KQ Sue

New Years Resolution

2011-12-27T21:15:00.001-05:00

My resolution is to find my “Happy Place”.
Worry and stress out less, sew and quilt more!

What is your New Years Resolution?

A Little Luck

2011-12-19T11:22:00.000-05:00

I have had a little luck in a bunch of bad luck! Wooo! Hooo!

I have won a book from Saloma at About Amish.

Go visit Saloma at About Amish and her husband David at Vintage Village Designs.

It really helped cheer me up, after taking my poor Tucson in for a new timing chain, water pump and crank shaft sensor, today.

We had a plumber here today, also, to try to find a water line leak.

Our last water bill was for enough water to fill a really big swimming pool - we don't have a pool!

DH's office recently took everyone off salary and put them on per patient visit pay, that equals 1/3 of original take home.

Darn, bills are still at 100% of what they have always been.

We are both filling out applications to find him another job and find me a job.

That will cut into my sewing and quilting time!

Ok, don't want to dwell on all that, or I will start crying, again.

Holiday Block Swap

2011-12-14T20:36:00.000-05:00

In my previous post, I posted pictures of the blocks I made for: Face Book's Outlaw Quilters - Holiday Block Swap. I wanted a quilt, not another wall hanging, so I signed up for 2 of the 3 groups. My blocks are the pieced word blocks. I am so hooked on word blocks, if you couldn't tell in the last post!
.

Group 1 Blocks

Group 2 Blocks

You can probably tell a couple of people went MIA. I will just add a couple more word blocks, maybe one with "Trick" and the other with "Treat", or "Eeek" and "Meow". Will have to think on it a bit!

100th post

2011-11-11T16:21:00.001-05:00

Actually it is December 4, not sure why the draft date showed up???
Nancy at Blogging Near Philadelphia had some thought filled comments a couple of days ago (now - a few weeks ago). One of which was about deleting links to bloggers who hadn't posted for a while. I would resemble that comment!

Refresher of memory!

I noticed that I had just made my 99th post and needed to figure out a giveaway for my 100th post. Wow time slips by and I am still trying to figure out the prize! I will figure it out and draw on New Years Eve, out with the old and on to a new and better year! I will post the prize or prizes and rules this week, promise!

My DDIL figure out we had 5 moves this year! #1. DS, DH, Devine Miss M and me, NC to FL. #2. DDIL and GS, NC to FL. #3. DH and I to our own home. #4. DS, DDIL, Devine Miss M and GS to an apt, temporarily. #5. DS, DDIL, Devine Miss M and GS to their own home. WOW, glad that is done! Way to much moving!

I have been sewing, just not blogging. Here is the 2 sides of my SIL's quilt. She picked the fabric and pattern for top.

Triple Dutch Chain
I suggested making it reversible, after she said (complained) the wall color (robin's egg blue) looked blue next to green and green next to blue.

Chains That Bind

I picked out the pattern and fabric for the back.

She didn't have any clue what it was going to look like.

Funny thing is: she likes the back side the best!

So happy to have that one done!

I got in to a Holiday Block swap on Face Book and signed up for 2 groups.

Short story, my package got lost by USPS and finally found.

Glad to get that one done and have the blocks finally mailed to the intended owners.

Tonya and Lynne have me hooked on making letter blocks, can you tell?

A few other people have been bitten by the bug, you can see their work here.

What Have I Been Up To

2011-07-06T20:17:00.001-04:00

Well first there were a lot of "these" packed - over a hundred!

Then loaded in to a Penske truck and driven from NC to FL.

Then "they" took up residence in a storage space for the past 3 months.

Then I spent a lot of time here, with the Devine Miss M.

Several Friday nights, I went to Cotton Patch Quilt Shop for PMS Night (Pizza, Munchies & Sewing).

And sewed a bunch of these.

And sewed a bunch more, takes a lot of 8 inch squares to cover a king size bed.

(See previous post for photo of "the bed".)

At last it became a top. Just need to decide on borders and quilt it.

The new bed is in our new home. Now to start unpacking the hundred plus boxes.

OK, guys if it says "Sewing Room" it needs to go in first!

New Experience

2011-03-28T16:42:00.002-04:00

I have never gone and shopped for brand new furniture.

We aren't moving any furniture except about 4 pieces.

So the plan was to get a new bedroom set that was an actual matched set.

DH showed me one bedroom set online he liked, but I wasn't feeling it.

DDIL showed me a couple that she thought were me, hmmm, not quite - but closer.

DH, DDIL, DYS, Devine Miss M and I went to "Rooms To Go", a couple days ago.

After walking through the entire store, "Success"!

DYS and I spotted this set and both thought and said, "Wow, is that nice or what!"

We found the rest of the gang and it was unanimous.

And the winner is the Darlington! All the yard sale money has gone here.

After a month of yard sales and a very very long drive this is where you will find me for a good long nap!
Then I need to make a new quilt for the new bed! Hmmm, so many patterns.

Fire Hazard

2011-03-21T20:20:00.001-04:00

Stash Sale

2011-03-08T12:24:00.001-05:00

Wow! The days they are a ticking away, getting closer to moving day! My "Stash Sale" is scheduled for March 24 - 26.
I have a 2 story studio that is packed with "stuff". My son has an itemised list of what is going and how many square inches it is! He keeps saying, I have to downsize more and more to fit in the truck we are renting. BP is going nuts! Stomach is tied in knots, can't eat or sleep - so the blood sugar has gone nuts with the BP. Oh, well at least the BP will not be lonely, going nuts. "I hate this type of successful diet", I feel like crap!
My biggest stresser is finding a buyer for my quilting machine, so far only one nibble out of 5 or 6 quilt guilds in the area. Everybody wants a "new Cadillac (computerized long-arm), not a used Buick (pantograph Mid-arm) ". I would have liked the Cadillac, but didn't have $20,000 to spend; so I was happy with a Buick for a few hundred.
Oh well back to sorting and packing!

Hmmm! I wonder which blogger might like this bundle of fabric?

Peaceful Feeling

2011-02-06T23:40:00.000-05:00

This is "My Happy Place", one end of my son's living room. I made spinach dip and a beef & bacon cheese ball to take over; dear son had made layered taco salad, Buffalo Chicken Strips and corn & bean salsa.
We went over to watch the Super Bowl and forget the "Big Bad World".

I was all comfy cosy under the quilt I made my son for Christmas about three years ago. Mentioned it sure would be nice if I had a quilt at home to snuggle up under. "WHAT? - everybody that comes here loves your quilts Mom!" say my dear son. "Yep!" well, all my quilts run off and come live at his house.
I need to get some tops finished, probably will sell a couple that the colors don't give me that "Happy Feeling" when I look at them. Maybe I will finish my "Scrappy Bow Tie" quilt, to cuddle up under.

It has been a really rough week.
We found out, two days after the fact via Face Book, that my brother-in-law has pneumonia and has had a stroke. "Nice" way to find out! Information has been very badly related by non-medical relatives. Hubby has been an RN in ER and CCU for the last 38 years, and we are about 12 or 13 hours away. First information sounded very very bad, prognosis still is not good. But, we are a tiny bit more optimistic that my brother-in-law, being a stubborn Dutchman, will be able to recover to some degree.

Old Friend

2011-02-04T15:21:00.000-05:00

My old friend, where are you?

You are not on my shelf anymore!
{{snif}} Miss you! {{snif}}

Stress Stress Stress

2011-01-29T20:26:00.003-05:00

Change Change Change, has now officially turned into Stress Stress Stress.

DS, DH and I emptied the NC storage unit, on Thursday, today DS, DDIL, DGS & I sorted it all out. I felt like I was on that show where they come in and say OK you can pick 5 dolls & 10 books to keep for "Divine Miss M". Burst into tears when my boy's Sesame Street cup went into the Goodwill box. DDIL said, OK, what would you keep it for? Well, I did use it on my desk for pencils, before the move to NC and it disappeared on me.
I had a major panic attack when we were done and everyone left. Sick to my stomach, shaking, cold, pacing and weeping. Found my last Xanax, took it and it finally kicked in about an hour later, for a hour nap.
I have a stash reduction sale scheduled for the first week end in April, to give me sorting time. We will probably have 2 yard sales before that of furniture and household misc, first week end of February & first week end of March.
I know some of my extra little sewing machines are going to have to go, but it is really looking like I will, also, have to let go of my antique quilts. That is going to hurt! Stash sale was to eliminate stuff I have had since my fabric shop closed several years ago. It looks like the stash sale will end up with all my rolls and bags of batting, to save space. Only had one email on my quilting machine so far, it is to big to fit in the new sewing space I will have in FL, it is a great starter machine to do charity and everyday quilts on.
Tomorrow we will sort some more, their realtor is having an open house, so they need to be gone.
Did I say: "I HATE MOVING"? Especially long distance moving!

