Talk about fast....

Three days!!
3 .... count them ..... 3 days!!
That's all it took to get the order I placed with Knots & Bolts. And the picture just does not do justice to the 'real life' fabrics.
Thanks Suzanne!
See all of those Fat Quarters in the back? 38 And only one duplicate! Awesome!
I am such a FQ pack rat.
I love them!!
I love to buy them!
I love to sort them.
I love to see them all lined up on my shelves.
I love dreaming of the quilts I will make with them.

Hummmmm I guess one day soon I probably should use a few.......

Monday Morning....

I played a bit with a few pics yesterday. This is one of my favorites. I've also added a couple more to my scrapbook album.

Knots and Bolts Sale....

Suzanne is having a sale http://www.knotsandbolts.com and I've placed my order and now I'm placing an extra entry in the drawing which will be held on Jan 4th.

Now ..... since that's my birthday (and a very important one at that) I just want to let you all know that you really don't need to enter. That way .... I will win and have a really HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
heeheehee

Everyone's gone....

Our Christmas is over. Everyone started for home yesterday morning and have all arrived safely. That's a relief since radar showed some weather that they had to drive through to get there.

It's really quiet around here now. I'm trying to get my thoughts in order and the house cleanup started. I'm doing much better about the house. (my thoughts, however, are swirling)
Laundry has been started and I've gotten several loads complete. Lysol sprayed (trying to conquer the cold and flu virus) and whether I'm doing any good is debatable .... but I think I am and that's what is important after all isn't it.
Actually the house is in really good shape since Deb did such a good job of cleaning up after everyone. Thanks! You have a backbone of steel girl!!
We still have a lot of leftover candies but what Scott doesn't finish off I'll stick in the freezer to enjoy later.
I think today the decorations (what few I did put up) will be taken down and packed away and I'll then be done with my domestic chores for awhile.

The quilts I made for everyone were all a big hit. And a surprise to a couple of the boys. I've got three (no four) more quilts to make for this year and then my immediate Must-Do list will be complete. I want each member of the family to have a snuggle quilt from me.

I placed an order for some fabric yesterday (gotta love clearance) and as soon as it arrives I'm going to start on a couple of baby quilts for the hospital. Our guild keeps the nursery supplied with baby quilts to be given to each newborn and they are in need of several for the first couple of months of the new year. So our guild needs to crank some out in a hurry.

Then I plan to put some of my UFO's on the frame that need to be quilted. I love piecing the tops....but they really need that next step to be finished.
Maybe I'll make a New Year To-Do List and challenge myself to see how much I can get finished this next year. Not that I really do better with challenges....but it's a thought.

Gosh I miss those sweet faces already......

Finally finished Friday....

Tomorrow we go pick up Scott and move him out of his dorm. First we'll do lunch with him....then he and Grandpa will carry everything to the truck. I will (of course) sit and direct. heehee
He has officially completed his collage courses now and has "Graduated". Yeah for him! We'll have a small party for him on Tuesday night to celebrate.
Now the poor kid has to go out in this cruel world and find his place. That's got to be scary. Especially now.

Tomorrow Deb & Jim arrive too. Jess comes Tues and Michael's family get here Wed. Evelin only has a couple of days off work so their trip won't be very long this year. But at least they get to be here for a short while. We still have cleaning to do before the whole bunch arrives but that won't take long.

I do have Danny's quilt off the frame now and ready to sew on the binding today. Then I'll be able to get the hand stitching finished this weekend.
Here's a quick pic and a closeup of the quilting.

This is the last quilt for Christmas this year.

Now I'm off to get the binding on.
Have a great day.

This is for you Jacquie.....

We have SNOW...

It snowed last night. And it is white out there.

Ok .... it really isn't much snow....but it IS snow after all. Probably around an inch. Enough to cover most everything. Certainly NOT enough to call a snow day. And not deep enough for me to go out to get a picture. And luckily NOT bad like so many other areas.

And OMGosh it has been cold!! It's warmer today. We're already up to 4 degrees above this morning. Yesterday we were below....so gotta admit....that's warmer right? brrrrr

One more package wrapped and under the tree. Michael's quilt is all washed and dried and wrapped. One more to go! Danny's is on the frame and I've made a couple of passes on the quilting.

