Doodles

I've been doodling Baptist Fans in anticipation of quilting the butterfly top.  Here's what they look like:

Pardon the poor lighting.  In the top picture you can see on the bottom where I started making the fans in lines.  Well, that was just way too organized for me so I started making them go all over the place.  I like that so much better!  And it's my quilt, so I can do whatever I want!  :)  I think the fans are going to give the quilt some nice movement.

A purchase

I found a t.v. table at Wal Mart for less than $10 on my lunch hour.  I sure hope it's sturdy enough to allow me to cut pieces on it.  The way they were packaged at the store, I could not open it up and see, but it looks like it will be. 

There was also a folding table that was a little larger than a t.v. table that I looked at.  It folded like an ironing board and was adjustable.  It was a little more pricey, so I thought I would just see if the t.v. table worked first.

I saw a tutorial for doing a Baptist Fan quilting pattern that I really think I'm going to try on the butterfly quilt.  I'm glad I saw it before I loaded the top, because I was just going to load the top long ways so I didn't have to roll it quite as many times (whoopee, it would just be one more roll - not a big deal).  The tutorial says to load it so you can start along the bottom edge.

I'm also practicing doodling the pattern.  Trying that 'muscle memory' thing...

T.V. Trays

When I was a little girl my Great Grandma had this metal t.v. tray that I was allowed to use if I wanted to sit by the door of the kitchen and watch t.v. and eat a snack.  It was metal and pretty banged up, but it served its purpose. 

We do not have any end tables in our living room currently.  It's not because we don't own any, it's because all they do is collect clutter.  And I really do not need another area collecting clutter in my house!  That being said, there are times when it would be nice to have a little table to set a drink on or use to play a game.  Right now, I'm thinking it would be nice to have one to cut some pieces out while I sit in the front room waiting for trick or treaters tonight.  I am going to run out at lunch time and see if Wal Mart has any that are sturdy.

Got it done

Thanks to a situation aggravating me to distraction, I had to go clear my head with some therapeutic sewing tonight.  I finished the butterfly top and it is ready to load on the longarm.  Tomorrow night and Halloween night there will be trick or treaters coming to the door, so I really can't work on any sewing in the basement or upstairs.  Hopefully Friday night I will get it loaded and this weekend get it quilted.  No promises, though.  Just going with the flow here.  And my aggravation has subsided, in case anyone was wondering. 

I also made a couple small Halloween bags for two little ghosties I know.  Added some fun things like colors and a coloring book to the bags.  Not much candy in them because I know they will get lots from going door to door.

Got to get back to it

I have got to get back to that last birthday quilt!  There are just a couple of rows left to finish, then it's ready for the longarm.  Maybe I can get that done tonight.  I have the crock pot going with stew in it for dinner, so that's basically done.  All it needs is to be thickened. 

We have a rainy overcast day here today.  Would be a good day to stay home and in bed reading a book!  But that doesn't pay the bills. 

Ev's truck had to go in for an oil change and have one of the tires fixed.  He picked up a nail somewhere.  Luckily the shop could fix it and he didn't need a new tire.  Tires are expensive anymore!  I remember when they weren't...  Does that mean I'm old?  Nah.

A carpentry finish

Steps are done!

Nick came over this afternoon while we were working on the finishing touches.  He helped out and also posed for the final picture!  That's my boy.... haha

My Saturday

Didn't get much sewing done, but got a lot done on the front porch!  We started working on replacing the front steps.  Here is the before picture:

The boards are all rotted and falling apart.  Pretty sad shape.  Here's a pic after we got them all torn off:

We actually got the new steps assembled, but then discovered a "technical" error that means we have to disassemble them one by one and reassemble.  But the good part is, it will go quickly.  We redid two out of five last night before we ran out of steam.  Today we will finish and I will post a pic of the final product!

We had a Halloween Party to go go to last night.  Ev didn't dress up, but I went as a flower child.  Guess my trip to San Francisco influenced that a bit!  Here's a pic of me with a peace sign on my face and flowers in my hair!

If it weren't for the peace sign, I probably would have just looked like a deranged Mother Nature...  haha

Finally Friday!

This seems to have been a long week for me.  I'm glad the work week is almost over.  I did not get upstairs to finish sewing the rows together but I have decided I'm going to use some black material I have to border the top. 

My great uncle came over last night for biscuits and gravy for dinner.  We had a nice visit.  I had stopped at Wal Mart on my lunch hour yesterday and picked up some new silk flowers for the cemetery.  Tomorrow morning I plan to pick him up and we will go out and put the flowers on the graves.

Putting rows together

I have almost all the rows put together in the last birthday quilt of the year.  Tomorrow night I'm having my great uncle over for dinner, but after he leaves I should be able to finish it up!  I do think it needs a border.  Will have to pick something out for it.

Some sewing

Tonight I went upstairs for a bit and did a little sewing.  I have the rows all sewn for my youngest sister's quilt.  I need to put the rows together and then decide if it needs a border or not.  Then quilt it!  It's close enough now to being done that I'm not worried about it. 