Blog Addiction

2011-01-14T14:15:00.001-05:00

47%

OK, not to bad of shape! I guess!

If I had a New Years Resolution

2011-01-02T12:16:00.000-05:00

The Today Show said the top 2 resolutions people listed on a poll were: lose weight and stop smoking.
I told my husband I was going with the stop smoking resolution, I would probably have better luck doing that.
Silly Boy said: "But you don't smoke". Exactly - that is why I should have better luck with it! The weight sure isn't getting lost!

Boy! I wish that was what the scales said when I step on them!

New Year's Resolutions

2010-12-29T18:04:00.005-05:00

I find New Years Resolutions a list of potential, additional, failures.
(Failures do not make me feel very good.)
I have learned to stop making New Year's Resolutions.
A Bucket List seems so much more practical.
Note: lovely lime green color of my bucket.

"Things to do before I die or things to attempt to do."

1. Lose weight, not be half as tall as my weight chart says I should be.
OK, chart says I should, only, be a foot taller than I am.

2. Start eating and living healthier and happier.
Find my "Happy Place", no one has sent me the map to "Far, Far, Away", yet.

3. Finish projects that are laying around, before starting a new one.

"How do you eat an elephant?"

"One bite at a time!"

Try finishing a portion of the project and try to look at it as having one less step to do before the project is done. Finish piecing a top, mark a quilt top and layer it, finish the quilting on a quilt or finish the binding.

4.Stop doing things I don't enjoy. AKA, stop being involved in a project that starts organizing, for the following year, the day after it finishes.

5. Avoid irritating people, unless they are blood relation or in-laws, then have as little contact as possible if they are irritating. "Nope, still don't have the new passports!"

6. Travel - go on a real vacation - no going to a relatives house for a week and staring at each other. Also, no going to an amusement park and being being whipped, twirled and nauseated - for $25 - $50 per person.

There are a lot of states I would like to see, then maybe we will think about Scotland and Ireland.

OK, 6 on my Bucket List, how many more? We shall see. We shall see.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

2010-12-21T21:24:00.001-05:00

Finding Inner Peace

2010-12-19T19:01:00.000-05:00

I am passing this on to you because it definitely works, and we could all use a little more calmness in our lives. By following simple advice heard on the Dr. Phil show, you too can find inner peace. Dr Phil proclaimed, "The way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started and have never finished."

So, I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn't finished, and before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream, a package of Oreos, the remainder of my old Prozac prescription, the rest of the cheesecake, some Doritos, a box of chocolates, and the last bit of the tequila.

You have no idea how freaking good I feel right now.

Pass this on to those whom you think might be in need of inner peaceBelieve me it works!!!! Get sewing girls...I'm done and in no conditions to be around meedles!

Just kidding - I found the above over on Connecting Threads website, it was left by Pam in NY.
http://quiltwithus.connectingthreads.com/profiles/blogs/last-big-shopping-weekend-and#comments

Change Change Change

2010-12-10T20:55:00.000-05:00

Why is it??? When you are finally finished with something that has demanded your full attention for months, and that you think you will finally have some time to do something you really want to do - quilt, everything takes an unexpected turn!
We moved to NC a little over two years ago, to be near DYS and the Devine Miss M. The factory he works at is closing in NC and he is going back to work in the FL plant. Thank God, he will still have a job, when so many people do not.
The move will be good when it is over, but right now I am freaking out! More weeding out and downsizing! The plan is to get a 5 or 6 bedroom house with a pool and a 3 or 4 car garage. 1 bay sewing studio, 1 bay the boys woodworking tools get combined into fantasy woodworking shop, and 1 bay gets the mowers and yard supplies.

No more daycare for Miss M, lots of baking cookies, learning to sew, making jewelry for Mommy and Sissy. No honest, Daddy, Grandpa and Brobro, don't want bracelets and necklaces, "M"!

Christmas

2010-11-29T21:18:00.000-05:00

I am a sporatic poster, but Bonnie has had a scare with Oscar and I felt the need to share.
We had a scare a couple of weeks ago. Christmas looked like she was suddenly pregnant with about 6 kittens. Poor baby usually only weighed about 2 pounds, suddenly she was up to over 5 pounds and very lethargic. Just because your house cat never goes outside, you still need to get her neutered! Poor baby's uterus had gotten infected and was stretched into two huge lobes! Surgery was successful! Chrissy is home and beating up on the 2 dogs and ruling her kingdom! As Bob Barker has always said: "Neuter and Spay your pets!". Chrissy obviously fell in to the : "If you don't use it, you need to lose it!" catagory. Thank God and NDVet, she is "OK"!

Who Are You & Who Am I

2010-11-28T16:17:00.000-05:00

Copy and paste, and then answer the questions, and tell me you did so I can learn about you, too!

1. Sweet or Savoury?

2. Dresses or Jeans?

3. House or Apartment?

4. Shop Online or Offline?

5. DVDs or Downloads?

6. Cocktails or Juice?

7. Chocolate or Strawberry?

8. Laptop or PC?

9. Magazines or Newspapers?

10. Facebook or Twitter?

11. CDs or MP3s?

12. Kids or Pets?

13. Cookies or Cupcakes?

14. Walk or Run?

15. Breakfast in Bed or Breakfast Out?

16. Market or Supermarket?

17. Sourdough or Grainy?

18. Heels or Flats?

19. Late nights or Not?

20. Coffee or Tea?

About Me:
1. Sweet or Savoury?      Savoury

2. Dresses or Jeans?        Jeans

3. House or Apartment?      House

4. Shop Online or Offline?    Online

5. DVDs or Downloads?       DVDs

6. Cocktails or Juice?       Cocktails

7. Chocolate or Strawberry?    Chocolate

8. Laptop or PC?      Laptop

9. Magazines or Newspapers?   Magazines

10. Facebook or Twitter?     Facebook

11. CDs or MP3s?     CDs

12. Kids or Pets?    Kids grown, 2 dogs 1 cat

13. Cookies or Cupcakes?    Both

14. Walk or Run?     Walk

15. Breakfast in Bed or Breakfast Out?   Breakfast in Bed

16. Market or Supermarket?   Supermarket

17. Sourdough or Grainy?    Grainy

18. Heels or Flats?    Flats

19. Late nights or Not? Late nights

20. Coffee or Tea?    Coffee and lots of it

Missing In Action

2010-11-15T20:48:00.001-05:00

Things have been a little crazy the last couple of months, more correctly would say - past year!
Planning a whole Scottish Highland Games has really cut into all sewing and quilting time (and sanity!).
I have promised myself to devote time for family, sewing, quilting and sanity!
Outside forces may try to mess this up, but I am only going to allow a few hours a day to dealing with committments that only really need a hour or two, 2 or 3 days a week, for planning of 2011's Scottish Festival.

My sewing for this year has consisted of: finishing the RR Blogger Swap, repairing a seam on the Devine Miss M's sweatpants and making Hubby a pair of trews. What are trews you are asking - tartan trousers.

My lovely model is featured in Scott modern red tartan trews. He has been asking for these for a couple of years. Note: big happy grin!

Sanity for me is sewing, sewing and sewing, on a daily basis. I am embarrassed to admit I turned up hems on a pair of pants two years ago with fusible hem tape. I guess it like the "Cobblers son going barefoot". "The seamstress/alterationist ironed in hems!" Really need to redo them considering they are still an inch to long. My goal for this week - redo hems and stitch them in this time!

GO! Give Away

2010-09-25T10:46:00.000-04:00

There is a "GO!" give away over at Millie's Quilting , go check it out.

