Busy

I did get something done... another row for the Lotto over on QFC
  Here's a little close up:

I don't know what it is about the Attic Window setting, but I enjoy doing that block.
I really haven't done any sewing this week - simply been too busy.  Had a job interview on Monday.  Thought it went well, they seemed enthusiastic that I had all the qualifications, sent me for the drug screen.... alas, I haven't heard anything...... It was a job doing what I really loved when I used to work full time and this would be part time, so I guess I can still hope for the best....  Anyway, Monday morning my son came up to work on his boat trailer with his dad and brought my youngest granddaughter with him - so she and I spend some nice quality time. Mon. afternoon was my 16 yr old granddaughter  and she worked on her dad's quilt for a bit.  Tues. was cooking and getting ready for a dinner meeting at my house for the Invitational Track Meet.  Wed was our regular Rotary meeting and getting some salmon in the smoker (my son prefers smoked salmon and his wife sent it up my way)  Thurs was printing menus and price list for the concession stand at the track meet, cooking up 15 lbs of pinto beans for the concession stand, and then an evening meeting to get the programs put together - that didn't go well - couldn't get the spiral binder thing to work - ended up putting all those spirals on by hand after hole punching (can you say sore fingers?)  What we thought would be a couple hours took almost 5 hours.... Home by 11pm, asleep by midnight, up by 5:30am - make a cinnamon roll cake, get things together, get down to the track and set up the concession stand by 8am... At the field until 6pm... Sore legs, back, Please just let me find a hot tub of water.....
In bed by 9pm, up at 5:30 (again) to be in Tucson for the grandson's football game by 9... Home, fall asleep on the sofa... no energy left.  A good night's sleep tonight and hopefully I'll be able to find some sort of normal next week......

Katie

just stuff

A week has gone by since my last post.... Trying to think of what I've done this week other than simply  have it go by too fast.  Quilted 2 more quilts, had 2 done so that left me 4 to get the bindings on - done!  I have one quilt to put borders on and once that's done, I think I'll only have 6 more to quilt and finish.  I had another row to make for a row lotto and got that done today.  Decided to make a couple Farmer's Wives blocks - that didn't work out too well.  Used the measurements that EQ gave me to make HST's - once assembled that unit was too big....so, I'll rip those seams out and trim the HST units to the proper size and I hate to rip - so I left the sewing room instead.  OH, Pictures???? I'd have some if I could find my camera....
I did venture into SAS, a discount fabric store in Tucson,  I went in to get some Sunbrella fabric to recover the cushion on my wicker love seat on the back porch.  Of course I had to venture over toward the cotton fabric - oh, big mistake..... I walked out with 13 yards of cotton fabric, too.  And as for the Sunbrella fabric - OMG, that stuff is like sewing cardboard.  I covered that cushion but I don't think I like it, it is so very stiff now.  I'll see if it 'breaks in' a bit....
I have a busy week ahead and probably won't get much sewing in.  The local Rotary club is sponsoring an invitational track meet this Friday and I will be busy getting all the finishing touches on that.  Have meetings to attend for it, a dinner meeting at my house Tues evening.....This week will probably go by too fast, also.... Ah, well, guess it keeps me busy and out of trouble........

Katie

Happy Sunday

Yesterday was rainy, cool and windy here in S.E. Arizona.  Today, is supposed to 10 degrees warmer and lots of sunshine edging up to low 90's by the end of the week (I love having something to look forward to !)  I was an "Army Brat" and have lived in every region of the U.S. including Alaska.  I've lived in the tropics and of all the wonderful (and some not so wonderful) places I've lived and visited, I have never regretted staying in Arizona.  I moved here in 1971 and except for a couple years abroad, this is where I've stayed and wouldn't have it any other way.  Those who have followed me for awhile know that I'm an avid ATV rider and today that's exactly what I'm going to do - ride!  When I'm out, I take  a lot of pictures.  I took several pictures on one ride of a very colorful locust (sorry the picture is not on this computer or I'd show it to you).  My friend, who is also a quilter, asked me why I was taking pictures of a bug????? So, I told her to take a really good look at that "bug".... the colors were amazing!  Oh, heck now I have to show you that bug ---- wait, I'll be right back!    Are you still there?  Here's my bug!

Look at all the color!  Can you imagine putting those colors in a quilt?!  I know, I know,  I get excited over the strangest things.

Here it is again.  The first picture, it was in a bath tub.  Ranchers place old tub for use as watering troughs - obviously this one was empty.  I, being the kind compassionate person that I am, helped the little critter out of the tubs and back into a more friendly environment for it - after all it kindly allowed me take it's picture.

Anyway..... just remember - Mother Nature is never wrong - she puts colors together in perfection.  So when you get an opportunity and see some wonderful color, take advantage of it.  Snap that picture and put it your sewing room for reference!

Okay, I need to get ready for our ride - hope everyone has great a Sunday as I know I'm going to have.

Katie

Liebster Award

 

Kitty from A Left-Handed Quilter  was kind enough to give me “Liebster Award”

What an honor…. Thank you so much, Kitty.  Truly very much appreciated.

Here’s how it works:

The Liebster is given to blogs that deserve to be recognized, but have less than 200 followers. And, of course, the Award comes with just a few "rules", which are:

1) Post about your win on your blog.