Then I have got to get back to the nursing home quilts.  I have one top to finish then I have to start quilting them.  Feathers.  Lots of feathers.  On every one of them.  Whee!

You know you're a quilter....

When you are sitting at a booth in a restaurant and notice that the pattern on the fabric on the booth would make a neat quilt design:

Don't you agree?  :)

Moonlight Sonata

We just had a full moon, which was really lovely.  It was so bright, that Saturday morning when I went to Arthur at 7:00 a.m. it was still visible in the Western sky.

I'm not sure you can see it, but just to the right of the church steeple, above the street light, is the moon.

Then, last night when Ev and I went to dinner, the moon was very bright.  I know this picture doesn't do it justice, but this is a truck stop across the road from the restaurant we were eating at.

Sorry about that bright light, but one of the trucks had it's lights on!  The moon was just as bright as those lights, it seemed!

Tonight, when we were driving, about 6:30 p.m. when it was just twilight, we saw a meteor in the Northern sky!  Pretty cool! 

A new look

Ev and I put new lattice on the front porch today.  It really makes the house look nicer.

We really need to replace the steps next.  Soon.  Very soon.

Goodies!

Here's a few of the fabrics I got in Arthur.  I didn't pay more than $2/yard for any of them, some were even $1/yard and one was even free!  They are all 100% cotton.

The top picture has the bolt of fabric in it.  It looks like real pale poinsettias to me and has a tiny bit of shimmer to it.  Really pretty and it was one of the $1/yard fabrics!

The middle picture has two of the same type of prints, just in different colorways.  I really liked both of them.  I thought they would be beautiful backings.  I got five yards of each.

These are mostly stash builders for me, because, you know, I hardly have any fabric.....  right?  hahaha

We went to Beachy's Bulk Foods and here's some pics of what I got there:

I got a few new dip mixes to try, some candy and a cinnamon pecan roll, a loaf of good bread, some snack mixes, and other yummy goodness.

While I was unloaded the goodies, I had some help from Shadow.

And not be left out of the fun, Ivy had to get in on things (yes that is my slippered foot in the picture).

Hope everyone is having a nice Sunday!

Adventures in Arthur

Met my friend, Mary, in Arthur today.  We had a great day shopping and visiting.  Made our first stop Miller's Dry Goods where they were having a big sale.  I hit the jackpot and got a lot of material for one and two dollars a yard!  At that price, I bought five yard cuts.  They will make nice backings.  I even bought what was left on a couple of bolts.  Pretty well stocked up.

We then went to Beachy's Bulk Foods and got lots of spices and goodies.  From there it was lunch at Rosylen's and then to downtown Arthur. 

It was just an all around good day!

Part of the charm of these trips is seeing the buggys.   I love to hear the clip clop of the horses as they go down the road.

Started on another quilt

Tonight I started on my youngest sister's birthday quilt.  It's being made from precut ten inch squares in a real pretty set of fabrics with flowers and butterflies.  I sewed for about an hour then called it a night.  I hope to get the top put together before the weekend.  Saturday I'm planning to go to Arthur to the Amish shops, but hopefully Sunday I could work on it on the frame.  Maybe....

I put the lasagna in the oven that I had frozen a couple weeks ago.  It took quite a while to get heated through but turned out pretty good once it was hot.  I also made some bacon wrapped cheesy crescent hot dogs.  That will give Ev a little variety to choose from for his lunches at work and for dinner at home.  Monday I cooked a few different things so I haven't had to cook if I don't want to the last couple nights. 

I am not a big Pinterest user, however I found a neat tutorial on how to make a custom sewing table for any machine.  I think I'm going to give it a try one of these days.

Done before the deadline!

Yup.

Last weeks adventure

I've been a bit lax on putting up pics, but here's proof that I really did go to a Bonnie Hunter workshop last week!

 And here's me and hubby at the restaurant in Peoria after the workshop.  We had a nice time.  It was a lot of driving, but not too bad.

I have half the binding and the label done on Cool Batiks.  Shouldn't have any problem finishing it today.  Then need to start on my sister's birthday quilt for early November.  Time keeps speeding up on me!  haha

Cool Batiks is quilted and ready for binding

Here was the Cool Batiks top at 11:30 Saturday morning:

And here it was at 9:30 Sunday morning:

I'm still just doing a simple loopy meander.  It's my go-to quilting because it's easy and looks nice.  Here's a close up of the front:

And a close up of the back:

I used a piece of muslin off the bolt I just bought a few weeks ago.  I got the 90" wide muslin at Joann's and I'm glad I did.  It's nice not to have to piece the back if I don't want to.

The cat has left the building

 It's hard to see but there is a black cat in that carrier on the chair.

And here are the two permanent residents of the house after she left.  I think they both took a nap to relax for the first time since last Friday night!

So tomorrow I can finally sew again!  woohoo!  The cool batiks top is loaded on Gemma and ready to go as soon as I load the batting.  I also have the squares ready for the last birthday quilt.  Upstairs or down, either place has a project ready for me!  And I better get busy...

