Sam Quilts

Quilted Blankets

2012-01-24T20:47:00.005-06:00

These are fluffy blankets from Target that I quilted to sheets. As you can see? I monnogrammed them BEFORE quilting them, so that they could tell them apart! I monogrammed the pillow cases too. (I only monogrammed ONE pillowcase , of the 2 in the sheet set, for each blanket)

this shot gives you an idea the SIZE of the monogram. MICHAEL had 20364 stitches & only took like 12 minutes to stitch out! I love that machine...

And just because he was HELPING me take pictures!

These are going into the mail & on thier way to Iowa, where I hear the snow is pretty deep.

Sam

Warning BRAG Post!

2012-01-22T21:46:00.003-06:00

I have 2 wonderful daughters. They are both VERY talented. I am proud to say that I think they will both end up crafters or sewers.

This is my Christmas gift from my oldest daughter. She crocheted this afghan for me! It is super warm & I have slept with it every night but 1 (it was 60 degrees the night before last...) since Christmas.

#1 She made it in my favorite color combination

#2 She set the blocks in my favorite barnraising pattern

#3 She made it in QUILT blocks!!

Isn't she talented???

I think so, but I am biased coz she's my daughter!!

Sam

Doubts....

2012-01-16T07:56:00.002-06:00

I know...I know....you don't think that I have been doing any quilting...You would be wrong. I am not doing LOADS of it, but I am sewing!

So? What HAVE I been doing? Piddling more than anything. Ihave been sewing blocks for my ON EAGLE'S WINGS quilt. I am 7 blocks away from having HALF as many blocks as I need with black flying geese. Did you catch that? I still lack sewing just as many blocks with white flying geese. It's gonna be beautiful.

As I have needed more strips for the OEW Quilt, I have been cutting blocks for the mini spools quilt that I have going too. The spool blocks finish @ 5", I figured I'd need around 300 of them, I think I have 264 cut out. I do NOT have that many sewn. No where close. I had been wanting to ask Joan how many SHE needed for her Spool Quilt, but I think I am afraid to ask. What if I need 400? Ack!

I, currently, have 4 quilts hanging in my longarm studio waiting to be quilted. All mine. I already have the backing & the batting for all of them, I don't know why I take forever once I get at this point. Pure procrastination.

I have a blanket on the rails for my daughter - it lacks MAYBE 2 more rows. Once I have that one done, I will make a blanket for my daughter's fiance. I say BLANKET because it's a sheet on one side & a fuzzy snuggly blanket on the other. I am quilting them together with no batting. Oh! They are yummy feeling. I think the one using a flannel sheet is going to be the best one of the 2. I also am embroidering thier name on the fuzzy blanket BEFORE I quilt them. Really nice looking.

Gotta go!

Sam

Door Garland

2011-12-19T17:24:00.004-06:00

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

2011-11-19T19:11:00.002-06:00

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

2011-10-30T11:20:00.002-05:00

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

2011-10-09T20:53:00.002-05:00

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)

2011-10-08T10:31:00.002-05:00

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

2011-10-08T10:25:00.002-05:00

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!

2011-09-19T21:27:00.004-05:00

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 !

2011-09-10T21:04:00.004-05:00

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

2011-09-05T19:47:00.001-05:00

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

Sam

Up-Dates

2011-08-30T21:21:00.002-05:00

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

2011-08-07T19:17:00.004-05:00

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.

2011-07-31T17:54:00.004-05:00

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........?

2011-07-31T17:49:00.003-05:00

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 !!

2011-07-04T22:02:00.002-05:00

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

2011-06-19T10:48:00.004-05:00

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

2011-06-13T08:10:00.003-05:00

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

Future NQR Project < sort of a rant!>

2011-06-11T21:53:00.003-05:00

This is a Non-Quilting-Related post! And I am going to rant too. So read at your own risk.

Prince Charming & I are always planning projects. So far our most afggressive has been our shop that we're building. In this heat, it's about to kick our butt. White vinyl siding in the sun, is no fun. But when it gets completed, it will all be worth it.

A project that we have lined up is to start a rose garden. A real one. Lot's of roses. Tea roses. Complete with pathways & a gazebo & possibly some (or "a") pergola. Prince Charming wants a waterfall too. We have the space in our yard. Anyway.......I have started 4 rose plants. 3 are doing well, the 4th......not so much. I have also started some roses from seeds & there are 6 that have germinated!

This post is about my quest to find BOOKS on roses. Not what they look like, but how to care for them, type of soil, how to keep certain deseases away....etc. Well, yesterday I drive all the way to Nashville to Books-A-Million. It's the closest book store & it's roughly 30 miles away. Guess what? No books on roses. None. No magazines dedicated to roses either. Not one. To say I was disappointed is a an understatement. But what I want to rant about is what follows.

Not only did they NOT have books on roses, but they DID have 4 DIFFERENT books by seperate authors on growing............wait for it...........

Marijuana!

Yep!

Pot!

I am a pretty liberal person. But I guess not. I guess the older I get, the more conservative I become. But give me a break! I live in Middle Tennessee. The South. The Bible Belt. I can buy a book on cultivating pot, but not ROSES ?

Nashville has a Rose Society, I am headed to thier website to see if they have any recommended reading. Certainly, B-O-M doesn't have what I need!

Seriously? No books on roses! (My local library wasn't any help either)

Sam

Mother's Day Gift

2011-06-01T07:05:00.004-05:00

As I get older, I have this NEED to be organized. I like everything put away & organized. And I like GLASS in my kitchen. I don't like platic storage containers at all. Well, when I got asked what I wanted for MD, I said got to "X" Store & get the little glass spice jars for me.

What you see in the picture is just 1/2 of them. I only ended up with ONE unlabeled jar, though I have many EMPTY jars because the spices were expired..........And some of the spices I had still had price tags on them. TAGS, not bar codes. How old could THOSE have been???

Anyway............I'm a Happy Camper. I like that the glass can be cleaned and relabled. Figure I'll pick up a few more incase I need them. Got to see if there are some slightly larger for parsley flakes (use those a lot!) and chili powder. I buy huge containers of that too.

The jars did not come labeled or with labels, I used my own label maker & put the labels at the top of the jars so that the ones in the back top shelf can be seen & read. Aggravating not to be able know what those spices are!

You know what I used for those spice shelves? Ha, Ha !! 2X4's. Just had Prince Charming cut them to fit the cabinet. Works like a charm. Cheap butt, huh?

Sam

Fun & Done

2011-05-30T15:16:00.003-05:00

We'll start with "done" first.

I finished quilting QB1's quilt. I hope that she didn't hurt her fingertips while she was at the lake this weekend, because she's got a binding to put on her quilt! And it's NO lap quilt. I used an old pantograph that I have - it's got leaves on it. QB1 wanted something loose so that the quilt would be puffy. I used a complimentary thread & like ALWAYS, you can hardly even SEE the thread. Not on the front. I guess that's a good thing. It's finally done & I already took it to her house. She wasn't home, so it will be a surprise!

Now comes the FUN part.

Y'all know right??? That I do NOT need another project? I just don't. I got off work early one day the week boefore last & I wandered up to a quilt shop in Goodlettsville. I can't remember the name (I am sorry, but as many as I go too, it's hard to keep them straight) I bought a pattern (saw that coming didn't you?) by Bonne Blue Quilts, called "Lydia". They had one made hanging up stairs int he shop & let me tell you, it nearly screamed at me to be made! The pattern cover photo does not do , what the REAL quilt looked like, justice at all.

Here's a photo of the quilt on the pattern cover.

But it's really done in a chrome yellow & blues & red. I happen to have aobut 6 yards of a chrome yellow with little red flowers on it. I made 9 blocks in under 2 and a half hours. Super easy & the way they are set on point withthe background color on the outside of the block makes it look like they are floating. Really pretty.

AND.........while digging through my stash, I found what might be the perfrect border fabric for it too. It's blue with chrome yellow motifs on it. I got all the yellow @ Whittles. Saw it on line, called themt o make sure they had X # of yards & I got it the NEXT day. Whittle's is AWESOME. Just AWESOME. When I bought the yellow, I didn't know what project I wanted it for. I had seen a yellow & red quilt in one of Bonnie Hunters recent books, but when I saw the Lydia pattern, I thought "WHY NOT"?

Though, let me tell you.........I finished 9 blocks & have 28 more cut out. I was using fat quarters & the pattern calles for 1/3 yard cuts...anyway, Saturday I go buy 5 more blue fat quarters. As long as I have been sewing, I STILL make STUPID mistakes. Yep! Cut every single FQ wrong for the next 9 blocks. The fabric is not unusable, just not usable for THIS project... Oh Well. Give me my "idiot" sign & I'll gladly wear it. How did I do that you ask? Ha! Because I was too confident in myself & thought that I had all the cuts memorized & when I went to cut the last 5 fat quarters, I didn't even bother reading the instructions. See? Idiot. Doesn't that go with "measure twice, cut once"? Well, duh! Only measruing wasn't my problem.

So, there you have it, my Fun & Done post.

As soon as I have enough different variety of those Lydia blocks, I'll post my progress.

See Ya !

Sam

Say It On The Wall

2011-05-15T10:13:00.004-05:00

This week I got busy hanging up all our pictures on the walls. I emptied a whole closet. I can honestly say that the movers did a wonderful job packing everything.

No, people, we didn't move.

We have lived here 3 years & I FINALLY put the pictures on the walls. No, I don't have a reason. I am not even going to try & figure out WHY I was so lazy. Not worth the effort.

Anyway.......I wanted to be able to hang my quilts behind the bed, full length. The hanger is sort of crude, but Prince Charming has said he'll build a NICE one for me. This set-up will suffice until then.

Sam

ps/ i can never get good pictures....I am up against a wall where I am standing & there is a huge cedar chest there too. I can't get far enough back to get a good picture.....oh well, you get the drift.

Piddle Piddle Piddle & Fiddle

2011-05-10T08:22:00.002-05:00

I can't beleive the sewing slump I have been in lately. I have done precious little sewing. I did get 4 more "On Eagles Wings" blocks completed. That gives me (I think) 22. I still have a long way to go. I spent Sunday morning CLEANING my sewing area. What a terrible spread out mess it was. I needed to get it clean so I could prioritize my projects. I have too many going to stay focused, it seems.

So I finished those 4 blocks & put them away in their little box until I can finish something else or to take them to work on whle sewing with QB1. I have finished cutting trimming & tearing the paper off all the BLUE hst's for my r/w/b Belle Meade. Ironing them too for.ever. Now I am cutting the red hst's apart. Once those are trimmed, paper removed & ironed...the blocks will go together super fast. I am excited to get them that far. (I think I made more hst's than I'll need....we'll see!)

I have my Ocean Waves on the table & ready for the outer borders. My freind, Leslie in AL, is making an embroidered label for me. I love her labels. But hte quilting is going to wait a little bit. I am going to quilt an old "Focs Fabric Quilt" that I made several years ago. It's cowboy themed & I am going to send it to my nephew in CA. H'es been diagnosed with a desease & I can't be there to hug him & feel like this is the next best thing that I can do. I am sure my nephew will fare well through his illness, but I worry about my brother. He is really having a hard time coping with this issue.

Anyway - now that my sewing area is cleaned up - it's much easier to feel like i want to sew!

I bought a BUNCH of patterns while I was @ Paducah & I just put them all away. I just have so many projects truning cartwheels in my head that if they are out on the table, I get sidetracked & want to start another project!! Ack! Can't do that.

I'll post some pictures as soon as I get something worth looking at!

sam

Wish List - Champagne Taste

2011-04-27T21:52:00.004-05:00

Ugh! How come i always fall in love with something that is 10 times more expensive than I need to spend?

We have fully functioning patio furniture that we use on our deck. It's an aluminum set we bought in 2006. Maybe 2005. It was when daughter #2 graduated from high school. Bought it from K-Mart. It's a nice set - but it would be an understatement if I said I was NOW bored with it & want something new.

This week I got a new issue of Southern Living & they have a spread about porches in Charleston. Lots of wicker. I have had a love affair for wicker furniture for a LONG time. I think my Mother gave me the love. She never had a set. I wish I could have got her one. Fast forward to this week again.......I SO want new deck furniture.

I had a white wicker set about 7 years ago - but I didn't have the money to buy "all weather" wicker. it didn't last.

I found what I want!! Yipee! But there is no way I can buy it all at once. Pretty sure Prince Charming wont' jump at it either.

If I can't have exactly what is pictured below - it has to be super similar.

I don't want white. I don't want bulky. I want traditional. And I want it dark brown or black. I only want 2 rockers, 2 chairs, 2 side tables & only 1 sette. Maybe only 2 chairs.....Picky, huh? Well, if I spend what they want for that set, I better get EXACTLY what I want. From Orvis - The Champlain Set. Let's see...how many "gift giving days" are there in 2011? My birthday is already passed, Valentines Day is already passed, Anniversary is already passed..... Pretty sure I can't get a "gift" for The 4th Of July. But hey! I still have Thanksgiving & Christmas!!!

I can DREAM, can't I ???

Sam

Edited to add: Ha! My friend Donna Reminded me that MOTHERS DAY is next month!!! And....I do have wicker furniture. It's on my front porch. 4 chairs & 2 end tables. We don't use it. It's eye-candy for the front of the house. It's not the style I want for the back deck - that's where we spend all out time in the spring & summer.

Spring

2011-04-26T20:53:00.002-05:00

This is an old quilt. Well, old for me! I made it with a pattern from a Fons & Porter magazine that was published in 2000. A freind in Alabama asked me for the pattern just last week.

