Gift Registries

anybody that really knows me, KNOWS I am a non-traditionalist. Non-Traditional when it comes to my life. Extrememly traditional on other aspects. A big-see-saw.....Conservative, liberal....all rolled into one.

Too much to put into words...

ANYWAY - DD#2 comes home for the weekend & we went & "Registerd" at Babies-R-Us & Taget for the baby. I never did that. Not for either baby.

Let me tell you...I was very ....um....amused??? Who knew that there was more than ONE breast pump to buy?

The baby STUFF that is available now a days is overwhelming. Overwhelming. It goes on forever. Rows & rows & rows of baby STUFF.

We got through it. No arguments. No bickering. It was a nice pleasant day.

Sam

Give A-Way

Go to this site: http://bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com/

& see Barb.

She has a giveaway!

So does Greg - but I think his was limited to the first 3 commentorss.

Sam

Bunny Applique Block

Though I am deligently downloading the "Bunny Hill BOM" - THIS Bunny is not from those...This bunny is for the Baby Quilt.

Block #2 ! I like this Bunny. He is too cute! when I turned it right side out - I was apprehensive about how it would end. Before I got all the edges smooted out , my QB#1 told me it looked like a new born puppy...it did, too! But not now.

It's "block #2" because I made it 2nd - I don't think there's any order...my order is good enough.

There is supposed to be a little appliqued inner ear pink piece. Ha ! I'm going to embroider that one there. Also - I cut out & sewed & turned the teeny tiny tail - but QB#1 had a GREAT suggestion! She said "how about a little white pom-pom?" Eureka! What an idea! Sot hat's what I am going to do!

I think it's a little blurry - but you get the idea....

Sam

Insane Applique???

Ah! Ha Ha Ha Ha !

Talk about biting off more than I can chew! Ha Ha Ha! Isn't it great that I can laugh at myself???

DD#2 is having grandchild #1 - Due in December. Well, I told DD#2 that she could pick the quilt. Well, silly me, I provided the books!

I have several books/patterns by Brandywine Designs, authored by Linda Hohag. You ever SEEN any of those? Cute, cute , cute. Beyond adorable. I bought these books YEARS ago. But , at that time, my girls were too old to want something this cutesie.

Do you know how many appliqued quilts I have EVER done? 3. Just 3. One had blanket stitched stars on it, one had machine satin stitched butterflies, and the last one has needle turned leeaves & hearts on the border. Just 3.

This one, I'll tell you, will be a challenge. Yup, definately a CHALLENGE.

The book I am using is called "Critters Dancing in the Moonlight". I am making the "Critter Corner Quilt". 17 appliqued DANCING animals.

This is my first of the animals. I hope, that by posting my progress, I get them all done & the quilt constructed before DGC#1's arrival. (besides that, it's been a little peice since I had a post with QUILTING.....)

See how tiny these peices are? Ha, Ha Ha Ha Ha. DD#2 says - "Momma, when you get this done, can we hang it on the wall?" Oh, yeh, baby PLEASE hang it on the wall. I'd at least like to look at this one for a little while after it's made - because I likely won't ever make another one. That's a lie. A big lie. I been dying to make one of these a long time now.

I'd like to make the "Alpha-Bears" quilt too. But I think I'll save another insane applique quilt of this caliber when DD#1 decides to have a family & children too. I figure I'm good for ONE extrememly difficult quilt per kid. After that - it's a free for all....I get to make what I want when I want!

It's not much to look at right now - but this is the MOUSE !!!!

Sam

Yuck

I came home early today to TRY & get rid of a rotten headache. So far, I have not been successful. Nasty, rotten headache. Making me sick at my stomach. And my personality exceptionally unbarable. To say it bluntly: I'm being ugly.

Oddly enough, I started getting these headaches this time last year. I chalked it up to stress over moving. Been a few months since I've had one, but I have one TODAY !

I took a nap - but my arm kept falling asleep, so I got up to take care of the animal chores.