Speaking of the tree. Here's a Photoshoped pic just for fun.

Roflol Jessi. Pics and music! Come on girl...ya gotta keep up! hahaha

Christmas music...

I hope you enjoy my newest addition to my blog. (turn up your speakers)
I love Christmas music don't you.

Today we're off to a wedding. My childhood friend has found a guy that she wants to spend the rest of her life with. The best thing is.... they will be living just about 50 miles from me. He owns a farm and they plan to live there in the summer months so I'll get to see here more than just a quick visit every 5 years or so. Both of them lost their spouses and they became friend and the rest (as she says) is history.
Gotta go....

Friday Rant....

Oh my poor brain! I don't like to work my poor brain this hard!!
At this age Poor brain has gotten much too comfy and set in its ways.
Poor brain doesn't like much change any more.
And it certainly doesn't like puzzles that it needs to figure out.
Which is exactly what I've had to do these last couple of days. Figure out a puzzle.
I've been trying to figure out which company I wanted to use for my Medicare supplement and... which do I want to use this year for my prescriptions. I have now come to the conclusion that for people like Don & I (who don't use many drugs) this Plan D is a crock. It's not the accessibility or the cost that bothers me. There are many reasonably priced plans available.
It's the penalty that would be applied if we DON'T enroll now and would later try to sign up. What a built in ripoff. Some body's pocket sure got fatter when our wonderful representatives in Washing finalized that bill that's for sure!!
But.... like the old saying goes....Can't fight city hall. It is what it is and if I don't like it I'd better just get over it.
So .... all the lines have been signed and the T's crossed and I's dotted and the paperwork is in the mail.
Decision made!
I'm moving on with life.
With a lot less money in my pocket now.
Grrrrr

Yesterday the tv guy came to string cable to my sewing room so I will now be able to watch (listen) to tv while I'm back there. That will be nice.

I've been working on Danny's quilt a bit more. Today the borders go on then I'll get it on the frame to quilt. By golly....I just might get it done after all. Sheesh I'm sooooo slow!!
I also made the labels for both quilts and Michaels is stuck on and just have to stitch around it then throw it in the wash. I always love that. When I take it out of the dryer and see the REAL quilt for the first time.
There's just something about a good washing and drying that turns fabric into something to snuggle under.

Have a Great day everyone.

Sunday morning....

Good morning all. The sun is coming up white gold this morning. As I sit here at my puter I see the sunrise each day and I'm amazed at the different colors that take place right outside my window.

Sometimes the sun rises in a blaze of color and sometimes it comes in quietly grey and soft.

Like today.

Nothing bright and flashy about the start of this sunrise.

Darkness quietly brightened to a white gold and gradually deepened into an orange glow as the moments passed.

And then as the sun was busting the horizon the soft golden glow gave way to ....

a bright burst of color!

Whoa!

And now as I write this the color has once again softened to a golden silver and the clouds have blended back to a soft grey.

The wind is calm and it's the start of a lovely day.

I've had my first cuppa and am now thinking of getting my eats.

....I've posted a few more layouts if you're interested.

.....The binding is all sewn on Michaels quilt and I'll get the label on later.

The tree is up and decorated so today we'll bring out the angels and nutcrackers and wreaths etc.

....Still packages to wrap (Jess where are you?) heehee

I'm off to check my mail and start my day.

Have a GREAT one.

Christmas tree Napkins...

I've seen these napkins on several blogs these last few weeks and thought they were really cute. A few days ago I found a free pdf pattern (sorry I can't remember where) so decided to give them a try.

Super simple!! In just a couple of hours I had these all cut out and sewn together.

I did add the stitching around the edge to give it a bit more of a finished look. Also stitched along the fold lines so it will be easier to re-fold after washing. I like these a lot and may do more. They're quick ... easy.... and would make nice last minute gifts.

Still working on stitching down the binding on Michael's quilt. I only have about one side left to do so I'll keep plugging away at night while I'm watching tv. That is if I don't fall asleep first. heehee

My new printer came today. Boy that was fast!! But I've decided I'm going to wait till I use up the ink in my old one before I set up this new one. So I've printed off all of the layouts that I've made so far and that took quite a bit of ink. But I've still got almost half of the container left so this may take longer than I thought.