I finally came into the year 2013 and got a smart phone yesterday.  My old phone, from 2008, finally threw in the towel.  I hated to see it go, and really didn't want to pay for another data package on our bill, but getting a smart phone was the next step for me.  I'm glad I got it and I do like it a lot so far.  It's going to take a bit of getting used to. 

Tired today

I am tired today.  Last night I stayed up to watch a show and then talk to Ev for a bit.  Didn't get to bed until after midnight.  Now I'm just dragging through the work day, trying to keep my eyes open!

Haven't done any sewing with Lenore the cat visiting.  She is supposed to go home tomorrow night, so I'm hopeful I can get back in the groove!

Still being terrorized by a crazy cat

Last night, around one a.m., we were unpleasantly awakened by two cats chasing each other.  Unfortunately, the chasee decided to run right across our bed, over the pillow, which we happened to be resting our heads on at the time.  It is not clear if the chasee or chaser is the culprit, but one of said cats managed to scratch and draw blood on Everett's face.  It was not a pretty sight...

sigh.

No sewing tonight.  That's pretty normal for a Monday night, though.  I did try again to get the base plate off the sewing machine yesterday, but that one screw just would not budge.  So, I ended up just putting the other ones back in and giving up on cleaning it at this time.

Good way to end a good weekend

I had a great time in Peoria at the workshop!  Will have a few pics from it to upload soon, but they are on my camera and right now I have pics from my phone to upload.  Today Ev and I went to a Fall Festival in nearby Bond County.  It's known around here as the Ripson Bridge Fest.  This was the first time we have gone to it and we really enjoyed it!

I took this picture to send to my son.  The fest has many unique craft booths.  This guy makes guitars out of cigar boxes!

Here is the sign by the bridge, noting it was made by the King Bridge Co. in Cleveland, Ohio.  The bridge is in the process of becoming a landmark, which I think is pretty cool.  

The wide and thick planks were rather uneven to walk over, but they made me wonder who and what has gone over the bride since the 1800's!

 A view from up on the bridge.  The band, which was pretty good, was playing old time tunes, kinda bluegrassy stuff.  The stage was a wagon/trailer.  To get to the fest from the parking area (which was a corn field) there were two tractors with wagons on the back servings as taxis!

A nice view of the bridge...

I did get a few little things for Christmas gifts.  Ev got a new sweatshirt.  I've discovered he's kind of like a little kid, if you get him a present right away when you get somewhere, he is happy....  I had to talk him into going to the fest, but once we got there he really enjoyed it!

Didn't do any sewing today.  I'm trying to clean the bottom of my machine, but I can't get the bottom plate off.  There are 5 screws and I have gotten 4 off.  Before we went to the fest I put a generous amount of oil on the screw, hoping it will penetrate the threads and allow me to remove it.  If not, I'll put the other 4 back and give up.

A visit from THAT CAT

Oh, my, what have I done?  Nick is out of town until late next week and we are cat sitting.  Do you remember that black kitten, Lenore?  The one that used to chase my eyeballs during REM sleep?  Yes, that is the cat we are cat sitting for.  Nick called to see how she was doing and I whispered into the phone that I couldn't talk very loud because I was upstairs hiding from her at the time...  haha.

I really was upstairs when he called.  I cut a total of 13 yards of fabric into 2.5" strips.  Five yards each of different purples and different peach/oranges and three yards of different greens.  These are what I am taking with me tomorrow for the Playing with Jacks workshop with Bonnie Hunter.

Ev does not have to work, so I am really looking forward to checking out Peoria with him.  I'm also very glad that I won't have to drive by myself the two and a half hour one way trip.

Happy Thursday

Because it's almost Friday!  I had a good day today.  It is my birthday and everyone important remembered it.  Ev and I are going to celebrate on Saturday when we go to Peoria (if he doesn't have to work).  And if he does, we will celebrate Sunday.

Nick stopped by after lessons tonight and showed me how to download the old CBS Mystery Theater recordings from the internet to my ipod.  Hokey, I know, but I get a kick out of them. 

Got the cool batiks top and back loaded on Gemma last night.  Not sure if I'm going to load the batting and start quilting this weekend or not.  If I do, I have to do it all in one shot.  We are going to be cat-sitting for Nick's crazy cat while he is out of town and this beast does not respect the boundaries of the quilting space!  He will be returned to his owner mid next week, so I might just do some other sewing in the meantime.  Maybe my layer cakes will come from Missouri Star Quilt Company and I can put together that last top.

Cool batiks

Here's the top of 10" squares of cool batik fabrics.  It's 8x7 squares, so a goodish size.  These were fabrics I brought back from Paducah this past April.  The clearance table at Hancock's of Paducah is a lovely place...  haha.

Would like to get this loaded on Gemma tomorrow night.  The birthday this is for is at the end of October but the next birthday is in the first week of November so that quilt has to be done soon also.  So many quilts, so little time!