Changed the sheets & quilts on the bed & since everything was starting to bloom - I decided that I wanted something cheery on the bed. This particular quilt can be VERY girl-lee so those dark green walls are toning it down some.

We're sitting here, watching the weather channel to make sure that there are no tornadoes to get into the basement over. They are still about 30 miles west of us. Getting closer. I hate those things........Tornadoes, I mean.

Sam

Weekend Work

2011-04-10T20:23:00.004-05:00

QB1 is probably going to skin me alive, as I was supossed to have her charity quilt completed. I got the backing loaded & that is as far as I have got.

What did I spend my weekend doing?

Landscaping.

Saturday, Prince Charming & I laid down 110 bags of mulch. Yes. 110. Why bags? Well we priced mulch by the yard (buckets) One place had it @ $20 per bucket (less than one yard.) Another had it @ $33 per bucket. Looked like a full yard. Wal Mart actually had it the least expensive @ $2.88 per bag. Lowe's had the EXACT SAME brand @ $3.44 per 2 cf bag. Decided the bags were a better idea too because then we wouldn't have to use the pitch forks to get into place. We got it at Wal Mart. Had to make 3 trips to get all the bags becasue we didn't want to drag the trailer through the yard that Prince Charming just seeded & fertilized 2 weeks ago.

ANYWAY.....

Last weekend we put down 1500 square feet of landscape fabric & then Tuesday of last week there was this horendous storm. No joke. It was bad. Straight line winds & rain. (that is something to see!) Worst we got was that our plastic storage doo-hickey thing got blwon off the porch & it was full of empty planters (& not cusions it's designed for!) and the planters blew all in the woods of my neighbor's house. But I was afrid that when I got home all that landscape fabric that we had put down was going to be strung up in the trees through the whole block. This didn't happen & I was glad. Seems overdoing the little metal pins/stakes paid off.

This weekend we put down mulch & filled the planters on the front porch. Prince Charming made the planters out of some old oak that we have. (we have a HUGE pile of it...lots & lots....it takes up a lot of space in the garage!) - we filled those planters with trailing petunias, caladiums & gladiolas....Some calla lillies (they did really well there last year) and soemthing else that I can't think of. The petunias should cover up the front of the planters in a month. I hope. We just wanted some COLOR out front without doing anything permanent. I still lack filling the containers @ the front door. You should have heard the conversation about the planters @ the front door! It went something like this:

Prince Charming: What are we going to put in those planters @ the door?
Me: Ferns
Prince Cahrming: What kind of ferns?
Me; Faux Ferns.
Prince Charming: Pho Ferns? What do THOSE look like?
Me: PLASTIC !

They have not arrived yet. I can't keep a fern alive or without drying out for anything. So I'm going with faux. They live longer.

Anyway - below are the pictures of what we got accomplished this weekend. Notice the black geese. I painted THOSE last weekend too. I should have left them in the back yard - they seemed to keep the blackbirds away from the bird food. They LOOK better on my front porch.

Funny thing happened @ Wal Mart today. One of those "you know you're getting old when...." times. I'm standing in line behind this couple that are buying a boat load of cleaning supplies. I thought they were going to drag out a notebook full of coupons becasue there was THAT much cleaning stuff...Kid @ the register says to the lady "wow it looks like y'all are doing a LOT of cleaning" - Lady says "Yeh, we been doing it for 2 weekends in a row" (well since I don't ever know a stranger) I say "yeh, I know how you feel, we have been doing yard work for 2 weekends in a row too!". Lady turns to the kid & says "Keeping up with the Joneses is a b!tch", I said to the lady.."I told my husband that the Joneses can kiss my @ss." We all have a good giggle & the lady & her husband leave & the kid starts scanning my groceries. The kid says to me "So? Y'all live on the same street?" I look at him & say "No." He says "But you both KNOW the Joneses???" I didn't know what to say! So I said "Yeh, we do..." I guess you know you're getting old when the younger generation doesn't know what "Keeping up with the Joneses" means....I nearly laughed at the poor kid's face. Bless his heart.

Y'all have a good evening. I'm looking forward to sitting at my desk at work tomorrow. No mulch!

Sam~

April 1st!

2011-04-02T19:34:00.002-05:00

Prince Charming & I took Friday off. It was our 22nd anniversary. Yep! 22 Years. What did we do? Well we started the day by dropping off the F250 @ the Ford dealer. It's a 2006 and the engine is still under warranty & there is a "check engine" light on. Something to do with the turbo. They'll have it fixed next week. No, we're not down a vehicle. It mostly sits in the driveway. Prince Charming has a company truck. Then we went & had breakfast @ Cracker Barrell. I always get the same thing. Momma's French Toast Breakfast. Then as we were headed to the Plant Ranch to find Hydrangeas, I got a phone call from a guy from Clarksville. He used to fix industrial sewing machines & agreed to come & see if he could get the hook timed on my longarm. He'd never done one before.

Let me tell you about my longarm. It's been a wonderful machine. Perfect. I have NEVER had to time the hook in the 3 years that I have owned it. (really a little more than 3 years) But once it got OUT of timing & I fiddled & fiddled & adjusted & re-adjusted, I was So aggravated that I was desperate to take it to the closest dealer. The "closest" dealer is in....get this.....Agusta, GA. 6.5 hours drive one way.

So, he came & looked at it. Adjusted the hook. SHOWED me how it's supposed to look when I have to do it. We tested it multiple times until he felt I was satisfied with the stitches. It sews perfect stitches now. I quilted up some sheets that the dog stained up. I'll use what I quilted as a car blanket for Bourbon.

After my machine got fixed (really though it wasn't broken, just out of time...) we went back to the plant ranch. got 2 hydrangeas and 4 rolls of landscape fabric. Then spent about 2 hours pricing mulch. And vinyl siding (siding for the shed) You know? you can spend a LOT of money on plants.

Fast forward to Saturday - Bourbon had a hair appointment. He's not such the fuzzy duck now. He is so prissy after a hair cut.

Prince Charming is making planter boxes for the front porch. He's making them from rough cut lumber that we have in the basement. You won't see them with the plants we'll fill them with, because hopefully they'll cascade over the sides. I finally got off my dead butt & spray painted the iron geese a fresh coat of stove black. Took me all of 40 minutes & that incleded drying time. Why'd I wait so long? They are positioned back @ thier post on the front steps. I want to tie some pink or yellow ribbons around thier necks! Yes, they are named. Petey & Penny. We had a set of geese when I was a kid & that's what my Mother named them. So? that's them again. Beter than Morticia & Gomez though, don't you think?

Tomorrow we are putting down the landscape fabric in the flower beds in the front yard. Next weekend we'll buy mulch & spread that all. Then? maybe the Joneses can keep up with US. (Probably not, as the new folks in the house at the corner just put in an in-ground pool....)

Oh! Forgot to tell y'all this though. On top of all we're doing, going, and making. My allergies are absolutely awful. I have taken pills, get medicine head. Nothing has stopped my running nose. I look like a 3 year old with a cold. My nose is SO raw, and I am applying burt's bee's LIP BALM to my upper lip, below my nose becasue I look like I shaved myself too close! I gave up using kleenex. Now I'm using a dishtowel. It's softer.........My head feels like it's going to explode & my eyes look like I been petting long haired cats. but Hey! Once I get through this little ordeal I'll be good to go. 23 years ago, when I lived in Califonia, I had perpetual sinus problems. Not so much now. Maybe once a year.

Prince Charming (there's areason he's PC, you know!) told me that I'm beautiful, Rudolph nose & all. Ah! True Love. Who can live without it?

I'll post pics of the ugly dog blanket when I get the binding on it.

See Ya!
Sam

Belle Meade ~ The Beginning

2011-03-26T17:02:00.003-05:00

Remember this photo? This is where I had all my papers & fabric stacked up & ready to sew.

I have all the 2" hst's sewn as well as all the center hst's. I lack cutting the 2" hst's apart, removing the paper & ironing. I also lack cutting the large/center hst's apart & ironing.

Then? Well, THEN.....all I have to do is asemble them just like these 2 blocks below!

In the photo below, this is the paper from just 32 of the small hst's! Just 32! Amazing.........that's a lot of pieces.

Red, White & Blue is one of my favorite color combo's. The pattern is named "Belle Meade" & it's a Bonnie Blue Quilts Pattern. Though I don't think I'll call it Belle Meade. I'll have to think up something much more patriotic. No clue whether what color the borders will be. I'll have to wait & see how it looks assembled before I can make THAT decision. I have plenty of 3 yard cuts of blue. Not so many of red. If I set the blocks on point, as the pattern calls for, 3 yards won't be enough. So? We'll see.

Well, I did'nt accomplish what I wanted today. My longarm machine is giving me a fit. The stitches were'nt what I wanted them to be. I fiddled with the tension and it never got better - so I figured it was the timing. I took everything apart & the whole bobbin assembly fell out! Right to the floor. Scared me nearly to death. So after getting it back in - my buddy Cotie got me a website that has some photos - I adjusted everything & screwed it back together. Well, the BAD news is that now it's skipping stitches. It wasn't doing that before. The GOOD news is that the stitches (that are NOT skipped) are perfect! Ack! So now I have to take it apart again & try again. And then maybe again..... Right now I don't feel like I am winning the fight. But I AM learning more about it..........(heavy sigh here...)

I'll probably spend the evening piddling with those Belle Meade hst's. Cutting them apart & peeling the paper. If I don't do that, maybe I'll cut out some boxer briefs & tank t's for the grandbaby (summer jammies) I am also babysitting the grand-dogs. They are pretty good lap warmers! I just don't need my lap warmed while sewing or visiting the bathroom. You know????

Prince Charming has been on the road this week. He's home this weekend & it's doing nothing but raining & thunder storms. So no yard work this weekend. (OH DARN! Can you hear my regret????) Anyway - in about 30 minutes I'm going to make some cheese fries & steaks. Sounds good just typing that.

Sam~

On Eagles Wings - The Beginning

2011-03-20T21:05:00.002-05:00

This is my *new* paper piecing project. Another Pineapple - but it harly resembles the last one.

The pattern is called "On Eagles Wings" - by Laundry Basket Quilts

Don't hold your breath thinking it's going to get done anytime soon. The last one took over 3 years.

I am pretty certain that I will NOT set these on-point, only because I think my eye is drawn too quickly to the line of black/white rows that the design would create. I will set them side by side, straight set, alternating a shirting/light geese block with a black geese block.

How many do I have done? HHHmmmm....5 or 6. How many do I need? No clue really. I printed 100. Only because the last PP project I completed - the blocks were 8.25" unfinished. These are slightly SMALLER.

These seem to go really fast! There are only 4 pieces less than the last project, but in this *new* project: In each block the center & all corner/geese are the same color, each "side" is the same color. No time spent checking/sorting/making decisions. Pretty easy.

I am excited about it.

Sam

More Storage

2011-03-20T18:56:00.003-05:00

(BEFORE)

(AFTER)

My sewing "room" is in an area of our bonus room. (or family room - huge room over the house - our 3rd story) I take up about a 1/3 of it. It's a nice space. I can interact with the family & I can see the TV too. Though I don't watch it, I usually only have it on as "company", you know?

Anyway - I have one of those fold out cutting / craft tables, but I only use half of it because: #1 it takes up a LOT of space when it's all the way out - & really isn't very useful for quilting all the way out, #2 my favorite cutting mat fits on half of it. So I only use half.

Forever & ever I have had these plastic drawers under the one side. 10 , 12 years or better....but they are not quite tall enough, I have to stick a 2X4 under there to make up the difference in height.

QB1 had a couple of dressers/chests of drawers that she was getting rid of. I needed one for the grandson & took both when she showed up. This one fit perfect under my cutting table! Perfect! And it is SO much more stable then the plastic drawers ever were!

Did I get rid of the plastic drawers? Well, what do YOU think?

Of course NOT. 3 of those drawers in the chest are empty, I just moved the plastic ones to another place (under the window).

One day, Prince Charming is going to make all matching furniture for me. Cabinets, cutting table, ironing table, and a counter with drawers...(that's the plan) until then? Well, this is good enough. Besides, who is going to complain about more storage????

Not this me.

Sam

PS: my longarm machine is in a room in the basement. So I have TWO sewing rooms!!

Ocean Waves - UpDate

2011-03-20T17:11:00.003-05:00

Do you see this? I could bet that you may not know why this post is so important, nor that you really know what you're looking at!!

What you see in this picture is the very last side of the inner pinwheel border on my Ocean Waves Quilt. Yippee! Yay! I did this on Thursday night - what was Thursday? I think it was the 17th. QB1 came over to the house & we sewed some. It was the first time I have "sewed" in days & days......thought I was going into withdrawls.....

All I lack now is getting the outer plain blue borders on it & to get it quilted.

Normally, I put 6 inch outer borders on my quilts. Just do. No reason. But if I finish this quilt with a 6 inch outer border - it makes it 105 inches wide. I am thinking I need to make them only 4 inches. If I make them 6", I don't think I can comfortably quilt it on the longarm. All the printed backings that I have are all 108" wide. 3" just isn't enough wiggle room. Not for me.

sam

Checking In

2011-03-05T17:54:00.003-06:00

Ugh! I have been busy. Busy with "work" (meaning my regular daytime job!), busy with life, busy being sick, busy with family, and very little sewing. My long arm customer (s) probably think I dropped off the face of the earth.

I didn't.

But it sure feels like it.

