the partners will be assigned in a few days. Getting involved in a swap was a bit scary, but it's working out great, and I'm happy I signed up.

Finishing Up Today

2009-06-27T12:15:00.004-05:00

As you can see above (though most of it is wrapped up and hidden for now - check back in a couple days for more revealing photos), I sent my S.T.U.D. to Sunflowerquilt this morning after I ran a 5K trail race. Two great things accomplished before 10 a.m.! I even won my age group this time! I was 1/3 in women over 50. There were only about 26 runners - a very nice course in a county park by a lake near my town. The sun was shining, the lake was sparkling, the breeze was nice, and it wasn't that hot yet at 8 a.m. I feel I'm adapting to the heat now, too, so I'm sure that helped.

L&B came down to go to a cookout at some college friends' home today. They will stay overnight with us and go to the family reunion with us tomorrow. We are keeping the dog company for a bit, but will probably put her in the crate while I go to the store. Tonight drh and I want to go to the dirt track races if the weather cooperates. But first I need to accomplish some laundry folding, get some groceries to make a salad for tomorrow, and hopefully take a nap. Have a great day.

For the Table

2009-06-25T13:57:00.003-05:00

I'm working on a table runner, mostly as another quilting machine practice project. I'm sewing the binding on now. I've found I love sewing on bindings. The quilting took about 15 minutes, I think. It looks great - I think it might need to be pressed because the intersections of the squares in the nine-patches are a bit bubbly. Ironing should take care of that.

Finished A Few Things - Tuesday

2009-06-23T10:57:00.007-05:00

I have the day off! We finally finished things at work enough that I can start taking the next few Tuesdays off. My boss retired, so that finished off the party planning and cleaning up a lot of loose ends with her; my co-worker finished her medical leave, so now my double duty has ended and we can take a few breaths in between tasks.

Over the weekend, I ran a 5K and finished 3rd in my age group! I got a nice medal again. It was a small race in a nearby small town at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. The results are not posted on the club website yet, but I suspect there were only 3 in my group... since I ran SO slowly. I didn't come close to meeting my goal pace in the first mile, so just gave up the idea of going "fast". It was only 68 degrees, but sunny, humid and no breeze, so I was pretty hot. It's taking me awhile to adapt to the heat this summer, probably because it came on so suddenly after weeks of cool, rainy weather. It was fun to be with friends and enjoy the outdoors nonetheless.

I finished a mini-quilt for a swap I'm in. This morning I sewed on the label, and quilted myself a duplicate - it was so cute, I just had to make two! Now I need to find a good box to package it up and should have it ready to send before the end of the week. I will put on a photo after my swap-partner receives it, but if I do it now, she may see it and the surprise will be spoiled.

I've been inspired by some cute ideas on blogs to make little girl dresses from men's dress shirts, so took a jaunt through a couple thrift stores to see what's available. I found a few possiblities. These are what I found, plus a tan linen one that is still on the drying rack. Do you like them?