If I win I will be re-gifting the "GO!" and keeping the dies, I choose. I broke down and bought a "GO!" last week! But you all know that by now!

New Baby Arrives

2010-09-24T21:27:00.000-04:00

My new baby arrived yesterday. She immediately made a road trip, with in a couple of hours of arrival. Didn't even get to spend her first night in her new home! The friend we stayed with was properly in awe of her and her beauty. Hmmmm!!! Did my friend have a slight greenish tinge??? My DH thought she would and did!
Now I need her to tell me what she would like to be named. I will have to get back to you on that!

Strippers

2010-09-22T15:06:00.000-04:00

Yes, I ordered a package of strippers today.

OMG!!! Not those kind!!!

These - AccuQuilt Go! strip cutter dies:

INCLUDED IN THIS AWESOME PACKAGE DEAL

1 - 1.5 ACCUQUILT STRIP CUTTER

1 - 2.0 ACCUQUILT STRIP CUTTER

1 - 2.5 ACCUQUILT STRIP CUTTER

1 - 3.5 ACCUQUILT STRIP CUTTER

1 - 10X24 CUTTING MAT

***************************

Easily cut perfect strips for sashing, borders, wide binding, tote bag handles and more. Lay cut strips across die perpendicular to blades to cut any size squares for cornerstones, 4-Patch and 9-Patch designs. Lay cut strips across die blades at a 45 degree angle to cut diamonds for Tumbling Block, 8 Pointed Star and other diamond designs.

WOO HOO! Hurry up, Fed Ex!!!

The Last Piece - Give Away

2010-09-19T12:29:00.001-04:00

Sarah over at The Last Piece is having a give away.

Fabulous fabric not yet released!

Always a Piece of Me - Give Away

2010-09-18T21:21:00.000-04:00

Ashley at Always a Piece of Me is having a give away. Go on over and check it out, tell her I sent you.

Give Away at Stray Stitches

2010-09-18T13:02:00.000-04:00

Linda at Stray Stitches is having a give away. Lots of great stuff.

Tell her I sent you over!

I iz havin a sad.

2010-09-17T09:55:00.000-04:00

I had good intentions, but man am I catching "crap", over the post - "Lower Than The Limit".

I have read most of these blogs for quite a while, but wasn't an official "Follower". I didn't intend for us to sound like we were trolling or begging for "Followers". Only that I like reading these blogs and we had something in common at this moment, besides being quilters. I am very sad about all this!

My Lower Than The Limit Quilters, is where I intend to share overcoming obstacles when I try to find sewing and quilting time. Overcoming not being eligible for a free AccuQuilt "GO!".

Give Away at Red Quilts

2010-09-16T19:33:00.001-04:00

Shelley at Red Quilts is having a give away, in honor of her 100th post, go on over and tell her I sent you. She has lots of great "goodies" to give away!

This what I saw and really want, but she isn't giving it away.

She is giving away a sweet little pincushion, a great book and "Fabric" - ya know we all need more of that!

Lower Than The Limit Quilters

2010-09-15T13:02:00.014-04:00

LOWER THAN THE LIMIT QUILTERS

I have found several others that have received "THE LETTER".
I mentioned we should start our own group: "THE LOWER THAN THE LIMIT QUILTERS".
I have no clue as to how to make a button, someone in the group mentioned we should have our own button on our sidebars.

If you would like to help our little group eliminate the need of the elusive button, the members that are in need of "Followers" are:

Me - Sue, here at: KQ Sue

WENDY at: Why Knot Kwilt

Ashley at: Always A Piece of Me

Monica at: Diary Of A Quilt Maven

I wonder if we did do a "Lower Than The Limit Quilters" blog and combined our "Followers" that would get us in with AccuQuilt??? Hmmm???

OK, new blog done! Let's see how much fun we can have with this.

Rejection

2010-09-14T16:24:00.008-04:00

If you read my blog even once in a Blue Moon, please click on "Follower".

I know you are out there, you email me and leave me comments.

I just got rejected by AccuQuilt's blog list, of Bloggers that love AccuQuilt.

(These are the people that keep having all the GO! giveaways.)

They want only blogs with at least 100 "Followers".

I will try to blog more and try to being interesting or slightly amusing if nothing else.

Thank You, for being my Blog Friends!

Wendy over at Why Knot needs followers, also. She got the same letter I did.

AccuQuilt Obsessed

2010-09-14T14:20:00.008-04:00

I have become AccuQuilt obsessed. I want an AccuQuilt Cutter so bad. I keep entering give aways for the GO!, but so far no luck. AccuQuilt commented on Face Book they were looking for demonstrators about three weeks ago. So far I haven't heard anything from them, either. I really would love a job demonstating the AccuQuilt GO! or Studio.

A friend has a Studio in her Quilt Shop that have I used a few times, LOVED IT!!!
Another friend has a GO! she brought it to a class I took and shared it with us, WANT ONE!!!

I guess I need to write the: "Dear Santa and Elves, What I really, really want for Christmas is" - letter. P.S. Santa, A few dies would fit in my stocking, most carefully hung by the chimney.

SAHR

2010-08-11T15:30:00.006-04:00

I finished the Round Robin Blogger exchange about a month ago and was so relieved to have it end. I told myself I wasn't starting another project. I have so much going on right now.

Ha - ROFL- famous last words!

Kate over at, Kate's Quilting, started the "Stay At Home Robin". Everyone works on their own quilt and doesn't worry about rushing to the Post Office to mail the quilt to the next person.

Step one was to make a 6 inch block of your choice. OK, done, oops thread trimming, sorry!

Step Two add a 4 x 6 inch section. My 4 x 6 inch section is scraps from my Twisted Kitties quilt. The pattern was actually Twisted Sisters by Ami Simms. I don't have a sister, but I do have a cat.

Go! Accu Cutter

2010-07-20T20:58:00.003-04:00

Spun Sugar is having a give away. It is the coveted Go Accu Cutter!

Go on over and find out how.

I have wanted one of these ever since they came out. I have so much fabric and so little time to sew, let alone all the cutting before I can even start to sew. Would make my life so much easier and productive, to have one.

Cattitude

2010-06-30T21:42:00.004-04:00

I have been doing a Round Robin Blogger swap. 14 people each did a step on each others quilt, then each mailed the quilt on to the next person.

My quilt came home today! I am so excited! I absolutely love my little quilt!

My original starter block is, the black and white square with in a square block, on the left in the second row.

The sayings in the top row are so what Crissy would say, if she could talk. "Not that she has any problem communicating, by telepathy!"

"Please take the kitten back to wherever you found him. xoxoxo, The Cat"

"Please put away that suitcase. You are not going anywhere. xoxoxo, The Cat"

"The furball on the bathroom rug is for you. xoxoxo, The Cat"

Where did all these fabrics come from??? I haven't seen any of them!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-16T15:27:00.000-04:00

IHAN - 30 Days of Giveaways Anniversary

2010-04-11T14:13:00.006-04:00

I Had A Notion is having The 30 Days of Giveaways Anniversary Celebration . Go Check it out. The AccuQuilt Go is just one of the prises. Boy would I love to have that!

Blog Link:: http /www.ihaveanotion.blogspot.com/

Website Link : http://www.blogger.com/Ihavea-notion.com

Friday Fill Ins

2010-04-09T23:03:00.003-04:00

I found this "Fill In" at Tonya's Sewing Room .
Tonya found it at Not So Plain Jane, where Rachel does a new one every Friday.
Fill in the blanks when you can't think of anything to say!

1. In 1992, I was a lot younger and thinner.
2. Love, laughter and smiles.
3. Do what you will, with what you have, where you are.
4. Peaceful and content is where I'd like to be.
5. The trees and flowers are telling me sow seeds and reap vegetables.
6. Happiness that just keeps going on.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to reading a book, tomorrow my plans include quilting and Sunday, I want to sew!

April 6th is National Tartan Day

2010-04-06T15:03:00.003-04:00

April 6th is National Tartan Day. I think of sewing with Homespun Tartan Plaids.