On the other hand - today seems like it's gettting bak to normal. I took Friday off & sat & sewed with QB1. Actually we did very little sewing and did a lot of jawing. We also went & had a sandwich & went to Wooka's & the new Mennonite store in Charlotte. My friend Chernal was going to try & join us & that didn't work out (hopefuly crossing my fingers worked for you Chernal!!!)

I have tried to get motivated to finish the borders on my Ocean Waves. I am going to have to finish it THIS month as I have already ordered the label for it with MARCH 2011 on it. If that isn't a motivation maker, I don't know what is!

I think I have Pineapple Fever. What is that you ask? How silly of me, I will explain. I just finished a pineapple quilt that took me over 3 years to complete, i have a 30's Pineapple (pineapple variation...) that all the blocks are done - I lack setting the rows with cornerstones, putting on borders & appliquing flowers on the borders. NOW - I have started another Pineapple. Another variation of sorts. It's called 'On Eagles Wings". Google it, under images - It's really pretty. Block goes together super fast - even though there are 32 pieces in each 8 inch block - and after that one, I want to do (what will hopefully be my last & be OUT of my system forever) another Pineapple called "Everlasting Wreath". I think I'll pretty much have my paper piecing technique down pat! Whatcha think?

Here is the 2nd Dear Jane block that I have finished. ( WOW, I am SO glad I am NOT doing this baby in the real 4.5 size!!!)Actually finished this block over a week ago - just been too busy to get it posted.

And here is the A-3 flop. I'm just going to applique teh melons onto a square - I'm no good at curved seams, can you tell???

Sam

Pantographs - Free Ones!

2011-02-11T12:39:00.002-06:00

I have several sites that I order from. One is Willow Leaf Studios & the other is Urban Elementz. Sometimes I'll order from Columbia River or Kingsmen. Depends on the product & whether or not I need it NOW or not.

I like Willow Leaf becasue they have them rated: Easy / Intermediate / Advanced. I consider myself an advanced pantograph user, but sometimes you just don't WANT advanced. "Advanced" normally means DENSE. As in densely patterned. Tight. Lot's of stitches or lot's of changes in direction. Sometimes the quilt itself does NOT lend well to a dense quilting pattern. For instance - Flannel Quilts. Anything intricate is totally lost on an all flannel quilt. Or if the quilt has little teeny tiny peices. My Pineapple Quilt is one I would not have liked a dense pattern on.

I like Urban Elementz becasue they have some very un-traditional patterns. Many times you can match a quilt theme to one of thier patterns. You have to keep in mind, though, that you MIGHT not ever use that pantograph again, when it's themed. They have a panto-of-the-month program that I had belonged to, but since I was buying more pantographs than I was quilting for quilts for customers....well, I stopped the membership. However - they have WONDERFUL pantographs. No ratings though. I have found that U/E's pantographs are all dense. You are going to quilt a LOT if you use their pantographs!

I have an equal amount of Pantographs from W/L & U/E. But the purpose of my post today is to tell you - the readers that use a long arm or short arm quilting system - that Urban elementz has some new FREE Pantographs posted on thier wesite. Yes, I know - you have to print & tape....it's free! What do you expect? They have "Leaping Lizards" & "Strawberry Fields" that are just too cute! You never know when you'll need JUST THAT pattern!

Get yours today!

Sam

Dear Jane Block A-1

2011-02-06T18:13:00.003-06:00

I have decided to TRY & make a Dear Jane Quilt. ONly, I'm a wimp. I am NOT doing one with blocks that finish 4.5 inches. No way. I am making it with my freind Chernal & QB1. And MY blocks finish @ 7.5. What's that? 200% bigger?

Here is block A-1

This is the mess I made to make ONE block. I used the backing fabric off my pineapple quilt & the border fabric from my pineapple quilt. I decided I'll just use what ever I can put my hands on. Nothing co-ordinated. So I have , wht?, 132 blocks left???? I think it will either make a 2 sided quilt, or more than one quilt. ONly time & effort will tell.

Here is a look at one of my *new* projects. I am making it in Red/White/Blue. Various shades of each. It is a variation of a "Lady-Of-The-Lake" pattern called "Belle Meade" by Bonnie Blue Quilts. I'm branching out a bit & using some papers that I already have instead of using the "triangle papers" the pattern calls for & I'm not silly enough to make ALL THOSE HST's without a method!

I should have got MUCH more done this weekend, but Saturday moring while taking my dogs out, I slipped & fell in the mud/snow & wrenched my back & bruised my thigh. I been moving around a little slow......THAT might be overstating my ability right now. I feel better than I did yesterday - but I can't move fast nor lift anything.

I'll tell ya......I'm sick of snow. It didn't last this time. But it made a muddy mess. Just tired of it. For a state that "doesn't get too much snow", we have had more than I have ever seen in my life. I don't know how people up north can stand it.

Sam

American Beauty - BOM

2011-01-23T19:50:00.004-06:00

The local quilt shop in town ran a "block-of-the-month" in 2010 called American Beauty. I bought the blocks every month & the finishing kit in December - but I didn't make ANY of the blocks. Not in 2010.

My friend, Donna, has made one - but I can't find it on her blog.

anyway......all the blocks are made with templates. TEMPLATES! Ugh! Do you know how long it's been since I used templates? ACtually, I can't remember that I ever did - but it's possible. Let's just say, I KNOW I have not made a quilt with templates in OVER 13 years. Yes, 13.

QB1 & I needed a project to "do" on our Thursday night get-to-sew-play-date. And since SHE bought the BOM too - I figured it would be a good choice.

So today, Sunday, QB1 sends me a text & asks if I want to sew? SURE ! (course I was still in the bed when she sent the text...bless her!) So I brought my American Beauty blocks & my pineapple to sew the binding on. I suggested we use the A/B BOM to sew on Thursday's & we got busy.

Below you will see the 2 blocks that I finished today. It took us 5 hours to do 2 blocks. Can you imagine??? 5 hours???? It took longer to cut out the pieces than it did to sew. Black & white instructions are not as helpful as they could be. It would have been MUCH MORE helpful to have them in color. But we did it.

Let me tell you. My blocks ARE every bit as wonky as they appear. I'm hoping they'll lay more flat when they're set in sashing. Maybe? If they don't, well.........I know this long arm quilter that will use some really dense pattern to "quilt-it-out" !! Tee-Hee, it's ME !!!

The BOM had the option of using a dark finishing kit or a light finishing kit. QB1 is doing hers in the light. I am doing both. BOTH ? Well yeah. I'm not doing just ONE you know! Not me! I'm doing 2!!! Don't ask me why.......I thought I could make one for each of my daughters, or one for each of my sisters. But in the end, I just don't know. We'll have to see how the quilts speak to me. Either way (dark or light) they are pretty girlly. Very girlly. Even Prince Charming mentioned so.

I don't think Donna had nice things to say about making hers with templates either.

Oh! I need to tell you about the 2011 BOM! It's called "Baltimore Christmas" by P3 Designs. 100% applique.

I think I bit off more than I can EVER chew. I am totally intimidated.The appique pieces are teeny tiny. And there are miniature buttons & mini rick-rac...I think I need to give up leaving work during lunch & just sit at the conference table & applique. Oh! ALSO....I have agreed to "do" a Dear Jane quilt too. (I need to tell Chernal yes that me & QB1 will participate...) I just love being busy. I do! Keeps me lively.

Sam

More Ocean Waves Sewing & My Math Sucks

2011-01-16T11:46:00.003-06:00

My whole family knows that my math sucks. Don't ever ask me to add 2 & 2 together. Idon't come up with 4. I just don't. So with that being said. I have got 2 of the pinwheel borders on my Ocean Waves Quilt. I still lack getting them onto to the "top" & the "bottom". Then there is suppossed to be a 6" outer blue border all the way around. In order to keep it less wide, I am thinking of making it only 4". We'll see.

The "TOP" & the "BOTTOM" are relative, as I think the quilt will only be 6 inches longer than it is wide. But again, my math pretty much sucks. So it will be what it IS when it's done. I just do not want it to be 108 inches wide or wider because all I have for backing is printed 108" wide!! I got ahead of myself & decided to put the pinwheel border on one side with the inner blue border first. Instead of putting the inner blue border on & THEN putting the pinwheel border on....That didn't work out so well, as the pinwheel border is not long enough to go to the edges of the pinwheel borders on the top/bottom. So I had to add pinwheels. I was too lazy to frog stitch it. THEN...I count out how many pinwheels I need for the opposite side...I came up 2 pinwheels short AFTER I was pinning the pinwheels to the body of the quilt. Which means the inner blue border is pieced instead of one continuous piece. I know it's pieced. I just don't LIKE it being pieced. Maybe I just need to take a break, but I'll tell you.........I am so CLOSE to getting it done!

I nned to spend some time frog-stitching on the pineapple down in the long arm room, Maybe THAT will put me int he mood for counting HST's. What do you think??? I don't think so........but I WILL frog-stitch some - just not all. And I WILL finish piecing this Ocean Waves Quilt before my birthday this month.

As you can see. It's pretty large as it is! And that's the grandbaby on there. He's getting so big! Yammers on & on all the time.

Oh - y'all see the blue painters tape on each side of the quilt , towards the bottom of the picture? Well, the grandbaby is all over that quilt becasue he can't SEE the line. The quilt is covering it up.

See? The baby is blue line trained. I put that tape on the floor & he doesn't cross it. Not any more. Took 3 days of convincing him not to cross it, but he doens't cross it. So once it was covered up? He thought it was his okay to play on it. No line right?...Kids are so funny & definately predictable.

Sam

PS: This patter is the free Ocean Waves off of Bonnie Hunter's website: www.quiltville.com . Did you know that nobidy has submitted a finished quilt from this pattern for her to add tot he bottom of her instructions? I SO want mine on there. Great instructions, but I'll tell you it is definately a labor of love. It is a stunningly beautiful quilt (in real life!) The photos just do not do it justice. The blue is gorgeous.

Craigslist Purchase

2011-01-15T11:50:00.004-06:00

We have 3 bedrooms & DD#2 & grandson #1 are living with us. When GS#1 gets set up in his own room, we'll no longer have a "spare" room. I have been scouting CraigsList for a daybed & trundle. Will I found one. It has a pop up trundle under that daybed. The mattresses are barely used. And the bedding too.

That quilt is mine, I made it a long while ago. The daybed ensemble that it came with is RED & though RED is my favorite color, it was OVERWHELMING for this space. The lady that sold it to me was SO sweet & I am fortuneate that she workded with me for me to get it. She gave me both matresses as well as the bedding. She also gave me some baby toys & books. It was a really great experience. She said she was moving back to "the city" & was going to be downsizing.

We have this in our upstairs family room.

Oh, by-the-way, it's an exact match to the L.L. Bean iron bed I have in the masterbedroom. I had been drooling over the one that L.L. Bean has in thier catalog, but it's just not in the budget for *new*. I am very fortunate that I got what I did, from who I did!

I love CraigsList!

Sam

Handy Me

2011-01-12T21:23:00.002-06:00

I feel handy! Normally I leave the home improvment or home repairs to Prince Charming. But since what I "fixed" is not used by him often enough for it to bother him, I figured I would do it.

The little light under the microwave that shines on the stove top has been out for a while. By "a while" I mean more than 6 months. Maybe longer....Well today I decided HOW HARD CAN IT BE ??? Probably mounting a new microwave would have been easier......

So I dig out a phillips head screw driver & remove the screw that holds the cover. Icky! No matter how clean you are, there ARE dead bugs in there. Yuck. Anyway I thought there would be a screw in bulb. Turns out there are 2 prong type halogen bulbs. They came out pretty easy. Went to Lowe's and after looking through the asortment & matching the prongs & matching the little spring in the bulb, I come home with 2 halogen bulbs. You can't TOUCH those things. So? How's THAT gonna work?

Well, let me tell you! I had to nearly lay on the stove top to stick those jobbies IN. They only go in one way. One went in with no problem. The second was more challenging. It probably took less time than I thought, but I was in a very uncomfortable position. Got them in, re-screwed the light plate in.

And? Viola! LIGHT. Under the microwave! We use it as a night light. (During the summer / warmer months you certainly can NOT cook with that light on - or you get willing protein volunteers - later to be dead bugs!) I'm glad I got it done.

On a good note, I don't know what I did right, but I finally got my longarm machine to stop breaking the thread. I took the presser foot plate off & cleaned that area. It was much more clean than I anticpated. Rethreaded again. Now I have to readjust my tension. AND......I have a whole row of quilting to frog stitch.

A. Whole. Row. It's 95 inches wide. Pretty sure it would never come apart, but I have spent way too much time on this quilt to leave that row in it, so I'll frog. Frog & frog some more. But when I get it done, it will be worth it.

That's what I keep telling myself anyway..............

Sam

Argh! Quilting Frustrations!!

2011-01-10T16:26:00.002-06:00

I am So frustrated. You know? Somedays are good & somedays are bad. Today? It's bad. It's been a bad THREE days. I can not figure it out. I loaded my pineapple quilt & I have had problem after problem, after problem.........I'm tired of it.

My top thread keeps breaking.
My tension is good.
It's not tight, it's not loose.
I have changed my bobbin genie.
I have rethreaded the machine.
I have even changed to a NEW cone of thread.
I replaced the needle.
I raised the hopping foot.

Same. Issue. Over & over.

I can quilt about 10 inches, then the thread breaks again! ARGH!!!! I feel like kicking something. I'd probably break my foot if I kick anything in my longarm room.

I am ONE row past half way done & I just want it DONE.

Now I am angry. i don't even want to go down there becasue I KNOW the thread is gonna break.