A Bunch of Info - Probably Useless

2009-06-19T09:02:00.003-05:00

WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR?
Green.
WHATS IS YOUR FAVOURITE ITEM OF CLOTHING IN YOUR WARDROBE?
Some really flattering jeans that are now about 4 years old. They make me look very slim.
WHATS YOUR DREAM JOB?
Retirement.
WHATS THE LAST THING YOU BOUGHT?
Underwear and washcloths from Tuesday Morning.
WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
My co-workers chatting.
WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM?
Butter pecan.
WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE FRUIT?
Cantaloupe.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Nature, mostly.
WHATS ON THE WALL OF YOUR BEDROOM?
Four pictures. Two over the bed, of abstract flowers in round vases; and two on the wall by the dresser, of lakes, farm buildings, sail boats, etc. All in rich colors like ruby red, navy blue, golds, emerald greens, teals.
WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE DESIGNER?
I don't have one, but I tend towards a Jones New York type of wardrobe style, maybe a bit more bohemian. But I am not an Eddie Bauer or LandsEnd type at all.
DO YOU ADMIRE ANY ONES STYLE?
Can't think of any one right now.
WHAT LANGUAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK?
I speak German some, but I would like to be better at it.
WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE QUOTE?
A merry heart does good like a medicine.
WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE MAGAZINE?
Smithsonian.
IF YOU HAD A $100 WHAT WOULD YOU SPEND IT ON?
Fabric, shoes, maybe a new top. A bottle of wine, ciabatta bread.
WHATS YOUR CURRENT OBSESSION?
Quilting and learning to use my quilting machine.
WHAT ARE YOU WEARING TODAY?
Black flared skirt with satin ribbon trim, black/teal/white geometric print satin tunic blouse, black patent leather sandals. (I'm at work and dressed up for a retirement reception - not mine, unfortunately.)
WHATS FOR DINNER?
Left over ham/veggie/pasta, wine, cherries and ice cream.
WHAT WOULD YOU EAT FOR YOUR LAST MEAL?
Enchiladas.
IF YOU COULD HAVE A HOUSE PAID AND FURNISHED ANYPLACE IN THE WORLD WERE WOULD IT BE?
On a lake in Michigan or Wisconsin.
IF YOU COULD GO ANYPLACE IN THE NEXT HOUR WERE IN THE WORLD WOULD IT BE. Outside to a lake or mountains to hike.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO AFTER THIS?
Get back to proofreading yesterday's data entry. Fun, fun.
WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK?
The Bible.
DO YOU COLLECT SOMETHING?
Not right now. I used to collect bird figurines. I sort of collect clothes, and fabric, I guess.
WHATS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT RULE IN LIFE?
Be honest, and put people ahead of other issues. That's two rules.

Top Ten Things

2009-06-18T16:00:00.004-05:00

I might join Jenni here for Top Ten Tuesdays. I missed it last Tuesday, but here are mine for that week:

The Top Ten Coolest Things I’ve Ever Seen (in no particular order)

1. Northern lights - way back in about 1990 or so I saw them once.

2. My new babies when they were born (does that count as two?).

3. Great blue heron footprints in the sand under shallow water.

4. Berlin.

5. The Rocky Mountains in Colorado.

6. The Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

7. Wilderness in Canada - I wish I knew where it really was, but it was so beautiful.

8. My new granddaughter's smile.

9. A bald eagle flying out of the woods and along side of us as we rode the motorcycle in Wisconsin.

10. The bonsai trees and plants at the North Carolina Arboretum - fascinating and beautiful!

Cool Cowboy Quilt

2009-06-17T22:46:00.005-05:00

Here are pictures of the cowboy quilt finished! I really enjoyed making this and quilting it. It looks so nice. Everything turned out just right. I really hope my friends and their little boy enjoy it as much as I did making it. I just love how the looping quilting pattern looks with the lassos in the print.

Last night after work I stopped at the farmers' market and bought beets, zucchini, yellow squash, hydroponic tomatoes. and a small loaf of olive ciabatta bread. I had some spring onions left from a couple weeks ago. For our supper, I cooked the beets; sauteed the squash and onions with fresh basil and parsley growing nicely in a pot on the deck, jarred garlic, salt and olive oil; sliced a tomato; sliced the bread; and heated up ham slices. It was delicious!

Here is what we had for dinner tonight. It is pasta cooked with some of the beet greens, sliced black olives, chopped leftover ham, leftover squash mix, a tomato, and leftover jarred spaghetti sauce. Sprinkled with parmesan cheese and served with the rest of the bread and a glass of wine, it was SO good - I was SO full but I wish I could've eaten more. MMMM....

My Sewing Machine

2009-06-14T22:54:00.008-05:00

From SewMamaSew's sewing machine meme:

What brand and model do you have?
Kenmore 385.

How long have you had it?
About 15 years, maybe 20? I should look it up.

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?
I paid about $150, I believe.

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?
Now I mostly sew quilts, but I have sewn clothing; stuffed dolls and toys; curtains and other home dec items; doll clothes, bridesmaid dresses, custom sewing and alterations for others as a business; tote- and dufflebags; and wedding dresses for my two daughters. I will probably start making clothes for my little granddaughter soon.

