Mine Mine MINE ! Quilting for Me.

This weekend, I decided to make a list of things I wanted to accomplish. Not one item on the list was SLEEPING IN. Seems (recently) that sleeping in is a luxury & when I do sleep in, it's usually past 8:30 in the morning before I ever roust myslef out of bed & then it's 9:30 or 10:00 before I ever get moving & get something started. Needless to say, that is a terrible waste of valuable TIME. One item on my list was to paint the dining room. That is going to be another post later...but quilting my finished Ladyof The Lake / Belle Meade quilt WAS on the list. Here you see it half way done.




I am always excited when it's my very own quilt that is getting quilted. Oddly enough? It takes me FOREVER to pick out a quilting pattern. Why is that? And thread too. Takes me forever to decide on a color.

My good friend Mamie (whom I miss dearly) and I would always try to pick a contrasting thread, so that MAYBE the quilting of the pantograph could be seen. Well, on this quilt, I chose a red thread. Blood red. It's actually called STRAWBERRY but it was a deeper red than the cone of thread I had that said RED...so strawberry is what I went with. Same color red as the Thimbleberries border fabric. I have a cream colored backing & the red thread is glaringly bright! But on the FRONT of the quilt? Not so much..........Amazingly? You can barely see it. But there's a LOT going on in this quilt.

This is the pantograph that I am using. I knew ahead of time (experience maybe?) that the panto would not be seen on the front & since I was using red thread & the backing is cream, I wanted something really pretty that I COULD see on the back! This pantograph is called MARIPOSA and it is by Urban Elementz. It is a busy , detailed panto. The butterflies look a lot like flowers. That's why I like it!


Here is a shot of 3 more quilts of mine waiting to be quilted. From right to left: Ocean Waves (been finished since AUGUST !!!!) Second Hand Clothes, and last is a floral quilt that reminds me of a rug. (I don't like the floral quilt & after I quilt it, I am going to donate it to my guild. Someone will love it one day, but that person is not me)It really looks like ther are more than 3 quilts here, but I have 3 backings hanging up too.


Lastly - Here is a picute of my dog Bourbon. I had the radio cranked up & I was jamming to a bunch of rock, I could hear him snoring over the machine & the radio! He does this everytime! It's comical. I can't figure out what lying on his back accomplishes for him, but he does it all the time. Especially when I sew.


Talk to you all later!!

Sam

Quilted Blankets

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!

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....

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

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

Daughter #1 helping me make our creation


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


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


Another view.


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


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


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


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


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


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


Merry Christmas.

Sam

Quilting

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

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

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

Sam

Rice Krispie Treats

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

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






Sam

Rock - On

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



It is blissful to rock out while quilting!

Sam

Second Hand Clothes (KIT)

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

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

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

Sam

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

Not Quilted Yet.

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

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

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

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

Sam

Good Help? Yay or Nay? You Decide!

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




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




Sam

12 More Blocks !

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

See Ya!

Sam

New Machine

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

Sam

Up-Dates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

sam

Fabric Shopping & Whittles

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

We decided to go up to Kentucky to Whittles!

It wasn't a hard decision. she drove.

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

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



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

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


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

Good night all.

Sam

A Quilt for my neice.

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





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





See Ya !
Sam

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

Lot's.

Just nothing exciting.

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

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

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

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





Sam

Happy Birthday USA !!

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

Happy Birthday USA !!

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

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

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

Happy Fourth of July!!

Sam