I am NOT even going to LOOK at that room down there. Not right now.

It was a perfect day to get it done too. I had the time & everything.

I am just gonna go sew on my Ocean Waves Quilt. Period.

I don't know if (or how) it will get better but I'm not fighting it right now.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

See Ya!

Sam

Weather

2011-01-10T09:56:00.002-06:00

Folks, I am in middle TN & it's snowed. Again. While it's nice to look at, it would have been better if it showed up on Friday night instead of Monday morning. everything is closed. Schools, stores, businesses.

I am very fortunate that I have the ability to work from home. Limited. But - none-the-less, it's effective.

If I can get any pictures, I'll post them. But I will likely stay warm/dry/inside!!

Happy Monday y'all.

Sam

Paper Pieced Pineapple Piecing Peace !

2010-12-28T21:05:00.003-06:00

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers....or something like that...tee-hee!

I finally finished piecing my Pineapple! It is not without it's problems, but I am my own worst critic. Prince Charming tells me that all the time.

You know, right, that I am rotten at math? Sometimes worse than other times. Seems I messed up my block counting. But you know that because I had to make MORE blocks right? Guess what I found when I was cleaning up my sewing space after putting the rows together....GUESS ! Ah, ha, ha, ha ,ha!!! 13 blocks. 13 completed blocks with the paper already off them! I felt SO stupid. I purposely shortened the quilt because I just didn't want to make more of them. One row would have been 13 blocks. Definately my lucky number, huh?

Anyway - I am sewing the binding strips together tonight or tomorrow night - depends on how late I have to work tomorrow...Quilting will be next month some time.

I hired my friend Leslie to make an embroidered label for me. She designed one with pineaplles on it. I am excited. I am SO terrible at making sure labels get on my quilts. But seriously? I spent WAY TOO MUCH time on this baby not to put one on it.

My box of scraps is still pretty full. I won't throw them out, but making another one of these is NOT in my near future. I don't think making just ONE more would totally deplete that scrap box.

QB1 made one too. I started mine before I left Alabama - that was over 2 & a half years ago, so I am pretty sure this quilt is 3 years or better int he making. QB1 has more vision than me. She did hers in under a year. But I don't think she'll make another one too soon either!

Sam

PS: What's up next to be finished? Well, my Ocean Waves of course!

First Time Making These!

2010-12-26T20:01:00.003-06:00

I have had this recipe for a while. And I KNOW you can cheat & melt caramels & there USED to be these caramel "wrap" things you could buy to wrap around apples. But, I wanted to make them from scratch. Took me 2 hours start to finish, and you stir the WHOLE time. Will I do this again? Yep, I will. They turned out great, look great, taste great, and I am pleased.

I drizzled them with white chocolate. I wanted to drizzle them with milk chocolate too, but I just got too tired. 2 hours is long enough to be standing in the kitchen. I had to eat my dinner standing too!

the "caramel" color didn't actually begin until nearly the last 10 minutes.

I kept the apples in the fridge - but I still got those little bubbles. That is the ONLY part of them that I don't like.

the baby isn't getting one of these. #1 -he don't have enough teeth. #2 That's pure sugar. PURE. (4 cups white granulated sugar & 2 cups of Karo syrup)

Sam

Not A Christmas Gift

2010-12-18T22:14:00.002-06:00

QB1 brought me a few gifts today. One is a basket - monogrammed just for me! It folds flat. Isn't that cool? I carry so much around with me, a basket is WONERFUL idea......And what color is it people??? MY FAVORITE color. RED, red, red. I love red. See? QB1 listens to me.

Also she brought me a folding travel Rowenta Iron. She has one just like it & uses it during guild meetings. I have been gushing over how neat hers is....so she got me one.

The other box is something she picked up for me that I will be gifting. Not as a Christmas gift, just gifting. It's a butter keeper. Do you have one? They are the NEATEST thing. You can load them with a whole stick of butter in it.(real butter here people, not the yellow fake junk) Put the cup part into the bowl part upside down IN WATER and the water seals it & prevents the butter from going rancid. My DD#1 bought one for me that I keep on the lazy susan on the kitchen table.

Yes, i know, those butter keepers are an old idea. You caint get one on @ WalMart - so it's a new idea, right?

Today I finished quilting the last "customer" quilt of the year. I can't go into what it was because MAYBE the intended person reads my blog. Fat chance of that, but it might even be accidently read over someone's shoulder. Let's just say I called it the Fonzie Quilt. After Christmas, I'll tell you what I mean about "Fonzie". (remember Happy Days? I am likely dating myself here...)

Thank you QB1 for the presents. I love them & will definately use them. Darn it, I forgot to send home those little cheese cakes with her too.........I promise you, it's gray hair I have, not blonde...

Sam

Pineapple Update

2010-12-04T20:49:00.005-06:00

My regular daytime job, the system that I work in is being upgraded, so I got to take Friday off. Decided I was goint o be SELFISH & sew all day.

I went & picked up the roll up door that Prince Charming & i will install on the shed (probably tomorrow) and then.............I went to QB1's house to sew all day.

QB1 was having new vinyl double hung windows installed (very nice too!) and the guys installing them, replaced the sewing room window FIRST, so that we could sew. Wasn't that sweet of them?

We worked on our Pineapple quilt. Assembling it. It was a fun day. It's been a long time since we sewed that long together.

Let me tell you - my daytime job is not as a brain surgeon - so some things can be complicating for me. On-Point settings is one of those complications. I can not just blindly sew rows together & get the side setting triangles in the right direction. I have to assemble each row individually. Otherwise, I mess up which way the triangles are sewn on.

Since I loathe Frog-Stitching, I just do it the slow way. Thank goodness that QB1 has a similar issue and we got to work together!

What you see here is one row short of being half way done. I am absolutely excited about it. We have a queen sized bed & I am pretty sure this would be a good king size. When it's done, it will be an adiitional 14 inches wider. So it's going to be BIG. I love a big quilt.

At one row short of half way - there are 49 blocks right NOW. I'll have to make MORE to finish it (knew that was coming didn't you?) I only have 23 completed blocks left.........

I am thinking that this baby is going to spend some time hanging on a wall before I use it any.

Have not decided which pantograph I'll use, or what color thread I'll use....(speaking of thread, I have a few spools that I need to send to Joan) Maybe I'll order a NEW pantograph JUST for this quilt. That sounds like a plan.

After this one, I want to complete my Ocean Waves Quilt.

Anyone looking at these 2 quilts, would think me a glutton for punishment. I'm not, a glutton I mean....but I sure love quilts with a bazillion little peices! Edited to add: I have 19 blocks less than half done & if I did the math correctly - I will have to make an additional 20 to make this quilt as large as I want it. Let's see....excluding the side setting triangles & borders - that is roughly 111 blocks @ 37 peices per block = 4107 peices of fabric. That's pretty close to a bazillion, ya'think????

Sam

( I was asked if I quilt for others. Yes, I long arm quilt for other people. Though I do not make quilts for other people!)

Stretched Stars

2010-12-04T20:43:00.003-06:00

Finished this quilt sometime last year. I think I posted a photo of it being held up by QB1 & I during show&tell @ a guld meeting.

Well! Since it was finished (&quilted by ME, no less) DD#2 took it to Alabama @ her house. Well DD#2 now lives with us & last weekend my quilt was returned to MY house. Soon as I spotted it, I washed it & spread it on our bed.

So nice & comfy.

I think the pantograph is "Lush Leaves".

Psst! Had to make the bed to take these photos. I really love a photo op, makes me look like the Domestic Diva that my sister thinks I am.........

Sam

Hair

2010-12-04T17:58:00.004-06:00

I have a LOT of hair. And it's really LONG. I cut 10 inches off the length a few months ago - but it's still pretty long - long enough that the biggest hair clip that I can buy at Wal-Mart will NOT hold it all up. Not for very long anyway.

I treated myself to a few items of hair jewelry this week. Why hair "jewelery" ? Well because what I paid for one hair clip was more than a few yards of fabric. Non-discounted, not on sale....fabric.

This little gem (below) I got off Etsy (dot com) I twist my hair in a faux french roll & secure it. This jobbie holds it all. Without slipping! Who-Hoo!

Every once in a while - it's nice to buy something nice for me.

Sam

Shed Building

2010-11-30T09:45:00.004-06:00

Again, cell phone pictures!

Prince Charming & I spent our Sunday afternoon framing in the ends of the shed. We ran out of light after getting the plywood up on the back wall - but it's already cut for the front. We have to go pick up the roll up door this weekend.

When you looka at the back, the bottom of the window is at the 12' mark! Those walls are 12', then it's floored @ 8' so we have a second story storage area.

There will be no power to this shed. It will have 2 - 12' wide lean-to's on each side too. We just have not got that far. When we get to the finishing part of our building endeavor, it will be sided in white vinyl - to match the house!

Sam

On-Point Pineapples

2010-11-30T09:14:00.003-06:00

this is a cell phone picture, taken @ night in my sewing area. So it's quality leaves a LOT to be desired. But I was so excited about how it looks. I bought that black/green paisley print a few weeks ago from The Quilting Squares in Franklin, TN - I love it. It is really ver pretty IRL.

I decided I'd set my pineapple blocks on point - hopefully I won't need so many? One can only hope. I want the side setting triangles & the border fabric to be the same black/green print, but I want to separate the side setting triangles & the border fabrics with a very thin inner border of green. I mean thin. I think I'll cut the strips 1.25 inches. But I have to find the PERFECT green. It's got to match that paisley. So I need to go shopping! Darn it.

I don't have enough blocks completed to set them all - and I sure don't have the paper torn off the backs either! So it's going to be a slow go.

QB1 is this far too. I hope we can get them done simultaneously so that we can do Show & Tell at the January Quilt guild. (I think that's pressing my luck!!!)

Sam

2010-11-18T18:55:00.002-06:00

You know what?

Life.

Is.

Good.

I have had a HARD week. and I have had to (multiple times, mind you!) remind myself that I have many more blessings in my life than I have problems.

I have spent all week in classes and I am SO far behind in my "real job", that it's not even funny. but you know what? There IS light at the end of the tunnel.

There are some things I can control & most things that I can't. And for the things that I can't? Well, I let that be handled by a higher authority. It's so nice to just let go - take a deep breath & know it will turn out okay!

I am SO ready for some holidays! How about y'all? This is another Christmas that I am not making any quilts for gifts. Quilting quilts for gifts! None I have made & none that I am giving - but it still doesn't count. Oh well.

Thanksgiving. My sisters (plural!) are cooking Thanksgiving @ my oldest sister's house. I get to bring pies. that's good. I LIKE making pies. I might try soemthing different this year.

I REALLY - REALLY need to get some pictures posted on this blog. I can't find my camera. (Seems my freind Joan is having the same issue - only hers is getting mailed back to her!) I don't know where mine is. I think I put it away to keep out of reach of the baby - well it's put away pretty well becasue I can't find it.

Talk at you all later!

Sam

Rainy Days & Mondays

2010-11-16T21:08:00.002-06:00

Prince Charming & I spent last week off from work. We (narrowly!) got the shed/barn dried in. I was bone tired. I actually whined on Sunday & asked "Do we haf tu?" - but we had to ge tthe rest of the plywood on the trusses to dry in the whole thing or risk wasting a bunch of money by letting all that wood get wet.

Now that it's dired in, we can take a break. Sorry no pictures yet. I have been too tired at the end of the day to go back out & TAKE pictures. got to get close enough so that I can show you just how big this "shed" is. Haven't been able to take pictures after work - becasue ...well - it's dark when I go & dark when I get back.

it's rained Monday & Tuesday & I think it's supposed to rain on Wednesday too.

I have a quilt on the rails. Finishing my neices. Then I have 2 more customer quilts. i met VR 2 a quilt shop in east TN (east meaning east of Nashville, but not memphis) She has entrusted me with 2 quilts that she has made for her daughter-in-laws. Plural. Two. They are very beautiful & i should have both of those done this weekend. I think QB1 has one for me to quilt too.

I had business cards printed for long-arm quilting. Put the shingle out, so to speak. I'm not up for making any kind of web-site , i would just like to take in local quilts, i think. We'll see how it goes. I been holding off becasue I just didn't know how my "real job" would go. it's going well, and settling down.

At any rate, folks - i need to sign off & let the big dogs into the kennel in the basement (can't let the fur babies stay outside in the wet/cold!) after that, I think I'll go hug a feather pillow or two for a few hours1

Sam

Remember These? PPP (Paper Pieced Pineapples)

2010-11-08T20:41:00.005-06:00

Remeber these? I got 12 of them finished today. Don't think I started from square one, I did not. Those 12 blocks were better than 1/2 done, so it wasn't hard to GET them done, it's just been finding the TIME to sew them. I have off these whole week & spent nearly the whole day at my guild meeting.

Guess how many I have???? Waaayyy more than I thought I did, I'll tell you that! I have 81 finished. How many do I need?

No. Clue.

My next bunch of them that I make will get me to 100. So I am tackling 19. And, yes, I'll be starting from square 1. Literally. Once I get them done, I'll see how I want to set them. I am seriously thinking about setting them on-point with some sort of black print side setting triangles as well as an extra wide black border (same print) , I have several black prints, but not likely enough for what I want. Darn, I'll have to go fabric shopping..........