I hate this headache. It's awful. I COULD use a LOT more adjectives, but being a potty mouth on line isn't very polite - I don't feel like being polite right now, but I will spare you the blue cloud of adjectives I am walking around in. Not pretty, I am sure you will agree....

At any rate - I am off to La-La Land early. It's still light & will be for another 1 & a half hours. I brought the guard dog in to keep me company. Since Prince Charming is going to be very late tonight & I took something that SHOULD knock me out in about 40 minutes - I want another dog to keep me company.

Notice I didn't say "safe"? There is nothing here to be paranoid or scared of. Extrememly normal, passive, ultra-safe neighborhood. I've never felt better in my life, here in this area....but since I'm not feeling well, I want the guard dog.

Don't laugh at him. He really IS the guard dog. I promise you he is. That's my Bourbon. I keep him all groomed up and shaved. Looks like a giant Cocker Spaniel. he is NOT freindly. I have owned "big" dogs all my life, and this sweet little baby is more aggressive than either of the Rottweillers I owned. I promise you he is.

I have a 100# German Shepherd too - pretty boy here - Bourbon - is the more aggressive of the 2. Briscoe - the shepherd, is learning. Soon I'll have 2 guard dogs. Bourbon though, he's quite the Momma's Boy. Stays within a 10 foot radius of me. Won't even let the favorite fat dog STAY near me. he lets her come to me to be petted, but not to lay next to me.

Well - enough of my headache & enough of my passion for my pets - I'm off to sleep - no post is ever complete without a photo - so here's the guard dog in all his glory.

Sam

Weekend Project

These are my neighbors roses. They are called Knock Out Roses. They are really beautiful and he said that they chop them down a lot. They smell good too. Sounded like a low maintenence plant to us.

The soil in this area is very poor. We fondly refer to it as "Tennessee Top Soil". AKA - rocks!

So we set out to build an appropriate planter.






83 blocks, 23 caps, 34 bags of "inhanced soil" and 11 bags of decorative rock (instead of mulch), 2 days, 3 people, 5 rose bushes later....AND THIS IS WHAT WE GOT !!!!

I really LOVE it!

Sam

Pincushions

My buddy - let me tell you - we been buddies a LONG time. Years. Lots of them....

ANYWAY

My Buddy @ Mia's Cottage has the cutest pincushions for sale.

Visit her here:

www.miascottage.blogspot.com


Sam

The Guild

The 2nd Monday & 4th Saturday of every month, our guild meets.

Many people don't beleive there are as many members as we have.

These photos show roughly half of us. Top photo, left side, orange chair on the inside row. That's where I always sit. That's my set up & that's QB1 on the far left side of the photo. We had a blast.

I got to attend nearly ALL day. I got a lot of sewing done.

It's a VERY good thing that we have to wear name tags, I am the world's worst at remembering names....

Sam

My Sewing Space

Seems folks are showing their sewing spaces.

This is mine.

The longarm is downstairs in the basement.

Sam

DD#2 Said.....

It's going to be a BOY !

Sam

Angel Trumpet Blooming

This plant was put in the ground on Easter weekend. That is the weekend that Prince Charming & I built these little planters beside the steps on the patio. My neighbor, Mrs. Green Thumb, gave it to me. She had wintered it in her basement and it was no taller than 18 inches and had MAYBE 2 or 3 leaves on it.

You can't tell that now!

It was hot today (not as TERRIBLY hot as it HAS been) and then it rained off & on all day & then got hot again. So? You are seeing fog AND it's nearly dusk ....but I think you can see it well enough. (?)

I needed a size comparison, becasue nobody believes me that this Angel Trumpet plant is 6 foot tall. As you can see, Prince Charming is standing next to it & it's taller than him - he's 5'9".

They smell SO beautiful. Wonderfully fragrant.

These blooms were a beautiful site to see, this week especially.

Sam

Brothers

I have 4 brothers and 2 sisters. I am exactly in the middle. 2 older brothers and 1 older sister. 2 younger brothers & 1 younger sister.