A group I formerly quilted with every Wednesday, back in TN, swapped 2" x 6" plaids from our stashes. I printed and passed out the "Brick Walk" pattern for every one to use. Several members went right home, put their pieces together and had tops by the next week. Several of us added our bags of pieces to our UFO shelves, there probably should have been "BUP shelf" - Bags of Unstarted Projects. Every year on National Tartan Day I think of the bag of pieces and of the past friendships. One of these days I will dig the bag of plaids out, sew them together and think of all the good times our group had together. Our "Secret Santa Swap", trips down to Mary Jo's, quilting retreats at Buffalo Mountain Methodist Camp, trips to quilt shows and state quilt guild meeting. We had a lot of great times!

Scraps and Life

2010-04-01T22:17:00.006-04:00

When life gives you scraps, as quilters we make quilts.

Other times in life we are given scraps and sometimes need to admit that the scraps we have been given are tooo rotten to work with.

My motto has always been:

Use it up,

Wear it out,

Make it do,

or Do without.

Several of my non-quilting commitments have gotten to be "NOT Enjoyable!" I am not getting paid enough for all this, OH YES, I am not getting paid for any of this!

The bad thing these commitments have cost me "Valued Quilting Time", over the last year - especially and a few for several years. I am dealing with very difficult people, that are draining the energy out of me! I am now dealing with back biting, controlling, rude, expectant people. They are now draining me of motivation, to steal 5 minutes here or 10 minutes there to sew a few stitches. I am haunted by them in my sleep, when I can actually fall asleep.

Over the years I seem to always end up being friends with, or befriending, the difficult people of groups I encounter. In school I was what I refer to as a "Geek Collector". I was, also, friends with the other stereotypical groups. Most of the geeks were actually very nice people that were true loyal and friends.

Some talk show, years ago, talked about these type of people. The "expert", said to: "Never steal someones joy/happiness and never ever be guilty of being someone that does this, either."

It is sometimes difficult to say enough is enough, which is what I am struggling to do now. l have never been a quitter.

Thank, God, I have never been on a sinking ship, I would have gone down with it - bailing like crazy!

Thanks, for letting me have my whine - boy - I sure would love some wine about now!

National Quilt Day

2010-03-20T22:09:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone had a great day quilting today!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T13:07:00.005-04:00

Here is a link to this cute little St Patrick's quilt.
Moonlight Quilts has it as a free pattern on their website.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

John Flynn Class

2010-03-10T19:14:00.008-05:00

Wow, it has been a week, since I took John Flynn's, Storm at Sea class. It was a great class!
He and I have the same opinion on cutting and sewing seams. I have always tried to instill in my former students, that if they cut accurate and sew accurate, they will not have to rip out or re cut. We tested the width of our machines by sewing 3 - 2 inch squares together. The center square was supposed to measure exactly 1 1/2 inches.

All machines are not created equal! Needless to say there was a lot of ripping and resewing in the class.

A few days later at an informal group I occassionally meet with, one of the members said: "I didn't take the class and buy the templates, because I can just rotary cut squares and rectangles". "Right!"
That may be true if the light is right, the moon is in the right phase, she had a good protein breakfast and no coffee!

OK OK, so I had my laptop and pulled up the photos I had taken in the class, and showed her the potential problem areas. True, there is a big Square with in a Square block and a little Square with in a Square block. Those aren't a problem to rotary cut and sew accurately. But the two rectangular blocks can be difficult, if they stretch they will end up "wonky". Sewing the four sections together and getting those little midpoint seams to align perfect on all four sections can be a challenge. John's templates have the dog ears cut off to help you line up the pieces up.

Then we get to pressing the seams. If you get into the habit of always twirling your seams in the same direction on every quilt it will eliminate lumps and belly buttons on your quilt. When you press, left points back or toward you and right goes forward or away.

Any one who says they have been quilting and sewing for years and there is nothing to new to learn, is delusional! There is always a chance of hearing something new or trying a new technique.
I heard several years ago, after sewing over 40 years, if you were having trouble threading a needle, if you turned the eye around the thread would more than likely slide right through. The eye in a needle is punched, when it is made. There are tiny burrs on one side, that you can't see or feel; but the thread can.

Embellishments

2010-02-23T11:37:00.006-05:00

Tonya, at Lazy Gal Quilting, was a runner at a quilt show and one quilt was fabulous, but got marked down for having fur on it. How unfair!!! I feel fur should be considered an embellishment. Embellishments: beads, sequins, lace, ribbons, fur. That is, also, Chrissy's opinion and she sticking to it!

Probably half the quilts would have had fur embellishments if the judge had looked closer. The quilter probably forgot to only quilt and cuddle with a coordinating cat, on that quilt. I guess I need to stick with the Amish quilt patterns for a while. Hmmm --- I have two Amish UFOs, I wonder where they are? They just needed quilted! Off to look, maybe I should have added dust as an embellishment; I will probably stir some up in the search.

History of Aprons - and memories

2010-01-29T21:01:00.005-05:00

This was one of the dreaded email forwards, from my cousin Sharon. It brought back a lot of childhood memories.

The History of "APRONS" I don't think our kids know what an apron is. The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of second. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and then men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner. It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old time apron' that served so many purposed. Send this to those who would know (and love) the story about Grandma's aprons. Remember:Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw. They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron. I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron.
Author Unknown

Think of all of the pieces of a quilt that were in the scrap basket after those aprons were cut out and sewn. I always loved the feel of my Mother's aprons, they were always so soft and comforting. Tears were dried with the corners of those aprons. Aprons smelled like your Mommy, home baked bread and fresh baked oatmeal raisin cookies; when does it get better than that! Those are what I would remember as the "good old days".

Inspiration

2010-01-16T16:07:00.011-05:00

The FP&QG meeting had Pepper Cory, as guest speaker, Monday night. Pepper showed some of the quilts in her collection and gave her lecture: “How to Become a More Creative Quilt Maker”. Unfortunately - I forgot my camera "Aaaackkk!" I will add pictures later if one of my friends remembers to email them to me.
Tuesday Pepper gave her workshop: “Two Blocks are better than One”.

This is Pepper's sample block for the class.
Can you see the same block in the middle of the quilt?
It is so amazing how 18 or 20 quilters can cut the same size pieces and get totally different looking blocks. The supply list said bring a wide assortment of fabrics, leftovers from other quilts we had made would work. I grabbed 2 tote bags and stuffed them with bags of leftovers and inherited bags of fabric scraps. I had been sick all weekend, but was determined to attend the lecture and workshop. My energy and design "mojo" was pretty challenged by Tuesday afternoon. My scraps seemed to not want to play together and I really wondered if I was up to playing at all!

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T16:48:00.002-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!!

Merry Christmas to all

2009-12-23T18:12:00.002-05:00

We Wish You a Merry♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Christmas♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪We Wish You a Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Christmas ♥ ♥ ♥We Wish You A Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪...And A Happy New Year!♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪... Copy and Paste to your blog and keep the Christmas Wish going......

Twas 4 days til Christmas

2009-12-21T00:53:00.004-05:00

I spent most of the last week baking and making gift jars with my DDIL. I had a great time spending the day with her and getting to see my DS and the "Davine Miss M" each evening. M turned 3 last week, where does the time go???????

The last 3 months have been totally crazy, I am going into quilt withdrawal! Hopefully I will be able to sneak a few stitches in this week.

Irish Muses is having a give away on December 23. Here is a peek at all the goodies.

Christmas House - To Be or Not To Be?

2009-12-02T15:32:00.002-05:00

Carrie over at A Passion for Applique is having a give away and asked us to leave comments about our choices of white lights vs. colored lights. We have white lights outside and tiny colored clear lights on the tree inside. Only house on our block that is decorated outside.
Carrie has me dwelling on paint color again. Can't decide what color to paint the house. We haven't painted anything outside, but the trim that needed touched up. We have lots of peaks and dormer windows, grey is calm and neutral, cocoa brown would make it look like a gingerbread house and red would make it a Christmas house year round (red is probably tooo much).

Fur Babies Halloween Party

2009-10-13T15:27:00.007-04:00

Stopped at Pet Smart this morning. I see, they are having a Halloween Costume Contest and Party next week. Maybe I will dress the pups up and take them. What to wear? Hmmm?

Simba, what do you want to wear for Halloween?

Maggie loves to wear anything Clan Scott.