My goal , this week, is NOT to finish those 19 blocks. Bet you got no clue what the goal is! Prince Charming & I are building a shed. More like a BARN. 16'X24'w/2 12' lean-to's on each side. 12 foot walls with a sub-floor at 8'. OUR goal this week, is to get the roof on.Going to Lowe's tomorrow to buy 40 2X6X12's, and that does not include the tie pieces from truss to truss. We're going to be So busy & SO tired....but when it gets done, we'll get the lawnmower & the golf cart out of the garage. As well as all the other "yard" acruements. If I think about it, I'll try to get photos of it. Our land is not level - so it's pretty high on one end. but guess what? QB1 is getting new windows and she is giving us her old ones to put int he barn. We need windows becasue we're not running power or water to the barn. The dogs think it's for them....Ha !!

Talk to you all later!

I can't wait to show you my 100 paper peiced pineapple blocks!

Sam

PS / was asked where I got my papers from........the truth is, I found a free block on the web somewhere & it was only about 5 inches finished. I enlarged it to about 8 inches, I like that size - small enough to be interesting & not too large that it looks sloppy..... I made about 500 copies becasue I figure THIS won't be my last PP Pineapple Quilt becasue of all the scraps I generate. If I can get "A" quilt plus another ONE from the scraps - whatever is left from trimming the PP peices can be trashed. (I guess! Right?)

Back in the Saddle Again!

2010-11-03T10:44:00.003-05:00

Well, hopefully I am. My regular day time job is NORMALLY just 40 hours or less. But in the last 3 months, I have been all over *heck* & half of middle Tennessee and parts of Alabama. Hopefully, my schedule has slowed down & I can get back to normal. Whatever normal is.............

Good thing too!

I really need to sew. I have many many projects in mind. Quilting & clothing. I have been buying fabric & not sewing & my sewing room looks like a tornado hit it. Which would be okay if I could just close the door. Such is not the case - my sewing room is part of our family/bonus room & it can not be hid. Oh well. I can kid myself by saying it's all a work in progress.

No pictures today. Soon though. I promise. I have a quilt loaded on the rails - it's my neice's. Her grandmother made it. I wish I knew someone that could hand quilt. This quilt is all hand peiced & hand appliqued. It will look beautiful when I have it done, but it would be prettier if it was hand quilted. I just can't reproduce that type of look!

Update on my dog: Briscoe has made a FULL recovery & last week he finished his vet required confinement. We turned him loose in the (fenced 1/2 acre) yard & he runs & jumps smoothly. Like it never happened. His hair cut still looks funny, but he really does not care. I'm glad I had the surgery done. That peice of bone they pulled out of his elbow joint was about the size of a dime, round, like a marble. It had to have been very painful for him. And he's such a lover. He only barks bad, he's a big cupcake. Do you know who he is named for? Jerry Orbach from Law & Order. We got the puppy just after Jerry Orbach died. JO played Lenny Briscoe on Law & Order. It was a "B" name, so we called the puppy Briscoe. Seemed fitting for a german shepherd. Though he's no cop dog, that's for sure.

Oh! I ordered business cards for longarm quilting. Putting out my shingle - so to speak. Maybe I can generate more business! Ya think?

Talk to you all later!

Sam

Dog Update

2010-09-18T22:14:00.003-05:00

Well, we talked it through & decided to go ahead with the surgery. Briscoe had his surgery on Wednesday & came home on Thursday. They sent home the bone that they fished out of his knee joint. Honestly? I was HOPING that it was not some itty bitty teeny tiny kidney stone size of a bone. If it had been , I'd have been disappointed. But, I'll tell you - I was totally surprised by the size of the bone that the vet had to remove! It was HUGE. No wonder my poor baby was in so much pain & limping. It iw the size of the top half of my thumb. I mean like fromt he bottom of my nail @ the cuticle to the tip of my thumb. Amazing.

This dog don't model on que - but these were taken after we'd been home for about 2 hours. He's on some good drugs - so he's pain free. Consequently, he thinks he's cured. He has to spend 2 weeks in the kennel in the garage. Only out to controlled walks. Then after the staples are removed from his incision, he'll spend 4 weeks in a kennel out side.

All in all, I am glad we had it done. But let me tell you - getting him to lay down while I ice his elbow 3 times a day - is much easier said than done.

Sam

argh! I don't have my pictures on THIS computer.........

Dogs............& Decisions

2010-09-03T09:28:00.003-05:00

This is ONE of my 3 dogs. This is Briscoe. I had him to the vet yesterday. He's been limping for roughly one week. He did this last year too, but the vet gave us some Rymidly (sp?) and he stopped limping. This time? He's not so lucky Turns out he has fractured his elbow on his left front leg. Actually, he's fractured BOTH. It's a bone issue common with GS's....3 x-rays later, we have to wiat on a consultation with a doggie orthopedic specialist. I have no clue what the cost is going to be. I have a number that I cna't go over...but over that? I don't know. We'll see. I love this dog. He's a GOOD dog. He barks a lot.......but you know? He's a DOG. He is in a lot of pain. He is basically being jabbed in the bone of his leg everytime he moves.

I hope the specialist calls today.

Sam

NQR - Re-Useable Shopping Bags

2010-08-26T08:03:00.003-05:00

Well, I use some bags that I bought from Kroger. They were not cheap! $3.98 each (I think). I have 12 of them. They are a very good size & the inside is coated with a plastic - sort of. Anyway - I get a lot of compliments on them from various stores & checkers when I use them. But I digress, I am off th topic as to WHY I was making this post. Yesterday, in west TN @ Wal-Mart, I was using my bags & the checker says to me "Oh these are nice, where'd you get them?" Kroger's, I say. She says "They seem small." I say - Really? Because 2 one gallon jugs of milk fit in there with room to spare, how many jugs of milk do you put in a plastic bag? She says "2". Then she says - "well it's a good thing that you have them" - I have not had a good week, so by now I was READY for a DISCUSSION (argument?)I respond to her with Why is that? She says - "well, after the first of the year, we're going bagless!" I told her that I had not seen anything advertised anywhere about that....She says- "Well, you'll have to bring your own, or buy what we have"

So, there you have it. Get your bags before the price gouging begins.

Sam

Ocean Waves SO FAR !!

2010-08-22T18:49:00.003-05:00

Well , this weekend I had 2 goals. One was to get my day time job caught up (long story short - Someone resigned & I am "filling in" until a replacement can be hired & trained - and I am behind on BOTH jobs....) Enough of "work" , who wants to hear about that anyway???????? Second goal was to get all the rows sewn together on my Ocean Waves Quilt.

I did that.

13 blocks X 15 blocks. Currently 75 inches by 89 inches. I still lack the half blocks. I dont' have ANY started. None. Then there will be a 1.5" innner blue border, a middle pinwheel border, and then a 6" outer blue border. And it will be done. Don't hold your breath thinking it's going to get done in September. If I get it done before Christmas, I will be happy.

Well? What'cha think of it now?

Sam

Rowing (?)

2010-08-16T12:44:00.002-05:00

I have 5 rows sewn together now! They look awesome.

It was 10:30 PM when I got that far, so NO PHOTOS. It would not have photographed very well at all.

I am SO excited. It looks like a quilt now. Those half blocks will definately go far to completing the pattern & giving the design the semetry that I like.

Sam

Ocean Waves - PROGRESS !!!

2010-08-08T13:26:00.004-05:00

Here are 8 of the 15 rows that I need for my queen size Ocean Waves Quilt. This 8 has the pinwheels going in one direction & the other 7 rows will have the pinwheels going in the opposite direction.

I don't have any part of the 7 rows started. Well, that's a lie. I have the blocks with all the half square triangles done, just not the "ocean" blocks (meaning the ones with the blue background..)

After those rows, I lack the half blocks, that complete the design. I will need.....wait for it.........56 half blocks. Which is equal to........wait for it.....448 half square triangles.

THEN there is the pinwheel border. No clue YET, how many hst's that will use.

I'm thinking that I don't have enough hst's for the 2nd quilt. Dang. I will have left over hst blocks, so I'll just have to make more. (probably not right away....you know?)

Went to a shop in Franklin - the Quilting Squares (I think) & bought a new pattern. it's an addiction, you know??? the pattern is from Bonnie Blue Quilts called "Belle Meade". It is a Lady of the Lake variation. Belle Meade is a city in Tennessee near Nashville. It a gorgeous high dollar area. I never knew the history of Belle Meade. Originally, Belle Meade was a horse farm. BBQuilts always has a story for their patterns. Makes them so much more interesting.

Anyway - The Lady of the Lake pattern is another of my favorites. since I have SO MANY half-square-triangles, I would'nt have to make more! Remember - I have musling hst's too!

I think it will look very different with plain muslin as the light areas.

I am feeling better this week. Not quite as MANY dizzy spells. Still have them though. They are a huge p.i.t.a. for sure. It's the nasea that comes after the dizzyness that is hard to handle.

Talk at you all later.

Sam

More Progress

2010-08-01T16:32:00.003-05:00

I had such big ideas for this weekend. I wanted to get all the rows sewn together on my Ocean Waves. Well! THAT didn't happen. I did get 2 rows done. 2 of 15! And I did get half the ocean blocks done. I have been sick. Sick since Wednesday. I went to the Dr on Friday - he said I had "LABYRINTHITIS" I have been dizzy & nauseated. More nauseated then dizzy today. I (literally) spent all day Saturday in the bed.

So, no sewing. I can't stand up to run the iron. Oh well, the DR said it might last a few days to a few weeks. I hope it's only afew days........I really don't like being sick.

If I get anymore done this evening, I'll try to pot some pictures. The 2 rows that I did get done look SO nice! Porgress, Progress!

Sam

Ocean Waves PROGRESS

2010-07-26T20:42:00.004-05:00

Above is the block I am currently making. Photo curtesy of Quiltville.com

Below are photos of the progress I made this weekend. That's me (in all my glory!) and my Bourbon. He is always within touching distance. As I type thispost, he's lying between my legs. He is no small dog.........65 pounds. But he is a lover , and he has took to the grandbaby too.......

ANYWAY........I have made all the dark wings for the alternate "Ocean" blocks. Well, maybe ALL. I have made enough for 72 - but I like big quilts & will likely end up making more because I like my "queen size" quilts to be nearly as large as a "king size". I have half the triangles sewn onto the light side of the wings & maybe tonight I can sew the 2nd half on. I disassembled ( nice way of saying frog-stitched) 288 hst's for these "wings". Do you see what I mean by "wings" in the top image?

It's progress and I am SO loving it. Once the Ocean blocks are done, it's just a matter of webbing the blocks.......Maybe that's the term. (?) Then all I lack are the half blocks that go on the sides, which go on before the the inner border, which is same color as the background. (Blue in this rendition.)

Then I'll have a middle border of HST's set as pinwheels & then the outer border of the background fabric.

It IS progress. I can't wait to start sewing blocks into rows & rows into a quilt top!

I'm sure I mentioned this before, but I have enough HST's for 2. The next one is red. Then I am working on another 2 (yes TWO) Ocean Waves Quilts. Muslin is the background on those 2. Don't hold your breath waiting on ANY of them (including the blue one) getting finished in 2010.

My feather pillow is calling.........

Sam

Swimming

2010-07-23T07:56:00.002-05:00

Well, I have been swimming in Half-Square-Triangles on my Ocean Waves. Pun intended (only it sounded funnier in my head.) I have been in meetings all week. I won't get into that - suffice it to say that my "day time job" gets interesting & one sure wouln't guess it because of the industry I work in. So while driving back & forth to these meetings, while I was the passenger , & during the "breaks", I frog-stitched the hst's to make the alternate "ocean" blocks. Ocean Blocks? Well? Wouldn't they be the the ones with the back ground fabric? & the blocks with the hst's be the "waves"? In my head they are......Anyway - I have enough frog-stitched to make HALF of the blocks for ONE quilt. But I am SO excited to get that far! Maybe, Maybe, Maybe....I can get the "Ocean" blocks done this weekend. I want too! You need to see the pile of frog-stitched hst's though..........CUTE !! And you know what? I sewed them together wrong the first time, had to rip out 22 of them. Do you know how SMALL these boogers are? 2".

One day

One day

When I get them done, it will be my favorite. You wait & see what I tell you.

Sam

Ocean Waves X 2 (It's a slow go.......)

2010-07-11T13:23:00.002-05:00

Several years ago I decded that I wanted to make an Ocean Waves Quilt. I could not decide if I wanted one red or blue. So I am making 2. those little half square triangles are REAL boring. So i only dig them out when I want to fiddle.

QB1 has been busy getting her father & aunt's houses back to normal after the flood. And I really dont want to work on OUR projects without her. No fun, you know?

So? I dug out a project that needs my attention. Prince Charming choose this blue for the 1st Ocean Waves Quilt.

Pattern? Oh yes, Bonnie Hunter / Quiltville. I am SO determined to get these done.

You know what the BEST part of this project is? All the 1/2 square triangles are done. Done for 2. Yep 2!! All I lack is the alternate blocks. So...that's what I am fiddling with. I either have to cut more triangles or take apart some of the 1/2 square triangles that I already have made. I am taking some apart. I think i have to disassemble something like 144 of them. Hey, I like a challenge right?

that's about all of the "quilting" that I have done lately. -

Guild is tomorrow. I missed last month because we were on vacation. I am not going to be able to go as early as I anticipated becasue I have so much paperwork to catchup on. But I will take my hugs & kisses quilt to sew on the binding. You know, I still lack making pillow cases to match that quilt....

Sam

Quilting

2010-06-30T20:56:00.002-05:00

I promise I am going to "do" some quilting.

It's been so hot, and when I can tolerate it, I have been outside.

see ya !

Sam

Washer & Dryer

2010-06-01T08:36:00.004-05:00

Okay.........so this post is not REALLY quilting related, but I'll tell you WHY I think it IS quilt related!

