I added the closeup to show the variegated thread I used. I hope she likes it! I’m also taking scissors and a knife with me to get sharpened. The scissor sharpening man will be at the show.
Friday, March 31, 2023
What I’m Working On
I added the closeup to show the variegated thread I used. I hope she likes it! I’m also taking scissors and a knife with me to get sharpened. The scissor sharpening man will be at the show.
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
To-Do-List Tuesday 3-28-23
Hello! It's time for another to-do list Tuesday check in. I had a good week, and knocked out a lot of my items.
Monday, March 27, 2023
Hello Monday
I really have nothing new to post.
I have been a little more introspective than usual….normally I just go non-stop until I drop, but I spent most of the day (Sunday) in a thinking mood. I also decided I may be exhausted, and took an hour-long nap. I’m not usually a napped, but I’m tired of falling asleep at 10pm on the couch. We’ll see how long it lasts.I stopped at Walmart after church to get some coleslaw mix, and of course I made a pass through the fabric department. They had some bolts marked down to $2.50/yard and I bought a few pieces for our church service group.
We generally use 1.5 yard pieces for our comforters. I didn’t buy a lot, but every little bit helps. We rely mostly on donations, and I will donate these, although I think I will keep some of the green to use for sashing on my swap blocks. If I ever get enough of them, I hope to have a twin-sized donation quilt.Tonight I hope to work on my Trip Around the Countryside quilt. I have been neglecting it a little, but there’s plenty of time to get it finished. If I don’t make any progress tonight, I can always work on it tomorrow after I come back from my exercise class.
Sunday, March 26, 2023
Weekend Update
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Another Busy Week
The weekend is here! I didn’t do half of what I needed to do, but I did get groceries bought, did some meal prep, vacuumed, and of course, lots of work on quilting-related stuff.
I got the binding put on my March quilting UFO. I’m quite happy with it.
I’m even happy with the backing.I like the backing so well I am thinking of ordering another bolt. There are 15 yards on the bolt (I think), and I can see myself using it for many projects. They had the same print with a pink background, but the pink is no longer available. I also got an email from my thread wholesaler saying thread is going up 9% due to raw material costs. Sigh. First batting, and now thread.Oh, I solved the dilemma I wrote about yesterday. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to order the book this quilt is in:
I found a used copy on Amazon for a little over $7.00. There’s another quilt in the book I would possibly make, so that’s not too bad.Today I need to get a quilt loaded on the frame, but first I will have to piece the backing. The lady brought me 5 yards of 45” wide fabric, and I didn’t notice it until yesterday. I will split it into two pieces and seam them together.
Good news. I’m finally getting the hang of the zero-turn mower.
There is definitely a learning curve involved. I would have been embarrassed for anyone to see my first attempts which involved turning in circles both in forward and reverse. I was thinking of selling it and getting the regular lawn tractor like we used to have, but I have kept trying and am getting more competent. I have been using the push mower on the front yard, but the back yard is a little larger. Maybe I can get good enough on the zero turn to use it on the front, but not yet.Friday, March 24, 2023
What I’m Working On
These (among others) will be donated to graduating foster children. The second one is from the “On a Roll” jelly roll book. I thought I had that one, but I can’t seem to locate it, so maybe not. That presents a conflict; I feel I should order the book to make the quilt, but I certainly don’t need a pattern to make the quilt. It looks pretty straightforward. I guess I’ll think about it for a little while. By then I will most likely forget about the quilt.
The backing is also pretty. It picks up all the colors from the front.
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
To-Do-List Tuesday 3-21-23
It's been a pretty productive week for me. I had a long list of to-do's, and while I didn't get it all done, quite a few can be checked off. Here's the list:
Sunday, March 19, 2023
Another Finish
Oh my, the weather is so cold and rainy. We need the rain (a lot) so I'm trying to not complain about it. One good thing about this weather: it is a good incentive to stay inside and sew. I could be cleaning house, but oh well! I am beyond happy with the way my February UFO quilt turned out. It's called Marmalade Cake and the pattern is from the Dessert Roll book by Pam Lintott.
I got the binding on yesterday and immediately hung it up for a picture. I think the gold binding really ties it all together as it is the same as the inner border. I used a poinsettia quilt pattern in gold thread. It's a biggie--94" x 94".I also got the binding made for my March UFO quilt, but wasn't able to finish stitching it on. That will most likely have to wait until Monday or Tuesday.
