Oops

My friend Donna showed me a Folded Amish Star potholder she had made.  I really liked it and asked her how she made it.  She said she found the instructions on You Tube.  Well, I went on You Tube and found the instructions.  Watched them and thought I didn't need to write anything down.  Wrong.  I went upstairs and happily sewed what I thought was right.  It's not.  Sigh.  So, I'm going to try and fix my boo boo and then maybe I will write down the instructions...

Another Pillowcase

I love the fact that I have a large stash of material to pull from!  I knew I didn't have a ton of Halloween themed fabric, but I found that strip of orange with kitties and pumpkins on it.  Thought it would look good for the band of the pillowcase.  Then I found that yellow and black gridded piece and thought, Why Not?  I think it works together really well.

The way Sharon showed us how to do the pillowcases at the retreat last July is just so easy, I whipped this one up in quick order.  I especially like making the enclosed seams.  It just gives it a more professional look.

I had put this in Johnathon's treat bucket and when they got home, Johanna said she put it right on his pillow!  That makes me smile.

Count Johnathon!

A mini vampire descended upon my household last night!  Isn't he adorable?  Well, to me he is, but I have a biased opinion.  Johanna did a great job with his make up and costume.  Since he won't be with her and Ben this weekend, they took him to family last night so he could trick or treat.

And of course I had to make him up a special treat bucket...

There's a little bit of everything in there.  Not a lot of chocolate, because I'm sure he will get that when he goes door to door, but I did put cheetos, doritos, goldfish, slim jims and a cookie from the bakery in it.  Also put a cool Halloween cup with a lid and straw, a skeleton necklace, some Halloween pencils and tiny Halloween puzzles.  He liked it all!

Making Progress

I have been making progress on Johnathon's quilt.  Last night I pressed the remaining blocks.  Then I got out my trusty white board and markers and proceeded to come up with a decent layout for them.  I think I have a good one figured out and would like to start on it tonight.

Tomorrow I won't really be able to sew upstairs or downstairs until after the trick or treat hours are past.  I supposed I could get out Polly, the 15-91, but it may just be easier to wait until after 8, then go upstairs!  Maybe I will be able to cut the borders in the kitchen, if I'm that far along.

Rainy Day

Been a dreary and rainy day here all day.  I'm hoping to go home and do some sewing tonight.  First I have to press all those blocks for Johnathon's quilt, then I have to arrange them how I want them.  Not quite sure what I will be doing for the borders yet.

Need to get back in the groove and finish quilting on Gemma those couple nursing home tops that need to be done.  Then I will have to bind them, but that's not a big deal.

Seriously?

Last night I was watching the World Series and not once, but twice, Fox lost it's signal!  Fox is not a channel I normally watch, and I really don't care for Joe Buck announcing baseball, but hey, they had the contract for the World Series, so I had no choice.  But, seriously Fox?  In the middle of the game you lose your signal?  Twice!

Car Update

Well, I have my car back, $387 later.  It needed a new starter.  So, I have put more money into it and am hoping this is it for a while.  This could have been a new car payment, but at least I only had one, not 72 months worth!

If You Want To Build A Snowman...

Here's a panel that has been aging nicely in my stash.  I think I'm going to just iron it and load it on Gemma.  Any suggestions on how to quilt it would be greatly appreciated!  Here's a close up of the top and bottom edge design:

I am technologically challenged to get this photo oriented correctly...

Car Issues - Again

When I went out to the car this morning to come to work, it would not start.  I turned the key and it just made an ominous buzzing sound.  Drat.  Just had a new battery put in it, so I'm hoping that there is just a loose cable or something simple.  Maybe I will get lucky and that's all it is.  If not, then we have to decide about whether or not to fix it or get a different car.  This one is almost 10 years old and has 183xxx on it.  I was wanting to get it through this winter, at least.  We also put two new tires on the front a couple months ago.  Ev's going to look at it when he gets up.

Scrappiness

I went upstairs yesterday and did some sewing on Johnathon's quilt.  I finished making all the blocks.  When I was done, I happened to look into this one tub of scraps I have been working out of for our Paducah Swap next April.  Why is it that a bucket of scraps of material makes me so happy?  :)

Two Pretty Blocks

This is the stack of blocks I'm working on.  I have all of one kind of block finished for Johnathon's quilt, and this is the second block.  They are almost all done, too.

