Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Not again!

Sometimes I wonder why I even started a blog!  I seem to be getting worst and worst on posting… I think I only have a couple readers anyway, so again sometimes I wonder why I bother.  Ah well, if you’re one of my very few readers, thank you and I’m sorry I don’t post more often. 

I actually have been busy, busier than I’d like I almost say, but truly I do enjoy keeping my mind and hands busy.  QFC is in full swing again and again I have a stack of quilts waiting for me. ( By the way, Deb (if you’re reading), I put a box in the mail to you yesterday… ) I have a map of the U.S. panel also waiting not to mention a stack of my own quilts waiting.  Have you noticed I said “waiting”?  My brother-in-law (BIL) commissioned me to make a queen size quilt that he wants to give as a wedding gift.  He gave me a date of March 1st.  No problem, gave me plenty of time as he asked this back in December.  Fabrics chosen, pattern chosen – I am ready to rock:

IMG_0032Unfortunately – I rolled!  This is the Hidden Wells pattern and requires a lot of starch because once the strip sets are sewn, you’re working with bias edges.  Now, I know I’m not perfect – not even close.  And I am not a perfectionist by any stretch of the imagination, but I ended up with 3 different size blocks!  I was so frustrated, I even called a quilter friend to come tell me what I was doing wrong.  She checked my seam allowance, she checked the size of strips, she checked my squares and, like me, was totally stumped!  Well, I knew that trimming all these blocks to a matching size, I’d lose some of the impact and I also knew that frustration would make me crazy.  These are now all neatly put away and will be a UFO for when I get ready to simply throw it together and make it a ‘me’ quilt because I do love the colors and pattern.  So now what?  I still have a quilt to make by March 1st.  No pictures yet, but I decided on a Disappearing 9-patch using 9 different colors.  Moving right along and BAM – phone call from the police department in the town my sister-in-law (SIL) lives in.  They had to “breach” her home and she was being transported to the hospital.  Long story short, she was severely dehydrated and extremely weak.  If it had not been for a caring neighbor, we would not have my SIL today.  She is now in a rehab facility to try and regain her strength.  We brought her little rat dog chihuahua home with us and her daughter came from WA state to help.  But… consequently, I’m behind in getting a quilt done.  AND, my BIL calls last evening and was ‘wondering’ if the quilt will be ready this weekend.  Okay, let’s see.  the blocks are done, I just need to assemble the top – okay a couple hours there.  Get said quilt on the frame and get quilted – another 3 –4 hours there as I am going to do a simple free hand meander.  Cut and sew binding strips, get on quilt and thank God I do not hand secure binding but machine sew it.  So sure, I can do this …..  Yes, I will post pictures in a later post and hopefully, it won’t be too long from now…

Katie  who has to go to Tucson as Hubby has a doctor’s appointment, who has to buy a batting for a queen size quilt, who has to get some groceries, who really needs to get her butt in gear or Hubby may be later for said appointment ….

3 comments:

A Left-Handed Quilter said...

No wonder you don't blog much with all of that "crazy" going on - but I am sure glad that you do - because I can certainly relate - ;))

Anonymous said...

LOL...life...it does have it's ups and downs....

~Deb Lindley said...

Dear Miss Katie,
Don't know HOW you do it ALL! Thank YOU soooo much for the box FULL of wonderful quilts - you (and Mickey) are amazing!

Time to get my b&&t in gear and get my QFC quilt finished...I'm off to the quilting machine...

Later,
~Deb