No secret that I am partial to both string blocks and nine-patch blocks. This one is totally my style. I tried out a new quilting pattern that I had bought a few weeks ago.I don't usually like a really dense pattern for my stuff, but I thought it was appropriate for this one considering all the seams. Some of my customers like a denser design, and I like to try out new ones on my own stuff--if possible.I got a little done on a customer quilt. The lady who did all the umbrella girl quilts brought me another one.
It's another big one. I think it's 104" x 114". It takes a little more time to get these big ones loaded, and then I didn't do much quilting on it as I was busy trying to put binding on my own quilts. There's always a trade-off and only so much time in the day.Today is church, and I hope to feel like working on my shop hop quilt. Sometimes on Sunday afternoons, I end up just sitting on the couch with my feet up. That's okay too.
Saturday, March 18, 2023
Finishes!
I have been concentration-challenged all week. I just jump from one thing to another and can’t seem to concentrate on a single project. It’s been that way every day, but finally, some things got finished Friday. I got three quilts trimmed and ready to go back to their owners.
The first one is a tee shirt quilt. I like the way it turned out. I know some people say they don’t like doing them, but I’m fine with it. They are such a personal memento of a person’s interests.
I got my string quilt quilted, but I haven’t trimmed it yet so no pictures. I still need to cut some black binding and get that prepared so I can it put on. Speaking of binding, I have been working on binding my February UFO quilt but can’t seem to get finished. That should happen today, but who knows?
I got some more swap blocks cut out and got these two sewn.
I am trying to stay caught up with it. I am already behind on the RSC challenge. This month is green, and I need to get to work on my blocks.I made some chicken soup last night—the weather is cold again. I had bought a rotisserie chicken and needed to get it used up. I ate the wings and legs over the last few days—those are my favorite pieces—and had all that breast and thigh meat left. I had carrots, celery, and onion in the fridge, and some noodles in the pantry, so that was easy. I think I have enough left for a few more meals. I’m trying hard to eat more healthy. Cooking for one is a challenge, but if I can cook soup or stew and eat it for a couple of days, it makes things easier.
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
What I’m Working On
Oh my goodness….the weather has been so gloomy. It was in the 80’s over the weekend, and now in the 40’s. Winter is not quite ready to give up. I guess I don’t really mind. Summer will last forever so no point in rushing it. I was at church yesterday morning with my sewing group, and then I went to my shop in the afternoon. I got 10 key fobs made.
I’ve got ten more cut out and the fusible ironed on— I just need to sit down at the machine and get the stitching done. It was one of those days when I just jumped from one thing to another and didn’t get completely finished with anything. I did get a quilt backing loaded and I cut binding for my February UFO quilt.
This one was picked up today:
The owner was so happy with it she had tears in her eyes. I feel lucky that I was able to take the old embroidery squares and make them into something she loves.
I have a few more customer quilts to do before I can put one of mine on the frame, but I am trying to always keep one of mine in the queue at all times. That’s about the only way I can get mine done.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
To-Do-List Tuesday 3-14-23
I missed last week, so I am still working from an old list.....that's okay, it's not like I got much sewing done last week anyway. Here's my list from two weeks ago:
Monday, March 13, 2023
Monday Already?
It feels like the weekend just zoomed by! I didn’t get half the things done that I needed to do, and now that it’s Monday, I will have to hit the ground running. I did get a little yard work done, but not nearly enough. I think I will have to hire a lawn service, as I just don’t have the time to deal with it on top of the housework, my volunteer projects, and my quilting business.
I had hoped to get my Trip Around the Countryside quilt mostly done; I got about one half done. I laid it on the floor to take a picture, and it was photo-bombed!
Here is a dog-free picture.
I’m a little undecided about it….I had envisioned one thing, and it’s turning out not like I pictured. I’m committed to finishing it though. I have a couple of patterns for 2-1/2” strips I want to start soon.I also have a couple of layer cake patterns I want to do as well. I will need to finish a couple of things before I start in on something else.
The dogs drug in a bunch of dirt, and I had to clean my floors yesterday, but I still need to dust and clean bathrooms. That needs to happen today. I am going to try and get a pedicure this morning. Exercise class is cancelled today, so I have an extra hour. Whatever happens, it won’t be as busy as last week.