Deco Quilting

I don't normally sign up for 'give aways' when they want you to comment and link and all the other stuff that goes with, but Helen is having a nice give-away and she is just opening her new on-line store and launching some of her own patterns.  Might want to take a look and see if there is anything that appeals to you.

Katie

Best Laid Plans……..

Oh yes, all those plans.  I have discovered in my life that the more I plan, the more I set myself up for failure.  Truly, it seemed even when I was employed, that if I did some serious planning, things would come up.  I remember one time having plans to make some ‘home improvements’ while I was on vacation and ended up working most of the week at my place of employment.  It got to the point that if I wanted to really have time away from work, I had to leave town to get it….  So what does that have to do with anything??? I planned this week and guess what? I didn’t get even half of what I wanted to get done – done.  Five quilts to quilt – simple quilting, nothing fancy… these are the quilts for the boys home and we all know boys don’t want fancy…… What did I manage to get quilted?  One!  and one on the frame…..   So upon evaluation, what happened????  Monday morning hubby comes home from an antelope hunt with son.  Son tells dad, “well, you’ll be going elk hunting in another month so take this (antelope) to mom and tell her she needs practice”  What!!!????? Then hubby is smart enough to say, “he was kidding, he’ll be up this afternoon to take care of the meat.”  But son knows mom too well.  Mom bones out the antelope and cuts it into pieces and cleans it well.  Son shows up later in afternoon with family – the final processing turns into a family affair.  So that takes care of that……

Tues. I manage to get a quilt on the frame and actually get it quilted.  Puttered a little bit in the sewing room.

Wed. – morning swimming.  Quilt put on the frame.  Get one pass done, change thread.  Skipped stitches.  Tear out stitching – done….. Lethargic the rest of the afternoon.

Thurs – Just not a good day.  Managed to get most of the laundry done.  Finished 4 little NICU blankets and made up a couple blocks for the QFC swap

The pattern is “Hayes Corner” and is also from Quilter’s Cache.

Today is a doctor’s appointment where he’ll probably tell me my cholesterol levels aren’t where he wants them and my blood pressure is too high (it’s only high when I go in to see him – go figure)  Then he’ll tell me to exercise more and as always – lose a few pounds……  Ah, well, guess he’s just doing his job.

Then this afternoon, I will have my very active grandchildren for an over nighter and spending the day with me Sat.  I love every minute of that but I know I will be wore out come Sat evening, but it will be such a nice exhaustion

And why haven’t I got things done…. vertigo!!!  Fortunately it’s not bad enough to need medication for and I only get it when I have some head congestion which I happen to have due to allergies.  The vertigo is caused from my having Menier’s Disease.  And my ENT doctor tells me how lucky I am to have it in both ears as it ‘balances’ me and is what prevents me from having severe vertigo which many patients with Menier’s Disease suffer from – I do count my blessings……

So on to a busy weekend and no planning for next week – what will be, will be!

Katie

I know, I know…..

I’m a terrible blogger.  I know a blog is supposed to be about things the blogger wants to write about.  Well if I just wanted to put down my thoughts / words I could do that in a journal on my computer.  I try to write / post something that I think might be interesting to others.  Maybe I’m just a boring person.  Actually, my friends and family make jokes about me never being quiet – what’s up with that?!  I can’t help it if I have opinions, ideas, comments even if they aren’t what someone wants to hear.  I had an employer tell someone one time, “you never have to worry about what she’s thinking, she’ll tell you.”  I worked for him for 22 years !

Okay, so believe it or not, I actually have a couple of pictures… I have to put a note here – those of you who are so good about taking pictures really impress me.  Hard to believe in years past my friends would hire me to take the pictures at their kids weddings with my old trusty 35mm….. Maybe it’s the digital thing – maybe I should invest in one of those expensive  digital camera – ummmm – probably not.  I still tote my the reliable 35mm Cannon EOS with me when I know I’m going to be taking landscapes, scenery or capture the loves of my l life – my family.

OH yeah, sorry, pictures:

This is a little quilt.  I have a friend who brought it to me for quilting.  It was given to her by someone else to be used in a raffle.  I have to say that I was not real impressed with this quilt.  I thought it was sort of drab.  My friend also brought me high loft poly batting to use with this – not my favorite batting to work with.   Hard to see in the little picture, but the bands between the rows are border prints of bunnies.  I could not think of any way to quilt them and really they were only about 2” wide, so I didn’t bother.  I decided the best way to quilt this was to simply try and make the ‘objects’ of the quilt stand out.  I don’t normally do dense background quilting, but I felt it was necessary for this quilt.  After quilting and binding – oh yeah (side tracking again), the outer borders of this quilt were less than 2”, so trying to quilt and add a binding…. I used binding that was a little lighter than the border, but I used what I had and it was okay…… So anyway….. after completing the quilt, I washed it and I think it ended up with a bit of an antique feel.  I know my friend and the maker were happy with the end result.  I hope they do well with their raffle.