I make big bed sized quilts. Probably always will. And I hated my washer ( I hate doing laundry anyway. Period) because it has an aggitator in it & I felt like it was tearing up my quilts & they were not really getting clean. So I used to take themt ot he laundry mat to wash them. Not because they got more clean but because I could use the huge washers that had NO aggitator & wouldn't stress my quilts.

Well, this month, on top of everything (all the hours I've been working, mainly) my dryer decides to stop heating. It still WORKED, just didn't heat the load. Took like 4 times int he dryer to dry a load of jeans. And I don't mean a LOAD. i mean like 4 pair. I cleaned the vent - nothing. So we sort of hobbled through the week. I dried towels & a small quilt on a clothes rack on my back deck. They felt like cardboard when they finally dried. It's so humid right now, it took ALL DAY to dry.

SO.....Monday, Memorial Day, Prince Charming & I went to Lowe's & bought a new washer & dryer. I could not get the front load washer because my laundry room is a closet in the hallway & if I got the doors that open in the front, I could not open it all the way.....dryer still opens in front, but I have always had to only open it 3/4's of the way (who designs these closets anyway - obvciously people that do not DO laundry)......I got the Whirlpool Cabrio H/E set. Super nice! No aggitator. 5.0 cubic foot washer & 7.0 cubic foot dryer. I don't even have to set the water level on the washer. It does it all by itself. And DRY a load of jeans in ONE round! Whoo-Hoo! I feel SPECIAL!

I still hate laundry. I always will. But at least it takes LESS time now. AND....no aggitator to stress out my quilts! Nice big HUGE tub for QUILTS ! I am a happy camper. Thought the hit to the checkbook was hard.......

Sam

p/s couldn't find a photo of the matching dryer............but they're a matched set & I only needed the dryer......but I was super reluctant to buy just the ONE appliance. Besides...I REALLY wanted washer without the aggitator.

Hugs & Kisses Bordered.

2010-05-16T18:33:00.003-05:00

I finally got around to getting borders on my Hugs & Kisses Quilt. It was last on my list. See I had to make a "to do" list before I could sew anything more or new. I told myself that WHEN the list got done - I could : Make more Pineapple Blocks, or more Spool Blocks. And I have been really good. It took me over 3 weeks to finish my "to do" list - originally, I thought it would only take me a few days. But since the Flood in Nashville & surrounding areas - my job has come first. I think I worked 70 hours this week. I can't even remember the last time I got paid for 70 hours.

I am bone tired & have not been out of pajamas all day. I have not cooked ONCE this week - last night I got tired of NOT cooking & made Tortellini & Sausage Soup. It was SO good! anyway - back to the list.........I had on there: To bind DD#2's quilt. Repair DD#1's Quilt. Patch a pair of jean's. Bind the grandbaby's quilt. Complete the 200 spool blocks I had half finished. Bind a "give-away" quilt. And machine quilt 2 customer quilts. 2 of the quilts that needed binding, had the bindings 100% machine done. Or they would NOT be off THE LIST.

Anyway - I ran into Stitcher's Garden to find a yellow fabric for the strips & blocks swap for my guild meeting & picked up this brown fabric. I thought that the little images looked similar to the hugs/kisses block that I made.

So I got it. It DOES look really nice as the borders for this quilt. I NOW wish I had had the forsight to get an additional 2 yards to make matching pillow cases. All I had left was enough scrap to cut strips for my Pineapple & 6 blocks for my Spools Quilt.I have not decided How I'll quilt the Hugs & Kisses Quilt, but I might just be lazy & use the pantograph that is already on the table from the last customer quilt that I made. it's called POPCORN - looks more like clouds to me...but I don't name the patterns......ha Ha Maybe use a brown thread too. Unquilted, it measures 83 X 98.

I also cut some strips for QB1.

Y'all PLEASE keep QB1 & her family in your thoughts. Her father's house & her Aunt's house were totalled by the flood. It's so devestating. Her Aunt is over 80 & has been diagnosed with cancer - this is absolutley emotionally devestating for them. The homes are being rebuilt - but all the memories & momentos are gone forever. You never know what you got until it's gone. I feel SO awful that I am not able to help them. I wish I could. I do.

Sam

(who is off to pop some garlic bread into the oven & heat up some MORE Tortellini & Sausage Soup!!)

Quilt Photo Op & "The Tank"

2010-05-11T09:50:00.003-05:00

Here you see a few pictures of the "Night & Day" quilt that I made last year. Modeled on the kitchen floor, by my beloved little grandson - whom I have been calling TANK, all week!

Isn't he just precious? 5 months & 19 pounds. We had him out to the Ren-Fest in Triune this past weekend. He was pretty good for being 5 months old. I had bought a teeny tiny little baseball cap @ JoAnn's Fabrics for $1. He got a lot of compliments.

Cute little bugger. Quilt is nice too!

Sam

Freebies

2010-05-03T09:48:00.002-05:00

If you have a long-arm machine or a short-arm machine or any type of machine that you can trace patterns then you need to go to Urban Elementz! they have posted some free pantograph designs. Several are very cute. I love the Strawberry Fields.

Of course you'll have to do some taping to connect the pages when you print them, but hey? It's free, so no complaints!

I need more Pantographs like I need a ....um..........nose-ring? Ha ha ha! But i saved them all.

Sam

Twilight In the Garden

2010-05-01T21:16:00.003-05:00

Today was day 2 of the "Old Timer's Day Festival". Pretty much a wash out - pun intended. It's rained so much so quickly that there is flash flooding every where. The interstate has even been closed in areas. I-24 in Nashville @ Bell Road is under water. Literally. And the rain hasn't stopped. More to come tomorrow. My basement got a little bit of water. I went into panic mode, and whent he rain let up, it receded. I am still in panic mode. The water didn't come but MAYBE 4 feet into the garage, and it was MAYBE a 1/4 inche deep........but I have my LONGARM manchine in the basement. I have the majority of my STASH in the basement. All I could think about was how I was going to get it all upstairs by myself. So far I don't have to worry about it.

ANYWAY.........The Quilt Guild I belong to, hosts a quilt show during the Festival (I might have the exact title of the "festival" wrong...) and this years' theme was something to do with Garden's . I'm sorry, I didn't pay attention. I am not an extremely floral person, and the 2 quilts that I entered into the show were my "Twilight In The Garden" and "Butterflies for Ryan". The Butterfly Quilt belongs to DD#2. It is currently residing @ my house for repairs. Of which I have not completed.

Twilight In the Garden is a quilt I made while we lived in Alabama. If memory serves me correctly, I bought all the fabrics from Joan. ALL the fabrics, inclduing the backing, are all Thimbleberries. The pattern is from the book ; "Bed & Breakfst Quilts" by Mimi Deitrich. It is one of my very most favorite quilts and I am sure you've seen it on this blog before!

I won a "merrit" ribbon for my participation. QB1 took my photo. We were all sitting around doing handwork & I have my Grandmother's Flower Garden in my hands.

So long for now........I hear more thunder & I need to go let my vey wet "outside" dogs "in" for the night. After being outside, all day in the pouring rain, I think they deserve a nice dry place to sleep.

Sam

Cheesy Photo

2010-04-30T07:39:00.003-05:00

QB1 took this photo of me while we were @ Paducah last week. This was the cardboard image of Eleanor Burns in front of her shop in downtown Paducah. We had walked all day & I have been recovering from wrenching my back (no clue how I did that!) so I was forcing that cheeser smile.

Funny story........QB1 & I got to the tent that Quilt In A Day has @ the fairgrounds & QB1 is standing in line to get her book autographed by EB. She's like #5 in line. Well one of the show henchmen comes up & says that book signing is stopping @ person #3 - QB1 was a little angry because she'd been standing there........THEN after EB comes down off the stage - she walks past all these OTHER people that were not even in line & signs books.........oh my! QB1 was NOT happy...........It wasn't EB's fault. Her employees should have stood in the back of the line & stopped people there...But oh well. They had lots & lots of fabric discounted - but I just didn't see anything that screamed it needed to come home with me.

We really had a good time though. Lots & lots & lots of vendors. That's my FAVORITE part of the "show". I bought a bunch of patterns - some thread (that I'm not going to use)and 3 new pantographs & not much else. The fabric was overwhelming. But I just am NOT going to buy it for $9 per yard. I don't need it that badly.

Oh yeh! I think I have my thread issues corrected. I fiddled & fiddled - said some REALLY ugly things - and finally got the stitches to look NICE. On top & on the bottom. Bourbon is going to like his sheet quilt. Babtist Fans on blue pinstriped sheets. Thread is some plum/purple that I have NEVER used. This is one ugly practice peice. Good thing he don't care. I , probably, won't post pictures of this doggy quilt, fix the tension, practice peice..........it's not my best work.

Sam

Thread Woes

2010-04-25T16:07:00.003-05:00

Oh My Gosh! What is the opposite of the Midas Touch? What ever it may be, I have it.

I have spent all day - not an understatement - ALL DAY - with thread tension issues.

I am so angry with myself right now - that I am afraid to even TRY touching any machine.

I bought Superior Thread at the Paducah Show on Friday.

I finished quilting the Grandbaby's Quilt yesterday - BUT ! I have fiddled with the tension SO much with the YLI thread & the Superior thread that I can't get it right on my Perma Core thread. The stitches LOOK good, but now? NOW???? The top tension is so tight, the thread keeps breaking. What's the solution? Loosen the top & tighten the bobbin. Yes, that would be it, but I'm not ready for another 3 hour round of thread fighting. There is NO winner in a thread fight. Trust me, I won't lie!

ACK !! I am so aggravated right now. Absolutely, not kidding, rotten to be around, don't even want to say nice things to the dog, want to punch holes in the wall, ugly ugly personality, just plain angry. Can't be any more angry that that?

And I want a Coke & a Chocolate bar. I know I'd feel better after those. Guess what? Don't got none.

Sam

Quilting the Grandbaby's Quilt

2010-04-17T20:35:00.003-05:00

ACK !! I am frog stitching. Major, big time FROGGING. I am backing the quilt in a Cowboy print. Bucking Broncos. It's an older Michael Miller fabric. And since the top is a dark navy blue - I wanted to quilt it with navy blue thread. Well.........the only dark blue thread I have it YLI.

I don't know what YOU use, but I don't use YLI. I have about 12 cones of YLI that I got when I bought the machine. I can't make it work, I have never been able to make it work. It shreds easily, and has too many slubs in it. I hate it. I dislike it, I can't even pretend that I like it.

But it was NAVY BLUE !!

So I loaded the quilt up, and quilted 2 rows of stars & loops. Well, now I am frogging said 2 rows. It's going to take me 2 days to frog stitch all this quilting. The top looks great, the back looks like ......... nasty. Loops and little nests. I fiddled with the tension, I fiddled with the bobbin tension, I threaded & rethreaded the machine.........I said some really NOT NICE words about that YLI thread, and NOW I am frogging it all out.

Cotie's husband once told me that 2 minutes quilting on a long arm equals 2 hours of taking it all out. I think he's understated that action. I am a 1/3 done, of frog stitching. I been doing it all night.

I'll re-quilt it later next week. I WILL use navy blue thread, but a guarantee you, it won't be with that YLI thread. Not even one inch.

Anyone want some YLI thread? I am serious. We can trade. I'll count how many I got. (have some mono-filiament too. I refuse to quilt with that stuff too)

What brand do I like? What brand do I buy? PERMA-CORE. Love the stuff. I never have tension problems with the PERMA-CORE thread. But I used up all my navy blue.....

And just for the record. I have used the YLI on a Gammill Optimum and had the EXACT same issues as I am having on my Nolting 24. Yes, maybe you're right, maybe I HAVE convinced myself & now it's simply a mind thing - but right now it's a seam ripper thing. I ain't using that shtuff again.

I was SO hoping to have it quilted & the binding sewn on for the trip to Salem (Opelika, AL) this coming week. Darn it.

No pictures because it's ugly right now.............!!!!!!!!

Sam

Grandbaby's Quilt

2010-04-16T20:13:00.002-05:00

Until i finish his I-Spy, this one will do!

1st photo is with out borders, the last 2 are shown with it hanging off the railing of the deck.

Sure wish you didn't see all the crud UNDER the deck, this month or next, we are building a planter around the bottom of the deck & it will have my hydrangeas in it. Then you won't see under it any more!

Sam

Bug Jar Quilt

2010-04-14T10:28:00.002-05:00

Shortly after Christmas last year, my friend Donna in southern California, asked me if I could contribute any fabric to make some Bug Jar Quilts.

There was a very tragic accident & one brother of 3 was killed. The Aunt(s) of the boys wanted to make the quilts for the younger boys. I thought this was a beautiful idea & was brought to tears over the whole incident. I dont' wish to intrude in the family's privacy & won't post photos of the boys, nor their names. I thought it was just wonderful that they shared the photos with me.

I managed to send a nice selection of prints & the Aunt(s) were gracious enough to share photos of the compeleted quilts. It's so nice to recognize some of the prints that I sent!

I was honored to be asked to help & doubly honored that they used what I sent. It makes me feel so proud of the nice things that quilters do for one another

Sam

"Thinking Outside the Box" Update

2010-03-28T19:59:00.002-05:00

Well, I finished the quilting this afternoon. It turned out really pretty & really BRIGHT. I can not decide if the back is more bright then the front. I used purple thread. DD#2 loves purple.

I already have the binding strips sewn together & ironed in half & ready to apply. Just need to DO IT.