One of my younger brothers is in the hospital. It's very serious. He's in critical condition & on a ventilator.

I do not desire to discuss why he is there, but I sure need everyone & anyone's good thoughts & prayers. He needs it.

Thank You

Busy With??? These !

Remember I told you that QB1 & I started a quilt project? Not exactly a single project. Not 2 of us working on ONE quilt. We're each making one....It's called "Pineapple Patch" & was in the McCall's Quilting in 2007 (originally I thought it was 2001...) I couldn't find an exact picture of the QUILT, but you can still download the directions for co-ordinating pillowcases.

I took a picture of the pattern - so that is as good as it's going to get. the very last picture shows the 2 bags that I am working from the upper bag is the scraps that I have left from cutting the block fabrics from the fat 8's. the lower one is the triangles i have left to sew on. the leftovers are slotted for the appliqued flowers int he borders and the same on the pillowcases.

These photos show you my progress! I have the centers completed and am fixing to start the first round of the strips & triangles that give the blocks the pineapple effect. Only - I'm gong to cheat just a bit. The pattern has you cutting rectangles & then chopping of the ends at an angle to create trapezoids & then sew them on.

I feel that the bulk of the seams is going to be there regardless if I sew trapezoids (sp?) or rectangles (lots easier to spell...) so instead of cutting the required trapezoids, I am going only cut rectangles, sew them on all sides of the sqaures & then TRIM the corners off before I sew the triangles on.

In MY mind I am eliminating a step or two & creating LESS bias edges to deal with....

I am trying very hard to get the bulk of THIS quilt finished so that I can start making THE baby quilt for DD2. When I get that done, I am going to make the crib set for the crib that stay's at Nana's house. (Yes, y'all, Nana will be me) Then if I have ANY time left - I want to TRY & get a Christmas Quilt done.

Don't even think about holding your breath on the Christmas Quilt. THAT might not happen.

On top of all my other busy-ness - this is what I have been able to squeeze in between. Thank goodness for rotary cutters and chain piecing.

Sam

Nearly a WEEK ?

Wow, it's been nearly a week since I have posted. I have been BUSY. BUSY, and more BUSY since this time last week.

I don't have pictures, because, silly me....I NEVER remember the camera.

Let's see. Where to begin?

How about Saturday? On Saturday QB1 & I went on a mini shop hop. She had printed out nearly all the shops within a 2 hour drive of us (we are west of Nashville). This was a day-trip we had planned 2 weeks before.

We started out stopping at a shop called Wooka's. They are a homebased business & I dented my cash the biggest there. I bought 2 separate pieces of prequilted fabric in a Bohemian type print because they had a little casserole carrier made up in it & they had a FREE pattern for it too. How can you pass up FREE? I also got a nice backing. Cream background & blue floral. No clue what it will be the backing for, but I got it anyway. I got some other yardage too, but can't remember directly off the top of my head...

Our next stop was going to be in Waverly, but we were closer to Clarksville & went there next. Stopped at Hobby Lobby - all I got there was a twin size batting for the baby quilt I needed to quilt. Twin was too big, but crib was too small....Next in Clarksville, we went to Hancock's. I didn't buy anything there at all. They had lots of nice stuff, just nothing I thought I wanted. They DID have a little rollie cart for toting your machine around, but I thought I could get one @ Joann's cheaper.

While we were @ Hancock's , we ran into another QB from the guild & it turns out it was a good thing we didn't go to the shop in Waverly because they are not open on Saturday's....Isn't THAT odd? Not open on Saturday? A fabric shop? Oh well. It was $$ I didn't spend.

THEN we went to Goddlettesville. Can't remember the shop name, but we stopped there & they are the NICEST people. Super nice. Fabric is $10 a yard, but they are nice. I picked out about 6 FQ's & go to check out & the lady says to me "IS this all you want?" I say YES & she says okay - but if you buy 20 FQ's they are only $1 a piece. She told me that when we came in , but I forgot! Of COURSE, I went & found more to equal 20. I didn't get anything else because I just could not bring myself to pay $10 per yard - and REALLY the ONLY fabric that QB1 & I were actually hunting was an appropriate green 30's print to use in our Pineaplle Patch Quilt for the vines & leaves - we never did find anything we liked.