This is a 6” paper pieced block.  There is a quilt block swap going on over at the Quilters for Comfort Yahoo group.  This was requested by Dottie. 

These blocks will go Dannee.  I don’t remember the name of the pattern, but it is from Quilter’s Cache.  Each member who signed up for the swap was to chose their block design and the colors they wanted for their block.  This is always a nice way to use up some scrap fabric and try new things.  I know there are a lot of people who don’t care for swaps.  I have to admit that when I have time, I really like them.  When I first started quilting, I joined the quilting forum on About.com and entered quite a few swaps.  I learned a lot from those swaps.  Also, it forced me to really concentrate on doing my best.  I am so not a perfectionist when doing for myself, but when doing for others, I might actually be called “anal”….

I have also finished up a couple quilt tops.  I have two more sets of embroidered blocks that I need to assemble into a quilt and that will then leave me with 5 quilts to get quilted and sent to PA for donation to a boys home.  Then that will leave me with 3 quilts of my own to finish up.  Then….. (yes there’s more) I have agreed to make 4 small quilts and one larger quilt from a lady’s children’s clothes.  She has kept their clothes over the years and wants quilts for each kid from their own clothing and what’s left, put into a quilt for herself.  She would like these done by Christmas…. Sometimes I ask myself “why do I do this?”

Okay, so there you have it – that’s what I’ve been up to in the sewing room….

Katie

R & R definitely over!

If you read my previous post, you're aware that I was enjoying some down time.  Back to the reality of life and it wasn't pretty.... I have a dear friend who underwent surgery and chemo for colon cancer last year.  Her last chemo was in Dec. 2011 and has been declared "disease free".  Unfortunately, her husband is now in the hospital and undergoing chemo for leukemia.  His estimated hospital stay is 3 to 4 weeks.  It is hoped that the chemo works and he will not have to undergo a bone marrow transplant - time will tell..... I was so saddened by this news and so very shocked.  My prayers continue to be with them both.
On the sewing side... I did finish the shooting mat for my son so now I can concentrate on getting some quilts made.

Katie who's sorry for the sad post.....

a little R & R

This was another 'no sew' week for me.  Sunday started it all with my son bringing me materials for a project he'd like me to do for him.  Seems like no matter how old he (or I) get, he still thinks mom can do just about anything.  Gosh, I love that 'kid'! (as I do all my kids :-)  )  Then on to Monday which lead to packing up and getting ready for a camping trip.  Tuesday morning found us heading to the mountains with some friends.

the guys out on the lake

one of our camp visitors

this little guy was a grab and run type of fellow

elk back in the trees

As you can see from the lake picture, it was glorious!  We came back from the lake (about a 100 yard trek) and discovered some disarray of our camp site.  We had some camp visitors that were bold enough to come and visit again - I loved it!  Wednesday evening we decided to take a drive and look for wild life.  I apologize for the poor picture but this was almost dark.  I know it's not real clear but I hope you can sort of make out the elk.  We were fortunate enough to see almost a 100 elk as we slowly cruised the back roads.  They are beautiful, majestic animals and I so wish everyone would have the opportunity to see them in their natural environment.

On to Friday and putting away all the camping gear and getting all the laundry done and the dog bathed of her camping grime.  Then last evening I helped out with a "steak fry" at the local Elk's lodge.  Today I will get some green chili peppers in the freezer.  I am lucky enough to be able to have them roasted 'on site'.  I bring them home, peel the loose skin and get them in the freezer.  I will have about 80 lbs to get done, but OH... the flavor...... makes it so worthwhile!  Then another fun day comes around on Sunday.  Up to the water park in Phoenix with my son and his family.  I guess Monday, I will have to get back to my sewing room.  I have my son's project to get done.  I have 3 more QFC quilts to assemble and finish - that will leave me 5 to get quilted.  I was asked to quilt a small quilt for a friend.  I have to get some embroidery done for a charity auction.  Then I have to finish up my Patriotic Kalidoscope quilt and I have offered it to the Elk's lodge to raffle as a fund raiser.  Yep, definitely time to quit playing around and get something done :-)

Hope everyone has a very happy and safe Labor Day (U.S.) weekend.

Katie