I think I'll go make another layout......

bye for now.

Another week begins....

So here it is .... the first day of the last month of this year. My goodness where has the time gone? And now only just a few days left till Christmas.
Criminy!!! I've got to get crackin!!

I've so been enjoying my Photoshop Elements 7. I'm learning a lot as I go and definately wanting to learn more. I've added layout pics to my Picasa and the link to the album is over there on the right >>>>>
Just click and it will open up all the layouts. There are a couple of new ones that I haven't shown yet. This is where I'll add them as they are finished. I may or may not post each one separately....but they will go in the album. So if you're interested you might want to check there occasionally I hope you enjoy!

Now I think I'd better get to that binding that still needs to be hand sewn down.

Toooooo Quiet!!

So now it's official!!

Thanksgiving is definitely over around here. :(

Everyone left today in shifts. And even tho Jess had unexpected weather to drive through....it is good that everyone has arrived back home safe and sound.

Even tho it is way to quiet around here ..... in just a few short weeks from now they will all be back.... along with Michael's family.

It is good that this year I don't have to brave the crowds and go to do our shopping like we've always done in the past. I love online shopping!! All gifts have now been purchased (except one) and my poor credit card is smokin'. heehee

Don & I will probably try to get the tree and the decorations up this week. That always takes me days and days.

No quilting done this week but I am still playing with my new Photoshop.

So I can't pass up showing another layout.

Black Friday....

So turkey day is over and the frig is bulging with leftovers. Everyone is sleeping in this morning except me. I'm spending some money very easily. Love these special sales and free shipping and I'm taking advantage of them. Only one more gift to try to find and then I'm done with Christmas shopping.
Everyone will be heading back home tomorrow....but we still have today together! And it has been soooo much fun this week.
I've done a bit of scrapping so I thought I'd leave you with one of my favorites.

Waiting .....

Waiting......and more waiting. Just a couple more days till my "girls" get here. So while I'm waiting..... I did get a bit accomplished on Dans quilt. After I re-sized it I needed to cut and make more blocks than the pattern said. So I've done that and also sewn the 9-patches that will fill in the design (6 different color combinations). It's looking good so far and I'm pleased.

When I was at the LQS the other day I finally broke down and bought the rest of the Angels I wanted. I had already gotten 'Spring' many months ago and have just kicked myself for not getting the rest of the seasons. Soooooo My want-to-haves just can't be denied and these little beauties are now sitting on my puter desk top along with pics of all my very favorite people in the whole wide world :)

From left to right.... "Summer Restores The Soul"..."Bountiful Angel".... "Landscape Sleeps".
and in the very back "New Beginnings"...... which is the main reason I HAD to have that angel in the first place. It's name has a very special meaning to me and I just had to have it when I saw what the artist had named it.

Now really.....aren't they just the cutest?!!

Friday Fun....

Well first....I took a quick trip to the LQS to pick up some batting and a Christmas gift for my Secret Stitcher... and I needed some fusible backing for the t-shirt quilt I'm going to get started. Picked up a few other odds and ends and stopped for lunch at our favorite cafe. Good home cookin' and enough for two meals.....so I brought half home and now have my lunch today all ready. Nice trip and it's soooo good to not have to be thinking of how much money it takes for gas to get there.

Yesterday afternoon the doorbell rang and I found UPS at my door. Photoshop was being delivered. OMGosh!! That was fast!! So needless to say I spent the rest of the day playing with it and trying to figure out the basics.

This is one of the layouts that is built into the program. Paper and elements are freebies from Pixelfairy and majula. I had to keep it simple to just learn to maneuver around the program. Boy is this better than the old one I had!!

So now today I'm torn. Do I go back and sew on the 9-Patch.....or stay here and play and play.
hahaha.

2 more days Jess!!

Binding on...

The binding is on and I've gotten one side hand stitched. I used QD Poly batting, dark blue Sew Fine on top and black Bottom Line in bobbin. Panto used: Mini Ocean Wave.

I think I've decided on the pattern for the next quilt. So I'll probably start cutting it today.

Maybe.
Or maybe I'll play.... or.... make a run to the quilt store.