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?
I used to sew a few hours every day while my girls were babies through high school, but now I sew just a couple of hours a week.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?
I love my machine. I love the way it sounds as it sews. I don't have a name for it.

What features does your machine have that work well for you?
Drop-in bobbin, buttonhole template attachment (though the newer versions are easier than mine), durable motor which handles the things I sew, good tension settings.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?
Nothing drives me nuts.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it!
No great stories - it has done some traveling to many 4-H workshops and both my girls and a few of their friends learned to sew on it.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?
I would recommend this type of machine because it's sturdy but simple enough to not intimidate, and has lasted well through lots of projects over the years. I am not sure the company still makes sewing machines.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?
What it will be used for; match up the skills of the sewer with the complexity of the machine; cost; quality of results possible with the machine; brand reputation; service availability through dealer or manufacturer.

Do you have a dream machine?
No, I am happy with the machine I have now.

June is Flying By

2009-06-14T22:20:00.007-05:00

The last two weeks have been rather blurry. We spent a lot of time in the hospital with my f-i-l. He will celebrate his 85th birthday next weekend, on Father's Day. We are grateful to God and all the wonderful medical staff and facilities that he is here to celebrate! On the 3rd, he was to have a stress test at the hospital. He and my m-i-l arrived early and went to the restroom. While in the restroom, he had a heart attack. Since they were in the restroom in the hospital, and in the emergency room waiting area besides, help was immediate. He was taken to the cath lab and a completely blocked artery was cleared by angioplasty. Not the best way to get out of a stress test...

He went through some rough days and nights while his body healed from bruises from his fall, and his brain healed from the cardiac arrest. But now he is home again and seems tired and achy, but also that he'll be back to his old energetic self very soon.

We had a peak of exhaustion but are now recovering from that. A few more good nights of sleep will be welcome.

Besides keeping my m-i-l company, driving back and forth to the hospital, keeping up with a little laundry, and finishing the flower planting, I did manage to work a few hours each day. I skipped a whole week of running and going to the gym, but got out Thursday to the lake for the 4.37 mile loop, and ran 4.5 miles on Saturday. Both runs were good, and the weather is even cooperating with cloudy, mild weather.

I did get to work on a quilt today. Some friends are accompanying their son and d-i-l to the final adoption proceedings of their sweet little grandson next week, and I wanted to make him something to celebrate the occasion. I was inspired by a darling rocket ship quilt with giant pinwheel blocks, and had this great cowboy print. The pattern is just made for showing off a big print that would not be improved by cutting it into small pieces. I got the back made, and want to get it quilted this week.

I haven't worked on the back for my mod sampler yet, but that is next on the list.

It's getting late and the nap I took this afternoon is wearing off. Good night!

Mod Top Done

2009-06-01T22:16:00.001-05:00

I got the mod sampler top done tonight! That was exciting but so was getting flowers and planting some of them. It was threatening to storm, so I decided it was not relaxing working outside. I'll have to finish planting the flowers tomorrow night.

What Do I Miss?

2009-06-01T12:22:00.001-05:00

Three Kitchen Fairies shares on her blog that she's made some lists to help her introspect and assess her life at the moment.

http://threekitchenfairies.typepad.com/

So to follow her example, I'll try to say what I miss. I miss:

being outside more in the summer. I used to have lovely, long days of fresh air, yardwork, gardens, hanging laundry on the line, taking kids to lessons and the park and library, sitting on the deck after supper to read or chat.

shopping time. And just the time to do errands without fighting deadlines and traffic.

reading books on a regular basis.

my mom, even though she's been gone almost 12 years. I wish she'd been here for my girls' graduations, weddings and new baby.

my dad. I felt like I was really beginning to know and appreciate him when he died.

house time. Time to sew, clean, cook, redecorate, enjoy the comfortable home we've made.

my girls. Although we talk a lot, there are days when I miss the days when they were 6 and 8 years old and they were constantly there.

my sisters. They live too far away.

traveling on the motorcycles with j&j.

