Door Garland

I accidently deleted the FIRST picture that shows the base thing called the WORK garland. It's basically a wire with garland pieces about evey 9 inches. Each work garland is 9 feet long. I wired 2 together for the whole thing.

Daughter #1 helping me make our creation


I don't even know what the red twisty stuff is. It looked like glitered up boning! Felt like it too.


Close up of the Deco-Mesh, the Gold Lame & the Red twisty stuff.


Another view.


I added gold & red all weather plastic balls. I resorted to using zip ties to attach them to the garland.


I had multiple rolls of ribbon, but only 1 that made the cut. So I made about 9 bows (that's all I could get out of 10 yards!) and I wired them tot he garland with (again) Zip-Ties!


You can't see it, but I also wired 4 strings of the mini-lights to the backside of the garland.


Here is the door before I put anything up. You can SEE the command hooks.....I had plenty of them.


My intention was to have the garland hang around the door, but the command hooks kept popping off the vinyl. I think the vinyl is too textured.......that or it's too cold. (the garland is LONG, but it's not too heavy...) I don't know. Either way, I just hung it over the light fixtures.


Even though it did not hang close tot he door like I wanted it too, it did come out exactly like I wanted it to!


Merry Christmas.

Sam

Quilting

I have not done too much quilting lately. Not my own & not for others. Not sure why. Mostly Want To, I guess. I have so many projects going that it's hard for me to decide which one I want to drag out.......silly me! I even THOUGHT about starting another project. Not happening. I have 2 quilts to get quilted for QB1 - they are christmas presents for some of the kiddie members of her family. I actually had to turn down a quilt this month. I wish I hadn't but I did. My long arm quilting is limited to edge-to-edge pantograph quilting. the quilt that needed quilting had a design feature in it of a flange between the body of the quilt & the outer border. Do you know what I'm referring to? I can't quilt over it. I don't see my quilting as limited, but I didn't think "this" was the time for me to branch out & try custom quilting. I'm no where ready to do that type of quilting & maybe I'll never be. Who knows. I actually spent some time in the studio tonight quilting on some sheets (I need a blanket for the car for the dog...quilting on sheets is not such a good idea, the thread count on sheets is so high & tight that the needle skips stitches.......ANYWAY...) I was doing a pantograph that I did earleir this month. Bubbles! It's a CUTE pantograph, and I wanted to do it on soemthing I'd see a lot. Well, I decided to TRY some feathers & such...and some fillers...boy I really am rotten at it. I'll stick to pantographs! Brown thread on white sheets isn't such a good idea anyway....but hey, i was looking at STITCHES, and the dog don't care no way.

I think I'll get Devan's Quilt (niece #7..) out & try & finish it. I did not promise it as a Christmas gift, but I'd feel better about my progress if I had it done & quilted & shipped to California. Before she outgrows the color scheme. (Lime Green & Hot Pink, I don't think I could sleep with that!)

Just wanted to check in & let "all my followers" (tee hee, like there's a million...) know that I have not dropped off the face of the earth. I'll post pictures when I have something new.

Sam

Rice Krispie Treats

The baby had a "fall party" @ the daycare on Friday. I signed DD#2 up to bring cheese cubes & rice krispy treats. Yes, I know, I could have BOUGHT little rice krispy treats that are individually wrapped, but I didn't DO that! I made them. Googled Halloween Rice Krispy treats & there were Pumpkins everywhere. Start to finish MAYBE 40 minutes. DD#2 said the kids loved them & they were a great hit. My grandbaby , however, did not eat one. (he is a terrible eater........just terrible!)

They are not absolutely perfect, but you know what? They're 2 year olds. And they are perfect to me!!






Sam

Rock - On

This is the radio that Daughter#1 gave me for Christmas nearly 2 years ago. I was going to install it int he kitchen, but I have been spending MORE time in my studio than I do in the kitchen. So Prince Charming installed it under the shelf in my studio. It is directly behind where I stand when I am running my longarm quilting machine.



It is blissful to rock out while quilting!

Sam

Second Hand Clothes (KIT)

Several months ago, QB1 & I went to Whittles in KY. The "Second Hand Clothes" by Bonnie Blue Quilts, was one of 2 kits that I purchased. I was at a quilting retreat this week & I took this kit as one of my projects.

I completed all the blocks & sewed half the rows together. I had to complete the remaining rows @ home. You know? It takes 3 or 4 times LONGER to set blocks on point & sew into rows then it does to straight set the blocks? If the blocks on this design were straight set, then I'd pretty much lose all the design that the muslin fabric blocks create.

It's been a WHILE since I have done a quilt that has straight set blocks....Should feel like I finished it licktety split! I'm not complaining, becasue as much as I seem to be complaining about on-point sets, I am drawn to them. Over & over & over. And it can't be too bad, as my youngest daughter said "I claim THIS one!" When I laid it out on the bed to take this pisture this morning!

Sam

Lady of the Lake / Belle Meade (#1) Top Done

Not Quilted Yet.