Hummmm....decisions.

Sunny Sunday

Wow! I slept late this morning. Must have been the migraine hangover. It's been months since I've had one but yesterday I had just finished trimming the quilt and was going to get the binding cut.....Wham! Migraine hit!!

That wiped out the rest of the day for me.

Now today I'll be feeling like a truck ran over me....but I'm going to still get that binding on!! I am determined....today is the day!!!! heehee

One more very simple layout.

One more layout...

I am having a blast with these layouts. Here's another one I finished last night. I made the background paper and used the elements that I picked up from freedigitalscrapbooking.com

Now I'm off to make binding and get it sewn on.

Have a great weekend.

Friday finishes....

I have finally stuck to it and finished the quilting on Michael's quilt. It is now off the frame and I'll get the binding cut and sewn on tomorrow. And then a pic.

But since I've been playing with Photoshop I thought I'd show you what I've put together from a free kit I downloaded....Spontaneeous Delight by Carrie Stephens.

And....here's one more layout.

I've found the answer!!! After much searching and frustration and digging I came across some info that said to not drag and drop the picture after uploading to the post. And that's what I've done with all the other pics so I assumed I could do that with these.
But .... now I have to edit Html .... cut the code for the pic ..... and post it where I want it to show up in my post.
It worked!!
So....I've gone back and reposted all my scrapbook pages and they all work now. Click to enlarge!
Happy days are here again. heehee

Another layout...

Ok...well I'm not getting much quilting done right now....but I'm sure having fun playing with my Photoshop. I've learned more in the last two days than I've know since I got it.

Hey Jess....I plan on picking your smart brain when you get here to show me some tips and tricks. :)
Here's one more simple layout. I've always loved this pic. Yep! That's our Kianna!

I don't know what I'm doing wrong when I save the layouts. But neither of these will open larger when I click the pic. ???? Looks like I need to spend some more time seaching for the answer. Hummmm???
(I've edited these and found the correction I needed to make to get them to open) Yeah!!

I've been playing....

I've gotten very interested in doing something with all my digital pics. I do have a really old old version of Photoshop (Elements 2) that I've played with along the years but never did fully understand it. So I've been browsing some sites and reading and studying and have decided I could probably try to figure out how to use it. If I find that I can get this version to work for me -- and I like what I can do -- then I'll consider buying an upgrade.

Here's my first real learning lesson. For not knowing what I was doing I don't think it turned out too bad. It was a lot of fun.
I used a template from Free Digital Scrapbooking and a free kit from Lollipop Designs that I picked up at Shabby Princess .

And now I've spent way to much time on this playing around. I think I'll go sew awhile.

Wow Red!

This is not a normal year for the foliage in my yard.
I usually have a bit of gold on the leaves of our trees and my Burning Bush is a nice quiet dark red. Part red and part green.
The bushes (I can't remember the name) beside it usually are just a tad lighter burgundy that they show all year.
Well not this year!!
This year.... no gold on the trees. Just plain brown.
and the bushes are vivid red.

AND.... we've actually had moisture this year so there is even moss on the big locus tree. Cool for my yard.
Just wanted to share.

Michael's top...

I finally have the final border added this morning. I think I'll sew the backing together now and get it on the frame so it will be ready to quilt when I get my order of thread. I made this a bit longer than I usually do because Michael is soooo tall.

This should cover his toes. heehee

I did the best I could with the pic even tho there was a slight breeze that kept flipping that corner.

Still playing...

I decided I really didn't like that one piece of the other background that kept blocking the words....so went looking and came across this one.

Much better.

At least for awhile. :)

Happy Halloween!!

It's been a long day......
Went shopping all day and I'm beat.
It's starting to get dark outside and the little goblins are starting to knock on our door. We don't get too many any more but Don still buys enough candy to feed the multitudes. I think he really buys so much so he'll have left-overs. heehee

I'm going to register for Stories in Hand class by Jessica Sprague! It's FREE and sounds like something I might be very interested since I've been wanting to start digital scrapping.
Class starts Nov 9th so go check it out.
I saw the link at Mary's

Time to change....

Yeah I did it again. I just get so bored so easily with the same-ol' same-ol'. Hope you like the look of the blog. I'll probably change it again soon.