Next stop in Goodlettesville was Joann's - they didn't have the rollie cart I wanted. All sold out. We bought batting - prepacked was 2 for 1 - and I bought crib bumper batting. QB1 had coupons, so we used the heck out of them. I remeber buying fabric, but I can't be sure if that was me or QB1...

That ended our shopping day & we went home - I got home about 4:30 & then my friend Kat came to visit from Alabama. She had a baby quilt that she needed quilted badly. That & she was buying a sewing machine from me.

Sunday - Kat & I quilted the baby quilt. It came out so sweet. I don't know how she can make so many that she GIVES away! I probably could have quilted it faster, but I ran my mouth way too much! It was nice to visit. I sure wish we lived closer together. kat is the canning queen & has a care package made up waiting on me. I think the only other canning queen I know would be QB1 ! If the 2 of them ever got together in a kitchen, everything would end up in JARS ! I love them both!

Monday I sewed a bit on my Pineapple Patch quilt (after I got home from work)

Tuesday was spent in a meeting for work in Franklin. I took advantage of being in Franklin when the meeting was done to go to Joann's - to find a rollie cart - they din't have one either!!!!!! Then went to Stitcher's Garden. I did find a green 30's print. I think it's dark enough. It was the ONLY one that was dark enough. I was glad that it wasn't the regular $8.99 per yard. (I'm telling you folks, shopping at Wittles & Wooka's will spoil you to shop anywhere else!) So i got 5 yards 7 split it in half for QB1 & me.

Also on Tuesday - the baby quilt that I was supposed to have made by Aug 18th got hyper-pushed to NOW - because Baby Jazzlynn made her appearance a whole month early....

Wednesay I came home & loaded the baby quilt onto the rails, quilted it, trimmed it , serged the edges, and sewed the binding on. Normally I hand sew the binding to the back/or front, but in the intrest of time, I machine sewed it down. I'll likely knock off $25 for that.

I am tired. Tired , Tired, And more Tired. But I'm not so tired that I can't go to QB1's house for our Thursday sit-n-sew tonight!!! Ha , Ha.

I have 2 quilts to quilt this weekend. Technically 3 - but one I am holding & one I am waiting on a special order pantograph. So I'll likely quilt KYRA's Log Cabin on Saturday night or Sunday afternoon. Raining Sunday's are a perfect quilting day.

By the way - the pantograph's that I ordered from Urban Elementz are SO nice. I can't wait for the MONTHLY surprise.

Back to pantograph's...QB1 suggested using the coated / wrapped hair bands instead of the standard / regualr rubber bands. The regular rubber bands break like every 2nd or 3rd time I take them of a panto....I originally thought that the hair bands would be too thick and would wrinkle the paper.... Turns out that they are perfect. I probably have 30 or 40 of them. Not now, I don't, they are all on my pantopraghs. The newer hair bands that don't have the little metal thingy on them work best. I'll have to buy more because right now, I only have 3 or 4 in the drawer.... Thanks QB1 !!!

That's enough for today.

Talk at y'all later. (Said with my BEST southern drawl, while batting my baby blues..and the beauty queen wave....We all know none of THAT comes naturally!!!)

Sam

July 16th Sit-N-Sew

Last night, I felt like the hostess with the mostest. QB1 came & QB3 came. QB1 & I cut out the fat 1/8's for our Pineapple Patch Quilts & QB3 cut out borders for her Pink Lemonade Quilt.

QB1 had this week off, but I think she's been run ragged & went home a little early. But she was up sending me photos of our quilts form Monday's Guild meeting. How come you were not asleep @ 10PM QB1 ????

There were all 3 of us in my sewing area. I set up a folding table , on bed risers, and it was used as a cutting area. I need more light up there, but other than that, it worked out really well.