This is a quilt pattern from Bonnie Blue Quilts. They call it Belle Meade. My blog post shows "#1" because, well, it's ONE of TWO that I'm making.

Where #1 is red, #2 will be blue. And vice/versa. I really like this. I am battling over a decision to put additional borders on it. I think it needs it, but as you can see, it's large enough for our queen sized bed.

#2 will be started after I complete the one & only quilt that I am gifting for Christmas. (I already have all the HST's cut & ready to go....so it's not like #2 has to be "started" or anything!)

Red is my FAVORITE color & RED/WHITE/BLUE is my favorite combo! My youngest daughter is always like: "Wow, Momma, ANOTHER red, white & blue quilt! Imagine that..." Just love that kid, you know?

Sam

Good Help? Yay or Nay? You Decide!

Seems that the BABY could stay OFF the QUILT. I asked him to stay OFF THE QUILT, which he did....




The DOG? On the other hand....He didn't mind so well.




Sam

12 More Blocks !

You know when YOu SEE a pattern & you think "Self, I REALLY like that pattern, but gosh.......it needs to be bigger...so I better make LOTS of blocks!" Well, I thought I was making lots of blocks. Turns out I still need 12 more.


After I laid out this half of the blocks, it occured to me that I MIGHT want to see just how many I wanted/needed. Even though I made 10 more than the pattern calls for, I still need 12 more.

I didn't get too much sewing done on those 12 more as Prince Charming & I worked ont he shed today. Beuatiful weather to work in, I might add! WE called a local "rent a machine" place & had a bobcat with an auger delivered this morning. We spent roughly 2 hours setting & squaring & measuring for the pole placement, and then dug 12 holes. These are for the lean-to's on each side of our shop. I am beat. I ache all over & we only got HALF the poles cemented in the ground.

I really WANT to sew - but we have been slacking on the "getting it done" department...taking lots of weekends off. So we did.

I need to get this quilt done so that I can start on the grandson's "I Spy" quilt - I want to give it to him for Christmas, and I need to finish my niece's quilt too.

And I want to get some face time in with my embroidery machine....AND I have a couple of customer quilts to get quilted too. My, my - my life gets busy sometimes!

Here's something you need to be on the look out for: We're all going to be PIRATES for Halloween. I am SO excited! Y'all better be watching my blog for possible updates.

See Ya!

Sam

New Machine

Look here for my first attempt with my *NEW* machine.

Sam

Up-Dates

You can all rest assured ( I say that ~ "you all" ~ like I have a blue million followers or soemthing!) I HAVE been sewing.

I have 29 blocks completed of 60 on my Belle Meade / Lady of the Lake Quilt. Guess what? I made too many HST's. Betcha didn't see THAT one coming!! Ha! Actually, I thought I had it nailed pretty close. Close? Not so much! I think that when I get BOTH these LOTL Quilts done, I'll have enough HST"S for 2 more. That's 4 if you're keeping up with the math (which, evidently, I'm no good with!)

My sewing room is upstairs in our family room. I have great ligihting for sewing, it's just pretty rotten for taking pictures. So y'all will have to wait until I can REMEMBER to take pictures during the weekend.

This last weekend, QB1 & I sewed some & then got side tracked going to town to get a birthday gift for my DS#1 (dear sister#1) I can't tell you WHAt I bought, as she reads my blog. Let's just say that the lady @ the shop said that she can't keep these things in stock. Sells them as quick as she puts them out. It's REALLY CUTE ! I also got my DS#1 some Knock-Out Roses. I bought themt he beginning of last month - maybe even June, but since you can't find them in September.........I thought ahead. One of them is doing EXCELLENT & blooming like mad. It's a double-pink. The other, while doing VERY well, is not a double - but it's finally taking off & looks equally beautiful.........enough of that....this is about sewing! Guess what QB1 has done???

Do you remember my "On Eagles Wings" quilt? It's another paperpeiced pineapple variation...The last one took 89 blocks, figured so would THIS one. I have MAYBE 30 blocks? She's got 75! SEVENTY-FIVE !!! She is cranking those little babies out! I am SO proud of her!

I often joke with her that it's a good thing my daughters don't marry her sons because none of them would be able to figure out who's mother made which quilt!! Ha Ha! We DO seem to make them together!

AND guess what else?????? I bought an embroidery machine. I get to pick it up tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow! I am excited. I have read where people that have embroidery machines use thier "sew outs" to make into quilts. HHHHhhuummmmm.......sounds like more UFO's. But a good idea, I think!

I promise to post photos soon. Remember, I am also on Nana Duty 3 nights a week. DD#2 has started grad-school. I am totally enjoying the grandson. His vocabulary is exploding. It's so comical.