New Baby

2009-09-23T17:48:00.003-04:00

This is our new baby, Simba. He has actually been a family member for several years. He wasn't very happy being alone all day. (Little dog + little bladder + looooong day = oooops.)
He needed to live where someone was home a lot more. DS and DDIL asked if I knew any one that would be interested in adopting him. Sure, I'll take him. They didn't think I would want another fur baby, since we have Maggie and Chrissie. They were happy, that they will get to have weekend visits, frequently. They said it would be almost like still having him, but he wouldn't be alone all day long.
Chrissie isn't real sure what he is. He doesn't look like Maggie, he is little like her. Simba walked in and took one look at Chrissie, stopped and just stared. He has never seen a cat up close. We had less than 24 hours of, minimal, hissing and whining. They are, now, just glancing at each other, going to their spots, curling up and going to sleep.
Maggie was surprise when I walked in with Simba. Simba and Benny had came for visits in the backyard, but had never came in the house. (Benny likes to eliminate any body not a dog.) Maggie was the love of Simba's life when DS and DDIL first got him, he likes tall girls. Thank Heavens! he has calmed down around her.
Simba has stayed glue to my ankle. I sit down at computer, he is under my chair. I sit down to sew he is beside my chair. "Watch out, so I don't roll over your tail, Buddy". Life is great with lots of Fur Babies!

Tiwana Answers 1 Question in Life & Celtic Quilts

2009-09-17T23:34:00.008-04:00

And I thought my girls were DD or DDD. They Fs, OMG the only time i have ever been glad of getting an F. You know I always wondered "WHY" F and G didn't exist. Thank You for giving me the answer to "1" of the questions of life. Keep telling my DS and DDIL, The answer to life doesn'r exist only mooorrre questions! Tiwana answered 1 question of life, yes, I have had DD or DDD'd even at 105 pounds, all the extra weight landed in my middle and in my aaaaa??? If I do not have time to read blogs, there are about 3 I have to read. OMG I almost posted this on my Scottish blog that gets read by "Non-quilting" men!!!
Right now life has gone nuts!!!!!
Any one of Scottish, Irish, or from one of the Celtic Nations in ancestry; and live almost close to Hendersonville or Lexington NC??? And Quilts??? I am trying to put together a "CELTIC INSPIRATION" quilt show & quilt as a fund raiser. We help set up the Foothills Highland Games., I would like to have a display, in the VIP tent next year of Celtic Inspired Quilts. I am making a Celtic Dreams raffle quilt, but would really like to have a display of Celtic or Tartan Inspired Quilts.

Tooo Cute!

2009-09-12T18:03:00.000-04:00

Facebook & Photos

2009-08-29T19:20:00.007-04:00

I made contact with a cousin I haven't seen in about 30+ years, over on Facebook. He noticed I quilt and asked me to post some photes of my quilts. Two of his SILs are quilters. So I walked through the house and shot wall hangings I have up. Here are 3 I posted on FB, more later.

New Toys

2009-08-15T11:23:00.001-04:00

These are my 2 new favorite "toys".

If your hands, elbows or shoulders have any issues or past surgeries, you need these!

The Quilt Halo. The Quilt Halo lays on top of the piece you are quilting.

And the Supreme Slider. The Supreme Slider lays on the bed of your machine and has an opening for your needle.

The lady running the booth at the AQS Show in Knoxville, where I found them, was letting you sit down at her machine and try them out. WOW! I couldn't believe how well they worked. The quilt sample slid around like a scrap of fabric instead of like the placenta of an elephant. WOW! Loved them, wanted them, please, take my money!

Facts for Friday

2009-08-14T11:46:00.001-04:00

Faces at AQS Knoxville

2009-08-02T21:13:00.006-04:00

I don't know who did these two pieces, but they blew me away. The photos do not so them justice.

The angel was quilted with iridescent thread. She gave you a feeling of peacefulness, just looking at her.

The cowboy was so real looking, you could feel him looking back at you.
BADLANDS, Carol Ann Sinnreich, Lawton, OK
I will try and find out who they are by and post it.

More AQS Pictures

2009-07-30T09:42:00.006-04:00

This is the quilt that won best of show. Look at the quilting on it wow!
#115 CIRCLES OF LIFE, Linda French, Centerville, OH

Bumble Beans is having a giveaway. Isn't this bag beautiful? You can go over to her blog and read all about it.

AQS - Artful Bras

2009-07-28T13:10:00.005-04:00

OK, here are more pictures. These are the Artful Bras, made by a South Carolina quilt group. I have only posted the close ups. There are more pictures over on The Inside Stori and on One Loose Thread.
If you want to make one think "Big", it will give you more area to embellish. 32AA too quick; 40DD design your heart out!

AQS & Fun Fun Fun

2009-07-27T14:53:00.005-04:00

We had a good time. Can you tell? This is my friend Sue (blue shirt) with Lowell and Diane, of Details By Diane. Diane is Queen of Stained Glass Quilts. Look at the crowns on the three of them. Aren't they fabulous?
I was so excited I found three of my friends from First Frontier Quilters; Donna, Vicki and Alice. I moved and hadn't seen them in about five or six years. They were in the Appalachian Quilt Trail booth; the guild had made a fund raising quilt for the AQT project.
(Ooops, ok, tip your head to the left. I can't get the photo to do a quarter turn. Sorry!) I bought a batch of tickets, hopefully my connections will help me win.

More photos later laundry is screaming at me! It is so nice to get away, but boy is there a lot to do when you return!

Road Trip to AQS Show

2009-07-20T20:00:00.012-04:00

My friend Sue and I are going to the AQS Quilt Show this week. Doing our part to support the economy!

Side trips to Smoky Mountain Knifeworks in Sevierville and to The Craftman's Festival in Gatlinburg.

And here:

Tennessee Quilts
114 Boone Street
Jonesborough, Tennessee 37659
(423)-753-6644
Monday- Saturday 9:30 to 5:30

And here:

The Cherry Pit
115 Bruce Street
Sevierville, Tennessee 37862
(865) 453-4062

9:30am-5:00pm Monday-Friday
9:00am-1:00pm Saturday

I am so looking forward to this. I haven't road tripped with the/any girls in about 10 years! Last road trip was to Mary Jo's. I have been "past" there numerous times since then, but it is always on Sunday or late and their closed. Twice yesterday! Bummer!

Devine Miss M's Quilt

2009-07-17T16:18:00.007-04:00

This is the "Devine Miss M's" quilt, that was given as a shower gift . I was staying with her older siblings a year or so before she was born, while DYS & DDIL were on a week long cruise. The kids helped me cut, lay it out and assemble it. This is one of those I don't know who it is for , but I need to make it for someone.

Mystery Quilt

2009-07-07T20:23:00.004-04:00

My DDIL and I are going to put together a "Beginning Quilter - Kit of the Month" for her mother, Linda.
Linda said, she wants to learn how to quilt.
Linda has just retired and moved to NY, at a "very young age" (she is 1 year younger than I am)!

Linda likes brown, beige and sage green.

I think I have a little extra tan from "Mz K's" quilt and I know I have left over sage green from "Devine Miss M's" nursery - 2 years ago. Maybe a little left over of the browns.
"Mz K" just turned 18 in May and graduated from HS in June.
I hope it will mean more having fabric from oldest and youngest GDs, included.

I thought a "Mystery Quilt" would be fun.
Actually, I am going to use the same pattern I used for "Mz K's" quilt.
The pattern has lots of strip piecing and sub cutting, followed by HSQ triangles and QS triangles. that should ease her in to piecing.
Then maybe DDIL & I can do a "road trip" to help her Mom finish and get started on the quilting and binding.

The Sorting Hat Says:

2009-07-01T21:52:00.005-04:00

Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot, and treat them just the same."

Hufflepuff students are friendly, fair-minded, modest and hard-working. A well-known member was Cedric Diggery, who represented Hogwarts in the most recent Triwizard Tournament.

Find Your Hogwart's House

Becassos

2009-06-24T21:25:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, the Becassos met, and learned how to make our own rubber stamps. It is so fun learning new things. I had trouble finding a Speedball cutter—for cutting linoleum blocks. It was not at Lowe's; but at A. C. Moore. Some of the ladies had trouble finding plumbers gasket material. But here is the end result from my rubber stamp and the stamp is on the right. I am so happy with the results.