To mention the introspection part, most of these thoughts remind me to appreciate the times when I can experience the memories, or enjoy the company of people who mean a lot to me, or enjoy nature or new sights. That is one of the best parts of memories - to teach us how to live our lives better in the present.

Sewing Saturday

2009-05-30T15:20:00.001-05:00

Several Things I Did Today:
Got up and ran 5 miles early, beautiful day, glad I did it!

Fixed scrambled eggs for breakfast, enjoyed the coffee and newspaper.

Made the bed.

Cleaned the kitchen - emptied and refilled dishwasher, decluttered and wiped counters, scrubbed skillet.

Did a crossword puzzle.

Hard boiled some eggs for potato salad.

Laundry - 3 loads washed and dried, much of that folded and put away.

Sewed more sashings on the Mod Sampler. How do you like this green sashing?

Quilted almost 3/4 of the pink/purple/parasol quilt (it is not for me but for the granddaughter of my boss).

Now I must make the potato salad, rhubarb pudding, and spinach salad w/ strawberries, green onions and pecans for company coming in just 2.5 hrs.! Yikes!

TGIF

2009-05-29T14:30:00.000-05:00

I am so glad this work week is almost over, not because the week has been bad, but because I can think of SO many more things that I'd rather do than be in the office.

Ideas and lists for the weekend - Not sure I'll get it all done or in this particular order, but I can dream...

House: pick up clutter, dust and vacuum, laundry, ironing, put books in car to donate to library, straighten closets, swap drh's summer/winter shirts, put away clean clothes, pay bills.
Outside: clean out car, sweep garage, prepare new planters for deck, buy and plant flowers in planters, wipe off table on deck.
Hobbies: run, sew quilt top for mod sampler, put pink/purple parasol quilt on frame, clean up sewing room, finish up more crosswords, sew dust covers for bobbin winder and long-arm, make new pin cushion(s), make tote bag.
Food: grocery shop (don't forget orange juice), plan and prepare company dinner Saturday night, attend brunch after church Sunday, make nice dinner Sunday night.
Misc.: plan outfits for next week, plan what to pack for long weekend at my sister's next weekend.

Let's see - what can I make for company dinner? Maybe pork chops on the grill, potato salad, baked beans, sweet corn on the grill?, strawberry/spinach salad... must think about it more before grocery shopping. I could look at cooking blogs for ideas, huh?

Now I better start on the list or nothing will be done, and that won't be a good thing.

When Dad Does Your Hair

2009-05-25T20:32:00.001-05:00

Got a couple of new pictures from A of Baby G.

Here is she is with real smiles at 4 weeks old! Mommy likes a more traditional hairdo for her, as you can see.

PJ Top Tutorial

2009-05-25T10:40:00.001-05:00

I finally finished sewing a pair of pj shorts I started last summer. They turned out comfy and fit well, so the pattern is a keeper. They even match the newest race t-shirt I got last weekend, but most race t-shirts are not very comfortable on me, because they are sized for men.

My neck gets hot since the necklines are too close, and the hems are too long and too tight around the bottom. So I decided to modify the t-shirt and, while I was at it, make it even more coordinated with the pants.

Neckline:

Cut the neckline trim off. You can cut .5-1 inch below the seam as I did, or you can cut just below the seam if you want a bit closer fit.

Make 1.25-inch bias strips from your pants fabric. I had just a couple scraps, so I had to cut several strips and sew them together.

Leaving about 6 inches of the bias tape unsewn, and starting about 3 inches from the center back, sew the bias tape to the neckline with a .25-in. seam. Place the right side of the bias tape to the wrong side of the t-shirt neckline.

When you get past the second shoulder seam, lift the needle and cut the thread. Overlap and cut the bias tape with the unsewn part from the beginning so there is a 1.25 in. overlap. (Similar to how you put on continuous binding to the quilt edge.) With right sides together, make a diagonal seam to join the ends of the bias tape.

Continue sewing bias to the neckline until complete.

Press the bias tape so it lies on the outside of the neckline.