Gotta go, folks! Tomorrow comes earlier than I want it too. If I could be pleasant while only getting 4 or 5 hours of sleep a night, I would, but guess what? My personality takes a serious head-dive without AT LEAST 6 or 7. Well there's that...but coffee helps too.......!

sam

Fabric Shopping & Whittles

It was raining on Saturday. We REALLY need the rain. It's been so darn hot (humid too, but our grass is dying!) and the rain was so refreshing. (people in the south - none I have seen..- have irrigation systems installed - that's a western thing...)It rained Friday night, late, all day Saturday & a little bit on Sunday morning. When I got up on Saturday, I let Prince Charming sleep in - becasue it was raining. I figured we were not going to work outside on our shed. Once he woke up & we were having coffee on the back deck, in the rain (covered deck) I asked him about working on the shed???? He said it was raining & we couldn't. Darn. I hate that. Y'all know how much I wanted to be out in 100 degree heat with humidity @ 90% - installing vinyl siding? Yeah, I pretty much nearly jumped up & down for joy that we were not going to be "working outside". SSSooooo...........I called QB1 to see what she was doing.

We decided to go up to Kentucky to Whittles!

It wasn't a hard decision. she drove.

We got to Whittles & QB1 bought a bunch of fabric for herself and some for another member of our guild that wants to make pillow cases. I bought 2 peices of wide with fabric for backings & I bought 2 quilt kits.

The kits I bought were......drum roll please.............:



Jubilee Celbration & Second Hand Clothes. Both kits were made from patterns by Bonnie Blue Quilts, in Civil War Repro fabrics. The ones that they had on display in the shop were awesome & the price could not be beat.

The 2 backings are great too!Not sure who the manufacturer is on either..As I was going more for the color than who made them:


Not hardly ANY sewing this weekend. I made 3 receiving blankets for a baby shower, but since I finished the LAST one this morning before the shower, I didn't get pictures of them!

Good night all.

Sam

A Quilt for my neice.

This is a quilt that I started for my neice, Devan. She lives in CA. You might remember the Cowboy quilt? Devan is Dylan's sister. All I lack is an outer row of blocks that will complete the "diamonds" & then the outer border. Quilting & then binding. Did you know I hate binding? Yep. I do.





And..........Just because he's so cute - especially for the camera!





See Ya !
Sam

what HAVE I been doing........?

Lot's.

Just nothing exciting.

I have sewn some of the "On Eagles Wings" blocks. I don't think I have (even) 30 yet.

I got the borders sewn on my Ocean Waves Quilt! Yay! No pictures, as I want to get it quilted first.

I have been working on a quilt for my neice in CA. (Pictures of that one will be in another post)

And..........I made the floral quilt, below, it didn't come out the way I envisioned. Not at all. The one ont he wall in the fabric store was pink, I didn't make the center panel narrow enough, and the floral is a little over-whelming. Oh well, it will be either 1 - a good GIFT quilt or.........2 - a good quilt for the dog.





Sam

Happy Birthday USA !!

My camera was in my purse, and I was wet from watering the dogs, so you're looking at the front of my house after I hung up the buntings on Friday.

Happy Birthday USA !!

I absolutely LOVE red / white / blue. My most favorite color combo.

I almost didn't pout these up this year, but you know what? I am SO PROUD that I did. It warmed my heart to turn the corner & see that white house all decked out for America's Birthday. It looks great.

Other residents hung out flags, but let me tell you, they are going to have to work harder to have more pride displayed that this !!

Happy Fourth of July!!

Sam

Dylan's Cowboy Quilt

I made this quilt several years ago - it's Cowboy Themed. Some of these fabrics are out of print & simply no longer available.

When my brother let me know that my nephew was diagnosed with a desease, I decided that since I could not HUG him in person, I'd send him a quilt.

Dylan is 7 - I really hope that he isn't too old for Cowboy's..?

This shot is of the quilt while on the longarm quilting machine


Another shot of the quilt ont he longarm quilting machine. It's being quilted with brown thread & an all over Stars & Loops pantograph pattern


Label - Made by Leslie!


This is te front of the quilt - you are seeing it on a "double" size bed & in this shot - you are not seeing all the borders.


Borders


Backing - I didn't have enough of either cowboy themed print for the WHOLE back - so I used both - you can't tell in this shot, but the darker print is centered fairly well. I just don't have the quilt centered on the bed.



I still lack gettingthe binding sewn on it & then off inthe mail it goes to Dylan. I hope that everytime he uses it, he feels a hug from me.

Sam

Lydia - Top Done

I have the top for the Lydia Quilt completed. I liked these blocks. They were not so fiddly as I normally work with. And I really like the open spaces - if I did more than just pantographs with my long-arm quilting I could put wreaths in those plain squares.

The pattern has it "done" @ this stage,with no borders, but I have enough of the cheddar print to put really big borders on it. Sounds icky, but once it's quilted, I will scallop the borders & that's why I need them wider than normal. I had origianlly thought about doing a blue border, or even a red one, but changed my mind. I can do that, you know......

Ihave never put scalloped borders on a quilt!



There is not usually SUN in our family room, but I have the day off & was able to take advantage of the natural light that only comes in during the morning hours. A rare treat up here ("up here" means the bonus/family room - becasue it's in the attic roof area of our house)

And here is a picture of the little dude - just coz he's adorable!


Sam