Won't be around tomorrow. I have a Dr. appt and from there will stop at LQS to pick up some batting and a backing fabric for Michael's quilt. I'm slowed down on it after all. Yeah yeah what else is new huh? hahaha But I do have the blocks put together and the first border on so it won't take much longer to get it on the frame. I did have to order some more thread today though. I don't have a single one that will work on this blue. Sooooo quilting will just have to wait till it comes in.
Maybe I'll pull out something else to work on while I'm waiting.

Since you asked Jacquie...

http://www.superiorthreads.com/education/316/

Here is a page from Superior Threads that will start to explain the difference between threads.

Alex Anderson touts Masterpiece as the best piecing thread. I had heard her tell about the thread and how it doesn't bulk up in the seam as much as a cheaper, thicker thread when you press the seam. A good thread takes up less material in the fold and it could be as much as one or two thread weaves of the fabric. In a multiple seam block....that can make a lot of difference. It did in my block yesterday.

But... of course I was skeptical and (as stubborn as I am sometimes) kept using the cheaper stuff and .... kept coming up with blocks that were just not quite the right size. Frustrating!! I just couldn't believe that a different thread would make that much difference.

Next step....I tested my quarter inch seam by sewing on a recipe card and by sewing three strips together and measuring etc. I adjusted my needle and kept testing until I found the sweet spot and my perfect 1/4" seam.

And I had used Masterpiece when I did both tests. Not because I was testing the thread....but because that's just what was in my machine at the time and I was trying very hard to sew a perfect quarter inch seam....not paying attention to the thread at all.

When I first started quilting (sewing) I was buying my piecing thread from Walmart because that's the only place I had access to for thread purchases. The more complicated the blocks I was piecing the more I ran into problems. My blocks always came up a tad bit too small.

So I ordered a cone of Masterpiece after hearing Alex talk about it so glowingly and I could tell right off that the cone looked a slight bit finer and smoother.

In this picture you can tell a very small difference between the two threads. Masterpiece is the spool that you can't see off camera and the Walmart spool is the one showing.

But stubborn me and beat me on the head.....I had several spools of thread I felt I should use up.... I kept right on grabbing that thread occasionally.

Until yesterday. That proved to me that I have to re-think my thread choice if I want to consistently get my quarter inch. The more seams in a block the more it really makes a difference.

To me and the way I sew.!!

And now .... back to your regularly scheduled sewing.... ;)

Happy Sunday!!

two down and one more started....

I've finished the quilting on Gina's quilt and I'm now in the process of sewing on the binding and the label. Then into the wash it will go. I really like the QD poly batt I used on this one.

This is how Evelin's came out after washing and drying. Just enough crinkle to suit me.

Now I've started on Michaels. These pics just don't do it justice. The colors are much nicer *in person*. Brighter and clear.

This is an easy pattern so I should be able to move right along on it.

I have made a discovery about threads that changes the way I will sew from now on. I have learned that my 1/4" setting is absolutely perfect IF I use Masterpiece from Superior Threads. (These strips are supposed to measure 6.5" wide to be cut in same length). If I use a regular sewing thread that I'd picked up (and what I'd been using since I'd started making my tops).... my strips are off by about one 1/8. Here let me show you...... These are the end pieces of the strips.

My first strip sewn with regular cotton thread. See how much the thicker thread takes up in the seams! Amazing!!

This is the next strip set sewn with Masterpiece.

Perfect fit!!

Sunday fire.....

I was up before the sun this morning and as I was sitting here at the puter I happened to glance through the blinds to see the sunrise.
It was awesome.
So I took my trusty little camera out the front door and stood on the porch and started clicking.

*** The thing is....I also changed the mode to 'sunset' (Of course I didn't realize that I really needed to have the camera on a tripod because the pics turn out way to blurry otherwise). I didn't know that since I'm just a born point-n-click kinda gal.

But by playing around with some settings.... it is kinda awesome the way some of the pics turned out don't you think?
To create the "fire" I remember moving the camera down before it was finished taking. (It seemed like it took forever in that mode to 'take')...and I had to look at it to see if it was going to work. hahaha So the fire is a result of operator error. But cool anyway!!