Before I retired for the eveing, I looked through the new blogs on the quilting blog ring. I saw a new blog (can't remember the name of it) that advertised , mentioned really, not advertised, a website called www.urbanelementz.com (sorry folks, I'm clueless how to LINK anything...They make pantographs. Some were SO cute. They have a "Pantograph-of-the-Month" program. I joined it. A new panto with co-ordinating border & corner & block patterns for $19.95 per month. You can cancel at anytime.

I saw several that they have, that I want. One is of FROGS ! Too cute.

Maybe one day, I'll graduate to the custom quilting, as I really want to try my hand at it, but I need to spend more time on the machine practicing & until the time comes that I have more free time then I have now, then I need to stick to E2E patterns. (Edge-to-Edge / Pantographs)And, I am happy doing that!

Tomorrow (Saturday), QB1 & I are going to 2 quilt shops. I am excited aobut going and I have a couple bucks I've saved just for this trip. That being said, since I SAVED said BUCKS, I bet I won't find a stinking thing. It's been you only have $10, that you find EVERYTHING you want & need!

No photos! Sorry.

Sam

Bright Baby Quilt - Update

Finished the top this evening after i got home from work. had it done before 6PM too!

If I had something appropriate in my stash to use as a backing, I'd have had it loaded & well on it's way to being quilted too. Just didn't have 3 yards of anything bright enough. Pink , yes. Baby, yes. Flannel, yes. Just nothing BRIGHT.

Remember, this is a commissioned quilt.

It's really cute. Extremely cute. I don't think these photos relaly capture the HAPPINESS of it! I tried to get as many shots as possible, but some of the dark purples look black in these photos.

I don't know about y'all, but the oranges just scream to me.

It's storming, so I am trying to be FAST on this post

Talk at you all later!

Sam

July Guild Meeting

Went to the guild meeting on Monday night. We have had 3 new members in the last 2 months & that brings our total membership to 55 persons. We have only one male.

They were getting revved up for the *new* officers for 2010. Guess who got elected to a "position"? Yours Truly! Secretary. I hope whoever sits next to me has good eyes (to read name tags) and a good memory (to tell me everyone's name if they are not wearing a tag) Miss Bernice came over & put her arms around my shoulders and all but begged me. I could not turn her down & I dang sure was not going to say "no". She won't admit it, but I think QB1 had something to do with my 2010 position! But she's going to be "treasurer" - so I won't be all by myself....

Speaking of QB1....I finished quilting her PINK LEMONADE quilt on Sunday night. I loaded that baby with the sides top & bottom so that the pantograph was vertical. I used the "Rosie" pantograph from Willowleaf Studio & since it's a very dense pattern and is NOT directional - I loaded it that way to save time on how many times I would have to advance the quilt. ANYWAY....I used an eggshell colored thread because QB1 used muslin for the backing & all the background. That eggshell color blended beautifully and the spacing between the rows came out so nice. QB1 was very pleased with it. I used a packaged Hobbs Poly-Down batting (because that's what I had...) and that quilt draped just so softly.

I took the quilt to QB1 at the guild meeting on Monday & we took photos. Of her quilt & my quilt. I neglected to bring MY camera, so soon as QB1 emails the photos to me, I will attach them to this post.

There were SO many of us at the guild meeting! I do not like *structured* meetings and the only part of our meetings that are BUSINESS only last about 30 minutes. I try to get off work early to get there - because they have a whole basement of a church that they can spend all day sewing in - from 9AM until 7PM. I can usually get there by 3PM. I love show-&-tell! It is so fun to see what other folks are working on & beleive me, there is a LOT of talent at our guild.

Tuesday night I finished sewing all the side setting triangles for the commision-baby-quilt that I am making. I should be able to sew the whole top together tonight & do all the trimming & get it ready for quilting by this weekend.

Speaking of WEEKEND !!! QB1 & I have a plan to go fabric shopping. To Wooka's & another shop in Waverly. I have been to neither & have been saving some $$ to go. We will be looking for some sort of green fabric to use for the vines & leaves on our Pineapple Patch Quilts. I am excited to get started on those. It will be fun to be working together on the same quilt.