I brought the quilt upstairs to lay out on the floor to photograph & load some photos onto my blog & while I was turning on the computer & connecting to the internet, the dog decides that I laid it down JUST FOR HIM. No encouragement what-so-ever.

I am sure that DD#2 will not appreciate it. I will definately have to run it through the washer after I bind it & before I give it to her.

Soon as I can get it laid out flat, I'll post additional photos.

Sam

Quilting The Quilt

2010-03-24T20:29:00.002-05:00

This is a quilt that I made MORE than 2 years ago. How do I know it was MORE than 2 years ago? Well......because, in 2 months, I will have been living back in TN for 2 years. Moved back here in May 2008.

I made this quilt BEFORE I moved. I did, however, peice the backing sometime last year.

I can not decide whether the front is brighter than the backing. I am using a "power" purple thread & a pantograph from Willowleaf Studios called "DIZZY" - I felt like the design complimented the print in the fabric. As of right this second - it's half quilted.

The pattern for the quilt top is from Toad-U-Sew (in Florida) & it is called "Thinking Outside the Block". Very interesting - give s a 3D effect - sort of.....but really? Each block is a quarter Log Cabin.

I started this quilt for DD#2. It's still for her. She will be here on Easter weekend & I hope to have it completed & bound for her to take home with her.

Sam

Found A New Blog To Follow !

2010-03-11T11:32:00.002-06:00

You all know how much Prince Charming & I LOVE to make "things", and do home improvement projects.

Well, I (one day) would like to have a wooden kitchen set for the grandkids at my house. I remember having a metal one when I was alittle kid & I LOVED it. It is one of few posessions that I can remember having as a child. ANYWAY.........I was looking for woodworking plans (found some at workworkers) and stumbled on this blog:

www.knockoffwood.blogspot.com

This is another VERY crafty person. I am SO inspired!!

Sam

Pineapple Update

2010-02-28T18:27:00.004-06:00

This is the box that I am throwing scraps into for my PP Pineapple. I don't EVER seem to get to the bottom of this box.

I did myself a favor and finally separated the lights from the darks. When I am bored of working on it, the box top with the lights sits down inside the green box.

These are all that I have done. I still lack 38 more. 38! Seems like it will take me a lifetime to do 38.........and that's just for the "body", I still lack the border blocks too. 43, I think. I don't have a deadline, I don't kid myself thinking I am going to finish it RIGHT NOW. This is one of my GO TO projects. Sort of like therapy sewing , you know? Ha! Therapy?? There are 37 pieces per block. When it's done, there will be over 5000 pieces.....More like insanity. but you know what? I already LOVE this quilt. I finsih 10 or 20 blocks & I just can not resist laying them out & just drooling over how much I LOVE this quilt.

QB1 asks me how I am going to quilt them (yes them, she's making one too! AND, I have enough scraps for .......oh, I don't know.........2 or 3 more?) I told her that I just wanted a nice pantograph on it. It is so incredibly busy, that any really nice quilting will be lost & never seen!

So? What do you think? How would you quilt it? Remember, I'm a little ways away from GETTING it quilted. I lack 38 body blocks & 43 border blocks. Might as well be a million!! Ha Ha!

Sam

Stripper Party

2010-02-19T08:00:00.002-06:00

On Thursday nights, a few of my QB's & I get together & sew. This started last year around early summer. Started out strong with 4 of us. Now, it's more or less just me & QB1 (Pam!) but recently, we have promoted another girl (Nancy!) to QB2 because she's been coming a little more regularly then before. Don't make me eat my words QB2............

Anyway - because I had an appointment late Thursday night (to get our taxes done) we rescheduled our Thursday night to Wednesday night. Turns out that due to an unplanned report at my real job, I didn't GET to leave to go to my tax appointment & havve had to reschedule.......ANYWAY.....Wednesday night QB1 & QB2 came over to my house & we tackled a box of scraps that I have. QB1 & I cut & QB2 ironed. There were lot's of bigger scraps & if either of them wanted the big peices, we didn't cut them.

Let me tell you! I am SO grateful that we got that container dealt with. I feel lighter. Cleaner. Relieved....Now I have strips! Lot's of 2" strips.

I hoep that I never get that big a pile of scraps again. NOW - after I finish a project, I cut up the scraps into strips - long ones into one bin & short ones into the PP Pineapple bin. I think I have enough short peices of scraps to make 4 PP Pineapple Quilts.

We (yes WE!) still have another plastic container FULL of more scraps to go through.

Another night, I suppose?

Sam

Checking In

2010-02-16T21:35:00.002-06:00

Nothing *new* going on. I decided I was NOT going to put a bow tie border on the hugs & kisses quilt. I made ONE side & got very discouraged. I'm just going to slap borders on it & be done. Done is good, and I'll LIKE the quilt a whole lot more after i don't spend mountains of time on it.

Been working on some of the paper peiced pineapple blocks. I have 20 that I am working on, and 37 finished. That means I only lack 39 more for the body portion & 43 for the borders. Will I finish it in 2010? Don't know. Maybe. I want too, but not enough to work on those blocks exclusively.

Cut out a HUGE amount of 2 inch strips & subcut to 5 inces long & then into 2X2 inch squares. Wat for? SPOOLS! Going to swap some with Joan (sorry, I lack the know how to link names to blogs...) Joan is one of the blogs that I follow. She is a wonderful woman. She has a beautiful family too - her blog is called "Keeping You in Stitches" I hope that MY endeavors are good enough to be included in her SPOOL quilt. She is an EXCELLENT quilter!

Last Saturday (02/13) QB1 & QB2 & I went shop hopping of sorts. We got pictures & I'll post them when I get copies. a grand time! I spent every dime. Fabric, fabric & MORE fabric. AND some patterns. Boy! I love Whittles.........

Also been working on some magazine holders from mailing boxes. Those are coming out GREAT! I bought brown paper to cover them, but I don't like it as much as I think I'll like paint or fabric. Wonderful idea.

I cut out some primary colored fabrics to take to Alabama this weekend. My freind, Leslie, is going to embroider the alphabet on the blocks which will go into the grandbaby's I-SPY Quilt! I am SO excited about those alphabets. A few name blocks too.

Have not done any other sewing. Other than what I have mentioned. 2 weeks ago I made 4 baby shirts. you'll have to check THOSE out on my sewing/craft blog @ www.samsewsandcrafts.blogspot.com (also on my side bar. Seems silly to "foloow" my own blog, don't it????

This weekend is MY weekend to drive down to Alabama to visit with DD#2 & her husband & the GRANDBABY. Prince Charming has made the baby a toy box & DD#2 a hope chest. Same pattern......different uses. (he has also made one for DD#1 with an inlaid star in a different color wood - lastly he's making one for ME!) I will be taking both the toy chest & the hope chest down with me. Providing they BOTH fit in my wagon. Weather isn't nice enough to drive the truck. On my way back up to come home, I'll be visiting with my freind Kat & Leslie. I'll be happy to see all. VERY BUSY WEEKEND COMING UP !!!!!!!!!

Good night all! My feather pillows are calling me!

SAm

Hugs & Kisses Update

2010-01-31T12:06:00.002-06:00

Somehow I ended up with 4 extra blocks. I don't know how I did that......I thought I had the math figured out perfect.

Well, it's no surprise. My math is bad!

Sam

Hugs And Kisses

2010-01-23T10:25:00.002-06:00

Well, that's what the blocks look like to me right now......That may change. This is only 1/3 of the 46 that I have done. All the backgrounds are various different Thimbleberries cream prints.

The body of the quilt will be these "X" blocks, then there will be an appliqued border & then an outer border of bowtie blocks.

Hugs And Kisses, X-Box, X Marks the Spot, X's & O's, I can't decide how I'll name it!!

Sam

Electronic Woes

2010-01-22T21:43:00.001-06:00

Well, the DSL has been down all week.

I couldn't get on the internet or check email or anything.

I have 46 blocks finished from the previous post!

Maybe I'll get around to posting photos this weekend. We'll see!

Sam

Project Idea

2010-01-09T10:03:00.003-06:00

Last night I sewed a little on the Double Pinwheels Quilt. I now have enough strip sets sewn together to finish enough blocks to make a queen sized quilt. Problem is........I get sidetracked.

The Connecting Threads brochure came in the other day. Normally, I just throw them out, but Bourbon won't eat his food unless I sit in the kitchen while he eats. So I like to leave something on the kitchen table to read while it takes him all of 10 minutes to eat his food....Well, Connecting Threads has some really nice stuff. None of which I NEED. WANT, sure, NEED? Not so much.

They are having a 40% off sale on their books. And I saw a pattern in one of the books that I would like to do. I mean, come on, I NEED another quilt book like I need a tongue piercing. But I do not want to buy a new book. I have enough. So what is a girl to do?

Figure it out without a book.

I don't know the name of the quilt IN the book, but the BOOK is called "Stash Magiic" by Jaynette Huff. I found it on Amazon.com And they SHOW pictures of each quilt in the book. How great for me! The quilt that I like is the Bow Tie quilt. It has them set in crosses (or X's)with alternating blocks of applique. and then Bow Ties in the outer border. While I just LOVE the inner appliqued border , I do not like the alternating applique blocks in the body. I want to make all the blocks int he body of X's, then the appliqued border, then the outer border of Bow Ties. So, I sat down to figure the math.

Keep in mind, i am not mathmatically inclined. So it all has to be in easily divisible numbers. I can get the block in 8 & 12 inches. But I am not smart enough, nor do I want to deal in fractions, to get it to be 9 or 10 inches. 8 inches is a good easy size.

I made 2 test blocks. I like the block on the left, best. The little triangles are 1.75 instead of 1.5 and they give the bowtie image a little more heft. I am going with those!

This si only going to be a scrap project, so it likely will not get finished for a WHILE. How long is a while? I dont' ask myself that question. YOU might ask it of me, but I don't ask it of myself. 2 years, or better. After all, it DOES have an appliqued border. That's going to take some time. Lot's of time!!

I love sidetracks........they can be so exciting.

Sam

Birthday Quilt

2010-01-07T07:34:00.003-06:00

I finished the binding on the Pink & Brown Quilt & gave it to DD#1 last Friday.

Monday (the 11th) is guild - so before I go to guild I will run to DD#1's house & pick up HER quilt so that I can sew the label on it & then I can get a photo of it & post on here for all y'all to see.

She really loves it & said that it's very warm. I used a high loft poly batting - but the quilting was very dense - I thought I may have quilted out all the warmth. Eveidently not!

I have been lazy, lazy, lazy........I dragged out an old project I had been working on. I know it's OLD because I have pictures on this blog of where I did 2 test blocks - it's the Double Pinwheel - ala Eleanor Burns. I started THOSe blocks while I still lived in Alabama.

Tonight is our sit-&-sew. QB1 is supposed to come over. I will TRY (try now) to get some photos done & up on this blog. I'm telling you, I am being SO lazy. I don't know if we WILL be able to have the S&S because the wather may not permit it. We're all gearing up for SNOW. BOO! I hate the foul weather. I want to sew. And I want to see QB1 - I think we NEED some girl time. We had a little S&S last Saturday. & another QB came that I hadn't seen in over a month. We really DO have so much fun, sitting around & sewing.

Sam

Binding

2009-12-28T21:21:00.004-06:00

Oh my goodness! I think it's been too long since I have put a binding on a quilt. Even with a thimble my fingers are SORE !!! The worst part? I am only 1/4 done on DD#1's birthday quilt...........

I sure need to shape up!

Sam

For Non-Quilting Items

2009-12-24T09:22:00.003-06:00

Well, I don't know how long I'll keep it up, but I decided that I would create a blog for my sewing that is NOT quilting related. I really DO a lot of sewing & crafts that are NOT quilting.

So if you're bored enough to see what other things, not quilting related, that I might be keeping myself busy with, you can check me out here:

www.samsewsandcrafts.blogspot.com

I warn you though, staying on a computer takes away from my sewing time. So I'll have to see how much time keeping up with 2 blogs will take.........

Ha!

Gotta sew first , right?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Sam

Snow! Not for me........:(

2009-12-21T21:31:00.003-06:00

Darn.

We didn't get ANY.

Just a little teeny tiny dusting of it.

There wasn't even any on the bushes outside of my house.

I was SO disappointed. And this Monday would have been a GREAT day to stay home & sew too!

Some truck pulled down the lines at work & our email & internet was down until almost noon. I could have done a LOT of sewing - if I had a reason to stay home!

Snow WOULD have been a good reason.

I am west of Nashville (I work in Nashville) and when it DOES snow - everything around here just shuts down. We don't get foul weather often enough to warrant having the road equipment to keep the roads clean/clear. So ? Everything just stops. Period.

With all the running around I have done in the last month, I sure would have enjoyed another day o sitting around on my butt & just sewing.

Oh well, maybe we'll have SNOW another time.

Sam

Birthday Quilt - Quilted - Not Bound

2009-12-20T21:36:00.003-06:00

Here is the finished product. I quilted it today & serged the edges.

Ha !! I made the bed at 9:16 PM just to take these photos...Only a quilter would understand that I think.

This quilt measures 98 X 98 inches square. A little large for a queen size bed, I think. Oh well. DD#1 said she wanted a really warm winter quilt. This one is big enough for her to snuggle up in. I used a high loft poly batting - but I think I quilted it too densley to hold a whole lot of heat. Here's hoping it's size makes up for it's heat retention!!

Prince Charming chose the "Bubbles" pantograph & I chose the palest pink thread that I had - it came out really nice. DD#1 was very proud of it, and said the quilting looked like bubbles even before I told her that they were!