I can't say I was quite as happy with printing on gelatin, in May. Will try it again, but this month was definitely a success the first try.

Giveaway by DMC

2009-06-20T19:31:00.002-04:00

DMC has a new game Quilt-opoly™ and they are having a giveaway. Go check it out at: Quilting on a Budget
This is to cool, all us big kids that played Monopoly as little kids have our favorite game in a "Quilty" version.

Strange Day

2009-06-09T16:03:00.001-04:00

I was filling my 1st cup of coffee this morning, staring out the kitchen window, and noticed a truck come up the street. Then several cars followed the truck and stopped. Looked out the dining room window, which I can also see out, from the kitchen counter. Hmmmm?? they seem to be stopping at my driveway. Curious me, I went to the dining room window to get a better view of what was going on. Well, there was a woman clutching a very large red,white and blue star quilt under her arm,and dragging half of it on the ground. I guess she must have been walking in the street or crossing the street, and stopped the traffic. After she walked past the house, I went to check the mail box, and see where she had gone. Met the mailman and asked him if she was talking to her self or spoke when she passed him. "Nope, she just looked a little strange", he said. We watched her walk down the sidewalk until she was out of sight. Very curious! I wonder what her story is. I have thought about her all day. Different stories are running through my head.

UPDATE 11:50pm:
DDIL called after class tonight, instructor told her a woman jumped off HWY 8/85 overpass this afternoon. I have been checking news channels on-line and watching news on TV, ever since she called. Woman was air lifted to WFBMC, so far I haven't heard or found any info. I felt empathy when I saw the woman this morning, now I am seriously worrying about a total stranger.

RR Blogger Round 2 - Sneak Peek

2009-05-28T12:48:00.000-04:00

Here is a little sneak peek.

I am ready to mail Kate's block http://katesquilting.blogspot.com/
on to Karen http://www.passionatequilter.blogspot.com/.
This is going to be so much fun. I can't wait for Toni's block to get here http://thequiltingpirate.wordpress.com./ .
I bought fabric and have a plan for Round 3.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-27T09:59:00.001-04:00

Feast or Famine

2009-05-26T20:33:00.000-04:00

What is it with commitments, or would be commitments.
JUNE 13 - seems to be the day I am being pulled in 4 different directions.

#1 - #1GD graduation/18th BD party has been in the planning for over a month or two. (Which she doesn't want.)

#2 - A Scottish Festival with in an hour of home that we can get in to as a vendor $$$.

#3 - My family reunion in IL that is always on Fathers Day, the 20th by my calculations. Nope, my cousin which it is all scheduled around, is going to be there the 13th. They are, also, having it on a Saturday, which works better than a Sunday for traveling any distance and getting any time off.

#4 - Clan Scott Society's Annual General Meeting, which I should attend, since, I am a Commissioner. Did I mention New Hampshire???

OK, I can not be in NC, SC, IL and NH; or even 2 of them. GD will win, with or without her. DYS & DDIL will throw a better party than the rest, plus I sleep in my own bed and get to play with the Devine Miss M.

Blogger Round Robin

2009-05-15T12:00:00.001-04:00

I joined the Blogger Round Robin, what seemed like months ago. I couldn't wait for it to start. I have had my block for a week and couldn't seem to get in the car and drive 4 blocks and get it mailed to Karen at http://passionatequilter.blogspot.com/. Oh well, nothing like mailing it on the actual mailing date. I think every one else has mailed theirs already.

Warm & Wooly

2009-05-05T10:52:00.000-04:00

ARE EWE MY MAMA?

Quilty Fun!

2009-04-29T18:18:00.000-04:00

I feel like I am actually doing "quilty" things.
Saturday the quilt show boutique committee met to brainstorm. Lots of cute items in the works! After lunch we had sewing time; since we had rented the room for the day. A couple ladies basted their quilts, several other worked on hand applique projects and I had brought my Featherweight to sew little wallets.
Several of the ladies invited me to join 2 of the "bees".

Yesterday, I went to the Becasso's Bee. How cool is painting fabric with gelatin as a stamping base medium. Well go over to http://designerstitches.blogspot.com and see!
I received the remaining crayon for the Becasso's challenge for May - brown, I can do that! My assigned shape is - squiggle, Ok, mental over load! So many ideas racing through my head. I can use any technique, use any type material and make any type art piece. Should I strip piece a squiggle, applique a bunch of squiggles or give birth to - "dolly squiggle", Hmmmmmmmmm?

Today, The Quilting Friends Bee met, everyone brought their own project to work on. What fun getting to see the projects and get acquainted with the ladies. Guild meetings are wonderful, but to belong to a bee or two is how you get to really to know new people.

Needless to say I am not feeling completely like a fish out of water. I have new friends to "Horse" around with!

Sorry! Bad pun! But, wouldn't this little sea horse be cute in applique.

I need to get my RR Quilters block ready to mail.

Monday we bought a new camera, so now maybe I will get more pictures posted. I just have to get the camera away from DH.

Alive and BUSY

2009-04-22T19:32:00.000-04:00

Only quilting I have done this month has been in my head. I did make it to the monthly meetings of the 2 guilds I belong to.
The last month has been hectic. The Scottish festival season is gearing up. I had an order for a period outfit on line. " Rather be quilting!" But the outfit was finally finished and mailed. "Happy Dance at post office!"
Friends came for Mint Hill Festival that was canceled 2 day before it was to take place. Luckily they are quilters and crafters, so we went to almost every quilt and craft store in W/S. Missed a new quilt shop I didn't know about, til after they left.
This last week end we met up with the same friends, plus 2 more, for the Rural Hills Scottish Festival. We all camped Friday night (brrr - ice in my cup was still ice next morning) and Saturday night at the festival. Four women, "1 - preteen female" and DH; what a brave and patient man. We ate, drank, talked and talked, swapped recipes and corrected one friend's knitting project. Had a great time in spite of a group of fellow campers forming a drum circle, that played til after 4:30 am Saturday morning. Next night the drumming stopped at 1 am, but they played loadly til then. Camper next to us had a harp which sounded so beautiful, when we could hear it.
We sponsor the Children's Passport for 2 festivals, and one of the festivals is coming up in a couple weeks. So, I am cutting, stapling and folding 250-300 little passports. The kids, under 12, take their passport to each clan booth and get a stamp, when they get all the clan stamps they come to us and get a little prize.

Pink Floyd

2009-03-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

Well the BD wasn't a total bust this year, DH took me out to Mellow Mushroom for supper. We went early to beat the rush - wrong; Barbershop convention & Cheerleader competitions were down the street. We both like to people watch. The ones that gave us the biggest chuckle were four guy in white t-shirts with Floyd the Barber printed in pink on them, underneath it said PINK FLOYD. Too funny.
Another table of guys suddenly stood up and started singing. Cheerleaders, thankfully, didn't do anything except the standard teenage eye rolling and whining at their Mothers. Poor Mothers.

DYS, DDIL and The Devine Miss M - #3 GD (oh & the "Boys") came for supper the next day. We cooked out, DH made escargot and we had BD cake. The "Boys" and Maggie spent the day in backyard. They were not happy they couldn't come inside and mooch, but Benny (chow) likes to kill other small non-dog animals. Simba (peke) really didn't mind he was with "His Maggie", he likes taller girls. Crissy was safe and enjoyed all the undivided attention and petting. It was a good day.

Only sewing that has even barely been happening is an outfit for a customer. I really do not feel like making it, so it has been a struggle. I need to finish it and mail it, so I can sew something fun - like quilt blocks or #1 GD 18th/graduation??? quilt.

(I don't know what happened Pink Floyd's picture disappeared.)

National Quilt Day - March 21, 2009

2009-03-13T18:07:00.000-04:00

OK, so what does every one have planned for National Quilt Day?

I personally have kept the day open, since it is the day I turn 39, for the 1?th time.

My goal is to work on one of my many UFOs. I forgot how many of them there were.
The bad part, I have found tops, while unpacking, I do not remember making. I had to have made them, I recognize the fabric and the way the seams are pressed.

I have hopes the family will remember my BD. I have actually been reminding DH for the last 2 weeks.
It is an on going "NOT VERY FUNNY" joke about my birthday. YDS has always been the one who remembered, but last year he said he was doing good until the night before - "THEN BLIP!" - gone. He called me at bed time the day after. DH wanted to know who was on the phone. "Oh, just YDS about my BD." DH totally, as usual, forgot!