Our guild has a show in May & I told QB1 that I'd sure like to have them done (meaning the top done & quilting completed) for the show. It would be really sweet to have both of them side by side! I am determined to get a 30's wide backing for mine. Purple maybe? or Pink? I already have one with a blue floral, so blue is out.

When I walked into the guild meeting & set up all my stuff, I told everyone that they were all my QB's ! i sure got some looks on that one! I had to explain that QB meant QUILTING BUDDY. And that numbers 1, 2, & 3 were taken ...so I won't be numbering anyone else! Ha, Ha, I think they all think I'm nuts.....which is okay with me.

Tomorrow night is our home sit-n-sew. QB1 is going to bring her newly finished quilt so we can attach a binding. QB1 has never attached a binding - her Aunt has done hers....so I told her I'd show her how I do it, which is not to say it's the RIGHT way or WRONG way - but I make mine a little wider/thicker because if I cut the binding strips 2.5 or 2.25 inches, my left hand cramps while I am sewing the binding on. When I cut the binding strips @ 3.0 inshes wide and sew it on, it's like I can whip out the binding in nothing flat - regardless of the size - so I know it makes a difference.... I hope that QB2 & QB3 come too.

Folks, talk at y'all later.

edited to add: QB1 is on the left of these photos & I am on the right. The "Pik Lemonade" Quilt is QB1's - it turned out SO pretty !



Sam

Saturday Score

First of all, QB1 is a yard sale queen. I promise she sniff out a deal a block away.

Friday QB1 found a BUNCH of maternity clothes. Nice ones, too. For DD2. She got them all.

This morning (Saturday) she found a crib & changing table at a yard sale. She called me on my cell & gave me the lady's phone number. I called her & she said she'd hold the crib & changing table until i could get there to looka t them.

DD2 is here for the weekend & we jumped in the truck & popped the address in the GARMIN and went over there.

They had a "Jinnny Lind" crib with mattress & changing table, and an EvenFlo stroller & car-seat combo at the sale. It looked to be in great condition & I got all 5 pieces for $80!

These great finds are going to stay at my house. That way when DD2 is here to visit, she does not have to pack the whole house...so to speak. These are in wonderful shape. Very clean - I think she could have got more than $100 for just the crib.

They also gave me a dog bed for FREE. They actually had a bunch of stuff on thier free table. You ever been to a yard sale that had a FREE table? Anything they had on there was free. I thought that was a pretty good idea.

Anyway - I thought $80 was a GREAT deal. Ran to the bank to the ATM & got back to the sale & the guy had the whole thing disassembled & ready to load into the truck. I thought they were really nice people.

I owe a special thanks to QB1, she always goes avove & beyond "looking out for you".

I know it's a bit early to be buying baby furniture, but I could not pass up this deal. Figued by the time I was going to be really needing one, it would not be the season for yard sales....

DD2 has a different style crib picked out for her nursery & I cant' wait to see what it looks like.

Well - it's late & I hear my pillow calling me!

The photos do not "do" justice for the crib. It is a nice warm oak color. I am anxious to start a crib set. I have something in mind. It's from the FIRST " PS: I LOVE YOU " baby quilt book by Possibilities.

Sam

QB's (Quilting Buddies!!!)

Thursday night was our sit-and-sew, this week it was QB#1's house.

Well - the other 2 QB's showed up THIS time. We did more chatting than sewing & it was fun.

One of the QB's brought her 2 little grand-daughters. So sweet. Guess what they had? I could totally sympathize. Totally. Poison Oak. Bless their hearts, both had it on their faces....

I hope that I can sew as fast as my tongue tells everybody it can....

It was so fun.

Monday is Guild Meeting. I hope that I can get away from work early enough to get to the meeting with some time to sew. Depends on the work load. Monday's are catch up day and they are a pre-cursor to a BUSY Tuesday. And Tuesday is always busy....

Sam

Safety