2) Link back to the blogger who presented you with the award.

3) Copy and Paste the award to your blog.

4) Present the award to 5 blogs that have less than 200 followers that you think deserve to be recognized.

5) Let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

Now the hard part… There are so many great blogs out there in blog land.  I read everyone I follow every day, even if I don’t post about it.  Okay, so here I go…..

Sewing Junkie – Chris is just so creative.  Whenever I read her blog, it makes me think about possibilities.

Quilts n Things done by….. Deb does some amazing quilts and if her header photo doesn’t make you smile (and dream) nothing will

Cowgirl Quilter – Well, living in AZ, the “cowgirl” title got me… but Kristie is another who does amazing quilting.  I also love reading about how the house is taking shape (you’ll need to go read for yourself)

Dream Quilter – Linda doesn’t post a lot, but when she does, it’s fun reading.  I think you would enjoy some time on Linda’s blog….

In the Desert Quilting – Melanie has such an interesting blog.  Her organization is awesome – how she keeps it all in order…….

The above are just a small sampling of those I enjoy reading and follow.  Each blog brings a different perspective and it’s own personality and creativity.  I hope you will enjoy reading these blogs as much as I do.

 

Katie

just stuff

This was a quilt block I did for a swap quite a few years back.  I love the fabrics used in this as well as the pattern.  I'm thinking I 'created' the pattern from the the book "Lazy and Lovin' It".  I have the Lazy Angle ruler as well as the book and  I tend to gravitate to that book when I'm wanting to try something a bit different yet don't feel like 'playing' with EQ.  Do you have a book that you tend to prefer over others?  I don't have a large quilt book library.  I have books that I've bought, looked at and they are now shelf sitters.  Maybe it's time for me to 'clean out' the library.......
I haven't got any real creative plans today.  I'm  still trying to get the timing on the quilter 'just right' (if there is such a thing).  I thought I had it yesterday and I may have, but the stitch regulator isn't playing nice (nothing unusual with a TL) so I will have to take the encoders apart and clean them up and maybe replace the "O" rings I did notice some small cracks in a couple).  I really, really need to get some quilts quilted.  I have 2 that need to get finished and sent off.....  So, guess I'd better get off the computer and think about getting some creative juices flowing.....

Katie

Feathered Star Journey

When I posted that I had done a 'journey' of my first Feathered Star, I was going to try and make a separate tab at the top that anyone interested in could just click on and look.  I tried to do the copy/paste thing and all I got to show up was the wording - no pictures.  So, now I'm hoping that this adding links to Google Docs will work????
Step One
Step two
Step three
Step four

My granddaughter will be here today and we will work on a quilt for her dad.  She's chosen her fabric, block design and the embroidery designs she wants to use.  I still need to get the quilter more finely timed and once it's ready and her quilt top is ready, it will go on the frame and she will quilt it as well - she's a natural with the long arm!  She has informed me that "Grandma, you can do the binding."  She tried binding once and declared it simply 'wasn't her thing'..... so for now, grandma will do her binding for her and eventually she'll figure it out.

Katie

Yesterday and today

The quilting room really needed a bit of a straightening up.  The ironing board is always set up - I use it every  day, several times a day.  I also keep a small pressing board and travel sized iron next to my sewing machine.

in the top picture, the rails are off the frame as hubby and I were servicing it and I was waiting on some tension springs... but put the rails back on until the springs get here. I don't use the 'batting' rail on my frame.  I have totes of fabric under it and I like that the 'curtain' helps hide the look of clutter.

This picture show a little shelf under my design board.  It holds mostly sheets that I use for backing...... I know, I know - they (whoever they are) say don't use sheets.  Well, I do.  I look for 100% cotton sheets as thrift stores and I use them.  I make so many 'comfort' quilts, that I could not afford to do that if I used fabric yardage all the time....  

After, all folded and sort of organized.  That's my big board for ironing those sheets and fabric yardage to the right of the design board.  Hubby made it to go over my ironing board and it's one of the best things he ever made for me - I truly would be lost without it.

And here is what's ON the design board.  These are for a row lotto over at Quilters for Comfort - we do a little more than just make 'comfort' quilts over there.  The top is embroidered doves in black.  The theme for that lotto was birds with Black, Red and White.  The second is Sunbonnets with pink and yellow.  

I love making rows for swapping or row robins or as in this case for a lotto.  I get to try something new.  I get to use up left over fabric that was a bit more than scraps,  and I feel like I've accomplished something without making an entire top....

SO yesterday was a clean up of the quilting and sewing rooms complete with washing the curtains and windows.  Today will be making a mess in there again :-)

Hope everyone has a joyful Easter weekend.

 Katie

Feathered Star

My first Feathered Star!  I learned a few lessons in making  this.  Accurate cutting is essential as well as a consistent seam allowance.  There are a lot of pieces in this and it measures 18".  My plans were to use it for a center block for a queen size quilt - but I'm thinking I'd want it bigger for that... still not sure on that yet.  I also learned that no matter how many pieces or how many shapes, if I take my time - it can be done!

So, I'm glad I did it and I know I will do another one.  Now that I learned  some of the basics, it's not so intimidating..  I did take pictures and did a 4 steps journey journal.  Thinking I'll post it as a separate folder (see tab across the top)

Katie