This is what they will look like side by side.  He likes 'camo' colored things, and this was as close as I could get to that theme.

I should have enough material left over to make a couple pillowcases as well.

Finally got myself back into the sewing room yesterday afternoon.  Spent a couple hours up there.  Felt really good.

Fall Fare

Here's the pumpkins and gourds at Johanna's.  I had never seen a grey pumpkin before.  She is going to save some of the seeds and plant them next year.  I have some of my great grandfather's pepper seeds for her to plant next year too.

This is our front yard.  Lots of leaves on the ground, but even more still up in the trees!  The colors are really pretty this year.  We took a ride out in the country yesterday afternoon just to look.

Goodies in the Mail

Aren't these the cutest fat quarters?  Mary sent my pajamas to me and she included these fat quarters.  I think they are just the berries!

Be Careful With Voice To Text

Depending on how straight laced you are, you may be a bit offended by this risque post.  You have been warned.

Here's a text conversation I recently had with a friend:

Me:  How's your day going?

Her:  Stressful.  How about you?

Me:  Ugh.  Not stressful but really dragging.  You been doing any sewing?

Her:  I haven't sewn a stitch since I got back from vacation.  I have been getting some in the evenings.  I just been too busy with work.

Me:  Did you mean cutting some?  lol.

Her:  Oh my God.  Knitting not getting.  Good grief.  I've about snorted my coffee to my nose.

Me:  I wondered....  hahaha

When I need a good laugh, I just read this text...  :)

Such a Nice Day

Today is really turning out to be a nice Fall day.  The temp is perfect, it's not raining, and there is a nice breeze.  Didn't think it was going to be this nice, because it seemed cloudy this morning.  I am not complaining because I know we won't get too many of these days before Winter sets in!

Christmas in the Store

When I ran into Rural King this morning, I couldn't help but notice they are getting more and more goodies in for Christmas.  It's not even Halloween, people!  They have had some stuff out for a few weeks, but seems like they are really increasing the area they put Christmas stuff out in.

I guess I should take this as a sign and get really serious about my holiday sewing.

Eye Catching

This morning I needed to stop at the local farm store, Rural King, to pick up a couple things before work.  When I pulled in, I noticed these brightly colored kayak's hanging from the eaves.  They sure are pretty!  If I had a lake, and grandchildren, I think I would buy one in each color so the kids could all go out in their own kayak!  Doesn't that sound like fun?  haha.  Pipe dreams right now.

Don't Fence Me In

Or rather, the work we had to do on the fence.

A view from the outside.  We replaced three posts that had rotted at the base.  We didn't have brand new panels, so we used what we had.  Ev wants to go get a new panel because one of the scrounged ones is a little yucky.  Probably do that next weekend.  I am just glad the posts are replaced and the panels are up (for now).  We did it all in one day, so Addy still has the run of the yard.

We also finished putting the railing up around the pool.  You can see some of the rails in the pic and some of the lattice work.  We replaced the lattice work with rails.  Glad it's done too.

We are tossing around the idea of getting chain link instead of privacy fence in the future.  Not sure if we will go that route or not.  I do like having a fence, I know that.  I feel safer with it.  Maybe that's weird, but I know that no one is in the yard this way, or up by the back door.  At least, I know it when I let the dog out!  She would surely tell me if there was a person in the yard - she lets me know when there's a squirrel or rabbit or bird or butterfly in the yard!  And I rarely go out the back without the dog.

The View

From my seat at the sewing room I can see this:

Or if I lean forward and take a picture of the floor in front of the sewing machine, I can see this:

If Addy were this mellow all the time, she could be in the sewing room with me whenever I was up there.  But that's not the case.  This is only about half the time, the rest is usually chasing the cat or digging scraps out of the garbage or pulling patterns off the table... you get the picture, I'm sure!

She is getting so much better, though.  I know it just takes time.  Same as with all the previous pups.

Frost

I received an email saying we may get a frost tonight.  Hoping those pretty mums on the pillar can stand that cold!