Turn the bias tape raw edge to the seam line, fold against the t-shirt fabric so the tape lies completely to the outside of the t-shirt neckline.

Sew the bias tape close to the edge to complete the neckline trim.

Hem:

Cut 2 inches off the bottom.

Measure 3 .5 inches up from the bottom on either side and cut a slit.

Pin a length of bias tape along the slit, with the right side of the bias tape to the wrong side of the t-shirt.

Sew a .25-in. seam along the bias tape, but taper the seam to the end of the slit on the t-shirt fabric. See photo.

Press the seam toward the tape.

Press the raw edge of the tape over .25 inch. Fold the pressed edge to the seam line and stitch close to the folded edge so it just barely covers the seam line. This is NOT the same as the neckline was sewn.
(More photos will be added)
With the right side of t-shirt fabric together, pinch a fold in the bias tape and sewn diagonally across the fold.

Trim bias tape to match bottom edge, if necessary.

Fold and press bottom edges of front and back up 1 inch.

Sew 5/8 inch from the bottom on front and back. Sew again .25 inch above the first hem line.

Press hems from outside of t-shirt.

Finished!

Hint for making pants: add a small loop of ribbon under the waistline casing in back so you can tell which is the back of the pants.

How do you like the new pjs?

Yummy Creations

2009-05-23T16:34:00.000-05:00

I baked today! We've been out of any type of cookies or desserts for a few days, and I forgot to get any cookies at the store last night. Today we got invited to j&j's for dinner, and I volunteered to make deviled eggs. So while the eggs were boiling, I made oatmeal cookies!

I've been working on my Mod Sampler quilt, finally. You can see Oh, Fransson!'s Quilt Along here, and check out the Flickr pool here. I am not really quilting along, as most of the quilts were done a few weeks ago, so I guess I'm quilting along behind. But it has been fun watching the quilt along, the progress of all the quilters, and also starting my own project.

Today I got my 5-mile run (with some walking) in at 8 a.m. and glad of it, as it has warmed up considerably since and it was pretty summery already that early. Also got almost all the laundry done, dusted the bedroom, decluttered the kitchen counter, and cut drh's hair. Maybe I have time for a nap before we go away.

I'd like to cut out some shortie pajama pants for myself and a sun dress for Baby G this afternoon - but there goes naptime if I do.

Tomorrow we're going to see Baby G - she is growing and getting cuter (though how she could get cuter is really a mystery) every day.

Monday Done List

2009-05-18T06:51:00.001-05:00

I'm SO glad I didn't back out of the trail race (considered due to generous rainfall last week). That's me on the right with friends R & D. Notice our dirty legs and soaking wet shoes and socks. D won 2nd in her age group and received a cool bison head trophy. I came in 5/5 in my AG, but didn't come in last in the race. HA. It was wet, muddy, lots of standing and running water, one real stream, two or three temporary streams, swamps, rivulets, puddles, and bogginess. It did make for nice squishy running surface - easy on the feet. But the shoes got dirty. I had looked for old shoes and discovered that my current shoes are more worn out than shoes I'd retired! So I just wore the current shoes. They washed up fairly well in the washing machine.
I finished quilting my friend's wall hanging panel she generously let me use to practice with a pantograph pattern. I had some trouble until I figured out which stitch mode and speed to use. Also the tension had to be tweaked because I changed the needle before starting this project. The stitching came out okay - it took longer and I didn't enjoy it as much as free motion, mostly because I wasn't able to enjoy the fabrics while quilting. All I could look at was the pattern and the laser stylus. A different experience. I do like the colors in the fabric - a rich, glowing navy which is my favorite kind of navy. I used a denim chambray variegated thread - not sure I like it a lot, but it looks fine.
On Sunday I cut and sewed the rest of the blocks for the big quilt I'm making with my sister for a gift. The blocks do look good once you mix them up together. It will turn out great. I told her I think the dark green/brown one in the lower left looks way too dark, and the rust and burgundy one near the center top has measurement issues and might have to be remade. She said, we only need 49 and we have 52, so no need to make more! YAY!