Courtney's Quilts

2009-03-10T16:08:00.001-04:00

National Quilt Day, last year, my friend Janet hosted a sewing day at "Classic Quilt Shop". Aproximately 20 area quilters dropped in through out the day to sew fractured 9-patch blocks. We managed to get about 18 quilts tops together. The quilts were being made for the "Courtney's Quilts Project" and were sent to the area NICU.
Courtney is the granddaughter of, Shirley, the former shop owner, and has had many challenges, since birth.

Ok, guys you can come out of the closet; it will give you more room to quilt!

That's right guys, that is "Dan" in the lower left-hand corner of the photo. Dan has no fear of a pattern or the number of teeny tiny pieces in a circular block. His quilts have made a few ladies green with envy.

National Quilt Day 2008

2009-03-06T21:58:00.000-05:00

I was president of the guild that made this quilt, until we moved to NC.

The color is a little distorted, it is actually a coral and blue, not pink. Each member made a block from a pre-cut packet for either a 9-patch block or rail-fence block. My friend Sharon did all the pre-cutting, setting the blocks together, quilting and binding.

This quilt should cover the baby until he starts elementary school. I am holding it up with my hands up in the air over my head.

DH printed the label for the back of the quilt. Some of Sharon's beautiful quilting shows behind the label.

Some of the bugs in the blue print had plaid bodies, you can see one in the upper right-hand corner of the label picture. We got lucky and found a plaid for the backing and binding at http://www.classicquiltshop.com/, that is owned by my friend Janet.

What I Have Been Up To This Past Week

2009-03-03T10:50:00.000-05:00

1. M'liss Rae Hawley's - "Fat Quarter Quilts" book, came from Amazon.com. Made the coveted Fat-quarter Bag. (Pictures later camera battery dead.)

2. Finishing strip sets of SIL's "Blue Triple Irish Chain" quilt. I will probably rename it to "Triple Dutch Chain". DH's family is originally from Amsterdam.

3. Remembered a blue pinwheel quilt, a guild I used to belong to made and quilted at the mill we used to live in. (Pictures when I can find them.) I loved that quilt. Sooo, I started cutting 6" squares of all my blues.

4. Found bread maker in a box when I was unpacking "more" boxes, thus made bread all week. Warmer than going to store in the snow. We got about 3-4 inches of very wet heavy snow.

5. Rotated trays and watched over the dehydrator for DH, he is making beef jerky.

6. CLEANED THE KITCHEN AFTER DH STARTED THE JERKY! Every surface in the kitchen was marinated, including the washer & dryer.

7. Reading blogs daily. It is my social life since. the move. Good thing I have recluse tendencies.

8. And the usual everyday boring "housewifey stuff".

I guess I have done pretty good keeping myself entertained. It has actually been a productive week.

Adding Photos "Finally"!

2009-02-22T20:53:00.000-05:00

OK, I am excited I figured out how to add a picture to a post today.

I added the coveted bag picture to yesterday's blog.

This is Christmas "Crissy" helping quilt my Grandson, Cris's quilt. Crissy is my main sewing assistant. She was wondering why Maggie had center stage on my blog, in leiu of a picture of me or herself.

Crissy turned up on my friend Cynthia's doorstep Christmas Night 2005. Her two big old boy cats didn't like Crissy, I think they were getting beat up by little two pound Crissy. Cynthia had her in the car headed for the humane society in February. Cynthia's son begged her to try a little longer to find Cris a home. I knew in December when I first heard about Cris I would end up with her. Kind of like Daisy, our other cat that just passed away; first time I laid eyes on her I knew eventually I would have her. Yup one year later, DH's Mom passed away and Daisy moved in.

How Ironic is this?

2009-02-22T10:28:00.000-05:00

Should You Live in a Red State or a Blue State?

You Should Live in a Purple State

Your preferences are 50% Blue, 50% Red
You may not be a swing voter, but you feel comfortable around moderate people.

You tend to do best in states with a red and blue mix - like Nevada and North Carolina.
You are adaptable. You can converse with a church crowd as easily as with grad students.

Exploring & Shopping

2009-02-20T00:04:00.000-05:00

Today, while out running errands: DH and I decided to check out the local thrift shops and found nothing that needed to come home with us. After that I ask if he felt like heading to W/S and exploring. He said: "yes, and did I have any where specific in mind?" OH GEE??? "How about going and finding the 2 quilt shops." I was trying to find the first edition of M'liss Rae Hawley's -Fat Quarter Quilts: second edition doesn't have the huge 6-fat quarter tote bag in it. I really want to make that bag; it will hold a king size quilt, hoop and all your other goodies - like needles, thread and chocolate. Again, no luck shopping!

Oh well, consolation was supper at Moe's Southwest Grill. Now we are feeling much better and he keep missing his turns to head home and we're trapped in "W/S Shopping Center Metropolis.
Ok, now shopping suddenly becomes successful. His misses his turn, so we use Circuit City's parking lot to turn around. Gee Honey, do you want to just go in and look around, since they are going out of business???
I have been staring at the GPS's ever since the move here. I now have my GPS. DH told me, I had better get one, because I will not find one for half price any where else.
Yesterday, we were lost between Highpoint and Thomasville for over an hour. The good part - we had just been in Walmart and he had told me I didn't need a GPS. "I wasn't the one driving." That was me saying: "I think you need to turn back at that last stop light/sign/corner etc." Hmmm???
Now the local or not so local quilt shops can't hide from me!

Valentine's Present

2009-02-15T15:25:00.000-05:00

The removal of the old garage door on the former garage, and installation of a normal door, now makes the former garage, look officially like my new studio.
I spent quality time with DS helping him with the door construction and got to drive his truck to Lowe's twice, I love his truck!
Dh told me I was a lucky woman yesterday. "Ok, and why I asked?"
"Well it's not every woman, who's son builds them a wall for Valentine's Day."
It was a great day.
Now all I have to do is get ready for my "Stash Reduction Yard Sale". That is a really scary thought! Only a couple hundred boxes to sort out. The bolts of fabric I am selling are easy, they are all lined up under my SAQM.

Personality Quiz

2009-02-15T15:08:00.000-05:00

You Have A Type A- Personality

You are one of the most balanced people around
Motivated and focused, you are good at getting what you want
You rule at success, but success doesn't rule you.

When it's playtime, you really know how to kick back
Whether it's hanging out with friends or doing something you love!
You live life to the fullest - incorporating the best of both worlds

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

Intelligent Human Contact at Last

2009-02-09T22:17:00.000-05:00

I'm doing the "Happy Dance", (OK, only in my head). I finally made it to the W/S quilt guild meeting tonight. What a very talented and friendly bunch of ladies.
I got to meet Heritage Quilter , that was a very nice surprise; since it wasn't planned and we were practically sitting next to each other.
Mary Stori gave a great lecture and slide show on wool penny quilts and beading them. Makes me want to search "Box Mountain" for my beading supplies.

"The List"

2009-02-06T10:05:00.000-05:00

Ok, I want to play, too. Several other blogger have "The List" on their blogs.

Rules: Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real; nothing made up! You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name for the boy/girl name question. Have Fun!!

1. What is your name: Sue
2. A four Letter Word: slim
3. A boy's Name: Steve
4. A girl's Name: Sandy
5. An occupation: seamstress
6. A color: silver
7. Something you wear: slippers
8. A food: shrimp
9. Something found in the bathroom: sleep-aid
10. A place: son's house
11. A reason for being late: stoplights
12. Something you shout: stop
13. A movie title: Sleepless in Seattle
14. Something you drink: Singapore Sling
15. A musical group: Steppenwolf
16. An animal: Shetland pony
17. A book title: Scrap Happy
18. A country: Siberia
19. A city: St Louis
20. Something you value or believe: sleep

Stop and stoplight are not the same word! Neither is sleep and sleepless! They all have separate listings in the dictionary!