I have all the strip sets cut for Johnathon's quilt.  Ready to sew into blocks, finally.  Seems I kinda lost my mojo for a bit there.  Let's hope it's back now!  :)

October

October is one of my favorite months.  One reason is pumpkins!  I got this beauty today and am anxious to get it home and put it on my front porch!

Liking It

Here's a peek at the strip set for the second block in Johnathon's quilt.  I really like the trees in the green strips.  Did some sewing and the dreaded pressing today.

Watching the Cubs game tonight.

I Need To Sew

I really need to get into the sewing room!  Just haven't had time to do it this past week.  I don't really know why, but it seemed like there was something going on every night, or I was tired, and just didn't get upstairs.  Going to change that!  Going up for a few minutes here today, and tomorrow I have the day off, so I really want to make up for lost time, if I can!  Wish me luck...

Biscuit Cups

I made these biscuit cups for dinner the other night and really liked them.  Although this time, instead of using biscuit dough, I used crescent roll dough, and I think that kicked it up a notch!  Filled some with pulled pork, mushrooms, onions, pinto beans, corn, bbq sauce and cheese.  Filled a couple for Nick with everything except the meat and onions.  They were a big hit all the way around.  I made them in my mega muffin tins.

Big Top

Not the kind of 'big top' you were thinking it would be on a quilting blog, eh?  haha.  This was the circus tent from earlier in the week.  We sure had a good time.  Lots of little kids there and they all seemed to be having fun!  I bought Johnathon a coloring book with a bunch of different animals in it - kind of circus themed - and gave it to him after it was over.

Day is Dragging

So, since I was watching baseball last night, I didn't get any sewing done.  And today my work day just seems to be dragging.  I would just love to go home, take a nap, and then do some sewing for the rest of the day.  And maybe take two naps...

But that's not going to happen.  I'm fighting with myself about taking a solo trip to Arthur next week.  The shop I love is having their Fall sale and I really hate to miss out on it.  Us gals are planning a trip there in November, so do I really want to go twice in a span of a few weeks?  Well, want to go and able to afford to go are two different things, here...  sigh.

Cubbies!

My Cubs won last night!  Woohoo!  I watched the entire game and was very pleased that they are now in the playoffs.  Cool Beans!

Tuesday Morning

Back in the groove after the weekend, finally.  Last night I was so tired after work I was in bed before 9 p.m.!

Sunday we went to the Ripson Bridge Festival in Sorento.  In the past it was held at the actual bridge, but now it is held in the town.  There was an old time folk band playing good music, a cake walk, kettle corn, arts and crafts, and good food.  We had a very nice time.  Bought a few things, including a tie dyed tee shirt for Nick.  He loved it!

Saturday Ev had to work, so in the morning all four of us had breakfast at Denny's.  Then when he left for work I did some work in the yard and in the evening went to Nick's.  Hanna came too, and we watched The Princess Bride for about the millionth time.  Had pizza and popcorn and just had a good evening.  Love that movie.  And really loved spending the evening with the kids.  That was special.

I have just about all the strip sets sewn for Johnathon's quilt.  They need to be pressed then cut into sections.

I See Quilt Patterns!

Last week I was out and about and when I looked down, guess what I saw?  A potential quilt block pattern!

I'm sure there is a pattern for this block somewhere already, but I got a kick out of the design being in tile on a floor.

I had a great weekend.  Saturday was my birthday and the kids and Ev really made it a special day.  Will fill you in more on the next post.

Strip Easy

Some mornings I just have to get upstairs before work and sew for a few minutes.  Today was one of those days.  I sewed for ten minutes and made a little more progress on the strip sets for Johnathon's quilt.  Would like to have all the strip sets sewn together before Bonnie has Quiltcam tonight.  Then I can press and possibly cut during Quiltcam.

I am going out to dinner tonight right after work.  That might take up some of my quilting time, but that's okay!  :)

Oh Those Wings!

I have discovered just how EASY it is to make chicken wings that taste like the ones you get when you go out!  The secret is using the pressure cooker.  I can take a bag of FROZEN wings or defrosted wings and put them in the pressure cooker to cook for ten minutes.  After that they go under the broiler and get sauced.  Woohoo!  They are perfectly yummy!