AND....I have upgraded to Picasa 3 and this collage is one of the new features. Love the upgrade!!

quilting finished.....

I just took Evelin's quilt off the frame. Quilting is finished.
I used a panto design from Linda Taylor's Longarm book and printed about 10 sheets and taped together. Worked great.

I originally planned to use a variegated King Tut on top (which is what I usually use) but after frogging that first row of quilting....I decided I really didn't want the top thread to interfere with the design. So I used So Fine mushroom and I like it much better. Bottom line pre-wounds in the bobbin as usual.

But what I'm really pleased about is the batting I used this time.

I ordered a package of Quilters Dream Green and I really like the way it quilted.

It's very smooth and consistent and the lint in my bobbin was unbelievable. I bet there was only about as much for the whole quilt that I usually have with just one quilting pass with all cotton Dream Select. Very pleased about that. I will definitely use it again.

Now I"m anxious to get it bound and in the washer to see how it comes out.

Homecoming...

OK so I'm a couple of days late. Homecoming was Friday and I'm just getting around to showing off some of the pics of the girls. These were taken at the pep rally that afternoon.

As the parade began the cheerleaders are riding on the truck with the football boys as it drives downtown around the square and back to the stadium.

(.... Yeah I know.... what's with the riding?

We used to snake-dance through the streets back in the good ol' days!! )

Each class had a small float and the school band played. And yes....they did march!!

All the cheerleaders and the Pacers (dance team) do a joint routine for the rally and the game halftime. The Pacers are in white jerseys and they performed in front of the cheerleaders who were doing different cheers that led into lifts and builds and ended in the final pose. (See last picture)

When the girls start the 'builds' Bethany is a flyer and Alivia is a base catcher. They all worked sooooo hard in the weeks leading up to this. And it sure paid off. They looked so good.

The routine went so well and so fast that I couldn't get enough pictures of all the flips and flying and twirling/falling and building that actually went on. It was exciting and very well done!

Click on the pics to get a better look-see.

My top finished...

This is the top I started in Jeanne Poore's class this last weekend. The pattern called for one more row of stars but I chose to leave them off so it would be a square to fit my dinning room table. It now measures 45" square.

After a bit of playing in EQ to figure out a border that would be quick and super easy.....I settled on this one. I cut the strips 1 1/2 inches and then cut the sewn strips into 3.5" patches.

My pure LUCK that the patches in the border fit so perfectly!!
I still need to get it quilted (and that may be awhile) so I'll wait till then to get a close-up of the material and quilting together. I was pleased with how it turned out.

And then I decided to walk out in the yard for a quiet break this afternoon.
It's Fall for sure!!
Enjoy a piece of it's beauty

My weekend...

This is the weekend our guild brought in Jeanne Poore (an international quilt teacher, designer, author and lecturer from Overland Park, Ks).

Friday night she had a trunk show to "Celebrate the Seasons" and we opened it to the public. We had a very a nice turnout considering there was a BIG show going on in Grand Island at the same time. Goodness she has some beautiful quilts and I was struck by the way she pieced most of her backings instead of using just a plain backing.

Yep I learned something new!

Then Saturday (8:00 to 3:00) she taught a class on her pattern "Morning Star". Such an easy pattern but what a difference the choice of fabrics make!! [it's showing in the background in this first pic] The gals are going to have some mighty pretty quilts when they're all finished. I chose to make the small size for a Christmas table topper. I got all my blocks sewn together....even as slow as I am... and I did manage to get 4 of the rows set together before class ended. I'm pleased with the way it's turning out. Picture to follow later.

This was our sewing area with the cutting tables set up at the other end of this room. Because of the wiring situation we had to plug in all the irons in the kitchen to keep the breaker from flipping. (that's why there are so many empty chairs). But it did us all good to get up and move a lot. My machine was at this first table and boy oh boy was I ever wishing I had brought my own chair. It didn't take long before my back was screaming at me. But I persevered and popped a couple of Motrins....which didn't work very well by the way. :(

This was the first *class* I've ever gone to and it was well worth the money. So fun to be sewing along with all these gals and being able to see up close and personal how everyone else interprets a pattern.

Yep....I did learn a lot.