Those are the pillow cases that QB1 & I made on Thursday night. The contrast edge on them is the same as the inner border ont he quilt.

All I loack is the binding - oh and a label. I'm bad at attaching labels!

Sam

This One is Due SUNDAY

2009-12-19T22:29:00.004-06:00

December 20th, 1982. WOW. That was a long time ago.

Not so much, really......

That was the day that I gave birth to DD#1. 27 years ago.

Do you know how old I was on that date? Ha ! I was SO young. I was SO dumb. I was all of 18 years old on December 20th, 1982. Turned 19 the following month.

I have come a long way since then. Better yet. DD#1 has come a long way. As scared as I was all that time ago, we didn't do so shabby!

I am so proud of her!

I have been making this quilt to give to her for her birthday on Monday. I finished putting the borders on it......oh....about 10 minutes ago. It's just too late for me to try & doing any quilting on it. I will load it tomorrow morning & quilt it to give to her on Monday. I have 2 different pink threads to use. I am SO uncertain which one to use.........and the pantograph? Ha! I can't begin to guess which one I'll use. Tomorrow is a new day & I will be ready to decide THEN. Maybe Prince Charming will make the choices!

I am absolutely certain that I will not have time to bind it. So I will serge it & give it to her & then get it back to put the binding on it. I also have the pillowcases for her too. I hope to get a photo of her with her *new* quilt on Monday. (Hopefully before next Friday)

I can't wait to get "back in the saddle" to sew! I have missed my routine. QB1 & I need to get cracking on our Pineapple Patch Quilts!!!

Happy Birthday Sarah! - Love, Momma

(I hope she doesn't read my blog until after Monday....)

Sam

P/S - I snapped these photos after 10 PM in our less then well lit bonus room. It's all Pink & Brown. Once I get a picture of it in natural light - you'll be able to see the colors better!!

I'm Baaaccckkk!

2009-12-17T17:27:00.002-06:00

I went to AL to spend the week with DD#2 & DGS#1. I went to spend the week so that I could help out with the baby SIL#1 works for a car plant & they are off thru 01/11 - he's a good guy , but I don't feel like I helped out too much with all of them there. I sort of felt like a thrid wheel. Both were great hosts. and the guest room is a wlak through memory lane, as it's all DD#2's old bedroom furniture.......Makes me nostalgic. All that aside, i am very glad that I was there. DD#2 is MY baby & I felt about one inch tall when I had to leave & she teared up & told me she didn't think she could "do it" . Just broke my heart. Makes me cry thinking about it. I guess I was a sort of security blanket for her.

I have some new photos of the baby - I'll load those another time.

Got into Franklin & stopped at JoAnn's Fabrics. Picked up some strapping and a yard of novelty fabric for QB1. I also bought 3 patterns for myself. One skirt, one jeans type pattern & one scoop neck pattern. I bought 2 different types of denim & one khaki.

I have found it increasingly difficult to find clothing that I like a modest style that I am comfortable in, so I decided I would start making my own clothing. Nothing new here, folks, as it's something I have done in the past, but got away from. I like to wear my skirts long & shirts long. Everytime I try to BUY clothing, seems like you have to be a 14 year old flat chested size 2 in order to find anything......I'm tired of trying. I am NOT a size 2 (add about 10 or 12 to that number !, I'm not flat chested & I am SO far away from 14 it's comical!!)At least I'll be able to make t-shirts that don't rise above my waist or choke me to death.

ANYWAYS....

QB1 came over this evening so that we could chat & I cold apply some snaps to a few coloring totes that she has completed. Goodness, that snap-press is a joy to work with. (in all seriousness - I couldn't use snap pliers, my hands couldn't take the pressure needed to make them work right...) We also made a few pillowcases. I made 2 for DD#1 because QB1 needed to see how it was done. the instructions are really hard to understand and since the directions are in black & white - seeing it actually DONE is much easier to understand. We made 2 because I confused MYSELF reading the instructions. I was glad to see QB1 - It's just nicce to be home....

What's that saying? Most quoted by Dorothy? "There's No Place Like Home, There's No Place Like Home"? Yeh, that's it!

Sam

2 Weeks Early - Welcome DGS#1

2009-12-10T09:02:00.002-06:00

He wasn't waitng until 12/20

Arrived Wednesday 12/09 @ 05:16 AM

8 pounds 5 ounces 20 inches long

Everyone doing very well. He's too big to wear "newborn" size clothes!

Sam

Midas Touch

2009-12-07T10:07:00.002-06:00

So? What, exactly, is the opposite of having the midas touch? You ever have one of those days? When everything you TRY to do turns to .... well ..... energy not expended well??? (cleaned that up a lot people!)

This whole weekend was a blur of activity & I don't feel like I accomplished anything. Nothing.

I loaded a customer quilt on Saturday morning. It was supposed to be a 3 hour job. Was it? Not so much. Took me more like 7 hours. I had more problems than I have time to relate to you. Thank goodness that QB1 has a quilt on the rails that is going to be a joy to work on after the weekend that I had!

I made steaks & cheese fries on Saturday night & "the kids" came & joined us for the meal. Sunday I made a pork roast in the crock pot. YUM YUM, it was SO good. I did laundry too & that was it.

Prince Charming started another project for us. This time it's a bench with cubbies for 4 baskets under it & then a shelf on top for 3 more baskets. All in Oak. Then it will have a beadboard back & coat hooks. This will be an all in one unit because it is for our basement to create a sort of "mud room" area to contain/corral all the junk that seems to accumulate where we come in & sit.

It's also the area that is the designated smoking spot for "inside".

It's too cold, right now, for Prince Charming to smoke outside on the deck...so it's down into the basement for the smoking. I DO NOT smoke. Never have. And he hasn't smoked in the house since May of 2008. For that I am proud!

Anyway - it's been a week since I posted.........I feel like I have done NOTHING but I am bone tired from doing it!

Sam

Prince Charming Entertainment Unit

2009-11-29T17:00:00.003-06:00

Prince Charming made this !

We have a stack of rough cut kiln dried oak. Prince Charming used SOME of that pile to build this entertainment unit. He custom designed it to fit our television that we have in our downstairs (formal) living room.

Originally, we were going to move this TV & the *new* entertainment unit upstairs into the bonus room. But guess what? The unit was too big, when completed, to get up the stairs. Well actually, it is too big to make the turn from either the living room OR the front door to get up the stairs. Even if we COULD get it up there!

It took 4 of us to bring it up the BACK stairs & through the deck & back door, then through the kitchen & THEN into the living room. FOUR of us. And a dolly.....

Isn't this just beautiful? It is taller than I am & probably taller than Prince Charming. That is a 55" flat screen TV (not plasma)

I love it.

Sam

Quilting Today - Edited to Add Photos!

2009-11-23T21:45:00.003-06:00

So ?

Today I spent quilting. I quilted one for Kyra - cute, cute, cute. Used a dark blue thread. I didn't get any pictures because i mailed it off today so she cold have it quickly.

I used a YLI thread. I prefer Permacore. But i did not have navy blue in the Permacore. I do not especially LIKE the YLI thread. I could never get it to work right when I had a Gammill & I don't like it on the Nolting.

It's probably a mind thing. I don't know. I can get the tension just right and the thread still breaks, the speed just right, and the second I'm not sewing on fabric the thread breaks, then I sew & sew & sew & have zero problems... but I just can't seem to LIKE the YLI. Oh well.

Since I was going to use the same pantograph on the Trip Around the World donation quilt, that I used on Kyra's Auburn Quilt, I went ahead & loaded it. But I loaded it sideways. So that the top & bottom were on the sides. I like to do that when it does not matter which direction the quilting pattern is going...I do this ALL THE TIME !!! Anyway, instead of using the varigated thread like I had intended...I used an aqua blue or turquise (sp?) thread instead. Matched the border fabric PERFECT.

I used muslin for the backing, but OH BOY!! I made a huge mistake! #1 Mistake: I did not measure the backing before I loaded it. I just took it for granted it was wide enough. I knew it was long enough because it was 90 inches & the quilt was only like 82 inches so loading it sideways was no problem - the selveages weret eh sides since I loaded it sideways...#2 mistake; Assuming I made the correct calculation for how many yards I needed for the width. Since I made mistake #1 & #2..#3 was certainly inevitible....I came up short. Good thing this was MY quilt & not a customer quilt. All mistakes aside, since I loaded it sideways, I was able to use it to my advantage.

I only lacked about ONE inch. Yep ONE INCH of having enough width, so when I got to the edge bottom (which is really the side of the quilt) I locked the machine & sewed a long seam. And that's where I ended the quilt, once I finished, I rolled the whole quilt up onthe bottom roller & sewed a seam at the top of the quilt (which is really the other side of the quilt) the same amount oas the other one. So basically the side borders of the quilt are one inch narrower than the top & the bottom borders. Problem solved. Took me longer to frog-stitch the quilting off the bottom leader then it did to load the whold quilt! Oh well, it was agood save.

I'll see if I can get photos of it tomorrow.

Right now? I hear my pillows calling...

11/25/2009 - edited to add the photos. Ass you can see in photo #1 - it's a wee bit smaller. #2 Shows the bottom (or top) border up against the side border. Barely noticible whenit lies flat, but you can see that the side borders are narrower! #3 Shows the thread color & the pantograph pattern.

Pantograph was purchased from Miki & Diane Designs.

sam

Trip Around The World (Short Trip!)

2009-11-21T17:23:00.002-06:00

I bought this fabric months & months ago. Froma shop in Camden, TN. It's all Moda and super bright! When I bought the fabric, I bought it with the intention of making a donation quilt. The fabric has sat & sat.

Around the time that my Chelsea got sick, I started making this "Trip Around The World". Pattern courtesy of Bonnie Hunter/Quiltville.com It's an easy pattern. I finsihed the weekend after I had her put to sleep. I miss that dog, y'all. Terribly. . . .

I made a matching pillow case. I will use just plain old muslin for the backing and I am going to quilt it with a variegated thread with a nice/easy pantograph called "Basket Case". One I have it bound, I'll take it to the guild & let it get put in the pool for the charity quilts.

This will be my 3rd "charity" quilt (when this one is done) that I have donated in a little less than 2 months. About time I got around to it....even if I say so myself. I didn't get pictures of the other 2 that I donated. One was a Trip too made of blue plaid homespuns & the other one was just 6" squares on point bordered in green & black.

The photos show it on our queen size bed. So once it's quilted and has been washed, it will be a very large couch-potato quilt, or a sort of large twin size...or fit the top of a full size....which ever & how ever it will be used will not be my decision, I just hope it makes someone happy or brings someone comfort.

Pretty sad, dont' you think? When the only time my bed has been made ALL week is when I want to take pictures of a quilt???

Ha Ha - now you know more secrets about me!!

Sam

Crib Set

2009-11-21T17:11:00.004-06:00

I do not see myself as a "cheap" person - meaning I don't like to skimp on a lot of things...however......I just could not bring myself to spend bucks deluxe on a crib set when the baby will only be here once every other month.

The crib & mattress & matching changing table - I bought at a yard sale (earlier this summer) for $80. I also got a stroller & matching car seat int hat $80 too! Cool deal, I thought!

Well, it's 4 weeks before the baby is here. I needed a crib set for MY house & something gender neutral. I have been looking at Target & other big box stores. But shopping at Toys R Us & Babies R Us for an inexpensive cribset seemed cost prohibitive.

So, back to my old faithful. Got this set off ebay for $58. Crib sheet, dust ruffle, bumpers, comforter and the mobile. Included shipping. The pictures seem to wash out the colors, but it's sage green. The set is called "Sienna Sage". It IS a used set, but I thought it was nice & it's even nicer in person. And it's gender neutral enough to please me.

One day, if I get off my butt & run out of things to do , I'll make a crib set. but not before the baby is actually here.....And since this one looks "quilty" enough it was a good fit.

Sam

Baby Shower Pictures

2009-11-09T19:51:00.005-06:00

I didn't get enough pictures.

The shower was held at DD#2's mother-in-laws home. MIL was a very gracious host to allow all the people/mess/food/etc to invade her home. and patient too! thanks MIL!!

Pictures are off DD#2 - she's the pregnant one. 6 more weeks to go!

The diaper cake, and the cupcakes. DD#2 is going with a jungle/safari theme for the baby's room. DD#1 & i just sort of ran with it...and made these cupcakes.

I wish I'd have gotten a pic of the baby's room. Prince Charming & I bought the crib, matress, (toddler & full size conversion kit for the crib)the crib set, mobile & lamp, changing table pad, changing table baskets, high chair...I cna't remember what else...The "crib set" included: bumper pad, dust ruffle, sheet, comforter, valance & diaper stacker. i need to purchase an additional valance because the window is a double and only one is not wide enough. We set up the crib at night & it was just not good lighting to take pictures. Another time!

Sam

Baby Shower Pictures

2009-11-09T19:48:00.001-06:00

I didn't get enough pictures.

Baby Shower Pictures - Getting Ready

2009-11-09T19:42:00.004-06:00

This is ME making the diaper cake (that is much easier than you think!) & DD#1 getting ready for the shower.........it was Saturday. DD#1 made some really nice signs for the roads...It was held in southern Alabama. North of where the LSU & Alabama game was being held. We got many comments on the choice of DAYS that we picked for the shower....Liek there won't be another ball game? Gimme a break!

DD#1 made the ears & trunks for the elephant cupcakes. We made too much melted BLUE chocolate. Let me tell you - locating all the extras for the cupcakes was like an old fashioned treasure hunt. No kidding.

Sam