Blogging vs. Quilting

2009-01-31T11:37:00.000-05:00

I seem to spend more time reading other people's blogs, than I do quilting. I originally started reading the blogs for inspiration. I guess I am feeling pretty isolated, since the move. My friends inspired me before the moved. I really hated WV, but for the first time in my life I had a circle of true friends. I don't regret the move, I just am still adjusting. "WS Guild next month or bust!"

First Visitors

2009-01-29T11:42:00.000-05:00

Well, our first visitors arrived the 19th, DH's sister - Ann & hubby - Gerry, from Ontario.
Gerry rewired the house and my studio, while they were here. I can now turn on the coffee pot, toaster and microwave with out blowing a circuit. Or more importantly leave the sewing machine and a light on when I turn on the iron.
The move slowed down finishing a reversable triple Irish chain quilt I am working on for their kingsize water bed. Now that the move is finished and company has left I can get back to it.

Christmas In January

2009-01-16T12:28:00.000-05:00

We have finished up the major move. I am now opening boxes of stuff I packed over 4 years ago for the move to WV. Fabric and tops that were missing in action. It is like Christmas all over!

Look out NC I'm here!

2008-09-07T08:13:00.000-04:00

I finally arrived in NC to stay, on Friday, to stay. DH wanted to know what all I had managed to bring. Told him I couldn't tell, it was like Christmas and he would find out when he opened the presents/tubs of stuff.
I brought my bare necessities to survive.
Two trunks and a large suitcase of my antique quilt tops and quilts, a few projects in progress, my 7570 Pfaff, my Featherweight, a serger, a couple tubs of kitchen staples and equipment, case of Escargot, the contents of the bar cabinet and a small suitcase of clothes.
Previous trips brought a set of bunk beds and folding chairs that we use camping. Real furniture will arrive in a month or so (oops 4 or 5 months - Jan. 12, 2009), after all the painting and repairing is done. As long as I am set up to sew and sleep I'm good.
Quilt guild here meets on Tuesday, I look forward to going and finding new friends to quilt with.

Packing

2008-08-06T20:08:00.000-04:00

Packing can be a real pain. Unpacking can really be fun, it's like getting Christmas or Birthday presents. We have always managed to unpack boxes that weren't unpacked the move before. I know I will get gifts of fabric, I actually picked and bought for specific projects. The past four years I have been staring at bolts of fabric left from my fabric shop in Florida, of twenty years ago.
DH leaves in 3 days for his new job. I will pack and sew, then pack some more. Maybe I can finish his missing 5oth birthday quilt as a surprise. Of course will have to find out where it hid during the "mistake" I mean move to WV.
I have been work on a blue Triple Irish Chain for his sister on Tuesday nights. this summer. Tuesday night, my friend Janet keeps her quilt shop open til 9 pm.

Wandering in Lexington

2008-07-30T21:35:00.000-04:00

We went exploring today. Stopped at Quilting Quest, Lynne has really decent prices on her fabrics and is a very nice lady. She just happen to be the BBQ City Quilt Guild president and invited me to the next meeting if I am in town.
Stopped at Walmart and was glad to see they didn't lose their fabric department as many of their other stores have. I go through bolt after bolt of their osnaburg.
Dropped DH at LMH for his pre-employment jabbing and stabbing. Then went downtown to explore on my own for a couple of hours.
Other fabric shop in town is a little "pricey". DYS took us there several years ago, then I remember why I hadn't been back.
Art Gallery across the street had a nice display hanging. Of course the 2 paintings I really liked were on display only, but I will return to the gift shop for some Christmas shopping, when I get here permanently.

NC or Bust

2008-07-27T20:05:00.000-04:00

DH leaves in 14 days. I miss him already! Oh well, it will give him and DYS time to get the floor in my new studio. (Floor born finally in December), who has a time line?????????????

Escaping WV for NC

2008-07-18T09:54:00.000-04:00

I'm doing the "Happy Dance"; we are escaping WV.
We drove down to Lexington, Wednesday after we both got off work. Yesterday, DH had interview at Lexington Memorial Hospital and was told he unoffically has the job he applied for. HR director asked if I needed a job, also. Nope, I'm going to play full time Grandma. I'll have little Miss Maddy sewing by the time she turns 5. DS said maybe I can teacher her Mama, to.
Last night, DYS signed official contract on the house we are buying. Tonight we go measure rooms and delegate my paint stash to the different rooms.
I called dibs on the garage as my new studio, 20" X 20" +/- of uninterupted space. Old studio is same size, but chopped up into 4 rooms. Needless to say "Hermione" (my short-arm) reaches wall to wall. Crawling underneath to load quilts and reach bobbincase, really stinks. I am to old for that nonsense.
DH had to drive back to WV last night to go to work, he will come drag me back to WV Sunday; that will be me kicking and screaming, "I don't want to go back!".
I stayed to get ready for yard sale Saturday. The first of several yard sales here and back in WV. I have a bunch of piles to weed out.
Next Monday I tell the quilt guild I'm moving and that I am having a "thinning out the stash sale".

Survival of the fittest!

2008-07-12T22:03:00.000-04:00

I am would seriously do the happy dance, if at all possible. The quilt show is over! Yeaaa! I have been there, since 5:15pm Wednesday; except to come home to sleep. I worked all day then went straight there, to get quilts checked in for the show. There again 9am til 7 or 8 Thursday, to hang the quilts. Slept. Went to work 8 -10, then hit the show til 9 pm Friday. Today I was there 8:30 til 7:30. My VP told me this morning I looked "whipped bad"; looked in restroom mirror and thought "This should have been a 2 bag day". Nothing that a Marguerita, supper and a good nights sleep won't cure.

Millennium Quilters 4th Annual Quilt Show

2008-07-09T21:03:00.000-04:00

Millennium Quilters 4th Annual Quilt Show is this weekend. We did registration tonight. I worked all day, then headed to the high school to help get everything set up and the quilts checked in. It was so much fun getting to carry the quilts to their proper pile, after the girls got them labeled and signed in. There were six at the the sign in table and me sorting and carrying. Unfun was getting to carry them again to another room for judging. The old body is griping up a storm and reminding me of how old I am, "How Rude". Couldn't get home for the Ibuprofen fast enough. It's going to be a "Flexril night" or I won't get out of bed in the morning or be able to lift my arms to hang quilts tomorrow. Only 4 more days to survive!

Cleaning out my house & studio

2008-07-05T09:48:00.000-04:00

It is amazing how much stuff you can accumulate. In my pile of clothes I wear, I weeded out 3 - 18 gallon storage containers, for the first of several rummage sales. (Only have 2 closets - old house had 14.) Really dreading cleaning out the attic!
My quilt guild will be excited at our picnic when I hand out maps and announcement I am selling almost all my bolted fabric for $3.00 a yard. I had a fabric shop in Florida and kept all my bolts of cotton. Haven't used much of it, so it needs to go to a new home.

WV - Enter at your own Risk!

2008-07-04T09:26:00.000-04:00

Boy, do we wish we knew four years ago, what we know now. Four years ago we had an eleven hundred dollar a month mortgage. We saw real estate prices in WV and thought "oh wow", lets move there. DH was wanting to retire in the next few years. A higher hourly wage and a $350 mortgage seemed very attractive.
What we didn't know about was all the higher or hidden costs and taxes. House here was a 4th of the price - taxes there were $680, now $1000 on house & $400 on garage which is in very bad condition. Then the tax on personal household property. Dog tax for county and tax to city, on top of rabies tag. At this rate Maggie will have to go find a job, if we don't escape WV soon. Some towns even tax you on your cats, this one is trying to pass that ordinance. Ok, then Daisy and Crissy will need jobs, also. Maybe Daisy can apply for "Kitty Social Security", she is at least 16 or 17 years old; isn't that like 80 or 85 in human terms?
My 18 year old car is taxed $83 a year, $32 for license plate, and $12 for inspection sticker. We had to pay sales tax on my car when we moved here, even tho we had paid sales tax when we bought it in another state 13 years ago.
OK, thanks for listening to me whine! The cloud of dust, you will "hopefully" soon see, will be us leaving WV!

Birth of My Blog

2008-07-03T17:43:00.000-04:00

Today my bouncing baby blog was born. Hopefully I will be a good parent to it. Hopefully I will be able to add links and stuff to it. I am not the most computer savvy person in the world. If I could sew and quilt it I wouldn't have any problems.